we stalled the whole congress. >> bret: getting weird from senate democratic aide on the senate said that the u.s. government runs out of money midnight on saturday could be shut down for a day or two according to aides because of the clock that is running in the senate and schedule of things. senator reid is supposed to bring up an am any bus spending bill -- omnibus spending bill. $1.1 billion. and many have problems with it. cane cape cane of arizona went to the floor saying there are 6400 earmarks at $8.# # billion. his favorite for polynesian society and maple sir cup research in vermont. stephen hayes, "weekly standard." a.b. stoddard, "the hill." and syndicated columnist, charles krauthammer. steve, looks likes a collision course. >> i say fine, shut it down. you have a congress more unpopular than in history of the country. >> bret: 13% by gallup. >> we have had in the united states in the past two years, closest thing to european style one party government than we've ever had. the reason we're in the fix is democrats chose to put us in the fix. chose not to do what they need

senate now. dick durbin is number two in the democratic leadership in the senate. he is doing the same on these issues. they're both here at the table with us this morning. so, gentlemen, yesterday, the senate did exactly what everybody knew the senate was going to do. we got these votes out on whether to extend the bush tax cuts for the people who make $250,000 or less. and the senate did... voted exactly the way we knew it would come out. they voted no. because the republicans say they want these tax cuts for everybody. so here we are. we've got the posturing out of the way. you might call it something different. but now, senator kyl, is the senate going to get down to business and resolve this whole business of the tax cuts? >> i hope so. we can. we should. i would just make one point. nobody is talking about tax cuts. we're talking about extending the rates that have been in existence for the last decade, so just to be sure. i think that most folks believe that the recipe would include at least an extension of unemployment benefits for those who are unemployed,

and i think in the end we will. >> reporter: senate democrats could get this passed within days, putting more pressure on the house. there's a big development tonight for democrats who wanted to see an end to the ban on gays serving openly in the military. that failed to move forward in the senate. they couldn't push through a giant defense bill that had included the repeal of don't ask, don't tell. >> kelly o'donnell on the hill tonight. as the beat goes on for this lame duck congress. kelly, thanks. >>> in california tonight, the question is how do you deal with a house so packed with explosives that it's essentially a giant bomb? the answer, very carefully, and nbc's kristen welker is in the city of escondido tonight to show us what happened. good evening. >> brian, this neighborhood is safe car after authorities successfully burned down that house without damaging any other nearby properties. and it is a big relief, because this community has been in danger for days. >> there it goes. there it goes, guys. >> reporter: flames shot three to four stories high, filling the air with thick

. >> senate democrats in a test vote. >> we are having trouble with that report.anwhile word of another potential black eye for an auto making giant. for more on the story, let's go to courtney reagan. good morning, courtney. >>> they are not reacting too much. not right now. however moody's said the long-term deal could threaten the aaa bond rating. markets were slightly mixed. we have a trio of economic reports with prices and inventories. they hold the final meeting of the year with no move. the dow rose to 11,428. the nasdaq slipped to 2624. toyota is recalling 110,000 2011 minivans due to the risk the drivers could damage the brake system when using the parking brake. toyota said replacement parts will be ready in february and honda is checking 2011 accords and crvs because of a possible oil leak. we will keep you updated if a recall is issued. >> thank you much. we were talking about taxes and i think we have that story ready for you now. >> having voted in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to. >> that's what compromise looked like in washington. feeling

boehner disagrees. >> considering the democrats control the house, the senate and the white house, i thought on balance it was worthy of my vote. and i voted for it. >> the republican said republicans and democrats won't always have the christmas spirit. there are tough fights ahead. but he said there is a lesson here. >> when we can put aside the partisanship and political games and put aside what is good for some of us in favor of what is good for all of us, we can get a lot done. >> former president bush says he really doesn't like having the tax cuts named after hill and his aide had no comment on the extension of him. perhaps in the spirit of the season but more likely eye toward 2012, democratic committee said they're happy to call them the obama tax cuts. >> bret: i bet. thanks. . index of the economic indicators rose 1.1% in november biggest jump since march. the dow lost seven. nasdaq gain ed 5-2/3. there are several lawsuits against bank of america alleging that they misled consumers trying to get loan modifications. bank of america is disappointed with the filings. >>> spea

