Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
New Immigration Law in Arizona Stirs Controversy; President May Address Immigration Reform After Financial Regulatory Reform
Aired April 24, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hey there, everybody, from the CNN Center this is "CNN Saturday morning." It's 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia, where we sit, 9:00 a.m. in New Orleans. Glad you're here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Brooke Baldwin. If you're waking up to some sunshine, if you are, lucky you, because a lot of people waking up to possible tornados at the window. We're talking Midwest, southeast. Take a look here. You have New Orleans on the left, Atlanta on the right, several high risk areas. Bonnie Schneider all over it for us this morning.
HOLMES: Also, a big question this morning about the new law that is now on the books in Arizona. Is it going to lead to racial profiles? And as soon as the governor put her signature on it, the protesters were out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I started crying. I started thinking about my family and my friends, about everything that's going to happen, about how police are going to chase us from now on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That young lady in tears, among the thousands of people who are protesting. Coming up this morning, you will hear from more of them, but also people who support the new law there in Arizona. You'll hear from the governor and also the president about this law. Some are calling it the toughest immigration law in the country.
First, an update at some of the stories we're keeping an eye on. The U.S. Geological Survey downgrading an earthquake that struck Indonesia earlier this morning. The USGS says the quake registered 6.0 in magnitude and centered near the Obi islands as you see it on the map there. That's due north of Australia. No reports of damage or casualties.
BALDWIN: It is a tough position for the Coast Guard, but they've officially called off the search for those 11 oil platform workers missing since Tuesday's massive explosion in the Gulf of Mexico -- 115 workers did make it off the platform, 17 workers, two to four injured critically, released now from the hospital.
HOLMES: And for the second time this month, a deadly coal mine accident in Raleigh County, West Virginia. A 28-year-old miner died yesterday, a day after getting crushed between machinery and a block of coal.
This happened just a few miles from the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 miners were killed in a massive explosion earlier in the month. Tomorrow afternoon President Obama will deliver a eulogy for the victims of the Upper Big Branch mine, happening in nearby Beckley.
Now we're talk more about the immigration debate going on in Arizona. But first, we have serious weather to tell you about this morning. Live picture here -- New Orleans, still there. You see the Superdome there. You can also make out through some of the droplets on the screen on the right, that's downtown Atlanta.
But right now, New Orleans and Atlanta under the gun like so many other areas, because of watches and warnings that are in effect right now, and these things continue to pop up.
BALDWIN: Bonnie Schneider has been keeping an eye on this for us. It's been fast moving, a lot of change. Bonnie, are we still talking watches and warnings and no tornadoes touching down yet?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Exactly, Brooke. We have tornado warnings, and this just popped up for Meridian, Mississippi, another 40 minutes. The other warnings you see here and into Alabama about to expire in 12 minutes.
But we are tracking a widespread threat of severe weather. No tornado touchdowns just yet, but the stage is set for it. Here's Memphis, Tennessee, very intense storm. Just to the east, rather the west of Jackson, Tennessee.
But then look what's happening across northwest Mississippi, just getting hammered with heavy rain. And Birmingham if you're in a suburb, it's not raining where you are, boy, it will be soon. We are looking at large hail with this system, frequent lightning strikes, the type of day to stay inside, have your NOAA weather radio switched on.
Multiple tornado watches for cities like Memphis and Nashville, down through Jackson, Birmingham, Montgomery, New Orleans, Biloxi. I could go on and on because there's so many places.
The tornado warnings for Memphis and Nashville are listed as particularly dangerous situations for watches, PDS watches. The storm prediction center out of Oklahoma rarely uses this classification because what it shows is that if we get tornados with any of the cells we see in these watch-boxes, the potential exists for widespread tornadoes that could be long lasting and extremely violent.
So a series day for severe weather. All the way southward across parts of even Florida, into Alabama and Georgia we're getting thunderstorms. The widespread severe outbreaks will continue and intensify this afternoon. Even into the evening hour, even after the sun sets we'll watch for the risk of severe weather. This region right here is where we're watching for high risk, and that means we have the best likelihood of tornados to break out into Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana and parts of Arkansas. I'll have more throughout "CNN Saturday Morning." Back to you.
