if the nrc has changed position as a result of the accident we have seen there. >> right now, the nrc is focused on making sure that however spent fuel exists, it can be safe and secure. plants use a combination of keeping that fueling in pools of water, large tanks of water, or in the dry storage. meaning you take them out of the pools and put them in concrete casks. both of those ways of storing spent fuel are things that will be safety -- that will be safe for a long period of time. one of the things we're looking at with fukushima is making sure we are properly monitoring and ensuring the integrity of these spent fuel pools. there was a lot of questions in the aftermath of fukushima of what was really happening with the spent fuel pools, particularly after the hydrogen explosions. there was concern that the integrity of the polls might have been lost. those are some of the things we have been living at. by a large, the industry -- the agency believes it can be secured securely for at least 100 years. we are looking out what the finite lifetime for these current methodologies is. t

so, our discussions, both with the nrc and the government of japan, how do we understand and characterized assistance to develop a common operating picture for understanding. how do we talk about this? what messages do we give to the population? the challenge was that we had different levels of understanding of these technical issues. that there was disagreement within the technical community in terms of exposure and risk. the reason there were differences of opinion, there were different standards. the world health organization has a standard. the center for disease control has a standard. again, as you tabletop this, it is important to think through, what will you tell the population? what is the basis for that? an empirical understanding of the issues and being honest about what you know and do not know is critically important. we have identified some of the key questions option that we wanted answered in the course of our mission. these were critical to our ability to make decisions and recommendations for policymakers. so, what you see here, item number one, we needed an understanding

so, our discussions, both with the nrc and the government of japan, how do we understand and characterized assistance to develop a common operating picture for understanding. how do we talk about this? what messages do we give to the population? the challenge was that we had different levels of understanding of these technical issues. that there was disagreement within the technical community in terms of exposure and risk. the reason there were differences of opinion, there were different standards. the world health organization has a standard. the center for disease control has a standard. again, as you tabletop this, it is important to think through, what will you

so, our discussions, both with the nrc and the government of japan, how do we understand and characterized assistance to develop a common operating picture for

are cutting back and so we are not going to reward workers as much that is upsetting people at the nrcend bonuses can be a big deal national archives ranked last among big agencies they sank to the bottom part of the reason they say over there we are in the midst of a big reorganization any time they start overhauling any organization, uncertain tapety give us a few years we hope numbers -- uncertainty, give us a few years we hope numbers will turn around. >> let's talk about administrators do they take a step back and look at this and say we need to pay attention or wave their hand and say oh, well. >> this is increasingly being taken seriously by agencies you will see a lot of press releases among departments, out thing their performance ahead of the nrc, look he was in india yesterday called me from india to defend the fact the agency had slipped a spot they use this as a recruiting tool when out there looking for new workers they use it as a bragging right, up on the hill when they are trying to get more money for their budget it is taken seriously this is an administration that ha

dominion virginia says it is safe to resume operations but several environmental groups have asked the nrcpend the company's license to restart the plan. >>> we're headed toward 5:35. time for another "your money" report. >> jessica doyle is back with a david and goliath story. consumers win over the big bank. >> for now! >> that's right. >> things are never that simple, right? the people have spoken. they did not want that new debit card fee bank of america was planning. a customer even collected 200,000 signatures against the move so bank of america is officially dumping plans to charge customers a $5 a month  fee to use their debit card. other banks also either dropped their debit card fees or pledged not to start them in the first place. don't relax just yet. there are a host of other fees that experts say could make their way to a bank near you. possibly fees for checks or higher minimum balances so keep your ice on the bank statements. >>> don't look for all that much out of the federal reserve today as its two-day policy setting session ends no new steps to aid the economy. the fe

would likely come out of the accident was very helpful, and that also served not to disrupt ongoing nrcivities of the time, whether it was the supervision of operating plants or the ongoing activities regarding license extensions or new plant operations. all of those things were very helpful to the financial community. >> do not forget the nuclear power industry has liability protections. the federal government is standing in there. if there were something of this scale in this country, the utilities would not be on the hook for the hundreds of billions of dollars. >> that is correct. there were lots of questions from investors in the aftermath of what are the insurance arrangements in terms of liability claims and property insurance protection? how would this all work? and also especially, what are the likely areas people will be focusing on? and most importantly, will they disrupt ongoing operation of the existing plants, and what incremental costs will be utilities likely face as a result of the new requirements? >> the commission obviously went to work rather rapidly, and ask the qu

look at coming and i draw the contrast between kentucky and my own race we're in kentucky we have the nrc and senator mitch mcconnell really campaigning against rand paul. he was the worst thing to happen to politics until he won the primary. the day after he won the primary, the to, you know, mitch mcconnell and rand paul were are enormous and they were saying that's the past. we've got to move forward to make sure this guy crosses the finish line, and unfortunately that didn't happen in delaware. but it's got to have been in order for us to win 2012, that's the message that i hope that people can take away with them by reading the book. i try to tell the story of how i got involved in politics, and what made me embrace the principles that i did and why i chose to become a republican, and i told it in a way that some political the advisers have said was a little too honest and probably shouldn't have admitted some things, but i did that, again, so that the reader can relate, because it's not about how many mistakes we've made or if we have never fallen, because

examples to look at, and i draw the contrast between kentucky and my own race where in kentucky we are the nrc and senator mitch mcconnell really campaigning against rand paul. he was the worst thing to happen to politics until he won the primaries. the day after he won the primary, mitch mcconnell for arm and arm to ensure this guy crosses the finish line, and unfortunately, that didn't happen in delaware, but it's not to happen in order for us to win in 2012 # so that's the message that i hope that people can take away with them. i try to tell the story of how i got involved in politics, and what made me embrace principles i did and why i chose to become a republican, and i told it in a way that some political advisers have said was a little too honest. i probably shouldn't have admitted some things, but i did that, again, so that the reader can relate because it's not about how many mistakes we've made or if we've fallen because you simply cannot pretend to be perfect. it's too exhausting and weary to keep up that facade. we're human. what it's about is about whether you get back up again,

let's bring in our political panel, karen, former nrc communications director and dawn, and former specialt clinton. thank you for joining us. >> thank you. >> heather: i want to begin first, karen, with you, and this pledge. all but six house republicans are listed as signers of the norquist's pledge, meaning a voting majority of the body is on record opposing tax increases. americans for tax reform, they list two house democrats as pledge signers, 40 gop senators and one democratic senator have signed on. so with word that a lot of the republicans want off the list all together, is this a sign of compromise and maybe cooperation amongst the parties when it comes to taxes or is it an indication of breaking promises to their constituents? >> i think it's the reality of the super committee. they have a couple of choices that they have to make in a very short period of time. if the super committee fails, then you're gog have automatic -- going to have automatic cuts that go into the defense budget. you could gut the defense budget if the super committee fails. to find some sort of compromise

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