Morning Brief: Sen. Corker backs off no tax hike pledge, tensions mount over state health care exchange

Sen. Bob Corker reveals portions of $4.5 trillion fiscal reform plan—Nooga

Gerald McCormick nominated for another term as House majority leader—Nooga

Rep. Scott DesJarlais plans to run again in 2014—Nooga

Replacement Osage tree to be planted on courthouse lawn—Nooga

Corker backs off no tax hike pledge—Tennessean

Republican senators back away from anti-tax pledge—Times Free Press

Tennessee Sen. Corker spells out plan for "cliff"—Commercial Appeal

Corker floating fiscal compromise bill—WPLN

The GOP's "read my lips" moment—Washington Post

Slight reshuffling among House Republican leadership—TN Report

Judd Matheny out, Curtis Johnson in as House GOP elects speaker pro tempore—Nashville City Paper

Tensions mount over state health care exchange—WPLN

Gov. Bill Haslam hosts lighting of capitol Christmas tree—WTVF

Whiskey, pay letters await Hamilton County commissioner signatures—Times Free Press

Much talk, little action on fiscal cliff as Congress returns—LA Times

Barack Obama steps up effort to rally support for fiscal plan—Wall Street Journal

White House launches full-court press on fiscal cliff as talks accelerate—Washington Post

"Cliff" wranglers weigh Medicare age—Wall Street Journal

Susan Rice to meet with three Senate critics—Politico

Sportsmen bill stumbles in Senate—Politico