. >> host: if i could segway to the hill, senator rockefeller and congressman waxman, how do you think they're going to get along with mr. genachowski as things go forward? senator rockefeller has on numerous occasions thought that the fcc needs overall reform although a couple days ago he said maybe that might not be necessary, but he's certainly laser focused on the fcc. >> guest: and i think not only senator rockefeller has been focused on that, but i think a lot of people have focused on that. and i think, you know, reform of the fcc can come in multiple ways. it can come from congress, or it can come from the commission itself. both be michael copps as acting chair and julius genachowski as chair in their opening comments to staff and their public comments have expressed an interest in many of the rebombs -- reforms, if you will, that senator rockefeller has championed which is more openness, more transparency, data-driven results, clearer protocols, better communication internally and externally. those are the types of things senator rockefeller has talked about. i think that, i

from back east over compromises that one of her top lieutenants, energy committee chairman henry waxman made last week on healthcare reform with fiscally conservative blue dog democrats on the panel. 62 democrats on the progressive caucus wrote today vowing to fight waxman's measure, saying our continued support is contingent on a robust public plan, similar to what was reported out of the committees on ways and means an education and labor." they wrote "furthermore, the bills must be restored, and the final bill brought to the house floor must include these house provisions or we will oppose the bill. " but the nation's ongoing economic recession threatens to torpedo any meaningful healthcare industry reform. an associated press study of income tax revenues finds this year shaping up to be the worst since the great depression year of 1932, with uncle sam's total tax receipts projected to decline by 18%. bret: james rosen live on capitol hill. wisconsin democratic congressman steve kagan got an earful during a town hall meeting in green bay monday night. an overflow kraut voiced strong

congressman henry waxman is chairman ofç the house, n.j., d commerce committee. guided one of the reform bills through congress. now he and his committee are demanding dozens of private health insurers for over information to their committee, and almost immediately, demanding to know how much executives are paid, how premiums and benefits are paid out, and the amount of money spent on conferences and travel, without any explanation as to why. so are supporters of the president also seeing these demands? bill: molly is with us continuing the coverage of this story. what is in the letter? >> they say house democrats are putting pressure on insurance companies. again, thisç is from henry waxn along with part cpac. they say the committee is examining executive compensation and other businessç practices f the health insurance industry. -- along with bart stupak. the companies have been given until september to respond. the congressman wants information on revenue premiums, claims payments, where birds on conferences, company property, as well as travel, food, and ge

in the waxman-markey bill they put a floor of the $11 on the price.e utilities have come to me and said what about a caller? so what i do ask your response to that, mr. krupp and rancheria. >> the aspect of a caller would certainly promote upside protection on the cost of the customer. but fundamentally, even with the collar would still impose a second cause of customers we find would not be productive. and the reason for this is if a customer is going to spend a dollar we want that dollar to be spent on actually investing in infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions. the need to spend a second dollar to buy an allowance to get up to a cap does not seem productive or useful for us. so fundamentally we would want to stay. >> if you are worried about the consumer im as well. and we will measure our consumers are not hurt. mr. krupp, could you talk about that, about many of the other utilities to support the waxman-markey bill. and i understand it's probably dependent on their mix and so on. but some are very heavily coal, like duke energy, very strongly

at this time last week, i would have been surprised to learn that henry waxman, the chairman of the energymittee and a house, and a blue dog democrats could come together on a plan. the fact that is happening over there, and the fact that you have the republicans in the senate still at the table, suggests that this is coming together. what you are getting, slowly by slowly, are buy-ins from key elements in the congress. i think it will look a lot different, late fall, when we get the final product. >> charles? >> i think the wheels are coming off, and it is not after tyson's for republicans, not from the blue dogs, not from the insurance companies, it is from the congressional budget office, nonpartisan. it came out three times with findings that are just devastating. the sticker price of $1.60 trillion, then 10 days ago, when it said obama's new miracle cure, a committee of experts to make cuts in medicare, is not going to do a damn thing, and thirdly, when it said in a letter only last sunday that in the end, the out years, the deficit it will produce will be even larger. numbers like th

henry waxman, who chairs the health energy and commerce committee, and bart stau pack signed the letters but did not tell republicans about their plans. with >> cuss town hall meetings going on nationwide, and polls showing increased opposition to a government-run insurance program or so-called public option, neither waxman or stupak nor their staffs would comment on the story r democrats blame anti-reform ads like this one on the private health insurance industry. >> now washington wants to bring canadian-style healthcare to the u.s. but government should not become you and your doctor. >> a government-run option could put health insurance companies at a competitive disadvantage and even out of business but said they support healthcare reform in general. >> we support bipartisan reforms that congress can build on. >> not good enough for democrats. before congress took its august vacation, democrats banded private insurers immoral villains for opposing a government-run insurance option. house speaker nancy pelosi. >> it's clear that we want a strong public option in the legislation. insu

