nbc's jennifer johnson reports. >> reporter: in less than two minutes the senate passed the bill, by unanimous consent, in a procedure where the senators could stay home and the vote went through and after several days of gridlock, the house followed, the bill extending the tax cut. >> i said it was critical for congress not to go home without preventing a tax increase on 160 million working americans and i'm pleased to say that they got it done. >> reporter: it means more money per paycheck for millions. >> this is a good day for the american people and the american people's voice was heard, and their concerns were herd and we have responded. >>. >> reporter: house speaker john boehner caved after pressure from democrats and senators of his own party like senator mitch mcconnell. >> reporter: with millions of cash strapped americans needing these benefits and millions more depending on unemployment benefits to continue, house republicans were taking a public beating. 2,000 e-mails and tweets an hour were coming into the house. the president has said he will work with congress on a y

jennifer johnson, nbc news, washington. >>> still ahead at 5:00, calling dr. garza, the only problem, dr. garza isn't a doctor at all. investigators tell us how he scammed bay area women looking for liposuction. >> every once in a while you see somebody with a new handbag or something and you're stunned. >> meet a lady with an interesting name who gave herself and even more interesting challenge. >>> good afternoon. i'm jeff ranieri. plenty of nice temperatures across the bay area. 58 in san francisco. tonight, more cold temperatures dropping down into the low 30s for the south y. we'll have full details and freeze warning on what your holiday weekend looks like in a few minutes. >>> for you procrastinators, listen up, last minute shopping ideas, new videos coming on the market. [ female announcer ] hurry to jcpenney... ...for the final days to save before christmas... ...and shop til midnight for those last minute gifts. like 60% off must have winter coats... ...and 60% off the coziest sleepwear. go to jcp.com to see everything on sale. jcpenney. ...for the f

jennifer johnson has more. >> smaller -- >> reporter: mitt romney launched a new tv spot focusing on the federal budget and repealing obama care. >> desperately needed in washington and i will take it there. >> reporter: rick santorum went fez sent hunting. gingrich and perry are on bus tours. bachmann is hitting all counties. paul has a more relaxed sed yule. >> the fewer cities you are trying to hit in the last couple days, the better you are doing in the polls. >> reporter: gingrich didn't get the required signatures he needed. now, he wants to be a write-in candidate. >> if something is wrong, you have to fix it. >> ron paul seems to have the strongest pull in iowa. some political experts have their doubts about newt. >> he has a wave theory of politic that is somehow he is the man for the time. he was a few weeks ago. it's not a big enough wave to carry forward. >> reporter: the candidates are working hard to persuade those holdouts. the undecided voters number in the double digits. they can expect to see a lot of tv ads and get phone calls. capitol hill, i'm jennifer johnson, n

nbcs jennifer johnson reports. >> reporter: it was yet another washington stand off. affecting 160 million american workers. >> read for the third time, it passed. >> reporter: house republicans caved in. after a quick vote, it was extended two months. the president later signed off on the deal. >> this continues to be a make or break moment for the middle class in this country. we have to roll up our sleeves together, democrats and republicans to make sure the economy is growing and make sure that more jobs are created. >> reporter: the fix is only temporary. the president told congress he'll work with them on a 12 month extension. >> i hope this congress has had a very good learning experience, especially those newer to this body. everything we do around here does not have to wind up in a fight. >> reporter: pressure to get this passed built all week from the american public e-mailing and tweeting the white house and congress in huge numbers. it means more money for struggling americans and extended benefits for those on unemployment. >> this is a good christmas pre

nbc's jennifer johnson has the latest. >> reporter: it was yet another washington standoff.ting 160 million american workers. >> read for a third time and passed -- >> reporter: finally, house republicans caved in. after a quick vote, the payroll tax cut was extended another two months. the president later signed off on the deal. >> this continues to be a make or break moment for the middle class in this country. and we're going to have to roll up our sleeves together, democrats and republicans, to make sure that the economy is growing and to make sure that more jobs are created. >> reporter: the fix is only temporary. the president has told congress he'll work with them on a 12-month extension. >> i hope this congress has had a very good learning experience. especially those who are newer to this body. everything we do around here does not have to wind up in a fight. >> reporter: pressure to get this passed built all week, especially from the american public who were e-mailing and tweeting the white house and congress in huge numbers. a tax cut means more money for struggli

