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Health Reform Anger & Threats; Speaker Pelosi News Conference; Juarez Mayor Vows Not to Give in to Threats
Aired March 25, 2010 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is Thursday, March 25th in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Politics takes the low road.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you feel that your members are really at risk in terms of their security?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Boy. House Democrats get death threats after approving health care reform.
Plus, a civilized discussion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM MARRON, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: If I did my job the way the politicians do their job, I wouldn't have a job for very long.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They'd throw you out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Wow. CNN takes the train to track opinions on health care, the economy and politicians.
Also, another heated topic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANCE CPL. IAN RICHARDSON, BRITISH SOLDIER: Just because that man or a woman is a homosexual, that's got nothing to do with the fact that they can fight and do their job properly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The military announces it will relax enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Those stories and your comments on all of the day's news, right here, right now, in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Shattered glass and rattled nerves, bricks thrown through campaign office windows. Democrats in Congress say they are being targeted with vandalism and even death threats following Sunday's vote on health care reform.
We expect to hear from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner in their weekly news conferences this hour. If they speak out about the vandalism and threats, we will bring you those comments live.
On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says leaders of both parties need to send a clear message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: I think, together, we need to make a statement that clearly indicates that this kind of activity is unacceptable in our democracy. But we ought to also conduct ourselves individually, whether it's on the floor, on the Capitol grounds, or in our districts, in a way that not only says that, but conveys that, that the debate is civil, constructive. It may have very serious differences of opinion on issues, but we ought not to give rise to the fact that because somebody disagrees with us, they are somehow -- therefore should be subjected to either violent rhetoric or violent acts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You know, we have told you about the threats and harsh rhetoric. Now you can hear some of it for yourselves.
Congressman Bart Stupak, one of 13 anti-abortion Democrats who struck a deal to support the health care reform bill, is among those getting hammered the hardest.
CNN's Carol Costello has that story from Washington.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, the last few months for Congressman Stupak, in his words, have not been fun. He's taking the heat from all sides, and he's lost the support of anti-abortion groups that once supported him. He's become disillusioned with them and tired of all the hate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): Some conservatives have made Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak a verb, "Stupacked." Definition: betrayed. And for some, that sense of betrayal from a man who is pro-life is visceral.
These kinds of calls have been coming into Stupak's D.C. office since this weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a cowardly punk, Stupak. That's what you are. You and your family are scum.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go to hell, you piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
COSTELLO: Stupak has also received thousands of letters and faxes, some threatening his family. This one shows a noose with the words "all baby killers come to unseemly ends either by the hand of man or the hand of God."
The calls and letters kept coming as Stupak and 12 other pro-life Democratic lawmakers to witness the president sign an order he says confirms the ban on federal funding for abortions in the new health care law.
REP. MARCY KAPTUR (D), OHIO: It was very joyous. After the president finished signing it, we all clapped.
COSTELLO: Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur has also experienced some pushback for her support but nothing like Stupak. She finds it disturbing and says it has little to do with the abortion issue.
KAPTUR: There were a lot of individuals who really didn't want this bill at all, and I think that's where some of this vitriol is still coming from.
COSTELLO: Stupak is getting hammered on other fronts too.
REP. RANDY NEUGEBAUER (R), TEXAS: You know what I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the unborn.
COSTELLO: The Texas Republican congressman who interrupted Stupak's speech on the House floor with shouts of "baby killer" is now using the incident in a campaign ad. Back in Michigan, the little- known Republican running against Stupak suddenly has thousands of friends on his Facebook page. Dr. Ben Banaszak (ph) is richer, too. In the past two days, he says he received $60,000 in donations.
ADVERTISEMENT NARRATOR: Join the Tea Party Express showdown and searchlight rally March 27th.
COSTELLO: The Tea Party Express tour with Sarah Palin on board will now include Stupak's district, not because of the abortion issue but because his vote on health care will burden the American people with even more debt and even more government control. SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL, PROGRESSIVE CATHOLIC: What a great day for health care reform.
