The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer : WETA : August 20, 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT; The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRUCTIONS

>> Lehrer: GOOD EVENG. I'M JIM LEHRER. ON THE NEWSUR THIS THURSDAY: THE LEAD STY IS THE VOTING IN AFGHANIAN, WHERE THREATS OF VIOLENCE DAMPENED TNOUT. THEN COMES THE OTR NEWS OF THE DAY, INCLUDING THNEW RULES FOR CRIT CARD COMPANIES; THE RELEASE OF T LIBYAN MAN CONVICTED IN THE 88 BOMBING OF A PAN AM FLIGHT ER SCOTLAND; A PORT ON THE END TO THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS OGRAM; AND ANOTHER IN R HEALTH CARE REFORM CONVERSATION TONIGHT, THE VIEW OF A FMER INSURANCE EXECUTE TURNED CRITIC. MAJOR FUNDING FOR T NEWSHOUR WITH J LEHRER IS PROVIDED BY:

>> WHAT THE WORLD NEE NOW IS ENERGY T ENERGY TO GET THE ECONOMY HUMMING AIN. THE ENERGY TO TALE CHALLENGES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE. WHAT S THAT ENERGY CAME FROM AN ENERGY COMPANY? EVERYDA CHEVRON INVESTS $62 MILLION IN PEOE, IN IDEAS-- EKING, TEACHING, BUILDING. FUELING GROWTH AROUND THWORLD TO MOVE US ALLHEAD. THIS IS THE POWERF HUMAN ENERGY. CHEVRON. INTEL. SUPPORTING MATH AND IENCE EDUCATION FOR TOMORW'S INNOVATORS. AND BY THE ALFRED SLOAN FOUATION. SUORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMAE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21ST CTURY. A WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONSND FOUNDIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADPOSSIBLE BY THE CPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUONS TO YOUR PBS ATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YO > Lehrer: THEY STARTED COUNTG THE VOTESODAY IN AFGHANISTAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIO THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT LLED THE VOTING PROCESS A SCESS, DESPITE SCATRED VIOLENCE THAT KILLED 26 PEOPLE ACROSTHE COUNTRY. WE HAVE TWO INDEPENDEN TEVISION NEWS REPORTS FR KABUL. NICK PAYTON WALSH BINS OUR LEAD STORY COVERAGE.

>> Rerter: THIS IS WHAT THE AUTHORITIES WAND THE WORLD TO SEE-- AFANISTAN'S WOMEN, EADING THE WAY TO VOTE; DEMOCCY HAVING IT'S D, DESPITE A WEEK OF SRADIC VIOLENCE AIMED KEEPING VOTERS AY. AND THIS IS WHAT THEY TRI TO HIDE-A POLICE STATION ATTACKED BY THE TALIBAN IN KABUL SUBURBS, ONE OF 135 INCINTS NATIOIDE IN WHICH AT LEAST 26 PEOPLE DIED, MOSTLYIVILIANS. THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TSTOP REPTING OF ELECTION VIOLENCE. BUTT LEAST TWO BLAS STILL HIT KABUL. BUT THIS S BETTER THAN FEARED; "A SUCCESS," SAID T PRESIDENT.

>> ( translated ): THE AFGHAN PEOPLE DAD ROCKETS, BOMBS AND INTIMIDATION, AND CAME OUTO VOTE. Reporter: THIS WAS THE SKYLINE OF HELMAN THOUGH, WHERE DOZENSF BRITISH AND AMERICAN TROO HAVE DIED IN A PUSH TO CREATSECURITY FOR THE ELECTION. AND THESE THE VERS, JUST TURNINUP MEANS RISKING YOUR LIFE. MANY OF THE% OF VOTING STATIONS THAT DN'T OPEN, APPARENTLY HE, IN THE SOUTH.

>> translated ): I HAVE ME TO VOTE. THE SITUATION IS VERYAD. THREE TFOUR ROCKETS LANDED. THIS IS A BIGROBLEM. IF ERE WAS NO SECURITY CONCERN, MORE PEOPLE WOD HAVE TAKEN PART

>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE KABUL'S SAFEST POLNG STATIONS, BUT EVEN WAS NOT TROUBLE- 3REE. TWO HOURS INTO VOTING, LEADG CANDIDATES WERE CRYING FL. ANOTHER CANDIDATE, CLAIMI THE INDELIBLE INMARKING VOTERS FGERS COULD JUST WASH OFF.

>> VOTE ABOUT 20 PAST 7:00 AND I USE THIS MARK. ANTHE INK THERE IS NOT HERE. >>eporter: THESE PEOPLE ARE USING THBLEACH. I TRIED THAT A TTLE WHILE AGO ONY OWN FINGER. IT DID WASH OUT. THIS INDELIBL INK S SUPPOSED TO BE THEAY TO PREVENT REPEAT VOTING THIS COUNTRY. AARTIAL TRAFFIC BAN BROUGHT UNNATURAL ORDER TO E CAPITAL. THESE MEN DIDT VOTE, OR EVEN CARRY THEIROTING CARDS WITH THEM, IN CASE THEY BUED INTO THE TALIN. NOT FAR FROM THE CAPAL, IN THE WDAK PROVINCE, THE TALIBAN IN CONTROL YESTERDAY ON THIS ROAD. THESE MEN'S COMMANDER TOLUS BY PHONE NOBO VOTED IN HIS AREA.

>> ( translated ): O HAS BEEN THREATED WITH ANY PUNISHMENT AS NOBODY HAS VOTED HEREBUT WE HAVE TOLD THEM TS ELECTION IS A FIION SET UP BY THE AMERICANS AND FUNDED BY THE FOREIGNERS.

>> Reporter: ME VOTING STATIONS CLOSED, THENE-OPENED TO GIVEEOPLE MORE TIME, AFTER FEARS THE TURNOUT WAS LO THE VOTES, NOW BEING ARDED,

>> LehrerOUR SECOND REPORT COMES FROM I.N.'S ALEX THOMSON IN KABUL. R SUAREZ TALKED WITH HIM EARER THIS EVENING.

>> arez: ALEX THOMPSON IN KABUL, WLCOME. THE POLLS HAVE BEEN CSED FOR SEVERAL HOS, THE BALLOT BOXES HAVE BEEN OPED IN MANY PLACES. GIVE US THE LATESTEWS FROM AROUND THE UNTRY.

>> WELL, THE LATEST NEWS IS TRE WILL NOTBE ANY DEFINITE NEWFOR A LONG TIME. IF IELL YOU THAT WE WILL OBABLY NOT KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT PESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN UNTIL OCTOBER-- S, OCTOBER 15--T GIVES Y SOME IDEA OF HOW LG THIS PROCESS COULD WELL TURN OUT TOE. WHAT I CAN SAYIS PUT IT THIS WAY,ROUND 3 POLLING STATIONS WERE CLOSED DOWN BAUSE OF INTIMIDATION BUT OVER 6,000 DID OPEN UP THE TALIBAN WILL CLAIM SOME SUESS FOR THAT FROM THEIR SIDE FOR THE 300, BUT T U.N. AND THE INCUMBENT PRESINT KARZAI HAVE ALREADY CLAIMED IT AS A EAT SUCCESS IN TEMS OF THE NUMBERS WHO DID TURN UP AND VO

>> Suarez: HAS WORD STARTEDO COME IN FROM THOSE FAR-FLUNG POLLING PCES ABOUT WHERE TURNO WAS HIGH, WHERE IT WAS W AND WHO THAT GHT FAVOR?

>> SO R WHAT WEKNOW IS THAT TURNOUT IN THE BIG NORTHE CITI IS PRETTY MUCH THE PATTERN WE'D EXPECTE IT IS CERTAIY A LOT HIGHER THAN IN THE UTHERN CITIES, THE MAIN CENTER DO IN LSH CAR AND AND CANARR THEOUTHERN CAPITAL. THOSE FIVE SOUTHERN OVINCES ARE THE MOST VIOLENT ANG WITH THE EASTERN PROVINCES OF AFGHANISTAN. AOT OF INTIMIDATION DOWN THERE. ONE WESTERN OBSERVER DESCRIBED KANDAHAR AS "LIKE THE WILD WEST." IN AFGHAN TER, IT HASN'T BEEN A PTICULARLY VIOLEN DAY, TODAY OF ALL DAYS, THAT HAS TO BE SAID.

>> Suarez: PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI BOTH RUNNING THE COUNTRY AND RUING THE-TO-HOLD ON TOIS JOB. WHAT DID HE HAV TO SAYBOUT THE BALLOTING?