BALDWIN: Bonnie, thank you.
And as Bonnie is keeping her eye on a serious day ahead, I want to look back at the week that's already really been filled with severe weather across the country.
HOLMES: Strong storms throughout the southeast expected certainly today, but also, like we said, the week has been odd. Tornadoes and snowstorms, would you believe. States in the Midwest and the northeast are dealing with intense weather. Look at some of the amazing video out of Texas -- up close and personal with some storm chasers.
BALDWIN: This one out of Kansas, north of Texas. Another tornado there about a mile wide hit an area. At least it didn't cause too much damage.
HOLMES: And look at this. Snow in Colorado, golf ball-sized hail.
BALDWIN: And a tornado touching down, this is Connecticut, Beacon Falls, Connecticut. There was damage, you can see, some major property damage. No reports, at least, of any injuries.
HOLMES: We'll keep an eye on the weather situation. Bonnie Schneider will bring you the watches and warnings as they are updated.
But we want to get back to the immigration bill in Arizona. The word is out that it's illegal to be illegal. The governor Jan Brewer signed that controversial immigration law yesterday.
BALDWIN: Many of those out and about protesting, and they were definitely out and about outside of the state capitol in Phoenix, they were disappointed, but the governor said the bill was necessary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I started crying. I started thinking about my family and my friends, about everything that's going to happen, about how police are going to chase us from now on.
GOV. JAN BREWER, (R) ARIZONA: We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act. But decades of federal inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, the new law will take affect sometime around late July, early August, expected to be challenged on constitutional grounds. It's already being challenged on some presidential grounds. President Obama is already among those saying they do not like this legislation.
He's in Asheville, North Carolina for the weekend. Our Ed Henry is there as well. Ed, good morning to you. Thank you for being with us. a beautiful shot there of gorgeous North Carolina there, but the president kind of, you heard there the governor seemed to be kind of poking at the federal government saying, hey, they wouldn't do anything, we had to do it ourselves. So the president in the wake, kind of poking back?
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You're right. The president, a preemptive strike really, firing away at the governor hours before she signed that bill into law before he came here to Asheville for a little R&R with the first lady for the weekend.
The president was in the Rose Garden yesterday, a ceremony honoring U.S. service members becoming U.S. citizens. The president basically saying this law is misguided, also suggesting it could lead to racial profiles, and that the White House will keep a close eye how this plays out, because the president believes this is exhibit A for the fact with some states going out and doing this, it's time for federal immigration reform law to deal with all of this and set national standards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. And that includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness we cherish as Americans as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.
In fact, I've instructed members ever my administration to closely monitor the situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of this legislation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: In fact, as you know right now the president engaged in a big battle over Wall Street reform that the White House believes they will win the next couple of weeks on.
Then they were going to turn to a big issue likes climate change, but there's some indication that as the White House looks at the climate on the Hill, maybe there's no real consensus on climate change, energy reform now.
So there is some talk at the White House and on Capitol Hill that national, federal immigration reform may now really be at the top of the president's agenda, especially in the wake of this controversy in Arizona, T.J.
HOLMES: A lot of people would be happy to hear that, but you can imagine the partisan bickering we've been hearing in Washington -- whew. This has so many sides to this story. But Ed, I want to read to you and our viewers what we saw from the state representative Russell Pearce. He was among those leading the charge in this legislation. His statement reads, "Illegal is illegal. We'll have less crime, lower taxes, safer neighborhoods. We'll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We'll have smaller classrooms."
So some out there really sticking by their guns, if you will, on this particular legislation. And you hit on it a second there, Ed. It sounds like, I don't want to say this wasn't high on his list of priorities, but the president because of this whole national limelight that Arizona is getting might be forced to take this up.
HENRY: Absolutely. Now, in fairness to the president, he was dealing with a lot last year -- health care reform, the economy, jobs. He had the stimulus. There were a lot other issue.
