White House, nonprofit groups battle over charitable deductions

The White House and the nations most prominent charities are embroiled in a tense, behind-the-scenes debate over President Obamas push to scale back the nearly century-old tax deduction on donations that the charities say is crucial for their financial health.

In a series of recent meetings and calls, top White House aides have pressed nonprofit groups to line up behind the presidents plan for reducing the federal deficit and averting the year-end “fiscal cliff, according to people familiar with the talks.