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Health Reform Vote Round Two; Selling Health Care Reform; Fear on Capitol Hill; Mortgage Lifeline; Fighting Mortgage Fraud; Health Reform Drama; Fear On Capitol Hill; Quit or Die

Aired March 25, 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: Good morning. And it's Thursday morning, so let's go ahead and get the show on the road, shall we?

Please tell me you didn't think the health care bill was written in stone. Ink yes, stone no. So here we go again. The debate inside, pretty tamed to what's happening outside, though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor, how scared are you personally?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I take all the necessary precautions I can take.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Sure hope so. Maybe he should take even more. He's mayor of what could be the world's murder capital. A marked man in the city of assassins warned to quit or die.

And have you bought into that whole cash for gold thing? Before you mail off those gold earrings your ex-boyfriend gave you in 1992, well, there's a little something that you definitely need to know.

Well, this just in to CNN NEWSROOM. A new terror threat supposedly from Osama bin Laden. An audio tape suggests that there will be retaliation and the U.S. -- if the U.S., rather, will execute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

As you know he is the self-described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks who faces a criminal trial in the U.S.

Here's part of that audio tape message played out on Arab TV. Quote, "To the American people, peace be upon those who follow the right path. My message toward you is in regard to our prisoners that you have in your custody. Your president is still following the course of his predecessor."

We'll bring you more on this story just a little later.

OK. Just minutes from now, Democrats have a new reason to dread. They'll have to debate the House measure all over again. Yes. We said all over again. That drama simmering on Capitol Hill while anger boils over back home in the congressional districts. Violence continues to flare and security concerns are spiking.

And if you weren't up until midnight last night, here is what you missed. Senate Republicans made good on their threat, poking and jabbing Democrats, forcing them to vote yet again on part of the health care bill.

Yes, we thought it was over, too. Not so fast, says Lisa Desjardins, CNN Radio's Capitol Hill correspondent.

So, Lisa, when will all this madness end?

LISA DESJARDINS, CNN RADIO CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: All right. Set your watches, everybody, for 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, Kyra. That is when -- we think, and it seems like we have a good reason to think -- the Senate will probably take a final vote on a change change-it bill and kick it over to the House.

Here's the deal, Kyra. Like you said, senators were up all night, 2:45. They are probably not looking too pretty right about now because of that. They're going to come back this hour. They're going to go through all these amendments. They're still going to vote, vote, vote until about 2:00.

And that's when Republicans will raise the one weapon that is going to work -- two points of order that show that this reconciliation or fix-it bill doesn't really go by the rules.

It's very small points. I can over it if you want. But the important thing is Democrats are going to have to change the bill slightly and then they'll vote on it and then send it to the House.

Does that make any sense?

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. It's not like the whole entire thing has to be redone and reworked. It's just a couple parts but, you know, it still takes a lot of time. And we thought everything had ended after that late night on Sunday.

So here's my question. Can Republicans make other changes after this? I mean could this continue to continue on and on?

DESJARDINS: Right. I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with the spokesman for Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican number one in the Senate. And they say they think this is it. These two points of order that they'll raise this afternoon both have to do with student loans.

They think that's really the only things they have. The only goods that they've got on this bill right now. They will keep trying to pass amendments that are going to be hard to vote against. You know, the "I love Puppy" amendment, for example.

They're more serious than that. But they're amendments that are hard to vote against. They'll try that but it probably won't get anywhere. They just have these two pieces of the rules that this bill doesn't conform with that -- it looks like they're going to win on.

PHILLIPS: You bring up a good point. A lot of people are asking, well, why do we have a student loan issue in the health care bill?

DESJARDINS: Right. How about that? Yes. The huge student loan bill is much smaller than the health care bill, though -- was, Democrats planned for that to go through the same process last year, perhaps, before health care.

But, health care took up the entire universe. It didn't make it. And this student loan bills, which changes how student loans are run, brings in more money for the government. A lot less money for student loan companies like Sally Mae.

This probably would not pass the Senate without -- it doesn't 60 votes. Like another bill we know of, the health care bill. So they are putting them together here and putting them through the same reconciliation process really, the only way around getting 60 votes.

So to get the student loan bill passed, they have got to take this kind of procedural jig jag to do it.

PHILLIPS: A little quid pro quo, you know? This is going to go through --

(CROSSTALK)

DESJARDINS: That's right. OK.

