Timing is everything in Supreme Court health-care debate. Black Friday creeps into Thanksgiving Thursday. President Obama leans on deficit super committee. The wide, weird world of geography wonks.
Timing is everything in Supreme Court health care debate
The Supreme Court announced today that it will hear arguments over the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The health-care overhaul, which extends coverage to over 30 million Americans, has been battling legal challenges from the right ever since it was signed into law by President Obama in 2010.
At issue is the so-called “individual mandate,” requiring all Americans to be covered or face a penalty. The National Federation of Independent Businesses is joined by 26 states and individual challengers in challenging the law, which they say poses undue hardship on states and small businesses.
Surprisingly, several conservative judges have upheld the mandate’s constitutionality in two of the four challenges. One court struck it down; another ruled that the law could not be challenged until the penalty is enforced, which won’t happen until the law goes into effect in 2014. Besides debating the individual mandate’s constitutionality, the court will evaluate whether the overall health care law can stand without it.
It’s being called the most important Supreme Court case since Bush v. Gore decided the 2000 presidential election, and the timing of the court is significant. Putting “ObamaCare” on trial now means that a decision could be reached by June, well before the 2012 presidential election – which, however they decide, could be to Obama’s advantage. With health care still a major hill to conquer in the ideological war between Democrats and Republicans, one thing is sure: the SCOTUS arguments will keep this issue front and center throughout the campaign primary. What will happen to "ObamaCare" if the high court throws out the individual mandate? What impact would their decision have on the presidential election?
Guest:
Karl Mannheim, Professor of constitutional law, Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Randy Barnett, Professor of constitutional law, Georgetown University
Adriel Bettelheim, healthcare reporter for Bloomberg News out of DC.
Black Friday creeps into Thanksgiving Thursday
Attention bargain shoppers – Black Friday is coming to a Thursday near you. That's right, Walmart is getting this year's shopping party started early by throwing open its doors on Thanksgiving Day.
"Our customers told us they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early," a Wal-mart press release explains. So starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday, they're offering "Black Friday" deals on everything from big screen plasma TVs (only $489!) to DVDs (starting at $1.96!). Wal-mart isn't the only retailer jump-starting the holiday shopping season by holding earlier-than-ever openings for savings-hungry customers. Oh no. Kmart and Toys "R" Us are also planning to get in on the T-Day action. And for the first time Best Buy, Macy's, Target and Kohl's say they'll open at midnight on Thanksgiving.
Cue customer backlash. While it's true that millions of shoppers have made a sport of Black Fridays in the past – this year, some consumers are saying enough is enough. They don't want the shopping frenzy creeping into their Thanksgiving festivities or ruining the holiday for retail employees who might have no choice but to work. Nordstrom, meanwhile, seems to be taking the slightly higher road. Signs in their stores say, "We won't be decking our halls until Friday, November 25. Why? Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving."
WEIGH IN:
What do you make of all this? Will you be lining up for hot deals, turkey leg in hand? Or are retail giants going too far this year?
President Obama leans on deficit supercommittee, plus Gingrich surges in new poll
It could be a very bleak Thursday on Thanksgiving if Congress' deficit committee fails to reach a deal by its Nov. 23 deadline. While many on the Hill cleared out before Veteran's Day last Friday, some committee members pressed on. Going into the weekend, the President urged co-chairs of the bipartisan panel "to get the job done," according to White House press secretary Jay Carney.
Obama called Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.) from Air Force One not only for a pep talk, but to restate his demands. The package must include spending cuts and revenue from taxes, he said. Carney added, "[The President] made clear he will not accept any measure that attempts to turn off part of the enforcement mechanism." If the joint committee deal fails to reach $1.2 trillion, the difference would come from cuts to defense and domestic programs evenly.
While the super committee has little progress to report, there appears to be major movement in the GOP's presidential competition. This morning, a new poll from CNN/ORC International shows Cain sinking and Gingrich surging. The poll has Romney at 24 points; Gingrich 22; Cain 14; Perry 12; Paul 8; Bachmann 6; Huntsman 3; Santorum 3.
WEIGH IN:
Cain was a big loser, but why didn't Romney gain more traction? Should President Obama get more involved in the super committee? Are its bipartisan members feeling more pressure from special interests?
Guests:
Gail Russell Chaddock, congressional reporter for the Christian Science Monitor
David Hawkings, journalist & editor at CQ Roll Call, where he writes the Daily Briefing
The wide, weird world of geography wonks
Ken Jennings is known for being one of two carbon-based contestants to match wits with IBM's "Watson" supercomputer on "Jeopardy!" last February. Machine bested man in that game, but Jennings nevertheless holds two game show records among humans – longest winning streak on Jeopardy! (74 games) and all-time biggest money winner on U.S. game shows ($2.52 million).
He's also a self-identified "geo-geek" whose fascination with cartography led him to sleep with a Hammond World Atlas under his pillow as a child. In his new book, Jennings takes us on a journey into geography itself, delving into the history and culture of maps, mapmakers and map lovers. From the parchment maps of the Age of Discovery to the post-modern world of GPS-cachers, Jennings shares his sense of geo-curiosity with an entire planet of explorers, wanderers and pathfinders. In honor of Geography Awareness Week, we welcome Ken Jennings to answer your geo-questions. Are you a maphead? Do you swoon over old trails and lost highways? When you travel, do you prefer to plan out your route, trust in your Tom-Tom, or just follow the signs? Where do your favorite maps take you?
Guest:
Ken Jennings, author of "Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks"