PBS NewsHour; February 10, 2012 3:00pm-4:00pm PST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Brown: RELIGIOUS EMPLOYERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE FREE BIRTH CONTROL TO EMPLOYEES AFTER ALL. SO SAID THE PRESIDENT TODAY, AS HE OUTLINED A NEW COMPROMISE. GOOD EVENING. I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Suarez: AND I'M RAY SUAREZ. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, WE HAVE A NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS ON THE WHITE HOUSE SHIFT IN POSITION.

>> Brown: THEN, TWO COUNTRIES, ONE BIG DEBT CRISIS. FROM GREECE, JAMES MATES OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS REPORTS ON NEW AUSTERITY MEASURES, AND TWO DAYS OF STRIKES IN RESPONSE.

>> Suarez: AND FROM ITALY, MARGARET WARNER TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FLAGGING ECONOMY OF EUROPE'S SECOND MOST INDEBTED NATION.

>> REALITY WAS WHERE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN, WE ARE GOING THE GREECE WAY, AND THAT WILL BE A DISASTER FOR US AND FOR THE REST OF EUROPE, AND I THINK FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> Brown: MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS ANALYZE THE WEEK'S NEWS.

>> Suarez: AND HARI SREENIVASAN PROFILES CHINA'S NEWEST ENGLISH LANGUAGE SENSATION, JESSICA BEINECKE, A TEACHER OF AMERICAN SLANG.

>> Brown: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S NEWSHOUR. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: BNSF RAILWAY.

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>> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND...

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Brown: PRESIDENT OBAMA BACKTRACKED SOME TODAY ON A BIRTH CONTROL INSURANCE MANDATE. HIS NEW PLAN SOUGHT TO SATISFY CRITICS OF THE PLAN, WHILE MAINTAINING SUPPORT FROM WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVOCATES. THE PRESIDENT ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM BENT ON CALMING A POLITICAL STORM.

>> RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WILL BE PROTECTED, AND A LAW THAT REQUIRES FREE PREVENTATIVE CARE WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WOMEN.

>> Brown: JUST THREE WEEKS AGO, THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAD TO COVER BIRTH CONTROL FREE OF COST. ROMAN CATHOLIC OFFICIALS, IN PARTICULAR, CHARGED THE MANDATE WOULD FORCE THEM TO VIOLATE THEIR OWN TEACHINGS. TODAY, MR. OBAMA SAID THE REVISED PLAN WOULD ADDRESS THAT OBJECTION.

>> UNDER THE RULE, WOMEN WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO FREE PREVENTIVE CARE THAT INCLUDES CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WORK. SO THAT CORE PRINCIPLE REMAINS. BUT IF A WOMAN'S EMPLOYER IS A CHARITY OR A HOSPITAL THAT HAS A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO PROVIDING CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES AS PART OF THEIR HEALTH PLAN, THE INSURANCE COMPANY-- NOT THE HOSPITAL, NOT THE CHARITY-- WILL BE REQUIRED TO REACH OUT AND OFFER THE WOMAN CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FREE OF CHARGE, WITHOUT CO-PAYS AND WITHOUT HASSLES.

>> Brown: THE PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING CATHOLIC HOSPITALS, WELCOMED THE DECISION. SISTER CAROL KEEHAN SAID IN A STATEMENT: "THE FRAMEWORK DEVELOPED HAS RESPONDED TO THE ISSUES WE IDENTIFIED THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED." THE HEAD OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS WAS MORE RESTRAINED. ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK TIMOTHY DOLAN SAID: "TODAY'S DECISION TO REVISE HOW INDIVIDUALS OBTAIN SERVICES THAT ARE MORALLY OBJECTIONABLE TO RELIGIOUS ENTITIES AND PEOPLE OF FAITH IS A FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION." GROUPS THAT SUPPORTED THE BIRTH CONTROL MANDATE, FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, BACKED THE COMPROMISE. LOUISE MELLING IS DEPUTY LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION.

>> WE WERE PLEASED THAT, TODAY, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION MADE PERFECTLY CLEAR ITS LONG- STANDING COMMITMENT TO CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE. THAT IT MADE CLEAR, AGAIN, AND REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WORK, WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTION.

>> Brown: FOR THEIR PART, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES KEPT UP THEIR CRITICISM OF THE ORIGINAL MANDATE. FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH SPOKE AT A GATHERING OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS IN WASHINGTON.

>> OUR CORE DOCUMENT SAID WE ARE ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. AND BARACK OBAMA SEEKS TO CUT ACROSS THOSE, AND I FRANKLY DON'T CARE WHAT DEAL HE TRIES TO CUT. THIS IS A MAN WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED... IF HE WINS RE-ELECTION, HE WILL WAGE WAR ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE MORNING AFTER HE'S RE-ELECTED. WE CANNOT TRUST HIM. WE KNOW WHO HE REALLY IS AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THE COUNTRY KNOWS WHO HE REALLY IS.

>> Brown: AT THAT SAME CONFERENCE, FORMER PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR RICK SANTORUM ACCUSED THE ADMINISTRATION OF OVERREACH. HE SPOKE SHORTLY BEFORE THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS.

>> THIS IS THE KIND OF COERCION THAT WE CAN EXPECT. IT'S NOT ABOUT CONTRACEPTION. IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC LIBERTY. IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM OF RELIGION. IT'S ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF YOUR LIVES. AND IT'S GOT TO STOP!

>> Brown: MITT ROMNEY DID NOT DIRECTLY RESPOND TO THE OBAMA ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT HE VOWED THAT HIS WOULD BE A "PRO-LIFE PRESIDENCY."

>> AND I WILL REVERSE EVERY SINGLE OBAMA REGULATION THAT ATTACKS OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND THREATENS INNOCENT LIFE.

>> Brown: THE PRESIDENT TODAY SUGGESTED THE POLITICAL UPROAR SHOULD DIE DOWN NOW THAT THE POLICY HAS CHANGED.

>> I UNDERSTAND SOME FOLKS IN WASHINGTON MAY WANT TO TREAT THIS AS ANOTHER POLITICAL WEDGE ISSUE. BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE. I CERTAINLY NEVER SAW IT THAT WAY. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE HAVE BEEN SORTING THROUGH SOME VERY COMPLICATED QUESTIONS TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. WITH TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, WE'VE DONE THAT.

>> Brown: WITH THE PRESIDENT HOPING TO PUT THE BIRTH CONTROL FUROR BEHIND HIM, AIDES WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS PUSH AHEAD WITH EMERGENCY LEGISLATION ON THE ISSUE.

>> Suarez: THIS AFTERNOON, I SPOKE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION WITH KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SHE SPOKE FROM THE FRONT LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, AND WHICH RESUMED DURING OUR INTERVIEW. SECRETARY SEBELIUS, WELCOME BACK TO THE NEWSHOUR.

>> THANK YOU, NICE TO BE WITH YOU, RAY.

>> Suarez: COT ADMINISTRATION HAVE AVOIDED A DAMAGING FIGHT OVER CONTRACEPTION COVERAGE BY ANNOUNCING THIS POLICY IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE MISS IS THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I MADE TWO WEEKS AGO SUGGESTED THAT WE WERE MOVING AHEAD WITH THE EXEMPTION THAT HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY DRAFTED. BUT ALSO WE WOULD SPEND TIME REACHING OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS, THAT TO RELIGIOUS EMPLOYERS WHO OBJECTED TO OFFERING THIS COVERAGE. AND WE WOULD SPEND A YEAR FINDING ARRANGEMENTS THAT RESPECTED THEIR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BUT MAKE SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT WOMEN EMPLOYEE OS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER SHE WAS A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OR A NURSE OR A JANITOR COULD MAKE THEIR OWN DETERMINATION ABOUT VERY IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE.

