> later today, house republicans will release a report alleging a culture of bias at the internal revenue servicel claim that agents were advancing the political goals of president obama. >>> a four-star general will decide bowe bergdahl's state. he will decide whether to charge the 28 criminally for leaving his post in 2009. his decision will consider our report by bergdahl's former platoon mates who accuse him of deserti desertion. >>> last night's miami bowl ended in a brawl with the cougars and tigers. byu's christian stewart threw interception. chaos pursued. some throwing punches. others using helmets as weapons. >>> calls for calm after a war of words after the deaths of two new york police officers. mayor bill de blasio calling for protests and debates to stop until the officers are laid to rest. but can he calm these flaring tensions? king witti people wme, they say 'i never thought you would quit.' but chantix helped me do it. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it gave me the power to overcome the urge to smoke. some people had changes in be

the head of the internal revenue service says the cuts will mean fewer irs agents will be handling the returns. half the people who call for assistance won't be able to get through to an agent. congress cut the irs budget by $3467 million for next year. >>> well it's a nightmare before christmas for some k smart shoppers. they've been told their their online lay away items have been canceled and those items are out of stock. kmart has issue an apology. the issue is specific to online lay away contracts, not impacting in-store lay away. >>> amazon launched one-hour shipping in new york city. the service is called prime now and it costs $7.99 per delivery. you can get house hold products like paper towels, shampoo and batteries. but you need to be in enrolled in amazon prime for $99 a year. they hope to offer one-hour shipping to additional cities in 2015. >>> it's a dispute that's prompted consumer to sue three shopping chains claiming that their baked goods aren't made from scratch in the stores. they're claiming that they prepair baked goods elsewhere and just reheat them in their sto

all have to report to the internal revenue service whether they had health care insurance for the previous year. under obamacare they pace penalties unless they qualify for exemptions for financial hardships. the conference board reports consumer confidence rose 1.6 from november to december. that indicates americans are optimistic about their current prospects as we head into the new year. >>> reits were hot stocks this year. "the wall street journal" reports that for 2014 real estate investment trusts had a total return of 32% according to the latest data. that's the highest since 2006. reits owned properties like office buildings, apartments, and warehouses. >>> and the ride share services lyft and uber want to reduce drunk driving accidents. they pledge $1 to mothers against drunk drivers and uber will give a dollar using the promo code mad mye. >>> how supplements may not be the marriage pill to help shed those magic pounds. this is the "cbs morning news. is a really big deal. with aches, fever and chills- there's no such thing as a little flu. so why treat it like it's a little cold?

department of the treasury, internal revenue service, for the period of september 30, 2014, through december 21, 2016. >> chair and supervisor campos, thank you so much, office of the tax collector here on behalf of my friends of mayor's office of community develop sxment they have been wonderful in stepping up and doing the processing for the grant that we received, and actually that the contract from the u.s. department of treasury and it is a 443,000 dollars over two years to provide, financial counseling to the residents at the four sf sites and we are going to be testing whether allowing enabling electronic payment of rent, reduces the likelihood of eviction at these four sites and i think that this is a very exciting initiative to bring the high quality, financial service and products to the housing authority residents and to particularly target the residents who are working and therefore unable to use the rent, pay services available to the clients on general assistance or social security and i want to thank you again for my colleagues at mel for their help here. >> thank you. >> any

which is incon vie kwen shall to the internal revenue service. if you are a u.s.izen levelling overseas, you have the distinct privilege of owing taxes to uncle sam. and the irs wants to levy sales on the sale of his home. he isn't too happy about this, but he has yet to relinquish his u.s. citizenship. which brings us to another group of people who are rendering their citizenship. mary snow has more on people quitting america to save on their taxes. >> reporter: would you give up your citizenship to avoid paying taxes? thousands of americans are doing just that. giving up their passports in record numbers in order to avoid paying a new tax as part of the foreign account tax compliance act. the critics say it has caused a three-fold increase in the number of americans surrendering their passports. created in 2010 by congress. it was initially inteched to crack down on overseas tax cheats. the congressional research service projected it would generate $8.7 billion over ten years. the law was inspired by the testimony of the former banker turned whistleblower. he de

will release a report alleging a culture of bias against conservative organizations at the internal revenue service. it will claim irs employees subverted in order to advance the political goals of president obama. several officials have already lost their jobs. >>> some of the busiest travel days of the year start right now and mother nature is not cooperating. let's get to meteorologist ivan cabrera for an early look at your weather. >> christine, for most of us it will be a rain event. the rain will be heavy and severe weather and strong winds will cause airport delays over the next 48 hours. here is the storm right now. it is just getting going across the mid section of the country. we will have the southeastern side that will be looking at nasty thunderstorms for today and heading into wednesday. as far as temperatures, not looking too bad here. 30s or 40s to the north. 70s and 80s in florida. you see the temperatures in chicago in the 40s. so not cold enough yet for snowfall. we will start off with a mix and eventually as the storm pushing east on the back side of it, we will get in colder ai

