i'm tara mergener on capitol hill with the story coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, stand against obama-care --l on deaf ears. a bill that would fund the government after september .... with-out defunding the >>> ted cruz talk all not but it was falling on deaf ears. the bill to fund the government after september 30 without defunding the president obama's healthcare law cleared a test vote in the senate this afternoon. tara mergener says it's the latest move with another shutdown showdown with the house. >> reporter: republican ted cruz wrapped up a marathon 21- hour appearance on the senate floor. >> my plea to this body is that we listen to the american people because if we listen to our constituents, the answer is, defund this bill that isn't working that's hurt, the american people. >> reporter: cruz and fellow conservatives were trying to gain support for a house bill that defunds the president's new healthcare law. even though there is little chance of senate approval. >> it has been a big waste of time. >> reporter: lawmakers are trying to find common ground on a temporary spending bil

both sides insist they do not want one. >> tara mergener, thank you.he affects could devastate economy if there government does shut down. there could be a ripple effect on the local economy. each shutdown day would total $5 million in lost state revenue. $1 million in reduced sales tax revenue. maryland businesses are expected to suffer for each day the federal government is shut down. an economic professor says the

in washington tara mergeneer -- mergener. >>> if there's a shut down national parks and museums will close. but mail carriers and airports screeners and u.s. military will stay on the job. >>> in syria a government official says they will respect the united nation ace cords when it comes to -- accords when it comes to chemical weapons. president assad made the announcement this weekend. they are accused of using sarin on its own people but al assad says he has officially signed an international agreement to prevent the use of chemical weapons. >>> all lanes are now back open on the bay bridge after a fire brought traffic to a standstill. around 6 p.m. a fire was reported underneath the westbound span of the bridge at the highest point. you can see smoke billowing. crews quickly put out the flames but westbound lanes remained closed while inspectors looked at brin. once it was -- once it was deemed safe it was reopened about 3 hours ago. construction was done on that part of the bridge today but they haven't released the official cause of the fire. >>> we are learning more about a dea

tara mergener has the latest for wjz from capitol hill. >> reporter: the senate started its day with a prayer as the chaplain asked for divine intervention to help avoid a government shutdown. >> deliver us from governing by crisis. >> reporter: senators are expected to pass legislation today that would keep the government running. the funding bill then goes to the republican controlled house, but speaker john boehner says the g.o.p. will not approve the measure as is. >> i do not see that happening. >> reporter: the reason is health care. house republicans may attach changes that would cut off some funding for the president's affordable health care act. they also want a one-year delay for the mandate requiring all americans to buy health insurance. if congress cannot reach a deal, the government will partially shut down after midnight monday and some 800,000 federal workers could be told to stay home next week. president obama put out annual e-mail this morning -- an e- mail this morning blaming far right republicans of pushing us closer to the brink. senator john mccain says compro

cbs reporter tara mergener tell us that kenyan troops claim they have taken back control. >> reporter: smoke billowed from the upscale shopping mall under siege in nairobi. cbs news correspondent charlie d'agata heard a huge explosion at the scene this morning. >> followed by a series of further explosions in wave after wave of automatic weapons and gunfire taking place as we saw kenyan troops and armored personnel carriers taking up positions around the mall. >> reporter: kenya's interior minister says two people were killed as troops tried to free hostages. but the minister can't confirm how many hostages remain inside or how many militants remain. the state department says five americans were injured in the attack that killed more than 60 people. san diego native elaine dang was caught in the crossfire. she moved there a year ago. two of her friends were killed. >> after surgeries, i'm okay. i'm very grateful to be alive. >> reporter: al-shabab a militant group with ties to al qaeda claims responsibility for the attack. cell phone video shows chaos inside the mall when the attack f

