Editor's Note: Various elements of heath care reform were debated among Monday’s American Morning viewers. Many believed that Americans did not understand that current government health care was “public,” while others argued that these very programs were headed toward bankruptcy.
With the various problems faced by Social Security, the Veteran’s Administration, and Medicare, is the government capable of running an appropriate public health care program for all our citizens? What are your concerns about this?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/24/clunker.gi.art.jpg caption="The word 'clunker' is written on the windshield of a truck traded in as part of the federal Car Allowance Rebate System or 'Cash for Clunkers' program."]
Didn't have a clunker to junk? But still want to buy a new car? "Cash for Clunkers" has shifted into park, but there is still government money for you.
It was your Romans’ Numeral this morning but we wanted to tell you more about incentives still available for new car purchases.
The original stimulus break for new car buyers is still in effect. New car buyers can write off the state, local and excise taxes they pay on their 2009 tax return. Taxes vary by state, but on a $35,000 new car that's about $600 on average.
On new cars bought between February 16 and January 1, 2010 you can deduct state and local sales taxes paid on up to $49,500, depending on your income. The benefit phases out the higher up the income ladder you go.
If you are a clunker customer, remember the tax write off is good for you, as well. You keep the $3,500 or $4,500 cash refund and you can write off the state and local taxes on your return next year.
Where the auto industry goes from here is anyone’s guess. But there’s still a little money out there for you.
This morning President Obama is on Martha's Vineyard for a week-long vacation. But there's no rest for the debate over health care reform.
A growing list of lawmakers are breaking with the White House over a so-called public option. That's a government-run health plan that would compete with private plans and supposedly drive down costs. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.
The top man in the military is painting a grim picture of the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Speaking of the situation there to CNN’s John King, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said, “Well, I think it is serious and it is deteriorating and I've said that over the last couple of years – that the Taliban insurgency has gotten better, more sophisticated...”
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/24/corker.bob.art.jpg caption="Sen. Bob Corker visited Afghanistan during last week's elections there."]
Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker visited a voting site in Afghanistan last week. He spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Monday.
John Roberts: We’ll get your take on the elections in just a second here, but let me first of all ask you about this proclamation from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the situation there in Afghanistan is deteriorating. According to the New York Times, American military commanders told Richard Holbrooke they didn't have enough troops there to do the job. You were on the ground, had a good look at things, what's your assessment of the situation there militarily?
Bob Corker: I don't think there's any question that things have deteriorated. The fact that we were far more concerned about this election and security surrounding it than we were the election of 2004 to me is a clear indication. And I think no doubt we've had a lot of focus on Iraq, things have deteriorated. And I think the American people – we need to talk directly with them about it. We are engaged in Afghanistan, truly in nation building or state building probably is a more appropriate term. We're building a nation that candidly will not be able to sustain itself financially. And we need to be able to articulate to our troops what true victory is. We need to remember that still our enemy is al Qaeda. There are about 2,000 al Qaeda operatives around the world. About 500 of them reside today in the … areas of Pakistan. And that still is our enemy. And so this is getting particularly complicated, and I think certainly our troops need to understand clearly what victory is in Afghanistan.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/LIVING/personal/12/03/college.costs/art.classroom2.cnn.jpg caption="Get college costs under control with these tips and tools."]
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Four years ago this week, New Orleans was decimated by Hurricane Katrina. 80 percent of the city was under water after the hurricane came roaring through.
According to the government, more than 1,800 lives were lost to Katrina, which caused an estimated $100 billion in damage. Many believed the city would never recover.
We're in New Orleans all this week for our special series "After The Storm." Today, CNN's Sean Callebs reports that while the rest of the country languishes in a recession, New Orleans actually shows signs of growth after Katrina.