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Climate Change Summit; In Brazil to Get His Son Back; Kidnapped by His Father; Holiday Reprieve on Foreclosures; Where Health Care Stands Now
Aired December 17, 2009 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, John and Kiran. Good morning to you, everybody.
Here's what we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A five year-long custody battle. It actually could be coming to an end. This father from New Jersey has landed in Brazil and is hoping to return home with his son once and for all.
And health care reform in the Senate. What's still in and what's out, and what changes could be in this bill regarding you and the future of your health care.
Also we are talking about foreclosures today and one firm -- of how it will handle them. A holiday hold, in fact. What does that mean? We'll tell you more about homeowners who are hurting.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. It is Thursday, December 17th, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The climate talks in Copenhagen. Optimism cool, passion boil over, police and protesters going up against each other at the global warming conference in Denmark's capital. Hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested.
Inside the conference, one Danish official says there is little hope for a comprehensive deal on greenhouse gas emissions. The reason? Negotiations between rich and poor countries grew divisive and deadlocked.
President Obama leaves tonight for the talks. He is to be joined by more than 100 other world leaders.
So with the climate talks seemingly at a stalemate, what can President Obama and other leaders expect to accomplish?
Let's look ahead now with CNN White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
Good morning to you, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi.
COLLINS: What's the state of play there now on the ground? MALVEAUX: Well, I have been speaking with people on the phone, on the ground in Copenhagen throughout the morning and clearly there is a standstill here in these negotiations.
They say it's crunch time, it's deal or no deal, but clearly, there is a difference between the United States and China over this issue of transparency, that if there is some sort of agreement that China be required along with other nations to prove that it's actually cutting its carbon admissions.
China balking at that, telling U.S. officials, Australians, the EU, all of them sources, saying that they're just not going along with this. This is not on the table.
We heard from Secretary Clinton early this morning. She is in Copenhagen. She addressed that very issue and it is a deal breaker, Heidi. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have presented and discussed numerous approaches to transparency with a number of countries, and there are many ways to achieve transparency that would be credible and acceptable, but there has to be a willingness to move towards transparency in whatever form we finally determine is appropriate. So if there is not even a commitment to pursue transparency, that's kind of a deal breaker for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Heidi, you're hearing some harsh language. But at least some wiggle room, perhaps, if there's an expression of a commitment towards transparency. There may be a breakthrough, but the next 48 hours is really going to be critical.
I did talk to sources on the ground as well as the White House about another potential sticking issue. That was between the funds that developed countries would turn over to developing countries to help them with climate change, to help them with protecting the forests, these kinds of things.
Very expensive for those poorer countries. Well, the United States this morning, Secretary Clinton, announced along with other nations $100 billion annual fund to be raised by 2020 for those developing countries. That seems to be no longer a sticking point. The developing countries, the head of Ethiopia saying that that was a good figure, a good enough deal, so clearly what is happening now is that standoff with China.
And U.S. officials saying they still believe there is a possibility of a breakthrough here, but the next 24 hours is going to be really critical, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. You have to wonder, too. What is the president doing to try to see his climate change agenda right here at home? Domestically. Make it more relevant to Americans. MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, because he's going over there. Obviously, there's a little bit of a risk. He's leaving the country. People worry about their pocketbooks and the economy. He's going to be addressing that when he's over there in Copenhagen.
He's going to talk about fuel efficiency standards for cars, for appliances, (INAUDIBLE) there promoting energy legislation, comprehensive legislation, even that idea of offering tax credits to weatherize your homes to create jobs. He's going to be talking about that so that Americans get the picture that there is a connection in what's happening in Copenhagen with climate change and this potential treaty and what happens with creating jobs back at home -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Understood. And also the obvious, other debate happening. Health care reform. As usual, a lot on the president's plate.
Sure do appreciate that, Suzanne Malveaux. Thank you.
Tackling the climate debate, though. That's what we're talking about. Tonight make sure you tune in as we answer the questions on your mind, the CNN YouTube Climate Change Debate tonight at 11:00 p.m. Eastern.
Did Iraqi insurgents know where U.S. troops were headed? The "Wall Street Journal" reports this morning insurgents hacked into the video feeds from unmanned drones. They used an Internet software that cost around $25.
