PBS NewsHour; February 4, 2010 7:00pm-8:00pm EST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Lehrer: GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. REPUBLICANS GAIN A MOST IMPORTANT SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> Brown: AND I'M JEFFREY BROWN. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT: DEMOCRATS LOSE THEIR 60 VOTE MAJORITY AS SCOTT BROWN BECOMES MASSACHUSETTS' JUNIOR SENATOR;

>> Lehrer: THEN, A NEW PROBE INTO BRAKE PROBLEMS RAISES NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS.

>> Brown: RAY SUAREZ REPORTS ON THE MONUMENTAL TASK AHEAD TO REBUILD HAITI'S SHATTERED GOVERNMENT.

>> THE HAITIAN RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS THEY ARE. HE DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY; DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

>> Lehrer: WE'LL DEBRIEF RAY ABOUT HIS REPORTING EXPERIENCE IN HAITI.

>> Brown: PLUS, PAUL SOLMAN FINDS SOME HUMOR IN WHAT'S BEEN A VERY SORE SUBJECT-- THE ECONOMY.

>> KNOCK, KNOCK.

>> WHO'S THERE?

>> ECONOMIST.

>> ECONOMIST WHO?

>> ECONOMIST THE FINANCIAL CRISIS BUT I PROMISE I'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR IS PROVIDED BY:

>> WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS ENERGY. THE ENERGY TO GET THE ECONOMY HUMMING AGAIN. THE ENERGY TO TACKLE CHALLENGES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE. WHAT IS THAT ENERGY CAME FROM AN ENERGY COMPANY? EVERYDAY, CHEVRON INVESTS $62 MILLION IN PEOPLE, IN IDEAS-- SEEKING, TEACHING, BUILDING. FUELING GROWTH AROUND THE WORLD TO MOVE US ALL AHEAD. THIS IS THE POWER OF HUMAN ENERGY. CHEVRON. BANK OF AMERICA PACIFIC LIFE. AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. 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.

>> Lehrer: SCOTT BROWN CAME OFFICIALLY TO WASHINGTON TODAY, AND BROUGHT SOME POTENTIALLY FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE. JUDY WOODRUFF BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> IF THE SENATOR-ELECT WILL NOW PRESENT HIMSELF...

>> Reporter: THE SENATE FORMALLY WELCOMED MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN SCOTT BROWN THIS AFTERNOON. HE WAS SWORN IN BY VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> UPON WHICH YOU'RE ABOUT TO ENTER, SO HELP YOU GOD?

>> I DO.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR.

>> Reporter: BROWN INITIALLY HAD SAID HE DID NOT WANT TO BE SEATED UNTIL NEXT THURSDAY, BUT YESTERDAY HE ASKED TO BE SWORN IN SOONER, TO JOIN IN UPCOMING VOTES. HIS FIRST COULD BE ON CONFIRMING UNION LAWYER CRAIG BECKER TO THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD. REPUBLICANS HAVE HELD UP THE NOMINATION. BROWN HAS ALSO PROMISED TO BE THE 41st VOTE AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID HE WON'T VOTE IN LOCKSTEP WITH REPUBLICANS. CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT BARBARA BOXER SAID TODAY SHE HOPES HE KEEPS THAT PROMISE.

>> SENATOR BROWN, OUR NEW SENATOR, SAID HE WANTED TO GET THINGS DONE, HE WANTED TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE. HE'S GOING TO FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING "YES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER."

>> Reporter: AND DEMOCRAT ROBERT MENENDEZ OF NEW JERSEY WARPED IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR BROWN OR ANY REPUBLICAN TO VOTE NO ON EVERYTHING.

>> I THINK THERE WOULD BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING THAT NO DOESN'T CREATE A JOB, NO DOESN'T CREATE HEALTH CARE, NO DOESN'T MOVE US FORWARD.

>> Reporter: ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, ALABAMA'JEFF SESSIONS ARGUED IT'S DEMOCRATS WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL.

>> THAT WAS THE MESSAGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TOO FAST, YOU'RE HAVING TOO MUCH BIG COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S IMMIGRATION, CAP AND TRADE ON THE ENVIRONMENT OR HEALTH CARE AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT.

>> Woodruff: THE BACK-AND-FORTH HAS PUT A RENEWED FOCUS ON THE FILIBUSTER, WHICH FORCES A 60-VOTE SUPERMAJORITY TO CUT OFF DEBATE. AS OF TODAY, DEMOCRATS ARE ONE SHORT OF THAT TOTAL WITH 57 SENATORS AND TWO INDEPENDENTS WHO CAUCUS WITH THEM TO 41 REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING BROWN. PRESIDENT OBAMA ADDRESSED THE ISSUE IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH LAST WEEK.

>> IF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS GOING TO INSIST THAT 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE ARE REQUIRED TO DO ANY BUSINESS AT ALL IN THIS TOWN, A SUPERMAJORITY, THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN IS NOW YOURS AS WELL. JUST SAYING NO TO EVERYTHING MAY BE GOOD SHORT-TERM POLITICS, BUT IT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.

>> Reporter: BUT THE SENATE'S NUMBER-TWO REPUBLICAN, ARIZONA'S JOH KYL, CHARGED TODAY THE PRESIDENT TOOK A CHEAP SHOT.

>> IF YOU'RE RECALL, HE SAID THAT WE DEMANDED 60 VOTES ON EVERYTHING AND ALWAYS SAID NO. BOTH OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE FALSE. YOU DON'T HOLD OUT A HAND OF COOPERATION TO SOMEBODY BY MAKING TWO FALSE AND HURTFUL CHARGES AGAINST THEM. THAT'S THE WAY WE FELT ABOUT IT.

>> Woodruff: INSTEAD, KYL SAID THE FILIBUSTER IS VITAL TO HOW THE COUNTRY'S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> THE SENATE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOKED UPON AS THE BODY COOL PASSIONS, TO SLOW THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THINK IT OVER. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED EVERY TWO YEARS MORE THE IMMEDIATE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE TO A PARTICULAR ISSUE. AND THE COMBINATION, I THINK, HAS WORKED PRETTY WELL OVER THE CENTURIES.

>> Woodruff: BUT NEW JERSEY'S MENENDEZ SAYS THE USE OF THE FILIBUSTER HAS LED TO TKPWEUD LOCK IN THE SENATE

>> I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS THE SENATE HAS HAD. BUT I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY PUBLIC CAREER, I AM THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THE FILIBUSTER AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IS ACCEPTABLE IN A DEMOCRACY.

>> Woodruff: MANY DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE, WHERE THERE IS NO FILIBUSTER, ALSO WANT THE SENATE TO CHANGE ITS RULES. REPRESENTATIVE BARNEY FRANK CALLS IT A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. HE HELPED PUSH THROUGH A FINANCIAL REGULATORY REFORM BILL LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S BEEN HELD UP IN THE SENATE.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH 60 IS IT BIASES THE SYSTEM AGAINST ANYTHING HAPPENING BECAUSE THESE ARE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AND, AGAIN, IF THE NOTION IS WE WANT TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, THEN LET'S SAY HERE'S THE RULE THAT SLOWS THINGS DOWN. BUT YOU CAN'T USE THE ARGUEMENT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS TAKE MORE TIME FOR A PROCEDURE WHICH SAYS IT CAN'T HAPPEN AT ALL.

>> Woodruff: FOR NOW, IT'S NOT CLEAR THERE'S ANY CHANCE THE SENATE WILL SWITCH TO SIMPLE MAJORITY RULE. SUPPORTERS WOULD NEED 67 VOTES TO FORCE THAT CHANGE. NOW, WE ARE JOINED BY TWO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE SENATE: MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN NORM COLEMAN SERVED SIX YEARS. HE IS NOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK, A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK. AND SOUTH DAKOTA DEMOCRAT TOM DASCHLE WAS BOTH MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER DURING HIS 18 YEARS IN THE SENATE. HE IS NOW SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR FOR A WASHINGTON LAW FIRM. PLUS, LONG-TIME CONGRESS WATCHER NORMAN ORNSTEIN, RESIDENT SCHOLAR AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US. LET'S JUST PICK UP WITH WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BARNEY FRANK WAS TELLING ME WHEN I TALKED TO HIM. HIS VIEW IS THAT THE FILIBUSTER MAY BE... MAYBE HAD BEEN INTENDED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN BUT WHAT IT'S DONE IS JUST STOPPED THINGS FROM HAPPENING ALL TOGETHER. SENATOR DASCHLE, IS HE RIGHT.

