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Health Care Bill Becomes Law; Fighting Reform; Toyota's Smoking Gun; The Face Of Health Care Reform; Shocking Behavior in School; Firefighter Sets Fires; Iran Training Taliban?

Aired March 23, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're on the brink of history. President Obama preparing to sign health care reform into law this morning. And no surprise. It comes with a lot of backlash.

Caught in the crossfire of the cross-border drug war. We go one- on-one with the major of Juarez, murder capital of Mexico.

Be prepared maybe for a cover-up. Secret files uncovered. Have Boy Scouts been sexually abused for almost 100 years? If you're a parent of a Scout, you won't want to miss this interview.

We begin as history looms and outraged lingers. Vandals strike the offices of three lawmakers who voted yes to health care reform.

And confession from a congressman. Texas Republican, Randy Neugebauer fesses up to shouting "baby killer" from the House floor.

But the bitter battle doesn't end here. John McCain says, quote, "There will be no cooperation for the rest of this year."

The Democrats are still celebrating as Republicans are mad as hell.

CNN congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar on Capitol Hill.

Brianna, the nastiness is far from over.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And you know, at this point, though, what we have on the Hill is Democrats getting ready, some of them, to go over to the White House. They are -- some of them, of course, very excited where they're going to see President Obama sign this large bill that passed the House.

But Kyra, this is the one that's still outstanding. And pushing forward into where the Senate comes into play now with health care reform, this is the bill that they will consider. Once this big one is signed into law, this changes bill, this reconciliation bill, the Senate will take it up.

It will then debate it and then after that process, if there are any changes, it would have to go back to the House to be approved. And Democrats are telling us they do expect that there will be some changes because Republicans are going to throw everything they can at this and propose a lot of amendments, a lot of changes, that they would like to see in this bill that obviously they don't like.

So we're waiting to see how that plays out, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And now we know who yelled "baby killer" from the floor of the House at Bart Stupak?

KEILAR: Yes, that's right. This was Texas congressman Randy Neugebauer. He represents a very conservative district in Texas. And he came out yesterday saying, I'm the one who yelled this, but what he said, Kyra, was, I was yelling about the bill, not at Congressman Stupak.

He said he was yelling about the bill. He said -- that he said, it's a baby killer, not that he was yelling something at the congressman. He called Congressman Stupak and apologized.

But what we've have heard now from different Democratic leaders -- we've heard from Jim Clyburn, the number three. And he has said that that's not really enough. That Neugebauer needs to not just apologize to Stupak and to his fellow lawmakers in a written statement that he actually should come like he did here, to the microphone there on the House floor and apologize.

But we've also heard from other Democratic leaders who are just kind of happy to let this go and move on, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I think a lot of people are -- really want to move on. Thanks, Brianna.

And if you think that the next round of this fight will only be held on Capitol Hill, think again. It may be as close as your state capital and it may begin before the ink is dry from today's signing.

CNN's Jim Acosta looks to the legal challenges that are now taking shape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama, meet Ken Cuccinelli. Virginia's Republican attorney general who is vowing to take health care reform to court.

KEN CUCCINELLI (R), VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: We believe clearly that the federal government does not have the constitutional authority to order every American to buy health insurance.

ACOSTA: That individual mandate that most American to buy insurance will not only be tested in Virginia. Attorneys General and roughly a dozen states -- all Republicans -- are also filing lawsuits.

BILL MCCOLLUM (R), FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL: There was no -- no politics involved in this whatsoever. This is something I would do whether I were attorney general or not. This bill is wrong.

ACOSTA: And that's not all. Thirty-six states in fact are considering new laws to block an array of health care reform measures. Many of those states point to 10th amendment of the Constitution, which says, "Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states."

But there's a problem. Clause in the Constitution that declares laws passed by Congress as the supreme law of the land. That supremacy clause has stood the test of time.

PROF. CAL JILLSON, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY: We've got a very conservative Supreme Court. But they're not about to overturn 200 years of constitutional history and interpretation, and declare that the supremacy clause is no longer in effect.

ACOSTA (on camera): Do you believe in the supremacy clause?