henry waxman is indicating he doesn't want any part of it. that's a separate issue. where does this go forward? >> you're going to have -- eventually you will get health care overhaul. it will come out. this is a prediction. out of senate finance and max baucus. and it will be so watered down it will insure a few million more people. it won't do anything for the cost. it will include cooperatives. and it will end up taxing people's health care benefits in some way, the excessive benefits you get through your employer. neil: regardless of whether that happens it sounds to me that something happens. something gets done. it might not be to dagen's liking or charles' like organize ben's like organize even your liking, but something will get done. is that true? >> i think she's right. i think it will be watered down. and that's an interesting observation. but willful to decide. do we want the white house to be driving it or not driving it, dagen? we want all of these parties involved, obviously. neil: charles? >> we're going to get something done. i'm disappointed with th

waxman. >> no. >> mr. waxman, no. >> mr. dingle. >> mr. dingle no. mr. marqui. mr. bouchr. mr. palone. mr. palone, no. mr. gordon. mr. gordon, no. no. mr. engle. mr. engle no. >> mr. green, mr. green, no. @@@@@@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [roll call vote] [roll call vote] mrs. christianson. mrs. caster. mrs. caster, no. mr. sarbane, no. mr. murphy of connecticut. mr. murphy, no. mr. space, no. mr. mcnerny. mr. mcnerny, no. mrs. sutton. mrs. sutton, no. mr. welch. mr. welch, no. mr. barton. mr. barton, aye. mr. upton, aye. mr. stern. mr. diehl, aye. mr. whitfield, aye. mr. blunt. mr. blunt. mr. blunt, aye. mr. boyer. mr. boyer, aye. mr. pitts. mr. pitts, aye. mr. terry. mr. terry, aye. >> mr. rogers. mr. rogers, aye. mr. sullivan. mr. sullivan, aye. mr. murphy of pennsylvania. mr. murphy, aye. mr. burgess. mrs. blackburn. mrs. blackburn, aye. mrs. scolise, aye. mrs. christianson votes no. mr. rusch, no. mr. stupack, no. mr. doyle, mr. doyle, no. mr. marqui, no. mr. mathison. mr. mathison votes no. mr. stern, aye. mr. ross. mr. ross votes no. >> have all members responded to the call

>> welcome this summer we are publishing a waxman's the waxman report in july.t is a look back at some of the landmark legislation the congressman has been involved with, tobacco, clean air common nutritional labels and what he does is explains to us how coalitions are built, how bills get moved from subcommittees to the kennedys. you collect votes. and it's really a lookout sausages made and of course the congressman has a couple of big bills going to the floor this summer so we expect a lot of attention from that. >> did you approach henry waxman or did he approach you? >> or publisher approached him and thought he would be the perfect person to explain how congress works, and i should add ghosh green from atlantic monthly has done a fantastic job. >> another book by peter peterson. >> pete peterson has lived a fairly phenomenal life. born 1926 raised by greek immigrants, born into the depression era in nebraska, worked at his father's donner, found himself the secretary of commerce for mix in, chairman ceo of lehman brothers and later co-founded the group and

companies are out there in full force, bomb, shock and awe against the public option. >> the letter waxman offers insurers no explanation at all of what's being investigated or why, but they are after sensitive information and casting a wide net. 52 health insurance companies have until september 4 to provide congress a detailed list of every employee who made over $500,000 a year between 2003-2008. and democrats also want documents related to any corporate conferences or retreats, entertainment, lodging, hotels, food, even entertainment and gifts as part of this inquiry. one industry insiders said it felt a little bit like a reprisal i.r.s. audit in the making. shep? shepard: well, afghanistan, and just about three hours left now until the afghan people start to head to the polls for their presidential election. it is the first afghan-led vote in more than three decades, but it comes in the midst of a war and with the threat of very serious violence. today as afghan officials race to set up voting sites across the nation, taliban militants unleashed a wave of attacks. three roadside bombs

