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Senate Passes Health Care Bill; Five-Year Custody Battle Over; Big Banks Pay Back Bailout
Aired December 24, 2009 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Everybody is going home. Not CNN though, here's CNN NEWSROOM with Fredricka Whitfield -- hi, Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good morning to you. That's right, not going home. Our morning is just getting started. You all have a great day.
All right, done deal, the U.S. Senate passes the health care reform bill, we'll tell you what's next on the way to the White House.
And blizzard conditions, a mammoth of a storm in the midsection of this country. How is it affecting your holiday travels?
And in a crush of photographer, an American boy in Brazil is reunited with his American dad. They're on their way home or are they?
Good morning everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins this morning. It is Christmas Eve, December 24th and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We start with that done deal. Health care, the Senate passed the $871 billion bill less than two hours ago. The vote went right along party lines. The 58 Democrats and two Independents voted to pass the bill. Democrats speaking right after the vote hailed of their victory saying, they are carrying on the dream of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. The next step is compromise.
The Senate version of the health care bill now has to be combined with the bill passed earlier in the House. President Obama says the bills are pretty much the same and that he'll roll up his sleeves to start working on the new legislation before Congress gets back to work.
So let's get more on the next step and on today's decision by the Senate. National political correspondent Jessica Yellin joins me now from Capitol Hill. Good to see you.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Well, you heard the president say that he's going to get to work. So are members here in the Senate. After a quick break, staff will come right back together and start trying to reconcile these very different versions of the health care bill, the House version and the Senate version treat things like abortion provisions, tax elements and of course that ever sticky public option very differently.
Already, House leaders have signaled they might be willing to recognize they cannot get a public option in the final version. There just aren't votes but they are insistent, they will not swallow the Senate version of the bill whole, they are going to push for their version of the bill. And already House leaders have put out statements praising the Senate for their version but extolling the House's version for some of the things they think are much better; so already laying the markers, laying the ground work for a very tough negotiating fight ahead.
At the same time, the Republicans as you can imagine are coming out strong, hitting the Democrats hard over this bill.
Let me just show you a few of the remarks various Republicans have made so far. Senator Lamar Alexander, the Chair of the Senate Republican Conference calls this "an historic mistake". The RNC says that this is a "lump of coal in the stocking of every American". And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has insisted that there is widespread opposition to this, quote, "monstrosity" insisting the fight is not over.
Bottom line what they're saying here is that, Republicans plan to go home, plan to make a very aggressive sales pitch to their constituents to fight this bill as best they can. Really it's just a political fight; the real work is on the Democrats' side from here on out -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So we know the House and the Senate bills have to reconcile in some way at the beginning of the year, but if this bill were to become law, most of the biggest elements actually wouldn't actually go into effect until 2014. So what in the bill would kick-in right away if this were to be passed?
YELLIN: Excellent point. Because one of the biggest challenges for Democrats is to go out and sell this bill to voters who think well it's not going to have any immediate effect on me.
So here's what is in this Senate bill that will take immediate effect if it became law. Rescissions would be banned. That's when your insurance company denies a claim because the procedure is essentially too costly.
There would be an immediate ban on excluding kids because they have pre-existing conditions. Down the line, that would be extended to adults. Another example, there will be new rules allowing kids to stay on their parents' health care plan until their 26. Right now, you're kicked off if you're 18.
Some new provisions immediately to help seniors get more drugs -- prescription drugs coverage in that prescription drug care doughnut hole everyone talks about and then other methods of funding to get more primary care doctors into the system. To help people go to medical schools and even to help people pay for health insurance if they can't right now. So those would be some immediate effects if the Senate bill became law. WHITFIELD: All right, Jessica Yellin, thanks so much.
And it is just the beginning of all the dissecting...
YELLIN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ... of this bill and this vote this morning.
Coming up at the bottom of the hour, in fact, we'll take a closer look at the tale of two bills, the House and the Senate versions for health care. We'll talk to two Members of Congress who have some ideas on how the two can be effectively combined.
Well, it is the day before Christmas and it's anything but a holiday for many of you in the middle part of this country, from the northern plains to north Texas, we're seeing icy roads, power outages and a lot of delayed or canceled flights. Minnesota is bracing for up to 20 inches of snow. One Minneapolis suburb is already declaring a snow emergency.
And to the south, tornado watches, one twister hit Long View, Texas, overnight. Definitely some dangerous conditions out there.
Reynolds Wolf in the Severe Weather Center, what's on tap?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I'll tell you, we're going to see more of the same for millions of people today. We're talking about a storm system Fredricka, that stretches over 1,000 miles and it's going to bring a variety of different weather conditions. And of course, the timing is terrible.
