Senators Target Carry-On Fees
AP
An airline's plan to charge up to $45 for passengers to store carry-on luggage in overhead bins has riled two Democratic senators enough for them to write legislation banning such a practice.
Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana introduced the bill, dubbed the "Free of Fees for Carry-On Act," Tuesday.
"Unlike heavy suitcases, that belong down in an aircraft's hold, carry-on luggage is where people keep items essential to their health, work and safety like laptop computers, medications, food to eat on the plane, baby formula, eye glasses and other essentials that need to be kept close at hand," Cardin said in a statement.
Spirit Airlines announced April 6 it will charge passengers $45 at the airport to store baggage in overhead bins. Customers can pay a reduced $30 fee in advance.
Continue »Tina Fey Brings "The Sarah Palin Network" to "SNL" (Video)
While hosting "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, actress Tina Fey reprised her Emmy-award-winning impersonation of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
A lot's changed for Palin in the 18 months since Fey last impersonated Republican Sen. John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election. Fey and "SNL"'s writers took that to mind. Instead of focusing on one aspect of Palin's life since the election, they rolled out a near checklist of events into a sketch promoting "The Sarah Palin Network."
"Not all our programming is fear-based," Fey said while wearing Palin's trademark glasses and a leather jacket similar to the one the former governor wore while recently stumping for McCain in Arizona.
That line came after a quick scene promoting a made-for-TV movie titled "My Daughter Only Sprained Her Ankle, You Can't Seriously be Considering Euthanizing Her."
Death panels. Check.
The sketch consisted of Fey rapidly firing off names of shows Palin network subscribers can expect, such as "Are You Smarter than a Half-Term Governor?"
Resignation from elected office midway through term. Check.
Of course, the sketch didn't just focus on the past 18 months. For "Hey Journalist, I Gotcha," Fey said she would "re-edit my interviews with journalists to make them look like they were the ones that were woefully unprepared."
To demonstrate, Fey asked footage of CBS "Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric what newspapers she reads. The clips show Couric responding by looking on silently, prompting a "gotcha" from Fey.
Freezing up when asked to name sources of current events. Check.
In the end, Fey turned the sketch back toward more recent events.
"I'm Sarah Palin," Fey said before glancing down at the palm of her hand. "Good night."
Crib notes written on hand. Check.
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Before Health Care Summit, GOP Wants Its Table
(CBS)
(Scroll down to watch the report Cordes submitted)
GOP leaders want to avoid giving Mr. Obama the upper hand, Cordes told CBS "Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric. First they said they didn't want the president at a podium where he might lecture them like when he took questions from House Republicans last month.
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Cheney Hospitalized After Chest Pains
(AP)
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to The George Washington University Medical Center Monday after experiencing chest pains, Cheney's office tells CBS News.
Cheney was resting comfortably in the Washington, D.C., hospital Monday night, according to a statement his office released. His doctors are evaluating the situation, the statement says.
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Rep.: Justice Denied to CIA Attack Victims
(AP / CBS)
The investigation's conclusion and new release of video from the mission re-ignites allegations that the intelligence agency attempted to cover up the incident. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., told ABC News that the United States hasn't provided the missionary family the justice it deserves.
"The [intelligence] community's performance in terms of accountability has been unacceptable," Hoekstra, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told the news station. "These were Americans that were killed with the help of their government, the community covered it up, they delayed investigating."
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Was Obama-GOP Meet Really a Game Changer?
(CBS)
But CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer (pictured at left) doubted Mr. Obama's olive branch was the game changer the White House had hoped.
"I thought it might at least be a game-starter," Schieffer told CBS "Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric Friday night. "There was a totally different tone than what we've been seeing around here for the last few months."
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Obama Address Won't Unify Washington
(CBS)
But, as political strategists Anita Dunn and Kevin Madden (Seen at left) told CBS' "Early Show" Co-Anchor Harry Smith Wednesday morning, that's likely where the spirit of bipartisanship will end for 2010.
"I don't think they will sit around singing 'Kumbaya' at the end of the speech for some reason," said Dunn, a Democratic strategist who served as White House communications director until last fall.
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TSA Orders Full Searches on Specific Fliers
(AP / CBS)
The entire list has not yet been revealed; however, four of the countries — Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria — are on the government's list of those that sponsor terrorism.
Including those countries, the entire list focuses on passengers from:
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Giuliani Won't Run in N.Y. Governor, Senate Races
(AP)
Giuliani is expected to announce his decision at a press conference Tuesday, according to a report in the New York Post. The Post reported Monday that Giuliani will instead throw his support behind former New York Rep. Rick Lazio, who seeks to unseat Democratic Gov. David Paterson.
The Post also reported that Giuliani will not run against New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the upstate Democrat named to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton when she joined President Obama's cabinet as secretary of state.
WCBS-TV: The End Of The Political Road For Rudy?
Schieffer: Health Debate No Longer About Care
(AP / CBS)
Schieffer told "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric that the debate now isn't about health care any more.
"This is about partisanship, about getting votes, about backroom deals," Schieffer said. "It's about politics."
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Holder Defends Moving Terror Trials to NYC
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
At left: In this Feb. 25 file photo, Attorney General Eric Holder listens during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Holder testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, defending his decision to put the professed Sept. 11 mastermind on trial in New York.
Holder while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Obama Hails "Courageous Vote" on Health Bill
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
(Left: President Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House about health care reform and Iraq's new electoral law Sunday, November 8, 2009.)
"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was with a courageous vote for many members of Congress," Mr. Obama said about the House health care vote. "I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."
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U.S. may Inject $35B into Local Housing
(CBS / iStock Photo)
Under the plan, which could be announced as early as this week, the federal government would buy up to $20 million of new housing bonds in order to relieve pressure from government-run housing finance agencies. The specific buyers of the bonds include the Treasury Department and government-controlled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Another $15 billion would be available to help the agencies provide low-rate mortgages to first-time and low-income home buyers.
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Clinton: Different Culture Helps Health Care Reform
(CBS)
"I believe he'll succeed because the fundamental culture of the country is different," Mr. Clinton told Russ Mitchell, news anchor for CBS' "The Early Show," "because the economic adversity, the burden that our manufacturers are carrying around is enormous."
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
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Clinton: Some Obama Critics are "Prejudiced"
(CBS)
Mr. Carter made his comments nearly a week after U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted "You lie!" at Mr. Obama during a joint session of Congress.
"I think it's based on racism," Carter said Sept. 15, responding during a Q-and-A session at his presidential center in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."
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