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Senate Passes Health Care Reform; Bright Holiday Hit; Health Reform & Businesses

Aired December 24, 2009 - 11:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Tony Harris is up next, and he's got a long wish list as well.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, boy. Oh, boy, don't you know it.

Good to see you, Santa!

Thank you, Fred.

It is Thursday -- Kelly, what are you doing? Kelly, sit down now. Kelly, sit down now.

It is Thursday, December 24th, Christmas Eve. And here are the top stories for you in the CNN NEWSROOM. It's going to be tough to focus today, I'm going to tell you right now.

After months of negotiation, weeks of debate, and some backroom deal-making, the Senate passes its landmark health reform bill.

Big bank payback. The last of the big lenders have returned their bailout money. But what about the smaller banks that got taxpayer dollars?

And a bright spot in a dim economy. LED Christmas lights are a smash hit this holiday season.

Plus, Santa Claus. Wow, Santa is in the house, and the Georgia Boy Choir.

It's going to be a good morning.

I'm Tony Harris, and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right, let's get it going here.

Senate Democrats give President Obama an early Christmas present. They pass their sweeping health care reform bill this morning, putting the president a step closer to success on his top domestic priority.

Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid called it a victory for Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: This is a victory because we've affirmed that the ability to live a healthy life in our great country is a right and not merely a privilege for the select few. This morning's vote brings us one step closer to making Ted Kennedy's dream a reality. The dream of Americans, also, are part of that dream of Ted Kennedy's, and that's also become a reality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin joins us live now from Capitol Hill.

And Jess, there was still a bit of debate early this morning, wasn't there?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, the fight is not over, Tony.

Democrats, as you saw, are calling this an historic victory. Republicans are calling the bill a monstrosity.

Republicans are leaving town now. As we caught up with them on their way out, vowing to meet with constituents and organize grassroots support to continue to try to oppose this bill.

Let's listen to what Senator Minority Leader, the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, said as before the vote, and the pushback from one of the Democratic leaders, Chuck Schumer, insisting Democrats are confident their way will prevail.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MINORITY LEADER: I guarantee you the people who voted for this bill are going to get an earful when they finally get home for the first time since Thanksgiving. They know there is widespread opposition to this monstrosity. And I want to assure you, Mr. President, this fight isn't over.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Mitch McConnell said on the floor that we're going to go home and hear our constituents rail against this bill. I don't believe that. I believe that the negativity that Leader McConnell and others have continually displayed on the floor has peaked. And now, when people learn what's actually in the bill, and all the good it does, it is going to become more and more popular because it is good for America, good for the American people and a true symbol of what we can do if we all pull together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: Now, Tony, to be fair, a lot of this argument is about the substance of what health care reform should look like for America, but another piece of this is about the 2010 midterm elections. And Republicans are doing what they can to tarnish the image of Democrats with this bill. To that end, they have already started putting up ads targeting Democrats who are conservative Democrats for voting for this bill, trying to exert as much pressure as possible to try to peel off even one vote before they come back in January.

HARRIS: Sure. OK.

Jessica Yellin for us on Capitol Hill.

Jessica, good to see you. Thank you.

And next hour, Dr. Brian Hill and attorney Kathie McClure will join us. We spoke to them when the health care debate really heated up in the summer, and they're back to share their thoughts and concerns right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Yemeni forces launch an air strike, killing about 30 suspected al Qaeda militants. The state news agency says today's attack took place at a hideout where the suspects were meeting. Al Qaeda in Yemen has been a growing concern for the country's government and the United States.

A five-year international custody battle for a New Jersey man came to an end today. Take a look at this -- well, it's a media circus, is what it is in Rio de Janeiro.

The young boy in yellow is 9-year-old Sean Goldman. Can you even see him there? Can you make him out?

Brazil's chief justice ruled yesterday -- make that Tuesday -- that his father, David Goldman of New Jersey, should have custody. Goldman has been battling the family of the boy's deceased mother for custody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Many of you are still out of work and struggling to make ends meet. But this holiday season, you're lighting up the world. We will show you.