>> as the author of a new book, about how congress really works it is called "the waxman report," i hopepeople could read the book it is a nonfiction book, and i tend to read nonfiction rather than fiction, although sometimes i escape to a novel here and there. some of the books that i am listening station i listen to books rather than read them, and i am listening to tom ricks is book, the sequel to a fiasco which was a fabless book. i just finished a book "the inheritance" about all the foreign policy problems this administration is inheriting, and i'm looking forward to a book by michael warned about the involvement of the united states in the middle east. i listen to his first book about the "six days of war" and i highly recommend that book. it told me things that even though i lived through the time of the six-day war of israel against its neighbors, there were things i just didn't really know had happened behind the scenes. that's what i thought that book was worthwhile. and i think that's one by book is one that people ought to listen to, or read. because it tells you things that

they wholesale 30% of their electricity to the wholesale market under waxman marquee. the allocations follow the electrons. the allegations go to the people they're selling to, the customers. mr. way to protect the customers -- the best way to protect the customers is to have this for the benefit of their customers. midamerica reflects a number of decisions that they have made. certainly, the cap with no trade, that would be extraordinarily expensive to consumers. trading gives us the flexibility to hunt down the lowest cost options. it offers the flexibility to switch fuels, to open a new nuclear power plant, and in no trading makes one single utility responsible. they may not have the flexibility to do all of these other things. >> comment on collar idea. >> that is another word for a safety valve. the problem with a safety valve is that it busts in the integrity of the caps. we're not going to guarantee the environmental reduction. we will not be able to say to other nations that we are making reductions, therefore, we want you to make reductions, too. in response t

henry waxman sent out a letter to insurance companies demanding documents about compensation, business practices. they want to intimidate, harass, and use this as a form of the ionization of the health-care industry that they have focused -- demonization of the health- care industry that they have focused on. does that concern new? >> yes. it is a case of double dealing. at the same time you have all waxman and nancy pelosi out there making these health insurers look like a demon. you have the obama administration with their hands out collecting money from that. table axelrod is one of many officials who has taken money from what they consider the evil drug industry and health insurance industry. a couple of weeks ago we talked about the health care czar. she was on the board of directors of many of these insurance firms and health-care companies. many have met in secret with the white house. eric holder, the current attorney general who made a lot of money representing the maker of oxycontin. who are the ones being paid? i would like robert gibbs to be indignant about questioning the

henry waxman sent out a letter. 52 insurance companies are the recipients. there's a demand for documents about compensation, chris -- business practices, clearly an effort that they want to go up there and intimidate and use this as a form of demonization of the health-care industry that they have enough focused their attention on in terms of heating. this is health insurance reform. this is not government-run health care. does that concern you, the intimidation effort? >> yes, because it is a case of double dealing and distraction. you have waxman and pelosi out there demonizing these health insurers and these private corporations. you have the obama administration officials collecting money from them. david axelrod is only one of many officials who have taken money from what they consider to be evil drug industry and health insurance industry. we talked about the health care czar. she made upwards of $6 million as a consultant of many of these insurance firms and health-care companies, many of which have met in secret with the white house. there is eric h

henry waxman has written into the country's 52 biggest insurers about a list of conferences and retreats. and he wanted all bite is a timber 14. the industry calls it a fishing expedition. there's something big happening at pizza hut. - woooh, nice! - that's a lot of food! now get big meals like our stuffed pizza rolls, pizza mia, the p'zone... and our personal panormous pizza starting at just $5. the big eat tiny price menu. only at pizza hut. with more eligible models to choose from than anyone.h if ur clunker al nks que ifie btorecycled, you can get a $3500 or $4500 government rebate. and just announced! if you qualify for the clunker rebate, you may also qualify for 0% apr for 72 months. that means you can buy a '09 malibu for $1 h a ntrmoteaf a $3500 government rebate and no dont pmeayme goy.o evchcom for details. - woooh, nice! - that's a lot of food! now get big meals like our stuffed pizza rolls, pizza mia, the p'zone... and our personal panormous pizza starting at just $5. the big eat tiny price menu. only at pizza hut. >>> all you thrill seekers get ready for a new roller coast

he brings in nancy pelosi, henry waxman and does what leaders do, bring them together. >> the bottom line is, dr. king took drugs we're not going to reform health care. my grand dad said, if you are going to stand, stand. if you're going to sit, sit. don't wobble. the president is wobbling on this. >> i'm going to make that the last word. thank you both very much. coming up, "meet the press" minutes. remembering panelist robert novak. >>> finally here in our "meet the press" minute, we remember robert novak who died at the age of 78. he had a long career in jonalis. journalism. his columns were a must read. his appearances on this program over the past 45 years were always enlightning. two years ago, he spoke to tim russert about his long association with "meet the press." >> you have been appearing on "meet the press" since august 9, 1964. remember the first guest? >> senator ma jjority leader mansfield. he has different problems tha most guests. his answers were too short, instead of too long. he really liked the yes or no answer. so, i was warned that i would run out of questions

