. >> alex, you ask et about the -- what about dianne feinstein or go down the list or olympia snow.ates. >> but you're a moderate, i am a moderate -- >> you don't get on television as much as extreme left and extreme right. >> that is true. >> we should show what we literally agree on. >> you are instantly a wal-mart shopper or target shopper. you are either left or right or red or blue. >> taking marching orders -- we look at the payroll tax. they can't get anything -- >> getting marching orders from the money that is the poison in our system. i don't mean to be reductionist but you have seven lobbyists for every member of the congress. that the overlay for all of the reasons we haven't gotten the legislation -- >> maybe i'm too much of an idealist, but i firmly believe that congress is an honorable progression. there are hundreds of people still very, very much dedicated to jobs. when you look at the senate, take at house out, that's more margin yalized. the legislation is still passing in a bipartisan legislation. with all due respect to the networks, is this bitter back and fort

i am senator olympia snowe from maine. the united states senate will have a vote on a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. let there be no mistake -- there is no greater division to one -- we need the government to live within its means and spend no more than it takes in. i have been a longtime champion of the balanced budget amendment in both the house and senate. asked our federal government borrows an astounding 40 cents of every dollar we spend. the fact is debt and deficits do matter. we have now entered what some have called an economic danger zone. our outstanding debt, which has now reached $15 trillion, has stunted economic growth, costing millions of american jobs. just as deserving the, the government currently pays a staggering $200 million a year in interest to foreign countries who hold our treasury bonds. countries like china and russia. that number is expected to increase to $1 trillion by 2021. in the three short years since president obama as taken office, the national debt has increased

and we saw olympia snowe talking a little bit ago and that's where you see the difference between what do. she is talking about how the burden is on the supporters of a balanced budget amendment. i'm sorry, senator. the burden is on millions of people who are out of a job, on middle class workers, on working americans, who have not been able to get ahead. what the president and democrats want to do is create jobs exactly for those folks. that's who the burden is on. and i'm hoping that republicans will join us and at least pass the tax cut that democrats are urging. >> well, doesn't it sound like everybody is on the same page about this payroll tax cut that's going to expire at the end of the year. on the same page at least about wanting, but not how to get at it. we'll get this resolved, by the end of the year? >> we're talking about different things here. what that tax cut and how they're going to pay for it, it's actually as if each party took the opposite role. because you heard from democrats saying, how are we going to pay for these extensions of the bush tax rates? and then the

predicting that that money is going to come through it always does you get republican senators like olympia snowe and susan collins that are always pushing it at the end of the year and nobody ever looks at the bottom line it's got a good bit of a reasonable. you know maybe you will it brian i hope you're right and we'll all come back here after the first of the year and what will that ultimately i just you know say that on this issue on this vote erica mentioned the idea that simply because money isn't there that somehow heartless to not take care of people there is money i know that and if if government is the only place where we can decide whether or not something is hard for our let's that's a pretty sad over the six years that i stand here but everyone i have saying that you know what i'm saying is that for everybody that stands up and sat you know i don't believe and you know gay marriage because that's morally wrong i don't believe that when you. throw out the cast of morality or your religion and then you have to turn your back on the poorest of the poor and the people that are literally

and olympia snowe, she didn't even vote yes or no. she voted present how's that's for a profile in courage? >> we're not going to allow them to stand in the way of american consumers being protected by sun scrupulous financial operators. what they need to do is be focused on what's good for the economy, what's good for jobs and what's good for the american people. >> republicans should be focused on what's good for the american people but they are not. because of attacks on 345,000 millionaires, and republicans in the house are no better. they're calling for a payroll plan that would reduce unemployment benefits by 40 weeks. 40 weeks. how is that looking out for the 99%? i hope they like christmas in washington. if republicans don't change their ways, that's what they're going to get. >> get it done. and if not, you know, maybe we'll have a, you know, a white christmas here in washington. and i look forward to spenting a lot of time with you guys. >> joining me from the north lawn of the white house, valerie jarrett, assistant to pres

