Government Programs 2003 Archive | PBS NewsHour

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	2003 DECEMBER Dec. 31, 2003 Holiday Security Concerns As Americans prepared to ring in the new year, unprecedented security measures were in place from coast to coast. Homeland security and counterterrorism experts assess the heightened terror alert and the nation's security preparations.

	Dec. 30, 2003 Newsmaker: Mark McClellan The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it will ban the use of the popular diet drug ephedra. FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan discusses the agency's decision.

	Dec. 25, 2003 Mars Mission An initial attempt to contact Europe's first Mars lander failed. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET Los Angeles reports on efforts to explore the red planet.

	Dec. 22, 2003 Picturing Space: The Hubble Space Telescope For more than ten years, the Hubble Space Telescope has been helping scientists understand the variety of objects that make up the universe. NASA has plans to start launching its next generation of orbiting telescopes with even more powerful imaging capabilities. Tom Bearden looks at NASA's space-based telescopes.

	Dec. 22, 2003 Terrorism Threat: From Yellow to Orange Security at American airports, bridges and ports was tightened, after the United States elevated the national terror-threat level from yellow (elevated) to orange (high) Sunday.

	Dec. 17, 2003 Morning-After Pill Two women's health experts debate the merits of Tuesday's recommendation by an FDA panel to allow over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive known as the morning-after pill.

	Dec. 11, 2003 Mike Leavitt: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt became head of the Environmental Protection Agency in November. Since then, the agency has released two controversial proposals aimed at reducing emissions from power plants. Margaret Warner discusses these and other issues with the new administrator.

	Dec. 8, 2003 Medicare Changes: Background Report President Bush signed a Medicare reform bill Monday that will cover the cost of some prescription drugs and allow a larger role for private health insurers.

	Dec. 8, 2003 Medicare Changes President Bush signed into law Monday a $400 billion, 10-year Medicare bill that will cover the cost of some prescription drugs and allow a larger role for private health insurers. Experts discuss how the massive legislation will impact the lives of senior citizens.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 26, 2003 Leading the Way? In a year when many states are struggling to keep up with Medicaid costs, Maine is developing a program aimed at providing coverage for all of its residents by 2009. Susan Dentzer talks to Maine residents and politicians about the state's plan.

	Nov. 25, 2003 Rx for Medicare The Senate voted 54-44 Tuesday to approve a $400 billion Medicare reform bill that will give seniors access to prescription drug benefits and increase the roll of private health plans. Two policy analysts discuss the newly passed Medicare bill and its implications for both Medicare beneficiaries and the program itself.

	Nov. 25, 2003 Background: Rx for Medicare The Senate approved a Medicare reform bill today that will give seniors access to prescription drug benefits and permit insurance companies to offer private coverage to Medicare recipients. Senate Leaders Frist and Daschle react to the changes in Medicare before the vote.

	Nov. 24, 2003 Rx for Medicare: Background The first overhaul of Medicare was approved by the House of Representatives on Saturday and seems poised to the pass in the Senate. Kwame Holman reports on the contentious debate.

	Nov. 24, 2003 Rx for Medicare The House of Representatives approved the first overhaul of Medicare on Saturday, narrowly passing the bill on to the Senate. Among other proposed reforms, the overhaul would add prescription drug coverage and introduce more competition from private health plans.

	Nov. 21, 2003 Newsmaker: Richard Armitage The deputy secretary of state discusses a coalition plan to give more authority to the Iraqi governing council and assesses recent attacks in Iraq and Turkey.

	Nov. 21, 2003 Rx for Medicare The House of Representatives is bracing for a close vote tonight on a Medicare reform bill which would increase the role of private managed care and add a prescription drug benefit. Kwame Holman gives a background report, and Ray Suarez follows up with Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

	Nov. 19, 2003 Power Politics Energy was also the main subject in the Senate today, where formal debate began over the Republican-sponsored energy reform bill. Kwame Holman reports on the power politics at play.

	Nov. 19, 2003 Newsmaker: Spencer Abraham Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham discusses the initial findings of a U.S.-Canadian task force that has been investigating the massive electricity blackout on August 14. He also explains how measures in the energy bill being considered in the Senate would help prevent future blackouts.

	Nov. 18, 2003 Rx: For Medicare A new Medicare bill tentatively agreed to by House and Senate conferees would add prescription drug coverage and introduce more competition from private health plans, a provision that may jeopardize its chances of gaining support from some Democrats. Jeffrey Brown discusses the proposed changes.