a copy of the waxman letter obtained by "lou dobbs tonight" shows that congress wants to know the salary, the bonus, stock option, pension and other compensation arrangements of every employee making more than a million dollars a year between the years 2003 and 2008. that letter gives health insurers a september 4th deadline to comply. the companies are not legally obligated to do so without a congressional subpoena, however. no comment tonight from the insurance companies involved. >>> one of the leaders in the fight for universal health care is senator ted kennedy of course who tonight is urging massachusetts to allow a speedy replacement process if he is forced to vacate his senate seat. senator kennedy is battling brain cancer. he wants to make sure democrats will have the necessary votes to pass legislation in the senate. dana bash with our report. >> reporter: rare recent pictures of ted kennedy returning from a sale at his legendary family compound on cape cod where he now spends all his time with kennedy suffering from brain cancer knows that time is not on his side. he's formall

>> and with henry waxman still dead set on beating the august recess deadline. >> whatever time it takes, we're going to complete this bill today. >> in thursday night's action, which wrapped up at midnight, republicans sought to limit access to abortions an forcing lawmakers to enroll in any public healthcare plan they in enact. both were beaten back by the democratic majority, which resisted the push by the g.o.p. friday to open up to ordinary citizens the federal healthcare plan lawmakers do use. >> this is outside of our jurisdiction. >> this is germane. if you and i want to suspend the committee and see the parliament tearian in person, let's do it. >> despite a rear guard revolt by waxman's liberals, the democratic leadership on friday trained its sights on other combatants. >> the days for the insurance companies are coming to an end in our country. >> you have a lot of information coming out of far right wing radio, talk radio, and other outlets. we're going to make sure healthcare reform does not get swift voted during the month of august. >> on the senate side, the lead democra

either henry waxman's call for a salary and breakdown of all workers with insurance companies, whereer's request for a break down on what people are paid, my next guest says that they are doing scapegoating, and the worse these guys can do is catch our regioncower. -- the worst they can do is cower. >> they are highly regulated. i would assume that these people should try to find it first. they have to live with the same regulations we do and then go back and say "we tried to find it and did not find it." neil: all of these insurance guys are running with their tail between their legs. they are afraid to take them on. >> these are the bad guys, the health insurance companies. i do not believe that. the politicians have to flog somebody every day and this is their turn. neil: wyngate 8 check 2 -- when they get a check anyone of them would be getting a letter now? >> probably not. but i cannot prove it. look. we are where we are in terms of health care, in terms of being governed. i happen to like what i see right now, which is the american people and i believe this is not contrived. t

he brings in nancy pelosi, henry waxman and does what leaders do, bring them together. >> the bottomgs we're not going to reform health care. my grand dad said, if you are going to stand, stand. if you're going to si sit. don't wobble. the president is wobbling on this. >> i'm going to make that the last word. more cash over here! it's much easier to find money at esurance. great auto insurance rates and lots of discounts! got insurance already? save more with esurance's "switch & save (tm) discount"! it also pays to shop online. you get esurance's "fast 5 (tm) discount" just for getting an instant online quote. - thanks, professor. - don't forget the good student discount. and there's even more discounts! it's no "secret" that you can save hundreds with esurance. make it your "mission" to click or call esurance today. ♪ bicycle, what are we waiting for? the flowers are blooming. the air is sweet. and zyrtec® starts... relieving my allergies... 2 hours faster than claritin®. my worst symptoms feel better, indoors and outdoors. with zyrtec®, the fastest... 24-hour allergy medicine, i

henry waxman, chairman of the house committee shepherding the bill sent out a letter to chairman of the health insurance companies asking and requesting, quote/unquote, information about compensation levels of all those making over $500,000. they wanted the compensation level, the salary, bonuses, stock options, off jam pus retreats and such. this is wrong sort of intimidation. when they did it to the banking industry, the argument is they were taking taxpayer money through tarp and therefore we had an obligation to oversee that the money was well spent. this industry has taken no such money. pistol whiting them to come around and support the bill. >> not just the insurance industry beat up by the administration, but ordinary americans who oppose their the plan. the town hall meetings where conservatives are showing up, voicing thar opposition and labelled as un-american. disruptive. when liberal groups like acorn or moveon.org protest everything that george bush did, it was grassroots democracy. when conservatives do the same thing they are labelled un-american. >> where the republican

megyn: quickly, as we are up against a heartbreak, what is waxman doing? >> looking back to 2006, 6.5 million people were moved out of medicaid programs for the poor. drug negotiations for crisis changed radically. their prices were much higher. he said it was a big windfall for the drug industry, and he wants that money back. they could kill the deal if henry waxman gets his way. megyn: thank you. gregg: grim numbers on the federal deficit coming out yesterday, but they may not show the full extent of the whole we are in. a huge crater. three scary things that the mainstream media is not telling you, next. (mom) soon, we'll be doing homework, getting up early, packing lunches and running for the bus. and we're ready for it. because we took all our lists and we went to walmart. since walmart checks other store's prices... i didn't have to. that means we got home in time... for just a little more summer -- and for one last night of lightning bugs. back to school costs less at walmart. save money. live better. walmart. bill: we had a -- gregg: staggering new