CUCCINELLI: I believe in God. I read the supremacy clause and it is effective law in America.

ACOSTA (on camera): The White House argues bucking the law at the state level would be a waste of time.

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: My advice from counsel is that we'll win this. We'll win this lawsuits.

ACOSTA: President Obama once opposed mandates during the campaign.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What really they're saying is they mandate -- they will punish you in some way if you don't buy health care.

ACOSTA: Now the mandate is what opponents of reform want to use to tear the whole thing down.

(On camera): You do hope that -- that what you're doing will bring down the entire statute?

CUCCINELLI: The goal is to bring down the individual mandate. That's the goal. Stepping into a legal analysis role, I rather expect that that means the whole statute will fall.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: So, Jim, what about efforts to repeal the bill in Congress?

ACOSTA: Kyra, they're talking about that as well. But of course, that would mean passing a new law. And passing a new law would require the signature of the president. He's warning up his pen to sign a very different law this morning. He's not about to sign that law.

So that's why you're hearing some Republicans talking about 2013. But interesting what you just heard from Robert Gibbs there, saying in this piece, they're already starting to gain this out, not just legal challenges, but these efforts to repeal the bill on Capitol Hill.

PHILLIPS: Jim Acosta, appreciate it.

ACOSTA: You bet.

PHILLIPS: So what does the health care reform mean to you? At the bottom of the hour CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, looks at the new law's impact on those of us who already have insurance coverage.

Then later this morning, we're going to have live coverage of President Obama as he signs that bill into law. That's scheduled for 11:15 Eastern, 8:15 Pacific.

Tensions rise on the Israel/Gaza border. An Israeli missile strike in Gaza City took out a weapons storage facility. Four people were hurt. The Israeli military says that the attack was in response to militants firing rockets on Israeli homes in the last few days.

It was a spat between friends played out on a global stage. Now they're trying to work it out. We're talking about the U.S. and Israel. Ties strained when the Israelis announced planned construction in east Jerusalem -- disputed land with the Palestinians.

What was worse for the U.S. was the timing of the announcement. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel. And today Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the White House. And he goes there after defending the building plan before a pro-Israel lobby.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Peace requires reciprocity. It cannot be a one-way street in which Israel makes all the concessions and the Palestinian authority makes none. That's got to change.

(APPLAUSE)

NETANYAHU: Israel stands ready to make the compromises necessary for peace. But we expect the Palestinians to compromise as well. To do their part.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: White House aides are describing today's meeting as a chance to push for new talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

An epidemic is killing people near the U.S.-Mexico border. It's an epidemic of drug violence with the epicenter in Juarez. Major safety and security concerns are prompting the U.S. to send the big four to Mexico today.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Heavy rain again across the northeast last night. Some flooding plus another winter storm developing in the plains.

We'll run that down when the CNN NEWSROOM comes right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Combating drug trafficking and killings in Mexico. That's the idea behind a major meeting in Mexico City today. Top U.S. security officials on their way right now.

And here's part of the lineup. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs chair, Admiral Mike Mullen.

They'll be talking to their Mexican counterparts about the escalating drug wars and the U.S. efforts to help battle that drug cartels -- or the drug cartels.

At the center of the drug wars, discussions in the situation in Juarez, Mexico. That's just across the border from El Paso, Texas. Now here's more evidence of that human toll. Police there have discovered more mass graves. The local paper in El Paso says there are as many as 100 bodies that are buried there.

And next hour, we're going to talk to a journalist in the line of fire in Mexico. He is dealing with death threats, flying bullets, all to bring you the inside story of the drug violence.

Bill Clinton has a plan to help Haiti's economic recovery after January's devastating earthquake. Clinton joined George Bush for a tour of Port-au-Prince yesterday. The former presidents are heading up a U.S. fundraising effort in Haiti.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Clinton says that the U.S. should extend trade preferences for Haiti. That would allow Haiti to export more textiles, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Clinton also graded recovery efforts so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I think that the Haitians and the international community have done a good job of distributing food and water. I think they've done a good job of beginning to clear the rubble, given the resources they have.