touch this thing otherwise it may all fall apart. >> it is a strong message and one that democrats will read in the senate from the democrats of the 2010 midterm results. the house democrats are not going to put themselves in the poto be criticized by the senate democrats and president and public for letting the taxes snap back up. the president said repeatedly there are things in the bill he doesn't like. in order to reach compromise you have to sacrifices things that you want for what you need . president and republicans and democrats in the senate are saying tax cuts should be extended and taxes should not be increase the unemployment benefits and two percent pay roll tax cut would be a benefit very much needed in the down economy. >> 30 seconds here karl about getting this off of the table and the vote is 79-11 and again still open. getting this deal off of the table so house demdeps and senate democrats can deal with other pieces of legislation. >> there is not much time not only to finish this but continuing resolution to keep the government open is a major battle. >> karl, thank you very much. this

senate republicans decided to obstruct it. to effectively kill it by forcing democrats to have it read out loud pointlessly on the senate floor. a move that would halt all senate action for upwards of 50 hours. what we expected to bring you right now tonight was democrats forcing republicans to follow through on that threat. we had it all planned out. that was not to be. within the last hour, harry reid announced that the republican obstruction in this case worked. actually just the threat of republican obstruction worked. there will be no readings of the bill out loud on the senate floor tonight. senator reid announced democrats will be withdrawing the spending bill altogether. a year of work down the drain. >> this was a bipartisan effort drafte by republicans and democrats. it came to the floor after months of work. by democrats and republicans. and it was presented to this body in a bipartisan way to vote on. i wasn't going to vote on it. i'm against it. but i you just -- so i think i have a slight bit of credibility to call these guys on this notion that this is so

late tonight senate democrats managed to overcome the republicans' objections on the s.t.a.r.t. treaty, clearing the way for the senate to begin debating it tomorrow. >> we believe we should stay here as long as it takes to get this treaty ratified and we are prepared to do so. this is the time. this is the time and this is the moment when the united states senate needs to stand up and be counted on an issue of national security for our country. >> joining us now is democratic senator john kerry of massachusetts. he is chairman of the foreign relations committee. thank you for your time. >> glad to be with you. that was a great intro. >> it was a long one, certainly. >> well, you're right on target. right on target. >> let me ask you about that. you can tell that my view is just about trying to deprive president obama of a victory here. why do you think they are delaying this the way they are? >> you know what, rachel, let me to this. i want to get this treaty passed. i want to try to get the senate into a different place over the course of these next few days. and so i think, wh

despite lingering reservations from some democrats, the senate's number two democrat, majority whip dick durbin says the compromise should clear the chamber with relative ease. >>> we're counting votes in the senate. harry reid and i have been on the phone over the weekend. i can say we have a good cross section of the senate democratic caucus from left to right who are prepared to accept this. most of us believe as painful as some of the provisions are, this is absolutely essential so that our economy doesn't slump and that we provide the kind of benefits that unemployed people in the middle class income folks need across america. >> today's procedural vote paves the way for a later count then on to the house where the incoming ranking democrat chris van holland insists his party will not block the measure. >> we're not going to hold this thing up at the end of the day but do think that simple question should be put to the test. nobody can argue that that $25 billion -- >> the question is the estate tax but you're saying i -- you say we're not going to hold this up at the end of the day

senate democrats have s cheduled -- have scheduled hearings on repealing the policy beginning tomorrow. >>> money seized from illegal pot farms is helping the mendocino county budget. officials say legal marijuana gardens could ward off future cuts. the sheriff says he will spend more than $450,000 collected primarily from pot busts to o ffset the department's overtime budget. supervisors voted to lee dues the number of proposed job cuts in the sheriff's office budget from 14 to 7. a program that issues p ermits allowing medical marijuana cooperatives to grow could generate more than $ 600,000 for the budget next year. today, the san francisco board of supervisors will consider cost increases in the construction of a new police headquarters. city officials already approved plans for the $243 million b uilding last year before george gascon took over as police c hief. gas con is calling for security improves that would cause an additional $3 million. >>> parents can sue their children's schools over a lack of education. this comes after a parent in the albany school district forced to s

