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American Morning

Uprising in Wisconsin: Teachers Walk, Democrats Run; Anger in Arab World Spreads; Man Arrested for Poisoning Auburn Oak Trees; Reinvent Yourself; Asleep on the Hill; Staten Island's Own Glee Club

Aired February 18, 2011 - 06:00   ET

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


KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Next on AMERICAN MORNING, a big battle shaping up in Madison, Wisconsin. Teachers walking off the job. Schools shut down for a third day and planning to protest again. Their local budget battle has been getting a lot of national attention. We're going to tell you why 14 Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state instead of showing up for work.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Also, the crackdown continues in Bahrain. Another four demonstrators killed yesterday. Police even attacking sleeping protesters. And also, Libya. Things are heating up there, as well.

CHETRY: And Sarah Palin visiting the suburbs in New York calling out First Lady Michelle Obama with a dig over her encouragement of breastfeeding and the price of a gallon of milk.

HOLMES: Also this morning, a fifth grade choir from New York. After a simple YouTube posting, they're heading to the Oscars.

CHETRY: We're going to hear more from them and your headlines coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: The scenes from Madison, Wisconsin. Ground Zero for a major labor fight that's playing out in other ways across the entire country right now. Should teachers take home less money to help a broke state?

HOLMES: Also, these things still playing out across the Arab world, including in Bahrain, where there have been more deaths after police crack down on sleeping protesters.

CHETRY: The Dow opening up its highest level in more than two years this morning. Wall Street booming as things you buy get more expensive each and every day. So will it trickle down?

Happy Friday to you. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. It's "American morning." It's February 18th, I'm Kiran Chetry.

HOLMES: And good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. We want to start this morning with what we've seen play out in Madison, Wisconsin. A budget battle there that might be coming to your state. A lot of people calling this labor's last stand. Take a look. This was the scene yesterday. We have seen the same scene the past few days now in Wisconsin. Thousands of teachers as well as state workers protesting major budget cuts and also the idea of stripping them of their collective bargaining rights.

Now, here's the latest we can tell you from here. Madison schools are closed once again today. This would be the third straight day that the students have been out of class. Meanwhile, 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats are nowhere to be found. They skipped town. They're hiding out in various places, including across the border in Illinois.

Now, more protests are expected today. Many teachers say they will not return until the governor there agrees to discuss their concerns.

Casey Wian live for us in Madison, Wisconsin. Are we expecting more of the same today, Casey?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, T.J. We're expecting thousands of protesters here in Madison, Wisconsin, state capitol again today for the fifth straight day. Most of those protesters, as you mentioned, are teachers very angry about this budget-cutting bill that would strip them of many of their collective bargaining rights and also require them to pay more for health care and for pensions.

Now, Governor Scott Walker says that these cuts are necessary because the state faces a $137 million budget shortfall by June 30th, and then a $3.6 billion deficit over the next two years. But still, teachers here are very angry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN RADEMACHER, MADISON COUNTY TEACHER: Like other families, we have a mortgage to pay every month. We've got electric bills, and what -- what I've heard is that it's about a 13 percent net drop in income with the benefits and the wages. That's what we'd be losing every month. And so then we have to start picking and choosing how we're going to make our house payments and still do other things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIAN: Teachers say it's not just the financial issues they'll be facing. They say what they really believe is behind this is an effort to bust their union. And as you mentioned, many schools throughout the state will be closed again today because many of the teachers are here protesting. And in fact, 500 or so of them spent the night sleeping on the floor of the state capitol building right behind me, T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Casey Wian keeping an eye on things for us. We appreciate you as always.

CHETRY: So they were in the state capitol building, but there were 14 Democrats who were not. The Wisconsin Senate decided to delay a vote on the budget bill by fleeing the state. They wound up just across the border in Rockford, Illinois. And they were hold up yesterday at a Best Western, Clock Tower Hotel. There's a look at it. With all of them missing, there were not enough senators to legally vote on the new spending bill. They've remained in Wisconsin. The Senate sergeant-in-arms could have compelled them to return to work.

CNN affilitate WTMJ caught up with Democratic State Senator Jon Erpenbach at the Illinois Hotel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STATE SEN. JON ERPENBACH (D), WISCONSIN: We're just trying to slow things down. The governor introduced this last Friday. It has tremendous changes in it that the people of the state of Wisconsin are just finding out about and obviously reacting to. We've got thousands of people up in Madison right now who are upset with what's going on and thousands more around the state doing the same thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: At 7:15 Eastern, we're going to be joined by Wisconsin State Senator, as you just heard from him, Jon Erpenbach, one of the14 Democrats who say they had to skip town in an effort to try to slow this budget down.