PHILLIPS: Let's throw in a little something, something here. Got it.

Lisa Desjardins, you always put it in simple terms for us. I love you for that. We'll continue to follow up with you from the Hill.

Lisa, thanks so much.

DESJARDINS: OK.

PHILLIPS: Well, even though the president did sell the goods, the sales pitch is still going on. And here's what he's going to do. He is going to hit the road and sell it some more.

CNN's Kate Bolduan is at the White House.

So, Kate, how is he going to do that?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You said right there. He is going to hit the road and continue his sales pitch.

Let me first take you back, Kyra. May, 2007, in Iowa. That's when President Obama -- then candidate Obama -- first made his initial idea in his speech for health care reform. That's May, 2007. Today, he is returning to Iowa. Part victory lap and part ongoing sales pitch to try to convince the American people of some of the benefits of the new health care reform law. And we got a little preview of the sales pitch today from the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, yesterday. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the president believes it is important to continue to talk about the many aspects of the law that will do precisely what he said they are intended to do, help small businesses that provide health coverage for their employees.

I am sure there will be parents of those that attend the University of Iowa that will have some interest in keeping their children on a health insurance policy through the age of 26.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So you hear it right there. Expect President Obama today to focus his comments on trying to really sell the benefits. He will say -- try to sell the health care plan in trying to say that it will help lower costs for families as well as small businesses, that will also then help them lower costs and make it more affordable for their employees.

All this happening today in Iowa and he will be leaving in the next hour or so, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be there live. Thanks so much, Kate.

Well, I don't think anyone can deny the shock over what this burning anger has actually brought out in Americans. Some of it is just outrageous. Democrats are scared for their safety now. They have actually been threatened with death by lynching, even talk of snipers.

Is this Juarez or Washington? Here is CNN's Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was anti-abortion Democrat Bart Stupak's 11th hour deal that gave House Democrats the votes to pass health care.

Listen to some messages on his office voice mail.

(VOICEMAIL)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stupak, you are a lowlife. Baby murderer. Scumbag. (INAUDIBLE). Crap. You are a cowardly punk, Stupak.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Think about this, there are millions of people across the country who wished you ill. All of those thoughts projected on you will materialize into something that's not very good for you.

BASH: And he's gotten faxes like these, images of a noose and a Nazi SS insignia. Stupak is hardly the only Democrat being threatened. Vandalism at the Arizona office of Gabby Gifford, and the New York office of House Rules chairwoman Louise Slaughter.

REP. LOUISE SLAUGHTER (D), NEW YORK: Someone heralded a brick through the window of my district office in the dark of night.

BASH: Whoever threw that brick is a mystery. But one person encouraging such behavior is known.

Mike Vanderboegh is a popular right-wing extremist. On his blog last week, he wrote, "So if you wish to send a message that Pelosi and her party cannot fail to hear, break their windows. Break them now. Break them and run to break again."

And this week, during a radio interview, Mr. Vanderboegh urged further action.

MIKE VANDERBOEGH, ACTIVIST: I'm advocating broken windows. I'm advocating -- I suppose -- vandalism.

BASH: House Democrats are now so concerned about security, leaders called an emergency closed door meeting with the FBI, Capitol police and sergeant at arms.

(On camera): Do you feel your members are really at risk in terms of their security?

REP. STENY HOYER (D), MAJORITY LEADER: Yes. I think we've have had very serious incidences that have occurred over the last 48, 72 hours.

BASH: So how are you dealing with that? What actions are you taking?

HOYER: Well, we have the Capitol police just brief members. If they are in any way suspicious or fearful or see actions occurring to report those immediately. And the Capitol police will respond and try to determine whether crimes have been committed.

REP. STEVE DRIEHAUS (D), OHIO: My wife and kids are at home. They're organizing protest in front of my house. We're getting death threats on the telephone.

BASH: Freshman Democrat Steve Driehaus also voted yes on health care. Before he did, the House minority leader John Boehner, warned he may be a dead man. Driehaus blames the GOP leader for stirring up some of the threats against him.

DRIEHAUS: They are engaged in rhetoric that goes way beyond the pale of what's responsible. They are inciting behavior. And I think they should be held responsible for that.

BASH (voice-over): Boehner declined our interview request to directly respond, and instead, issued a statement.

