it is one of the most heated issues on capitol hill. and it comes up for a vote today. >>> deadly twist in the murder investigation of a popular hollywood publicist. a man linked to the crime commits suicide. >>> and tonight, he'll be facing the music. lebron james returns to cleveland, the hometown he shunned for sunny florida. >>> good morning, everyone. thanks for being with us. well, we will see a test of the new political landscape today on capitol hill. >> lawmakers in the house are voting on the crucial issue of extending bush-era tax cuts for the middle class. and a compromise on the issue may be in the works in the senate. >> is it a new era of cooperation? emily schmidt joins us from washington with a preview. good morning, emily. >> reporter: rob and vinita, good morning to you. there's been a lot of talk in washington this week about finding bipartisan, political common ground. but all that talk gets put to the test today. the results could change the look of your taxes, as soon as next month. the battle over bush-era tax cu

capitol hill, you made this category easy. we will honor the worst moment in congress, coming up. >>> first, our washington speak. interagency. one of my favorite bureaucratic words. the sharing of ideas across different branches or agency ever the government. for example, president obama's afghanistan strategy review out today was an interagency process with inputs from all across the government. everyone from the cia to the department of justice. if you have some washington speak you'd like us to clarify, do send us an e-mail. "daily rundown"@msnbc.com. >> all the inner agency stuff is you how wikileaks was able to steal -- worked really well. >> a cloud over the silver lining for you, chuck. >>> we'll be right back. appraiser: well you rarely see them in this good of shape. appraiser: for example the fingers are perfect. appraiser: the bird is in mint condition. appraiser: and i would say if this were to go to auction today, appraiser: conservatively it would be worth 2 in the bush. woman: really? appraiser: it's just beaut

now the debate takes center stage on capitol hill. should that law be repealed? we're live with that story. >>> also, it's a grid locke alert on capitol hill in this lame duck session of congress. the fallout and what it could mean for your paycheck very soon. fair and balanced debate. bob beckel and chip salzmann, you can see them there, they're ready to faceoff. h good driver , multi-car discounts, defensive driver discounts... woman: you! oh, don't act like you don't recognize me! toledo, '03? gecko: no, it's...i... woman: it's too late stanley. gecko: actually, miss, my name's not stanley. woman: oh...oh, i am so sorry! from behind you look just like him. i'm just.... gecko: well...i'd hate to be stanley. geico. 15 minutes could save you 15 percent. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] at&t and blackberry have teamed up to keep your business moving. blackberry torch now just $99.99. only from at&t. rethink possible. medicare supplement insurance plan card. wherever you go, nationwide, your coverage travels with you. and that's just one of the many reasons... you need a

live on capitol hill, n.j. korff cumming abc7 news. >>> we are on a storm watch tonight with another blast of cold air. chief meteorologist doug hill is in the weather center with details on the frigid evening ahead. >> we have wind chills in the teens. a wind chill advisory in effect until 7:00 p.m. west of the blue ridge. we also have a wind advisory until 7:00 a.m. temperatures are definitely cold. 27 in the district. factor in the wind, and it feels as though it is eight at dollars and 14 downtown. it will be very cold for a few more days. there may be a few more snowflakes before the week is out of. gordon? >>> following a developing story out of richmond. a federal judge has the villard a -- delivered a blow to the health care law. he is the first to render it unconstitutional. the legal battle is just beginning. >> a judge's decision in the virginia could but the president's signature program on life support. >> this is not about health insurance or health care. this is about liberty. the judge said as m

quickly, greg, we'll have to run to some capitol hill news.any reports about efforts from the united states to bring charges against this man? >> reporter: there have been reports today. interesting stuff, jenna, the united states, the justice department is trying to come up with at least a conspiracy case a collusion case that could bring sass sang in with the pf c-manning fellow. i talked to swedish authorities. they say however if the u.s. tries to extradite they have to get the okay from sweden. a lot of hurdles. jenna: thanks very much, greg. we have to run to some other breaking news we're having down in d.c., rick. rick: that's right, in washington, d.c. possible trouble for the tax bill. chief political correspondent carl cameron live on the hill walk of watching the action for us. what is the latest? >> reporter: once humerus and potentially very disturbing. the house has fallen into legislative trap. just seconds ago house democrats pulled the procedural debate from the house floor. they were debating the rule, which is essentially j

