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House of Representatives Meeting for Rare Saturday Vote on Health Care Reform; Mourning Ceremonies Continue for Victims of Fort Hood Shooting

Aired November 07, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The precipice of passage? House Democrats take their health care reform bill to the floor for an expected vote. Expect hours of debate first, however.

And a call for carpe diem from President Obama who implores lawmakers to seize the opportunity and make reform happen.

And the very latest on Thursday's tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, as the nation mourns and reflects.

Here in the CNN NEWS ROOM where the news unfolds live this Saturday, November 7th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

In search of 218, that's how many votes House Democrats need to pass a hotly debated and oh, so controversial health care overhaul. A vote is expected following today's floor debate. You are looking at Maryland's Steny Hoyer right now. Our team coverage includes Elaine Quijano at the White and Brianna Keilar on Capitol Hill.

We begin with Brianna. How close are they? I'm sorry, one more time, producer? It's looks like we're having audio problems with Brianna. We'll go to Elaine first, then.

Elaine, we heard from the president from the Rose Garden saying this is the opportunity. One opportunity like this happens in a generation. And he was challenging Capitol Hill to take it and approve health care reform. Looks like we're having audio --

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Obama, let's talk about his operative word basically today on health care is "history." As we have talked about all day, the president is really trying to underscore what he calls a historic opportunity here for not only his White House but for Congress, members of Congress as well.

The president, we heard in the Rose Garden almost saying that this vote really isn't about just politics here. That's what he basically said to Democratic lawmakers, that while it might be a tough bill for some Democrats to get behind, he basically implied if they do not get this done now, the health care overhaul, they probably won't have this opportunity, again. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For the better part of a year now, members of the House and Senate have been working diligently and constructively to craft legislation that will benefit millions of American families and millions of American businesses who urgently need it.

For the first time ever, they have passed bills through every single committee responsible for reform. They have brought us closer than we have ever been to passing health insurance reform on behalf of...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And what's implicit here is that not only are the stakes high from the president's perspective on this issue, but politically as well. Obviously, the president is spending a tremendous amount of political capital on this issue, which, as you know, Fredricka, is his number one domestic priority -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much Elaine Quijano.

It's the president's number one domestic priority, but some recent polls we have been hearing, the economy is still the number one priority and health care actually comes in second place.

However, it's top priority today on Capitol Hill as well as the White House. Let's go to our Brianna Keilar. We're going to try to work out those audio gremlins one more time. Hopefully you can hear me, Brianna.

So they are already meeting, members of House and they are going to be arguing on the floor or trying to make a point before a vote that really could happen today?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And what you are seeing now is Congress Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who is the number two Democrat in the House speaking on the floor right now. This is a kickoff to the great debate that we are going to see on the House Democrats health care reform bill starting with Steny Hoyer.

So this is really the beginning of this process today. It's going to take several hours. We are definitely here for the long haul. And soon we are going to see the fireworks between the Democrats and Republicans and where they disagree on this bill.

Of course, President Obama was here earlier. One aide told me it was tantamount to bringing in the closer, when you think about bringing in the closing pitcher in baseball. They hoped he could solidify some for those Democratic votes and he could help them get as strong as possible Democratic votes.

At this point, though Democratic leaders obviously confident that they have the votes or very hopeful that they have the votes as they move forward with this today. But I have to tell you, Fred, it's going to be close and we are going to be watching very closely as well.

WHITFIELD: OK, Brianna Keilar, thanks so much from Capitol Hill. Of course, we'll continue to check back with you throughout the day. As we know, anything can happen on Capitol Hill.

Now, an update on the shooting investigation at Fort Hood, Texas. FBI tags are combing the accused gunman's computer, looking for clues about a motive. Major Nidal Hasan has been transferred to a hospital in San Antonio. Hasan was shot four times by a civilian police officer.

Last hour doctors updated the conditions of the people wounded in the Fort Hood shooting spree. CNN's Samantha Hayes is live from the Scott and White hospital in Temple, Texas. So Samantha, how are the victims doing?

SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, you know, throughout this whole tragedy that we have been reporting on, it's nice to be able to share some good news. We learned in a news conference that four of those injured taken into the hospital here Scott and White Medical, have been released. And one more patient may be released by the end of the day.

Six are still here, and the chief of surgery told us two are in the intensive care unit, and he talked about the overall condition of those that they accepted in this center.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. W. ROY SMYTHE, SCOTT AND WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: Some of these patients are young and sometimes young patients will surprise you in regards to their rehabilitation. But there is a possibility that some of the patients will be physically impaired for the rest of their lives.

