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Oil Still Flowing into the Gulf of Mexico; Incumbents Face Tuesday Test; Getting Parents Involved in Children's Education

Aired May 16, 2010 - 19:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: So back home in Montreal, jubilant fans hit the streets to celebrate. Police joined them. And by the time that it was all over, 41 people had been arrested and two police officers had been injured. Makes you wonder what would have happened if Montreal had lost or what could happen if they go on to win the Stanley Cup. Interesting stuff.

The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. The oil is still flowing into the Gulf of Mexico; not like before, but it is still flowing. BP has managed to insert that four-inch tube that we've talked so much about over the last few days. And they are now capturing some of the leaking oil and pumping it to a ship on the surface of the Gulf.

After weeks of what has seemed like nothing but bad news, they're calling it a positive step forward.

Our David Mattingly has been covering this operation from the very beginning. David, real or spin here? Is this progress?

Apparently having a little bit of issue with David Mattingly there.

David has been covering the story from the very beginning and he's been telling us about all the efforts to try to get that oil -- the gushing oil at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico to stop. We've heard about the junk shot. That may be a last resort. We've heard about them trying to tunnel all the way down and that's the last resort. That could take months.

And finally this four inch tube that you see there. They did have some success with it last night. They said they were able to siphon some of that oil up to a ship at the surface -- at the water's surface. But somehow -- somehow it got dislodged.

So they're trying to figure out exactly what they can do now to try to get it back in to place, try to siphon some of that oil up. That particular process wouldn't stop the entire flow, but at least it is the beginning of something, something to stop the water there.

So let's go now to our David Mattingly who has been covering the story again in New Orleans. David, as I said earlier to you, is this real progress or is this spin for something that didn't work and broke and they're going back at it again? DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the first step forward that we've had to report since that rig caught fire then sank beneath the ocean. It is the only step forward. So it's hard to measure it against anything else. Remember, it was just a week ago that BP tried to lower that massive containment dome over the top of this leaking pipe. That failed miserably.

This has been very problematic as well, this insertion tube that they've tried to use. They had to step back. And after a couple of setbacks, to try and figure out how to make it work, they had a setback overnight as well, but finally they got it to work this morning and now they're pumping oil out to the top, to a containment vessel on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.

What we do not know is just how good it's working. We don't know how much oil at this point that it's actually going to be able to siphon off and prevent from going into the environment. That's been the full focus of this operation, is to stem the flow of oil into the water. And at this point, BP can't say exactly how much they're going to succeed at doing that.

So can you answer this next question? Where do we go from here, what's next in this process, David?

MATTINGLY: What's next, now that they've take taken this step towards stemming the flow, they have to take the big step to stop the flow. And they're looking at seven to ten days from now injecting a substance called kill mud. And it's not organic mud like you would find outside. This is a solution that they use in the drilling process.

They're going to be pouring and injecting and pumping a massive amount of that solution, this heavy liquid, directly into the well, to stop it up and stop the flow. If that doesn't work, they've got a couple of other plans they've been pursuing simultaneously. But using this kill mud, what they call it, is going to supposedly kill this flow of oil.

LEMON: Amazing, these processes are very interesting. Thank you David Mattingly. We'll check back with you throughout the evening here on CNN.

We want to turn now to Thailand where bullets are flying in the streets of Bangkok.

Just today, seven people were killed in fighting between troops and anti-government protesters, bringing the death toll to 31 since Thursday. Bangkok is normally considered safe enough to attract tourists from all over the world including thousands every year from America.

But as our Dan Rivers tells us, violence is radically changing the face of the city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This used to be one of the main routes into Bangkok. Now it's one of the most dangerous. Here the protesters are mostly armed with sling shots and fireworks.

(on camera): So they're throwing these firecrackers out on to the street which made exceptionally loud bangs like that. They sound like gunshots but actually they're just very large fireworks. We think the Army are at the other end of the street here.

(voice-over): Here, both protesters and local residents are pinned down in side streets. Militant factions of the Red Shirts dressed in black are trying to locate Army positions. The Army has sniper teams, a spotter and a soldier using an M-16 with a telescopic sight to pick their target.