But we have to note that as a candidate, he promised that in year one he was going to try to tackle immigration reform. So he has faced some criticism. He was planning to turn to it this year, at least in year two.
But you're absolutely right. It's appearing with this pressure now it's certainly rising, at least it appears, on the White House radar screen. It's always been there, but this is going to force it higher on that agenda, T.J.
HOLMES: And, Ed, we appreciate it. We know you work hard. But I swear, sometimes I'm talking to you, you're in Hawaii, in gorgeous North Carolina. It's always something. Ed, it's a tough job, if you can get it.
HENRY: It says right here on the front page, "eating, hiking, and golfing." And that's president, not me. But he and the first lady had ribs at the 12 Bones Smokehouse yesterday. I'm not sure it fit into the first lady's anti-obesity initiative.
(LAUGHTER)
HENRY: But they went on a long hike. The president went golfing yesterday. He's going golfing again this morning. So he's working those ribs off.
HOLMES: We're seeing a video now at the barbecue joint. You talk about the president eating, hiking, golfing. What would be your three things you're doing there?
HENRY: Right now, it's pretty much just eating and working. I haven't had a chance to do a hike. I haven't had a chance to do golf. But if you clear me from the 11:00 hour, maybe I'll go golfing.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Ed, I will make the call right here right now. See you back at 11:00.
(LAUGHTER)
HENRY: All right.
HOLMES: Good to see you.
BALDWIN: Our producer is like, we're going to need him back. Ed Henry. Awesome job at Asheville, North Carolina.
Back on the whole Arizona immigration issue. We've been asking you what do you think about this bill become law, senate bill, now law, 1070.
I want to read a couple of my tweets from my twitter page. Let's go to the second one in. She says, "I admire Arizona for taking a stand on this. There will be a fine line between law enforcement and violation of civil rights."
Next one down, "Immigration reform is needed everywhere, but the law should be drafted crafted in a way to just not target the Hispanic population." And "Giving police to question quote/unquote "suspected illegal immigrants" for no reason other than gut feeling is a problem." Thank you.
HOLMES: Appreciate you being part of the conversation this morning. Continue to send those in to us. We'll try to share more on the air this morning.
Also, telling you about the severe weather. It's going to be a mess, sounds like, all day long. You need to stay with us. A lot of stuff popping now, warnings, watching. Bonnie Schneider, we'll check in with her again in a minute.
Also, that fallout after the governor of Arizona signing a controversial bill. What are the legal ramifications? We'll have a take from an immigration lawyer next, who's already planning to sue the state of Arizona.
BALDWIN: And this -- a nun on the run, not for her health, but for orphans. Her story is coming up on "CNN Saturday Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And we, of course, have been seeing a lot of video of people protesting against the new immigration bill in Arizona. They say the bill will lead to racial profiling. What we haven't seen so far is a lot people in favor of the bill. But we found some. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop illegal immigration. You want to immigrate? Stand in line and do it right. We'll accept you with open arms. But this way, illegally, it's illegal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm in a celebratory nature and I'm going out and having a drink. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Well, that tough new immigration bill officially signed by Arizona's governor is drawing both praise and criticism. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cried. How could we do this to people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And hopefully this will stir up the masses to come out and get the politics of this state turned around in the right direction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It took a lot for me to wear this, and, you know, it's just a travesty today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An important day in Arizona, disappointing day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: We're joined on the phone by William Sanchez, an immigration attorney in Miami. Mr. Sanchez, good of you to be with us this Saturday morning.
WILLIAM SANCHEZ, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY (via telephone): Thank you very much. Happy to be with you.
BALDWIN: Let me first ask you, because since this was signed, and even before yesterday afternoon, people were already questioning the constitutionality of this senate bill 1070. Do you have similar questions?
SANCHEZ: Sure. We clearly believe that there's constitutional violations that will lead to racial profiling. Why is that? Brooke, it just basically says anybody, you or I, anybody in the state of Arizona is supposed to have with them proof of their legal status.
