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Dolans Unscripted

Interview with Mark Everson; A look at the FDA

Aired February 19, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

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


TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris in Atlanta. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED is straight ahead. But first, the news right now.
Nearly two dozen people are dead in parts of Iraq from a series of insurgency attacks. This one was caused by a suicide bomber on a bicycle who blew himself up amid funeral mourners at a Baghdad mosque. The wave of violence coincides with the holiest day of the year for Shiites.

In another attack, a suicide bomber blew up a bus after a brief battle with insurgents. It happened in a Shiite area of Baghdad.

A bipartisan delegation of prominent U.S. senators is in Baghdad today to view the situation there for themselves. At a news conference earlier today it was noted the recent election was accomplished without a single polling place being shut down by violence. That's despite numerous threats by the insurgency.

In the tsunami zone two former U.S. presidents are inspecting relief and recovery efforts. While in Thailand, Bill Clinton and George Bush urged continued international aid to the region. They said losses are estimated at up to $12 billion, with about $7 billion committed so far.

And in Washington, North Korea will dominate discussions today between U.S. and Japanese officials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will host their Japanese counterparts at the State Department.

I'm Tony Harris. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED begins right now.

KEN DOLAN, CO-HOST: Fast cars and stolen identities.

DARIA DOLAN, CO-HOST: Ooh, sounds like a soap opera.

K. DOLAN: No, Daria. It's this week's DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

D. DOLAN: Oh.

ANNOUNCER: Live from the Time Warner Center in New York City with their take on the news, Ken and Daria Dolans.

K. DOLAN: I absolutely love that shot, live from the -- hey, hi, everybody. Nice to see you. If you're on the East Coast, get your second cup of coffee. If you're in the Midwest, bundle up. Maybe the second cup. And if you're just waking up on the West Coast, we're just so darn happy to have you. And I...

D. DOLAN: You know, I just want to say one thing, though.

K. DOLAN: Only one?

D. DOLAN: If you're on the East Coast, bundle up. That beautiful shot you saw of our building, the Time Warner Center...

K. DOLAN: Yes?

D. DOLAN: ... it's colder than January today out there. Woo.

K. DOLAN: Can I ask you a question? I'm asking a question for America before we begin.

Are you listening, Jay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

K. DOLAN: OK, good. Jay -- come over here for a second, Jay.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?

K. DOLAN: People wanted -- somebody e-mailed that they don't like your hair, and they'd ask if you...

D. DOLAN: No, they don't like Jay. They just don't want him in the show.

K. DOLAN: Oh. Jay, leave the hair, get out. OK?

(LAUGHTER)

K. DOLAN: Jay is our floor manager.

Daria, a question before we begin. And we sort of tell everybody who is watching the show for the first time, how do you look so good on Saturday morning?

D. DOLAN: Only Nan knows.

K. DOLAN: Hey, Nan -- Nan, with your mom.

D. DOLAN: Nan Butler...

K. DOLAN: Butler Slate (ph), she is here with her mom watching the show.

D. DOLAN: Right, is here with her mom watching the show.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: Nan is a makeup artist. Not just a makeup person. She's an artiste.

K. DOLAN: No, she's a makeup miracle worker.

D. DOLAN: And she's hiding. She's gorgeous.

K. DOLAN: All right. What's going on?

You know what? DOLANS UNSCRIPTED is a pretty simple show. What we try to do is we take a look at the headlines of the week, kind of turn them inside out from a money standpoint, and see if we can do a take away, see if we can learn something and somehow make our life better.

But I'll tell you one thing, you better call. This is your program.

D. DOLAN: Two "Dolans on Demand" each hour...

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: ... gives you an opportunity to weigh in or ask a question at 1-800-304-3638, or just e-mail dolans@cnn.com. And last but not least, we'll be taking it to the frigid streets. Your questions and comments will be live on the air from New York City.

K. DOLAN: Yes we have -- in our apartment here in New York City, there's a building that has the time and the temperature. And every time I get up -- and I get up usually around 4:30 or 5:00. This morning when I got up, it was 11 degrees.

All right. What else is coming up this hour, Daria?

D. DOLAN: Well, coming up this hour, chasing cheaters. We're going to go straight to the top. That is, to the commissioner himself to learn how the IRS is going after tax evaders.

K. DOLAN: How about simplifying our returns, by the way?

D. DOLAN: We'll have some tips for that, and how to get your refund faster. You won't want to miss it.

K. DOLAN: How would you like it in two weeks? We'll talk about it.

Tolls and taxes. Well, more and more states are taking the toll road -- a little crowded -- to fund their highway work.

Plus, understanding NASCAR. I took a trip to the capital of NASCAR Nation to see like what the heck is going on down there. I just didn't get it. So here we go.

D. DOLAN: Well, maybe you can explain it to me too.

K. DOLAN: Bad medicine. NASCAR's good medicine. But the FDA has had a little panel action here.

D. DOLAN: Yes. A Food and Drug Administration panel voted that Vioxx may go back on sale.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: The painkiller has been off the market since September, when it was found to contribute to an increase in heart attacks.

K. DOLAN: Yes. The advisory panel recommended that Vioxx and other COX-2 drugs like Celebrex and Bextra carry extra clear warnings about the increased risk of heart attacks. I don't know why they're doing it now, but we'll talk about it. The panel also recommended banning advertising for the three drugs direct to consumers.

D. DOLAN: Well, that's one of the big problems, I think.

K. DOLAN: yes.

D. DOLAN: And the FDA does not need to follow the panel's recommendation, but it usually does.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: Here's the interesting part of the story to me, and I would love for one of you doctors...

K. DOLAN: Oh, yes.

D. DOLAN: ... out there or somebody in the medical profession to weigh in with this and explain it to me.

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: If Celebrex passed the panel by 31-1 and the other two, Bextra and Vioxx, almost didn't make it at a 17-15 vote to keep them on the market, if Celebrex is the one that is absolutely identified as the least dangerous to take, why would anybody, anybody want to continue writing prescriptions for Vioxx or Bextra?

K. DOLAN: Interesting. And Daria, I'm wondering what's going to happen with the lawsuits that have been filed. Because there's been some news on some of these drugs coming out in the last few months.

And I'm kind of wondering how this advisory panel stuff and the FDA doesn't have to take a lot of the recommendations or all the recommendations from the FDA advisory panel, although they often do. I'm wondering how it's going to affect the lawsuits that are out there.

But let me ask you a question. Let me give you a take away. And I don't want to scream and yell on Saturday morning live across the country, but I do want to ask you this: where the heck is the FDA?

Did the FDA simply not know that there could have been a problem here? Was this another example of putting stuff out prematurely before their tests were done? Is this an example -- forgive me, I'm just talking in concept -- of letting stuff get out and see how it works before we make our final decisions?

And another thing -- let me finish. Another thing is this: what do you think about the FDA controlling the advertising and stopping the direct advertising to consumers? Because you know what's happening? And I'll tell you what's happening, Daria Dolan.

There are people who are seeing some of these drug advertisements during the football games and baseball, and the news, and they're going directly to the doctor and putting pressure on the doctors. And some doctors are saying, I don't think it will hurt him, let him have it. So they'll stop complaining.

D. DOLAN: Well, there's that, but, you know, we all worry about the prices of prescription medicines. Do you think all this advertising is keeping the prices low? No. If anything, it's inflating the prices to us.

But my take away from all of this is, never forget that all drugs have potential side effects. Some more dangerous than others. They should be your last line of defense, not your first line.

K. DOLAN: I think the bottom line, my bottom line, is just be awfully careful what gets prescribed. Learn more about these things as best you can. I think the FDA could do a stronger job. Maybe it's just me, but that's my opinion.

D. DOLAN: Well, identity thieves duped the legal seller of personal profiles into giving them access to its database.

K. DOLAN: Yes, this really stinks. Investigators say as many as 400,000 people may have been victimized, stolen information, names, addresses, Social Security numbers and credit reports.

D. DOLAN: ChoicePoint, the company fooled by those identity thieves, has alerted only 35,000 consumers all in the state of California that their data may have been stolen.

K. DOLAN: Why just California?

D. DOLAN: Well, because California is the only state that requires companies to notify consumers if they are victims of identity theft, which begs the question...

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: ... why doesn't the federal government write a federal law to protect all of us, not just people in California? There are potentially 400,000. Well, if only 35,000 are notified, you sitting listening to me right now could be a victim yourself. And I'll give you an example.

K. DOLAN: Don't mention names.

D. DOLAN: No.

K. DOLAN: Don't mention names. D. DOLAN: No, because the credit card issuer in this case, in my opinion, is also a victim.

K. DOLAN: Oh, OK.

D. DOLAN: I received this from my MasterCard issuer: "Dear Daria L. Dolan" -- that's my middle name, Lynne (ph) -- "We were recently informed that unauthorized individuals may have gained access to your account information. This unauthorized access did not occur within any of our systems."

K. DOLAN: Then why are they sending -- why are they sending you a letter here?

D. DOLAN: First off, I thought that that was a little bizarre.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: So I called yesterday.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: And I asked them, "Since the last time somebody managed to get my number while my card was still in my wallet, you immediately called me to ask whether I was initiating charges. Why did you choose the slower way of the U.S. mail to do it this time?" And the response I received was, there were too many people to call everybody.

K. DOLAN: Oh boy.

D. DOLAN: Now, I did try to talk to their media person, who did return my call after I had left yesterday.

K. DOLAN: Yes, later in the day.

D. DOLAN: I'm going to check back with him to find out if this might have been a direct result of ChoicePoint or some other reason. The bottom line here, though, and the thing that we all need to be aware of and very, very afraid of is, in the case of a ChoicePoint, unless there is legislation that disallows these companies from doing business with anything other than federal entities who have real need of this information, I don't believe that these companies should be allowed to just do business with anybody.

K. DOLAN: You think it should be more FTC regulated?

D. DOLAN: Absolutely, because there's no way we can protect ourselves in a situation like this.

K. DOLAN: All right. We have no -- we have no crummy, cheesy prizes to give away, but I have a question to ask if you'll call "Dolan's On Demand."

Do you have a better takeaway on how can we do this? How can we protect ourselves? Is it a national I.D. card? You can't get away hardly without giving your Social Security number. When you call on one of these voice (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they ask you for your birth date and your -- and the answer to your secret question.