senate democrats fell short in a bid to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military. elections officials in haiti ordered a check of the presidential election results after violent protests over alleged fraud. and to hari sreenivasan in our newsroom for what's on the newshour online. hari. >> sreenivasan: we have more from david pogue, who says we're still in the neanderthal era of the e-book. watch interviews with three speakers from the ted women conference held this week in washington. we look at the global climate summit in cancun, as a new report shows melting glaciers could lead to flooding in some countries. and on "art beat," we have a conversation about the poetry of liu xiaobo, the imprisoned chinese activist who will be honored tomorrow with the nobel peace prize. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. margaret. >> warner: and that's the newshour for tonight. i'm margaret warner. >> lehrer: and i'm jim lehrer. we'll see you online, and again here tomorrow evening with mark shields and david brooks, among others. thank you and good night. ma

the democratic bill narrowly passed in a procedural vote this morning but even if the mail bill passes it does not have a rare in the senate because democrats will not have the necessary votes. so with that in mind the house speaker designate boehner today put an interesting twist on things. let me catch my breath so i don't refer to this maneuver going on today as chicken crap, all right. this is nonsense. all right? >>shepard: chicken crap? i don't know what that is. i do, but not sure that fits into this. the democratic leadership is now responding. and now live on capitol hill. chicken crap, what ... i understand there is a vote going on. but i want to get to chicken crap. >>reporter: when you tack about chicken crap in the american's tax structure it is an interesting debate. they are involved in the vote and time is expired and they have enough to pass it and the republicans are voting for it, because they don't want to be seen as opposing tax relief but the republican party is opposed to what is proposed in the house of representatives arguing that all of the bush tax cuts have to be extended and any less will contr

david gregory's guest includes republican leader of the senate, mitch mcconnell and democratic senator john kerry. >>> chicago's first real snowfall this season made it slow or no-going for some travelers in and out of o'hare airport today, one of the biggest and busiest hubs for travel, and tonight that same storm system is on the move. the weather channel's jeff morrow joins us from o'hare. jeff, good evening. >> good evening, lester. yeah, the calendar may say winter isn't here for a couple of more weeks, but for all intents and purposes it arrived today. we got about 3 to 4 inches of snow around the shig area that did snarl the traffic here at o'hare airport. 325 flights had to be canceled and delays ran from a half hour to over an hour at times and the snow is not quite done here yet and while the airport didn't fare so well, other roadways were doing a little bit better. to be honest this kind of storm happens a lot in the midwest over the winter, 2 to 3 to 4 inches, but what people might not be prepared for is the magnitude of the cold air that is going to be coming here into th

senate could begin debating a nuclear arms treaty. the start treaty drastically cuts the number of nuclear weapons. democratsght winning over eight republicans. it was a 66-32 vote to tart the debate. with time running out in the lame duck session, republicans accuse democrats of rying to ram this through with very little debate. >>> new corruption charges against the former mayor kwame kilpatrick. his father is also charged. they are accused in taking part in the same actions. >>> when time magazine named mark zuckerberg as person of the year, it makes him the youngest ever to receive the title. time says zuckerberg has changed how we all live our lives. >> i would agree with that. he certainly has. >>> there is more quarterback drama for the redskins. coming up next, rumors that donovan mcnabb might be benched with the redskin when they face the cll talk with the sports junkies. >> checking your commute and the forecast. snow on the way. not enough but enough that you will notice it for sure. oh, i see. a throne for the tv... room for movies... your workout gear... non-stop football... it's a man cave! the

