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CNN Live Today
Deputies Shot in Florida; Uphill Battle in Congress for Tight Budget; ETA Claims Bombing of Spanish Convention Center
Aired February 09, 2005 - 10:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes. We are out of time. Let's go down to Atlanta. Rick Sanchez and Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center are going to take you through the next couple of hours.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: I like the way he strutted his stuff. He had that catwalk thing down.
O'BRIEN: Do it again.
NGUYEN: Yes. Do it again.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Betty, first and only time you will see that because I have to get the heck out of here now.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: See you tomorrow.
NGUYEN: All right. You guys have a great day. We've got a lot to tell you about this morning. So let's get right to it.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: As a matter of fact, we have got some breaking news that we're going to share with you first. And it has to do with some pictures that we received. These are from the Orlando area; Orlando, Florida that is. It's in Lake County. And just moments ago, we got an area police usually describe it as a perimeter, an area where they believe there's a suspect. This happens to be an area as well where police are telling us that three deputies have been shot.
NGUYEN: There's the video now.
SANCHEZ: Yes. There's the video as it's coming in now. It seems to be a rural area just outside Orlando, but still in the greater part of Orlando. Greater Orlando area, it's in Lake County, three deputies shot. They are looking for a suspect, at least one suspect they say. And they say that he is likely armed.
We apologize for the picture. We know that we've been taking it from time to time to see exactly what changes. Moments ago, as we were looking at the pictures, we would see an area that police have pretty much cordoned off, where apparently they are trying to make sure nobody gets out of the area, at least before being questioned by police.
But just to catch you up on the information we received so far from WFTV, three deputies shot in the area of Orlando. They're looking for at least one suspect and he appears to be armed. We're going to follow this story throughout this newscast. As we get details, we will bring them to you.
NGUYEN: And try to get you the conditions on those deputies as well.
But right now, here are some other stories now in the news. A powerful car bomb exploded near Madrid's Convention Center complex today, 42 people were injured. Now, the blast was preceded by a warning phone call from someone claiming to be from the Basque separatist group ETA. Today's bombing came hours before the king and queen of Spain and Mexico's president were to attend a convention center event.
Thick, black smoke rises from a battle in Baghdad. You can see it here. The fighting between Iraqi police and insurgents apparently followed the killing of three Kurdish officials. The officials were killed when their convoy was attacked by insurgents.
On Capitol Hill, the full Senate may vote today on President Bush's choice for Homeland Security secretary. Here's a live look right now. A Senate committee approved Michael Chertoff's nomination. Chertoff headed the Justice Department Criminal Division after 9/11. Chertoff testified he had warned it would be illegal to torture foreign detainees.
One of the most powerful women in corporate America is out of a job. Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina has been forced out by the company's board. Fiorina had clashed with the board on HP strategy, and profits she promised did not materialize. We'll have more on Fiorina's exit in our business update. That's a little bit later this hour.
Well, good morning everybody. And welcome to LIVE TODAY. I'm Betty Nguyen sitting in for Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
And you can expect a battle. Why? Well, because the president's budget heads to Congress today where many are calling it less than accurate. Republicans and Democrats alike seem to have some problems with it. And apparently so do Americans. That's what a new CNN "USA Today"/Gallup poll has been finding.
For the latest, we take to you now to our nation's capitol and congressional correspondent Ed Henry.
Ed, we expecting a fight?
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely, Rick. Given those poll numbers you just cited, President Bush knows this will be an uphill climb to sell his Social Security plan on Capitol Hill. That's why the president has started hitting the road to push his plan, as well as his overall budget blueprint that came out on Monday. Right now, there's a hearing going on. The House Budget Committee is hearing from top Bush administration officials this morning. They are all fanning out across the Hill throughout the week to talk of Social Security. That hearing is going to get started in a moment. John Snow, the Treasury secretary will be testifying, along with the head of the Congressional Budget Office. Also, the comptroller-general of the Government Accountability Office will also be there.
Now, yesterday John Snow and White House budget director Josh Bolton faced rough some questioning from congressional Democrats, who charged that the president is perpetrating a hoax by not including the costs of that Social Security plan in his overall budget that he sent to the Hill this week. Democrats point out that for Social Security reform to become a reality, the transition to private accounts could cost anywhere from 2 trillion to $4.5 trillion.
And it's not just Democrats making noise about this cost. Congressional Republicans realize that such a massive level of government borrowing could undermine the president's promise to halve the federal budget deficit over the course of his second term. There's also a lot of Republican angst about the president's proposed cuts too politically popular program here's at home, like Medicaid, Education, farm subsidies.