And there is certainly no doubt that many of them will be psychologically impaired for the rest of their lives. There's no doubt about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAYES: Certainly a range of conditions they are dealing with.

Governor Rick Perry, the Texas governor, was also here. He had a chance to talk to some of the patients who were able to communicate. And he said he was struck by their commitment to service even as they are the victims of a violent tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK PERRY, (R) TEXAS: What I heard time after time in those hospital rooms is they're honored to serve our country. That is a very humbling thing to watch a young man or woman whose life has been irreparably harmed in a violent act, yet their concern and their interest is in continuing to be able to serve this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAYES: Fredricka, between this hospital and the hospital on post at Fort Hood, there are 14 patients still hospitalized, eight at Fort Hood, five in the intensive care unit. Former governor and president George W. Bush visited patients at that hospital. And we also understand the president and first lady will be coming to Fort Hood on Tuesday for a memorial service.

Reporting live, I'm Samantha Hayes, back to you.

WHITFIELD: And Samantha, what do we know about the crime scene? Does it continue to be off limits or do we know whether it might be opened up to cameras?

HAYES: Fredricka, I'm going to draw your attention to new video that we'll be hopefully sharing with you soon here on CNN. We are talking about the readiness center facility.

We talked a lot about that. This is of course, where the shooting spree happened. It's a fairly small area, contained hundreds of soldiers were there preparing for deployments, doing things the things that soldiers need to do before they leave.

And we have a crew at Fort Hood, and we understand they are getting a look at that building and where it happened and sharing new information and pictures shortly.

WHITFIELD: We'll look forward to that. Samantha Hayes, thanks so much, joining us from the hospital there.

I want to talk to retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore. A day after the Fort Hood shooting, General Honore was there and he joins me now from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

General, the U.S. army chief of staff described news of the shooting as a real kick in the gut for him. What is your view of how the army, that base in particular is now investigating, whether it overlooked any big warning signs from the suspect?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE (RET): Well, as you know, Fredricka, he was living two lives, one of a soldier and someone who was focused on other ideas. And to the army, I think we're going to pay a little closer attention to those who show reasons why they don't want to go to war. He had never been deployed.

This was a kick in the gut. I think attention is going to be up a little sharper as we evaluate people going to combat.

WHITFIELD: In one respect, while he had expressed he didn't want to go to Iraq in so many different ways, a lot of different testimony of how he expressed that.

The military said we helped pay for your education and your medical education, and essentially you owe this, right, to your service. This is your way of giving back.

You mentioned that now, perhaps the military might be perceiving that kind of expression differently. In what way?

HONORE: You know, we pay a lot of attention to those returning from war and the post-traumatic stress associated with them. I think we need to take a closer look at the front end of this. As you recall, in the last year we had a horrible shooting in Baghdad at a mental care facility.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HONORE: So as we are learning more and more resources are applied. But we are playing catch up.

WHITFIELD: What about other medical technicians like him? He's a psychiatrist, others in that mental health care capacity. Do you suppose now the military might be reexamining the treatment of them, because they are wearing or absorbing a lot of what they hear from troops in combat and come back with PTSD.

Perhaps very few expected that any of that could rub off on a mental health expert treating someone with PTSD.

HONORE: I think we just had a teaching moment. From commentary I have heard they will pay closer attention to those who take care of those who are sick or they have signs of PTSD that we'll have to pay more close attention to.

WHITFIELD: General Russel Honore, thanks so much for joining us from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Appreciate it.

HONORE: Cameron, Louisiana. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Oh, in Cameron, Louisiana. Thanks for that correction. Appreciate it, general.

The shootings at Fort Hood changes the lives of dozens of families as we know. Tonight a CNN special continues the search for answers, the post, the suspect, and the wounded. That's tonight 8:00 eastern time.

Your lawmaker is voting on health care reform today, possibly. Do you know exactly what's in the bill? It is, after all, about 2,000 pages that is may rewrite the rules of medical care as we know it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK, it may be Saturday, but Capitol Hill is buzzing with activity. On the agenda -- health care. A vote could come as early as today. So there's a lot going on in these final hours leading up to a vote.

So CNN radio's Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Dejardins's has been following everything going on today. It has been a lot, hasn't it? Where are they, exactly, in the process, Lisa?

LISA DEJARDINS, CNN RADIO CORRESPONDENT: Here is the deal. After about how many months has it been of back and forth, we are now maybe five or six hours from a vote on the floor of the House.