>> JUDY, I THINK THE PRESIDENT SAID VERY SUCCINCTLY THE OTHER DAY WHEN HE SAID WE'VE HAD MORE FILIBUSTERS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAN THE LAST TWO DECADES. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S GREATER AND GREATER RELIANCE ON THE FILIBUSTER ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER IT'S ON A NOMINATION OR A PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND THAT'S LED TO A DYSFUNCTIONALTY. OUR INABILITY TO ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES THAT I THINK HAS BECOME VERY SERIOUS.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR COLEMAN, INABILITY TO ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES?

>> IN NOVEMBER, 2003, SENATOR DASCHLE SAID THE FILIBUSTER IS THE ESSENCE OF THE INSTITUTION. THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR DEMOCRACY. WHAT IT REQUIRES NOW IS THE MAJORITY PARTY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND TO TRY TO GET SOME FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE TO WORK WITH THEM. I THINK AMERICA HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT ONE-PARTY GOVERNMENT. MASSACHUSETTS WAS A... KIND OF I THINK A SYMBOL. THAT WAS PART OF THE STATEMENT. AND SO IN THE PAST SENATOR DASCHLE, I THINK, LED TEN FILIBUSTERS AGAINST JUDICIAL APPOINTEES. WE, BY THE WAY, IN THOSE DAYS TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE CONSTITUTION DIDN'T REQUIRE SUPERMAJORITIES IN JUDICIAL APPOINTEES, WE RESPECT IT IN OTHER MATTERS. THE OTHER SIDE CALLED IT A NUCLEAR OPTION. THAT IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THAT, THAT SOMEHOW IT WOULD BE LIKE A NUCLEAR BOMB BEING DROPPED ON THE SENATE. SO I THINK REQUIRING THE MAJORITY PARTY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE IS A GOOD THING. WE DID IT WITH NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. WE DID IT WITH THE MEDICARE PART "D." AND SO I THINK IT SEVEN IT HAD BODY WELL TO HAVE A LITTLE COOLING OFF AND, MORE IMPORTANT, REACH ACROSS THE AISLE IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR DASCHLE IS IT JUST A MATTER OF THE SHOE BEING ON THE OTHER FOOT NOW?

>> I THINK SENATOR COLEMAN MAKES A POINT. I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A GREATER EFFORT AT FINDING WAYS TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE, BUT IT COMES BOTH WAYS. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU REACH ACROSS THE AISLE YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY'S THERE. WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ESPECIALLY IS THAT HE HAS MADE EFFORTS TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. I THINK THAT EFFORT NEEDS TO CONTINUE. ONE POSSIBILITY, JUDY, THAT I HAVE ADVOCATED NOW FOR SOME TIME IS TO HAVE MORE JOINT CAUCUSES. THE CAUCUSES NOW MEET AND THEY'VE... THEY REALLY BECOME PEP RALLIES. I THINK THE MORE YOU COULD FIND THAT COMITY IN A JOINT CAUCUS WITH SOME FREQUENCY I THINK YOU COULD FIND THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> JUDY, BY THE WAY, I AGREE WITH SENATOR DASCHLE ABOUT THAT. WE SIT IN OUR OWN CORNERS, WE SIT IN OUR OWN SIDE, WE EAT LUNCH BY OURSELVES. AND THERE'S GOT TO BE A CHANGE. I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE A THAT HAVING SCOTT BROWN IN THE SENATE MAY BE A... THERE MAY BE A SIGH OF RELIEF FROM FOLKS LIKE MARK PRYER OR TOM CARPER FROM DELAWARE, KENT CONRAD FROM NORTH DAKOTA, FOLKS WHO'VE TRIED TO WORK TOGETHER. AND NOW THEY THINK THEY MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AND WHEN THEY DO THAT THAT'S WHEN GOVERNMENT IS AT ITS BEST. WE'VE LOST THAT COMITY. TOM DASCHLE WAS GOOD AT IT. I WORRY TODAY WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE IT NEEDS A LOT OF REPAIR.

>> Woodruff: NORM ORNSTEIN, WE'RE HEARING THESE TWO FORMER SENATORS TALK ABOUT WAYS THE TWO PARTIES CAN WORK TOGETHER. BUT THE WAY IT'S WORKING RIGHT NOW THE SENATE IS... I MEAN, CRITICS, DEMOCRATIC CRITICS, ARE SAYING BASICALLY THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY IS BEING IGNORED. SO IS THAT AN OVERSTATEMENT?

>> IT'S AN OVERSTATEMENT IN PART. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU USE THE FILIBUSTER FOR ISSUES OF GREAT NATIONAL CONCERN OR MOMENT, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY THE WAY IT'S BEEN USED-- AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE HEALTH CARE, BY THE WAY-- THAN HAVING A HURDLE OF 60 IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING. WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW IS THE ROOTINIZATION OF THE FILIBUSTER FOR ISSUES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A REACH ACROSS THE AISLE. THIS LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A BILL THAT ULTIMATELY PASSED WITH UNANIMOUS VOTE, 97 VOTES. THERE WERE THREE FILIBUSTERS RAISED ON THAT BILL. EACH TIME IT TOOK 30 HOURS OF DEBATE. SO THE FILIBUSTER IS BEING USED NOT SIMPLY TO SLOW THINGS DOWN TO TRY AND REACH A CONSENSUS BUT FOR OBSTRUCTIONIST PURPOSES. AND THAT'S A DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND THE QUESTION NOW IS WITH SCOTT BROWN THERE WILL WE SEE LESS OF THAT AND MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY AND EFFORT TO EXPEDITE BUSINESS IN THE SENATE?

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU THINK, SENATOR DASCHLE? WHAT DO YOU THINK KNEW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE 41 VOTES?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW DAYS ESPECIALLY IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THE PRESIDENT WENT TO THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS THE OTHER DAY, HE HAS DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS TO TELEGRAPH LOOK, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON JOBS, ON TAX POLICY, ON THE BUDGET, ON AN ARRAY OF ISSUES. BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE . IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE A DYSFUNCTIONAL CONGRESS OR A CONGRESS THAT FINDS WAY TO WORK MORE CAREFULLY TOGETHER. AS YOU NOTED IN YOUR PIECE, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE RULES UNLESS YOU GET 67 VOTES AND I GUARANTEE YOU YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND 67 VOTES FOR THESE RULES CHANGES, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR COLEMAN, THE REPUBLICANS I TALKED TO TODAY ON THE HILL DID NOT SUGGEST TO ME THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE COOPERATION WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> I THINK IN PART BECAUSE THERE STILL IS JUST A HIGH MEASURE OF DISTRUST. WHEN THE PRESIDENT CAME BEFORE THE HOUSE CAUCUS, HE TALKED ABOUT WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY BUT IN THE SAME TIME TOOK SHOTS AT THE MINORITY. SO WORDS HAVE TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ACTION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE KNEAD BOTH SIDES TO COME TOGETHER. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK FOLKS ARE EXPECTING US TO DO SOMETHING. I THINK TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY FOR AMERICA. I SAY IT WITH SCOTT BROWN BEING IN THE SENATE, NOT AS A REPUBLICAN... I DON'T SAY THIS AS A REPUBLICAN, BUT THE FACT IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAJORITY PARTY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK. AND SENATOR DASCHLE IS RIGHT, OUR SIDE HAS TO RESPOND. BUT WE HERE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO THAT WHEN ONE SIDE DOESN'T HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY.

>> Woodruff: SOFA F THAT'S THE CASE, NORM, AND YOU YOURSELF WERE SAYING EARLIER GETTING RID OF THE FILIBUSTER IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO.

>> IT IS. IF YOU TRY AND DO IT WITHIN THE RULES IT TAKES 67 VOTES. WHAT SENATOR COLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT HE CALLED THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION, WAS MAKING A UNILATERAL MOVE TO DECLARE THE FILIBUSTER UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THAT'S PARTLY WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED IT THE NUCLEAR OPTION. I THINK SOME DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE TEMPTED TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE NOW AS I THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE BEFORE. RAUF.

>> Woodruff: WHY?