That means insurgents saw the same surveillance video U.S. troops saw and may have known what areas U.S. forces were focusing on. The paper says the video feeds were found on captured insurgent computers.
Getting a look now at the frontlines in Afghanistan. Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen is there right now, visiting troops at a base in the dangerous Kandahar Province. Mullen has been in Afghanistan all week long.
Earlier he said the full deployment of President Obama's 30,000 additional troops probably would not be finished until August.
A New Jersey father who has been fighting a long international custody battle now has new hopes of getting his son back. David Goldman is now in Brazil after a court there ordered 9-year-old son, Sean Goldman, be returned to him.
CNN's Jason Carroll has the latest.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, David Goldman says he has flown down to Rio de Janeiro at least a dozen times when a Brazilian court has ruled in his favor. This time, he's hopeful it will be the last time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): The decision by a Brazilian appeals court was unanimous, but there was no celebrating. Not even a hint of a smile on the face of David Goldman.
DAVID GOLDMAN, GRANTED CUSTODY OF SON: I have been down this road for 5 1/2 yeas. Until I'm on the plane with Sean and the wheels are up I can only be hopeful.
CARROLL: The ruling upheld the decision this summer that ordered his 9-year-old son Sean to be returned home with him to New Jersey. But the homecoming could face one more roadblock.
The family of Sean's now-deceased mother is expected to file an appeal with Brazil's Supreme Court today. But Goldman's supporters are cautiously optimistic the ruling will stand.
REP. CHRIS SMITH (R), NEW JERSEY: Remember, this is an abducting family. They are kidnappers. And yet they -- but they come from a very high-powered legal family in Rio de Janeiro, so they've a great deal of sway with the court.
CARROLL: The custody battle has now spanned five years, starting back in 2004, when Sean's mother, Bruna Bianchi, took Sean to Brazil for what was supposed to be a two-week vacation. They never came back. She eventually remarried and then died last year during childbirth.
Her family has taken up the fight to keep Sean in Rio arguing it would be traumatizing to remove the boy from the home where he's been raised. Here in the United States, Goldman's fight has been taken up Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. And it's that international pressure that some say could make this ruling stick.
ROBERT ARENSTEIN, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: I think the justices are on their toes trying to do the right thing, because everybody -- the world is watching this case. This case is being watched by the entire world.
CARROLL: A case that won't be over until this father watches his son board a plane home.
GOLDMAN: My emotions are in check. I'm focused on just doing what I can to comfort my son.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Secretary Clinton releasing a statement saying she appreciated the assistance and cooperation from Brazil, and she hopes the long legal process is finally over. Representative Smith from New Jersey, who you saw in the piece there and has been working with the family, says the Brazilian high court will take up the appeal today.
The Supreme Court could grant a stay, once again delaying Sean's return, or, Heidi, allow Sean to be returned to his father while the appeal is decided. Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, Jason, thanks. And of course, we'll be following that story closely here on CNN throughout the day. A similar custody case is far from over in Texas. The boy at the center of the dispute has been missing for two months along with his father. A local San Antonio newspaper reports the father used misleading documents from Mexico to convince a judge he had custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN PAUL LACOMBE, 10 YEARS OLD: Please help me. He's not my dad. He's not my dad. I don't want to live with him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on. You're going to have to get off the bus. Come on.
LACOMBE: I don't want to live with him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) your dad.
LACOMBE: No, no, no, no. Someone help me please. Someone help me please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: This is video of Jean Paul Lacombe Diaz on his school bus pleading with police to let him stay with his mother. He even accused his father of hitting him. The two of them have not been seen since. The boy's mother was also waiting there at the bus stop. She talked to our Anderson Cooper about the day her son disappeared.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "AC 360": Tell us about the day the officers came to take your son. You say they suddenly arrived at the bus stop?
BERENICE DIAZ, MOTHER OF KIDNAPPED BOY: Yes, they arrive at the bus stop. When I arrive, I thought it was an accident. Then I saw when they -- my kid was on the ground, he was crying, and they -- a policeman came and served me with some papers. And you know, I started begging him, you know, to let me go with my child, because he was on the ground crying.
So I came to him, and he was crying, and he was asking to whom he has to talk because he didn't want to go with his father anymore because he mistreat (sic) him. So, you know, I was begging also to the policeman that what was happening, and he said that they have court orders. And I say court orders for what? Because I didn't understand what was happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Again, the father and the boy have been missing now for two months. The father had actually lost custody of the boy in 2005 when he took the child to France. He is wanted now for kidnapping and lying to a judge.