jennifer johnson has the latest on the compromise. >> it was another washington stand off the affecting 160 million a american workers. >> finally house republicans caved in and after a quick fall, the payroll tax cut was extended and other two months. the president signed off on the deal. crux of this continues to be a make or break moment for the middle class in this country. we will have to roll up our sleeves together, democrats and republicans, to major the economy is growing and to make sure that more jobs are created. >> the fix is only temporary. he has told he will work with congress on may 12 month extension. >> i hope this congress has had a very good learning experience, especially those who are new into this body. everything we do it around here does not have to wind up in a fight. >> pressure to get this passed to build all week especially from the american public to work the mailing and treating the white house and congress in huge numbers. it means more money for struggling americans and extended benefits for those on unemployment. >> this is a good christmas present, a

jennifer johnson has late breaking details from washington. >> president obama was joined at the white house by some frustrated american workers. among the 2000 an hour p. naille and tweeting political leaders to get the payroll tax cuts extended. the senate has passed a two- month extension, but house republicans are not budging. >> this is an issue over both parties agreed. has this become so dysfunctional that when even when people agree we cannot do it? >> pressure is coming from senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, urging the house to accept the two-month plan from the senate. the house gop leaders still want to negotiate 12-month plan. >> i saw him christmas shopping with his dog. he can bring his daughter out here. we are at friendly. -- he can bring his dog up here. we are pet friendly. >> this is senate republicans and democrats and the american people saying to the house republicans, what are you doing here? >> if they do not extend a tax cut, a typical american family making $50,000 a year will lose about $40 per paycheck. >> an agreement has to be reached by january 1, o

nbc's jennifer johnson has the story. >> mitt romney has launched a new spot called conservative agenda, focusing on the federal budget and repealing obama care. >> the experience of balancing budget is desperately needed in washington and i will take it there. >> rick santorum has gone pheasant hunting in iowa with conservative reporters. michele bachmann is trying to hit all 99 counties, while ron paul has a slightly more relaxed schedule. >> there seems to be a sort of rule going on right now, which is the fewer cities you're trying to hit in the last couple of days here, the better you're doing in the polls. >> reporter: gingrich didn't get the required signatures to be on virginia's super tuesday ballot, now he wants to be a write-in candidate, pu state rules don't allow it. >> i don't think there's time for them to change it. >> reporter: ron paul appears to have the strongest organization in iowa. polls show he, romney, and gingrich are likely to get out of iowa as the top three, but some political experts have their doubts about newt. >> he has a wave theory of politics that som

jennifer johnson explains why he will not be on one state's primary ballot. >> note that romney has launched a new tv spot, called a conservative agenda, focusing on the federal budget and repealing all,-care. >> experience is desperately needed in washington. them are. santorum is going for conservative supporters. newt gingrich and that rick perry are embarking on bus tours. michele bachmann is heading the counties. ron paul has a relaxed schedule. >> if your cities that you tried to hit in the last couple days, the better you are and the polls. and that gingrich did not get the required signatures to be on virginia super tuesday ballot. now he wants to be a write-in candidate. state rules do not allow it. >> it is something wrong that needs to be fixed. >> ron paul appears to have the strongest organization in iowa. polls show that he, romney, and gingrich are likely to be the top three, but some have doubts about newt. >> he has a theory of politics that somehow he is the man for the time. he was a few weeks ago, but that is not a big enough weight to carry them forward. >> i winds are n

> as we reported earlier, chris johnson left the team after learning his 33-year-old sister, jennifer johnsonwas murdered in ft. worth, texas. now, police arrested a 46-year-old suspect who is jennifer's ex-boyfriend for suspicion of murder. the suspect also shot chris johnson's mother, della johnson. she is expected to survive. our condolences, once again, to the johnson family. >>> darren mcfadden and jacoby ford were sidelined at practice today. it is unlikely they will be ready for green bay on sunday. hue jackson says they're getting closer. >>> also, cal bears whipped san jose state spartans by 45 points. 81-46. i haven't seen a score that lopsided. jessica, didn't you beat raj mathai one-on-one? it was 47-0, in that game, right? >> that's right, henry. >> she's ay hey. ♪ it's easy to see what subaru owners care about. that's why we created the share the love event. get a great deal on a new subaru and $250 goes to your choice of 5 charities. with your help, we can reach $20 million dollars by the end of this, our fourth year. okay, people, let's get started. pete, did you forget yours?

