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Time Running out on Budget; Libyan Rebels Flee in a Panic; Time Running Out on Budget; Abortion Debate & Budget Battle; Ripple Effect of a Shutdown; Singer With Cancer Won't Give Up

Aired April 08, 2011 - 10:59   ET

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

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Well, live from Studio 7, I'm Deborah Feyerick in today for Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed for Friday, the 8th of April.

Thirteen hours to go until funding runs out, and we're going to find out what is going on at the White House and on Capitol Hill. We go to Brianna Keilar our correspondent. Brianna, what's happening?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Deb, I think if you were to say the last few days the theme of things -- and we've heard this almost a unified message from Democrats and Republicans -- it's been, we're making progress, but there's no deal. And today we're kind of seeing things degenerate into a bit of a food fight, if you will, and kind of a game of chicken. You have Democrats who have been out in force today. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been out in force today.

He talked on camera this morning. He had a pen and pad with reporters. He's going to be on the floor momentarily saying that there's one issue and one issue only hanging up negotiations, and it is a policy issue that has to do with abortion.

On the flip side, you have Republicans -- you just saw House Speaker John Boehner saying no, no, that is not the issue. The issue is spending cuts. We haven't agreed on a number. Democrats in the White House are not serious about how much we need to cut.

So, right now, as we are just hours away from a potential government shutdown, we see both sides battling for the message, really trying to get the other side to flinch, but also playing, I guess, the blame game, and positioning themselves in case there is, indeed, a shutdown -- Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Brianna, is this -- there's a growing frustration, I think, of a lot of people out there wondering, why cannot they get this done? We're already months into 2011, and there's no budget, and the government's about to run out of money. The temporary funding, about to run out.

Why can't they do this?

KEILAR: Well, I think that part of it is because they are, obviously, far apart on the issues here. You have the issue of spending cuts. And I think, really, all of these different things have come into play.

You have the issue of spending cuts. You have a lot of Democrats who are looking at what Republicans want to cut, and they don't like the cuts.

Some of them have to do with programs that, obviously, Democrats hold near and dear to their heart. And then you also have House Speaker John Boehner, who is, no doubt, really trying to deal with different contingencies within his party.

There's Tea Party Republicans who want more cuts, and they have a lot of power and numbers. Not enough power to really push through the amount of cuts they want to push that through Congress, but certainly enough to really stand together and object if there aren't enough in spending cuts.

And he also has social conservatives who are insisting on things like this abortion provision, and wanting to make sure that money doesn't go to Planned Parenthood. That's really the issue here, because even though federal dollars don't go to abortions through Planned Parenthood, it is an organization that provides abortion, and does get federal funding for some of the other services that they provide -- Deb.

FEYERICK: All right, Brianna. Thank you so much. Certainly a lot of moving parts on that one. Perhaps they'll resolve it by the end of the day.

Well, a government shutdown could hurt businesses that count on federal workers like food vendors and taxi drivers in Washington's Franklin Square.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It would have a huge impact on my business. Some of my locations, I strictly serve federal workers. And, you know, I don't know how I would be able to stay alive. This is how I pay my mortgage, feed my family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like, my business, I drive a taxi. It would affect my business. I just think it would be -- it's a bad idea for everybody. They need to work it out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Out in the streets in several cities. Taking a look at these pictures here, as the crowds take to the streets, this is following Friday prayers. Unconfirmed reports say four people were killed when police opened fire in one town.

And NATO admitted today it may have bombed Libyan rebels by mistake Thursday. Watch this amateur video.

Well, a British NATO official refused to apologize. Admiral Russell Harding says there are no clear lines on the battlefield. The attack killed four people. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAR ADM. RUSSELL HARDING, DEP. COMMANDER, NATO OPERATION: I'm not apologizing. The situation on the ground, as I said, was extremely fluid and remains extremely fluid. And up until yesterday, we had no information that the TNC or the opposition forces were using tanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And a panicky scramble to get out of Ajdabiya. Rumors spread that Moammar Gadhafi's fighters were about to make a move on the city.

