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Vote Tonight on Democratic Health Care Bill; A Poll Reveals People Are in Favor of a Public Health Option; Senator Mary Landrieu Reveals She's in Favor of Moving Forward on the Health Care Reform Bill
Aired November 21, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: OK, well this is a big story we're following among many. But can they get the votes, that's the big question this Saturday as the Senate holds a rare Saturday session on the future of health care reform. A vote tonight will determine whether to start debate on the Democratic health care bill.
Democratic leaders are scrambling to get enough votes to head off a Republican filibuster and the rhetoric, well, it's getting more heated, actually, on both sides. CNN senior Congressional correspondent Dana Bash is on Capitol Hill and Kate Bolduan is at that White House with reactions.
First, let's begin with you, Dana, so what is the lingoes (ph), where do they stand?
DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are standing in the Senate and they have been debating already and will continue for the next eight hours debating whether to continue debate on the health care bill. That is literally what they are doing here in the United States Senate and it will come to a climax at 8:00 Eastern tonight when they will need those 60 votes and that means there is no room for error for Democrats because no Republicans will vote to start debate. And so they need all 60 to vote yes.
But right now what has been going on has been pretty partisan when it comes to the debate. Listen to a flavor of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every senator who goes on record saying we need to proceed to this monstrosity of a bill will, in effect, be voting for higher taxes, higher premiums and cuts in Medicare. It's pretty hard thing to justify. Pretty hard thing to explain to your constituents. Frankly, I don't think it can be explained. And I don't think the American people do either.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The key elements of this health care reform bill, I repeat, reduces short and long-term debt and expands coverage and promotes choice from competition and reforms insurance market and improves quality of care. And all we're asking today is have a debate on it. I mean, why would anyone be afraid in the greatest debating society anywhere in the world to debate health care. What are they afraid of?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And what are they afraid of, Fredricka. That was aimed that Republicans ostensibly,, but the key issue right now is the Democrats in Harry Reid's caucus and whether they will agree, even though they don't like many aspects of their leader's bill, whether they will agree to start debate and agree that they can change it once that goes forward.
And we just got a little bit of news and that is that we can expect in about 20 minutes to hear from one so far undeclared Democrat and that is Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. We just got word from producer Ted Barrett (ph) that she is expected to be on the Senate floor before the bottom of the hour to announce her position.
There she is there on the left. We should tell you that she has been rather positive about the idea that she may tend to agree with the Democratic leader that although she has some differences like, for instance, the fact that she thinks maybe it costs too much and she does not like a government-run insurance option that is in this bill that perhaps she will want an opportunity to change it on the floor because, ultimately, she agrees with her leadership and the president that she wants health care reform in some form or fashion, this year, -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And so Dana, in what way will we see that announcement? Is she going to take to the microphone addressing reporters or she going to be on the floor.
BASH: On the floor of the Senate. We were told earlier by her office that is likely what she is going to do and that is what going be what she is in fact going to do. She is going to take some time on the Senate floor and announce to us and more importantly for her to her constituents why she will vote the way she is going to vote tonight.
WHITFIELD: OK, we'll be watching. Dana Bash, thanks much from Capitol Hill, appreciate that.
Of course, not too far down the street, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House is watching this very closely and they issued a statement actually yesterday urging "quick action" on this landmark bill.
Kate Bolduan is at the White House.
Kate, is the president playing any role in making sure that Democrats have the needed votes tonight? We remember seeing him going to Capitol Hill when the House was doing something very similar on a Saturday, but how is it different this weekend?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this weekend so far Fredricka you can be sure that the president is very much staying up to date on the debate and especially specifically the vote count as the day, as the day continues over there on Capitol Hill. As for specific efforts and activities here at the White House, we haven't heard anything specifically, but a White House aide did assure me that they are monitoring the debate very closely.
Now, as you know, and we all have been talking about for quite a while now, the White House has called to have a bill on the president's desk, a health care bill on the president's desk by the end of the year. Can Congress meet that timetable and meet that deadline? That's still a little bit unclear at this point, but regardless of the deadline in an interview with CNN last week President Obama seemed very confident and very optimistic that the Congress will succeed.
Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I remain confident that we are going to get this done and we're going to have a bill that reduces our deficit, bends the cost curve, covers millions of people who don't have health insurance right now and for people who do have health insurance makes their insurance more secure. I'm absolutely confident that we're going to get that done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And pumping up the pressure maybe a little bit more the White House released a statement of administrative policy last night. It basically makes very clear how the position of the president, I'll read you what it said in part. It says, "The administration strongly supports Senate passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which represents a critical milestone in the effort to reform our health care system."
Also, Fredricka, other than, besides as you mentioned, they are calling for urgent action on this bill, in the statement, it also points out that they say they call the public option, the very controversial public option, one of the best ways to provide choice and competition that are so badly needed in today's market. So, praising the inclusion of a public option, at least in this version of the bill -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kate Bolduan, thanks so much from the White House, we'll continue to keep checking in with you throughout the day, as well, as things change on Capitol Hill.
So, you want to stick with CNN throughout the day as we try to stay on top of the U.S. Senate's planned vote. It is expected around 8:00 Eastern Time tonight, but other things may be taking place in the interim, so we'll take you live to the Senate chambers when that kind of activity takes place.
All right, the U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shooting massacre has his first hearing, but in his hospital room. The attorney for 39-year-old major Nidal Hasan says he'll ask a military judge to let his client remain hospitalized in today's pretrial confinement hearing. Doctors say Hasan is paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by military police and civilian police. Hasan is accused of killing 13 people. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The woman accused of cutting line at a Missouri Wal-Mart and igniting a racial firestorm in the process has taken an 11th hour plea deal. Last night the judge presiding over the Heather Ellis trial announced an agreement had been reached between the defense and the prosecutors. It comes nearly three years that the defendant said race played a factor in a checkout line dustup between her, other customers and police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During deliberations the prosecution and the defense continued plea negotiations that have basically been going on for three years and we reached an agreement where Heather Ellis pled guilty to Class A misdemeanor of resisting arrest and the Class B misdemeanor or peace disturbance.
HEATHER ELLIS, MISSOURI RESIDENT: I was responsible for my actions and I was able to say what I did wrong and I think it's important that everybody else step up to the plate and admit they're wrong, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Ellis will actually spend four days in jail. And will have a year on probation. She was facing up to 15 years in prison on multiple charges of assaulting police and resisting arrest. Well, you know our legal guys are going to delve into this one. They've got some opinions on this outcome and the case as a whole. They'll be joining us right here later on in the NEWSROOM.
Hard to believe this was not some world economic forum protest or anything, this was taking place on a university campus, University of California Berkeley yesterday. Students there have been protesting ever since regents raised tuition at all university of California campuses by a whopping 32 percent. Forty-one people were arrested on trespassing and related charges. Regents say the tuition hike is necessary after steep budget cuts from the state.
All right, taking your pulse on health care. Do Americans want a government-run option? We've got answers for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, well as the U.S. Senate debates about whether to debate about a health care reform bill, we wanted to know what Americans think about health care reform, overall. Take a look, right now.
In our latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll 56 percent of those polled favor a public health option administered by the federal government, 42 percent opposed it. So, what exactly is at stake with the Senate health care bill? I'm joined by CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser
A difference between the public option being talked about in the Senate and the one passed by the House, or is there?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Exactly, Fred. Good point there because we talk so much about this government option that would compete with private insurance and most Democrats, most, not all, support it. Republicans are dead set against it.
The one in the Senate, though, would allow states to opt out of the public option and that's different than the House bill, which would not allow that. There's a belief that maybe Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid trying to get support of more moderate Democrats in his coalition and that's why his bill would allow states to opt out.
You know what, our polling shows, though, our polling suggests that Americans while they like the public option overall don't like the idea of allowing states to opt out -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: So, what exactly is at stake, particularly for the White House? Clearly it wants to achieve the goal of getting some kind of health care reform legislation on the books by the end of the year, if not the beginning of the year and we're not seeing the president as involved with this Senate version as we did with the House version a few weeks back, what's the difference? Why not?
STEINHAUSER: You know, while, he was not up on Capitol Hill, today, I mean that doesn't mean that he won't be there for the final Senate vote whenever that does eventually take place. And while the president has not been that vocal the last couple weeks, he's been abroad, of course, members of his team, Vice President Biden, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and others have been up in Congress lobbying the Senate.