Let's be honest. There's never a good timing for severe weather. That's especially the case in part of Louisiana, Mississippi and into Arkansas. You see this area here, this red shaded area. That is your tornado watch that will be in effect until 1:00 Central time.
But when you go back a little bit farther to the west in Dallas, we're seeing something else that's pretty interesting. In fact in Dallas right now, we see some scattered showers, but go back a little bit more into I-20 you're going to be seeing something else, some snowfall some of this could spell out to about four inches of snow before the day is out.
We have that live image for you in Dallas right now. Let's go to that. There is the shot of the city, it looks pretty good for there and Ft. Worth, but later on today I can guarantee we're going to be seeing some delays. Delays also not just a possibility but a certainty in places like the Twin cities, up to Minneapolis we go.
Let's go back to the magic wall and as we do go back to the magic wall you can see this area, Fredricka, you see a few scattered snow showers popping up mainly north on 35, South of Duluth and Rochester is clear for the time being. But what we're going to be seeing is this area of low pressure just trek it's way off towards the east.
And as that low marches eastward what it's going to do is bring in colder air in right behind it, it's going to be the combination of that moisture and that cold air that is going to make things pretty nasty for travelers.
Very quickly, the last thing we want to show you the delays is expected in Chicago and Milwaukee, Dallas due to low clouds, wintry mix of rain, same deal in Minneapolis and St. Louis, Memphis and Kansas City.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: ... 30 minutes to an hour long delays.
WHITFIELD: Oh no, terrible stuff.
WOLF: Always happens during the holiday seasons.
WHITFIELD: It really does. It's never smooth sailing.
WOLF: Yes, it makes the job.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Reynolds. I appreciate that, we'll check back with you.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right, now, overseas to Pakistan where four people are dead in a suicide bombing, more than a dozen others are injured.
It happened in the city of Peshawar, the heart of Pakistan's war on terror. The blast targeted a checkpoint in the busy part of the city. Militants have recently launched a series of deadly attacks in Peshawar in retaliation for an Army offensive to root out the Talibans.
And reports and pictures of more protests filtering out of Iran; pro-government demonstrators marched through the streets Qom yesterday. They were protesting because Monday's funeral of a prominent cleric turned into an anti-government rally. The cleric was a vocal critic of last June's contested presidential elections.
And about 100 miles south of Tehran reports of clashes at another protest. That started out as a memorial for the cleric. A reformist news site says plainclothes people used tear gas to attack those mourners gathered at a mosque. Fifty people were reportedly arrested.
And back together with his boy. A New Jersey dad starts a new life with his son after a five-year custody battle ends.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. BRIAN MORAN: Hello, this is Captain Brian Moran. I would like to wish my family and friends back in the Quad (ph) cities, happy holidays from (INAUDIBLE) Afghanistan. I hope you're doing well and I wish you happy holidays. See you soon, love you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The day before Christmas; going home for the holidays and for good. A New Jersey dad has been reunited with his son after a five-year international custody battle ends. CNN's Rafael Romo has been following the story and joins us know.
We're talking about David Goldman reunited with his son Sean today in Brazil. Do we know whether they're on a plane yet bound for the U.S.?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Finally they may board a plane any minute now. They're at the airport and they're ready.
But in any case, it's going to be a very Merry Christmas for David Goldman today. Our sources in Brazil just confirmed to us that they are at the Rio de Janeiro airport and also that they were reunited at 7:00 this morning at the American consulate in Rio after the boy's maternal family in Brazil returned Sean to his father.
This was done in compliance with an order by the chief justice of the Brazilian Supreme Court who ruled in favor of Goldman who had been fighting a legal battle for five years.
Fredricka, take a look at these picture, it was a very chaotic situation outside the American consulate in Rio. Some 60 photographers and reporters tried to get pictures of Sean Goldman who was accompanied by his stepfather Joao Paolo Lins E Silva (ph). We have also confirmed this morning that the U.S. government is providing a chartered plane for David Goldman and his son. And they should be leaving Rio any minute now.
This international custody dispute started in 2004 when Bruna Bianchi, Sean's mother and at the time wife of David Goldman took the then 4-year-old boy to Rio for what was supposed to be a two week vacation. Once in Rio, she divorced Goldman, remarried and decided to keep Sean there with her and her new husband. She died last August tragically, Fredricka, in childbirth.
WHITFIELD: Yes. It's amazing. So they're getting are to embark on that plane, that charter flight. But then the big question is the work that has to come with this little boy who's been used to his life in Brazil being reunited with his dad after five years.