What can we do to protect ourselves? You simply must give some kinds of information to get stuff done. What's the answer? I'm not smart enough to know, but the system right now stinks, and the FTC...

D. DOLAN: Moving right along. With federal and state money harder to come by, lawmakers are making tough choices on how to fund new road construction.

K. DOLAN: Wasting so much money. Gas prices are already close to two bucks a gallon in much of the country. Many of the country, you're talking 18 cents or more per gallon. So a further hike in gas taxes wouldn't sit well with the public. So give me some options.

D. DOLAN: Well, increasingly popular options among states, adding tolls. But the down side here is more road congestion potentially.

K. DOLAN: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Adding tolls. Oh, adding tolls, which slows down the traffic.

D. DOLAN: Yes.

K. DOLAN: All right.

D. DOLAN: And there is a proposal in California to tax drivers by the mile. Let me start with that one first.

And apparently Governor Schwarzenegger signs on to the possibility of taxing people by the mile.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: It is patently unfair for two reason. Number one, privacy advocates are going to go nuts because they would have to put some sort of device on the car...

K. DOLAN: GPS, yes.

D. DOLAN: ... to go up to the satellite for GPS...

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: ... to try to figure out, you know, how many miles you've gone. So big brother is now definitely watching you.

But even with the privacy issue on the side, my problem was taxing by the mile, the housing stock in California is so impossibly expensive. Do you really think that these people want to live two hours from their job? They enjoy four hours on the road commuting back and forth?

K. DOLAN: Some people -- some people...

D. DOLAN: They can only afford to move to these places that are far afield of where the jobs are.

K. DOLAN: You want the solution? Here's the take away, Ken Dolan take away, right to the issue, right to the pithy point.

Thank you, Dean.

D. DOLAN: Pithy point?

K. DOLAN: Never mind. Here's the point. Increase the tolls. People don't want more -- they don't want more taxes, no more property taxes, especially California, but in any place. No more property taxes.

Please don't whack any more money on my car. It's going to take me a week's pay to fill up my car.

Here's the deal. Increase the tolls on the roads, OK, and make sure -- I don't know what it is in your state -- and make sure everybody has the equivalent, what is it Transpass in Maine, EasyPass -- what is it, EasyPass in New Jersey?

D. DOLAN: Another way big brother can track you.

K. DOLAN: No.

D. DOLAN: Just stifle. Let me explain to you the fallacy of your thinking.

They want to bring on a toll rather than another tax because we're all overtaxed already. And isn't part of the reason that we pay taxes to our states the fact that they use some of that money to maintain the infrastructure? Here's what we need to do. This is my bottom line.

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: Hold the politicians to, what the heck have you done with the money you already got, instead of trying to figure out a new way to get more money out of us, because you're not using the money for what it was intended.

K. DOLAN: OK, yakety yak...

D. DOLAN: On that note...

K. DOLAN: ... let's get some people in here. Our first "Dolans On Demand" straight ahead. Would you rather see more tolls or higher gas taxes? Do you have an identity theft story to share with us? Or...

D. DOLAN: And what are your thoughts on Vioxx? Why not give us a call right now, 800-304-3638, or send us an e-mail at dolans@CNN.com. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Hey, don't forget, 1-800-304 -- is it 304-3638 the old number?

D. DOLAN: Excellent, yes.

K. DOLAN: Yes, OK. Good.

D. DOLAN: It's the new number, too. It's the same number.

K. DOLAN: Yes. It is live and it is your show.

And Mary in Colorado has something to say about one of the FDA things.

Hi, Mary.

CALLER: Hello.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: I just wanted to comment. You were mentioning that the Celebrex seems to be statistically safer and why would anybody prescribe the others?

K. DOLAN: Yes.

CALLER: Just because these medications are in the same class, they do not work the same. I've taken Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra, and I want my Vioxx back.

K. DOLAN: Really?

D. DOLAN: Do you really, Mary?

CALLER: Yes.

D. DOLAN: And you're not -- do you have a history of heart disease in the family?

CALLER: Well, I never have.

K. DOLAN: All right.

CALLER: And Celebrex did nothing for me. Vioxx then became my miracle drug that completely took care of my pain and kept me ambulatory and healthy.

K. DOLAN: Wow.

CALLER: They took that away. Now I'm on Bextra. And amazingly, and nobody can explain, why my blood pressure is suddenly high and now I'm taking blood pressure medication. K. DOLAN: And I assume, Mary...

D. DOLAN: Ooh, boy.

K. DOLAN: ... you're obviously under a doctor's care, Mary? You're not ordering it from Canada or something?

CALLER: Absolutely. Oh, no, no, no. Absolutely.

K. DOLAN: Yes, OK. You want your Vioxx.

CALLER: I really do. I worked great for me. And I didn't have these blood pressure problems.

My concern is that I can't seem to find out or nobody will admit or say or do the research...

K. DOLAN: What?

CALLER: ... how does this heart risk actually work? What does the drug do that actually causes this to allow me to really evaluate my personal health and how that fits in? I can't do that.

D. DOLAN: Well, Mary, I think that those are wonderful points and questions that you bring out. And certainly the person that has prescribed these COX-2 inhibitors should be able to answer those questions and should make the time available with you to talk about those very questions.

Mary, we know nothing about medicine. We just try and stay healthy is what we do here, and thankfully don't have what you suffer. But you need to talk to your doctor.

K. DOLAN: Mary, thank you very much. Good start to a "Dolans On Demand."

Speaking of that, let's take it to the streets. A young lady is out there with a question. We don't know what it is. We're going to find out.

Hi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fine, thank you. How are you?

K. DOLAN: Good.

D. DOLAN: Good.

K. DOLAN: What's on your mind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I have concerns about the cost of health care in the country. My husband and I are an average income family and small business owners. We struggle to cover ourselves, and since the election the cost of health care seems to be dropping off the mat. And I'm wondering if there's any plan in particular that anybody knows about that's been put out there by any of the representatives in government, or if there's hope for the cost of health care being driven down.

K. DOLAN: Boy. Leah, super question, Leah.

D. DOLAN: Leah, as small business people, have you and your husband investigated medical savings accounts?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have not yet.

D. DOLAN: You definitely want to talk to your accountant and you want to talk to some insurance professional, health insurance professional, about medical savings accounts which would give you some tax benefits, as well as the ability to pay less for a policy as long as you're willing to take a very high deductible, which you put into a tax -- tax free into an account.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

D. DOLAN: And if you don't need to use it, you've got it there for yourself.

K. DOLAN: And also, Leah, take a look on irs.gov. Get public -- I'm doing it from my memory -- 334 or 344. It's called taxes for small business, and they...

D. DOLAN: 334 I think.

K. DOLAN: 334, and they talk about that, too, Leah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

K. DOLAN: Leah, it's a tough problem. Daria and I face the same problem ourselves with some of our other businesses. And we'll be talking about it more, Leah. You stay tuned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great. Thank you.

K. DOLAN: Good deal, Leah.

D. DOLAN: OK.

K. DOLAN: Thanks.

Is Social Security a security plan or a pension plan, speaking of my (ph) charts?

D. DOLAN: Well, in a minute we'll discuss that and what to do about Social Security, because Washington is divided over the president's plans or musings. I'm not sure if it's a plan yet.

K. DOLAN: What plan? There's no plan. D. DOLAN: Judging by the e-mails we've received, the debate goes well beyond the beltway, too. We'll address your feelings of social insecurity.

K. DOLAN: Yes, but wait just a second. We've got a Dolans tax break here coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN GREENSPAN, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: If you're going to move to private accounts, which I approve of, I think you have to do it in a cautious, gradual way. I think it's a good thing to do over the longer run. And eventually, because the pay as you go system, in my judgment, is going to be very difficult to manage, we are going to need an alternative.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

D. DOLAN: Well, that, of course, was Alan Greenspan testifying earlier this week in his -- what do they call it?

K. DOLAN: Humphrey-Hawkins. Didn't they used to call it Humphrey-Hawkins?

D. DOLAN: It used to be called the Humphrey-Hawkins.

K. DOLAN: He makes a statement, and then they can sort of ask him everything else, yes.

D. DOLAN: And he gave a lukewarm support for the private accounts. I think as the head of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan is most concerned that by borrowing money from the future to offset the liabilities of setting up the private accounts now, how the markets will react to this borrowing.

K. DOLAN: Can I give you my opinion?

D. DOLAN: Well, let me just say this. From my standpoint...

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: ... to borrow from the future to try and fix something today is no better than a homeowner taking out a complete 100 percent home equity loan on their house to pay off credit card bills. It's a house of cards that ends up collapsing at one point or another.

K. DOLAN: Let me give you my five cents worth. You can agree or disagree by e-mailing us, dolans@CNN.com, or calling us. And you can e-mail after the show. We look at them during the week.

Here's my point. Tell me where I'm wrong here.

Yes, there is a baby boomer situation coming, and, yes, in the years ahead there will be 2.9 workers or 1.9 workers for everybody getting it. But is it not a matter of priority?

Isn't Medicare and Medicaid and the deficit much more of an important thing at this particular point? You've got Republicans who, in fact, are backing away from this. Democrats are backing away.

There are more money -- more of our tax dollars being wasted on -- let me finish -- on road shows trying to convince. Come up with a plan. Come up with a plan. The markets can't take a $2 or $3 million -- or $2 or $3 trillion overhang with financing it with bonds. I'm telling you.

D. DOLAN: All right. But I want -- I want to share with our viewers some of the snippets from e-mails that we've received over the past week regarding Social Security, or social insecurity, as we call it. This one from Jim Georgia.

He put in his e-mail, "If Congress had treated Social Security revenue as a trust fund instead of a slush fund, there wouldn't be a problem."

A lot of you e-mailed the fact about the trust fund not being there. And this is where I find it the biggest joke of all, that anybody is even focusing on this now, that Congress is sitting there now trying to fix something that wouldn't have been a problem if they'd kept their hands out of the till all these many years. There would be plenty of money there no matter how many workers.

K. DOLAN: From Thomas, another e-mail. "Hey, Dolans, the real problem is lack of savings."

Thomas, have you got it. This is an area where education, not regulation, is the real answer.

