FIRST ON CNN: Obama, Dems drop millionaire surtax to pay for payroll tax cut
(CNN) - In what would be a major concession, President Obama and Senate Democrats will drop their insistence that a surtax on millionaires pay for extending the payroll tax cut, a Democratic source tells CNN. This would be part of a new Democratic offer.
The move comes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Senate Democrats met with President Obama at the White House earlier today.
White House drops veto threat on defense bill
Washington (CNN) - The White House lifted a veto threat against a giant $662 billion defense authorization bill on Wednesday after legislators made changes in language involving detainees.
In particular, the legislators added language to make clear that nothing in the bill requiring military custody of al Qaeda suspects would interfere with the ability of civilian law enforcement to carry out terrorism investigations and interrogations in the United States.
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Perry on the stump, bus stop one
Council Bluffs, Iowa (CNN) - The first event of Rick Perry's Iowa bus tour was billed as a town hall meeting, but Perry didn't take any questions from the crowd of roughly 60 people gathered at a Victorian mansion in Council Bluffs. Instead he introduced a surprise guest: Captain Dan Moran, a former Marine who was severely wounded in Iraq.
Moran –who has endorsed Perry and appeared in a video on the governor's behalf– spoke passionately about American exceptionalism, and ran through several reasons why he believes Perry is the most qualified candidate to be president.
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Paul reacts to NTSB recommendation for ban on cell phone use while driving
Amherst, New Hampshire (CNN) - On Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul weighed in on a controversy catching the attention of many Americans: the federal safety board's call for a nationwide ban on cell phone use and texting while driving.
Citing the dangers of distracted driving, the National Transportation Safety Board urged states Tuesday to outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting for all drivers. It would apply to hand-held as well as hands-free devices, but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said.
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Senate leaders squabble over payroll tax plan, budget
Washington (CNN) - Political skullduggery spilled onto the Senate floor Wednesday, with Democratic and Republican leaders openly squabbling over the order of votes on a GOP payroll tax cut plan and a spending measure needed to keep the government funded past Friday.
Senate Democratic leaders went to the White House later Wednesday afternoon for a previously unannounced meeting, presumably to determine a strategy for further negotiations.
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Gingrich too 'zany' for White House, says Romney
(CNN) - Mitt Romney escalated his criticism of Newt Gingrich's temperament Wednesday, calling the former House speaker "zany" in an interview with The New York Times.
"Zany is not what we need in a president," Romney said, two days after he blasted Gingrich for his "erratic outspokenness."
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Paul reacts to positive poll fortunes, nagging questions about electability
Amherst, New Hampshire (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is currently confronted by two political realities: promising poll numbers in the states that hold the first two presidential contests, and nagging questions about his electability in a general election.
On Wednesday in New Hampshire, the Texas congressman addressed them both: playing up his popularity in Iowa and New Hampshire and insisting not only can he win the White House but that his critics fear a Paul administration. Even still, if the GOP primary race morphs into a long battle, Paul questioned his own stamina to endure it.
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Gingrich returning to South Carolina
Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's campaign confirmed Wednesday he is squeezing in a quick trip to South Carolina while continuing to make a final push in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The former House speaker will attend a "Christmas Lunch with Newt" charity event at in Columbia on Dec. 23. Blue Marlin restaurant owner Bill Dukes is sponsoring the shrimp and grits luncheon, and according to the invitation, guests are being asked to bring a non-perishable item to donate to Harvest Hope Food Bank.
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D.C.'s holiday gift: More gridlock
New York (CNNMoney) - Following a well developed pattern, lawmakers are spending the last few days of the legislative calendar engaged in a high-stakes game of political chicken.
What's on the line? A government shutdown and tax hike for working Americans.
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Reid labels Gingrich 'presumptive' nominee
(CNN) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid singled out Newt Gingrich from the Senate floor Wednesday in a disguised dig at the current 2012 GOP frontrunner.
While arguing for a spending agreement to include an extension of payroll tax cuts, Reid invoked the candidate's previous life as speaker of the House.
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