Now, it does look to me talking to sources that Democrats have the votes to pass this right now, but, not everything is locked on. It's very close. As I know, we have been reporting, there's still a lot of debate over the abortion language in the bill.

WHITFIELD: And there's a lot in the bill. And a lot of folks aren't very clear what constitutes this bill. So is there a way to break it down a little bit for us?

DEJARDINS: Folks should just pull up a chair, get your coffee, and we are going to run through it.

I think, first of all, we want to talk about the cost of this bill. That's gotten lost a little bit in the last week, Fred. Here are some graphics.

Number one, Democrats say $894 billion, but no, they say it's for the insurance parts of the bill. They admit that $894 billion does not include everything in the bill.

So we did our own analysis. This House bill is easily over $1 trillion, could be a great deal more than that. It's a great amount of money. Democrats do fully fund, though, through a variety of tax increase on the wealthy and other provisions.

WHITFIELD: I wonder in general how this might affect everyone, because we heard the president say this health care reform plan, it's already paid for.

DEJARDINS: The deal, Fred, for you and I and everyone watching is this health care bill would mandate pretty much that all of us have to buy health insurance coverage.

It also would mandate and every business that has 50 employees or more, your middle to upper side and even some of your smaller businesses, would have to provide employee coverage.

Now, if we didn't get the health insurance under this bill, we pay a penalty. It would be 2.5 percent of the income we put on our tax form, so a serious penalty. They want to get everybody signed up.

WHITFIELD: It will cost you to continue, by your choice, to be uninsured.

That brings us to the public option. There's a lot of wrangling, should it be in it or not. Where are we?

DEJARDINS: This is the deal. There is a public option in this. It is a moderate public option in which Democrats would allow this government run insurance plan to start in 2013. That's when you and I would be able to sign up for it. This option, the people who are eligible for it would sign up for it, anyway.

The deal is this option just negotiates pay rates with doctors. It's not the lowest rates, which is what House Speaker Pelosi wanted. It's kind of a middle ground.

And then finally, this House bill, Fredricka, does not include a trigger, no kind of opt out. The reason that's important is that it means the public option here is a national public option that would go into effect absolutely in 2013.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks for breaking it down. That really helps us understand about what is taking place throughout the day. House leaders are going to be on the floor, making their points and arguments. Republicans and Democrats as well on the floor before such a vote is to happen.

And you said maybe in five or six hours we could see a vote. That's pretty impressive.

DEJARDINS: If we are out of here by 9:00, I'll be amazed. We might, and then the press conference and all of that, but it's looking like that area.

WHITFIELD: I know you are going to keep us posted. Thanks so much, Lisa.

All right, let's check the top stories now. The U.S. Navy is a bit bigger now. A new $1 billion warship, the "USS New York" was commissioned today -- seven and a half tons of steel from the ruins of ground zero were actually melted down to make the ship's bow.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was among the dignitaries o hand for the commissioning ceremony.

In the field where United flight 93 crashed on September 11 is becoming a memorial. Ground is being broke there today, a 93 foot tower with wind chimes will be erected as a permanent reminder to the 40 brave passengers and crew who battled the terrorists.

Flags are flying half mast over government buildings in honor of the 13 people killed in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. President Obama says it's in recognition of the victims and the men and the women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our nation.

Another check of the top stories 20 minutes from now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Among the 13 killed at Fort Hood on Thursday, Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka. His family is in West Jordan, Utah. They are holding a press conference. This is what his uncle had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BLADES, UNCLE OF AARON NEMELKA: This statement comes from the family. This past spring, they drove Aaron's car to Fort Hood where he was stationed. They spent two days together in Austin, Texas in Fort Hood as father and son, talking about his upcoming deployment overseas, his future, and the family.

Two things that stood out for them and was intensely proud to serve under the leadership of the president. Aaron believed we are all first and foremost Americans, not Democrats, not Republicans, not white, black, brown or any other color. We are Americans.

He did not like the negativity and bad feelings he saw nearly everywhere. Aaron was proud to serve his country in the military, and he loved and respected the president and was proud to serve under his command.

Aaron felt keenly the responsibility of representing both his country and his family. He's proud to follow in the footsteps of both his grandfathers that served, two uncles that are in the military currently, and one cousin.

His grandfather served in the army in the Korean War and was a Purple Heart recipient. His grandfather Michael Nemelke served in the United States Marine Corps. His uncle Michael Blade is a major in the Army National Guard in Montana, and his uncle Kevin Nemelke is a major in the army serving in Virginia.

