D. C. Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to a beautiful Nations Capital today. I think its no exaggeration to say that today the biggest, most consequential decision, the one that will affect the most americans in the most immediate way is being made right here today in washington in the building behind me, the headquarters of the Federal Reserve where the men and women of the open Market Committee have been meeting. Mandy . Will today bring the first rate hike in nine years . That is the big question. In less than one hour from now the feds decision will drop. Where do policymakers stand right now headed into the big decision . Senior economics reporter steve laesm liesman is also in washington live. What are you hearing . I think its worthwhile to go back and say how did we get here . How do we go into a meeting of such consequence without really being sure whats going to happen. 50 50 on both sides. You heard at the top of the show some of the brightest minds are disagreeing. I