	Nov. 13, 2003 Report Card The Department of Education on Thursday released the latest test scores from the nation's fourth and eighth graders. Margaret Warner discusses the results, which show an improvement in students' understanding of math, with Education Week senior editor Lynn Olson.

	Nov. 11, 2003 Cutting the Cord The FCC made home phone numbers more mobile yesterday, when it issued a new mandate that local telephone companies must now allow customers to transfer their home phone numbers to a cell phone in the same calling area. Terence Smith gets perspective on this decision from Rudy Baca of Precursor, an investment research firm.



	OCTOBER Oct. 23, 2003 Rx for Medicare After missing a self-imposed Oct. 17 deadline, congressional conferees continue to work toward a compromise Medicare bill that would provide a prescription drug benefit. Susan Dentzer talks to Terence Smith about the status the negotiations.

	Oct. 17, 2003 Paying for Peace in Iraq The Senate provided a setback for the administration's Iraq reconstruction plan when it approved an amendment that would require the Iraqi government to repay $10 billion of the $20 billion reconstruction grant. The House cleared a bill, which would give the entire $20 billion to Iraq as a grant. Kwame Holman reports.

	Oct. 17, 2003 Memantine: Memory Medicine The Food and Drug Administration approved the German medication memantine today to help ease the severe symptoms of an estimated 1 million Americans who suffer from the late stages of Alzheimer's disease. Ray Suarez discusses the possible impact of the drug with Dr. Paul Aisen.

	Oct. 16, 2003 Breast Implants An FDA advisory council voted 9-6 to put silicone breast implants back on the market after being banned for 11 years. Medical experts assess the impact of the decision on women.

	Oct. 13, 2003 FTC Chairman Timothy Muris on Do Not Call List Timothy Muris, the head of the Federal Trade Commission that runs the Do-Not-Call list, discusses the continuing standoff in court and what consumers can expect in the meantime.

	Oct. 9, 2003 Paying to Rebuild in Iraq President Bush's request for additional funding for the United States' postwar presence in Iraq and Afghanistan cleared another congressional hurdle today. Kwame Holman reports on the latest from Capitol Hill.

	Oct. 8, 2003 Paying to Rebuild Iraq Kwame Holman updates the appropriations debate over the $87 billion the Bush administration has requested to fund reconstruction in postwar Iraq.

	Oct. 1, 2003 The Cost of Peace in Iraq The Senate Appropriations Committee sent President Bush's $87 billion emergency spending bill to the Senate floor. Kwame Holman reports on the Capitol Hill debate over aid for Iraq.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 29, 2003 Under Fire The Washington Post reported on Sunday that top White House aides leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, publicly challenged President Bush's prewar intelligence on Iraq. Margaret Warner discusses the intelligence controversy with two members of Congress.

	Sept. 24, 2003 Hold that Call: FTC and the Do-Not-Call List A federal court blocked the do-not-call list, arguing that the Federal Trade Commission did not have the authority to create the registry. Ray Suarez discusses the decision with Lorraine Woellert, legal affairs correspondent for Business Week.

	Sept. 23, 2003 Capitol Improvement: The New Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol When completed, the new visitor center at the U.S. Capitol will welcome some 2 million tourists a year. Kwame Holman looks at the increasing costs of keeping the site secure.

	Sept. 22, 2003 The Cost of the Iraq War: Background U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer asked senators today to approve $87 billion for reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kwame Holman encapsulates Bremer's testimony.

	Sept. 22, 2003 The Cost of the Iraq War U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer asked senators today to approve $87 billion for reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Experts offer their opinions on the effectiveness of Bremer's reconstruction plans for Iraq.

	Sept. 16, 2003 Presidents' Wartime Budgets Gwen Ifill leads a discussion about the spending priortities of U.S. presidents in wartime and President Bush's request for new funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

	Sept. 9, 2003 Agricultural Subsidy Struggle One of the most contentious issues facing ministers gathering in Cancun for the meeting of the World Trade Organization is how to address the use of agricultural subsidies. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on how U.S. cotton subsidies affect the global market and the life of farmers in the African nation of Mali.

	Sept. 4, 2003 Why the Lights Went Out A congressional panel continued to investigate the cause of August's sweeping blackout. Kwame Holman reports.

	Sept. 3, 2003 Why the Lights Went Out Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham promised to find the source of last month's sweeping power outages. Kwame Holman reports on the energy hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives.

