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White House Press Briefing Addresses Swine Flu Outbreak; Flu Scare Prompts School Closures; Flu Fear on the Move; Core employers Abandoning Small North Carolina Town; Swine Flu: Then & Now; When You Can't Pay Child Support: Recession Layoffs Hitting American Families

Aired April 30, 2009 - 13:55   ET

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

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: ... but those subsequent -- but subsequent test results are negative.

Over the course of the 20th and 21st, the individual's wife and young son developed flu-like symptoms. On the 24th, the individual visited his family physician and related his travel history. The doctor did not prescribe antiviral drugs and did not perform tests on the patient.

The following day, April 25th, the individual and his wife and son visited an urgent care facility where they were administered rapid flu testing and tested negative.

The individual followed up with the Anne Arundel County health authorities. And on April 28th, the individual's wife, son and nephew tested probable for H1N1. They have tested positive, as I said, for Influenza A. The subtype is unidentifiable. That's where the letters and numbers H1N1 come into effect.

Further testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the nature of the outcome. The original patient tested negative likely because so much time had elapsed since the onset of his own symptoms that they would not show up in the test.

As I said, all four individuals experienced only mild symptoms, and all four have recovered. This person is -- has been cleared to go back to work by doctors and is back working today.

That's a short tick-tock; I know you probably have other questions. And I'll be happy to answer as many of those as I can.

QUESTION: Thanks, Robert. I assume that the reason (OFF-MIKE) is because doctors and officials think that this probably is a case of the swine flu virus (OFF-MIKE)

GIBBS: Well, we felt the need to disclose the probability of this. I think you've heard the president discuss over the course of the last few days whether there are confirmed or suspected cases. And we thought it was important to disclose that information, again, understanding that the individuals that were involved have recovered and are fine. QUESTION: One of the questions -- well, I had last night about quarantines, and obviously that's a more controversial, difficult decision to make, maybe comes later in this outbreak process, I don't know.

But I'm just wondering what the discussion is like here about when you might use that kind of -- when you might take that kind of step. The president seemed to suggest that, right now, the responsibility is mostly on individual people to potentially quarantine themselves.

GIBBS: Well, obviously, as you know, the president is receiving regular updates on this information.

Let me add a few things to the timeline that I should have. Secretary Chu has not and did not experience any symptoms. Because he is asymptomatic, he has not been tested, and there are no plans to do so.

The same is true -- the president, as I've said here many times, has not experienced any symptoms, and the doctors see no need to conduct any tests.

In terms of -- I want to put it in a broad brush of other steps that might be taken. Obviously, events change quickly, and the president and the team at CDC, HHS, DHS, Homeland Security here are monitoring the situation. I think, as the president said, we will take any step or precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the American people.

Yes, sir?

QUESTION: Well, considering that one member of (inaudible) turned up to have developed symptoms and affected, isn't there any further actions being taken to look at the entire group that went and -- to make sure that the president's (inaudible)?

GIBBS: Well, again, let's understand that we are now almost twice the limit removed from a symptomatic window that one would see for incubation. So anybody that went on the trip, anybody that went in support of the trip, it is highly, highly, highly unlikely that -- I think we're now 13 -- 30th -- yes -- so 13 days ago this morning the team left Mexico.

Again, in excess of almost twice the limit on the window if you're -- if you haven't felt any symptoms, there's no need to test you. Again, if you -- the same advice that others have given to the general public remain very much in accord with what we would tell anybody here and what we would tell staff, which is, you know, if you feel sick, stay home. Go see a doctor. Take precautions. But if you're asymptomatic, there's no reason to believe that it is anything other than the fact that you don't (inaudible).

QUESTION: I have a question and a follow up.

Do you have any idea how this individual may have contracted... GIBBS: No. It's -- again, without knowing the precise time in which he began to feel ill on the 16th, we didn't land until the afternoon of the 16th. It's based on the fact that there's an incubation period, you know, it's likely he began to get sick before -- days before the team landed on the day of the visit.

QUESTION: And my other question has to do with remarks that Vice President Biden made this morning on television. Representatives of the travel industry have accused the vice president of coming close to fear mongering because of these comments. I'm wondering if you wanted to clarify or correct or apologize for the remarks that he made.

GIBBS: Well, I think the -- what the vice president meant to say was the same thing that, begun, many members have said in the last few days. And that is if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting symptoms -- flu-like symptoms, coughing sneezing, runny nose, that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel, and I think he just -- what he said and what he meant to say.

QUESTION: With all due respect, I sympathize with you trying to explaining the vice president's comments, but that's not even remotely close to what he said. He was asked about if a members of his family...

GIBBS: Look, I understand what he said, and I'm telling you what he meant to say, which was that...

(LAUGHTER)

... if somebody is experiencing symptoms -- you heard the president say this last night. If somebody is feeling sick, if somebody is exhibiting symptoms of being sick, then they should take all necessary precautions. Obviously, if anybody was unduly alarmed for whatever reason, we -- we would apologize for that. And I hope that my remarks and remarks of people at CDC and Secretary Napolitano have appropriately cleared up what he meant to say.

QUESTION: Robert, on Chrysler -- pardon me -- the president seemed very confident that they were going to emerge from bankruptcy and be healthier and more viable. Where does he get that confidence when, immediately, industry analysts are saying it's going to be very hard to find a bankruptcy judge to deal with some of this and...