and tonight it looks like no deal is likely as tara merge they are tells us -- tara mergener tells us -- >> the house will be in order. >> reporter: the house appears close to a approving a budget to keep the government running but as expected republicans once again added changes to the affordable health care act including a one year delay for the mandate requiring all americans to buy health insurance. conservatives argue they're doing the president a favor. >> obamacare is not ready. >> we're going to give obama and his administration a little bit more time to get it right. >> reporter: but senate democrats reject the bill and so does the president. >> far right republicans in congress might choose to shut down the government and potentially damage the economy just because they don't like this law. >> reporter: the last time the house sent the senate a funding bill with health care changes the senate stripped the changes out and september it back. house democrats -- sent it back. house democrat steve israel is worried. >> this government is hurtling towards a shutdown and the americ

tara mergener has the latest information from capitol hill. >> reporter: the senate started its day with a prayer. as the chaplain asked for divine intervention to help avoid a government shutdown. >> deliver us from governing by crisis. >> reporter: senators are expected to pass legislation today that would keep the government running. the funding bill then goes to the republican controlled house. but speaker john boehner says the g.o.p. will not approve the measure as is. >> i do not see that happening. >> reporter: the reason is health care. house republicans may attach changes that would cut off some funding for the president's affordable care act. they also want a one year delay for the mandate requiring all americans to buy health insurance. if congress cannot reach a deal, the government will partially shut down after midnight monday. and some 800,000 federal workers could be told to stay home next week. president obama put out an e- mail this morning, blaming, quote, far right republicans, of pushing us closer to the brink. senator john mccain says compromise is in the country's

tara mergener has the latest from capitol hill. >> reporter: house republicans are working into the night and singing a familiar tune. >> what is and what should never be. >> reporter: the gop appears closed to approving funding to keep the government running. but they are also adding changes to the affordable care act, including a one-year delay for the mandate requiring all americans to buy health insurance. >> obamacare is not ready and the delay is clearly essential. >> we are going to give obama and his administration a little bit more time to get it right. >> reporter: this would be the second time the house approved a spending bill that targets healthcare. last time senate democrats rejected it and vowed to do it again. the white house says the president will veto it. if the two sides can't agree on healthcare the bill won't go through and the government will start a partial shutdown on tuesday. house democrat israel doesn't believe congress will reach a deal in time. >> this government is hurdling towards a shutdown and the american people deserve better. >> reporter: if there is

cbs reporter tara mergener is live in washington where hundreds of thousands of federal workers could be told to stay home next week. tara. >> reporter: this is true. good evening, allen. yeah, what a week here on capitol hill. well, the senate did pass that bill today straight down party lines. this after senate democrats removed language that would have defunded president obama's healthcare law. now, to the chagrin of some gop members, house speaker john boehner says he will not support the senate version of the bill. instead, republican leaders are now considering a new bill that would delay the healthcare law for one year. but the president meantime says he will not negotiate. allen, we are now looking at less than three days until the deadline. >> bargaining sessions and having a breakthrough this weekend? >> reporter: well, perhaps. the house has a meeting scheduled tomorrow where they will mull over the senate bill and try to put their heads together and figure out who to get to get 218 members to sign on whatever new route they decide to follow. there's a lot of politics here

tara mergener for cbs news, washington. >> while some states had been reluctant to implement obamacare california is taking the lead. on tuesday the affordable health care act's new insurance marketplaces will open for business. the state has set up call centers to explain how the law works. california is home to 15% of the nation's uninsured. that's about 7 million people. other states will be watching california to see how we handle the transition. >>> you might call it buyers' remorse. californians are having second thoughts about a high speed rail line linking the bay area and southern california. a poll from the "l.a. times" shows 52 welcome are now against -- 53% are now against the project and want it stopped. 43% want it to move forward. the bay area still backing the budget train with 51% endorsing it. construction is supposed to start next year. >>> well, new insight tonight into one of the worst fire fighting tragedies since 9/11. 19 firefighters died this past june when the flames from an arizona wildfire engulfed them. marly hall tells us investigators are tracing it back