>> BECAUSE IF YOU BLOW UP THE SENATE... THE SENATE OPERATES NOT JUST WITH A RULE 22, WHICH IS THE FILL BUSTER THAT REQUIRES...

>> Woodruff: WHY DO YOU CALL IT BLOWING UP THE SENATE?

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO END UP... THIS IS A BODY THAT OPERATES BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. AND IF YOU GET 40 OF YOUR MEMBERS OR MORE REALLY UPSET, YOU COULD BOLL LOCKS UP THE WORKS COMPLETELY. SO YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE SLOWLY HERE OR AT LEAST HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIND OTH WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER. AND ACTUALLY HAVING THE PRESSURE OFF HARRY REID, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, WHO CAN'T GET 60 OF HIS OWN VOTES TOGETHER MORE THAN ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS AT BEST MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT MAY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON BOTH PARTIES TO FIND VEHICLES TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

>> Woodruff: SO SENATOR DASCHLE, IF THE PRESSURE IS OFF, WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR? WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE WITH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE? A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT WASHINGTON AND THEY SAY "THIS PLACE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL, IT'S NOT WORKING." WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE?

>> WHO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, OF COURSE, THE AGENDA. WE HAVE A HUGE ARRAY OF BIG, BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. REGARDLESS OF YOUR POSITION. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE, THE ECONOMY, THE DEFICIT, A NUMBER OF ISSUES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. THE SECOND QUESTION IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS WHAT THE QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE IN AMERICA TODAY AND WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE SEND NOT ONLY TO OUR COUNTRY BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD? AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A HUGE CHALLENGE IN ENSURING THAT WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN ATTAIN A LEVEL INFORM N QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY .

>> Woodruff: TO GET SOMETHING DONE, HOWEVER, SENATOR COLEMAN, WHAT KIND OF A MAJORITY WOULD A PARTY HAVE TO HAVE? IF 60 VOTES WASN'T ENOUGH, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN?

>> I WAS IN THE SENATE WHERE IT WAS 51-49 AND WE ACTUALLY GOT A FEW THINGS DONE. I THINK THE PRESSURE MAY COME WITH NEXT NOVEMBER. I THINK OUR PARTY IN THE PAST WHEN SENATOR DASCHLE WAS IN THE MINORITY, WE SAID THE MINORITY WAS GOING TO PAY A PRICE IF THEY OBSTRUCTED. I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT. I THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IN THESE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES ARE EXPECTING US TO GET SOME THINGS DONE. SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT NOW THE STRUCTURE WILL GET SET UP THAT THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE. I THINK BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT THEIR BACK AND SAYING IF WE DON'T PRODUCE, THERE WILL BE A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR ANY INCUMBENT REGARDLESS OF PARTY NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> Woodruff: DO YOU THINK THE ELECTIONS TKHAOUF AFFECT, NORM?

>> THE ELECTIONS COULD. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF REPUBLICANS, MANY OF THEM FACING PRIMARY CHALLENGES, POTENTIALLY STRONG CHALLENGES FROM THE RIGHT, PEOPLE LIKE BOB BENNETT OF UTAH, A CONSERVATIVE, WHERE THE PRICE FOR WORKING WITH DEMOCRATS MAY BE GREATER THAN THE PRICE FOR TAKING THE OTHER SIDE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED HERE, JUDY, IS THE CULTURE OF WASHINGTON AND THE CULTURE OF THE SENATE HAS CHANGED.

>> Woodruff: WHAT ABOUT THAT, SENATOR COLEMAN. IT IS THE CASE SOME MEMBERS WILL BE LESS INCLINED TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE, AS NORM ORNSTEIN JUST SAID, THEY PAY THE PRICE.

>> YOU KNOW, I SAY THIS VERY RESPECTFULLY. THERE IS SO MUCH CYNICISM OUT THERE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS MEASURED BY IS SOMEONE GOING TO YELL AT ME OR NOT. A PERSON LIKE BOB BENNETT IN THE END IS GOING TO BE THE SAME GUY TODAY AS HE WAS BEFORE. HE ACTS WITH INTEGRITY. I THINK HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THE BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU WANT TO WIN IN NOVEMBER, I THINK IT WILL BE MEASURED BY WHETHER YOU GET THINGS DONE. OUR SIDE IS WILLING TO WORK, WE TOOK UMBRAGE WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT WE WEREN'T OFFERING IDEAS, WE'VE PUT THE IDEAS ON THE TABLE. THEY ARE GOING TO BE SOME LOCAL POLITICS NOW. THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGING THAT. WE HAVE THAT ALL THE TIME BUT IN THE END I THINK FOLKS ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP DOING THE JOB IS DEPENDENT ON WHETHER FOLKS SEE THEM AS BEING PRODUCTIVE AND MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.

>> Woodruff: SENATOR DASCHLE, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS QUESTION OF THE EFFECT OF THE ELECTION. THE ROLE OF THE ELECTION?

>> I THINK NORM IS EXACTLY RIGHT. MY VIEW IS THAT THERE ARE SHORT TERM POLITICS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE RACES THAT DRIVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO THE EXTREME OF THEIR BASE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE LONGER-TERM POLITICS IS ALWAYS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE. YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THE COMMON GROUND. YOU'VE GOT TO FIND WAYS WITH WHICH TO DEMONSTRATE YOU CAN GOVERN OR THE INCUMBENTS ULTIMATELY PAY A PRICE. I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CASE AS WELL.

>> Woodruff: IN THE MEANTIME, THE FILIBUSTER LIVES, RIGHT NORM ORNSTEIN?

>> THE FILIBUSTER LIVES AND WE CAN'T OPERATE AS A PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM WITH THESE RULES IN PLACE. YOU HAVE TO FIND BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS AND WITHOUT IT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BIG TROUBLE, BUT THEY WILL THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FILIBUSTER AT LEAST UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT CONGRESS.

>> Woodruff: ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO. GENTLEMEN. SENATOR DASCHLE, SENATOR COLEMAN, NORM ORNSTEIN, THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANKS, JUDY.

>> Brown: AND STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR: THE ROAD GETS ROUGHER FOR TOYOTA; HAITI'S GOVERNMENT STRUGGLES TO RISE FROM THE RUBBLE; AND THE LIGHTER SIDE OF A DISMAL SCIENCE.

>> Lehrer: BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN IN OUR NEWSROOM.

>> Sreenivasan: IT WAS A LONG DAY ON WALL STREET. STOCKS PLUNGED AFTER NEW CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ROSE UNEXPECTEDLY. THAT SPARKED FEARS ABOUT THE JANUARY JOBS REPORT DUE OUT TOMORROW. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FELL 268 POINTS TO FINISH AT 10,002, ITS LOWEST CLOSE SINCE NOVEMBER. THE NASDAQ FELL 65 POINTS TO THE NASDAQ FELL 65 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2,125. OIL PRICES JOINED THE FREE FALL. THE COST OF CRUDE IN NEW YORK TRADING DROPPED 5%, ENDING NEAR $73 A BARREL. GLOBAL MARKETS ALSO RETREATED. MOUNTING DEBT IN PORTUGAL, SPAIN AND GREECE WAS BEHIND THE PLUNGE ACROSS EUROPE. GOVERNMENT DEFICITS IN THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE DEFAULTS. THAT, IN TURN, DRAGGED THE EURO TO A SEVEN-MONTH LOW AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR. SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ANNOUNCED PLANS TODAY TO PASS A JOBS BILL NEXT WEEK. THE MEASURE WOULD INCLUDE TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESSES THAT HIRE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS. IT WOULD COST $11 BILLION OVER TEN YEARS. MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID HE'S HOPEFUL THE BILL WILL WIN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> OUR AGENDA IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS OR PARTISANSHIP, WE HAVE A JOBS AGENDA. IT'S ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. OUR MOTIVATIONS ARE TO HELP AMERICANS SLEEP A LITTLE BETTER. OUR MISSION IS NOT TO STOP UNTIL EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS A JOB CAN GET A JOB.

>> Sreenivasan: THERE WERE SIGNS SOME REPUBLICANS MIGHT JOIN IN SUPPORTING THE BILL. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN SAID HE'S WILLING TO TALK, IF DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> THE STIMULUS PACKAGE DID NOT WORK. WE PROPOSED A STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT WOULD HAVE WORKED AND SO I'LL BE GLAD TO EXAMINE IT AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEMOCRATS, BUT THAT MEANS SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE TOGETHER, SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE YET.

