barbara kantor's business card says "ceo and founder." she's also the marketing manager, chief accountant, and inventory manager. in short, a one-woman corporation. it wasn't always that way. a former california fashion designer and independent businesswoman, she moved to colorado two years ago to do something new: manufacture and sell reflective arm bands and dog leashes to help motorists spot pedestrians at night. at first it went well. the products are popular on amazon.com, and in retail outlets. but then the recession hit. and her sources of capital began to dry up. >> i started looking at bank funding and it was nightmare out there to be honest at the moment. the banks just aren't loaning to small businesses and i have an extremely high credit rating. >> reporter: unable to get a loan, she cut costs. gave up her office space, began to take deliveries at home, and use her own car to haul products to an unheated storage unit 45 minutes away where she stacks and tracks it all, even in the depths of a colorado winter. small business own

kantor.later, a former cia intelligence officer on the u.s. strategy against al-qaeda in afghanistan. and remembering the lives of william f. buckley jr. and senator ted kennedy. all next week, are rare glimpse into america's highest court threw unprecedented conversations with 10 supreme court justices about the court, there were, in the history of the iconic supreme court -- their work and the history of the iconic supreme court building. >> in his home state of alabama, congressman parker griffith announced he is switching parties. the first term democrat says he will join the republican party. this is about 15 minutes. >> thank you for being here. i appreciated. this is a big day. it is a big day for me. it has been a tough decision. my family and i have thought about it. i just want to say thank you for taking the time of the middle of the day. it has been an immense pleasure. as most of you know, i was elected by the people of north alabama as an independent conservative congressman. i

. >> cspan, christmas day, a look ahead to 2010 politics including republican congressman edward kantorbuzz aldrin and fellow astronauts on the legacy of apollo 11, a discussion on a roll of muslims in america and the world. later, a former cia intelligence officer on u.s. strategy against al qaeda in afghanistan. starting in o'clock p.m. eastern, remembering the laws of william f. buckley jr. and senator ted kennedy. host: caller: ♪ host: caller:[cy national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] "washington journal" is already special time and after that we will give you a coverage on the blog senate vote. we will have analysis on the senate health care about. later, we will talk to a lieutenant-general about the wounded warrior program for veterans. host: welcome to "washington journal." in 50 minutes, the senate will gaveling to session and in 30 minutes they will vote on final passage of their aid hundred $71 billion health care reform bill. this is a key milestone in a months-long health care debate that has dominated capitol hill. senate de

after that, house minority whip eric kantor and a joke la carte.then come up william eggers shares his thoughts. -- then, author william eggers shares his thoughts. >> in the 1990's, newsweek named him one of the 50 most influential people to watch in cyberspace. since then, he has created a social network black planet.com, founded a charter school in brooklyn, and explained new technologies on oprah. tonight, he talks about his current studies at harvard and what is ahead. >> now available, c-span's book, abraham lincoln, great american historians on our 16th president, a great read for any history buff. it is a contemporary perspective on lincoln from 56 scholars, journalists, and writers. from his early years to his life in the white house and relevance today. in hard cover at your favorite bookseller, and in digital audio were ever done most are sold. require average download -- wherever downloads are sold. >> historians and journalists were joined by edward kennedy's widow. this is just over an hour. clock>> i think you for coming o this very

financial industry regulation with congressman paul kantor ski and senator baucus. çóçóÑi.: let's take a look at a store today in the newly times -- "the new york times" -- reid says accord resolves impasse on public option. this story says the senate majority leader said on tuesday night that he and a group of 10 had reached broad agreement to resolve a dispute over a proposed government-run health care insurance plan. under the agreement people ages 55-64 could buy into medicare. let's take a look at comments he made last night in the capital. >> rapidly expand medicare. so what is becoming clear is that the majority will make any deal, agree to any terms. host: we will take a look at that kind just a moment. looking at more of this newspaper piece, looking at the deal in play -- we do not know all the details yet. we will find out more from a cq reporter shortly. "the new york times" story it says that even members say late tuesday they do not know -- did not know if an agreement had been reached. >> this is a consensus that will help insure american people win in a coup

kantor says -- this deal, called the cornhuskers kickback and the louisiana purchase as some republicans called the agreement merely landrieu had for always and it is in a senate bill. will this be in the final bill? guest: it does not necessarily mean that. assuming the senate passes the bill, which it is looking like it will tomorrow, the measure has to go to conference in the house of house and senate have to meet to resolve differences. however, it took a lot of negotiation in the senate to get all 16 democrats on board. conferees need to be cognizant of the fact that the votes may not be there when it comes to the senate as a conference report if they don't keep these types of measures in. host: what is to prevent the 49 other senators from saying, wait a minute, we want the same deal you give the nebraska senator ben nelson? guest: i guess in some way, nothing. but i guess the question of some point comes which democratic senator is going to be willing to stand in the way of final passage because they don't feel they got as good a deal. it is worth noting that much has been made of

kantor says -- this deal, called the cornhuskers kickback and the louisiana purchase as some republicans called the agreement merely landrieu had for always and it is in a senate bill. will this be in the final bill? guest: it does not necessarily mean that. assuming the senate passes the bill, which it is looking like it will tomorrow, the measure has to go to conference in the house of house and senate have to meet to resolve differences. however, it took a lot of negotiation in the senate to get all 16 democrats on board. conferees need to be cognizant of the fact that the votes may not be there when it comes to the senate as a conference report if they don't keep these types of measures in. host: what is to prevent the 49 other senators from saying, wait a minute, we want the same deal you give the nebraska senator ben nelson? guest: i guess in some way, nothing. but i guess the question of some point comes which democratic senator is going to be willing to stand in the way of final passage because they don't feel they got as good a deal. it is worth noting that much has been made of

a look ahead to 2010 politics, including republican congressman eric kantor and david gregory.buzz aldrin on the legacy of apollo 11. a discussion on the role of muslims in america and the world. later, a former cia intelligence officer the role of al-qaeda in afghanistan. and then remembering william f. buckley jr. and senator ted kennedy. >> now available -- c-span nice book "abraham lincoln, great american historians on our 16th president." is a unique perspective on lincoln from 16 journalists and writers. from his early years to his life in the white house and his legacy today. abraham lincoln in hardcover at your favorite bookseller and on digital audio to listen to any time, available where digital audio down as are sold. learn more at c-span.org/lincoln book. >> i can get the health care vote has been moved up at 7:00 eastern tomorrow. and democrats will be holding a news conference at 4:00 eastern. 30 minutes from now. we will bring it to you live here on c-span. in the meantime, a conversation with the national transportation safety board chief from today's "washingto