the one republican who did not vote with his party, olympia snow voted present. scott brown is in a senate race. guess who his likely opponent is going to be in massachusetts, elizabeth warren. this issue, this fight is going to play out not only here in washington but out on the campaign trail. you're going to see in olympia snow, scott brown, some of the republicans who have to go home to or run for re-election in more moderate states, states the president is likely to carry in next year's election getting a tad nervous at what they view is overly confrontational tactics by the senate republican majority -- i mean the senate republican minority. mitch mccome has used these tactics and has said if you talk to him and his staff, he thinks he's succeeding. >> john, had you a chance to talk to michele bachmann just yesterday. how are the republicans countering what they're seeing from the president now, more aggressive stance, if you will, on fighting for the middle class snnchts they want to make the argument that any tax increases are wrong right now. the bigger

the more or less centrist republicans in the senate attacking him, people like scott brown and olympia snowe attacking him for "playing politics rather than finding solutions." then it was more conservative republicans in the senate, people like chuck grassley and roger wicker and john mccain attacking john boehner for "harming the republican party." then it was anonymous republican staffers on the senate side saying that john boehner and house republicans have "painted themselves into a corner. they are on their own." then it was named republican staffers on the house side circulating e-mails and then leaking those e-mails to the press, things that said -- saying things like "republicans are not playing this right." written in all caps. then it was named members of the house, members of john boehner's own caucus, the people who supposedly answer to him, coming out in public opposition to him. republican congressman rick crawford of arkansas saying, "an all or nothing attitude produces nothing." republican congressman shawn duffy of wisconsin calling out speaker boehner directly, demanding t

it's also susan collins, dick lugar, dean heller, olympia snowe, chuck grassley, roger wicker. the name brand republican senators openly trashing house republicans for what they're doing or at least publicly prodding them to get their act together. the incoherence and infighting of republicans in washington on this issue is now even starting to spill over into the republican race for president as well. after chastising congressional republicans for failing to, quote, speak with one voice, on this issue, presidential candidate mitt romney was unable in three separate media appearances to state which side of this argument he is on. i was going to say that the only candidate with any coherence on this issue at all is candidate newt gingrich, but then he got incoherent on this as well. first mr. gingrich decided to come out and bash senate democrats on the issue. okay. the vote was 89-10, but at least you're aiming your fire outside the republican circle. so far, so good. but then just a little while later newt gingrich about faced. decided the party in the wrong is actually the ho

. >> -- in the northeast, you need people like scott brown and olympia snowe and susan collins.o remember, we kept trying to ask a presidential candidate -- >> pawlenty. >> are you glad olympia snowe is a republican. and we asked him five times, he wouldn't answer. >> the answer should be yes. >> the answer is immediately yes. we had haley on next and we asked him, are you glad -- he's all, hell yeah, i wish jim was still up in vermont. amen, haley. amen. >> is obama the fourth best president ever? he seems to think so. we'll play -- >> hold on, let me think about it -- >> you stop it. >> history will tell the story. >> i've got the answer, no. capital one's new cash rewards card gives you a 50 percent annual bonus. so you earn 50 percent more cash. if you're not satisfied with 50% more cash, send it back! i'll be right here, waiting for it. who wouldn't want more cash? [ insects chirping ] i'll take it. i'll make it rain up in here. [ male announcer ] the new capital one cash rewards card. the card for people who want 50% more cash. what's in your wallet? sorry i'll clean this

that is what senator olympia snowe is talking about. that is what senator lugar is talking about. they are talking about get this work done, and unfortunately i can name you 12 instances that i have on a list here where the republicans have walked away from solving serious problems. this is not a demon. -- a game. thank you. [unintelligible] >> john boehner gathered with fellow republicans today chosen to negotiate today on a payroll tax cut legislation tricks harry reid has refused to appoint his own negotiators. this is 10 minutes. >> good morning, everyone. mr. de the house voted to reject the senate bill and as for conference where we can resolve the differences between the two houses. i have appointed the eight men and women sitting here to be our negotiators. we are here, ready to go to work, and we are hoping senate democrats will appoint negotiators, come to the table, and resolve these differences. it is important to note that the president, the bipartisan leaders in the house and the senate have all asked for the same thing over the course of the last several months. let

