health care holdup. reform legislation hits a snag in the senate. anger rising. democrats who voted for reform get death threats. >> i hope you die. >> there are millions of people across the country who wish you ill. and this just in. a news anchor hits a new low on live tv. this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, march 25th, this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, march 25th, 2010. captioning funded by cbs

good morning. i'm michelle gielan. the heated debate over the just passed health care reform law has boiled over. this morning the fbi is investigating acts of vandalism and threats against democrats who voted for the measure. meanwhile, in the senate, it was an overnight marathon of frustration as democrats voted down dozens of republican attempts to change a followup bill. tara mergener is in washington with the latest. >> reporter: well, for hours, one republican amendment after another was shot down. then the decision democrats were afraid of. >> the motion is not agreed to. >> reporter: the health care fix-it bill will go back to the house despite furious efforts by democrats to keep that from happening. a spokesman for senate majority leader harry reid says two minor problems with the measure were discovered. but once they're removed, he

believes it won't affect the overall bill and the house will quickly pass it again. the news came after senate members stayed up well into the early morning hours voting on amendments. >> had more amendment votes today than we had in the entire month of december. >> reporter: they'll continue the rigorous debate this morning as president obama hits the road again in iowa to drum up support for the new law. and house democrats are still dealing with the backlash from pushing that measure through. the fbi is investigating death threats and acts of vandalism against several who voted for the reform. >> you will rue the day you did this, mr. stupak. >> i hope you die. >> reporter: michigan's bart stupak is just one of more than ten members who received frightening voice mails from angry constituents. at least four congressional offices across the country also have been vandalized. >> that activity ought to be unacceptable in our democracy. >> reporter: both democrats and

the gop are condemning the behavior. in a statement, republican house leader john boehner said, i know many americans are angry over this health care bill. and that washington democrats aren't listening. but as i've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. but democrats say that's not enough. they want republicans to speak out more strongly to help keep the situation from getting even worse. and as for the bill, once these provisions are deleted and the senate passes it, the house will vote. if approved, it goes to president obama. michelle, back to you. >> and, tara, a new cbs news poll shows the president's approval rating is getting a bounce after health care reform was passed, but it isn't all good news, is it? >> reporter: no, that is very true. the numbers show that two out of three americans or 62% want republicans to keep fighting against this bill. only 30% believe the bill will make health care any better. just 16% think the bill will mostly help them, but 30% think it will mostly hurt.

the president certainly has his work cut out for him. >> all right, tara, thanks. as promised, president obama signed an executive order that reaffirmed a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. a small group of anti-abortion rights democrats were on hand yesterday at the white house. the president made the deal to ensure their votes on the health care legislation. the president supports abortion rights. now to a benchmark in social security. this year social security will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes. something that wasn't expected until 2016. the change will have no affect on benefits according to the congressional budget office. the "new york times" reports payments have risen more than expected because of unemployment and people taking benefits sooner than they had planned. no progress to report in efforts to end a growing dispute between u.s. and israel. at issue is israel's plan to build new housing in east

jerusalem. talks last night between prime minister netanyahu and u.s. special mideast envoy george mitchell failed to resolve the matter. netanyahu met twice with president obama. new rules are being implemented to make it harder to discharge a soldier under the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. today defense secretary robert gates will unveil the new guidelines. they call for testimony from a third party under oath, the discharge of unlisted personnel must be approved by an officer holding the rank of at least a one star general. both gates and president obama have called for the law to be repealed. if all goes as planned, the united states and russia will sign a new nuclear arms treaty in two weeks. it was agreed to wednesday. it limits the number of nuclear warheads for each side to about 1500. it also reduces the number of missiles and bombs that deliver the weapons.

the treaty must be approved by congress and the russian parliament. dramatic new video of a volcano in central iceland, this one of several located under a glacier. 600 people were evacuated sunday but have been allowed to return to their homes. so far there are reports of injuries or damages, none of those, but the pictures are sure pretty. on the cbs "moneywatch," a mixed day for stocks in asia this morning. emily smith is here in new york with that and more. >> reporter: yeah, the nikkei finished up a fraction while the hang seng lost about 1%. this morning wall street gets a look at weekly jobless claims, wednesday the market's rally ran out of steam where the dow lost 52 points, the nasdaq was down 16. despite the health care overhaul, a typical couple retiring this year enrolling in medicare will need a quarter of a million dollars to cover medical expenses for the rest of their life. a study by fidelity investments says the estimate factors in medicare premiums, co-payments and deductibles as well as out-of-pocket prescription costs.

the housing market is still struggling to recover and all the stormy winter weather didn't help. the government reports that new homes were selling last month at the slowest pace on record, a record that goes back nearly half a century. some mortgage relief may be on the way for bank of america clients. for customers who owe more than 120% of their home's value, the bank says it will forgive up to a third of their loan balance. bank of america expects 45,000 customers will qualify for the program. the plan is set to begin in may. and get ready for higher ticket prices at the movies. some theaters are jacking prices over 20% starting this friday. major chains are trying to capitalize on the surge in revenue fueled by 3d hits like "avatar" and "alice in wonderland." the jump in prices will be seen mostly for 3d flicks. say it isn't so, michelle. >> it already feels kind of expensive. >> yeah. >> emily smith here in new york. thanks. just ahead, tanning salons in the hot seat over cancer risk.