Yes, Thomas, because it's an insurance policy, Social Security. It is not a pension plan. It is not an answer for those who haven't saved.

D. DOLAN: I would like some Ph.D. candidate out there to do a study on whether, in fact, Social Security (UNINTELLIGIBLE) us at all in saving because, as another e-mailer said, Curtis, "Social Security is insurance, not a pension."

K. DOLAN: All right. Let's drive home. We want to be talking about it in the weeks ahead.

What is your opinion? Do you have a solution? We haven't heard one yet.

Well, up next, amid all the cuts in his latest budget, President Bush added a half a bill for IRS tax enforcement. How will that money be used? We'll put that question to the big guy, the country's top tax man.

D. DOLAN: And we'll get some advice on taking the sting out of filing as well. You won't want to miss what he has to say.

Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

D. DOLAN: Next, we'll speak with the commissioner of the IRS. He has some information that you must hear before you file your taxes.

But first, the top headlines. And for that, we send it back to Tony Harris in Atlanta -- Tony.

HARRIS: Ah, Daria, good morning. Good to see you and Ken.

I'm Tony Harris. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED will continue. But first, these stories "Now in the News."

At least 22 people have been killed in a suicide bombing today in Iraq. The death toll includes the bombers. One blast in Baghdad was in a funeral tent crowded with mourners. Another was aboard a bus.

Bill Clinton says the important thing is that the world remember and help the tsunami survivors when all the cameras are not there. Former presidents Clinton and George Bush are in Thailand, the first stop on their tour of tsunami-devastated areas. The ex presidents are leading tsunami relief efforts in the United States.

High-level security talks in Washington today. The U.S. secretary of state and defense secretary meeting with their Japanese counterparts. Among the topics on the table, China's impatience with Taiwan. Also under discussion, a nuclear-armed North Korea that may or may not be ready to return to the bargaining table.

I'm Tony Harris in Atlanta. Now back to Ken and DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

K. DOLAN: Thank you so much, Tony. Thanks for the latest news. We appreciate it.

OK. Guest time, Daria. Let's go.

Thanks, Tony.

D. DOLAN: All right. Well, you know, this is a very taxing time of the year, pun absolutely intended...

K. DOLAN: Oh boy.

D. DOLAN: ... for most Americans. But to take a little of the sting out of it and, I think, bring some good news to taxpayers, we now introduce you to Mark Everson. He's commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and he's joining us from our nation's capital.

Good morning, Commissioner.

K. DOLAN: Hi, Commissioner.

MARK EVERSON, IRS COMMISSIONER: Good morning. K. DOLAN: Thanks so much for taking time. Five hundred million dollars. You were quoted as saying "Enforcement will pay for itself." Is that enough money and will it pay?

EVERSON: Well, the president's been very generous to the IRS in his budget request, and that's -- it's a recognition that, especially in this time of deficit reduction, that if you can increase the taxes coming in, you don't need to borrow as much. And each year, unfortunately, through non-filing, under-reporting and nonpayment, hundreds of billions of dollars a year don't come in. So he wants to collect some of that money, and you invest in the IRS, we'll get that money in.

D. DOLAN: Commissioner, do you think that the large bulk of that money that goes uncollected is due to people trying to, you know, take advantage of the IRS and the government, or is it by confusion because of a completely mystifying tax code?

EVERSON: Well, Daria, it's a combination of factors, and certainly we believe that complexity hurts people's understanding of the -- of their obligation. And that's why the proposal to simplify the code is so important.

But at the same time, there are too many who aren't taking their fair share seriously. They're trying to avoid their obligation. And we're going to use this extra money, particularly to go after high- income and corporations, people who are -- who have every reason to pay. They have got plenty of money but they just don't want to pay.

K. DOLAN: You know, Commissioner, I love to hear that, because one of the knocks on the IRS -- and "knocks" is overstating it -- is that some of the audits and some of the enforcement initiatives in the past years were to the smaller guys, the smaller taxpayers. But, in fact, it seems to me you're going for the right people who got the fancy accountants to -- or fancy tax shelters stuff, fancy tax haven stuff. There's a lot of dough there, and I think the money is like -- like they said, why do you rob banks, it's because that's where the money is.

That seems to me where the money is.

EVERSON: Well, it's gotten way out of line. And attorneys and accountants who traditionally had -- gave very conservative advice in these areas, they said the sky's the limit. And we're trying to bring this back into line.

And we're also, frankly, engaging in criminal investigations. We're going to hire extra criminal investigators with this new money.

So all of this, we think, will bring the system back into balance. We really believe that to do our job, to get compliance, to bring this money in, the IRS has to provide good service but also enforce the law.

D. DOLAN: All right. Commissioner, let's move on, because we have a couple of other issues I want our audience to be aware of. And that is e-filing, which has become just the simplest way to go when you want to get your taxes where they need to be and in a timely fashion, why isn't everybody using this?

EVERSON: Well, this year we think over half of individuals will e-file. And that's -- if you think about any other part of our economy, that's really quite a statistic.

Last year, 62 million of the returns came in with electronic filing. This year over half.

And it's the way to go because it's more reliable. The post office doesn't lose the return. We don't make any transcription errors. And most people still get refunds.

We had about 100 million refunds last year, and they come in, in half the time if you e-file. So we do encourage everybody to e-file.

D. DOLAN: And you have a free file initiative.

EVERSON: Yes. We work with a consortium of about 15 different companies, and over 3.5 million people last year took advantage of this. If you just go to IRS.gov, you can learn about it. And there's really no reason not to explore this.

K. DOLAN: And how about not losing any checks in the mail even to thievery, Commissioner Everson? And this is direct deposit right in the -- right in the bank.

EVERSON: Well, that's the best. Exactly.

You just indicate to the form. Now, be careful. You don't want your money going to somebody else's account.

But if you put down the right bank account, the right bank, it's just like any other electronic transfer. And that cuts a week off the time when you get the refund. It comes that much sooner.

K. DOLAN: Great, Commissioner. Good stuff.

D. DOLAN: Actually, Commissioner, I think it takes it from six weeks down to two in most cases. So a whole month makes a big difference for a whole bunch of us.

EVERSON: That's a big difference. And that's compared to the paper. If you just mail it in, that's right, it could take you six weeks if you just mail in the return.

K. DOLAN: Commissioner Everson, thank you so much for spending time. We'll be -- we'll be taking a look at how well it goes. And under your guide I'm sure it will be great. But good luck in your -- good luck in your pursuits.

EVERSON: Nice to talk to you both.

D. DOLAN: Thank you.

K. DOLAN: Thanks a lot, Commissioner.

Nice guy. I like him. Yes, good guy.

D. DOLAN: But before we move on, you know, taxes are at the center of this week's "Dolans Doodles."

K. DOLAN: Look at the book. "NASCAR for Dummies." Daria is doing the taxes. Daria actually does the taxes.

You're not -- I'm not kidding you. Daria does the taxes and I kind of stoop advise. But in this particular cartoon, thanks to Mike Chicatello (ph), what I'm doing is reading "NASCAR for Dummies," because I'm going to tell you, I need it.

I've been getting an education in NASCAR, and it's been a hard one. I didn't know much.

But up next, we're going to give you an education about it too with the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest race, kicking off tomorrow. I said, "What the heck is going on down there?" So I decided to check it out by going there. And boy, did I have an adventure!

I'm going to share it with you in just a couple of minutes. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Hey, I'm going to tell you, what a day I had. Welcome back, everybody. Thanks for joining us.

The great American race, the Daytona 500. Gentlemen, start your engines. They'll be running tomorrow, though.

I always knew NASCAR was a big business, but I mean a big business! But I couldn't figure out the fascination by all these millions of NASCAR fans. So what I did was got on a plane, said, "I'm going to go check it out for myself." So I went to Daytona Beach to figure it out for myself and maybe for some of you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

K. DOLAN (voice-over): The NASCAR industry, with revenues in the billions, stands in the millions, and TV ratings second only for the NFL is a roaring business. There's just one problem, I don't get it.

(on camera): Why do you guys like it so much? Are you here because you have to be, or are you here because you want to keep an eye on your husband? Or the third choice is...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really enjoy it.

K. DOLAN: What excites you the most?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a really highly competitive sport, but everything they say about NASCAR and family holds true. It's really a community sport. K. DOLAN (voice-over): Beyond the competition and community, access is unique to NASCAR.

(on camera): I'm very impressed because it's not like the Super Bowl or the World Series. The fans are here.

CASEY MEARS, DRIVER, TARGET CAR: They're right here.

K. DOLAN: Here to there is where they are.

MEARS: Absolutely. I mean, you can walk right up to them and say, "Hi," and they can walk right up to you and vice versa. So I think that's a big part of it.

K. DOLAN (voice-over): Corporate sponsors see NASCAR as an opportunity to turn fan loyalty into brand loyalty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the real reason is that they're able to brand directly on the playing field. They're not just a billboard in the stadium somewhere. It's a powerful platform for sponsors to go on.

K. DOLAN: A controversial edition to sponsorships this year? Hard liquor companies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We looked at the research, and that line between spirits and beer and wine is being blended in terms of how our fans view it. And secondly, it was the powerful message that you're going to see the hard liquor companies use as they promote NASCAR. It will be -- that's the balance and that's the difference that we looked at.

K. DOLAN: Despite the spat over spirits, NASCAR is getting more buzz than ever. In addition to broadcasting on three networks, NASCAR is featured in an Imax movie and has a presence on hipster staples like "MTV Cribs."

MEARS: Hi. I'm Casey Mears. I'm driving the number 41 Target Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series.

K. DOLAN: And with more recognition comes a bigger bank roll.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, we have, you know, 200 or 220 employees or so involved in a, you know, week in, week out of the preparation, the transportation. Yes, I mean, it's equivalent to a major sports franchise picking up and traveling week to week.

K. DOLAN (on camera): I'm feeding my need for speed.

Why do you like cars running around in a circle at 184 miles an hour at the risk of their life? Tell me. Maybe that's why you like it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's pretty sexy. A lot of hot guys to look at.