Yes, he knows him but that's going to be a really tough journey, I imagine, for the two to come together, especially for the little boy.
ROMO: It's a long time and as you can imagine. He was 4 when he left. Now he is nine. Five years, but we understand that he's been going to a bilingual school in Rio. He should be probably not at the same level but he would be in English if he had been living here but he should be at least comfortable.
But as you can imagine, it's definitely going to be a culture shock for him. It's going to be very difficult to adapt but, I guess, he has plenty of time do that now.
WHITFIELD: Ok. Very good. And there is a statement coming from Secretary Clinton and we're going to get that to you right away. I had it right here but now suddenly it's disappeared on my computer here.
But you know, this has been an effort of diplomacy. The State Department was a little reticent about getting involved full throttle but then we know that the president even met with the Brazilian president, talked about it in general terms. The State Department reached out to Brazil as well and so this is a really happy ending.
Many people were not very confident that this would actually take place. Even though David Goldman was full throttle using all the attorneys on board to try to get his son back.
ROMO: And also Fredricka, the Hague Convention recognizes the surviving biological parent as having the right to keep the child in international custody disputes. And this was a very clear case of that.
But Brazilian authorities were saying we need to take into consideration the feelings of this child, what does he think? Does he want to go back to the United States? Does he want to stay here? They said they wanted to hear from him before they made a decision. That actually didn't happen and the chief justice of the Supreme Court in Brazil decided it was time for Sean to go back to the United States with his biological father.
WHITFIELD: It's fascinating that it's ended up this way because so often you hear of national custody cases and it goes on in perpetuity and never is there a resolution seemingly where the family back in the United States is able to get their child back.
ROMO: One thing we can be sure of it's going to be unforgettable Christmas for both father and son.
WHITFIELD: Absolutely. Rafael Romo. Thanks so much. Appreciate that.
And of course, when we get that statement once again, Secretary Clinton on her words about this long battle, five-year international custody dispute that now seemingly has come to a happy ending with its two, soon to be boarding a charter flight on the way back to the United States.
All right, speaking of the taxpayer bailouts, the last of the big banks have now paid back the billions of dollars of government loans they received. Is it time to celebrate?
CNN's Christine Romans joins us live from New York -- Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. That's right, a couple of big payments have landed in the treasury's coffers and now the last of the very big banks, the biggest four banks in fact have repaid their money. Among them, Citigroup, $20 billion, the president's pay czar has sent a letter to the company saying indeed now it is out from under those pay restrictions that so many of these banks have been chafing at over the past few months. Wells Fargo paid back $25 become. The repayments to the TARP Program altogether now total $164 billion as our colleagues at cnnmoney.com have pointed out there's still some 633 smaller banks that owe money to the TARP Program, they owe together some $58.6 billion but almost three quartz of that TARP money to the banks has now been paid back.
Many of these companies, as you know, don't like the government telling them how they can pay their employees. They don't like being under the public scrutiny and that for management it's been a distraction; so much of the negotiation back and forth with the government about how to get out from under these obligations.
So again, today, the four biggest banks have now been paid in full.
It's interesting as well because AIG, Chrysler, GM, these are still companies that are under the thumb of the government. They still owe some money back, Fredricka. They are still under the exceptional help by taxpayers' category and they still are being very closely monitored by the Treasury Department and others -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So one U.S. banker was named person of the year by "The Financial Times" even given light of all this.
ROMANS: That's right. "The Financial Times" named person of the year, Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs. And you'll know that Goldman Sachs has sort of emerged as the sort of bane of the public's mistrust of the whole bailout system.
They see that Goldman Sachs and Lloyd Blankfein making record poverties and paying what could be $23 billion to some 31,000 employees this year so quickly after big bailouts and capital infusions from the federal government. That's caused a great deal of mistrust and anxiety and frankly unhappiness among the public.
But Lloyd Blankfein, according to the FT and many others has taken a situation that a year ago was quite dire and turned it around and the Goldman trading machine is firing on all cylinders. This company is making a great deal money so quickly after a near collapse in the system last fall. That's why the FT has named Lloyd Blankfein the CEO of Goldman Sachs as its person of the year.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, Christine Romans, thanks so much. Appreciate that.
Mentioned just moments ago, 9-year-old Sean Goldman has been reunited with his New Jersey dad David Goldman. There the picture right there that you've become very familiar with. We understand they're soon to be boarding a charter flight, making their way back to the U.S.
I mentioned earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a statement. Here it is. In a written statement, she says, quote, "I'm thrilled 9-year-old Sean Goldman was reunited with his father David Goldman earlier today in Rio de Janeiro and that they are flying home to New Jersey. I want to thank everybody who helped bring this long process to a successful conclusion including a number of members of Congress and many concerned parties both here and in Brazil.