as jennifer johnson explains, president obama delayed his holiday break to make sure the deal got done. >> another washington standoff affecting 160 million american workers. >> finally house republicans caved in and after the quick vote, the payroll tax cut was extended another two months. the president signed off. this was a make and break moment for the middle class in this country. we're going have to roll up our sleeves together, democrats and republicans, to make sure that the economy is growing and to make sure that more jobs are created. >> that fixes only temporary. the president has told congress he will work with them on a 12- month extension. >> i hope this congress has had a very good learning experience. especially those who are new to this body. everything we do around here does not have to wind up in a fight. >> if pressure to get this passed bill all week, especially from the american public who were e-mail in and tweaking the white house and congress in huge numbers. a task that means more money for struggling americans and extended benefits for those on unemployment.

jennifer johnson is live with more on the last minute campaign push. jennifer? >> a quick christmas break for the candidates. the iowa caucuses are coming up january 3rd. the candidates are back in iowa trying to drum up support. mitt romney launched a new tv spot focusing on the federal budget and repealing obama care. >> balancing the budget is desperately needed in

live on capitol hill, i'm jennifer johnson. >> thank you, jennifer. >>> now to the other top story, police arrest a guess store employee at the montgomery maul. detectivives say he took pictures of a woman in the dressing room. pat collins joins us live from bethesda with more on that. pat? >> reporter: when you are trying on clothes in a store, you don't expect something like this. this creepy dressing room crime. this is how police tell the story. the scene, the westfield montgomery shopping mall, december 10th around lunchtime. a 24-year-old woman goes to the guess store to buy some jeans. she says a male sales associate leads her to the dressing room. there, he asks her to try on some new metallic pants just for him. she says she hesitantly agreed. the woman says she looks down and sees the sales associate's shoes below the dressing room door. between the shoes, she sees a cell phone. a cell phone that she says he's using to take video of her. she gets upset. opens the door. he then puts his foot over that cell phone. >> she didn't want to directly confront him. gave him an excuse so h

live on capitol hill, i'm jennifer johnson. back to you. >> let the holiday begin. thank you, jennifer. >> thanks. >>> deadly violence and protest rocked the middle east and north africa today. twin suicide bombing in damascus killed 40 people and injured 100. they said it from the beginning, this is terrorism. they are killing the army and civilians. meanwhile, in egypt, tahrir square, thousands of protesters gathered to denounce the military run government. they want them to hand it over to civilian rule. >>> searching a neighborhood after a woman was brutally beaten overnight. she was attacked in her home in the 500 block of drum avenue. somebody broke in through a window and beat the victim with his fist so severely in her face he broke her nose and eye socket. she lost consciousness and laid there on the the floor all night. she woke up with just enough strength to crawl to the phone and call 911. a neighbor saw her as paramedics brought her out of the house. >> this morning, i saw the lady with the blood. i was scared, you know. i was scared. i don't know. [ in

jennifer johnson reports. >> reporter: president obama was joined at the white house by frustrated american workers. among the 2,000 an hour e-mailing and tweeting political leader s leaders to get the payroll tax cut extended. the senate passed a two-month extension. house republicans are not budging. >> this is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree. does this place become so dysfunctional even when people agree we can't do it? >> reporter: the latest republican-on-republican is coming from mitch mcconnell urging the house to accept the plan. the house gop wants to negotiate a 12-month extension. >> president obama was out shopping yesterday, he brought his dog. we are here. he can bring his dog here. we are pet friendly. >> reporter: the president will work on an agreement after they pass the two month agreement. >> this is the american people saying to the house republicans, what are you doing here? >> reporter: if speaker boehner and the republicans don't extend the tax cut, a typical american family making $50,000 a year will lose $40 a paycheck. an agre