And before Santa loads up his sleigh for tonight's big ride, look -- hey, what is -- can I -- parents, step aside. There's Santa.

Santa is here in the CNN Center to bring us some holiday cheer.

But first, here's a look at the latest numbers on Wall Street, the Dow.

A short day. Traders wrapping up today about 1:00 p.m. this afternoon. We're in positive territory, up 39 points.

We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. JOY YOUNG, U.S. ARMY: I'm Major Joy Young, currently stationed at Camp Eggers, in Kabul, Afghanistan. And I'd like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my husband Joe and my sons, Houston (ph) and E.J. (ph).

I'll see you soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. KIANA ANDERSON (ph), U.S. ARMY: Hi. My name is Staff Sergeant Kiana Anderson, here at Camp Lebanik (ph) Afghanistan.

I want to say hi to my kids, Hezakia (ph) and Tyriq (ph) back at home in Lawton, Oklahoma. I love you all. I miss you all. Happy holidays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Happy holidays for sure.

The rough economy hasn't stopped many of you from lighting up your trees, your houses and more with thousands of Christmas lights. The greener, safer LED lights are a big holiday hit, even though they're more expensive.

Louise Schiavone explains why now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This year, the long shadows of winter are matched by the long shadows of a recession. Emotions running the gamut from serene to distressed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I notice a lot of other people doing -- just getting one present for one person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The economy is definitely affecting a lot of people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Things aren't all that great this year, compared to last year.

SCHIAVONE: A glint of hope has emerged from people in the business of casting light. Christmas lights.

MIKE STREB, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ETC.: Our sales have just been absolutely phenomenal over the last several years, and we're just seeing no letup in sight.

SCHIAVONE: Mike Streb runs the sales department at Christmas Lights, Etc. near Atlanta. They're clearly bucking the trend with their product.

STREB: We didn't know what to expect. In fact, we probably found ourselves caught a little bit short on the LED sales. We expected the incandescents to hold their own, but for the first time in our company's history, LEDs outsold the incandescent lights. SCHIAVONE: LED, or light-emitting diode lights, go for about $25 a strand, at least twice as much as a good quality string of the old- fashioned lights. They save energy, they're safer than incandescent lights because they burn at a much lower temperature, and if one light on a string goes out, you don't have to toss the whole strand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. I like those, actually.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, those are nice.

SCHIAVONE (on camera): You like those?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The regular bulbs, they blow out too quick. The LEDs give a little pizzazz to it. You know what I mean? A little extra shine.

SCHIAVONE (voice-over): Home Depot reports a triple-digit increase in LED holiday light sales over this time last year. An electronics market analyst at I-Supply expect as much as half of the lights purchased will be the more expensive, yet energy-efficient, LED strings.

PETER MORICI, ECONOMIST: The economy is stressing everyone out. With 17 percent of the population needing a full-time job and not having one, it's a terrible time.

Christmas is an opportunity to forget it all. You know, for 20 bucks, you can buy new lights for your tree. It looks really great and it makes you feel good.

SCHIAVONE: LED lights cast their magic through the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. That's the science of it, anyhow. The real magic of Christmas lights of any type, well, that's up to the individual to judge.

Louise Schiavone, for CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Naughty or nice, it is not too late to get that request in to Santa.

Take this one over my shoulder here. Santa is in the house.

Listen in. Listen in. Listen in.

SANTA CLAUS: You like trains?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like trucks.

CLAUS: Trucks. Thomas the Train, that's a good one.

All right. Anything else, Tate (ph)? Huh?

How about you. Anything else?

HARRIS: Awesome. Awesome.

A quick break. We're back in the NEWSROOM in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. A warning from some of the country's biggest employers about the health reform bill passed by the Senate today. They say provisions in the bill could have some negative effects on businesses and retirees.

Time to sort through this a bit. Christine Romans of our Money team is joining us live from New York.