That's why yesterday Bill Frist said he supports the general principle of cutting spending that the president laid out. But Frist also made it clear to the Congress is going to make some changes to the president's budget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: The president's priorities reflected in that budget, you will see the reflection of the Senate's priorities and the House over the next several weeks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Another headache for congressional Republicans could be the new estimate coming out this morning that the president's Medicare prescription drug law could cost more than $1.2 trillion over the next decade. That's double what the Bush administration promised.
Now, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is holding a press conference this hour. And we have gotten word that she is going to suggest that if the numbers are this far off on the Medicare law, that it's going to be difficult to have any serious estimates on the Social Security law.
But I can tell that Republicans on the Hill are still confident that if the president makes the case for the Social Security plan, that if he continues to make it almost a moral issue, that we can't let the Social Security fail for future generations, Republicans on the Hill still are confident that he may be able to get this plan -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: CNN's Ed Henry all over that budge fight. We thank you, Ed.
Betty, over to you.
NGUYEN: The Bush White House is also raising eyebrows this morning with a dramatically higher estimate of how much its Medicare prescription plan will cost. The administration now says the drug plan will cost an estimated $720 billion by 2015, the first decade of its operation. Now that is a price tag far greater than the 400 to 500 billion previously estimated. Administration officials say the adjustment reflects rising drug costs and the increasing number of retirees.
SANCHEZ: President Bush's budget would do something else. It would cut some 150 programs, including a 30-year-old grant program that cities use to create both jobs and affordable housing. That's why many mayors oppose the president's cut. However one mayor in trying to say that may have gone too far.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN O'MALLEY, MAYOR (D), BALTIMORE, MD.: Back on September 11, terrorists attacked our metropolitan course, two of America's great cities. They did that because they knew that that was where they could do the most damage and weaken us the most. Years later, we are given a budget proposal by our commander in chief, the president of the United States, and with a budget axe he is attacking America's cities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That is the Baltimore Mayor O'Malley. He also called the proposed cuts, quote, "sad, irresponsible and dishonest." President Bush has said the tighter budget is filled with some tough choices.
NGUYEN: Well, in the coming days, administration officials will be working Capitol Hill, pitching the administration's new budget proposal to a skeptical Congress. It could be a hard sell.
Or as CNN's Bruce Morton explains, more likely a no sell.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first thing you need to know about the president's budget is that it doesn't exist. Sure, there's a book and all of those briefings, but likely nothing close to what he's asking for will ever happen, because it all has to go through Congress.
Last year, Mr. Bush asked Congress to eliminate 65 government programs for a savings of $4.9 billion. Congress eliminated just four of the 65, saving less than $300 million. This year, he's asking Congress to cut or eliminate 150 programs. How well do you think he'll do?
(on camera): For every government program there's probably an industry that gives money to politicians that wants the program kept alive. There may be a trade union that gives money that wants to keep those jobs. There will be a congressional subcommittee that supervises the program, and if it dies, what will they be in charge of?
(voice-over): When Ronald Reagan said the closest thing to eternal life on this earth was the government program, he wasn't kidding. And it isn't just the programs. It's the little goodies, the park redistrict programs to the research programs for the college in my district, that congressmen stick into spending bills, "earmarks" they're called. The watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste estimates that in fiscal 2005, there were 13,900 earmarks worth just under $26.5 billion, a record.
The president can veto appropriations bills of course. The whole bill he doesn't have a line item veto. But this president has never done that. In fact, the whole issue has changed. Deficit hawks used to be Republicans. The constitutional amendment to balance the budget was part of Newt Gingrich's contract with America, back in the 1990s, when the Republicans won control of the House.
But it was Democrat Bill Clinton who actually ended deficits and ran surpluses. And so, the issue has switched sides.
KEATING HOLLAND, POLLING DIRECTOR, CNN: Now Democrats are almost twice as likely as Republicans to say that the federal deficits is a very important issue that Congress and the president have to deal with in the coming year.
MORTON: It's way too early to know what the budget Congress actually passes will look like. What we know is it won't look much like the one the president sent them this week. It never does.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is meeting with his NATO counterparts today. Rumsfeld is attending the alliance's dinner in France and is going to grab the spotlight on the first day of talks. He's going to tell defense ministers of those countries that they need to do more to help in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also hoping to get NATO's help in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yesterday in Paris, she extended an olive branch to French leaders who opposed the war in Iraq. Earlier today, she traveled on to Brussels. There she is meeting with allies and says the group is more unified now than it was in the run-up to the war.
