durbin: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 551, s. 2388. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar 551, s. 23 2388, a bill to reauthorize and amend the national oceanic and atmospheric administration commissioned officers corps act of 2002 and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. durbin: i further ask the committee-reported substitute be considered, the begich amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported substitute as amended be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate and that any related statements be printed at the appropriate place in the record as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the judiciary committee be discharged from further consideration of

but as senator durbin just indicated, they are not elected to get a very big fig leaf.on. and he has a simple position. he wants to prove he can dominate, and he does that with getting the rates up. he has a veto pen. it's hard for me to see how it will even get to a veto. at some point either you're going to go over the cliff or find some kind of dramatic concession to the president. >> lawrence, this idea of how much room the president is willing to give is a big question. because he wants, based on what i'm hearing, boehner to say, ok, i give on the rates. and then he'll give more. >> problem for boehner is how do i give on rates. he said this the other day. i oppose tax rate increases because tax rate increases cost american jobs. that gives you no room to give on rates. it is, by the way, not an original thought. who said this? the tax increase will kill jobs and lead to a recession, and the recession will force people out of work and onto unemployment, and actually increase the deficit. that's newt gingrich, in 1993, on the clinton tax increase, and those of us wh

durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the assistant majority leader is recognized. mr. durbin: ask consent the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, i rise with the intention of asking consent for the immediate passage of s. 215, the increasing american jobs through greater exports to africa act, legislation i've introduce in the senate with senators boozman, coons, cardin and landrieu, and that is being sponsored and led in the house of representatives by congressman chris smith and congresswoman karen bass. it's a straightforward, bipartisan bill that tackles a very serious problem, specifically making sure that american companies have the ability to compete in the growing african market, a market that economists call the next frontier, a market that is hungry for american goods and services. the african market is also one where others are competing. too often at the expense of american businesses and american employees, american pro

senator durbin, you're the number two senator on the democratic side. how far apart are you with the republicans to reach a deal? >> well, i think there still is a chasm there. there's work to be done and not much time left. it's interesting that it does come down to two very basic issues-- one is what percentage of the wealthiest people in america will pay a higher tax eat. and secondly, how many of the richest americans who pass away should be spared paying extra for estate taxes. from the republican side, those remain their highest priorities -- protecting object highest income individuals from tax increases and protect up to 6,000 estates a year from pagan additional $1 million. that's what this is about. we see it differently. what's at stake as far as we're concerned are 98% of the american families, working families and middle-income families with shouldn't see their taxes go up on january 1. that's our highest priority. als the president added, the two million who would lose unemployment benefits immediately if we don't act to change that betwee

and really, senator durbin is right. but the conversation we have got to have has got to have everybody open-minded. i mean, we all react emotionally, that's why we have all shed tears and our prayers will continue to go for the people in connecticut who have lost loved ones. >> chris: after the movie here is the shooting in july in aurora, colorado, you said what we need is more people carrying weapons so that if a shooter comes into a movie theater with a gun, somebody can stand up and defend him and defend other people. question: and this is the question dick durbin had. do we really want folks in movie theaters, and malls and schools armed? >> once we have this actually open dialogue about ever every mass killing of people in recent history has been in a place where guns were prohibited. these gun -- except for one. they choose this place, they know no one will be armed. you know, having been a judge and having reviewed photographs of these horrific scenes and knowing that children have these defensive wounds, gunsho

really, senator durbin is right.ation we have to have has got to have everybody open mined. i mean, we all react emotionally and that is why we have all shed tears and our prayers will continue to go to the people in connecticut who have lost loved ones. >> chris: after the movie theatre shooting we referred to. in july. in aurora, colorado. you said that what we need is more people carrying weapons, so that if a shooter comes into a movie theatre with a gun, somebody can stand up and defend him and defend other people. question: and this is the question dick durbin had... do we really want folks at movie theatres and shopping malls and schools armed? >> once we have this actually open dialogue about the situation, chris, you find out that -- there has been great investigation and study into this. every mass killing of more than three people in recent history has been in a place where guns were prohibited. these -- except for one, they choose this place, they know no one ill be armed. having been a judge and reviewed

senator dick durbin saying no deal on the debt without a tax hike of the wealthy. >> i can't tell you, i don't want to do it, the president doesn't want to do it, but we need to solve the problem been we cannot allow the reckless position to drive this economy into another recession. >> some suggesting that it might be better to cave to the president now on taxes and keep up the fight on spending. >> if we were to pass, for instance, raising the top two rate and that's it, all of a sudden we do have the leverage of the debt ceiling and we haven't given that up. >> meantime, one influential

poor old durbin has someone looking over his back because he voted for the package.ry time they deal and over in the republicans, boehner has to go to work and come back and there's-- now there are 70 of them left, the tea party guys. these are guys who went to congress not to limit government but to stop it. so what are you going to do? and so here we have this plan. everybody says "i love the framework. i just love--" >> jon: everybody loves a good framework. >> and then that will say what did you do with home mortgage interest deductions. it will be the end of home ownership. we said you don't need a million bucks of home hoarnlg interest deduction. we'll take it down to 500,000, and a 12% nonrefundable tax credit and that helps the little guy. if everybody would do something for the little guy instead of talking about the little guy, we might make it. >> jon: the little guy might get bigger. >> might get bigger ( cheers and applause ). >> jon: there's so much talk-- and even in simpson/bowles, there's a lot of talk about corporate tax rates and lowering them and