GIBBS: The case has already been assigned to a bankruptcy judge.

QUESTION: Not just find one, but find one that's willing to take some steps with the bond holders, for example, that will...

GIBBS: You know...

QUESTION: There's all kinds of details here that have not been flushed out. And so how does he have confidence in that, number one? And number two, Americans have not been buying Chrysler vehicles for a long time, so how do they turn around all of a sudden?

GIBBS: Well, let's not generalize. I mean, obviously, I've mentioned in here that you have -- you've had a dip in the number of autos purchased. I'm sure you've had a dip in the number of VCRs purchased or DVDs -- I'm showing my age, aren't I? We still have those videos that my son watches on occasion.

You know, we're seeing a general economic recession where the demand for virtually every good is down. So people aren't buying...

QUESTION: But Chrysler (OFF-MIKE) selling a lot of cars...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: ... neither is Ford, or Toyota, or G.M., or any number. I mean, look, I'm not up here to go through the monthly sales figures of the auto industry. We all know those.

But I think I would push back on -- on some of the reporting that I've heard and some of the characterizations relating to this deal.

You have 80 percent of the United Auto Workers who took some significant sacrifices to ratify this deal. You have the major debt- holders of the company who have signed off on parts of this agreement. You had the former owner relinquish its stake in the company.

So I think the reason the president expressed hope last night was the notion that we had made great progress with a vast majority of the stakeholders that he talked about regularly as a part of this process.

As the president mentioned, there are people that decided they would take -- or decided they wanted to take less of a sacrifice than other debt-holders, than the workers, than former owners. They tried to, in a sense, play chicken with the government for a better deal, and nobody blinked.

So that's why the need remains for a quick, structured bankruptcy that the president is optimistic about and believes will put Chrysler on a path toward viability that does not need continued assistance from the federal government in order to -- to do well.

But your broader point is, again, the demand for virtually everything is down because of an economic recession. We did see some positive consumer spending numbers within the numbers that were released, I guess yesterday, on quarterly GDP numbers.

Look, the president has taken steps to get the economy back on a road to recovery where we think we'll see increased auto sales and increased consumer spending on a number of things.

Yes, sir?

QUESTION: Could you walk us through the president's involvement and role in making the decision on the Chrysler bankruptcy, where he was, and when he -- when he made the decision? Any -- any tick-tocks you can give us on that?

GIBBS: You know, I don't have a ton of tick-tock on it. I know the president was -- look, the task force has been working for the last -- well, for the last month. And particularly in the last several days, I think there have been announcements that there were agreements between the auto company and the union, agreements between the auto company and major debt-holders that have shown steady progress.

The president got -- continually got updates as part of his economic daily briefing, as well as other meetings, to bring him up to speed on where the restructuring plan was. And he got several updates throughout yesterday and today.

And I think he, as he said last night, was hopeful, and I think that information was based on briefings that he got throughout the day that they were moving in the right direction.

QUESTION: When exactly did he make the decision? And where was he? What were the circumstances...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: I -- I don't know the exact time in which any decision might have been made. I can see if there's some clarity on that. I don't know if there was a moment on...

QUESTION: Also, he did sound a little peeved at these people who, as you said, were playing chicken with the government. How peeved was he?

GIBBS: Well, I think you saw it in what he said. And what he said throughout this process is that those involved in - stakeholders involved in this negotiation were going to have to understand, for the greater good of seeing Chrysler go forward, that we were all going to have to make some sacrifices.

Workers made sacrifices. Ownership made sacrifices. The majority of the debt-holders made sacrifices. And some decided they wanted to get a better deal, again, reiterate that I guess they thought somebody was going to blink and it didn't happen.

Yes, ma'am?

QUESTION: This is to tie up one quick, loose end. Did the president interact at all with this individual who had the swine flu?

GIBBS: The president -- this individual was -- this individual never flew on Air Force One. The individual would have been at the working dinner on the night of -- I said Thursday, Friday - so Thursday night, the 16th. He was asked specifically if he ever came within six feet of the president, and the answer to that was no.

QUESTION: OK. But he did interact with Secretary Chu presumably?

GIBBS: Yes. And, like I said, was -- was -- was at that dinner, but not close enough to the president.

QUESTION: OK, so here's my real question. Back to the bankruptcy...

GIBBS: That can count as a real one.

QUESTION: OK. I didn't want it to go on the tally.

GIBBS: That's all right.

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: You can see from last night we didn't keep a good tally.

QUESTION: Exactly. It seems like a lot of this bankruptcy deal is premised on this notion of a 30- to 60-day bankruptcy. And I guess my question is, given the obstinance you've described of these creditors, what gives you any assurance that this can be done in 30 to 60 days? Those creditors will walk into bankruptcy court. They'll have rights. They'll have an opportunity to litigate...

GIBBS: Sure.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) that Fiat deal, say that liquidation would be more beneficial. I mean, this could stretch out months.

GIBBS: When you mean beneficial, beneficial to whom?

QUESTION: Well, just to the creditors. I think it's black letter bankruptcy law that, if you can get more on liquidation, the judge can't rubber stamp another deal.

GIBBS: Well...

QUESTION: So what I'm saying is, why do you think it's going to be quick?

GIBBS: Because we feel confident that a majority of the stakeholders, a vast majority of the stakeholders are on board with a deal that we think is in the interests of all of those involved. And we think that we can convince -- that a judge can be convinced of that.

QUESTION: If it goes on beyond the 30 to 60 days, is that DIP financing enough?

GIBBS: Well, let's -- let's -- let's not get 61 days into the equation. And -- and we'll have any number of opportunities to do that as we get closer.

Again, we feel confident that the structure of the agreement, the sacrifices that have been made by the vast majority of those involved in the operations of Chrysler, give this deal an excellent chance of -- of working.

QUESTION: Is the president trying to influence the bankruptcy judge, in terms of vis-a-vis how those creditors are treated?

GIBBS: I -- I assume judges make opinions based on what's their reading of the law, not based on what any individual would say.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... the judge be convinced and the...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: Well, I mean, obviously, I mean, I think it's safe to assume that we'll present a case with -- and render an opinion as to why we think the deal is workable, why we're confident that a majority of the stakeholders involved are on board, and why we think it's in the best interests of all those involved.

QUESTION: Real quick. Did the president talk to the vice president about his statements on the "Today" show?

GIBBS: Not that I know of.

QUESTION: And would you character his reaction? He's been so careful about calibrating...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: Yes, I don't -- I don't think they talked, so it would be hard to characterize the conversation.

Yes?

QUESTION: Just a quick clarification on the -- the security detail. Yesterday, there were reports from public health service -- public health officials in Maryland that there wasn't a case in Anne Arundel. Was that referring to this, or are you giving us a new case?

GIBBS: I'm -- without providing names, that's the case I'm talking about.

QUESTION: OK. And you said that, if anyone was unduly alarmed by what the vice president was saying, we would apologize for that. Is that an apology? Are you apologizing for it? And is there any thought about the vice president perhaps apologizing?

GIBBS: Well, I think the president -- I think the vice president put out a -- the office of the vice president put out a statement. I'm apologizing to those that were unduly alarmed, in case people saw it and weren't alarmed, and wouldn't necessarily denote wanting an apology from me.

Yes?

QUESTION: Just to clarify your responses to Chip's question, did the president actually have to sign off on every facet of this Chrysler deal?

GIBBS: Well, I think -- well, it is -- it's the president's auto task force.

QUESTION: I mean, I thought perhaps the treasury secretary, but the Fiat part, the bankruptcy part, the...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: Well, I think he's -- I think, you know, obviously, the secretary -- the auto task force is largely housed in the Department of Treasury. He would have, I guess, line authority on all this.

But, obviously, I -- the president, I think you saw from his comments, thinks the agreement is -- is a good agreement.

QUESTION: But I guess to follow up on his follow-up, did the president just rubber stamp a decision that was made at the Treasury Department? Or was he presented the facts and then -- a loaded question, I know. But -- but did he come in...

GIBBS: No, actually, it's quite easy.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... a presentation of the facts and say, "Here's what I'm going to do"?

GIBBS: Well, the president has been involved throughout this process for many, many months, involved in -- I'm sorry, the determinations of the original plans, how to structure the next steps, in terms of 30- and 60-day deadlines, has spent quite a bit of time in the intervening 30 days listening to aspects of the deal.

And I can assure everybody that, if the president didn't agree with this, I doubt he would have gone out there and said what he said today. The president agrees with this deal. The president thought the agreement was -- was a good one, in the best interest of all those involved.

And I'll say this, you know, then. I don't think this was a - I don't think this was a done deal 30 days ago. I think the auto task force team deserves a ton of credit in -- in bringing two would-be partners together, working individually and collectively with all of those stakeholders, and doing something that many people might not have thought was going to happen.

I don't -- I forget the exact percentage that people put on this happening in a meeting that we had a little over a month ago, but, as somebody said, these type of things rarely get better as time goes on, meaning the chances for them happening.

I think they deserve a tremendous amount of credit for working with all of those involved. And I think people that were involved and took sacrifices in order for a company to move forward in a viable way deserve a lot of credit, as well.

QUESTION: Who said that, these things rarely get better as time goes on?

GIBBS: One of the members of the team that advises the president. QUESTION: Robert, on -- a twofer, as well -- but back to the individual with the security detail, did he fly back commercially?

GIBBS: Yes.

QUESTION: And -- OK, and what -- who did he fly? Who was the carrier? And what was the route?

GIBBS: It was a United flight to Dulles.

QUESTION: OK.

QUESTION: Have they notified the passengers who were on board?

GIBBS: That's a question we were checking on when I came back out here. I don't know the answer to that.

QUESTION: Do -- do you know the flight number? Do you have that?

GIBBS: I don't. That's not information I've been given.

(UNKNOWN): (OFF-MIKE)

GIBBS: Hold on one second. I'll -- I'll...

QUESTION: I mean, he wants to follow up on...

GIBBS: Go ahead, if you want to -- do you want to follow up?

QUESTION: Yes, sir. I know you just said that the Mexican government has been so transparent with information, but is there a second-guessing that probably they knew something that they didn't tell you anything?

GIBBS: I don't have any information related to -- to that. The -- I've made representations, and -- and I think we've released statements on information based on what we've gotten from the Mexican government.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

GIBBS: The gentleman from Washington.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Paul Volcker said yesterday that he didn't think a second stimulus would be necessary. Does the president share that, given where unemployment's at?

GIBBS: I've not spoken to the president recently on a second stimulus. I mean, obviously, we're in the process of working to get the first money out the door as quickly as possible, to do it in a way that's transparent, but gets the money out to the projects that need it the most quickly.