happeng right now a jam-packed day on capitol hill. we are waiting for the senate to vote on the president's tax cut compromise, as opposition to that deal, jon, grows and more in the house. jon: leading democrat chris van hal hropbd are maryland is calling the state tax provision a give away to the wealthiest americans. in an editorial in today's "washington post" van holland says it will add $23 billion to the debt without adding a single job. jenna: strong words there, and there is also growing criticism of this deal from the right as well as some prominent republicans come out against the tax cut compromise. plus the tea party patriots urging the packages' defeat. the president weighing in on all the opposition earlier today. >> i know there are different aspects to this plan that members of congress on both sides of the aisle object, that's the nature of compromise. we worked hard to negotiate an agreement that is a win for middle class families and a win for our economy, and we can't afford to let it fall victim to either delay o

a pivotal day for your money on capitol hill. the president sent his treasury secretary and budget director here to try to hammer out a deal to keep some or all income taxes from going up next month as scheduled. >> it's ridiculous what's going on around here. >> reporter: all 42 republicans promise to block everything, including extending unemployment benefits, until democrats agree to extend all tax cuts and fund government operations before they run out friday. >> we need to show the american people we care more about them and their ability to pay their bills than we do about the special interest groups legislative christmas lists. >> reporter: the president said he's not concerned. >> i think we got off to a good start yesterday. there are going to be ups and downs to this process but i'm confident we'll be able to get it done. >> reporter: now a bigger fight begins over the country's crushing federal deficit. >> america must act to get its debt under control. otherwise, we risk the united states becoming a second rate econom

standing by with reaction on capitol hill, chief political correspondent, carl cameron. >> the first thing that one has to recognize is that in american politics, hypocrisy is one of the biggest sins. and democrats and republicans recognize that for the chairman of the house ways and means committee, to fail to pay some of his own income taxes and some of his own taxes is something that could not be allowed to stand. as it happened, it comes in the midst of a massive tax debate on both sides of the capitol. so this is one where not only on the merits of the actual offense, but on the politics. democrats were left with little choice. there was an effort to reduce it from censure to reprimand, but an overwhelming number, more than 330 members of the house voting to censure rangel. essentially held a mirror up to him and while he said he didn't enrich himself and he didn't gain monetarily and it wasn't about rank greed, his admission of the mistake, they hope, the democrats, will at least alleviate some of the perceived hypocrisy because the american people couldn't stand the idea of hi

nuclear arms reduction treaty with russia after months of intense partisan wrangling on capitol hill the voting in the end is seventy one votes out of one hundred senators it needed sixty seven to pass and ratify it would seems at least according to this very early stage to the a.p. news agency that that has got through let's bring our correspondents into this story now on both the atlantic we've got a catarina groucho over in moscow but is to washington first we go and garniture can go on a very good evening to you good day to you of course where you are could you confirm what i was telling our viewers there on this just coming through from the a.p. news agency that in fact those senators seventy one of them at the end of the day one hundred voted yes. yes karan seventy one votes for and twenty six against in the treaty heated up glisic to seven to be approved it's a big day for everyone for a lot of people here in the uighurs who've been pushing so hard for the treaties ratification but the president certainly for senators who've been tirelessly be fanning the treaty on the senate

jane: knowledge is power. >>> breaking news from capitol hill.moment for a bill to be introduced as a stand-alone legislation to repeal don't ask don't tell. patrick murphy will introduce that today in the house at noon it would mirror the measure introduced by senators lieberman and collins in the senate. we're watching for that when that happens, we'll bring it to you live. good tuesday to you, everybody. i'm contessa brewer. the breaking news story that we're following this hour, wikileaks founder