So, the White House is definitely keeping their eye on this ball. You mention that deadline that they would like to get a bill on their desk by the end of the year. That is probably not likely now. I think we're going to push it back.
WHITFIELD: You said it's probably unlikely.
STEINHAUSER: Unlikely to have a final bill on the president's desk by the end of this year. I think it's much more likely that they could get a bill by the State of the Union Address, which is in the end of January, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Oh, OK, very good. This bill is still the very preliminary stages for the U.S. Senate version, like you said, we just might see president later on, if he decides today, 8:00, whether to continue this debate.
All right, let's look at other issues that are first and foremost for the American people. The president wants to see something with health care reform and still the economy, isn't it, that concerns Americans the most. They want to see some real progress in that department.
STEINHAUSER: Oh, no doubt about it. The economy remains issue No. 1 with Americans and it has been that way for two years now and it's also been almost two years that this country has been in a recession and recent polling that we had by CNN, we just put it out yesterday, in fact, shows that the blame for who caused this, who caused this and who is responsible for the economic recession is starting to shift a little bit.
More people still blame Republicans than Democrats, but we're seeing the shift from Republicans to the Democrats, Fred and that, I guess, since the president has now been in office for 10 months, he, you know, this economy is starting to become Barack Obama's economy, the recession, in a way, is starting to become Barack Obama's recession, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, interesting stuff. Thanks so much, Paul Steinhauser, good to see you on this lovely Saturday. Have a great day.
STEINHAUSER: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk some weather, as well, because it's a mixed bag, as usual, this weekend. Reynolds Wolf in the Severe Weather Center.
What do we have?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Fred, doesn't it always seem to be that way. It's always a mixed bag. It's never just a clean slate across the continent. It's always something crazy.
WHITFIELD: Because America is big.
Yeah it is.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WOLF: All right, Fred, you're up to speed. Let's kick it back to you.
WHITFIELD: I am, thanks so much. Keeping us updated on that. Have a great one.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right, a roar of criticism over holding the 9/11 terror trials in New York City. Our legal guys have plenty to say about this one, as well. And there they are.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Let's get a check of our top stories, right now. U.S. senators are hard at work in a rare Saturday session. There's a critical vote tonight to determine whether to debate a Democratic health care reform plan. Democratic leaders are optimistic that they'll actually have enough votes to head off a filibuster.
Two people were wounded in Kabul, Afghanistan, this morning. A rocket exploded between a wall surrounding the Serena Hotel and a hospital. The hotel houses visiting diplomats and has been the target of previous attacks. So far no group is claiming responsibility for that attack.
And an American student on trial for murder in Italy could spend the rest of her days behind bars. In closing arguments today, prosecutors urge that Amanda Knox and her boyfriend be given life sentences for the stabbing death of a British college student. Both deny any wrongdoing. Another check of the top stories just 20 minutes away.
All right, U.S. Attorney general Eric Holder is defending the decision to try five 9/11 suspects in civilian court. Critics including civilians of 9/11 victims are blasting that move and wondering what will come next. Our homeland security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The horror of 9/11 is now history. Eight years have passed. The attorney general says for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other alleged conspirators justice is overdue, and justice will be done in the civilian courts.
ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES: Failure is not an option. This -- these are cases that have to be won. I don't expect that we will have a contrary result.
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: I don't know how you can make a statement that failure to convict is not an option. When you have juries in this country -- I think a lot of Americans thought O.J. Simpson ought to be convicted of murder rather than being in jail for what he's in jail for now.
MESERVE: One after another, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee raised questions about the wisdom of Holder's decision.
SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: How could you be more likely to get a conviction in federal court when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has already asked to plead guilty before military commission and be executed? How could you be more likely to get a conviction in an Article 3 court than that?
(APPLAUSE)
ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well -- Senator, that was then. I don't know what Khalid Sheikh Mohammed wants to do now and I'm not going to base that determination on where this case is going to be brought, on what a terrorist, what a murderer wants to do. He will not select that prosecution venue. I will select it and I have.
MESERVE: What are the implications down the road? Senator Lindsey Graham wanted to know.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: If we captured Bin Laden tomorrow, would he be entitled to Miranda warnings at the moment of capture?
HOLDER: It all depends.