We also appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the government of Brazil in upholding its obligations the Hague Convention on international child abduction. I offer my warmest wishes for father and son as they celebrate their first holiday season together for five years."
That statement from Secretary Clinton. Again, the two have been reunited. You also saw the images coming out this morning in the crush of photographers the little boy was brought by his stepfather and the Brazilian attorney as they made their way toward the consulate there in Rio.
All right, delivering on health care reform. President Obama made promises on the campaign trail, but how many of those promises made it into the bill?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, the clock is ticking toward Christmas but it's not too late to actually get your Christmas wish on the record. On our blog this morning, we're asking what you want for Christmas this year. Go to cnn.com/Fredricka and let us know. I'll read some of your comments on the air next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Health care reform promises versus reality. Does the bill deliver everything President Obama had actually hoped for? Here's a look at what he was saying before he took office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There appears to be there is yeas and nays ordered.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Chambliss. Mr. Chambliss, no. Mr. Coburn. Mr. Coburn, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: gallery will refrain...
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... passing universal health care because people are being overburdened and unions are having to spend all their time negotiating to keep health care benefits that they've already won instead of negotiating to improve their wages and benefits for the future. That's wrong. That's going to change and we've got to have a system where every single American can get health care that is at least as good as the health care I have as a member of Congress.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: So initially you saw the vote this morning and then followed by some of the promises that we heard from the president.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: They had a little mishap there. Harry Reid voted no on the bill originally. So we'll give them a break on this one. It happens.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you. So I wonder -- a lot of people are wondering how does this bill measure up to all that was promised or at least was hoped for by the president?
GUPTA: Universal coverage, universal health care, obviously, big buzzword. We've heard it for two years now, the beginning of the campaign. I think it's safe to say that this not universal health care in the way that most people traditionally think about this. This is much more sort of universal access, trying to get people access to health care insurance.
Two things to sort of keep in mind: At the end of this, if the Senate bill as it's crafted now goes through, still a lot of changes could still happen, say about 94 percent of the country would be covered. It's not 100 percent. That would still leave millions that don't coverage but about 94 percent.
And the other big word to remember is mandate. Very controversial word as you might imagine but it's this idea that people have to get health care insurance otherwise there's going to be certain things that happen.
WHITFIELD: Like fines.
GUPTA: Financial penalties for, example for the uninsured. That's got real teeth. Requiring employers to get health care insurance for their employees and also expanding Medicaid.
Just real quick, Medicate, people under the age of 65, Medicare for people over the age of 65, they would expand it for that age group to 133 percent of poverty level, so more people could get health care insurance that way as well. That's what they're saying.
But again this mandate thing, very controversial. Some people even going so far to say it's unconstitutional to force people to buy health care insurance.
WHITFIELD: So still nothing fixed. There's going to be a lot of compromising, rejiggering (ph), that's to come.
GUPTA: That's for sure.
WHITFIELD: But these are still kind of the paramount concerns. Re-importing prescription drugs -- that was something else that was talked about; where is it? How does it stack up here?
GUPTA: The president -- he was pretty clear on this. I don't know if we have the particular clip but he said something specific -- this was last year. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Then we'll tell the pharmaceutical companies, thanks but no thanks for overpriced drugs; drugs that cost twice as much here as they do in Europe and Canada and Mexico. We'll stop drug companies from blocking generic drugs that are just as effective and far less expensive. We'll allow the safe re-importation of low cost drugs from countries like Canada.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: That's specifically what we're talking about that re- importation is not part of that bill. His language is pretty clear there; it's not part of this bill. It was his idea that if drugs are cheaper in other countries, import them here so they can lower our prescription drug costs because of in part lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry.
There was this provision saying that look, we have to prove these drugs are safe. The FDA hasn't said they're safe so the re- importation thing not happening; not at least as part of this bill.
WHITFIELD: Might it be revisited?
GUPTA: Yes. You know in fact, we talked to the White House about this and they say, "We acknowledge it's not part of this bill, doesn't mean it won't happen."
By the way, we do have this exchange that will get people health care insurance and we are trying to make Medicare drug prices cheaper as well. It will cover more. So they're trying to improve it but that specific thing is not happening now.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Appreciate it.
We know that president or at least the hope is that something would be crafted in time for his State of the Union address in January. You see that as a potential yea or nay.