Hope for the holidays. A major mortgage company issues a reprieve for homeowners on the brink of disaster. We'll have all the details for you coming up.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And, Heidi, coming up, we're going to talk about some wind and light snowfall possible for parts of the northeast, and heavy rainfall, potentially flash flooding, on parts of the Gulf Coast. That's coming up in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: For millions of Americans the sour economy has made for a dismal holiday season. But some homeowners on the brink of disaster may actually get a reprieve. A mortgage giant is suspending foreclosures temporarily.
Christine Romans is joining us now from New York with more details on this.
Hi there, Christine. Citi is offering...
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi.
COLLINS: ... quite the holiday gift for homeowners who are in trouble.
ROMANS: That's right. This is Citigroup, Citibank, if you have a mortgage that is owned by Citibank, owned by Citibank, and is a primary mortgage, this could be you. A suspension from Friday until January 17th of foreclosures and evictions.
How many people does this represent? It represents about 4,000 homeowners. So 4,000 homeowners will not have a foreclosure sale of their home and an eviction Friday through January 17th, 2010.
You got to be careful here. There might be a lot of people who write their mortgage every month to Citi or might be behind by several months and they write their mortgage to Citi. Citi also services mortgages. So be careful now. These are city owned mortgages. You need to check with Citi and find out if this pertains to you.
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: It's about 4,000 homeowners, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. I got it. So a real solution or a maybe just band-aid, here?
ROMANS: Well, they have about 70,000 homes right now in the foreclosure process...
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: ... for the third quarter. So you can do the math, 4,000 out of about 70,000 of those. And there are going to be people who have primary and maybe secondary mortgages on a home. There are going to be other people who do business with Citi and they service the loan. But it's not a Citi-owned mortgage. And also there are millions, millions of people right now who are in default. It doesn't help them. I wouldn't be surprised if we see other home loan servicers and home loan companies...
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: ... who have -- we saw it last year, remember? But then what happened in February? We saw a pick up in foreclosure filings as the time ran out. And then those people were put back into the system.
COLLINS: Yes, understood. What about the "Romans Numeral" for today?
ROMANS: The "Romans Numeral" is 39 percent, Heidi. And I have been combing through this Citi mortgage statistics trying to figure out just what is the status here of people who have had a modification on their loan, for example.
They've had a chance to sort of save their situation, modify the loan so they could stay in the house. And according to that data, the re-default rate a year after a modification is 39 percent. So this sort of underscores the problem both for the government programs and for these banks that when they are modifying loans, a big percentage of those people are still in trouble a year later or six months later, and that's a real problem that we have not been able to figure out how to fix.
It's been a conundrum. The Treasury secretary has said so, the banks' CEOs have said so, trying to figure out how to fix this problem, because even when you are modifying loan, a big chunk of people are still in trouble again a year later.
COLLINS: Yes. For sure. All right, we are watching closely. Again. Thank you, Christine.
ROMANS: Sure.
COLLINS: Well, there is a lot of rain in the southeast, particularly on the Gulf Coast, and Reynolds, I understand the world "brrr"?
WOLF: Yes.
COLLINS: That's how they spell it, "brrr".
WOLF: A little bit. That's definitely...
COLLINS: It's hit the northeast, right?
WOLF: It's valid, especially in parts of the northeast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: OK. I was going to say they never like to hear be patient.
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: Yes, it's always...
COLLINS: I know. But you can't do anything about it.
WOLF: Indeed.
COLLINS: Reynolds, thank you. We'll check back later on.
The road to health care reform has taken lots of turns lately. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a map now to show us where we are and where we might be going.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Time now to check some of the top stories that we're following this morning. There were hopes a nuclear arms deal between United States and Russia could be finalized in time for the climate summit in Copenhagen, but now it looks like that won't happen.
Russia's foreign minister blames the United States delegation for slowing negotiations. The new arms control deal with replace the old START Treaty that expired earlier this month.
South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, escaped another impeachment vote. The State House Judiciary Committee voted against impeachment but did approve a resolution censuring Sanford. They criticized him for bringing ridicule and shame on the state by carrying on an affair with an Argentinean woman.