>> WE, HAMID KARI, OF COURSE HAS CLAIMED IT AS A EAT SUCCESS ALONG WITHHE UNITED NATIONS CTAINLY. NAT OF COURSE, KEEPING A VERY LOW PROFILE. THIS IS IN THEIR VIEW VERY MUCH AN GHAN AFFAIR, CERTNLY NOT A NATO AFFA. THEIR TROOPS, OF COUE, ORDERED TO KEEP WELL AWAY FROM ALL THE PLING STATIONS. MR. KARZAI YES, HE'S TRUMPETG AS A GREAT SCESS BUT HE KNOWS VERY WELL THAT H HAS TO GET TAT 51% IN ORDER BE AUTOMATICALLY REELECTED. WON'T OW THAT FOR SURE UNTIL EPTEMBER 3 AN THE WORD ISHE SMART MONEY IF YO LIKE SAYS HS NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT. SO WE ARE QUIT PROBABLY IN FOR THE LONG HAUL RGHT THROUGH TO OCTOBER 15.

>> Suaz: IN THE REPORTING COMING OUT O AFGHANISTAN WE SAW INDELIBLE INK THAT WASN QUITE SO INDELIB. ELECTION OBSERVEERS WHO WERE AFRAIDO GO TO CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. BUTOUGHLY SPEAKING, F YOU WERE ONEF THE, OH, 16 MILLION OR SO EIGIBLE AFGHA VOTERS, COULD YOU GO VOTE IF YOU WANTED TO AND DID U HAVE REASONABL EXPECTATI YOUR VOTE WOULD BE COUNTED? WELL, THAT'S ENTIRELY DEPENDENON WHERE YOU ARE. AND THERARE TWO LEVELS OF THAT QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, THE CORRUPTION. WILL YOUR VOT COUNT OR WILL IT SIMPLYE DESTROYED IN SOME WAY BECAUSE OF THE LOCAL CLAN CHIEF, THE LOC TRIBAL LEADERWANTS IT THAT WAY. AND IF YOU VOTE F THE WRONG PERSON IT'S JUST GOING TO BE DESTROYED. THAT SORT OF STUFF QUITE POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHY BUILT INTO TH PROCESS YOU HAVE YOU HAVE SEPTEMBER 3 TO 17 FOR WAT THEY RAER DELICATELYCALL THE COMPLAIN PERIOD. ALREADY T KEY CANDIDATE THE RIALS TO HAMID KARZAI, THEY WERE ALREADY COMPLAINING RLY THIS MORNING BEFORE SOMEF THEM AD EVEN VOTED. SO THEY WILL ALREADY CRY FOUL AND WITH SOME GOOD REAN. BUT N'T FORGET EERYTHING IS RELATIVE. NOBODY ER SAID IN AFGHANISTAN THAT IT WILL BE AERFECT FAIR AND FR ELECTION. THE AIM, THE GOAL, IS TO GET A REASONABLYFAIR, REASONABLY CREDIBLE VOTOUT WHICH CAN BE PRODUCTIVE IN TERMS OF REDUCING WHAT THE MAJITY WHO VOTE ACTUALLY WAN NOW, OF COURSE THERE ARE HUGE PROBLEMS IN THAT AND WHAT THE KEY FACTO IS HOW MANY PEOPLE TURNED UP DO SOUTH, WHERE THE TALIBAN A STRONG. HOW MANYEOPLE ARE KEPT AWAY FROM THOSE AREAS. CAUSE IF IT'S INVALID DOWN THERE, THAT WI CLEARLY STRGTHEN THE TALIBAN'SAND.

>> Suarez: IN THE SEVERAL DA RUNNING UP TO E POLLING, THE GORNMENT WAS ACTIVLY TRYING TO DIOURAGE THE COVERAGEOF ATTEMPTS T SUPPRESS RNOUT, TRYING TO KEEP JOURNALISTS FROM DOING THEIR WORK. ID IT MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>> IT'S MA IT HARD TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON INHE REST OF THE COTRY, BUT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULTIMPLY BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND TERRA TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOI ON ACRS E COUNTRY. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. RE IN KABUL THERE WAS A GUN BATTLE BETWEEN SECURITY FRCES AND SUSPECTED TALIBAN MILITANT THIS IS MORNING. NOW, WAT HAPPENED THEREAS JOURNALISTS WH WENT DOWN TO COVER THAT FOUND THEMSELVES SET UPON AND ASSAULT BY T POLICE CLEARLY CARRYING OUT THE GOVERNMENT'S OERS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE COVING ANY VIOLENCE. A NUMBER OF THSE REPORTE WERE BEEN UP. AUMBER OF THEMAD THEIR CAMERAS DESTROYED. E OR TWO MANAGED TO HOOF IT OUT ANESCAPE WITH THEIR STY INTACT. SOT'S QUITE GOOD THAT IN SOME SENSE IT IS GOVERNMENIS TRYING TO SORT OF MAKE GOOD ON ITS EFFORTS SUPPRESS THE BAD NEWS. BUT THE FACT IS AFANS ARE AFGHAN. THESE ARE TOUGH PEOE. AND WATCHING SOMETHG ON A TEVISION ORISTENING TO A RADIO BROADCAST O HEARING I A NEWSPAPER PORT OR SOMETHING OF TT NATE I DON'T BELIEVE IS OING TO PUT OFF MANY AFGHA FROM GOING TO THE POLLS. A TALAN THREAT MIGHT, BUT HINGS LIKE WHAT THE MEDIA HAVE GOT TO SAY THINK WILLAKE VERY LITTLE DIFFEREN. IT SHOWS JUST HOW JUMPY THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INHE RUNUP TO THIS POLL.

>> Suarez: ALEX THSON THANKS FOR JOINING U

>> MY PLEASURE, YOU' WELCOME.

>> Lehr: ON OUR WEB SITE, newshourbs.org, YOU CAN WATCH A SLIDE SH ABOUT HOW AFGHANIST READIED FOR TODAY'S VOTING. IN OTH NEWS TODAY, THE DEATH TOLL FROM YESTERDAY'S GHDAD BOMBINGS ROSE TAT LEAST 101 MO THAN 500 OTHERS WERE WOUED. TODAY, OKE WAS STILL RISING FROM THE SCENE OTHE ATTACKS, WHICH MAINLY TARGETEDOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. PRIME MINISTER AL-MALIKI ID SUN INSURGENTS LINKED TO AL-QAEDA WERE TO BLAME HE VOWED TO REASSESS S COUNTRS SECURITY EFFORTS. IRAQI AUTHORITIES ALSO ASK THE U.S. MILITARY TO HP WITH THE FORENS INVESTIGATION. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OFUSTICE FILED NEW CHARGES AGAIN TEN ALLEGEDEADERS OF MEXICO'S MOST POWERFUL DRUG CARTELS. THEY ARE AMONG 43 PEOE NAMED IN INDICTMENTS UNSEALED INEW ORK AND CHICAGO. MO ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE. THREE OF THE SUSPECTED KINGPS ALLEGEY OVERSAW A SPRAWLING DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. NEARLY 200 TONS OF COCAI AND LARGE QUANTITIES OF HEIN WERE REPORTED SHIPPED INTO THE U.S. IN WASHINGTON, ATTORN GENERAL ERIC HOLDER ID THE CHARGES STEM FR TWO DECADES OF CRIMINAACTIVITY.

>> THESE CARTELSRE NOT ABSTRACT ORGANIZATIONS OPATING IN FAROFF PLACES. TH ARE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR NETWORKS FNELING DRUGS O TO OUR STREETS. WHAT INVARIABLY FOLLOWS THESE DRUGS IS MORE IMES AND MORE VIOLENCE IOUR COMMUNITIES HE AUDACITY THE CARTELS' OPERATIONS IS TCHED ONLYY THEIR SOPHISTATION AND BY THEIR REACH.

>> Lehrer: HOLDER SAITHE U.S. IS AGGRESSIVY HUNTING DOWN THE CAEL LEADERS SO THEY CAN STAN TRIAL IN U.S. COTS. SSACHUSETTS SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDHAS ASKED STATE LAWMAKERS FOR A FASTER WAY CK HIS SUCCESSOR, IF IT COME TO THAT. KENNEDIS BATTLING ADVANCED BRAIN CANCER. CURRENT MASSACHUSTS LAW CALLS FOR A SCIAL ELECTION 145 TO 160 DAYS AFTER THEEAT IS EMY. BUT IN A LETT, THE DEMOCRAT ASKED THAT THE GOVERNOBE EOWERED TO FILL THE VACANCY THROUGH AN IERIM APPOINTMENT UNTIL THE ELECTION. THE TTER WAS ONE OF SEVERAL KENNEDY WROTE IN EARLYULY. THERE WAS UNEXCTED NEWS ON JOBSODAY. GOVERNMENSURVEYS FOUND FIRST- TIME CLAIMS FOR JOBLESSENEFITS NT UP LAST WEEK, RISING TO 576,000. MORE THAN SIX MIION PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING GOVERNMENT A. ANWHILE, ON WALL STREET, THE DOW JONES INDTRIAL AVERAGE ADDED NRLY 71 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 9,350. THE NASDAQ ROSE 20 POINTS T CLOSE AT 1,989. AND STILL TO COMON THE NEWSHOUR TIGHT: FREEING THE LKERBIE BOMBER; A A HEALTH CARE CVERSATION. THAT FOLLOWS W RULES ON CREDIT CARD COMPANIES. JEFFREY BRO HAS OUR STORY.