K. DOLAN: Walter, would you say sexy? A lot of anchors, CNN people here too.

(voice-over): I think I finally get it. NASCAR is about speed, community, meeting your idols and dreamboats like me to cover it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

K. DOLAN: What a knucklehead!

Anyway, this year's purse for the winner of the Daytona 500 is a record purse. It's $17 -- more than $17 million.

Daria, let me tell you something. I learned so much.

D. DOLAN: The noise would have driven me nuts.

K. DOLAN: No. Maybe so.

It's part show business, it's a lot of family, it's fans loyal to the sponsors, a lot of Fortune 500 companies, I think more than any other sport. But I'll tell you one thing, it's a bunch of very nice people who really like it. They've got their sports cars, their driver heroes.

No, NASCAR is not -- still not my favorite sport, but I tell you something, I get it much more. It's a lifestyle, not a sport.

D. DOLAN: I noticed you interviewed a lot of nice young women at this thing. We'll talk after the show.

After the break, the food, the beds, the noise. Well, most people can't wait to get out of the hospital. We have the story of a woman who has made it her home, and the hospital, well, it's keeping a patient but losing its patience. That's up next on DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Isn't that beautiful?

D. DOLAN: What a shame, though, that first shot didn't have a real good closeup of the gigantic car wash.

(CROSSTALK)

K. DOLAN: Oh, cut it out, Daria. Don't be anti-art, for heaven's sakes.

D. DOLAN: Art?

Hey, some news from Wall Street could affect your investments as at least three brokerage firms, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Piper Jaffray, have done away with brokers' commissions on small accounts.

K. DOLAN: Oh, big -- that's not even news.

D. DOLAN: If you -- it is. They're doing away with the commissions for the brokers. It doesn't mean you're not going to pay. So if you have less than $50,000 to invest, many brokers on Wall Street now have almost no incentive -- no, strike that, have no incentive to take you as a client.

K. DOLAN: All right. And another story -- all right. Let's -- we'll talk about that.

And another story, the New York Stock Exchange is cracking down on brokerage houses who may be dumping your money. Those sweep accounts, you know, when you're sort of acting a little defensively, waiting to do something, they're dumping that money into accounts with sub-par rates. Some of them are, without even telling you.

All right. Let's talk...

D. DOLAN: And they have a perfectly good money market fund sitting right next to it that would get you a better rate of return.

K. DOLAN: Did I start 100 years ago on Wall Street?

D. DOLAN: I think so. The ticker tape was still running, yes.

K. DOLAN: Just answer the question straight, would you please? Was I a big shot on Wall Street? Did I know a lot about Wall Street? OK.

D. DOLAN: You told me so.

K. DOLAN: Never mind. Here's the deal. No respect there.

You want little respect, Jay? That's what you get.

All right. Here's the deal. It's no surprise that small accounts have never, ever been at the top of most large and small brokerage firms' accounts. What they're saying is -- what they're saying is that real money is in the $100,000 plus. And here's why.

Because the business is going to a different kind of business. It's called money under management.

A lot of brokerage firms are taking your money, $100,000 or more, and giving it to outside money managers that they recommend from a list. And if the money manager doesn't do a good job, then they say, well, let's change money managers.

So many brokers are forgetting their responsibility and letting somebody else do it. If you think you're a small accountant and going to get service, forget it. That's why you've got to get better educated, because if you're a small investor, you're on your own.

I wanted to talk. Would you relax?

D. DOLAN: All right. I have two quick take aways on this. Very important.

Number one, if you have an account, call your broker, find out whether they've got it in a regular sweep account or a money market mutual fund. And make sure that they sweep it into a money market mutual fund for you. Know what your interest rate is.

And number two, start looking around for a new brokerage firm. Because if you're under $50,000, you're not going to get any attention and it could hurt your portfolio.

Next...

K. DOLAN: All right. Most people can't wait to get out of the hospital. But a California woman is saying, I'm staying. She's fighting for her bed.

D. DOLAN: Yes. Eighty-two-year-old Sara Nome (ph) has been in the hospital for over a year in San Rafael, even though she admits has no medical problems. The patient says she has nowhere to go. But the hospital wants to know who's going to pick up her $1 million tab.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Well, of course the -- as you can imagine, Daria, the hospital needs the space and there's no money there. The hospital is suing to evict her, saying it doesn't want to put her out on the curb. And they've taken away her TV and her newspapers in an attempt to get her to leave voluntarily.

Doesn't she have any family?

D. DOLAN: The woman has lived her entire life in Marin County.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: She has a daughter, but it's not clear what the daughter's financial situation is.

K. DOLAN: OK.

D. DOLAN: She was sent to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation, and after a week determined it wasn't necessary. And on that news, she sued the nursing home that had referred her and sent her to the hospital. So she can't go back to the nursing home.

The bottom line to me on this story is, it is criminal that an 82-year-old woman -- you know, some on the staff kind of thought this was a funny story. It's not funny.

She's 82 years of age. She cannot walk. The hospital cannot throw her out.

She has nowhere else to go in her own mind. And that is not how any senior should end their lives in the United States of America, and that's my bottom line.

K. DOLAN: I agree with you, Daria. On the other hand, I'm surprised they're not even tougher with her.

I mean, if, in fact, she has no reason to be there medically and no money to stay there, I can't imagine. I'm not saying throw her out of the place, but I'm surprised they're not being a little tougher on her. But your take away is absolutely the right take away, 82 years old.

D. DOLAN: You can't throw a patient out who can't walk, Ken.

K. DOLAN: A tough one.

All right. Let's go.

D. DOLAN: Up next, your chance to weigh in on these stories or anything else we've talked about this hour. And we'll take your phone calls and e-mails as well in our second "Dolans ON Demand" of the hour when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

D. DOLAN: Well, in an effort to be fully honest and give you fair, full disclosure, let it be truly known that I can be bought for cheesecake.

(LAUGHTER)

K. DOLAN: That's right. We got a wonderful cheesecake from Marc Schulman, who is president of Eli's Cheesecake. And he was so nice to put "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED."

They're based in Chicago. And we appreciate it very, very much. Thanks so much, guys. It's absolutely wonderful.

D. DOLAN: We had it for breakfast before the show. I'm having a piece right after the show.

K. DOLAN: To the phones.

D. DOLAN: Chris in California.

K. DOLAN: Hey, Chris.

D. DOLAN: Hi, Chris. How are you?

CALLER: Good morning.

K. DOLAN: Hi.

D. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: Welcome to CNN.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Chris.

CALLER: We live in California but are originally from the East Coast. And my husband loved your show.

D. DOLAN: Oh.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Chris. CALLER: He used to come home with your radio show quotes all day long. Listen, is it wrong for me to be so annoyed and upset with these credit card applications I get, maybe three a day, sometimes with my name and credit line on it?

K. DOLAN: It's horrible.

D. DOLAN: I know it. I know it, Chris.

K. DOLAN: Too much information, Chris, flying around.

D. DOLAN: You know, I believe in as little government as possible, but I think that when it comes to this sort of thing, number one, if they're going to use our Social Security numbers as identifiers for everything in this country, and I.D. theft is like the biggest problem we currently face, then they need to accommodate us in the Social Security Administration with the ability to change Social Security numbers, because once your I.D. has been stolen, it could take you years.

K. DOLAN: Chris, thank you very much.

We're headed out to California to do a piece on the movie business right after the show today.

Speaking of California, Pat in California.

Hi, Pat.

CALLER: Hi.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: Thanks, I'm fine.

K. DOLAN: Good.

CALLER: Sunny day here.

K. DOLAN: Good.

CALLER: Thank you for taking the call. I had a question. I was just listening to the tail end of the comment that the woman made on the California person, 82-year-old in the hospital?

K. DOLAN: Yes, yes. We did that.

CALLER: And the local story that I heard last night on ABC was that she had been prescribed coumadin for years. And the reason she can't walk is that it leached the calcium out of her bones in her legs. So both legs went out at the same time. And she's saying Kaiser needs to help take care of her because it's their fault that she is in that condition.

K. DOLAN: In the -- yes. D. DOLAN: Interesting. So I've been saying it's a question, why should 82-year-old anybodies in this country of all countries in the world not have any where else to go?

K. DOLAN: Thank you very much, Pat.

D. DOLAN: Thanks, Pat. And thanks for the clarification on that.

K. DOLAN: Exactly.

All right. An e-mail from Jack in Wisconsin. "Hey, Dolans, taxing by the mile lessens the impact on gas guzzlers, but an increased gas tax would raise money, discourage gas guzzlers and doesn't require another costly government bureaucracy to function."

D. DOLAN: An interesting sidebar on that was that the state of California has so many people buying these alternative vehicles now, they know gas taxes are going to go down. So it's a concerted effort to get money out of them.

K. DOLAN: All right. Thirty seconds, lady. Go.

D. DOLAN: Well, the TSA within the next two months will ban all matches and cigarette lighters from passengers going on to planes. Now, this is in response to Richard Reid and his bomb-laden sneakers, which occurred in the end of 2001.

How many shoes have been exploded since then? None. This is just another stake in the heart of the airline industry and a reason for us to take our cars on vacation. Enough already.

K. DOLAN: Speaking of traveling, I was in Daytona Beach. You saw the NASCAR piece. And I've been screaming and yelling for 10 years, the death of customer service.

Well, let me tell you something. I was taken care of by a guy at Hertz Rent-A-Car by the name of Alberto Wonjiniak (ph). I can't believe how nice he was.

I got lost in Daytona Beach, which is like two square miles. And he got me back on track. He couldn't have been nicer.

Alberto, you've given me faith that people do care about people. And Hertz should be proud to have you. Alberto Wonjiniak (ph). Thank you, Alberto.

D. DOLAN: I'm not surprised. You get lost in the kitchen.

Hey, we wanted to add this programming note before we say good- bye. Listen up.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are scheduled to speak with reporters at about 11:30 Eastern. And of course CNN will carry their comments live. The two are meeting with their Japanese counterparts on a wide range of issues, including how to deal with a possible North Korean nuclear threat.

K. DOLAN: Thanks so much for joining us, everybody. We'll see you next week.

"PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is next after the top news headlines on the top of the hour.