COSTELLO: Sister Simone Campbell, a progressive Catholic, feels for Stupak. She and other Catholic nuns came out in favor of health care reform. She's getting hammered, too, even though she's against abortion.
CAMPBELL: One person called me a baby killer.
COSTELLO: Sister Simone is saddened by the vitriol. She actually met with Congressman Stupak to offer comfort. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Sister Simone met with Congressman Stupak yesterday to tell him he followed his conscience and faith and that she's grateful because she knows it has been a big price to pay -- Tony.
HARRIS: All right. Carol, appreciate it. Thank you.
So, has it really come to this. Political disagreement descends into anger and venom. And what's fueling all of the heated rhetoric?
Those questions were a hot topic on HLN's "Joy Behar Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID FRUM, FRUMFORUM.COM: We have been through a period of intensifying violence in the way we talk, probably since the middle 1990s. Talk radio has a lot to do with it on both sides.
(CROSSTALK)
JOY BEHAR, HLN HOST: Wait a second. I have to stop you there, David. There is no both sides on talk radio. Most of the inflammatory rhetoric is coming from the right, and you know that.
FRUM: You know, let me so, most of the inflammatory from the left comes from Internet and from cable. You're right. Talk radio is a province of the right.
BEHAR: OK.
FRUM: Look, what we're having is a mutual separation of Americans into enclaves. Americans live more physically distinct lives, they live in different media cultures. They interact less. And you see this in the way Washington works.
Two generations ago, the leading members of Congress knew each other personally. They would have dinner together. That doesn't happen anymore.
BEHAR: That's gone.
FRUM: These people are strangers to one another, and that has had an impact --
BEHAR: Now they want to throw food at each other.
Is there going to be a backlash, do you think, on the Republican Party in November because of this, or is it going to help them?
ROY SEKOFF, HUFFINGTONPOST.COM: Yes. No, I think there is.
I mean, there's this super-heated thing. But the problem is, Joy, there's always been a fringe element in the in any party. But the lunatics have taken over the asylum. We're seeing this kind of inflammatory rhetoric coming from the leaders. I mean, we have John Boehner saying that it's going to be Armageddon. I mean, that's like the little boy who cried Wolf Blitzer.
You know, I think it's going to be -- there is going to definitely be some blowback when people go, well, wait a minute, this isn't socialism, this isn't the government taking over my health care. And, in fact, I kind of like some elements of this. And I think we're seeing that already.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: What do you think about the backlash? Do you believe in it? Has it gotten out of control, all of the rhetoric?
Go to CNN.com/Tony, and leave us a comment. We will be airing some of them in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM, where we will talk more about whether civility has been lost in politics and about the anger over health care reform.
The chairman of the Memphis Tea Party, a tweeting and blogging Republican consultant, and the chairman for the National Endowment for the Humanities join the discussion, next hour, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Debate over the so-called changes bill on health care reform under way again in the Senate. Republicans are expected to offer more amendments today.
Yesterday they found technical violations in two provisions of the bill. That means it will go back to the House for yet another vote.
He signed health care reform into law. Today, President Obama hits the road to sell the plan to skeptical Americans at a speech in Iowa City. He is expected to discuss how reform affects small businesses and the families with children who have pre-existing conditions.
Live coverage of the president's speech in the CNN NEWSROOM at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. That's 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Speaker Pelosi now is talking about some of the threats, some of the vandalism that's been experienced by members of Congress since the health care vote on Sunday.
Let's have a listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER: -- diminish that in any way. That's the strength of our country, but also to set a standard that says that some of the actions that took place surrounding this, and continue again, must be rejected.
I'd be please to take any questions.
Yes, ma'am?
QUESTION: Madame Speaker, you had referenced some of the incidents that were happening with regard to voters who voted for this bill. I'm wondering if you could give us an update on the status of things. And what is your sense of how coordinated they are?