I think that we have not as done as good as any of us should have done in providing adequate shelter with adequate sanitation.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: It's hard to describe adequately the devastation. I mean it's profound and it has affected a lot of people's lives. It's one thing to see it on TV. It's another thing to see it firsthand.

And hopefully, our trip will help remind people in our country that Haiti needs help. I'll let the president speak to the donor's conference on March 31st.

I can tell you, though, that a lot of people in America care about the plight of the Haitian people. They want to help be a part of the long-term solution. They just want to make sure there's a plan in place that will work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund has brought in more than $37 million so far.

Well, it stinks. And also causes your eyes to water and it gives you a hacking cough and sore throat. A sure sign of spring in Beijing and other northern Chinese cities and sandstorms there. They're particularly bad this year and it goes far beyond Beijing.

It's already hit Hong Kong and it's expected to blow into South Korea today. And get this, grit from Chinese sandstorms has traveled as far as the U.S.

That recent record drought in Perth, Australia is no longer a problem. People are now worried about the aftermath of a major storm that pounded the city with golf size hailstorms and hurricane-speed wind gusts. Heavy rains caused flood and landslides. About 100,000 people have no power. More storms are forecast to hit that area.

Also new flood concerns today for parts of the northeast. Especially New England. Right, Rob?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: It's still cold. What you talking about?

MARCIANO: Yes. It's true.

(LAUGHTER)

MARCIANO: That's true. This first full week of spring it still feel like winter in most spots.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, see you.

PHILLIPS: Explosive new allegations surrounding Michael Jackson's doctor in the last moments before the king of pop died.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Scandal plagued the community group ACORN and now it's calling quits citing falling revenue and blaming a right-wing smear campaign. The group lost its federal funding after secret shooting these videos showed ACORN workers giving advice about how to set up a brothel and evade paying taxes.

It did it to a pair of conservative activist masquerading as a pimp and a prostitute. The ACORN CEO called the videos a set up.

Firefighters at St. Louis want to know what sparked the blaze that left a Mississippi River icon in total ruin. Investigator say that they're testing the ashes from what's left of the Robert E. Lee riverboat to see if the Sunday afternoon fire was accidentally or intentionally set.

Attorneys defending Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson are blasting prosecutors for allegedly leaking details of a police report. The report claims that Dr. Murray stopped trying to revive Jackson so he could collect drug vials from the Jackson home.

The L.A. district attorney's office says it did not provide the police reports to the Associated Press which initially reported on that document.

It could be the smoking gun for Toyota. CNN investigates what the company knew about faulty acceleration pedals and when.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: China's move in a chess match with Google that could determine the search engine's future there. The Chinese are criticizing Google's decision to stop censoring its Chinese Web site and Beijing could go further by blocking access to it.

Google has redirected all search traffic for mainland China to its Hong Kong site rather than pulling out of China. Wherever the dispute heads next, the Chinese say it won't affect relations with the U.S. government.

So what did Toyota know and when did it know it? It's a popular question these days. And CNN's special investigative team has obtained an internal Toyota memo that changes the timeline we thought we knew.

Here is CNN's Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT (voice-over): This is the document of clear warning sign from August 2002 -- nearly eight years ago -- that Toyota had a sudden acceleration problem and, that according to Toyota's own service bulletin, the problem was electronic.

CLARENCE DITLOW, CENTER FOR AUTOMOBILE SAFETY: If you look at this document, it says electronics. It says the fix is reprogramming the computer. It doesn't say anything about formats.

GRIFFIN: The document is called a "Technical Service Bulletin" and was given to CNN by a group of attorneys now seeking a nationwide class action lawsuit against Toyota.

We brought the document to Clarence Ditlow who heads the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. Ditlow says the document, not previously made public, is an indication Toyota knew much earlier about an electronic connection to sudden acceleration.

And he says the service bulletin was apparently hidden from the public, not only by Toyota but by the National Highway Traffic Administration known as NHTSA. The service bulletin, those sent to every Toyota dealer and sent NHTSA, was never made public.