>> Suarez: DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WAS COMING? WERE YOU WARNED BY ADMINISTRATION COLLEAGUES ABOUT POSSIBLE BACKLASH?

>> WELL, THERE WERE CERTAINLY PEOPLE WHO FELT WE SHOULD BROADEN THE EXEMPTION GREATLY. I THINK THE PRESIDENT FROM THE OUTSET DETERMINED THAT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO HAVE MILLIONS OF AMERICAN WOMEN BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THEIR EMPLOYER DECIDING THEY SHOULD NOT ACCESS CONTRACEPTION AND THAT IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED PRESCRIPTION DRUG OF WOMEN 14 TO 40 AND THAT OFTEN HAS A SERIOUS FINANCIAL COST, UP TO $600 IF A WOMAN IS PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR IT. SO ON ONE HAND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PREVENTIVE HEALTH BENEFITS, NO COPAYS, NO COINSURANCE APPLIES TO THE WHOLE RANGE OF IOM RECOMMENDATION, SO KEEP IT NARROW FOR CHURCHES AND CHURCH AFFILIATES BUT ALSO USE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE 28 STATES WHICH HAVE MANDATORY CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE, SEE WHAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE SATISFACTORY TO THE VARIOUS CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS WHO RIGHT NOW OFFER THAT COVERAGE, UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS, AND DEEM THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE GOING FORWARD. WHEN THE FIRESTORM BROKE OUT THE PRESIDENT BASICALLY SAID WE HAVE TO SPEED UP THIS PROCESS. LET'S FIND A SOLUTION RESPECTING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND GUARANTEEING THAT MILLIONS OF WOMEN IN AMERICA, AND REALLY ALL WOMEN IN AMERICA NOW, HAVE INSURANCE POLICIES THAT WILL HAVE A RANGE OF HEALTH CARES NEEDED BY THEM AN THEIR FAMILY WAS COPAYS AND COINSURANCE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN ACCESS IT.

>> Suarez: SO YOU MENTIONED THE ADMINISTRATION SPOKE TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS BEFOREHAND. HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT THIS LATEST ADJUSTMENT THIS LATEST CHANGE OF POLICY. IT'S REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ALREADY SPOKEN TO WATCH BISHOP TIMOTHY DOLAN OF NEW YORK, ONE OF THE SENIOR LEADERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

>> WELL, I DON'T-- I KNOW HE HAS REACHED OUT TO ARCHBISHOP DOLAN. I KNOW HE HAS SPOKE TO-- FROM THE CATHOLIC HEALTH INSURANCE WHO HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RULE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUBLISH IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER TODAY. I KNOW HE HAS SPOKEN TO HE IS SEAL RICHARDS FROM PLANNED PARENT WHOD WHO WAS ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RULE WE PUT OUT TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO BE, AGAIN AS WE DEVELOP THE SPECIFICS AROUND THIS REGULATION, WORK WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES, WORK WITH INSTITUTIONS, BUT I THINK THIS DOES EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT ASKED US TO DO, WHICH IS MAKE SURE THAT MILLIONS OF WOMEN REGARDLESS OF WHO THEIR EMPLOYER IS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN HEALTH DECISIONS, HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL RANGE OF VERY IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE AND AT THE SAME TIME RESPECT THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY OF THEIR EMPLOYERS WHO MAY OBJECT TO EITHER PAYING FOR OR DIRECTLY OFFERING THIS COVERAGE.

>> SECRETARY, CAN WE TALK ABOUT MECHANICS? IF YOU'VE JUST TAKEN A NEW JOB AT A RELIGIOUSLY BASED HOSPITAL OR UNIVERSITY, YOUR EMPLOYEE PAPERWORK IS SILENT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> WELL, TYPICALLY IF YOU ARE A NEW EMPLOYEE AND THEN AN INSURANCE PLAN, THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR THE VARIETY OF INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY PUBLISH THE BENEFIT PACKAGE. SO IN THIS CASE AGAIN THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD BE REACHING OUT TO EMPLOYEES, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IT IS THEIR CHOICE WHETHER TO ACCESS CONTRACEPTIVE BENEFITS. AND WHAT WE KNOW, RAY, IS THAT ACTUALLY THIS IS A NO COST BENEFIT. THAT THE NATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL ON HEALTH, THAT OUR ACTUARIES, A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN GROUP PLANS SAY HAVING CONTRASEPTEMBER AS PART OF A GROUP INSURANCE PLAN ACTUALLY LOWERS THE OVERALL COST, DOESN'T INCREASE IT. BECAUSE ON BALANCE, PREVENTIVE SERVICES AROUND FAMILY PLANNING, AVOIDING WHAT MAY BE UNHEALTHY PREGNANCIES, AVOIDING THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ACTUALLY IS A COST REDUCER. SO WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES DIRECTLY OFFER THIS BENEFIT TO THE WOMEN EMPLOYEES. AND THE RELIGIOUS EMPLOYER DOESN'T PAY FOR IT, DOESN'T REFER TO IT, AND DOESN'T HAVE TO OFFER IT.

>> Suarez: YOU SAY MONEY FROM THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS DOESN'T PAY FOR THIS BUT ISN'T MONEY FIGUREABLE? IF A CATHOLIC NONPROFIT IS PAYING FOR YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE, ISN'T IT PAYING FOR CONTRASEPTEMBER IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR COVERAGE THROUGH THAT SAME INSURER?

>> WELL, AGAIN, RAY, IN THIS CASE ACTUARIES HAVE LOOKED AT THIS BENEFIT. THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH PLAN WHEN CONTRACEPTION WAS ADDED TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, BENEFIT WHICH IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYEE GROUP IN THE COUNTRY, COSTS OF THIS, IS NO COST, FREE, BECAUSE ADDING CONTRACEPTION AND HAVING SOME EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT COVERAGE LOWERS THE OVERALL COST OF THE HEALTH PLAN. SO WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ACTUARIES THAT HAVE INSERTED THAT, SO THIS ISN'T A SHELL GAME OF PASSING THE COSTS ALONG. THIS IS A REAL NO-COST OPTION THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL ON HEALTH COULD REDUCE AN INSURANCE PLAN BY ABOUT 15%. WE'RE NOT COUNTING ON THAT. BUT I THINK WE CAN SAY VERY SAFELY THAT THIS DOESN'T ADD TO THE COST OF EITHER THE EMPLOYERS PLAN. AND WE KNOW THAT WOMEN F THEY HAVE TO PURCHASE THIS COVERAGE OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTH PLAN COULD SPEND UP TO $600. WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL BARRIER TO ACCESS A VERY IMPORTANT HEALTH BENEFIT AND A BENEFIT USED BY 99% OF WOMEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

>> WELL, YOU'VE TRANSFERRED THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN TO INSURANCE COMPANIES. ARE INSURERS READY TO PAY? HAVE THEY SIGNED ON?

>> WE WILL BE DOING JUST THAT. BUT AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, OUR DEPARTMENT WILL DEFINE THE RULES UNDER WHICH WE OFFER THESE BENEFITS. AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WORKS. AND THAT INSURERS ARE PREPARED TO STEP UP AND DO THIS. AGAIN, THIS IS IN PLACE IN MANY STATES IN THE COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDING BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES, AND THE EMPLOYER NOT DIRECTLY OFFERING THOSE BENEFITS.

>> Suarez: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, MADAME SECRETARY, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, RAY.

>> Brown: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR: GREEK PROTESTS; THE FLAGGING ITALIAN ECONOMY; SHIELDS AND BROOKS; AND CHINA'S NEWEST AMERICAN CRAZE. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE BATTLE FOR CONSERVATIVE HEARTS AND MINDS BROUGHT REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS TO WASHINGTON TODAY. AT AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, MITT ROMNEY TRIED TO ALLAY DOUBTS ABOUT WHERE HE STANDS, AND DEFENDED HIS TIME AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS.