PELOSI: Well, I think that you really have to talk to the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police, because they are keeping a list of what has been reported to them. And they're following up on it.
But it just, as with anything else, it's important for us to be able to quantify what it is so that we can see what is a threat and what is just an idle comment. But again, not to paint everyone who was part of the free expression that happened here with the same brush -- and I think many people want to disassociate themselves with this, and that's what we as leaders in Congress -- yes. I'll come back.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Some months ago, when you thought there were some threats made against the president, you commented about what happened in your city with Harvey Milk and others, and some very serious tragic events that unfolded there. When you hear this type of talk, you coming from San Francisco and the unfortunate history that happened there, I mean, do you start to think about this? Does it worry you in your heart of hearts? What do you think about?
PELOSI: Well, I believe that words have power. They weigh a ton. And they're received differently by people, depending on their, shall we say, emotional state.
And we have to take responsibility for words that are said that we do not reject -- that we do not reject. But part of -- I don't want this to be a distraction for why we are here.
We are here to pass health care for all Americans, to make -- again, honor the vows of our founders in that respect. Honor also the vows that our founders have for free expression. But also to say we are a democracy and that elections are a way -- elections are a way for us to show our pleasure or displeasure with a particular point of view.
Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just to follow up on that, if I may, some of your colleagues have suggested that some of the threats and the vandalism is being stoked by Republican lawmakers. Do you think that that might be true, or do you think that's overstating the role of what some Republicans have said, or even done -- I'm not sure if you've seen -- out on the balcony of the Capitol?
PELOSI: Well, I think that, again, I don't subscribe to the fact that these acts have sprung from any words of my colleagues. But I do think that this Congress and this House of Representatives is a classroom, and that it's inappropriate for members of Congress to stand up and cheer when these sentiments are expressed in the gallery.
That's different from saying that it provoked it, but I think we have to manage this issue very carefully, recognizing we are a democracy, we don't want to stifle debate or free expression of it, but to understand our leadership role, responsibilities that we have to be an example, and how we express our differences, and understand the impact that our words have on others. And the best way we can do that is to very clearly state that this is inappropriate, that words could be used that are so beneath the dignity of this debate, and certainly beneath the dignity of the people they were used against, that actions are taken that are so unsavory and, in some ways, menacing. But our members are undaunted.
They are proud of their vote. They understand what it's about. And so they're ready to go from there. But again, so that the world will know and the Congress has no -- the country has no doubt, it's very important that across the board, we all reject what has been said in the course of this debate, however it was provoked.
Yes, sir?
QUESTION: Madame Speaker, do you support congressional actions to force the administration to take action on the Chinese currency manipulation allegations?
PELOSI: Can we just stick with health care for a moment and then I'll come back to you?
Let's just deal with yours.
Please forgive me. Has the administration decided that they're going to --
HARRIS: OK. Let's jump out.
Speaker Pelosi commenting on the threats and vandalism following Sunday's vote on health care reform. Democrats in Congress say they are being targeted in many ways with vandalism, and even death threats, in some cases, following Sunday's vote on reform.
The Speaker trying to address the concerns while, at the same time, trying to redirect the conversation. You heard her there, in a more civil way, trying to use the tone that's going on right now in many quarters as a teaching moment.
We will continue to track these comments.
John Boehner is expected to also speak this hour. We will hear from the House minority leader shortly. Step down or die -- that is the ultimatum the mayor of Juarez, Mexico, says he's been given by the drug cartels, but he tells CNN's Gary Tuchman he is not about to give in to them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The mayor of Juarez, Mexico, hates the drug cartels that have turned the city into a dangerous and violent place, a city with the highest murder rate in the world. The cartels want him gone permanently.
MAYOR JOSE REYES FERRIZ, CUIDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO: The threats are real. They're not just intimidating; they're real. And I have to take it very seriously.