The army is supposed to only shoot armed terrorists posing a threat. But many other innocent people are getting hit, like this volunteer killed trying to help the injured. But it's not clear who pulled the trigger.

In some places the army is outflanked. We seek cover as the soldiers come under attack.

That's getting louder.

An army ambulance rushes to the wounded as the exchange of gunfire continues. The government says these pictures handed out last month prove there are armed elements among the protesters trying to foment a civil war. But inside the Red Shirt protest area their leaders insist they are peaceful and unarmed.

(on camera): So you're saying there are no weapons in here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. No, there are truly no --

RIVERS: There are back-channel negotiations going on with the government, moderates here hoping for a cease-fire.

WENG TOJIRAKARIN, RED SHIRT LEADER: So we would like to have U.N. please send a peacekeeping force immediately within 24 hours to stop the shooting of the Thai army now.

RIVERS: That was rejected by the government, which blames the Red Shirts for the violence. But a lawyer representing ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants a legal inquiry into the shooting.

ROBERT AMSTERDAM, ATTORNEY: People have to be made to account for the indiscriminate violence, the targeted assassinations and the illegality of the attack on these people that are here.

RIVERS: The government claims to have sealed off this protest site but food is still getting in. And in a nearby supermarket, long queues, as everyone, including foreigners, stock up.

There seems like there's a bit of sort of panic buying? BERNARD SERVELLO, BANGKOK RESIDENT: It's like a hurricane buying in the states, right? So you don't know if the stores are going to be open tomorrow.

RIVERS: Beyond the perimeter of the protest area, the violence and anarchy is spreading. And Thailand's image as a holiday paradise is going up in smoke.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: CNN's Dan Rivers joins us now live from Bangkok where he has been since this all started. So listen, help our viewers here in the U.S. understand what's going on here, Dan.

RIVERS: Don, this is essentially a power struggle. A power struggle about who runs this country. This all dates back to a coup in 2006 which kicked out the then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Ever since then there have been increasing instability in Thailand with huge big protests, either with people who wanted to keep Thaksin and his allies away from power, or those who wanted him to come back.

The Red Shirts want him to come back. And now this has got to a stage where there are armed elements among those Red Shirt protesters who are basically attacking the army. The army are attacking them. A lot of innocent people are getting caught in the cross fire. And it is destabilizing the country to an alarming level.

LEMON: And it looks like it is escalating, Dan. The reason I ask that is because the State Department warned American tourists to stay out of Bangkok.

Of course, Thailand, Bangkok specifically, a lot of Americans are -- go there for vacation. And they also work there. So any idea? Do they have any idea when and if they can sort of squash this or stop it?

RIVERS: Well, they've declared today and tomorrow -- it's Monday morning here. So they've declared today and tomorrow a public holiday. So everything really will remain closed in the downtown area. I'm speaking to you from Wales Road (ph) which is right next to the U.S. embassy. It is totally deserted this morning, not a single car or person on the street.

This is normally absolutely clogged with traffic in the build-up to the rush hour. Yes, there is no one around. It is -- the downtown area is totally sealed off by the army who have surrounded these protesters. At the moment, though, there's no word on if and when the army are going to move in.

LEMON: Dan Rivers reporting tonight from Bangkok, Thailand. Thank you very much for that, Dan.

We're watching the skies over Oklahoma City right now which is under a severe thunderstorm watch. Threatening clouds are looming over the area which has seen baseball-sized and softball-sized hail already today. This comes less than a week after a deadly -- a deadly string of tornadoes ripped through the state. We're monitoring this. And we'll get more later from our meteorologist Karen Maginnis here at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

Meantime, London's Heathrow airport will be closed tonight thanks to another cloud of ash from the volcano in Iceland. The plume grounded planes across parts of Britain and Ireland today and disrupted travel for an estimated 10 million passengers in April. Scientists warn the eruptions could last another year. Heathrow officials say the airport will be closed tonight for six hours starting shortly after midnight London time.

We could be just two days away from a major political shake-up. We'll take a close look at Tuesday's primaries for you.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: Plus, raising money, awareness, to raise funds in the wake of the Gulf Coast disaster. Lenny Kravitz joins us live from the Gulf Coast. He's speaking to us about Gulf Coast Aid.