CNN's Ben Wedeman followed the rebel army out of town.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We noticed that truck after truck after truck of the opposition was just streaming out of town. Word went out that the Gadhafi forces were at the gates of Ajdabiya and would soon be in the city itself, so we had to run back to our hotel in record time, packed our bags, and ran away.

In minutes, the hotel staff was already gone. In fact, when I gave in my key, I was answering the phone at reception because there was nobody else there. And we high-tailed it out of town, along with the entire rebel army.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And right now we're going to go to Harry Reid. He is there on the floor. Let's take a listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- fiscally responsible manner.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: Mr. President, I object to the further proceedings regarding to these bills on the block.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection is heard. The bills will be placed on the calendar.

REID: Mr. President, I've been married for a long time, more than 50 years. We have one daughter, nine grandchildren. I love these women very, very much.

One day, though, I may not be able to help them. And one of them may need a cancer screening. It's not a pleasant thought, but that's the reality of life, that I may not be around to help them when they need something.

Over their lives they'll be in need of other things like a cholesterol check, maybe their blood pressure screening, tests that are less serious, but just important to a woman's health. They should be able to get the tests that could save their lives. So should every single woman in America.

I believe that, and frankly, that's not so controversial. It's not so controversial of a belief.

Some women, of course, have doctors. Others, including many of the poorest among us, don't. So where do they go to get blood pressure or cholesterol or a cancer screening? Where do they go?

Thankfully, there's a little known part of a little known law that saves many lives. It's called Title X, and it's part of a public health law. And it means that women and girls can go to their local health department or community clinic and get these tests.

Mr. President, more than five million women use these centers for Title X coverage every year. Five million. Five million. One of them could be my granddaughter or my daughter.

Mr. President, some watching us today -- and we know the whole world is watching us today -- may be asking why I'm talking about women's health when the question before us is the budget of the biggest economy on the planet Earth. Some may ask why we're talking about the smallest corner of planet Earth. With a government shutdown looming not weeks away or days away, but hours away, why are we talking about whether women can keep getting something as simple and non-controversial as a cancer screening?

The answer is, Mr. President, that Republicans want to shut down our nation's government because they want to make it harder for women to get the health services they need. And by the way, Title X does not include abortion. It's illegal to use federal funds for abortion services. So anyone who says this debate is over abortion isn't being truthful. It's about simple and important health services.

Republicans want to shut down the government because they think there's nothing more important than keeping women from getting cancer screenings? This is indefensible, and everyone should be outraged -- men and women should be outraged.

The Republican House leadership have only a few hours left to look in the mirror, snap out of it, realize how positively shameful it would be, Mr. President. For months, this conversation has been about billions and trillions of dollars. It's been about weighty issues and difficult decisions. This debate is about saving money. That's what we thought it was about, but no longer.

We have an agreement with the cuts in savings. I was there in the White House last night. And that agreement includes a historic level of cuts.

We've always recognized we had to make cuts. That's why we agreed in the White House last night to make significant cuts. Hard, but important.

But now the Tea Party, among others -- but they're the biggest push -- is trying to move its extreme social agenda, issues that have nothing to do with funding the government, where they're willing, it appears, clearly, to throw women under the bus, even if it means they'll shut down the government, because that's where we are. That is the one issue that was remaining last night.

That agenda is an extreme agenda. I don't agree with their ideas on social policy, but in our democracy, those ideas, however radical or however you may disagree with them, deserve a debate if they want one. That's fair. But that debate doesn't belong in an urgent bill to keep the government running, and it especially doesn't belong here at this late hour.

The consequences of letting our country's funding expire would be devastating. Almost a million federal employees, Mr. President, people who work for the Bureau of Land Management, not a big presence in the presiding officer's state, but a huge presence -- the state of Nevada is 87 percent owned by the federal government.

Forest Service employees, FBI employees, Internal Revenue Service employees, people who work in this great government complex, almost a million of them, are waiting on pins and needles. Federal employees are like everybody else. They're working from paycheck to paycheck. They're wondering if they're going to be able to get that new car they've needed for three or four years. They're wondering if with summer coming, are they going to be able to take that vacation that they've wanted to for a long time.