We'll see you next week.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired February 19, 2005 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris in Atlanta. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED is straight ahead. But first, the news right now.
Nearly two dozen people are dead in parts of Iraq from a series of insurgency attacks. This one was caused by a suicide bomber on a bicycle who blew himself up amid funeral mourners at a Baghdad mosque. The wave of violence coincides with the holiest day of the year for Shiites.

In another attack, a suicide bomber blew up a bus after a brief battle with insurgents. It happened in a Shiite area of Baghdad.

A bipartisan delegation of prominent U.S. senators is in Baghdad today to view the situation there for themselves. At a news conference earlier today it was noted the recent election was accomplished without a single polling place being shut down by violence. That's despite numerous threats by the insurgency.

In the tsunami zone two former U.S. presidents are inspecting relief and recovery efforts. While in Thailand, Bill Clinton and George Bush urged continued international aid to the region. They said losses are estimated at up to $12 billion, with about $7 billion committed so far.

And in Washington, North Korea will dominate discussions today between U.S. and Japanese officials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will host their Japanese counterparts at the State Department.

I'm Tony Harris. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED begins right now.

KEN DOLAN, CO-HOST: Fast cars and stolen identities.

DARIA DOLAN, CO-HOST: Ooh, sounds like a soap opera.

K. DOLAN: No, Daria. It's this week's DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

D. DOLAN: Oh.

ANNOUNCER: Live from the Time Warner Center in New York City with their take on the news, Ken and Daria Dolans.

K. DOLAN: I absolutely love that shot, live from the -- hey, hi, everybody. Nice to see you. If you're on the East Coast, get your second cup of coffee. If you're in the Midwest, bundle up. Maybe the second cup. And if you're just waking up on the West Coast, we're just so darn happy to have you. And I...

D. DOLAN: You know, I just want to say one thing, though.

K. DOLAN: Only one?

D. DOLAN: If you're on the East Coast, bundle up. That beautiful shot you saw of our building, the Time Warner Center...

K. DOLAN: Yes?

D. DOLAN: ... it's colder than January today out there. Woo.

K. DOLAN: Can I ask you a question? I'm asking a question for America before we begin.

Are you listening, Jay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

K. DOLAN: OK, good. Jay -- come over here for a second, Jay.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?

K. DOLAN: People wanted -- somebody e-mailed that they don't like your hair, and they'd ask if you...

D. DOLAN: No, they don't like Jay. They just don't want him in the show.

K. DOLAN: Oh. Jay, leave the hair, get out. OK?

(LAUGHTER)

K. DOLAN: Jay is our floor manager.

Daria, a question before we begin. And we sort of tell everybody who is watching the show for the first time, how do you look so good on Saturday morning?

D. DOLAN: Only Nan knows.

K. DOLAN: Hey, Nan -- Nan, with your mom.

D. DOLAN: Nan Butler...

K. DOLAN: Butler Slate (ph), she is here with her mom watching the show.

D. DOLAN: Right, is here with her mom watching the show.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: Nan is a makeup artist. Not just a makeup person. She's an artiste.

K. DOLAN: No, she's a makeup miracle worker.

D. DOLAN: And she's hiding. She's gorgeous.

K. DOLAN: All right. What's going on?

You know what? DOLANS UNSCRIPTED is a pretty simple show. What we try to do is we take a look at the headlines of the week, kind of turn them inside out from a money standpoint, and see if we can do a take away, see if we can learn something and somehow make our life better.

But I'll tell you one thing, you better call. This is your program.

D. DOLAN: Two "Dolans on Demand" each hour...

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: ... gives you an opportunity to weigh in or ask a question at 1-800-304-3638, or just e-mail dolans@cnn.com. And last but not least, we'll be taking it to the frigid streets. Your questions and comments will be live on the air from New York City.

K. DOLAN: Yes we have -- in our apartment here in New York City, there's a building that has the time and the temperature. And every time I get up -- and I get up usually around 4:30 or 5:00. This morning when I got up, it was 11 degrees.

All right. What else is coming up this hour, Daria?

D. DOLAN: Well, coming up this hour, chasing cheaters. We're going to go straight to the top. That is, to the commissioner himself to learn how the IRS is going after tax evaders.

K. DOLAN: How about simplifying our returns, by the way?

D. DOLAN: We'll have some tips for that, and how to get your refund faster. You won't want to miss it.

K. DOLAN: How would you like it in two weeks? We'll talk about it.

Tolls and taxes. Well, more and more states are taking the toll road -- a little crowded -- to fund their highway work.

Plus, understanding NASCAR. I took a trip to the capital of NASCAR Nation to see like what the heck is going on down there. I just didn't get it. So here we go.

D. DOLAN: Well, maybe you can explain it to me too.

K. DOLAN: Bad medicine. NASCAR's good medicine. But the FDA has had a little panel action here.

D. DOLAN: Yes. A Food and Drug Administration panel voted that Vioxx may go back on sale.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: The painkiller has been off the market since September, when it was found to contribute to an increase in heart attacks.

K. DOLAN: Yes. The advisory panel recommended that Vioxx and other COX-2 drugs like Celebrex and Bextra carry extra clear warnings about the increased risk of heart attacks. I don't know why they're doing it now, but we'll talk about it. The panel also recommended banning advertising for the three drugs direct to consumers.

D. DOLAN: Well, that's one of the big problems, I think.

K. DOLAN: yes.

D. DOLAN: And the FDA does not need to follow the panel's recommendation, but it usually does.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: Here's the interesting part of the story to me, and I would love for one of you doctors...

K. DOLAN: Oh, yes.

D. DOLAN: ... out there or somebody in the medical profession to weigh in with this and explain it to me.

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: If Celebrex passed the panel by 31-1 and the other two, Bextra and Vioxx, almost didn't make it at a 17-15 vote to keep them on the market, if Celebrex is the one that is absolutely identified as the least dangerous to take, why would anybody, anybody want to continue writing prescriptions for Vioxx or Bextra?

K. DOLAN: Interesting. And Daria, I'm wondering what's going to happen with the lawsuits that have been filed. Because there's been some news on some of these drugs coming out in the last few months.

And I'm kind of wondering how this advisory panel stuff and the FDA doesn't have to take a lot of the recommendations or all the recommendations from the FDA advisory panel, although they often do. I'm wondering how it's going to affect the lawsuits that are out there.

But let me ask you a question. Let me give you a take away. And I don't want to scream and yell on Saturday morning live across the country, but I do want to ask you this: where the heck is the FDA?

Did the FDA simply not know that there could have been a problem here? Was this another example of putting stuff out prematurely before their tests were done? Is this an example -- forgive me, I'm just talking in concept -- of letting stuff get out and see how it works before we make our final decisions?

And another thing -- let me finish. Another thing is this: what do you think about the FDA controlling the advertising and stopping the direct advertising to consumers? Because you know what's happening? And I'll tell you what's happening, Daria Dolan.

There are people who are seeing some of these drug advertisements during the football games and baseball, and the news, and they're going directly to the doctor and putting pressure on the doctors. And some doctors are saying, I don't think it will hurt him, let him have it. So they'll stop complaining.

D. DOLAN: Well, there's that, but, you know, we all worry about the prices of prescription medicines. Do you think all this advertising is keeping the prices low? No. If anything, it's inflating the prices to us.

But my take away from all of this is, never forget that all drugs have potential side effects. Some more dangerous than others. They should be your last line of defense, not your first line.

K. DOLAN: I think the bottom line, my bottom line, is just be awfully careful what gets prescribed. Learn more about these things as best you can. I think the FDA could do a stronger job. Maybe it's just me, but that's my opinion.

D. DOLAN: Well, identity thieves duped the legal seller of personal profiles into giving them access to its database.

K. DOLAN: Yes, this really stinks. Investigators say as many as 400,000 people may have been victimized, stolen information, names, addresses, Social Security numbers and credit reports.

D. DOLAN: ChoicePoint, the company fooled by those identity thieves, has alerted only 35,000 consumers all in the state of California that their data may have been stolen.

K. DOLAN: Why just California?

D. DOLAN: Well, because California is the only state that requires companies to notify consumers if they are victims of identity theft, which begs the question...

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: ... why doesn't the federal government write a federal law to protect all of us, not just people in California? There are potentially 400,000. Well, if only 35,000 are notified, you sitting listening to me right now could be a victim yourself. And I'll give you an example.

K. DOLAN: Don't mention names.

D. DOLAN: No.

K. DOLAN: Don't mention names. D. DOLAN: No, because the credit card issuer in this case, in my opinion, is also a victim.

K. DOLAN: Oh, OK.

D. DOLAN: I received this from my MasterCard issuer: "Dear Daria L. Dolan" -- that's my middle name, Lynne (ph) -- "We were recently informed that unauthorized individuals may have gained access to your account information. This unauthorized access did not occur within any of our systems."

K. DOLAN: Then why are they sending -- why are they sending you a letter here?

D. DOLAN: First off, I thought that that was a little bizarre.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: So I called yesterday.

K. DOLAN: Yes.

D. DOLAN: And I asked them, "Since the last time somebody managed to get my number while my card was still in my wallet, you immediately called me to ask whether I was initiating charges. Why did you choose the slower way of the U.S. mail to do it this time?" And the response I received was, there were too many people to call everybody.

K. DOLAN: Oh boy.

D. DOLAN: Now, I did try to talk to their media person, who did return my call after I had left yesterday.

K. DOLAN: Yes, later in the day.

D. DOLAN: I'm going to check back with him to find out if this might have been a direct result of ChoicePoint or some other reason. The bottom line here, though, and the thing that we all need to be aware of and very, very afraid of is, in the case of a ChoicePoint, unless there is legislation that disallows these companies from doing business with anything other than federal entities who have real need of this information, I don't believe that these companies should be allowed to just do business with anybody.

K. DOLAN: You think it should be more FTC regulated?

D. DOLAN: Absolutely, because there's no way we can protect ourselves in a situation like this.

K. DOLAN: All right. We have no -- we have no crummy, cheesy prizes to give away, but I have a question to ask if you'll call "Dolan's On Demand."

Do you have a better takeaway on how can we do this? How can we protect ourselves? Is it a national I.D. card? You can't get away hardly without giving your Social Security number. When you call on one of these voice (UNINTELLIGIBLE), they ask you for your birth date and your -- and the answer to your secret question.