DITLOW: The government is really, you know, hiding this information from the consumer. They're in a conspiracy with the auto industry to keep these out of the public sight.

GRIFFIN: NHTSA declined comment on Ditlow's assertions.

(On camera): The lawyers now suing Toyota claim that this Toyota service bulletin is proof that the company knowingly lied to the public, blaming its sudden acceleration problems on floor mats or stuck gas pedals.

(Voice-over): Tim Howard is a law professor at Northeastern University who also heads the legal group. That is saying that Toyota hid the real problem, for one reason. Recalling all affected vehicles could cost billions.

TIM HOWARD, ATTORNEY, TOYOTA ACTION CONSORTIUM: They could fix these problems easily. But it would cost them about $500 a car nationwide. If you have 6 to 7 million cars, you have the numbers as close to $4 or $5 billion. It's hard to actually tell the truth when those numbers are at the bottom of the truth.

GRIFFIN: Toyota's response to CNN was to discredit the claims being made by the attorneys suing the car companies.

"Toyota strongly disputes these completely baseless allegations being driven by plaintiff's attorneys like Mr. Howard," Toyota said in a statement to CNN. "Toyota intends to fight against these unfounded claims vigorously."

(On camera): Howard and his legal team will appear in a San Diego courtroom later this week, trying to convince a federal judge to combine the 88 individual lawsuits filed against Toyota into one giant class action litigation.

Drew Griffin, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We'll, if you already have health insurance, how will this new plan impact you? Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, answers your questions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Kyra Phillips.

PHILLIPS: The market rallied yesterday after the House passed the health care bill. Hospital and drug stocks led the way.

Felicia Taylor in New York with a look at what's in store for today.

Hey, Felicia. FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. Yes, we are expecting to see an up market today as well in the fallout after that health care reform bill was passed. A slightly positive open today as well with Dow futures now up about 12 points.

Stocks are basically going to continue their sort of slow, steady climb. A few points at a time. Remember, the Dow is still at its highest level since October of 2008.

Investors may also get some direction at the top of the hour when new housing report is actually released.

Existing home sales are expected to fall 1 percent in February. That's going to mean it's hit its lowest level since last summer. But you know, basically every economic report that we've had for the month of February naturally has been negatively affected by the snowstorms that have blanketed the east coast. And once again, we've been hit by more rain over the last couple of days.

There are fundamental problems, though, in the marketplace. And of course, that is high unemployment. And we're still experiencing very tight credit.

So the fundamental reasons are still underlying the fact that the market isn't getting a -- you know, a faster pace increase.

So, today we've got evidence of that in KB Homes' results. The homebuilder lost more than $50 million last quarter. Orders for new homes rose, but KB's revenue fell because homes prices are still depressed.

We just heard the opening bell. Let's take a look at the numbers right now. The Dow is up just about a point. Still waiting for the Nasdaq and the S&P numbers to make themselves evident, but Dow, though, increasing pretty quickly, up about 11 points right now. The Nasdaq up two and the S&P up 2/3 of a point.

Finally, though, Kyra, if you're looking for a free sugar fix, here's a few options. It is free pastry day at Starbucks, at least until 10:30, but you have to buy a drink and taking a coupon that you can print off the company's website. If you want something a little colder, it's free cone day at Ben and Jerry's, that from noon until 8:00 tonight.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Felicia.

Health care reform enters a new era in about two hours. President Obama is scheduled to sign that bill into law. Then, he is going to travel around the country to sell the plan to skeptics. But Republicans say that battle is on to get ready for legal challenges, nearly a dozen states plan to argue that it's not constitutional. As early as tomorrow, the debate moves to the Senate where lawmakers will consider a companion measure, and Republicans plan, parliamentary objections that could change that bill and force it back to the House. Now, even before the first votes were cast in the health care debate, Barack Obama's overall approval rating dropped to his lowest level ever recorded in a CNN poll. Check out the results of the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted between last Friday and Sunday when asked how he is handling the job as president, 46 percent approved, just over half disapproved.

