Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Democratic version of financial reform legislation, saying is creates a permanent bailout culture. Democrats say the vote shows Republicans are defending the status quo on Wall Street by opposing the bill. California Rep. Tom McClintock explains why he believes there is no doubt that Democrats plan to soak taxpayers again with this bailout fund. We’ll ask him how people should decide which party is telling the truth, and we’ll get his thoughts on President Obama considering a Value Added Tax to help pay down the deficit and the dismal report on the new health care laws from the president’s own Department of Health and Human Services.
Arizona Won’t Be Any Safer
The national immigration debate is raging again, following the new laws passed in Arizona. Supporters say the federal government is failing to secure this nation and stop the flood of illegals, but critics like Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum say this law won’t help Arizona. He says it will only encourage immigrants to hide from police and not report crimes committed against them. Why does he say any law passed by the state government is a bad idea? What does he want from Congress? Does he like the Bush version of immigration reform? And would a crackdown on illegals be OK if there were more specific guidelines on when people could be confronted by police.
The News
Tornadoes cause widespread damage in Mississippi and Alabama and kill 12 people while injuring at least three dozen others. The immigration debate returns with renewed intensity following the passage of new laws in Arizona. The Senate takes up it’s first major vote on financial reform, and General Motors is leaving out a few details when it boasts of repaying all of its government loans.
Pirates Back With a Vengeance
Last year, Somali pirates captured an American vessel and took the captain prisoner. Navy SEALs then rescued the captain and killed the pirates. But the pirates are back and causing more havoc than ever over a wider area than ever. How have they done this? Where is their money coming from? What strategy would work best against the pirates? And where does the piracy problem rank on the list of international problems? We get insights from retired U.S. Navy Captain Chuck Nash.
An Insidious Invasion
Protests continue in Arizona against new immigration enforcement laws. Critics say the laws codify racial profiling and push illegal immigrants deeper into the shadows of society. But Al Garza of the Patriots Coalition strongly disagrees. He explains why profiling happens all the time but is now being demonized and why he’s not worried about lowering cooperation of illegals with the police. He also discusses why neither party is serious about border security.
You’re Paying for Financial Reform
Senate Democrats will try to pass their version of financial regulatory reform today. At the center of this debate is a fund of more than $50 billion designed to prevent taxpayers from having to bail out another Wall Street failure. So why will taxpayers end up on the hook for this fund instead of the banks that will be ordered to pay into the fund? What should be the course of action for teetering financial institutions? Just how much government intervention is headed to the financial industry? And what will be the impact on businesses around the country? We ask James Gattuso, senior fellow in regulatory studies at the Heritage Foundation.
The News
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signs the nation’s toughest crackdown on illegal immigrants despite President Obama slamming the legislation. A new government study shows the new health laws add to the deficits, use accounting gimmicks and don’t necessarily let you keep your coverage. A second Navy SEAL is cleared on charges of assaulting a terrorist in custody. And dozens of Securities and Exchange Commission employees are busted for extensive internet pornography surfing while on the job during the financial meltdown.
Going Green
The Capitol Steps celebrate Earth Day by taking us all to a singles mixer for the environmentally conscious.
HHS Uncovers Obamacare Horrors
Just one month after President Obama signed health care reform legislation, the government’s own Department of Health and Human Services is pointing out some major flaws in the bill. Why are projected cost savings now turning into bigger deficits? Why could millions be cut from their current plans? Why will many face higher health care costs despite promises to the contrary? Why is the new CLASS Act for long term care doomed to failure before it even starts? And what does the future hold for Medicare patients? We ask Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute.
‘Pro-Life’ Dems on Defense
Last month several Democratic members of Congress decided to support the Democratic health bill despite failing to insert language to ban taxpayer-funded abortions. Now several of these lawmakers who label themselves as pro-life are the targets of a $1 million ad campaign to boot them from office. So why do pro-life groups see this vote as the true measure of where these members stand on abortion? Which members will be targeted? Should the president’s executive order on abortion earn them some slack? And what should we expect from President Obama’s upcoming Supreme Court nomination when it comes to abortion? We ask Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.