What can we do to protect ourselves? You simply must give some kinds of information to get stuff done. What's the answer? I'm not smart enough to know, but the system right now stinks, and the FTC...

D. DOLAN: Moving right along. With federal and state money harder to come by, lawmakers are making tough choices on how to fund new road construction.

K. DOLAN: Wasting so much money. Gas prices are already close to two bucks a gallon in much of the country. Many of the country, you're talking 18 cents or more per gallon. So a further hike in gas taxes wouldn't sit well with the public. So give me some options.

D. DOLAN: Well, increasingly popular options among states, adding tolls. But the down side here is more road congestion potentially.

K. DOLAN: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Adding tolls. Oh, adding tolls, which slows down the traffic.

D. DOLAN: Yes.

K. DOLAN: All right.

D. DOLAN: And there is a proposal in California to tax drivers by the mile. Let me start with that one first.

And apparently Governor Schwarzenegger signs on to the possibility of taxing people by the mile.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: It is patently unfair for two reason. Number one, privacy advocates are going to go nuts because they would have to put some sort of device on the car...

K. DOLAN: GPS, yes.

D. DOLAN: ... to go up to the satellite for GPS...

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: ... to try to figure out, you know, how many miles you've gone. So big brother is now definitely watching you.

But even with the privacy issue on the side, my problem was taxing by the mile, the housing stock in California is so impossibly expensive. Do you really think that these people want to live two hours from their job? They enjoy four hours on the road commuting back and forth?

K. DOLAN: Some people -- some people...

D. DOLAN: They can only afford to move to these places that are far afield of where the jobs are.

K. DOLAN: You want the solution? Here's the take away, Ken Dolan take away, right to the issue, right to the pithy point.

Thank you, Dean.

D. DOLAN: Pithy point?

K. DOLAN: Never mind. Here's the point. Increase the tolls. People don't want more -- they don't want more taxes, no more property taxes, especially California, but in any place. No more property taxes.

Please don't whack any more money on my car. It's going to take me a week's pay to fill up my car.

Here's the deal. Increase the tolls on the roads, OK, and make sure -- I don't know what it is in your state -- and make sure everybody has the equivalent, what is it Transpass in Maine, EasyPass -- what is it, EasyPass in New Jersey?

D. DOLAN: Another way big brother can track you.

K. DOLAN: No.

D. DOLAN: Just stifle. Let me explain to you the fallacy of your thinking.

They want to bring on a toll rather than another tax because we're all overtaxed already. And isn't part of the reason that we pay taxes to our states the fact that they use some of that money to maintain the infrastructure? Here's what we need to do. This is my bottom line.

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: Hold the politicians to, what the heck have you done with the money you already got, instead of trying to figure out a new way to get more money out of us, because you're not using the money for what it was intended.

K. DOLAN: OK, yakety yak...

D. DOLAN: On that note...

K. DOLAN: ... let's get some people in here. Our first "Dolans On Demand" straight ahead. Would you rather see more tolls or higher gas taxes? Do you have an identity theft story to share with us? Or...

D. DOLAN: And what are your thoughts on Vioxx? Why not give us a call right now, 800-304-3638, or send us an e-mail at dolans@CNN.com. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Hey, don't forget, 1-800-304 -- is it 304-3638 the old number?

D. DOLAN: Excellent, yes.

K. DOLAN: Yes, OK. Good.

D. DOLAN: It's the new number, too. It's the same number.

K. DOLAN: Yes. It is live and it is your show.

And Mary in Colorado has something to say about one of the FDA things.

Hi, Mary.

CALLER: Hello.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: I just wanted to comment. You were mentioning that the Celebrex seems to be statistically safer and why would anybody prescribe the others?

K. DOLAN: Yes.

CALLER: Just because these medications are in the same class, they do not work the same. I've taken Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra, and I want my Vioxx back.

K. DOLAN: Really?

D. DOLAN: Do you really, Mary?

CALLER: Yes.

D. DOLAN: And you're not -- do you have a history of heart disease in the family?

CALLER: Well, I never have.

K. DOLAN: All right.

CALLER: And Celebrex did nothing for me. Vioxx then became my miracle drug that completely took care of my pain and kept me ambulatory and healthy.

K. DOLAN: Wow.

CALLER: They took that away. Now I'm on Bextra. And amazingly, and nobody can explain, why my blood pressure is suddenly high and now I'm taking blood pressure medication. K. DOLAN: And I assume, Mary...

D. DOLAN: Ooh, boy.

K. DOLAN: ... you're obviously under a doctor's care, Mary? You're not ordering it from Canada or something?

CALLER: Absolutely. Oh, no, no, no. Absolutely.

K. DOLAN: Yes, OK. You want your Vioxx.

CALLER: I really do. I worked great for me. And I didn't have these blood pressure problems.

My concern is that I can't seem to find out or nobody will admit or say or do the research...

K. DOLAN: What?

CALLER: ... how does this heart risk actually work? What does the drug do that actually causes this to allow me to really evaluate my personal health and how that fits in? I can't do that.

D. DOLAN: Well, Mary, I think that those are wonderful points and questions that you bring out. And certainly the person that has prescribed these COX-2 inhibitors should be able to answer those questions and should make the time available with you to talk about those very questions.

Mary, we know nothing about medicine. We just try and stay healthy is what we do here, and thankfully don't have what you suffer. But you need to talk to your doctor.

K. DOLAN: Mary, thank you very much. Good start to a "Dolans On Demand."

Speaking of that, let's take it to the streets. A young lady is out there with a question. We don't know what it is. We're going to find out.

Hi.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fine, thank you. How are you?

K. DOLAN: Good.

D. DOLAN: Good.

K. DOLAN: What's on your mind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I have concerns about the cost of health care in the country. My husband and I are an average income family and small business owners. We struggle to cover ourselves, and since the election the cost of health care seems to be dropping off the mat. And I'm wondering if there's any plan in particular that anybody knows about that's been put out there by any of the representatives in government, or if there's hope for the cost of health care being driven down.

K. DOLAN: Boy. Leah, super question, Leah.

D. DOLAN: Leah, as small business people, have you and your husband investigated medical savings accounts?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have not yet.

D. DOLAN: You definitely want to talk to your accountant and you want to talk to some insurance professional, health insurance professional, about medical savings accounts which would give you some tax benefits, as well as the ability to pay less for a policy as long as you're willing to take a very high deductible, which you put into a tax -- tax free into an account.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

D. DOLAN: And if you don't need to use it, you've got it there for yourself.

K. DOLAN: And also, Leah, take a look on irs.gov. Get public -- I'm doing it from my memory -- 334 or 344. It's called taxes for small business, and they...

D. DOLAN: 334 I think.

K. DOLAN: 334, and they talk about that, too, Leah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

K. DOLAN: Leah, it's a tough problem. Daria and I face the same problem ourselves with some of our other businesses. And we'll be talking about it more, Leah. You stay tuned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great. Thank you.

K. DOLAN: Good deal, Leah.

D. DOLAN: OK.

K. DOLAN: Thanks.

Is Social Security a security plan or a pension plan, speaking of my (ph) charts?

D. DOLAN: Well, in a minute we'll discuss that and what to do about Social Security, because Washington is divided over the president's plans or musings. I'm not sure if it's a plan yet.

K. DOLAN: What plan? There's no plan. D. DOLAN: Judging by the e-mails we've received, the debate goes well beyond the beltway, too. We'll address your feelings of social insecurity.

K. DOLAN: Yes, but wait just a second. We've got a Dolans tax break here coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN GREENSPAN, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: If you're going to move to private accounts, which I approve of, I think you have to do it in a cautious, gradual way. I think it's a good thing to do over the longer run. And eventually, because the pay as you go system, in my judgment, is going to be very difficult to manage, we are going to need an alternative.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

D. DOLAN: Well, that, of course, was Alan Greenspan testifying earlier this week in his -- what do they call it?

K. DOLAN: Humphrey-Hawkins. Didn't they used to call it Humphrey-Hawkins?

D. DOLAN: It used to be called the Humphrey-Hawkins.

K. DOLAN: He makes a statement, and then they can sort of ask him everything else, yes.

D. DOLAN: And he gave a lukewarm support for the private accounts. I think as the head of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan is most concerned that by borrowing money from the future to offset the liabilities of setting up the private accounts now, how the markets will react to this borrowing.

K. DOLAN: Can I give you my opinion?

D. DOLAN: Well, let me just say this. From my standpoint...

K. DOLAN: What?

D. DOLAN: ... to borrow from the future to try and fix something today is no better than a homeowner taking out a complete 100 percent home equity loan on their house to pay off credit card bills. It's a house of cards that ends up collapsing at one point or another.

K. DOLAN: Let me give you my five cents worth. You can agree or disagree by e-mailing us, dolans@CNN.com, or calling us. And you can e-mail after the show. We look at them during the week.

Here's my point. Tell me where I'm wrong here.

Yes, there is a baby boomer situation coming, and, yes, in the years ahead there will be 2.9 workers or 1.9 workers for everybody getting it. But is it not a matter of priority?

Isn't Medicare and Medicaid and the deficit much more of an important thing at this particular point? You've got Republicans who, in fact, are backing away from this. Democrats are backing away.

There are more money -- more of our tax dollars being wasted on -- let me finish -- on road shows trying to convince. Come up with a plan. Come up with a plan. The markets can't take a $2 or $3 million -- or $2 or $3 trillion overhang with financing it with bonds. I'm telling you.

D. DOLAN: All right. But I want -- I want to share with our viewers some of the snippets from e-mails that we've received over the past week regarding Social Security, or social insecurity, as we call it. This one from Jim Georgia.

He put in his e-mail, "If Congress had treated Social Security revenue as a trust fund instead of a slush fund, there wouldn't be a problem."

A lot of you e-mailed the fact about the trust fund not being there. And this is where I find it the biggest joke of all, that anybody is even focusing on this now, that Congress is sitting there now trying to fix something that wouldn't have been a problem if they'd kept their hands out of the till all these many years. There would be plenty of money there no matter how many workers.

K. DOLAN: From Thomas, another e-mail. "Hey, Dolans, the real problem is lack of savings."

Thomas, have you got it. This is an area where education, not regulation, is the real answer.

