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American Morning
Protestors at Schiavo's Hospice Create Chaos and Gov. Bush Regrets Not Doing More; Pope Waves Easter Blessing
Aired March 28, 2005 - 08:00 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.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. Soledad is out this week having some vacation. I'm Bill Hemmer, good to have you along with us today.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad this morning.
HEMMER: We're going to look at where the Terri Schiavo fight goes now. It's continuing today and protesters also creating a new kind of tragedy at Schiavo's hospice. Some believe that. We'll talk to a young woman who says her grandfather died without any loved ones near him because of the intense security for Terri Schiavo. We'll get to that story this hour.
COSTELLO: Also, one way to beat the high price of gasoline is to drive a car that doesn't rely on gas. Do hybrid cars really save you any money? We'll ask one of the experts from "Consumer Reports."
HEMMER: Also, Jack's back in the file. What's up?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Bill. Coming up in the "Cafferty File," Cartier and Courvoisier, could the next big rap song feature a burger? Camilla's ex-husband may get an apology from Prince Charles. And a new calendar featuring elderly women holding their instruments and not much else?
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: See you a bit later. Thank you, Jack.
Back to the headlines and Kelly Wallace. How's that now?
Hey, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a good tease. Thank you, all and good morning again, everyone. Here are some of the stories now in the news.
And we begin with insurgents targeting Iraqi security forces in Baghdad. Police say the head of a police station in the capitol city and his driver were gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Less than an hour earlier, a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol, killing at least one policeman and wounding five other people. In Iowa now, more charges could be filed today against a registered sex offender accused of abducting a 10-year-old girl. Jetseta Gage was taken from her home on Thursday. Her body was found at a mobile home one day later. The suspect in the case, Roger Bentley, made an initial court appearance Saturday. He remains in police custody.
And those severe storms in the Southeast, well, they are moving up the eastern seaboard. Thunderstorms caused flash flooding and high winds in Montgomery, Alabama. Hail and heavy rain hammered parts of Georgia, causing some flooding across the state, while scattered showers and thunderstorms are reported throughout the Carolinas, Florida and Mississippi.
So, what's it going to look like for today? Chad Myers will have today's forecast coming up.
We're wearing spring colors, Carol. But my goodness, where is the spring weather?
COSTELLO: What is happening? We're going to have to get on Chad later and give him a hard time.
WALLACE: You do that. He keeps saying it's coming.
COSTELLO: Yes. Right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly.
WALLACE: OK.
HEMMER: Big storm system too.
It has been nearly 10 days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was taken out. And despite a series of legal setbacks, supporters of her parents are still fighting. One group plans to protest on Capitol Hill today, calling on members of Congress to once again try and step in.
Meanwhile, an attorney for Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri's parents, says Terri is, quote, "Past the point of no return." And the lawyer Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, says he visited Terri this weekend. He says she is calm, peaceful and resting comfortably.
Also over the weekend, Terri's parents asked protesters to stay home. And yet about three dozen showed up. It got so loud at one point that Schiavo's brother, Bobby, had to asked them to tone it down. Protesters and the police who watch over them have been a somewhat of a interruptive presence at the hospice for weeks now.
Jennifer Johnson says the chaos kept her from being with her dying grandfather. Miss Johnson is in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Good morning to you and our condolences to you on the loss of your grandfather. Tell us what happened in the final moments of his death, when someone from the hospice came knocking on your door. JENNIFER JOHNSON, GRANDFATHER DIED AT HOSPICE: My family and I were staying in the villas, and when a nurse came -- I'm sorry. This is all...
HEMMER: That's OK. Take your time. Tell us when they came to tell you that your grandfather was in his last moments. You immediately ran out of the room where you were staying. I understand you were in bare feet. And what happened as you tried to get to his room?
JOHNSON: Yes. I had dashed out of the room without my wallet. I had my pajamas on and no shoes. And I had run behind the police barricade to the front entrance of the hospice building. There I was met by a police officer who asked me for identification to enter the building. I told him I didn't have identification. I had been in and out of the building several times throughout date.
Unfortunately, they'd just switched shifts so the police officer didn't recognize me. I stood and argued with him for a minute or so about whether -- he wanted me to go back and get identification. And there just wasn't time. I kept telling him that my grandfather is dying and I have to get to him right now.
HEMMER: Miss. Johnson, how long do you think you were held up there?
JOHNSON: Three to four minutes, I would say. After the...