"time" magazine assistant editor is bus and sharon waxman is also with us and joining me is my co-host karen finney. former deputy press secretary for hillary clinton. the big story today. two u.s. journalists held prisoner in north korea are safely home now in california. shortly after the plane touched down, president obama spoke from the white house saying he is extraordinarily relieved that they are home safe. >> i want to thank president bill clinton. i had a chance to talk to him for the extraordinary humanitarian effort. i think that not only is this white house, obviously, extraordinarily happy, but all americans should be grateful to both former president clinton and vice president gore for their extraordinary work. >> let's get right to nbc's jay gray who is in burbank, california. jay, i can only imagine what that homecoming was like, given that the two women, the two journalists had been held captured here for several months going back to march. >> yeah. just an amazing day and good morning to you, carlos. it was one of those goosebump moments that you see, just rarely. and

and that was what greenspan himself in his testimony before henry waxman's committee, if you want to do a confession you choose to do it before henry waxman is beyon me buthat is what greenspaid he got wrong, that it turned out they were not policing the table. the table was overturned and nearly took all of us with that. so, we have now situation where i think we have learned a lot. i don't think we have learned everything. this is one of those episodes that will be studied and we examined for the next 20 or 30 years before we really have clarity but i think we can draw some lessonsbout what happens in a crisis, in do we have a system whereor all its flaws a bunch of people can come together into something, sometimes bending the rules, sometimes stretching the law, not terribly democratic but they didn't have to have an act of congress in order to pvent the financial system from going under and then i think it turns out to be somhing that is the essential. if we had waited for congress to decide the thing really needed, the water had to go on the fire the house would burn down befor

joining us, sara waxman, the editor and chief of rap.com. and john ridley back with us.u. you look at the big movies, "transmo morformer "transformers," harry "harry potter" none of them with big stars. what's going on on, none of them with a big star? >> it's going on for some time. the movies don't want to pay the big star salaries anymore and what they realize they don't really have to. now what's going on this summer, i think it's more the themes of the movies rather than the stars that are driving the people to the box office. what people want to do they want to go in bad economic times, it's pretty clear they want to go in a theater and laugh and they want to go in a theater and they want to escape. so movies like "the hangover" it may not be one of the top five, but it's definitely one of the top movies of the summer and probably the most profitable movie of the summer. >> without a major star. >> without a single star. i mean, there's people in that movie i've never heard of. i saw a great movie that's doing really well at the box office. "district nine." no star

philosophically, we see a lot of commonality between the approaches of both chairman rockefeller and chairman waxman. is really early in this game. you can never tell our relationship will develop, but i think there's a lot of respect among the three. i think there is a real desire to work together and not have an antagonistic relationship between the commissioner and the congress. i am very optimistic about how that works out. i know you are right that rockefeller is later for -- laser focused on the way they conduct their business. they both provide over committees with broad jurisdictional responsibilities. well beyond the telecommunications space. the both have been preoccupied with other public policy issues, and one of the things i say is that if you were to take a poll of 40035 members of congress and 100 u.s. senators and say to name the five top issues you think this congress has to deal with over the next two years, you will be hard-pressed to find the telecommunications issue in the list of the top 100 that would come out of that polling. i think that is right, by the way. i think the tel

>>ot as much as otherpeople thin this time last week, i would have been surpsed to len that hen waxman, the chairman of the energy committee in t house, and a blue dog democrats would come gether on a plan. the stuff that is happening over there and the fact tha you have the republicans in the senate still at the table suggests that this thing is comi together. what you are getting, slowly by slowly, r buy-i from y elements ihe congress. think it will be in a different in la fallhen they produce the final product. >> chles? >> i tnk the wheels are coming off, and it not from advertisements from repubcans, not fr the blu dogs, not from the insurance companies, isrom the congressional budget office, nonpartisan. they came at three tes with findgs that are just devastating. th sticker. --he sticker pce is$1.60 trillion, then 10 da ago, they saidbama's miracle cure, a committee of exper to make cuts to medicare,s not going to do a damn thingand thirdly, it said in a lter last sunday thn the out years, the deficit wl produce will be even larr. numbers like that -- youannot have alan that wi