what may or may not happen on capitol hill coming up. >> a live look from downtown san francisco. it is cloudy and mild this morning. the air is much cleaner than yesterday and rain is on the way. i'll tell you when it gets to your neighborhood and show you where it is right now on live doppler 7 hd. >> we're following bart delays and an injury crash in santa cruz mountains. all the details coming up. >> good morning, everyone. i'm theresa garcia. >> i'm eric thomas. kristen is off today. topping our news, thousands of bay bridge drivers who took a police-authorized detour last month during a police standoff on the bay bridge are facing traffic tickets this morning. terry mcsweeney is live at the bridge toll plaza and, terry, you mentioned these people did everything right and they're still being punished. >> yeah. you do everything right and things turn out wrong. out here that morning, that detour you're talking about was not only authorized, it was required by the chp and people went along with it to find out they're slapped with a $36 fine. take a look at the video from that m

and carl is live on capitol hill. the big question, is there enough opposition to derail the bill, especially after the lopsided vote in the senate? >>reporter: it depends on how you mean. as a matter of philosophy the democrats are against it but they will not do so today, 19 people loats was prepared to pick up the bill after the senate passed and it begin the debate in the house of representatives where we are told, no, not going to happen. they will delay it and perhaps start tomorrow. because democrats have not been able to figure out what to do about the estate tax which there are so many objections on the left. proposal is a 35 percent on estates over $5 million, and democrats say it should be steeper tax but they have in the figured out if or how they can do it. the president and residence say if you change the bill it will scuttle it and democrats recognize tampering around the edges could make them blamed for an increase in taxes in january. they would like to change it and they know they can't and they have

happening right >>> this morning on "early today," short lived, the seemingly cooperative spirit on capitol hill sputters with republicans and democrats drifting apart again on tax cuts. >>> storm whipping, a powerful weather system smacks the northeast after tearing up the south and midwest. >>> and bear on the loose, scary moments for police trying to >>> and bear on the loose, scary moments for police trying to wrangle a wild bear in slovakia. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> hello and good morning. welcome to our viewers across the nation, including the pacific time zone. i'm lynn berry. today, we begin with no easy compromise. not long after lawmakers touted a new era of cooperation on capitol hill, democrats and republicans have gotten off to a rocky start in their search for common ground over bush era tax cuts. nbc's tracie potts joins us from washington with the details. tracie, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, good morning, everyone. republicans claim that what the white house is saying is different than what democrats are doing here on capitol hill. the

. >> vice president joe biden is on capitol hill trying to round up democratic support to pass president obama's compromise deal with republicans. yesterday the president cut a deal extending tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000 a year. john hendron has the latest from washington. >> president obama is under fire. friendly fire from democrats. >> there are times to make deals but usually it follows a long, tough fight. i don't know but it seems i missed that part of this equation. >> critics complain he caved cutting a deal to extend the bush tax cuts for two more years for everyone despite campaigning the end of tax breaks for the wealthy. >> how can we rationalize tax cuts for the most wealthy americans when we're facing this kind of a deficit. the president did get concessions extending unemployment benefits for 13 months for 9 million americans saving 2 million jobless workers from losing their benefits over the holidays, extending tax credits for working families including college tuition and children and a 2% payroll tax holiday for every american. what's it all mean? an a

high drama on capitol hill, a tax cut vote is put hold in the house and the senate squabbles over a spending bill packed with lawmakers' pet project. one republican insists that the 2,000-page billallowed, word for word a task grew dew to begin an hour from from now. >>> wolf blitzer begins an extraordinary visit to the communist north. it is a television exclusive. joochbtder the killings of two congregants, a crime-fighting priest steps out of the pulpit and into the streets. what he is doing to help clean up his city. while wolf is on assignment, i'm suzanne malveaux and you're in "the situation room." >>> there's a deep freeze outside while inside the capital, the following critical issues are frozen. a compromise tax bill is stalled

kelly o'donnell on capitol hill. we're going to begin with kelly on capitol hill. walk me through what we're going to see over the next two and a half hours. and explain why they need two and a half hours. >> they're just finishing up the debate to wrap this up over the vote. we heard the democrat from colorado come out and say he will oppose this because he believes it gives too much to the rich. we've seen john mccain talking about the fact that he'll vote for it. and we saw chuck grassley of iowa saying if they don't act on this it's the biggest increase in tax cut history. it's past 3:00 now. what they are doing is holding it open to allow more members to get back to town. harry reid said he knew they were flying in. at least one senator was stranded in minneapolis. >> we know about the weather. >> exactly. so they'll give them extra time. but they don't suspect suspense. they believe they have enough votes and they've been checking to see who is around. we may wait for a while. but there's confidence among democrats and republicans who back this strongly, that