Usually when I drive around in the country I have my license with me. If they look at me and I look too Hispanic or too ethnic, well, there's reasonable suspicion. Let's stop that person. They ask me for papers. I don't have them with me. I have my license, I don't have my passport. They can arrest me.
That's literally the privacy issue that needs to be addressed. I see why the president has said it has to be a comprehensive reform we address around the country and not just piecemeal legislation like Arizona's trying to do.
BALDWIN: Right. The president coming out yesterday saying this is misguided. Also former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano having harsher criticism on this.
But you mentioned being pulled over. Some local law enforcement really are divided over the issue. We heard from the governor yesterday saying they cannot discriminate based upon race. But this one sheriff says this absolutely is not racial profiling. Roll the sound bite, and I want your reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say to those fears?
SHERIFF PAUL BABEU, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA: Absolutely not. And this is where those people, mainly outside of Arizona, should be ashamed, that they're now putting us, the protectors of our families, as the boogeymen, that we're going to go out and randomly stop people because of their race or color or some other reason. That's not what we do. We go after criminals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: What say you?
SANCHEZ: Brooke, our response is that the law specifically says it's criminalizing undocumented immigrants for committing a crime in the state of Arizona. Reasonable suspicion standard is the one the police are using.
How do you determine that you have reasonable suspicion that someone may have violated an immigration law? Is it based on fact of the way that they look, if they look a certain way?
BALDWIN: How can they prove? Exactly -- how can they prove someone would be illegal if you're not looking at somebody based upon the color of their skin?
SANCHEZ: The color of the skin and the way they dress and the actions and places they go, the language that they speak. It allows for racial profiling, unquestionably.
I could see how the police would want to do what is correct, but they're not going to be able to do it, because law enforcement generally for immigration has been in hands of the federal government for a reason. It's a national issue. If we start having Arizona -- and we battled these lawsuits in New Jersey and Oklahoma --
BALDWIN: I wanted to ask you about that. Did you have success?
SANCHEZ: We had success in New Jersey, it turned out great in that New Jersey decided to withdraw the application of the law.
But by the time that happened, there were so many people that fled the area because they were afraid they were going to be subject to discrimination.
Many of the small businesses that were helping the town of Riverside, there were ethnic, Hispanic, Asian businesses, no longer were receiving the support they need. So we see the same thing happening in Arizona and unfortunately, in other parts of the countries if this isn't properly addressed. BALDWIN: Mr. Sanchez, this is just the beginning of I think a very long dialogue. We thank you for calling in. We may talk later. And just as you said, this may have ramifications now that it's taken place in Arizona and in other states throughout the country. And it's sort of a federal-state clash on our hands.
SANCHEZ: Exactly, thank you very much, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
HOLMES: And we know the president has chimed in as well. We'll see if immigration will end up on his plate sooner than later.
Also, big story this morning, and a dangerous weather situation shaping up for many parts of the country. If you live anywhere over there on the right side the screen, you need to pay attention, because we are expecting possible outbreaks ever tornadoes today. Bonnie Schneider will have the updates right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Here's a look at some of the things we are keeping an eye on right now. We are keeping an eye on the weather, the southeastern region of the United States right now under the gun. Major southern cities, Mobile, Memphis, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi among them, all under watches and warnings right now.
We are expecting an outbreak, really. We're keeping an eye on it now until the afternoon hour. We'll have a full weather update coming up with Bonnie Schneider in a few minutes.
BALDWIN: In Arizona, as we've been talking all morning, the governor has now officially signed the state's new anti-immigration bill into law, but critics question its constitutionality. They say it might lead to abuse and racial profiles.
People have been protesting really on both sides of the aisle for days now. At least one Hispanic group promises to challenge the new law.
And Trisha Hendricks is with KPNX, an affiliate out there in Arizona and spoke with several about this legislation. She joins me on the phone. Trisha, you were there, I understand, at all the events yesterday. What was the reaction for both sides, the people protesting and in favor outside the capitol building?
