Ayman mohyeldin alongside Yasmin Vossoughian and louis burgdorf. Republicans in the United Senate narrowly cleared a tax rate and Vice President mike pence announced amidst shouts from the gallery. On this vote, the ayes are 51, the nays are 48. The senate recedes from its amendment and concurs in hr 1 with further amendment, the tax cut and jobs act is passed. Now, this as new polling finds by a margin of almost 2 to 1 americans believe the tax bill actually is a bad idea. 41 told the nbc sluice wall street journal poll that President Trumps tax poll is a bad idea of six points, and 41 say its good, roughly the same from a few months ago. But with comments to reporters. Do you believe theres a need for republicans to go out and sell this bill, even because of that . Absolutely. Were looking forward to it. My view of this, if we cant sell this to the American People, we ought to go into another line of work. And as the Senate Debated into the midnight hour, Chuck Schumer collided his colleagues for making noise in the background. The joint committee on taxation just released a report that found by 2027, nearly 145 million middle class families under 200,000 will either get tax hikes may we have order, mr. President . The senate will be in order. This is serious stuff. We believe youre messing up america. You could Pay Attention for a couple of minutes. When did you ever hear that americans are against a tax cut bill . Well, youre hearing it now. Republicans will rue the day that they pass this tax bill. The democrats have said that the American People will remember this night. I hope they do. Because we passed one of the most important tax breaks in this countrys history. All right. Procedural violations in the house bill requires them to take a new vote on the bill today. House Speaker Paul Ryan celebrated yesterdays resolution in what he thought was a final victory. On this vote, the ayes are 227 and the nays are 203, the conference report is adopted without reduction. Its on the table. All right. If all goes to plan, President Trump said he will take reporters questions today. The president tweeted his reaction shortly after the senate voted early this morning. Quote, the United StatesSenate Just Passed the biggest in history tax cut and reform bill. Terrible individual mandate obamacare, repealed. Goes to the house tomorrow morning for final vote. If approved there will be a News Conference at the white house at approximately 1 00 p. M. Eastern. The tax cut bill has implications with appeal to individual mandate penalty which is the cornerstone of the Affordable Care act. A recent report found that the number of people with Health Insurance would decrease by 4 million and 13 million in the next decade. Mitch mcconnell commented its not a total replacement but takes the heart out of obamacare. The white house made a surprising claim about how the tax bill would affect President Trump. Since trump has not released his tax return. The precise benefit on hiss for the tune is still unknown. Announced from nbc news the Research Found that the administration would save trump and his family more than 1 billion. But Sarah Sanders said it will have a negative effect. Its said that the tax bill is going to cost him a fortune. How does he figure this is going to cost him a lot of money . We expect it likely will, certainly on the personal side could cost the president a lot of money. For tax reductions, top rate, state Tax Exemption is doubled, hes going to make money on that . Look, again, this is a tax plan thathope benefits all americans. In some ways, especially on a personal side the president will likely take a hit. On the business side, he could benefit. But its to make sure all americans are better off. The president did say that this tax cut bill would cost him a fortune. That was false, right . No, because on the personal side, this actually could impact the president in a large way. And the search for answers continues for the deadly amtrak derailment in washington state. Officials with the ntsb said the train was traveling toward the curve at 80 miles per hour, 50 miles over the speed limit when it derailed off the overpass killing three people. Two victims have been identified as Zack Willhoite and jim hamre, both train enthusiasts and excited to be on the inaugural ride. Investigators are looking into when the trains engineer may have been distracted by an employee in training at the time of the derailment. Officials say its difficult to determine why the train was going so fast but the company said last night that the company is dedicated to ensuring that another accident doesnt occur. We have to keep this as a walkup call. Its not acceptable that we are involved in these kinds of accidents. Were terribly sorry to the people that are involved. Now, crews have been working to remove the derailed cars overnight. Safety technology known as piloted train control was installed on the tracks, but it wasnt operational yet. All right. So this one is a reminder that every vote counts. Its a recount shocker in the state of virginia. Yesterday the house of delegates picked up one more seat after a recount revealed that Shelli Simons appeared to have won her seat by sangl single vote. It will alter the balance of power in virginias