>> Brown: THE FIRST OF T NEW RULES CONGRESPASSED IN MAY TO EFFECT TODAY. AMONGTHER THINGS, THEY REQUIRE THAT CDIT CARD ISSUERS NOTIFY CONSUMER45 DAYS BEFORE AN IEREST RATE HIKE OR "SIGNIFANT CHANGE" TO A NTRACT'S TERMS; IL BILLS OUT AT LEAST 21 DA BEFORE PAYNT IS DUE; AND LOW CARDHOLDERS TO REFUSE A RATE HIKE, CHOOSING ITEAD TO PAY OFF A BALANCE AT E OLD RATE. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS OF E LAW WILL TAKE EFFECT IN FEBRUA. WE ASSESS WH ALL THIS MEANS, WH NESSA FEDDIS, VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR UNSEL WITH THE AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATI; AND ADAM LEVINCHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER OF cred.com, A CONSUMER EDUCATION AND AOCACY GROUP. HE'S FORMER DIRECR OF NEW JSEY'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION. ADAM LEVIN, WHAT'S THMOST IMPORTANT CNGE HERE FROM A CONSUMER PROTECTION STANDPOINT? AND WILL THESECHANGES HELP CONSUMERS?

>> WELL, I THINK THA SOME OF THE CTICAL CHANGES IN THE BILL HAVETO DO WH THE INABILITY TO RASE RATES ON EXISTING BALANCES OTHER TH IN VERYPECIFIC SITUATIONSHAT ARE EITHER DIRECTLY RELATED TO A NSUMER OR RELATE TO A VARIABLE RATE CARD. THE FACTHAT OVER-LIMIT FEES CAN'TE CHARGED UNLESS CONMERS ACTUALLY OPT INTO I IN ADVANCE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEEING THE END OF UNIVERSAL DEFAT ANDOUBLE-CYCLE BILLING AND THE FACT...

>> Reporter: EXPLAIN UNIVERSAL DEFAULT FOR PEOPLE.

>> UVERSAL DEFAULTIS BASICALLY IF SOTHING NEGATIV RE TO OCCUR TO A CONSUMER WITH ANOTHER CREDIT CARD OR IN ANOER PARTICULARINANCIAL SITUATION, THAT AREDIT CARD COANY COULD POINT TO THAT AND IMMEDIATELJUMP A RATE FROM, LET'S SAY A 15.99% RATE UP TO A DEULT RATE BASED THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE IS SOMETHG NEGATIVE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE ENTI CREDIT HITORY OF THIS PARTICULAR CONSUMER AND IT MAY RELATE TO A SPECIFIC INCENT. IT MAY RELATE TO JU ONE MSSED PAYMENT ON ONE CARD AND SUDDENLY T ENTIRE FINANCIAL SITUATION COLLAPSES IN ON TH CNSUMER. THAT'S NOT FAIR.

>> Reporte WELL, NS A DDIS, A LOT OF THESE CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A PERCEPTION THAT PRACTICES WEREUNFAIR, EV ABUSIE. DO YOU SEE A MAJOR SHIFT SHIFT IN TH WAY THE ISSUERS WERE W DEALITH CONSUMERS?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO S THAT KIND OF CHGE BECAUSE OF THE LAW, CRED CARD COMPANIES ARE GOING TO HAVEO DISMANTLE THE EXISTING MODELS AND REBUILD THEM BASED ON THE NEW RULES. ASOU MENTIONED, THE MAIN... THE PREDOMINANT EFECT OF THIS NEW LAW IS THAT CONSUMERSILL LONGER SURISED B AN INREST RATE INCREASE. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY WILL RECEIVE A 45AY ADVANCED NOTICE AND, MORE IMPORTANY, THE OPTN TO PAY OFF THE EISTING BALANCE OVER TE AT THE ORIGINALATE. AND REALLY THAT IS THE PROVISION THAT CARD COMPANS WERE MOST CRITIZED ABT AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING ADDSSED AS OFODAY.

>> Reporter: DO YOU SEE THAT WELENOUGH ADDRESSED, ADAM LEVIN? ND WHAT ABOUT THIS QUESTIONOF "SIGNIFICANT CHANG"? HOW IS THAT DEFINED ANDD IS ALL OF THIS CLEAR EUGH?

>> WELL, SIGNIFICANTHANGES ISN'T FULLY DEFINED YET. I THINK THIS IS TO COME AS THE REGULATIONS ARE PROMULGATED OVER TIME IN ORDER TO FLESH O THE GISLATION. THERIS NO QUESTION,HOUGH, THAT GREER TRANSPAREN AND FAIRNESS IN T SYSTEM IS CRICAL, AND I THINK THIS BILLED A DRESSES THAT. IT'S NOT THE SILVER BULLET, BUT IT'S A SRT. THE KEY THING IS THE FINANCIAL TERACY AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN WOEFULLY SHORT-SIGHTED IN THE WAY WE'VE TREATE FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THIS COUNT. AND PART OF THEPROBLEM THAS HAPPENED IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY IS THE CT TH MANY OF THESE DOCUMENTS, MANY OF THE NOTICES MANY OF THE CONTCTS THAT INVOLVE CREDIT CARDSAVE BEEN VERY CONFUSING. IN SOME CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THEY'VE TKED ABOUT BEING WRITTEN IN 27th GRADE ENGLISH. THAT'S PART OF WH THIS LAW IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS, TO GIVE CONSUMERS MORE TIME, T GIVE NSUMERS MORE DISCLOSURE AND TO GIVE CONSUMERS AN OPPORTUNITYO DEVELOPTRATEGIES IN THE EVENT THAT SOMHING GOES HORRIBLY ONG RELATIVE TO THEIR RATE OR RELATI TO THE FEES THEY FACE.

>> Reporter: MISS FDIS, AT THE SAME TIME, IS IT THE CASE TH W SOME PEOPLE WHO IN PAST WERE OFFERED CREDITR MITE HAVE BEEN OERED CREDIT WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERED CREDIT?

>> WELL, CONGRESSNDERSTOOD WHETHEY PASSED THIS LAW THAT ONE OF THE EFFTS WOULD BE THAT MANY PEOPL MANY SMALL BUSISSES WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET CREDITARDS AS EASILY. ACCOUNTS WOULD BE CLOSE, MITS WOU BE LOWERED. EY ALSO UNDERSTOOD TH ACROSS THEOARD INTEREST RATES WOULD GO UP BIT ACROSS. FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: WHICH WE'RE SEEING ALREADY.

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING THAT IN THE ADVERTISED RAT, THE NEW ACCOUNTS. BUT EY ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT PEOPLE WHO MANAGE THE CREDIT WELL OR L TO ME DEGREE BE SUIDIZING OR PAYING FOR THOS HO DON'T. T THEY MADE THE DECISION THA THIS W AN ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE, A TRADEOFF, F YOU WILL, FOR E CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

>> Rorter: ANOTHER THING WE'RE SEEING OR MHT BE SING WOULD BE ANNUAL FEES GOING UP.

>> WELL, WE DO KNO THAT CREDIT RATES WILLO UP. CAS WILL BE HARDER TO GET. BUT BEND THAT, CREDIT CA COMPANIES WILL BE INNATING AND EXPERIMENTING UNDER T NEW RULES, SEEING HOW CONSUMERS RESPOND. WE KNOW THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING. IS HARD TO SAY EXACTLY, B THEY'LL BE LOONG AT EVERYTHING THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT ANNUA FE, BALANCETRANSFERFEES, CASH ADVANCE FEES. THEY'LL LOOKING AT THAT INTEREST RATE... INTEREST-FREE PERI, THE GRACE PERIOD. THEY'LL BE LOOKINGT ROMOTIONAL RATES. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.

>> Reporter: MR. LEVIN, HOW DO YOU SEE THI TRADEOFF?

