now standoff of the omnibus legislation, spending for the government.h government shutdown looming friday night. all of that said. mara, back to 2012. >> back to 2012. >> bret: thought on iowa and ron paul gaining support here. we have seen these organizationally strong in this state. >> organization counts for a lot in iowa. anything can stop newt gingrich consolidating the anti-romney vote is good for romney. at this point, newt surged so far and so fast that he is expected to win iowa or place a close second. i think that if paul could win, that gives romney a new lease on life. newt has to look to south carolina where he is polling strong. the trick for romney he was stuck at 25 and now he dropped a couple points below that is count on the rest of the candidates splitting the rest of the vote. >> bret: i have only been in sioux city for a few hours. but i have noticed the local cable provide they're has fox news channel, the local ads are nonstop. they are one after another. candidate ads. and ron paul has a really brutal ad against newt gingrich th

first, congress needs to pass an omnibus appropriations bill as soon as possible.and i'm really pleased to see the positive progress on this issue that there has been an agreement announced on an omnibus appropriations measure and hopefully we're on track to pass that bill either today or tomorrow. now, the omnibus includes nearly $3.5 billion in funding for liheap but we need to get that money out the door. so the second thing that can be done once congress as that spoken is that the administration needs to release additional liheap funds as quickly as possible. the $1.7 billion that's already been released is not enough, but the knowledge that additional liheap funds are pending in the omnibus bill and that we're about to pass that should give president obama the assurance he needs to release more money. i hope once the budget is pass passed, the administration will release these additional funds as soon as possible because at this holiday season, what better gift could we provide to though families in need than to make sure they have funds to keep their houses w

. >> i'd say speaking of embarrassment, we're doing it omnibus again.n we're doing omnibus again on the eve of chaste is because we haven't passed our appropriation bills. we have had almost as many show boats in the senate this year, equal number of show vote, designed to fail, to go nowhere to present a talk point for president and his campaign and on real bills than were supposed to pass. >> bret: that was very, very interest on the senate floor. it had senator mcconnell, up against the majority leader harry reid. this is a standoff with a government shutdown looming again. friday night. omnibus is the overall spending bill. appropriation bill put in one bill to fund the government. this is now tied to similarly tied to extension, the payroll tax extension that passed the house. we're in the weeds here. but basically the republicans are saying you have a way out of this. the democrats are saying this is u unacceptable. except for a congressman disagreed with reid saying it's dangerous to hold up a complicated deal with time running out and says if he

i don't like omnibus bills. but in cleaning up the mess left us, this is a good-faith effort to get 2012 out of the way so in 2013, january, we will be able to go to work getting the 2013 bills done in the regular way. i want to thank the staff for all the hard work they've done all year long, and i thank our colleagues. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, let me take 30 seconds to say that all they are trying to do is mr. dreier's 16 minutes -- i would be able to please to yield to--- yield to him one of my 13. i want to yield to the gentleman from washington, mr. dicks, who's worked so hard. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from washington is recognized for two minutes. mr. dicks: i thank the member of the rules committee for yielding me two minutes. i just want to say that this has been a collaborative, bipartisan effort to put this bill here. mr. mcgovernor and others have explained some of their concerns abo

there is an omnibus budget bill that has to pass by the end of the year to keep the government run, andhink that the strategy for the republicans is to get that thing passed, and then jet out of here, but the president has said he will not sign the omnibus without them dealing with the payroll tax cut. you mentioned earlier, chris, they are holding so many things hostage. they believe they have perfected the hostage taking, and they are going to demand that the president sign the keystone pipeline deal which is very controversial from the legal perspective and environmental perspective and they want to nullify the environmental protections and the clean air and water provisions in order to pass this payroll tax cut for middle-class americans. and these are just sort of non-starters. so i think that this is a time when it is really important for the american public to have a president who's on their side. he has said he will stand in the gap, and i think that is very significant. another thing, chris, i don't want to -- >> well, let me ask you about what is going on in washington right n

we have passed an omnibus appropriation bill. this bill that is on the desk here, 1,207 pages, reported out last night, a conference report. i urged support of that bill, but it was not, of course, consistent with the pledges that were made to do appropriations bills discreetly. that is one after another. difficult to do that, unfortunately. the way we should do it, but we didn't do it this year and we have not done it in years' past under democrat and republican leadership. but i am concerned, mr. speaker, that we have some critically unfinished business pending in the congress of the united states. we passed a bill here through the house some days ago which provided for the extension of the payroll tax cut that we gave to 160 million americans last year. our economy is still not as robust as we want it to be. and the president of the united states has said, let's continue that tax cut for middle-income americans. we have not done that yet. and unfortunately the bill that we passed through the house had items in it that obviousl