And don't just sit there, be a part of the conversation tonight. Tell us what you want to talk -- you want me to ask Lenny Kravitz or any of our guests here tonight. Make sure you log in to Twitter or Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Send us a message. We want to hear from you. Also check out my blog, cnn.com/don.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right.

It is still spring but there are some major political show downs coming up this week that could cause aftershocks all the way to November. Two days from now, we're going to get an early test of voter attitudes toward incumbents and so-called establishment candidates.

So let's talk about the senate races in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Arkansas and why they're important with our political editor, Mr. Mark Preston, he is at the National Constitution Center in Pennsylvania; and our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser who is in Kentucky -- must be warm there because he -- or maybe he forgot his necktie at home. We'll ask him in a little bit.

I want to start with Mark first. Mark, Senator Arlen Specter is being challenged by Congressman Joe Sestak there in Pennsylvania so I understand Senator Specter was focused on a get out the vote effort today.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITER: Yes, he was, Don. And, in fact, it shows you how much Arlen Specter is concerned about losing Tuesday to Congressman Sestak. He was hitting all of the African- American churches here in Philadelphia, asking for their vote.

In fact, we're able to catch up with him at the Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church, and this is what he had to say about Tuesday's primary. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D) PENNSYLVANIA: The black vote is critical, maybe decisive, and it's nice to have the endorsement of the black clergy and the black clergy have endorsed me because of what I've done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PRESTON: Well, in fact, Don, a short time after Senator Specter appeared at that church, Congressman Sestak came by to offer up a few words of encouragement to the black community but really also to ask for their vote. In fact, a lot of people that we spoke to afterwards said that they were surprised by Mr. Sestak. They didn't know much about him.

But it just goes to show you, Don, for this powerful Democratic constituency both Democrats are going all out in the closing days to try to win this Democratic primary.

LEMON: So Mark, what about Joe Sestak, what does he think about Obama backing Specter?

PRESTON: Yes. And of course, Don, that's a big thing we heard from Specter, the fact that President Obama has his full force behind the Republican turned Democrat. Congressman Sestak, Don, says that he understands that President Obama would throw his support to him because, in fact, by doing so, Senator Specter gave President Obama the 60th vote.

But having said that, he expects to win on Tuesday and this is what he had to say about President Obama, Don.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOE SESTAK (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I have absolutely no doubt that once we win this race, that this president really wanted a true Democrat. And we're going to be able to work very well together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PRESTON: And there you go, Don. Here in Pennsylvania really a race to the finish. Both candidates crisscrossing the states over the next 24 hours trying to get out any vote that they can to try to win on Tuesday.

LEMON: All right. Let's go now to Paul Steinhauser. Paul let's talk about Kentucky; two Republicans battling for the Senate nomination. As we've been saying here, outsider and insider, and it is just really as heated there as it is for where Mark is in Pennsylvania.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, this has been a pretty tough primary battle between Mr. Outsider -- I guess you could call him that -- is Rand Paul. He is an eye surgeon. Rand Paul, the son of Ron Paul -- you remember him -- the Congressman from Texas, ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

This is the first time Rand Paul has ever run for office. And he is a real Tea Party favorite. The movement has been backing him. He also has the endorsement of Sarah Palin.

The man he's battling is Trey Grayson; he's the secretary of state down here. And while he is very, very conservative, he is considered the insider or the establishment candidate because he was handpicked by Mitch McConnell, Kentucky senior senator, also the top Republican in the Senate.

Now, both these guys have been talking about the Tea Party movement and what it means to this race. Take a listen to both candidates.

RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: If we win, it will be a huge election for the Tea Party movement around the country. Everywhere I've gone across Kentucky, the largest events I've been to have all been Tea Party events. And I think it is about not only the heart and soul of the Republican Party, but really what direction the country takes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TREY GRAYSON (R), KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: The Tea Party is not a monolith. Every group's a little bit different. I have my fair share of Tea Party support. I mean to me, the biggest factor in Dr. Paul's success is his ability to raise money out of state from his dad's contacts. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in this race. That's the biggest factor, not the Tea Party, not the national environment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: You know, at one time Trey Grayson was the favorite here but recent polls in the last couple of days suggest that Rand Paul now has the lead by maybe 10 to 12 points.