>> Sreenivasan: THE SENATE BILL WOULD ALSO EXTEND ABOUT $33 BILLION IN POPULAR TAX BREAKS THAT EXPIRED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. THE HOUSE VOTED TODAY TO RAISE THE FEDERAL DEBT LIMIT TO MORE THAN $14 TRILLION. THE VOTE WAS 217 TO 212. IT INCREASES THE GOVERNMENT'S BORROWING AUTHORITY BY $1.9 TRILLION. THE SENATE NARROWLY APPROVED THE BILL LAST WEEK. THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO SIGN IT. THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS FILED CIVIL FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST BANK OF AMERICA AND ITS FORMER C.E.O., KEN LEWIS. THEY'RE ACCUSED OF FAILING TO DISCLOSE LOSSES AT MERRILL LYNCH BEFORE BUYING THE FAILING BANK IN 2009. BANK OF AMERICA RECEIVED AN EXTRA $20 BILLION FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO OFFSET THE LOSSES. IT HAS SINCE REPAID THE MONEY. FOR THE RECORD, BANK OF AMERICA IS A NEWSHOUR FUNDER. IN AFGHANISTAN, A SUICIDE CAR BOMBER KILLED AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE IN KANDAHAR. THE ATTACK CAME AS THE OVERALL U.S. COMMANDER UPGRADED HIS ASSESSMENT OF THINGS. GENERAL STANLEY McCHRYSTAL SAID: "I BELIEVE THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN IS SERIOUS. I DO NOT SAY NOW THAT I THINK IT IS DETERIORATING." LAST SUMMER, MCCHRYSTAL PAINTED A DARKER PICTURE. TODAY, HE SAID, "I FEEL THE FIELD OF BRAIN RESEARCH FOCUSED TODAY ON WHAT COULD BE BREAKTHROUGH FINDINGS IN BRITAIN AND BELGIUM. BRAIN SCANS FOUND SOME PATIENTS IN PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATES, P.V.S., SHOW SIGNS OF BRAIN ACTIVITY, AFTER ALL. IN SOME CASES, THEY EVEN VISUALIZED ANSWERS TO SIMPLE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM JULIAN RUSH OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS.

>> Reporter: IF YOU ASK HEALTHY PEOPLE TO IMAGINE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR BRAIN BECOME ACTIVE AND LIGHT UP UNDER AN M.R.I. SCAN. IT TURNS OUT THAT FOR A HANDFUL OF THE PER SAYS TENT VEGETATIVE STATE PATIENTS THE SCIENTISTS TESTED, THE SAME WAS TRUE. EVEN THOUGH THEY APPEARED TO BE UNRESPONSIVE. AND THAT OPENED A WAY TO COMMUNICATE. FOR YES THEY WERE ASKED TO IMAGINE THEY WERE PLAYING TENNIS, FOR NOW THAT THEY WERE WALKING TO THE ROOMS IN THEIR HOME. TO THE CAMBRIDGE SCIENTIST WHO DEVELOPED THE TECHNIQUE, THE RESPONSES IMPLY THAT P.V.S. PATIENT HAD SOME DEGREE OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND AWARENESS TRAPPED WITHIN THEIR IMMOBILE BODIES.

>> WE REALLY SHOULD BE TRYING TO SCAN AS MANY OF THESE PATIENTS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS SORT OF STUDY CLEARLY SHOWS THAT SOME PATIENTS, ALBEIT A MINORITY, ARE BEING INAPPROPRIATELY DIAGNOSED. SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING A DIAGNOSIS THAT ACTUALLY DESCRIBES THE SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN. SO EVEN THOUGH BEHAVIORALLY, NEUROLOGICALLY, THEY MIGHT APPEAR TO BE VEGETATIVE IN THE SCANNER, WE CAN TELL THAT THERE'S MORE GOING ON.

>> Reporter: ON THE FACE OF IT, BEING ABLE TO ASK IF THEY'RE FEELING PAIN AND THEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT MIGHT WELL MEAN IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING. BUT CAN YOU, SHOULD YOU, ASK IF THEY WANT TO DIE OR TO CARRY ON LIVING? AND SHOULD THE COURTS NOW ASK FOR THIS TECHNIQUE TO BE TRIED BEFORE DECISIONS ARE TAKEN TO SWITCH OFF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS? BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THIS TECHNIQUE COULD HELP. EVEN IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO ASK IF THEY WANTED TO LIVE OR DIE, HOW SURE CAN YOU BE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO MAKE A TRULY CONSCIOUS DECISION?

>> YOU'VE GOT TO GO A LOT FURTHER IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING PRECISELY WHAT TYPES OF ABILITY THIS PERSON HAS. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER FIVE OR SIX QUESTIONS CORRECTLY, BUT THEY STILL MAY BE VERY CONFUSED OR THEY MAY HAVE QUITE SERIOUS COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT. WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET.

>> Reporter: BUT THE SCIENTISTS INVOLVE BELIEVE THEIR TECHNIQUE AT THE VERY LEAST COULD HELP BETTER DIAGNOSE WHETHER SOMEONE IS TRULY P.V.S. OR NOT .

>> Sreenivasan: THE RESEARCHERS SAID THEY FOUND SIGNS OF AWARENESS ONLY IN PATIENTS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND NOT IN BRAINS DEPRIVED OF OXYGEN. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAIN STORIES. I'LL BE BACK AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM WITH A PREVIEW OF WHAT YOU'LL FIND TONIGHT ON THE NEWSHOUR'S WEBSITE. BUT FOR NOW, BACK TO JEFF.

>> Brown: AND WE TURN TO THE EXPANDING PROBLEMS FOR TOYOTA, WHICH, FOR THE RECORD, IS A NEWSHOUR UNDERWRITER. THE LATEST BAD NEWS FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY INVOLVES ITS POPULAR GAS/ELECTRIC HYBRID PRIUS. BREAK PROBLEMS ON THE REDESIGNED 2010 MODEL ARE NOW THE SUBJECT OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IN THE U.S. THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT'S RECEIVED 124 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CARS LOSING BRAKE POWER ON BUMPY OR UNEVEN ROADS AND FOUR REPORTS OF CRASHES. IN TOKYO TODAY, TOYOTA SAID IT HAD FIXED THE BRAKES IN PRIUSES SOLD SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR BY REPROGRAMMING SOFTWARE. BUT IT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY GONE PUBLIC WITH THE PROBLEM, AND THE 2010 MODEL HAS BEEN ON THE MARKET SINCE MAY OF LAST YEAR. THE COMPANY SAID IT'S STILL SORTING OUT A FURTHER RESPONSE.

>> (translated): WE ARE LOOKING INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE AND DECIDING HOW TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMERS.

>> Reporter: ONE JAPANESE NEWSPAPER REPORTED THERE ARE PLANS TO RECALL 270,000 PRIUSES IN THE U.S. AND JAPAN, BUT THE COMPANY REFUSED COMMENT ON THAT REPORT. JAPAN'S TRANSPORT MINISTER, HOWEVER, SAID THE OPTION IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.

>> (translated): WE ARE DOING OUR OWN INVESTIGATION. TOYOTA IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THE MATTER AND, BASED ON THOSE INQUIRIES, WE WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO DO A RECALL.

>> Brown: THIS LATEST TURN CAME AFTER TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION VEHICLES WORLDWIDE IN RECENT WEEKS OVER STICKING GAS PEDALS AND HALTED U.S. SALES OF EIGHT MODELS. TODAY THE "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED THAT FEDERAL REGULATORS HAD COMPLAINTS OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTAS AS EARLY AS 2007 BUT THEY'D CONCLUDED ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED.

>> TAKE THE APPROPRIATE REINFORCEMENT BAR...

>> Brown: TOYOTA HAS SAID IT'S IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS NOW INVESTIGATING WHETHER ANOTHER CAUSE-- ELECTRONIC THROTTLES-- MAY BE INVOLVED. IN THE MEANTIME, TOYOTA SAID TODAY RECALLS AND LOST SALES WILL COST IT $2 BILLION BY THE END OF MARCH AND COMPANY STOCK CONTINUED FALLING. IT'S DOWN 20% IN NEW YORK TRADING SINCE THE RECALLS WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED IN LATE JANUARY .

