In washington. Congressman darrell issa chairs this House Oversight hearing. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the committee will come to order. The Oversight Committee exists to secure two fundamental principles. First americans have a right to know the money washington takes from them as well spent and second americans deserve an efficient and effective government that works for them. Our duty on the oversight and government reform committees protect those rights. Our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers because taxpayers have a right to know what they get from their government. Its our job to work tirelessly in partnership with citizen watchdogs to deliver the facts of the American People and bring genuine reform to the federal bureaucracy. Todays hearing particularly touches on taxpayers and what taxpayers should expect from the government. It continues the committees investigation
Hes blaming the gop. Republican leaders are fighting back saying spending is the problem and they wont support any new tax hikes. Danielle nottingham reports. Reporter president obama called in police and firefighters to help him talk republicans oust letting the budget cuts take effect. The automatic cuts known in washington as the sequester kick in march 1st. They were designed to be so severe theyd force lawmakers to reach a budget deal, but they havent yet, and now the president is pushing a shorttemp fix to allow more time to reach a compromise. Theres a smarter way to do this, to reduce our deficits without harming our economy. But congress has to act. Reporter the white house wants a plan with smaller spending cuts and more tax revenues. Republicans say the government is already too bloated and higher taxes should not be part of this equation. The budget expert says the automatic cuts will hurt the economy, even though most Government Agencies should be able to weather them. Mos
Parent gas explosion that rocked an upscale shopping center. Two people are reported missing and at least 14 injured. Cadaver dogs are searching the rubble of a restaurant that burnt to the ground. Residents of nearby buildings were forced to evacuate, and the mayor was one of first people on the scene. What were really trying to get a handle on right now is how many people were hurt, who are they, where are they and thats kind of a moving target because we dont know who was there to begin with. Witnesses say they smelled gas five hours before the blast and reported it to a construction crew working in the area. Bigad shaban has more. Reporter flames and heavy smoke reach into the night sky over Downtown Kansas City after an explosion started a fire in an upscale shopping center. The blaze broke out just after 6 00 p. M. It destroyed a restaurant and damaged other structures at the country club plaza. The blast and the fire that followed injured more than a dozen people. Officials say