they join us from capitol hill.u match up the strategy, what you're leaders are doing in the negotiations with the white house right now with the legislation you propose, is it fair to say you believe at the moment your leaders are too timid and are asking forme more? >> we want to allow every congressman and senators an up and down vote on a permanent extension. what we hear from the business community and individuals all over the country is we need some certainty. you can't plan to grow a business in 6 to 12 months. sometimes it's a five our ten-year process. so to have certainty in what the tax rates will be is much more important than a temporary extension of the current rates. we don't need a temporary economy, so we don't need temporary tax rates. >> yet, as both of you describe yourselves as fiscal conservatives, do you think you have the obligation -- they say extending them over ten years would cost $10 do10 billion in ink? >> there's no question senator demint are of one mind we have to put our fiscal hous

nancy cordes reporting from capitol hill. thank you. and still ahead here on the "cbs evening news," a trailblazer on the hard wood in steve hartman's "assignment america." but up next, the growing toll of the bernard madoff swindle. i'm off to the post office... ok. uh, a little help... oh! you know shipping is a lot easier with priority mail flat rate boxes. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. plus, you can print and pay for postage online. and i can pick them up for free with package pickup. perfect! cause i'm gonna need a lot of those. wow! i knew i should have brought my sleigh. priority mail flat rate shipping starts at $4.90 only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. [ man thinking ] i'm so stuffed with gas. ohh, noo, not that! not, not here! [ male announcer ] prevent uncomfortable gas moments with gas-x prevention. just one before meals helps prevent gas before it starts. from gas-x, the gas-xperts. just one before meals helps prevent gas before it starts. this holiday, do you really want

country's top security experts who fear the treaty could become a victim of political games on capitol hill in the final days of debate on start they wanted to we write the language of the treaty which would have actually killed it they wanted to take out the line in the preamble of the deal which states the fact of the connection between offensive and defensive weapons in a security expert would say the connection is obvious and in fact all of those from the military who testified before the senate were saying exactly that they also maintained it's not the start treaty that would make the u.s. we curred the treaty itself explicitly says either side can pull out of it if at some point they deem is threatens their national security if we look at the cots part of the do we have some very significant reductions on the way over the next

. >> vice president joe biden is on capitol hill tryi to round up democratic support to pass president obama's compromise deal with republicans. yesterday the president cut a deal extending tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000 a year. john hendron has the latest from washington. >> president obama is under fire. friendly fire from democrats. >> there are times to make deals but usually it follows a long, tough fight. i don't know but it seems i missed that part of this equation. >> critics complain h caved cutting a deal to extend the bush tax cuts for two more years for everyone deste campaigning the end of tax breaks for the wealthy. >> how can we rationalize tax cuts for the most wealthy americans when we're facing this kind of a deficit. the prident did get concessions extending unemployment benefits for 13 months for 9 million americans saving 2 million jobless workers from losing their benefits ove the holays, extending tax

megyn: we have breaking news from capitol hill.ing more about what could have been an ugly situation. police say they cuffed a man joust outside the capital building after he claimed to have a gun. he walked to an officer become aggressive and making threats. another officer tack manied the suspect -- tackled the suspect from behind. no weapon was found and the suspect was not identified publicly. police say they are not familiar with the man and they are not sure what he wanted. >> senate majority leader harry reid a grinch? is he try something scrooge his colleagues with plans to keep the senate in session until christmas eve then call everyone back before new years? some republicans think so. jon kyl accusing him of disrespecting one of the holiest days for christians. reid firing back. >> i don't need to hear lectures to remind me of what christmas means. my question, madame president, is where were their concerns about christmas with filibuster after fill busker during this entire congress. dose have a point? simon rosenberg,