TRISHA HENDRICKS, KPNX CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Yes, Brooke. There were thousands of people here who were protesting, holding signs mostly against some portion of bill 1070, a lot of throwing of water bottles.
And looking back to yesterday, at time there's were even some tears. Some opponents told me they were afraid of losing their freedom. Others say Governor Brewer signing the bill is like rewriting the constitution in a sense, and they hoped the governor would veto this bill. But supporters I spoke told me more immigration control measures are needed, and they say this necessary legislation is all about protecting the border.
As you can see here this morning, most protesters have gone home. There is quite a bit of rallies expected in Tucson this morning, and more expected here at the capital tomorrow. Brooke, back to you.
BALDWIN: Let me ask you just a quick follow-up. Have you had any chance to talk to local law enforcement for their perspective? Obviously, they have to enforce now that it's the law of the land, but are some of them hesitant or some very much in favor of what this law requires?
HENDRICKS: The officers we spoke with say this will not have any drastic measures. They do say that when pulling people over they will ask for their driver's license and all of the regular identification that they typically ask for.
BALDWIN: OK, Trisha Hendricks reporting for us from Phoenix, Arizona. Trisha, thank you.
Ladies, listen to this story. Imagine being pregnant, you go into a coma for six weeks. But in order to save your baby, doctors have to take it while you're in a coma.
HOLMES: You essentially go into a coma pregnant and wake up, bang, you're not pregnant. That did happen to one woman. Up next we're highlighting the doctor taking care of babies that are born before full term. Our CNN hero of the week is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Some of the most vulnerable patients in a hospital are found in this little unit called the neonatal intensive care unit. But it's often the entire family that struggles to survive -- unexpected cost, add to emotional strain, and that is precisely where our CNN hero of the week steps in. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I entered the ER for a severe cold, I was 24 weeks pregnant, had H1N1. The put me in a coma to stabilize me. I was in a coma for roughly six weeks. When I woke up my husband said we had to take out the baby. I clenched my stomach. But he settled me down and said he was OK. He was down in NICU.
DR. SEAN DANESHMAND, CNN HERO: Life doesn't stop. I'm Dr. Sean Daneshmand. I provide assistance to families with babies in the NICU. I wanted to take the suffering away from them to focus on their baby. It's emotionally draining, and the way the economy now is, people are suffering.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't think this was going to be as hard. She's going to be OK. DANESHMAND: They need extra money for clothing, diapers, medical expenses, rent. These are families that in a time of crisis now need extra help. That's what we're about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They helped us with our mortgage, with gas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something as simple as gas cards to be able to make it to t the NICU every day just helped tremendously.
DANESHMAND: You need someone to be there for you. I have a special role in life. I never thought I'd be here, and, my god, I'm having a great time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: In less than six months, Dr. Don Daneshmand and his organization assisted 80 families. You can nominate somebody you think is changing the world. All you have to do is go to CNN.com/heroes.
HOLMES: Schools, you may have heard and probably know, out of money, big time budget shortfalls. And one school system is trying to fix the problem by firing its teachers and then hiring them right back. There's a catch, of course. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A new day dawns this morning in Arizona, home of the nation's newest get-tough law on illegal immigrants.
HOLMES: Some call it the toughest in the nation, and not everyone onboard here with the possible motive behind the legislation either.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I started crying. I started thinking about my family, my parents, about everything that's going to happen, about how things are going to change from now on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Protesters were in the streets, barely before the ink dried on Governor Jan Brewer's signature. She says her state is forced to do what the feds won't do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JAN BREWER, (R) ARIZONA: We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act. But decades of federal inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Arizona's new law requires police to determine whether someone is in the U.S. illegally. And critics say that encourages racial profiling, and it's unconstitutional.
BALDWIN: So maybe it's a name you haven't heard before this past week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Now, who is this woman getting all this national attention? We'll help you out.
She assumed the governor's office in January of last year after serving at Arizona's secretary of state and before that a state senator. But she's no newcomer, politically or otherwise. She's lived in Arizona the past 40 years.