>> I FOUGHT AGAINST LONG ODDS IN A DEEP BLUE STATE, BUT I WAS A SEVERELY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. (APPLAUSE) I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BATTLES WE AS CONSERVATIVES MUST FIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES. AND EXPECT TO BE ON THOSE FRONT LINES AGAIN.

>> Sreenivasan: FORMER PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR RICK SANTORUM NEVER MENTIONED ROMNEY DIRECTLY. BUT HE ARGUED HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE FIELD WHO WILL STAY TRUE TO CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

>> WHY WOULD AN UNDECIDED VOTER VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE OF THE PARTY WHO THE PARTY IS NOT EXCITED ABOUT? (APPLAUSE) WE NEED CONSERVATIVES NOW TO RALLY FOR A CONSERVATIVE, TO GO INTO NOVEMBER, TO EXCITE THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.

>> Sreenivasan: ROMNEY SUFFERED A SETBACK THIS WEEK WHEN SANTORUM WON CONTESTS IN THREE STATES. TOMORROW, CAUCUS RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MAINE. IN SYRIA, AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A PAIR OF SUICIDE CAR BOMBINGS. THE ATTACKERS HIT SECURITY COMPOUNDS IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF ALEPPO, AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN RELATIVELY CALM UNTIL NOW. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM LINDSEY HILSUM OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS, REPORTING FROM NEIGHBORING LEBANON.

>> Reporter: WHO BOMBED ALEPPO? THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WAS TERRORISTS. THE REBEL FREE SYRIAN ARMY TOLD US THEY DIDN'T DO IT. THE GOVERNMENT, THEY SAY, PLANTED THE BOMBS TO TARNISH THE OPPOSITION AND DISTRACT THE WORLD FROM THE ATTACKS ON OTHER SYRIAN CITIES. IT DIDN'T STOP SOME RESIDENTS OF ALEPPO COMING OUT TO DEMONSTRATE. "FREE SYRIAN ARMY, MAY GOD PROTECT YOU," THEY CHANTED. SECURITY FORCES SHOT INTO THE CROWD, FORCING THEM TO SCATTER. IN HOMS, TO THE SOUTH, THERE WAS NO LET-UP IN THE SHELLING. ROCKET AND MORTAR FIRE WAS COMING IN CONSTANTLY. TANKS ARE FIRING INTO THE BABR AMRO DISTRICT, WHERE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS ARE TRAPPED. ACTIVISTS SAY SEVERAL CHILDREN WERE KILLED THIS MORNING IN BABR AMRO. YET IN THE SUBURB OF KHALDEEYA, PEOPLE PROTESTED ON THE STREETS AS THEY DO EVERY FRIDAY. THEY SET FIRE TO THE RUSSIAN FLAG, THE RUSSIAN VETO OF LAST SATURDAY'S U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION SEEN AS ASSAD'S LICENSE TO KILL. THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF KING ABDULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA, WHO RARELY SPEAKS OUT LIKE THIS IN PUBLIC.

>> ( translated ): WE ARE IN FRIGHTENING DAYS AND, REGRETTABLY, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE UNITED NATIONS, IN MY OPINION, IS AN UNFAVORABLE MOVE. THE CONFIDENCE OF THE WHOLE WORLD IN THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNDOUBTEDLY SHAKEN.

>> Reporter: TODAY, THERE WAS EVEN A SMALL DEMONSTRATION IN ISALLI, A SUBURB IN THE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL, DAMASCUS. HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SYRIA THIS WEEK, BUT IT'S NOT QUELLED THE UPRISING.

>> Sreenivasan: IN WASHINGTON, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID IT HAS INFORMATION THAT SOME IN THE SYRIAN ELITE ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR MONEY AND FAMILIES OUT OF THE COUNTRY. ON WALL STREET TODAY, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 89 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 12,801. THE NASDAQ FELL 23 POINTS TO CLOSE BELOW 2,904. FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW AND THE NASDAQ LOST ABOUT HALF A PERCENT. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, SPENCER BACHUS, CONFIRMED TODAY HE'S BEING INVESTIGATED BY AN ETHICS PANEL FOR INSIDER STOCK TRADING. "THE WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED TODAY THAT THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS BEGAN ITS INVESTIGATION AFTER A CBS "60 MINUTES" EXPOSE' LAST FALL. BACHUS, AN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN, SAID HE IS COOPERATING, AND EXPECTS TO BE FULLY EXONERATED. BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE NOW PASSED BILLS BARRING LAWMAKERS AND WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS FROM INSIDER TRADING. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JEFF.

>> Brown: AND WE TURN TO THE EUROPEAN DEBT CRISIS-- IN TWO PARTS. THE GREEK GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED OFF ON A NEW ROUND OF AUSTERITY MEASURES IN EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER BAILOUT. BUT EUROPEAN FINANCE MINISTERS IN GREECE AND AT THE MOMENT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH THEM, FOR EXAMPLE. OR IN SPAIN, OR IN PORTUGAL BECAUSE IN THIS MOMENT, THEY HAVE NO CREDIT. SO WE HAD TO REDUCE THIS COMPANY. SO WE CANNOT WORK WITH THEM.

>> Warner: ALL OF ITALY IS HURTING, FROM THE FASHION AND FINANCIAL HUB OF MILAN TO THE COUNTRY'S MANY SMALL TOWNS, BUSINESS IS BAD.

>> EARNINGS HAVE CHANGED. WHAT'S IN THE DRAWER AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS VERY EASY TO WORK A LOT AND EARN VERY LITTLE.

>> Warner: WE CAME FROM GERMANY TO THE PROSPEROUS NORTH ITALIAN REGION OF LOMBARDI TO SEE WHY ITALY'S ECONOMY IS LOSING GROUND. THE STAKES HERE ARE ENORMOUS. EUROPE'S SECOND MOST INDEBTED COUNTRY AFTER GREECE, ITALY'S TOO BIG TO BAIL OUT. BUT IF THE WORLD'S SEVENTH LARGEST ECONOMY, IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL.

>> -- OCCURRED POSTLY IN THE 80s, BEGINNING OF THE 90s.

>> ECONOMIST PETO A PROFESSOR AT BACONI UNIVERSITY SAID ITALY INCURRED THE DEBT THROUGH GOVERNMENT GIVEAWAYS TWO DECADES AGO. BUT ITS BIGGEST PROBLEM IN TACKLING THE DEBT NOW IS THE LAST TEN PLUS YEARS OF STAGNANT GROWTH.

>> THE AVERAGE INCOME OF ITALIAN IS NOW IN 2012, AT THE LEVEL OF 1999. THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS STRUCTURAL BUT WHAT WE CALL STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS, STRUCTURED IMPEDIMENTS TO GROWTH.

>> Warner: THAT WAS CLEAR DURING A VISIT TOITY LEA'S LAKE DISTRICT, KNOWN FOR ITS ALPINE VIEWS, IT'S ALSO HOME FOR-TO-AN AGE OLD MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

>> WE ARE VERY FAMILY ORIENTED. WE ARE VERY ATTACHED TO THE GROUND WHERE WE ARE BORN.

>> Warner: HE OWNS A LIGHTING COMPONENT FIRM FOUNDED BY HIS GRANDFATHER. HE FEELS HAMSTRUNG BY A LABOR LAW THAT MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD FOR MOST COMPANIES TO FIRE A WORKER.

>> IF THE JUDGE DO NOT THINK THAT THE REASON TO FIRE HIM WAS GOOD, YOU MUST REPUT HIM IN PLACE AND GIVE SALARY OF UP TO 60 MONTH.

>> Warner: YOU GO TO COURT, HOW LONG DOES THAT WHOLE PROCESS TAKE?

>> LIFE, LIFE, YES.

>> Warner: BUT DOES THAT INHIBIT YOU IN ANY WAY FROM HIRING?