Also, how long are Wisconsin teachers willing to hold out? At the bottom of the hour, we're going to ask that question when we're joined by Bryan Kennedy. He's the president of the American Federation of Teachers in Wisconsin.

HOLMES: Let's turn now to some of the protests that continue to spread across the Arab world this morning. Nations tense after Friday prayers today. A lot of people are expecting. Main hot spot right now is Bahrain. You have been seeing these pictures the past few days.

Bahrain is this tiny, gulf island nation. What you're seeing pictures of here is one of the funerals of one of the protesters who have been killed over the past several days. But again, Bahrain is of critical military importance to the U.S. It's home to the Navy's Fifth Fleet, which ensures the safe passage of oil through the gulf there. Crowds expected to gather again once again today. The top Shiite cleric there calling the deaths over the past few days a massacre.

Also, Libya, that's the latest country in the region hit with demands for change. People there want Muammar Gaddafi who's been in power some 40 years want him out of there now. Libyans staged what they called a day of rage and organized it through social media sites. At least 21 people reportedly dead there. That's according to human rights groups.

CHETRY: It's being called the biggest Medicare fraud bust in the nation's history. The Feds have charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine different cities. Attorney General Eric Holder says they're accused of illegally billing Medicare for more than $225 million.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: With today's arrests, we're sending an important message. Health care fraud is not easy money. It's a serious crime. And as we have shown today --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Holder also said that over the past four years, 1,000 defendants have been charged with ripping off Medicare for $2 billion. Something that is driving up your health care costs.

HOLMES: When you are born in the state of Alabama, the first thing that's decided is whether or not you're going to be an Alabama or an Auburn fan. It is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college football. But now one Alabama fan is being accused of taking this entirely too far. He's accused of poisoning two of Auburn's 130-year- old oak trees at Toomer's Corner. This is a sacred spot for these fans where they traditionally gather after victories to roll the oaks with toilet paper. It's a long standing tradition.

Well, 62-year-old Harvey Updyke (ph) Jr. has now been arrested, charged with criminal mischief for allegedly pouring powerful herbicide around the trees. Experts are now saying it is likely those trees will not survive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN ENLOE, AUBURN UNIVERSITY ASTRONOMY DEPT.: I always want to hold out hope. Based upon the technical experts I've consulted with around the country, the concentration of spike basically found within the soil would suggest there is a very low probability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So to give you an idea there, they take it that seriously. Here horticulturist on campus there, literally crying over trees. It's that serious for them, folks. Police believe that Updyke (ph) did act alone. He's facing up to 10 years in prison now.

CHETRY: Unbelievable.

Eight minutes past the hour. Let's get a check of this morning's weather headlines. Rob Marciano is in Atlanta. We're warming up. I know main parts of the country are today.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, and on top of that the west coast continues to get hammered. Check out some of these snow totals in California. In some cases, up to four feet. Most of these spots are at least around the Tahoe area, so, you know, ramping up on a holiday weekend here. They're loving life. But rainfall continues to sag across the I-5 corridor and stormy conditions at the high country in the form of some wind getting into the intermountain west. So everybody getting a little piece of this with the exception of -- it's kind of scooting up towards the north. So that means that where it's been heating up, it will heat up for another day, but there is a cold front. And there you see it. So if you live on the East Coast today, places like New York City and D.C. will enjoy very nice spring-like temperatures. But it's not going to last.

We're going to get back into a cool down over the weekend. We'll detail that a little bit more later in the program. T.J., Kiran, back up to you.

HOLMES: All right, Rob. We appreciate you as always. Thanks so much.

And ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING. They just told you they were going to raise the fares, but already several airlines just days later reversing course. We'll explain why.

CHETRY: Also, a teen wrestler who was a favorite in the state's tournament is refusing to take on his competitor. We'll explain more on this gender controversy coming up.

Nine minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Twelve minutes past the hour now on this AMERICAN MORNING. Traffic moving once again on Interstate 20 just outside of Atlanta. This is a big deal, a major artery. But it was shut down, a 13-mile stretch because of a brushfire. Take a look at this. And it happened during yesterday's commute.

About five fires were set. So authorities do not believe this just was some act of nature. They do believe they were intentionally set. But I-20, for those of you who do not know, is the main artery that runs east/west through Atlanta.

CHETRY: A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland clears a major hurdle. The legislation was approved by a key state Senate Committee yesterday. It now appears that it has enough votes to pass the Senate. If it passes there and in the House of the delegates, Governor Martin O'Malley said he would sign it.