Roy Disney has died. The nephew of Walt Disney is credited with revitalizing the company with some of its most popular animated films of the last 30 years like "Beauty and the Beast" and the "Lion King". He battled stomach cancer for the past year.
Besides working in the family business for 56 years, Roy Disney was also a philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to schools, theaters and hospitals.
Roy Disney was 79 years old.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Senate majority leader Harry Reid's drive to get a health care reform bill passed by Christmas hit a Republican speed bump. In a procedural move yesterday, Republicans forced the reading of the 767-page amendment.
Under that amendment, the government would cover the health care expenses of every American. Senate clerks read for three hours before the amendment's sponsor, that's Vermont independent Bernie Sanders, surrendered.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Senator from Vermont.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: I withdraw my amendment. Mr. President, regular order, Mr. President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Sanders acknowledged there were not enough votes to get his amendment passed. And Republicans accused Democrats of trampling on Senate procedure in allowing Sanders to interrupt that reading.
What's left in the legislation right now and what could you expect in a final bill? And our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, takes a look.
DR. SANJAY `, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, so much to talk about when it comes to the current version of the health care bill. And as you listen to all of this, keep in mind that if this bill passes it could potentially offer health insurance access to at least 31 million more Americans.
But lots of hurdles that have not been crossed, a lot of obstacles that we've been talking about really almost since the campaign, public option being one of them, as the Senate bill stands now. And again it's not finalized. But there's no public option in this.
Also something that we've been hearing about over the past couple of weeks this idea of expanding Medicare to age 55. Again, as you know, that's not in this bill either. That was something that was talked about quite a bit even over the last couple of days.
And one that you may not have heard about that may have helped lower drug costs is this idea of purchasing drugs from overseas. That's not going to happen, at least not as part of this current version of the Senate bill, because of concerns about drug safety on those importations.
Now there some things that have happened worth point out. And again, part of that larger picture. First of all, a health insurance exchange. This idea of having insurance companies all over the country creating a marketplace to which anyone could buy in, and having those insurance companies compete with one another for people who do not have enough money to purchase health care insurance. This would also be where some subsidies would kick in.
Also no lifetime caps on benefits. As things stand now there's a lot of caps. For example, if a family has a significant illness in that family, after a certain amount of money is paid out to cover those health care costs, the money would just stop. It would be capped and the family would sort of be left to fend for themselves. That wouldn't happen any more.
Also mandated employee insurance coverage. So, meaning if you work for a large employer, you're going to get health care insurance coverage or that employer will be penalized. And finally a big one. A big one that seems to have really drawn some support really on all sides, no denial of coverage for preexisting conditions. But even that, we had some trouble getting through. There was concern that people would buy insurance only when they got sick and cancel it when they got better, quote unquote, "sort of gaming the system."
The compromise that seems to have been reached is this idea that people will be penalized for not buying health care insurance in the first place. That's sort of the mandate part of this. And then also be penalized if they buy it and then cancel it after they get better.
What may be most surprising to you, Heidi, and to a lot of people is that abortion still remains one of the hot button issues in this entire debate. We've heard about it in weeks past. We'll probably hear about it in the weeks following. This idea that should any government money go to pay for abortions.
If a woman buys into a private insurance program but is also getting government subsidies, should some of that government money possibly pay for abortion? That is still one of those hot button issues that is being worked out even as I talk to you now. Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Yes, in fact, we actually spoke with Senator Hatch, the co-sponsor of that bill yesterday. That amendment, I should say, Senator Stabenow. So we are definitely following that side of the health care reform bill as well.
Meanwhile, cutting coupons to save money and make money. How a layoff became a family business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: On Wall Street, stocks retreated yesterday after the Fed said the economy would remain weak for sometime. And today we have more evidence proving that statement is unfortunately true. Listening to the opening bell there.
Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange now with a little bit more details on these jobless claims, Susan. Also a preview of the trading day.
Hey, there.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's start with the jobless claims, because that's a pretty easy way to figure out the state of the economy.
COLLINS: Yes.