TUCHMAN: Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz was told two weeks ago that if he didn't quit his job by today, 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.
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.
FERRIZ (through translator): 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 force is now considered much less corrupt, and that angers the 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 is left in its case.
FERRIZ: It's hard to have a normal life. It's -- 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 years.
TUCHMAN: He's a family man, a lawyer by trade. The mayor could quit tomorrow and live a less stressful, financially lucrative life. As we travel in 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?
FERRIZ: No. I won't step down 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 (voice-over): The contrasts in his life are surreal: 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)
HARRIS: Pretty stark stuff there, huh?
A bit more about this man who is standing up to Mexico's drug cartels.
Jose Reyes Ferriz is 48 years old. And for the past three years, he has been serving as mayor of Juarez. He also served a year as interim mayor in 2001, when an election was annulled.
By the way, his father was also mayor in the 1980s. Reyes Ferriz earned a masters degree from Notre Dame, his law degree at the University of Juarez, and he is licensed to practice in California, as well as in Mexico.
Let's get you caught up now on our top stories.
The Senate is expected to approve a bill of fixes for the new health care law this afternoon. Then the measure will go back to the House for another vote. That's because the Senate parliamentarian found the bill had a couple of items that violated procedural rules.
Al-Jazeera airing what it calls a new message from Osama bin Laden. The speaker threatens to kill Americans if alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is executed. CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the tape.
In the Philippines, no immediate reports of any injuries or damage from a moderate earthquake. The quake struck hours ago about 86 miles from Manila. It had a magnitude of 6.1 and was about 45 miles below ground.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Focusing on help for homeowners, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner admits there's more to be done to stem foreclosures, but he tells CNN steps taken by the administration are making a significant impact.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIMOTHY GEITHNER, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: There's much more stability now, and that is hugely important to the basic economic security of all Americans. A million Americans now, today, are benefiting from lower monthly payments. On average, it's $600 a month for families that got their mortgages modified in this program. That's one million Americans.
And we're going to keep working at expanding that program so we can capture more people, help more people stay in their homes. But this program has been very effective. We're going to try to make sure we're improving it and making it better so we can reach more people, and we've got some ways to go in that area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: OK.
A very different view coming from the nation's bailout chief. Neil Barofsky says President Obama's $75 billion foreclosure prevention program is falling short of its goal. It was supposed to have reached up to four million struggling borrowers. You heard there from the treasury secretary it has helped only one million.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
HARRIS: Taking you to the tracks for a health care debate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last night I was watching a senator who said the American people don't understand their insurance premiums are going to go down and their taxes are going to go down. I couldn't think of two crazier things ever said.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You may actually learn a thing or two from this political session.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hello again. I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: That's a quick check of the weather. The CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: That's the man, Ali Velshi there. Did you see Ali? That was Ali Velshi there. 1:00 p.m. Eastern time right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Health care debate now in overtime. Senate Republicans forcing the Democratic reform plan back to the House. Yes, live pictures now from the Senate floor. Lawmakers back at it after battling into the early morning hours over at least two flaws relating to college loans.
I've got to tell you some New York commuters -- I'm looking forward to seeing this piece -- don't like the way all of this has played out. Our Jim Acosta takes us along for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is 5:51 and the train is right on time. And so are eight Long Islanders, John, Tom, Steve, Jim, Ed, Steve, Ken, and Richard. It doesn't take long to figure out why they have this section of the Long Island Railroad to themselves.
JIM MARRON, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: The other passengers remove themselves from the area because it can get kind of loud.
ACOSTA: It's better that way?
MARRON: Better for them. Yes.
ACOSTA: And we should make one thing clear. This is the evening commute.
(on camera): Sometimes politics will come up on the train?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.
(LAUGHTER)
ACOSTA: I was going to be disappointed if that weren't the case.
(voice-over): They had a lot to say about health care.
(on camera): Do you agree with Joe Biden that this is a big f- ing deal?