>> YEAH, THAT IS THAT COMPANIES THINK TWICE TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

>> Woodruff: JUST UP THE ROAD IS THE FAMILY RUN CHAIN MAKING COMPANY. ITS OWNER GIOVANNI MAGI FEELS HELD BACK BY A SWOLLEN AND UNRESPONSIVE ITALIAN BUREAUCRACY.

>> THE BUREAUCRACY, IS A VERY NEGATIVE EFFECT IN THE ECONOMY IN ITALY GAVE US A LOT OF PROBLEMS, SO WE NEED A LOT OF PERMISSION.

>> PERMITTING HASSLES LONG DELAYED HIS PLANS TO BUILD THIS SIMPLE WAREHOUSE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT.

>> IN ITALY NOWADAYS IT'S NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE IN A GLOBAL MARKET, WITH COMPETITION FROM. WE MUST BE VERY-- .

>> Warner: AND THEN THERE IS ITALY'S HIGH RATE OF CORPORATE TAXATION, COMBINED TAXES CAN RUN MORE THAN 50%. THEY ARGUE THAT'S ONE REASON ITALIAN COMPANIES AREN'T AS EFFICIENT AS SOME FOREIGN COMPETITORS. IT ALSO LEADS TO TAX EVASION.

>> THE REASON FOR THE ITALIAN SPORT OF TAX DODGING HAS EVEN DEEPER ROOTS, HE SAYS.

>> I THINK MAYBE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE MENTALITY OF ITALIANS. I THINK THAT MOST ITALIANS DON'T BELIEVE THIS AND MOST OF THE ITALIANS WHICH WOULD SAY THEY LIKE IN THEIR DNA, THEY DO NOT PAY TAX BUT THIS ONE DOESN'T WORK, I THINK. SO WE MUST PAY TAXES IF WE WANT OUR COUNTRY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

>> Warner: ECONOMIST SAYS THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY IS SO PERVASIVE AN ESTIMATED 30% OF TOTAL OUTPUT THAT IT SPAWNED ITS OWN VOCABULARY.

>> THE BLACK ECONOMY AND THE CAPPUCCINO ECONOMY.

>> Warner: WHAT IS THE CAPPUCCINO ECONOMY.

>> IT IS WITH MILK, IT IS A COLOR IS LESS BLACK.

>> Warner: SO A RESTAURANT MIGHT DECLARE SOME OF ITS RECEIPTS BUT NOT ALL.

>> EXACTLY. THIS WOULD BE A CAPPUCCINO TYPE OF SITUATION.

>> Warner: ITALY'S STALLED ECONOMY HAS BEEN DEVASTATING FOR MANY ODE ITALIANS. MOST YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T HIRED FULL-TIME THESE DAYS BUT UNDER SHORT-TERM CONTRACTS, GIVING EMPLOYERS LITTLE INCENTIVE TO TRAIN THEM. 33-YEAR-OLD ARCHITECT FRAN CHESSCO JUGGLES TWO JOBS, JUST ONE IN HIS FIELD. NO CONTRACTS AT ALL.

>> NO.

>> IN THE EVENINGS, I DO A JOB WHICH HAS NO REFERENCE TO WHAT I STUDIED.

>> Warner: AND THERE ARE LOTS OF NEWLY POOR. THE CATHOLIC CHARITY NEAR MILAN USED TO CARE MOSTLY FOR IMMIGRANTS. NOW AN INCREASING NUMBER SEEKING HELP ARE PROUD ITALIANS LIKE PENSIONER PIERRE WHO SAYS HER SON AND SON-IN-LAW BOTH LOST THEIR JOBS.

>> MY SITUATION TODAY IS A DISASTER. THERE IS MORE THAN ONE REASON FOR IT. NUMBER ONE, THE EURO CURRENCY, IT HAS MADE EVERYTHING COST MORE.

>> Warner: IS IT HARD FOR TO YOU COME HERE?

>> THIS WOMAN WHOSE'S RUN THE CENTER SINCE IT OPENED IN 2000 SAYS NATIVE BORN ITALIANS USED TO BE JUST 3% OF ITS CASES. NOW THEY'RE 35%.

>> THE PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE FAMILIES ARE UNEMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND HOUSING BUT ALSO FAMILY PROBLEMS. CONFLICTS, SEPARATIONS, SINGLE MOTHERS. HE OR SHE WHO IS POOR ALWAYS HAS OTHER PROBLEMS TOO.

>> Warner: YET IT WAS ONLY LAST SUMMER THAT THE GLOBAL BOND MARKET STARTED HAMMERING ITALY'S INTEREST RATES THAT ITALIANS WERE FORCED TO CONFRONT THE TROUBLE THEY WERE IN. UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE MARKETS AND EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS LIKE GERMANY'S ANGELA MERKEL AND FRANCES SARKOZY, THE PRIME MINISTER RESIGNED AND WAS REPLACED BY UNPLOKTED ECONOMIST MARIO MONTY.

>> WE DECIDED THAT IN AN EMERGENCY WE WOULD NEED TO RUSH TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND WE COULD NOT FOOL AROUND ALL NIGHT WITH GOOD OLD SILVIO AND HIS PEOPLE AND HIS COLOURFUL ENTOURAGE. AND PLEASE NOTE MY UNDERSTATEMENT.

>> Warner: ITALIAN JOURNALISTS AND AUTHOR PEPE SAYS MANY ITALIANS WELCOMED INTERVENTION BY THEIR NORTHERN NEIGHBOR.

>> THE REALITY IS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN, DOWN THE-- WE'RE GOING TO GREECE WAY. AND THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR US AND FOR THE REST OF EUROPE. AND I THINK FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> Warner: IN THREE MONTHS, MONTI HAS PUSHED THROUGH SPENDING CULTS, A HIKE IN THE RETIREMENT AGE AND RENEWED TAXES ON PRIMARY RESIDENCES. BUT THERE IS RESISTENCE TO HIS ATTEMPTS TO LIBERALIZE THE ECONOMY FROM THE GRIPS THAT LIMIT NUMBERS AND SET MINIMUM PRICE FORCE PHARMACISTS, LAWYERS, NOTARIES AND TAXIES.

>> CABDRIVER ANTONIO COSTA SAYS WILL HAVE TO WORK MORE FOR LESS MONEY IF MORE CABS HIT THE STREETS. WHILE TAX HIKES HAVE RAISED GAS PRICES. HE FAULTS EMU LEADERS FOR PRESSURING MONTI WITHOUT GIVING HIM MUCH OF A HELPING HAND.

>> I BELIEVE MERKEL COULD HAVE DONE MORE FOR US ECOMICALLY. FOR EXAMPLE EUROBONDS WHICH SHE REFUSED TO DO AND SHE SHOULD HAVE. BUT GERMANY IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE. THEY HOLD THE KNIFE BY THE HANDLE SO THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER OR BAD WEATHER.

>> Warner: ARE THE GERMANS TRYING TO DICTATE EUROPE?

>> CERTAINLY. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> Warner: POLLS SHOW A MAJORITY OF ITALIANS LIKE CONSUMER GOODS COMPANY MANAGER ANDREA APPROVE OF WHAT MONTI IS DOING.

>> DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO SUCCEED?

>> PROVIDED HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WORKING, YES, HE WILL. HE CAN DO IT BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE HAVE --

>> THE ITALIANS HAVE CHANGED MORE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THEN THEY HAVE IN THE LAST 15, 20 YEARS. BUT ITALY IS AN OPERATIC COUNTRY, NEVER FORGET THAT. AND THE CROWD IN THE THEATRE, THEY CHEER THE TENNOR UNTIL THE VERY MOMENT, UNTIL THEY BOO HIM OFF THE STAGE.

>> Warner: IT WAS SO MUCH AT STAKE SAYS-- PEPE, PERHAPS THEY WON'T BE BOOING TOO QUICKLY THIS TIME.