That's what the federal employees are like, everybody else.

The consequences of letting our country's funding expire would be devastating to people, individuals. And it will be devastating to our troops, to our small businesses, and to Americans' everyday lives. People who just want to get a home loan, to get their tax refund or, I repeat, their paycheck. We'll damage our image and credibility around the world.

But Republicans are asking me to sacrifice my wife's health, my daughter's health, and my nine granddaughters' health. They're asking me to sacrifice the health of women in Nevada and all across this country.

But, Mr. President, I'm not going to be part of that. I won't do it. As a legislator, I'm very frustrated. As an American, I'm appalled. As a husband, a father, and a grandfather, I'm personally offended. (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The previous order leadership time is reserved. And the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:00 p.m., with senators permitted to speak them for up to 10 minutes each, equally divided in control between the two leaders, or their designees, and any time spent in quorum call will be equally divided.

The senator from Arizona. FEYERICK: All right. And you're watching there the speaker, Harry Reid -- the majority leader, Harry -- oh, Jon Kyl is at the podium now.

Let's take a listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: And we are desperately trying to find ways to reduce government spending. And there looms the possibility of a government shutdown.

I think that we would be best served to try to provide some information to our constituents and, as politicians, resist the temptation to throw rotten apples at each other. And I think, also, it would be wise for media to not hype or overhype a situation regarding a government shutdown, but try to put things into perspective. And so let me try to do that here for a moment this morning.

In the first place, obviously, we're trying to reach agreement. I compliment the Majority Leader, Senator Reid, who just spoke, the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, for their efforts to get together, bridge the differences between the two parties, the two bodies, and to reach an agreement. And in the last two or three days, the president has also weighed in on the issue, and he, too, I think, is trying very hard to help the parties reach an agreement.

Notwithstanding that fact, the law, under the law, tonight at midnight, the funding for much of the government stops. And the question is, what can be done about that?

The House of Representatives has passed a bill, they passed it yesterday. The Senate could take that bill up and pass it. It would keep the government running for another week.

It would provide full funding for the military not just for another week, but for the entire rest of the year. That is a reasonable measure to keep the government running. It also, by the way, reduces $12 billion in spending, and most of that spending, I'm informed, has already been agreed to by the administration and would be included in any longer-range continuing resolution.

Well, what happened? The president said he would veto that bill. That's a very puzzling thing, because if we're all seeking to fund the government, at least until there can be an agreement on a long-term resolution, one would think that we would try to keep it going for another week and we would adopt what the House did, especially since it provides funding for the military.

The president described in his veto message -- he said that the bill was a distraction. And I do have to take issue with that. It's not a distraction. It's what's necessary to keep the government running.

Let me get back to that in just a moment. What would happen if we're able to reach agreement by tonight? If we're able to reach agreement before midnight, then at least, theoretically, both bodies, the House and Senate, could pass a very short-term two-or-three-day stop-gap measure in order to have the time to complete the work on the full measure and then adopt that sometime next week, or -- and that would avert a shutdown.

It's possible, also, that because in the Senate, it would require unanimous consent, somebody might disagree with that process and would object. In that case, it would take a few days for us to do the -- in effect, the paperwork to get this done. And that would then result in a government shutdown during that time, at least over the course of the weekend. That should be avoided if at all possible. But, while there would be some dislocations and inconveniences, I do think the media exaggerates a little bit the result of a shutdown over the weekend.

The biggest problem, from my perspective, is that the military doesn't get paid during that period of time. Now, they will get paid, but it's a disruptive thing when you've got young military families trying to make ends meet, and sometimes living from paycheck to paycheck, to have that disrupted. And that's why I think it makes so much sense to adopt what the House passed yesterday so that we have the time, the week, to complete the work on the continuing resolution that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. That is to say, through the end of September, and then not have to worry about a government shutdown, and especially funding the military.

There's a question that has been raised that's very logical. Why can't the parties get together? Why can't you just split the difference?

Well, in ordinary times, it might be possible to reach an agreement that way. But these are not ordinary times.