>> WELL,FIRST OF ALL, I'S MORE THAN THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THIS. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND THEY HAVE ACTED ON IT AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE ARS NOW WE'VE EXPERIENCED ALMOST A RIN OF TERROIN TERMS OF THE W THAT THE CREDIT CARD MPANIES HAVE TREATED CONSUMES. AND WE'VE DO SRVEYS AT CRET.COM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WHE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF THE CONSUMERS THAT WE TALK TO HAVE EXPERIEND WHAT THEY CONSIDER NEGATIVE SITUIONS WITH THEIR CREDIT CARD. ALSO IT TURNED OUT THAT ERMOUS NUMBER OF CONSERS WEREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THINGS THAT WERE GOG WITH ON WITH THEIR EDIT CARDS, SO PHAPS THE DEBATE OVER THI IS A GOOD THING BECAUS MORE AND MORE PEOP ARING BEING AWARE. BUT THERE'S NO ESTION THERE'S A TRAOFF BUT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN RPONSE TO THE DETERIORION OF THE ECONOMY. AND ONE LAST QUEION THAT I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD CSIDER, OR AT LEASTNE OF OF THE QUESONS IS WAS SOME OF THIS NOT, IN FACT, A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY BY T CREDIT CARD COMPANIES? WHEN YOU HAD MANY, MANY CONSUME WHO WERE SOLID CREDIT CONSUMERS WHO WE PAYING DOWN THEIR BILLS, WERE A PATH, HAD A PLAN AND HAD AUDGET AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE-- AND THIS HAPPENED...TARTED WELL OVER A YEA AGO, OUT OF NOWHE EXPERIENCED NOT ONLY A DOUBLING OF THEIR MINIMUM PAYMEN- WHICH MAY NOT BE BAD THING BECAUSIT HELPS REDUCE DEBT-- T ALSO AN ENORMOUS INCREASE, IN SOME CASES 10% O 15% IN THEIR INTEREST RATES AND THEY'D DONEOTHING WRONG, IT WAS SIMPLY A FUNCTI OF ONE BANKBUYING ANOTHER OR BANKS YING WELL, BASED ON FANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THISS WHAT WE'RExÑHNG TOO. AND MANY CONSUMERS WHO WERE ON A PATH SUENLY GOT KNOCKED OFF THE PATH.

>> Reporter: WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE INTEREST RATE CHANGES ARE A LITTLE BIT EXAERATED. THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIESDO REPORT THE INTEREST RATE THAT THE CUSTOMERS PAY. THEY DO RELEASE TT DATA. THE ST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE SHOWS THATS OFTHE 12-MONTH PERD ENDING IN MAY THAT ON ARAGE INTEREST RATES DID BUMP UP ABOUT A PNT. INDIVIDUALS' CIRCUMSTANCES MAY VARY,UT ON AVAGE INTEREST RATES WE UP ABOUT AOINT IN THAT 12-MONTH PERIOD. AND WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN004, 2007,NTEREST RATES WERE ABOUT ON AVERAGE ABOUT 14.5%. THEY WEN DOWN BY A POINT IN 007 AND NOW THEY'RE BACK UP AT THOSE LEVS. SOTHEY'VE GONE UP A BIT. BUT MT PELE UNTIL THE ECONOMIC DOWNTN WEREAYING THEIR CREDIT CARD ON TIME. E DELINQUENCI WERE WITHIN THE HISTORICAL NOS OF ABOUT 5%. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING THOSE RATES GOP. WHY? BECAUSE OF THE ECONOM, BECAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT. WE'VE FND THAT CREDITCARD ELINQUENCIES VERY MUCH TRACK UNEMPLOYMENT RTES BECAUSE THE FIRST. THE CREDIT CARD IS THE RISKIESTYPE OF LOAN BECAUSE THERE'SO MORAGE... THERE'S NO COLLATAL, THERE'S HOME OR CAR THAT WIL INCENT PELE TO REPAY THEIR LOA OR TO OFFSET ANY LOSSES. AND THEIRST BILLEOPLE STT PAYING...OT EVEN THE FIRST LOAN TH STOP PAYING,HE FIRST BILL THEY SPPED PAYING IS EIR CREDIT CARD. BECAUSE TY STILL NEED TO PAY THEIR UTILITIES AND THEI TELEPHONE BILLS. SO WHAT WEE SEEING NOW IN THE DELINQUENCIES IS RLLY A REFLECTION THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. AND WE'RE EXCTING THE ECONOMISTS SAY THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS GOING TO STAY HIG SO I THINKE'RE STILL GOI TO CONTINUE TO SEE LOSSE CONTINUE TO RISE AND THATMEANS INTEREST RATES AREROBABLY GOING TO STAY UP FOR THE... ATEAST FOR THE TI BEING.

>> Repoer: WE HAVE TO LEAVE THERFOR NOW BUT WLL REVISIT IT IF NOTEFORE, BY FEBRUARY BECAUSE EVEN MORE SWEEPING CHANG COME IN THEN. NESS FEDDIS AND ADAM LEVIN, THANK YU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: NEXT TONIGHT, T RELEASE OF A CONVICT LOCKERBIE BOMBER. NEWSHOURORRESPONDENT SPENCER MICHELS NARRATES OUR REPOR

>> Reporter: THENLY PERSON EV CONVICTED IN THE 1988 BBING OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103 LEFT A OTTISH JAIL TODAY A FREE MAN. HE WAS HUSTLETO THE AIRPORT IN CONVOOF ARMORED POLICE VEHICLES. AND THEN, ABDEL BASET AL- MEGRAHI, OKING FRAIL AND SUFFERING FROM TERMINAPROSTATE CANCER, SLOWLY BOARDED AET SENT FROM LIBYA AND TK OFF FOR HOME. ALEGRAHI SERVED EIGHT YEARS OF HIS LIFE SENTENCE. DOCTORS SAY HHAS LESS THAN THREE MONTHS TO LIVE,ND WITH THAT MIND, THE SCOTTISH AUTHORITS GRANTED HIS REQUEST TO RETURN HOME TO DIE.

>> OUR JUSTICE STEM DEMANDS THAT JGEMENT BE IMPOSED, BUT COMPASSION BE AVAILABLE. OUR BELIEFS DICTATE TH JUSTICE BE SERVED BUT MERCY BE OWN. COMPASSIOAND MERCY ARE ABOUT UPHOLDING THBELIEFS THAT WE SEEK TO LI BY, REMAINING TRUE TO OUR VALUES AS A PEOPLE, N MATTER T SEVERITY OF THE OVOCATION OR THE ATROCITY PERPEATED.

>> Reporter259 PEOPLE ON BOARD AND 11 OTHERS OTHE GROUND WERE KILLED WHEN THPLANE EXPLODED OVER LOCKERBIE, SCLAND, TORN ART BY A BOMB HIDDEN AMONG T BAGGAG MOST OTHE VICTIMS-- 189 OF THEM-- WERE AMERICANS FAMILY MEMRS OF VICTIMS EXPRESSED OUTGE AT MEGRAHI'S LEASE. BERT AMMERMAN LOST HIS BRHER.

>> A THEN, COMPASSIONATE REASE IS THE MOST LUDICROUS STATEMENT I HAVE HEARD IN 20 YEARS REGARDI PAN AM FLIGHT 10 THE MAN MURDERED 270 PELE, 259 AT 3000 FEET. I LIEVE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT DID TH. I BELIEVE THE WAS MORE THAN E COUNTRY THAT DID THIS. BUT AT AST WE GOT JUSTICE ON ONE IIVIDUAL, AND NOW WE'VE EVEN LOST THAT.

>> Repoer: KATHLEEN FLYNN'S SON WAS FLYING HE FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON PAN AM 103.

>> YOU DON'T ALLOW SOMNE WHO HASURDERED... YOU KNOW, PRE- MEDATED MURDER OF 270 INNOCENT PEPLE AND LET THEM WALK AWAY.

>> Rorter: STEPHANIE BERNSTEIN'S HUSBAND DIE TOO.

>> THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE ANDHE BRITISH PEOPLE OUGHT TOE ASHAMED THEMSELVES FOR ALLOWING TS TO HAPPEN. WHY IN GOD'S NAMSHOULD WE RELEASE THE PERSON FOUND... E ONLY PERSON FOUNDUILTY BY A LEGITIMATE SCOTTISH COURT THE LAEST MASS MURDER IN BRITISH HISTORY?

>> Reporter: BUSOME FAMILY MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE LEASE. JIM SWIRE LOSHIS DAUGHTER.

>> IT THE RIGHT RESULT, THAT IT'S COASSIONATE, NOT PRISONER TRANSFER. THISAS BEEN... THE CASE OF LOCKERBIE HAS BEEN LAD WITH POLITICS FROM BEGINNING END, AND I TNK THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A PLACE IN Y NATION'S EHAVIOR FOR SOME COMPASSION.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENTBAMA REACTED THIS AFTERNOON ON A RADIO PROGRAM THATAS ALSO BROADCASON CABLE TELEVISION.

>> WEAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SCOTTISH GOVERNME INDATING THAT WE OBJECTED TO THIS, ANWE THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE. WE'RNOW IN CONTACT WITH THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT,ND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF, IN FT, THIS TRANSFER HAS TAKEN PCE, THAT IS NOT WELCOMED BACK BUT I SOME WAY... BUINSTEAD SHOULD E UNDER HOUSE ARREST. WE'VE ALSO EN IN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE PAN AM VICTIMS AND INDICATED TOHEM THAT WE DON'T THINK IS WAS APPROPRIAT

>> Reporter: IT TOO12 YEARS OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATIOAND INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE BERE MEGRAHI WAS BROUGHT JUSTICE IN 20. HWAS ONCE AN INTELLIGENCE OFFIC, AND THE LIBYAN GOVERNME DENIED HIS ROLE IN THE BOMBING FOR YEARS. IN IPOLI TODAY, LIBYANS GATHED AROUND TELEVIONS TO WATCH NEWS OF MRAHI'S RELEASE, WHICH MANY CONSID A MORAL VICTORY.

