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American Morning
$80 Billion More for Military; Iraq Elections Impact; Interview With Congressman Jim McCrery
Aired January 25, 2005 - 8:59 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. The battle over Condoleezza Rice's nomination about to begin at this hour in the Senate, even though most senators say they already know the outcome.
Five days before the elections in Iraq and much more American money is needed. The president expected to ask the Congress for another $80 billion.
And "Million Dollar Baby" turning out to be an Oscar heavyweight in the ring, while the hype just keeps on getting bigger for Jamie Foxx and "Ray." All the nominees coming up in this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. More on the Oscar nominations. Obviously, "Ray's" going to play a big role in that this year.
As the Iraq election, though, draws near, how do military families deal with their fears? We're talking about that this morning as well. We're going to talk to the wife of a lieutenant colonel who is serving in Iraq. Her name is Linda Tarsa. She e-mails her husband every day. She'll tell us about the mood among the troops and here on the home front as well.
HEMMER: Also this hour, the Supreme Court has made it easier for police to find out what you have in your car, as long as there's a dog involved. Jeff Toobin stops by, talking about whether or not long- standing rules over police searches are being fundamentally changed and where they could go next. We'll get to that as well.
One quick note on the Oscars. "Aviator" leads the nomination category with 11. So it could play a big role, too. And Leonardo DiCaprio...
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Did you see that movie, "Aviator?"
HEMMER: I did not yet, no. You like?
COSTELLO: It's long.
HEMMER: Yes?
O'BRIEN: That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it? "It's long."
COSTELLO: It's so long. But parts of it are very good.
HEMMER: Two hours and 45 minutes, right?
O'BRIEN: She loved it.
HEMMER: Hardly.
COSTELLO: I hope it wins all 11.
Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning all of you. Let's check the headlines now.
An American citizen known to have been kidnapped in Baghdad back in November has now appeared in a videotaped statement pleading for his life. Take a look.
The man identifies himself as Roy Hallums. We're not releasing the videotaped portion. This is a frozen image from that videotape. It's not clear when it was recorded. Attempts by CNN to contact Mr. Hallums' family for a response have been unsuccessful so far. But the U.S. embassy in Baghdad tells us they are in contact with his family and believe that he is indeed a hostage.
In Indonesia, first it was an earthquake, then a tsunami, and now a fire. Strong winds in the Banda Aceh province of Indonesia are pushing along a major blaze. Firefighter have said they are running out of water. There are now also concerns an offshore power generator may get caught in the fire's path, possibly causing gas and oil inside the machine to explode.
In Fresno, California, jury selection set to start this morning in a grisly multiple murder case. Marcus Weston is accused in the shooting death of nine of his children. He's also accused of sexually abusing his daughters and nieces. Jury selection is expected to take about a month.
And the pro basketball players and fans involved in that big brawl last November may be reunited in a Michigan courtroom. Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans have been ordered to attend a pretrial conference today. It's not clear if all of them will face a judge at the same time. But they'll all be in the same vicinity.
O'BRIEN: Maybe a rematch. But hopefully not.
COSTELLO: Maybe they'll re-enact it for the judge.
O'BRIEN: Oh, lord, let's hope not. All right, Carol. Thanks.
HEMMER: Thanks, Carol. New developments in the White House start off this hour again. Amid pre-election violence in Iraq, there is word the White House needs $80 billion more for military operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Suzanne Malveaux starts us off at the White House there.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Democrats have long complained that they don't believe the White House has been really forthcoming in saying just how much they believe the war on terror is going to cost. Well, today we expect an announcement.
A senior administration official confirming that the White House indeed will ask for an $80 billion additional in funding here for the military operations this year for Iraq and Afghanistan, making the total cost for both of those conflicts almost $300 billion to date. Now, of course, this announcement is expected to generate many questions, even controversy about just where taxpayers' money is going.
One person in particular, House Leader Democrat Nancy Pelosi, already putting out a statement before the official members coming out. She's saying, of course, you have to make sure to fund the troops, to make sure they're safe. But she also says they've got critical questions for the president.
She says, "What are the goals in Iraq and how much more money will it cost to achieve them? Why hasn't the president and the Pentagon provided members of Congress a full accounting of previous expenditures? Why after all the effort dedicated to training Iraqi troops aren't more Iraqi troops trained, equipped and prepared to play a bigger security role?"
Now, Bill, we expect in two weeks that the White House will formally, officially introduce its supplemental, its budget for fiscal 2006. And you can bet that it will be a battle ahead -- Bill.
HEMMER: Suzanne, I don't know if there's much in this answer, but I'll ask the question anyway. Is there anything to the reason why this is breaking today, the same day Condoleezza Rice will be debated on the floor of the Senate?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's a good question. I mean, perhaps they're looking to divert some attention from that hearing. It is not -- it's not that it hasn't been done before. But, of course, you've got two pieces of news, two big stories coming out of the White House there. Both of them perhaps playing off of each other, perhaps canceling out some of the negative effect by having both of them on this day.