>> DEEP DOWN WE KNOW THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DO THINGS. WORK LONGER, DO NOT WASTE MONEY, PAY YOUR TAXES.

>> IF WE DO THAT, THEN ITALY IS-- EVERYTHING ELSE IS RIGHT. LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE THIS LOOK AT A TOWN LIKE THIS. FOOD, WINE, FAMILIES WE HAVE. WE GOT EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.

>> Warner: ALL RIGHT INDEED, BUT IF ITALIANS WANT TO PRESERVE THE WAY OF LIFE THEY CHERISH THEY ARE FIRST GOING HAVE TO SAVE IT

>> Brown: AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELDS AND BROOKS-- SYNDICATED COLUMNIST MARK SHIELDS AND "NEW YORK TIMES" COLUMNIST DAVID BROOKS. GENTLEMEN, NOW A COMPROMISE ON THE BIRTH CONTROL HEALTH CARE MANDATE. LAST WEEK YOU BOTH DECRIED THE ADMINISTRATION'S STANDS ON THIS, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF VIEWERS WHO DISAGREED WITH BOTH OF YOU. PUT ASIDE THE DEBATE, THE ORIGINAL DEBATE, MARK, WHERE ARE WE TODAY? WHAT'S HAPPENING? >>.

>> I THINK STEP BACK FROM THE BRINK. I THINK THOSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, AND THERE ARE A FEW, BUT THEY WERE NOT UNIMPORTANT WHO CRAVED AND DESIRED A RELIGIOUS WAR AND AN ALL OUT SITE I THINK HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THAT.

>> I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION FIGURED OUT THEY MADE A MISTAKE. THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I THINK MARK AND I MADE THIS POINT LAST WEEK. WHICH IS THERE WAS A PERFECTLY PLAUSIBLE WAY WHICH IS IN EXISTENCE ALREADY IN A COUPLE OF STATES TO COVER THE CONTRACEPTION, THE OTHER THING COVERED BY THIS, BUT STILL SHOW RESPECT AND DENSE TO THE RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF THESE CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS. AND THAT WAS ALWAYS SITTING OUT THERE, AND THEY CHOSE AN ABSOLUTIST VIEW WHICH WAS AN INSULT, AND THEY REALIZED OKAY THIS WAS A POLITICAL MISTAKE, PROBABLY SUBSTANTIVELY UNNECESSARY SO THEY MADE THIS FUDGE THAT SAY FUDGE, IT'S SORT OF A BIT OF AN ACCOUNTING GIMMICK IT SHOVES THE COST FORCE COVERING THE CONTRACEPTION ON TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO PRESUMABLY WILL PASS IT ON TO SOMEBODY IN SOME WAY. NONETHELESS, IT'S MESSY IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE LOGICALLY BUT IT SHOWS DENSE T SHOWS RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, DOING THE WORK OF SERVING THE POOR.

>> AT THE SAME TIME THEY HEARD THE PRESIDENT EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM SAY THAT HE COULD CLAIM TO HOLD ON TO THE PRINCIPLES, THE KEY PRINCIPAL OF FULL CON EXTRA-- CONTRACEPTIVE CARE FOR ALL.

>> THE PRESIDENT MADE THAT CASE TODAY, THAT HE IS BEEN CONSISTENT. BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION, DAVID, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THERE WAS A FIRESTORM OF PROTEST. AND IT WASN'T JUST CATHOLICS. IT WAS, I MEAN RICK WARREN THE PASTOR AT SADDLEBACK CHURCH, BEST SELLING AUTHOR WHO GAVE THE INVOCATION AT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INAUGURAL. I MEAN HE STOOD ON THIS ISSUE AND SAID HE WAS 100%. AND IT BECAME ONE REV LIGE US LIBERTY. AS LONG AS YOU WERE ARGUING, JEFFREY, ABOUT WHETHER A WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION AND THAT OUGHT TO BE UNFETTERED, THAT SIDECARRIED THE ISSUE. BUT WHEN IT BECAME A DEBATE WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY DID ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND RATHER A CRAMPED DEFINITION OF WHAT A RELIGION CAN DO OR SHOULD DO, NAMELY AS LONG AS IT JUST TOOK CARE ITS OWN PARISHNERS AND DID RELIGIOUS, QUOTE, WORK, RATHER THAN FEEDING THE POOR, SHELTERING THE HOMELESS, AND TAKING CARE OF THE LONELY, THE IDEA THAT THAT WASN'T RELIBLING US, I THINK REALLY BECAME A PROBLEM. AND WHERE IT WAS REFLECTED WAS WHEN YOU HAVE TIM CANE, NOBODY WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO BARACK OBAMA, FORMER GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, THEN GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, AN EARLY SUPPORTER, STRONG SUPPORTER, AND A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND AND A MAN OF UNCHALLENGED CHARACTER. AND HE IS RUNNING IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE RACE IN VIRGINIA THIS YEAR, AND HE BROKE AND CRITICIZED THE ADMINISTRATION ON IT AND SAID THAT THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. BOB CASEY THE SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA WHO WAS AN EARLY AND STRONG SUPPORTER FOR BARACK OBAMA AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON IN PENNSYLVANIA, HE DID THE SAME THING. ANOTHER IMPORTANT STATE, I MEAN SO IT BECAME BOTH PHILOSOPHICAL AND POLITICAL.

>> YOU SAID WE STEP BACK FROM THE BRINK.

>> YEAH.

>> DOES THE THE QUESTION IS DOES THIS GO FORWARD? THIS ISSUE, OR THIS KIND OF ISSUE CARRY FORWARD?

>> IN SOME RESPECTS. I THINK A LOT OF THE RELIGIOUS ANGLE WILL BEGIN TO SIMMER DOWN. I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE WHO FIGHT IT BUT MOST PEOPLE IF YOU LOOK SOME OF THE STATEMENTS FROM THE CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION, SOME REPUBLICAN SENATORS, THEIR STATEMENTS WERE MUCH MORE, OKAY, IT'S A A SMALL STEP FORWARD WHERE. IT DOESN'T DIE DOWN AND THIS AGAIN IT'S NOT THE RELIGIOUS ANGLE T IS THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE ANGLE, IT IS THIS PLAN GIVES THE GOVERNMENT A LOT MORE INTRUSIVE ROLE INTO A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS. SO EVEN IN THIS SOLUTION N THIS COMPROMISE, THEY'RE IMPOSING THEMSELVES ON INSURANCE COMPANIES AND SAYING YOU WILL DO THIS. THE GOVERNMENT TELLING A PRIVATE COMPANY WHAT THEY MUST DO. AND SO THIS TURNS BACK INTO REALLY AN OBAMA HEALTH-CARE PLAN WHICH IS THE DEBATE WE HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. HOW INTRUSIVE DO WE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE IN TELLING PEOPLE AND PAN DATING THIS AND THAT AND THIS AND THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT T IN THE MEANTIME ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL RICK SANTORUM HAD A VERY BIG NIGHT A FEW DAYS AGO, RIGHT? THREE VICTORIES, THREE STATES. HOW DID HE DO IT? HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT?