GRAHAM: Well, it does not depend. If you are going to prosecute anybody in civilian court, our law is clear that the moment custodial interrogation occurs, the defendant, the criminal defendant, is entitled to a lawyer and to be informed of their right to remain silent.
MESERVE: Although some 9/11 family members support Holder's decision, the group in the hearing room did not. The mother of Mark Bingham who died in the crash of Flight 93 told the attorney general personally.
ALICE HOAGLAND, MOTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: But I think that I can speak for many of 9/11 families when I say that we are heartsick and weary of the delays in the machinations and I am afraid that the theatrics are going to take over at this point. And I very much regret that.
MESERVE (on camera): One question raised repeatedly by senators: if there is an acquittal or mistrial would self-proclaimed terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other defendants be freed within the United States? Holder insisted that they would not.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And our legal guys are in a moment going to weigh in on that case and others and first go to Dana Bash, Capitol Hill correspondent on Capitol Hill where Senate members are wrangling over a proposed Senate health care reform bill.
So, now, we understand that there is some news as it pertains to one of the two Democratic senators who held out on not revealing publicly their view on not to move forward. What are you learning?
BASH: That's right, Democratic sources tell me that Mary Landrieu of Louisiana who, as you said, has been one of the two Democratic holdouts on this vote tonight, she will announce in just a short while, really, in just minutes on the Senate floor that she is going to vote yes on a motion to proceed, meaning she is going to vote yes to start debate.
Now, we have been talking about this, we've been reporting this for the past couple days and in the case of Mary Landrieu, she is very open about the fact that she has some problems with her party's health care bill, which why she has take on the time and one of the last holdouts here. But she has also indicated that she understands the concept of wanting to move ahead and make changes on the Senate floor because there will be lots of time for debate, probably two or three weeks at the very least.
So, we expect her to come to the Senate floor very soon and make that announcement that the president and Democratic leaders can officially check her off the list as somebody who has the power and had the power and would put the brakes on the president's top priority.
So, what that means is it all is down to one. It is all down to one. There is one Democratic senator at this point who will later be waiting to hear from and that is Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas because the context of this, of course, is that Democrats need all 60 senators who align themselves with Democrats to vote yes to keep this debate going and she would be the 60th, Blanche Lincoln after we hear from Mary Landrieu.
It will be interesting to see the way Mary Landrieu, just in a couple of minutes, talks about this process because her constituents, we're hearing from her from back home, have been really giving her an earful on the fact that they don't really like this bill.
WHITFIELD: Oh, interesting. It will be interesting to see how she articulates her view, what changed her mind or what cemented her decision and all. She's there on Capitol Hill and, of course, when she takes to the microphone there on the floor, we'll be able to bring those live images, as well. Dana Bash, thanks so much for keeping us posted on what is likely be the revealed decision from Senator Mary Landrieu.
Meantime, let's get back to this case of the U.S. attorney general making the decision that civilian court will be the place that five suspects from 9/11 will be tried. Our Avery Friedman is with us, civil rights attorney and Richard Herman a New York criminal law attorney and professor.
Good to see both of you. All right. So, why a civilian court over a military tribunal or vice versa. What's the advantage here, Richard?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, Fred, you know, all the points raised by the senators in that piece we just saw were excellent points, however, there is precedent to do this. Zacharias Moussaoui, John Walker Lind, the American Taliban, Richard Reed, the Show Bomber, Jose Padilla dozens and dozens of these war criminals have been tried in federal courts.
There has been three convictions and military tribunals since the establishment of them eight years ago. It's holder's ultimate decision. This is a pinnacle, a benchmark in the Obama administration. He wants to get it right and this forum, while objectively I don't know that they're going to get an impartial jury there because I said it's a stone's throw away from where the trade center stood, but federal court is absolutely, there's president for it and it is a proper forum.
WHITFIELD: OK, so, similar, Avery, what you would see in any civil court a defendant's attorneys are going to make that argument, change of venue. Might this be that opportunity that will occur even with these candidates, these five suspects on 9/11.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Right out of the box, Fredricka. We're going to see venue motion filed. But, you know, let me pick up on this issue. One of the things that I was hoping to see from Eric Holder this week was a little bit of power in the presentation. I actually thought it was a little bit of milk toast, to me, I mean, "We would not cower in the face of the enemy." I mean, what does he think he is? Winston Churchill?