HEMMER: And we do expect Dr. Rice's confirmation possibly tomorrow. Thanks, Suzanne, at the White House this morning there -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: More violence in Iraq today just five days ahead of the elections. Early this morning I spoke with Linda Tarsa. Her husband Mike is a lieutenant colonel stationed in Baghdad. And I asked her what her husband has said to her about his role in the upcoming elections.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LINDA TARSA, HUSBAND STATIONED IN BAGHDAD: Well, he's -- he's the chief of plans for the 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood, Texas. So he's actually working, I guess, with planning how the, you know, Army will assist the Iraqis and ensure the election is a success.
O'BRIEN: So he'll be working in security and safety. How do you explain his role to your family, maybe specifically your son, Danny, who is sort of old enough, I think, to understand a little bit of what's going on? How have you -- what have you said to him?
TARSA: Well, because Mike is in the planning phase, it's nice for him to understand that his dad is really working with not only the -- you know, with everybody over there to ensure the elections is a success. So it's an honor, you know, for -- for Mike to see that and for the kids to understand what an important role their dad is doing in the future of Iraq as a nation.
O'BRIEN: The reality, of course, is that there's violence there. And we are told, as I'm sure you're told as well, the violence will increase certainly as we get closer and closer to the election. How do you deal with that?
TARSA: It's scary, you know? And I know other spouses like myself whose husbands are more out, you know, in a more dangerous location are very scared. But we're hoping and we're praying that all of our soldiers will be safe.
We can only hope for the best. I mean, there's no -- you know, we can't just sit in our -- sit in our houses and cry and worry and worry. We have to keep a positive outlook. And I think that's very, very important, especially in these next five days.
O'BRIEN: Is it hard for you to sort of walk the middle ground? On one hand, you have your husband right in the middle of a lot of danger. On the other hand, he's got a very big mission, ensuring that democratic elections, bringing stability to a country. That is, to have a role in that I think is historic and important. How do you feel, though, about it?
TARSA: Well, obviously I'm honored and proud of him and all the other soldiers that are over there doing such great work. But, you know, it is scary being a spouse. You know, and our children are a little afraid. But he is -- I mean, what they're doing over there is historic.
They're doing something that -- that -- that is amazing. Rebuilding a nation, helping a nation elect the people that are going to form -- form out their constitution, that's huge. And, you know, we're proud that he's doing -- you know, that he's a part of that and he's doing such great work over there.
O'BRIEN: When do you expect to see him in person face to face?
TARSA: Hopefully this spring. If everything goes well with the elections and the violence does not escalate, especially after the elections, then we're hoping for a spring reunion. So that will be nice to see him again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Linda Tarsa's husband serving in Iraq.
Today is the final day for Iraqi expatriates in the U.S. to register to vote. They must travel to one of just five cities to sign up: Nashville, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles or Washington -- Bill.
HEMMER: Watching the weather, Soledad. From Boston, another day of heavy digging after that weekend blizzard. Parts of Massachusetts buried under three feet of snow. And everywhere huge piles of plowed snow, some up to 15 feet tall along the road.
Officials say that is it too much for their usual equipment to handle. And now forecasters say there could be more. More on that in a moment.
It seems there is nowhere to hide from the cold. Freezing temperatures all the way down into Florida yesterday. A record 23 in Ocala. But back above freezing there this morning.
In Miami, the temperature dropped to 42 degrees. That is a low in Miami that has not been seen in 45 years, 1960. Chad's watching all this now at the CNN Center.
How are you, Chad?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Doing well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.
Oscar nominations just in, just moments ago. "The Aviator" soars in 11 categories, including best pictures. Also nominated there, "Ray" and "Sideways," as well as "Finding Neverland" and "Million Dollar Baby." Those last two pictures nominated in a total of seven categories.
Competing for best actor this time around, Don Cheadle for "Hotel Rwanda"; Johnny Depp in "Finding Neverland"; "The Aviator" once again, Leonardo DiCaprio there; Clint Eastwood for "Million Dollar Baby"; and Jamie Foxx for his portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray."
And for best actress, Annette Bening in "Being Julia"; Catalina Sandino Moreno for "Maria Full of Grace"; Imelda Staunton for "Vera Drake"; "The Million Dollar Baby", Hillary Swank; and Kate Winslet for her role in the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: All right. Off the top of my head there, all those.
Jamie Foxx, by the way, incidentally picked up not only a best actor nomination for "Ray," but also got a second nod for his supporting role in the thriller "Collateral." Comedian Chris Rock is going to host the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 27.
HEMMER: Chris Rock has already told "The New York Times" if Jamie Foxx doesn't win, he's walking off the stage.