>> WELL, HE DID IT, AND HE'S DONE IT HE'S BEEN A CONSISTENT CANDIDATE. HE'S BEEN A RELENTLESS IN HIS POSITIONS, WE TALK ABOUT BOTH MITT ROMNEY AND NEWT GINGRICH BEING-- IN THE DEBATE PERFORMANCE. HE'S BEEN CONSISTENT AND GOOD ON HIS DEBATE PERFORMANCES. IN ADDITION, HE WAS WILLING TO SPEND THE TIME OF RETAIL POLITICKING THAT IS GOING IN AND PERSONALLY CAMPAIGNING IN STATES THAT HAVE CAUCUSES. THIS IS NOT UNIMPORTANT. BUT DO NOT OVERLOOK WHAT THIS FIRESTORM WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING DID TO HIM THREE WEEKS AGO THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN THE COUNTRY WAS INCOME INEQUALITY, THE ECONOMY, THE OBAMA IS ON THE OFFENSIVE, REPUBLICANS ARE DIVIDED ABOUT EXTENSION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS. AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MEANWHILE? THIS ISSUE COMES FRONT AND FORWARD, THE QUESTION OF LIFE, OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, OF THE GOVERNMENT OVERREACHING AND SOITION AND CULTURAL ISSUES REPLASD WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRIBUNE OF THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES, RICK SANTORUM. THE RAMONO PEOPLE ARE JUST INCEDE BLAE CLEVER BECAUSE THEY DEALT A SERIOUS BLOW TO MITT ROMNEY BY PUTTING THE TURF OR NEWS --

>> THEY GOT PLANNED PARENTHOOD INVOLVED. THE COURT ON GAY MARRIAGE. A BIG CONSPIRACY.

>> I REALLY DO THINK IT WAS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

>> DO YOU BUY THAT AS THE REASON, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS BEHIND SANTORUM.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE SOLE REASON BUT IT HAD TO CONTRIBUTE IT ELEVATED THE ISSUES THAT ENERGIED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THE SECRETARY THING IS THAT MAYBE ROMNEY IS NOT SO GREAT. AND IT'S HIS WEAKNESS AS MUCH AS RICK SANTORUM'S STRENGTH THAT EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED. ESPECIALLY IN A STATE LAKE COLORADO WHERE HE DID HAVE A HISTORY AND DID COMPETE. AND THE CORE PROBLEM TO ME IS NOT IS HE CONSERVATIVE, ARE HIS POLICIES CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH, IT'S NOT A POLICY PROBLEM. BECAUSE THEIR POLICIES ARE ALL ESSENTIALLY SIMILAR, BUT IT'S A PERSONAL PROBLEM. PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF RICK SANTORUM WAS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, HE WAS IN A ROOM AND ASK YOUED HIM ABOUT HIS POSITIONS, WE SAY EXACTLY WHAT HE IS SAYING. PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ABOUT MITT ROMNEY.

>> ARE YOU SAYING THIS IS MORE OF AN ANTI-ROMNEY.

>> I THINK IS SIGNIFICANTLY PROBABLY MOSTLY AN ANTI-ROMNEY THING. SO-- IT'S A SIGN OF HIS WEAKNESS THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE COMES FROM. HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT HIS PAST. AND I THINK HE SHOULD BREAK THE MORMON THAT WOULD AND TALK ABOUT IT. TALK ABOUT HIS PAST. TALK ABOUT HIS FAMILY PAST. I THINK HE NEEDS TO TELL THE COUNTRY, AND HE'S SOLD HIMSELF AS THE TURN AROUND ARTIST. WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO MOST PEOPLE. WHAT COMMUNITY IS HE FROM. WHAT INDUSTRY DOES HE REALLY KNOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S SORT OF A FREE AGENT FLOATING OUT THERE. SO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS GUY COMES FROM. AND HE REALLY HASN'T FILLED PEOPLE IN BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE RETICENT ABOUT HIS OWN, PERSONAL PAST. AND I THINK THAT STAY CORE PROBLEM THAT HE HAS TO ADDRESS.

>> WE HAVE TWO CORE PROBLEMS. I THINK ROMNEY'S PROBLEM WAS BEST CAPTURED BY TOM TOLLES, CORE TOONIST OF THE "WASHINGTON POST" N WHICH MITT ROMNEY IS SITTING IN THE ELEPHANT'S LAP AND THE ELEPHANT IS DRESSED IN A SANTA CLAUS SUIT. AND HE SAYS TO HIM WHAT DOW WANT ME TO ASK FOR. THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS LIKE. ARE YOU DYING FOR MITT ROMNEY TO COME IN AND TELL ANY AUDIENCE WHAT IT DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR. I MEAN JUST ONCE. I MEAN I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS. I MEAN BUT JUST GO IN AND SAY I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR YOU. BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU WHY I THINK THERE IS A LARGER NATIONAL INTEREST. AND I THINK THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM. HE WENT TO CPAC TODAY.

>> THERE WAS THE AUDIENCE TODAY, RIGHT, VERY CONSERVATIVE AUDIENCE.

>> THERE WAS NO EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. AND IT WAS, HE WAS-- YOU KNOW, THE WORDS WERE THERE BUT THE MUSIC WAS MISSING, OR WHATEVER, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT. IT JUST ISN'T CONVINCING. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LET ROMNEY BE ROMNEY, WHATEVER IT IS, BUT THEY, HIS WON, HE CRUSHED NEWT GINGRICH BY NEGATIVE COMMERCIALS. NOW THEY'RE SAYING WE, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN WE HAVE MORE MONEY. WE'RE GOT MORE OFFICES. WE'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE IN OUR CAMPAIGN STAFF AND WE'LL GO AFTER RICK SANTORUM. AND IT MAKES YOU WANT TO REACH FOR THE LIST TO RENO, THE SCOPE BECAUSE IT LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH. HE HAS TO MAKE THE CASE ON WHY HE WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT, NOT WHY HIS OPPONENTS SHOULDN'T BE.

>> AT THAT CPAC MEETING, ALL THREE WERE THERE TRYING TO CLAIM THE MANTEL OF MOST CONSERVATIVE.

>> AND SANTORUM IS PROBABLY THE MOST, IN THE HEART OF PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM. IT IS A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE GROUP. THE ODD THING ABOUT ROMNEY IS THEY KNOW ALL THE PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE GOT A SLOGAN AND THE BOSTON CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTER, YOU'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO LOSE IN ORDER TO WIN. AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE OF POLITICS. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING DEEPER BEFORE PEOPLE WILL TRUST YOU AND THAT HASN'T BEEN MAN FESD. THE THING TO LOOK AHEAD IF YOU ARE LOOKING AHEAD IS THE MICHIGAN PRIMARY IN TWO WEEKS OR SO. BECAUSE THAT IS A STATE WHERE HE HAS NOMINAL FAMILY ROOT, OBVIOUSLY. AND YET SANTORUM IS NOT SO FAR BEHIND. AND I SUSPECT THAT IS WHERE SANTORUM IS GOING TO CONTEST. AND RIGHT NOW YOU STILL HAVE TO CONSIDER ROMNEY THE FRONT-RUNNER, THOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT IS AN TORM-- SANTORUM HAS WON FOUR PRIMARIES AND HE HAS ONLY WON TWO. BUT IF HE DOESN'T WIN THE MICHIGAN, THEN I THINK THE PARTY BECOMES REALLY HYSTERICAL.

>> WHAT IS YOUR CENTS OF THE CON TEFERB SIEVE VOTERS IN A MEETING LIKE THIS ONE, WHERE VERY STRONG CONSERVATIVES, LISTENING FOR ALL THREE WHAT ARE THEY LOOK FOR, OR WAITING FOR.

>> THEY ARE LOOKING FOR CONVICTION. THE IDEA IS YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO WASHINGTON, A PLACE THEY DISTRUST, THERE ARING GOING TO BE ALL THESE FORCES AGAINST YOU TELLING YOU NOT DO WHAT YOU PROMISED TO DO. DO YOU HAVE THE INTERNAL MEDAL TO DO-- METEL TO DO IT ANYWAY. AND THEY TRUST THAT-- ANYWAY. THEY TRUST THAT ABOUT RICK SANTORUM. I'M NOT SURE THEY TRUST IT ABOUT ROMNEY, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY HIS POSITIONS AREN'T RIGHT, IT IS A QUESTION OF DO YOU HAVE THE INNER STEEL.

>> YOU WERE THERE TODAY, IS THAT YOUR SENSE.