What's the warning here?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, the warning here is from some of the big companies who are concerned about a little tax provision that they say is not so little in the Senate bill, Tony. A tax provision that they say is going to really make a big difference for them right away.

It means it could really significantly cut into their earnings next year, the earnings that they report next year, and that could be disruptive to the capital markets. Or it means that they're going to have to jettison retirees out of prescription drug benefit plans.

So these are big companies, Tony. A lot of different, big companies, who -- I mean, I guess you could say have done the right thing in that their retirees get prescription drug benefits. This is -- they did this because of the Medicaid Part D legislation of 2003. They got a tax break.

The government gave them a tax break, I think a 28 percent tax break on the benefits that they gave their retirees. And so they said, sure, we'll do that. And now it would mean a big tax accounting change, and they're really concerned about it and they've been pushing back. Even the AFL-CIO is with them on this, so it's kind of an unusual group of some big corporate titans from all different kinds of industries and the AFL-CIO who are concerned about that.

We don't know what's going to happen to that particular provision as the House and Senate bill get melded together, but it's already something that some of these companies are worried about, what it's going to mean for their retirees.

And Tony, the reason why it's interesting, I think, is because we keep talking about the 30 million people who are finally going to have access to health care in this country. But 160 million people are covered through their employer and millions more, retirees, covered still through their employer plans. So, obviously, a lot of people trying to figure out what unintended consequences there will be.

Now, companies, for their current employees, if they don't offer health care, access to health care to insurance, $750 fine per employee. Some small businesses are exempt from these penalties. Some small businesses will get a 25 percent tax credit. Democrats who have been big proponents and supporters of health care reform have said that any kind of cost or burden on the small businesses, they're going to make up for it in tax credits and subsidies and the like. But still, with so many companies in America, big and small, still scratching their head trying to wonder, in the end, when all the dust settles, what's it going to mean for them, and it's still a little uncertain. And that's something businesses don't like to go into a new year, facing a little bit of uncertainty.

Just to let you know, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a statement denouncing, irresponsible health care bill. They have been very critical of the bill from the very beginning, yes. But the pharmaceutical industry, they issued a statement applauding this as an important and historic step. So, you can see, depending on what part of corporate America you're talking about, there are different opinions on health care.

For the most part, this is a big cost for companies, Tony. And they want to see reform, but it's how you get that reform that they're still -- they want to see what it's going to look like in the end.

HARRIS: How do you get there. Yes.

All right, Christine. Appreciate it. Thank you.

ROMANS: Merry Christmas, Tony.

HARRIS: Oh, Merry Christmas. Happy holidays to you, Christine. Boy, and thanks for your help throughout the year. And see you next year.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

HARRIS: You helped keep banks afloat this year, and now it's payback time.

And we are gearing up for Christmas. Santa in the house.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get you caught up on our top stories right now.

A big chunk of the nation's midsection from the northern plains all the way down to north Texas, and I believe, maybe Oklahoma City -- do we have live pictures? Snow on the ground in Oklahoma City. Blizzard-like conditions are expected across much of the area. Some holiday travelers are already stranded at airports.

President Obama gets an early Christmas present from Senate Democrats. They passed their sweeping health care reform bill this morning. The president says the government is close to delivering on the promise of bringing security and stability to health care.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In a historic vote that took place this morning, members of the Senate joined their colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a landmark health insurance reform package, legislation that brings us toward the end of a nearly century-long struggle to reform America's health care system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: 2009, the year of the bailout. The government doled out hundreds of billions of dollars to save the nation's banking system from collapse. And now, as the year comes to a close, we look at how much of that taxpayer money has been paid back.

Alison Kosik is in New York with details.

And Alison, we heard, what, just last night that Citigroup and Wells Fargo both repaid all of their TARP money. Correct?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. You're absolutely right, Tony.

Citi and Wells Fargo both paid back a combined $45 billion. Now, Citi only has to pay back a portion of its bailout because the rest has been converted to stock that is controlled by the government. But because of the repayment, Citi won't be subject to government limits on pay and bonuses. Wells never had to abide by those rules because it didn't get as much bailout money.