>> ( translated ): TS IS GREAT NEWS R ALL LIBYAN PEOPLE AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OUND THE WORLD WHCARE FOR JUSTICE. WE WERE CFIDENT AND SURE FROM THE BEGNING THAT ABDEL BASET AL-MEGRAHI WAS INNOCENT.

>> Reporter: IN JULY, MEGRAHI WROTE A LETTER TTHE SCOTTISH JUSTICE SECRETARY IN WHI HE REPEATED HIS INNOCENCE, SANG: "I HAVEEEN SEPARATED FR MY FAMILY AS A SULT OF WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN UNJU CONVICTION." TONIGHT, TUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS GATHERED AT THE MILITARY AIRPORT INTRIPOLI TO GIVE MEGRAHI A HERO'S WELCOME, WAVING LIAN AND SCOTTISH FGS. JOINS HIS FAMILY IN TIME FO MADAN, AS HE HAD HOPED. >Lehrer: THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNC THIS AFRNOON THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL END ITS PULAR CASH FOR CLUNKERS OGRAM ON MONDAY. CONGRESS APPROD EXTRA MONEY FOR THE PROGRAM JUST TWO WKS AGO. BUT THE PROGRAMS EXPECTED TO USE UP THE $3 LLION EARMARKED R IT BY EARLY SEPTEMBER. FOR THE LATEST DEVELOPMES, I AM JOINED BYAVID SHEPARDSON, HO HAS BEEN COVERING THE STO FOR THE "DETROIT NEWS." HE'S THE WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF. DAVID, WELCOME. WHAT SPECIFALLY PROMPTED IT TOY, RIGHT NOW, FOR THEM TO UDDENLY DECIDE TO STOP THIS

>> WELL, TWO THINGS. FIRST, AS Y POINTEDOUT, THE FIRST $1 BILLION THAT CNGRESS APPROVED BASICALLYRAN OUT IN THE FIRST FR OR FIVE DAYS A THEREAS SOME CHAOS. AND, AS YOU KNOW, CONGRESS ULTIMATELY AGREED TO PUT THE $ BILLION BACK IN. SO THE GOAL ISNRDERLY WINDDOWN. SO FAR, THEY'VEGONE THROUGH ABOUT $1.9 BILON,OR 457,000 CARS. THAT LEAV A BILLION. HOWEVER THEY INK THERE'S ANOTHERHERE ARE 40 MILLION IN CARS THATAVE SOLD BUT THE DEALERS HAVEN'T SMITTED THOSE VOUCHER REESTSTO D.O.T.. SO THAT LEAVES $600 MILLION LEFT. THEY THINK THIS WEEKEND LL BE BUSY AS'M TRY TO GET I BEFORE THE PROGRAM ES AND IF THEY'RE GOING TOUGH A HUNDRED MILLION DAY A DA UNDER THE NORMALLOW WITH A SPEDUPFLOW WE SHOULD B TWO TO THREEILLION BY ROUGHLY MONDAY.

>> Lrer: THE CARS YOU MENTIONE THAT'S AN EVEN TRADE NUMBER? THAT MEANS THAT MANYLUNKERS WERE BROUGHTN AND NEW CARS WERE BGHT, RIGHT? T LEAST ON PAPER?

>> CORRECT. WHEREOU HAD TO HA A CAR TH GOT 18 MES PER GAON OR LESS AND GET THEULL $4,500 VOUCH THE NEW VEHICLE HAD O BE TEN MILES PE GALLON MORE FUELFFICIENT.

>> Lehre YOU USEDTHE WORD "CHAOS." DESCBE WHAT THE CHAOS HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT IN TIS PROGRAM.

>> WELL, SO CONGRESS GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION 30 DAYS TOET THIS PROGRAM UP. BUT DURING THAT0 DAYS, THE ALERS STARTED MAKING DEALS AHEAD OF TIME. WHEN THE PROGRAM GO OFF AND RUNNING ON JULY 24 WITHIN LESS THAN AEEK, D.O.T. WAS CONVINCEDHAT THEY WERE ALREADY THROUGH THE $1 BILLION. SO ON THE NIGHT OF, I THI, JU 29, THEADMINISTRATION STARTED CLING MEMBERS OF CONGSS SAYING "WE'RE OUT MONEY, WE'RE SHUING THE PROGRAM DOWN." ULTIMATELY THAT DECION WAS REVERSED. THE NEXT DAY THE HOUSE PASSED $2 BILLION ANDHE SETE FOLLOWED A EK LATER. DURING TH BRIEF TIME FRAME, OME ALERS WERE STAYING OPEN TO 3:00 A. TO GET FINAL DEALS DONE BEFORTHE MONEY RAN OUT.

>> Lehrer: W, IS THATOING TO APPLY? THIS ISHURSDAY NIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT. IS THAT EASTERN TIM 8:00 EASTERN TIME?

>> CORRECT.

>> Couric: OKAY. SO SOMEBODY CAN KE A DEAL A GET T PERWORK, DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE PERWORK DONE BY:00 MONDAY NIGHT IN ORDER FOR IT TO QUALIFY?

>> EXACT. E DEALER HAS TO HAVE SUBMITTED THEAPERWORK BY 8:00 P. MONDAY OR THE DEAL WILL N QUALIFY. HOWEVER, A LOT OF THE VOUCHERS SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN PROEMS WITH THE PAPERWORK DEALERS WILL BE ABLTO RESUBMIT DES THAT HAVE ALREA BEEN DONE, BUT NO NEW DEALSFTER:00 EASTE ON MONDAY.

>> Lrer: THIS PROGRA IS WIDELY LABED "THE SCCESSFUL CLUNKERS PROGRAM, CASH FOR CLUNKERS PROGRA" IS... WHAT DEFINES SCESS HERE AND WHO DEFINES IT?

>> I THINK IT RETAIL SALES STIMULATING THE ECONOMY. LET'S FACE IT. THERE ARE A LOT OFEOPLE WHO RE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT MAKE ANYTHING BIG PCHASE. THEY GHT BE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOB OR THEIR HOURS BEING CUT. LAST YEAR AUTOALES WERE DOWN 18, WHICH WAS THE LOWEST IN 17 YEAS. THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF IS YEAR THEY WER DOWN 35%. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'D SN A TRENDOUS DECLINEHICH PUSHED A LOTOF COMPANYS INTO REALLY SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS. SO BY ANY ESTIMATE, IN AUGUST RETAIL LES WILL BE... SORRY AUSHGS TOE SALES WILLBE UP 2%, THAT'THE FIRST TIME RETAIL AUTO SAS HAVE BEEN UP SINCE JUNE, 2007. SOY ANY IICATION, IT'S HAD BIGMPACT ON AUTO SALE AND GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT.

>> Lehrer: WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION NOW? THAT THIS MOMENTUM HAS NOW BEGUN? THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS OGRAM HAS GOT OPLE BUYINGARS AGAIN AND IT'S GING TO COINUE ONCE EVEN THE PROGR ENDS AT 8:00N MONDAY NIGHT?

>> IT'SCERTAINLY GOT A L OF PEOPLE INT SHOW ROOMS AND IT GOT PEOPLE TALKI ABOUT BUYING AAR FOR THE FIRSTTIME IN A LONG TIME. AND THERE WERE PEOPL WHO WENT INTO THEHOW ROOM, FOU OUT THEIR VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND END UP BUYING SOMETHING ELSE. BUT I THINKHE JURY IS OUT AS TO WHETH THIS WILLEAD TO A RETURN TO AUTO SES WHERE TH'VE BEEN HISTORICLY, WHICH WAS IN THE $1, $15, $16ILLION RANGE AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR WHENE WERE ABOUT $14 MILLI AND IS YEAR WE'REN PACE FOR LS THAN $10 MILON A YEAR THROU THE FIRST HALF.

>> I TAKE IT THE FOLKS THAT U COVER, YOU AND YR NEWSPAPER COVEREGULARLY, THE ATO INDUSTRY ANDTS MANY TENTLES, ILUDING THE DEALERS, AVE BEEN HAPPABOUT ALL OF THIS,IGHT? THIS IS TERRIFIC FO THEM?

>> SURE,THEY'VE BEEN HAPPY ABOUT THE FACTHAT CLOSE TO HALF AILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SOLD, BUT CLEARLY THE DEALERS VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE FACT THA VERYITTLEONEY HAS ACTUALLY BE PAID OUT OF TAT $1 BILLION IN TERMS OF REIMBURSI THEM FOR THE VOUCHER Lehrer: THAT'S WHERE PART O THE CHAOS IS, TOO, RGHT? IS THAT A GOVERNMENT BURUCRACY PRLEM?