His cousin Josh serves in the United States army and is serving in Germany at this time. He felt it was his duty to stand with them in defense of our country.

He was very proud to represent his family, his church, the state of Utah, and the United States of America.

Aaron was a man of few words and tender feelings. He had a simple trust in god and faith in a savior, Jesus Christ. He has a tremendous love for his family and friends and a deep sense of duty and responsibility.

His mission is completed in this life. He now serves a higher calling in heaven. We love him. We miss him. We look forward to that glorious day when the family will be reunited with him, again.

That's the end of the statement. Any questions that you might have?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, you have been listening to Michael Blade, the uncle of Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka, that press conference of the family mourning the loss of Mr. Nemelka. He was one of the 13 killed at Fort Hood a couple days ago, and that came out of West Jordan, Utah.

So, there have been two shooting rampages in two days, first at Fort Hood, Texas, then an office complex in Orlando, Florida. These incidents have a lot of people thinking how much this actually happens in America.

Our Josh Levs is here with an interactive look. We'd like to say it's a rarity, but you gave me a prelude earlier that sadly, there are too many rampages.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's incredible, Fred. And one thing we are doing here at CNN is we are following stories like what you just saw, the names of the victims and these cases. If we zoom in, I want you to see we have a special section set up for the Fort Hood shootings.

Go to CNN.com and click on any story about Fort Hood and you'll see this. Part of what we are doing is following what's going on now, stories about the victims and what they're going through, families as well.

One thing we do want to show you is a couple timelines. This really puts in context what Fred was talking about, the fact that mass shootings happen in the United States all too often.

Take a look as we zoom through at the years. We're showing one from 2005, another one from 2005, 2006, 2007, that was Virginia Tech, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2009, 2009. Each story has its own situation and background. This one was George Sadine who walked into a gym in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and killed people there.

And what we are seeing is that these shooting rampages happen too often in United States.

And another time line here that looks at shootings at U.S. bases around the world. Let's zoom into that. Each situation is unique. What you find is there have been other situations of shootings on U.S. bases.

This is from March 23, 2003. This is two days after the Iraq invasion Army Sergeant Hassan Akbar attacked his fellow soldiers there killing two and injuring 14.

This is from 2007, two U.S. sailors stationed in Bahrain were killed in their barracks by a comrade. In 2008 two soldiers shot and killed by a comrade just outside of Baghdad there. I just skipped over it, but one from earlier this year.

So there are other situations in which you are seeing this, and the more people see this, the more people start raising questions why is this happening, how often does it happen?

But I also want to reality check this, because I know it scares a lot of people when you hear about these mass shootings. Let's go back. I want to show you something from the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just a reminder, because we talked to authorities about this, the top causes of death in the United States, purposeful death is not any of them. The idea here is even though you hear about these things happening all the time, it's certainly not a common occurrence on a daily basis.

When we talked to authorities about this and what can people to do feel safe. What they often tell me is wear your seatbelt and don't smoke and exercise and take care of yourself, because those are the more frequent causes of death in the United States. But there is a lot concerning a lot of people.

Fred, this leads up to the 4:00 hour. One of the big topics we're going to have today is about this and the mass killings and Foot Hood, and a chance for our viewers to send in their questions and comments.

WHITFIELD: That's right. We hope you will join in on the conversation. We're going to talk about not only Foot Hood, but there's another big story that was on radar this week. That was that of Cleveland and the bodies found in the home of a Cleveland man. He was found guilty of attempted rape.

And so now we are going to actually combine that hour with the two top big stories that is happened this week out of Foot Hood as well as the Cleveland case, so thanks so much.

And we are continuing to get a lot of your comments already on my blog and Facebook as well. Keep them coming. Be part of the conversation at 4:00 eastern time.

We are trying to sort out the story of the man accused of the Foot Hood massacre. Why would an army shrink about being deployed to a war allegedly turn on his own troops?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Fort Hood is a community in mourning today. The investigation into the shooting rampage at the military post is now moving forward.

Here's what we know right now. Texas rangers and the FBI are working jointly with military investigators. An army psychiatrist is accused of killing 13 people, 38 people, including the gunman, were injured in the attack.

And former President George W. Bush and his wife have made private visits to some of the wounded soldiers.

So, were it not for the quick response of a civilians police officer, the death toll at Foot Hood might be a lot higher. Kimberly Munley is one of two police officers who helped take down accused shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. She was shot in both eyes, and Munley also sustained a gunshot wound to her wrist.