and that is why senator jack reed, senator olympia snowe and i and many others are working hard so that, at the very, very least, we can level fund liheap so that nobody in our country goes cold this winter. and with that, mr. president, i would yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll of the senate. quorum call: s recognize. mr. durbin: ask consent the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: and consent to speak as if in morning business. the presiding officer: the senator is recognized. mr. durbin: mr. president, in the school year 2009 and 2010, the u.s. department of education provided $132 billion in grants and loans to students. that was up from $49 billion in 2001, a dramatic increase in federal aid to education. a large part of this increase can be traced to one particular type of school, enrollment at for-profit colleges. that has grown faster than any other sector. currently about 10% of the students pursuing education after high school attend for-profit schools, for-profit col

senator olympia snowe and i were responsible for starting a program which we are very fond of called rate. a lot of other people helped it is not a fantastic job in helping with closing the digital divide. i thought at the time that when you passed, that the california would be way out, you know, i never, percentage of classes were covered in fact he was only 15% on the other hand houston which i they would be low, they went wild and within two days they were 100%. so i mean there was this vast irrigation. west virginia, the numbers were very low but now they're very high as they are across the country. also the e-rate program is keeping the connection card and having the technology to keep it so so he can continue to close the digital divide. so my question is very simple. but profoundly important to me. will you both promised me that you will support the e-rate program? >> yes. [laughter] >> that's one. >> senator, if confirmed i look forward to working with you on the e-rate program and i support the program. >> good. [laughter] >> one of the reasons i say that is that there's a t

that is what senator olympia snowe is talking about. that is what senator lugar is talking about. they are talking about, get this work done. unfortunately, i can name 12 instances that i have on a list here where the republicans have walked away from solving serious problems. this is not a game. >> thank you. >> house speaker john boehner gathered with a group of republicans chosen to negotiate with the senate on payroll tax cut legislation. senate majority leader harry reid has so far failed to appoint his own negotiators. question to house republicans about the impasse. >> good morning, everyone. the house voted to reject the senate bill and asked for a conference with the senate or could resolve the differences between the two houses. i appointed the eight men and women sitting here to negotiate. we are here and ready to go to work. we hope they will come to the table and resolve these differences. it is important to note that the president, bipartisan leaders in the house and the senate have all asked for the same thing over the course of the last several months. let's extend

that is what senator brown is talking about here again that is what senator olympia snowe is talking about. they are talking about get this work done. unfortunately i can name you 12 instances that i have on a list here where the republicans have walked away from solving serious problems. this is not a game. thank you. >> that briefing from about 10:30 this morning. not long before this, but the house speaker held a meeting with republican leaders to discuss the full-year tax cut they're calling for. we caught them before the meeting. >> good morning, everyone. yesterday the house voted to reject the senate bill come and ask for a conference with the senate where we could resolve differences i have appointed the eight men and women sitting here. we're ready to go to work. we're hoping that senate democrats will appoint negotiators to come to the table and resolve differences. and i think it is important to note that the president, a bipartisan leaders in the house and in the senate, have all really ask for the same thing over the course of the past several months. let's extend the pa

that's what senator mccain was talking about, what senator brown is talking about, what senator olympia snowe talking about, what senator lugar is talking about. they are talking about get this work done, and unfortunately, i can name 12 incidences on a list here, i won't bother to do that, where republicans walked away from solving serious problems. this is not a game. thank you. >> thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> as you heard, the house will be back for another pro forma session friday. yesterday, by a vote of 223-193, the house blocked a bipartisan senate version of the bill to extend the tax payroll tax cut for two months, house republicans also called for a conference with the senate. here's a look at this morning's pro forma session in the house. >> order. the chair lay before the house communication from the speaker. the speakers are in washington, d.c., december 21st, 20 # 11, i hereby appoint the honorable michael g. fitzpatrick to be speaker. >> the prayer will be offered by the guest chaplain, lutheran church of the reformation, washington, d.c.. >> let us pray. gashes -- g