Rice also repeated a warning that Iran could face sanctions from the U.N. Security Council if it does not scale back its efforts to build nuclear weapon.
NGUYEN: We are following a developing story out of Spain right now. A powerful car bomb exploded this morning near Madrid's Convention Center complex. Forty-two people were injured in an explosion that erupted just hours before a royal event to inaugurate an international art fair.
We want to go now to CNN Madrid bureau chief Al Goodman, who joins us from Madrid with the latest on this bombing.
What do you know, Al?
AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Betty, if in fact this group ETA, which is blamed for this attack thought it could alter or change the schedule of Spain's king and queen and the visiting president of Mexico, not successful. Those dignitaries are going to go ahead with their plans to inaugurate that big, contemporary art fair at the convention center, which is just a couple of blocks from here.
But with this bomb, ETA appears to have blasted its way right back into the center of Spain's national political debate. Now, officials say the bomb had 30 kilos, about 66 pounds of explosives packed into a stolen car that was placed right by that building behind me, that office building. Of the 40 people injured, 34 of them are workers in the building. Six police officers as well.
The police had rushed to this area trying desperately to find this car bomb before it went off, because there had been a warning call made in the name of ETA to a Basque newspaper where it typically makes its warning calls -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Al Goodman, we thank you for that in Madrid -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: We do have more developments now on that story that we have been following for you out of Lake County in Florida. This is the Orlando area where three deputies have been shot. We've just received some information about that. We're told that at least one of the deputies has been air lifted to a local hospital.
We are also being told by police that this originated as domestic dispute. And that when police arrived there at the scene a man still unidentified; still not captured, began firing. The suspect then took off on a motorcycle. That's why you see this perimeter set up that you're looking at. These are pictures that we've been getting in from WFTV in Orlando.
Helicopters from three local countries are now searching for the suspect. As we said, the perimeter has been set up. Specific area is called Lake Katherine Heights in Lake County. Again, in the Orlando area. A story we will stay on top of.
NGUYEN: As that search is underway, we do also want to tell you that a local elementary school, which is nearby the scene of this search, is in lockdown at the moment, as they try to find the suspect in that shooting which has already sent one deputy to a local hospital. Three of them were injured in the shooting.
Of course, we will stay on top of this and bring you the latest. SANCHEZ: As it happens. Also still to come here on CNN, Ash Wednesday without a pope. It's a story. We're going to take you to Rome to see how people are reacting.
NGUYEN: And talk about a party. There is reason to celebrate. And we will tell you what all the cackling is about.
SANCHEZ: And then later, a fiery sight after a driver slams into a building. Details are straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, Chinese New Year is definitely something to crow about. Today begins the Year of the Rooster. Can you tell by this video? Here is something you may not know about this lunar year. A rooster year is said to be bad for weddings. Now, that means there was a rush of marriages before ushering in the New Year. But The year of the Rooster is usually marked with a high birth rate, no surprise. Because of all the people who rushed out to get married are having children.
SANCHEZ: Pope John Paul II is missing Ash Wednesday services for the first time in 26 years. The pope remains in a Rome hospital. We do have an update on this. It's from CNN's Alessio Vinci.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Doctors expect Pope John Paul II to remain in hospital a few more days. And that is why for the first time in his long papacy, the pope will not be able to preside over liturgy marking the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day traditional period of penitence, fasting and prayer for Christians around the world.
The pope held a special event in his room at the Gemelli Hospital. He has been celebrating Mass every morning, attended regularly by the doctors and nurses who are taking care of him at this time.
The pope, at the Vatican, was substituted by American Cardinal James Stafford, who at the beginning of the liturgy said that we feel the pope's spiritual presence inside St. Peter's Basilica. And in the end, held a special prayer for the pope wishing him health and comfort so that he can continue his pastoral ministry for the good of the church and all of humanity.
Cardinal Stafford is one of two American cardinals to hold a senior position in the in the Roman curia, which is the church's government, if you will. The church has been heavily involved in organizing world youth days around the world, including in 1993 in his hometown of Denver, which was a huge success, according to Vatican officials. And that is why at the end of it he was called to Rome to work here. Stafford is also the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which is one of the three Vatican courts ruling in this case on secret matters of conscience.