I think we'll have a better chance of evaluating where we are on the economy, but there's no plan currently for a second stimulus.

QUESTION: So do you know if Volcker's communicated that to the president, because he's chairman of the recovery board?

GIBBS: I don't know -- I don't know if he communicated that with the president or not.

Yes, sir?

QUESTION: Robert, I'm wondering if you can help me understand why the president is mad at the hedge funds. Does he believe they are doing something that they don't have a right to do in this negotiated process with the future of Chrysler, and that they might feel that 29 cents on the dollar isn't such a good deal for them, and they would be within their rights to pursue their interests in the bankruptcy court?

GIBBS: Well, I'm not sure the president's problem with them is based on their rights. I think the president's problem with them is based on the notion that, as he said, and as many members of the team have said, and as many members involved in this agreement have done, which is make sacrifices in order for a company to move forward.

There are those that decided that those steps could be taken. And there were those that decided they would, given your ratios, ask for more than twice that amount.

I think the sacrifices that have been made by all those involved haven't been made by all. That's why the president made the comments that he did. But, again, I'd reiterate, the president believes this is a good agreement.

QUESTION: When you said that nobody blinked, it might sound to some that the outcome the administration would most prefer from the bankruptcy proceeding is to give those who thought somebody might blink punishment, less than they were seeking.

GIBBS: Well, I...

QUESTION: Is that the outcome that you would like to see? And...

(CROSSTALK)

GIBBS: I -- I don't want to prejudge the outcome, except to say that there were -- there were offers on the table that -- that we thought and others thought were fair. And I think they had every ability and right to take that.

QUESTION: Following up on Ed's question, I know the president doesn't want to be in the automotive business -- and everyone can understand why -- but there was a previous merger with Chrysler and a very well-known, world-dominating brand, Daimler-Benz. That didn't work out for all sorts of reasons, clash of cultures, design, engineering, things didn't match up.

Why is it that a brand name that has less clout within Europe and the U.S. market, Fiat, is going to work when DaimlerChrysler didn't?

GIBBS: Two reasons. One, they have expertise in restructuring that we think and that others think make this a viable partnership.

And, secondly, their expertise and know-how in the creation and the manufacturing of more fuel-efficient engines, which, you know, to build off of -- of Ed's question on car sales, you know, I don't think it's altogether surprising that Hummer is not a dealer -- or brand name that's likely going to survive this economic downturn. It didn't necessarily do so well during $4.50-a-gallon gas, either.

The president talked about it in his remarks and has said on any number of occasions over the years that what we have to do is we have to have American auto companies that are building cars that American consumers have a demand for and want to buy. And I think the example with Fiat provides expertise in that area.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... manufacturing move to put those cars on the market in the hopes that they will be purchased?

GIBBS: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: Is this a manufacturing move? I mean, Fiat gets more percentage of the company that meets (ph) some thresholds. One of them is introducing this fuel-efficient technology. Second is introducing a 40-mile-per-gallon vehicle. It might look to some as if the government is not just suggesting, but creating large equity for Fiat by producing a certain kind of vehicle for a market.

GIBBS: Well, two -- two responses. One, I think the president was pretty clear that Fiat can't take a majority ownership in a merged company unless or until American taxpayers have been paid back in whole.

Two, regardless of why, the president -- and I think a vast majority of the public -- believes that more fuel-efficient automobiles are in the best interest of -- of this country, whether it lessens the demand for oil and gas, and makes us less dependent on foreign oil, whether they emit less harmful pollutants, I think...

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Robert Gibbs talking about Chrysler, obviously, right now, which is a story that we've been covering as well today and the future of that company.

But I just want to bring you back to what he topped off the briefing with today, and that was somebody that had traveled with the president of the United States to Mexico came up positive for the swine flu. This is what he said. I'm going to try and just condense a pretty large portion of what he said.

Probable is what I'm being told. This was quickly typed up. I'm going to kind of read a transcript here, that the individual who was traveling to Mexico was on the security detail for the energy secretary, Secretary Chu, as they were traveling to Mexico. This person on the detail was heading out there in advance to clear the area and developed a fever back on the 17th, returned to the U.S. on the 18th.

One of the questions you might have heard from reporters is that he returned on a United flight from Dallas, and so, they're checking in to see if those patients have been notified about this as well. This is all developing right now.

Robert Gibbs saying that when he was tested, that at this point he has recovered, in addition to family members that were tested as well. He has been cleared to go back to work by doctors and is at work today.

We'll stay more -- obviously, we'll stay on this story and get as much information as possible.

Also, Robert Gibbs saying that he did not come within six feet of the president, and at this point he's not concerned about the president's health.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, more states, more countries report more cases of the virus known as swine flu, and a lot more precautions. Here's the latest patchwork of U.S. cases as tallied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A few other states report that cases that the CDC hasn't yet counted. Authorities say that most sick Americans have recovered without seeing doctors. Still, the World Health Organization sees a heightened risk of pandemic. We're now at level 5 on a scale of 6.

And while I'm throwing numbers at you, check out the upper left corner of your screen. H1N1 is the technical name of this virus, and experts say that its preferred right now, but that's because the so- called swine flu is actually a mix of swine, bird, and human flu. And you can't get it by eating pork.

