American Morning
Watch out Tea Party, 'Coffee Party' gaining steam
(CNN) – We've heard a lot about the Tea Party movement recently. It's been spreading like wildfire with tens of thousands turning out for rallies and protests. Now, there is a new political movement also gaining some steam. It is called the Coffee Party USA.
While the two share similar names and a frustration with gridlock in Washington, the similarities may end there. The founder of the Coffee Party USA, Annabel Park, spoke with John Roberts and Kiran Chetry on CNN’s “American Morning” on Wednesday. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
John Roberts: The question many people might have right off the bat is the Tea Party has got some historical context to it, so why the name the Coffee Party, and why the need?
Annabel Park: First of all, I love coffee. Although at times I definitely like tea as well. But there is actually a historical reference as well. During the American Revolution, after they dumped tea into the harbor, they actually declared coffee the national drink. That was the solution to the problem. So I associate coffee not only with solutions, but also with people working, working hard. Because we need to wake up and work hard to get our government to represent us.
Kiran Chetry: What are some of the principles? What do you guys stand for? What do you want to see change in Washington?
Park: Well, we basically, just like in the American Revolution, are looking for real representation. We don't feel represented by our government right now and we don't really feel represented well by the media either. So it's kind of a simple call to action for people to wake up and take control over their future and demand representation. And it requires people standing up and speaking up. That's what we're encouraging people to do by getting together and start the conversation going.
Prescription for waste: Pricey & unnecessary procedures
Editor's Note: All this week, in the American Morning original series "Health care – Prescription for waste," we're examining more waste in the health care system – and this time it could involve your money. Today, our Elizabeth Cohen looks at one hospital's war on unnecessary and outrageously expensive procedures.
(CNN) – The number of women giving birth by cesarean is on the rise. It's estimated that one in three moms have a c-section, but often the pricey procedure is done out of convenience rather than to avoid complications. As our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen tells us, it's putting a strain on our health care system.
Jobless benefits bill passes
(CNN) – The Senate passed a $10 billion bill Tuesday that extends unemployment benefits for one month. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), a former major league pitcher, ended a high-stakes game of hardball by calling off his one-man filibuster.
President Obama wasted no time signing the measure into law last night. Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash has the report.
Read more: Bunning backs off, jobless benefits OK'd
Breakthrough asthma treatment could change lives
(CNN) – In today's AM house-call, we're looking at a potential breakthrough treatment for asthmatics.
Some 23 million Americans suffer from the disease and, believe it or not, asthma death rates have increased more than 50% since 1980.
As our Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us, a new treatment – if approved by the FDA – could change lives.
Tainted food sickens millions, costs billions
(CNN) – We're learning for the first time just how much tainted food is costing America in money and lives, thanks to a landmark report by the Produce Safety Project.
The study estimates food-borne illnesses like E. coli and Salmonella sicken 76 million people a year, and kill about five thousand more, ultimately costing the U.S. more than a $150 billion a year.
That's more than four times the government's original estimate made over a decade ago.
One of the architects of the report, Erik Olson, joined us on Wednesday's American Morning. He is the director of food and consumer product safety for the Pew Health Group.
We were also joined by Elizabeth Armstrong and her 5-year-old daughter Ashley. Ashley nearly died from kidney failure after contracting E. Coli from tainted spinach four years ago.
After standoff, Senate votes to extend jobless benefits
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jobless.benefits.bill/t1main.jim.bunning.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Jim Bunning says that if the benefits are so important, senators could find a way to fund them."]
Washington (CNN) - The Senate voted Tuesday to pass a $10 billion measure to extend benefits for unemployed workers and fund road projects after Sen. Jim Bunning agreed to end his filibuster.
"We cannot keep adding to the debt and passing the buck to generations of future workers and taxpayers, my children and your children and our grandchildren," Bunning said on the Senate floor after the agreement to end his filibuster was reached. "Tonight, tomorrow and on every spending bill in the future, we will see if they (Democrats) mean business on controlling the debt or if it's just words. We will see if pay-go has any teeth or not."
Bunning blamed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for Bunning's almost week-long block of a vote on the 30-day extensions and said his amendment would remove "black liquor" - a byproduct of the pulp and paper process - from eligibility for a bio-fuels producer tax credit, saving $24 billion.
But Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said that very action is already part of a bill that will came up for a vote Wednesday - the long-term extension of those jobless benefits.
"The senator from Kentucky, after one week, has decided to accept exactly what was offered to him last week," Durbin said. "The senator from Kentucky said 'No, I may lose. I am not going to offer an amendment, I am just going to object.'"
Durbin urged a rejection of Bunning's amendment, saying passing it would further delay benefits already delayed by Bunning's filibuster. FULL STORY
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