"I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill. And that Washington Democrats just aren't listening. But as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable." He went on to say, "Go volunteer at a political campaign. Make your voice heard. But let's do it the right way."

Still, Democrats are blaming Republican lawmakers for egging protesters on. Maybe over the line. Like this over the weekend when Republican Steve King held up a poster of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, gave her a thumb's down, and made a slapping motion across her face.

We asked King about that.

(On camera): There was a moment that we have seen. You were up there right on that balcony up there with a picture of the House speaker, slapping it.

REP. STEVE KING (R), IOWA: That would be an exaggeration. But this is a melodrama.

BASH: Tell me what -- tell me --

KING: Keep in mind, this is a melodrama.

BASH: Tell me what your goal was with what you did?

KING: My goal is to inspire people to stand up for the Constitution, to stand up for fiscal responsibility and the rule of law.

BASH (voice-over): King walked away before we could get him to fully explain what he meant to do. But he did say he condemns any threats of violence.

Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And this story is far from over. We've got crews in Iowa City where President Obama will deliver remarks on health care reform. That's scheduled for 2:00 Eastern, 1:00 Central. And we'll have live coverage.

Cheek and Chong would be all for this. Legalizing pot. People in one state will vote on letting adults toke. That's right.

And if she had taken a detour. A mom makes a decision that ends up putting three kids in danger. Wait until you hear what she did.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Heavy raining expected across the south so watch out for some, of course, some flooded runway, and severe weather also. And spring weather across the northeast at least for today.

Full forecast coming up when the CNN NEWSROOM returns. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: An important tweak to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." In just about 15 minutes, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to announce new guidelines. Basically the Pentagon is saying anonymous tips on supposedly gay soldiers will no longer be acted on.

We're going to have more on this story coming up later -- a little later this hour.

So smoking pot. Legal? It could be a reality in California if a ballot initiative passes this fall. People could have up to an ounce of pot. And we're not talking for medicinal purposes. The pot could be taxed and no one would be allowed to smoke it in public.

California was the first state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana in 1996.

An Arkansas mother of three young boys learned an important lesson the hard way. Don't drive in high water. The family's car actually got stuck. Firefighters had to come to the rescue and the oldest boy -- well, he took it all in stride.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got stuck in this creek and we couldn't get out. And so the firemen got us in the ladder and then they bring us over to the other side of the lake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: One fireman said the danger could have been avoided if the mom had just taken a 2 1/2 mile detour.

Oh, Rob Marciano, the mouth of babes.

MARCIANO: Yes. Right.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely adorable.

MARCIANO: Good TV when it's all -- when everyone turns out to be safe. But as you know, probably the most dangerous thing you could do is drive through some water of unknown depths, so lesson to be learned. I'm sure that young man will control --

PHILLIPS: He'll be driving much differently, I think, when he turns 16.

MARCIANO: No (INAUDIBLE).

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: March Madness in full spring, Sweet 16.

PHILLIPS: All right.

MARCIANO: Back over to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. See you soon.

MARCIANO: OK.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know what? There are probably better ways to express your opinion. Police officers tend to -- you know -- frown on stuff like this. Bike shop owners, they are not too happy about it either.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Someone in east Texas is really determined to scare some folks. Another explosive device has been found in a post office drop box some 120 miles east of Dallas. It was the tenth one found within a month. There is a $10,000 reward for any information, by the way.

It was a tragedy caught on camera. But don't expect to see any time soon. A judge in Orlando, Florida is preventing the news media from showing videos or photos of the death of the Seaworld trainer, Dawn Brancheau. The family doesn't want any photos or videos of the incident released. Brancheau died last month when a killer whale dragged her under water.

Take a look at this. A protester heaves a bicycle at a police officer in Portland then bravely just runs away. The cop wasn't badly hurt. The law is putting a herd on fever. He's facing a bunch of charges. Protesters were upset about a fatal police shooting. They were ordered off the street because they didn't have a permit. And that's when the bike went flying.

A life preserver for some homeowners, rather, drowning in a sea of debt. Now the big bank is tossing one out there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Mr. Mellencamp, we believe you. But your small town is a booming metroplex compared to this place. I'm talking about Wauconda, Washington just outside of -- hmm, nowhere.