HEMMER: And a by the time you got to your grandfather's room, he had passed away. Is that right?
JOHNSON: I had went through the process with the police officer and a metal detector test. I ran down the hallway, flew open the door. And the nurses who were attending to my granted father told me he had missed it by one minute.
HEMMER: Wow. We are told -- the police are telling us that the holdup was not nearly as long as it's been described. And this hospice worker saw your situation and took you in immediately. To that you say what, Miss Johnson?
JOHNSON: Well, I had been in and out of the process of getting in through the front entrance, probably a dozen times during that day. And it took longer this time than it did normally, because I had to argue with the police officer as to whether or not I was going to present identification. I wasn't about to go back to the villas to retrieve my wallet when I had to get to my grandfather.
HEMMER: We're told there that the security is -- has been increased in the past 10 days. And that police and security officials are trying to do everything they can to make sure things continue to run smoothly. Does that give you any relief at all?
JOHNSON: It does. Many people die at hospice each week. And I would hate to think of another family having to go through the ordeal that we went through. But nothing's going to bring back the minute that I lost to be with my grandfather.
HEMMER: Jennifer Johnson, our condolences to you and your family in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: You heard Bill say a moment ago, Terri Schiavo's parents have been appealing to anyone who may be able to help them. Just days ago, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida had been their ally. But now, Terri's parents have some harsh words for the governor.
CNN's Ed Henry live in Tallahassee with more.
Good morning, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Amid all of the heat and turmoil, the governor looked a bit weary and emotional yesterday when I caught up with him outside of his church here in Tallahassee. He told me while he wants to help he cannot and will not step in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): Governor Bush emerges from Easter Sunday Mass with a heavy heart.
(on camera): On this Easter, what are your thoughts about Terri Schiavo?
GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: It's sad that she's in this situation that she's in. I feel bad for her family. My heart goes out to the Schindlers and, for that matter to Michael. This has not been an easy thing for any member of the family. But most particularly, for Terri Schiavo. I think there's enough uncertainty for people to have doubt, and I do.
HENRY: If she dies, are you at peace with the fact that you feel you've done all you can.
BUSH: Absolutely.
HENRY (voice-over): As a Catholic, the governor has faced intense pressure during the holiest week on the Christian calendar, to intervene and save the brain damage woman's life. Schiavo's parents believe the governor has the executive power to override the courts and take custody of their daughter to restore her feeding tube.
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: Governor Bush has the authority to stop all this. He's -- with the stroke of his pen, he can stop it. He can stop it immediately. He's put Terri through a week of hell and my family through a week of hell by not acting.
HENRY (on camera): What do you say to the parents who feel you can do more and should do more.
BUSH: I can't. I'd love to, but I can't. HENRY: And why is that? Because your interpretation of the state law...
BUSH: It's not a question of interpretation. I mean I cannot violate a court order. I don't have powers from the United States Constitution, or for that matter, from the Florida Constitution that would allow me to intervene after a decision has been made.
HENRY (voice-over): But that's not good enough for some conservative activists who want Mr. Bush to step down.
LARRY KLAYMAN, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: If that's his position, he ought to resign, quit and go home right now. Because we'll need a new governor to protect us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: While there's divided legal opinion on whether or not the governor can step in and take custody of Terri Schiavo, all sides do agree that such a move would create yet another nasty legal showdown. And the governor was making it clear to CNN in that exclusive interview he's not going down that road -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ed, a question for you. Politically, how does this affect the governor?
HENRY: Well, people close to the governor point out he's not running for reelection next year. And has repeatedly said he's not running for president. Or at least has no plans at this point to run for president in 2008. So they say he doesn't care. He couldn't care less how it affects him politically.
Obviously, there are others who say he still has his eye on the White House and this is going to have a major impact on the ambitions -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ed Henry, live in Tallahassee this morning.
HEMMER: About nine minutes past the hour.
Now, the judge in the Michael Jackson trial will hear arguments today about allowing the jury to hear past accusations of abuse by Jackson. Prosecutors want to show a pattern of abuse. The defense arguing that earlier allegations are prejudicial.
Despite a gag order, Michael Jackson pleaded his innocence over the weekend on the Reverend Jesse Jackson's radio show from Sunday.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much. and I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. They are totally fabricated. And it's very sad. It's very, very painful.