GUPTA: Well, it's taking a long time so far. They were on this since August, already five months behind. I don't think so. I think there's some major stumbling blocks, it's not as much between Democrats and Republicans as it is within the Democratic Party itself. The public option issue, the abortion issue, these are huge issues and they don't reconcile right now in both bills.
WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. Appreciate that and we will be talking more about in the days and months to come.
All right. One more hurdle cleared on the obstacle course toward health care reform. We'll talk to two members of Congress about what they think is next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's go to Wall Street right now. The Dow managed to eke out a gain yesterday. It was just one point but that was enough to push stocks higher for the fourth straight day. Will the Santa Claus rally continue?
Alison Kosik is in New York with details on this. Merry Christmas to you.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Merry Christmas to you, Fred. We're expecting a modestly higher open today on Wall Street. And pretty soon after that, everyone's just going to go home. The closing bell will ring today at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, three hours earlier than usual and markets are closed tomorrow for Christmas.
Because of that, trading is going to be a little light today. In the meantime though, we do have some upbeat economic news. New jobless claims fell...
***0930 KOSIK: ... ring today at 1:00 PM Eastern time, three hours earlier than usual, and the markets are closed tomorrow for Christmas. Because of that, trading is going to be a little light today.
In the meantime though, we do have some upbeat economic news. New jobless claims fell more than expected last week to 452,000. Claims haven't been that low since September 2008. And orders for big ticket items at slightly higher last month. They were held in check because of weak demand for cars and plane, but demand in other sectors is picking up when you take out transportation. Durable goods orders jumped 2 percent.
Two more banks have repaid government bailout money. Wells Fargo paid back all $25 billion in TARP loans that it received, and Citigroup returned $20 billion of its $45 billion. Citi doesn't have to repay the remaining $25 billion because it's been converted to stock. And if you're keeping track, the biggest banks are now paid in full.
Let's take a check on the numbers now. The DOW industrial are up about 6 points. The NASDAQ composite also in the green.
And finally, Fred, I don't know if you noticed, some animals on the podium today at the New York Stock Exchange. That's Preston Casanova from CBS's "Greatest American Dog" along with some orphaned dogs and cats. They're helping...
WHITFIELD: Oh!
KOSIK: Yes, they're - they're helping Iams ring the opening bell to raise awareness for pet adoption. Pretty good on this Christmas Eve day. A good thing to do, right?
WHITFIELD: Oh, it's a great thing to do, and a lot of people think about giving pets, you know, for the holidays, but don't forget about adopting...
KOSIK: Exactly.
WHITFIELD: ...you know, those who have had a kind of rough start in life.
KOSIK: Yes. Don't forget the - don't forget the orphaned little furry ones.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Yes. All right. Very good. Thanks so much, Alison.
KOSIK: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.
All right. Celebrating Christmas in Turkey. The Muslim nation where some say Santa actually originated is embracing the season.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: We're now one big step closer to health care reform. This morning, the Senate passed its $871 billion bill. As with earlier procedural votes, Democrats got 60 votes. That's all 58 Democrats and both Independent.
President Obama hailed the bill's passage, speaking just a short time ago. The president called it a historic vote that brings us closer to an end to a nearly century-long struggle for universal health care. The president also says he looks forward to working with both sides on a compromise. He's talking about the fact that the Senate bill still has to be merged with a similar House measure passed last month.
So, long before the Senate health reform bill passed this morning, House members started plotting their strategy for reconciling the two bills. Joining us now to talk about it, Congressman Phil Gingrey, a Republican from Georgia and a physician. Good to see you.
REP. PHIL GINGREY (R), GEORGIA: Good morning.
WHITFIELD: And Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, a Democrat from Pennsylvania and a former health care executive. Good to see you as well.
REP. ALLYSON SCHWARTZ (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Good morning. Happy holidays.
WHITFIELD: Happy holidays.
Well, Congresswoman Schwartz, let me begin with you. Let's talk about the beginning stages of the compromise. How do you see the Senate and the House versions coming together?
SCHWARTZ: Well, first of all, this is really a historic day, to see this legislation move through the Senate to be passed on the Senate and, really, to give us that opportunity. And we know we are going to get this done now. We're going to find those compromises on some of the differences between the two bills.
But there's a lot of similarity between the two pieces of legislation, and it meets the goal that we've set out and have been working on for months and months, which is to make health insurance more accountable and more affordable for millions and millions of Americans.
WHITFIELD: OK. There's similar - Well, let's get down to what has to be compromised, because, yes, there are similarities, but there are differences, too, public option being one of them. In the House version, it's there. The Senate version, it's not. How - how are the two sides going to come together?
SCHWARTZ: Well. I think that our goal in the House - and I did support the - and I do support the public option as one of the very good ways to help make sure that there's more choices and more affordable choices for Americans.