HOLMES: Also, a decision is expected today about whether or not to restart the USC University Hospital in Los Angeles. Kidney transplant programs, they were shut down last month after a patient reportedly got the wrong kidney. That patient is expected to be OK according to the hospital because it just so happened that the kidney was a close enough match. The hospital called this mistake a, quote, "process error."

CHETRY: And coming up ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, Sarah Palin, every time she gives a speech and says something that generates controversy. This time she appeared to be taking some digs at the first lady.

HOLMES: Yes. We're used to her taking on the president. But why would she be taking on Michelle Obama this time? We'll explain.

CHETRY: Also, if you're looking for work, how you can reinvent yourself so that you're more attractive to potential employers.

It's 13 minutes past the hour. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Sixteen minutes past the hour now.

"Minding Your Business." Some major airlines, they say they were going to increase your fees. Well, they're already rolling that back. Well, your fares, I should say, actually. This started just on Monday. These cuts mostly would affect the first class and business class travelers, but they were upping the prices as much as $120 on some round trip fares.

But Delta was one of the companies - let me see. We've got here Continental, United, American Airlines, they all raised those flight prices. But, again, they have stepped back. They kind of checked the temperature of some passengers, and it didn't seem like this would go over so well, so they have reversed course.

CHETRY: Well, you're paying more for the things you need. Stocks that were tracking new highs every day. All three of the major indexes will open at their highest levels in more than two years. Meantime, inflation is rising and so were jobless claims. More than 400,000 people filed for unemployment benefits last week.

HOLMES: All right. Things are up, Christine, on Wall Street, why?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Because profits of the companies are starting to do better and things are coming back. And they've got - that the S&P 500 companies, T.J., 48 percent of their earnings come from overseas. So even though the American job market hasn't come back and the American middle class is just sort of tentatively - look, they couldn't even - they couldn't even take those higher airfares, like the airlines backed up because the consumers are still pretty tentative here. But you've got two and a half year highs in stocks even as the job market remains pretty tough.

And so I wanted to tell you a little bit about reinvention this morning, because what we're hearing is that the job - you're not going to wait out the job market. The job market could take until 2013 - 2014 to return to 2008 levels. In the meantime, you've got - the population is growing at the same time. So there's more people competing for - for fewer jobs.

It's all about re-invention. I talked to Pamela Mitchell from the Reinvention Institute, a veteran of corporate America, and she says you've got to move quickly. You have got to reinvent yourself immediately. You have to analyze your skills, analyze the market, repurpose them immediately. Do not wait too long. You have got to become relevant and reinvent yourself for a globalized market. This is what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAMELA MITCHELL, CEO, REINVENTION INSTITUTE: The new form of job security is really about knowing your skills and talents and how they can be applied according to what's going on in the market trend. So, really, that's how you're going to have to look at finding a job in this new economy is doing an assessment of your skills and talents, seeing where the market is headed and saying how do I repurpose what I have to offer according to where the market's going?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Repurpose what I have to offer. That - look, it's not going to happen to you, you're going to make it happen. And she has told me that, a lot of other people have told me that. I'm sick and tired of hearing the self-help kind of advice about be positive and try to stay energetic in the job interview. People aren't even getting a job interview. So it's about reinvention.

Quick market check this morning, because the invention in the stock market has been pretty amazing - 29 points higher yesterday at 12,318; NASDAQ up, S&P 500 up, as well. It's the end of the week. We'll see if it can hold for the last day of the week. Sometimes you see people take their profits off the table a little bit heading into the weekend, but we'll keep watching the futures (ph) and let you know as we go through the next couple of hours.

HOLMES: Appreciate it as always.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

HOLMES: Christine, thank you.

CHETRY: A teen wrestler in Iowa gave up his chance - he could have been a state champion, but he refuses to take on a female contender. It's a freshman female, who you - who you'll see here. She's the first girl ever to qualify for the state tournament.

Well, sophomore Joel Northrup, who was one of the favorites, and you'll see him in a black outfit, released a statement saying, quote, "wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe it's appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I've been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

Northrup's athletic director also later commented on the decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MAHMENS, LINN MAR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: You know, I'm sure it was hard for him like it would be hard for anybody. But, you know, it's a - it's decision that his family made, and that's what it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Northrup is still eligible to compete in the consolation round.

Well, coming up on Monday, we're going to talk to both Joel Northrup and the female high school wrestler that he was supposed to take, Cassy Herkelman, to get their take on this unusual situation that they found themselves in and how it's playing out in their schools. Meanwhile, speaking of schools, teachers in Wisconsin walking off the job again and schools are shut down now in Madison for a third straight day. How long are they prepared to stay out? We're going to talk to the president of their union straight ahead.

