TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH" FISCAL
CLIFF COMPROMISE, THE LAST
MINUTE DEAL THAT HAS LEFT MANY
REPUBLICANS UNSATISFIED.
PLUS THE COURT RULING
ALLOWING STATE OF TEXAS TO END
FUNDING FOR ABORTION PROVIDER
PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
HOW REMOVING SUGAR FROM OUR
DIETS COULD HELP THE OBESITY
EPIDEMIC IN AMERICA.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH." GOOD EVENING I AM
MARK MARTIN.
AND I AM LORIE JOHNSON.
LAWMAKERS STRUCK A LAST MINUTE
DEAL TO KEEP AMERICA FROM
TUMBLING OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS RELUCTANTLY
PASSED A DEAL.
MORE BATTLES OF SPENDING AND
DEBT EXPECTED IN JUST A FEW
MONTHS.
GEORGE THOMAS HAS TONIGHT'S TOP
STORY.
REPORTER: FISCAL CLIFF FIGHT
IS OVER.
FOR NOW, AT LEAST.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS RELUCTANTLY
APPROVED A BILL HANDING
PRESIDENT OBAMA MANY OF THE TAX
INCREASES ON THE RICH HE
CAMPAIGNED ON.
I WILL SIGN A LAW THAT THAT
RAISES TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST
2%.
THE VOTE PREVENTS MAJOR TAX
INCREASES FOR MOST AMERICANS,
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAYS IT
LEAVES MANY ISSUES UNADDRESSED
LIKE WASHINGTON'S SPENDING
SPREE.
NO SPENDING CUTS.
WE ARE ADDING 4 BILLION DOLLARS
A DAY TO THE DEBT.
WE FEEL LIKE THE SENATE BILL
FAILED MISERABLY.
TAXES WILL GO UP ABOUT 2% FOR
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, THE
PAYROLL SOCIAL SECURITY TAX TO
EXPI
EXPIRE.
77% OF HOUSE HOLDS WILL PAY IN
2013.
EVERYBODY'S PAYROLL IS GOING
TO GO UP ABOUT ANOTHER 2% ON
THEIR W2.
FOR ME THAT IS A CABLE BILL.
IT IS GOING OUT TO EAT ONCE A
WEEK.
IT IS REAL MONEY GOING OUT THE
WINDOW.
SOME INDUSTRIES GOT A BIG
BREAK.
THE PROVISIONS ARE EXTENDED IN
PAST YEARS.
THEY ARE RAISING CONCERNS, FOR
EXAMPLE, 430 MILLION DOLLARS IN
TAX BREAKS TO CONVINCE HOLLYWOOD
TO FILM AND PRODUCE MOVIES IN
THE U.S. ALSO 70 MILLION DOLLARS
FOR NASCAR AND RUM MAKERS IN
PUERTO RICO AND VIRGIN ISLANDS
WILL GET 22 MILLION DOLLARS
ALGAE GROWERS WILL GET 50
MILLION FOR TRYING TO MAKE BIO
FUEL.
EYE ADOPTION TAX CREDIT GONE.
IT EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31ST.
THE BILL DOES NOTHING TO
INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING.
IN TWO MONTHS THEY WILL REACH
THE LIMIT ON BORROWING UNLESS
PRESIDENT OBAMA STEPS IN.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: ONE THING
HOPEFULLY IN THE NEW YEAR,
SEEING IF WE CAN PUT A PACKAGE
LIKE THIS TOGETHER WITH A LITTLE
BIT LESS DRAMA AND LESS
BRINKSMANSHIP AND NOT SCARE THE
HECK OUT OF FOLKS QUITE AS MUCH.
REPORTER: GEORGE THOMAS, CBN
NEWS.
JOINING US IS BILL FREZA.
BILL, WAS ANYTHING SOLVED BY THE
LAST MINUTE BILL.
NO, NOTHING WHATSOEVER
SOLVED, THE BUDGET DEFICIT OR
NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
YOU WERE NOT OPTIMISTIC, WHAT
ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO GET WORSE AT AN ACCELERATED
RATE.
NOTHING ON THE TABLE THAT TALKS
ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS
WE FACE WHICH INCLUDES TOO MUCH
SPENDING, TOO MUCH MONEY
PRINTING AND TOO MUCH BORROWING.
WE ARE PLAYING THE CLASS WARFARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WE CAN
PUNISH.
DO YOU SEE ANY HOPE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL REIGN IN
SPENDING?
NO.
BOTH LIKE TO GIVE AWAY TO THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
NO SERIOUS POLITICIANS IN
WASHINGTON.
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING
THE RATE OF GROWTH.
UNLESS THE ECONOMY GROWS FASTER,
THIS IS NOT A WAY TO SOLVE OUR
PROBLEMS. SOME ARE SAYING
AVOIDING THE FISCAL CLIFF
OVERTED DISASTER, OTHERS SAY
THIS WILL LEAD TO FURTHER
DISASTER IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK WILL
HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS MOST
RECENT BILL.