The pope released, issued his Lenten message. This year it is dedicated to the gift of longevity. The 84-year-old wrote, quote, "People should always remain open and welcoming towards older people, especially those who are weak, sick or suffering." A message to pilgrims around the world. But a message, of course, very much looking at his own condition.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We are learning new details today about the gravity of the pope's illness. The pope's own words frightened his aides so much that they rushed him to the hospital. "Inside the Vatican" editor Robert Moynihan has revealed the behind the scenes events of Tuesday night a week ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MOYNIHAN, EDITOR, "INSIDE THE VATICAN": He was having grave difficulty breathing. What we really have here is a choking story. And everyone knows that that can happen very quickly. And for an hour or two that evening, the pope had trouble breathing. And they were debating whether to bring him to the hospital.
Then they decided, yes, because he said I'm going to suffocate. I can't breathe. And that just is a constriction of the throat. Once that was overcome, he is back in fine shape for an 84-year-old man. He's weak, and everyone knows that, but he's recovering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, there have been ongoing rumors the pope could resign due to ill health. But Moynihan says the Vatican's position is for John Paul to serve until he dies.
SANCHEZ: When we come back, he thought he had the perfect love affair. That's until he got an e-mail about his wife's little secret. Oops.
NGUYEN: But First, Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tip."
Hey there, Gerri.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Good to see you. Identity thieves, they have a new gimmick. You're going to want to know about it when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, do you like to work online from an Internet cafe or perhaps the frequent fliers lounge? Well, you better watch out because your evil twin may be lurking in the shadows poised to steal your personal information. CNN's Gerri Willis has today's "Top Five Tips" for protecting yourself in the Wi-Fi world.
And Gerri, I'm looking at those tips. Your first one says to watch out for hot spots. What are those?
WILLIS: Well, Betty, you got to keep your eye peeled for hot spots because that's where your identity could be stolen by these new pirates, who are making your PC think that they're legit hot spots when they're not. It's pretty easy for the pros to do because all they use is wireless Internet equipment or radio equipment to fake your PC out.
Here is how you know you have got a problem. You can't connect to your home page; you get a blank screen, or may be can't send e- mail. In any case, if any of this happens when you are out surfing the web somewhere else, maybe in a coffee house, shut down your computer immediately.
NGUYEN: OK. So is there anything that you can install, may be some software to protect yourself so you can work in those places?
WILLIS: Yes, you really want to update that security software. It is critical to know what your PC or your Mac needs. So go to microsoft.com/security. Or if you have a Mac, mac.com support to find out exactly what you should have on your computer. And very basic firewall stuff, you need McAfee, Semantic. They are both on the web. You can go to those websites and find some security software that can help you.
NGUYEN: So is the best bet, looking at all of this and how vulnerable you can be in places where you want to go, like the coffee shot and do some work, would you advise people to stay away from using secure sites, where you have to do a log-in and a special password to get inside?
WILLIS: That's absolutely right, Betty. That's exactly what you want to do. For God's sake, do not be inputting your credit card number at a hot spot because it could be stolen. Even passwords that you have to different websites, keep those to yourself as well.
Best thing to do, if you want to surf the web, just look around. Poke around. That's a great idea. But keep your personal information personal.
NGUYEN: All right. But when you see something fishy, a little odd, earlier you said to shut down the computer. Should you report it to somebody as well?
WILLIS: Well, you need to call your hot spot provider. Definitely change that password. And you may want to take a few other steps, particularly if it looks like you have got a real problem. Report your problems to the FBI. They are really watching these identity theft cases. They've even got a website, ic3.gov, it's a place you want to go to find out -- get some help from the feds. Also, you definitely want to make sure your credit report is not impacted. Go to Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. All those websites can help you sure that your identity is not being stolen and manipulated by someone who just wants to take your credit card numbers and your money.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes. What a nightmare that would be. All right. On top of all this, anything else you can do to secure your computer?
WILLIS: Turn off that wireless Internet when you're not using it, because you can get your identity stolen at any time. Also think about getting software to protect you when you're out and about. Take a look at airdefense.net. They have some software that can help you out, keep you safe whether you are in the airport lounge or the coffee house, or wherever you go.
NGUYEN: Stay smart about it. OK. Gerri Willis, we thank you as always.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, this woman you are about to see may have more than one Valentine come this Monday. Married not once, not twice, but to three husbands at the same time. Her story, it's up next -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh, boy. And Imagine a baby about the size of your cell phone. Look at this picture. It's a story of survival and we have it coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 9, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes. We are out of time. Let's go down to Atlanta. Rick Sanchez and Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center are going to take you through the next couple of hours.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: I like the way he strutted his stuff. He had that catwalk thing down.
