Eat the cake. We are on Erin Burnett Outfront starts right now. Breaking news. The president holds a lastminute press conference and calls on the senate to act on the fiscal cliff. But with four days to go, will his push make a difference . Plus, politicians promised that the newtown shooting would change our National Debate on guns. Are those just empty promises . We count down the top five political rivalries. Who won, who lost, what it means for 2013. Lets go outfront. Breaking news. The president makes an 11th hour announcement tonight putting the pressure squarely on the senate so broker a deal on the fiscal cliff. Senators reid and mcconnell are working on such an agreement as we speak. But if an agreement isnt reached in time between senator reid and senator mcconnell, then i will urge senator reid to bring to the floor a basic package for an up or down vote, one that protects the middle class from an income tax hike, extends the vital life line of Unemployment Insurance to 2 mi
Job and lays groundwork for more Economic Growth and deficit reduction. Just moments ago, senator harry reid says hes readying a bill for a vote by monday. All this follows a rare facetoface closed door meeting at the white house today between all the key players, the president , the Vice President , the treasury secretary and all four congressional leaders huddled together with just four days to go before we all go overs fiscal cliff. That meeting lasted for an hour and five minutes. On a story where every second and every maneuver counts, lets get chief to White House Correspondent jessica yellin. Jessica, the president says hes modestly optimist being but each also presented a backup plan. Does the president really think it will come to that . At this point, no, they dont, john, because the white house is hopeful that the agreement that the senators are working on can actually move forward after the meeting here. There is a modest uptick in enthusiasm about that possibility. But as
Im suzanne malveaux. Welcome to our 500th edition of our show. Weve got a lot to cover so lets get right to it. Russia dominating our newscast this hour. For two very different reasons. First, the man, that man you see there, russias top diplomat, he is now taking an active role in trying to end the civil war in syria. Now, remember, both russia and china have blocked u. N. Attempts to force out the assad regime. Now the russians say they are willing to meet with the Syrian Opposition. It could open the door for real u. N. Action on the ground, action that could mean american involvement. Weve got more details in a live report in just a minute. But also, russias president formally saying no to americans who want to adopt russian children. It is a heartbreaking development for hundreds of americans who are trying to adopt children from russian orphana orphanages. That is happening right now. President Vladimir Putin signed the adoption ban today. Sadly, more than 50 americans who were i
Rity and minority leaders for morning hour ebate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip each, to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Williams, for five minutes. Mr. Williams mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day in america when Army Secretary john mchugh says that in todays fiscal environment the bestcase scenario for our militarys budget is treacherous. Ray odierno says it hampers the militarys ability to train its own troops. While there is waste and overlap in every federal agency, the pentagon budget not excluded, there is much to be said for congress doing its primary job of governing, passing a budget. For the last four years we see continuing resolution after continuing resolution has placed in our military. Earlier this year we saw the rigid re
Had aimed to enroll half a Million People in october alone. Committee chairman dave camp. It doesnt look like youre even meeting your own projections that you had prepared. Reporter tavenner took over the centers for medicare and medicaid eight months ago. Can i tell you, my stritz frightened. Reporter republicans like kevin brady of texas argued her relatively small agency simply was not equipped to implement a huge new law. So what i can guarantee is that we have a system thats working. Were going to improve the speed of that system. Excuse me. Yes . Youre saying the system right now is work . Im saying its working. Its just not working at the speed that we want and at the success rate that we want. Reporter tavenner blamed the web sites flaws on delays by the main i. T. Firm tired to build it, a comaidian Company Called c. G. I. In an apparent contradiction she told georgias tom price that the sites massive problems on day one caught her offguard. The problems that we saw in the fir