Late (ph) for the numbers of health care reform, it will offer insurance to 32 million Americans who currently are not covered. You are about to meet one of them. Kalila Kelley (ph) was born without the frontal lobes of her brain. At 12 years old, she has the physical and mental abilities of an infant. Within a few months, the government will subsidize a private insurance plan for her and others who are uninsurable because of preexisting conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEKIA KELLEY, PARENT: Her condition causes her to seize constantly. So, therefore, that's an automatic no, you know, because seizures can cause death and so on and so forth. So, they don't want to ensure her. It's frustrating, because I can't get her covered, and it's frustrating that the coverage that she is getting currently through Medicaid is not substantial enough.

ELIZABETH BURAK, ARKANSAS ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES: This is a huge, huge win for Arkansas' kids and families. The next few years, virtually, every family will have access to some sort of affordable coverage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Immediately after the President signs the bill this morning, insurance companies will have to cover children with preexisting conditions. The companies can continue to deny adults until 2014.

Let's look at how the reforms will impact the vast majority of Americans. 85 percent of us have some form of insurance coverage. So, what changes can we expect? CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us for a closer look.

If you don't mind since this is your specialty, the brain, Kalila, and I'm looking at her condition once again, missing the frontal lobes of her brain. First of all, talk to me about that. Is that a tough thing, you know, to deal with regard to insurance?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's interesting, because you don't know exactly what caused her frontal lobes of her brain to atrophy or sort of wither away or was she simply born without them. Sometimes, people, because they've had a lack of oxygen to the brain for a period of time, even during the birthing process, for example, can have problems like that. She is obviously cognitively affected by this, but as was mentioned, I think, by her caregiver, I'm not sure if that was her mom or who that was, the seizures as well, which can be very debilitating and very hard to treat, and you know, required medications as well. So all of that, just obviously, caring for her and --

PHILLIPS: It is her mom, by the way.

GUPTA: That's her mom?

PHILLIPS: Yes, that is her mom.

GUPTA: The situation that she's in and all the meds and the wheelchair and everything else, that has significant cost.

PHILLIPS: So, you know, the point of that story was that apparently, this new plan will be good for her, but her mom is still very skeptical and not so sure. I guess a lot of us want to see --

GUPTA: Right.

PHILLIPS: Stories like this where, OK great, someone like Kalila is going to get help right away.

GUPTA: You know, it's interesting because if you look at all the various people in this country who will be affected by this, the people who have some sort of medical problem and who are currently either uninsured or have difficulty getting insurance are probably going to be the most affected and the most immediately affected as well. As for children, not discriminating against based on the pre- existing, that's can take place within 6 months. So, insurance companies are going to have to provide health care insurance for children like Kaila, and that's obviously a big deal.

She made a good point, I thought, as well. Her mom saying, you know, there was some coverage under Medicaid that already existed. There was some coverage under some of the state programs, but it simply wasn't enough. And I think her skepticism may still be from this idea that is it still going to be enough. And some of those details are going to have to wait and be seen. Insurance companies provide the health care insurance coverage but make sure that it's adequate as well to pay for the seizure medications, to pay for the wheelchair, to pay for all the care that someone like Kalila needs.

PHILLIPS: OK now, people who are self-employed and purchase policies on their own right now, how is this going to impact them?

GUPTA: You know, it's interesting. If you look specifically at the biggest sort of obstacles, everyone is a potential patient out there, right? I mean, you may be healthy right now, but you could be a potential patient.

PHILLIPS: You never know what is going to happen.

GUPTA: Car accident or something happens. So, the big thing sort of with them is that there is going to be no lifetime caps on how much an insurance company will pay. Sometimes, if you do have insurance, but there is a cap on how much it pays, that's why, you know, medical bills are one of the leading cause of bankruptcy in this country. There is also going to be probably higher premiums in the individual market by the year 2016. This is according to the Congressional Budget Office. They think it could go up at 10-13 percent. That is just how this all sort of is expected to play out again over the next six years and that's why that third line, Kyra, very important, subsidized coverage for allowing the people who will join a health exchange of sorts.

PHILLIPS: What if you are already employed?