As you know, in so many of the regions of this country, there are not enough insurance products. But we do also know that if we can set up these exchanges, which are really a way for individuals and small businesses to buy affordable, meaningful coverage that is carefully monitored and accountable, that we - that that is a way to make sure that we get Americans the health care that they - that they want and they want to be able to buy.
So as long as we're sure that there are choices that there's accountability of the insurance industry, and that it's affordable for Americans, then in fact I think we're going to be able to reach that compromise.
WHITFIELD: Congressman Gingrey, no Republican supported the Senate version. Moving forward as the House and the Senate versions have to be compromised or somehow brought together, how do you see Republicans as a whole finding something that they might like about these versions?
GINGREY: Well, they're not going to - Republicans are not going to find much they're going to like about these versions, whether the House version or the Senate version. You know, I feel like today that I'm having a senior (ph) moment, quite frankly.
This is supposed to be Christmas Eve and people be happy with the gifts that they're receiving, and instead they're getting scared, they're getting tricked, they're having nightmares and it's downright scary. It seems a lot more like Halloween, doesn't it, than Christmas Eve?
The Republicans will remain opposed to this bill, certainly reposed to - opposed to a public option that's in the House bill, and opposed to the language that Harry Reid put in the Senate bill in regard to letting taxpayer money be used to fund abortion, not at all like the Stupak Amendment the Democrats wanted - the Conservative Democrats - in the House of Representatives. WHITFIELD: So aside from the public option and the abortion, are those the only two hang ups? Is that what you're telling me here, that perhaps if there's some compromise as it pertains to those two things, more Republicans would be on board?
GINGREY: Oh, of course not. Those are just two of the most egregious things.
When you take - when you strip $500 billion out of the Medicare program and you do it on the backs of the seniors that are enrolled in Medicare Advantage Program, you force them out of Medicare Advantage. These programs go away and the Medicare Advantage is called Medicare Advantage because it includes a prescription drug plan. It includes a Medigap coverage for out of pocket expenses and for catastrophic coverage.
So they go back into traditional Medicare, if they can find a doctor, and have to pay an additional $180 a month premium to cover those two things that they get for free, essentially, with Medicare Advantage. This is certainly not the way to have health care reform.
My good friend in Atlanta, Kerry Brown, told me this morning, he said, you know, we've got Medicare, we've got Medicaid, and - and that now we have Medibroke with this new Democratic bill that was passed this morning.
WHITFIELD: So - so it sounds like we're going to see much more in January and February, just what we've been seeing over the past few months in terms of Republicans and Democrats seeing this very differently and - and finding no areas in which they can make concessions or come to agreement.
Congressman Schwartz, this - this in and of itself seems like a defeat if - it seems like there is no wiggle room for both sides to see eye to eye.
SCHWARTZ: Well, the fact is - and you just heard it - is that the Republicans have made, really, what is a political decision, is that even if they want - that they're just not going to help us get this done. So it has been left to - and to Democrats who have taken the leadership and said, you know, after three decades, it's time for to us find that uniquely American solution to finding a way for Americans to buy private health insurance that's affordable.
Of course, as Phil knows, we are actually strengthening Medicare in this legislation, that, yes, we are reducing overpayments to insurance companies and turning that money back to seniors to make sure that they get all of their benefits that they now have, that we enhance it by making primary care more accessible, that - making prevention more accessible, that closing of prescription gap in coverage called the Doughnut Hole. This is important for seniors in this country, and of course it helps keep the Medicare stronger and - and financially solvent for years and years to come.
WHITFIELD: And Congressman Gingrey... SCHWARTZ: So, while the Republicans can - can really want to - they're trying to scare seniors and trying to scare Americans, but the fact is that when I hear my constituents say I need to be able to buy affordable, meaningful coverage for myself and my family, this bill gets us there. And we'd love to have American - have Republicans be able to respond to those concerns, and instead they're putting out, you know, false information, trying to scare people, really, saying things that are not true.
WHITFIELD: And Congressman Gingrey...
SCHWARTZ: So this a historic moment. We're excited about it, and you should be.
WHITFIELD: ... you get your last word on this, as you nod your head in disagreement.
GINGREY: I - I hope so. What my friend from Pennsylvania is basically saying is that President Obama put out the word to the House and the Senate, look, every day that we don't pass something, the American public is speaking louder and louder how much they hate this bill. Sixty-one percent of them at all polls now say we don't want this. We don't want the government to take over health care lock, stock and barrel.
SCHWARTZ: No - no government takeover here...