WHITFIELD: What would you have rather heard? What did you need to hear?
FRIEDMAN: He should have said, listen, guys, we convicted Moussaoui, we convicted Padilla we don't miss, we're ready to go on this thing. The military tribunals are experimental and as Richard just pointed out, you've got three convictions since it was established very rarely does the U.S. Attorney Justice Department fail in it and I was very troubled with his reluctance to just say it out loud. I wish I would have seen a stronger statement, Fredricka coming from the attorney general.
WHITFIELD: Might that be then that there are certain risks that comes with trying these defendants in a civilian court, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think there are clearly risks. I mean, look, you need a unanimous verdict and you've got to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. But I think it's also very clear that Holder has indicated that there is independent evidence outside the battlefield capture that will be used to prove this case. I have to tell you, Fredricka, I have very little doubt that they're going to be able to get this conviction against Mohammed and, you know, the other creeps that go along with him.
HERMAN: Fred, you're right. The integrity and the credibility of the evidence is what's going to be weighed here and if these were force confessions or any forms of torture were used. You know, a jury could reject that. So, there are pitfalls here.
WHITFIELD: All right.
FRIEDMAN: It'll never get in, Richard, it'll never get in.
WHITFIELD: Well, OK. Let's talk about another case, which is pretty extraordinary this week. We're talking about Katrina victims in New Orleans ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...as well as in St. Bernard Parish who took on big government and actually won. Federal court saying you know, it's U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that failed to secure and maintain a shipping channel and that helped lead to this kind of massive flooding, people's loss of homes, lives, et cetera. Settlements that were also decided upon upwards of $317,000.
And so Richard, you know, you wonder if the flood gates will now open, whether others will say, well, wait a minute, we're going to follow suit, we're going to take on big government, too, along the Gulf Coast states. Might this precedence now lead to that? HERMAN: Hey, Fred, there's a lot of personal injury lawyers flocking down there ...
FRIEDMAN: You bet.
HERMAN: ...to try to get waived in. The judge didn't only rule it was a mistake, he said it was monumental negligence. Those are the words of the trial judge. There was an award of $750,000 to some four plaintiffs in that case, but there's 490,000 claimants out there, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: I mean, you do the math. At a half a million ...
WHITFIELD: Oh boy.
HERMAN: ...dollars per one -- I mean, it's going to be off the charts here.
FRIEDMAN: Well, you're going to ...
WHITFIELD: OK, well, Avery, before you weigh in, I want you all to hear my conversation with Mayor Ray Nagin as well as the president of St. Bernard Parish earlier in the week. This is what they had to say about that decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: How do you interpret this ruling and what it might do for many people who continue to suffer in your parish, in your city?
MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: I think it's huge. We've been monitoring this case and what this does for, particularly for the people in the lower ninth ward, many of them did not get enough money from the Road Home Program, which were the federal grants, many businesses did not get enough help. And hopefully, this ruling will open up the flood gates, if you will, for those people to receive proper compensation.
WHITFIELD: Does this now in your view open the flood gates to others who say, wait a minute, you know, I want compensation for what I went through as a result of this ruling?
CRAIG P. TAFFARO JR., ST. BERNARD PARISH PRESIDENT: Well, it certainly can, Fredricka. But more importantly than that, we certainly want people to be compensated and keep in mind that individual assistance dollars that have been -- that have been supported to many residents in the region are quite extensive. So, we're not sure how the individual breakdown is going to basically occur.
More importantly, though, and all along, our hunt in this fight, so to speak, is making sure that what we need to have happen in terms of restoring our coastline, building our protection and making sure that the ills of ... WHITFIELD: And are you getting some reassurance?
TAFFARO: ...the MRGO are created.
WHITFIELD: Are you getting some reassurance on that level now as a result of this?
TAFFARO: We are. Well, we were in discussions already. What this does is it strengthens our position to make sure that what is being discussed and, in some ways verbally committed actually gets Congressional support.
WHITFIELD: I guess I should say greater reassurance, greater reassurance as a result of this issue.
TAFFARO: Absolutely, greater reassurance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: I want to apologize for the little delay there, that's why we're kind of stepping on one another. So Avery ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...if yes to the flood gates being open, than do you really see that there might be payments doled out to people from the federal government because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is found culpable?