O'BRIEN: I love that.
HEMMER: It should make for an interesting night in about a month away.
O'BRIEN: Didn't say he's going to steal someone's Emmy? Academy Award and hand it off?
HEMMER: And give it to Foxx?
O'BRIEN: Steal the Oscar, hand it off to Jamie Foxx.
HEMMER: Jamie Foxx has got nothing to worry about.
O'BRIEN: I agree.
HEMMER: He's going to win best actor.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Everybody's rooting for him.
HEMMER: In a moment here, time to start week two of the "New You Revolution." We'll check in with the reverend today, Leigh Ann Raynor. One week in, is she still in with the program? We'll have that.
O'BRIEN: Also, we're going to hear from a man who was shot more than 70 times with a pepper ball gun. You're not going to believe this tape.
HEMMER: Also, could the biggest obstacle to the president's Social Security reform be his own party? His point man in Congress talks to us live in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Well, the president we know by now is putting Social Security reform at the top of his political agenda for a second term. But getting his plan that includes private savings accounts through Congress without major changes will not be easy. You can ask members of his own party about that. Louisiana Congressman Jim McCrery is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security. He's a Republican. He's at the Capitol.
Sir, good morning. Welcome here to AMERICAN MORNING.
REP. JIM MCCRERY (R), LOUISIANA: Good morning. Thank you.
HEMMER: Is this program at a crisis point or not?
MCRERY: Well, I mean, it depends on how you define crisis. But if you consider that we have a $10.7 trillion unfunded liability over the next 75 years with Social Security, then I think you'd have to consider that at least a big problem.
HEMMER: Well, Harry Reid on the Democratic side says there is no crisis. Listen, five years ago in the 1990s, we were doing stories almost every day, talking about how this program was going to lose itself and it was going to go into bankruptcy if we didn't do something about it. The president was on the stump recently. Listen to how he put the words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust, bankrupt, unless the United States Congress has got the willingness to act now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: "Flat bust" his words. Is that true or not?
MCRERY: Well, again, it depends how you define busted. In 2018, receipts to the Social Security system will be insufficient to pay benefits. Some people would call that busted.
However, the Social Security trust fund does have IOUs in it, government IOUs that if used would last until 2042 to pay benefits. At that time, receipts coming into the system will be sufficient to only pay about 73 percent of benefits.
So again, it's in the eye of the beholder, but clearly it's a big problem. I don't think we should quibble over the words "crisis" or "problem." It's clearly a $10.7 trillion unfunded liability that the government has. And if we act now we can ameliorate that problem, we can reduce that problem to future generations of Americans. It's our obligation to do that.
HEMMER: So are you on board for the plan that has been coming out of the White House about private accounts? Would you support that?
MCRERY: Absolutely. Individual accounts, I think, represent one of the easiest and most effective solutions to this problem. So clearly, we ought to consider that, along with an array of other solutions that I hope Republicans and Democrats will offer. HEMMER: Now, Republicans control the House, they control the Senate. Would that proposal fly?
MCRERY: I'm hopeful that it will. I know the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill, and I believe the vast majority of the Republican rank and file stand ready to help the president pass something that includes individual accounts.
HEMMER: Yes, but you're well aware Olympia Snowe on the Senate side has said that she has some reservations. Wants to know more details about a plan, when that plan comes forward. Is there more talk about that, though?
MCRERY: And I think that's perfectly appropriate. I think that's perfectly appropriate for members of Congress to have reservations about any new concept in a program that's been successful like Social Security.
HEMMER: Let me try and get -- go ahead.
MCRERY: But I think those concerns can be answered.
HEMMER: OK. Let me try to get at one more thing here. Which age group in America today should be most concerned about this issue?
MCRERY: Well, clearly the younger generation should be more concerned because they're going to be stuck with a $10.7 trillion bill over the next 75 years. The elderly, the current recipients of Social Security, don't have anything to worry about. Their program is sound for quite some time. But younger generations are going to have to foot the bill if we don't act now to make the problem less severe.
HEMMER: Thank you for your time.
MCRERY: Sure.
HEMMER: Jim McCrery, Republican out of Louisiana there in Washington. Appreciate you speaking with us today.
MCRERY: You bet.
HEMMER: Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Have you guys seen this videotape out of Tucson, Arizona? A dramatic confrontation between police and a suspect.
He was shot 70 and more times with a non-lethal pepper gun. It started when police responded to a fight on Saturday night. Officers ordered one suspect to get on the ground. The men -- the man, rather, said he tried to comply but the pepper balls just kept coming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIEL GANDARA, PEPPER-BALLED 70+ TIMES: They told me, "Put your hands on your head." Then they told me, "Turn around." And when I was turning around, they kept shooting at me. I tried to lay down. They kept shooting at me. I'm not going to stand there and just take it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARDAN DEVINE, TUCSON POLICE DEPT.: The way the training is set up is you apply, then reassess. And then if necessary you reapply, and you continue reapplying until you gain compliance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: The suspect says he'd been drinking and he's been hit with pepper ball rounds in other run-ins with police. And incidentally, if bruises are any indication, ugh, look at that. Those pepper ball shots truly hurt. I mean, he's a big guy to be brought down by that.