O'BRIEN: Do it again.
NGUYEN: Yes. Do it again.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Betty, first and only time you will see that because I have to get the heck out of here now.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: See you tomorrow.
NGUYEN: All right. You guys have a great day. We've got a lot to tell you about this morning. So let's get right to it.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: As a matter of fact, we have got some breaking news that we're going to share with you first. And it has to do with some pictures that we received. These are from the Orlando area; Orlando, Florida that is. It's in Lake County. And just moments ago, we got an area police usually describe it as a perimeter, an area where they believe there's a suspect. This happens to be an area as well where police are telling us that three deputies have been shot.
NGUYEN: There's the video now.
SANCHEZ: Yes. There's the video as it's coming in now. It seems to be a rural area just outside Orlando, but still in the greater part of Orlando. Greater Orlando area, it's in Lake County, three deputies shot. They are looking for a suspect, at least one suspect they say. And they say that he is likely armed.
We apologize for the picture. We know that we've been taking it from time to time to see exactly what changes. Moments ago, as we were looking at the pictures, we would see an area that police have pretty much cordoned off, where apparently they are trying to make sure nobody gets out of the area, at least before being questioned by police.
But just to catch you up on the information we received so far from WFTV, three deputies shot in the area of Orlando. They're looking for at least one suspect and he appears to be armed. We're going to follow this story throughout this newscast. As we get details, we will bring them to you.
NGUYEN: And try to get you the conditions on those deputies as well.
But right now, here are some other stories now in the news. A powerful car bomb exploded near Madrid's Convention Center complex today, 42 people were injured. Now, the blast was preceded by a warning phone call from someone claiming to be from the Basque separatist group ETA. Today's bombing came hours before the king and queen of Spain and Mexico's president were to attend a convention center event.
Thick, black smoke rises from a battle in Baghdad. You can see it here. The fighting between Iraqi police and insurgents apparently followed the killing of three Kurdish officials. The officials were killed when their convoy was attacked by insurgents.
On Capitol Hill, the full Senate may vote today on President Bush's choice for Homeland Security secretary. Here's a live look right now. A Senate committee approved Michael Chertoff's nomination. Chertoff headed the Justice Department Criminal Division after 9/11. Chertoff testified he had warned it would be illegal to torture foreign detainees.
One of the most powerful women in corporate America is out of a job. Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina has been forced out by the company's board. Fiorina had clashed with the board on HP strategy, and profits she promised did not materialize. We'll have more on Fiorina's exit in our business update. That's a little bit later this hour.
Well, good morning everybody. And welcome to LIVE TODAY. I'm Betty Nguyen sitting in for Daryn Kagan.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.
And you can expect a battle. Why? Well, because the president's budget heads to Congress today where many are calling it less than accurate. Republicans and Democrats alike seem to have some problems with it. And apparently so do Americans. That's what a new CNN "USA Today"/Gallup poll has been finding.
For the latest, we take to you now to our nation's capitol and congressional correspondent Ed Henry.
Ed, we expecting a fight?
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely, Rick. Given those poll numbers you just cited, President Bush knows this will be an uphill climb to sell his Social Security plan on Capitol Hill. That's why the president has started hitting the road to push his plan, as well as his overall budget blueprint that came out on Monday. Right now, there's a hearing going on. The House Budget Committee is hearing from top Bush administration officials this morning. They are all fanning out across the Hill throughout the week to talk of Social Security. That hearing is going to get started in a moment. John Snow, the Treasury secretary will be testifying, along with the head of the Congressional Budget Office. Also, the comptroller-general of the Government Accountability Office will also be there.
Now, yesterday John Snow and White House budget director Josh Bolton faced rough some questioning from congressional Democrats, who charged that the president is perpetrating a hoax by not including the costs of that Social Security plan in his overall budget that he sent to the Hill this week. Democrats point out that for Social Security reform to become a reality, the transition to private accounts could cost anywhere from 2 trillion to $4.5 trillion.
And it's not just Democrats making noise about this cost. Congressional Republicans realize that such a massive level of government borrowing could undermine the president's promise to halve the federal budget deficit over the course of his second term. There's also a lot of Republican angst about the president's proposed cuts too politically popular program here's at home, like Medicaid, Education, farm subsidies.