and the internal revenue service said it does apply to everybody.when you have a case this tough and this close and strong arguments on both sides, don't just look at the law but the justices, look at the justices who voted a few years ago to find that law unconstitutional. i would expect them to be against this. would there be a fifth to throw it out. >> what does that mean for obama if they don't find for it. >> millions of americans will lose insurance and subsidies will go away and result in chaos. congress could fix the problem. but will not be ruled on until late june. and it will be controlled by the republicans. and so any law that comes out of that and compromise will have a republican touch on it. and i expect that congress might hold that decision and say it is release man dates three months for states to set up their exchanges tlchl is no getting around it. it will be messy and the political debate will pick up with finger pointing. >> the supreme court picking it up in early march and hopefully things will get more simple rather than co

it cuts over 300 million dollars from the internal revenue service, which my constituency really wants to see us go after the irs. it also requires president obama in a new way to report to congress whatever progress he's claiming on iran sanctions, something he hasn't done in the past. there are some things in there that are not positive. but on balance, i weighed it out and said it deserved my vote. >> well, even if the speaker and others like you want to wait to confront the funding of the president's executive orders on immigration until the new republican majority comes in to place come january and tackles immigration through, for example, the homeland security funding deadline in march, lots of conservatives are saying it will be difficult to do that because lots of money will already have been spent to move ahead with the president's amnesty program. what are your thoughts about this? >> i don't think that's necessarily persuasive. i think you're going to be in a much stronger position with more united states senators who are li like-minded. with a larger house republican majori

. >>> a new black eye for the internal revenue service. inspector general found the irs paid at least $6 billion in child tax credits in 2013 to people who weren't eligible to receive them. those payments went to families who mistakenly claimed the tax credit or claimed the wrong amount. the $1,000 per child tax credit one of the biggest tax breaks for working families. >>> secretary of state john kerry is asking congress for new flexible war powers in the fight against isis. the secretary says lawmakers should not limit u.s. military action to just iraq and syria or prevent president obama from deploying ground troops if he finds it necessary. the testimony from the senate foreign relations committee is the first time that the administration has prescribed what the white house wants to see for a new authorization for force. >>> the battle over benghazi now dying down. two senior state department officials will testify before the house select committee on benghazi. about the agency's security protocols. last month, a two-year investigation

the internal revenue service says you should make sure you are giving to eligible charities so that you'll get that tax break for your gift. any financial donation that you make has to have documentation. that could be your bank records or a written statement from the charity. if you plan to give things like furniture or clothes, get a receipt, as well. >>> well, still to come, from san francisco to santa cruz mountains, roads were a mess. coming up, we're going to check with meteorologist christina loren for everything you need to know about this storm. >>> unfortunately, it's just going to get worse. for more on what to expect, let's bring in plonkts christina loren. >> it's a better/worse scenario. worse, you're right on cue, scott mcgrew, everything coming in all at once with an already saturated ground could create more problems. we are expecting those, but really we need this rain. we need the heavy stuff to fill up our reservoirs, and that is what's happening this morning. in fact, we're going to talk about what's happening near the russian river coming up in just a bit. but right n

the head of the internal revenue service means fewer irs agents will be handling returns. the people who call for assistance won't be able to get through to an agent. they cut the budget by $346 million for next year. >>> it is the last weekend before christmas and shoppers will be out in force. >>> with the holiday rush comes a warning. cydney? >> reporter: thatç warn, be vigilant about your belongings as we hit the busiest shopping weekend yet and what pick-pocket thieves are counting on, next. >>> after 27 years at nbc 10, our dear colleague and friend is calling it a career. next, lu ann cahn joining us to look back on her amazing reporter career and ahead to the next chapter. s nbc 10 news. >> right now at 5:30, a warning for shoppers. you're not alone. it's not just the crowds you need to be aware of when you head to your favorite stores. you just saw it, a pick pocket, crooks on the prowl. in some cases police say they're going on shopping sprees with other people's money. >> since early november a number of thieves have wracked up nearly $20,000 on stolen debit an

effectively to the obama administration's abuse of the tax laws, cutting the budget of the internal revenue service and tells the irs that it can't any longer target taxpayers to punish them for their politics. the compromise legislation begins the process of cutting possibility to cripple business development, it liberates small-business business owners from abusive leg regulations. a bit from their editorial. nigel is an independent in the bronx. caller: good morning. thank you for having me today. say, i'm pretty disgusted with both parties at this point. they are putting our country to shame. everything our founding fathers have built this country on is slowly beginning to crumble. i do not know what they are covering up, but i will say this, they need to fix it because they are putting the american people as a whole in a great deal of danger. i hope they fix it before it gets too late. host: what is it about the bill that you did not like? voted independent -- i usually vote democrat. i voted independent this year because the whole obama health care is a scam. it's a big scandal. has paidnow i

