democrats in their negotiations with the republicans over the budget compromise that was passed, the paul ryan-patty murray compromise that went through. in the end, the democrats on that house senate conference committee, they failed to mandate that these extended jobless benefits would be included at part of that deal. remind me why that wasn t included. reporter: the main reason is because of what we re seeing right now. it is a very divisive issue. not just whether to extend those unemployment benefits. and we should say, there are lots of people up here elected to congress who don t believe they should be extended. it is an emergency system, emergency fund, that is on top of the regular unemployment benefits that people get. so that s really the main reason, is because it was so partisan, and the whole goal of patty murray, the democrat in the senate, paul ryan, the republican in the house, was to find compromise. and this is something that probably would have held it up. but i
must-pass budget compromise, and then this may not have happened. but it would have been very, very difficult to do. a lot of people looking back now, scratching their heads. the democrats specifically saying, you know, i think they i think we could have pushed a little bit harder to make sure there was a deal. the republicans say they ll support it if you pay for it. you pay for the 5 or $6 billion for a three-month extension or the $25 billion for a year-long extension. but the argument is, how do you pay for it. democrats have one idea. republicans have a very different idea. that s the big problem right now. right. exactly. for example, there are eight republican senators who were working very hard this week on trying to find a compromise. they did come up with one. it was to extend these emergency benefits for three months. but the way they propose paying for it was a nonstarter for democrats. because they would effectively increase the cut on many of the government programs
and hold governorships. we were able to put a team in place. we had great help, not only from the republican establishment, from a lot of the grassroots activists and tea party and others across the state who said we re going to help you put the power back in the hands of the people. we re going to help put the hard working taxpayers to get back in charge. if we would have had to fight our own party, we would have had tremendous difficulties if not a real barrier to reform, and the answer, and again, i share the frustration many do, even after the last budget compromise was put together, but the real answer is not to go out and attack republicans who try to push reform in the house or try to defeat them in primaries. it s to go out and win the winnable elections in the united states senate. then after that, if a year from now republicans hold the united states senate and hold the united states house, if at that point we can t get things done, i think it s legitimate to hold people in o
moving into the generals? are they on the rise in power or on the wane? it s hard to say not one monolithic group is that the tea party. what i have seen over the years is frustration build across my state and across the country, particularly the federal government, people thought the government had grown too big, too expansive too a part of our lives oh he bama care was the last sfrau a few years ago. people showed up at the congressional town hall meetings, people didn t feel like they were listened to, they took out their frustration, particularly in the 2010 election. right. i think that degree is healthy if it s focused in the right way, but one of the things i said after the budget compromise is for people who didn t like it who didn t think it was good enough, the answer is not to take it out on house republicans or in primaries, the answer is do go to kentucky excuse me exlouisiana, or arkansas or go to north carolina or alaska, where there are senators facing real elect
up working against them in this all-important case. fasten your seat belts for 2014. i m ready. that crazy, kooky thing called law. happy new year, jeff. happy new year to you all. the year ahead in politics. things the budget compromise put an end to the partisan bickering? think again. there s a major battle coming in just weeks and even more is at stake. 2013 was a great year but got to have winners. what did the top five must-see moments? there s some good ones. we ll show you our favorites. [ male announcer ] alka seltzer plus presents the cold truth. [ coughs, sneezes ]