rangel, waxman, and miller. in the middle, senator kennedy would have been chairman of the house committee, and in terms of the finance committee, senator baccus of montana, who many do not believe is a democrat. independent voters are the most crucial in terms of general elections. as tony said, the legislative process is sausage-making. some good, some bad -- no one will be totally satisfied. but i do think president obama will sign a bill and it will be called "the health care reform bill." not everyone will be happy. but they have been trying to do this since harry truman. guest: the reason that very liberal chairman head committees -- both parties have done an effective job going through redistricting cycles. we re-draw district lines. both republicans and democrats have put keep members in safe districts. --key members in six districts. that is where the longevity comes from. and addressing your the they lead up to these positions and find themselves out of step with members who come from more competitive

and he brings on the other side, nancy pelosi, henry waxman, and he does what leaders do. >> he's gotple involved. >> he brings people together. >> the bottom line is that dr. king warned years ago of people taking the tranquilizer drug of gradualism. my granddad said all the time, if you're going to stand, stand, if you're going to sit, sit, but don't wobble. >> i think i'm going to make that the last word. tavis smiley, joe scarborough, thank you both very much. >>> up next, our "meet the press" minute. remembering longtime reporter, columnist, and "meet the press" panelist, robert novak. [ female announcer ] olay regenerist is on a roll new anti-aging eye roller. reduces puffiness immediately -- and also helps with lines and wrinkles. not surgery. this is our way to do your eyes. >>> finally here, in our meet t the press minute, we remember robert novak, who died at the age of 78. he was known as a reporter's reporter, tough, dogged, and well sourced. his columns were a must read and his appearances on this program over the past 45 years were always enlightening. two years ago, he

they get the bill out of committee, henry waxman's bill, for if i voted against it in the end. >> yes, the real story is my think the left is so frantic right now is that support for this plan is just eroding so quickly. i think they have become totally desperate and that's why they're turning their attack dogs against each other. we were talking earlier about how the democrats gained their majority by talking about them being a center-left party. and they moved in a more moderate direction. now they're turning their attack dogs against the very moderates made this majority possibility. >> paul: kim, rahm emanuel recruited a lot of these moderate the dog democrats to help make their majority and in fact did help make their big number of majority in 2006 and 2008. are they willing to set reference some of these moderates now for the greater cause of national health care? >> i don't know how you read it any other way. the plan they put out what's best in the house was passed in the senate has put these guys in an absolutely untenable situation. their districts are full of these american

but news of a back-room deal riled fellow democrats including a key committee chairman henry waxman. >> we're not bound by that agreement. we weren't part of it. and fee feel strongly that the drug companies shouldn't get off with a windfall at the expense of our seniors. >> whatever the case, the pharmaceutical industry is now so firmly in the president's camp it's developing plans to spend up to $150 billion promoting it with tv ads like this. >> the president and congress have a plan. >> and consumer watchdog dr. sydney wolf says there's reason for the public to be skeptical. >> we'll give you this. you'll give us this. all sort of off the record, not really incorporated in any kind of legislation. and i believe in the long run a very bad deal for the american public even if it's a good deal for the drug industry. >> the president may have won crucial support from the pharmaceutical industry but the question is whether that could jeopardize support among democrats and the public. sheryl attkisson, cbs news, washington. >> couric: in los angeles the coroner's office today completed

they have written to nancy pelosi today to register their displeasure with the waxman version. they wanted to make sure that -- the letter goes on to say -- there are 60 members of the congressional progressive caucus, congressional black caucus, hispanic caucus, that agree with this sentiment. martha: very interesting. thank you, james rosen. trace: the bottom line is, revenue is down, spending is up, and the president says he will not raise taxes on those making less than $250,000. how about some context and perspective? in 2000, american making to the thousand dollars or more had a grand total of $930 billion in taxes. even if you tax those making $500,000 more a year at 100 pullet -- 100%, that only brings in another $1.30 trillion. still not enough. in order to fund this budget, which is $4 trillion, the government would need to tax all americans making $75,000 or more at 100%. let me bring in a former deputy assistant director for tax analysis. the math does not add up. you cannot not tax and continue to spend this way. >> the numbers do not add up. you have to dig much d

bill: it goes against what henry waxman has said, "that that is the beauty of what they are proposing, you have the option of keeping what you have for going public here " that they would be exercising that. -- public." that there would be exercising that. >> i do not believe it. understand, today we have medicare, the microcosm of a single payer system. heavily subsidized and supported by private insurance. as we large that balloon, it will begin to create a black hole, sucking in private insurance recipients. it may be estimated that as many as 113 americans will be pulled off of the role, into the remaining system. a lot of people who like what they have and want to keep it will not be able to do that because of the differential cost to businesses that must save costs in order to compete. neil: when i argued that it will never happen, you are saying that it will and that you have proof. but the argument not withstanding, doctor, i would be curious on your own take on any kind of health care reform passing this year? >> again, i came to washington looking for health care reform. we