We're talking about a country that's on the verge of not being able to pay its debts. The president himself has asked us to raise the debt ceiling, I believe sometime next month.

That, in effect, we run out not only of money, but of the capacity to borrow. Our credit card, in effect, the government's credit card, is full up. And we can't get any more credit unless we go to the credit card company and say, would you extend the amount of money we can borrow? In that case, it's the Congress passing the bill.

We're in a very difficult position in this country, and everyone knows we're passing a lot of our debts on to future generations. We need to get a handle on that. And I don't think anybody disagrees with the proposition that means we need to cut spending.

And that's what this exercise is all about. So, it's not just the usual thing of splitting the difference. We're talking about big spending cuts.

And I was disappointed in the majority leader's comments just now. He said this --

FEYERICK: Well, that's the Republican whip, the senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, talking about the soaring national debt and the need to cut government. He says, while some people say let's split the difference, the difference, in his opinion, is simply too great, and the two sides are simply too far apart.

We're going to quickly go to Brianna Keilar, who's monitoring all this for us.

Brianna, again, both sides are speaking. What's getting done?

KEILAR: You know, well, obviously, you're hearing two very different things, right? Over the last few days, Deb, we've been hearing that negotiations are continuing, progress is being made, even though there isn't a deal. I think to really understand what's happening right now, you need to know what some of the hang-ups have been in the last few days.

You have the issue of spending cuts, yes, exactly how many billions of dollars for the rest of the budget year will be cut. But there will also be some policy disagreements that have to do with abortion, yes, the funding of Planned Parenthood, with the Environmental Protection Agency and whether it should regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

And today, what you're hearing from Democrats and Republicans are two completely different stories about where these negotiations are. We heard from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He said there's one hang-up and one hang-up only, and it's over a policy issue of abortion, which, of course, is a hot-button social issue. We just heard House Speaker John Boehner come out -- and actually, Jenny (ph), do we have that sound?

Let's go to that now and you can hear what he's saying. It's an entirely different story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: Only one reason that we do not have an agreement as yet, and that issue is spending. We're close to a resolution on the policy issues, but I think the American people deserve to know, when will the White House and when will Senate Democrats get serious about cutting spending?

A bill that fails to include real spending cuts will hurt job growth and signal that Washington's not serious about dealing with its spending addiction. And I think the Senate should follow the House lead and pass the troop funding bill, and do it today. And I also believe the president should sign the troop funding bill into law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now, Republican sources are lamenting that Democrats are characterizing them as really threatening a government shutdown over a singular issue of abortion. They're saying, as you heard House Speaker John Boehner there say, no, it comes down to spending, Democrats are not serious about making cuts.

Make no mistake about it, Deb, abortion is an issue. You certainly have a social conservative contingent in the Republican Party that House Speaker John Boehner has to deal with, some of them who are not going to vote for anything unless they can get this provision to, in a way, defund Planned Parenthood.

But I think that you're hearing at this point a lot of rhetoric, as Democrats and Republicans, one, sort of position themselves to blame each other if there is indeed a shutdown. And as we move now into the final hours before a potential -- before a government shutdown, they're trying to get the other side to flinch as they play what has really degenerated into a game of chicken.

FEYERICK: And Brianna, it's interesting, because John Boehner obviously referring to what's going on as a spending addiction. But on the other side of the argument, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid basically telling the Republicans, look in the mirror, snap out of it, you're targeting women's health issues.

So, again, on one side money. On the other side, policy. Well, we'll see where the resolution is.

Brianna Keilar, up there on Capitol Hill.

Thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break, and then we're going to be back with you and Carol Costello. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, here's your chance to "Talk Back" on the budget deadline and its effect on the military.

Carol Costello is here with a question for you.

And Carol, the Democrats are talking about women. The Republicans, talking about the military. And you have a lot of people affected in all of this.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's the sad end fact, isn't it?

U.S. troops, now fighting two-plus wars, are worrying whether they will get paid if there's a government shutdown. Oh, they'll still get their money, but their paychecks will be delayed. And we're talking paychecks that average $1,700 a month for privates.