That's why yesterday Bill Frist said he supports the general principle of cutting spending that the president laid out. But Frist also made it clear to the Congress is going to make some changes to the president's budget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: The president's priorities reflected in that budget, you will see the reflection of the Senate's priorities and the House over the next several weeks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Another headache for congressional Republicans could be the new estimate coming out this morning that the president's Medicare prescription drug law could cost more than $1.2 trillion over the next decade. That's double what the Bush administration promised.
Now, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is holding a press conference this hour. And we have gotten word that she is going to suggest that if the numbers are this far off on the Medicare law, that it's going to be difficult to have any serious estimates on the Social Security law.
But I can tell that Republicans on the Hill are still confident that if the president makes the case for the Social Security plan, that if he continues to make it almost a moral issue, that we can't let the Social Security fail for future generations, Republicans on the Hill still are confident that he may be able to get this plan -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: CNN's Ed Henry all over that budge fight. We thank you, Ed.
Betty, over to you.
NGUYEN: The Bush White House is also raising eyebrows this morning with a dramatically higher estimate of how much its Medicare prescription plan will cost. The administration now says the drug plan will cost an estimated $720 billion by 2015, the first decade of its operation. Now that is a price tag far greater than the 400 to 500 billion previously estimated. Administration officials say the adjustment reflects rising drug costs and the increasing number of retirees.
SANCHEZ: President Bush's budget would do something else. It would cut some 150 programs, including a 30-year-old grant program that cities use to create both jobs and affordable housing. That's why many mayors oppose the president's cut. However one mayor in trying to say that may have gone too far.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN O'MALLEY, MAYOR (D), BALTIMORE, MD.: Back on September 11, terrorists attacked our metropolitan course, two of America's great cities. They did that because they knew that that was where they could do the most damage and weaken us the most. Years later, we are given a budget proposal by our commander in chief, the president of the United States, and with a budget axe he is attacking America's cities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That is the Baltimore Mayor O'Malley. He also called the proposed cuts, quote, "sad, irresponsible and dishonest." President Bush has said the tighter budget is filled with some tough choices.
NGUYEN: Well, in the coming days, administration officials will be working Capitol Hill, pitching the administration's new budget proposal to a skeptical Congress. It could be a hard sell.
Or as CNN's Bruce Morton explains, more likely a no sell.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first thing you need to know about the president's budget is that it doesn't exist. Sure, there's a book and all of those briefings, but likely nothing close to what he's asking for will ever happen, because it all has to go through Congress.
Last year, Mr. Bush asked Congress to eliminate 65 government programs for a savings of $4.9 billion. Congress eliminated just four of the 65, saving less than $300 million. This year, he's asking Congress to cut or eliminate 150 programs. How well do you think he'll do?
(on camera): For every government program there's probably an industry that gives money to politicians that wants the program kept alive. There may be a trade union that gives money that wants to keep those jobs. There will be a congressional subcommittee that supervises the program, and if it dies, what will they be in charge of?
(voice-over): When Ronald Reagan said the closest thing to eternal life on this earth was the government program, he wasn't kidding. And it isn't just the programs. It's the little goodies, the park redistrict programs to the research programs for the college in my district, that congressmen stick into spending bills, "earmarks" they're called. The watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste estimates that in fiscal 2005, there were 13,900 earmarks worth just under $26.5 billion, a record.
The president can veto appropriations bills of course. The whole bill he doesn't have a line item veto. But this president has never done that. In fact, the whole issue has changed. Deficit hawks used to be Republicans. The constitutional amendment to balance the budget was part of Newt Gingrich's contract with America, back in the 1990s, when the Republicans won control of the House.
But it was Democrat Bill Clinton who actually ended deficits and ran surpluses. And so, the issue has switched sides.
KEATING HOLLAND, POLLING DIRECTOR, CNN: Now Democrats are almost twice as likely as Republicans to say that the federal deficits is a very important issue that Congress and the president have to deal with in the coming year.
MORTON: It's way too early to know what the budget Congress actually passes will look like. What we know is it won't look much like the one the president sent them this week. It never does.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is meeting with his NATO counterparts today. Rumsfeld is attending the alliance's dinner in France and is going to grab the spotlight on the first day of talks. He's going to tell defense ministers of those countries that they need to do more to help in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also hoping to get NATO's help in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yesterday in Paris, she extended an olive branch to French leaders who opposed the war in Iraq. Earlier today, she traveled on to Brussels. There she is meeting with allies and says the group is more unified now than it was in the run-up to the war.
