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Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Holds News Conference on Flooding; Work After Cancer

Aired May 16, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're expecting Governor Mitt Romney to step up to the podium there in his state of Massachusetts to follow up on the flooding situation there, the damage, and also what kind of emergency funds that he's going to distribute throughout his state -- 3:15, I'm now being told. We will take it live as soon as it happens.
As you know, the rain is setting records in New Hampshire, another state under a state of emergency.

Reporter Ray Brewer with our affiliate WMUR brings us the view from two flooded communities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAY BREWER, WMUR REPORTER (voice-over): A situation reminiscent of what happened last fall in Alstead took place Tuesday in Somersworth. Only, this time, instead of a road, it was a bridge acting as a makeshift dam.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wanted to kind of take a look and see what was going on for ourselves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have two issues. There's two different trees there. One was there prior to the storm. And another one came down overnight, creating a dam effect up against the bridge.

BREWER: A crew and a cherry-picker worked to free the debris.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If that don't work, we have to wait until the water recedes.

BREWER: And, despite the additional rain, the river was doing just that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's probably about four feet lower in the backyard than it was at -- at 6:00 Sunday evening.

BREWER: That was the same time Somersworth was forced to shut down its water treatment plant. Watermarks show where the water crested inside the plant, but, again, improvement.

BOB BELMORE, SOMERSWORTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CITY MANAGER: Things are getting better. We were flooded and shut down Sunday night. The plant was not operational. We had to disconnect power through (INAUDIBLE) service. We are re-hooked up with power. BREWER: And the plant was operating, although a boil-water order remains in effect. Still, resident Bob Hodsden was able to return to his home, for which he was grateful.

BOB HODSDEN, RESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Yesterday, we were in a little bit more of an urgency to -- to leave the place, because of the danger of the dam in Milton letting go.

ANDY LUCIER, MILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT: We're still going to sit on it. I mean, the town of Milton is buying it. We're going to hold it until it's assessed below us that they can take it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And one final note: With so many New Hampshire towns under water, Governor John Lynch already has requested his state be declared a federal disaster area.

Once again, we want to remind you, 3:15 Eastern time -- that is about 12 minutes from now -- we are expected -- the governor, you see him right here, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, to step up to the podium and give us an update of what he's seen as he is touring the area there in Methuen. As you know, that area got hard-hit -- one of the areas hardest hit by those rainwaters.

And there's been concern about the dam in that city. It has already over -- well, the issue of the overflowing of that dam. And that's what caused so much of the flooding in that area.

And other -- we have spoken to other mayors in other cities, like Lawrence and other areas. And they are still watching that dam and concerned about that dam, hoping that it won't break, and that those water levels will continue to go down, and it won't be a threat to their areas.

There's also another dam, of course, in -- in Lawrence, not far from there -- the mayor there keeping his eye on it.

But Governor Mitch (sic) Romney there of Massachusetts taking a look at all the damage, speaking with the local leaders. As soon as he steps up to the podium, we will see what he has to say. And, also, we're hoping that he will explain what he's going to do about emergency funds for his state in those areas that have been hardest hit.

It began as a seven-day pleasure cruise, and it has become an onboard and in-the-ocean search for a missing man. There are reports that a 21-year-old may have fallen overboard.

We have got more in report from CNN affiliate WKMG and reporter Donald Forbes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD FORBES, WKMG REPORTER (voice-over): Royal Caribbean says it was around midnight on board the Mariner of the Seas when the 21- year-old man told travel companions he was headed to his interior stateroom to go to bed for the night.

The following day, after it was discovered he did not even sleep inside his cabin, authorities were notified. The Augusta, Ohio, man has been identified as 21-year-old Daniel Dipiero. He and his travel companions had left Port Canaveral on board the cruise ship Sunday night. It was supposed to be a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean.

The cruise company says a variety of onboard announcement and searches were made, but Dipiero has not been found. Royal Caribbean has also notified the U.S. and Bahamian coast guards, as well as the FBI. And a search is under way at the Atlantic waters between the Florida coast and Coco Cay. The cruise line says they are trying to trace his whereabouts through onboard records, witness stories, and even videotapes. And they also roped off his stateroom for investigators.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Dipiero's mother is reported to be on her way to Florida now.