FRIEDMAN: Well, you know, of course this case is going to be appealed by the Army Corps of Engineers, but you know, we're waiting for Mary Landrieu to take the stage in the Senate momentarily.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: Mary Landrieu actually fits into this picture, Fredricka because she indicated right after you interviewed the mayor and the president of St. Bernard Parish that it's time to get the federal government involved, increase the money to the victims, increase the money to business.
Not only are we going to see the flood gates, no question about it, but we are now going to see increased political involvement to start solving some real problems that continue to exist in New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, Avery, Richard, thanks so much. I'm not saying goodbye, just so long for now. I'm going to see you again later on in the hour. We've got some other interesting cases ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...including that Wal-mart case that really got a lot of people's attention. Cutting line led to a court case and now, there's more. You all will fill in the blanks for us. We'll see you back here in a few minutes. Thank you. Meantime, we do continue to wait the words from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana there to take the floor. We heard from our Dana Bash say that she -- she being Landrieu, one of the two holdouts, Democratic senators who had not revealed whether they were in favor of this U.S. Senate health care reform proposal. Apparently, she will be revealing that she is. When that takes place on the Senate floor, we'll take you there live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Horror stories from holiday travel pasts, we all have at least one, right? Well, this time if you want a good trip with no flight delays or missing luggage, listen closely to Isha Teshpar's (ph) "On the Go" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISHA TESHPAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bypass the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving travel with a few simple strategies.
GABE SAGLIE, TRAVELZOO.COM: Try to use technology to your advantage. Right now, all the airlines allow you to check in for your flight 24 hours ahead of time. You can even sign up for e-mail and text alerts from the airlines themselves. It's an easy, quick way of knowing what to expect before you even get to the airport.
TESHPAR: Recent airline cutbacks may affect your trip, like reduced flights and smaller planes and what you pack could slow you down.
SAGLIE: Airlines, they're going to be on the lookout for luggage that is simply too big to fit on the plane. If you overstuff your carry-on bag, that will cause a delay. They'll take your bag off the airplane.
TESHPAR: Save some headaches by arriving early.
SAGLIE: There's always a list of the popular airports that serve the most people and during the holiday season, they're going to be the most packed. And you really have to almost expect and build in a 30 to perhaps even 90 minutes of a delay.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, live pictures right now of the U.S. Capitol and of the Senate chambers where on the floor, momentarily, we understand, one of the two Democratic senators who has held out on publicizing her view about whether or not to support the Democratic health care reform plan issued by majority leader Harry Reid.
Well, apparently, any minute now, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is to reveal that she does, in fact, give a thumbs up to that plan and votes to continue to move forward to debate that health care reform plan. So, she's one of two; the other is Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and she is apparently to reveal her thoughts on it later on in the afternoon before a vote would take place conceivably at 8:00 p.m. tonight. And of course, when Mary Landrieu takes to the floor, we'll be able to take that picture live, as well.
Meantime, protesters plan to actually hit the streets today to rally against the health care bill. There are rallies planned for Los Angeles, Salem, Oregon, Indianapolis, Chicago and Atlanta. A group of specialty surgeons called Doctors for Patient Care is actually hosting these events. They are rallying against a government-run health care plan.
Accusations of racial abuse against the police, a small Missouri town thrown into the spotlight, but now a plea deal could close the case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at the top stories right now. In quest for 60 days, that's what Senate Democratic leaders are vying for to begin debate on a proposed health care reform bill. Lawmakers are convening today for a rare Saturday session. The Senate vote is expected to take place at around 8:00 Eastern tonight and we'll take you live to the Senate chambers when it happens and momentarily, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu is to take to the floor and possibly reveal her support for the plan.
All right, the accused gunman in the Ft. Hood shooting rampage is set to go before a military judge today. The pre-trial confinement hearing for Army Major Nidal Hasan will be held in his hospital room. Doctors say Hasan remains paralyzed following the shooting spree two weeks ago. He is charged with 13 counts of murder. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
A rescue effort is currently underway in northeastern China after an early morning coal mine explosion left at least 42 people dead. Rescue crews are searching for up to 66 people believed trapped underground.
A question of courtesy that turned into a debate over race. It all started with a woman cutting in line, allegedly, at a Wal-Mart. Well, now, a plea deal has ended the trial, but as David Mattingly tells us, that hasn't quieted the controversy.