Now want to hear what the White House secretary, Robert Gibbs -- or the press secretary just said, rather, about a member of the president's advanced team to Mexico who may have been exposed to the H1N1 virus.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIBBS: We've learned that an individual who traveled to Mexico City to support the U.S. delegation that accompanied the president to Mexico City came down with flu-like symptoms associated with his work in Mexico. Three members of the individual's family tested positive for Type A influenza, and tests are currently under way to determine if they contracted the 2009 H1N1 influenza strain. Individual family members suffered mild to moderate symptoms, received no medication, were not hospitalized, and have recovered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right. Jill Dougherty joining me now from the White House.

Jill, what else can you tell us about this individual?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that this person was part of -- he was a lead advance for the security detail for Energy Secretary Chu, so he went down to Mexico City. And they actually gave a timeline, and perhaps we could listen to that in a moment.

But he fell ill, and this is over the course of at least three days, where he begins to feel sick. Finally, he gets a fever, and then he comes back and he goes to work.

Now, when he was back with his family, here in the United States, he was apparently exposing his wife, son, and nephew, apparently not knowing, of course, that this was going on, to the flu. So, those three people -- in fact, he, his wife, his son, and his nephew, have been tested. They -- as you just heard, they tested -- later on, Robert Gibbs said they tested probable for H1N1, but they still have to do further testing with the CDC.

Now, they had mild -- it's important to say mild to moderate symptoms, and they have recovered. Also, this individual, when he went back to work, traveled in a car. And that co-worker, we are told, also fell ill, but has recovered.

Now, the important thing, of course, for the White House was, was the president exposed? And Robert Gibbs saying that he said he was never on Air Force One, that he was never within six feet of the president. He did, however, attend a dinner, a working dinner. But again, the important thing, he was not in close enough proximity to the president.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Appreciate it, Jill. Thanks so much. We'll continue to follow up on it, of course.

And depending on where you live, if you're a kid who doesn't have the flu or flu symptoms -- and that's the vast majority -- you may be in for a second spring break. Dozens of U.S. school districts have closed one or more schools, and just last hour Dallas joined the list. Next door, in Fort Worth, administrators have shut down all the public schools through the end of next week in light of one confirmed swine flu illness.

CNN's Ed Lavandera has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Eighty thousand students at more than 140 schools in Fort Worth, Texas, have been told to stay home, stay away, as district officials have decided to cancel classes until at least May 11th. This is the district's way of getting ahead and trying to control the spread of the swine flu virus.

This also comes on the news -- on the heels of the news that one student was confirmed to have the virus. Three others, they say, probably have it.

So, district officials have told the students and teachers to stay away.

As that is going on, cleaning crews have been brought in to disinfect the buildings and the schools in hopes that that will help control the spread of this virus as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What we're doing is sanitizing every room in every building in the district. We'll clean everything that people touch, and especially children touch. So, keyboard keys, that's what I was talking about when we came in. We can't forget anything or overlook anything. That there is consistent, hands on in our schools. So, it's obviously desktops, computer keyboards, the whiteboards that we're using now in all of our schools.

LAVANDERA: School district officials here in Ft. Worth say they are sensitive to the criticism that this might be perceived as an overreaction. They say that they have been torn between overreacting and not reacting at all. And in the end, they felt better that this would be the best way to take care and protect the safety and health of their students.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Ft. Worth, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Swine flu? Man, I'm too fast for that to catch me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: 1976, swine flu breaks out, people get sick. Sound familiar?

Except back then, it wasn't the disease that turned out to be the real threat. It was the cure.

That was then, and this is now. I'll speak to a current CDC official in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I still have a lot of questions here. We want to get the latest on the swine flu spread and what's being done to stop it from Cynthia Whitney, she's with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We appreciate you joining us. It's been a busy day for you and others there at the CDC. It has been for a number of days, Cynthia. So, I'm going to get right to it.

You probably heard -- or if you didn't, Robert Gibbs there at the White House talking about this member of the security detail that went out to Mexico -- Mexico to clear the area for nor Energy Secretary Chu, and now these tests are taking place for possible swine flu.

Do you know anything about that case, the status of that case? What tests are being done right now?

CYNTHIA WHITNEY, CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL: You know, I don't have that information right now.

PHILLIPS: OK. All right. Well, we hoped to get more on that, obviously, as this continues to develop.

Can you confirm it, though? I mean, obviously, Robert Gibbs is coming forward saying this, indeed, is taking place. Can you confirm that you're testing him?

WHITNEY: No, I can't confirm that at this point.

PHILLIPS: All right, Cynthia. Well, let's get right to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Had a chance to talk to him yesterday. We had a bit of a back and forth on whether you call this swine flu or not.

This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM VILSACK, U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: Well, it shouldn't be called "swine flu." That's the point. It should be called H1N1, which is what basically, technically what it is. It's different strands of viruses and flus. There's a human strand, for example, in this combination. This is a new combination.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: What is your reaction to that? Do we call it swine flu or not?

WHITNEY: Well, that's a very good question and there's a lot of discussion going on about that right now. And that's -- the decision will be coordinated through W.H.O.

PHILLIPS: OK. But the origin of this virus is swine. Even if you look at the CDC Web site, you are still calling it swine flu. It's got some bird. It's got some human. So, the origin is swine, correct? WHITNEY: Well, part of the virus is similar to what we see typically circulating in swine. So, that's why we originally gave it that name.

We are going to participate in this name discussion, and we'll coordinate with World Health Organization on that.