LISOVICZ: New jobless claims, Heidi, rose unexpectedly last week to 480,000. And on going benefits rose to 5.2 million. Jobless claims had been trending lower, but in the past two weeks, we have seen increases showing layoffs are still an issue although analysts say it's not unusual to see jobless claims rise this time of year. Big story we're watching, the Treasury Department plans to keep its investment in Citigroup for now. The government is delaying plans to start selling its 34 percent stake. The move came after Citi said it would sell more than 5 billion shares, but would do so at a price less than the government paid when it acquired its stake last September. The discounted price shows investors are still worried about Citi's health and earnings potential. It also means the government would have lost money on its investment, so it will wait.
Another big bank in the news, B of A. Bank of America has a new CEO, Brian Moynihan. The current president of small business lending at B of A will take the helm.
And, finally, good news for FedEx workers who are so busy this time of year. The shipping company will end its pay freeze and reinstate a 401(k) match because of the improving economy. This despite the fact that the companies quarterly profit fell 30 percent, and it issued a tepid forecast for the current quarter.
Merry Christmas to FedEx folks. FedEx shares right now are down 4.5 percent. And we're seeing, you know, we're seeing red arrow. Citigroup shares, they are down nine percent. Fortunately, the three major averages are down about 50 percent right now -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Well, we're watching close, as usual. Thank you, Susan.
LISOVICZ: I'll be back.
COLLINS: Ready for new sanctions against Iran. That is the word from the White House after Iran's latest missile test. Iran launched a new long-range missile yesterday. They say it's just meant as a deterrent to other country. Iran claims it will reach 1,200 miles, and that would put Israel well within range. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the launch weakens claims by Iran that their nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
And joining me now from Washington is former U.N. nuclear weapon inspector David Albright.
Good morning to you, David.
DAVID ALBRIGHT, U.N. NUCLEAR WEAPON INSPECTOR: Good morning.
COLLINS: Obviously, you are still -- you are now with we should say the Institute for Science and International Security. The president, in fact.
Your first reaction when we look at this new information now. Another missile test by Iran. More talk of tougher sanctions. A longer range missile this time around. What stands out to you? What's different this time?
ALBRIGHT: Oh, I think you just see a continuing pattern of Iran marching forward towards possibly nuclear weapons. And you don't see an Iran willing to negotiate. I mean, the Obama administration has really sincerely reached out to Iran, tried to offer them incentives, good deals, and Iran just has not been interested.
And I think the United States is in a difficult situation now. But, unfortunately, I don't think it has any choice but to move towards a path of increased pressure on Iran to try to see if that could get Iran to change its calculations.
COLLINS: And so how would that work? Because, yes, as you say, when you are talking about tougher sanctions, we've been talking about that for a long time.
What would they look like, and then what happens when the allies? The U.S. allies in all of those as well?
ALBRIGHT: Well, one example of these tougher sanctions is what we saw with the Swiss Bank. It has to pay a fine of $500,000 for facilitating illegal Iranian bank business. And so there are things you can do on the financial side that can really have a bite to them. And there is also things that can be done with insurance of ships or reinsurance of ships that will make it harder for Iran to go to the seas with its product.
COLLINS: But everybody is got to be onboard with all of that. The international community? Yes?
ALBRIGHT: Well, yes and no. I mean, I think Iran is learning that it's harder and harder to do any business around the world. Whether it is in China or Europe in U.S. dollars. So, already in China, you can see it moving towards Euros. But one effort will be to get the European banks to start to pass their own regulations that would ban such business in violation of the existing sanctions or the European sanctions.
So I think you can see this effort spread. And that's independent of what happens at the U.N. Security Council. Just that there will be countries in a multilateral effort trying to say to Iran, look, we don't want your business. It's illegal in many cases. It supports the nuclear weapons effort we believe. It supports a more aggressive missile program, and we just don't want your business. And Iran is going to be facing a much tougher economic situation as a result of these sanctions over the next couple of years.
COLLINS: Yes. In fact, you know, when you talk about their intent, because, of course, as we just said in the story yesterday and today, they say that these missile tests and these missiles are just being used as a deterrent to other countries.
There is obviously a lot of concern and there has been concern for a long time about whether or not they have nuclear intentions. And I know there is a memo out there that's been circulating for quite sometime. It's written in Persian, and it talks a little bit more about the intent.
Tell us about that. Remind us what it is, and what concerns you about it.