GUPTA: If you are already employed, you know, things are different. I think for the vast majority of people, things won't change a lot. If you have employer-based coverage and you are not ill, things won't change a lot. But if you do get ill, you know, again, this no caps is very important. So, the insurance company can't simply stop paying for your health care and ultimately, in the next four years, no discrimination based on a pre-existing condition. Do you use one of those flexible spending accounts?

PHILLIPS: You know what, I don't. And you have talked to me about that and so have a lot of other people in this company.

GUPTA: Yes. I mean, basically, you put a certain amount of money away.

PHILLIPS: It's a money away.

GUPTA: You can use that money tax free to defray some of your medical expenses, and the max is usually around $5,000. It's going to drop to about $2500 now, and also, what you can spend that money on is going to change. Right now, you can spend it on just about anything medically related. For example, over-the-counter medications are no longer going to be able to be purchased on that. So, if you have been using an FSA or flexible spending account, we'll see some changes there.

PHILLIPS: That's going to change.

GUPTA: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Oh, wow. I guess, because I always thought, OK, I want to have the money now. It's so hard -- and you think, 401(k), I get it, I want to put that away.

GUPTA: Right.

PHILLIPS: Flexible spending when you are not quite sure what's going to happen, it is harder to put that money away.

GUPTA: Yes and you have to sort of anticipate what your medical expenses maybe and then the given year --

PHILLIPS: Right.

GUPTA: You know, may change. If you're healthy, you may not know.

PHILLIPS: Yes as for that unexpected. OK. The final group who were insured get it from Medicare and Medicaid, so can you break down how it's going to change for these folks?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, I think, obviously, there has been a lot of discussion about Medicare. There's been a lot of discussions about taking money out of Medicare to help pay for this health care plan eliminating things like fraud and inefficiencies and things like that. They think that can be a lot of money incidentally about $500 billion, but for the average person out there, free preventative services. Kyra, this is something that you and I have talked about. The idea of keeping people healthy before they get sick in the right place.

PHILLIPS: Right.

GUPTA: Really try to implement that in some way, obviously, and a Medicare population here, drug discounts, you know, the sad stories that you have heard over and over again over the last 14 months, The idea that people have this doughnut hole. They are choosing to pay their mortgages instead of getting their medications. They want to help with that. $250 this first year to help defray those costs, and then they want to discount drugs by about 50 percent over the next several years.

And then you know, all children covered. We've talked about this in the past, but within six months, they want to get rid of this discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. And also, finally, expanding Medicaid, the one expanded to childless couples that are living there to poverty line. So --

PHILLIPS: And you bring up preventative. We can still call our insurance companies and sometimes get a deal when we say, look, we joined a gym or we're part of the certain program, we've quit smoking. Aren't there certain things that we can do to actually tell our insurance company, hey, can you cut me a deal somewhere in there, because I'm doing these things with regard to preventive maintenance.

GUPTA: Some of that exist right now, mainly in the individual market place; although, some employer based programs will, you know, cut you a deal or give you a little bit of break on premiums. What they really want to do is make it so that you don't have to think twice about preventative care. How do you do that? You get rid of the co-pays when you go get a preventative care visit. You get rid of the deductibles which you and I were just talking about in the break.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Ours is bigger now.

GUPTA: That's right. Ours is bigger now, but the idea that you just want to incentivize people to go get the preventative care. Whether it is blood pressure check or whether it's a cancer screening, whatever it is. You don't have to think twice about it. People who are newly insured under some of these programs are going to have that. They're going to be able to get incentivized to behave that way.

PHILLIPS: Busy time for you. Thanks, Doc.

GUPTA: Yes, it is exciting.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. And speaking of exciting, less than two hours from now, we're actually going to have live coverage of President Obama as he gets ready to sign the bill into law, and that's scheduled for about 11:15 eastern time, 08:15 pacific. You'll see it happen right here live on CNN.

A dangerous obsession or a criminal collection, the mother lode discovered in Chicago. Knives as far as the eye can see. So, what was the owner doing with all these? Police have some clues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The former university professor charged with shooting her colleagues is due in court. Today is just a preliminary hearing for Amy Bishop. She still hasn't entered a plea. Bishop is charged with murdering three of her co-workers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Three others were injured in last month's attack.