House Republicans came up with a bill funding the military through the year which the president said he would veto. Maybe that's because the measure also had billions more in cuts, along with a ban on publicly-funded abortions in Washington, D.C.

Here's one option for funding the troops. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann offered to donate two weeks' salary toward paying military families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: It's imperative that our troops not pay a price and none of the families back home should worry whether or not they're getting a check. The troops should not be a political football. That should not be a game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And Newt Gingrich, you may remember, he was a key player in the last government shutdown. He tweeted the president was using our men and women in uniform as bargaining chips.

For President Obama and the Democrats, the stop-gap bill is a distraction, a cynical Republican ploy that blocks the real budget deal. But the Democrats are playing their games, too, hyping the Republicans' ideological agenda.

Representative Linda Sanchez telling MSNBC, "It's unconscionable to me that they're using these families, real families with real needs, as pawns for this ideological end game."

Plenty of political gamesmanship to go around, with our troops caught in the crossfire.

"Talk Back" today: Is the military being used as a political bargaining chip?

Write to me on Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll read some of your comments later this hour.

FEYERICK: You know, it's so interesting. There's so many different moving parts. And not only that, but the Tea Party folks aren't even at the bargaining table. So you've got the Democrats and the Republicans, and the Tea Partiers, who are sort of putting a lot of pressure.

COSTELLO: Putting a lot of pressure on the House Speaker, John Boehner, who is trying to come to some resolution with them and the rest of the Republicans in Congress. So we'll see what happens. They have what, 12 hours to go?

FEYERICK: All right. Carol Costello, we'll look forward to all the mail you're about to get. Thanks so much.

Well, if Congress can't pass a spending bill by midnight, the money stops flowing to a lot of people. Here's what they're saying about how a government shutdown would interrupt their lives.

In San Diego, thousands of military families will see their paychecks stop. It's a situation some find absolutely mind-blowing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMY EAGLE, MILITARY WIFE: There's a lot of stress. And then, on top of that, having no idea if I'm going to be able to make my bills next month.

PAUL STEFFENS, ARMED FORCES, YMCA: You're talking money from a man or a woman that you've just sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to pull a trigger. It doesn't get more ludicrous than that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: In Florida, plenty of seniors rely on government- funded programs for basic, everyday needs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORRAINE STRAUSS, MID-COUNTY SENIOR CENTER VOLUNTEER: Some of these people, it may be the only meal they get all day. I understand we're in a budget crunch, but they're looking at the wrong things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a local business owner isn't sure what he'll do if people can't get into the city's main attraction, Hot Springs National Park.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Downtown, it relies on tourists and everything else. Close the parks down, we'll get no business. I don't know why the government can't come to a conclusion here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And we are looking at live pictures right now of the Senate and the House floor, waiting for a decision on whether the government is going to shut down.

The sticking points, well, the Democrats say this is an assault on women's health issues. And we're going to be talking to the head of Planned Parenthood coming up momentarily, and see what she has to say in response to some of what Republicans are saying, which is the Democrats simply cannot get their spending under control.

The Planned Parenthood president, by the way, running an organization that serves a lot of low-income families.

Now, also, in another story, crime and gang violence run rampant on Chicago's south side. When one mom worried her daughter might fall into trouble, well, she opened her front door and invited gang members inside. Now they're calling her "Miss Diane." We call her this week's "CNN hero."

Meet Diane Latiker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANE LATIKER, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: Guns, guns and more guns.

These are our young people. These stones represent them. We're losing a generation to violence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody's scared to come out, they get shot at.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They start shooting. You got to grab the kids and run in the house.

LATIKER: People run in the house and close their doors. They don't even talk about it.

But there's some people who are not scared to go outside, and I'm one of them.

My name is Diane Latiker. We opened the community center called, Kids Off the Block; we're known as K.O.B.

They're kids that are in gangs. They're homeless. Some of them are drug dealers. So they got a lot of issues.

Who signed up for Youth Ready Chicago?

I tell kids this is a peace place. This is a safe place.

We have leadership workshop, (INAUDIBLE) preparation, music. It's a range of things that goes on in here.