HOLMES: Also, why are dozens of congressmen sleeping in their offices? Could this be to get a taxpayer-funded perk? Our Jim Acosta is on this story.

Twenty-one minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Welcome back.

From the court to the Capitol, the Lakers' Ron Artest, he came to Washington to show his support for a bill to fundamental health services in schools. In an interview with CNN, Artest spoke of his long history with counseling, said that he received his first counseling session as a 13-year-old and continued through high school, college, and now as an NBA player. After winning the NBA title last year, Artest raffled off his championship ring, raising $650,000 for various mental health charities.

HOLMES: And President Obama continues a West Coast swing and continues to push an innovation agenda today. He's going to visit Intel, the headquarters out in Oregon. This follows a summit he had in Silicon Valley last night.

And check out this guest list. The Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the Yahoo! President and CEO Carol Bartz, the Twitter CEO as well as the Google Chairman and CEO, all in attendance.

CHETRY: Sarah Palin still isn't saying whether or not she's going to run for president in 2012, but that hasn't stopped her from taking some shots at the president and now the first lady. Speaking to a group of New York business owners, Palin took a swipe at Michelle Obama while complaining about the rising cost of food.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN, FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: It's no wonder Michelle Obama's telling everybody, you better breast-feed your babies, because - I'm like - I'm going, yes, you better, because the price of milk is so high right now. Regardless of the political - you know, to do it for economic reasons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Well, the first lady has said that she wants to promote breastfeeding as a way to reduce childhood obesity.

HOLMES: Well, your lawmakers often spend some long days and nights in their offices, and they on a regular basis they bunk in their office during the week. More time to work and take care of the people's business. Well, maybe not according to a watchdog group. It claims they're misusing official resources and getting a taxpayer-funded perk.

Jim Acosta in Washington. Is nothing sacred? We can't even give these guys credit for maybe just working so hard they need to crash at the office?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J. You know, they are busy these days. And as you said, there are so many big issues on the agenda in Washington. Lawmakers are putting in some long - long hours.

But with so many members of Congress sleeping in their offices, critics are starting to complain the House is becoming like a hotel where the lodging is on the house.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: After a long day on Capitol Hill, Republican Congressman Joel Walsh checks into the what's become the cheapest hotel room in Washington - his own office.

ACOSTA (on camera): And how good a night's sleep is that? That doesn't look too comfortable, Congressman?

REP. JOE WALSH (R), ILLINOIS: I'm going to be honest, it's horrible. The couch is very uncomfortable.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Walsh sleeps on the couch, saving his family the expense of finding a second home in the nation's capital. Giving him more time to take care of business.

WALSH: A couple of times I've rolled off.

ACOSTA (on camera): You've rolled off the couch and -

WALSH: I've rolled off the couch to a thud.

ACOSTA (voice-over): But a liberal watchdog group isn't comfortable either and is calling for an investigation, accusing more than 30 lawmakers of bilking a fringe benefit on which members of Congress must pay taxes.

But this is nothing new. Republican Jason Chaffetz was showing off his cot to CNN two years ago.

ACOSTA (on camera): That's a well made bed right there.

REP. HANSEN CLARKE (D), MICHIGAN: A good mattress right here.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Democrats are doing it, too. Even though freshman Hansen Clarke isn't sure how long he can take it.

CLARKE: I haven't had a good night's sleep since I've been here in Congress.

ACOSTA: Walsh, a Tea Party Conservative who turned down his own Congressional Health Care Plan welcomes any investigation.

ACOSTA (on camera): So let me ask you this, you don't want the federal health benefits, but you'll take the free housing?

WALSH: No, that will -

ACOSTA: Is there a contradiction?

WALSH: No, that will be determined. If - if this is free housing that I have to pay some tax for, I'll pay it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: So far, it's only a few dozen congressmen, not congresswomen, who appear to be spending their nights in their Capitol crash pads. That might have something to do with the fact there are no showers in their office bathrooms, leaving the congressional gym as the only place to wash up - T.J.

HOLMES: OK. Anything, I mean, it's really inappropriate - or illegal, even, about possibly what they're doing? They've been accused of, you know, misusing some funds, but, I mean, is there - besides that, any much more to it? Is something can be done about it?

ACOSTA: Well, this may be a story in search of a scandal, T.J. You know, the partisan ranger is pretty intense on Capitol Hill these days. So, you know, everybody's pointing fingers over - over everything.