look, that is on the omnibus bill.l has the spending levels for each part of government through the next year, that is, until the 1st of october of next year. so that's important that that job get done. separate and apart from that is a package extending the payroll tax cut, the unemployment insurance benefits, dealing with the reimbursement for doctors who treat medicare patients. that is moving on a separate track. and we also are seeing progress there. >> senate democrats reportedly, are they considering dropping the millionaire tax to pay for extending the payroll tax cut? is this something that's really on the table? you said it's going to be this minor inconvenience to the wealthy. but is it something that you'd be willing to cut? >> we'd prefer not to. we think it is entirely reasonable that those who have had the greatest benefit from the economy over the last decade and who at the very top have seen their tax rates almost cut in half, that it's not unreasonable to ask those earning over $1 million a year -- re

>>guest: it is possible they could pass an omnibus and no one knows what is in it and the other possible resolution which will still be an enormous piece of legislation and it will tide us over for a month or two but something will get done. there is a feeling they want to get something done and i think it will be good for those who want to go home for the holidays but maybe not for the taxpayer when they discover what is in the bills. >>neil: i want to talk about your dad a second, there is growing indication he is gaining a considerable momentum in iowa and many have expressed the condition about that, saying this is in way in heck he could get the party's nomination or, say, he did, and he would almost certainly go down to defeat and it would be a bad thing. what do you thing of that kind of talk when you hear it from so many quarters, does it bother you? >>guest: there is a big ron paul surge going on, she in a tie in iowa and moving up in new hampshire but what i tell the naysayers is that interestingly when you match ron paul with president obama he does better than any other candi

in addition to this, the president has not signed the omnibus bill. i think he was going to wait for this one which means come friday the government could shut down. once again brinksmanship of hanging by our thumbs. so if i could make any point today for america, don't pay any attention to that man behind the curtain here. we are not doing anything. we could have, but we are not. and after that great expense of shuttling all back and forth this week we come here today and we have a rare opportunity to really come together and provide the vital assistance to americans in need. the senate certainly answered the called in a bipartisan bill which was really quite wonderful. it made us feel good about the congress. they passed a bill in support of 89 senators and 80% of the republican senators. and i'm very proud of them. not only did they vote for that but unfortunately the house can't do the same. this bill had the blessings of the speaker of this house as of saturday. after a year of bitter battles in washington we stood on the brink of a bipartisan ag

tax cut extension, the extension of unemployment insurance, and the spending bill, the so- called omnibus bill that congress needs to take care of before they go. what cannot happen is congress takes care of its spending bill, but does not take action to ensure americans' taxes go up. but what americans think? it would certainly that i think raise the number, the percentage of americans who have already polled, more than 40% who say this is the worst congress in history, and we have a long history now. approval numbers would go down, and that would be just and right. we do not think that will happen because republicans have indicated they want apparel tax cut extend it, which is a change from the position we heard just a few short weeks ago, and we are encouraged by signs of the willingness of everyone to work together to get this import business done. >> no matter how the payroll tax and the unemployment -- extent of what is in an article of faith that the body must pay more? >> let's be clear about what the president's party is, which is to insure americans not see their taxes go up on

commissioner miguel: an unusual piece of omnibus legislation. i do not thing there is any other term for it. i appreciate what aaron, and marie, and justin, and tom has put into it. in general, i am in full agreement with the department's recommendations. i think -- i know they are thoughtful, and i think they have met many of the concerns. i will go over three or four items that i have concerns on. i am working from the executive summary that was produced for the commission. in the section on streetscape improvements, there is a comment of removing basements that extend under the public right of way. refers to this city street plan. i know the tree planting is what is most affected by this. everyone would be loading on sidewalks with a sly or elevator. i do not know if everyone is familiar with the fact that, in many areas of the city, certainly north beach, financial district, chinatown, there are not just basements, there are sub and subsub basins used by these businesses, rented by these businesses. i remember years ago, there was an old res

that is the omnibus. around 3:00. the time is not always exact. there's a ruling from this white house, its predecessors that if one house passes a spending bill as we are doing here, and there's a presumption it will pass in the other body, the time is extended for 24 hours. so everyone doesn't have to worry about the government closing tonight. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, let me echo the remarks of the majority leader. as he's indicated, the administration takes the view that if the final appropriations bills pass one house this afternoon, we could have that vote today or it could be tomorrow. but the administration, i'm told by the majority leader, takes the view that if it's passed one house, there will not be a government shutdown. so i think everybody should be reassured that's not going to happen. the conference report has been signed and we're moving toward completing the basic work of government through next september 30 very shortly. on the second issue, the majority leader and i are making significant progress and reaching an agreemen