ALBRIGHT: Well, "The London Times" acquired a set of documents about the -- sort of the peek-in to the Iranian nuclear program, particularly the part of the program that could be making a nuclear weapon. And one document in particular, which is in Farsi, talks about making a very complicated component of a nuclear weapon, a vital component that triggers the nuclear explosion. And it's a document that is said to be written in 2007, and outlines a plan, a four-year plan to master the development and testing of this component. And so -- and what is significant is its date is 2007 reportedly. And that's after we thought based on our own U.S. Intelligence agencies work that the program had stopped.
COLLINS: Well, they said it had stopped, correct?
ALBRIGHT: Yes, that's right, in '03. And so here you have some evidence that says, no, it didn't stop. It's actually either been on going or the document tends to suggests we are ramping up the program again.
And so you have additional concern that perhaps Iran has faced some problems, had not solved all of its problems in 2003, and now is worried and wants to solve those problems and be ready to build a nuclear weapon if you believe the document around 2011.
COLLINS: Yes. And I know that you looked very closely at the document. Your company was asked to do so. And you had said...
ALBRIGHT: That's right.
COLLINS: ...from what you saw, you know, the amount of money that was evidence from this memo, and the number of people involved really only brought you to one conclusion, and quickly, what was that conclusion?
ALBRIGHT: Well, the conclusion we reached was that this is a part that would be part of making a nuclear weapon. It doesn't have any realistic civil applications.
COLLINS: Significant?
ALBRIGHT: Yes, it's very significant.
COLLINS: All right. Well, David, we will continue to follow this, as usual, here on CNN. And we would love to speak with you, again, as we move forward and continue the investigation of that memo.
Thanks so much. Appreciate your time this morning.
ALBRIGHT: Thank you.
COLLINS: David Albright.
Cutting coupons to save money in a tight economy. And now one laid-off marketing executive is turning her thriftiness into a campaign for capital.
Chief business correspondent picks up her story as a CNN Express Recovery Road. A stop this morning in Savannah, Georgia. So, you're kind of right down the road. I don't even remember -- I think we mentioned your Ali Velshi, the chief business correspondent.
Nice to see you actually out of the bus for a second, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, we have been talking to people all week, Heidi, about things that they are doing to try to improve their own personal finance situation or their business, or their town. And some of them had been elaborate and interesting and resourceful. This is interesting. This is a woman who has taken coupon clipping to a new level.
Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHANNON JUSTICE, RUNS COUPON WEB SITE: A year ago, I was laid off for my job as a marketing director. And because of the economy and because of needing financial help, we decided to start couponing, me and my friends. And what has come back from that is that we've developed a Web site called SmartCouponDeals.com, where we send out email, shopping list to people showing them where they can save about 60 percent to 90 percent on groceries. And we match the coupons are that are currently out there with the sales that are out in the local stores.
We charge $5 a month for our service, and we e-mail on the day that every single sale starts, a list to all the people. And we actually do all the hard work for everybody. We tell them we do the leg work for them, because couponing is really not an easy thing to do.
FRANK MARZE, JUSTICE'S FATHER: What I will do is I'll take the sales flyers.
JUSTICE: My father is recently retired, and he's just taken to couponing like a duck in water.
MARZE: So this is my stash, as we say here.
JUSTICE: He's actually had to build on a second pantry under his house, because he saved so much and he's buying so many things.
MARZE: I can walk in and spend $150 with my discounts, with my coupons. I can walk out with $35, $40.
VELSHI (on camera): Has this generated some income for you?
JUSTICE: Very little right now. We are just in our beginning stages. What we've done is we've started with Facebook marketing.
Just in the month of October alone, we went from having 100 fans on Facebook to about 2,067 fans. A lot of people feel that, you know, that we're not that bad off, that we have to go use coupons. The point is it doesn't matter how bad off you are, you can really, you know, take that savings and put it towards something else in your household.
VELSHI: It's logical regardless of what your financial station is to try and save on the basics.
JUSTICE: I believe it is. One of the things that we do, too, is we also promote charity, too.
MARZE: One of the nice things that I found recently was glucose meters, you can go into some of the places like CVS, pay $20 for this here, and they will give you $20 back, an extra box, so you can use the $20. And then I will take it -- I'll do this, I'll donate it to the emergency ministries, one of the doctor's offices, so they can start the patients out with a glucose meter. It's surprises me to just know that so many people that are out actually doing this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: So, Heidi, look at this, the resourcefulness of this. They are saving money by using the coupons, running a little bit of business by selling subscriptions to this system, this database that they've got, and helping the needy out by getting all this free, or really heavily discounted goods that they don't even need, but using that to help people out. I think it's a great story.