Rice also repeated a warning that Iran could face sanctions from the U.N. Security Council if it does not scale back its efforts to build nuclear weapon.
NGUYEN: We are following a developing story out of Spain right now. A powerful car bomb exploded this morning near Madrid's Convention Center complex. Forty-two people were injured in an explosion that erupted just hours before a royal event to inaugurate an international art fair.
We want to go now to CNN Madrid bureau chief Al Goodman, who joins us from Madrid with the latest on this bombing.
What do you know, Al?
AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Betty, if in fact this group ETA, which is blamed for this attack thought it could alter or change the schedule of Spain's king and queen and the visiting president of Mexico, not successful. Those dignitaries are going to go ahead with their plans to inaugurate that big, contemporary art fair at the convention center, which is just a couple of blocks from here.
But with this bomb, ETA appears to have blasted its way right back into the center of Spain's national political debate. Now, officials say the bomb had 30 kilos, about 66 pounds of explosives packed into a stolen car that was placed right by that building behind me, that office building. Of the 40 people injured, 34 of them are workers in the building. Six police officers as well.
The police had rushed to this area trying desperately to find this car bomb before it went off, because there had been a warning call made in the name of ETA to a Basque newspaper where it typically makes its warning calls -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. Al Goodman, we thank you for that in Madrid -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: We do have more developments now on that story that we have been following for you out of Lake County in Florida. This is the Orlando area where three deputies have been shot. We've just received some information about that. We're told that at least one of the deputies has been air lifted to a local hospital.
We are also being told by police that this originated as domestic dispute. And that when police arrived there at the scene a man still unidentified; still not captured, began firing. The suspect then took off on a motorcycle. That's why you see this perimeter set up that you're looking at. These are pictures that we've been getting in from WFTV in Orlando.
Helicopters from three local countries are now searching for the suspect. As we said, the perimeter has been set up. Specific area is called Lake Katherine Heights in Lake County. Again, in the Orlando area. A story we will stay on top of.
NGUYEN: As that search is underway, we do also want to tell you that a local elementary school, which is nearby the scene of this search, is in lockdown at the moment, as they try to find the suspect in that shooting which has already sent one deputy to a local hospital. Three of them were injured in the shooting.
Of course, we will stay on top of this and bring you the latest. SANCHEZ: As it happens. Also still to come here on CNN, Ash Wednesday without a pope. It's a story. We're going to take you to Rome to see how people are reacting.
NGUYEN: And talk about a party. There is reason to celebrate. And we will tell you what all the cackling is about.
SANCHEZ: And then later, a fiery sight after a driver slams into a building. Details are straight ahead.
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NGUYEN: Well, Chinese New Year is definitely something to crow about. Today begins the Year of the Rooster. Can you tell by this video? Here is something you may not know about this lunar year. A rooster year is said to be bad for weddings. Now, that means there was a rush of marriages before ushering in the New Year. But The year of the Rooster is usually marked with a high birth rate, no surprise. Because of all the people who rushed out to get married are having children.
SANCHEZ: Pope John Paul II is missing Ash Wednesday services for the first time in 26 years. The pope remains in a Rome hospital. We do have an update on this. It's from CNN's Alessio Vinci.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Doctors expect Pope John Paul II to remain in hospital a few more days. And that is why for the first time in his long papacy, the pope will not be able to preside over liturgy marking the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day traditional period of penitence, fasting and prayer for Christians around the world.
The pope held a special event in his room at the Gemelli Hospital. He has been celebrating Mass every morning, attended regularly by the doctors and nurses who are taking care of him at this time.
The pope, at the Vatican, was substituted by American Cardinal James Stafford, who at the beginning of the liturgy said that we feel the pope's spiritual presence inside St. Peter's Basilica. And in the end, held a special prayer for the pope wishing him health and comfort so that he can continue his pastoral ministry for the good of the church and all of humanity.
Cardinal Stafford is one of two American cardinals to hold a senior position in the in the Roman curia, which is the church's government, if you will. The church has been heavily involved in organizing world youth days around the world, including in 1993 in his hometown of Denver, which was a huge success, according to Vatican officials. And that is why at the end of it he was called to Rome to work here. Stafford is also the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which is one of the three Vatican courts ruling in this case on secret matters of conscience.