So, if you've lost track, Tony, the eight original bailout recipients which are also the nation's biggest banks can be now marked down as paid in full. The total amount, $145 billion -- Tony.

HARRIS: Wow. That's a lot of money.

So, the government, OK, doled out a lot more money than that as I think about it. But what about all the smaller regional banks? Don't they still have to repay the money they received?

KOSIK: Yes, and that's a good question. I mean, almost 700 banks still owe a total of almost $60 billion. And if you think about it, there's really no rush.

I mean, after all, the extra capital gives them a cushion, and at a cheap price. And technically, the TARP loans don't have to be repaid for five years. During that time, the government is earning interest and dividend payments. So the Treasury does expect its investment in banks to net a profit. However, when you include the non-bank bailouts like those to AIG and the automakers, the government is expecting to lose money on the entire TARP program.

One other note, Tony, about bailed-out companies. The top executives at the government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received about $6 million in pay this year. That was approved by government regulators. I don't know, can you hear the outrage yet?

HARRIS: Yes, absolutely.

All right. Alison, appreciate it.

KOSIK: Let me tell you about the...

HARRIS: The numbers on Wall Street?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

HARRIS: Alison, appreciate it. See you next hour. Thank you.

KOSIK: Sure.

HARRIS: We're nearing the end of 2009 and looking back on the news of the year. We have a new CNN challenge at CNN.com. Are you ready for the quiz question?

Who was sworn in as the 111th U.S. Supreme Court justice replacing retired Justice David Souter? Here are your choices: Diane Wood, Janet Napolitano, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor.

Come on, this is an easy one.

Yes, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

All right. Log on to CNN.com and take the challenge. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Man, Santa is giving me a hard time because I'm singing the Grinch song. I'm just playing. These are jokes. I'm just having fun. And Santa is giving me a hard time.

Senate Democrats today approved their landmark health reform bill. The 60-39 vote came after months of negotiation and weeks of partisan debate. The Senate bill must now be merged with the House version, but the vote puts President Obama a step closer to victory on his top domestic priority.

Are we getting everything we were promised in this reform legislation?

CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, compares what President Obama said would happen with health care reform with what could become reality.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's take a look back at how this has evolved over time, and specifically how the president has weighed in on this particular issue as well.

With regard to universal health care, here's what he said...

OBAMA: That means 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 have 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.

GUPTA: It is fair to say that this is not going to be universal health care, at least not the Senate bill, the way it's crafted, and not in the way that most people think about universal health care. A better way to think about that is really looking at a couple of different terms.

This is more like universal access, trying to give people access to health care insurance who otherwise don't have it. Ninety-four percent, that is what the predicted percentage of the country is that will be insured if this bill goes all the way through.

And finally, the word "mandate" is a word to keep in mind as well, a controversial one, certainly. But part of the Senate bill, to try and increase the numbers who are uninsured.

Take a look specifically at what this means.

There would be financial penalties for the uninsured. It would also require employers to offer insurance. And there would be an expansion of Medicaid for people under the age of 65, expanding Medicaid so that people up to 133 percent of poverty level could still qualify.

Now, again, with regard to mandates, as you might imagine, it's a controversial issue. Some people have gone so far as to call this unconstitutional, this idea of mandating that people buy health care insurance. So that's still going to be worked out.

Another big issue was with regard to prescription drug costs, a huge part of the health care budget overall. Different strategies to try and address this. This is what the president said last year with trying to lower those costs...

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.

GUPTA: Now, simply put, that re-importation, it's not part of the Senate bill. It does not look like that's going to happen, and it's not going to be a strategy, at least not as part of this bill, to try and lower costs.

This has been a big issue, particularly for the AARP. This is a constituency that uses a lot of medications. They were really banking on this idea of trying to lower those prescription drug costs and advocated heavily on behalf of this re-importation clause, but it seems that some of the lobbying from the pharmaceutical companies and the FDA saying we can't guarantee that these medications are safe when they're re-imported, has sort of killed this, at least for now.