And I pray a lot. And that's how ideal with it. I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. But it's very painful at the end of the day. I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being, so it does hurt very, very, very much.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HEMMER: Jackson also in that interview comparing himself with Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali and others, he called "black luminaries" to be unjustly you accused. That case continues today in California -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about the pope now. The faithful were praying to see a glimpse of the pope today. It is tradition for him to appear the Monday after Easter, but there was no sign of him. The pope appeared at the window in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. He tried to speak and he couldn't. He gave up.
Alessio Vinci has more now from Rome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Not even the morning rain could keep Katie and Elise away from St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. Their excitement to see the pope at the window of his palace was palpable.
KATIE HAMMOND, PILGRIM: I would hope that we'd see him just because it would mean he's well enough to come greet us.
ELISE VETZEL, PILGRIM: Oh, my gosh. That would be just glorious. I would love to see the pope. That would be amazing.
VINCI: As previously announced, the pope did not preside over the long Easter Mass. His traditional Easter Sunday blessings were read by a top Vatican cardinal. The pope tried to speak, but couldn't get the words out. Nevertheless, he rewarded the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square with lengthy appearance. Some in the crowd were overwhelmed, while most were ecstatic.
(APPLAUSE)
VINCI: And so were Katie and Elise, part of a group of students from Notre Dame University, spending a semester abroad.
VETZEL: I just felt completely unified with, like, all the people there and all the people watching on television and such. So it was a very glorious moment, I thought.
HAMMOND: The whole thing was beautiful. What I thought was best was just the crowd's reaction to him. You could tell everyone was so pleased he was well enough to greet everyone.
VINCI: The group leader, who organized other such trips in previous years, says this time the turnout was higher.
ADAM KAONK, GROUP LEADER: Last year, I think we had around 40 or 50 at this Mass. And today, I think we had twice that number. And I think there's a lot of interest throughout the world of making sure the people see this pope in case he does pass away.
VINCI (on camera): Because the pope is first and foremost a priest, his inability to give Mass on Easter Sunday must have been a terrible burden for him. At the same time, he can take comfort from the fact that his silent message of suffering continues to have an impact on pilgrims here in Rome and around the globe.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And the weather is pretty nasty in Rome too. So perhaps that had an affect on the pope as well.
We know the weather is nasty here, Chad. So give us some good news, will you?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The middle of the week, Carol you get to 61.
COSTELLO: Whoa!
MYERS: How's that?
COSTELLO: That's like heaven.
MYERS: I can't do better than that for you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
There's a controversy brewing across the country. Some conservative critics have a bone to pick with Starbucks. We'll explain.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, we kick off our special tax series called "Many Happy Returns." And today, the Alternative Minimum Tax and why it's slamming so many in this country.
First though, which amendment to the U.S. Constitution made the income tax permanent: the 15-Amendment, the 16 or the 17?
The answer after a break here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before the break, we asked which amendment to the U.S. Constitution made the income tax permanent. The answer is "B," the 16-Amendment. The first national income tax actually used at the time of the civil war. It expired though in 1872. Now you know.
With the mother of all deadlines, April 15 fast approaching, we begin a series called "Many Happy Returns," we hope. The first installment deals with the dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax. And to many middle class taxpayers, AMT has become a four-letter word.
Gerri Willis back with us here this morning to explain it.
Good morning to you.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Bill good to see you. This is a great topic. I've got to tell you. You think the IRS is scary? Wait until you see what the Alternative Minimum Tax has in store for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIS (voice-over): Meet the Gunther's little deductions. There's the oldest, Maggie a junior in high school and Catherine, almost 2, the young youngest. And seven in between. A total of nine kids. In a typical year, each child represents a $3100 tax deduction for their parents, Gary and Mary.
The sheer size of their family, plus a variety of other factors, has made them subject to something called the Alternative Minimum Tax this year. That means they lose the usual write-offs, like: mortgage deductions, personal exemptions, and worst of all, deductions for their kids.
GARY GUNTHER, FATHER OF NINE CHILDREN: And I didn't even know what it was. And I had not even heard about it, had not come across it until I was actually subject to it.
WILLIS: That meant $30,000 worth of write-offs this year went out the window.
MARY GUNTHER, MOTHER OF NINE CHILDREN: I think we're redoing our fair share based on the normal system. So to come under an additional system doesn't make sense to me.
WILLIS: Originally developed to catch wealthy tax dodgers, the AMT is just what it sounds like, an alternative tax system. While tax rates can be lower, the loss of deductions means you'll owe more money than under traditional IRS rules.