HEMMER: Nineteen minutes now past the hour. The next time a driver gets pulled over, police will have a whole lot more power then they used to. Did a Supreme Court ruling go too far? Jeff Toobin stops by, talks about that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The Supreme Court has given police broader search powers during traffic stops. On Monday, the high court ruled drug- sniffing dogs can be used to check out motorists even if officers have no reason to suspect that the motorists have narcotics. Here to take a look at the decision with us is CNN senior legal analyst Jeff Toobin.
Nice to see you, Jeff.
JEFF TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
The case involved drug-sniffing dogs specifically. Give us the back story. What are the issues involved?
TOOBIN: Well, cars driving on I-80 in Illinois. It is driving 71 miles an hour in a 65-mile-an-hour zone. So not very fast.
A cop pulls him over just to write him a warning. He's writing out the warning and another police car comes along and says, well, what the heck, I'll bring the dog, the drug-sniffing dog and sniff the trunk and sniff the car. And it turns out the dog responded on the trunk. A great deal of marijuana was found there.
O'BRIEN: A quarter of a million dollars, I think.
TOOBIN: Right. And he's -- and the guy is sentenced to 12 years in prison. So it turns out to be very important to him. The question is, is it justified to bring a drug-sniffing dog when you have absolutely no suspicion that someone is involved in narcotics? The Supreme Court by a vote of 6-2 -- Justice -- Chief Justice Rehnquist not participating, yes, it's OK to do that.
O'BRIEN: Since he didn't vote, you have said, though, that it shows sort of the power he still holds over this court. Even though his voice wasn't really heard in this. And why do you say that?
TOOBIN: Absolutely. You know, he's been on the court since 1972. And one issue in which he has clearly won over his colleagues is criminal law, search and seizure law.
He has fought for all those years to lower the restrictions on the police, make it easier to get convictions, easier to make searches. And this is one area where he has really triumphed over the years.
And he started at a time when the court was much more suspicious of the police. And, you know, he hasn't won on Roe v. Wade, he hasn't won or affirmative action. But criminal law, search and seizure law, his influence has been enormous.
O'BRIEN: The concern, of course, is that it could potentially change the rules about reasonable suspicion farther than even a drug- sniffing dog walking by a stopped car.
TOOBIN: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in her dissenting opinion, wrote, look, you know, what you're saying is we could have dogs, drug- sniffing dogs walking up and down the street for parked cars. Just looking for narcotics, sniffing people randomly on the street. Because there's no suspicion of them either.
And I think the answer to that is, so? I mean, I think most Americans probably think that's OK. And, you know, the war on drugs is popular to such an extent that -- and drug-sniffing dogs are so unobtrusive or unintrusive that people are probably OK with it.
O'BRIEN: Can we talk a minute about Chief Justice Rehnquist? You saw him at the inauguration...
TOOBIN: I did.
O'BRIEN: ... looking very weak and obviously very, very frail, following his treatment for cancer. You said he doesn't want to step down while court is in session.
TOOBIN: You know, he is someone who has a great reverence for the court. And I thought it was really very moving to see him struggle down those steps, give the oath, then struggle back.
He was on the court -- he was there for such a short time. But, you know, he knows that if he steps down before June, that means there will be confirmation process while the court is in session. He feels that's disruptive. He apparently wants to hang on until June. This is a very fast- moving, difficult cancer. It is not clear that he will. And he's obviously not well.
But he's a tough man. And it looks like that -- that is the reason he's hanging on. Because there doesn't appear to be any other explanation.
O'BRIEN: Jeff Toobin, thank you, as always.
TOOBIN: OK.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it -- Bill.
HEMMER: Here's an updated story we told you about, the last of the four surviving Horton quintuplets went home yesterday almost three months after his birth. The proud parents showed off young Porter and his siblings at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAUNACY HORNTON, MOTHER OF QUINTUPLETS: It has been I think nice for us, you know, to finally have him home. And we get to know each other again as we sit up and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So it's kind of been family time. We incorporate it all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Good luck now. The father, Joshua Horton, is a Marine reservist who was wounded in Iraq. He chose to serve even after the military offered to allow him to stay home with his pregnant wife.
"Aviator" leads the pack with 11 nominations. All the critics have raved about Jamie Foxx in "Ray." It seems Hollywood also noticed his role in "Collateral" as well. "90-Second Pop," the lowdown after the nominations are now out in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired January 25, 2005 - 8:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. The battle over Condoleezza Rice's nomination about to begin at this hour in the Senate, even though most senators say they already know the outcome.