>> NO, I JUST SENSE THAT THERE ISN'T AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. IT REMINDED ME OF FOCUS GROUP, THE PETER HARRUP TOLD US ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA, AND THEY ASKED WHAT IS HIS SPINE MADE OF. AND FIRST PERSON SAID STEEL, METAL, THEN PLASTIC, AND WOOD AND BAMBOO, AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY A QUESTION THAT PEOPLE ASK, IT A QUESTION THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT. BUT I THINK IT'S ONE THAT WITH ROMNEY, IT IS JUST CENTRAL TO HIS PUBLIC IDENTITY. WHO IS HE. WHAT DOES HE STAND FOR, WHAT IS HE WILLING TO GIVE UP. WHAT IS HE GOING TO RISK TO LOSEMENT AND I MEAN AT SOME POINT ADDITION DOES DEVELOP BY SUBTRACTION-- SUBTRACTION, THAT ARE YOU WILLING TO WRITE-OFF EITHER SOME CON CITY CONSEQUENCE-- CONSTITUENCY BECAUSE OF A CONVICTION. AND I THINK THAT IS THE THING ABOUT HIM, IS HE A CONVICTION POLITICIAN IN A GROUP, C PAC, PARTICULARLY, WHO ARE CONVICTION POLITICAL ACTIVISTS.

>> AND YOU DID JUST BRIEFLY IN 30 SECONDS HERE, BACK TO THE PRESIDENT IN ALL THIS, HE'S TRYING TO HOPE THAT THE CONVERSATION SWISHES BACK TO THE ECONOMY.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO AFTER ALL THE TALK WE HAVE HAD ABOUT THE BAD ECONOMY FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND HE'S, BY THE WAY DOING QUITE WELL IN THE POLLS. THERE IS A POLL OUT WHICH I THINK IS AN OUTLIAR POLL WHICH HAD HIM BEATING ROMNEY BY TEN POINTS. THAT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE. BUT NONETHELESS IT IS NO QUESTION HE HAS HAD A GOOD PERIOD AND IF YOU GOT RICK SANTORUM TO RUN AGAIN, HE WHAT BE EXTREMELY HAPPY.

>> DAVID BOOKS-- BROOKS, MARK SHIELDS, THANKS A LOT.

>> Suarez: WE'LL BE HEARING A LOT NEXT WEEK OF TIES BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA AS THAT COUNTRY'S VICE PRESIDENT VISITS WASHINGTON. BUT FOR THE MOMENT, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN AMERICAN WOMEN IN CHINA IS NEITHER A POLITICIAN NOR A HOLLYWOOD STAR. HARI SREENIVASAN HAS THIS STORY ABOUT SLANG.

>> Sreenivasan: MILLIONS OF CHINESE ARE PICKING UP AMERICAN SLANG, THANKS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS WASHINGTON, D.C., APARTMENT.

>> ( SPEAKING CHINESE )

>> Sreenivasan: MEET JESSICA BEINECKE, CHINA'S NEWEST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE STAR. FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FROM THE COMFORT OF HER DINING TABLE ON CAPITOL HILL, THE 25-YEAR-OLD WRITES, HOSTS AND PRODUCES A SHOW CALLED "O.M.G. MEIYU," OR "OH, MY GOSH, AMERICAN ENGLISH." ♪ ♪ IN IT, SHE EXPLAINS IDIOMS AND SLANG TO HER CHINESE VIEWERS. BEINECKE BEGAN STUDYING MANDARIN AS AN UNDERGRADUATE. IN 2006, SHE ENROLLED IN MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE'S INTENSIVE LANGUAGE PROGRAM, AND SPENT THE FIRST HALF OF 2007 STUDYING IN BEIJING AND HANGZHOU, NEAR SHANGHAI.

>> I HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCE STUDYING MANDARIN IN MAINLAND CHINA, AND STUDYING THE CULTURE AND EVERYTHING. I FEEL LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS ME TALKING TO YOUNG CHINESE PEOPLE AND I... THAT WAS MY BIG GOAL WHEN I WAS IN CHINA WAS TO MAKE AS MANY FRIENDS AS I COULD.

>> Sreenivasan: SHE DIDN'T BECOME A STAR IN CHINA UNTIL LAST AUGUST, WHEN SHE PRODUCED A VIDEO CALLED "YUCKY GUNK."

>> IT WAS ABOUT ALL THE GUNK THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR FACE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT EYE GUNK AND EAR WAX AND BOOGERS. ( LAUGHS )

>> Sreenivasan: THAT VIDEO WENT VIRAL, AND HAS SINCE PICKED UP MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF MILLION HITS.

>> THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE IN A TEXTBOOK. AND SO NOW, THEY SEE O.M.G. MEIYU AS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET THE MOST AUTHENTIC AMERICAN ENGLISH THAT YOUNG PEOPLE USE. JIGGLY. MY ARMS GET JIGGLY ( SPEAKING CHINESE )

>> Sreenivasan: BEINECKE, OR "BI-JEE-EH," AS SHE'S KNOWN TO HER CHINESE FANS, CURATES SIX SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS IN CHINA AND THE U.S.

>> IT STARTS ON THE WEEKEND WHEN I ASK THEM ( SPEAKING CHINESE ) WHICH IS, "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY NEXT WEEK?" AND THEY... I GET HUNDREDS OF RESPONSES EVERY WEEK.

>> Sreenivasan: O.M.G. IS BECOMING A HIT IN CHINA. ON THE CHINESE EQUIVALENT OF YOUTUBE, O.M.G.'S GARNERED MORE THAN SEVEN MILLION VIEWS. AND ON WEIBO, THE CHINESE EQUIVALENT OF TWITTER, THE PROGRAM IS NOW FOLLOWED BY MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE. BEINECKE'S BOSSES ARE TAKING NOTICE. SHE WORKS AT V.O.A., VOICE OF AMERICA, THE 70-YEAR-OLD U.S. GOVERNMENT-FUNDED BROADCASTER WITH PROGRAMS IN MORE THAN 40 LANGUAGES AROUND THE WORLD. SO WHY IS THIS WORKING?

>> SHE TALKS TO THEM ON THEIR LEVEL, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO REPLICATE AROUND V.O.A.

>> Sreenivasan: DAVID ENSOR IS VOICE OF AMERICA'S DIRECTOR. HE SAYS, WHILE O.M.G. MAY NOT FALL WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL IDEA OF WHAT V.O.A. DOES, THE SHOW HELPS THE CHINESE FURTHER UNDERSTAND AMERICAN CULTURE. WE ARE A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY,

>> WE ARE A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, MULTIMEDIA, ON MANY PLATFORMS. WE'RE REACHING OUT TO VARIOUS PEOPLES AROUND THE WORLD, AND OUR MISSION IS TO REPORT THE NEWS, YES, BUT ALSO TO EXPLAIN AMERICA AND AMERICAN VALUES TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT JESSICA IS DOING IS SOMETHING YOU WILL SEE MORE PEOPLE DOING HERE, WHICH IS REACHING OUT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND COMMUNICATING WITH THEM.

>> Sreenivasan: BUT WHY DOES IT RESONATE WITH CHINESE AUDIENCES? FOR SOME IDEAS, WE VISITED NEARBY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. THERE, WE ASKED A GROUP OF CHINESE NATIONALS AND Ph.D. CANDIDATES IN THE LINGUISTICS DEPARTMENT WHY BEINECKE'S SHOW STRIKES A CHORD.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, THE GIRL IS VERY CUTE.

>> Sreenivasan: HUANG HAI MOVED TO THE U.S. IN SEPTEMBER.

>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS SENT A LINK TO ME THROUGH WEIBO, WHICH IS CHINA'S COUNTERPART OF TWITTER. YEAH, SO I KNOW THAT THIS VIDEO GOT VERY POPULAR IN CHINA, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE TEENAGERS.