COLLINS: Yeah, it is a great story. I'm glad you found it, Ali. And I know you've got many more stories coming up as we are trying to follow you on this road to recovery. So thanks for that.
Ali Velshi this morning.
Got a big holiday gift list but need help in keeping your costs down? Who doesn't? Have we got a tight wad for you, coming up next.
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COLLINS: A look at the stop stories now.
A judge's ruling is expected next hour on a British Airways move to stop a strike. Meanwhile talks between the carrier and the union representing 14,000 cabin crew members continue. The union plans a 12-day strike beginning Tuesday. At issue, this "British Airways" plan to change cabin crew conditions. The union says working hours will be extended and crew levels cut.
It is a season for Hollywood award nominations; the latest today's announcement of nominees for the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award and some of them are three nominations each for the movies "Up in the Air," "Precious" and "Inglorious Bastards." Those latest -- the last two films are also up for best overall cast. And also nominated in that category: "An Education", "The Hurt Locker" and "Nine." The SAG Awards airs January 23rd at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on our sister networks TNT and TBS.
Well, it wasn't the president and it wasn't Michael Jackson. What was the most viewed story on CNN.com this year? Our Josh Levs with the answer coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Holiday frugality. Well, a new CNN opinion research poll finds that near half -- half of all Americans plan to spend less on gifts this year than last. So even if you're spending less, how can you get the biggest bang for your holiday bucks? We're going to "Tightwad Tod" to find out.
And that is Tod Marks' nickname, of course. Now, wait, is that self-imposed or who started to calling you that?
TOD MARKS, SENIOR PROJECT EDITOR, CONSUMER REPORTS & AUTHOR, "TIGHTWAD TOD BLOG": Oh, oh, that would be terrible if I named myself that.
COLLINS: Well, you know...
MARKS: Now, one of the powers that be here at Consumer Reports had a brainstorm. The (INAUDIBLE) brainstorm.
COLLINS: Are you still friends with that person?
MARKS: He is my boss, I have to be.
COLLINS: There you go. All right, perfect.
So once again you are the senior project editor of "Consumer Reports" and also the author of the Tightwad Tod blog.
So listen, we're going to put this poll that we were talking about on the screen real quickly for everybody.
And it says this, spending on holiday gifts compared to last year, as we said: more only by 12 percent; less by 49 percent; about the same, 39 percent.
So you guys also did a survey, similar results. People are spending something like $60 to $90 less this year on gifts. What do you make of it? Is it obvious with the current economic conditions?
MARKS: Well, yes, I think there's a lot of obvious to it. Americans are going to be spending on average about $700. It's a number though, that's been steadily going down for about three years now. And it's only about -- our numbers are about $40 less this year than last, but they're buying the same number of gifts; 15 on average.
But what's happened is one of the great questions we asked and it's a pretty -- pretty telling one; 34 percent of Americans say that they wanted to get more practical gifts this year. And so that, I think, has something to do with it. Maybe they're being less extravagant, they're buying the same number of gifts but they're spending a little bit less so there might be that emphasis on again the pragmatic this year at a time when so many people are struggling and so many people are out of work.
COLLINS: Yes and that's what I think is the most interesting right now. And we've talked a lot about it and I've heard many people saying I'm actually not going to be going out and buying my gift cards to maybe the department stores or for that neat little luxury item, if you will. I'm actually buying gift cards maybe for groceries or for gas...
MARKS: Yes.
COLLINS: ... for my loved ones.
MARKS: Well, you know, it may not sound like the most romantic or indulgent of gifts...
COLLINS: Yes, I know.
MARKS: But hey, when a time when so many people are struggling, I think things like that are truly, truly appreciated.
COLLINS: What about the online shopping? Has that helped at all? Because obviously -- well, it's not obvious, maybe people don't know this. Today is National Free Shipping Day...
MARKS: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: ... so you still have time, right?
MARKS: Yes. Today, December 17th, about 600, 700 companies are offering free shipping with or without a minimum purchase. You're talking everybody from Amazon down to small retail merchants. And it's a great way -- it was a brain child of a fellow who wanted to keep people shopping later...