The pope released, issued his Lenten message. This year it is dedicated to the gift of longevity. The 84-year-old wrote, quote, "People should always remain open and welcoming towards older people, especially those who are weak, sick or suffering." A message to pilgrims around the world. But a message, of course, very much looking at his own condition.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We are learning new details today about the gravity of the pope's illness. The pope's own words frightened his aides so much that they rushed him to the hospital. "Inside the Vatican" editor Robert Moynihan has revealed the behind the scenes events of Tuesday night a week ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MOYNIHAN, EDITOR, "INSIDE THE VATICAN": He was having grave difficulty breathing. What we really have here is a choking story. And everyone knows that that can happen very quickly. And for an hour or two that evening, the pope had trouble breathing. And they were debating whether to bring him to the hospital.
Then they decided, yes, because he said I'm going to suffocate. I can't breathe. And that just is a constriction of the throat. Once that was overcome, he is back in fine shape for an 84-year-old man. He's weak, and everyone knows that, but he's recovering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, there have been ongoing rumors the pope could resign due to ill health. But Moynihan says the Vatican's position is for John Paul to serve until he dies.
SANCHEZ: When we come back, he thought he had the perfect love affair. That's until he got an e-mail about his wife's little secret. Oops.
NGUYEN: But First, Gerri Willis joins us with her "Top Five Tip."
Hey there, Gerri.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Good to see you. Identity thieves, they have a new gimmick. You're going to want to know about it when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
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NGUYEN: Well, do you like to work online from an Internet cafe or perhaps the frequent fliers lounge? Well, you better watch out because your evil twin may be lurking in the shadows poised to steal your personal information. CNN's Gerri Willis has today's "Top Five Tips" for protecting yourself in the Wi-Fi world.
And Gerri, I'm looking at those tips. Your first one says to watch out for hot spots. What are those?
WILLIS: Well, Betty, you got to keep your eye peeled for hot spots because that's where your identity could be stolen by these new pirates, who are making your PC think that they're legit hot spots when they're not. It's pretty easy for the pros to do because all they use is wireless Internet equipment or radio equipment to fake your PC out.
Here is how you know you have got a problem. You can't connect to your home page; you get a blank screen, or may be can't send e- mail. In any case, if any of this happens when you are out surfing the web somewhere else, maybe in a coffee house, shut down your computer immediately.
NGUYEN: OK. So is there anything that you can install, may be some software to protect yourself so you can work in those places?
WILLIS: Yes, you really want to update that security software. It is critical to know what your PC or your Mac needs. So go to microsoft.com/security. Or if you have a Mac, mac.com support to find out exactly what you should have on your computer. And very basic firewall stuff, you need McAfee, Semantic. They are both on the web. You can go to those websites and find some security software that can help you.
NGUYEN: So is the best bet, looking at all of this and how vulnerable you can be in places where you want to go, like the coffee shot and do some work, would you advise people to stay away from using secure sites, where you have to do a log-in and a special password to get inside?
WILLIS: That's absolutely right, Betty. That's exactly what you want to do. For God's sake, do not be inputting your credit card number at a hot spot because it could be stolen. Even passwords that you have to different websites, keep those to yourself as well.
Best thing to do, if you want to surf the web, just look around. Poke around. That's a great idea. But keep your personal information personal.
NGUYEN: All right. But when you see something fishy, a little odd, earlier you said to shut down the computer. Should you report it to somebody as well?
WILLIS: Well, you need to call your hot spot provider. Definitely change that password. And you may want to take a few other steps, particularly if it looks like you have got a real problem. Report your problems to the FBI. They are really watching these identity theft cases. They've even got a website, ic3.gov, it's a place you want to go to find out -- get some help from the feds. Also, you definitely want to make sure your credit report is not impacted. Go to Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. All those websites can help you sure that your identity is not being stolen and manipulated by someone who just wants to take your credit card numbers and your money.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes. What a nightmare that would be. All right. On top of all this, anything else you can do to secure your computer?
WILLIS: Turn off that wireless Internet when you're not using it, because you can get your identity stolen at any time. Also think about getting software to protect you when you're out and about. Take a look at airdefense.net. They have some software that can help you out, keep you safe whether you are in the airport lounge or the coffee house, or wherever you go.
NGUYEN: Stay smart about it. OK. Gerri Willis, we thank you as always.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, this woman you are about to see may have more than one Valentine come this Monday. Married not once, not twice, but to three husbands at the same time. Her story, it's up next -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh, boy. And Imagine a baby about the size of your cell phone. Look at this picture. It's a story of survival and we have it coming up.
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