	Sept. 2, 2003 Newsmaker: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced Tuesday that his department would provide an additional 5,000 armed federal air marshals to protect commercial airliners. Jim Lehrer speaks with Secretary Ridge about his announcement and about the state of national security since September 11.



	AUGUST Aug. 27, 2003 Mars' Close Encounter Early this morning, Mars had its closest encounter with Earth in 60,000 years, giving observers the best view of the red planet in their lifetimes. Terence Smith discusses the event with astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

	Aug. 26, 2003 The Columbia Report With the release of a report Tuesday detailing the findings of an independent board's investigation into the Feb. 1 breakup of the space shuttle Columbia, experts discuss reaction to the report and what its recommendations may mean for NASA's future.

	Aug. 26, 2003 Columbia Report: Background An independent board announced that flawed practices at NASA and falling foam debris contributed to the space shuttle Columbia disaster last February.

	Aug. 25, 2003 Power Failure Upgrading the U.S. electric transmission grid to prevent future blackouts could cost $100 billion, according to an industry report released Monday. Experts discuss these proposed improvements to the grid system and the investigation into the cause of the August 14 blackout.

	Aug. 25, 2003 Science and Security: Los Alamos National Laboratory The University of California has managed the Los Alamos National Laboratory since it was founded during World War II. In 2005, the contract to manage the lab will be open to competitive bidding for the first time. Spencer Michels looks at the recent allegations of mismanagement and security lapses at the lab.

	Aug. 19, 2003 Considering the Patriot Act Attorney General John Ashcroft began a nationwide tour Tuesday promoting the USA Patriot Act. Margaret Warner leads a discussion with former Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh and Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union, on the Patriot Act and the balance between security and freedom in America.

	Aug. 15, 2003 Unplugged: Power Grid Failure A power grid failure on Thursday left much of the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada without electricity. Experts discuss the structure and vulnerability of the U.S. electrical grid system.

	Aug. 15, 2003 Blackout: Power Failure Power slowly returned after yesterday's blackout across the northeast and midwestern United States. Terence Smith talks to Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jennette Bradley; Dennis Duggan, a columnist for New York Newsday; and Carole Leigh Hutton, executive editor for the Detroit Free Press, to learn how that part of the country coped.

	Aug. 14, 2003 Power Outage An electricity blackout that began at around 4 pm EDT Thursday paralyzed much of the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. A New York Times reporter and an energy expert discuss the likely causes of the power outage, and how authorities are dealing with the situation.

	Aug. 13, 2003 Missile Sting: Background A British arms dealer faced arraignment after an 18-month international sting operation cracked a plot to aid terrorists. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the investigation and Tuesday's arrests.

	Aug. 13, 2003 Missile Sting A suspected arms dealer appeared in a federal court Wednesday after his arrest for attempting to arrange the sale of a powerful shoulder-fired missile. Experts discuss the sting operation, and the threat posed to commercial airliners.

	Aug. 12, 2003 Background EPA Choice: Utah Governor Mike Leavitt President Bush nominated Utah Governor Mike Leavitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the nimonee's political background.

	Aug. 4, 2003 Securing the Skies Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Department of Homeland Security and Congressman Edward Markey, a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security discuss the adequacy of current air safety measures and the need for additional funding in the wake of new terror threats.



	JULY July 25, 2003 Head Start The House of Representatives approved Head Start for another five years but shifted some of the program's control to the states. Margaret Warner discusses the bill with Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the committee.

	July 24, 2003 Lessons Learned: Prewar Intelligence on Iraq The House Intelligence Committee held the first in a series of open hearings to examine prewar intelligence on Iraq. Kwame Holman reports on the day's hearing.

	July 24, 2003 September 11 Intelligence Failures The House and Senate Intelligence committees concluded that there was no single piece of evidence that could have prevented the Sept. 11 attacks. Margaret Warner discusses the findings with two members of the joint panel: Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

	July 17, 2003 Preserving Utah's Wilderness A battle over federal wilderness designations in Utah ended when the state convinced the federal government to drop certain land restrictions, an agreement environmentalists say will endanger pristine areas.

	July 16, 2003 Religious Properties: Federal Money for Historic Religious Buildings Ray Suarez reports on a church-state controversy over federal money being authorized to restore historic religious buildings.

	July 15, 2003 Record Budget Deficit The Bush administration announced the 2003 federal budget deficit would be the highest in U.S. history: $450 billion. Experts discuss the causes of the growing deficit, including the war in Iraq, the tax cut and the weak economy.