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DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An 11th hour plea deal helped Heather Ellis avoid serious jail time and a permanent felony record, but the attention generated by allegations of racial bias surrounding the case means Kennett, Missouri, may have a more long-term problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kennett is --
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: All right, right now we're going to have to interrupt that. We're taking you straight to Capitol Hill. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu right there. Let's listen in.
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SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D), LOUISIANA: ...comment about a few other colleagues that have been extremely helpful and supportive, not just to me, but I think to the entire Senate. Beginning with Senator Harry Reid, our leader, who with patience and persistence and care have led to a bill that is before the Senate.
The question today is whether we should proceed. I would like to say that there are, probably in my view, maybe no other member of the Senate could have accomplished what he has today and I think many senators share my thoughts and belief.
No. 2, I want to recognize the extraordinary work of a senator from Oregon. Senator Ron Wyden, who two years ago, before the process of election of president really significantly got underway, before it was really ever clear as to who might win, he put down a bill called the Healthy Americans Act, which I was very proud to support and still am so proud of his effort today that had the support of almost seven Republicans and seven Democrats, a truly bipartisan effort that would accomplish, in my view, what many Americans are asking for.
A marketplace that's fixed and reformed, more choices, affordable choices for individuals and small businesses and families and a real effort to curb the rising and alarming costs to the federal taxpayers given that the percentage now of our GDP spent on health care is almost exceeding 16 percent, twice as high as any nation in the world. That is alarming and that bill and that effort went a long way to help frame my thoughts on this debate.
I also, and we're going to continue to work together through this process. I also want to thank Senator Blanche Lincoln who, because of her persistent leadership, has pushed and prodded members of this body to give the time necessary for the review that our constituents, whether they are for or against the directions that we're moving, have the time.
I have used that time, I think, very well these last two-and-a- half days. I have been in meetings with economists on phones, with health care experts talking with people from my state, as well as around the nation. And I have used that time well and wisely and because she pushed for it, many of us received the time we needed. And I know she'll be speaking on the floor later today giving her final views on where we are.
Madam president, I come to the floor today to acknowledge those members, but also to speak on the business before the Senate today and that is the question of whether or not to proceed to debate on the Patient Protection and Affordability Act, a bill that is the best work of the Senate to date and a subject of significant importance to the people of my state and the country. My vote today to move forward on this important debate should in no way be construed by the supporters of this current framework as an indication of how I might vote as this debate comes to an end. It is a vote to move forward to continue the good and essential and important and imperative work that is underway.
After a thorough review of the bill, as I said over the last two- and-a-half-days, which included many lengthy discussions, I've decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward, but much more work needs to be done.
Over the past many years and in particular, the last six months, I have heard from people all across Louisiana that their insurance premium costs are simply too high and continue to rise without warning, threatening the financial stability of their families and their businesses. I have also heard the pleas and cries of many people who need coverage, health coverage, but they can't find it anywhere within reach of their budgets.
Through months of public meetings in VFW halls, school gyms and in hospitals and health clinics from New Orleans to Shreveport in large and small communities throughout my state, it is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option, nor is waiting any longer for this debate to begin to continue and to come to some final conclusion.
Spirited debate and good faith negotiations in this Senate have produced a bill that contains some amazing and cutting edge reforms that will, I am hopeful, reduce costs for families and small business while reducing the debt burden of the federal government. But these reforms must be implemented properly and carefully and they must be put in place in a timely fashion.
Small business owners across the country have told me time after time, in order to remain viable and create the jobs they want to and, Madam President, may I say the jobs we need them to create if we're going to work our way out of the recession that we're in, they need affordable health insurance and they need stable and predictable costs.
Yes, they would like their costs to be lowered and I'm going to stay focused like a laser on doing that. But what they also need is predictability, simplicity. They need to be able to plan so, they can get to their job, which is creating jobs and not finding their way through very complicated and limited choices.
WHITFIELD: Louisiana's Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu there revealing on the Senate floor that she's throwing her support to move forward on the debate of the proposed health care reform, a plan there in the Senate revealed by majority leader Harry Reid days ago.