>> IT'S A NUMBEROF THINGS. IT'S AACT AT THE TRANSPORTATION SRETARY SAID THEY HADAN INADEQUATE NUER OF PEOPLE INITIAL TO PROCESS THESE VUCHERS, THERE WERE ONLY 230. BYTHE END OF THIS WEEK ITILL BE OVER 1,100, OVE A THOUSAN MORE. HEY'VE OFFERED OVERTI TO PEOPLE. CLEARLY THEY WERE CAUGHT O GUARD BY HOW FAST THIS PROGRAM RAMPED .

>> Lehrer: FNALLY, THE $4,500 QUESTIN. WHAT IF THERS STILL HUNDREDS OR THOANDS OF PEOPLE STILL ITING WHO WANT TO DO THIS AT 8:00 MONDAY NIT? IS THERENY CHANCE THIS COULD BE EXTENDD? THISOULD GO ON AND ON AND ON?

>> CONGRESS WLD HAVE TO APPROVE MORE MEY BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HASAID THEY HAVE NO PLANS TOSK F ANY MORE MONEY. IT WAS A BIG FT TO GET THE SENATE TO GOLONG. SOME SETORS WAED CHANGES IN THE OGRAM. SO GIVEN ALL THE THINGS ON CONGRESS'S PLATE, 'S PROBABLY UNLIKELY. SO YOU BETTER GET INTOHE DEALERSHIP WEEKENDF YOU WANT TO TAK ADVANTAGE.

>> Lehrer: OR FORGET I

>> EXACTLY.

>> Lehrer: DAV, THANK YOU VERY MU.

>> THANKS, JM.

>> Lehrer: THEEBATE OVER THE PUBLIC PLAN AS PART HEALTH EFORM IS NEXT. A LEANG REPUBLICAN WHO HAS BEEN PART OF SENATE NEGOTIATIONS, CHUCK GSSLEY OF IOWA, SAID BELIEVES THE SCOPE OF A HEALTH CE BILL SHOULD BE ALED BACK. BUT DURING TODAY'S RADIO INTERVIEW, PRESIDT OBAMA SAID HE SLL SUPPORTS A PUBLIC PLAN. HE ALSO SAID THAT POR COMMENTS BY HEALTH SECRETARY KATHEN SEBELIUS DID NOT MEANHAD A CHANGE HEART. HE'S SOME OF WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE PUBLIC AN.

>> WHAT WVE SAID IS WE THINK THAT'S A GOOD IA. BUT WE HAVEN'T SAID THATHAT'S THE ONLY AECT OF HEALTH INSURANCE. AND WHAT SHE ESSENTIALLY ID WAS... IS THAALL THESE OTHER INSURANCREFORMS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PUBLIC OPON. HE PRESS GOT A LITTLEXCITED AND ME FOLKS ON THE LEFT GOT A TTLE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. OUR POSITION HASN'T ANGED. WE THINK THAT THE KEY ISOST CONTROL, COMPETION, MAKING SURE THAPEOPLE HAVE GOOD, QUALITY OPTIONS. IF WE'RE ABLE ACHIEVE THAT, THAT'S E END THAT WE'RE SEEKING. AND THE MEANS-- YOU KNOWWE CAN HAVE SOME GOOD ARGUMENTABOUT WHAT THE BEST WAYO ACHIEVE IT IS, BUT WE'VEOT TO CHANGE, BECAU THE STATUS QUO IS UNSUSTAINABLE.

>> Lehrer: THE PRESIDENT LER SAID HE WOULD SS A BILL WITUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IN THEENATE IF NECESSARY. AND THAT BRINGS USO THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES OF CONRSATIONS WITH PLAYS AND THINKERS ABOUT HEAL REFORM. GWEN ILL HAS TONIGHT' WHICH SO LOOKS AT THE PUBLIC PLAN. IT WAS TAPED BEFORE THE PRESIDENS LATEST COMMENTS. ILL NIL OUR LAST CONVERSATIO WE HEARD FROM THC.E.O. OF THE ET INSURANCE COMPANY. TONIGHTE GET A VERY TRENT PERSPECTE FROM A FORMER HEALTH INSANCE EXECUTIVE. UNTIL LAST YR, WENDELL POTT WORKED FOR TH CIGNA AND HUMAN THAT HEALTH CA FOR TWO DECADES. MOST RECENTLYS CIGNA'S CHIEF SPOKESMAN. HE'S NOW A SENIOR FELLOW ON HETH CARE WITH THE CENTER F MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY, A LIBERAL RESEARCH GROUP. WELCOME, MR. POTTER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ifill: WHEN IT COMES TO THI DEBATE WE'RE HAVING IN WASHINGTON ABOUT T PUBLIC OPTION, THE SO-CALLED PUBLICLY BACKED SURANCE OPON, HOW ESSENTIAL OR GAUCHEABLE DO YOU THEY OPTION IS

>> IHINK IT'S VER, VERY ESSENTIAL. I DOT THINK THAT REFORM WIL BE A COMPREHENSIVE AS THE PRESIDENT PROMISED DURINGHE CAMPAI AND AS MOST MEMBERS OF CORESS AND I THINK THE ERICAN PUBLIC WOULD WANT IT BE. IT'S A VITAL PART OFHEALTH CARE REFORM AND I TRUST IT WILL BE A PART OFHE LEGISLATION THAT FINALLY REACHES THE PRESIDENT'S DESK.

>> Ifill: BUT Y HEARD WHAT T SECRETARY OF HEAL AND HUMAN SERVICES SAID AND EVEN WH THE PRESIDENT HAS ID WHICH IT IS ESSTIAL BUT ONLY A SLIVERF THE ID.

>> WELL, IT'S ESSENTIAL. AND THEY ARE RHT, OBVIOUSL THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO REFORM THAN JUST THE PUBLIC OPTION. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE CTS, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT'S TRUE. ALSO A L OF INSURANCE MARKET RORM IS NECESSARY AS WELL. THRE ARE A LOT OF PRACTICES IN THENDUSTRY THAT SHOULD BE MADE ILLEGAL. Ifill: RON WILLIAMS OF NA TOLD US ON THE PROGM THAT HERE ARE ALREADY CHANGESBEING PROPOSED IN TH INDIVIDUAL MARKET THAT L SOLVE A LOT O PROBLE THAT WE SEE IN THE HEALTHINSURANCE INDUSTRY. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DON'T REALLY AGRE AS YOU NOTED, I HAVE BEEN WITH THE INDUSTRY FOR ALMO 20 YEARS AND I SAW MR.ILLIAMS AND I KNOW THAT HE... NED HE SAID THAT HE AND THE DUSTRY AREN FAVOR OFOING AWAY WITH THE P-EXISTING CONDITION CLAUSES AS A CONDITION OF INSURACEND ALSO THE EFFORT...THE PRACTICE OF CHER PICKING ONLY THE HEALTHY MEERS FOR THEIR HEALTH ANS OR HEALTHY PEOPLE. THEWERE SAYING THE SAME THING IN 193 WHEN... THE LT TIME WE HAD THIS DEBAT SOHAT THEY SAID TN IS ALMOST PRECISELY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING NOW. ALMOSTVERBATIM. AND WH HEALTH CARE REFORM FAILED IN '94, FOR A LARGE REASON BAUSE OF THE OOSITION FROM THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY, THE INDUST MADE NO PASS THE LISLATION THAT WOULD DO T THINGS THEY SAID BA THEN AND THEY'RE YING NOW THAT SHOULD BE DONE TO REGULATE THE MARKETPLACE MO.

>> Ill: SO YOU DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR ROL IN 93 AND 1994 THAN YOU SEE NO

>> I DON'T. BECAUSE SOME OFHE SAME PEOPLE WERE. ARE... WHO AREIN THE INDUSTRY N WEREHERE NOW TESFYING BEFORE CONGRESS AND, AGAISAYING LARGE THE SE THING. SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE IUSTRY HAS A GOOD TRK RECORD AT ALL OF LIVING UP TO THE COMMITMENTS IT SA IT IS MAKING AND IHINK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 16 YEARS WE'VE SEEN THA. EY HAVE FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT WOULD HE THEM IMPROVE THEIR PROFITABILY, NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CONSURS.

>> Ifill: WHEN IT COMESO THE BLIC OPTION, HOW DOES THE GOVNMENT... HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT BE A PLAYER, THAT TO SAY PART OF THE OICES THAT ARE OFFER, MANY OFTHE CHOICES FERED TO CONSUMERS, AND ALSO A REFEE, A REGULATO

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT CLEARHAT THEYE NOT THE SAME. D YOU CAN VE THEM SEPARATED. IN FACT, THE PRESINT HAS SAID THAT THATOULD BE THE CASE. THENDUSTRY IS TRYING TO CONFUSE THE ISSUEY SAYING IT WOULDN'T B BUT YOU DEFINITELY CAN HAVE A BLIC OPTION THAT WOULD BE OPERED SEPARATELY FROM A REGULATORY AGENCY.

>> Ifill: WH ABOUT THEIR ARGUMET THAT IT WOULD DRIVE SURERS OUT OF BUSINESS ORT THE VERY LEAST T THEM AT A OMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE?