Her partner Mark Todd was there as well. He explains how the suspect was subdued.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. MARK TODD, FORT HOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT: When I seen him, he was standing there. When I ordered him to drop his weapon, I didn't find it myself. He raised his weapon and fired a couple rounds. We both took cover.

And then he went around one side of the building. As I started to go after him, they said no, he came around. He came around. I came around on the other side of the building. And then after I saw him again I ordered him to drop his weapons and he raised and fired a couple more rounds at me.

And then I engaged him and he fell. I went up there and secured his weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Investigators are trying to learn as much as they can about the alleged gunman Nidal Malik Hasan. They scoured his apartment, interviewed his neighbors, and are double checking for mixed clues now. Our Ted Rowlands looks at his background.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If there's one thing we know for sure about Nidal Hasan, it is this -- he spent the days before the shooting saying goodbye. Patricia Villa says she didn't think anything of it when Nidal gave her his furniture telling her he was going overseas.

PATRICIA VILLA, HASAN'S NEIGHBOR: When he gave me all those things I thought, wow he should be real into god.

ROWLANDS: Hasan gave several other neighbors a copy of the Koran. Lenna Brown said when she got her book, Hasan said something she'll never forget.

LENNA BROWN, HASAN'S NEIGHBOR: "We do things to please god. It's a challenge."

ROWLANDS: Investigators poured over Hasan's apartment for the hours after the rampage, then this morning searched and hauled away a dumpster.

They also spent more than four hours interviewing this man. Willie Bell lives next door. He allowed Hasan to use his computer from time to time.

Why an army major with his own computer would need to use a neighbor's is unclear. Bell says investigators took his.

WILLIE BELL, HASAN'S NEIGHBOR: I didn't think he was doing something bad.

ROWLANDS: Born in the United States to Palestinian parents, Hasan grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. He spent the bulk of his military career as a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington. Friends there said he seemed happy even if he was having trouble on the job.

ASIF QADRI, MUSLIM COMMUNITY CENTER: I got the impression he was happy what he was doing. Then I hear he had problems there. I don't know what kind of problems he had.

ROWLANDS: Hasan received a poor performance review at Walter Reed according to an Associated Press story quoting an unnamed army official. In July, he was transferred to Foot Hood.

Did that transfer trigger something in Hasan? Investigators are keen on two details. When he rented this apartment, he paid six months rent up front, something the manager says no tenant of his has ever done.

The manage also said Hasan insisted nobody enter his apartment unless he's home. Also, the only time he was known to have a visitor was the day before the shooting.

Witnesses say the visitor was dark -skinned, bushy-eyebrows, and dressed in Islamic clothing.

JOHN THOMPSON, APARTMENT MANAGER: And they went upstairs, up there five minutes, and then they came back down and left. That's the only time I saw someone go into the apartment.

ROWLANDS: Investigators want to know who that visitor was and they try to piece together who Nidal Hasan really is.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Killeen, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Tonight a CNN prime time special continues the search for answers. A special investigation "Inside the Fort Hood Shooting," that's tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Going inside the life and mind of a suspected serial killer, the latest on the investigation in Cleveland as another victim is identified.

Plus, the new evidence that makes police believe that they will have to revise the number of victims soon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: When Dinah Absi's doctor prescribed exercise to strengthen her bones, she decided to join her children at the martial arts studio. Six days a week she and her children workout together burning calories and learning the discipline or Tai Kwan Do.

DINAH ABSI, MOTHER: I believe it helped them tremendously, physically and helped with their self-confidence.

WHITFIELD: And it's a time to bond with her children.

ABSI: Several times, I get teamed up with my children and we get a chance to laugh together and to sweat together.

WHITFIELD: What do the children think about working out with mom? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's special because my mom is doing the class with me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're there to motivate me.

ABSI: We have helped each other throughout the journey to become black belts.

ROBERT DOTHARD, PERSONAL TRAINER: They did pushups, crunches, in addition to kicks and jump kicks.

WHITFIELD: And Dinah is reaping the benefits.

ABSI: I feel like I have a whole new level of energy.

WHITFIELD: And her doctors say her family workouts did what they are supposed to do, improve her bone density.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at the top stories now.

President Barack Obama is praising the men and women in uniform today. He said their training for overseas missions helped prevent more deaths during the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. The president and the first lady are scheduled to attend a memorial service Tuesday at Foot Hood.

And we are learning the name of another victim whose body was found at the home of registered sex offender and suspected serial killer in Cleveland home. She is 43-year-old Nancy Cobb. Her family filed a missing persons report on Monday.

