American Morning
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
We Listen – Your comments 3/2/2010
Editor's Note: As Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning continued blockage of extended benefits for the jobless, some of Tuesday’s American Morning viewers cheered the senator’s actions: “We hear about fiscal responsibility from politicians on both sides, but never see it in practice. I commend Senator Bunning for finally making an effort to control spending in Washington.” Those opposed to the senator’s actions called Republicans “mean spirited,” and scolded CNN for claiming that Democrats are accusing all Republicans of the behavior, when it is solely Sen. Bunning.
- Andy: I'd like to express my disappointment with American Morning and the main stream news for strongly objecting to Senator Bunning's position on the bill to extend jobless benefits. If this issue were so important, why can't our Congress finance this bill? Jobs today do no good if we lead our country into a financial disaster tomorrow. We hear about fiscal responsibility from politicians on both sides, but never see it in practice. I commend Senator Bunning for finally making an effort to control spending in Washington.
- Paul: Listening to the morning show, I keep hearing that "congress" is stopping jobless benefits etc. It is NOT congress, it’s Bunning and the Republicans. When will you call [it the way it is]?
- David: Ask Mitch McConnell about Bunning, because he probably put him up to it. Not that McConnell ever gives a straight or reasonable answer either.
- Dan: What […] do you mean "Democrats are pointing fingers..." at Sen. Bunning? The FACT is that Bunning's hold on the legislation is responsible for the furloughed jobs, the delay in unemployment benefits, etc. It's NOT a he said/she said situation. It's REALITY. Please report it that way.
- Linda: The Republican party is finally coming "out of the closet." Not that more than half the country didn't already suspect that the GOP is the most mean-spirited bunch […] ever. Now, the disgusting display of arrogance and disregard for ordinary people by Republican senator Bunning and the lack of condemnation by his party, should make it crystal clear what would happen to most of us if they should regain control of our government. If the Democrats have any spine at all, they should pound these jerks over the head with this every single day from now until the elections. Also, it would be a great service to our country if the MSM continues to stress just how dangerous it would be to put these people back in power.
What do you think? Continue the conversation below.
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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.
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