>> Brown: SO WHERE DO THINGS STAND NOW? WE'RE JOINED BY: REBECCA LINDLAND, WHO FOLLOWS THE AUTO INDUSTRY FOR I.H.S. GLOBAL INSIGHT, AN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FIRM. AND PAUL EISENSTEIN, PUBLISHER OF thedetroitbureau.com, AN ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE NEWS SERVICE. PAUL SIZEN STEIN, STARTING WITH YOU, HOW MUCH MORE DOES THIS LATEST NEWS ON THE PRIUS COMPLICATE THINGS FOR TOYOTA? WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?

>> THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SALES, IT SHOULDN'T BE AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT. THINK ABOUT LAST QUARTER WHEN TOYOTA SPENT A RECORD ONE BILLION DOLLARS IF-TO-PROMOTE ITSELF TO TRY TO OVERCOME THE IMPACT OF THE EARLIER RECALL. THE PRIUS WAS THE HEART OF THAT CAMPAIGN. IT IS THE HALO CAR THAT PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO AND NOW, HAVING THE SENSE THAT THIS CAR NOT ONLY HAS A PROBLEM BUT THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN HIDDEN, THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN COVERED UP, IS GOING TO HURT THE COMPANY TREMENDOUSLY

>> Brown: REBECCA LINDLAND, HOW MUCH IS THAT SENSE, THAT LACK OF CLARITY ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED, WHAT THE COMPANY KNEW. HOW MUCH IS THAT HURTING THEM AT THIS POINT?

>> IT DEPENDS, JEFF, ON WHETHER YOU'RE A TOYOTA LOYALIST OR NOT. THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN STANDING WITH THOSE COMPANY FOR DECADES ARE REALLY KIND OF CONTINUING TO PROVIDE IT WITH THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. HOWEVER, THAT GROUP IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER EVERYDAY. SO THESE... YOU KNOW, DAY AFTER DAY THERE'S SOME KIND OF ALMOST SCANDAL ABOUT THE COMPANY. IT'S REALLY HURTING THEIR IMAGE RIGHT NOW.

>> Brown: REBECCA, STAYING WITH YOU, HOW DO YOU SEE THE COMPANY RESPONDING SO FAR? HOW ARE THEY DOING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE CURVE. THIS IS THE COMPANY THAT IS NOT USED TO HAVING TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF P.R. DISASTER. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S TURNED INTO. SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE STILL SORT OF PLAYING CATCH-UP, AND, OF COURSE, THEY'RE WAKING UP TO EVERYDAY SOME NEW CONFUSION, SOME NEW SCANDAL BREAKING. AND SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE REALLY... THEY'RE YOU WILL UP A NIGHT TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THESE PROBLEMS.

>> Brown: PAUL EISENSTEIN, SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A HARSHER VIEW OF HOW THEY'VE RESPOND SOD FAR.

>> I THINK THEY'VE RESPONDED GENERALLY POORLY. THE MOVE TO CLOSE PLANTS, FIVE PLANTS, AND TO HALT SALES OF EIGHT MODELS WAS A GOOD MOVE. BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING I HAVE SEEN FROM TOYOTA THAT HAS WORKED. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED A PROBLEM OR A FIX-- AS THEY DID WITH THE RECALL, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OCTOBER-- THEY HAVE SAID "THAT'S IT, EVERYTHING'S DONE." THEN THEY ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RECALL IN JANUARY AND THEY SAID "NOPE, THAT'S IT, EVERYTHING'S DONE." NOW IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THERE ARE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS AFTER ALL. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS OR AT LEAST PROBLEMS BEING STUDIED. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ABOUT 300,000 COROLLAS AND MATRIX MODEL WHICH IS MAY BE RECALLED BECAUSE THEY HAVE CLEARLY GOT SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THEIR ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT COULD CAUSE THESE VEHICLES TO STALL EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA IS STILL GOING TO BE DEALING WITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THE POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS AND THE FACT AS WE JUST HEARD WE'RE SEEING THE LOYALISTS DROP AWAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL TAKE THEM QUITE SOME TIME TO RECOVER. BUT THEY WILL PROBABLY RECOVER.

>> Brown: REBECCA LINDLAND, BROADEN THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE US, BECAUSE THIS GOES WELL BEYOND TOYOTA, I WOULD IMAGINE. DEALERS, SUPPLIERS, WHO'S AFFECTED BY THIS?

>> WELL, EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS IMPACTED BY THIS. THEIR DEALERS, CERTAINLY, THEIR ADVERTISING, THEIR MARKETING. IT DOES HAVE A RIPPLE AFFECT. BUT IT ALSO HAS A BROADER IMPACT ON THE IMAGE OF HYBRIDS IN GENERAL. FORD JUST RELEASED SOMETHING, AT JUST ABOUT 6:00 SAYING THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY REDOING THE SOFTWARE ON THEIR FORD FUSION HYBRID AND MERCURY MILAN HYBRID SO THAT CONSUMERS FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE SEEING IT IMPACTING THE ENTIRE HYBRID MARKET ALREADY. AND SO IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT.

>> Brown: YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW THAT MYSELF, PAUL EISENSTEIN, AND I WAS WONDERING, DOES IT ALSO RAISE THIS QUESTION... WE ALL KNOW HOW COMPLICATED CARS ARE NOW. THEY'RE FAR MORE COMPLICATED, COMPUTERIZED, THAN IN THE PAST. DOES THIS SORT OF RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE SO COMPLICATED THAT WE MIGHT FACE MORE PROBLEMS?

>> VERY DEFINITELY. I WAS TALKING WITH SOME PEOPLE IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY THE OTHER DAY AND THEIR ESTIMATE IS THAT BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS COMING DECADE WE WILL SEE ABOUT 40% TO 60% OF THE VALUE OF A CAR-- IN OTHER WORDS THE AVERAGE VEHICLE WILL BE UP TO ABOUT, SAY, $30,000 BY THEN, ANYWHERE FROM $12,000 TO AS MUCH AS $18,000 OF THAT WILL GO INTO ITS ELECTRONIC CONTENT. EVERYTHING FROM THE ENGINE CONTROLLERS AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLLERS TO THE SAFETY SYSTEMS, TOO, AND, OF COURSE, THE INFO THAINMENT SYSTEMS WHICH RIGHT NOW THERE'S SO MUCH CONTROVERSY ABOUT THAT RIGHT THERE. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AND NOT DO BEHIND THE WEAL?

>> Brown: AND THE OTHER QUESTION THAT'S BEEN COMING OUT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IS THE REGULATORS AND SAFETY REGULATION SYSTEM. I ASSUME... PEOPLE MUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME SAFETY MECHANISM OUT THERE. IS THE SYSTEM WORKING?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION. AS WE HEARD JUST BEFORE THIS COMMENTARY, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNEW AS FAR BACK AS, SAY, 2007. I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD THAT SOME OF THESE REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TOYOTA MODELS MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTED BACK IN 2005. SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING? HOW DO THEY KEEP TRACK OF IT? ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THIS... SOME OTHESE PROBLEMS IS THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TRACK AND EVEN HARDER TO REPRODUCE. TOYOTA MENTIONED THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT'S CAUSED BY CON SENSATION WHICH CAN TAKE VARIOUS PARTS THAT NORMALLY SLIP AND SLIDE VERY EASILY AND SUDDENLY STICK LIKE WATER STUCK BETWEEN TWO GLASSES. BUT AS SOON AS IT DRIES OFF, IT'S BACK TO NORMAL. ELECTRONICS BECOME EVEN HARDER TO TRACK DOWN AND FOR REGULATORS, THEY CAN GET A REPORT, BUT THEY CAN'T NECESSARILY REPRODUCE IT. PWRUP.

