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CNN Live At Daybreak

What's on Tap in Washington?

Aired July 26, 2002 - 06:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now on the phone is our Washington bureau morning producer, Paul Courson, with a look at "What's on Tap" there today.

Good morning, Paul.

A pretty big surprise in the Zacarias Moussaoui case.

PAUL COURSON, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU MORNING PRODUCER: Yes, Deb Feyerick gave a pretty good treatment of the story right there.

I think the question that's still outstanding at this point, Anderson, is whether they're going to call in the defense team at this point. You know the standby defense attorneys are still standing by. The judge yesterday stopped short of no longer allowing Moussaoui to represent himself at this point, and prosecutors now have not only the evidence they developed as part of the investigation but also the statements and handwritten briefs that he's filed with the court so far. We'll have a chance to ask Deb Feyerick a little bit more about what went on in the courtroom. She is live with us in about an hour.

COOPER: OK. What's going on in Hill today?

COURSON: Well up on the Hill and the White House today homeland security is a big issue. Of course Moussaoui is the only person charged so far with a direct role in the 9/11 attack, and Congress continues to work on homeland defense.

And there's an event at the White House today, the House on Capitol Hill is supposed to pass legislation to create a homeland security agency. President Bush has a Rose Garden event at 8:40 this morning where he'll discuss the topic. The overnight schedule that came out though didn't tell us what he plans to say.

COOPER: What else is on the president's schedule today?

COURSON: Well he also speaks today on the Americans with Disabilities Act. It's been 12 years since the act was passed and that was during the elder Bush administration. Our guidance right now is that not only will the younger President Bush be at the event in the -- at the White House today, but also former President Bush, the president's father.

Bush, during the White House event, will mention the case of David Jane (ph). He's a paraplegic who lost Medicare benefits when he failed to meet the prevailing definition of homebound. The man can't walk, he can't breathe on his own, he can't speak, but he has come to Capitol Hill twice already lobbying to change the rules. President Bush may have some remarks and some encouragement for Mr. Jane, and CNN's Kathleen Koch will have a profile on the man later today.

By the way, Anderson, timed with the anniversary, a group called the National Council on Disability holds a news conference in Washington today to issue a progress report on public policy and the disabled.

And same topic, former President Clinton is also in Washington for a memorial service today on behalf of one of the leading proponents of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the late Justin Dart.

COOPER: You know, Paul, I know the real story you've been following and the thing that concerns you most, of course, is the frankenfish.

COURSON: Oh the frankenfish. Yes, you know the days are numbered for the Chinese northern snakehead fish. It's populating a little pond in Maryland. This is an aggressive meat eating fish that experts believe will threaten local species if it gets loose. It can spread.

You'll remember we told you earlier this week about how investigators found a guy who said he dumped a pair of the fish in this pond a couple of years ago after he bought them from a market in New York. Well, they've reproduced. And a report due today on some experiments with poison experts may dump in the pond. The early testing has come in on some of the offspring, like you just saw there, and the poison works. It breaks down fairly quickly in the environment. And now they have to figure out a game plan and a recommendation is supposed to come out today.

COOPER: Well I'm glad they settled on this poison, because for a while they were talking about electrocuting the pond, draining the pond. It's been a huge odyssey. I know it's a big local story there in Maryland. Appreciate the update.

Paul, thanks very much for joining us here this morning.

COURSON: Have a good weekend.

COOPER: All right, you too.

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