ROME WASN'T DESTROYED IN A
DAY.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO RUN DOWN
A LARGE EMPIRE.
HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE FOR
THE BRITISH EMPIRE TO DISSOLVE
ITSELF?
WE ARE ON THE PATH.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE AWAY
MONEY.
156-PAGE IS A GIVE AWAY TO
ELECTRIC CAR BUYERS, CONGRESS
CAN PASS LEGISLATIONS WITHOUT
STUFFING IT FULL OF THESE
LUBRICANTS.
FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF
2013, WHAT IS THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY GOING TO LOOK LIKE THEN?
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER
YEAR OF STAGNATION.
THEY CAN'T MEASURE THE GDP
ACCURATELY ANY WAY.
IT IS MADE UP.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE
GROWTH WE NEED TO OUTRUN OUR
PROBLEMS.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE INFLATION.
IT IS GOING TO COME LEAKING OUT.
INFLATION AND MODIFYING THE DEBT
IS THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR THE
GOVERNMENT.
THIS PUNISHES THE REST OF US.
THE IMAGE WAR, WHO IS GOING
TO COME OUT ON TOP?
PROGRESSIVES AND LIBERALS
HAVE THE MEDIA ON THEIR SIDE,
THEY WILL ALWAYS COME OUT ON
TOP.
OKAY, BILL, THANKS FOR YOUR
INSIGHTS.
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THE HOUSE MAY HAVE VOTED ON A
FISCAL CLIFF DEAL BEFORE THEY
ADJOURNED, ONE THEY DIDN'T IS A
BILL OFFERING 60 BILLION DOLLARS
FOR DISASTER AREAS LIKE SUPER
SANDY.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE WE HAD
A SERIOUS STORM, TORNADO, FIRE,
FLOOD, WHERE WE DID NOT ACT.
THIS CONGRESS IS APPARENTLY
LEAVING TOWN WITHOUT RESPONDING
TO THAT EMERGENCY.
LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE ARE EXPRESSING
FRUSTRATION WITH REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLED HOUSE.
THE SPEAKER IS COMMITTED TO
PASSING A BILL THIS MONTH.
IT COULD COME LATER THIS WEEK
WHEN THE 113TH CONGRESS COMES
TOGETHER.
STATE OF TEXAS HAS ENDED
AFFILIATE RULE IN 2012.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUGHT A
TEMPORARY INJUNCTION IN ORDER TO
KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.
THIS WEEK A TEXAS DISTRICT JUDGE
DENIED THE BID.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAYS IT PREP
VENTS POOR WOMEN FROM GETTING
THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.
TEXAS OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAN BE
REFERRED TO DOCTORS AND CLINICS
THAT DO NOT SUPPORT ABORTION.
WITH THIS NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS
ARE TAKING AFFECT, SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE LEGAL IN MAINE AND
MARYLAND.
COMPUTER DRIVEN CARS IN
CALIFORNIA ALLOWED.
A HUMAN HAS TO BE IN THE
VEHICLE.
ALL THEY NEED IS A COPY OF THEIR
AUTO INSURANCE ON THEIR SMART
PHONE.
WHAT A WONDERFUL THING, MAYBE
WE CAN HAVE OUR DRIVER'S LICENSE
ON THERE.
CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS HAS
OUTLAWED PLASTIC BOTTLES AND IN
WELLINGTON, KANSAS, PEOPLE ARE
RESTRICTED FROM OWNING MORE THAN
FOUR CATS.
STUDENTS AND STAFF AT A SANDY
HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE
GETTING READY TO RETURN TO CLASS
THURSDAY, IT WILL BE THE FIRST
TIME SINCE THE GUNMAN KILLED 20
CHILDREN AND SIX ADULTS.
CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT A
NEIGHBORHOODING TOWN IN MONROE.
COUNSELORS SAY IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR CHILDREN TO GET BACK TO A
ROUTINE.
TURNING OVERSEAS, FIVE
TEACHERS AND TWO AID WORKERS
SHOT BY A GUNMAN IN PAKISTAN.
VICTIMS FOR PAKISTANI NATIONALS.
ATTACKS WERE RELATED TO POLIO
VACCINATION WORKERS.
TALIBAN AND OTHER MILITANT
GROUPS HAVE FOR YEARS ACCUSED
AID WORKERS OF USING THE
VACCINATION PROGRAM TO STERILIZE
MUSLIMS.
IN AFGHANISTAN, THE TALIBAN IS
COMPARING THE TROOP WITHDRAWAL
TO THE PULL OUT IN VIETNAM.