You know, they're not really misusing funds. I think this is a little bit of an interpretation on the part of this one watchdog group that is saying that essentially staying in your office is like free housing. So it's sort of like extra income you should pay taxes on. There's going to be an investigation into all of this. There's a - there's a panel inside the Congress that will look at this and determine whether or not something is wrong here, T.J. But this has been going on for a long time. There would be a lot of back taxes to pay if they were to really get serious about this.

HOLMES: I love how you put that, though. It might be the perfect way, a story in search of a scandal this morning.

ACOSTA: Yes. Just maybe.

HOLMES: All right. Appreciate you this morning, Jim. Thanks as always.

ACOSTA: Yes.

HOLMES: We're getting close to the bottom of the hour here on this AMERICAN MORNING.

These are some of the stories we're keeping a close eye on. The Arab world, protests continue to pop up in a number of countries, and some of them becoming more and more violent. One of the key places people are keeping an eye on right now, Bahrain. It's a critical military - militarily important spot for the U.S. It is home to the Navy's Fifth Fleet. Bahrain leaders, they have banned public gatherings now. We've seen tanks in the street, and also another four people, at least, killed in crackdowns yesterday.

CHETRY: One in 12 teachers in New York City may be losing their jobs. Mayor Mike Bloomberg unveiled his new budget yesterday. He wants to eliminate 4,066 teacher jobs and then another 1,500 would go through attrition.

The spending plan still has to be approved by City Council.

HOLMES: Also, 64 former Chrysler dealers are suing the federal government now. They were shut down by the Obama administration during the Chrysler bankruptcy and they're saying that they're due at least $130 million in damages, saying they helped stabilize the economy and the car industry, believe they deserve now some compensation.

Let's head back now to the tense budget battle that's been triggering those teacher walkouts and massive protests in Wisconsin. This morning, we're keeping an eye on 14 Democratic lawmakers who literally fled the state to delay a vote on the governor's new spending plan. President Obama and others have called it an assault on unions. The governor there, Governor Scott Walker says he's trying to avoid layoffs and balance the budget.

Well, Bryan Kennedy, he's the president of the American Federation of Teachers in Wisconsin. We should point out that in Wisconsin, you don't actually represent that many teachers, necessarily, but you do represent about 17,000 workers who would be impacted by this bill.

So, thank you for spending some time with us this morning.

So, tell me, what do you think about these Democratic lawmakers who fled? Do you think that's the way to go?

BRYAN KENNEDY, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS IN WISCONSIN: You know, I think that these lawmakers were absolutely showing their courage and their defense for working families here in Wisconsin, you know, left with no other option. You know, they basically brought the actions of the Senate to a standstill. Unlike their Republican counterparts who had thousands of constituents coming from all over the state, and they refuse to meet with taxpayers and voters within their districts, because they knew that these voters and taxpayers were going to tell them, "We don't want you to vote with this, we don't want you to strip our rights."

HOLMES: Well, Mr. Kennedy, let me -- let me go back to a word you used there, "courage." You consider it courageous for someone who was elected to do a job and fight for them at the statehouse. They left the state literally. And we have grown men hiding out right now and not going to do their job. You used the word "courage."

KENNEDY: And what is courageous is to stand up and say, rights that have been fought for for over 50 years in this state that have helped to create one of the best civil service sectors that you'll find in any state anywhere in the country -- to strip that away in less than a week with no debate, to ignore the thousands of people who have come out in defense of public service, that is courage.

HOLMES: And you said standing up -- they're not standing up, they're running.

KENNEDY: No, they're not. They're standing up. They knew that if they stayed here, there'd be a vote and rights that have been fought for for 50 years would be lost.

HOLMES: Isn't that our system, though?

KENNEDY: And so, they said, you know what the last tool --

HOLMES: Isn't it our system? Republicans won. They won the state house. They won the governor's office. And the way the process works, if you win and the people vote you in, you know what? Sometimes, the other side is going to lose. That's the process, sir.

KENNEDY: It is. But you know what? The same thing could be said about the U.S. Senate. And what happens there? A small minority continues to constantly filibuster every piece of legislation and brings that body to a standstill. We don't have filibusters here in Wisconsin.

So, the only thing these brave senators could do was to -- was to leave the state so that they could not be forced or compelled to bring a quorum to the body.

HOLMES: Well, sir --

KENNEDY: They stood up for worker rights.

HOLMES: You know what? This is -- I think that's a good equivalent for you to probably point out there. This is the state equivalent of a filibuster. You don't have the same options.

So, that may be a good way to put that there, as well.

KENNEDY: Absolutely.