in the four years of majority, show me the senate democratic leadership bill that republicans could obstruct. there hasn't been any. yesterday, finally, the up action broke on the house side. house democratic leadership sent a bill late in the second week of this lame duck session. the bill does not prevent a tax hike on virtually every american taxpayer, but what kind of action is the house bill? it's political action, pure and simple. it's political. in the statements of the bill's authors, the house kick leadership, we can view that as a partisan sentiments in the democratic caucus. it will not become law, and we all know it. it's up to the obama administration and the senate democratic leadership to work with republicans. the aim should be a by partisan transaction or deal if you want to call it. relegislating on these tax hike prevention issues is long past due. you can say it. long past due. what kind of action are the american people receiving from the senate democratic leadership? the majority leader has used his procedural power to jam republicans. he has the right to do that, but i

nuclear arms control treaty with russia cleared a key obstacle in the senate. 11 republicans joined every democrat present to support ratification. that clears the way, we're told, for the final vote tomorrow. there's every indication the treaty will be approved before the senate closes up shop for the christmas break. the white house has been repeating over and over, the treaty has the support of every living republican secretary of state. >>> now to the big story in new england. big days at uconn. the university of connecticut. at last night's men's basketball game, the new president of the university, the first woman to be appointed to the job, susan herbst got a big welcome. tonight the women's basketball team could set a record as winningest team ever. men or women in college basketball. ron allen is there. >> reporter: practice before a game is usually closed. but this morning, the university of connecticut wanted everyone to have a good look at its women's basketball team winning their 88th straight game on sunday tying record sent by ucla's men's team and their coach back in the 1970s. ton

the number two senate democrat says that a good cross section of senators in his party are ready to accept the deal. without it, income taxes for all americans would go up january 1st. >>> with the steeler's win yesterday, the ravens are looking to keep pace with the afc north. here's a preview. >> reporter: the ravens spent as much time answering their questions about their loss than they did about tonight's game. they had to turn their concentration to the texans. for the veterans, not a difficult task. they know it's something they need to do to teach the younger players what to do. >>> i know we have enough veterans and guys on the team, we'll let them know what we're fighting for. when you lose a game like that, we let them know the position you could have been in and now, what you're not in. you want to be in the play offs and only a certain way to be there. >> we have a huge game coming up. we have a season to look forward to. we have everything we've worked and played for. >> well, the ravens have a couple of trends in their favor. >> they're 3-0 against the texans all time. the pu

the measure is scheduled for a preliminary vote in the senate but several house democrats say they plan to make changes to the wording of the bill. >> the white house tax cut proposal is expected to pass the first key test. >> i can say we have a good cross section of the senate democratic caucus from left to right who are prepared to accept this. >> reporter: this afternoon, the senate is set to approve the measure before expected passage later this week but the plan faces a tougher battle in the house. democrats insist they won't even bring it to the floor until cuts for the healthy are scaled back. >> we will change this and hopefully the president will back us up as we try to take out the worst things in it. >> reporter: in it an extension for higher income earner and an evidence skate tax that some see as too generous. the white house is optimistic congress will pass the deal before the cuts expire at the end of the month. >> i don't think we will get through. i don't think that anyone wants to be responsible for taxes going up on january 1st because we couldn't come to a resolutio

right now this is because republican senator jim demint is trying to run out the clock while senate democrats struggling to get as much done as they can and then you have senate majority leader harry reid now calling republicans hypocrites because of what you talked about, john, those republican earmarks in this spending bill that republicans are now saying some of them are saying they don't want to vote on because of the earmarks in it. and then moving over to the house, also a bit of a marathon there. we're not expecting to see a vote or votes on extending the bush era tax cuts until after midnight tonight. this all centered around downright revolt, really, from liberal democrats who say they were feeling jammed by leaders who were only going to give them one chance to change this bill which would have been to change the estate tax provision and make it perhaps less generous to wealthy americans. well, as it turns out, they said they want more than that even though it's looking like they're not going to be able to secure any changes but they're looking for is to send a message. they want to