AMERICA WANTS TO FLEE FROM
AFGHANISTAN JUST AS THEY TURNED
TAIL AND RAN FROM VIETNAM.
TALIBAN IS CALLING IT DECLARED
VICTORY AND RUN STRATEGY.
U.S. AND NATO TROOPS ARE SKED
SCHEDULED TO PUT OUT BY END OF
2014.
HOW THE FISCAL CLIFF
COMPROMISE WOULD AFFECT
AMERICA'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE
HILARY CLINTON CONTINUES TO
TREATMENT TODAY FOR A BLOOD
CLOT.
DOCTORS SAY THE CLOT IS IN A
VEIN THAT RUNS BETWEEN HER BRAIN
AND SKULL.
THIS COMES OF CLINTON GOT A
CONCUSSION THREE WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS DISCOVERED IN A ROUTINED
MRI.
SHE IS IN GOOD SPIRITS AND
EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL
RECOVERY.
IS THE FISCAL CLIFF REALLY
GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY IN THE LONG
TERM?
NOT EVERYONE THINGS SO.
PAUL STRAND HAS THE STORY FROM
WASHINGTON
REPORTER: MANY CONSERVATIVE
GROUPS STATE THE DEAL'S EMPHASIS
ON RAISING TAXES ON THE
WEALTHIEST 1% INSTEAD OF CUTTING
SPENDING WILL ONLY HURT THE
ECONOMY.
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION DID A
STUDY, THERE WOULD BE A 200
BILLION DOLLAR HURT IN TERMS OF
GDP IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY.
THAT COULD MAKE AN ALREADY
WEAK ECONOMY WEAKER.
SUCH EFFECT WILL BE FELT
WORLDWIDE EVEN IN CHINA.
AND EUROPE WHERE BASKET CASES
ARE PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE
ENTIRE EUROPEAN UNION AND HERE
AT HOME.
IMPROVING HOUSING MARKET, MORE
JOBS.
MR. OBAMA'S EAT THE RICH
CRUSADE WILL RESULT IN THROWING
200,000 MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES
INTO UNEMPLOYMENT.
700,000 LOST JOBS.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT BUILD
THE FACTORIES AND PROVIDE JOBS.
TAKING MORE MONEY AWAY FROM THEM
MEANS LESS FACTORIES AND JOBS.
A DEAL THAT REALLY IS JUST
ONE THAT REQUIRES AND ASKS THOSE
WHO HAVE BENEFITTED GREATLY FROM
OUR SOCIETY TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THEY
HAVE THUS FAR.
NEW ON THE OTHER HAND, SENATOR
RAND PAUL SAYS THEY COULD HAVE
HELPED GROW THE ECONOMY.
THEY WANT MORE REVENUE, IF
YOU RAISE TAX RATES THEY MAY GET
LESS REVENUE.
THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE THAP
CAN'T HIRE OR TWO OR FIVE
EMPLOYEES.
THIS DOES NOTHING BUT HURT THE
ECONOMY.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYS
TO REFORM THE MASSIVE
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL
SECURITY WILL TAKE AMERICA DOWN
THE SAME PATH AS GREECE.
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WILL
TAKE ALL THE TAX REVENUE COMING
INTO WASHINGTON.
HOW DO YOU AVOID BECOMING GREECE
WITHOUT ENTITLEMENT REFORM.
THREATENING ANOTHER DOWNGRADE
BECAUSE WASHINGTON ISN'T CUTTING
SPENDING ENOUGH.
THEY ARE ASKING FOR 4-5
TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
NOBODY IS TALKING IN THOSE
NUMBERS.
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE MAKE A
DEAL WITH THE DEVIL SAYING IF
YOU INCREASE TAXES WE'LL CUT
SPENDING.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS
TIME EITHER.
NOW IS A TIME TO HAVE A
SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT
SPENDING.
WARREN BUFFET SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY
HE GETS A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK.
THOSE ON CAPITOL HILL MAY
FEEL THE FISCAL CLIFF AVERTS IS
A DISASTER AVERTED.
IT MAY ACTUALLY CAUSE MORE
TROUBLE THAN IT AVERTS.
PAUL STRAND, CBN NEWS, REPORTING
FROM CAPITOL HILL.
HOBBY LOBBY ANNOUNCES A NEW
RECIPIENT OF THE NORTH FIELD
MASSACHUSETTS CAMPUS FOUNDED BY
CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST D.L. MOODY.
ARTS AND CRAFTS RETAIL CHAIN
MADE A DONATION TO THE CHRISTIAN
FOUNDATION.
NCF IS BASED IN GEORGIA.
NCF WILL CONTINUE THE WORK TO
FIND A LONG-TERM OWNER TO HONOR
THE LEGACY OF MOODY.
GRAND CANYON BACKED OUT OF THE
DEAL.
UP NEXT, THE DANGER OF HIGH
FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND HOW TO
AVOID IT.