	July 15, 2003 Medicare Rx Members of Congress started work on compromise legislation to provide a Medicare prescription drug program. Ray Suarez discusses the differences between the House and Senate versions of the proposal with Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute, and Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates.

	July 10, 2003 Researching Deadly Pathogens in Hamilton, Montana Betty Ann Bowser reports from Hamilton, Montana, where the National Institutes of Health wants build a new laboratory to study some deadly pathogens.

	July 9, 2003 Fighting Fat Ray Suarez discusses the impact of a new FDA ruling, requiring increased disclosure of trans fats on food labels, with Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Rhona Applebaum, executive vice president of the National Food Processor Association.

	July 8, 2003 Medicare: Explaining the Details Susan Dentzer accompanies two members of Congress with differing views on the Medicare drug bill that passed the House as they explain their positions to seniors who are struggling to understand the complex legislation.

	July 2, 2003 Rent Subsidies for Low-Income Residents in Los Angeles A report on the problems facing a federal assistance program that provides some 44,000 low-income residents in Los Angeles with housing subsidies.



	JUNE June 30, 2003 American Cities Unprepared? Following the release Wednesday of a Council on Foreign Relations report showing American cities dangerously unprepared for a major terrorist attack, two members of the Council's Emergency Responders Task Force offer recommendations for readying major metropolitan areas.

	June 27, 2003 Medicare Rx The Senate and the House approved major Medicare legislation. Kwame Holman reports on the changes.

	June 25, 2003 Federal Reserve Rate Cut Wednesday's Federal Reserve decision to cut interests rates by a quarter point is the 13th rate cut since early 2001. Experts discuss the Fed's latest move with Gwen Ifill.

	June 20, 2003 Secret Arrests The secret detentions of hundreds of terror suspects since the Sept. 11 attacks have stirred both controversy and legal scrutiny. Two experts examine the debate over balancing civil liberties and domestic security.

	June 17, 2003 Medicare Rx The Senate Tuesday continued debate on a Medicare reform plan that is the latest attempt in a multi-year struggle to add an outpatient prescription drug benefit to the program. Susan Dentzer reports on the Senate debate and then Gwen Ifill leads a discussion the merits of the bipartisan plan.

	June 13, 2003 Tax Tussle Yesterday the House passed legislation extending the child tax credit to poor families. Kwame Holman reports on the next step, a House-Senate compromise package.

	June 12, 2003 Medicare Rx Susan Dentzer details the Medicare proposal making its way through the Senate and the debate over how to structure a prescription drug benefit for the nation's seniors.

	June 9, 2003 Tax Tussle Kwame Holman reports on the congressional effort to restore the child tax credit to some low-income families.

	June 6, 2003 Economy Turning Around? Abby Joseph Cohen, chair of the Investment Policy Committee at Goldman Sachs; and Allen Sinai, chief global economist and president of Decision Economics, Inc. speak with Ray Suarez about the U.S.'s mixed economic news, including rising unemployment and the stock market's recent gains.

	June 4, 2003 Rewriting the FCC Rules: New Media Ownership Rules Terence Smith reports on the Senate's consideration of the Federal Communications Commission's new media ownership rules.

	June 2, 2003 Sen. Byron Dorgan on the FCC's New Rules The North Dakota Democrat explains why he opposes the FCC's new rules, which he says will spark "an orgy" of mergers and acquisitions.

	June 2, 2003 Michael Powell Following a background report about the FCC's historic vote Monday, the FCC chairman discusses his agency's decision to relax media ownership rules, a move he says will make the regulations "match the times."

	June 2, 2003 Commissioner Kevin J. Martin The following is the entire press statement from FCC Commissioner Kevin J. Martin on the agency's biennial review of broadcast ownership rules.

	June 2, 2003 FCC Revised Media Ownership Rules The following is the entire text as released by the Federal Communications Commission outlining the agency's revised media ownership rules on June 2, 2003.

	June 2, 2003 FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps The following is the entire prepared statement from FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps dissenting on the agency's proposal to ease media ownership rules, and his bench remarks following the vote.

	June 2, 2003 FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein The following is the entire press statement from FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein dissenting on the agency's majority vote to ease broadcast ownership rules.

	June 2, 2003 FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy The following is the entire prepared statement from FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy on the agency's vote on June 2.



	MAY May 29, 2003 Destination Mars Next month, NASA will launch a search for life on Mars. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET Los Angeles reports on the Mars program.