Google nearly freaked out trying to find it on the map. It's actually a couple of hours from Vancouver. Saloon, general store, cafe and post office, quaint, Old West kind of place You want it? Well, it's for sale on eBay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDY FLETCHER, SELLER: It's kind of rural.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's rural --

FLETCHER: Very rural. There's nothing for 20 miles in any direction. It's that's it. We completely redid the interior. I painted, decorated. It's the spaghetti saloon now and the restaurant. And about 65 seats and kind of a spaghetti western theme. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I like that. Spaghetti western. I love what she's done with the place. The minimum bid for the town, $400,000. No bids have come close. You also get a 10-acre horse ranch, by the way, you can share with the moose and the back pond and the bears, right down the street.

Kind of hard to even think of buying a town if you're so far under water on your mortgage. You need a mask to read your statement.

How about a little good news on that front.

Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie?

(LAUGHTER)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm down for good news. Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

ELAM: It's very old school. And very rural. You could take back time and go 49 in, you know? See if you find any gold out there or something.

PHILLIPS: Giddy-up. All right.

ELAM: But yes, you're right.

(CROSSTALK)

ELAM: We do have good news. Yes, I think I better tell you the good news before they tell me to shut up. So here's the deal. And it is important to cover right now. Because this is the first major loan company or bank that we've seen that's incorporating these loan modification plans into their programs.

So, Bank of America, what they're going to do now is first consider cutting the balances of people's mortgages for people that have qualifying subprime and ARM loans. So not all of them, certain ones will apply here. To lower monthly payments to a 31-percent their pre-tax income.

Now those with at least 60 days behind on their payments with mortgages totaling more than 120 percent of their home value can have balances cut over five years by a maximum of 30 percent.

But they do have to meet the requirements of the Obama administration's loan modification program. And this is really going to affect the Countrywide lender. The people who have mortgages through Countrywide.

If you remember, Bank of America bought the company in 2008 and through agreements with several state attorneys general, they came up with a plan to help modify these loans and help people out. So they began their National Home Ownership Retention program. And through that, they are required to modify these troubled loans for people -- about 400,000 Countrywide customers.

Here's the thing, though. Bank of America says that they see this plan actually helping out 45,000 people and all together cutting a total of $3 billion of people's loan balances all together.

So the program will begin in May. And one thing, though, for people who are wondering how much can they actually save, it will depend upon a recent appraisal of a property. And on top, they're saying they're not going to cut anyone's balance down to 100 percent of the home's value.

So it's very interesting to see how they're moving on the right direction to see if other lenders follow in Bank of America's footsteps. But it's not going to help as many people as I'm sure a lot of people would like to see out there. But a move in the right direction there. No doubt that, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Good news. Thanks, Stephanie.

Changing the rules for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." That announcement just moments away. The Pentagon is going to make it harder to outrun.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Kyra Phillips.

PHILLIPS: And we'll take you live to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, waiting for the opening bell.

CEO of MaxLinear, Inc. getting ready to ring the bell there. In case you don't know about that company, big in the mobile television business.

And just to remind you yesterday's stocks finished down more than 50 points yesterday. Closed at 10836. Gains hopefully expected today.

As CEO of MaxLinear gets ready to ring the bell. You know we've also -- there we go.

Let's talk about mortgage fraud. You know, times are already tough for a lot of homeowners. We've been talking about that with Stephanie Elam. Mortgages are definitely something that we all have to deal with, but loansafe.org is reporting, if you're not familiar with that Web site, is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder, is going to actually try and fix that.

He is going to be in Phoenix today to hear some of those personal stories and brainstorm with law enforcement folks to prevent it from happening. All right. How many seconds away from the numbers there? We still have about 30. We'll check the big board in just a second. All right. Let's talk about that new snag in health care reform, shall we? Just hours ago, senate Republicans made good on their threat. They've sent the health reform measure back to the House for another vote.

I know. You heard it right. Another vote. The move is mostly procedural, and no one expects it to change any of the reforms, but it is a pain in the you know what for House Democrats already facing a public backlash. And some of that anger has turned violent. Nearly a dozen congressional Democrats say that they've been the targets of threats or vandalism.

Windows have been smashed out at Democratic offices in at least three states now, and democratic leaders are demanding that Republican leaders condemn that violence. So, how violent do you ask? Just ask Representative Bart Stupak. You Know, the Congressman called the baby killer. Take a listen to his voicemail. It even got Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs weighing in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN MALE: Stupak, you are a lowlife, baby-murdering, scumbag, pile of crap. You are a cowardly punk, Stupak.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: Think about this. There are millions of people across the country who wish you ill. And all of those thoughts projected on you will materialize into something that's not very good for you.