>> WL, YOU KNOW, A THE PRESIDENT SA, THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. THEY'RE SAYINGON ONE HAND THE GOVERNMENT COULDOT BE AN FFICIENT AND GOOD COMPETIOR AND ON THE OTHER THAT IT WOULD FORCE THEM OUT OFBUSINESS. IT MES NO SNSE. IT WOULD NOT FORCEHEM OUT BINESS. WHAT IT MHT DO IS PROVIDE SOME KIND OF A COUNTER TO THEALL STET INVESTORS AND THE CONSTANT PREURE FROM WALL STREET FOR THEM TO INCREASE THEIR PRITABILITY. BUT IT WOUN'T PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. OVER THE TWO DECADES THAT I W THE INDUSTRY, I SAW THE COMPANIES CHAE THEIR BUSINESS MODELS AND THE KINDS POLICIES THEY AREOFFERING MANY, MA IMES. CIG AND AETNA BOTH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN JOINED CIGNA IN 1993 WERE BO MULTILINE INSURCE COMPANIES WITH A LOT DIFFEREN KIS OF BUSINESSES LIKE PROPTY AND CASUALTY AND FINANCIAL SVICES DIVISION. BOTOF THEM HAD THOSE BUSINESS. THEYE SOLD BOTH OF THOSE TO FOCUS ON HLTH CARE. SO THEY'VE ADAPTED TOARKET CIRCUMSTANCES VE, VERY QUICKLY AND THE ONE THICK THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IS TO MAKE MONEY A TO SAISFY WALL REET'S... WALL STREET INVESTORS.

>> Ifill: WHEYOU WERE IN TH INDUSTRY, DIDOU SPEAK UP ABOUT THESE DEFICIENCIES WHICH YOURE NOW TALKING ABOUT?

>> NOT AS MUCH AS I WSH I COULD SAY RIGHT NOWHAT I DID. WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITHINAN ORGANIZATION LIKE TH, IT'S VERY IMPOTANTO SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP AND TO SUPPORT WHAT THE COMPANIES' OBJECTIVES ARE. NOW, AS PART OF THE PUBLI POLICY TEAMT CIGNI WAS OFTEN AVOICE THAT WAS DIFFERENTROM THE OTHE ON THE TEA BECAUSE I HAVE LO FELT AT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ATTTION PAID TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HA COVAGE DO HAVE COVERAGE. AND I BECAME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE KINDS O LICIES THAT MORE RECENTLY THE INSURANCE INDTRY IS MOVING TOWARAND MOVING MOREOF US INTO,Y THE W,WAY FROM THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS INTO PLANS THAT SOME OF US HAVE NEVER HEAR OF, BUT THAS THE FUTUR THESE HIGH DEDUCTIBL PLANS THAT THEINDUSTRY CALLS CONSUMER DIRECTED PLANSRE WHAT THE INDUSTRY HAS IN STO FOR US. AN THAT MEANS THAT MOR AND MORE OF US WILL HAV TO PAY A LOT MO OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS BEFORE ANY SURANCE THAT WE HAVEICKS IN TO COVER OUR MEDICAL EXPENSES.

>> Ill: AS YOUNOW, THE OBAMA ADMINISATION HAS NOW FALLEN BAK ON A MANTRA WICH THEY USE SAY THEY HAD NOT RULED OUT THE PUBLIC OPTION BUT THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF CICE AND COMPETITION. WHAT'S WRONGITH THAT? ULD YOU PREFER TO SEE THEM JUST SAY "I WANT UNIVERSAL MANDAT HEALTH INSURANCE" OR WOULD YOU PREFER FOR THEM TO... OR IS IT WE FOR THEMTO KEEP ALL OF THESE POSSIBLE DRS OPEN?

>> WELL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE UNIVERSEAL COVRAGE NUMBEONE. A PUBC OPTION IS ONE OF THE BESWAYS, PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT' ON THE TABLE, THE BEST MEANS ON THE TLE TO HELP ASSURE THAT. JUST MANDATINGHAT WE ALL VE COVERAGE IS N GOOD POLICY. IN FACT DURING THE CAMIGN, CANDIDATE OBAMA WAS SAYIN.. SAITHAT HE VERY MUCH WAS SUPPORTG A PUBLIC INSURANCE OPTI AND WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL NDATE OR A REQUIRING THAT L OF US GET INSURANC. AND THE REASON HE CITEDS A VERY GOOD O, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INSUR, MOST OF THEM,S A MATTER OF FACT, ARE NOT INSURED BECAUSE TH CANNOAFFORD THE PREMIUMS PRIVATE INSURS ARE CHARNG. AND TO IMPLEMENT A MANDATTHAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL OF US TO GET INSURANCE FROM THE PRIVATE MARKETOESN'T MAKE ANY SSE. THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD WORK WOULD BE R TAXPAYERS TO SUBSIDIZE, TO PROVDE SUBSIDIES TOEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORDHOSE PREMIUMS. SO WHAT YOU WLD HAVE WOLD BE MY TAX LLARS AND YURS GOING TOTHESE PRIVATE HEATH INSURERS AND ULTIMATELY TO SHAREHOLDES.

>> Ifill: WENDELL POTTERF THE CENTEROR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY, THANK YOU VERY CH FOR GIVIN USOUR SIDE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: WE'LL HA MORE HEALTCARE CONVERSATIONS NEXT WEEK. FINALLY TONIGHT, AN ENCE LOOK ANOTHER OF JUDY WOODRUFF'S "GENERATION NEXT" ORIES. HER SERIES ABOUT H YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COPING WI THE RECSION WAS A JOINT PROJECT WITH NATIONALUBLIC RADIO. IN THIS REPORT, SHE OKED AT TWO MEN WHTHINK THEY'VE FOUND A FIELD TH WILL KEEP THEM EMPLOYED, ANDNGAGED, FOR A LO TIME TO COME.

>> IT WILL HOLD YOU. IT'S NOT GOING TO FAIL.

>> Repter:3-YEAR-OLD NATHAN WRIGHT HAS HIS EY ON THE S AND THE FUTURE. AFTER REALIZING HE DIDT WANT TO BE PUSHI PERS ALL DAY OR ENTERING THE INDUSTRHIS STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR-- OIL AND GAS-- HE DECIDED TO PURS A DIERENT PATH. HE ENTERED A TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOCUSING ONIND TURBINES AS THEY PRONOUNCE IT LOCALLY. >>E CAN'T ALWAYS DEPEND ON OIL. THERS BEEN BOOMS AND THERE'S BEEN BUSTS WITH THE L IUSTRY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN T NEXT ONE. IS FOR A BOOM YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT BST IS, EITHER. WIND INSTRY LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONSNT. THE WIND NEVER REALLY STOPS BLOWING IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S AAYS WINDY HERE. ♪ OKLAHOMA WHEREHE WIND COMES SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN...♪

>> ReporterIN FACT, THE 1955 MOVIE "OKAY OKAY SUGGES"... OOK O.K. SUGGESTS, THEENTH WINDIEST STE IS VERY APPEALING TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIAL WIND COMPANIES BECAUSE OF THE CENTR POSITION IN T HEART OF THEIND CORRIDOR.

>> I SAW THING ON THE NEWS FRID EVENING. MONDAYMORNING I WENT STIGHT TO DR. KNEELEN'S OFFICE AT THE O.S.U. CAMPUS. I WAS DISCUSSING WITH HIM ABOUT WHAT E CLASSES WERE GOING TO BE, HOW THEY WERE GOINGO GO ANDHAT THE FUTURE WOULD BEOR ME AS A STUDENT THAT INDUSTRY.

>> Woodruf SO IT HAPPEN THAT FAST?

>> YES, MA'AM. JUST KIND OF A UR OF THE MOMT DECISION, BUT THE MORE I OKED INTO IT, E MORE I REALLY WAS HAPPY WITH MY DECISION.

>> Woodruff: JERRY NEILSEN IS THE LEAD PROFESS FOR THIS INAUGUL GROUP OF 60 STUDTS INHE STA'S FIRS WIND TURBINE TECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM WHH STARTED JUST THIS PAST FALL. THE STUDENTS STUDYASIC ELECTCITY, INDUSTRIAL ECTRONICS, AND WIND ENER INDUSTRY FUNDAMENTALS.

>> THEY'RE YOUNG AND ENERGEC, QUITE CAPLE OF BEING OD TECHNIANS, CLIMBG ONE OR T OR THREE TOWERS A DAY. IT'S A LONG WAYS UP THERE. THEY'RE IN SHAPE, THEY' INTELLIGT, EXCITED AUT THIS JOB. A LOT OF OUR STUDENT...IN FACT, MOST OF OUR STUDENTS WANT TO SAY IN OKLAHOMA. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CLS FROM RURAL OKLOMA WHERE UDENTS LIVE OUT IN SALL TOWNS THERE'S NOT A WHOLEOT THAT THEY CAN DO ONCE THEY GET O OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> PASSHESE AROUND.