We started out with 10 young people, and the next thing I knew I had 15, then I had 25. At one point, I had 75 young people in three rooms of my house. And that's how Kids Off the Block started, in my living room.

We open the doors for the new K.O.B. center in July. Last year, we served 301 young people. They knock on that door, they can come in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was 12 when I got in a gang. Robbing people, stealing. Miss Diane, she done change my life. I love her for that.

LATIKER: I'm no different from nobody else. I just opened up my door. Why can't we all come outside and see what's going on with our neighbors.

There are people here who care, and I'm one of them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And all of this year's CNN heroes are chosen from people you tell us about on the CNN heroes website. To nominate someone you think is changing the world, go to CNNheroes.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, less than 13 hours left for lawmakers to reach a budget deal and prevent the government shutdown. But they're not arguing just over dollars, they're also fighting about social issues like abortion. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says it's the one remaining sticking point. The Republicans dispute that. They're pushing to strip federal money from Planned Parenthood.

We are joined by Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

You're here from Washington. Thank you so much.

First of all, I want you to set the record straight. Jon Kyl on the floor just said that 90 percent of funding that goes to Planned Parenthood goes to fund abortions. Is that correct?

CECILE RICHARDS, PRESIDENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: This is such a misstatement. And I think it's really important that the American people know there are no federal funds that pay for abortion either at Planned Parenthood or any hospital in America and 97 percent of Planned Parenthood services are basic preventive care -- family planning, pap smears, breast exams.

And that's what's actually the topic here. It's simply incredible that we're talking about shutting down the federal government over the issue of whether Planned Parenthood can continue to serve 3 million women who come to our health centers every year for basic preventive care.

FEYERICK: And many of the women you're servicing, they come from low-income neighborhoods, correct?

RICHARDS: That's correct. I mean, Planned Parenthood is a high- quality, affordable provider, more than 800 health centers across America. And for many women who come to Planned Parenthood, it will be the only doctor visit they have each year. Most of the women come to us for family planning, but we're also able to get them a pap smear, a breast exam, hypertension checks, things that actually help women live healthy lives.

And that's what I think is unbelievable about this debate, is that we're talking about basically cutting off preventive care for women that will not reduce the deficit by a dime, and not save to taxpayers any money at all.

FEYERICK: And I want you to comment on something you said recently.

RICHARDS: Sure.

FEYERICK: You said this is the most dangerous legislative assault on women's health in Planned Parenthood's 95-year history. You stand to lose some $75 million that goes to about 800 clinics.

Could this mean the end of Planned Parenthood?

RICHARDS: Well, Planned Parenthood will continue. I think actually what's really at danger is that women who depend on us for services may have nowhere to go. One of the things that's really important to remember is of our more than 800 health centers, 72 percent of them are in rural America or in areas where we have medically underserved communities. And for a lot of women in America, getting affordable health care is still a real struggle.

And at a time in this country when we want to be focusing on making sure women have access to preventive care, it's simply unthinkable that this would be holding up the federal budget debate.

FEYERICK: All right. Now earlier on CNN, Representative Michele Bachmann responded to claims that Planned Parenthood is the last remaining sticking point.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: Not according to John Boehner. If you look at John Boehner's statement, he said that the policy riders, which would include Planned Parenthood, have already been resolved.

So we're hearing two very different messages. John Boehner said the policy issues have been resolved. I would take John Boehner at his word; he's not going to say something that isn't true.

And also, he said that it's down to money difference. He had mentioned that they're down to about $6.5 billion difference. In a $3.5 trillion budget, a $6.5 billion difference is not -- is not a large difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: So if, as she says, the policy issues have been resolved, do you think that means that your organization is safe?

RICHARDS: Well, I think the point is really what's going to happen to women's health care. As the budget that Congresswoman Bachmann supported actually eliminated all family planning in the country, for 5 million women who rely on both Planned Parenthood and other health care centers across the country, it eliminates all of that. And that's not just family planning. That's, again, pap smears, breast exams, care that women may not be able to get anywhere else.