Talked to the White House specifically about this and they say, look, it's not part of the bill but it could still happen in the future. They also point to the exchanges as a place where people could get prescription drug coverage who may not otherwise have it now. And they also talked about this idea of shrinking what's known as the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D.

They say people pay a certain amnesty sunny for drugs, then they go uncovered for a while, and then they get coverage again. And that's what that doughnut hole refers to. They're talking about shrinking that. But again, re-importation, as the president outlined it, is not going to happen.

We're going to cover a lot more of these issues, specifically look at the evolution of health care overall, where it's been, where it's going.

Back to you for now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: We have a special holiday treat for you, the Georgia Boy Choir joining us throughout the show. We will be talking with artistic director David R. White in just a bit, but right now let's go to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta and listen to the Georgia Boy Choir.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The holiday season filled with song. We are lucky to have the Georgia Boy Choir with us this morning. Artistic director and conductor David R. White joining us from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.

It is good to talk to you, sir. Thanks for the time and thanks for the presentation. The boys sound wonderful. Thank you.

DAVID R. WHITE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Well, thank you. Thanks very much.

HARRIS: Well, I've got to ask you, the Georgia Boy Choir founded this year, they sound great. What do you like about this group of young boys?

WHITE: I'm sorry, I missed that question.

HARRIS: What is it that you like about this group that you've assembled here?

WHITE: Oh, this group, it's such a great group of boys. They're such hard-working boys. And not only so talented, I mean they have to have the talent in order to do this but it's what they're doing with that talent and working so hard to develop it. They're just a joy and pleasure to work with.

HARRIS: Yes. How many boys, how many young men are taking part in your program? And what's the age range here?

WHITE: Sure. Well, we have 70 boys in our total program. We have five different levels. We start them as young as 5 years old and they keep singing with us. Our oldest member right now is 19 years old. We have 22 boys, I think, here today.

HARRIS: That's terrific. You're quoted as saying a popular culture seems to target young boys with the loud, ugly and obnoxious. How do you attempt to offer something of a counterbalance here? What are you teaching these young men through music?

WHITE: Well, it sort of has to start with discipline, self discipline, where they're really striving to accomplish something. There are a lot of different media that can do that. You can learn a lot of that through sports and things like that. But here at the Georgia Boy Choir, we're also teaching young boys to appreciate beauty, and that I think is something that is greatly missing in our society today.

HARRIS: David, appreciate it so much. We'll get back to you in just a second.

To everyone at home, we'll hear from the Georgia Boy Choir again in just a couple of minutes.

Very quickly now we're going to get you over to meteorologist Reynolds Wolf. He is tracking a huge storm affecting many of you. We will talk to Reynolds in just a couple of minutes right here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Appreciate it, Reynolds. Thank you, sir.

Very quickly here let's get you a check of our top stories right now.

The U.S. Senate passed controversial health care reform legislation today. The vote right down party lines, 60-39. President Obama reacted to the vote just before heading off on vacation to Hawaii.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: With today's vote, we are now incredibly close to making health insurance reform a reality in this country. Our challenge then is to finish the job. We can't doom another generation of Americans to soaring costs and eroding coverage and exploding deficits. Instead, we need to do what we were sent here to do and improve the lives of the people we serve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Army Major Nidal Hasan accused of killing 13 people in last month's Fort Hood massacre reportedly asked a radical Muslim cleric if it was OK to kill American soldiers. The cleric tells Al Jazeera, Hasan e-mailed the question almost a year before the shootings.

A real media circus today in Rio de Janeiro. Nine-year-old Sean Goldman was handed over to his father, David Goldman of New Jersey. The dad has been fighting for custody since 2004 when his wife took Sean on a vacation to her native Brazil and never returned. She remarried but died last year in childbirth.

