Search results for

On Capitol Hill today, negotiators sat down to work out differences between the budget plan approved by the House and the one approved by the Senate. The House has approved a smaller increase in spending and a bigger cut in taxes, sticking close to the plan proposed by President Bush. But the Senate was a different story, because Democrats occupy half that chamber's seats. The Senate negotiating group that went to work today is also split 50-50 between the parties. NPR's David Welna reports from the Capitol.

Robert Siegel talks with Philip Chatennay, an editor with the Political Weekly Marianne, about an unauthorized "sequel" to Victor Hugo's novel, Les Miserables. The book is Cosette, or the Time of Illusions, written by journalist Francois Ceresa. It is considered scandalous within French literary circles. It's due for publication next week. (3:00) Cosette, or the Time of Illusions will be published in France by Plon.

George Orwell once wrote that "probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one's meaning as clear as one can through pictures or sensations." Novelist Reynolds Price thought perhaps one baby was doing just that when he chose "soap" and "book" as his first words, instead of the more usual Ma Ma or Da Da.

Host Bob Edwards talks with LA Times reporter Anthony Kuhn about Beijing's reaction today to President Bush's statement that the U.S. would protect Taiwan against Chinese aggression.

Robert Siegel speaks with Megan Twohey, welfare reporter for the National Journal, about how welfare reform has affected the lives of people like Maria Lopez. Twohey says welfare reform and a booming economy have succeeded in getting many former recipients into jobs. But, she says, those jobs are often low-paying and dead-end. Twohey also says that it remains difficult for welfare recipients to pursue higher education, an issue that will likely come up when Congress looks at reauthorization in 2002.

President Bush seemed to remove some of the deliberate ambiguity in U.S. policy toward Taiwan and China by suggesting the U.S. might get involved in defending Taiwan against an attack from China. Despite this change in tone from previous administrations, the administration says there has been no change in U.S. policy.

Commentator Julia King gives her opinion on the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act."

NPR's Mandelit del Barco reports on the controversy surrounding the Hollywood Bowl, and outdoor concert shell in the Hollywood hills. Celebrities from Sinatra to the Beatles have performed there over its 72 year history. Now preservationists are arguing against what some performers say is a much-needed renovation.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on a fundraiser hosted by Sen. Hillary Clinton at her new Washington, D.C., home last night. Attendees shelled out a thousand dollars per person to help Clinton's colleague, Sen. Maria Cantwell, pay debts she accrued while campaigning for office.

Simon Ingram of the BBC reports on the arrest of the former president of Philippines, Joseph Estrada.