they're circulating a letter on capitol hill urging party members not to vote for it. the president insists tax breaks for the rich was the only way that republicans would agree to tax breaks for the middle class. >> you don't have the backbone to let the tax cuts expire today, you certainly are not going to do it in the middle of a presidential election. >> business leaders from the chamber of commerce and business round table, a group of the nation's top ceos, are praising the package. >>> new this morning, wikileaks published a new set of cables overnight. the whistle blowing website at posted a new message. it says the leaks will continue despite the arrest of the site's founder, julian assange. he is in jail without bond on rape charges. wikileaks is under pressure on

if something is not done on capitol hill. this morning, the house is going to take up the bush era tax cuts but of course we know that the deadline is looming and stale few obstacles here. some democrats as you know are against cuts for the wealthiest americans. however, it seems many have gotten past that point and willing to have that be a part of the compromise. many democrats -- excuse me -- also against the estate tax which they say would also just benefit the rich. both parties worried that the 13-month extension of jobless benefits in the compromise will only add to the nation's staggering deficit. now again, hanging over the objection is this warning. republicans say they'll walk, they'll walk away from this deal if any changes are made from the senate version that was just approved yesterday to the house when they get their hands on it and decide to vote on something. they say if it's changed one bit, the deal is in limbo. again, your taxes in about two weeks are going to go up. we are monitoring that on capitol hill

. >>> and as you know, about a mile and a half away, on capitol hill, republicans gained power in november by promising to cut waste. those projects known as pork. our jon karl tracked down some of them today, because some of them seem to have said one thing, while preparing to do another. >> reporter: christmas time on capitol hill -- plenty of gifts for special interests and pet projects for powerful lawmakers. case in point -- >> this appropriations bill. >> reporter: the so-called omnibus prop rations bill. $1.1 trillion to keep the government running for the next year. it's filled with old-fashioned pork. more than $8 billion in earmarks, special projects tacked on by individual members of congress. there's $80 million for the restoration of pacific coastal salmon. some of it for land-locked nevada, which hasn't seen wild salmon since the 1930s. $300,000 for the polynesian voyaging society in hawaii. $235,000 for noxious weed management in nevada. $165,000 for maple syrup research in vermont. the bill is being pushed by democrats, and has been attacked by republicans. >> the bill is l

the white house dispatched joe biden to capitol hill with a tough sales mission last night. convincing unhappy house democrats to support the deal. but even as biden spoke, one democratic congresswoman tweeted, "listening to the vp making the case for the house tax cut deal, i'm still opposed." even democratic leaders are fuming, especially unhappy with the provision that slashes the tax on inheritances. >> the super, super break on the estate tax is a choking point for a lot of our members. >> reporter: the president has been working the phones, too, telling democrats, the deal is necessary to give the economy a boost. >> get this done. the american people are watching, and they're expecting action on our parts. >> reporter: and the president has an unlikely ally on that, senate republican leader mitch mcconnell. >> we've reached a bipartisan agreement. it's time democrats in congress reach a similar conclusion and enable us to act for the good of the whole country. >> reporter: but mcconnell may have some work of his own. not all republicans like the deal.

the move on capitol hill also pointed out that russia now will very carefully want to look at exactly the words. you know what was voted through the devil is always in the detail but the the general thoughts all that will be no problem getting it through moscow how quick do you think moscow will be able to ratify the document in the federal council and what's next as far as that side of it is concerned. well i think the russians will go ahead and that ratified of course they want to look at the what the congress did congress didn't alter the treaty itself but it passed resolutions and that sort of thing in interpret again and that sort of thing it's only natural that the russian duma would want to look at that but i think it's probably going to go through on both sides and i think it's a good thing principally because of the verification provisions but also because of the thirty percent warhead and so i think it's a good treaty and i think it's you know i thought it was going to pass all along and i because that's the way these things go it went down to the last of the wire the wheeli

lot to be out and of course the crimean had been watching carefully all those heated debates on capitol hill the first reaction came from the kremlin and the foreign ministry sergei lavrov the russian lawmakers would of course need some time to study the resolution cation resolution but as for the rest will be no problem with russia indeed the vote was more about america's credibility abroad president medvedev the sure it will rock obama from the very beginning that russian lawmakers would say yes to a new start and most importantly most of you saying you start does not draw a line between winners and losers both sides come out as wieners by working towards global design a month. before the treaty was cleared for it to be taken there were many obstacles in the way when there. that's right kerry despite all the support that the treaty has received you know the country's top security experts are saying that it is a win win deal and number of republican senators who are growing out of their way to on don't mind it as many say. yes for the sake of denying obama is arguably major foreign policy v