Five days before the elections in Iraq and much more American money is needed. The president expected to ask the Congress for another $80 billion.
And "Million Dollar Baby" turning out to be an Oscar heavyweight in the ring, while the hype just keeps on getting bigger for Jamie Foxx and "Ray." All the nominees coming up in this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. More on the Oscar nominations. Obviously, "Ray's" going to play a big role in that this year.
As the Iraq election, though, draws near, how do military families deal with their fears? We're talking about that this morning as well. We're going to talk to the wife of a lieutenant colonel who is serving in Iraq. Her name is Linda Tarsa. She e-mails her husband every day. She'll tell us about the mood among the troops and here on the home front as well.
HEMMER: Also this hour, the Supreme Court has made it easier for police to find out what you have in your car, as long as there's a dog involved. Jeff Toobin stops by, talking about whether or not long- standing rules over police searches are being fundamentally changed and where they could go next. We'll get to that as well.
One quick note on the Oscars. "Aviator" leads the nomination category with 11. So it could play a big role, too. And Leonardo DiCaprio...
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Did you see that movie, "Aviator?"
HEMMER: I did not yet, no. You like?
COSTELLO: It's long.
HEMMER: Yes?
O'BRIEN: That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it? "It's long."
COSTELLO: It's so long. But parts of it are very good.
HEMMER: Two hours and 45 minutes, right?
O'BRIEN: She loved it.
HEMMER: Hardly.
COSTELLO: I hope it wins all 11.
Good morning to you.
HEMMER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning all of you. Let's check the headlines now.
An American citizen known to have been kidnapped in Baghdad back in November has now appeared in a videotaped statement pleading for his life. Take a look.
The man identifies himself as Roy Hallums. We're not releasing the videotaped portion. This is a frozen image from that videotape. It's not clear when it was recorded. Attempts by CNN to contact Mr. Hallums' family for a response have been unsuccessful so far. But the U.S. embassy in Baghdad tells us they are in contact with his family and believe that he is indeed a hostage.
In Indonesia, first it was an earthquake, then a tsunami, and now a fire. Strong winds in the Banda Aceh province of Indonesia are pushing along a major blaze. Firefighter have said they are running out of water. There are now also concerns an offshore power generator may get caught in the fire's path, possibly causing gas and oil inside the machine to explode.
In Fresno, California, jury selection set to start this morning in a grisly multiple murder case. Marcus Weston is accused in the shooting death of nine of his children. He's also accused of sexually abusing his daughters and nieces. Jury selection is expected to take about a month.
And the pro basketball players and fans involved in that big brawl last November may be reunited in a Michigan courtroom. Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans have been ordered to attend a pretrial conference today. It's not clear if all of them will face a judge at the same time. But they'll all be in the same vicinity.
O'BRIEN: Maybe a rematch. But hopefully not.
COSTELLO: Maybe they'll re-enact it for the judge.
O'BRIEN: Oh, lord, let's hope not. All right, Carol. Thanks.
HEMMER: Thanks, Carol. New developments in the White House start off this hour again. Amid pre-election violence in Iraq, there is word the White House needs $80 billion more for military operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Suzanne Malveaux starts us off at the White House there.
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Democrats have long complained that they don't believe the White House has been really forthcoming in saying just how much they believe the war on terror is going to cost. Well, today we expect an announcement.
A senior administration official confirming that the White House indeed will ask for an $80 billion additional in funding here for the military operations this year for Iraq and Afghanistan, making the total cost for both of those conflicts almost $300 billion to date. Now, of course, this announcement is expected to generate many questions, even controversy about just where taxpayers' money is going.
One person in particular, House Leader Democrat Nancy Pelosi, already putting out a statement before the official members coming out. She's saying, of course, you have to make sure to fund the troops, to make sure they're safe. But she also says they've got critical questions for the president.
She says, "What are the goals in Iraq and how much more money will it cost to achieve them? Why hasn't the president and the Pentagon provided members of Congress a full accounting of previous expenditures? Why after all the effort dedicated to training Iraqi troops aren't more Iraqi troops trained, equipped and prepared to play a bigger security role?"
Now, Bill, we expect in two weeks that the White House will formally, officially introduce its supplemental, its budget for fiscal 2006. And you can bet that it will be a battle ahead -- Bill.
HEMMER: Suzanne, I don't know if there's much in this answer, but I'll ask the question anyway. Is there anything to the reason why this is breaking today, the same day Condoleezza Rice will be debated on the floor of the Senate?
MALVEAUX: Well, it's a good question. I mean, perhaps they're looking to divert some attention from that hearing. It is not -- it's not that it hasn't been done before. But, of course, you've got two pieces of news, two big stories coming out of the White House there. Both of them perhaps playing off of each other, perhaps canceling out some of the negative effect by having both of them on this day.
