0 politics for some bottom line answers just ahead. heather: and they are urging federal officials to take action republican and democratic state leaders weighing in the national meeting of the national governor s association, warning congress that the latest stalemate threatens economic progress in their stated. republican governor from oklahoma, he says the gridlock is taking a toll on families and democratic governor from vermont he says the nation, quote, cannot afford to put at risk jobs in the recovery. one of the most contentious battles n years could be over on sunday. the senate is expected to vote on the chuck hagel nomination. it s been a rough ride for the former republican senator. his fellow republicans oppose him on his positions on israel, iran and iraq and viewing him as disloyal in the nebraska senate race. heather: ominous developments out of iran. tehran has announced locations for 16 more nuclear power plants days before talks with world powers over it s atom
texas, dallas, portions of indiana. the greatest risk area is the area shaded in red. we have a chance to see longer track tornadoes. large hail and damaging wind gusts. heads u little rock, greenville and also memphis. bill: funky stuff when you go from 19 degrees to 61 degrees and back down to 19 degrees again. thank you, maria. keep us posted. martha: back now to a story we ve followed very closely here in america s newsroom. the family of a jailed american pastor in iran is now taking aim in their fight against the u.s. state department after said abedini finds out he will spend the next eight years of his life in iran s most brutal prison for the crime of evan gellization. he is a christian. the white house is now saying that the obama administration has been actively helping the pastor s family. here is jay carney. we condemn iran s continued violation of the
we re adding more and more to the list. martha: it is a powder keg. when you look at what is going on in the streets when you have that upheaval you have a government that is transitional one and leads to something else. that may be the best hope for a positive outcome in egypt. that is long way from succes bill: in a moment here his lawyer says he may not even survive a single about day in this harsh iranian jail. he didn t break any laws. he is there because of iran s violation of human rights for his belief as a christian. and iran is the ones that is violating and keeping him illegally for five months and torturing him and being in a horrific prison. eight years is a death sentence. anything can happen every day. bill: his wife has been so strong in this. the why the anguished family of an american pastor jailed in iran today says the state department is not doing enough to get him out. martha: more on that coming up. plus an ultimate survivor who never fails to inspire. the firs
universal right of freedom of religion and we call on the iranian authorities to release mr. abedini. as you know the state department is in close contact with the abedini family. is actively engaged on this case. martha: interesting. that is not what we ve heard when we ve spoken with the family but the pastor s wife says the statent do, as i said is really not doing everything they can. she said every day counts. he is being tortured. they could do so much more. i have been so heart-broken. as low we re letting the iranian government lead with their interpretation what he has done wrong instead of protecting our american ideals. at the very least secretary clinton should publicly call for the unequivocal release of saeed abedini. in her opinion, obviously she wants her husband back. she feels that her country can do more to help. joined by christian whitten, a former state department senior advisor. welcome. good to have you here this morning. great to be here, martha,
rely on a some probuying nary legal status given emmild to 11 million or so people in the country here illegally. the difference between them, will be on degree of enforcement and degree to which liberalization of immigration status is dependent on enforcement. if you look at the so-called gang of eight plan it uses contention, saying the path of citizenship is contingent, greater enforcement, e-verify, better border security. i think the president s plan will go lighter on the enforcement. bill: you will hear from senator rubio in 45 minutes. he is not sure whether the president will torpedo his idea. he is not aware of any senate coordination on the white house plan and the senate plan. is that the case. reporter: possibly the senate s president s plan could torpedo the gang of it s plan. it almost killed john mccain s presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008. he began to run around saying secure the border first. that was his mantra after almost dying by supporting immigra