the other deal that is being voted on is the omnibus spending bill proposal.was passed by the house on friday. the senate is voting on it on the floor. there are comments on c-span2 right now. the house adoption friday of the spending measure that would fund a 3/4 of the government through the end of 2012 -- fund 3/4 of the government through the end of 2012 -- that is from today's "the washington post." talking about the deal's going on through the end of the year. chicago, mary, a democrat. caller: hello. i am calling regarding what i see as the ineptness of congress and the lack of concern for the middle class, the lower class, and their prime objective being that they want to leave office as millionaires. most of them came in not as millionaires. now they are. usually, the only time they leave is after they have made millions. that let me know that their objective is not for the american public, but for their own growth. their own, if you will, making money for themselves. when will the people really stand up against these bureaucrats, and ask that they pa

fillmore tells zachary taylor that the omnibus bill comes up for a vote in the senate and it's a tie vote, even though taylor has said he will oppose the omnibus bill because it does not want to deal with all these issues a once, fillmore will vote for it, but the time and forces of president to veto it. great politics. he tells taylor this early in july. on july 4th i retailer goes to a july 4th picnic. he sits in the hot sun for hours and hours. july 4th is great. he sits in the sun for hours and hours, it cucumbers and no court cherries in know, were not sure which. not much refrigeration. he gets a stomachache. at the time he weighs in at close to 300 pounds. a stomachache for him as a national disaster. and a few days later he's dead. and suddenly the man from the middle of nowhere is president of the united states. .. in the year or so later said it's time to take this out and they asked him to leave. he does what no accidental president in history has ever done. he accepts every one of these resignations when they are offered the day that it is inaugurated so here we have a pr

the two pieces that i would look at is the appropriations bill, a sort of an schmeltzer of borg of omnibuseasures, and then congressman upton has a name for the other, which is the extenders, unemployment insurance, possibly the cut to social security contributions, etc. in there. because the first is a conference report, it is privileged, cannot be filibusters in the senate -- filibustered in the senate. therefore, the politics in the house are far more interesting than the politics of the senate. but the other, that is anybody's bet where that one goes. >> can i ask you, how do you feel about the keystone pipeline? will you potentially support that? >> i am in favor of it. i hope that it goes through. we will see what the final legislation looks like. i do think it would be a tremendous political mistake by the white house to veto legislation simply because of authorizes one of the biggest job producing energy projects in the country. >> can you see yourself voting for a final package? >> at this point, it is so undefined. a number of special interests, tax provisions. also, remember, i

today the house approved a omnibus spending bill averting a government shutdown.ate still has to act. what about the keystone pipeline back and forth and what republicans have managed to do here? >> they have managed to outwit democrats. a terrible issue for president obama. one it show he is is vacillating and weak and can't make a decision when he could have made the state department first approved the pipeline a couple of year ago. it's also a jobs program. it will produce, people dispute how many jobs but nobody says it won't produce a lot of jobs. and the president is suppose to be if for that. then an energy thing. bring on the oil from a secure friendly neighbor up in canad canada. to be against it or delay is it bad for obama. he had to cave on this. >> bret: democrats not playing hand well? >> they were outmaneuvered because if the bill passed in the house with keystone in, they were in a position to approve it. let me just say fred just painted you a stunning image of keystone pipeline. you even have the republican governor of nebraska who had objections

you lost 101 for the omnibus going forward.art of your party that isn't buying in the compromise. they want to hold the line. is that a problem for you as leaders of this caucus? >> some of the frustration exists because we are not getting as far as we like if you talks about about reducing spending or implement the pro-growth tax policy. we have a divided government. we have come to washington to effect real change that is difficult. you will see the republicans united behind trying to do the right thing. asking the president to stay in town to work it out. no working person in america can face tax increase for the rest of the next year. >> bret: thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> bret: leadership change taking place in north korea for the first time in 20 years and seen as optimism and dread. we look at the future of north korea. >> reporter: the man officially called dear leader, kim jong il died of a heart attack saturday. news of his death hidden by the hermit kingdom until early hours of monday. l.a. known pictures