. >> woodruff: house republicans have charged for more than a year that the internal revenue service improperly targeted conservative groups for scrutiny. but an official report today, from the house oversight committee, found no evidence that the white house was involved. committee democrats say the report cherry-picked facts to fit a political narrative. >> ifill: in ukraine, parliament moved today to abandon the country's non-aligned status, possibly leading to eventual nato membership. the proposal passed with an overwhelming vote of 303 to nine. supporters insisted that ukraine pivot toward the west in its confrontation with russia. >> ( translated ): we cannot afford the luxury to have non- aligned status. we have no time and no money to waste and need urgently to build the ukrainian army in order to defend our homeland. we need to become part of the collective system of defence which is nato. ukraine's place is in europe, ukraine's place is in nato. >> ifill: russia called the move counterproductive, and said it will only worsen relations between moscow and kiev. >> woodruff:

trying to dismantle the affordable care act, trying to tackle -- tackle and get into the internal revenue service and diminish its ability to carry out its responsibilities, and on and on and on, and she has worked through these amendments and worked through them diligently and come up with a good product. this is much better than struggling through continuing resolutions two, three months at a time and then coming back again. this gives certainty to government, gives certainty to businesses, and it shows that we are trying to react responsibly to the situations before us. so i aflawed her and it's a real honor to work with her on the appropriations committee and i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: mr. president, i am delighted to be on the floor this evening to take first of all a minute to thank my good friend and mentor, chairwoman mikulski, for her tremendous work on the product that is before us tonight. like all of us, we want to get something done when we come here, and in order to get anything done in congress, you

the internal revenue service says that it may take longer to get your tax return this year.. commissioner says that's the agency is underfunded and short staff and will need more time to process returns as a result. and those are your top headline. >> failure is the worst outcome for any business and right behind it is total and complete and unadulterated success. how do you manage an iconic world brand and how do you resist the endless call for expansion in brand and product illusion? it takes a family with total focus on quality and a set of values that each and every day is rewarded at fine jewelers and auction houses in watch jewelers, the ultimate gift of golf. larry is the president of their shop in new york city. what is the new for your company as you try to not be chanel and louis vuitton? >> the family nature of the business and the limited production is always going to keep the exclusivity. that is going to be what drives the company. >> is your constraint the workers and the labors? >> yes. >> where do all the watch makers come from? >> they come from around the

that govern proper communication between treasury officials and white house officials and internal revenue service. >> something else happened today in the senate. some of your ambassadors were confirmed after a long, long process. one is the ambassador to hungary. what are her qualifications for ambassador? is it that she was a soap opera producer or helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for oh obama re-election campaign? why was she chosen? >> i can tell you first that you're right, that the confirmation of these individuals to these important ambassadorial posts are long overdue and we are pleased the senate finally acted on them. as it relates to ambassador bell, she is somebody who retains the confidence -- let me say it this way. am because dor bell has the president's confidence that she will do an excellent job of representing the united states and maintaining the important relationship the united states has with the government and the people of hungary. >> where does the president get that confidence? her confirmation hearing she couldn't name a single strategic interest the unite

i think all would agree that the internal revenue service has betrayed the trust of the american people. they have wasted taxpayers' dollars. they've singled out individuals and groups of individuals based on nair political philosophy and they have -- on their political philosophy and they have not cooperated with congressional investigation and therefore their funding is reduced by $346 million. all in all, it's a balanced approach. we spend less money than we spent last year. it's a good portion of the bill. and let me take a moment to say thank you to rodney frelinghuysen, the chairman of the defense subcommittee, upon which i sit. i want to thank him for his tireless work in this area for allowing members like me to help draft legislation that clearly puts our men and women in uniform first, clearly helps saves lives by making sure that we have the best qualified, the best trained, the best equipped military and makes all americans more safe than they are today. all in all it's a great bill. i urge my colleagues to support it, and i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the t