JOHN LORI, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: He has a way with words. Reform is need. You can't have 30 million people walking around with no health insurance using the emergency room.
STEVE ROEDER, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: Last night I was watching a senator who said, the American people don't understand, their insurance premiums are going to go down and their taxes are going to go down. I couldn't think of two crazier things ever said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was necessary. I do think it was necessary.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Sounds mostly like New York Democrats. Right? Wrong.
(on camera): Can you just raise your hand if you voted for Obama? One, two. -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh no you can't.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Only the politicians in Washington could get along like the guys on this train.
(on camera): They are not talking to each other. They are not compromising.
MARRON: Then get rid of them all. If I did my job the way the politicians do their job, I wouldn't have a job for very long.
ACOSTA: They would throw you out.
MARRON: They would throw me out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They need to get on the train.
ACOSTA: That would be your solution to partisanship in Washington, the 5:51.
STEVE COWIE, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: I mean we certainly have partisanship on this crew.
(LAUGHTER)
ACOSTA (voice-over): All of the sudden, the subject switched to Tiger Woods.
(on camera): You think he should come back to golf?
MARRON: Absolutely. It's his profession. If he cheated on his wife, does he cheat on the golf course too?
ACOSTA (voice-over): Then, back to the economy. Hey, that's train talk.
MARRON: Obama will say he is looking out for the working family. Every one of us is coming home from work.
ACOSTA (on camera): When he talks about working folks, you don't think he is talking about you.
MARRON: No, he is not. The fact is, my job is just as at risk as anybody else.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Their conversations don't stop at their stop. Sometimes they take it to a place they affectionately call the cave.
TOM MCGINLEY, LONG ISLAND RAILROAD PASSENGER: It's the bar in the back of my garage.
ACOSTA (on camera): They have a man cave they go to after this. This isn't manly fluff. They have to go to the man cave.
MARRON: It's not every day. It is only like once a week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that piece. Hey, Jim, where did you find these guys?
ACOSTA: We found them on the Long Island Railroad. My producer was taking the train home. She lives out Long Island and was sitting behind these guys carrying on the way they were carrying on in that piece, opening up a couple of cold ones and said "I think this might be good television." And she got their names and e-mail addresses down, and it went from there. It blossomed into the magic of television that you just saw there.
HARRIS: Good producer work.
ACOSTA: Exactly.
HARRIS: Yes, great producer work. What did you take away from the ride with these guys?
ACOSTA: Well, Tony, one thing I took away is I need to go visit that man cave -
(LAUGHTER)
ACOSTA: -- and if I don't visit that one, I need to get one of my own.
HARRIS: There you go!
ACOSTA: But the other thing I -- the other thing that I took away, quite honestly, these were almost all Republicans, right? Yet at the same time, they were okay with health care reform. If you were to listen to the debate in Washington you would get the sense that there isn't one Republican in the country who thinks health care reform is a good idea or at least one that they passed.
These guys, Long Islanders, mainly Republican, thought okay. We can live with this. The sense that I got is they would like to see a lot less partisan sniping going on in Washington, perhaps a little more more camaraderie that we saw on that train ride to Long Island.
Perhaps a few cold ones might help along the way is the message we were getting from those gentlemen, and we have to thank them for letting us tag along. They were a lot of fun.
HARRIS: I'll tell you what, we couldn't second that more in these two hours. Let the other folks deal with the sniping. We're just trying to focus what's being done to try to help folks. Can Washington, you think, really take a page from these train talkers? What do you think? Is it possible?
ACOSTA: You know, it's amazing. Everybody pines for those old days, right, Tony? When senators on both sides of the aisle, they'd be enemies during the day and drinking buddies at night. That honestly does not go on anymore. The younger members of Congress don't talk to each other, and the sense you get is that they're just on polar opposites. You have to wonder what it's going to take to get both of these sides talking again. We did not see it in this health care debate. Honestly, we haven't seen it on much of any of the issues facing the country over the last 18 months.