If only the viewers could vote. If you're President Bush, that has got to be what you're thinking, in light of a hugely popular viewer polls in light after the prime-time speech on immigration. When is the last time you saw these kind of approval numbers on anything related to the White House? Almost eight speech watchers in 10 report that a somewhat or very positive reaction to the Bush proposals.

And talk about bounce. Before the speech, 42 percent viewed the president's immigration policies positively, 38 percent negatively, a virtual tie, given the poll's 5 percentage point margin of error. Now, afterward, the positive camp crew to 67 percent. Negatives shrank to 27.

As always, we point out that the audiences for presidential speeches are more sympathetic than the general public. And winning over critics in Congress, especially Republicans, is another thing entirely. To them, Mr. Bush emphasizes a tighter border.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to have double the Border Patrol agents since 2001 by 2008. And the what is Guard is doing, the Guard is providing an interim service until the Border Patrol agents get -- get -- get stood up.

I made it clear to the country last night that we're not going to militarize our border. Mexico is a friend. But what we are going to do is use assets necessary to make sure that we can assure the American people that the border is -- is -- is secure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And how does the Border Patrol feel about that? The chief was a guest on CNN "LIVE TODAY." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AGUILAR, CHIEF, U.S. BORDER PATROL: We need to bring control to our borders, because it's absolutely, especially during this time in our history.

What is driving the flow across our borders is in fact the draw of employment. So, as you heard the president speak, as you have heard the secretary speak in the past, is, this is a three-pronged approach. One is border security, which is being done as a part of this initiative.

Two is interior enforcement to address sanctions against employers who continue to hire. And three is a possibility of some kind of program that will help regulate the flow of people into the labor market in the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And we're going to hear from some border state governors later this hour.

The rain is tapering off, and residents of Methuen, Massachusetts, are breathing a bit easier. That old rickety dam that they were worried about is still holding.

CNN's Dan Lothian on the scene and on the phone with us.

Dan, are you not far from where the governor is right now?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: We are actually about a mile up the road.

We had a chance to meet with some residents who are obviously going through the difficult task now of assessing the damage to not only their business, but their home, and trying to clean up. I mean, this is a case where someone has a couple of feet of water inside their business, and they have lost a lot of income already from having to shut down. And now they are going through the process of cleaning up.

So, these are the kinds of things that are taking place, even as the governor and other officials try to address some of the more pressing issues, which has been, you know, how are we going to pay for this and -- and assessing what kind of damage has been done to that particular dam.

PHILLIPS: Now, the governor is there taking a look at the damage in Methuen. And he's expected to come to the mikes within the next five minutes or so, Dan, and tell folks what he plans to do with regard to emergency funds. What do residents need? What do they want? Do you have any inside information on what the governor might say in a little bit?

LOTHIAN: I don't know exactly what he will say. But, certainly, what the meat is, is to help with the cleanup. We were talking to the mayor earlier today. And he says: We need help, not only from the state, but also from the federal government, because it will cost millions and millions of dollars to clean up after this storm. The mayor said: It's too early for us to really put a price tag on it, but we know it's going to be a whole lot of money, because there are hundreds of homes...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Dan, we are going to take -- we are going straight to the governor. We will be right back, Dan.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GOV. MITT ROMNEY (R), MASSACHUSETTS: ... people are being evacuated right now.

Actually, in Lawrence, we also have got an enormous evacuation under way right now. There continues to be a high level of water. And -- and people are having to be moved out of their homes.

I'm very encouraged, as I have looked at the kind of response you have seen here from the mayor of Methuen and the entire Methuen staff. You see a city that has activated all of their response capability, put in place a plan that has called for action, that got people out of homes, got people out of harm's way, no personal injuries, no fatalities, of course.

And we're really pleased with the kind of work that we have seen carried out here by the folks in Methuen, what a remarkable team. And we're all watching and congratulating them on the work they have done.

We also had the occasion just to be over at the shelter at the high school. And there are probably, I don't know, 75 or so people there, everyone filled with praise for the kind of work that's been done by the Red Cross and by the local agencies here in the city to make sure that everybody is being cared for.

