By Zachary A. Goldfarb, Updated: Friday, November 9, 12:25 PM

President Obama called on Congress Friday to immediately freeze tax rates for most Americans and said he was inviting top lawmakers to the White House next week to discuss how to avoid the year-end fiscal cliff and invigorate a still weak economy.

In his first public remarks since returning to Washington after his reelection Tuesday, Obama expressed a desire to work with Republicans solve the nation’s economic problems. But he claimed a mandate on tax policy, saying the election validated his view that wealthiest must pay more in taxes.

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