And that, I think, is really the question. It's much more about not just the future of Planned Parenthood, but the future of women's health care in this country. I heard Majority Leader Reid earlier on your show say basically this is throwing women's health care under the bus, and frankly, using the budget fight to take away women's health care access.

I think it's unconscionable.

FEYERICK: All right. Well, Cecile Richards from Planned Parenthood, thank you so much for being here.

RICHARDS: Thank you.

FEYERICK: And we'll know how this works out maybe later in the day.

RICHARDS: Thank you.

FEYERICK: Well, national parks stand to lose about $400,000 a day in fees if the government shuts down. Plus there's a ripple effect, businesses that depend on tourists will also be hurt.

Our David Mattingly is in the Great Smoky Mountains.

David, you've been speaking to people in the area. Clearly, if the national parks get hit, so do the communities all around them. What does it mean?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And there's been a lot of number crunching going on the past couple of days looking at the economic impact that these national parks have for the areas that they sit in.

They're called gateway communities, these cities and towns just outside the gates of these national parks all across the country. And when you start to think about the volume of people that come to these places, we're talking about 800,000 people a day visiting our national parks. They spend money in these communities outside the parks. They're looking at about $32 million a day that are spent in those local economies.

And there's concern that that $32 million will evaporate every single day that these parks are closed. So there's a great deal of concern as everybody is watching what is happening in Washington.

Now here in the park there's a lot of personal plans being thrown up in the air, spring vacations in doubt. But there's also employees here that are worried. And as we talked to so many of the visitors here, they have some things to say to Congress, and some suggestions, as well. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN KIMPSON, TOURIST: Find other ways not to spend so much money on other pet projects.

And also, use the money that they would have spent on some of these pet projects for their own districts and stuff, to save programs like this for the National Park Service and things of that nature.

LISA PEAK, TOURIST: I've been coming here since I was a little kid. We used to come here almost every year of my life. This is like family memories, tradition. And I brought my grandkids here this time and I'd just hate it if I couldn't bring them here.

I think the government should find a way to save our national parks. We've got some at home that are shutting down (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: In the meantime, plans are already being made if that shutdown happens. The people camping inside the park will be asked to leave. They might be given a couple of days to do that. The gates will be closed where they're able to close them and shut traffic off in some places.

So a lot of things will be happening if this park and other parks across the country have to shut down. But it means immediately that there's going to be a very real human and economic impact beyond just an inconvenienced vacation -- Deborah.

FEYERICK: Not to mention the fact the national parks clearly bringing money in to the government and we shouldn't obviously ignore people who in this economy are willing to spend money on those vacations.

Dave Mattingly, thanks so much for joining us today.

Well, should lawmakers hold out or compromise to prevent a government shutdown? The latest poll numbers on the budget battle in our "Political Update."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Each week we take a look at ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. This week, chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces us to an opera singer who learned she had lung cancer two years ago, but never lost hope or her desire to sing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZHENG CAO, OPERA SINGER: When I'm standing onstage, there's just me and the music. Pure me and the music and the words. Life couldn't be simpler.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some call Zheng Cao one of the finest mezzo-sopranos in the world. Twenty-three years ago, she left her native Shanghai and came to the United States to pursue her dream to perform music. She didn't have much to call her own.

CAO: Forty-five dollars and two big suitcases.

GUPTA: Cao won a scholarship to study music and fell in love with the opera. She's performed in operas all over the world. Her performance as Ruth in "The Bonesetter's Daughter" changed her life.

CAO: On opening night, I fell off the stage. And this pain in my back, and just lingers for long time.

Then the next day, the doctor called, my doctor called me, he said, we had shadow on your lung. And I said oh, that's ridiculous. I've been singing. You know, I said, no problem.

GUPTA: Cao was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer, even though she's never smoked.

CAO: Realistically, how long I have? And she said, well, look at it six months.

GUPTA: The cancer had spread all over her body, the largest tumor was located behind her vocal chords. They also found 24 separate brain tumors.

CAO: Even when I find out about 24 tumors, still I think I had this like blind faith.