Police have said that Anthony Sowell is in custody and cooperating. So far, they found ten decomposing bodies and the skull of an 11th victim in or near his home.

We'll explore how something like this could even happen. Sex offenders, who is keeping watch? You could be part of the conversation. I am hearing from you on my blog and Facebook.

Dennis says "Who is keeping watch? American families trying to live right while watching the government release these rapid animals to our neighborhoods to prey on our families instead of putting these rabid animals to death, the government releases them to do it again."

We'll have your comments and have experts on hand, even relatives of one of the victims from this case out of Cleveland. Join us at the 4:00 eastern hour and be part of the conversation.

Overhauling health care means working overtime for lawmakers this weekend. House Democrats are searching for the 218 votes they need to pass the hotly debated measure. A vote is expected following today's debate. The president told lawmakers today America is watching. He's urging them to get the measure passed.

And she was married to the D.C. sniper. Mildred Muhammad says war turned her husband into a monster.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHAMMAD: My feelings detached from John when I asked him for a divorce. They were served when he told me he was going to kill me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: John Muhammad faces execution next week. His ex-wife talks with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Africa, a continent of nearly 1 billion people, but many of them have no internet access. So, for those people in Africa and other parts of the world, O3B Networks has a plan.

GREG WYLER, O3B NETWORKS LIMITED: O3B stands for the other 3 billion who are not on the Internet today.

PHILLIPS: Fiber optic cables that connect most of the world to the Internet are pretty much nonexistent in Africa. O3B is taking its technology to the sky.

The company plans to launch 16 strategically placed satellites in orbit. And the satellites circle the earth they will pass along Internet signals wirelessly.

O3B says by 2011 it hopes to supply inexpensive Internet access to billions of people in remote parts of the world.

WYLER: What O3B is designed to do is to bridge the gap between the rural, remote, regional, metropolitan, and urban areas, to level the playing field to they all have equal access.

PHILLIPS: It's not just about adding Facebook friends or watching YouTube. Wyler says the technology can connect businesses, hospitals and schools.

WYLER: Children in these markets can develop applications and tools just as if they were in the U.S. or in Europe.

PHILLIPS: Kyra Phillips, CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's Saturday, November 7. Coming up in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM, CNN is learning new details about the 13 people who died in the Foot Hood shooting spree. We are hearing from many of the family members.

Plus, the horror in Cleveland. Police say they found 11 bodies in a man's home. Now hear from a woman who says she was almost number 12.

D.C. sniper John Allan Muhammad is scheduled to die next week. Families of his victims will be there for Tuesday's execution. But his ex-wife will not be there.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve asked her why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The snipers victims were young and old, male and female, with diverse ethnic backgrounds. Many believe John Muhammad targeted this random group as a smoke screen to obscure his real mission, to murder his ex-wife Mildred and gain custody of their children.

Mildred Muhammad has no question John intended to kill her. But she has no interest in watching him die. She will not attend his scheduled execution.

MILDRED MUHAMMAD, EX-WIFE OF CONVICTED SNIPER: I don't want to take my children to see their father die, and I don't need to see John expire like that. I'm done with John, whatever -- I'm done.

MESERVE: There is absolutely nothing Mildred Muhammad wants to say to her ex-husband as he faces his death.

MUHAMMAD: My feelings detached from John when I asked him for a divorce. They were severed when he told me he was going to kill me.

MESERVE: As this old home video shows, John was, at times, a good father to his three children. His ex-wife's concern right now is only for them.

MUHAMMAD: My children have had a difficult journey in understanding what their father has done. But even through all of that they still love him. They understand what he did was wrong and they don't condone it.

MESERVE: And that, only that, is what she says makes the execution difficult.

MUHAMMAD: I feel sad for my children, you know. I really do, because, regardless, he's still their father, and they want him to be a part of their life, and that's something they won't be able to have.

They've accepted it on one level, but they haven't completely accepted it yet. They are really OK for now. I know internally they are probably going through their own little struggle, and they haven't expressed it, yet. And I don't bring it up, unless they do.

MESERVE: John Muhammad Jr. is now in college studying computer information systems, but his mother has temporarily taken him out of school, brought him home to be with her and his youngest sisters so they can support one another in she suspects will be a most difficult time for her children.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Monday night at 9:00 eastern time, what goes on inside the mind of a killer. Larry King tries to find out when the ex-wife of the D.C. sniper speaks out to him as well just a day before John Alan Muhammad's scheduled execution.