a lot of democrats for not sharing, they stayed away from the ceremony in fact, instead the president was surrounded by republicans. looking over the president's shoulder senate republican leader mitch mcconnell. missing from the folder democratic leaders harry reid and nancy pelosi. this robot a struggle but a good face on what his critics call a cave in. it's part bipartisan effort was prompted by the fact that tax rates for every american, were poised automatically increase on january 1st. for most americans the effect of the bill will be almost invisible. working people get an average of another $20 a week for a reduction in payroll taxes. the unemployed will get an extension of their benefits, wealthy americans will continue to enjoy the major tax breaks they want under the bush administration. if more americans might actually see their taxes go up. the tax credit now is making work pay, disappears january 1st. bad credit provides up to $4 a earning between 20 and $40,000 a year. many democrats still like that. >> you will like less taxes but it came at a cost and with the efficiency of essentially having stood at the front of the cap coolidge troubled c

senate democratic leaders say they have a busy agenda. they say the senate needs to deal with a bill that will help people sick from exposure to dust at ground zero. >>> pg&e has been ordered to reduce the pressure of the natural gas flowing through its lines. it based its finding based on its investigation into the san bruno explosion. they will reduce pressure in its pipelines. critics say the utility needs to do more. >> the board of directors of pg&e needs to step in, needs to bring in new management that has a record and history of commitment to customers and putting customers first. >> pg&e says that residential customers won't be affected by the reduction in coverage. >>> let's go to steve paulson. >> there is going to be a lot of rain. we are in a break here. it is breezy so just a raw day, temperatures upper 40s, everything is getting its act together. the low is funneling in moisture from north of hawaii and you combine these two you can see where it is starting to take shape, we are in between that one little system that came in

if repeal passes its future remains uncertain in the senate where earlier this month as you know democrats fell three votes short when they tried to insert repeal of the policy into a larger defense bill. >>> senate leaders say as soon as they finish the tax bill, they will take up a new nuclear arms treaty with russia, called start. officials said yesterday they secured the 67 votes needed for ratification. >> i think it's clear that if you look at the number of democrats and republicans that have said they're supportive of this treaty, that number is at or exceeds 67, and certainly that's crucial and important. that's the number we need and that's the number that we expect to exceed when this is passed. >> however, arizona senator jon kyl disagrees saying he will, quote, work very hard to discourage his fellow republicans from trying to ratify the treaty before the christmas break. >> it's hard it to say no, but at some point, you can no longer, with a straight face, i think, carry the proposition that we are going to do this whole long list of things before the christmas recess. it's si

at the end of the day, the issue here is not the days but the willingness of senators and to be sure democraticators. if they can get them on board, they can do it. the senators believe it the important would be happy to sacrifice a morning to such a large social advance. but if they prefer to argue about procedure and use it to diffuse blame, saying it is not my fault, then at the end of the day, they didn't really want to vote for this. what they wanted to do was be in this place where they weren't saying they were opposed but weren't having to break with their caucus and go through with it. if that's the case, then to carry it in session another day won't matter at all. >> adam green, what would a win on something this important to progressives do for the spirit of progressives at the end of this congress? >> i think a win would be nice, lawrence. winning something would be really nice. but look, there's a few potential -- don't ask, don't tell, the dream act and, of course, the big kahuna is the tax cut debate. there would be a lot of happy people if there were a step taken for equal rights

senator from colorado, a democratic presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988. he is a professor at the university of colorado and an author of "the thunder and the sunshine." he joins us tonight from denver. senator, good to have you back on the program, sir. >> it is a pleasure, mr. smiley. tavis: let me start with the question of the democrats and how or if in fact they can get their mojo back. you have been around for years in politics, so you've seen these kinds of ads and flows. what strikes you about what has happened and democrats -- to democrats in november? >> i think the democratic party must define the future in terms that the american people can understand. there is a sense in this country that we are stagnant, that we are if anything moving in circles and not forward. not only for our generation but for our children and future what my party has to do, and indeed all of those in public office, is construct a narrative that explains to the american people how investment today profits this country in the future and offers us more hope and promise, and

