Topic: Senate Housing Bill

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest faced questions from reporter Major Garrett regarding the political timing of the torture report's release. The administration maintained that the decision rested solely with the Senate Intelligence Committee, despite the potential for the report to be suppressed once Republicans take control of the committee. The release coincided with a $1.1 trillion spending bill containing numerous controversial provisions.

The discussion turns to the role of abortion amendments in the health care bill debate, noting that government funding for the procedure was a major sticking point. The hosts express confusion over the current status of the bill, debating whether it has cleared the House or the Senate. They describe the legislative process as a "mob-like" conference where differences are resolved behind closed doors.

Using a visual map of how a bill becomes law, the hosts attempt to track the health care bill's progress through various committees and floor votes. They conclude that the bill is currently headed for a conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions. They warn that the final document will likely grow in size and complexity before reaching the President.

A provision slipped into Senator Christopher Dodd's 630-page housing bill requires eBay, Amazon, Google, and credit card companies to report all electronic transactions to the federal government. This "unreported news" item has significant privacy implications for small businesses and individual consumers. The rider was reportedly added by bill managers without floor debate.