citizens for better community, culture to culture, why in the chamber of commerce of northern care of -- kawai chamber of commerce of northern california, northern california chinese athletic association, national association of american professionals, national federation of independent business, national federation of filipino americans, the filipino chamber of commerce, around of applause for all of our community partners, please. that was a lot. [applause] >> i am so glad he had to do that. our next speaker is u.s. congressmen. he is representing the 15th congressional district of california in the u.s. house of representatives. in congress, he is a member of the powerful house appropriations and budget committee. share of the democratic caucuses, new media working group, house democratic senior went, and the original author of the equity and excellence commission now housed in the u.s. department of education. his district includes silicon valley, the birthplace of technology. mike has dedicated his life to public service and is lauded for his work on education, civil- rights national serv

she is being treated with anti kawai gallons and doctors want to medicaid -- observe the medication over former president george h.w. bush's condition appears to be improving. the 88-year old has been moved from the intensive care unit back to a regular room at a houston hospital. he has been hospitalized since late november for bronchitis- related cough. hugo chÁvez is suffering additional issues. he has not been seen or heard from since undergoing his fourth cancer-related surgery, as three weeks ago. government official said he might not return in time for his inauguration january 10. to the fiscal cliff showdown, it has gone from a matter of days to just hours before we reach the so-called fiscal cliff. john gonzales is live on capitol hill to talk about the latest in the rather tense negotiations. >> sun this morning might describe this as desperation. the white house says vice- president joe biden is planning a direct role in the talks. these critical talks will resume today here on capitol hill while millions of americans prepare to ring in the new year tonight. there is a countdo

in that time, this time i am visiting the island of kawai, a small island. also, a privately owned island. there are people there that are my constituents. i want to see them and report to them what is happening here. i realize i could make more hay at in a school in honolulu meeting at thousands of people, more than meeting 200. i get my kicks out of that. >> in your senatorial career you have accomplished a great deal and then there a long time. one of the most important congressional investigations of recent history involve you. you were involved as one of the investigators in the watergate committee and the i ran out--- iran-contra meetings. how much has this inform your thoughts regarding service and the country? >> my service as an assistant prosecutor did not mean that much. one thing that impressed was that in this land, nobody is above the law. in other places if you are king or emperor or dictator, you are above the law, you make the law. the president is subject to the law. he has to answer for his misdeeds. that really impressed me. you read abou