And that is really starting to wear on people and these mostly Republican Long Islanders were giving us a taste of that. They're tired of it, and as one gentleman said, Ed, he said let's just get rid of them all. If they can't get along, just get rid of all of them and start from scratch.
HARRIS: More of a focus on the light and less on the heat would certainly help. Jim, I loved that. That is terrific stuff. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir.
ACOSTA: You bet.
HARRIS: Got to tell you, we are also listening to what you have to say about health care reform. Here are just a few of your comments.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really proud that the health care bill has been passed, though I think it probably down the road will need some tweaking, but it's a real start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really having a hard time understanding why so many people hate to see America join all of the other industrialized nations and actually cover their citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm happy about the health care bill being passed, as such as it is. However, a jobs bill, far more important, or is just really the next step.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: It's something you may not have thought about while filing your taxes, forgiven debt. If you had any last year you could be in for a rather unpleasant surprise, shall we say. Our Ines Ferre is here. All right, lady. What's the bottom line on this?
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, well, Tony. Let's say you reached a settlement with your credit card issuer or you had part of your student or auto loan forgiven. That amount of money is considered income by the IRS, and that means that you have to pay tax on it as long as you're not in the process of bankrupt so or your personal liabilities outweigh your assets.
So, say you had $600 of debt forgiven and you're in the 15 percent tax bracket. Your taxes obligation would increase by $90. Your creditors and collectors will file paperwork with the IRS if they've reduced your balance by $600 or more, and it's up to you to include this on your tax return, Tony.
HARRIS: That's smart. That's good information. What about those homeowners who had a loan modification or perhaps were involved in a short sale?
FERRE: OK. Well, there's no need to report this as long as the debt forgiveness is less than $2 million on a principal residence. But if you had a loan modification or short sale on a vacation home, you have to report that as forgiven debt.
HARRIS: Got you. What about some advice here for people who have had debt forgiveness in the past year?
FERRE: Alright. Well, if you get a 1099-C form from your creditor, make sure to include that with your taxes, and this is what your creditor filed to prove your debt was settled. Watch out for inconsistencies . If there's a dispute about the amount reported on that form, you should contact your creditor or debt collector immediately and ask for a corrected form.
HARRIS: All right. Terrific stuff. You're back next hour with a look at what's trending on the Internet, right?
FERRE: That's right.
HARRIS: All right. We'll see you then. Thanks, Ines.
And be sure to watch "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" this Saturday morning right here on CNN at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. It's the show that really does save you money.
Remember the census form you got in the mail? The government is very serious about having you fill it out. The government is keeping tabs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Finders, keepers? Don't bank on it. Police are looking for a whole lot of spilled cash and the people who carried it off. The money fell from an armored car in Whitehall, Ohio, setting off a frenzy. Drivers stopped to scoop up the bills. The bag actually held about $200,000. Half is still missing. Police say do the right thing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. DAN KELSO, WHITEHALL, OHIO POLICE: Anybody that did take something and knew they shouldn't have and want to get it off their conscience and get in here and turn it in. That goes a long way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Good luck with that, Mr. Policeman.
Older and out of work, but not ready to retire just yet? Millions of baby boomers have lost their jobs in this recession, but they are not ready to pack it in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I contributed, and I made a product, and at the end of day I said I had a good day. I helped to make this or I helped to make that. Now I don't have that anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: A man with a lot of experience, but even more rejection letters. I'll have his story next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Very quickly now. House Minority Leader John Boehner is speaking. He's talking about the threats, the vandalism and all of this has that has followed the vote on Sunday on health care reform. Let's have a quick listen here.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: -- that this bill, in my view, is really going to harm our country. When you look at the kind of control that the government is going to take in this bill, all you have to do is look at representative Dingell's words from a radio call-in show he did the other day. When he said, well, this will take time but this is the way to control the American people. I just think that this is a dangerous experiment with the best health care system in the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Boehner?