A disturbing discovery by Chicago police. Look at all these knives. It's around 1,600 of them. They were all found in the home of just one guy. Kevin Long arrested last week for trying to bring four hunting knives into a court building. Also found in his house were lists of court workers with bull's eye next to their names. He is now facing 47 weapons charges.

A brazen jewelry thief caught on camera in Salem, New Hampshire, but police haven't found him yet. You can see him placing himself over the counter to reach into the display case. The store owner says that he got a diamond ring worth over $1,000. The amazing thing is there was an employee helping a customer just a few feet away but didn't even notice anything.

Shocking end to an electrical experiment. One student sent to the hospital. A teacher sent to the sidelines. Police now deciding the punishment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's see what you are logging on to at CNN.com. We like to check out the news poll's part of our web page. If you click on, that's the top left, and these are actually the stories that are most popular to you as you are clicking on line.

First story right now, five credit score killers. That's good for all of us. Second most popular job right now. Take this job and tolerate it. Understanding the health bill, top number three story and number four, searching for Holloway's remains. Can't forget that story in Aruba a number of years ago. Trying to figure out what exactly happened to Natalee Holloway. Now, they believe they found her bones.

Another top story. How long can low-cost wireless carriers go? We all want to know more about our wireless carriers as the prices fluctuate. They're negotiable now, too. Check out that story. One of the most popular stories that you are clicking on to right now. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: First story right now, "Five Credit Score Killers"; that's good for all of us. The second most popular job right now, "Take This Job and Tolerate It"; "Understanding the Health Bill", top number three story; and number four, "Searching for Holloway's Remains".

I can't forget that story in Aruba a number of years ago. Trying to figure out what exactly happened to Natalee Holloway. Now, they believe they found her bones.

Another top story -- how long can low-cost wireless carriers go? We all want to know more about our wireless carriers as the prices fluctuate. They are negotiable now too. Check out that story. One of the most popular stories that you're clicking on too right now.

You go to CNN.com Newspulse page and it's updated every 15 minutes.

One step closer to taking paying passengers into space and here it is. The V.S.S. Enterprise and "Eve" (ph) on their maiden flight. The small craft is in the middle of the Enterprise right there. Can you see it? The first commercial space travel vehicle is the brain child of billionaire, Richard Branson. The Enterprise is carried to its launch altitude by the twin carrier plane called "Eve". The first passenger flight should take off some time next year.

That would be a cool place to do your weathercast from.

MARCIANO: I agree. I'm working up the pitch already.

PHILLIPS: There you go.

MARCIANO: You know, maiden voyage there, they're going to need some press.

PHILLIPS: Of course they are, yes.

MARCIANO: Right, inside the cockpit, maybe.

PHILLIPS: And you can always use a closer view, just you know, for the details and all of that and your reporting.

MARCIANO: And best and -- well, my investigative skills know no bounds.

PHILLIPS: All right, call Richard Branson.

MARCIANO: I'm getting on it.

Hey, Kyra, listen; a couple things going on. First of all, what's happened across the Northeast is some heavy rain. It's all circulated around this low and which isn't really moving out all that quickly. So it brought heavy rain to Jersey and New York last night which really didn't need it after the floods from last week. And it's bringing some heaviest rain right now to eastern New England including Boston.

And here's a live shot for you. WCBB, there you go. You can see all that detail, can't you? Not really, all right, low clouds, obviously, and rain, temperatures in the 40s. Not the best of days there and it's going to be slow to move out before we really start to see improvement there.

So we do have flash -- we have flood watches and a handful of warnings for eastern New England, because of the potential of seeing another inch or two of rain on top of what they've already seen.

All right, some snow working into the Colorado Rockies, actually the Tetons of Wyoming as well. Winter storm watches are posted here. You could see anywhere from six, well, maybe as much as 18 inches of snow depending on where you are. We'll get a little front-range upslope. But with winds coming up and out of the east, so later on tonight, Denver will see some snow.