The AMT now snags millions of middle class Americans every year. By 2010, as many as 35 million may end up paying it. Homeowner Jeff Spiegel is one of them.
(on camera): You're doing the things the tax code is encouraging you to do getting married, you're having kids, you're buying the house. The tax code is apparently written to encourage those things. But now AMT may take all of the benefit away.
JEFF SPIEGEL, HOMEOWNER: You're losing all those benefits. And basically, there's nothing you can do about it for the most part. It's a very difficult situation.
WILLIS (voice-over): And unless Congress changes the tax laws, Jeff Spiegel will just have to pay out. G. GUNTHER: You come home at night and sometimes say how much harder do I have to work for it to be where I can just be comfortable and enjoy it, not worry about it.
SPIEGEL: The American dream is turning almost into an American nightmare.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: A number of questions. First of all...
WILLIS: Let's go.
HEMMER: ... what Gary said in the piece is what we hear from so many people. It surprised him. He did not see it coming. Why is this always a surprise to people?
WILLIS: Well, I think a lot of people haven't heard of it to begin with. Right? This tax was originally developed to catch wealthy tax sneaks who weren't paying their fair share. But now, people who are making $75,000 need to do this calculation. And unless you've got a tax professional or you're using the right software, you may not know. But it's really your responsibility to figure it out.
HEMMER: So you can find out before April 15 whether or not you're going to be a victim of AMT?
WILLIS: You can run a calculation to see if you're going to become a victim. But there's not a ton of planning you can do to get around it, to avoid it. The last fellow we interviewed in that story, he's an accountant. So he should know how to get around it. But he couldn't.
HEMMER: Yes. The other thing your story points out is by 2010 there are millions of people in this country that will become victims of this. Why is that number continuing to increase?
WILLIS: Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, ironically, the president's tax cuts made more people fall into AMT, because here's what happened Bill. You always pay the bigger tax bill. If the AMT calculation is bigger, you pay that. If the old-fashioned IRS calculation is bigger, you pay that. So more and more people falling into the AMT. AMT also is not indexed for inflation. More people falling into this unfortunately.
HEMMER: One way or another. Thank you, Gerri. Talk to you later.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Our series continues tomorrow. We'll look at Internet filing and what hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has to do with your taxes. Go figure that one. That's tomorrow here on AMERICAN MORNING -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Something else that's costing Americans a lot of morning, filling up at the pump. But a new high tech equipment -- piece of equipment, I should say, could help you save money. What you should look for when you buy a new car. That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back. Back to Jack, question of the day.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: You go it.
CAFFERTY: Despite all the talk of homeland security since 9/11, the fact is the borders of this country leak like a sieve. The federal government has done nothing to fix the problem. So some private citizens are going to take a shot at it. "Time" magazine reports that a group called the Minuteman Project will place volunteers at quarter mile intervals along a 50-mile stretch of the Arizona/Mexico border during the entire month of April.
Their purpose is not to confront migrants, but to monitor and report the migrant's locations to the Border Patrol. Here's the question. Should these kinds of groups be allowed to patrol U.S. borders?
Larry in Ohio writes, "Vigilante is a strong word. Perhaps it is time for Minutemen, citizen soldiers to protect America again. The politicians sure don't have the stomach for it."
Rick in Illinois writes, "Should civilian groups back up the Border Patrol? You bet you. During World War II, we had ranchers, farmers and hunters patrolling the West Coast against the potential Japanese invasion. It's our responsibility and duty to do so as citizens."
Terrence writes this, "How are Mexicans a security risk to this country? How are they a threat to our jobs? I'm so tired of hearing you complain about the immigration problem in this country, when it's the corporations like the ones you work for that support the current system."
And Mark writes from New York, "Maybe if the Immigration and Naturalization Service was getting it's feeding tube removed, Congress would give a damn."
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I knew that had to play into it somehow, some way.
CAFFERTY: He's right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Some critics now perceive a bias at Starbucks. We'll explain that in a moment here. And high tech equipment that could save you money at the pump. "Consumer Reports" telling us what you should look for when buying a car. Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING on a Monday edition.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody. Good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer. Soledad is out this week.
COSTELLO: And I hope she's somewhere warm and dry. I do. I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad this morning the.