. >>> on capitol hill, the lame duck senate is closer to approving the new s.t.a.r.t. arms control treaty with russia. the treaty needs 67 votes. several republicans now say they will join democrats in voting yes. a vote could be held today to cut off debate and schedule a final vote. >>> also on capitol hill, the democrats have a lot on their to-do list. one is a bill to pay medical expenses for police, fire and medical personnel suffering from 9/11-related illnesses. preeti arla is in washington with the latest on that. preeti, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, terrell. it has been an emotional debate over that legislation to help those workers. now there have been changes to the bill. one big change is the cost was scaled back from $7.4 billion to $6.2 billion. now 9/11 first responders are pressuring congress to pass the legislation before they leave for the holiday. first responders who got sick at ground zero are taking their fight to washington. >> to me this is a no-brainer. we're going to get this done. >> reporter: this morning the rally at the

on capitol hill, lots of negotiations but no compromise on extending the bush era tax cuts.y're due to expire at the end of the month. democrats want the cuts extended for families making less than $350,000. republicans believe the wealthiest americans should also benefit. >>> government regulators may soon block advertisers from spying on your web surfing. the federal trade commission wants to create an equivalent of the do not call registration. the do not track list requires basic technology but the challenge will be enforcing it. >>> good situation in everything. >> aah! what was that? >> that was a thunder clap. thunder accompanying this wicked snowstorm in upstate new york. look at that. as much as three feet snow fallen in upstate new york and even more is in the forecast today. some people stuck in the cars on interstate 90 for almost a day. about 20 hours. can you imagine? >>> weather, big problem in europe, as well. heavy snow, bone-chilling temperatures and high winds stranding travelers on roadways, airports and railway lines, as well. we're going to get more fro

well immediately after the votes were counted on capitol hill moscow force applauded the outcome because yesterday evening minutes before the final vote we were still talking tossup today we're talking a done deal of course the kremlin has been watching council all those heated arguments pro and cons in washington d.c. and the press reaction came from the prominence press office and from the russian foreign ministry who both while come this decision by the u.s. senate to ratify this crucial major nuclear agreement in almost two decades sergei lavrov said that as far as russian lawmakers are concerned they will of course need some time to study the british vacation resolution which the senate voted for but that it will be no problem with russia that it would be a mere matter of time indeed the code was more about the u.s. credibility abroad rather than that of russia's president very assured the rock obama from the very beginning that the russian parliament would approve. read it proved the new strategic arms reduction treaty immediately after it was clear that the u.s. senate would vote

right now there is mass pandemonium on capitol hill trying to go through this.the democrats in the senate are going to try to bring this to the floor in what called a cloture vote to try to fun the government by saturday. megyn: everybody has to read that. at some point between now and saturday and tell the american people whether they favorite or don't favor it by a vote saturday. senators coburn and demint are apparently going to request or insist that this entire thing be read on the senate floor. aloud. i can take the rest of the show if you like. megyn: let's see how exciting it is. is it a win from the beginning. >> reporter: ordered to lie on the table and be printed in lieu of the matter to be inserted insert the following short title, this act may be cited as consolidated appropriations -- megyn: order to lie on the table. you had me there twist went down hill after that. >> reporter: it's a mess. megyn: that's what your sources are telling you. it's a total mess and all hell is breaking loose. bret: we'll try to dig through it and talk to as many peopl

jenna: breaking news on capitol hill.earing from the office of senate majority leader harry reid that they will vote on the bill in the early evening. whsteny hoyer says it will comeo a vote. charlie hurt is a washington bureau chief for the "new york post." we've heard mixed messages. we've heard from the democrats that they really don't like this bill at the same time steny hoyer's office says he is not too sure that they have the votes to change the bill. is this all talk and no action? >> reporter: the only thing we know for certain now is when the senate votes this evening on the tax extension they will vote to extend tax cuts for all income groups and they will, you know, vote in favor of the latest proposal on the estate tax. the problem is that over in the house democrats remain very upset about the entire tax bill, and specifically they've sort of picked out the issue of the estate tax, that's their main point of attack. jenna: do they actually have the votes, charlie, to really take issue and create a different

