In a special report on homelessness in Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States, Charles Slife discovers who is homeless, why they’re homeless, and how the federal government is helping the large number of Americans with no roof over their head. (9:03)
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) says John McCain’s life story is a record of courage and valor and that Barack Obama’s message of tackling national issues has no precedent. He says Obama has not led the effort on any major national issue, questioning the amount of courage it took Obama to lead the effort in the round-up loose nuclear weapons. (1:10)
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) says Americans deserve and expect a more effective government at a a better price. He says there is an opportunity for Republicans to reach out to those that understand fiscal responsibility and fear declining social mobility. (0:35)
The governor of Minnesota reached out to “Sam’s Club Republicans,” Americans who want an efficient government at an affordable price, at a press event. Governor Tim Pawlenty said many Americans agree with the Republican Party ideologically yet vote Democratic under the presumption that Republican policies do not favor the working class. Pawlenty said Republicans must be optimistic, make compromises when possible, and develop ideas based in issues important to Americans. He praised President Reagan for having possessed these abilities and said Republicans must re-focus Reagan’s message to young voters who do not remember the Reagan era.
According to Pawlenty, Americans agree with the Republican premise of fiscal responsibility and support a government that spends tax money responsibly on a balanced budget. He said the Republican Party can lead the way for change by boldly tackling energy and reforming the infrastructure of government programs rather than increasing finances blindly.
Pawlenty, who has been speculated as a potential vice presidential pick for Sen. John McCain, said that McCain’s displays hope in his life story while Barack Obama’s hope is only an oratory. He questioned if Obama’s celebrity status transcends the ability for many to consider the substance of Obama’s message and echoed McCain’s opposition to a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. When asked what qualities should be found in a vice president, Pawlenty answered with one word, “discretion.”
People on the streets on Washington say what they think Congress should do about high oil prices. (2:28)
A military study of compensation suggests extending military discounts for groceries to supermarkets located off-base, a move that would save military families from driving long distance to base amidst high gas prices. This and other suggestions were outlined during a press conference discussing the 10th Review of Military Compensation, a quadrennial report to Congress from the Department of Defense.
The report advocates establishing charter schools for children on military bases and allowing military vouchers to be used in any public or private school. To improve the military’s recruiting and retention of medical professionals, the report suggested fast-tracking non-citizen physicians to citizenship, an effort that would utilize American-trained doctors who are currently unable to practice in a military setting. Responding to perceived flaws in the military’s retirement program that offer a “one size fits all” program to personnel regardless of skill sets and training, the report suggested offering gate payments to servicemen and women who have reached milestones in their career while offering separation payments that would encourage other types of personnel to retire. In addition, the report supports raising medical care co-payments for active duty personnel and their families to reflect rates of inflation.
A second day of speeches in the House Chamber continued as GOP members told Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call for a vote on the American Energy Act, the GOP’s “all of the above” energy strategy. Representatives repeatedly said that given the current energy costs faced by Americans, now is not the time for Congress to take a five-week paid vacation. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) said “I don’t know how they think in the salons of San Francisco,” a reference to Pelosi’s district, adding that the people in the coffee shops of Dallas recognize America’s energy crisis.
Hensarling, speaking to Capitol tourists seated in the House chamber, asked why Pelosi was unable to find time to debate energy in the past months. He told those assembled that Congress found time to debate National Sanitation Week and other frivolous topics, ridiculing decisions made by Democratic leadership. Hensarling said the people of America deserve a vote and gave Pelosi’s Washington office phone number to those in attendance, telling people to call and voice their concern.
In a press statement, Pelosi called Republican actions a “hoax” that does not warrant serious debate. She said Republican proposals give public lands to oil companies and would only reduce prices at the pump by two cents in 10 years. In addition, her statement says that House Republicans have opposed requiring oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land they already control. She also notes the GOP has blocked efforts to increase fuel efficiency standards, improve mass transit, and release oil from government reserves.
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both support provisions in the American Energy Act, including offshore drilling. He said one person (Pelosi) should not work against the opinion of a majority of Americans. Kirk referenced challenges previously faced in the House of Representatives including the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and World War II, saying now is the time for Congress to take initiative and solve America’s energy crisis. He said Congress has come to a fork in the road concerning energy policy and, instead of debating which road to take, is refusing to debate a course of action at all.
Terry Taylor of the American Academy of Actuaries says the academy believes any solution to Social Security’s financial soundness must include increases in the retirement age. He says the retirement age is frozen at 67 for all Americans born after 1959 and that raising the age of retirement to reflect increased longevity would help to alleviate future financial problems. (0:53)
The American Academy of Actuaries held a media briefing in which members of the academy discussed Social Security’s long-term financial soundness. Thomas Terry, vice president and chairman of the Pension Practice Council at the academy, said Social Security will go into debt in 2017 and be completely exhausted of finances in 2041 without legislation that alters the system.
Terry said baby boomers, who begin qualifying for Social Security in 2008, are only part of the problem. According to Terry, the current age of retirement is frozen at 67, an increase of two years since President Franklin Roosevelt enacted Social Security in 1935. Terry said a major way to reduce strain on Social Security is to raise the age of retirement. Terry said Americans’ life expectancy continues to rise, causing more people to claim benefits for longer periods of time.
Bruce Schobel, chairman of the Retirement Security Principles Task Force at the academy, gave statistics that show American longevity. He said in 1940, the average person outlived the age of retirement by 12 to 13 years. He countered that data with 2008 statistics in which people, on average, outlive retirement by 16-19 years. Schobel gave a hypothetical situation whic proposes that if the age of retirement is increased by two months annually until retirement reaches the age of 70, half of Social Security’s long-term deficit would be eliminated. Schobel reiterated that raising the age of retirement is not an all-inclusive solution to Social Security’s long-term finances. He did say, however, that any future legislation should include changes in the age of retirement. He also noted that this particular proposal would not affect those born prior to 1960.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) reads an official Senate transcript, saying it will help people understand how the Senate is dealing with high oil prices. He says Democrats have repeatedly tried to debate energy bills, 12 times in the past two months. He says Republican continue to block debate on Democratic energy bills that would lower gas prices, increase domestic supply of gas and renewable energy, and create new jobs for Americans. (1:02)