>> Reporter: JIM STEEL HAS WORKED FOR OKLOMA GAS AND LECTRIC COMPANY FOR 34 YEARS AND NOW IS TEACHING A TRANSMISSIO AND DISTRIBUTION ASS ON WIND ENERGY AT OKLAHO STATE UNIVERSY IN OKLAHOMA CI.

>> THESE KIDS ARE 18 TO 25 YEARS OLD, THEY CAN T INTO THE INDUSTRY, TY CAN LEARN ABOUT IT, THEY C TELL THEIR CHIRP ABOUT IT, THEIR CILDREN CAN FIND JO IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT GOING TO DO NOTHING BUT GROW MORE A WE GON.

>> Woodruff:O NO LIT ON WIND? >NOT IN OKLAHOMA. KEEP YOUR HAT ON.

>> Woodruff: IN FT, OKLAHOMA'S SERETARY OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM, NTALIE SRLEY, YS IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS THE WI TURBINE INDUSTRY-- DOMEIC AND COMMERCIAL-- WILL CREA ABOUT 18,000 JBS AND BRING THE STATE CLOSE TO $2ILLION OF NEW BUSINESS REVENUES. WHILE THE OIL AND NURAL GAS INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES ALMOST $30 BILLION OKLAHOMA'SROSS STE PRODUCT EA YEAR AND ALMOST 270,000 JOBS, THERARE FORECASTS THAT OKLAHOMA COULD ALSO BE THE SECOND-HIGHESTIND ENERGY PROVIDER IN NORTH AMERA AMERICA ASOON AS 2030. CTICS SAY CONNECTING THE WI POWER TO THE GRIDN A LARGER SCALE MROVE DIFFICULT. BUT SHIRLEY SAYS SHEELIEVES IT CAN HAEN.

>> PEOPLE AR EXCIT ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITS THAT EXIST IN GREEN ENERGY. AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY ENVIRONMENT? WHAT CAN I DOFOR MY FAMILY? AND WHAT C IOOR MY STATE? AND WIND ANSWERS ALL THREE O THOSE. >>eporter: WRIGHT WOS AT THE LOCAL WAL-MART AND LIVES A HOME IN EDMUND,KLAHOMA, WITH HIS FAMILY AS HE STUDS. HIS DAD NATHAN, SR.,WAS A ROUGHNECKIL WORKER IN THE GULF OF MEXI STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT OUT OF THE BUSINESS WHEN NATH WAS YOUNG BECAUSE AFTER A BOOM CAME THE UST OF THE '80s WICH SOME SAY WASHE MOST DENING ECONOMIC EVENT IN OKLAHOMA IN THE LAST HALFCENTURY.

>> I NEVER WANTED THEM TO GO INTO TH BUSINESS. I GUESS BEING 18 WHEN I STARTED, JUST WANTED SOMETHING THAT. ERE YOU DIDN'T JUST HA TO GET OUT THERE AND EAK HIS BACK EVERYDAY LIKE SO MANYF THESE UYS DO.

>> WE'VE ENCOURAGED OUR KI DON'T PUT ALL YOUR DUCKS IN ONE TUB. HAVE BACP PLAN. DON'T JU HAVE ONE SKILL, BE FLXIBLE WHERE YORE NOT JST UCK WITH ONE THING T DOIKE WEWERE WITH HIM WITH THE OIL FIELD AND THEN HAVING TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO .

>> LIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT FOUR WIND SITES MAYBE FIVE. THAT WILL DOUBLE IS YEAR AND THEN PROBABLY ITILL TRIPLE B E NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: AT EANS ECTRIC WHICH BUILDS AND SERVICES WIND TURBINES, THE FIRST TIME O.S.U. STUDENTS LEARN MORE AUT WH THEIR CLASSROOM TRAINING HAS PREPARED THEM FOR IN THE FIELD. THE GREEN-COLLAROBS-- TWO AVAILABLFOR EVERY GRADUATE-- PAABOUT $45,000 RHT OUT OF THE TWO-YEAR PGRAM.

>> WHEN ITCOMES TO THE RENEWABLE ENERGY, DON'T THINK WE SULD BE FOLLORS, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US T LEAD.

>> Reporter OKLOMAENS SAY IT DIDN'T HURT THAT THE PRESIDE GAVE WIND ENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLES A BIGOOST ON EARTH DAY. 21-YEAR-OLD CASEY WINSELL IS LSO COUNTING ON A FUTURE IN WIND.

>> IT GIVES YO AN ADRENALNE RUSH, GUESS. ANY JOB YOU HA THAT CREATES EXCITEMENT, YOU DON'T HA TO SAY "MAN, HAVE TO GOTO WORK" YOU SAY "ALL RIGH, I GET TO GO TO WORK, IS FUN." Woodruff: HE CSIDERED SEVERAL FIELDS INCLUDING OIL AND GAS WHERE HIS BROTHER AND CLOSE FRIENDS WORK, BUT EY WARNED HIM AW. >>IT'S NEVER REALLY A SECURE THING. AND I HAVE A FRIE, HE'S A ALLY GOOD DIFFERENT OF MI AT WORKS IN IT. THE DANGERS TALKS ABOUTITH IT, HAVING TO BE AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY A L BEING IN LOUISIANA AND SO. I MEAN, H WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW IYOU WANT TO GET A JOB HERE, I CAN OBABLY GET YOU A JOB. BUT WAS LIKE, I DON'T ADVISE YOU DO IT JUST BECAE OF THE UPS AND DOWNSOF THE OIL BUSINESS AND IT'S NOT REALLY A TABLE LIVING LIFE.

>> Woodruff: WEEL WORKS AT A HORSE AUCTION BUSINE TO EARN MONEY FOR SCHOO AND LIVES AT HOME WH HIS PARENTS ON THEIR FARM IN E SMALL TOWN OF BLNCHARD.

>> I'M SRE THERE'S PROBLEMS. ERE'S PROBLEMS WITH EVERYTHING. NOTHING'S PERFECT. KICK HER OUT THERE. GOES THE SADDLE RN, KICK HER OUT. IT'S A GOOD GIVEN WAY TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WE CAN WORK THUGH THE PROBLEMS. IT CAN'T BE ALLBAD. WE' ALREADY SEEN WHAT THE OIL DOES TO THEECONOMY AND DOES TO THE PEOPLE AND DOUZ THE LAND SO IT'SEFINITELY WORTH RESEARCHING AND TRYING MAKE A GOO GO AT WIND. Woodruff: WIND JBS PRIDE RESEARCH, TRAINING, EDUTION, TO THE BUIING, OPERATING, AND MAIAINING OF WIND FARMS. MIKE BERGY PRESIDENT OF BERGY WINDOWER SAYS WIND MARKS HUGE INDUSTRIAL SHI AND YUNG OPLE CAN RIDE THE WIND WA.

>> THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE JOB ORIENTED THAN MAYBEOME OF THEIR PEER THEY'RE MAYBE LE CONSUMED WITH THEIR TEXT MESGING AND SORT OF... THEY HAVE BROADER PICTURE OF THWORLD AND THEY SEEHEPPORTUNITY, THE SEE THE TREND TOWAR CLN ENERGY. THIS IS THE BEST BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WE'VE EVERSEEN. IT'SNE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS IN AN OTRWISE PRETTY MARGINAL TO BLE LANDSCAPE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR GENERION A LOT. WE HAVE TO WISER WITH OUR DECISIONS THAN HOW WE HANDL THINGS WITH THEECONOMY, WITH ENERGYTHANPREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAV BECAUSE IF WE DON'T CHANGE HOW WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ANDE EP GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD, IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY BERT, IT'S NOTOING TO IMPROVE. IF YOU DON'T MAKE AECISION SOONER OR TER, YOU'LL HAVE A DECISION MADE FOR YOU. I DECIDED TO GO WITH THIS AND I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT ENJOY. >>oodruff: SO MUCH SO THAT WRIGHT W SAYS HE WANTS TO GO BEYOND THE TWYEAR PROGRAM AND PURSUE A FOUREAR ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEGR SO HECAN GO INTWIND TURBINE MANAGEMENT.

>> Lehrer: AGAINTHE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: OFFICIALS IN AFGHANISTAN BEN UNTING VOTES IN THE COUNTRY FIRST PSIDENTIAL ELECTION SINCE 2004; AND THE U.S. TRANSPOATION DEPARTMENTNNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT LL END ITS POPULAR CASH FOR CLUNKERS PROGRAON MONDAY. ONewshour.pbs.org, AN ONLINE- ONLY FEATURE TONIGHT: ON PAUL SOLMAN'S BINESS DESK, 1ONOMIST SIMON JOHNS KICKS OFA SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PROSCTS FOR A RECOVE. ANDGAIN, TO OUR HONOR ROLL OF AMERICAN SERVICE PERSNEL KILLED INHE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CONFLTS. WE ADD TM AS THEIR DEATHS ARE MADE FICIAL AND PHOTOGRAPHS BECOME AVAILABLE. HERE, IN SILEE, ARE EIGHT MORE

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