here is audio after the vote of the bill, a democratic senator, not a republican, a democratic senator standing on the floor near an open mike and did not know the mike was open and listen to what he says about his own party and the way this food safety bill was ... rigged. watch. because it is all rigged. the whole conversation was rigged. the fact that we do not get a discussion about what we will do, it is just rigged. rigged. rigged? this is a democrat. this is a democratic senator. saying your senate is rigged. we know it. there is confirmation. from a member of the democratic party. and why isn't that the lead story? your republic is being destroyed now, 123 of b.c. there was food ration on, and today, today's the food ration. what are we debate stg we -- debating? we have food rations. what is this? today, today, how about the 99ers? these are people who have two years of unemployment checks, two years. does it ever end? in 58 of b.c.claudius ran for the office of tribune "free food for the masses," and today 42 million are on food stamps. and "free" is the operative word. liste

virginia democratic senator mark warner and others are offering republicans a compromise. top democrat on the senate budget committee says the house should make changes even if it takes a little longer to pass this tax bill. >> if they have a better idea, they should pass it, send it to us. >> this agreement is not subject to being reopened. >> the tax deal also renews unemployment benefits and cuts social security taxes for one year. >>> another priority for democrats with time running out in the lame duck session of congress is the don't ask, don't tell policy. supporters of repealing the military policy see this week as the best shot for overturning it. democratic leaders including maryland congressman steny highway are say the house will take up the ban. that could put pressure on the senate to act. even if the house does vote, the senate may not go along with it. >>> an army flight surgeon is refusing orders to deploy to afghanistan and he is blaming president obama. coming up next, we'll get details of why he is not reporting to duty. >>> a million dollar heist caught

senate democrats killed a bill on the dream act. the dream act would give undocumented students who attend school in california a chance to become legal citizens. earlier today house democrats scuttled president obama's tax plan with republicans. >> you were told yesterday by the vice president this is a take it or leave it deal. we are saying leave it. >> the white house and key lawmakers extended breaks for alternative energy as part of the tax cut deal. >>> san francisco aids activists are scrambling to find guidelines for a new anti-viral drug that cuts the risk of disease in high-risk men. bay area activists hope to deliver it for prevention next year but not without strict guidelines. the drug works best when taken every day. >> the efficacy went down the less people were. people have to have a real commitment to use it. >> it is $7,000 a year or $35 a pill. there are questions about how to get the drug to people who need it the most and making sure they take it once they get it. >>> a blip on the radar could ruin your christma

a deal made between the president and republicans will be presented to senate democrats today.hy the president is urging both sides to approve it despite their unhappiness. >> also foggy start in the north bay. look how it's connecting into the bay heading down san francisco. that will burn off rather quickly to sunshine and warmer than average temperatures beginning today but rain will be here this time tomorrow. i'll tell you how much you'll get. >> you'll find quite a bit of that fog on your drive through san rafael and 101. these that he had lights southbound. new injury accident reported at the san mateo bridge. this point not blocking any lanes westbound approaching the toll plaza. >> 5:30 on this tuesday morning. a little milder than we've experienced the past few days. i'm eric thomas. >> i'm kristen sze. topping our news, a man is fighting to stay alive this morning after a natural gas explosion at his home so powerful it caused an entire floor to collapse. terry mcsweeney is live at the scene on 87th avenue. what's pg&e saying? >> pg&e is saying that they sent out a c

democrats are so mad that one democratic senator told me that the attitude against the white house is to stuff it. >> the gop is three weeks from taking control of the house and the white house is doing a charm offensive, what is this? >> this is a surprise. after election day, the white house started reaching out to republicans who are committee chairs. they are getting private meetings at the white house and ben bernanke came to the office of one republican chairman, the agriculture secretary set up a monthly lunch. the president is taking calls for you might call this getting a relationship with them before they start working together. >> both the president and first lady will be at a local elementary school which is unusual. they are signing a bill on children's nutrition. >> that is unusual for them to be together. they will be at the harriet tubman elementary school. they will save the child did obeisance -- childhood obesity is a national problem. >> mike allen, good to see you on this monday morning. >> time for traffic and weather every 10 minutes. we will check in with chief

the senate is expected to reject the measure as early as today. democratsill battle to get the 6 -- an uphill battle to get the 60 votes needed. the measure, opposed by republicans, would allow young illegal immigrants a chance to earn u.s. citizenship if they meet certain requirements. the house passed it last night. >>> senate democrats have delayed a vote on whether to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. a test vote had been scheduled for yesterday but it appears there would not be enough votes to pass. so democrats want more time hoping to strike a deal with republicans. >>> $2 million, that's the bail set for a man who tried to escape custody in santa cruz. maurice ainsworth is back in cour december 17 charged with attempted murder and assaulted. he overpowered a female deputy who escorted him to the hospital. >>> california prison officials went on an intensive search for a lethal drug to try and carry out the state's first execution in five years. they traded substances with arizona, got snubbed by texas, and scoured th