BOEHNER: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (off-mike): (INAUDIBLE) Is that the blueprint for how Republicans are going to oppose the health care bill during the recess?
BOEHNER: Listen, I made it pretty clear. I think we need to repeal the bill. We need to start over. With common sense steps.
HARRIS: Okay. Let's continue to monitor this. If we get some specific comments on the vandalism, on the threats, and a statement from the House minority leader on what's transpired since the vote on Sunday, we will turn that around for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Let's take a quick break. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: As Pakistan clamps down on the Taliban leadership, is the group relying more on Iran?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOICE OF NIMA ELBAGIR, MORE4-TV CORRESPONDENT: Plastic explosives, hand grenades, phone cards and propaganda booklets. And rows and rows of the mines used in roadside attacks against international forces.
They all display serial numbers in Persian. Proof, say Afghan police sources, that they came from Iran's state-run weapons factories.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: This is a terrific story, next hour, you won't want to miss. An exclusive report filed from Herat, close to the Afghan/Iran border. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERICAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Have you done it yet? The deadline is coming up, you know. And you could face a fine if you don't. We all have to fill out that census form, and Google is helping track which states are pulling through.
Josh Levs is here with that. All right, Josh, how is this working?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We all have to do that.
HARRIS: Yes.
LEVS: I've got to finish mine.
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: So here's the thing. You know what, if you're the U.S. government, and you're trying to make sure they do their census, and you want to use every tool at your disposal, why would you not hook with Google, right?
So, Google created a thing. They just announced it late yesterday together with the census. Take a look here. This is one of the things they created. You're looking at a map of the country. What you can do is at any given time, click on a state and it will tell you the participation rate so far and how that compares to ten years ago.
So, we're looking at Nebraska right now. In the 2000 census, they had 79 percent turn in. So far, the turn in is at 30 percent there in Nebraska. They're doing this, letting you check out how your region is doing. They're also highlighting how well each state is doing and who is on top. They're showing here the top five states for actually responding so far, I think they're trying to get a little competition going here, Tony.
So, we're seeing Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri basically doing what they can do to get that information out there. Just packed with all of these tools that show you even over here, the top 50 places, the individual cities and counties that are coming in first. They're doing everything they can. They are tracking these in real time. Census, gets them, boom. They show up on Google.
HARRIS: Yes, yes, and folks get snarky about this. The government, the government, they want to know everything. We need to know who is in the country. You've got some information, don't you, Josh, on some big myths flying around about the census?
LEVS: Yes. And there are a lot of them. I didn't realize how many there are until I started searching for this. Let's go straight to the screen. I'm going to show you some of the things. There's a lot of governments out there that have collected them to convince people not to fall for them. Goodlist (ph) out of Seattle.gov.
One of the big myths, that's it's okay not to fill out. Not true, U.S. code requires you to fill yours out. This myth is only for U.S. citizens. It's not. It's everyone living in the U.S. as of this date, as of April 1st, 2010. This also a myth that it won't help you. It will because the number of people in your area helps determine your congressional reputation. $400 billion, Tony, in federal services and critical funds.
Two more myths I'm going to show you here on this last screen. We can tie up with that. The idea that the information can go to immigration services. It does not. Can't go to your landlord.
In fact, I just learned this. No other government agencies, not even the courts, no one can get your stuff. And no other government agency can see it for 72 years. It's completely quiet.
And then they say the big myth, perhaps the biggest of all, is that it's really long, has lots of personal questions. It's not. There's actually an interactive one on my screen right here that shows you all ten questions. And it's pretty much how many people are in your house at any given date and what are their ages. It's not going to take you more than ten minutes.
HARRIS: Yes. Ten minutes, that's what I keep hearing. About ten minutes to do this.
LEVS: Ten questions. Ten minutes.
HARRIS: Yes, yes. Sorry. Josh, appreciate it. See you a little later in the next hour.