HEMMER: Activists determined to keep Terri Schiavo alive, looking at a new strategy today. But do they have time? Sanjay joins us to talk about the latest on her condition. We'll get to that story.
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 March 28, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. Soledad is out this week having some vacation. I'm Bill Hemmer, good to have you along with us today.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad this morning.
HEMMER: We're going to look at where the Terri Schiavo fight goes now. It's continuing today and protesters also creating a new kind of tragedy at Schiavo's hospice. Some believe that. We'll talk to a young woman who says her grandfather died without any loved ones near him because of the intense security for Terri Schiavo. We'll get to that story this hour.
COSTELLO: Also, one way to beat the high price of gasoline is to drive a car that doesn't rely on gas. Do hybrid cars really save you any money? We'll ask one of the experts from "Consumer Reports."
HEMMER: Also, Jack's back in the file. What's up?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Bill. Coming up in the "Cafferty File," Cartier and Courvoisier, could the next big rap song feature a burger? Camilla's ex-husband may get an apology from Prince Charles. And a new calendar featuring elderly women holding their instruments and not much else?
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: See you a bit later. Thank you, Jack.
Back to the headlines and Kelly Wallace. How's that now?
Hey, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a good tease. Thank you, all and good morning again, everyone. Here are some of the stories now in the news.
And we begin with insurgents targeting Iraqi security forces in Baghdad. Police say the head of a police station in the capitol city and his driver were gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Less than an hour earlier, a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol, killing at least one policeman and wounding five other people. In Iowa now, more charges could be filed today against a registered sex offender accused of abducting a 10-year-old girl. Jetseta Gage was taken from her home on Thursday. Her body was found at a mobile home one day later. The suspect in the case, Roger Bentley, made an initial court appearance Saturday. He remains in police custody.
And those severe storms in the Southeast, well, they are moving up the eastern seaboard. Thunderstorms caused flash flooding and high winds in Montgomery, Alabama. Hail and heavy rain hammered parts of Georgia, causing some flooding across the state, while scattered showers and thunderstorms are reported throughout the Carolinas, Florida and Mississippi.
So, what's it going to look like for today? Chad Myers will have today's forecast coming up.
We're wearing spring colors, Carol. But my goodness, where is the spring weather?
COSTELLO: What is happening? We're going to have to get on Chad later and give him a hard time.
WALLACE: You do that. He keeps saying it's coming.
COSTELLO: Yes. Right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly.
WALLACE: OK.
HEMMER: Big storm system too.
It has been nearly 10 days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was taken out. And despite a series of legal setbacks, supporters of her parents are still fighting. One group plans to protest on Capitol Hill today, calling on members of Congress to once again try and step in.
Meanwhile, an attorney for Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri's parents, says Terri is, quote, "Past the point of no return." And the lawyer Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, says he visited Terri this weekend. He says she is calm, peaceful and resting comfortably.
Also over the weekend, Terri's parents asked protesters to stay home. And yet about three dozen showed up. It got so loud at one point that Schiavo's brother, Bobby, had to asked them to tone it down. Protesters and the police who watch over them have been a somewhat of a interruptive presence at the hospice for weeks now.
Jennifer Johnson says the chaos kept her from being with her dying grandfather. Miss Johnson is in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Good morning to you and our condolences to you on the loss of your grandfather. Tell us what happened in the final moments of his death, when someone from the hospice came knocking on your door. JENNIFER JOHNSON, GRANDFATHER DIED AT HOSPICE: My family and I were staying in the villas, and when a nurse came -- I'm sorry. This is all...
HEMMER: That's OK. Take your time. Tell us when they came to tell you that your grandfather was in his last moments. You immediately ran out of the room where you were staying. I understand you were in bare feet. And what happened as you tried to get to his room?
JOHNSON: Yes. I had dashed out of the room without my wallet. I had my pajamas on and no shoes. And I had run behind the police barricade to the front entrance of the hospice building. There I was met by a police officer who asked me for identification to enter the building. I told him I didn't have identification. I had been in and out of the building several times throughout date.
Unfortunately, they'd just switched shifts so the police officer didn't recognize me. I stood and argued with him for a minute or so about whether -- he wanted me to go back and get identification. And there just wasn't time. I kept telling him that my grandfather is dying and I have to get to him right now.
HEMMER: Miss. Johnson, how long do you think you were held up there?
JOHNSON: Three to four minutes, I would say. After the...
HEMMER: And a by the time you got to your grandfather's room, he had passed away. Is that right?