olympia snowe voted for it in 2002. senator kerry voted against it. now, pilgrim is in the state of massachusetts. i guess senator kerry feels that pilgrim is a more safe and secure location than yucca mountain. based upon his statement. scott brown has no position yet. senator sheehan has no position. and of course the independent from vermont has voted no. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from wisconsin, ms. moore, for five minutes. ms. moore: thank you so much, mr. speaker. recently and even today we have heard a lot from both sides about the extension of unemployment insurance from both sides of the aisle, but i think the voices that we need to be listening to are the voices of the american people. so if you would indulge me, mr. speaker, i would like to read a letter from one of my constituents. ms. moore, i am writing you today to request that you pass the extension for unemployment insurance benefits. i am a single mom and experienced a layoff at my job thi

snow comes from kansas city to omaha and chicago. thunderstorms from new orleans to memphis. light rain around nashville, detroit, cincinnati and pittsburgh. and showers from seattle to olympiawashington. a couple inches of snow in the cascades and northern rockies. >> a wet 46 in seattle. 36 in salt lake city. and 60 in phoenix. mostly 30s from fargo to kansas city. 45 here in new york. 60 in atlanta. and a warm 80 in miami. >>> and coming up after the break, the search for missing toddler ayla reynolds. were authorities concerned even before she went missing? >>> and the kansas college student who disappeared after leaving a chilling voicemail for her sister. >>> also this morning, the new york city firefighter who leapt from a burning building while on fire. that and more when we come back. s>s>s>s@ >>> asian markets rebounded today after the sell-off that followed the death of north korea's dictator. tokyo's nikkei average picked up 40 points today. hong kong's hang seng gained ten. in london, the ftse opened lower. on wall street, the dow fell 100 points yesterday. the nasdaq index was off 32. >>> at&t is hanging up on t-mobile. the television giant is now admitting def

olympia, southward. portland getting good. and heavier rainfall totals over the next 48 hours will be on the cascades, snow levels very high. very warm out there as far as rainfall total, a little bull's-eye from medford to portland. we get to the red, four to five inches of rain. possibility of some localized flooding is going to be there. you go throughout the next couple of days. the cumulative effect of the weather system. rain doesn't make it san francisco southward. just the pacific northwest this time around. the forecast for today, mild, that is the one good thing. snow levels extremely high for this time of the year. temperatures in the upper 40s, low 50s. nice from san diego to l.a. and sacramento to san francisco, slightly cooler. cloudso sunny and nice. california, no issues. >>> looks like the heavy rain will continue in the northwest. where the worst weather in the country will be it looks like until the weekend. >> going back to you taping new year's eve. >> does that work? >> you still have a vcr? >> no. i've gotten on board with the dvr. >> just checking. >> okay. >>> oil bubbles, putting your foot in your

snow in the higher elevations in the southwest and a wintry mix of rain. >>> here is another look at this morning's top stories. four army aviators were killed overnight when two helicopters crashed near olympiagton. the helicopters were on a training mission. two other flyers were injured in that crash. >>> and during a preliminary hearing today, former penn state assistant football coach jerry sandusky will come face-to-face with some of the men who accused him of child molestation. >>> the u.s. has frozen $700 million in aid to pakistan, which is one of the largest recipients of u.s. aid. the freeze is part of a defense bill expected to pass this week. now, the u.s. wants pakistan to assure it will fight the spread of homemade bombs, what the u.s. military calls improvised explosive devices in the region. >>> president obama met with iraq's prime minister at the white house yesterday. after nearly nine years of war, all u.s. troops are scheduled to leave iraq at the end of this month. the president called it a historic moment and pledged that america's strong presence in the region will continue. >>> federal officials say dramatically fewer people are trying to enter the u.s. illegally by