jennifer johnson has details. >> reporter: a peaceful capitol hill for another few days. congress is expected to come back later this week as america gets closer to the fiscal cliff. some larrymakers are now calling for a small scale deal as a temporary fix. >> i think it's impossible to get any kind of grand bargain or comprehensive package. i think we're dealing right now with whether or not we can put off the increases in tax rates. that's really all we can deal with right now. >> the house will stand in recess subject to the call of the chair. >> reporter: congress recessed after republicans rejected john boehner's compromise. he proposed letting tax cuts expire for those making over $1 million a year. other republicans say it's time for a deal. >> i agree with him. i don't think we ought to increase taxes on anyone. however, we're now at a point where we're not going to get what we think is right for our economy and our country. >> with congress coming back, the president will also reportedly cut short his holiday vacation in hawaii. democrats hope mr. obama will con

jennifer johnson has the latest. >> midafternoon. people in washington are now talking about a smaller deal getting done to try to prevent american from going over the fiscal cliff, but that deal will only be a temporary fix. all the major players are expected at the white house. senate leaders harry reid and its mcconnell, house leaders john boehner and nancy pelosi. it was a done with vice- president joe biden and president obama to work on a short time fixed for the crisis. >> i hope there is a deal that avoid the worst parts of the fiscal cliff, mainly taxes going up and middle-class people. i think the odds are better than they could be that people think. >> the agreement would include not only an extension of middle- class tax cuts but would also extend unemployment benefits for millions. >> tax increases need to be avoided, they can be. in the end, we will get a deal. the question is the timing. it is encouraging that both sides continue to sit down and have lines of communication open. >> but a smaller deal will only leave a

jennifer johnson as the latest from washington. >> cut afternoon, democrats and republicans say they are seeing signs of progress but the deadline is fast approaching and america is hours away from going over the fiscal cliff. >> the house will be in order. >> the house and senate are back in session. america faces the fiscal cliff. >> americans are still threatened with a tax hike in just a few hours. i hope we can keep in mind our single most important goal is to protect middle-class families. >> democrats have agreed to extend tax cuts for people making up to $400,000. it is higher than the $250,000 limit the president wanted. the hope is that instead of a grand bargain, a smaller package gets passed with the real job being pushed up until the new year about this whole thing is a national embarrassment. i think it is an embarrassment to the president and both sides of the aisle and both the house and of the senate panel without a deal, americans will face over $530 billion in tax increases at $110 billion in spending cuts for the military and other federal agencies. federal worker

organizing that and it has also been very beautiful to watch his relationship with his wife jennifer johnson grow it's been a privilege watch but i didn't watch michael be conceived but i did watch him grow but to know that they were two separate entities that came to be and i think the role of jennifer she was also very helpful in helping me make the transition and helping me understand the benefits and what it means to serve san francisco and how she was just very helpful in that transition and as a family as a collective unit i believe this couple is expemple player in their service ask time. last week i was leaving city hall and i said, how many ebbs do you have tonight and he said are you kidding i'm going home to have dinner with my wife and effect friend. and i said, that is beautiful i have got

organizing that and it has also been very beautiful to watch his relationship with his wife jennifer johnson grow it's been a privilege watch but i didn't watch michael be conceived but i did watch him grow but to know that they were two separate entities that came to be and i think the role of jennifer she was also very helpful in helping

organizing that and it has also been very beautiful to watch his relationship with his wife jennifer johnson grow it's been a privilege watch but i didn't watch michael be conceived but i did watch him grow but to know that they were two separate entities that came to be and i think the role of jennifer she was also very helpful in helping me make the transition and helping me understand the benefits and what it means to serve san francisco and how she was just very helpful in that transition and as a family as a collective unit i believe this couple is expemple player in their service ask time. last week i was leaving city hall and i said, how many ebbs do you have tonight and he said are you kidding i'm going home to have dinner with my wife and effect friend. and i said, that is beautiful i have got three toaivet go to. but that is the core that drives sean that family value. you know it's irreplaceable you cannot make that stuff up. so i'm just going to leave it here and thank you shop i hope i have not made you too uncomfortable but i have really a a very eager pupil at your field watch

. >> in this four-minute youtube video, jennifer johnson doesn't say a word but yet says so much as sheion that would kill her just two month after she recorded this video. choking back tears, the 30-year-old mother uses flash cards to describe her fear of leaving her two young kids behind, calling them her heartbeats. >> she had a very big heart. >> robert proposed to her an valentine ds day when she was five months pregnant. a test revealed that she had a condition with her heart restricted blood flow. she describes the moment she learned of her condition. she saidi just had two beautiful children. why me? she found inspiration from this 18-year-old from texas who recorded this story a week before he died last christmas. >> and she told her story. >> i think it's more powerful than her actually speaking. >> she talks about a sear radios of bumps in the road, the need for open heart surgery. and she ended the video smiling so she could love and care for her other heartbeats. jennifer died a week ago. >> what was the last thing she said to you? >> i just want to go home. >> johnson now