in washington, tara mergener, wjz "eyewitness news." >> senate majority. and something that hasn't been done in three decades. high level officials in iran, sit down talking together face- to-face. >> ki is in the newsroom. u.s. secretary of state, john kerry and top diplomats from five other countries are meeting with iran's foreign minister, trying to restart negotiations. iran has been punished for suspected crippling ambitions. country's new moderate president, denies iran is trying to develop any nuclear weapons. iran's president says he wants to reach an agreement within 3- 6 months. >> iran's new president called on israel o join an international treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons much israel is the only nation that hasn't signed the nonproliferation treaty. >>> in maryland, arrest add group of teens, blowing at mailboxes. officers say arthur reef, 18- year-old carter harrison, 19- year-old james stevenson and 17- year-old boy, destroyed mailboxes. they face several charges, related to possession of fireworks without a permit and manufactu

at the state department,tara mergener. >>> 63 people are still missing. >>> new fears fears on the campus of the university of maryland east shore after a student was shot on campus. >> a student is recovering at home after being shot and wounded in an off campus incident. university officials officials say he was treated and released. the student was shot in the leg. an alert was sent out on the campus urging students to be vigilant. there's been no word of arrests is just yet. >>> campus officials say that incident was the first killing of a student in 35 years. >>> we have some breaking news, prosecutors have decided to dismiss all charges against a baltimore county father arrested. the confrontation was all caught on camera. wjz is live, derek valcourt reports on the controversy, derek. >> reporter: the blow up was all about over a standardized curriculum and as you are about to see, it has some parents downright frustrated. >> reporter: parent adam howell decided to speak out instead of writing down his questions. that's when a police officer walked in flashing his police officer. >>

tara mergener reports from the state department. >> reporter: loud explosions erupted. kenyan officials say government forces took control of the mall. they say two militants have been killed. 10 have been arrested and more hostages have been killed. plumes of black smoke billowed out of the skylight. at the united nations general assembly in new york, president obama talked with kenyan's president by phone. >> to the kenyan people. we stand with them, against this terrible -- that occurred. >> reporter: the state department says they have no confirmation americans were involved with the terrorist group but do say five u.s. citizens were injured. elane escaped the massacre. the california native moved to nairobi two years ago. two of her friends were killed. >> i've had two surgeries. i'm okay, i'm lucky to be alive. >> reporter: at the state department, tara mergener. >>> tonight president obama says the united states is providing law enforcement assistance and all the help it can to deal with the tragedy. >>> a student at the university of maryland eastern shore is sh

tara mergener reports for wjz from capitol hill. >> high noon brought an end to a surreal 21-hour show in the senate. after delivering a rambling, all-night speech, railing against president obama's healthcare law. >> obama care isn't working. >> reporter: and sometimes making random pop culture references. >> i would point out just a few words of wisdom from duck dynasty. >> reporter: texas tea party republican ted cruz finally surrendered the stage. >> for lack of a better way of describing this, it has been a big waste of time. >> this was all about elevating the debate in the public and giving the american people a chance to speak. >> reporter: after cruz wrapped up his speech, the senate voted unanimously to begin debate on a republican bill that cuts off funding for the president's affordable care act, known as obama care. democrats plan to remove that provision from a budget bill, sent to the senate last week. >> reporter: now, both sides had just days to agree on a new spending plan to avoid a partial government shutdown that looms after october 1st. >> reporter: that's the sam

tara mergener reports for wjz. before the senate could move forward, one senator had to wrap up a marathon speech. >> reporter: high noon brought an end to a surreal 21-hour show in the senate. after delivering an all-night, railing speech against obama's healthcare law. >> obama care isn't working. >> reporter: and sometimes making pop references. >> i want to point out just a few words of wisdom from duck dynasty. >> reporter: texas republican tea party member, ted cruz, finally surrendered the stage. >> for lack of better way to define this, this was all a big waste of time. >> this was all about elevating the debate in the public and giving the american people a chance to speak. >> reporter: after cruz wrapped up his speech, the senate voted unanimously to begin debate on a republican bill that cuts off funding for the president's affordable care act, known as obama care. democrats plan to remove that provision to a budget bill sent to the senate last weefnlgt. >> reporter: both side his just days to agree on a