there is a lot of talk in this building today talking about one of the things is the omnibus holding back families traveling back to cuba. suffice it to say, it's important my colleagues know what's being asked for in the omnibus and what will be coming over here if it's kept in won't prohibit families from traveling to cuba. it's limiting the amount they can. it's a wise policy and one that i support. it limits access to hard currencicy to a different tyrannical regime. i'm here to talk about cuba travel which doesn't get a lot of notice these days but it's part of conversations that are ongoing with departments in the state department. that is the so-called people to people travel. i have here in my hand an immediate release from january january 14 of 2011 titled "reaching out to the cuban people." it came from the president where he announced a series of steps to continue efforts to reach out to the cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country's future. one of the changes they made is to something they call purposesful travel. it says here the presiden

work continues toward finalizing an omnibus to fund government for the rest of the year. in the meantime, we should not hold up this middle-class tax cut. on january 1, every american worker will have less money. in fact, mr. president, 160 million american workers will have less money to spend on groceries and gas and rent unless congress acts on their behalf. t.s. elliott said it about as good as i can figure a way to say it when he said -- "hurry up, please. it's time." mr. reid: for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask consent that the senate proceed to h.r. 2845. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 2845, an act to amend title 49, united states code, to provide enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation, and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the bill be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, there being no interven

the last thing he had to do before he would take his vacation is sign on this big omnibus bill. they have been waiting for that at the white house. it has now arrived. sign that, make a statement to the american people and then he could perhaps go to hawaii and join his family there for christmas if as you say, all goes well, later today, but that's a lot of ifs. >> certainly no. kate bolduan is watching this as well. there will be some democrats who will oppose this. in the house of representatives. there will be some republicans who oppose it. they don't even like the idea of payroll tax cut. michele bachmann doesn't like that idea. she's a member of the house of representatives, although she's not in washington right now and she can't vote, but there are a lot of republicans who think this is bad policy right now. so here's the question and dana and jessica, sort of raised it. does the speaker, assuming the speaker and eric cantor, they're on board with mitch mcconnell and the republican leadership in the senate, is it a done deal as far as the votes are concerned? will they

fillmore tells zachary taylor that the omnibus bill comes up for a vote in the senate and it's a tie vote, even though taylor has said he will oppose the omnibus bill because it does not want to deal with all these issues a once, fillmore will vote for it, but the time and forces of president to veto it. great politics. he tells taylor this early in july. on july 4th i retailer goes to a july 4th picnic. he sits in the hot sun for hours and hours. july 4th is great. he sits in the sun for hours and hours, it cucumbers and no court cherries in know, were not sure which. not much refrigeration. he gets a stomachache. at the time he weighs in at close to 300 pounds. a stomachache for him as a national disaster. and a few days later he's dead. and suddenly the man from the middle of nowhere is president of the united states. .. whenever an accidental president comes into power, members and in a resignation. and most presidents they thank you and put these envelopes and their task. if you need them later, they take them out. so bobby kennedy, for instance, offered to resign that lyndon jo

if that's part of it, let's take a vote and move on but we have to have our omnibus bill and run this government. i just hope -- i'm very hopeful that minds -- good minds will prevail. sometimes it wears you out. you have to keep pushing forward. that thing about no labels. you watched that and i love to talk about it because we're looking for solutions. >> neil: all right. part of that solution is to get over the gimmickry that happens at this point on both sides and you've been critical of democrats as well as republicans. give me some ideas to avoid this soap opera. >> i signed a bill today that says if there's no budget, we shouldn't get paid. there has to be something that stimulates people that we know people are hurting in america and if they're hurting, we should be hurting too. if we can't get our job done, why should we get paid? i think things like that, no labels has brought to the table, they're common sense solutions so we're looking at that. but it's getting bogged down and we have to quit playing politics and look at the policy. quit worrying about the next election an

2012 budget to study the port's deepening, so lindsey graham cut a deal to put more money in the omnibus spending bill. >> we're a red state in south carolina. it's no accident we weren't in obama's budget. >> south carolina officials complain that the administration has dropped the ball on improving america's export capacity, particularly with the renaissance in manufacturing here. the panama canal expansion will be completed in two years, yet we still don't have a national strategy for how to take advantage of it. in atlanta, john roberts, fox news. >> as businesses and consumers depend more and more on computers to manage their finances, hackers are taking advantage of the dependence to further their causes. here's one example tonight. good evening, doug. >> good evening, shannon. this came in the form of a hack. thousands of subscribers and clients woke up christmas morning to find their credit card information compromised, and some of their accounts looted by anonymous. the attacks were placed on december 24th, then two days later someone claiming to be part of the anonymous consort

journal" the house is in session and a couple of hours to vote on the house- senate compromise on the omnibus spending bill that will keep the government operating for the rest of the year. members may wait until next week to continue debate on extending the payroll tax cut. in about 45