that's because the republican bill that passed the house last night is going to hit a brick wall in the senate. >> now, senate democrats must act. the senate can take up our bill. they can pass it. they can amend it, and they can move their own bill, but it is time for the senate to act. >> the bill just passed by house republicans tonight is a pointless partisan exercise. the bill is dead on arrival. it was dead before it got to the senate. the senate will not pass it. >> luke russert is nbc's capitol hill correspondent. all right, luke. a lot of people probably watching this debate and it feels like white noise. they don't understand because both parties seem to agree on the headline which is extend the payroll tax cut, but they are fighting over what some might say is minutia. where do we stand right now today? >> reporter: well, it's minutia depending on who you talk to. where do we stand right now today, chuck, the senate will vote down the gop house bill, and then we have to figure out what's going to happen over the next few days. the one caveat here is that