So, I want to say thanks to the team. Appreciate the work that's gone on. Appreciate the fact that our dams are holding up. This one, obviously given the flow of water going over the top of it, gave everybody a -- a bit of a startle. And we are all a little nervous, but the dam has held up, as predicted.

And, fortunately, we are -- we're going to be able to see a reduction of pressure on this structure, as well as others throughout the commonwealth.

With that, we're happy to take any questions you may have.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... on Sunday, you said that the dams close to the impacted area had had corrective action. Does that apply to this dam?

ROMNEY: All of the high-hazard dams were inspected following the last flooding that we had about a year ago.

The team that was led by the Department of Conservation and Recreation inspected those dams and, in some cases, rebuilt them. So, the Taunton dam, which was a problem before, has been reconstructed. This was not deemed a high-hazard dam, meaning having impact on personal life.

It is, however, regularly inspected. FERC is the agency that inspects here. And this is a dam which was deemed to be structurally sound and has been proven such.

QUESTION: Well, if it's structurally sound, why the concern? Why all the...

(CROSSTALK)

ROMNEY: Well, any time you see water of the level we have got, a foot of water falling from the sky, that's a lot more than I think dams were built to -- anticipating.

And here the city took some really aggressive action, which was to say, let's shore up around the dam and put in sandbags to make sure that water doesn't go around it and erode the foundation. And that kind of action, combined with the work of our DCR people, has led to a setting where -- where we're quite confident the dams are going to do just fine.

QUESTION: Governor, the senators have sent you a letter today urging you to do a declaration or seek a declaration immediately. Yesterday, you talked about delaying a week. Any more thought on that or response...

(CROSSTALK)

ROMNEY: Well...

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

ROMNEY: You know, our team is fully aware of the process for establishing federal support and getting a federal declaration of disaster.

This is not something that's new to us. We have done it before. We will do it again. And the answer is that there's a normal process that we follow. MEMA is going through that process. It begins with an evaluation of economic damage. And we have federal assessors as well come in and take a look at the damage, and then we make the assessment.

There's no particular reason for rushing out and calling for a federal disaster at this stage. We will do that when we have got our numbers ready and our application is done properly.

In the past, we have -- we have erred by moving too quickly, before we had our -- our numbers all lined up. We want to make sure we get it done properly, so that we can qualify for every single federal dollar.

But no one needs to tell us in the state that we -- that we qualify for federal dollars. We know we do. We're going to get every dollar that we are entitled to.

And here comes the sun. That is if to -- as if to prove that we're on the right track.

QUESTION: Governor (OFF-MIKE) have not been assessed (OFF-MIKE)

ROMNEY: Well, there's -- we...

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

ROMNEY: Well, what we can tell you is that the dams that known as high-hazard dams -- we have thousands of dams in the commonwealth.

What is the total?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over 3,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little over (INAUDIBLE) 3,000.

ROMNEY: Over 3,000 dams. Many of them are very, very small dams. And they have no particular risk associated with them for human life or for property damage. And not all of those are inspected on a regular basis, because they don't need to be.

There has, however -- since the last crisis, there's been an effort to inspect all of the high-hazard dams. And they have been inspected. And there's also been $10 million set aside to reconstruct those that needed reconstruction.

We're now in the second year of that program. And we have reconstructed some dams that posed a danger to individuals. So, that's been done. There's also regulation been put in place for private owners. And what you have here is a private dam. This is not owned by the city or by the state. Private owners are responsible for securing inspections and for taking maintenance efforts, or being subject to serious fines.

And that's something which the private owners have done. In the case of this dam, it is inspected on a regular timetable. And it met, after its last inspection, with a -- with a seal of approval from the inspectors.

QUESTION: Governor, do you think, looking ahead, that there's any need for any greater federal...

PHILLIPS: We are listening to the Governor Mitch (sic) Romney there of Massachusetts, holding his first news conference since the rain devastated parts of his state.

Dan Lothian still on the phone with us. He's there on the ground, about a mile away from the governor. Dan, I'm surprised we haven't heard anything about emergency funds. He's just talking about the areas that he toured and that he feels pretty good about the dams holding up and everybody remaining in good spirits.

