Jonathan Karl: Update from Capitol Hill

Jonathan Karl is CNN's Congressional Correspondent. He joined CNN.com Newsroom from Washington.

CNN: Good afternoon Jonathan Karl. Welcome back to CNN.com Newsroom.

JONATHAN KARL: Greetings from Capitol Hill ...

CNN: Senator Richard Shelby has described the bin Laden tapes as the 'smoking gun' proving his involvement in the September 11 attacks. Do most members of Congress agree?

KARL: The only members of Congress who have seen the tape are on the intelligence committees ... and most of those who have seen it certainly agree ...

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Jonathan, what's up with the anthrax in the Hart Office Building?

KARL: Good question! I'm not sure anybody really knows .... ! But the bottom line is they still haven't figured out how to ensure the building is safe. Preliminary tests on Daschle's office show that the efforts to get rid of the anthrax may not have been successful, so there is still no indication of when that building will finally reopen -- and remember ... it was supposed to reopen last month.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Jonathan: Is it the tax cut that is still the sticking point between the parties on the stimulus package?

KARL: It is certainly the primary sticking point. Republicans have scaled back their tax cut. Now they only want to accelerate the rate cut for middle income taxpayers in the 25 percent bracket, but Democrats are saying no to any additional income tax cuts. Both are describing this is a bottom-line issue. There are some other disagreements still, however especially on how much aide to give to the unemployed.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: What does Congress feel about Bush abandoning the ABM treaty? Are there any protests or objections?

KARL: I assume you are talking about reports that the Bush administration plans to pull out of the 1972 ABM treaty. And yes, there are some major objections from Senate Democrats. Tom Daschle is outraged on a number of levels, but especially because neither he nor the other Senate leaders were notified of this decision and that they learned about it after Colin Powell told the Russians and the Russians, apparently, leaked it to the press. Democrats, on substance, also are upset because they believe withdrawing from the treaty will jeopardize our relationship with Russia at a critical time in the war effort. That said, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told the Armed Services Committee in the Senate today that no final decision on the ABM treaty has yet been made, as far as he knows.

CNN: What's been the reaction over House Majority Leader Dick Armey's announcement that he will retire?

KARL: Most of the reaction on that front has come in the way of speculation as to who will replace him as majority leader ... Tom Delay, "the hammer," has already lined up support in an aggressive campaign that started within hours of the first news reports of Armey's plans. This would make Delay, perhaps the most controversial and effective Republican leader in Congress, number two in the House and significantly raise his profile.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Any other contenders for Armey's replacement?

KARL: Yes. Ohio Republican John Boehner is considering a run for the post. Like Delay, he is a solid conservative but less of a lightning rod for Democratic attacks. However, Boehner would certainly be an underdog if he decides to challenge the hammer. Delay, after all, has proven he can line up votes like nobody else.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Jonathan-What is congressional reaction to Gary Condit running again-or at least registering as a candidate again? KARL: Reaction from Condit's fellow Democrats has been almost uniformly negative. Democratic leaders can be expected to work publicly and privately to defeat Condit in the Democratic primary. They made it clear that they did not want him to run again. Republicans are thrilled, however, because it gives them a shot to beat a weak incumbent with lots of baggage.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Mr. Karl what is the reaction to the way the Enron Hearings are going?

KARL: Well, to be honest, I wasn't at today's hearings, but I can tell you this: Enron, before the collapse, was a very powerful force on the Hill, freely dispensing political contributions, and lobbying very aggressively. Even the incoming RNC Chairman had Enron on his client list.

CNN: What else is happening on the Hill today?

KARL: There was a very interesting development today on the military tribunals issue. As you all know, Democrats have been very critical of the administration's executive order permitting the use of tribunals to try noncitizens on terrorism charges. But, today, Joe Lieberman actually staked out ground to the political RIGHT of Attorney General John Ashcroft. Lieberman criticized the Bush Administration's decision to try Zacarias Moussaoui in civilian court, arguing he should be tried in a military tribunal. His statement surprised his fellow Democrats.

CNN: As always, thanks for joining us today, Jonathan Karl.

KARL: And thank you all for putting up with my typing ... and the many typos ... cheers!

Jonathan Karl joined CNN.com Newsroom from Washington, DC. This is an edited transcript of the interview, on Wednesday, December 12, 2001.