HOLMES: Let me turn to now some of the issues on the table. And, sir, what would state workers at this point -- what would you be willing to give up? The governor is asking for the collective bargaining rights when it comes to everything besides wages to go away. Also, increase in pension and health care payments. I guess -- so, I guess, what are you willing to give?

KENNEDY: Well, you know, the state workers that we represent have already given concessions of over $100 million. And that was done obviously under the previous governor.

Those contracts were rejected by the legislature. This governor says he needs an additional $30 million in concessions. We us unions are willing to come to the bargaining table and to discuss what those additional concessions. In addition to $100 million and additional $30 million, what that would look like, what more we could give up to help him to fill what's left of this budget hole.

He has refused to answer any of our calls, refused to come to the table and negotiate. He has decided that the problem is the unions.

I don't see how it's a problem if we're willing to come to the table and negotiate and he's not the one willing to come to the table. He wants to strip our rights and then dictate exactly what the terms and conditions of employment are. That's not our rich history here in Wisconsin. That's not Wisconsin values.

HOLMES: Let me ask you, as well -- are you willing to go to the table before the governor takes off the table the issue of taking away the collective bargaining rights? Is that a non-starter, I guess, in your opinion?

KENNEDY: Taking away bargaining rights is a non-starter. We have reached time and time and time again since November the 3rd, since the day after the election, his people have refused to return a single call. They have never even acknowledged the unions except to give us notices of termination of contract extensions.

They don't want to come to the table and bargain. The bargaining is inconvenient to them. You know -- and in terms of specifics, you know, we don't bargain in the news media. This governor has repeatedly gone to the news media and says what kind of concessions he wants. Those need to be done at the bargaining table and we're more than happy to consider. And I believe we can bring to the table proposals that would be acceptable, that would fill this $30 million budget hole.

But it has to be done through bargaining, not through stripping people of their rights and dictating what the terms and conditions of employment are.

HOLMES: Well, last thing to you, here, Mr. Kennedy, to address. The governor has said he would assure -- he would make promises that there wouldn't be furloughs and there wouldn't be layoffs if he made the moves that he is -- that he is proposing to make. The other option, he says, thousands of thousands of layoffs.

I guess the question is: is there some point you all, the unions there and the workers are going to have to balance out, would we rather pay more and keep our jobs than to continue this fight and end up losing thousands of jobs?

KENNEDY: Well, you know, we were willing in the -- with the previous governor when we negotiated with him. He said the same thing to us, that there would be layoffs. So, we chose to agree to furlough days. We chose $100 million in concessions. We're paying more for our health insurance. We're paying more toward our retirement.

We not only had zero percent pay increases, but we actually had 3 percent reductions because we were willing to accept the furlough days. So, it was a loss of 3 percent of income. And in return, we didn't get any layoffs. We're willing to work with this governor, as well. But he needs to come to the bargaining table and bargain with the employees, not strip us of our rights and dictate what the terms and conditions of employment are.

HOLMES: Well, the entire country is watching. And what's happening in Wisconsin could certainly be an example of what we're going to see in other places. But, again, I think people's hearts go out to all of you on both sides. People love teachers and state workers, and everybody's hurting right now. And also feel for the governor and the state that has a $3.5 billion budget shortfall.

So, sir, we're going to watch closely. We absolutely appreciate you taking the time, though, this morning. Hope to catch up with you again.

KENNEDY: Yes. Thanks for having me.

CHETRY: And still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, check your calendar. It's still February. But today, the East Coast is going to see highs in the 60s and in some cases the 70s. Rob Marciano joins us with his forecast in 10 minutes.

HOLMES: Also, in just a moment, we'll be checking in with our Zain Verjee. Could a man who's been in power -- absolute power -- for the past 40-plus years, does he finally fall?

It's 37 minutes past the hour.

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HOLMES: It's 40 minutes past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.

The anger continues to spread across the Arab world. Two of the main spots we're keeping on this morning: Libya and Bahrain.

CHETRY: Bahrain's leaders have now banned public gatherings. They've sent tanks into the streets -- an intensifying crackdown that killed at least four more anti-government protesters yesterday.

HOLMES: Our Zain Verjee is live for us in London this morning, keeping an eye on both spots.

Good morning to you, Zain.

Let's start in Bahrain. Is there any sign, even though we're seeing these violent crackdowns that the protesters are starting to back off at all?

VERJEE: No. It doesn't. From our reporters on the scene, what they're saying is that thousands of people are out demonstrating, but the demonstrations so far have been peaceful. Essentially, they're kind of demonstrating around about three people who were killed in a crackdown by the government on Thursday. So, they're out on the streets, but there are also a lot of heavy security and police presence out there, as well.