plus, a defendant kind of police chase as wild horses stampede through the streets. first maggie rodriguez has a preview of tonight's "cbs evening news." a user's guide to health care reform. will there be enough doctors to go around? plus, what's missing in the bill that has some physicians worried? our complete coverage continues tonight on the "cbs evening news." ♪ when you're trying to be good, tempting treats can be wicked. no thanks, i'm good. new special k fruit crisps. with two crispy bars for 100 fruity calories... it's the delicious, new way to stay on track. now, being good's a cinch... with new special k fruit crisps.

♪ talking about nutriti. [ female announcer ] "i can't believe it's not butter" with no trans fat and 70% less saturated fat than butter. butter taste, better health. that's like a day of total hair satisfaction. it starts with the smooth collection from pantene. those weak little fly-aways... get smoothed to near perfection. how do i know? pantene gives you total hair satisfaction guarantee - or they'll switch you back to your old shampoo or conditioner... even if it's a salon brand. that's confidence. smooth healthy-looking results leading salon brands can't beat... that's total hair satisfaction. smooth from pantene. healthy makes it happen. [ woman ] nine iron, it's almost tee-time. time to face the pollen that used to make me sneeze, my eyes water. but with new zyrtec® liquid gels, i get allergy relief

at liquid speed. that's the fast, powerful relief of zyrtec®, now in a liquid gel. zyrtec® is the fastest 24-hour allergy medicine. it works on my worst symptoms so i'm ready by the time we get to the first hole. and that's good because the competition's steep today. new zyrtec® liquid gels work fast, so i can love the air.™ rush hour was even worse than usual for thousands of commuters east of los angeles last night. a small plane with engine trouble landed in northbound lanes of a freeway in pomona. no one was hurt, but traffic was backed up for miles. that wasn't the only unusual traffic hazard in southern california yesterday. south of san diego, a herd of horses got loose. border patrol agents with a helicopter finally corralled them in an entrance area of a building. no harm done to man or beast.

california voters will decide in november whether their state will be the first to legalize marijuana for recreational use. if the proposition is approved, adults 21 years and older could legally have up to one ounce of the drug and residents could grow it in limited quantities. medical marijuana is already legal in california and 14 other states, but it remains illegal under federal law. today the food and drug administration will consider imposing stricter safety regulations on tanning salons. the concern of course is skin cancer. sandra hughes reports. >> reporter: 19-year-old rachel donahue says she goes to the tanning salon to feel good about herself. >> i think it makes me look slim and more perky being tan. >> reporter: 30 million americans visit tanning businesses every year. but there are increasing questions about tanning beds and skin cancer. >> the food and drug administration still classifies indoor tanning devices as class one medical devices, which means that these dangerous devices are

considered as innocuous as bandages and as tongue depressors. >> reporter: tanning salon owners say they take precautions like this computer program that won't allow a customer to tan twice in one day. >> we educate them on the exposure schedules that the fda has given us. we don't want them to get red or overexposed. >> reporter: but doctors have warned for years that any kind of exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or in a tanning salon can lead to several types of skin cancer, including melanoma, which kills one person every hour in this country. >> saying that there is a safe way to tan is almost saying that there's a safe way to drive drunk. >> reporter: but even if there are new rules, that won't stop rachel donahue. >> it's really about what you personally want to do to your body and i think tanning should be a personal decision, not by the government. >> reporter: a personal decision, but a risky one. sandra hughes, cbs news, los angeles. veteran actor robert culp

has died after collapsing outside his hollywood home yesterday. culp's long career included hit movies like bob and carol and ted and alice, but he was best known for a ground breaking tv series, "i spy." ♪ bill cosby co-starred with culp in "i spy" which debuted in 1965, the first tv drama with an african american in a starring role. culp helped cosby learn acting and they remained close friends. robert culp was 79 years old. >> announcer: this portion of the "cbs morning news" sponsored by priority mail flat rate boxes. only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. rate boxes. only from the postal service. a severaller way to ship. e didne to weigh 'em all. if those boxes are under 70 lbs. you don't have to weigh 'em. with these priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service, if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate.

no weigh? nope. no way. yeah. no weigh? sure. no way! uh-uh. no way. yes way, no weigh-ing. priority mail flat rate box shipping starts at $4.95, only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. for a value that goes a long way only campbell's chicken noodle soup is made with fresh egg noodles. 32 feet in every can. ♪ so many, many reasons ♪ it's so m'm! m'm! good ♪

here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. new york, mostly cloudy at 54. miami, 80. chicago, 51. denver sunny at 48. los angeles, sunny and 70. time now for a check on the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows thick storm clouds extending from the midwest to the lower mississippi valley. it's beginning to clear up over the plains after yesterday's rain and snow. it's a dry morning across the southwest. and things are gray and damp for much of the northwest. now later today, showers will be scattered across the northwest. the southwest stays dry.