Don, I have to say, there is a Democratic primary here too. People forget about it because the Republican primary is capturing all the attention. But you've got a very close race between the attorney general and lieutenant governor; the battle here to replace retiring Republican Senator Jim Bunning -- Don.

LEMON: Very interesting stuff. Mark and Paul, everyone should pay attention because this could spell what's going to happen in November. And as we've been saying, it doesn't look good for incumbents.

Thanks to both of you but stick around. We want to talk to you tonight at 10:00 p.m. We'll see you later, guys. Thanks again.

We're following the developing news that is happening down south in the Gulf of Mexico and we're going to talk to a very special person coming up here on CNN. Rocker Lenny Kravitz joins us in an interview here to tell us about what he is doing for the people of the Gulf Coast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We have some other big news making headlines right now. Islamic insurgents wage a deadly battle with government forces in the Somali capital of Mogadishu today. At least 20 people were killed in the cross fire and 60 wounded, most of them civilians. The violence began when militants who are demanding a stricter form of Islamic law shelled a parliament building with mortar fire.

Terrible news out of Detroit: police shot and killed a 7-year-old girl during a botched raid earlier this morning. Ianna Jones died after police looking for a murder suspect stormed a home on the city's east side. During the confusion, an officer's gun accidentally discharged, killing Ianna. That's what police are saying.

Here's what the girl's father had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES JONES, FATHER OF 7-YEAR-OLD VICTIM: She was asleep. They came through the door shooting, throwing flash grenades at the wrong house. Fired at my baby and shot and killed her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEP. CHIEF JOHN ROACH, DETROIT POLICE SPOKESMAN: We cannot undo what occurred this morning. All we can do is to pledge an open and full investigation and to support Ianna's family in whatever way they may be willing to accept from us at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: What a tragedy. Police have expressed, quote, "profound sorrow", but say they had the right address and found the murder suspect they were after inside the house.

As the Senate prepares to take up Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court, the White House is asking the national archives to release thousands of pages of documents from her time in the Clinton White House. It's something Senate Republicans have demanded.

Former first lady Laura Bush has weighed in on the nomination. She says she thinks Kagan would be a great choice.

First lady Michelle Obama came through on a promise today. Eight months ago, she challenged the students, faculty and staff of George Washington University to perform 100,000 hours of community service. If they did, she would give the commencement address at this year's graduation. Well, guess what? They did, so she did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I have one more request to make of you. One more challenge. And that is keep going. Keep giving. Keep engaging. I'm asking you to take what you've learned here and embrace the full responsibilities that a degree from an institution like GW gives you.

I'm asking your generation to be America's face to the world. It will make the world safer. It will make America stronger. And it will make you more competitive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And to Rhode Island now where a high school will rehire its teachers after firing every last one of them. The Central Falls school district has a tentative deal with the teachers union. All 88 teachers and support staffers can come back without reapplying but they have to agree to changes like a longer school day and more tutoring. Central Falls has performance issues and the board voted to clean house back in February.

Ask any parent or teacher and they'll say the same thing -- being involved in your child's education is key to their success. CNN education contributor Steve Perry went to Los Angeles to examine how Overland Elementary School gets parents involved and keeps them involved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Welcome to Los Angeles. We're here this morning at Overland Elementary School. I'm here to discuss how to involve parents in child's education with Principal Anna Born and some of the parents.

PERRY: So what is it that you do to get your parents involved in your children's day?

ANNA BORN, PRINCIPAL, OVERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Well, the parents are involved in every aspect of the school; all the way from the beginning of the day with the drop-off lane. And they'll open the doors with the mother in the car and say good morning. Welcome them in to school.

EVE GELB, CO-PRESIDENT, OVERLAND PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION: We have an arts committee, we have a library committee, we have safety committee that works hand in hand with our staff to make sure that earthquake supplies are ready. We have a science committee. We have a technology committee.