tara mergener for cbs news, capitol hill. >> many lawmakers are concerned about the political and economic repercussions of allowing the government to shut down. >>> medics rushed four middle school students and their school bus driver to a nearby hospital after a crash on davis road in waldorf, maryland this morning. sky 9 was over the scene around 8:00. charles county investigators say an suv collided with the bus carrying students from davis middle school and north point high school. medics airlifted the driver of the suv to a nearby hospital and 26 students on the bus were also taken to a hospital to be checked out. >>> ariel adams and another are among eight people charged with the stabbing death of 18-yard kenny diaz of -- 18-year-old kenny diaz of woodbridge, virginia. the high school senior was killed over the weekend. diandra samuels has been charged with murder. the others face kidnapping charges. detectives say that samuels robbed a friend of gi jazz early crer -- diaz earlier this month. diaz and some friends confronted samuels saturday at her home. police say that's when samue

. >> thank you, tara mergener. if the shutdown does happen, things could get difficult here in maryland. >> we continue our live team coverage with jennifer franciotti with a look at how a government shutdown would affect people here in maryland. good morning. >> right now there are close to 100,000 federal workers in maryland. the secretary of the state department of budget and management said that each shutdown day would total $5 million in lost state revenue. about $4 million is associated with lost revenue if they are not paid for shutdown days. $1 million in reduced sales tax revenue. maryland businesses are expected to suffer for each day the federal government is shut down. an economic professor says the numbers provided by secretary foster could be even worse. >> the concern is we are in a fragile economy. so anything that is a headwind to us and that could slow us down or set us back a bit. >> he says 90,000 federal maryland workers are likely to be furloughed. that could result in anywhere from $700,000 t

tara mergener has the latest for wjz from capitol hill. >>> senate were called to pass their version of the health care bill. >> you could handcuff, you could puff for 21 hours but you cannot blow the affordable care act away. >> house republicans said they will not pass any spending bill from the sen that -- senate that has the health care language taken out. in a health care rally in maryland, the president slammed maryland to take the country to the edge of the budget cliff. >> the affordable care act is here to stay. >> with days to go, the house already has its eyes on the next battle much the raising of the country's debt limit. speaker boehner rolled a proposal on how much the country could borrow to pay its bills. if the white house delays the implementation of the affordable care act for one year. the white house opposes any delay. >>> president says, i'm not going to negotiate. i'm sorry, it doesn't work that way. >> president obama already delayed the law for big business, from insurance companies. >> if the debt ceiling is not raised, the u.s. will default on loans in thr

tara mergener has the latest from wjz. >> loud explosions and gunfire erupted in nairobi monday as the terrorist attacks on an upscale mall ended its third day. yeah oh -- two militants killed, ten arrested and more hostages free. >> plums of black smoke billowed out of the key light, a report of militants setting fire to mattresses. >> in new york president obama talked with kenya's president by phone. >> to the kenya people, we stand with them against this terrible out break that's occurred. >> a militant group with ties to al-qaeda is taking responsibility and claims three americans took part in the attack. >> the state department said they have no confirmation americans were involved but said u.s. citizens were injured. . >> san diego native moved there a couple years ago. >> i'm grateful to be alive. >> john kerry said the u.s. will pursue the terrorists responsible. >> the red cross says 63 people are still missing. >>> change is coming on board flights in the u.s. you may be able to use your ipad or kendall during take off and landing. denise is in the news room with more. >> re

in washington, tara mergener, wjz eyewitness news. >> reporter: a new government report shows americans will pay an average of $328 a month for a mid-tier insurance plan, when health exchanges open next week for enrollment. >> reporter: a beautiful autumn afternoon now. let's take a live look outside. you couldn't ask for nicer weather. and we're hearing it's going to stick around for a while. bob is in the first warning weather center, updating temperatures. >> you could ask for it, but you're not going to get anything better than it. so don't ask for it. i just love this weather. don't you just love being when it's like this. humidity is so low. humidity down to 48%. last hour, it was 48 degrees. this is really dry air. 75 everywhere in central maryland. 64 in oakland. and 69 in ocean city. southwest of us, there are a couple of clouds, yeah, and sprinkle activity, across portions of west virginia, virginia. but it's running into this brick wall of dry air. it's never going to get here. just a few of those clouds rolling through the area. and tomorrow, once again, high pressure to the