COLLINS: Yes.
MARKS: ... into the season online and it's been a success.
But what it tells us is that today is pretty much around the cutoff day if you're going to shop online. And again, it's been trending upwards for the past three years now. About 39 percent, 40 percent of people are going to be shopping online this month.
And if you're going to do it, today, tomorrow are pretty much your last chances to qualify for those free standard shipping offers. If you wait until around the 20th, you're going to have to use two or three day shipping which costs much more. And if goodness gracious knows you have to wait until the drop dead date, which is the 23rd, for next day delivery, that's going to really cost you an arm and a leg.
COLLINS: Oh.
MARKS: So there is no delivery on Christmas day for normal routine deliveries so you've got to remember that.
COLLINS: Yes, yes, we've paid those prices many times personally in the past this year.
MARKS: Yes.
COLLINS: The boxes are out. So very proud. Tightwad Tod, thanks for the info. I sure do appreciate your time this morning.
MARKS: My pleasure. Happy holidays.
COLLINS: Thanks. You too.
And we are talking about holiday shopping on my blog this morning as well. Are you spending less this year or buying different things? Are you one of the people buying gas or groceries or something that is necessary for your loved ones? Let us know about it. Go to CNN.com/Heidi and let me know.
We do have a lot going on this morning. Our CNN crews are in place to bring you all of the details. Let's me check in with some of our correspondents now beginning with Poppy Harlow in New York. Hi, Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Hi there, Heidi. Well, Citigroup's mortgage division coming and saying they're going to put a moratorium on foreclosures for 30 days but is it really going to help people. And honestly Heidi, the mortgage modifications have fallen way below expectations. We'll dig into the numbers in the next hour.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. Cesarean section rates in this country are skyrocketing. I talked to one woman who took some unusual steps to get the birth that she wanted. I'll tell you what she did at the top of the hour.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we've got two -- two big weather stories that we're following and one of those would be the light snow and the wind in parts of the northeast. Also the heavy rainfall expected for parts of the southeast and the Gulf Coast.
Now, coming up in a few moments I'll let you know how it's going to affect millions of travelers and that is just a short while away -- Heidi.
COLLINS: It doesn't sound good. All right, Reynolds and everybody else, thanks so much. We'll talk with you guys shortly.
Also ahead this morning, changing lives one stove at a time. It's a remarkable story about a simple charity that aims to protect women and the environment at the same time.
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COLLINS: Very quickly, we are just now getting this information into the CNN NEWSROOM and want to share it with you. The NFL's Chris Henry has died from his injuries. You may have heard about this story.
He received major injuries during a domestic dispute, some sort of domestic dispute in Charlotte, North Carolina; it all happened yesterday afternoon.
Now, according to our affiliates in the area, again the Charlotte Mecklenburg area, this is a police department as well that is telling us this, Chris Henry died at the medical center.
They received -- it originally started as I said yesterday afternoon. They had gotten a call around noon about a person who was injured in a home there and now we know the result of those injuries. We did know at the time that they were very serious injuries but of course did not know what the result could have been.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry has now died from those injuries.
I want to go ahead and bring in Josh Levs now with a little bit more about this because I know you've been watching this story as well. It's been all over cnn.com and a lot of people have been following what happened here.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESONDENT: This is what a lot of people have been fearing since this new broke. And what we've been talking to you about is the specifics of what happened. We're going to be up there in the headline. This was about him fighting for life and here you can see a picture of him.
What we've been talking about on cnn.com are the specifics from the authorities about this domestic situation and what it is that they believe led to this.
You can't miss it if you go to cnn.com right now. It talks to you about the life-threatening injuries that he was experiencing after falling out of the bed of a pickup truck. They talk about how it was during a fight with his fiancee.
All of this information coming from police in Charlotte, North Carolina. We got the latest coming on for you, Heidi, right now at cnn.com. The story is being updated with all the latest details; obviously a lot of interest in this and a lot of people very sad about this.
We're going to keep bringing you all the information we get throughout the day.
COLLINS: Yes. OK. Very good. Once again the NFL wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals Chris Henry has now died from injuries in a domestic dispute that happened yesterday afternoon. We will continue to follow that story for you.