>> Brown: WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT, REBECCA LINDLAND, ABOUT THE REGULATION HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING SIMILAR STORIES THAT, IN FACT, DATE BACK EVEN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN THAT. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS A TOYOTA COROLLA THAT HE BOUGHT IN 2003. SO THERE'S... THERE DEFINITELY IS UNDERLYING ISSUES HERE. AND THAT'S KIND OF THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IN THIS SITUATION YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT A COMPANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS OR DIDN'T RESPOND TO THESE PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T NOTICE THE PATTERNS SOON ENOUGH IN THE COMPLAINTS. CERTAINLY, AS PAUL SAID, A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO RECREATE. AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE EXACT HUMIDITY AND THAT LEVEL OF CONDENSATION AND OTHERWISE YOU DON'T NOTICE IT OR YOU CAN'T RECREATE IT. SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEM AND, AGAIN, TOYOTA'S JUST NOT THAT EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

>> Brown: AND, PAUL, JUST IN OUR LAST MINUTE, TO COME BACK TO TOYOTA ITSELF, I THINK YOU REFERRED EARLIER TO THE IDEA THAT IT CAN SURVIVE. I MEAN, IS THAT... IS THE COMPANY'S SURVIVAL AT STAKE HERE? HOW SERIOUS IS IT? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO TO ENSURING ITS VIABILITY?

>> IT WOULD TAKE A LOT TO KILL THE COMPANY. RECALL A DECADE AGO WE HAD THE FIRESTONE/BRIGESTONE... THE FIRESTONE FORD EXPLORER PROBLEM. A DECADE LATER FIRESTONE IS NOW REPORTING RECORD SALES AND FORD, OF COURSE, HAS NOW SEEN AS THE HEALTHIEST OF THE DETROIT MAKERS. BUT HERE'S THE INTERESTING QUESTION. WILL OTHER MANUFACTURERS LIKE DETROIT'S BIG THREE-- PARTICULARLY G.M. AND FORD AND SOME OF THE MAKERS, HONDA AND HYUNDAI-- BE ABLE TO PICK UP, REALLY GAIN, NOW THAT THEY'RE POSTING THE SAME SORT OF QUALITY RELIABILITY AND ENTERING THE GREEN SPACE TAKING TOYOTA ON DIRECTLY. THEY COULD BE THE REAL WINNERS.

>> Brown: PAUL SIZEN STEIN AND REBECCA LINDLAND, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, JEFF.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: AND TO HAITI, WHERE TEN AMERICAN MISSIONARIES WERE CHARGED WITH CHILD KIDNAPPING TODAY. THEY WERE ARRESTED LAST WEEK AS THEY TRIED TO CROSS INTO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WITH 33 CHILDREN. EXACTLY HOW THE PROSECUTION WILL PROCEED ISN'T CLEAR. BUT ONE THING IS-- HAITI'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND ITS GOVERNMENT, ARE STILL IN RUINS. THAT'S THE FOCUS OF RAY SUAREZ'S REPORT TONIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE COLLAPSED CUPOLA OF HAITI'S PRESIDENTIAL PALACE STANDS AS A SYMBOL OF THE MAGNITUDE OF DAMAGE WROUGHT ON THIS COUNTRY AND ITS GOVERNMENT.

>> COME ON IN.

>> Suarez: BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE, HAITI'S TOURISM MINISTER, PATRICK DELATOUR, SPENT HIS DAYS WORRYING ABOUT BRINGING CRUISE SHIPS AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO HIS ISLAND NATION. BUT, LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHER HAITIANS, JANUARY 12 CHANGED HIS LIFE, TOO.

>> THE EARTHQUAKE GOT ME FIVE MINUTES FROM MY HOME. AS I'M PULLING INTO MY YARD, I SAW MY HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED . AND I ASKED "WHERE ARE MY GRAND KIDS?" THEN THEY WERE CULLING THEM OUT OF THE TROUBLE. WHERE'S MY MOTHER-IN-LAW? I HAD TO GET INTO THE RUBBLE TO GET HER OUT. ORGANIZE FOR THEM TO BE SAFE AND SEND TO HOSPITALS. THEN I MOVE UP TO THE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE TO START TALKING ABOUT REBUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTION AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO. AND THAT'S WHEN HE ANNOUNCED TO ME THAT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE WAS DESTROYED AND MY PARENTS WERE DEAD .

>> Reporter: WITH LITTLE TIME TO MOURN, DELATOUR, AN ARCHITECT BY TRAINING, IS NOW CHARGED WITH PLANNING RECONSTRUCTION OF PORT-AU-PRINCE AND OTHER AREAS LEVELED BY THE QUAKE.

>> ALL THE ACTIVITIES MUST HAVE ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

>> Reporter: AMONG THE STRUCTURES REDUCED TO RUBBLE, 13 GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES. THIS BUILDING USED TO HOUSE THE MINISTRIES OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC WORKS. JUST DOWN THE STREET, WORKERS SIFT THROUGH DOCUMENTS STICKING OUT OF THE RUINS OF THE TAX AGENCY WHICH ALSO ISSUED NATIONAL I.D. CARDS, AUTO REGISTRATION, BUSINESS LICENSES. IT'S ALL GONE.

>> ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT FACES IS THAT EVERY SINGLE BUILDING OF THE MINISTRIES WERE DESTROYED. SO WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON TEMPORARY BUILDINGS. AND I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE RIGHT NOW NEGOTIATING WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, WITH NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FRIENDLY COUNTRIES TO HAVE THOSE TENTS SO THAT I CAN REBUILD GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.

>> Suarez: ALREADY SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE SET UP SHOP UNDER TENTS. THE NATIONAL EQUIPMENT OFFICE, WHICH MANAGES ALL EARTH-MOVING VEHICLES, HAS BEEN IN FULL GEAR SINCE THE DAY AFTER THE QUAKE. FIRST REMOVING CORPSES FROM THE STREETS AND NOW HAULING AWAY DEBRIS . EVERYDAY HUNDREDS PACK THE SMALL FLIGHT OF STAIRS LEADING TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION. THEY WANT PASSPORTS OR TO REPLACE DOCUMENTS LOST IN THE EARTHQUAKE. NOW AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, WEB PAUL HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET TO THE FRONT OF THIS CROWD FOR DAYS WHEN WE SPOKE WITH HIM.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SUNDAY, I'VE BEEN SLEEPING IN THE STREETS. JUST TIRED. I'M TIRED, I'M TIRED, I'M TIRED.

>> Reporter: HE CAME FROM HIS HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA TO RETRIEVE HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD CAUGHT THER WHO HAD BEEN LIVING WITH HER MOTHER IN PORT-AU-PRINCE. WHEN THEIR HOUSE FELL IN THE QUAKE, EVERYONE INSIDE DIED EXCEPT HIS DAUGHTER.

>> I CAN'T GO BACK HOME IF I WANT TO BECAUSE I'VE GOT A U.S. PASSPORT BUT I CANNOT LEAVE HER OVER HERE WITH TWO BROKEN LEGS, NO FAMILY MEMBERS .

>> Reporter: THE QUAKE DESTROYED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, GOVERNMENT RECORDS, AND MUCH MORE. THERE'S STILL NO OFFICIAL COUNT OF HOW MANY CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLICE WERE KILLED. OTHER GOVERNMENT WORKERS EITHER FLED THE CAPITAL OR LIVE ON THE STREETS AMONG THE ONE MILLION LEFT HOMELESS BY THE QUAKE. THE TASK OF REBUILDING HAITI'S BUREAUCRACY IS MONUMENTAL . KEN MERTEN IS THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO HAITI.

>> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS IS EARTHQUAKE STRUCK AT THE END OF A WORK DAY. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST. BUT THE COLONEL OF THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL THERE AND CORRECTLY THEY FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST SAY IN HOW THEIR COUNTRY, A, RECOVERS AND, B, REBUILDS. THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS TO HELP THEM REASSUME THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS ELECTED LEADERS AND TO TAKE CHARGE.

>> Suarez: THE AMBASSADOR TOLD US THE HAITIAN GOVERNMENT WAS IN CHARGE AND FUNCTIONING IN THE HOURS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE. THE FIRST THING THE UNITED STATES WAS ASKED TO DO WAS GET THE AIRPORT BACK UP AND RUNNING.

>> I FOUND THE HAITIANS VERY BUSINESS LIKE IN THEIR APPROACH TO THEIR REQUESTS WITH US. THEY WERE CLEAR IN WHAT THEY WANTED AND THERE WAS NO... CERTAIN THICKS THAT WE NEEDED IN RETURN, WE NEED TO SIGN AGREEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER WHERE OUR AUTHORITY IS LIMITED AT THE AIRPORT, NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THERE WAS NO DICKERING OVER IT, IT WAS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, DONE.

