Radio America Online News Bureau

On Friday, we learned the economy lost 20,000 jobs in January and a million more than previously thought throughout the current downturn.  However, the overall jobless rate fell to 9.7 percent.  Are we on the right track?  Will we see sustainable job growth in the months ahead?  What are employers worried about?  And what is the key to long-term job growth?  We ask Diana Furchtgott-Roth, chief economist for the Department of Labor in the George W. Bush administration.  She is now director of the Center for Employment Policy at the Hudson Institute.

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The Capitol Steps roll out a recent favorite lamenting the loss of American jobs to China.  Guest is Steps impressionist Mark Eaton.

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Health care legislation is on life support in Congress, but some states are taking no chances.  Virginia is the latest to pursue legislation making it illegal for the federal government to force residents to buy health insurance.  How does it work?  How many states are doing this?  and will it survive a court challenge?  We ask Christie Herrera, director of the Health and Human Services Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council.

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You’ve heard the debate about what cap and trade legislation might do to the economy.  What about the environmental impact.  Why could legislation designed to save the planet actually do it great ecological harm?  What’s the truth about carbon dioxide and what levels are ideal?  We ask Leighton Steward, author of ‘Fire, Ice and Paradise’.

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President Obama says he wants to overhaul the ‘No Child Left Behind’ law, by changing the system away from the pass/fail mark for schools to a more graded process.  He is also pushing changes to the testing policy by which schools are judged.  Are these good ideas?  What’s encouraging and what’s discouraging about the Obama agenda?  Will he really push to have bad teachers fired?  And why is Obama’s decision to let the DC vouchers program expire a sign that he’s not committed to doing what’s necessary to give every kid the best possible education?  We ask Dr. Jay Greene, professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

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On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the largest-ever increase in the federal debt ceiling – to the tune of $1.9 trillion.  The ceiling now stands at $14.3 trillion.  South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson calls this a sad day for the American people as President Obama proposes the largest annual deficit in history.  Wilson says the added PAYGO provisions are just a ruse and are littered with loopholes for a free-spending Congress.  He also addresses the health care debate and the controversy over where to hold the 9-11 terror trials.

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This week, intelligence leaders said an attempted Al Qaeda attack in the U.S. is ‘certain’ in the next few months.  What’s behind the heightened concern?  What’s the smartest way to stop the attack before it happens?  And why would President Obama admitting the extent of the threat frm radical Islam be a huge step in that direction?  We ask Dr. Walid Phares, terrorism expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.  We also ask him if the Taliban leader in Pakistan is really dead and what the impact will be if he is dead.

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Terrorists will try to strike again within the next few months, Republicans say it’s time to stop treating terrorists like criminals, GOP senator calls Obama’s Iran policy unsuccessful, Obama rallies Democrats and says Republicans are to blame for Congressional gridlock.

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This week, Pentagon officials began the process which may lead to gays serving openly in the military.  But is this good for military cohesion and readiness?  What will it do for recruiting and retention?  We ask retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis.  He also explains his concerns over President Obama increasingly assigning the military to handle climate change projects – at the likely expense of distracting us from real threats.

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