i think all would agree that the internal revenue service has betrayed the trust of the american people. they have wasted taxpayers' dollars. they've singled out individuals and groups of individuals based on nair political philosophy and they have -- on their political philosophy and they have not cooperated with congressional investigation and therefore their funding is reduced by $346 million. all in all, it's a balanced approach. we spend less money than we spent last year. it's a good portion of the bill. and let me take a moment to say thank you to rodney frelinghuysen, the chairman of the defense subcommittee, upon which i sit. i want to thank him for his tireless work in this area for allowing members like me to help draft legislation that clearly puts our men and women in uniform first, clearly helps saves lives by making sure that we have the best qualified, the best trained, the best equipped military and makes all americans more safe than they are today. all in all it's a great bill. i urge my colleagues to support it, and i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the t

there are cuts to the environmental protection agency and the internal revenue service . there is a 1% pay raise for federal employees and for members of military. a top generals and political appointees will see a pay freeze. one of the classic writers in recent years, the terror willnees at guantanamo bay have to stay put. they cannot be transferred to the u.s. are things i portrait, no taxpayer funding can be used for those. they will have to raise funds privately. $150 million to fix the local d.c. metro system. for whatlion dollars is going on overseas to help fight the islamic state in did with russian aggression. one of my favorites, white potatoes. the potato industry has been fighting to be included in the women, infants command children's program. under this law, white potatoes food ornt as a vegetable. for years, it was kept out. and they will relax the restrictions on the school lunch programs pushed by the first lady. difficultyving tracking down -- if they are having difficulty tracking of whole-grain meals, they can exempt themselves. been are changes that

that's something the internal revenue can and should in this case look at we are not only losing residents but nonprofit service providers and the light industry this isn't because a building comes in and replaces something it's a parking lot bus rents go up as a result of the impact capital velvet to what step up to the plate can we expect that to happen we hear about the outreach but those are guessed and the eir provides an opportunity to analyze what kind of impact it may have and to what extent the city or developer in combination with the city can help to stable lies those things that ought to be benefiting that maybe inadvertently pushed 0 out i suggest you endorse those. >> thank you. is there any additional public comment? commissioner antonini >> yeah. in terms of the many irs i've read this ranges among some of the most complete and accurate alternatives this is a large project and hybrid between an diddle project we certainly need to have comments and responses to comments and a few things that came up and brought up and came to my attendance what the camper building and interest and possible being

order to take from the speaker's table the bill h.r. 3979, to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to ensure that emergency servicesolunteers are not taken into account as employees under the share responsibility requirements contained in the patient protection and affordable care act. with the senate amendment thereto and to consider in the house without intervention of any point of order a motion offered by the chair of the committee on armed services or his designee that the house concur in the senate amendment with an amendment consisting of the text of rules committee print 113-58, modified by the amendments printed in part a of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution. the senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. the motion shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on armed services. the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion. section 2, upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the house the bi

the clerk: h.r. 3979, an act to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to ensure that emergency services volunteers are not taken into account as employees under the shared responsibility requirements contained in the patient protection and affordable care act. senate amendment, motion offered by mr. mckeon of california. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house resolution 770, the motion shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the committee on armed services. the gentleman from california, mr. mckeon, and the gentleman from washington, mr. smith, each will control 30 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california. mr. mckeon. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and to heir remarks include extraneous material on h.r. 3979. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i rise today in supp

internal revenue code of 1986, and so forth.. the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: mr. president, i'm pleased to join with senator inhofe, the ranking republican, on the senate armed servicesmittee in bringing to the floor h.r. 3979. this is the agreement between the armed services committees of the senate and the house on the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2015. the house of representatives passed the bill last week by a vote of 300-119. if we succeed here in the senate it will mark the 53rd year in a row we have enacted this bill so essential to our nation and the men and women in uniform and their families. i want to thank all the members and staff of the senate armed services committee, and especially our subcommittee chairs and ranking members for the hard work that they have done to get us to the finish line on this bill. i want to particularly thank senator inhofe for his close partnership. for this congress, i have been fortunate to serve with a series of republican chairmen and ranking members, including john mccain, john warner and strom thurmond. they have understood and appreciated the traditions of our committee and the importance of the le

amendment of the senate to the bill h.r. 3979, entitled an act to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to ensure that emergency services volunteers are not taken into account as employees under the shared responsibility requirements contained in the patient protection and affordable care act, with an amendment. mr. reid: i move to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 3979. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to concur. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, moves to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 3979. mr. reid: there's a cloture motion at the desk, mr. president, i would ask the chair report that -- order it reported. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the motion to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 3979. signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the reading of the names b