>> Reporter: NOW MORE THAN EVER, HAITI NEEDS A FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT TO COORDINATE THE FLOW OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND TO ENSURING A REBUILDING EFFORT WHICH HAS BEEN PRICED AT $10 BILLION. HAITI HR-Z A HISTORY OF CORRUPTION WHICH PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL BEGAN TO TACKLE BEFORE THE QUAKE. EVEN HE ADMITS IT'S STILL A POTENTIAL IMPEDIMENT TO RECONSTRUCTION .

>> (translated): WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE INSTABILITY CIRCLE. IF YOU PUT WATT INTERA BUCKET WITH HOLES, NOTHING WILL BE IN IT AND THOSE HOLES ARE THE INSTABILITY. YOU CAN PUT AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU WANT INTO HAITI, BUT THE HAITI DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY MANAGE THAT MONEY, THEN IT WILL GET LOST .

>> Suarez: SINCE THE DAY AFTER THE QUAKE, PREVAL HASN'T BEEN SEEN MUCH IN PUBLIC. HE AND HIS MINISTERS ARE RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT FROM A SHABBY POLICE STATION DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE AIRPORT. THERE'S LITTLE HISTORY OF TRUST BETWEEN HAITIANS AND THEIR LEADERS. NOW FOR ONCE DELATOUR NOTES THE LEADERS ARE SHARING THEIR PEOPLE'S SUFFERING.

>> AND THE HAITIAN RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS THEY ARE. HE DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LEAD. I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY. THE MAJORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT DON'T HAVE EITHER HOUSE OR MINISTRY. AND THEY ARE TOTALLY AWARE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST. OUR BEST MIGHT NOT BE THE SOLUTION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

>> Suarez: THAT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH FOR AN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED HAITIAN PEOPLE. THEY'VE BEGUN TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINTS. PREVAL'S TERM IS SET TO EXPIRE NEXT FEBRUARY AND HE INSISTS THE COUNTRY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ELECTION TO CHOOSE HIS SUCCESSOR, BUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED BY THE QUAKE, MOST VOTER REGISTRATIONS WERE DESTROYED, MAKING IT EVEN MORE CHALLENGING TO PULL OFF A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION ONE YEAR FROM NOW .

>> Lehrer: AND RAY SUAREZ IS WITH ME NOW. WELCOME HOME, RAY.

>> Suarez: THANKS, JIM.

>> Lehrer: TRAFFIC REPORTING, THAT PIECE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF YOUR GREAT REPORTING. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. DID YOU LEAVE THERE WITH ANY SENSE OF OPTIMISM THAT THIS COUNTRY CAN, IN FACT, BE PUT TOGETHER AGAIN?

>> Suarez: WELL, I HAVE TO SAY I FELT WORSE ABOUT THE PROSPECTS SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REPORTING TRIP THAN I DID IN THE END. SO THAT'S POSITIVE MOVEMENT, RIGHT?

>> Lehrer: IT IS POSITIVE.

>> Suarez: BECAUSE OF THE ENORMITY OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH IS SO STAGGERING, SO ALL ENCOMPASSING THAT THE IDEA THAT IN TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, THEY COULD ACTUALLY LIFT THE COUNTRY BACK UP IS... IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM PLAUSIBLE. YET THE TREMENDOUS STRENGTH, FORBEARANCE, PATIENCE, AND ABILITY TO WITHSTAND SUFFERING OF THESE PEOPLE JUST BOWLS YOU OVER. YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE IT HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD.

>> Lehrer: WAS THAT ONE OF THE MOST SUSTAINING MEMORIES THAT YOU CAME AWAY FROM THIS TRAGEDY WITH?

>> Suarez: A GOOD THREE-HOUR DRIVE FROM PORT-AU-PRINCE I SAT WITH AN AMPUTEE IN A HOSPITAL AS HE DESCRIBED TO ME BEING LOADED ON THE BACK OF A FLAT BED TRUCK AND BEING DRIVEN OVER GRAVEL, RURAL ROADS FOR ALL THOSE HOURS, HIS LEGS BASHED UP, HIS ARMS BASHED UP, BOUNCING AROUND IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK. IT WAS AS IF HE WAS DESCRIBING FOR ME A WALK TO THE STORE. THE HE LIVED THROUGH IT, HE COULD ALREADY SEE PAST IT, AND WAS THANKING GOD THAT HE WAS ALIVE. I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT GUY.

>> Lehrer: WHAT ABOUT SOME IMAGES THAT YOU COME BACK WITH WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW AND YOU THINK BACK ON THIS, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> >> Suarez: WELL, ON THE GROUNDS OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL, THERE WERE TENTS SET UP AS WARDS FOR JUVENILE INTENSIVE CARE. THERE WERE YOUNG.

>> Lehrer: JUVENILE INTENSIVE CARE?

>> Suarez: JUVENILE INTENSIVE CARE. THERE WERE YOUNG AMP TEASE IN THESE TENTS. IT HAD TO BE BETWEEN 95 AND A HUNDRED DEGREES IN THE EARLY EVENING AND I TODAY THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR "WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF TENTS AND INTO BUILDINGS?" HE SAID "THERE'S ROOM FOR THEM IN BUILDINGS TODAY, WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE AFTERSHOCKS HAVE SCARED THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SO MUCH THAT THEY'VE ASKED TO STAY OUT HERE ." IT'S A REMARKABLE THING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OFF THAT DIME AT SOME POINT. THE INSPECTORS HAVE BEEN OVER THOSE BUILDINGS, HAVE FOUND THEM WORTHY AND ABLE TO WITHSTAND FURTHER TREMOR S. NORMAL HAS TO START AT SOME POINT, TOO.

>> Lehrer: JUST IN YOUR TERMS, YOUR PERSONAL TERMS, WHAT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE YOU HAD?

>> Suarez: IT WAS WALKING THROUGH THE TENT SETTLEMENTS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD DONE A LOT FOR THEMSELVES BUT HAD SORT OF ALREADY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET VERY MUCH HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THESE PEOPLE WERE IN REALLY DESPERATE STRAITS. THEY HAD GOTTEN WATER BUT NO FOOD. THEY HAD TO FORAGE OUTSIDE OF THE CAMPS OUT IN THE REST OF THE CITY. HERE THEY WERE WITH VERY LITTLE SECURITY IN A SITUATION WHERE, IF THINGS STARTED TO GO BADLY, THE STRONG WOULD START TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEAK. IT HADN'T REALLY HAPPENED SO BADLY YET AT THAT POINT, BUT I... KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE UP AGAINST AND KNOWING THE SHEER VOLUME OF WORK THAT HAD TO BE DONE, I CAN'T GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF MY MIND, BECAUSE THERE'S A VERY, VERY BAD ROAD AHEAD FOR THEM. EVEN IF A LOT OF THINGS WORK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> Lehrer: WHAT DO THEY LOOK FORWARD TO?

>> Suarez: WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE WEDDING SEASON WHERE... THE WETTING SEASON WHERE IN THE SUBTROPIC THERE IS WILL BE A FEW HOURS OF RAIN EVERY AFTERNOON. IF YOU'VE GONE ON AN OFF SEASON TRIP TO MIAMI OR ORLANDO YOU MAY BE A FAMILIAR WITH THAT. IT'S SUNNY, THEN TORRENTIAL RAINS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN IT KHRAOEZ UP. BUT IN THOSE CAMPS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, IN HOMES MADE OUT OF BED SHEETS AND TARPS, ANYTHING THEY CAN FIND IN STORES, THERE'S NO SANITATION FACILITIES, THERE'S NO RUNNING WATER. THE MEDICAL PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH HAVE A REAL FEAR OF SERIOUS DISEASE STARTING TO MOVE THROUGH THOSE CAMPS IF PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE IN THEM VERY MUCH LONGER.

>> Lehrer: WELL, AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU DID AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MEMORIES

>> Suarez: IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO DO IT, JIM.

>> Lehrer: THANK YOU.

>> Brown: FINALLY TONIGHT, HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT THE ECONOMIST WHO WALKED INTO A BAR? WELL, OUR ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT, PAUL SOLMAN, HAS. AND IT'S ALL PART OF HIS SERIES, "MAKING SENSE OF FINANCIAL NEWS".

>> YOU MIGHT BE AN ECONOMIST IF YOU THINK SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND IS A GOOD ANSWER TO QUESTIONS LIKE "WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?"