we have seen -- we have heard sounds from henry waxman and those guys saying, did we lose the public?hey will bolt. obama is between two sides of democrats and i do not see how he gets out. sean: appreciate you being with us. coming up, the circus is coming to town thanks to the federal government. your tax dollars help to bring a circuit to a town near you. gecko vo: you see, it's not just telling people geico could save 'em hundreds on car insurance. it's actually doing it. gecko vo: businessmen say "hard work equals success." well, you're looking at, arguably, the world's most successful businessgecko. gecko vo: first rule of "hard work equals success." gecko vo: that's why geico is consistently rated excellent or better in terms of financial strength. gecko vo: second rule: "don't steal a coworker's egg salad, 'specially if it's marked "the gecko." come on people. sean: pro-life groups are up in arms at a provision in the health care plan. lois capps was the author that would allow the insurance program to cover abortions. the house legislation says that no federal funds will be u

>> i have negotiated with everybody from henry waxman to ted kennedy. i have negotiated with both president clinton and president obama. i like every one of them. they have different perspectives than i do. we try to work together. when we do, will put the bill together for the modern generic drug industry and has ca-- it wn overwhelmingly supportive bill. we had a wide bipartisan support for the kennedy bill. it has worked amazingly well until they started pushing medicaid people into approach chip. they are trying to get us to a single payer system. if we go to that system. everybody in america will be very upset. look at canada. the leading canadian women on health care came out and said that situation is ready to implode. they cannot continue on the way they are going. that is a single payer system. greta: if senator kennedy is unavailable to vote and the democrats have all of these votes, it's going to pass? >> the democrats should be able to pass it because they have an overwhelming majority in the house and the senate. the only people they cannot

. >> on this story the media has ignored, we have another report , you have henry waxman, another congressman, sending letters to insurance companies. they are basically trying to intimidate them. we want receipts about junkets you might have taken, but transportation you took, they want information about compensation for employees. at this particular moment in time, it seems they are trying to intimidate the insurance industry, which they have started to demonize. >> absolutely. there is hypocrisy in those two situations. wouldn't it be nice if we could all have the fix can wear any type of questionable activity did not buy the rest? they are sleeping well. they are not answering the questions of americans and they are trying to ram health care that we cannot afford down our throats. people are mad. sean: this brings up the broader question of the handling of this, assaulting the american people and calling them names. they are changing the message. they keep saying "changing competition." now they are talking about co- ops. is this a marketing campaign? are they really thinking about changi

>> i have negotiated with everybody from henry waxman to ted kennedy.tiated with president clinton and president obama. i like every one of them. they have different perspectives. ççwe are trying to work toget, but when we do, when we put the hatch-waxment together -- hatch- waxmen together, it has saved a lot of money. when we did the hatch-kennedy bill, we had a wide bipartisan support for that, and it worked amazingly well until they started pushing medicaid people into chip, again, an incremental step to get as to a single-payer system. i have to tell you, everybody in america is going to be sad. look at canada. just last week, the leading canadian woman on health care came on and said that situation is ready to implodes. -- to implode. that is a single-payer system up there. greta: let's say the democrats do have all of these votes, is this going to pass? be able toç pass it. that overwhelming majorities in the house, and they have 60 solid votes in the senate. the only people they cannot control his the american people who are showing oppositio

henryç waxman notion go on the website.nd you can get whatever you want. what he wants is protected by federal statute under if privacy laws. he is simply not entitled to know -- under privacy laws. he is not entitled to know what they were paid, what they're paid for recreational experiences were, and what their expense accounts were -- what their paid for recreational expenses were. he was a champion for this. prosecuting hackers. the government over and over again does not apply its own laws to itself. neil: all of this would go away, judge, if they wrote a little check. >> you are right. your previous guest is right, as are you. this is an effort to intimidate insurance companies to go along with socialized medicine. neil: and nobody is asking them for their insurance -- financial records. >> i say anyone out there, tell the government to take a hike. move to quash the subpoenas, and you will prevail in a federal court. neil: and if it does not work, the judge will bail you out. judge, thank you very, very much. >> a pl

we have seen -- we have heard sounds from henry waxman and those guys saying, did we lose the public?hey will bolt. obama is between two sides of democrats and i do not see how he gets out. sean: appreciate you being with us. coming up, the circus is coming to town thanks to the federal government. your tax dollars help to bring a circuit to a town near you. i never thought i would have a heart attack, but i did. you need to talk to your doctor about aspirin. you need to be your own advocate. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. you take care of your kids, now it's time to take care of yourself. healthy hair is softsisilky. and you can get it. fabulou. all you need is pantene. salon names and fancy packaging are nice, but you dot t need it. even experts agree. it's damage protection results leading salon brands can't beat. trust me on this, the blow dryer, the curling iron, and thflflat iron, and my hair's still shiny. pantene moisture renewal. healthy makes is happen. home run! (announcer) he's sweet. even with one third less sugar than soda. kool-aid.