And she took a somewhat an unlikely road to the governor's mansion. Back in 2002, she was actually voted in as Arizona's secretary of state, reelected in 2006, and then assumed the governor's office midterm, utilizing her 28 years of public service experience.
As for the personal side of Ms. Brewer, she's 65 years of age, married with two kids, two sons.
HOLMES: And, of course, Arizona's new law is drawing its fair share of attention with supporters and its critics. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cried. How could we do this to people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And hopefully this will stir up the masses to come out and get the politics of this state turn around in the right direction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It took a lot for me to wear this, and, you know, it's just a travesty today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An important day in Arizona, a disappointing day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: To the law's critics, Arizona's governor says "Racial profiling is illegal in America and is certainly illegal in Arizona." President Obama is not wild about this legislation either and commented on the measure fairly extensively yesterday.
And CNN Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is with us from Washington. Some are going it look at this now and think, wow, what is happening in Arizona? This has become a national debate now, and this is what it's going to take now to force immigration reform to become more of a priority than maybe it was.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You can say that what's happening in Arizona will have an impact right back here at the nation's capitol. It could be a kick in the pants to the White House an Democrats trying to push forward on immigration reform.
You heard Ed Henry say earlier, Dana Bash, our correspondent on Capitol Hill reporting also on this. It looks like immigration reform may be fast-tracked now by the White House and Democrats in Congress. They may try to push immigration reform, some kind of pathway to citizenship.
They're going to try to push that through this summer or sometime before the elections this November.
It's going to be a tough fight. Remember in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the last time a push in immigration. There was a lot of push back by those in the right, calling it amnesty. T.J., as you said when we were talking earlier today, it's going to be a long, hot summer here already for a lot of other issues. Add immigration into the mix now.
HOLMES: How's the relationship between the White House, Democrats, and the Latino community?
STEINHAUSER: The Latino community is growing every year, it seems, when it comes to the electorate. This is our CNN exit poll from the 2008 presidential election. You can see, according to our exit polls, two-thirds of Latinos and Hispanics voted for Barack Obama. OK. So they were big supporters of him.
But a lot of people in the community have been upset with the White House since then. They said, listen, when running for president, Mr. Obama, you promised you would try to push forward on immigration reform in your first year. It hasn't happened yet. I think there also is a political component here. Democrats sure would like to have Latinos with them come November in those midterm elections, T.J.
HOLMES: A lot on the plate. Last year was about health care and now financial reform, still got a job issue. You have a Supreme Court justice and maybe immigration on the plate as well. A lot going on there in D.C. Enjoy. Enjoy, Paul. Talk to you again soon.
STEINHAUSER: Thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: How in the world are you supposed to slash a budget during hard times and not hurt students? It's almost impossible, it would seem. But one community in Massachusetts thought it had the answer. The town took a novel approach to its biggest expense, teacher salaries.
And as CNN's Allan Chernoff reports, the school laid off all the teachers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Geri Cummings, a 27- year veteran math teacher, feels betrayed. She and all colleagues at the Tewksbury public schools were fired before the beginning of the school year and offered their jobs back at reduced pay.
GERI CUMMINGS, 7TH GRADE MATH TEACHER: I felt truly wounded. There was just this horrible atmosphere in the building. To think that people who work so hard at our profession and for children, it was devastating.
CHERNOFF: The notice said, "Your full-time position as a teacher in the Tewksbury public schools will be eliminated and likely replaced by a part-time, 90 percent position," a slap in the face, say the teachers.
CUMMINGS: Don't insult me and call me a part-time worker. Call me a full-time worker who's working at reduced pay.
CHERNOFF: Tewksbury school district, like many, has faced persistent budget deficits. The town cut three dozen teachers in recent year. That's 10 percent of its educators. And the school district eliminated art, music, and other classes.
This year, the school district said, enough. All teachers will have to share in the pain. The pain ended up being a five percent, not 10 percent cut in salary and a supposed five percent cut in work load. Teachers at the middle school told to arrive just one minute before their first class and stay no more than ten minutes after the final bell.