LOTHIAN: I think what you're hearing from the governor is the same thing we have been hearing from other officials, both local officials and state -- other state officials, that they really want to assess the damage, get some numbers, before they start deciding exactly what they need to ask for.

Certainly, what they will say is that they will -- will need some kind of help. I mean, locals say they will need help from the state, and locals even saying they may need help from the federal government as well, but also pointing out that it really is too early to put a price figure on it and to exactly decide where that money must come from.

PHILLIPS: Now, Dan, he also mentioned that the high-hazard dams have been inspected. So, even though local mayors have told me throughout the day that they are keeping their eyes on those dams, it sounds like the governor feels pretty good that they are not going to breach.

LOTHIAN: He does.

Everyone is cautiously optimistic. But you have to remember that this all sort of came to the surface last year, when we had the issue with another dam, which was called the Taunton dam.

There was concern that that dam would go. And then were a whole lot of issues about inspections. And, in the wake of that, the governor pressed for inspections. He wanted to get a full report on exactly which dams needed help, which ones need -- they needed to pay more attention to. So, they put together this list.

And it was -- it was interesting what the result was. It showed that there were a lot of dams in the state that were not only old, but were in essentially disrepair and needed to be addressed. And one of the things we have been hearing from some critics is that they still haven't paid enough attention to these dams.

On the other hand, what you also hear from those who sort of support the effort that's been ongoing is that, you know, these dams are built to withstand sort of normal everyday pressures, but when you get something like this, which hasn't happened in some 70 years, it's -- it's almost difficult to prepare for it.

PHILLIPS: Dan Lothian, thanks so much. We will keep our eye on Governor Mitt Romney, as he's there touring the damaged areas in Massachusetts. We will see if he says anything about funding, emergency funding for those living in the areas that have been evacuated.

The news keeps coming. We will keep bringing it to you -- more LIVE FROM coming up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So, when's the last time Washington -- or the last time Washington but politics -- put politics aside, rather, for even a few moments?

Well, in case you missed, it happened just a little while ago in the White House press room, of all places, as new Press Secretary Tony Snow made his official debut at the podium. He took a moment to reflect on what it took to get there, including surviving a pretty major health crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I had cancer last year.

You know, I mean, and having cancer, you know, it's one of these things -- and I will thank Terry Hunt for having provided -- I lost my old one when I was in the hospital, having my last cancer surgery.

It's going to sound stupid. And I will be personal here. But...

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

SNOW: No, no. Just, having gone through this last year -- and I said this to Chris Wallace -- was the best...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: He actually said "was the best thing that ever happened to me," which is pretty amazing and pretty strong for him to come forward and say that, Elizabeth Cohen.

And when we talk about cancer survivors returning to work, I mean, it seems like he's in good health and he's moving along strongly.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. And he is right now cancer free. So, that's very important for people to know.

And, in fact, he joins a very distinguished group of people who have gone back to work after being treated for cancer, for example, Sandra Day O'Connor, Nelson Mandela, Bob Dole, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell -- you see Nelson Mandela right there -- John Kerry, Senator Arlen Specter. There's just a -- a large number of people who have gone back to work after surviving cancer.

And, yet, the doctors who we talked to said, you know, sometimes, people have this image of cancer survivors as somehow being weaker than they were before cancer. But, in fact, they said that the experience of surviving cancer has often made them stronger. And, so, sometimes, that public perception that people have is not always correct.

PHILLIPS: Well, no doubt, it's humbling as well on a personal level. You know, he talked about the fact that he lost his mother to cancer, too. And, since then, he talked about the -- the better diagnostic tools, the improved treatments, and that cancer isn't the same death sentence that it used to be.

COHEN: That's right.

People often think of cancer as a death sentence, when, really, these days, with the kind of treatment and the ability to detect it so early, it really is a whole different story. So, not only do people survive cancer more than they used to, but they survive and go on to have a better quality of life than they used to.

For example, 84 percent of cancer patients return to work. And, according to a study done by the American Cancer Society, cancer patients are just as productive as workers who have not had cancer. So, that's another important thing to remember.