REP. STENY HOYER, (R) MINORITY LEADER: The incidents of threats either in person or over telephones or through other communications devices have given great concern to members for the safety.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Taking it live now to Secretary Robert Gates. An important twist, the don't ask, don't tell. Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: In February, I established a high-leveled working group to implement a repeal to don't ask, don't tell and to develop recommendations for implementation for the law change. At the same time, I directed the department to conduct a review of how (INAUDIBLE) and within 25 days, present to me recommended changes that would enforce the existing law in a fair and more appropriate manner.

Today, I have approved a series of changes to the implementation of the current statute. They were developed with the full participation of the department senior civilian and military leadership. And the changes are unanimously supported by Chairman Mullen, Vice Chairman Cartwright, and the entire joint chiefs of staff. The Department General Council, Jay Johnson and the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel have also concluded that these changes are consistent with the existing don't ask, don't tell law. These changes reflect some of the insight we have gained over 17 years of implementing the current law, including the need for consistency, oversight and clear standards. The changes are as follows. We will raise the level of the officer who is authorized to initiate a fact- finding inquiry or separation proceeding regarding homosexual conduct to a general or flag officer in the service members chain of command.

We will raise the level of the person who is authorized to conduct a fact-finding inquiry to the level of lieutenant colonel, navy commander, or above. We will raise the level of the officer who is authorized to separate an enlisted member to a general or flag officer in the service members chain of command. We will revise what constitutes credible information to begin an inquiry or separation proceeding by, for example, specifying that information provided by third parties should be given under oath and by discouraging the use of overheard statements and hearsay.

We will revise what constitutes a reliable person upon whose words an inquiry could be initiated with special scrutiny on third parties who may be motivated to harm the service member.

Finally, certain categories of confidential information will no longer be used in support of discharges, including information provided to lawyers, clergy, and psychotherapists. Information provided to a medical professional and furtherance of medical treatment or public health official in the course of a public health inquiring. Information provided in the course of seeking professional assistance for domestic or physical abuse and information obtained in the course of security clearance investigations in accordance with existing Department of Defense policies.

The services will have 30 days to confirm their regulations to these changes. Meanwhile, these modifications will take effect immediately and will apply to all open and future cases. In effect, this means that all separations from this point forward will take place under the revised regulations. I believe these changes represent an important improvement in the way the current law is put into practice. Above all, by providing a greater measure of common sense and common decency to a process for handling what are difficult and complex issues for all involved. Of course, only Congress can repeal the current don't ask, don't tell --

PHILLIPS: All right. A bit of an update there or twitch show (ph) as say to the don't ask, don't tell policy. You're listening live to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.

Basically, he is announcing some new guidelines that the Pentagon is now putting ink to paper there saying that anonymous tips on supposedly gay soldiers will no longer be acted on. We're going to continue to follow this and give you more developments as we figure them out here and listen and weigh it all out. But while we're doing that, I think that's the main thing that is coming out of this announcement. I want to just quickly talk with Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach who is fighting his discharge. He was actually outed by a third party in 2008, a scenario that he would be protected against under the new Pentagon policy. He is joining me now on the phone from Boise, Idaho.

And Victor, we always appreciate you calling in for us, because we got word of this announcement. It was happening a little earlier than expected. And you heard the Sec Def right there. Tell me your first reaction. Is this good news for you and others in your position?

VICTOR FEHRENBACH, AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL: If it is good news for me, we will probably have to wait and see. Obviously, there are a lot of details to go over, but I think this could be very good news for thousands of service members that are serving all over the world right now, because he did address that this could directly affect third-party outings, and it's going to raise the level of scrutiny. It is very good news for thousands of service members serving right now that they won't have to serve in fear in the years ahead.

PHILLIPS: And how could it affect you in your situation right now, Victor?

FEHRENBACH: Again, we're going to probably have to get a lot more details. I know there's another briefing later this afternoon where some more press and legal professionals. We'll be able to ask those questions. The things that I heard from the Secretary may affect this whether they were going to revise what's considered credible information and that could have a direct effect (ph) on my case as well as revise what they judge us from a reliable source or reliable person. That obviously has direct effect on my case. And then finally, probably the most promising thing for me was he said that it's effective immediately, and it will apply to open cases.