HEMMER: And we do expect Dr. Rice's confirmation possibly tomorrow. Thanks, Suzanne, at the White House this morning there -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: More violence in Iraq today just five days ahead of the elections. Early this morning I spoke with Linda Tarsa. Her husband Mike is a lieutenant colonel stationed in Baghdad. And I asked her what her husband has said to her about his role in the upcoming elections.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LINDA TARSA, HUSBAND STATIONED IN BAGHDAD: Well, he's -- he's the chief of plans for the 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood, Texas. So he's actually working, I guess, with planning how the, you know, Army will assist the Iraqis and ensure the election is a success.
O'BRIEN: So he'll be working in security and safety. How do you explain his role to your family, maybe specifically your son, Danny, who is sort of old enough, I think, to understand a little bit of what's going on? How have you -- what have you said to him?
TARSA: Well, because Mike is in the planning phase, it's nice for him to understand that his dad is really working with not only the -- you know, with everybody over there to ensure the elections is a success. So it's an honor, you know, for -- for Mike to see that and for the kids to understand what an important role their dad is doing in the future of Iraq as a nation.
O'BRIEN: The reality, of course, is that there's violence there. And we are told, as I'm sure you're told as well, the violence will increase certainly as we get closer and closer to the election. How do you deal with that?
TARSA: It's scary, you know? And I know other spouses like myself whose husbands are more out, you know, in a more dangerous location are very scared. But we're hoping and we're praying that all of our soldiers will be safe.
We can only hope for the best. I mean, there's no -- you know, we can't just sit in our -- sit in our houses and cry and worry and worry. We have to keep a positive outlook. And I think that's very, very important, especially in these next five days.
O'BRIEN: Is it hard for you to sort of walk the middle ground? On one hand, you have your husband right in the middle of a lot of danger. On the other hand, he's got a very big mission, ensuring that democratic elections, bringing stability to a country. That is, to have a role in that I think is historic and important. How do you feel, though, about it?
TARSA: Well, obviously I'm honored and proud of him and all the other soldiers that are over there doing such great work. But, you know, it is scary being a spouse. You know, and our children are a little afraid. But he is -- I mean, what they're doing over there is historic.
They're doing something that -- that -- that is amazing. Rebuilding a nation, helping a nation elect the people that are going to form -- form out their constitution, that's huge. And, you know, we're proud that he's doing -- you know, that he's a part of that and he's doing such great work over there.
O'BRIEN: When do you expect to see him in person face to face?
TARSA: Hopefully this spring. If everything goes well with the elections and the violence does not escalate, especially after the elections, then we're hoping for a spring reunion. So that will be nice to see him again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Linda Tarsa's husband serving in Iraq.
Today is the final day for Iraqi expatriates in the U.S. to register to vote. They must travel to one of just five cities to sign up: Nashville, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles or Washington -- Bill.
HEMMER: Watching the weather, Soledad. From Boston, another day of heavy digging after that weekend blizzard. Parts of Massachusetts buried under three feet of snow. And everywhere huge piles of plowed snow, some up to 15 feet tall along the road.
Officials say that is it too much for their usual equipment to handle. And now forecasters say there could be more. More on that in a moment.
It seems there is nowhere to hide from the cold. Freezing temperatures all the way down into Florida yesterday. A record 23 in Ocala. But back above freezing there this morning.
In Miami, the temperature dropped to 42 degrees. That is a low in Miami that has not been seen in 45 years, 1960. Chad's watching all this now at the CNN Center.
How are you, Chad?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Doing well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Chad. Thanks.
Oscar nominations just in, just moments ago. "The Aviator" soars in 11 categories, including best pictures. Also nominated there, "Ray" and "Sideways," as well as "Finding Neverland" and "Million Dollar Baby." Those last two pictures nominated in a total of seven categories.
Competing for best actor this time around, Don Cheadle for "Hotel Rwanda"; Johnny Depp in "Finding Neverland"; "The Aviator" once again, Leonardo DiCaprio there; Clint Eastwood for "Million Dollar Baby"; and Jamie Foxx for his portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray."
And for best actress, Annette Bening in "Being Julia"; Catalina Sandino Moreno for "Maria Full of Grace"; Imelda Staunton for "Vera Drake"; "The Million Dollar Baby", Hillary Swank; and Kate Winslet for her role in the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: All right. Off the top of my head there, all those.
Jamie Foxx, by the way, incidentally picked up not only a best actor nomination for "Ray," but also got a second nod for his supporting role in the thriller "Collateral." Comedian Chris Rock is going to host the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 27.
HEMMER: Chris Rock has already told "The New York Times" if Jamie Foxx doesn't win, he's walking off the stage.