	May 27, 2003 Newsmaker: Senator Bill Frist Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R - Tenn.) discusses the newly passed $350 billion tax cut plan, new legislation that will provide funding to combat AIDS worldwide, reconstruction in Iraq and the debate over Medicare.

	May 23, 2003 Talking Taxes Both houses of Congress approved President Bush's new tax cut plan Friday, a package worth $350 billion in tax cuts and state assistance over ten years. Ray Suarez discusses how the plan will affect individuals and families of differing income levels with Clint Stretch, tax policy director for Deloitte & Touche.

	May 22, 2003 Tax Deal Kwame Holman provides an update on the tax cut compromise reached by Congress.

	May 20, 2003 U.S. Raises Terror Alert Level Philip Shenon of The New York Times assesses the reasons behind the U.S. decision to raise the nationwide terrorist threat level to "high" -- its second-highest designation.

	May 16, 2003 Taxes and Tactics The U.S. Senate voted 51 to 49 last night to cut taxes by a net of $350 billion. Kwame Holman reports on the legislation.

	May 15, 2003 Tough Times Betty Ann Bowser reports from Fall River, Massachusetts on how the state's government is dealing with its budget deficit.

	May 15, 2003 Showdown at the FCC: Media Companies Expansion The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on changes that would make it easier for large media companies to expand further. Terence Smith hosts a debate between Gene Kimmelman of the Consumers Union and B. Robert Okun, vice president and head NBC's Washington office.

	May 14, 2003 The Debate Over Tax Cuts From the White House to Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating whether a large tax cut is the best way to stimulate the U.S. economy. Experts discuss the tax cut debate and its potential effects on job growth and the budget deficit.

	May 13, 2003 Tough Times for State Budgets Betty Ann Bowser reports on how Colorado is dealing with record budget deficits.

	May 12, 2003 Selling Tax Cuts Kwame Holman reports on President Bush's tax cut road show.

	May 8, 2003 Tough Times: California's Budget Spencer Michels reports on efforts in California to fight the state's budget deficit problem. The report is the first in a series examining how states are dealing with record budget shortfalls.

	May 7, 2003 Taxes and Tactics Kwame Holman reports on the continuing tax cut conflict and compromise in Congress.

	May 6, 2003 Shuttle Columbia Probe Ray Suarez reports on the findings and remaining questions in the space shuttle Columbia disaster investigation and then follows up in a discussion with Jerry Grey of the American Institute of Astronautics and Donna Shirley of the University of Oklahoma.

	May 1, 2003 Taxes and Tactics Divisions between the House and Senate continue to complicate consideration of President Bush's tax cut proposal. Kwame Holman reports.



	APRIL April 29, 2003 Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission: William Donaldson After months of investigations, Wall Street regulators announced a settlement with ten of the nation's largest securities firms. Ray Suarez discusses the agreement with William Donaldson, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

	April 7, 2003 SARS: Mystery Malady The U.S. is now in third place among countries where the mysterious respiratory disease known as SARS has occurred, with 148 suspected cases to date. Top officials from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and the NIH discuss how the U.S. health care system is responding to the illness and the facts about its evolution.

	April 3, 2003 War and the Economy Paul Solman looks at how the war in Iraq is impacting the U.S. economy.



	MARCH March 25, 2003 The Cost of the Iraq War President Bush asked Congress Tuesday for $74.7 billion in emergency spending to fund the war in Iraq. Kwame Holman reports on the proposed war budget, and Margaret Warner follows up with some perspective from Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

	March 14, 2003 Smallpox Vaccinations Spencer Michels reports on the obstacles facing the federal government's smallpox vaccination plan.

	March 11, 2003 Newsmaker: John Snow Amidst the threat of a possible war with Iraq and other domestic issues, Treasury Secretary John Snow discusses the state of and prospects for the U.S. economy.

	March 10, 2003 The Struggling Economy As troubling economic data continues to be released, war fears appear to be further unsettling an already shaky economy. Ray Suarez discusses the state of the U.S. economy with two experts.

	March 5, 2003 The Cost of War Economists debate how much a war with Iraq might cost the United States.

	March 4, 2003 Rx for Medicare Ray Suarez talks to the health unit's Susan Dentzer about the debate over Medicare's future.