>> yes, i think that they realize that the senate is broken whether republican or democrat being unable to act because the senate to sit around and doing the continuous chorus call. we have to be able to live with this when we're in the minority. >> that's true. the minority voice isn't going to be as strong if this is changed the way you want it, i mean that's how much i see it. >> i think that it'll be stronger because we'll be on the floor making our case to the american people. not filing an objection and taking off on vacation. >> yeah, but when it's a simple majority, that changes things, doesn't it. >> well it doesn't take it to a simple majority. we leave thunder place in the reform the 60/40 structure. we say as long as you have 41 that want to continue debate, debate has to continue, but it has to be debate. not some motion that leaves us doing nothing for days at a time the way that it is right now. >> senator -- >> this is a pretty -- >> yeah. it's a pretty what? >> it's a pretty minor change, in the sense that it does what american people think, that you're going to stand u

senate democrats have scheduled hearings on repealing the policy beginning tomorrow. >>> a soldier from vacaville is facing court-martial on five charges related to incidents in afghanistan. staff sergeant accused of severely beating a private to keep that private from reporting about drug use within his platoon. he's also charged with taking photographs of american soldiers posing with dead afghans. the charges he face could result in nine years behind bars. he's one of 12 infantry men accused of terrorizing afghan civilians as well as soldiers in afghanistan earlier this year. >>> the founder of wikileaks is now on the most wanted list at interpoll. the international police agency. he's being sought on an arrest warrant in a rape case involving two women in sweden. the exact whereabouts are unknown but he's believed to be somewhere in britain. he has denied the rape charges and says that the complaints against him are the result of a u.s. smear campaign. >>> in an interview with time magazine, said secretary of state hillary clinton should resign in the wake of the information reveale

senate democrats joined in a filibuster talk athon, aimed at preventing a compromise coming to a voteeing too generous to the wealthier americans in an effort to get republican votes. nbc bay area's brian moore reports on the likelihood they will reach a deal by the end of the year. >> unconscionable, unconscionable. >> critics of the president's tax cut compromise with republicans want to talk the to death. >> we can do better. >> house democrats, have grounded the deal. >> oprah winfrey and santa claus. everybody gets a tax cut. how are we going to pay for it? >> senate democrats are piling on. >> we need to call the president, write the president, work with the president, to say no deal, this has got to be something very different from what it its now. >> but the deal received an unexpected and wringing endorsement from former president clinton. >> this is a good bill. and i hope that my fellow democrats will support it. this will actually create a fair number of jobs. i expect it to lower the unemployment rate. and keep us going. i don't bleach they can get a better deal. >> with

the issue now goes to the senate. democrats there plan to bring to it a vote before year's end. it appears they may have votes needed. today, olympia snow and lisa mercowski announced they would vote to repeel the law. >> senate approved a deal to extend bush era cuts and renew long term benefits. the deal worked out between president ob yaum why and republican leaders was approved 81-19 extending cuts another two years with, out it, taxes would go up january 1. but some democrats are still angry over the tax breaks for the wealthy that under the bill. >> do i feel passionate people earning over $1 kblinl don't need a tax cut? you belt doi. >> most are concerned about the unfunded extension of unemplomt ben yits. >> many house democrats were opposed to a decision that would allow states as large as $10 kblinl to be inherited tax free. >> berkeley police arrested nine people linked to armed robberies, five have happened late last month. investigators say arrests were the result of increased communication with the public and added patrols in areas of the city where these took place