PHILLIPS: OK. Got it. So, it's still kind of up in the air at this point.

WHITNEY: Exactly.

PHILLIPS: All right. Talk to me about the team of investigators from the CDC and also the USDA right now down in Mexico. Have you actually started testing animals to try and trace the potential source of this virus?

WHITNEY: To my knowledge, we have not done that yet.

PHILLIPS: So, what will be the purpose, then, of you being there? Is that the goal, to test the hogs?

WHITNEY: Well, we have a team of investigators that are working on all sorts of the investigation in Mexico. I know we have investigators that are looking at the patients that have become ill, trying to understand the characteristics of their illness and the transmission patterns. I understand we also have people down there in the laboratory, trying to shore up their laboratory testing methods.

PHILLIPS: Are you interested in the hogs as well?

WHITNEY: That's a discussion we'll take with the Mexican authorities and proceed as we should.

PHILLIPS: So, there's a lot of political issues, then, trying to find a happy medium on what you can do and can't do, is that right? Because of the two governments?

WHITNEY: Well, you know, that, but also based on what we're learning down there. If it makes sense, you know, I'm sure that avenue would be pursued.

PHILLIPS: So, let me ask you, as an epidemiologist, are you interested in finding the reservoir, you know, AKA, the infected animal, that could be the source of this virus?

WHITNEY: Well, I think that's a question people are curious about. But at this point, the real concern for us is trying to prevent infections in people.

So, at this point our main messages are do what you can to prevent yourself getting sick and preventing others from getting sick.

At this point, our main messages are, if you're sick, stay home from work. Don't send your child to school if your child is having symptoms. Wash your hands frequently. And cover your cough with either a tissue or your sleeve.

You know, going back to the reservoir of the pigs, at this point is not going to stop the person-to-person transmission.

PHILLIPS: Well, and we're talking about the person transmission -- person-to-person transmission right now, but do you see it essential, though, to trace the origin of this in order to figure out how to prevent it from happening again or getting worse at this point?

Maybe I should -- let me -- let me backtrack. Of it happening again. Is it important to find the origin to prevent it from happening again?

WHITNEY: Well, there are all sorts of questions we're investigating, and that may be one of them.

I mean, we know from other episodes of Influenza that there has been -- have been times when the -- in fact, the virus has spread from animals to humans. So that's not out of the question. We already know that.

PHILLIPS: So, how do you figure out what the proper vaccine is?

WHITNEY: Well, what we're doing is evaluating the strains of virus that we've gotten back from patients. We're looking at the characteristics of those viruses, seeing which ones grow up well into this so-called seed strain and selecting the ones that seem most appropriate.

PHILLIPS: So, when you study the virus and you look at the scientific parts that you just mentioned, will that be able to tell you, OK, more than likely this is where it came from? So, let's go back to the source.

WHITNEY: Not -- not really. I mean, we know that the virus has some characteristics of viruses that do come from pigs. There's some characteristics of viruses that come from birds. But I don't think we can specifically pinpoint that based on the information we have right now.

PHILLIPS: And I just want to reiterate, 36,000 people in the U.S. die of the regular flu every year. Do you think, within the media, are we adding too much hype to this when you've got so many people that die from the regular flu annually?

WHITNEY: Well, this is a brand new virus. We really don't know how it's going to behave, so I think giving information to the public is really key. The media's helping with that. We're working with our partners to help that. And we're asking people if they have any questions at all, go to www.CDC.gov and we're posting information there constantly and updating the information.

PHILLIPS: Cynthia Whitney, I sure appreciate your time.

WHITNEY: My pleasure. We hope we've given you some of the answers you need to swine flu, but we know you probably have a lot more. So, ask us, call 877- CNN-1246. Leave a voicemail. We'll play a few on the air tomorrow.

Bankrupt, but still in business. President Obama says Chrysler has gotten a new lease on life. But is the stalled automaker really on the road to recovery?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Bankruptcy, merger, all-out crash? Where is Chrysler heading? Well, we finally have an answer.

Earlier this afternoon, President Obama confirmed the stalled automaker will merge with Fiat. And just a short time ago, Chrysler officially filed for bankruptcy, jump-starting a restructuring process that will help seal the deal.

President Obama also vows that every dime of taxpayer money the government pumped into Chrysler will be paid back.

No immediate job cuts or plant closings in the works, but Chrysler says that most of its manufacturing operations will temporarily shut down on Monday.

Well, Chrysler was forced into bankruptcy today by some of its creditors. They refused requests to cut the automaker's debt, even though they knew that that would lead to a Chapter 11 filing.

Stephanie Elam joins us now.

Steph, why didn't all the Chrysler -- well, I guess all of Chrysler's creditors go along with the plan to reduce the company's debt?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there could be a couple of things at play here, Kyra.

You know, Chrysler owes its creditors close to $7 billion. Now creditors that hold the majority of Chrysler's debt, they agreed to cut it down to $2 billion. But the government, even taking in some money hoping to sweeten the pot there, but about 40 hedge funds just didn't agree to cut Chrysler's debt at this point.

At this point, we don't know which hedge funds held out. But we do know this -- big banks like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, they were the creditors that did agree. But big banks, they can afford to absorb those kind of losses.

On top of that, Citigroup has received the billions of dollars from the government. So at this point, if the government wants Citi to reduce Chrysler's debt, they pretty much have to go along with it.