	March 3, 2003 Al-Qaida Mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed U.S.and Pakistani forces arrested Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks, this weekend. Experts assess how the arrest may affect the al-Qaida terrorist network, and whether information obtained from Mohammed could thwart other planned attacks.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 28, 2003 U.S. State Dept. Adds Three Chechen Groups to Terrorist List The United States State Department has officially added three Chechen groups to its list of organizations that pose a "significant risk" of committing acts of terrorism.

	Feb. 25, 2003 Changing Medicaid Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson met with the nation's governors this week to present a Bush administration proposal to overhaul Medicaid. Health correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on this far-reaching effort to reform Medicaid

	Feb. 21, 2003 Paying for Crime Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on California's attempt to solve budget problems at the state level by cutting spending for prisons.

	Feb. 19, 2003 Newsmaker: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge discusses his efforts to prepare Americans for a possible terrorist attack.

	Feb. 13, 2003 Shuttle Columbia: Search for Answers NASA released copies of an e-mail by one of their engineers, which warned of catastrophic consequences to the shuttle Columbia from the piece of foam insulation that struck the shuttle during liftoff. Ray Suarez discusses the investigation and NASA's safety concerns with Donna Shirley and William Kauffman.

	Feb. 12, 2003 Dividend Debate Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan today praised President Bush's tax cut plan and warned about growing budget deficits. Paul Solman assesses the impact of the proposal to end dividend taxation.

	Feb. 11, 2003 Background: Preparing for Possible Terrorism The heads of the CIA and the FBI issued warnings to Congress about possible terrorist strikes in the coming weeks.

	Feb. 11, 2003 Preparing for Possible Terrorism The heads of the CIA and the FBI issued warnings to Congress about possible terrorist strikes in the coming weeks. Margaret Warner and guests discuss the local implications of those warnings.

	Feb. 6, 2003 Background: Shuttle Columbia Disaster in Space The search for debris from the shuttle Columbia continued today. Kwame Holman reports.

	Feb. 6, 2003 Shuttle Columbia Disaster in Space The search for debris from the shuttle Columbia continued today. Gwen Ifill discusses the investigation with the White House correspondent for The New York Times and a former astronaut.

	Feb. 4, 2003 A Farewell to the Heroes of the Space Shuttle Columbia Thousands attended a memorial service for the crew of the space shuttle Columbia. Terence Smith reports on the ceremony.

	Feb. 4, 2003 Reaching for the Stars: Space Shuttle Columbia President Bush led mourners Tuesday in a ceremony honoring the seven astronauts who died aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Four guests discuss what makes exploring space -- and the people who do it -- so compelling.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Background: Shuttle Columbia Disaster in Space NASA continued to investigate the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia over the weekend. Terence Smith reports.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Shuttle Columbia Disaster in Space NASA continued to investigate the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia over the weekend. Jim Lehrer talks with a science and technology writer for the Washington Post, and a former NASA astronaut and four-time shuttle crew member.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Unanswered Questions About Shuttle Columbia The loss of space shuttle Columbia raises questions about the safety of NASA flights and the agency's budget limitations. Experts discuss the future of the space agency and whether space travel is worth the risk of losing astronauts.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Background: Spending Blueprint President Bush unveiled his new budget plan today. Kwame Holman reports.

	Feb. 3, 2003 Spending Blueprint President Bush submitted his $2.23 trillion budget plan to Congress, saying it will get the economy going again while taking care of social needs and protecting the U.S. from attack. Experts analyze the proposed budget plan.



	JANUARY Jan. 30, 2003 Fixing Medicare President Bush has proposed a plan that would offer drug coverage to seniors who leave traditional Medicare and join government-subsidized private health plans. Two experts examine the policy and politics surrounding the proposal.

	Jan. 28, 2003 New Point Man: John Snow Kwame Holman reports with excerpts from the Senate confirmation hearing for Treasury Secretary nominee John Snow.

	Jan. 8, 2003 Economic Stimulus? Economists debate the effectiveness of President Bush's economic stimulus plan.

	Jan. 7, 2003 President Bush's Growth Plan President Bush revealed his $674 billion stimulus plan Tuesday, which favors huge tax cuts for inventors, to boost the nation's struggling economy. Mr. Bush's announcement follows the unveiling of the Democratic plan.

	Jan. 3, 2003 State Budget Crises With a slumping economy and a shrinking tax base, states are facing massive budget shortfalls and tough questions. Four governors discuss efforts to stave off a financial crisis in their state.

	Jan. 3, 2003 Under Secretary Charlotte Beers Charlotte Beers, the under secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the State Department, discusses her bureau's mission to improve America's image in Muslim nations.