GINGREY: So President Obama had said essentially to the Democratic majority that, look, pass anything. Do it ASAP, and let's declare a victory and let's get out of this hole and try to move on to something else.
The something else that they should have been directing their attention to at the very beginning of January, and that is putting people back to work, creating jobs in this country, not just spending more and more and raising the unemployment rate from 8 percent to 10 percent.
WHITFIELD: OK. I'm going to...
GINGREY: Sixteen million people without jobs...
WHITFIELD: I'm going to have to just leave it there because it - it sounds as though we're - we're going to be crossing the same bridge that we have in the past few months where the dialogue is the same on both sides and - and as Americans are looking toward (ph) whether it be January or February to find out what are the areas of concessions. So far it doesn't sound like there are going to be any, based on the conversations we just had right here, right?
SCHWARTZ: It's going to be Democratic leadership and a Democratic president to go forward.
GINGREY: Well, they insist on doing everything behind closed doors. WHITFIELD: OK. All right, Congressman Phil Gingrey of Georgia, Representative Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it. And I know we'll be hearing much more from both of you in the weeks to come.
GINGREY: Thank you. Thank you. Happy holiday out to you (ph).
WHITFIELD: Happy holidays to both of you.
Many are at least in agreement of this, it is a historic day for health care reform. Democratic leaders praising the vote, saying it carries on the legacy of the late Ted Kennedy in particular. He was the champion of health care reform.
Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk spent years working with Ted Kennedy before replacing him as Senator. He's joining us now from Capitol Hill.
I understand for you today this was a very emotional moment, all that took place this morning. Explain as it pertains to your very close relationship with the late Senator Kennedy.
SEN. PAUL KIRK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, thank you.
Part of it is that it was 40 years ago last week. I was a member of Senator Kennedy's staff at the time. He gave his first speech about universal national health insurance. And now, through the accidents of life and death, I had the privilege of standing at his desk this morning to cast an affirmative vote for national health insurance as we move forward to what was the culmination, basically, of his legislative life.
This was the number one priority of all the accomplishments he had during his legislative career. This is the one he put at the top of the list. So you can imagine both the joy and satisfaction of being able to stand there and cast the "aye" vote for him. And also, there's also an understandable twinge of emotion that he wasn't here to do it himself. But at the...
WHITFIELD: Was it your view - Sorry. Was it your view that Senator Kennedy was hoping that both sides would come to a greater agreement on this, that as he crafted it, it might have been part of his vision that he was hoping to be able to reach across the aisle, just as he has done in previous efforts of legislation in his longstanding career?
KIRK: There's no question that his great gift, apart from his intelligence and diligence and perseverance, was his ability to bring - bring different points of view together.
I think, as was said earlier in your show, however, the Republicans made a decision, a political calculation, that they were going to stop this bill, and if they could stop it, they could slow down and - the democratic agenda, President Obama's agenda.
So it was - the Republicans really weren't going to bridge any gaps this time around and it was for that reason and understanding that it was Senator Kennedy suggested, as he knew his life was coming to an end, that the Massachusetts legislature change the law so that Massachusetts would have two votes, and the 60th vote in the United States Senate.
So he was a realist as well. He knew what the math was. He knew the Republicans had divided the Senate. And so, as one who wanted to get the job done, I think he - with some regret, it wasn't bipartisan. He understood the realities of the politics of the day.
WHITFIELD: Senator Paul Kirk of Massachusetts, thanks so much for your time. Appreciate that.
KIRK: Thank you very much.
WHITFIELD: So, all week we've been asking you to send us your questions about health care reform. Next hour, Julie Rovner, the Health Policy Correspondent for NPR, will help us answer some of them. You don't want to miss that.
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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Families across the country are facing hard times this holiday season. And for many, putting a toy under the tree is possible only with the help from others. "Toys for Tots" is one of the groups trying to fill those Christmas dreams.
CNN photojournalist Bob Crowley visited the office in Boston where last minute donations are on the wish list.
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SGT. CLINT SCHRIBNER, BOSTON TOYS FOR TOTS: Our main core mission for "Toys for Tots" is to collect and distribute toys for needy children in our local areas. We have approximately 700 total campaigns (ph). We are fighting battles but in a different way. And we're fighting the poverty battle here in the United States.
KAY CARPENTER, TOYS FOR TOTS VOLUNTEER: We have at lot of toys, we use them up rapidly. We're filling orders like crazy. They're delivering on the 18th of December; they'll be here between 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning. They go out as fast as they come in. We've run out of some toys but overall, we're doing better than last year.
BETTY WHALEN, TOYS FOR TOTS VOLUNTEER: Can you leave that one there? As soon as we sort all this we'll start making up orders and it'll be gone.