O'BRIEN: I love that.
HEMMER: It should make for an interesting night in about a month away.
O'BRIEN: Didn't say he's going to steal someone's Emmy? Academy Award and hand it off?
HEMMER: And give it to Foxx?
O'BRIEN: Steal the Oscar, hand it off to Jamie Foxx.
HEMMER: Jamie Foxx has got nothing to worry about.
O'BRIEN: I agree.
HEMMER: He's going to win best actor.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Everybody's rooting for him.
HEMMER: In a moment here, time to start week two of the "New You Revolution." We'll check in with the reverend today, Leigh Ann Raynor. One week in, is she still in with the program? We'll have that.
O'BRIEN: Also, we're going to hear from a man who was shot more than 70 times with a pepper ball gun. You're not going to believe this tape.
HEMMER: Also, could the biggest obstacle to the president's Social Security reform be his own party? His point man in Congress talks to us live in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Well, the president we know by now is putting Social Security reform at the top of his political agenda for a second term. But getting his plan that includes private savings accounts through Congress without major changes will not be easy. You can ask members of his own party about that. Louisiana Congressman Jim McCrery is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Social Security. He's a Republican. He's at the Capitol.
Sir, good morning. Welcome here to AMERICAN MORNING.
REP. JIM MCCRERY (R), LOUISIANA: Good morning. Thank you.
HEMMER: Is this program at a crisis point or not?
MCRERY: Well, I mean, it depends on how you define crisis. But if you consider that we have a $10.7 trillion unfunded liability over the next 75 years with Social Security, then I think you'd have to consider that at least a big problem.
HEMMER: Well, Harry Reid on the Democratic side says there is no crisis. Listen, five years ago in the 1990s, we were doing stories almost every day, talking about how this program was going to lose itself and it was going to go into bankruptcy if we didn't do something about it. The president was on the stump recently. Listen to how he put the words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust, bankrupt, unless the United States Congress has got the willingness to act now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: "Flat bust" his words. Is that true or not?
MCRERY: Well, again, it depends how you define busted. In 2018, receipts to the Social Security system will be insufficient to pay benefits. Some people would call that busted.
However, the Social Security trust fund does have IOUs in it, government IOUs that if used would last until 2042 to pay benefits. At that time, receipts coming into the system will be sufficient to only pay about 73 percent of benefits.
So again, it's in the eye of the beholder, but clearly it's a big problem. I don't think we should quibble over the words "crisis" or "problem." It's clearly a $10.7 trillion unfunded liability that the government has. And if we act now we can ameliorate that problem, we can reduce that problem to future generations of Americans. It's our obligation to do that.
HEMMER: So are you on board for the plan that has been coming out of the White House about private accounts? Would you support that?
MCRERY: Absolutely. Individual accounts, I think, represent one of the easiest and most effective solutions to this problem. So clearly, we ought to consider that, along with an array of other solutions that I hope Republicans and Democrats will offer. HEMMER: Now, Republicans control the House, they control the Senate. Would that proposal fly?
MCRERY: I'm hopeful that it will. I know the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill, and I believe the vast majority of the Republican rank and file stand ready to help the president pass something that includes individual accounts.
HEMMER: Yes, but you're well aware Olympia Snowe on the Senate side has said that she has some reservations. Wants to know more details about a plan, when that plan comes forward. Is there more talk about that, though?
MCRERY: And I think that's perfectly appropriate. I think that's perfectly appropriate for members of Congress to have reservations about any new concept in a program that's been successful like Social Security.
HEMMER: Let me try and get -- go ahead.
MCRERY: But I think those concerns can be answered.
HEMMER: OK. Let me try to get at one more thing here. Which age group in America today should be most concerned about this issue?
MCRERY: Well, clearly the younger generation should be more concerned because they're going to be stuck with a $10.7 trillion bill over the next 75 years. The elderly, the current recipients of Social Security, don't have anything to worry about. Their program is sound for quite some time. But younger generations are going to have to foot the bill if we don't act now to make the problem less severe.
HEMMER: Thank you for your time.
MCRERY: Sure.
HEMMER: Jim McCrery, Republican out of Louisiana there in Washington. Appreciate you speaking with us today.
MCRERY: You bet.
HEMMER: Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Have you guys seen this videotape out of Tucson, Arizona? A dramatic confrontation between police and a suspect.
He was shot 70 and more times with a non-lethal pepper gun. It started when police responded to a fight on Saturday night. Officers ordered one suspect to get on the ground. The men -- the man, rather, said he tried to comply but the pepper balls just kept coming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIEL GANDARA, PEPPER-BALLED 70+ TIMES: They told me, "Put your hands on your head." Then they told me, "Turn around." And when I was turning around, they kept shooting at me. I tried to lay down. They kept shooting at me. I'm not going to stand there and just take it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARDAN DEVINE, TUCSON POLICE DEPT.: The way the training is set up is you apply, then reassess. And then if necessary you reapply, and you continue reapplying until you gain compliance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: The suspect says he'd been drinking and he's been hit with pepper ball rounds in other run-ins with police. And incidentally, if bruises are any indication, ugh, look at that. Those pepper ball shots truly hurt. I mean, he's a big guy to be brought down by that.