STEVE HERMAN, CHAIR, FRIENDS OF OVERLAND: The parents fundraise annually to support instruction throughout the school.

And the thing that we also have tried to do is within the fund- raising, it's fund-raising for the school. It's not fund-raising for, you know, this grade or that grade or this program.

TEO HUNTER, DROP-OFF LANE VOLUNTEER: I wanted to be a part of the thing that protected my biggest investment which was my children. You know, why would I not want to contribute to an organization or a group that was molding my biggest investment?

PERRY: Does it make your job easier or harder?

BORN: It makes what I want to do easier.

PERRY: Ok.

BORN: Because I know there's a way to do it because parents are involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Our thanks to our education contributor Steve Perry.

You know what? BP may not know exactly what the fix is going to be to get that oil to stop gushing from the Gulf of Mexico, but one rocker knows a fix and he wants to help the people of the Gulf. He's going to do it with money. He's going to raise his voice and awareness around the country and the world.

We're talking about rocker superstar Lenny Kravitz. He's going to join us live from the Gulf Coast moments away here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

LEMON: Makes me want to go home; makes me want to be down there. Those ugly scenes of oil on the ocean are leading to the beautiful sounds of music in New Orleans right now.

A group of performers are singing at Gulf Aid tonight. In fact, they've been doing the benefit concert all day long. Gulf Aid started at noon at Mardi Gras World River City. The effort is to support the wetlands, fishermen and their families affected by the leaking oil rig. Some estimates say the rig is spewing 70,000 barrels a day into the Gulf water.

Entertainers include John Legend, Mos Def and many others. We want to go now to Lenny Kravitz who joins us right now.

Thank you so much for being here. We're just a couple of hours from your performance, right?

LENNY KRAVITZ, SINGER: Yes, I'm here, I'm ready to go. And we're going to have a good night.

LEMON: Yes. Why are you doing this?

KRAVITZ: Because I care about our planet, you know? This is a catastrophe and I care about this city. I've been living here for 17 years on and off and I love this place. And this place has been through so much in the last several years. And here we are getting hit again and I just want to do what I can do. If that's just, you know, the ability to play some music and you know, create some awareness, it's great, but it's very little. I wish I could do more.

LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Lenny, it's a very noble effort.

KRAVITZ: I wish I could stop this oil, man.

LEMON: Yes, I know, if you can get down there. I always say, I wish I could get down there. I grew up down south, in Baton Rouge, not far from where you are. And I've been telling our viewers, that it's not just about the environment and the economy, of course that is huge, but this is the gulf, and especially the seafood and everything that comes out of it, it's part of the social fabric there. So it breaks your heart especially if you're from there, you lived there, to see all of this happening to that beautiful water and the beautiful people down there.

KRAVITZ: That's true. I went down and spoke with some of the fishermen. And, you know, some of the captains, the deck hands, these people are locked down now. They're out of business. They don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. And it's a tragic situation for them.

And, you know, a lot of them are having to go and work for BP now and - for pennies on the dollar. And try to survive, you know? But these people are shut down, man. And, you know, it trickles down. It's not just the people catching the fish and the shrimp but it's the drivers and the packing houses, everything. It's a whole industry.

And, you know, I believe, you know, down in St. Bernard where I was the other day, they provide like 80 percent of the seafood for, you know, oysters and so forth, for America. It's big numbers.

LEMON: You know, a lot of people have been talking about and BP has been saying, well, this person did it, and it was because of this particular part, what have you. And I know that you're an entertainer but you do speak politically sometimes. You're obviously out here helping these folks in. What do you say - what do you think of the companies responsible for this? Should they pay? What would you like to see from them?

KRAVITZ: I mean, I think that first of all they need to get every genius they can get together. And figure out how to stop this thing. First, you know, foremost, I think that they need to compensate these people. I mean, the amount of money that they're making, you know, is tremendous. And it wouldn't cost them anything to take care of these people, to, you know, support them.

And, you know, they're not doing that at the level that I feel that they should. That's the least they could do. Right now we got to stop this oil. We got to take care of the people.

LEMON: That's what I was going to say, that's the most important thing, stopping the oil. You're here because - KRAVITZ: Pardon?