>> Sreenivasan: HUANG LIHONG HAS STUDIED AND TAUGHT IN THE U.S. FOR EIGHT YEARS. SHE HADN'T HEARD OF O.M.G., BUT AS A TEACHER, COULD IMMEDIATELY SEE ITS VALUE.

>> MY FIRST IMPRESSION ABOUT HER IS THAT SHE'S VERY ENERGETIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC IN TEACHING ENGLISH. SHE USES A LOT OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE TO HELP THE LEARNERS LEARN THE LANGUAGE THAT SHE IS TEACHING. I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

>> Sreenivasan: HER COLLEAGUE, LUKE AMOROSO, STUDIES ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN CHINA, AND SEES OBVIOUS BENEFITS OF FOCUSING ON AMERICAN SLANG.

>> WHEN YOU LEARN SLANG, PEOPLE LIKE THAT BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE PART OF THE GROUP THAT KNOWS THOSE THINGS. AND THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM OLDER PEOPLE OR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T IN YOUR GROUP, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY ATTRACTIVE.

>> HER TEACHING IS VERY INTERACTIVE AND COMMUNICATIVE. AND IT CAN BE A GOOD COMPLIMENT FOR TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOKS, ESPECIALLY FOR NATURALISTIC LEARNERS.

>> Sreenivasan: CHINESE EDUCATION HAS TRADITIONALLY RELIED HEAVILY ON INSTRUCTIVE TEACHING-- LECTURES AND ROTE MEMORIZATION. BUT UNTIL RECENTLY, THE COUNTRY'S CLOSED HISTORY HAS MEANT IT HAS LACKED FOREIGN-BORN TEACHERS WHO COULD ADD CONTEXT AND AUTHENTICITY.

>> WE CHINESE OFTEN LEARN ENGLISH FROM VERY FORMAL CLASSES, AND IT'S VERY FAR FROM OUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> THE IDIOMS, EXPRESSIONS, SLANG THAT SHE TEACHES ARE NOT EASY TO FIND IN TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOKS, AND I THINK THOSE EXPRESSIONS ARE VERY USEFUL IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

>> Sreenivasan: SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR BEINECKE, AND FOR O.M.G.?

>> IT WOULD BE IDEAL IF WE CAN START THIS YEAR INSPIRING MORE PEOPLE TO BREAK OUT OF THE ONLINE COMMUNITY-- WHICH IS THRIVING, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING-- AND TO GO AND MEET IN PERSON, AND TO BE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO FURTHER THE DISCUSSION WITH THEIR FRIENDS. WHETHER THAT'S IN A CLASSROOM OR THAT'S JUST WITH THEIR FRIENDS AT A KFC AROUND THE CORNER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER DREAM COME TRUE. ( SPEAKING CHINESE )

>> Sreenivasan: HER OTHER DREAM ALREADY CAME TRUE-- IN DECEMBER, SHE RETURNED TO BEIJING TO MEET HER FAN CLUB, WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN 4,000 MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM TRAVELED FOUR HOURS BY TRAIN JUST TO MEET HER.

>> Sreenivasan: THOSE PASSIONATE FANS ALSO VOLUNTARILY BUILT APPS FOR SMART PHONES SO O.M.G. CAN BE SEEN ON iPHONES AND ANDROID DEVICES IN CHINA AND AROUND THE WORLD. FOR NOW, BEINECKE CONTINUES HER CONVERSATION WITH CHINESE ADMIRERS AND PUPILS HALF A WORLD AWAY.

>> ( SPEAKING CHINESE )

>> Brown: ON OUR WEB SITE, JESSICA BEINECKE OFFERS MORE ABOUT HOW HER CHINESE AUDIENCE HELPS HER CHOOSE THE DAILY SLANG WORDS.

>> Suarez: FINALLY TONIGHT, A PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY RELEASED THIS WEEK REVEALED THE TOUGH SITUATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS DURING THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. 49% SAID THEY HAVE TAKEN A JOB THEY DIDN'T WANT JUST TO PAY BILLS; AND 24% REPORTED THEY HAVE MOVED BACK IN WITH THEIR PARENTS AFTER LIVING ON THEIR OWN. ONE BIG PROBLEM FOR THEM IS STUDENT DEBT, AND ON TONIGHT'S BROADCAST OF "NEED TO KNOW," WIN ROSENFELD LOOKS AT RECENT COLLEGE GRADS AND THE HEAVY WEIGHT THEY BEAR. HERE'S AN EXCERPT.

>> AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING WITH A TRILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM. ONE BORN OF A POTENT MIX OF BORROWERS TAKING ON MORE DEBT THAN THEY CAN HANDLE, AND LENDERS PROFITING ON THAT MISSTEP. IT'S BIGGER THAN CREDIT CARD DEP. IT'S NOT THE MORTGAGE CRISIS, IT'S THE ISSUE OF MOUNTING STUDENT DEBT. AND IT'S LEFT MILLIONS LIKE RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE STEPH GRAY IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION.

>> MY AMERICAN DREAM IS JUST TO NOT LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND JUST NOT FEEL THE HUMILIATION OF THAT. AND HUMILIATION OF COMING UP SHORT AT THE GROCERY STORE WHEN I'M TRYING TO PAYMENT THE HUGH IM-- HUMILIATION OF HAVING SNOW IN MY WINTER BOOTS AND HAVING SNOW SEEP IN.

>> HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY WHEN SHE WAS SIX AND HER FATHER SIX YEARS LATER. THINGS WEREN'T EASY. SHE GREW UP ON FOOD STAMPS BUT GRAYS FOUND WAYS TO SUCCEED. SHE WAS A HIGH ACHIEVER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND TOOK COLLEGE CLASSES WHEN SHE WAS JUST 16. TWO YEARS LATER SHE MOVED FROM FLORIDA TO NEW YORK.

>> I CAME TO NEW YORK BECAUSE AFTER MY PARENTS HAD PASSED AWAY I KNEW THEY WERE BOTH FROM NEW YORK CITY ORIGINALLY. AND I WANTED TO SORT OF GET BACK TO MY ROOTS, SO TO SPEAK. I CHOSE HUNTER BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION AS A VERY PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL AND A PLACE FOR FREE THINKERS.

>> Reporter: GRAY FLOURISHED THERE AND EARNED A BACHELOR'SES AND MASTERS DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY, GRADUATING WITH A 3.5 GPA IN 2011. HUNT CERTIFICATE A PUBLIC NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE AND THE FEW SIGNIFICANCE AROUND $5600 A YEAR FOR NEW YORKERS. A REASONABLE PRICE TAG COMPARED TO MANY OTHER SCHOOLS. BUT AFTER ALSO PAYING ROOM AND BOARD, A YEAR AFTER GRADUATION, GRAY'S IN THE HOLE OVER $65,000 DEEP. AND SHE'S HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING BY IN ONE OF THE WORSE JOB MARKETS IN YEARS.

>> THAT'S CORRESPONDENT WINN

>> Suarez: THAT'S CORRESPONDENT WIN ROSENFELD. JOIN ME LATER TONIGHT FOR "NEED TO KNOW" ON MOST PBS STATIONS. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE TIME WHERE YOU LIVE. THERE IS A LINK TO THE FULL STORY, AND A LOT MORE AT newshour.pbs.org. WE'LL ALSO POST THE RESULTS OF THE MAINE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUSES THERE ON SATURDAY EVENING.

>> Brown: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE FREE BIRTH CONTROL TO EMPLOYEES, AFTER ALL. AND AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A PAIR OF SUICIDE CAR BOMBINGS IN SYRIA.

>> Suarez: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON MONDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE ROLL-OUT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. I'M RAY SUAREZ.

>> Brown: AND I'M JEFFREY BROWN. "WASHINGTON WEEK" CAN BE SEEN LATER THIS EVENING ON MOST PBS STATIONS. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE MONDAY EVENING. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND. THANKS FOR JOINING US. GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS. BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US.

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

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