PHILLIPS: Yes and --

FEHRENBACH: That sounds like it might affect me directly.

PHILLIPS: Okay. So that's good for you. Are you surprised that the Pentagon is taking this step? I mean, last time we spoke, you were pretty disappointed because although changes were being made in the policy, there was still talk of this one year review for this policy.

FEHRENBACH: Right. I'm not that surprised. Secretary Gates initially made his announcement back in June that he was going to order the general council to look into this. So, as I understand it, they've actually been looking into some of these changes for quite some time. So, that 45-day study, I believe, was just to get all the ducks in a row and all the paperwork done to make this announcement today. So, I wasn't that surprised. I am surprised that, you know, they have done a lot of the leg work as far as the regulatory change and the fact that this can go into effect immediately. Obviously, the year-long study, I still don't think it's necessary to do that, because, as I've mentioned before, you know, we've got 25 allies. They have a model that we can follow. They have addressed the issues that we need to tackle. And I think we can accelerate that study and get all the answers we need to the problems that may come forth and be able to, you know, press with full repeal a lot sooner than December 1st.

PHILLIPS: Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach. Appreciate you calling in, Victor. Thank you so much.

FEHRENBACH: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You bet. More from the CNN NEWSROOM, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Take a quick look. Dow Industrial is up 60 points. We told you we're going to probably to see a little bit of a rally and see gains today. That's good news. We will keep tracking up for you.

All right. Look what's happening during spring break at Cornell University. Fences are now going up on campus bridges. Suicide barriers, because at least six student suicides have happened this school year so far. Right now, Cornell has guards on those bridges as well from 8:00 at night to 8:00 in the morning to hopefully detour would-be jumpers. When the students get back from break, guards could spend even more time on watch.

A not guilty plea for the Delaware pediatrician accused of sexually abusing more than 100 of his patients. "The News Journal" in Wilmington, Delaware reports that the judge set new bail for Dr. Earl Bradley, $4.71 million. He was indicted actually on about 471 charges. I'm going to get those numbers right. We are looking at $10,000 for each charge that he faces in the case. Okay, there we go. 471 charges, 10 grand for each case. Police are still looking into whether even more kids were abused by Bradley.

An execution on hold in Texas. The Supreme Court stepped in at the last minute to temporarily stop the lethal injection. Henry Skinner was convicted in the murders of his live-in girlfriend and her two sons. His attorneys are asking for DNA testing in that case.

So, will Toyota face a class action lawsuit over the accelerator problems? San Diego Union Tribune reports that a federal court will actually hear the arguments today. They must decide if more than 100 lawsuits against Toyota can be rolled into one? They may also decide where the trial could be held.

Hair piece, that piece, on this date in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in bed and stayed and stayed and stayed. A lot of room service, by the way. Today marks the beginning of their famous bed-in for peace. It's later immortalized than the Beatles, John and Yoko. They stayed at the Amsterdam Hilton, and yes, you can still ask to stay on their room. It's the presidential suite. Room 902.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: What if you were faced with a choice to quit your job or die? That's the reality for the mayor in the middle of Juarez, Mexico's drug war. And as CNN's Gary Tuchman tells us the mayor chooses to face the death threats for the love of his city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Mayor of Juarez, Mexico hates the drug cartels that have turned his city into a dangerous and violent place; the city with the highest murder rate in the world. The cartels want him gone permanently.

MAYOR JOSE REYES FERRIZ, CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO: The threats are real. They are not -- they're not just intimidating. They're real and I have to take it very seriously.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz was told two weeks ago that if he didn't quit his job by this week he would be assassinated. For added emphasis a bloody animal head came with the note.

FERRIZ: I know I have a lot of people that not only don't like me but would like to do something to me.

TUCHMAN: So that's why his driver carries an automatic rifle with him at all times.

(voice-over): And in public, like at this patriotic celebration, the Mayor has elaborate security and he's not backing down.

Not only does he continue to appear at public events, he talks a lot about how the bad guys have ruined his city.

"Juarez is a lover of peace and peace is what we are lacking."

TUCHMAN: During his three-year term, the mayor has fired hundreds of cops. He believed they were in bed with the narco traffickers. The city's police forces are now considered much less corrupt and that angers to cartels and has led to assassinations of police and several threats against the mayor, including this very specific one involving the animal head.

