American Morning
Health care fight in plain sight
Today could be a do-or-die day for health care reform. In just a few hours, President Obama will host a health care summit that will be live for the nation to see.
What is supposed to be a day of compromise is already shaping up to be more of the same. There is some grade school-like bickering going on over things like – who invited whom, the shape of the table and seating assignments, and one senator is already saying there may be nothing to talk about.
So many of you are asking, what's the point? Our Dana Bash gives us a preview.
Tempers flare ahead of bipartisan health care summit
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/02/25/health.care.summit/t1main.summit2.gi.jpg caption="Hours before the White House's bipartisan summit on health care reform, lawmakers didn't appear ready for compromise."]
Washington (CNN) - The day before the White House's bipartisan summit on health care reform, there didn't appear to be much mood for compromise on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Chris Dodd, a key author of the Senate health care bill, told reporters flatly Wednesday that if Republicans continue to demand that Democrats scrap their health care proposals and start over, "then there's nothing to talk about."
"If you expect me to start all over on this, there's really not much point in this, 'cause we're not going to start over," Dodd said.
But Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell argued that's exactly what Republicans want.
"Unless they're willing to do that, I think it's nearly impossible to imagine a scenario under which we can reach agreement because we don't think we ought to pass a 2,700-page bill that seeks to restructure one-sixth of our economy," McConnell said.
Dodd said Democrats and Republicans could find some common ground in some areas, such as a Republican push to allow insurers to sell insurance across state lines. Dodd called the GOP proposal "a legitimate issue" but added that Democrats already have a version of that proposal in their legislation. FULL STORY
Watch the summit LIVE on CNN.com, starting at 10 a.m. ET.
We Listen – Your comments 2/24/2010
Editor's Note: Carol Costello’s piece on “gambling the U.S. out of a recession” was met with staunch opposition by Wednesday’s American Morning audience. Most proclaimed such activity was unlikely to provide the needed revenues to cover growing budget gaps, and doing so would simply put people further into debt.
- Mark: Hello Carol at CNN: In response to your question "can we gamble our way out of recession?" Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania alleges that gaming has helped relieve property tax burdens levied on owners. Without analysis of the numbers his allegation is arbitrary. Home values have dropped in proportionately to its current property taxes. The potential of loss in gambling favors the house. It is of my opinion home owners as a whole have much better odds in not gambling their money away and spend it on paying their property taxes. My final answer is no way.
- Dave: Though there are many reasons that our government is 'broken,' One of the major players is the lobby system. It amounts to legalized bribery, and in fact, these practices are outlawed in most all of the democratic governments. It gives an unfair advantage for the corporations over the people who are supposed to be represented: the constituency that voted them in!
- Jim: Broken Government: […] Opening up more casinos will just put the people more into debt. You see you can lose 200.00 in 15 minutes If you win 5.00 you think your a winner and it does not stop after that. It's all Luck no skill. Sure it's a nice day out. Take Atlantic City for instance. Many people will take 200.00 and try there luck. But when you get there and casino starts getting a lot of people they raise all the table stakes so you cannot sit down and have a good time. They are there to rip the clothes of everyone. This dream will never come true. Good idea to send someone down and just see how the casinos operate. You will be surprised on what you find on certain times of the day. […] Great show in the morning. You have me hooked.
- Jeff: AMFix asks us whether casinos are proof of "broken government" in Pennsylvania, but there is no mention of the fact that the legislation legalizing some forms of gambling in Pennsylvania is nearly 6 years old. Isn't this relevant to a segment that is evaluating the current state of our government? I do not support the casinos in and coming to Philadelphia in any form. Suggesting that the PA government is "broken" is not necessarily something I disagree with either. But CNN is doing damage when an AMFix segment implies that it is the current PA legislature and government that is creating these problems, when we've been dealing with casinos and their attendant drama for the better part of a decade.
Champ: Could the new york stock exchange have a nick name CASINO? It is gambling so what is so wrong with other casinos used for gambling? they use cards instead of money.
What do you think? Continue the conversation below.
Broken Government: How to fix NHTSA?
Toyota executives aren't the only ones taking heat over the safety of their cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also under fire.
The agency is supposed to investigate potential safety defects, but many say it's just another example of our broken government – overworked and underfunded.
We were joined on Wednesday's American Morning by Allan Kam, who was once senior enforcement attorney for the NHTSA. He retired in 2000 and is now director of Highway Traffic Safety Associates.
Broken Government: Congressional pension plans
Many Americans are wondering how they will ever retire in this recession. But, members of Congress don't have that problem. They'll be collecting fat pensions at your expense.
As part of our week long series "Broken Government," we're taking a hard look at the congressional pension system. And the fix – Congress would have to cut their own benefits. Our Lisa Sylvester has the report.
NAACP to honor Van Jones
Van Jones is back in the spotlight. You may remember him – he was President Obama's green jobs czar, but not for long. He resigned under pressure last fall, but he's about to make headlines again. Our Suzanne Malveaux has the report.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