JOHNSON: I had went through the process with the police officer and a metal detector test. I ran down the hallway, flew open the door. And the nurses who were attending to my granted father told me he had missed it by one minute.
HEMMER: Wow. We are told -- the police are telling us that the holdup was not nearly as long as it's been described. And this hospice worker saw your situation and took you in immediately. To that you say what, Miss Johnson?
JOHNSON: Well, I had been in and out of the process of getting in through the front entrance, probably a dozen times during that day. And it took longer this time than it did normally, because I had to argue with the police officer as to whether or not I was going to present identification. I wasn't about to go back to the villas to retrieve my wallet when I had to get to my grandfather.
HEMMER: We're told there that the security is -- has been increased in the past 10 days. And that police and security officials are trying to do everything they can to make sure things continue to run smoothly. Does that give you any relief at all?
JOHNSON: It does. Many people die at hospice each week. And I would hate to think of another family having to go through the ordeal that we went through. But nothing's going to bring back the minute that I lost to be with my grandfather.
HEMMER: Jennifer Johnson, our condolences to you and your family in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: You heard Bill say a moment ago, Terri Schiavo's parents have been appealing to anyone who may be able to help them. Just days ago, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida had been their ally. But now, Terri's parents have some harsh words for the governor.
CNN's Ed Henry live in Tallahassee with more.
Good morning, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Amid all of the heat and turmoil, the governor looked a bit weary and emotional yesterday when I caught up with him outside of his church here in Tallahassee. He told me while he wants to help he cannot and will not step in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): Governor Bush emerges from Easter Sunday Mass with a heavy heart.
(on camera): On this Easter, what are your thoughts about Terri Schiavo?
GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: It's sad that she's in this situation that she's in. I feel bad for her family. My heart goes out to the Schindlers and, for that matter to Michael. This has not been an easy thing for any member of the family. But most particularly, for Terri Schiavo. I think there's enough uncertainty for people to have doubt, and I do.
HENRY: If she dies, are you at peace with the fact that you feel you've done all you can.
BUSH: Absolutely.
HENRY (voice-over): As a Catholic, the governor has faced intense pressure during the holiest week on the Christian calendar, to intervene and save the brain damage woman's life. Schiavo's parents believe the governor has the executive power to override the courts and take custody of their daughter to restore her feeding tube.
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: Governor Bush has the authority to stop all this. He's -- with the stroke of his pen, he can stop it. He can stop it immediately. He's put Terri through a week of hell and my family through a week of hell by not acting.
HENRY (on camera): What do you say to the parents who feel you can do more and should do more.
BUSH: I can't. I'd love to, but I can't. HENRY: And why is that? Because your interpretation of the state law...
BUSH: It's not a question of interpretation. I mean I cannot violate a court order. I don't have powers from the United States Constitution, or for that matter, from the Florida Constitution that would allow me to intervene after a decision has been made.
HENRY (voice-over): But that's not good enough for some conservative activists who want Mr. Bush to step down.
LARRY KLAYMAN, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: If that's his position, he ought to resign, quit and go home right now. Because we'll need a new governor to protect us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: While there's divided legal opinion on whether or not the governor can step in and take custody of Terri Schiavo, all sides do agree that such a move would create yet another nasty legal showdown. And the governor was making it clear to CNN in that exclusive interview he's not going down that road -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ed, a question for you. Politically, how does this affect the governor?
HENRY: Well, people close to the governor point out he's not running for reelection next year. And has repeatedly said he's not running for president. Or at least has no plans at this point to run for president in 2008. So they say he doesn't care. He couldn't care less how it affects him politically.
Obviously, there are others who say he still has his eye on the White House and this is going to have a major impact on the ambitions -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ed Henry, live in Tallahassee this morning.
HEMMER: About nine minutes past the hour.
Now, the judge in the Michael Jackson trial will hear arguments today about allowing the jury to hear past accusations of abuse by Jackson. Prosecutors want to show a pattern of abuse. The defense arguing that earlier allegations are prejudicial.
Despite a gag order, Michael Jackson pleaded his innocence over the weekend on the Reverend Jesse Jackson's radio show from Sunday.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much. and I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. They are totally fabricated. And it's very sad. It's very, very painful.