LEMON: - you want help for folks. So how can people help, if they're watching this broadcast right now, how can they help?

KRAVITZ: Well, they can go to lennykravitz.com and they can get the information. They can see how to text in and send, you know, whatever donation that they can. You know, that's really it right now. We're trying to just get money together. So that these fishermen can do what they have to do. And, you know, we'll see where it goes from today.

This is just the beginning. It's going to grow. We're going to see where this goes and what's happening over the next few weeks, and we'll figure out how we can do things in a better way perhaps. But right now, we're here today to begin this.

LEMON: Do you have anything special planned for your performance tonight, any special song?

KRAVITZ: You know, we're just going to get up there, we're going to play. You know, I'll see who's around the stage. We're going try to get some locals come up and play with us and do a big finale of that "Love Rule," which is my statement, you know, it's all about that.

LEMON: Lenny Kravitz, thank you very much. Lenny's going to perform in just a little bit down on the Gulf Coast. Also performing today, John Legend, (inaudible) as well as our Lenny Kravitz. We appreciate you dropping by. And thank you so much for what you're doing for the people down in the gulf, OK.

KRAVITZ: It's my pleasure. I watch you all the time, you're a gentleman.

LEMON: Thank you very much, sir.

We're going to move on now and talk about passing the buck when it comes to the national budget. Republicans are now letting you decide where the cuts should be made. Eric Cantor, the congressman standing by now, live, to join us in just moments right here on CNN. There he is. We'll see you on the other side of the break, sir.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Tomorrow Republicans will see the first results of their new venture. It's a web site that lets people vote on which government programs should get the ax. So you can go on line or simply text. What critics ask, is this helping the government save a buck or is it a clever way for politicians to pass the buck?

Tonight, we speak to the man behind YouCut, Congressman Eric Cantor. He is the Republican whip. Thanks for joining us tonight, sir. Good to see you. So congressman, first of all, any chance of a preview of YouCuts for us tonight? Can you tell us about, you know, what's been receiving the most votes to cut? REP. ERIC CANTOR (R), MINORITY WHIP: Well, what I can tell you, Don, is the success of this program has been unbelievable, unexpectedly. I mean, we have been experiencing over 3,000 votes per hour over the period of almost a week now. We're just about at 250,000 votes, of Americans who want to speak up. You know, really what this is about is a program to begin a change of culture in Washington. Number one, it emphasized the fact that we need to stop spending money we don't have. And secondly -

LEMON: I'll let you get to that but I want to push you a little bit here. Because - give us a little preview, we're going to spend some time with you. So you don't have any - what programs, wants to be cut. Come on, help me out here.

CANTOR: Listen, what I know that - just anecdotally because we've not tallied the votes yet, anecdotally, you know, I have been hearing from folks who can identify with the fact that we need to stop this de-reform of the welfare programs in this country because not many Americans were aware, but Congress over the last year or so has been - they have set up a new welfare program that doesn't have the work requirement attached to it.

Again, while you've got Americans facing tough times right now, it is not I think very American for us to say, we need just increased welfare because I don't think that Americans are not compassionate -

LEMON: What do you mean by welfare? What are you talking about?

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Because that's a buzzword -

CANTOR: This is tenant program, but an add-on to the tenant program, which essentially is now available to individuals out of work who needs some help. But remember, back in the '90s, President Clinton, along with the Republican Congress went ahead and reformed welfare in this country. So there wasn't a permanent life of dependency for folks.

And instead, we were going to say, if you were going to get some assistance from the government you had to put forward a desire initiative to get back to work. OK. That's the premise behind one of these. This is the biggest savings option on the YouCut menu this week, which is almost $2.5 billion a year.

LEMON: Let me jump in here, Representative Cantor because I want to get in here and I've been reading about this. And here, some of the critics are saying, there are doubters, who call this or saying this is a gimmick, it is a distraction from what we should really be doing, which is to address the biggest budget - the biggest debt problem that we've had, Medicare and social security. What do you say to that?