The Georgia Boy Choir back with another holiday song soon. And look at this, a new batch of kids, a new batch of babies in the CNN Center to visit with Santa.

We are back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANTA CLAUS: Hi there, what are you doing? What you got? You got lipstick? Yes. So you're doing OK today?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PVT. FIRST CLASS THOMAS NEW: Hello, this is Private First Class Thomas New (ph) with the 19th Engineer Battalion. I'm here in Afghanistan. I wanted to say hi and I love you and I miss you to my wife and my kids in Pleasanton, Kansas. I also wanted to say happy holidays and can't wait to come back home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Oh, man, OK. Santa Claus is here in the house -- Kris Kringle, Old St. Nick. There he is, working it out Christmas Eve. Don't look -- Santa, pay attention to Santa, he's the one with the gifts. I'm just the one yammering on here.

Santa...

SANTA CLAUS: Yes.

HARRIS: ... you've got a good group of kids over there, don't you?

SANTA CLAUS: Yes, sir, excellent group.

HARRIS: And what are they asking for? I know it's a variety of gifts this year.

SANTA CLAUS: Well, the younger group, girls -- baby dolls, Barbie dolls; the little boys -- trains, trucks, cars. The older kids want all the electronic devices.

HARRIS: Oh, the Playstations, the XBoxes, all of that. SANTA CLAUS: PSI, computers...

HARRIS: Computers.

SANTA CLAUS: ... cell phones.

HARRIS: Cell phones?

SANTA CLAUS: Yes!

HARRIS: They're babies. What do they want cell phones...

SANTA CLAUS: The older group.

HARRIS: Oh, my goodness. And everyone has been good, right? Everyone over there?

SANTA CLAUS: Yes, sir, everybody over here.

HARRIS: Everyone has been good?

All right. I see some parents over here. It's a little dubious in that group. But the kids have all been good.

Santa, we will check in with you in just a minute. You're doing a terrific job.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: What is the most religious state in the country? A new survey is breaking that down just in time for Christmas, and Josh is here to show us.

What did you find here, Josh?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Got a lot of people talking, Tony, as you can imagine. Some people don't love the results, some people are very interested in the results. I'll tell you, first of all, it's from the Pew Forum, which is an organization which studies religion in America, how it plays out.

Let's get to this. I'm going to show you the big findings and then I'll break it down on the screen. So most religious states, they break it down four ways.

First of all, in what state does the highest number of people say that religion is very important in their lives. Mississippi number one followed by Alabama and Arkansas. And you see a lot of that, what's thought of as the Bible Belt leading in all these categories.

Let's go to the next one, worship attendance. Within that category, what's on top? Mississippi, again, Utah and South Carolina.

Then they looked at how frequently people pray, even if they're not going somewhere, just praying on their own. Again, Mississippi on top followed by Louisiana and Alabama.

And finally, they looked at one more category, the belief in God. And what they found on top, yet again, Mississippi, on top in all four categories, followed by South Carolina and Alabama. So, again, this traditional Bible Belt leading the way in all those.

Now, let's go to the screen because what I want to do here is show you what's also considered to be at the bottom of these lists. So this is at pewforum.org. If you take a look here at the survey, you can scroll way down and see where every single state ranks. And what you see in general on each of these categories, Massachusetts, Alaska, New Hampshire, Vermont were the bottom of these -- Massachusetts, Alaska, New Hampshire and Vermont were the bottom of them. IN fact, as we swing through you'll see here Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Alaska, in general, those are the ones that are toward the bottom of the list.

And, Tony, it's just got a lot of people talking, a lot of people wondering, and a lot of people thinking at this.

HARRIS: Yes, how was all of this determined? Do we know, Josh?

LEVS: Yes, I'll talk to you about this. What they did was they used some information from a big survey that was taken back in 2007 and 2008, it was called "The Religious Landscape Survey." And within that they spoke with 36,000 adults who live in the United States, and they asked them a whole series of questions, including the ones that they're now breaking down right here. And you can read all about it at the website pewforum.org.