Bahrain, T.J., is important to the U.S. because it's an important naval base. It's in a very strategic region.

Iran is a concern for the U.S. and Bahrain, is really been a bulwark against them.

I was reading "The New York Times" this morning, though, and they said there's an important difference that you have to keep in mind when you look at Egypt and Bahrain and try to compare the two. They say that in Egypt, it was about a democracy versus a dictatorship. In Bahrain, you're dealing with issues about Sunnis and Shias.

So, you're really walking into what could be a dangerous minefield to the United States to try and navigate. Bahrain is a friend, but it's a minority Sunni royal family that is ruling a majority Shia in the country, and they feel angry and oppressed.

CHETRY: You're right. A very different situation, but perhaps seeing how these protests have played out in some of these other Arab countries and modeling g it -- the same with Libya, they're also becoming a point of massive protests. What's going on there?

VERJEE: Yes, there is. And, you know, it's difficult to know independently exactly what has happened because they're not giving journalists visas to come in and report in the country and show people the images. But what we understand from Human Rights Watch, who is there. They say that 24 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. We have multiple witnesses that say the security forces were out on the streets and they just shot and killed demonstrators there. Human Rights Watch called it vicious.

Now, what did Muammar Gadhafi do about all of this? He's been in power by about 40 years. That's the longest running person in power in the Arab world. He got on state TV. He was in a limo, and he waved to a cheering crowd and sending the message that everything is OK.

HOLMES: All right. Zain Verjee, we appreciate you. We appreciate seeing you as always.

Our viewers, keep reminding them, if you want more Zain, just like we do, 5:00 a.m. every morning, "WORLD ONE," right here on CNN.

Zain, you have a good weekend.

CHETRY: Thanks, Zain.

VERJEE: Same to you, too, guys.

HOLMES: All right. Still ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING: The FOX show "Glee" is all the rage right now. But don't tell that to New York's own glee club.

CHETRY: Also, a huge warm-up for the East this Friday morning. You can sing outside at least tomorrow and today. Rob's going to have the forecast for us coming up.

It's 43 minutes past the hour.

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KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Forty-six minutes past the hour. It looks like the weather's getting better this weekend. Rob Marciano is in Atlanta, at least, for us. I know that out west it's a different story. They're just piling it up for the ski slopes.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right, and you know, holiday weekend. So, you know, the folks out there are loving it, in that regard, but not everybody going to see that fabulous weather. It is getting warmer as we've seen temperatures climb across the East Coast, and we do have a little cool front that's going to kind of give you a little shot of reality, and it's already doing that in some spots. But before it did that, 82 degrees the high temperature in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 80 degrees in Oklahoma City, record highs yesterday.

Now, remember where these people were last week? A week ago, Bartlesville or just about five miles away from Bartlesville, there was an all-time record low set for the state of Oklahoma at minus 31. So, over 110-degree swing there in just a week. Unbelievable. Tulsa, 79 degrees, and other spots in Kansas seeing temperatures in the 70s and 80s yesterday, as well.

They'll be cooler today because that cold front is certainly coming down just a little bit, and being forced eastward by this powerful storm across the West Coast, which continues to pummel them. They've had a little bit of a break across parts of Southern California, but the moisture is going to be heading towards Los Angeles and San Diego later on this afternoon, and we might even see some thunderstorms on top of the heavy snow.

And in some cases, they've seen three and four feet of it in just two days. All right. Fifty-eight degrees in Kansas City. So, that's a little bit cooler today as opposed to yesterday. Sixty in New York, but again, that warm front is going to be short-lived. I think the cold front comes through tonight and tomorrow. It will be dry, but it will be cooler, noticeably cooler, come tomorrow.

And that's good news because they rescued this particular animal on the cape yesterday. A porpoise was found stranded in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and they nursed him back to health and got him out of the ambulance and carried him back to the shore and back into the Atlantic Ocean, and all is good, so, you know, because temperatures were nice and mild yesterday, at least in the air, that porpoise didn't seem too bothered by the human handling. How often do you see that, guys? Come on.

CHETRY: That's awesome. That's so great. I mean, they just -- you know, they work so hard to help these animals, and then, they send them back in, and they're gone. I know you did that with the pelicans, right? You just all that time in the Gulf and then send them on their way and hope for the best. MARCIANO: It's a good feeling, and you know, it won't be too long before folks will be hanging out on that beach because summer time will be here, but until then, you got some cold air coming.

CHETRY: Yes, actually, you can't really jump in the water until August. Let's be real.

MARCIANO: You're right. Unless, you're a really brave soul.

CHETRY: All right. Thanks, Rob.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Rob.