HEMMER: Nineteen minutes now past the hour. The next time a driver gets pulled over, police will have a whole lot more power then they used to. Did a Supreme Court ruling go too far? Jeff Toobin stops by, talks about that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The Supreme Court has given police broader search powers during traffic stops. On Monday, the high court ruled drug- sniffing dogs can be used to check out motorists even if officers have no reason to suspect that the motorists have narcotics. Here to take a look at the decision with us is CNN senior legal analyst Jeff Toobin.
Nice to see you, Jeff.
JEFF TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: Howdy.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.
The case involved drug-sniffing dogs specifically. Give us the back story. What are the issues involved?
TOOBIN: Well, cars driving on I-80 in Illinois. It is driving 71 miles an hour in a 65-mile-an-hour zone. So not very fast.
A cop pulls him over just to write him a warning. He's writing out the warning and another police car comes along and says, well, what the heck, I'll bring the dog, the drug-sniffing dog and sniff the trunk and sniff the car. And it turns out the dog responded on the trunk. A great deal of marijuana was found there.
O'BRIEN: A quarter of a million dollars, I think.
TOOBIN: Right. And he's -- and the guy is sentenced to 12 years in prison. So it turns out to be very important to him. The question is, is it justified to bring a drug-sniffing dog when you have absolutely no suspicion that someone is involved in narcotics? The Supreme Court by a vote of 6-2 -- Justice -- Chief Justice Rehnquist not participating, yes, it's OK to do that.
O'BRIEN: Since he didn't vote, you have said, though, that it shows sort of the power he still holds over this court. Even though his voice wasn't really heard in this. And why do you say that?
TOOBIN: Absolutely. You know, he's been on the court since 1972. And one issue in which he has clearly won over his colleagues is criminal law, search and seizure law.
He has fought for all those years to lower the restrictions on the police, make it easier to get convictions, easier to make searches. And this is one area where he has really triumphed over the years.
And he started at a time when the court was much more suspicious of the police. And, you know, he hasn't won on Roe v. Wade, he hasn't won or affirmative action. But criminal law, search and seizure law, his influence has been enormous.
O'BRIEN: The concern, of course, is that it could potentially change the rules about reasonable suspicion farther than even a drug- sniffing dog walking by a stopped car.
TOOBIN: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in her dissenting opinion, wrote, look, you know, what you're saying is we could have dogs, drug- sniffing dogs walking up and down the street for parked cars. Just looking for narcotics, sniffing people randomly on the street. Because there's no suspicion of them either.
And I think the answer to that is, so? I mean, I think most Americans probably think that's OK. And, you know, the war on drugs is popular to such an extent that -- and drug-sniffing dogs are so unobtrusive or unintrusive that people are probably OK with it.
O'BRIEN: Can we talk a minute about Chief Justice Rehnquist? You saw him at the inauguration...
TOOBIN: I did.
O'BRIEN: ... looking very weak and obviously very, very frail, following his treatment for cancer. You said he doesn't want to step down while court is in session.
TOOBIN: You know, he is someone who has a great reverence for the court. And I thought it was really very moving to see him struggle down those steps, give the oath, then struggle back.
He was on the court -- he was there for such a short time. But, you know, he knows that if he steps down before June, that means there will be confirmation process while the court is in session. He feels that's disruptive. He apparently wants to hang on until June. This is a very fast- moving, difficult cancer. It is not clear that he will. And he's obviously not well.
But he's a tough man. And it looks like that -- that is the reason he's hanging on. Because there doesn't appear to be any other explanation.
O'BRIEN: Jeff Toobin, thank you, as always.
TOOBIN: OK.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it -- Bill.
HEMMER: Here's an updated story we told you about, the last of the four surviving Horton quintuplets went home yesterday almost three months after his birth. The proud parents showed off young Porter and his siblings at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAUNACY HORNTON, MOTHER OF QUINTUPLETS: It has been I think nice for us, you know, to finally have him home. And we get to know each other again as we sit up and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So it's kind of been family time. We incorporate it all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Good luck now. The father, Joshua Horton, is a Marine reservist who was wounded in Iraq. He chose to serve even after the military offered to allow him to stay home with his pregnant wife.
"Aviator" leads the pack with 11 nominations. All the critics have raved about Jamie Foxx in "Ray." It seems Hollywood also noticed his role in "Collateral" as well. "90-Second Pop," the lowdown after the nominations are now out in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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