And when you look at the smaller hedge funds, they can't afford to take a hit like that. And if they did take a hit and reduce Chrysler's debt, some or all of the small investors worried about their own future. So that played in there as well.

Many say the government should actually be more concerned about creditors right here. So they're taking a big gamble at this point, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, so what happens next with the creditors?

ELAM: Well, clearly, they have to go to bankruptcy court at this point. The hedge funds and Chrysler will head to bankruptcy court and now a judge will determine how much the hedge funds get.

The hedge funds, they were holding out because they thought, maybe we'll get more money if we go to court. That may not happen since big creditors have already agreed to reduce the debt. The government believes no judge is going to override that kind of support.

In fact, President Obama today criticized the hedge funds that held back. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: A group of investment firms and hedge funds decided to hold out for the prospect - prospect of an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout. They were hoping that everybody else would make sacrifices and they would have to make none. Some demanded twice the return that other lenders were getting.

I don't stand with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: So very clear there from President Obama about how he felt about this.

Now, a couple of things, you mentioned this, Chrysler also said manufacturing operations are going to temporarily shut down. That will happen on Monday. They will be closed for about 30 to 60 days. Normal production will not resume again until the deal with Fiat is done.

Kyra, and one last thing because we've been asked about this a lot, people ask about Chrysler and what its stock is doing. This is no stock action because the company is privately held. So while we can look at Ford and GM and say those stocks are up right now - which is interesting to note, by about 8 percent - there's nothing to tell you about Chrysler.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Steph.

ELAM: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Well, losing a job can be a disaster for any family, but in towns where manufacturers are packing up and moving out, it's especially difficult to find a new one.

CNN's Gerri Willis met a family in Spruce Pines, North Carolina where one in seven workers are out of a job.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH MURDOCK, LAID-OFF WORKER: My job search has filled up about three pages already.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice-over): Like most parents, Vickie and Keith Murdock worry about providing for their family. Keith is unemployed following his second layoff in eight years.

MURDOCK: Everybody you talk to, we want to hire you. We ain't got nothing open right now.

WILLIS: Vickie and Keith met at a textile mill nearly 20 years ago in tiny Spruce Pine, North Carolina. But Keith was laid off when the mill closed in 2001 and Vickie lost another job in 2006 when furniture maker Ethan Allen closed its plant here. Their situation is not unusual in this area.

(on camera): Looks like lentils, maybe.

REV. BILL SWEETSER, SHEPHERD'S STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS: We've got salad dressing and some . . .

WILLIS: Orange. Canned fruits.

(voice-over): Workers at the Shepherd's Staff Food Pantry say they are seeing three times as many clients as they did just last year.

SWEETSER: Right now I would say we're barely keeping up.

WILLIS: The community has lost more than 2,000 jobs in the last six years. Major industries, textile, mining, furniture have left the area, but residents are hoping new businesses will help. A growing crafts and tourism industry is adding jobs and the town is hoping to attract retirees looking for second homes. Vickie and Keith both did the right thing. Keith went back to school and retained for a job as an auto body mechanics. Vickie retrained too. She'll graduate as a certified medical assistant in May. But retraining doesn't necessarily guarantee long term employment.

MURDOCK: I heard of a place coming in Bernsal (ph) (INAUDIBLE) and I got a job with them. And I loved it. And then here just recently, I got laid off from it in January.

WILLIS: In the mean time, Keith and Vickie keep their spirits up.

VICKIE MURDOCK, UNEMPLOYED: When we get to worrying how are we going to pay for this, it's like the Lord makes a way.

WILLIS: They're hopeful that they'll find new jobs soon and keep their family afloat.

Gerri Willis, CNN, Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Vickie and Keith Murdock making all the right moves - restraining, pounding the pavement, and keeping their eyes and ears open for a new jobs. One bright spot: Their oldest daughter just received word that she will receive a Pell Grant to attend a community college where she will train to be a nurse.

You can see more "MONEY & MAIN STREET" with Roland Martin tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. And also, a new "MONEY & MAIN STREET" every Thursday morning on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Now, right now, live pictures form the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where Captain Richard Phillips, the famous kidnapped captain of the Maersk Alabama, is due to begin testimony any moment now about piracy. We're going to listen in as soon as he steps up to the mike.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you're old enough to remember the nation's first swine flu scare, you may not be too eager to see a vaccine. In 1976, the government encouraged all Americans to get shots and a lot of people got a whole lot sicker than they would have from swine flu and some died.

Dr. David Sencer was the head of the CDC at that time, but lost his job in the fallout. And this week, he sat down with Abbie Boudreau of CNN's Special Investigations Unit.

So, what did he have to say about 1976?

ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Well, he definitely stands behind his decision, because he was the one that actually devised the swine flu program, and he's the one who really pushed for it.

So, what I want to talk to you about is Dr. David Sencer says health officials had to act quickly in 1976 to prevent a pandemic. They were worried that without a mass inoculation that millions of people could be at risk of contracting swine flu and dying.

So, 43 million Americans got vaccinated. But soon after, more than 500 people got sick and about 25 people died due to adverse reactions to the vaccine.

Looking back, of course, the 1976 threat never materialized. Only one person died and about 200 people got sick from swine flu.

Here's some of what Dr. Sencer had to say more than 30 years later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOUDREAU: Do you feel like you relied more on politics than on science? DR. DAVID SENCER, FORMER DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL: No. I think we tried to stay out of the politics and the politicians kept getting in our way.