GUPTA: Cao decided to fight. During her treatment, Cao fell in love, again. This time, though, with the doctor who saved her life.

CAO: Well, the person who actually went through the trouble to save my voice is now, that person is my husband.

GUPTA: She never gave up hope or her desire to sing.

CAO: It's been an incredible, unbelievable journey.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Love in the most unlikely places. Well Cao tells CNN she's just had another setback, unfortunately, but she's determined to continue to fight the cancer and pursue her dreams.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, the question -- Should lawmakers hold out or compromise to prevent a government shutdown? Jessica Yellin, part of "The Best Political Team on Television," live from the Political Desk in Washington.

Jessica, what we are hearing is that President Obama this morning did speak to Republican John Boehner and Democrat Harry Reid. What are the polls telling you about what is going on?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Big picture, Deb. Overwhelmingly, Americans prefer a deal to keep government open.

The latest Gallup poll done just this week shows just 33 percent of Americans would like their sides to hold out, stand firm in their priorities and allow a shutdown. But by two to one, Americans want compromise to avoid it.

Now when you break it down by party, Democrats and Independents overwhelmingly oppose a shutdown, but Republicans by 51 percent support it. And when you take a closer look at how individual leaders are supporting -- are handling their jobs, a CNN poll shows Republicans in Congress have approval from only 33 percent of the American public, Democrats 35 percent. President Obama is coming out looking OK. He's doing the best with 51 percent approval.

Deb, if you step back and look at this through a political prism, clearly it is the Independents that are the swing factor here, and it is still unclear if there is a shutdown, clearly Independents object to it. They want compromise. They want -- they oppose gridlock but it is not clear who they would blame if a shutdown were to happen.

Right now, President Obama seems to be coming out above the fray looking like he's trying to cut some kind of deal, but all bets are off if there is a shutdown. We don't know politically where the blame would fall.

And, of course, that really depends on how this really plays out in real terms for real people's lives. A lot still at stake in the coming hours and days, Deb.

FEYERICK: OK, Jessica Yellin, thanks so much.

And, of course, where the blame would fall or, in fact, who would end up taking the credit if it is avoided. And for the latest political news, you know where to go, right there, CNNPolitics.com.

You're sounding off on how military families are getting caught in the middle of the budget showdown. Our "Talk Back" question -- Is the military being used as a political bargaining chip?

Some of your responses just moments away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Checking in on some of our top stories.

Four Libyan rebels died in what appears to be a friendly fire accident, but NATO's not offering an apology. An official says NATO didn't know rebels were using tanks.

More violence in Gaza, an airstrike left five dead and five others injured. Israeli police say 15 rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza into Israel this morning.

Across the Arab world, protests are erupting again. Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators took to the streets in Saana, Yemen's capital. In Egypt, demonstrators have gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square for protests being called "The Day of Justice and Cleansing."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Watching Japan's unfolding nuclear crisis on -- oh, my apologies. One second, we are going to a different story. We are going to talk to Carol.

Hey, Carol. How did you like that segue?

COSTELLO: I liked that segue.

FEYERICK: It was good, wasn't it?

Anyway, listen, you're looking into the question of who's right and what everybody thinks about what's going on with the budget shutdown.

COSTELLO: Yes, all the political games.

The "Talk Back" question today -- Is the military being used as a political bargaining chip? Lots of responses today.

This from Michael, "It is a nice talking point to assign blame, but truth be told, we're all being played. This is just well-planned political theater."

This from Michael, "It would take no time at all to pass emergency legislation funding military payroll during a shutdown. In fact, in the same emergency legislation, they could defund payroll for Congress and just transfer the money from one account to the other."

This from Michael -- we have a lot of Michaels, but they have different last names, trust me -- "What's not being used as a bargaining chip by this partisan hissy fit?"

This from Tiffany, "My husband is an eight-year military man. We have three young children to care for and I stay home for our developmentally delayed son. Military is our only income. I hope they figure things out for the sake of the families. My husband's life is worth more than this."

Please continue the conversation, Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll be back with you in 10 minutes.

FEYERICK: Carol, thanks so much.