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CNN Live At Daybreak

An Up Day at The White House

Aired August 03, 2001 - 07:06   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, despite those concerns among small business people, I can imagine it's another up day in the West Wing. Here's our White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.

Kelly, the president taking some time out to pat himself on the back these days.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Colleen, lots of handshakes and pats on the back. You could say that Bush advisers are feeling very, very good about what they consider to be a tremendous victory. The president himself issues a statement last night, saying that the House action -- quote -- "brings us an important step closer to ensuring that patients get the care they need and that HMOs are held accountable."

Well, what this House bill also does is it allows the president to avoid what would have been a very politically difficult veto. It also allows him to take some credit for helping to pass the measure that a majority of Americans want the president and the Congress to act on this here. But as you noted, at the top, big battles loom ahead. The backers of the bill, which passed in the Senate, say the House bill is too generous to the HMOs and they vow to fight very hard in a conference committee to remove some of these restrictions on a patient's right to sue -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Now Kelly, the president is heading home to Texas this weekend not just for rest and relaxation though. He's got some big issues to think about, doesn't he?

WALLACE: He certainly does. One of the biggest, Colleen, is certainly whether or not he will decide to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This is an issue that is getting lots of attention. Backers and supporters of this research say it could lead to dramatic, new breakthroughs in the treatment of various diseases. But the opponents, the staunchest opponents of this include Catholic and conservative -- the very voters the president is trying to attract. Not clear when that decision will come, the president though leaving Saturday for about four weeks of R&R and focusing on key issues -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Kelly Wallace, thanks.

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