. >> let me say before we go, we're going to talk not just with lieberman and durbin and gun control, we talk to two sets of parents and their child about extraordinary acts of bravery. experts on school safety. one of the things we emphasize is the principal who ran to the gunfire, the 27-year-old first grade teacher who put herself in front of the shooter to protect the kids. there's a lot of good and strength. >> true heroes. we've learned a lot. that's for sure. we will from your program as well. thank you for bringing us a preview. >> "fox news sunday" you can catch chris wallace's interview with senator lieberman and he has democratic whip, senator dick durbin and the families. you'll want to hear their story. >> the aftermath of this shooting bringing the issue of mental health to the forefront of our national discussion. how do we know when someone needs help? how do they get it? can this be forced to? we will

>> i think dick durbin was right. in a time of dysfunctionality, this probably takes the cake when you filibuster your own probably. but the bottom line, this country, as you well know, ed, faces enormous problems. we have people trying to find work. we're trying to deal with global warming and the tremendous problems that that's it going to bring to our planet. we have this absurd citizens united situation and billions of dollars coming into the campaign from wealthy people. a whole lot of issues that have to be dealt with. time after time after time in an probably. but the bottom line, this country, as you well know, ed, faces enormous problems. we have people trying to find work. we're trying to deal with global warming and the tremendous problems that that's it going to bring to our planet. we have this absurd citizens united situation and billions of dollars coming into the campaign from wealthy people. a whole lot of issues that have to be dealt with. time after time after time in an unprecedented way. republica

durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the nuclear from illinois. -- the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: how much time is remaining? the presiding officer: 7:20 -- selseven minutes and 20 seconds. mr. durbin: the fisca fiscal crs was not manufactured. it was enacted, enacted into law enforcement the law passed with the support of both political parties in the hopes we would never reach this day. we can still avoid it and i hope we will. i think all of us agree that it would be a negative impact on our economy if we in fact go over the cliff. so i hope there will be a good-faith effort on both sides, but this fiscal cliff was created by law, passed by democrat and republican leaders and sent to the president. so this is clearly something we envisioned as the last straw, and let's hope it's one that we will avoid. correspondent cower will the distinguished majority whip yield for a question? mr. durbin: i would be happy to. mr. cornyn: i am a little confused. i don't know whether he is ta

the tipping point was always described by dick durbin, when will it happen? but when it happens, interest rates will go up, inflation will go up, and the guy that gets hurst the worst is the little guy. what hypocrisy, what fakery. >> schieffer: mr. bowles? >> they absolutely can do it. if they don't do it, shame on them. >> schieffer: thank you both for being with us this morning. we'll be back in one empty to talk to cory booker. >> schieffer: we're back with one of the rising stars, according to democrats, of their party, and that is newark mayor cory booker. mr. mayor, let's just pick up on what we heard from erskine bowles and alan simpson. what are your constituents talking about? what are they telling you about this? how does this look from outside washington? >> well, i think there's an immediate fear. there are a lot of people, a couple of thousand dollars, which most americans will see their tax goes up, if we don't do something about this. for many families, not only in my city, but across our state, a couple of thousands dollars could be the diffe

america, as senator reid and senator durbin made so car, america has lost a true hero, a patriot. this senate has lost a great leader, a leader whose accomplishments have been literally historic, and i think all of us have lost a friend. last evening, senator akaka spoke about how dan inouye's legacy, i'm paraphrasing here, was all aund hawi and all he had done for the state. the truth is that i think mt every state in the country is full of legacies of the service of dan inouye. i know it's true of connecticut. it really was my honor to serve for 24 years with dan inouye here. his -- he was exactly the opposite of all the caricature pictures people have of congress today, and particularly about the rabid ptisanship and personal uncivillity. dan was a great gentleman, and the most civil of people, the kindest and most decent of people. and as senator reid said, a proud democrat, a faithful democrat, but not at all partisan. the relationship that he had wi the late ted stevens on the appropriations committee was historicnd can actually inspirational. they were so different ostensib