So, Tony, you know, a lot of people saying, hey, it's absolutely true, it's what I've seen, I agree with it. Some people saying, wait a second, I live in one of those states, that's not my experience. So check it out where your states fall at pewforum.rog, you can see and you can let us know what you think of it at the blog too.

HARRIS: Nice, appreciate it, Josh. Thank you, sir.

Here's what we're working on for the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM.

A debate over health care reform. A doctor who spoke out against health care reform at one of those big town hall meetings in August going head-to-head with a mom with a child with a pre-existing condition -- I think you know what that means. She left her law practice to lobby for reform.

Plus, holiday in a war zone. Our correspondent talks to some of the troops in Baghdad on this Christmas eve. All that and more in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Once again, let's go to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta and the Georgia Boy Choir.

(WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S GEORGIA BOY CHOIR SINGING "JOY TO THE WORLD")

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPEC. RYAN SMITH: I'm Specialist Ryan Smith from the 19th Engineer Battalion in Kandahar, Afghanistan. I just want to say merry Christmas to my wife back home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Merry Christmas, baby, and happy new year's.

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HARRIS: Once again, the Georgia Boy Choir and "O Come All Ye Faithful."

(WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S GEORGIA BOY CHOIR SINGING "O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL")

HARRIS: The Georgia Boy Choir, right here at -- in Atlanta for us this year.

Sixty-five years ago when the world was absolutely consumed by war, Santa Claus paid a visit to the anxious children of a village in Luxembourg, thanks to the efforts of a young American GI. This year the aging veteran went back, possibly for the last time. Mohammed Jamjoom introduces us to him.

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MOHAMMED JAMJOON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American World War II veteran Dick Brookins may be an unlikely celebrity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May I ask you a favor?

DICK BROOKINS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May you sign this book, please?

DICK BROOKINS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: Sure.

JAMJOON: But in Luxembourg, the 87-year-old American St. Nick, as he is affectionately known, is a living legend.

DICK BROOKINS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: The way the people react to my visit here, I'm overwhelmed with the kindness.

JAMJOON: That kindness forged from the bond of a lasting memory more than 65 years ago. On a cold December day in 1944, Brookins was a lanky 22-year-old American corporal fresh from battle and the town of Wiltz, newly liberated from German occupation, was desperate for a visit from St. Nicholas. Because of his height, Dick Brookins was volunteered for the role.

BROOKINS: We asked all our GI friends to provide us with the candy and stuff so we could give it to the kids. We had no toys like Christmastime, but it just grew until he finally put it together as a town affair. We were happy to be able to put on a little party for the kids. It was as good for us as it was for them.

JAMJOON: That happiness was short-lived as Brookins and his unit pushed onwards to the Battle of the Bulge. A turning point in the war, the battle came with a high price, more than 80,000 American casualties. Brookins lost some of his very best friends in that battle, and thoughts of a hastily arranged Christmas party for a town now left in ruins had all but escaped his mind.

That is until more than three decades later and the arrival of a surprise phone call. It turns out the town of Wiltz hadn't forgot about Brookins at all, quite the opposite. Every year since the end of the war, they had faithfully marked the day the American St. Nick came to town.

BROOKINS: Hearing about this after 30 years, identify was just dumbfounded.

JAMJOON: Brookins agreed to reprise his role as American St. Nick, handing out toys and sweets to a new generation of Wiltz's boys and girls. And he has returned again and again to find a town still overflowing with gratitude for the man that has become a symbolic symbol of liberation and restoration.

BROOKINS: I had no idea that 65 years later these people still are trying to express their gratitude to what happened 65 years ago, which is outstanding. And I'm proud of that.

JAMJOON: Brookins, like so many other aging World War II vets, no longer fits into his old uniform.

BROOKINS: The way I look, I'm glad I quit. We're partners. We do this together.

JAMJOON: But on this, what he says is likely his final trip to Wiltz, that seemed to matter little, if at all.

Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN, Atlanta.

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