legislature. Splitting power evenly between democrats and republicans. The last time they both shared power was back in 1988. Simons was said to be trailing the incumbent david yancey by ten votes. Her win means democrats will have flipped 16 skeets in the last month alone. Two more recounts being held this week. Well have more on her incredible victory as she joins morning joe this morning. Joining us a political reporter for the washington examiner, laura barone. Good to see you this morning. Republican lawmakers as we were showing earlier sort of celebrating this victory. But its pretty unpopular according to the polls. How tough of a sale it is the American People . Well, i think its going to be a tough sale to be honest with you. As you said its a very unpopular bill. Its increased in inpopularity in the last two months. Even though Mitch Mcconnell said hes eager to take this to the people and sell this, its not something that they wanted to begin with. Right there with him are going to be democrats saying, look, this bill also provides a temporary tax cut for individuals. It also explodes the deficit. And this is also something that trump used to hit obama on when exploding the deficit which is what this tax bill would do. That then is chinas gain. So thats something that were already hearing democrats talking about, theyre going to hammer that heading into 2018. So, theyre hopeful with this, on top of, of course, inside of it the Obamacare Repeal mandate, repeal of the mandate, that theyll be able to make gains in the house and senate. Laura, let me ask you quickly about the impact that this tax bill will have on obamacare. Its effectively dismantling a big part of it. Where does that actually go from here . Where does obamacare go from here . Could this drive democrats to the negotiating table to replace it all or for all intents and purposes is the obamacare bill dead . Well, you know, its not exactly dead yet. What republicans have done so far this year, theyre slowly starving the law. And with this repeal of the mandate, you know, this is going to destabilize markets. Thats something that experts have said. Its going to increase premiums. There was discussion of trying to get the Alexander Murray bill attached to the yearend spending measure and pass that before the end of the year, but its looking like House Republicans are not interested in doing that. Sm thats something that they said should get pushed to next year. A few Senate Republicans are not going to be happy about that. But when it comes to driving them to the table, democrats have said for a year, were trying to work on trying to fix issues with obamacare, and republicans have been going it alone. I think youll see democrats saying, looking now is the time for you guys to really include us in these discussions. Jut st as a reminder to peop, this tax, under 1. 5 trillion in the deficit over the next ten years. Laura barronlopez, thank you. If an election was held today, donald trump would likely lose to a democratic candidate. Thats a poll of nbc news. A watchup said trump would lose by 16 points. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, the poll found 6 in 10 voters believe that trump does not care about average americans. Is not honest. Does not have good leadership skills. And does not share their values. And 70 of voters said they believe trump is not levelheaded. Still ahead, a new report finds epa chief Scott Paulson spent billions of dollars sweeping his office for bugs. And winds could keep things. Well get a check of the forecast when we come back. more people shop online for the holidays than ever before. clapping and the United StatesPostal Service delivers more of those purchases to homes than anyone else in the country. because we know, even the smallest things are sometimes the biggest. Even the smallest things this s electricity. This is a power plant. This is tim barckholtz. Thats me this is something he is researching at exxonmobil using fuel cells to capture Carbon Emissions at power plants. This is the potential. Reducing co2 emissions by up to 90 . While also producing more power. This could be big. Energy lives here. Were on a mission to show the new keurig k select brewer is the strong way to start your day. Pop that in there. Hit strong. Press brew. Thats it. Strong. Bold. Rich. I feel like youre toying with me. Show me how strong you are. screams lift me up dan lift me up welcome back, everybody. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee is called for the fbis Deputy Director to be fired. Republican iowa senator grassley said mcgabe and mccabe. Grassley said yesterday, trump ought to stay out of it. Mccabe was interviewed yesterday. It comes amidst anger by republicans over Text Messages say show antitrump bias. And something outgoing new Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed yesterday in his trademark blimp style. A person of honor and integrity in all of my dealings with him. I believe hes an honest guy, i think hell do a good, fair, honest, just job. I think if we discredit him anything we have could discredit him. I dont think its a smart play. Youre attacking a guy who has great credibility and has done nothing to make you believe he shouldnt have the benefit of doubt on things. Again, let