skies will be bright and sunny over the rockies and plains. it will turn rather cold across the upper midwest. and it will be gray and soggy from the central appalachians to the gulf coast. in sports, big lebron led the way in the big easy. lebron james scored 38 for cleveland, including an alley-oop jam in the second quarter. james also had 11 assists including a pass to hickson for a score and james showed his quickness and agility driving for a left-handed floater against the glass. the cavs won it 105-92. in charlotte, steven jackson scored a season high 37 points against minnesota. gerald wallace added 23, including a second quarter drive and flip for a score. the timberwolves took their 14th straight loss 108-95. and speaking of serial losers, how about the new jersey nets.

with 26 points from a determined brooke lopez, the nets beat visiting sacramento 93-79. devin harris added 24 points to push the nets' record to 8-63. they need one more win to avoid setting an nba record for fewest in a season. and a reminder, ncaa's sweet 16 action begins tonight. cbs sports regional coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. eastern time. when we return, we'll take another look at this morning's top stories. and pulling gs. a rare and up-close look at the latest tactic in the fight against insurgents in afghanistan. >> announcer: sports, sponsored by odor eaters in-soles. powder and spray. absorbs sweat and destroy odor on contact. spray. absorb sweat and destroy odor on contact.

this season, there are more reasons than ever... not to let your immune system become a statistic. so take every precaution. wash your hands frequently. maintain a well-balanced diet, get plenty of rest... and support your immune system... for a full 24 hours with patented ester-c. taken daily, ester-c gets into your system quickly... and stays all day to provide... up to 24 hours of immune support. now more than ever, trust your immune health... to clinically tested ester-c. the better vitamin c.

on the "cbs morning news," here's a look at today's weather.

it will be gray and rainy from the central appalachians to the gulf coast. skies will be clearing over the plains and rockies and the northwest will be gray and wet. here's another look at this morning's top stories. senate republicans found a technical snag in the health care reform reconciliation bill. that means the house will have to vote on the measure again. and the fbi is investigating threats and acts of violence against democratic lawmakers who voted for the health care reform law. some congressmen had their office windows shattered with rocks and menacing phone messages have been left on lawmakers' voice mails. now to the war in afghanistan where more than 2,000 civilians were killed in fighting last year. a quarter of those deaths were caused by u.s.-led nato forces. so the military is returning to

a tactic familiar to anyone who has seen a movie about world war ii. david martin reports. >> reporter: strafing, a low level run firing six inch bullets instead of dropping 1,000 pounds bombs from on high was a common tactic in world war ii. but it gave way to the shock and awe of more destructive precision-guided weapons. now with the urgent need to reduce civilian casualties in afghanistan, strafing is making a 21st century combat. >> since general mcchrystal took over in afghanistan, we've devoted significant more training to strafe. >> reporter: the captain's squadrons are preparing for their next tour over afghanistan. cbs news spent two days flying with them. hundreds of bullets are loaded into the nose, turning lieutenant commander jason gustin's $60 million jet into a flying machine gun. >> we expect the bullets to come out of the gun to be within about 30 feet from where we point the muzzle on the ground. >> reporter: that's about the

same accuracy as a laser or satellite-guided bomb. but look at the difference between the blast effects of a bomb and a strafing run in afghanistan. gustin noses in to the dive. that helmet he's wearing has a computer which projects the target on to the inside of his visor. the number of bombs dropped in afghanistan is steadily decreasing. but strafing runs remain constant at more than 1,000 each year. the old fashioned tactic of strafing is becoming the weapon of choice. david martin, cbs news, with fighter attack squadron 211. for a tv anchor in finland, a career low light when she fell off her chair. it happened during a live broadcast. she was reading a story about a journalism award and then the unexpected.

>> she got up from the floor and barely held it together long enough to toss to weather. looks like the prime material for future blooper reels. love it. this morning on "the early show," singer josh stone. i'm michelle gielan and this is the "cbs morning news." lle gielan and this is the "cbs morning news." long day than a giant plate of lettuce. c'mon. who's satisfied with that? with lean cuisine you can enjoy dishes that are nutritious and... are you sitting down?... delicious, too! take their new spa apple cranberry chicken. they put in grilled chicken, whole wheat pilaf... sweet cranberries... farm-picked veggies... and an apple reduction sauce... plus 6 grams of fiber. cranberries got you thinking red? turn to page 57 for the red that suits you. lean cuisine. keep life delicious. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] you wanted to quit smoking so many times, but those days came and went

and the cigarettes remained. ♪ today's a new day. talk to your doctor about prescription treatment options and support. and this time, make it your time.

average miles, well maintained. so, what do you think? i think i'll go with the preferred package. good choice... oh. only meineke gives you options on complete car care, and we'll help you choose what's right for you, your car, and your budget. at meineke, you're always the driver. thank you. yeah. ♪

hello again, we're starting off nice enough and sharon will have the traffic for