And I pray a lot. And that's how ideal with it. I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. But it's very painful at the end of the day. I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being, so it does hurt very, very, very much.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HEMMER: Jackson also in that interview comparing himself with Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali and others, he called "black luminaries" to be unjustly you accused. That case continues today in California -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about the pope now. The faithful were praying to see a glimpse of the pope today. It is tradition for him to appear the Monday after Easter, but there was no sign of him. The pope appeared at the window in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. He tried to speak and he couldn't. He gave up.
Alessio Vinci has more now from Rome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Not even the morning rain could keep Katie and Elise away from St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. Their excitement to see the pope at the window of his palace was palpable.
KATIE HAMMOND, PILGRIM: I would hope that we'd see him just because it would mean he's well enough to come greet us.
ELISE VETZEL, PILGRIM: Oh, my gosh. That would be just glorious. I would love to see the pope. That would be amazing.
VINCI: As previously announced, the pope did not preside over the long Easter Mass. His traditional Easter Sunday blessings were read by a top Vatican cardinal. The pope tried to speak, but couldn't get the words out. Nevertheless, he rewarded the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square with lengthy appearance. Some in the crowd were overwhelmed, while most were ecstatic.
(APPLAUSE)
VINCI: And so were Katie and Elise, part of a group of students from Notre Dame University, spending a semester abroad.
VETZEL: I just felt completely unified with, like, all the people there and all the people watching on television and such. So it was a very glorious moment, I thought.
HAMMOND: The whole thing was beautiful. What I thought was best was just the crowd's reaction to him. You could tell everyone was so pleased he was well enough to greet everyone.
VINCI: The group leader, who organized other such trips in previous years, says this time the turnout was higher.
ADAM KAONK, GROUP LEADER: Last year, I think we had around 40 or 50 at this Mass. And today, I think we had twice that number. And I think there's a lot of interest throughout the world of making sure the people see this pope in case he does pass away.
VINCI (on camera): Because the pope is first and foremost a priest, his inability to give Mass on Easter Sunday must have been a terrible burden for him. At the same time, he can take comfort from the fact that his silent message of suffering continues to have an impact on pilgrims here in Rome and around the globe.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And the weather is pretty nasty in Rome too. So perhaps that had an affect on the pope as well.
We know the weather is nasty here, Chad. So give us some good news, will you?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The middle of the week, Carol you get to 61.
COSTELLO: Whoa!
MYERS: How's that?
COSTELLO: That's like heaven.
MYERS: I can't do better than that for you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
There's a controversy brewing across the country. Some conservative critics have a bone to pick with Starbucks. We'll explain.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here, we kick off our special tax series called "Many Happy Returns." And today, the Alternative Minimum Tax and why it's slamming so many in this country.
First though, which amendment to the U.S. Constitution made the income tax permanent: the 15-Amendment, the 16 or the 17?
The answer after a break here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before the break, we asked which amendment to the U.S. Constitution made the income tax permanent. The answer is "B," the 16-Amendment. The first national income tax actually used at the time of the civil war. It expired though in 1872. Now you know.
With the mother of all deadlines, April 15 fast approaching, we begin a series called "Many Happy Returns," we hope. The first installment deals with the dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax. And to many middle class taxpayers, AMT has become a four-letter word.
Gerri Willis back with us here this morning to explain it.
Good morning to you.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Bill good to see you. This is a great topic. I've got to tell you. You think the IRS is scary? Wait until you see what the Alternative Minimum Tax has in store for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIS (voice-over): Meet the Gunther's little deductions. There's the oldest, Maggie a junior in high school and Catherine, almost 2, the young youngest. And seven in between. A total of nine kids. In a typical year, each child represents a $3100 tax deduction for their parents, Gary and Mary.
The sheer size of their family, plus a variety of other factors, has made them subject to something called the Alternative Minimum Tax this year. That means they lose the usual write-offs, like: mortgage deductions, personal exemptions, and worst of all, deductions for their kids.
GARY GUNTHER, FATHER OF NINE CHILDREN: And I didn't even know what it was. And I had not even heard about it, had not come across it until I was actually subject to it.
WILLIS: That meant $30,000 worth of write-offs this year went out the window.
MARY GUNTHER, MOTHER OF NINE CHILDREN: I think we're redoing our fair share based on the normal system. So to come under an additional system doesn't make sense to me.
WILLIS: Originally developed to catch wealthy tax dodgers, the AMT is just what it sounds like, an alternative tax system. While tax rates can be lower, the loss of deductions means you'll owe more money than under traditional IRS rules.