>> we'll keep watching on capitol hill. kelly o'donnell for us. thanks. >>> there's some apparent big news for the white house tonight coming from capitol hill. something the white house badly wanted. the new s.t.a.r.t. 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: practi

megyn: a lot of action on capitol hill.nding some but not all of the bush tax cuts and we are waiting for the house to vote on the punishment for democrat charlie rangel. he's expected to address his colleagues before the expected censure vote. it's likely to happen within the next half-hour. when it comes to your pooch no pampering is too much. how about a doggy spa that offers a disco, massages, detoxifying sauna treatments and a special machine that makes liver-flavored bubbles. rick has more on the doggy fetch club. >> reporter: if this isn't a sign the economy is turning around, i don't know what is. this is no joke. this is a dog spa that's decked out with the finest of features from doggy physical therapy and massage to a full-on beauty salon and five-star bedroom suite. it's called the fetch club. here is one of the owners. >> everything we need for the canine lifestyle. play time, nap time, hotel. we do grooming, alternative therapy. >> reporter: alternative therapies for dogs. your dog gets showers with liver and

rich edson live from capitol hill.our senate producer up there, calls this a high stakes game of legislative chicken. so who is going to blink first i wonder? >> well, it seems as both sides are sticking to their guns here, shep, and if that happens, this procedure that we have in motion reading all this bill, reading much of what could happen here, you're looking at a possible government shutdown for a couple of days though there is a way out that neither side has to blink. they can pass a temporary measure that would fund the government until sometime mid next week. maybe after christmas. that would give them enough time to work this out. >> shepard: what happens on saturday if the government shuts down? will anyone even notice? >> you know, it will be somewhat chaotic. but, you know, some of the basic services will still be intact but dealing with safety, medical, police, fire, national security. that will still be funded and ok. but last time this happened was 1995, 1996 and using that as a guide, congress says wha

today, we begin with capitol hill countdown. there may be 15 days till christmas, but the holiday spirit appears to be in short supply in the nation's capitol. lawmakers have more than a week to wrap up a long and controversial list of unfinished business before they can head home for the holidays. incomes's tracie potts joins us from washington with those details. tracie, good morning. >> reporter: lynn, good morning. a lot of what happens and doesn't happen depends on what happened with the dpra micompro. democrats are united against the president. >> left. >> right. >> left. >> right. >> reporter: don't have don't tell. government spending in the nuclear treaty with russia in limbo. all on the back burner until democrats get their crack at the tax deal i. urge members of congress to move forward on this essential priority. >> reporter: democrats want to take out a reduced tax rate for the rich and big companies. >> this was a take it or leave it deal. we're saying, leave it. >> reporter: shouting just say no, house democrats r

we'll go straight to political correspondant cameron hill on capitol hill. >> hi, bret. >> supporters needed 60 votes and they got a huge momentous building vote with yes votes and counting. >> the vote began at 3:00 p.m. on the republican's deal with the republicans to extend the tax benefits. they lead reoff pledging support. >> plain and simple this is a compromise about jobs and extending middle tax cuts to help create job. not extending them would cost jobs. >> normal time limits were suspended because of bad weather. gop hailed the obama administration for working across the aisle on tax relief. >> this is a shift. >> compromise could come tomorrow. this proves both parties can in fact work together. >> after touting the huge vote clearing the procedural hurdle, the president turned up the heat on the unhappy lenliberals. >> in the house democrats last week voted angrily against the deal, have been back pedaling. >> the demdeps are not going to stare a tax bill and prevent anything coming before the house. >> i think we will have a vote on the senate bill . with possible changes