(on camera): Mayor, how scared are you personally?

FERRIZ: Well, I take all the necessary precautions I can take.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): I asked the mayor if it's safe to tour the city a bit. So we go to a skateboard and bicycle park. It's not crowded but there are some kids having fun. Nevertheless, even in this environment, he doesn't go anywhere without an armed guard although here, the rifle was left in its case.

FERRIZ: It is hard to have a normal life. It's extremely difficult. I love playing tennis; I haven't played in a couple of years. I love going to the movies. I haven't gone to the movies in a couple of years.

TUCHMAN: He's a family man, a lawyer by trade. The mayor could quit tomorrow and lead a less stressful, financially lucrative life. As we travel on his armored vehicle he says he's well aware a killer could target him at any time.

So I asked him about quitting.

(on camera): Do you have any thoughts about that possibility here?

FERRIZ: No. I won't step down of my position. It's a very important position. What we're doing is extremely important for our city. If we don't do it today, it's going to be very hard to do it tomorrow. It's going to be double hard.

TUCHMAN: The contrasts in his life are so real. The law-abiding citizens of Juarez want him to succeed. The cartels want him punished. They want him dead.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Juarez, Mexico.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: It's like free speech and blasphemy having a head-on collision deep in the heart of Texas. That's what happens when you put on a play about Jesus as a gay man.

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PHILLIPS: The pediatrician accused of molesting dozens of children, sex abuse allegations in the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church and on and on, all stories about perverts preying on innocent children. All outrageous and awful if they're true. Well, guess what? This story could be even worse.

A woman allegedly put her own granddaughter in the disgusting hands of a molester. Why? Drugs. Here's her mug shot. Welcome to the rock bottom, grandma. Police in Saginaw, Michigan, say 45-year- old Angela Blackwell took her 10-year-old granddaughter to her drug dealer's house and let him molest her. Payment? Cocaine.

Basically took the girl's innocence and snorted it right up her nose. So much for baking cookies with grandma. Police are still looking for the alleged molester. Take a look at him. Sixty seven year-old Johnny Lee Griffin. He's not home, go figure. They're pretty sure he molested another 10-year-old girl and they are afraid he might have even more victims.

And here's a way to get people talking, put on a play that portrays Jesus and the apostles as gay men living in the 20th century. How do you think that will go over in Texas?

It's going to happen this weekend at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. A student is directing it and the school is not getting in his way. A win for free speech, a win for blasphemy? Well, let's discuss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAN WILLIAMS, STUDENT: Homosexuality is the one unforgivable sin in our society. It's something you can't get away from. And that's what he's doing, trying to present that to a Christian community.

REBECCA SANDERS, FORMER STUDENT: I have homosexual friends, that's not a problem to me, but making Jesus out to be a homosexual, I have a big problem with that.

LIZA BENEDICT, TARLETON STATE SPOKESWOMAN: It's a legal issue. We have been advised by our council that this is a first amendment legal issue and an academic freedom issue. We do not have a choice here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the town police, they're going to be helping out with security. They expect protesters. The play is called "Corpus Christi", by the way. And it isn't new. It actually premiered in New York about 12 years ago.

We have a whole lot going on this morning. CNN crews are out in force to bring you all the details. Let's go ahead and check in with our correspondents beginning with Diana Magnay in Rome -- Diana.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Kyra. Yes. Well, another story of very unpleasant child abuse that was reported in "The New York Times". A priest who apparently between 1950 and 1974 abused 200 deaf boys in a school he was working at; the implication in the article that the Vatican had covered up those crimes when they were finally reported to the Vatican more than 20 years later.

We do have some response from the Vatican on that though, Kyra. They are saying that because the crime was only reported to them so much later -- more than 20 years -- and the priest, Father Murphy was himself then in such poor health that they simply recommended the Archbishop of Milwaukee to restrict Father Murphy's ministry and then four months later he died -- Kyra.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: And also coming up in the next hour we are going take a look at your gold. If you're thinking of selling it you're going to want to tune in or mailing it in. We took a look deeper at cash for gold and what's going on there. That's coming up in the next hour.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Balmy day East Coast, severe storms across the Deep South and yet another snow storm potentially for Denver. Weather at the top of the hour -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.

Also ahead, how will health care reform affect your life? You have questions, we have answers. Next hour, we check in at the health care desk.

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