Yes, Thomas, because it's an insurance policy, Social Security. It is not a pension plan. It is not an answer for those who haven't saved.

D. DOLAN: I would like some Ph.D. candidate out there to do a study on whether, in fact, Social Security (UNINTELLIGIBLE) us at all in saving because, as another e-mailer said, Curtis, "Social Security is insurance, not a pension."

K. DOLAN: All right. Let's drive home. We want to be talking about it in the weeks ahead.

What is your opinion? Do you have a solution? We haven't heard one yet.

Well, up next, amid all the cuts in his latest budget, President Bush added a half a bill for IRS tax enforcement. How will that money be used? We'll put that question to the big guy, the country's top tax man.

D. DOLAN: And we'll get some advice on taking the sting out of filing as well. You won't want to miss what he has to say.

Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

D. DOLAN: Next, we'll speak with the commissioner of the IRS. He has some information that you must hear before you file your taxes.

But first, the top headlines. And for that, we send it back to Tony Harris in Atlanta -- Tony.

HARRIS: Ah, Daria, good morning. Good to see you and Ken.

I'm Tony Harris. DOLANS UNSCRIPTED will continue. But first, these stories "Now in the News."

At least 22 people have been killed in a suicide bombing today in Iraq. The death toll includes the bombers. One blast in Baghdad was in a funeral tent crowded with mourners. Another was aboard a bus.

Bill Clinton says the important thing is that the world remember and help the tsunami survivors when all the cameras are not there. Former presidents Clinton and George Bush are in Thailand, the first stop on their tour of tsunami-devastated areas. The ex presidents are leading tsunami relief efforts in the United States.

High-level security talks in Washington today. The U.S. secretary of state and defense secretary meeting with their Japanese counterparts. Among the topics on the table, China's impatience with Taiwan. Also under discussion, a nuclear-armed North Korea that may or may not be ready to return to the bargaining table.

I'm Tony Harris in Atlanta. Now back to Ken and DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

K. DOLAN: Thank you so much, Tony. Thanks for the latest news. We appreciate it.

OK. Guest time, Daria. Let's go.

Thanks, Tony.

D. DOLAN: All right. Well, you know, this is a very taxing time of the year, pun absolutely intended...

K. DOLAN: Oh boy.

D. DOLAN: ... for most Americans. But to take a little of the sting out of it and, I think, bring some good news to taxpayers, we now introduce you to Mark Everson. He's commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and he's joining us from our nation's capital.

Good morning, Commissioner.

K. DOLAN: Hi, Commissioner.

MARK EVERSON, IRS COMMISSIONER: Good morning. K. DOLAN: Thanks so much for taking time. Five hundred million dollars. You were quoted as saying "Enforcement will pay for itself." Is that enough money and will it pay?

EVERSON: Well, the president's been very generous to the IRS in his budget request, and that's -- it's a recognition that, especially in this time of deficit reduction, that if you can increase the taxes coming in, you don't need to borrow as much. And each year, unfortunately, through non-filing, under-reporting and nonpayment, hundreds of billions of dollars a year don't come in. So he wants to collect some of that money, and you invest in the IRS, we'll get that money in.

D. DOLAN: Commissioner, do you think that the large bulk of that money that goes uncollected is due to people trying to, you know, take advantage of the IRS and the government, or is it by confusion because of a completely mystifying tax code?

EVERSON: Well, Daria, it's a combination of factors, and certainly we believe that complexity hurts people's understanding of the -- of their obligation. And that's why the proposal to simplify the code is so important.

But at the same time, there are too many who aren't taking their fair share seriously. They're trying to avoid their obligation. And we're going to use this extra money, particularly to go after high- income and corporations, people who are -- who have every reason to pay. They have got plenty of money but they just don't want to pay.

K. DOLAN: You know, Commissioner, I love to hear that, because one of the knocks on the IRS -- and "knocks" is overstating it -- is that some of the audits and some of the enforcement initiatives in the past years were to the smaller guys, the smaller taxpayers. But, in fact, it seems to me you're going for the right people who got the fancy accountants to -- or fancy tax shelters stuff, fancy tax haven stuff. There's a lot of dough there, and I think the money is like -- like they said, why do you rob banks, it's because that's where the money is.

That seems to me where the money is.

EVERSON: Well, it's gotten way out of line. And attorneys and accountants who traditionally had -- gave very conservative advice in these areas, they said the sky's the limit. And we're trying to bring this back into line.

And we're also, frankly, engaging in criminal investigations. We're going to hire extra criminal investigators with this new money.

So all of this, we think, will bring the system back into balance. We really believe that to do our job, to get compliance, to bring this money in, the IRS has to provide good service but also enforce the law.

D. DOLAN: All right. Commissioner, let's move on, because we have a couple of other issues I want our audience to be aware of. And that is e-filing, which has become just the simplest way to go when you want to get your taxes where they need to be and in a timely fashion, why isn't everybody using this?

EVERSON: Well, this year we think over half of individuals will e-file. And that's -- if you think about any other part of our economy, that's really quite a statistic.

Last year, 62 million of the returns came in with electronic filing. This year over half.

And it's the way to go because it's more reliable. The post office doesn't lose the return. We don't make any transcription errors. And most people still get refunds.

We had about 100 million refunds last year, and they come in, in half the time if you e-file. So we do encourage everybody to e-file.

D. DOLAN: And you have a free file initiative.

EVERSON: Yes. We work with a consortium of about 15 different companies, and over 3.5 million people last year took advantage of this. If you just go to IRS.gov, you can learn about it. And there's really no reason not to explore this.

K. DOLAN: And how about not losing any checks in the mail even to thievery, Commissioner Everson? And this is direct deposit right in the -- right in the bank.

EVERSON: Well, that's the best. Exactly.

You just indicate to the form. Now, be careful. You don't want your money going to somebody else's account.

But if you put down the right bank account, the right bank, it's just like any other electronic transfer. And that cuts a week off the time when you get the refund. It comes that much sooner.

K. DOLAN: Great, Commissioner. Good stuff.

D. DOLAN: Actually, Commissioner, I think it takes it from six weeks down to two in most cases. So a whole month makes a big difference for a whole bunch of us.

EVERSON: That's a big difference. And that's compared to the paper. If you just mail it in, that's right, it could take you six weeks if you just mail in the return.

K. DOLAN: Commissioner Everson, thank you so much for spending time. We'll be -- we'll be taking a look at how well it goes. And under your guide I'm sure it will be great. But good luck in your -- good luck in your pursuits.

EVERSON: Nice to talk to you both.

D. DOLAN: Thank you.

K. DOLAN: Thanks a lot, Commissioner.

Nice guy. I like him. Yes, good guy.

D. DOLAN: But before we move on, you know, taxes are at the center of this week's "Dolans Doodles."

K. DOLAN: Look at the book. "NASCAR for Dummies." Daria is doing the taxes. Daria actually does the taxes.

You're not -- I'm not kidding you. Daria does the taxes and I kind of stoop advise. But in this particular cartoon, thanks to Mike Chicatello (ph), what I'm doing is reading "NASCAR for Dummies," because I'm going to tell you, I need it.

I've been getting an education in NASCAR, and it's been a hard one. I didn't know much.

But up next, we're going to give you an education about it too with the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest race, kicking off tomorrow. I said, "What the heck is going on down there?" So I decided to check it out by going there. And boy, did I have an adventure!

I'm going to share it with you in just a couple of minutes. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Hey, I'm going to tell you, what a day I had. Welcome back, everybody. Thanks for joining us.

The great American race, the Daytona 500. Gentlemen, start your engines. They'll be running tomorrow, though.

I always knew NASCAR was a big business, but I mean a big business! But I couldn't figure out the fascination by all these millions of NASCAR fans. So what I did was got on a plane, said, "I'm going to go check it out for myself." So I went to Daytona Beach to figure it out for myself and maybe for some of you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

K. DOLAN (voice-over): The NASCAR industry, with revenues in the billions, stands in the millions, and TV ratings second only for the NFL is a roaring business. There's just one problem, I don't get it.

(on camera): Why do you guys like it so much? Are you here because you have to be, or are you here because you want to keep an eye on your husband? Or the third choice is...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really enjoy it.

K. DOLAN: What excites you the most?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a really highly competitive sport, but everything they say about NASCAR and family holds true. It's really a community sport. K. DOLAN (voice-over): Beyond the competition and community, access is unique to NASCAR.

(on camera): I'm very impressed because it's not like the Super Bowl or the World Series. The fans are here.

CASEY MEARS, DRIVER, TARGET CAR: They're right here.

K. DOLAN: Here to there is where they are.

MEARS: Absolutely. I mean, you can walk right up to them and say, "Hi," and they can walk right up to you and vice versa. So I think that's a big part of it.

K. DOLAN (voice-over): Corporate sponsors see NASCAR as an opportunity to turn fan loyalty into brand loyalty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the real reason is that they're able to brand directly on the playing field. They're not just a billboard in the stadium somewhere. It's a powerful platform for sponsors to go on.

K. DOLAN: A controversial edition to sponsorships this year? Hard liquor companies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We looked at the research, and that line between spirits and beer and wine is being blended in terms of how our fans view it. And secondly, it was the powerful message that you're going to see the hard liquor companies use as they promote NASCAR. It will be -- that's the balance and that's the difference that we looked at.

K. DOLAN: Despite the spat over spirits, NASCAR is getting more buzz than ever. In addition to broadcasting on three networks, NASCAR is featured in an Imax movie and has a presence on hipster staples like "MTV Cribs."

MEARS: Hi. I'm Casey Mears. I'm driving the number 41 Target Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series.

K. DOLAN: And with more recognition comes a bigger bank roll.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, we have, you know, 200 or 220 employees or so involved in a, you know, week in, week out of the preparation, the transportation. Yes, I mean, it's equivalent to a major sports franchise picking up and traveling week to week.

K. DOLAN (on camera): I'm feeding my need for speed.

Why do you like cars running around in a circle at 184 miles an hour at the risk of their life? Tell me. Maybe that's why you like it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's pretty sexy. A lot of hot guys to look at.