She says that she's been hearing from her constituents for a long time now, hearing from people complain about their insurance premiums becoming too high, jeopardizing families and businesses. She says that this health care reform plan needs to be taken under serious consideration and that, indeed, the U.S. Senate needs to move forward on debating on that matter. However, she said her vote today for that debate of that plan does not necessarily mean that it reveals how she'll be voting later on as the package takes shape.
But she was one of the two Democratic holdouts there in the Senate who had not revealed her position on this. The other person we hope to hear from later on today would be Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. And of course, when that happens, we'll continue to show you the unfolding of Capitol Hill live throughout the day before 8 o'clock plan to vote
All right, meantime, let's go back to our legal guys and the legal cases that we're going to try and get in in just two minutes. That's all we've got before the end of the show. Guys, thanks for your patience.
HERMAN: No problem.
FRIEDMAN: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Avery Friedman, Richard Herman, back with us. All right, let's talk about that Wal-Mart case. We saw the piece earlier. A plea deal was struck after there was a lot of feathers ruffled after someone cut line and then there were racial slurs allegedly. There was even some physical altercation that transpired.
So, this young lady, Heather Ellis, Richard and Avery, struck a plea deal and now she's going to spend about four days in jail.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: Where do we go from here? What now? She said she did her part, she pled guilty. She says other people need to step forward, Richard. What does she mean by that?
HERMAN: Well, I don't know what she means, but she did a -- she got a great deal by her lawyers. She was looking at 15 years. There were five police officers ...
WHITFIELD: Ouch.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, I know what she means.
HERMAN: Wait, there were four other eyewitnesses, there were videotapes. She got a great deal here, a misdemeanor and it is a crime. I know they said a felony is not -- this is a crime. It's going to follow her. It's a racially powder keg in that area there and ...
FRIEDMAN: All right. Here's what ...
WHITFIELD: All right. Avery, real quick.
FRIEDMAN: Here's what Ms. Ellis really means. Kennett, Missouri, is torn in half. It's split along racial lines and now is the time to start the healing. Yes, they had -- I agree with Richard. I think they had overwhelming evidence against her, she talked about race. There were certainly racial implications in the trial. It's now time to start the healing. That's really what she means and, you know what, she's absolutely right. It's time for residents of Kennett to get together and overcome this absolutely very difficult trial.
HERMAN: Yes, but this is not the case to do that.
WHITFIELD: Yes, it sounded like she was also kind of saying you know what, if police officers kind of roughed her up, too. It sounds like she's also saying, don't they have they notice (ph) to apologize or say, I don't know, we did something wrong or no?
FRIEDMAN: That's a tougher part because the evidence really didn't show that. But bottom line, it's time for this -- between the NAACP, church organizations, we've seen this in other places in America, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: The time is now.
WHITFIELD: All right, guys. Appreciate it. Thanks so much. Sorry we had to cut our segment short with you guys, but you know what ...
FRIEDMAN: The nature of news, the nature of news.
WHITFIELD: ...we'll take any little bit we can with you.
HERMAN: No problem, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
FRIEDMAN: Thanks so much.
WHITFIELD: You all have a great weekend, appreciate it.
FRIEDMAN: And have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
WHITFIELD: Oh, thank you, you too.
HERMAN: Yes, happy Thanksgiving.
FRIEDMAN: Take care, all the best.
WHITFIELD: That's right, happy Thanksgiving.
FRIEDMAN: Thanks, so long.
WHITFIELD: All right, bye-bye. All right, look at the top stories, including the latest from Afghanistan, straight ahead.
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WHITFIELD: All right, time now for a look at the top stories of the hour. A rare Saturday session for the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers are taking up their version of the proposed health care reform. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is trying to muster 60 votes to get the measure to the floor for debate. You're looking at Senator Mary Landrieu on the floor.
Meantime, two people were hurt when a rocket exploded in front of a hospital in Kabul this morning. The hospital is across the street from a luxury hotel where many visiting VIPs stay and it has been an area targeted in the past. So far, no group is actually claiming responsibility for today's attack.
Seems pretty hard to believe, but this is a college campus. This is the University of California-Berkeley yesterday. Students there have been protesting a steep hike in tuition. Forty-one people were arrested. The Board of Regions voted Wednesday to raise fees 32 percent at all University of California campuses following state cuts to their budget.
Stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest breaking news. I'm Fredrica Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.