johnson rushed home to texas after his sister was murdered and his mother was wounded. 33-year-old jennifer johnson was killed by her ex-boyfriend, you gene esters. he also shot johnson's mother's. he was arrested at the scene. >> it's 5:48. san francisco police are trying to figure out if someone is poisoning pets in the sunset neighborhood. a woman who lives on 15th avenue near lincoln way says her 11-month-old puppy and year and a half old cat got sick and died on sunday. they found the drug methadone in their system. the owner says the family doesn't keep the drugs in the house at all. tvrjts woman accused of helping her boyfriend cover up a hit and run that critically injured a bay area firefighter says she's not guilty. prosecutors say she delayed the investigation and then tried to order parts to fix the damaged suv. her boyfriend, eduardo is accused of is using the suv to run him down at a san francisco gas station on thanksgiving day. apparently they got into a fight at a nearby jack in the box right before the incident took place. >> it is 5:49 now. alameda county could soon fine you up t

live on capitol hill, i'm jennifer johnson. back to you. >> thank you. >>> police in virginia arrested a man. he's wanted for a double murder and abduction that sparked an amber alert. his name is jamal clemens, 27 years old. they picked him up around 4:30 in richmond. he has been on the run since christmas eve. he shot and killed two people and stole an suv to make his get away. there was a 2-year-old boy inside the vehicle. the toddler was found just after midnight on christmas day. he was returned to his family unharmed. police say the motive for the shootings appear to have been robbery. he'll be charged for robbery, kidnapping and murder. >>> the men accused of killing two people in new york is being held in prince george's county now. over the weekend, police in suffolk county say 24-year-old jerry lewis was arrested in maryland. he killed a woman and her 2-year-old son. their bodies found inside a basement apartment in long island on friday. lewis will be extradited back to new york in the next few days. >>> prince willi

jennifer johnson joins us live from capitol hill with details on a new deal. >> reporter: just when you thought it was going to be a quiet ur

jennifer johnson joins us from capitol hill with more. >> reporter: good evening. it's quiet in washington tonight after several days of fighting. it's been a battle getting this bill passed before christmas. it was a washington stand off affecting 160 million american workers. >> read for the third time and passed. >> reporter: house republicans caved in. after a quick vote, the payroll tax cut was extended. the president later signed off on the deal. >> this continues to be a make or break moment for the middle class in this country. we have to roll up our sleeves together, democrats and republicans to make sure the economy is growing and to make sure that more jobs are created. >> reporter: the fix is temporary. the president told congress he'll work with them on a 12-month extension.

jennifer griffin, fox news. >> what's next for iraq? larry johnson is a former cia analyst. perhaps more to the point, what's next for iran now that there's a vacuum of power in iraq? >> actually there's not a vacuum of power. what happened when we invaded iraq is we removed the one power that was helping contain iran. saddam hussein had been our partner for the previous 12 years in helping reign in iran. now he was not the best of partners and he certainly was a brutal thug, but we have to recognize when we deposed saddam hussein a sunni, replaced him with a shiite leadership, most of whom had sought safe haven and protection in tie ran, most of whom had -- in iran, most of whom had received financial support of iran, that over the last seven years iran has taken control mostly through intelligence of most of the major cities in iraq. what we have right now is an iran that expanded its influence and i guess i'm not quite amused because i don't think it's funny, but some of the same people who insisted we needed to go into iraq are now hollering with iran without understandi

johnson was barely registering in gop polls. he has announced he is dropping out of the republican race and running as a third party candidate for the libertarian party. in washington, jennifer davis, fox news. >>> an investigation is croon going between a semi-truck and a bus. the crash sent the bus driver to the hospital with minor injuries. no passenger was on the bus and no other injuries were reported. there was extensive damage to the bus and the truck and it's unclear what led to the crash. >>> vta and other transit area agencies have special holiday programs. they will be free. valley transportation agency, or v t.a., caltrain, golden death buses and ferries are on regular saturday schedule. >>> b.a.r.t. is offering special new year's service as well. trains are going to run three hours longer than they usually do overnight. service will continue until 3:00 a.m. on january 1 , new year's day during those extended hours, the trains will run on their normall interval >>> and can you go to ktvu.com for more information on new year's schedule for all bay area transit agencies. the information is in web links which can be found near the top of the page. >>> new york times