K. DOLAN: Walter, would you say sexy? A lot of anchors, CNN people here too.

(voice-over): I think I finally get it. NASCAR is about speed, community, meeting your idols and dreamboats like me to cover it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

K. DOLAN: What a knucklehead!

Anyway, this year's purse for the winner of the Daytona 500 is a record purse. It's $17 -- more than $17 million.

Daria, let me tell you something. I learned so much.

D. DOLAN: The noise would have driven me nuts.

K. DOLAN: No. Maybe so.

It's part show business, it's a lot of family, it's fans loyal to the sponsors, a lot of Fortune 500 companies, I think more than any other sport. But I'll tell you one thing, it's a bunch of very nice people who really like it. They've got their sports cars, their driver heroes.

No, NASCAR is not -- still not my favorite sport, but I tell you something, I get it much more. It's a lifestyle, not a sport.

D. DOLAN: I noticed you interviewed a lot of nice young women at this thing. We'll talk after the show.

After the break, the food, the beds, the noise. Well, most people can't wait to get out of the hospital. We have the story of a woman who has made it her home, and the hospital, well, it's keeping a patient but losing its patience. That's up next on DOLANS UNSCRIPTED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

K. DOLAN: Isn't that beautiful?

D. DOLAN: What a shame, though, that first shot didn't have a real good closeup of the gigantic car wash.

(CROSSTALK)

K. DOLAN: Oh, cut it out, Daria. Don't be anti-art, for heaven's sakes.

D. DOLAN: Art?

Hey, some news from Wall Street could affect your investments as at least three brokerage firms, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Piper Jaffray, have done away with brokers' commissions on small accounts.

K. DOLAN: Oh, big -- that's not even news.

D. DOLAN: If you -- it is. They're doing away with the commissions for the brokers. It doesn't mean you're not going to pay. So if you have less than $50,000 to invest, many brokers on Wall Street now have almost no incentive -- no, strike that, have no incentive to take you as a client.

K. DOLAN: All right. And another story -- all right. Let's -- we'll talk about that.

And another story, the New York Stock Exchange is cracking down on brokerage houses who may be dumping your money. Those sweep accounts, you know, when you're sort of acting a little defensively, waiting to do something, they're dumping that money into accounts with sub-par rates. Some of them are, without even telling you.

All right. Let's talk...

D. DOLAN: And they have a perfectly good money market fund sitting right next to it that would get you a better rate of return.

K. DOLAN: Did I start 100 years ago on Wall Street?

D. DOLAN: I think so. The ticker tape was still running, yes.

K. DOLAN: Just answer the question straight, would you please? Was I a big shot on Wall Street? Did I know a lot about Wall Street? OK.

D. DOLAN: You told me so.

K. DOLAN: Never mind. Here's the deal. No respect there.

You want little respect, Jay? That's what you get.

All right. Here's the deal. It's no surprise that small accounts have never, ever been at the top of most large and small brokerage firms' accounts. What they're saying is -- what they're saying is that real money is in the $100,000 plus. And here's why.

Because the business is going to a different kind of business. It's called money under management.

A lot of brokerage firms are taking your money, $100,000 or more, and giving it to outside money managers that they recommend from a list. And if the money manager doesn't do a good job, then they say, well, let's change money managers.

So many brokers are forgetting their responsibility and letting somebody else do it. If you think you're a small accountant and going to get service, forget it. That's why you've got to get better educated, because if you're a small investor, you're on your own.

I wanted to talk. Would you relax?

D. DOLAN: All right. I have two quick take aways on this. Very important.

Number one, if you have an account, call your broker, find out whether they've got it in a regular sweep account or a money market mutual fund. And make sure that they sweep it into a money market mutual fund for you. Know what your interest rate is.

And number two, start looking around for a new brokerage firm. Because if you're under $50,000, you're not going to get any attention and it could hurt your portfolio.

Next...

K. DOLAN: All right. Most people can't wait to get out of the hospital. But a California woman is saying, I'm staying. She's fighting for her bed.

D. DOLAN: Yes. Eighty-two-year-old Sara Nome (ph) has been in the hospital for over a year in San Rafael, even though she admits has no medical problems. The patient says she has nowhere to go. But the hospital wants to know who's going to pick up her $1 million tab.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Well, of course the -- as you can imagine, Daria, the hospital needs the space and there's no money there. The hospital is suing to evict her, saying it doesn't want to put her out on the curb. And they've taken away her TV and her newspapers in an attempt to get her to leave voluntarily.

Doesn't she have any family?

D. DOLAN: The woman has lived her entire life in Marin County.

K. DOLAN: Yes. Yes.

D. DOLAN: She has a daughter, but it's not clear what the daughter's financial situation is.

K. DOLAN: OK.

D. DOLAN: She was sent to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation, and after a week determined it wasn't necessary. And on that news, she sued the nursing home that had referred her and sent her to the hospital. So she can't go back to the nursing home.

The bottom line to me on this story is, it is criminal that an 82-year-old woman -- you know, some on the staff kind of thought this was a funny story. It's not funny.

She's 82 years of age. She cannot walk. The hospital cannot throw her out.

She has nowhere else to go in her own mind. And that is not how any senior should end their lives in the United States of America, and that's my bottom line.

K. DOLAN: I agree with you, Daria. On the other hand, I'm surprised they're not even tougher with her.

I mean, if, in fact, she has no reason to be there medically and no money to stay there, I can't imagine. I'm not saying throw her out of the place, but I'm surprised they're not being a little tougher on her. But your take away is absolutely the right take away, 82 years old.

D. DOLAN: You can't throw a patient out who can't walk, Ken.

K. DOLAN: A tough one.

All right. Let's go.

D. DOLAN: Up next, your chance to weigh in on these stories or anything else we've talked about this hour. And we'll take your phone calls and e-mails as well in our second "Dolans ON Demand" of the hour when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

D. DOLAN: Well, in an effort to be fully honest and give you fair, full disclosure, let it be truly known that I can be bought for cheesecake.

(LAUGHTER)

K. DOLAN: That's right. We got a wonderful cheesecake from Marc Schulman, who is president of Eli's Cheesecake. And he was so nice to put "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED."

They're based in Chicago. And we appreciate it very, very much. Thanks so much, guys. It's absolutely wonderful.

D. DOLAN: We had it for breakfast before the show. I'm having a piece right after the show.

K. DOLAN: To the phones.

D. DOLAN: Chris in California.

K. DOLAN: Hey, Chris.

D. DOLAN: Hi, Chris. How are you?

CALLER: Good morning.

K. DOLAN: Hi.

D. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: Welcome to CNN.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Chris.

CALLER: We live in California but are originally from the East Coast. And my husband loved your show.

D. DOLAN: Oh.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Chris. CALLER: He used to come home with your radio show quotes all day long. Listen, is it wrong for me to be so annoyed and upset with these credit card applications I get, maybe three a day, sometimes with my name and credit line on it?

K. DOLAN: It's horrible.

D. DOLAN: I know it. I know it, Chris.

K. DOLAN: Too much information, Chris, flying around.

D. DOLAN: You know, I believe in as little government as possible, but I think that when it comes to this sort of thing, number one, if they're going to use our Social Security numbers as identifiers for everything in this country, and I.D. theft is like the biggest problem we currently face, then they need to accommodate us in the Social Security Administration with the ability to change Social Security numbers, because once your I.D. has been stolen, it could take you years.

K. DOLAN: Chris, thank you very much.

We're headed out to California to do a piece on the movie business right after the show today.

Speaking of California, Pat in California.

Hi, Pat.

CALLER: Hi.

K. DOLAN: How are you?

CALLER: Thanks, I'm fine.

K. DOLAN: Good.

CALLER: Sunny day here.

K. DOLAN: Good.

CALLER: Thank you for taking the call. I had a question. I was just listening to the tail end of the comment that the woman made on the California person, 82-year-old in the hospital?

K. DOLAN: Yes, yes. We did that.

CALLER: And the local story that I heard last night on ABC was that she had been prescribed coumadin for years. And the reason she can't walk is that it leached the calcium out of her bones in her legs. So both legs went out at the same time. And she's saying Kaiser needs to help take care of her because it's their fault that she is in that condition.

K. DOLAN: In the -- yes. D. DOLAN: Interesting. So I've been saying it's a question, why should 82-year-old anybodies in this country of all countries in the world not have any where else to go?

K. DOLAN: Thank you very much, Pat.

D. DOLAN: Thanks, Pat. And thanks for the clarification on that.

K. DOLAN: Exactly.

All right. An e-mail from Jack in Wisconsin. "Hey, Dolans, taxing by the mile lessens the impact on gas guzzlers, but an increased gas tax would raise money, discourage gas guzzlers and doesn't require another costly government bureaucracy to function."

D. DOLAN: An interesting sidebar on that was that the state of California has so many people buying these alternative vehicles now, they know gas taxes are going to go down. So it's a concerted effort to get money out of them.

K. DOLAN: All right. Thirty seconds, lady. Go.

D. DOLAN: Well, the TSA within the next two months will ban all matches and cigarette lighters from passengers going on to planes. Now, this is in response to Richard Reid and his bomb-laden sneakers, which occurred in the end of 2001.

How many shoes have been exploded since then? None. This is just another stake in the heart of the airline industry and a reason for us to take our cars on vacation. Enough already.

K. DOLAN: Speaking of traveling, I was in Daytona Beach. You saw the NASCAR piece. And I've been screaming and yelling for 10 years, the death of customer service.

Well, let me tell you something. I was taken care of by a guy at Hertz Rent-A-Car by the name of Alberto Wonjiniak (ph). I can't believe how nice he was.

I got lost in Daytona Beach, which is like two square miles. And he got me back on track. He couldn't have been nicer.

Alberto, you've given me faith that people do care about people. And Hertz should be proud to have you. Alberto Wonjiniak (ph). Thank you, Alberto.

D. DOLAN: I'm not surprised. You get lost in the kitchen.

Hey, we wanted to add this programming note before we say good- bye. Listen up.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are scheduled to speak with reporters at about 11:30 Eastern. And of course CNN will carry their comments live. The two are meeting with their Japanese counterparts on a wide range of issues, including how to deal with a possible North Korean nuclear threat.

K. DOLAN: Thanks so much for joining us, everybody. We'll see you next week.

"PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is next after the top news headlines on the top of the hour.

We'll see you next week.

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