Yet even the outgoing school committee chair who led the salary cutting move concedes teachers put in a longer day.
RICK O'NEIL, OUTGOING CHAIR, TEWKSBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE: I would think as professionals teachers as in any profession would stay as long as it took to get the job done.
CHERNOFF: Parents like Laura Hulme are upset how the teachers are treated and the implications for her three children.
LAURA HULME, TEWKSBURY PARENT: What's going to end up happening if they don't have the teachers to help them out and what have you, and they're going to fall through the cracks.
CHERNOFF: Though Tamara Ward, mother to an eighth grader, says teachers have to face economic reality.
TAMARA WARD, TEWKSBURY PARENT: A lot of people are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts. In this economy, they need to just suck it up a little bit.
CHERNOFF: The school committee says the five percent cut is slated to be restored to the teachers this summer. But the Tewksbury public schools are facing yet another budget deficit. So teachers like Geri Cummins are distrustful, wondering if they'll have to make new sacrifices in the coming school year.
Allan Chernoff, CNN, Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Let's stay right here on this topic. I want you to hear what the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan had to say. He said our schools are on the brink of education catastrophe. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNE DUNCAN, EDUCATION SECRETARY: Right now we're trying to stave off this education catastrophe. And these aren't, again, small numbers. In Illinois, they're talking up to 20,000, New York, about 20,000, California, 23,000. These are staggering number.
These are not just young teachers. These are young teachers, veteran teachers. The amount of layoffs we're seeing, if we don't step up, are absolutely unprecedented right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right, let's bring in CNN contributor Steve Perry. My friend, always good to see you.
You hear this education catastrophe. There's an idea out there that schools and teachers need a bailout. Billions of dollar, $23 billion is the number Senator Harken from Iowa is suggesting to save all the teachers' jobs. Is that one way to go right now, a bailout for schools?
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: It's a way to go. It's not going to solve the problem. The problem is that teachers' salary are going up at a rate that is higher than the revenue that's used to pay them, meaning property taxes are used to pay the teachers' salaries. When there are no more property taxes, there's no more money.
So the teachers and their representatives, the unions, could help out a lot here. They could say we will stop asking for increases when you cannot afford them, because when we get a three percent increase and you don't have a three percent increase in revenue, it's a three percent decrease in services.
That's their decision, not the community's and not the government's.
HOLMES: Well, on the idea that education catastrophe, are we losing site, focus, of exactly what's going on? I know teacher classroom size is part of the problem. But it makes it sound as if we want to bailout schools just to save teachers' jobs?
PERRY: That's what they're saying.
HOLMES: And we need teachers. No doubt about that. But that $23 billion is not necessarily going to educating the kids, better books, better facilities, or better curriculum.
PERRY: Not at all. In fact, it's exactly what you said. We have turned our schools in job programs as opposed to career producers for children. It's a way to make sure these adults keep their jobs. That's all they talk about all along.
It's not the children. They only talk about children as an afterthought. When you focus on children, when the teachers unions and those who represent the teachers begin to focus on the children, they will say, listen, folks, everybody's hurting across the board.
So we need to share some of this hurt. We can't ask for additional money when we've produced paltry results. At least put in the results, create the results you should have up to this point before you start asking for more money.
We're saying to the community, we educators are saying to the community, yes, the rest of you guys can lose your jobs, but not us.
HOLMES: They're talking about 100,000 to 300,000 jobs possibly lost in this coming year. That's according to the education secretary. You see it being that dire as well?
And will, like you talked about this program before, the teachers' unions and how powerful an influential they can be, will they allow that to happen, that many teachers' jobs to go away?
PERRY: It's not their choice to make. If they want to be part of the solution, then what they'll say to their member is listen, folks. Everybody's hurting just like us. So we need to stop asking for increases when the community cannot afford to pay them.
When they take an increase, what happens is the new staff member who comes onboard has to leave. And so what you -- all you get is the most senior, most expensive faculty members.
When they decide that they care about all of their members, because it's not about the children. They've made that clear. They're not interested in working for the children.
