The White House has announced that President Obama will *not* be departing this weekend for Hawaii, as originally planned, and will be staying in town through at least part of next week as lawmakers on Capitol Hill try to cram in votes before Christmas.

However, the president will be all alone at the White House, since the first lady and the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, will depart this weekend for Hawaii."Given the uncertainty of the President's schedule, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters will be departing December 18th as originally scheduled...The President will join them when the Congressional season is complete," Press Secretary to the first lady Katie McCormick Lelyveld said in a statement.

The Obama vacation plans have been up in the air ever since Congress started threatening weekend debate for a variety of legislation that has to be completed by the end of this congressional session. In addition, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made clear last week that Obama would be staying in town until Congress was done with their work.

While the tax rate deal passed in the House last night, there still remain a number of pieces of legislation for the Senate and the House to tackle including: the START nuclear treaty, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the DREAM Act, and a funding bill that would allow the federal government to remain open through the end of January.