>> Reporter: FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS, ECONOMICS HAS BEEN DERIDED AS THE DISMAL SCIENCE . YORAM BAUMAN WANTS TO CHANGE THE IMAGE.

>> YOU MIGHT BE AN ECONOMIST IF YOU ADAMANTLY REFUSE TO SELL YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY PLIGHT BE WORTH MORE LATER.

>> Reporter: BUT A MONOIS PLAYING A CONVENTIONAL VENUE, THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL ECONOMICS CONVENTION IN ATLANTA. THE MEETING IS GENERALLY BETTER KNOWN FOR MONOTONE THAN MONOLOGUE BUT FEATURE THIS YEAR A SESSION DEVOTED SOLELY TO THAT SEEMING OXYMORON ECONOMICS HUMOR. ♪ HIS NAME WAS FRIEDRICH HAYEK... ♪

>> Reporter: HEAD LIKES BY MERLE HAZARD . ♪ W-RPBD WITH GOVERNMENT SIZE...

>> Reporter: THIS WAS A TAKE OFF ON THE BOOK "ROAD TO SERFDOM ." ♪ THAT'S THE ROAD TO SERFDOM, FRIEDRICH HAYEK SIZE.

>> THE WORLD OF ECONOMICS IS SUFFERING NO SHORTAGE OF WORDS THAT CAN BE MADE TO SOUND DIRTY.

>> Reporter: NEXT UP, HARVARD'S JODI BEGGS. SHE'S BEEN STRAINING TO MAKE HER MARK AS AN ECONOMIC TEACHER.

>> I REMEMBERED A TRIED-AND-TRUE BUSINESS PRINCIPLE. THAT PRINCIPLE BEING "SEX SELLS." AND ECONOMISTS DO IT WITH MODELS WAS BORN. (LAUGHTER).

>> Reporter: SPEAKING OF SMUT, EMORY PROFESSOR HUGO MIALON GAVE ANING ACTUAL ACADEMIC PAPER THAT MIGHT MAKE EVEN NONECONOMISTS BLUSH.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT BUT I'M GOING TO PRESENT A PAPER ON THE ECONOMICS OF FAKING ECSTASY. THIS LINE OF INQUIRY WAS SUGGESTED TO ME BY NONE OTHER THAN MY LOVELY WIFE AND COLLEAGUE SEE MIALON WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT. HI, SWEETIE. (LAUGHTER).

>> Reporter: DON'T WORRY, WE'LL SPARE YOU THE INTIMATE DETAILS AND CUT RIGHT TO THE PROFESSOR'S CONCLUSIONS.

>> THE RATIONAL MODEL PERFORMS QUITE WELL, EVEN IN THE BEDROOM. AND, OF COURSE, FOR FUTURE IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO TEST THE PREDICTIONS OF THE RATIONAL MODEL EXPERIMENTALLY. (LAUGHTER).

>> Reporter: THE PRESENTERS TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE COMIC BOOK, MAYBE BECAUSE WHILE SMARTS AND SENSE OF HUMOR ARE HIGHLY CORRELATED, COMEDY DOESN'T COME EASILY.

>> I DON'T TELL NORMALLY ECONOMICS JOKES.

>> Reporter: TO EVEN THE LEAST DISMAL SCIENTISTS WE KNOW.

>> I DON'T EVEN NORMALLY TELL JOKES.

>> Reporter: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ECONOMICS JOKE?

>> THE FASTEST WAY FOR A BILLIONAIRE TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE IS TO INVEST IN AIRLINE STOCKS.

>> Reporter: THAT'S A JOKE? SO WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ECONOMICS JOKE?

>> OH, GOOD GOD. IT'S... YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALL THAT FUNNY A SUBJECT, TO TELL YOU.

>> AN ECONOMIST, A SOCIOLOGIST AND A PSYCHOLOGIST ARE GOLFING TOGETHER AND THEY ARE GOLFING BEHIND A GUY WHO IS BLIND AND...

>> Reporter: STANFORD'S CAROLYN HOXBY.

>> AND THE PSYCHOLOGIST SAID "YOU KNOW, I REALLY AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MUST BE GOING THROUGH THIS MAN'S MIND." AND THE SOCIOLOGIST SAYS "OH, BUT YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THE INTERESTING SOCIAL INTERACTION THAT HE'S HAVING WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON THE GOLF COURSE. "AND THE ECONOMIST SAYS "THIS IS SO INEFFICIENT, HE SHOULD BE PLAYING AT NIGHT." (LAUGHS)

>> Reporter: SO ECONOMICS ISN'T EXACTLY A SIDE-SPLITTING DISCIPLINE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHO ARE WE TO MOCK SOBRIETY. AS YORAM BAUMAN NOTED, RECOUNTING HIS HIGHLIGHTS OF 2009, WHICH INCLUDED AN INTERVIEW WITH US.

>> I GOT TO BE ON THE PBS NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER. NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD OF STAND-UP COMEDY, BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS, IN THE WORLD OF STANDUP COMEDY, PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT GET ANY BIGGER... . (LAUGHTER) ... THAN THE PBS NEWSHOUR. (LAUGHTER) WITH JIM LEHRER. (APPLAUSE) I HAVE BEEN GETTING PHONE CALLS NONSTOP ON MY ROTARY DIAL TELEPHONE.

>> Reporter: MOSTLY ECONOMISTS WERE THE BUTT OF THE JOKES.

>> I HAVE A BRITISH KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE. I HAVE TO PUT ON A TERRIBLE BRITISH ACCENT FOR THIS. KNOCK KNOCK.

>> WHO'S THERE?

>> ECONOMIST.

>> ECONOMIST WHO?

>> ECONOMIST THE FINANCIAL CRISIS BUT I PAOPLS I'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME. (LAUGHTER)

>> Reporter: BUT IF ECONOMISTS ARE RON AGO CONTROL THEORY DEFICIT, IT'S NOT THAT THEIR THEY'RE ENJOYMENT AVERSE. IN FACT, MERLE HAZARD WENT TO FAIR WAYS TO MAXIMIZING THEIR UTILITY WITH HIS CONCLUDING NUMBER. ♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RECESSION LORD. ♪ IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

>> Reporter: IF JOHN MAYNARD KEYNES WAS RIGHT AND ANIMAL SPIRITS ARE WHAT MOVE THE ECONOMY, MAYBE THERE WERE HINTS OF AN UPTURN EVEN HERE. ♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RECESSIONS, GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RECESSION. ♪ LORD, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

>> Lehrer: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. SCOTT BROWN WAS SWORN IN AS THE NEW SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS. THAT GAVE REPUBLICANS 41 VOTES, ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN FILIBUSTERS AND CHANGE THE SENATE'S POLITICAL DYNAMIC. AND WALL STREET PLUNGED ON NEW FEARS ABOUT THE JANUARY JOBS REPORT DUE OUT TOMORROW. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FELL NEARLY 270 POINTS. THE NEWSHOUR IS ALWAYS ONLINE, OF COURSE. HARI SREENIVASAN, IN OUR NEWSROOM, PREVIEWS WHAT'S THERE. HARI.

>> Sreenivasan: WE LOOK AT THE FORMAL RETRACTION OF A STUDY LINKING AUTISM TO A VACCINE BY THE MEDICAL JOURNAL, "THE LANCET"; A COMPARISON OF HOW OTHER COUNTRIES HANDLE GAYS IN THE MILITARY FROM CHARLES SENNOTT, EDITOR OF THE GLOBAL POST, AN INTERNATIONAL NEWS WEB SITE. AND FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT-- A POEM ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS ON PAUL SOLMAN'S "MAKING SENSE" PAGE. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org. JEFF.

>> Brown: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Lehrer: AND I'M JIM LEHRER. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING WITH MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS, AMONG OTHERS. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR IS PROVIDED BY: PACIFIC LIFE.

>> THIS IS THE ENGINE THAT

>> THIS IS THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS ABUNDANT GRAIN FROM THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND TO HARAN'S BEST SELLING WHOLE WHEAT, WHILE KEEPING 60 BILLION POUNDS OF CARBON OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE EVERY YEAR. BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US. CHEVRON, HUMAN ENERGY. AND THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. 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. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org TO PROVIDING SERVICE TO ITS AUTO INSURANCE CUSTOMERS FOR OVER 70 YEARS. MORE INFORMATION ON AUTO INSURANCE AT GEICO.COM OR 1-800-947-AUTO ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.