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he's on capitol hill with today's political pop. mr. let me ask you this, have you bumped into charlie rangel today? >> reporter: i haven't bumped into it but i have seen him. i was in the house chamber a while ago and he's apparently been sitting out there for quite a while, pretty loose, smiling, working on some type of a statement, surrounded by friends. right next to him was one of the constitutional law experts in the house of representatives, congressman bobby scott of virginia. also saw jim clyburn who is the house majority talking to him for a while. and i'm told he also spoke very briefly to the speaker of the house while he was out there. so charlie rangel has planted himself on the house floor in advance of this procedure which just got started, brooke. >> let's talk punishments here. they've mentioned censure, being publicly dressed down in front of his peers, or the lessor of the two, the reprimand, the written punishment. >> reporter: some members of the new york delegation, i'm told, even a republican or two, have been sa

the drama on capitol hill is by no means over. the focus is turning back to the senate where lawmakers are debating s.t.a.r.t. today and will be coming in for a rare saturday session to take up don't ask, don't tell and dream act. democrats are scrambling after republicans outplayed them on the omnibus spending bill. news correspondent and nbc's capitol hill correspondent luke russert is joining her. we've got both sides of the hill covered. kelly, first to you. what happened last night with the omnibus spending bill? >> harry reid thought he had agreements privately with enough republicans to pass the 1$1.1 trillion bill which would fund the agencies of government through the whole fiscal year. it was a very biggs project. something they worked on for other than a year and also inclusive for 6400 earmarks and many defend them as important. so he thought he had the votes. well, mitch mcconnell had been working his side very hard and it turns out they didn't have the necessary votes. and harry reid had to abandon that bill and agre

vice president joe biden heads to capitol hill today to try and convince rebellious democrats to support president obama's tax compromise with republicans. this comes a day after the president himself launched a forceful defense of his concessions he made, including extending tax cuts to the nation's highest earners. nbc's steve handelsman has the report. >> reporter: in trouble with democrats over his compromise on taxes, president obama took his defense public. >> a long political fight that carried over into next year might have been good politics but it would be a bad deal for the economy, and it would be a bad deal for the american people. >> reporter: he got what democrats want, a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits and a one year, one-third cut in social security taxes to help working class families, but mr. obama gave republicans what they want on taxes. no hikes on the top bracket to be sure the rest, 98% of taxpayers, keep their cut. bipartisanship, says the president. >> i am happy to be tested over the next several months about our ability to negotiate with republican

. >> decisions on capitol hill. tonight, lawmakers are poised to hold another vote on the parent -- on the president's compromise package. nikole killion has the very latest from capitol hill. >> they are still meeting some resistance in the house. in the senate come around two basis passage. >> when we get down to the bottom line, do we pass this bill or not? >> after the tax deal passed a procedural vote on monday, 83- 15, it moved on to debate. >> like a passionate that those making over $1 million do not need a tax break? yes, i do. >> this would prevent taxes from going up in january by keeping the bashoor tax that's in place for two more years and extend unemployment benefits in several tax credits. lawmakers remain split along party lines over the estate tax on inheritance is worth $5 million or more. >> $5 million is not a lot of money. for a small business, a family farm, a cooperative, it is not a lot of money. that is the lifeblood of a lot of families. it adds $20 billion over two years and it will do ab

jeff. >> glor: joel brown capitol hill. thank you. today's senate vote followed the labor department's report that unemployment hit 9.8%. increased worker productivity is one reason the anemic jobs picture is not improv improvinge hear from manuel gallegus. >> productivity has improved at anadigics. recession forced the new jersey chip make tore lay off 190 employees, a quarter of its workforce. to survive the downturn, the company streamlined its operation, retrained workers and increased productivity. >> we can do the same amount of production with 20% fewer people. >> reporter: in recession, companies typically cut costs, squeezing more out of each worker. in 2009, there was an unprecedented 7% spike in worker productivity. in recent months, employees, on average, worked longer hours and productivity rose 2.3%. with productivity so high, even as the economy recovers, employers are asking themselves just how many workers do i need to hire back? historically, a rise in productivity predicts the beginning of an economic expansion and