BOUDREAU: Why do you say that? What do you mean?

SENCER: Well, you know, we think it - for example, the president was vaccinated on camera. That makes it a political sort of a situation.

BOUDREAU: Do you ever find yourself thinking about the people that did get sick because the vaccine?

SENCER: Oh, sure.

BOUDREAU: You do?

SENCER: I mean, you know, you have to as a practioner. But we also had the feel that if we didn't do something and the swine flu spread, more people would have died.

BOUDREAU: But you ultimately lost your job as well.

SENCER: Yes, but when the you're a public person and you feel strongly about something, if you don't make a decision, you can't live with yourself. And I'm - sure it was difficult to lose a job. But on the other hand, I felt that I was doing the right thing and if I had -- if I hadn't felt that way, then I would have been really unhappy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So are there people still out there that say they're sick from this vaccine?

BOUDREAU: Yes, there are. And imagine being one of these people who - they weren't sick before they had the vaccine. They were fine. But they feel as though the government pushed them to get the vaccine and now they're sick. And they've been sick for a long, long time with chronic illnesses.

And one thing that was interesting is that when I talked to Dr. Sencer, in a very round-about way, he did apologize to the victims for making the decision he had to make. But he says he based the decision on all the information he had at that time. He tried makes the best decision possible.

And one other thing, I asked him if he took the vaccine. And he said, of course, I took the vaccine. I believed in this program.

So, it's an interesting historical perspective on all of this.

PHILLIPS: We'll see more of your interview coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM," right?

OK, and it's interesting, from the administration or people from the CDC or World Health Organization will want to talk to him. I mean, I know he lost his job over this, but he does has a lot experience.

BOUDREAU: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Has anyone reached out to him?

BOUDREAU: You know, I don't know that. I'm not real sure of that.

But he definitely thinks that the Obama administration is handling this pretty well right now. He thinks that the microphone should be in the hands of the CDC, as opposed to just the White House. He says, stick to science, not politics.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Abbie.

Well, you want to do the right thing but can't afford it? Layoffs and child support in the spotlight. We're going to hear from a dad in a really tough spot. Plus, suggestions that just might help.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: They're not deadbeat dads or mercenary moms, but a lot of people are having trouble paying their monthly child support these days. A layoff, a pay cut, leaving both parents in a tough spot.

CNN's Brooke Baldwin has one family's story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE TREICHLER, FATHER: Run, Mikey. Run, run, run, run!

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five-and-a-half- year-old Mikey Treichler is seeing a lot more of...

MIKEY TREICHLER, SON: My daddy.

BALDWIN: ... both on and off the baseball field.

MIKE TREICHLER: Have a good day at school today, buddy?

BALDWIN: Last December, Mike Treichler got laid off.

MIKE TREICHLER: When it happens to you, you're like, wow. I can't, you know - I can't believe that it's me that it happened to.

BALDWIN: After ten years at IBM, this divorced dad found himself out of work and soon after, unable to pay the $1,200 a month he had been providing in child support.

MIKE TREICHLER: I've used up severance packages. I used up my 401(k) and I'm getting into the position where now I'm going to have to tap into other money resources which I did not want have to, to the point where there's not additional income coming in.

I am on unemployment now. And that money, even though it's a huge help, it doesn't help me with the $1,200 a month bill. BALDWIN: It's a big bill that Mike has told his son's mom that he can't pay.

MELISSA TREICHLER, MOTHER: I was more disappointed, probably, than mad. But unfortunately, if I focus on that, then it weakens me in the event of maintaining composure, staying strong for my son and making sure that he gets what he needs.

MIKE TREICHLER: Good job. All right.

BALDWIN: The result? Melissa and Mike are trying to reach a child support payment compromise. So far, they're negotiating out of court.

And according to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, the current downturn in the economy is making it increasingly difficult for parents to provide for themselves and their children.

In New Mexico, for example, from February of 2008 to 2009, the state's Child Support Enforcement Division is reporting a 96 percent increase in the number of requests for case reviews and adjustments.

And just this month in Alabama, the district attorney's office in Lauderdale County sent letters to 155 parents warning them if they don't pay child support by the 1st of May, they could be arrested.

Dr. Gerry White works with Families First, Georgia's largest nonprofit family service agency. He says this the financial strain on unemployed fathers, or mothers, carries an emotional burden as well.

DR. GERRY WHITE, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, FAMILIES FIRST: What we have to help the men understand that, while you're out of a job, that does not mean you are unworthy to be around your child.

BALDWIN: This Little League coach doesn't feel unworthy.

(on camera): How do you explain to him that daddy suddenly has all this time?

MIKE TREICHLER: Well, he's happy about it. So I don't have to give him too much detail about it. It's all a positive thing as far as he's concerned.

BALDWIN (voice-over): But this dad does admit the stress of unemployment is starting to take its toll. Mike has already applied to more than 6,000 jobs. His biggest worry?

MIKE TREICHLER: Am I going to have to take, you know, a very low-paying job and work so many hours that I won't have the time to spend with him?

BALDWIN: Brooke Baldwin, CNN, Kensaw (ph), Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Mike Treichler tugged at our heartstrings as well. We're going to bring him back next week for our "30-Second Pitch," hopefully be able to help him out.

That does it for me. Rick Sanchez takes it from here.