We'll empty this and he can pull this out first. Ideally, they would be full of toys that we would just pick from to fill the orders. But they're not. They're not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a problem every year, running out of toys at this time of the year. But eventually we get the orders out.
WHALEN: Yes, down to the wire usually.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
WHALEN: It's been tough the last couple of years, it's tough for everybody with the economic climate the way it is. You know, home losses, job losses, lack of funds.
CARPENTER: It's very important to keep our boxes full because we can't get orders out to people and organizations who need them in time for Christmas. You can keep donating even one small toy is wonderful. But everybody needs to get involved in doing it. So our boxes are not empty.
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WHITFIELD: And you can hear more about organizations like "Toys for Tots" in CNN's hour-long special "GIVING IN FOCUS." That comes your way tomorrow on Christmas Day at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
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WHITFIELD: All right. Nasty Christmas Eve weather, Reynolds Wolf, what do you have?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're right about that. It's certainly nasty in places like Oklahoma City.
Let me show you something here on the radar. We're going to zoom-in right to Oklahoma City and I-35 is almost the really the dividing line. East side of this we're seeing rain but west side and in downtown Oklahoma City it's a combination of sleet and snow.
We have some video for you we're going to bring right up in just mere seconds. When we do so, you can see just a little bit of that icy glaze starting to come down. The problem is it's going to start building up on the roadways as people are heading out to -- maybe to do that last-minute shopping and maybe going to over to see some relatives.
The key thing is just be careful out there. And Fredricka, coming up after the top of the hour...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: We're going to talk about widespread delays that are going to affect millions of Americans as we get closer to the big holiday. Let's send it back to you.
WHITFIELD: Oh boy, all right, thanks so much, Reynolds. I appreciate that.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right, if you're hearing children in the background, there's a reason. Santa is on his way. Here comes Santa Claus. And here come the kids.
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WHITFIELD: Do you hear the bells? If you thought Santa was a mythical figure from the North Pole, well, think again. He is real. In fact he actually just walked in here. St. Nicholas was born in 300 A.D. in the Greco-Roman region known now as Turkey. That's right Turkey.
CNN's Ivan Watson is in Istanbul where many in this Muslim nation are actually embracing Christmas.
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IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may be the first Christmas movie ever made for Turkey, a mostly Muslim country. Nishali Hayat (ph) or "A Cheerful Life" is about a down-on-his-luck working class Turk who's hired to work as a mall Santa. The trouble is he doesn't really know who Santa Claus is and needs some very basic lessons.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ho, ho, ho.
WATSON: Yilmaz Erdogan, is the director, writer and actor who plays the mall Santa named Raza in this film.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do Turks think of Santa Claus?
YILMAZ ERDOGAN, WRITER, ACTOR, DIRECTOR: We like him. We like him and this is a picture for all of us.
WATSON: This movie highlights the growing fascination many Muslim Turks have for foreign holiday traditions, normally associated with the western Christian world.
(on camera): This is an overwhelmingly Muslim country. It does not celebrate Christmas. But take a look at this shopping mall, at the Christmas trees here and the ornaments and lights that have been put up. Basically Turks have adapted the symbols of Western secular Christmas and they use it to celebrate New Year's.
(voice-over): Part of the attraction is rooted in economics. Merchants have embraced Christmas pageantry to generate consumer excitement and drive up sales. And it's not only in posh shopping malls.
In this working class bazaar below the minarets of ancient mosques you can find an abundance of Christmas ketch.
(on camera): Is Christmas more popular now than it used to be?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
WATSON: It has gotten more. Why do you think that is? How has it changed? TUNA ALKAN, JEWISH: I don't know. I don't know. I think because everything is very nice. Everyone wants to buy. It's very popular.
WATSON: Tuna Alkan (ph) is Jewish. She sells Christmas trees to mostly Muslim customers.
ALKAN: It's good, you know. It's a good symbol. It's a happy symbol. Why we would not use it?
WATSON: Yilmaz Erdogan says his film embraces Turkey's unique position as a cultural bridge between East and west. The split identity is often a source of social tension in Turkey, but in "A Cheerful Life", the fumbling hero ends up saving the day with the help of a foreign Santa suit and some very Turkish family values.
Showing Turks can have a foot in both worlds and still enjoy the holidays.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Istanbul.
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WHITFIELD: All right, Santa is very busy and that, of course, tops our look at the top stories.
Jolly old St. Nick has left the North Pole to start delivering toys and joys to the girls and little boys and he comes at night in most cultures to drop off his Christmas surprise.