senate democrats are finally unveiling a text of the deal. there are extras in it, i ncluding new tax breaks aimed at boosting production of b iofuel and energy-efficient cars. house democrats say there are simply too many giveaways for the rich. but president obama is standing behind the bill. >> if one side takes out what they don't like, and the other side takes out what they don't like, we're gonna have that. and that, a blank piece of p aper, is not gonna prevent middle-class tax cuts from going up. >> reporter: now barbara lee from oakland is among those l eading the feet against this. i will have coverage for you during my next update. alison burns, ktvu channel 2 news. >> okay. thank you. >>> well, the lack of progress on the tax-cut legislation is blamed for a defeat of the don't ask, don't tell. a procedural vote in the senate failed to pass. they say they got enough votes but senate republicans have insisted they won't consider any other legislation until the tax cut deal is done. it's not clear if there will be enough time for cong

last night senate democrats abandoned their efforts to pass the spending bill. take a listen. >> as the most junior members for those not understanding what just happened. did we just win? it seems that change has come to the senate with the death of this $1.1 trillion plan. >> kelly o'donnell is live in d.c. reid couldn't get the votes by going for a continued resolution. do republicans, do they want that, though? >> well, here's the situation. the majority leader was not able to get enough votes for a spending bill that covers all of the government's departments. it's a massive bill. $1.1 trillion. he wasn't able to get the votes in part because republicans felt there was too much excessive spending. that's an argument they often have here. so reid had to abandon that in order to eventually vote in the next day or two on a short-term fix to keep the governments bills paid for a couple of months. it was a very difficult thing for reid to do because he believes strongly in a lot of the underlying programs that are in the bill. some of the earmarks that he believ

senate democratic leaders have pulled a $1.3 trillion spending bill. it was supposed to continue funding of government. the money runs out on saturday. senate leaders say they will work together to produce a short-term funding bill to keep the government running into early next year. >>> a major announcement for metro. police will begin randomly searching bags. >> this comes in the wake of two terror plot threats. for more on these inspections we go to john gonzales in northwest. >> is subway system in new york city has been doing similar searches for years. officials believe it is time to do the same thing here. passengers will be asked to step aside and have their bags checked. this can happen at any of the metro stations or bus stops. it is hard to find a metro rider not carrying a bag or purse. >> laptop for work. >> i am a musician so i have music. >> in light of terror plots, metro is making a drastic change. >> anything that makes it safer is better. >> metro officials are sure it will only take a few minutes. but some are skeptical. >> i don't t

it will go on to the senate. democrats are trying to squeeze in a vote before the end of the session. with more republicans in the senate next year it will be less likely to pass. it bans gays from serving openly in the military. still to come, facebook burglar. this man broke into the home of a washington post columnist and posted -- posted this picture on facebook. the wife of mark madoff is speaking out after her husband's suicide. all this cold weather could be good for your waistline. all this cold weather could be good for your waistline. ♪ ten thousand watts of xmas cheer ♪ ♪ ten thousand watts glow brightly clear ♪ ♪ the colored lights will shine sincere, ho, ho, ho ♪ ♪ ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ♪ >>> police are looking for a suspected robert that aimed a gun at police officers in prince george's county. officers were called to the area for a robbery suspect. he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers. the gunman did get away. some crimes are easier to catch especially if the suspects don't cover their tracks

do senate democrats have enough votes?believe we do. >> reporter: republicans claim it would restrict the u.s. efforts to build an antimissile defense. >> i cannot support the treaty. i think the verification provisions are inadequate, and i worry about the missile defense implications. >> what are we doing here on a sunday afternoon? >> this was a flawed process and a flawed treaty. >> reporter: the white house is still celebrating the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. >> a great day for this country, a great day for our history. >> reporter: for the first time, gays and lesbians will be able to serve openly in the military. but not immediately. margaret wit was a flight nurse. she was discharged after the army learned she was a lesbian. she would like her job back but she has to late. -- has to wait. president obamaes hoping for another christmas gift from capitol hill, a new start treaty. >> alan: the hotel christmas tree eliciting an appalling -- apology this weekend. this break in the rain is about to end.