then my company partnered with united healthcare. they provided on-site screenings, healthy cooking tips. that's a recipe i'm keeping. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> opportunity can start anywhere and go everywhere. to help revitalize a neighborhood in massachusetts; restore a historic landmark in harlem; fund a local business in chicago; expand green energy initiatives in seattle. because when you're giving, lending and investing in more communities across the country, more opportunities happen. >> chevron bnsf railway. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> ifill: the countdown to christmas wa

and united healthcare's database helped me find a surgeon. you know, you can't have great legs, if you don't have good knees. >> we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> ifill: capitol hill lawmakers spent today behind various closed doors working to avoid or guarantee a coming legislative logjam. for now, democrats and republicans are holding fast to their positions on nearly every issue. the skies over the capitol were cloudy today, and so were prospects for compromise on several key issues. all 42 republican senators drew their line in the sand in a letter to democratic leader harry reid. "tax and spending cuts," the

then, my company partnered with united healthcare.creenings, healthy cooking tips. that's a recipe i'm keeping. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> oil companies have changed my country. >> oil companies can make a difference. >> we have the chance to build the economy. >> create jobs, keep people healthy and improve schools. >> ... and our communities. >> in angola chevron helps train engineers, teachers and farmers; launch child's programs. >> it's not just good business. >> i'm hopeful about my country's future. >> it's my country's future. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. captioning sponsored by

then, my company partnered with united healthcare. they provided on-site screenings, healthy cooking tips. that's a recipe i'm keeping. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> well, the best companies are driven by new ideas. >> our history depends on new ideas. we spend billions on advanced technologies. >> it's all about investing in the future. >> we can find new energy-- more cleaner, safer and smarter. >> collaborating with the best in the field. >> chevron works with the smartest people at leading universities and tech companies. >> and yet, it's really basic. >> it's paying off every day. >> bank of america-- committed to helping the nation's economic recovery. >> bnsf railway. intel. sponsors of tomorrow. and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporting science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and

united healthcare. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> ifill: president obama marked two major victories today as congress wound down for the year. it was part of an end-of-year comeback for mr. obama and his agenda. the president's victory lap came during a late afternoon news conference, shortly after the senate ratified the new start nuclear treaty. >> a lot of folks in this town predicted that, after the midterm elections, washington would be headed for more partisanship and more gridlock. and instead, this has been a season of progress for the american people. >> the vote on this resolution are 71 yays, 26 nays, resolution of ratification is agreed to. >> this was a very, very important, measure for the president in ter

united healthcare. they provided on-site screenings, healthy cooking tips. that's a recipe i'm keeping. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: around the world today the celebration to welcome 2011 has begun. from moscow, where fireworks went off despite a curtain of thick snow. to tokyo, where revelers released silver balloons. among the first to celebrate-- new zealand... >> three, two one, happy new year! >> brown: and australia, where fireworks lit the midnight sky over sydney harbor for a crowd of 1.5 million-- one of the largest in the wor

united healthcare. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> suarez: the nation's largest city faced another day in the throes of snow, as crews labored to clear streets. there were calls for and promises of investigations into the aftermath of the christmas weekend blizzard. >> it's terrible, absolutely terrible! >> suarez: three days on, and new york streets were still littered with nearly two feet of snow, while people tried to dig out cars and patience wore thin. >> you're gonna clean the middle of 36th street? >> yes, yes, i have to. >> why do you have to. >> because who's going do it?" >> suarez: on block after block, abandoned cars clogged streets, making snow removal all but impossible. the sunday storm also trapped 600 ci

united healthcare. >> and by bnsf railway. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. over the northeast today as >> ifill: jets took to the skies over the northeast today as major airports got up and running again. but the snowstorm's ripple effect still left many thousands of weary would-be travelers wondering whether they will ever take off. a snow plow labored today outside newark liberty international airport in new jersey while, inside the terminal, stranded travelers waited and waited. two days after the christmas weekend blizzard, all three of new york city's regional airports had resumed limited operations. a few "on-time" departures even appeared on flight boards. >> i think they've added a lot of flights to the a

united healthcare. intel: sponsors of tomorrow. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: president obama used a white house news conference today to make the case for the tax cut deal he struck monday. he also appealed to disgruntled supporters to reconsider their criticism. the president went before cameras and heard a chorus of complaints from democrats about the tax cut deal. he argued he put the good of the country ahead of politics and he blamed republicans for their demands to extend all tax cuts even for the wealthy. >> i've said before that i felt that the middle class tax cuts were being held hostage to the high-end tax cuts. i think it's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers unless the hostage gets harmed. then people will question