>> i think dick durbin was right.time of dysfunctionality, this probably takes the cake when you filibuster your own probably. but the bottom line, this country, as you well know, ed, faces enormous problems. we have people trying to find work. we're trying to deal with global warming and the tremendous problems that that's it going to bring to our planet. we have this absurd citizens united situation and billions of dollars coming into the campaign from wealthy people. a whole lot of issues that have to be dealt with. time after time after time in an unprecedented way. republicans are saying the majority is not going to rule. you're going to need 60 votes. we're going to filibuster. that just eats up the clock. it makes it very difficult for us to do the work that the american people have sent us to washington to do. >> will these tactics continue? these rule changes that the democrats are talking about and making the move on, will it change the climate? >> i certainly hope we will succeed with very serious filibuste

senator durbin, thank you. know you have got a good heart on this as well as a good head about fiscal matters. what's wrong with the congress when it comes to protecting, ensuring the domestic tranquility? >> well, there's a legitimate concern about our second amendment, chris. you understand that part. but there's also a very strong political force that is trying to push forward, primarily for the dealers and manufacturers, an agenda that will sell more firearms and more sophisticated firearms, more expensive firearms, and that has really dominated the scene. if you asked who is the head of the alcohol, tobacco, and firearms division of the department of defense, you would have to learn, unfortunately, that for literally years there's not been a head. the nra and gun lobbyists successfully even stopped the basic organization in charge of enforcement of our gun laws in america. >> when the late charlton heston would run that ad for the nra, he would wave some old musket near and say, from my cold dead hands, wh

senator durbin has raised a very valid point.gulate automobiles, we regulate consumer products, we regulate a lot -- as we should for public safety. and we should regulate firearms for public safety reasons. there's no need for assault weapons to be held by the public. in my view, there's no legitimate reason for a civilian to possess a military-style weapon or to have large-capacity ammunition clips. congress should also examine whether we can strengthen our background check system for gun buyers along with criminal penalties for those who illegally purchase or transfer guns. we need to take a look at safety locks for children. we need to look at those who have multiple purchases. we need to look at the gun show purchases. all these i think we should examine to see whether we cannot make our communities safer without infringing upon the legitimate right of individuals to possess guns, sportsmen to be able to use guns for hunting. i think all that obviously will be protected, but we can do a much better job in protecting public s

in the exchange with senator durbin. i want to express my deepest condolences on behalf of all the people of maryland to the 20 students who lost their lives, the six adults at the hand of a single shooter at sandy hook elementary school in you intown, connecticut. it's heartbreaking to listen to the stories of innocent lives cut cruelly short. the pain and grief of the families and friends of these students and teachers are unimaginable. i just want to echo some of the comments that senator durbin made and senator leahy made. we know that the teachers and the aides put their life on the line in order to try to save children. the unbelievable task of the first responders coming to the scene, not knowing what they would find, we send our prayers to all. this is a tragedy beyond words, and i think president obama said it best last night that our hearts are broken. but as senator durbin has said and senator leahy, i particularly want to thank you, we need to take action. congress needs to come together and take action to pr

and finally, dick durbin just said on sunday on "meet the press" he thought she could be confirmed if a vote came to that. obviously, we're not going to see whether durbin's prediction will come true. >> to the point you raised earlier and professor dyson just raised, professor dyson said we don't want to name it, but we have seen the attorney general eric holder pursued by republicans, and he's actually the subject of litigation now, and now what do we find but susan rice pursued in the way that she has been by senator john mccain and others. is there a theme here? >> reporter: i'm not going to go that far, martin. i think we live in such a partisan time that when you give someone an opportunity on the other side, a toehold, if you will, to wage this kind of fight in such a high-profile nomination, i think they're going to be taken. i have been back here on the senate for all of two days and i have witnessed a lot of farewell addresses on the senate floor. >> wherever you are there's trouble. >> and they all have one thing in common. they are lamenting the ideological straitjackets a

something assistant democratic leader dick durbin articulated yesterday. >> marriage equality is part of america's future, and we saw that in state after state in the last election. the supreme court will take up the issue, and i hope that they understand as most of us do that this is part of our future. marriage equality and the equal treatment of people who have made this decision is part of what america is all about. >> will the supreme court seize the momentum? we will look at the high court's upcoming decision on same-sex marriage. that's next on "now." [ female announcer ] born from the sweet monk fruit, something this delicious could only come from nature. new nectresse. the 100% natural no-calorie sweetener made from the goodness of fruit. new nectresse. sweetness naturally. new nectresse. oh, let me guess --ou see this? more washington gridlock. no, it's worse -- look, our taxes are about to go up. not the taxes on our dividends though, right? that's a big part of our retirement. oh, no, it's dividends, too. the rate on our dividends would more than double. but we depend on o

durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i ask consent the quorum call be suspend. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, my home county of saint claire in illinois lost a dedicated public servant. merl justice, aptly named "justice," passed away tuesday at the age of 81. he retired only one week earlier after serving eight terms as saint claire country sheriff. i want to tell you, merl justice was a legend. he was funny, he was innovative, he was a creative thinker who was always looking for new and better ways to run his department. above all, he was deeply dedicated to the people he served in saint claire county n. an editorial in the "bellville news democrat," described him as a 6'2" teddy bear with a sailor's very cab terry and a bear's -- vocabulary and a bear's heart. sheriff justice got off to a rocky start in life. he was just 19 months old when his dad died, was raised by his grandparents. dropped out of high scho

durbin: madam president? the presiding officer: the minority leader -- the assistant majority leader. mr. durbin: madam president, what just transpired deserves a word. senator mcconnell came to the floor this morning and offered a change in law that would help us avoid the kind of obstruction and the kind of showdowns that we have had in the past over the debt ceiling. in fact, the idea was not new. it was his original idea that has been the law of the land and followed. and he offered and challenged senator reid to bring this matter for consideration in the senate. senator reid just agreed to it, said he would bring this for a vote in 20 minutes and we would decide up or down whether the debt ceiling problem would be resolved once and for all under senator mcconnell's proposal. and then senator mcconnell objected, objected saying no, no, we need 60 votes. for those who don't follow the senate, 60 votes is the equivalent of a filibuster vote, breaking a filibuster vote. so this may be a moment in senate hist

durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i see my two colleagues from connecticut on the floor here, and i know they are coming to speak about the horrible tramgd in newtown last friday. i will abbreviate my remarks so they can have the floor and commend both of them for extraordinary statements last night at a memorial service. i will not forget ever some of the things they shared with us about this terrible tragedy. but i come to the floor this morning just for a few moments to pay tribute to one of my great friends and one of my great colleagues, danny inouye, who passed away yesterday. the majority leader has done such an extraordinary job recounting his life, and i think back what it must have meant to him as he witnessed pearl harbor at the age of 20. he said that he realized at the time that the pilots in those planes that were bombing his family and others in hawaii were people of the same ancestry as his father, and it hurt him. it hurt him as well to be branded as suspect because of his japanese origin and

what senator durbin is talking about is the importance of focusing. if we want a deal you will not doing by taking a wide sprect rum approach. president clinton was clear when he spoke to the republicans. he pointed out that t biggest driver of the united states debt is medicare. he understands that we have to face up to the medicare problem. we need a solution. >> the conference that rick was referring tompt he said folks, i won and i get to make the decision and he grew the budget by 800 billion every year. one-time stimulus has happened every year of the presidency and the president through tim geithener is making a proposal and raising taxes. >> it is absurd what is in the propose and the president is proposing. we hear the psident saying that tax hikes on the upper brackets will solve all of the problems and it pay for government spending for a week and a half . the president said he would stop the seas from rising. he might want to stop the oceans of red ink that are rising. listen, they make this point. federal taxpayers ponying up to cer up th

as durbin just pointed out, social security has a huge surplus. it has nothing to do with deficit reduction. we have ways to make sure that it's solvent for the next 75 years. you do not have to cut benefits for seniors and for disabled veterans. ed, what is not widely pointed out, and tomorrow i'll be holding a press conference with all of the veterans organizations, the dav, the american legion, the chained cpi would make major cuts for people who have lost their arms and legs in iraq and afghanistan, widows, and orphans. furthermore, what i would say if you saw the poll today in the "washington post," the people of this country are very clear. overwhelmingly say they do not cut social security. do not cut medicare. do not cut medicaid. and yes, to the tune of 74% of the people responding in that poll, ask people making more than $250,000 a year to pay more in taxes. the president has got to listen to the american people and stand firm against the bullies in the republican house. >> here is house democratic leader nancy pelosi today. listen to t

durbin has risen above.e. >> he really has. >> yeah. >> we thank you very much. >> thank you for having me. i enjoyed it. >> we appreciate your helping us navigate what is an incredibly difficult thing for us to understand but you make it seem very, very easy. thank you, erskine. >> okay. good. stay at it. let's rise above. >> thanks. >> using 23 from now. >> that's zeroing out everything. earned income credit, the -- >> i'm going to stay 23, and i'm going to have a sound bite. you have questions, or comments, about -- kayla, you're back? >> she's talking twinkies. >> oh, my god. she's like, wow. kayla's talking twinkies now. anything you see on "squawk" tweet us @squawk cnbc is our handle. still to come this morning, twinkies could be one step closer to finding a buyer today. the same could be true for devil dogs, ding dongs, funny bones. orange flavored cup cakes. some of your other favorite snack cakes. >> snow balls. plus yes, there's even an app for that. for that. the vatican is releasing the pope app.