We are starting to see some snow develop across some of the higher countries including (INAUDIBLE) along the I-70 corridors so this would be a good one for those folks who wanted to cut some fresh (INAUDIBLE).

After that, though, well, we're just looking for -- what's been keeping things cold here for the last couple of months, the jet stream, which has been very far to the south, slowly starting to make its way migration to the north which really it should have been a few weeks ago but it's been slow to do that.

So the warm air is going to return at some point here. And we're seeing hints of that, certainly. A high temperature of 75 expected in Dallas today; 71 degrees in Memphis and finally, bouncing into the lower 60s in Atlanta after seeing some snowflakes fly around the Deep South yesterday.

Kyra, spring is coming. Just be patient.

PHILLIPS: Yes right, OK, keep your fingers cross.

MARCIANO: All right.

PHILLIPS: Thanks Rob.

MARCIANO: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, halleluiah -- that's right, today is the 267th Halleluiah Anniversary. Handel's "Messiah" of course is what we're talking about. The holiday staple was first performed in London in 1743.

And the words heard around the new nation on this day in 1775 -- we can say Halleluiah to this -- Patrick Henry delivered one of the most memorable lines in American History. "Give me liberty or give me death." As you know, he was imploring Virginians to take up arms against the British.

And in 1965 "Gemini" -- "Gemini 3" actually took off from Cape Kennedy. Yes, those astronauts were saying Halleluiah as it marks the first time the U.S. sent two astronauts into space. Virgil Grisham and John Young were up there nearly five hours. Also on board, well, apparently Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich on board.

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PHILLIPS: I guess you could say this is just shocking, what happened in one New Hampshire high school. A teacher stood by and by some accounts encouraged a potentially deadly science experiment. Listen to this.

An 18-year-old was shocked by other students using electrical cables attached to his chest. His heart stopped, CPR by the teacher saved his life. So what are police going to do about it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. DAVID TERLEMEZIAN, DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE: We concluded that we don't think that anybody in the room, the teacher, Kyle himself or any of the other students that helped with this -- this contraption that he became shocked with knew -- the thought or knew that he would be hurt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes, just be irresponsible and, you know, possibly cause his life. So as a parent, does this outrage you because no charges are going to be filed against this teacher? He's just been suspended.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN O'CONNOR, SUPERINTENDENT, DOVER SCHOOL SYSTEM: My job now is to sort out what actually happened. We have conflicting statements. You have a number of students who've said certain things transpired in the classroom. You have a teacher who -- in statements that were made, are disputing some of the claims.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Apparently the teacher bribed the guinea pig student with a can of Mountain Dew. As for the student, he's OK. As for his brilliant instructor, definitely not up for teacher of the year.

So how about firefighter of the year? Not going to happen in Alton, New Hampshire. Apparently, Stark Liedtke (ph) was bored. So instead of putting out fires, he decided to start them. He actually admitted to setting at least 11 fires.

Here he is, Stark Liedtke in all his glory. Not a stupid kid, folks, but a 22-year vet of the fire department. And his motivation behind becoming an alleged serial arsonist? Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't have a clear motive other than the fact that he was bored.

NORMAN HILLSGROVE, NEIGHBOR OF ALLEGED ARSONIST: He just seemed a little strange, but other than that, you never would have known.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Liedtke was found hiding in the woods Friday night smelling of gasoline. He'll have plenty of time to shower, though. He's been fired.

We have a lot more coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM this morning. Our correspondents are working several stories. Let's start with Jill Dougherty at the White House.

Hey, Jill.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Kyra.

The president signs the health care bill today, but don't look for any balloons or confetti yet; more at the top of the hour.

TAYLOR: I'm Felicia Taylor in New York. The biggest Internet company in the U.S. tears down the great firewall in China. Kyra, we'll have more on that in the next hour.

MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Drenching rains across the northeast this on top of the flooding rains they had last week plus another snowstorm developing out west; details in the next hour -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.

Also ahead:, uncovering more casualties in Mexico's growing battle against drug cartels as America's top diplomat heads south of the border in search of some answers.

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