PHILLIPS: And is there a different rate of how well you do -- he had colon cancer -- you know, vs. a different type of cancer?

COHEN: Yes.

Actually, the American Cancer Society has looked at that. And what they found is that folks who had colon cancer, for example, or breast or prostate cancer tend to do better, tend to stay on the job longer than those who had, for example, a brain tumor or some kind of blood cancer, like leukemia. So, it does matter what kind of cancer people have.

PHILLIPS: Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

COHEN: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Well, some of the final wishes of a civil rights icon became known.

The will of Coretta Scott King has been filed in an Atlanta court now. It doesn't give a lot of detail into the finances of the widow of Martin Luther King, but the 30-year-old document says that Mrs. King is leaving $5,000 to both the King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church. She also leaves money to her brother, sister, and sister-in- law, and sets up a trust for her four children.

A state is looking at paying people who have to take off time for work. But would it save businesses more money in the long run? Details straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The IRS cracks down on credit counseling companies. It they're the biggest services that use scare tactics to take advantage of people in debt, instead of helping them. So, after a two-year investigation, the Internal Revenue Service is canceling the tax-exempt status of 41 educational counseling services.

The agency says that many of those groups were offering little, if any, counseling or education. Instead, many seemed to just serve the private interests of affiliated companies.

Nearly everyone has to take time off of work, when they're sick. The kids might be sick. Well, they may have just had a baby. Massachusetts is now looking at a family leave plan that would pay people their full salary for up to 12 weeks. And a researcher says that could save money.

When I think about saving money, one man does come to find, our own Ali Velshi.

But you never call in sick. You're so dedicated to the job.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No.

And it's really not a common thing to have that amount of sick leave or paid family leave, that you can take care of things, you know, business that you need to take care of. You got a family member who is ill or a child to take care of.

It's kind of interesting, Kyra, because nobody else in the United States has anything like this. Now, Massachusetts just hot off the heels of this universal health care program for everybody in the state. There are some legislators there trying to introduce this idea that they would have -- they would pay family leave for people, men or women, who had to take some time off.

Now, as you know, Kyra, this is not -- the U.S. as a whole actually ranks pretty poorly on these work-life balance issues. A Harvard study recently of some -- more than 100 countries found that the U.S. is, for instance, only one of five that doesn't provide adequate leave for -- for childbirth.

Now, according to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, Americans who work at companies with 50 or more employees do get some sort of unpaid leave, but it's just -- apparently, more than 60 percent of workers just don't. So, this will actually be a good step forward in, you know, giving us all a more balanced -- balanced life.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: I don't know what I would do if I got time off.

PHILLIPS: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Oh, I could think of a lot of things. Come on now, Ali.

VELSHI: I can think of a few.

PHILLIPS: But -- but there's a -- there are so many companies that are just getting by with a certain number of employees.

VELSHI: Right. PHILLIPS: So, if you let somebody off for that long, it's hard to get somebody to replace that person, or someone picks up double the job.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: That's exactly it. That's the problem. And that's why companies under 50 employees typically don't have this kind of deal anyway.

What the study shows is that it would actually save companies money, believe it or not, because a lot of companies -- a lot of employees at smaller companies that don't have this sort of thing end up taking those days as paid sick leave, or there's more turnover, because those are not jobs that are conducive to them being able to do that.

And, as you know, Kyra, as much as people move from job to job, the fact is, when you invest in training someone and getting them familiar with your own company, in most cases, it's better to keep them. So, there is some sense that, over a long term, you would retain more employees and, hence, you would save more money by having policies that just make it friendlier to work at.

And, you know, that's what people talk about. As much as people compare salaries, the fact of the matter is, what keeps people at their jobs is a certain amount of satisfaction, advancement, and the fact that you're working for a company that cares about you.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it's true. If you are really, really happy, you won't want to take 12 weeks off.

VELSHI: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: That's why I come to work every day, because I get to work with you. It makes me happy.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Aww, Ali.

All right. I'm going to see you as we get closer to the closing bell?

VELSHI: Yes. I will see you in a half-an-hour. Yes.

PHILLIPS: Terrific. Thanks, Ali.

VELSHI: Yes.

PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break -- more LIVE FROM right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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