Still ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING, an extraordinary look at Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's rehab. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us exactly what she's going through. He's coming up in just about 30 minutes.

CHETRY: Also, the IBM's Watson. You remember, he was crowned the "Jeopardy" king, but what's next for the super computer? Would you trust Watson to diagnose what's wrong with you instead of a doctor? Super computers and artificial intelligence could be something new for our health care field. Forty-nine minutes past the hour.

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(SINGING)

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CHETRY: It's 52 minutes past the hour. That was "Glee," of course, the hit TV show, but before there was "Glee," there was PS 22 Choir in Staten Island.

HOLMES: Yes. Kids just like the counterparts on TV, they've made a name for themselves, even if you don't know the name, you're about to know it now. Jason Carroll, good morning.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Big name, a lot of stars coming out to see them. It really is sort of inspirational. You know, they've become an internet sensation with the help of their inspiring choral director and a group of very talented 10-year-olds. Their voices taking them all the way to the upcoming academy awards.

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(SINGING)

CARROLL (voice-over): Videos from rehearsals have gone viral.

(SINGING)

CARROLL: These fifth graders from PS 22 Choir in Staten Island --

(SINGING)

CARROLL: Capturing the hearts of celebrities like Kylie Minogue, Tori Amos, Stevie Knicks, and Anne Hathaway who showed up with a special announcement.

ANNE HATHAWAY, ACTRESS: We're going to Hollywood!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

MOHAMMED, PS 22 Chorus: We're like, oh, my God.

AZARIA, PS 22 Chorus: Yes. We're going to Hollywood.

GREG BREINBERG, PS 22 CHORUS TEACHER: Unbelievable. I mean, surreal. My head is still spinning.

CARROLL: Choral instructor, Greg Breinberg is the man who made the group what it is today.

BREINBERG: They are amazing, amazing kids. They come with experience and -- soul experience.

(SINGING)

BREINBERG: When you come from that kind of background, you're just maybe a little bit more attune to the way life can be a tough thing.

CARROLL: Gifted 10-year-olds like Denise and Azaria round out the group.

Explain to me why singing is important to you.

AZARIA: For me, music is something that I cannot live without it.

MOHAMMED: I realize that my mom was a singer. So, I want to be like my mom.

DENISE, PS 22 CHORUS: What I wanted to do since I was a little girl.

CARROLL: You are a little girl.

DENISE: A little baby.

CARROLL: Singing is their passion, and come Oscar night, millions will hear them.

(SINGING)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (on-camera): They're such great kids. And on Oscar night, we are hearing that they're probably going to be singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and another surprise song. We'll have to see what that is, but you know that they are also saying the worry is every year, you know, they come back, and they're ready to sing their new songs, but there's always the worry about the budget.

Whether or not there'll be enough money to keep it going. And so, I think when folks out there see this story, maybe they'll -- you know, other school districts will say, we should provide more money for the arts.

CHETRY: They'll be wonderful ambassadors for that, for you know, funding the arts in these schools. I mean, they sound like they're almost like professionally trained. How do they sing so well?

CARROLL: You know, it's all up to that choir director who gets out there and finds these kids and puts them into their auditions starting in the fourth grade and then continuing on to the fifth grade. I mean, they're just great, great kids. And it's so funny, you know, when you ask them what they want to be to grow up, one of the little girls said, you know, I thought they want to be singers. She said I want to be a marriage counselor. I said, oh, that's interesting. You go for that.

HOLMES: She knows that work will always be there.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: And one other thing, how often is the Oscars -- I don't watch the show enough, but how often do they invite a group of kids like this?

CARROLL: This is a first. This is a first.

HOLMES: So, never. They just don't go pick up strangers and bring them in to --

CARROLL: Right. They do not. And that's why Anne Hathaway, co-host of this year's show, went out there to see the kids and made the special announcement.

HOLMES: That's outstanding.

CARROLL: Yes.

HOLMES: Good stuff. I'll watch the show this year, maybe.

CARROLL: Check them out.

HOLMES: All right. Thanks.

CHETRY: Thanks, Jason.

Coming up, a quick programming note. We want to remind you, all this week, Alina Cho has been doing the fashion week. We've all learned something, of course. This weekend, she is going to have a special, "Fashion Week Backstage Pass. It airs Saturday, September 19th, 2:30 eastern right here on CNN.

HOLMES: All right. We're getting close to the top hour. A quick break. Your top stories coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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HOLMES (voice-over): Good morning. It's a showdown in Wisconsin. Protests are growing as teachers walk out of the classrooms, and senators are running for the border. A nation is watching what could be labor's last stand on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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