CANTOR: First of all, I would say, if you look, Don, at the number, the total of savings that are being proposed, either options, there's almost $15 billion of savings right here. And if it's such a gimmick and if it's so easy for the other party to criticize, then let them come ahead and vote with us or let them bring a bill to the floor that actually begins to cut government spending.

LEMON: But the budget is $4 trillion.

CANTOR: Again, Don, I would say that there's no question. How do we go about trying to, as they say, bend the curve in terms of our budget deficits? We've got to start somewhere. Washington's been unable to trim the fat, to tighten the belt. And just look at what the American families across this country are doing, small business people are doing. They're having to live within their means to keep the lights on and keep paying the bills and get through the month.

LEMON: OK.

CANTOR: Washington's doing nothing of the kind. This is just an attempt for us to begin that process.

LEMON: OK, Mr. Cantor, I'm sure you've seen the Democrat's response. They put out their own list. Steny Hoyer's web page here. It's called YouCutmorelikegopsspent. They also point out if all the programs were approved, it would make up less than one percent of the federal budget.

CANTOR: Well, Don, here's the very fact to this program. We intend every week to have a vote among the American people. They'll cast their votes. Monday, we're going to announce the winner and which is the top vote-getter. And then this week on the House floor, we are going to bring to the floor an up or down vote on the winning cut.

We'll do the same the week and the week thereafter and the week thereafter. We are intending to try and change the culture in Washington so that Washington stops spending money we don't have and to begin starting to focus on savings, not spending. That's what the American people are having to do. That's what Washington should have to do.

LEMON: You know, I appreciate this talk. I'd love to talk to you more. I find you to be a very interesting person. And when we find out what people are saying to be cut and some ideas that they have, will you come back and talk to us?

CANTOR: We'd love to.

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Representative Cantor, we really appreciate it. All right.

New details about a murder for hire plot possibly involving a former chef from the Food Network. What investigators say this man offered to commit a killing. It's not even real money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's check your top stories right now. BP is pumping oil from that gushing leak to a ship on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. It's not clear how much oil is being removed from the water but a company vice president calls it a positive step forward. The next step is injecting a fluid called kill mud, which is used to reduce the flow and pressure of the leak. If that works, BP hopes to entomb the well in cement.

A single engine piper crashed landed this morning into a Florida backyard. Witnesses say the aircraft which took off from Clearwater Airport began wobbling, flew into some power line, grazed the roof of a house and split in two before hitting the ground. Amazingly, none of the people, the three people in the plane, or the six residents in the house at the time, was seriously injured.

Space shuttle "Atlantis" has docked with the International Space Station. The shuttle crew is delivering research equipment and replacement parts to the orbiting outpost. This is the last scheduled flight for "Atlantis." NASA has just two shuttle missions remaining. Kind of sad. The end of an era.

But guess what, we're moving on to bigger and better things. Actually, Karen Maginnis, we're moving on to smaller and better things. More focused mission, smaller spacecraft, further into space. So who knows what the future holds.

MAGINNIS: I really hope the space program does move forward. I really do.

LEMON: I do too. It would be a shame if it didn't, right?

MAGINNIS: You are absolutely right. And my husband has always been interested in space. He's a pilot. He's applied to NASA every year for I don't know how long. Just would be crushed -

LEMON: We don't want to crush your husband. There's some developing news when it comes to the weather, especially that volcanic ash.

MAGINNIS: Absolutely, yes. Gatwick, Heathrow, closing in about 12 minutes from now as that ash cloud starts to move further towards the south. Very low pressure is kind of causing that ash cloud to move all the way down into the airspace across the United Kingdom. It was further up across Scotland, also into Ireland, Belfast, also into Dublin. Those air spaces have been closed for some time. So they're going to be problems here as far as getting those international flights coming in and out of.

That ash cloud is now up to 29,000 feet. Pilots generally flying these international flights between 30,000 and 37,000 feet. So they're going to be kind of stuck. That's why they've closed this air space. It could move all the way down here along the coast of France. But we think later on in the week, it will affect mostly the Scandinavian coastal regions, and then as we head towards the Netherlands as well.

So Don, big problems, we could see a lot of delays. And may be a two or three-day event that we're expecting.

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much. We'll check back with you. We're going to be watching this for quite a while here on CNN.

