American Morning
Wis. State Sen. Jon Erpenbach: "I wish we could be home right now"
More than two weeks after he and his Democratic colleagues fled Wisconsin to avoid a vote on the state budget, Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach remains in Chicago.
The Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller sent a letter to Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald asking to "resume serious discussions" Monday but Gov. Walker responded saying Sen. Miller is not open to negotiations. Is there a rift among Wisconsin's Democrats? When will they return home? Sen. Erpenbach talks to T.J. Holmes from Chicago about the latest in the Wisconsin state budget battle.
Bachmann will announce decision on presidential bid by 'early summer'
Under the looming threat of a government shutdown, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) was one of six GOP members of the House to vote against a two-week extension on the budget last week.
Congress must now agree on a budget by March 18 or once again risk a shutdown. But, Rep. Bachmann says she will only support a budget proposal that defunds Obamacare and Planned Parenthood. So, would she be willing again to let the government shutdown?
And, will Rep. Bachmann join the 2012 race for the White House? Kiran Chetry talks to Rep. Bachmann in an exclusive American Morning interview.
Bowles and Simpson: U.S. must tackle big ticket items to balance budget
By 2020, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will make up about 94 cents for every dollar spent.
Former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Senator from Wyoming Alan Simpson chair the President's Deficit Commission and say the U.S. must cut into the big ticket items to balance the budget. Bowles and Simpson speak to American Morning's Kiran Chetry about their plan.
Gov. Walker proposes budget cuts as stalemate continues
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) proposed a two-year budget Tuesday, which would cut more than $1 billion in aid to schools and local governments.
Democrats still remain out-of-state, however, protesting Gov. Walker's proposal to strip union workers of certain collective bargaining rights, postponing any vote. State Senators Jon Erpenbach (D), who remains in Chicago, and Glenn Grothman (R) talk to CNN's Ali Velshi about the latest out of Wisconsin.
State Rep. Pelath (D) stays in Indiana as colleagues flee the state
As Indiana Republicans push state budget cuts, Democrats are pushing back.
All but two Democratic state legislators have fled Indiana to avoid a vote on a Republican budget, which includes an end to collective bargaining and a school voucher program. One of the two Democrats staying in the state to ensure that Democratic interests are met is State Representative Scott Pelath. Rep. Pelath talks to CNN's Ali Velshi this morning about the standoff in Indiana.
Gadhafi orders security forces to sabotage oil fields
Oil jumped 6% Tuesday, at one point spiking to $98/barrel, due to concerns over spreading turmoil in oil-producing Middle Eastern and African nations.
New reports say Col. Gadhafi is ordering security forces to sabotage oil fields throughout the country, a move that could potentially affect the global oil market.
Though Libya only produces 2% of the world's oil, the growing unrest in the North African nation sparked concern over what might happen if the political turmoil were to spread. American Morning's Kiran Chetry talks to James Burkhard, Managing Director at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, about oil and international politics.
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