When they tear care about all the members they'll say you know what? We need to put a freeze on our salaries across the board until such time as there's more money in the economy and then and only then can we do something.
These bailouts, unlike the auto industry -- they can pay them back because they have revenue. The community cannot.
HOLMES: I have to let you go. Can you do this for me quickly. The story we saw about Tewksbury, Massachusetts, how they laid off all the teachers, hired them back on some kind of a part-time status. Do you have to be creative like that and do something like that, even though the teacher took it hard?
PERRY: It's a capricious act on some level, but they're out of options. They can't afford to pay the teachers that they have, they have no other options. I go back to the unions. Give them another option.
HOLMES: Steve, my friend, always good to see you and have you. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Talk to you soon.
PERRY: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right.
BALDWIN: New tornado warning popping up in Mississippi and Arkansas. Bonnie has the update after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
BALDWIN: Other top stories we're keeping our eye on for you. Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer signing the state anti-immigration bill into law yesterday afternoon. But critics are calling it unconstitutional. Why? You know, they say it will lead to abuse and racial profiling.
People have been protesting over the issue for days. You see the crowds there. At least one Hispanic group promises to challenge the new law.
HOLMES: And a tough decision for the Coast Guard to have to make, calling off the search for those 11 oil platform workers missing since Tuesday's big explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. And 115 workers made it off the platform, 17 were hurt, four of them critically. But we understand that two of those critically injured have already been released from the hospital.
BALDWIN: For the second time in a month, there has been a deadly coal mine accident in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Here's what we know. A 28-year-old miner died yesterday a day after getting crushed between some heavy machinery and a block of coal.
We're told it happened just a couple miles from the Upper Big Branch mine. That is where those 29 miners were killed in that massive explosion there earlier in the month.
And speaking of that explosion, tomorrow afternoon, President Obama and Vice President Biden will deliver the eulogy for those victims of the Upper Big Branch mine in nearby Beckley, West Virginia.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Not quite a 100 yard dash, but still, a run none the less. A lot of people out there, you run to compete. Some run to stay in shape. But there's another type of running that has nothing to do with cardio but still has everything to do with heart.
And Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd is one person you should know. She is in that picture there. She's the nun. Can you make her out there on the right? Sister Mary Beth that she is affectionately known as, she and an ultra-marathon runner Lisa Smith Batchen have joined forces to Run Hope through America. That's a campaign they're on.
And what are they doing? They're hoping to run 50 miles in 50 states to try to raise money for orphans in the U.S. and around the world. They are hoping to raise $1 million.
So Sister Mary Beth is some 62 years old, and she's on this trek. They hope to do it maybe with a two-months period, but Sister Mary Beth is just somebody we thought you should know about this morning.
BALDWIN: And I just checked the website to be clear. We're talking 50 miles per state.
HOLMES: Yes, 50 miles per state.
Upper Big Branch And they said that's been done. People have run marathon distances in all 50 states. But this is the first time two people have done it at the same time. That's amazing.
HOLMES: It is. And she's 62, folks.
BALDWIN: That's amazing.
Also amazing, some of this weather popping up not just this morning, but through the rest of the day. We're keeping our eye on the severe weather. We're talking tornados today with Bonnie Schneider.
HOLMES: And talking a lot about illegal immigration and that debate heating up in Arizona and also around the country. Casey Wian, though, is in Arizona for us this morning. Good morning to you. we've been watching your reports and the fallout, I assume, continues and will continue for quite some time in Arizona.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Good morning. I'm outside the state capital where a few protesters spent the night. They remain. Much smaller numbers of people than were here yesterday. Coming up at the top of the hour we'll have all the latest on Arizona's controversial new bill seeking to crack down on illegal immigration.
HOLMES: Casey, thank you, buddy. We'll see you shortly.
BALDWIN: That was eerily quiet given what happened yesterday.
Also in the noon hour of "CNN NEWSROOM," the legal guy, our legal eagles take on immigration. What could come out of this controversy law? Keep it right here on CNN.