How much money would a TV personality pay for a murder? You won't believe the answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. So we're learning more tonight about the murder for hire plot allegedly involving a former TV chef on the Food Network. Juan Carlos Cruz, the former host of "Calorie Commando" is being held on $5 million bail accused of trying to hire several homeless people to murder a family member.

CNN's Alan Duke has been following this developing story. He joins us from Los Angeles with the very latest. Did we find out who the family member is, Allen?

ALAN DUKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and we found out in a rather interesting way. It seems that there are three homeless individuals who live in the streets of Santa Monica who were involved in this, central to this. And were used by the Santa Monica Police to make this case against this celebrity chef.

They say that they were asked to kill his wife. Now we've confirmed with the Santa Monica Police that these three gentlemen interviewed yesterday by the celebrity news and gossip web site TMZ that these are, in fact, the three chief witnesses against Cruz. That one of them, Little John, was approached about 10 days ago by Cruz on the streets of Santa Monica and offered $1,000.

He was given just $50 - or just half of those $1,000 bills. 10 $100 bills, they were cut in half. Cruz, according to this man, would hold the other half when the deed was done. He would get the other half in payment. Well, it seems that Little John was picked up shortly thereafter by Santa Monica Police on a loitering charge.

And in the midst of that, Little John told the police about this alleged plot. And that's when the undercover investigation began which ended on Thursday in a dog park in Los Angeles with the arrest of Cruz.

LEMON: Did you say $1,000?

DUKE: $1,000.

LEMON: For a murder?

DUKE: Actually, $1,001. Because one of the three men, Big John, not to be confused with Little John, was also given $1 bill to pay for his bus fare to the crime scene.

LEMON: OK. And you said there's tape out there from TMZ of these guys. Are they talking about exactly what Mr. Cruz allegedly asked of them?

DUKE: Well, the Santa Monica Police did confirm that these are the guys that we see on TMZ. And that is the story that they told police. Now we're in court tomorrow for an arraignment, the first appearance by Cruz. We are unlikely really to hear any of the details and the police aren't saying a whole lot. But the homeless men, these three, Little John, Big John and Shane, talked profusely yesterday to the TMZ cameras. And -

LEMON: Do they say why at all? Are you learning why? Why would he want his wife to be killed? Why would he allegedly be hiring someone to kill his wife?

DUKE: I don't know that these guys really knew because they were relating what they alleged they were told by Cruz and there were some conflicting details as far as that. But we are told that the police have undercover video, at least the homeless men tell us, that they set up this undercover sting with the police at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica where video and audio recordings were made. So we'll find out in court.

LEMON: Tell us about this one, Carlos Cruz guy? I mean, who was he? And I asked you yesterday. I asked if he had ever had any run- ins with the law and was there much known about him other than being, you know, the chef on the Food Network?

DUKE: He - I won't call him a has-been chef. Because he still cooks or he was still cooking. But as far as his television show, his career had a down turn. In 2004, 2005, 2006, he had this "Calorie Countdown" show. In 2007, he published this book about calorie countdown and he was promoting it. But he didn't have the success of some of the other Food Network chefs. He's not even on their web site anymore.

LEMON: Yes, the Food Network, I mean they can make you a mega star. I mean, when you look at all of the people on there.

DUKE: Oh, yes.

LEMON: Even as we say pseudo celebrity or being a local celebrity could help him with a restaurant in his hometown or what have you so. It just seems odd. It just seems odd. So listen, hey, Allen, we have to run now. But let us know what happens in court tomorrow, OK? We appreciate you coming in.

DUKE: Absolutely.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

Listen, I want to tell you after this program, an "American Al Qaeda" coming up, a CNN special investigation coming up after this program. We have a bit more to tell you about. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Coming up tonight at 10:00 right here on CNN, Lenny Kravitz rocking the Gulf Coast to raise awareness and raise money for the environmental disaster caused by that devastating oil spill. Why he's committed to the cause and an update on how the volcano in Iceland as well is disrupting air travel all across Europe. I'm Don Lemon. See you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Meantime, a CNN special investigation, "American Al Qaeda" starts right now.