The AMT now snags millions of middle class Americans every year. By 2010, as many as 35 million may end up paying it. Homeowner Jeff Spiegel is one of them.
(on camera): You're doing the things the tax code is encouraging you to do getting married, you're having kids, you're buying the house. The tax code is apparently written to encourage those things. But now AMT may take all of the benefit away.
JEFF SPIEGEL, HOMEOWNER: You're losing all those benefits. And basically, there's nothing you can do about it for the most part. It's a very difficult situation.
WILLIS (voice-over): And unless Congress changes the tax laws, Jeff Spiegel will just have to pay out. G. GUNTHER: You come home at night and sometimes say how much harder do I have to work for it to be where I can just be comfortable and enjoy it, not worry about it.
SPIEGEL: The American dream is turning almost into an American nightmare.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: A number of questions. First of all...
WILLIS: Let's go.
HEMMER: ... what Gary said in the piece is what we hear from so many people. It surprised him. He did not see it coming. Why is this always a surprise to people?
WILLIS: Well, I think a lot of people haven't heard of it to begin with. Right? This tax was originally developed to catch wealthy tax sneaks who weren't paying their fair share. But now, people who are making $75,000 need to do this calculation. And unless you've got a tax professional or you're using the right software, you may not know. But it's really your responsibility to figure it out.
HEMMER: So you can find out before April 15 whether or not you're going to be a victim of AMT?
WILLIS: You can run a calculation to see if you're going to become a victim. But there's not a ton of planning you can do to get around it, to avoid it. The last fellow we interviewed in that story, he's an accountant. So he should know how to get around it. But he couldn't.
HEMMER: Yes. The other thing your story points out is by 2010 there are millions of people in this country that will become victims of this. Why is that number continuing to increase?
WILLIS: Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, ironically, the president's tax cuts made more people fall into AMT, because here's what happened Bill. You always pay the bigger tax bill. If the AMT calculation is bigger, you pay that. If the old-fashioned IRS calculation is bigger, you pay that. So more and more people falling into the AMT. AMT also is not indexed for inflation. More people falling into this unfortunately.
HEMMER: One way or another. Thank you, Gerri. Talk to you later.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Our series continues tomorrow. We'll look at Internet filing and what hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has to do with your taxes. Go figure that one. That's tomorrow here on AMERICAN MORNING -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Something else that's costing Americans a lot of morning, filling up at the pump. But a new high tech equipment -- piece of equipment, I should say, could help you save money. What you should look for when you buy a new car. That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back. Back to Jack, question of the day.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: You go it.
CAFFERTY: Despite all the talk of homeland security since 9/11, the fact is the borders of this country leak like a sieve. The federal government has done nothing to fix the problem. So some private citizens are going to take a shot at it. "Time" magazine reports that a group called the Minuteman Project will place volunteers at quarter mile intervals along a 50-mile stretch of the Arizona/Mexico border during the entire month of April.
Their purpose is not to confront migrants, but to monitor and report the migrant's locations to the Border Patrol. Here's the question. Should these kinds of groups be allowed to patrol U.S. borders?
Larry in Ohio writes, "Vigilante is a strong word. Perhaps it is time for Minutemen, citizen soldiers to protect America again. The politicians sure don't have the stomach for it."
Rick in Illinois writes, "Should civilian groups back up the Border Patrol? You bet you. During World War II, we had ranchers, farmers and hunters patrolling the West Coast against the potential Japanese invasion. It's our responsibility and duty to do so as citizens."
Terrence writes this, "How are Mexicans a security risk to this country? How are they a threat to our jobs? I'm so tired of hearing you complain about the immigration problem in this country, when it's the corporations like the ones you work for that support the current system."
And Mark writes from New York, "Maybe if the Immigration and Naturalization Service was getting it's feeding tube removed, Congress would give a damn."
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I knew that had to play into it somehow, some way.
CAFFERTY: He's right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Some critics now perceive a bias at Starbucks. We'll explain that in a moment here. And high tech equipment that could save you money at the pump. "Consumer Reports" telling us what you should look for when buying a car. Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING on a Monday edition.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody. Good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer. Soledad is out this week.
COSTELLO: And I hope she's somewhere warm and dry. I do. I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad this morning the.
HEMMER: Activists determined to keep Terri Schiavo alive, looking at a new strategy today. But do they have time? Sanjay joins us to talk about the latest on her condition. We'll get to that story.
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