didn't have common sense were some of the concessions that he got in his talks with congressman henry waxman and with democratic leaders, shaving $100 million off the bill, making sure more small businesses were exempt. he kept repeating to show his constituents, here is what i got when i was also able to slow down this process, lou. >> all right. brianna, thank you very much. >>> the house speaker this week declared that town hall protesters who is congressman ross talked about there jumping up and down, objecting to the president's health care plan are simply "un-american." in an op-ed with house majority leader steny hoyer, the speaker said -- but it was in 2006 that speaker pelosi declared, she supports disrupters as they called them. she was calling about iraq at a town hall meeting in san francisco. >> advocacy is very american and very important. and i'm a fan of disruptors. people who make haste change. >> quite a contrast then and now. speaker pelosi offered disrupters even more encourage. she invited them to stand at the front of the room with their anti-war signs. >>> still ahead,

puts us on the wrong road because the climate movement, the cap and trade movement and the 1500 page waxmanarkey bill this point to be debated in the senate is the energy and climate road to serfdom and this contradicts so much of the free market principles that under conscious capitalism so i see a real conflict here. i would urge conscious capitalism check the premises, get back to the basis of climate change and particularly will get government failure, a political failure versus market failure in this issue as far as conscious capitalists being able to solve the global warming issue, this is a tears in the ocean problem. if you look at the mathematics of greenhouse gas reductions, and what can be done under self-interest and under government mandates around the world we are talking about hundreds of degrees of of weighted warming 50 to 100 years from now so this is a big issue, a tough issue. i know i put you on the spot but all of us americans are now debating this and it is a huge issue for the freedom movement. thank you. [applause] -- before, rob. for the conscious capitalism, mr. m

joining me is lisa bloom, sharon waxman. sharon, start us off. are covered hollywood for a long time but is this a new low in terms of the paparazzi and trying to get information to them? >> yes. it is disgusting. i was shocked. i have seen a lot of things. i covered o.j., michael jackson's death, michael jackson's trial. i cover a lot of sordid stuff. that is low. the people whose job it is to protect us. the guy says he is completely innocent so let's wait to see what happens. but there is a lot of smoke going over there. the idea that police officers could be on the payroll is to invade someone's privacy for the purpose of selling information to paparazzi is a new low for me. >> let's talk more about that in a second. first, lisa, what is amazing about this case is not that may broke into this woman's home. she is not a celebrity but carried a child for sarah jessica parker and matthew broderick. is the demand so great they are going after people who are not celebrities. >> you're right, john. let's break this down. they went after a whom is a

i agree with the speaker and with chairman waxman.t feel those are binding to us. >> understandably so. my question is what is your sense of not just health care, even though is a the most obvious and pointed example right now, but what is your sense of the white house using back channel pre-deals to try to get conversations basically pre-baked and sending them to congress some. >> i did see the proverbial cart before the horse. i believe part of the debate process has to be the transparency of what we are doing. the american people are going to be spour supportive. they are going to understand these concepts if they feel their elected representative is part of that process. if we feel locked out, they are going to be -- their sense of support is going to be lost. >> understood. jonathan, are you there? >> yes, i am. >> you've been at this a heck after long time. you've seen washington fight over this, that, and the other thing. compare this debate and these techniques to the past debates, whether it's the iraq war, et cetera, to the

obama outsourced the policy to waxman, pelosi, reid, kennedy, dodd and set artificial deadlines thatn't be met and made him look weak when they weren't and said, "i've got to have a bill by the august recess." that bombed. let me tell you how weak position he is on, he's caving on one of the central tenets of his health care policy issue and not getting a single republican vote and try to keep his own party together. sean: i think there's truth to that but i'm a little more cynical than you. >> i can't imagine that. sean: i think the cooperative plan is basically the same thing with a new packaging. >> come on. sean: this is still going to be government run health care. >> they can try, you're right. >> the liberal side of this town for a second. waving the white flag of surrender is something new. hannity used that one five years ago on the war against me. sean: you got very angry. >> i did but i'm not going to be denied and am in a good mood and trying to figure out what greta was talking about, six months. the fact of the matter is at this very desk two months ago i told you we'll