me say its not that hes done it perfectly. Hes made some mistakes here. But it doesnt mean it impugns the credibility. Ignorance of that way bothers me more than anything else. The hightech locks of additional security and epa chief scott pruitt spent 9 million for surveillance security. By an employee speaking on anonymity. Pruitts previous purchase of a custom soundproof booth is under investigation by the office of inspector general. Pruitt said he needs a secure phone line to communicate with officials at the white house. A spokesman for the epa defended it on monday citing unprecedented threats made against pruitt, adding while the Associated Press attempts to trivialize his safety theres nothing nefarious made by the epas protective detail. A bus carrying a Royal Caribbean passengers flipped over yesterday killing 11 passengers and injuring others. Investigators are looking to investigation the cause of the crash of the mayan ruins about 110 miles south of mexico. A video dane after the crash shows some survivors lying on the pavement and others walking around. Officials say seven americans and two swedes were among the injured. Incredibly tragic there. The thomas fire burning in Southern California has now become the second largest wildfire in the states history. As of last night, the fire has scorched 272,000 acres. And more than 8500 firefighters are battling that blaze. The fire is 55 contained. But winds are expected to pick up again today. So far, the fire fight is estimated to have cost 136 million. With that, lets get a check of the weather with nbc meteorologist bill karins. Bill, whats the forecast for the winds there . Also, youve said there might be a place in the northeast that might have a White Christmas. Yeah, were going to get to that. As far as the fire weather goes. The big storm that moved into the west has brought a little bit of rain and wet weather to the sierra in north california unfortunately, theres no rain heading to Southern California. Theyre not going to get any help from that so all of the storm misses to the north. When the cold front itself, thats the blue line here, thats the leading edge of the cooler air, when that sweeps to the south the winds do pick up and the winds do change directions so fire fieshl offie worried about that. This is the leading storm leading into the holiday weekend. Through today, difficult driving mostly mountain passes in montana and Salt Lake City as the storm system kicks on through. Tomorrow, we move the storm to the midwest. Theres not a lot of moisture available so were not talking about a big snowstorm to rainstorm. But precip from madison, milwaukee, des moines, possibly areas of nebraska. Again, possibly delaying travel to chicago and denver. Not guaranteed. Then mostly a rainstorm on friday. We start to pick up heavier rains, memphis to nashville. Then on saturday, airport plans to the east coast, looks like steady winds, gusty winds and steady rain for charlotte, jfk and boston. So keep that in mind. Today, the old travel problems are down in the south just with fog and heavy rain, tennessee into the carolinas. Still ahead this years pro bowl selections are out. And the saints are making some history. And Womens College hoops. Sports is next. Welcome back. Time now for sports. And news that everyone allstar game, the nfl pro bowl. The nfl released the roster of 86 players including tom brady, julio jones, zach ertz, the Pittsburgh Steelers with the most, eight, including ben roethlisberger, antonio brown, leveon bell and chris boswell. The eagles for six selections. And the saints the first team in 42 years to send two running backs to the pro bowl with the selection of mark ingram and alvin kamara. Switching over to the nhl, two the best teams squared off. It came down to the final seconds, Tampa Bay Lightning to the new Expansion Team the Golden Knights. A pair of goals by steve stamkos. Both coming on power plays and vegas would respond taking a 2 to 3 lead by a goal during a power play in the third period. However, the lightning would tie the game again, 33 with seconds remaining. On the assist and eric halo, with that the Golden Knights win 43 over the league best, lightning. And an historic game in College Basketball as two coaches join the 2,000 win club. Sylvia hatch led a win over grambling state. And a milestone, gino our yem la reaped 1,000 career victory. Rutgers womens coach c. Vivian stringer two shy of the mark should also be joining them this season. Pretty incredible, guys. Absolutely heartwarming for them to hit that 1,000th win. Awesome for coaches. Still ahead, with congress on the verge of passing tax reform measures, were looking at whats next. Well break down the agenda that. Plus, south korea pitches the idea of u. S. Led military drills ahead of the olympics. Well talk to an expert. And heres something morning joe editors put together for the holidays. Bing bing. Bing Bing Bing Bong bong merry merry Merry ChristmasBing Bing Bong more people shop online for the holidays than ever before. clapping and the United StatesPostal Service delivers more of those purchases to homes than anyone else in the country. because we know, even the smallest things are sometimes the biggest. 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