WELCOME BACK, IT TURNS OUT
SUGAR CAN AFFECT THE SIGNALS
YOUR BRAIN SENDS TO YOUR BODY.
SCIENTISTS USED IMAGING TESTS TO
SHOW THAT FRUCTOSE -- IT IS
FOUND IN THE AMERICAN DIET.
AFTER DRINKING A FRUCTOSE
BEVERAGE, THE BRAIN DIDN'T
REGISTER THE FEELING OF BEING
FULL AFTER CONSUMING GLUCOSE,
HOWEVER, IT DID.
THIS COULD PLAY A ROLE IN THE
DRAMATIC RISE OF OBESITY.
A THIRD OF U.S. TEENAGERS AND
TWO-THIRDS OF ADULTS ARE
OVERWEIGHT.
OBESITY CAN CAUSE HEART
DISEASE, CANCER, DIABETES AND
POSSIBLY EVEN AUTISM.
DOCTORS SAY MUCH COULD BE
AVOIDED IF WE WOULD DESWEETEN
OUR DIET.
HERE IS TONIGHT'S FOCUS REPORT.
REPORTER: AMERICANS LIVE THE
SWEET LIFE.
OUR DIET CONTAINS ENORMOUS
AMOUNTS OF SUGAR AND OFTEN WE
DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.
THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS HIDDEN IN
PLACES YOU WOULD NEVER SUSPECT.
ADDED TO EVERYTHING FROM SALAD
DRESSING TO PEANUT BUTTER, EVEN
BREAD.
IN 1800 THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
CONSUMED 18 POUNDS OF SUGAR THE
ENTIRE YEAR.
IN 1900 JUMPED TO 90 POUNDS,
TODAY, MOST OF US CONSUME 156
POUNDS A YEAR.
CARDIOLOGIST STEPHEN SINATRA
SAYS IT CAUSES OUR INSULIN TO GO
HAYWIRE OFTEN LEADING TO HEART
DISEASE.
SUGAR DOES DAMAGE TO THE BODY
ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG KIDS.
NOT ONLY HAS THE AMOUNT OF
SUGAR WE EAT CHANGED, SO HAS THE
TYPE OF SUGAR.
MORE THAN 40 DIFFERENT VARIETIES
OF SUGAR FLOOD OUR FOOD SUPPLY.
THE GRAND DADDY IS HIGH FRUCTOSE
CORN SYRUP.
IT IS IN EVERYTHING.
THE SOUPS YOU GET THE
RESTAURANTS, IT IS IN THE
CRACKERS, SPAGHETTI SAUCE,
KETCHUP, EVERYWHERE.
SINATRA WARNS, HIGH FRUCTOSE
CORN SYRUP IS WORSE THAN TABLE
SUGAR.
HE SAYS OUR BODIES METABOLIZE
HFCS EVEN DAMAGE THE LIVER.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE.
DR. DANNAH FLAVIN SPECIALIZES
AND SAYS WE ALWAYS WANT MORE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU HAVE
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND
CONSUMING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS,
YOU GET A WHOLE CHANGE IN WHAT
THEY CALL LEPTINS AND GROW INS,
THOSE ARE REGULATORS ARE
APPETITE.
YOU ARE STILL HUNGRY.
BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE IN THESE
LEPTINS.
THEY HAVE BEEN MEASURED AND
FOUND THIS BEYOND A DOUBT.
IT ALTARS SATIATION.
HFCS MANUFACTURERS SAY IT IS
NO WORSE THAN CORN SYRUP.
SUGAR IS SUGAR.
IT BIO CHEMICALLY EQUALS IT.
DR. ARTHUR FRANK.
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IS
EVERY BIT AS BIT AS SUCROSE,
TABLE SUGAR.
IT IS NOT WORSE.
IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF.
IT IS NOT A GOOD FOOD.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD
WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE EAT.
IT SERVES A PURPOSE, IT IS A
SWEETEN.
IT IS UNLIKELY THAT HFCS
CONTRIBUTES MORE TO OBESITY THAN
TABLE SUGAR.
ON THE OTHER HAND PRINCETON
RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT LAB RATS
WITH ACCESS TO HFCS GAINED MORE
WEIGHT THAN THOSE WITH ACCESS TO
TABLE SUGAR EVEN THOUGH BOTH
GROUPS TOOK IN THE SAME NUMBER
OF CALORIES.
SOME CLAIM HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN
SYRUP IS THE SAME.
OUR RESULTS MAKE IT CLEAR THIS
JUST ISN'T TRUE.
THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE
ANSWER, ONE THING IS CERTAIN,
REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF SUGAR,
WE ARE CONSUMING TOO MUCH OF IT.
MOST OF US EAT 22 TEASPOONS OF
ADDED SUGAR A DAY.
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
RECOMMENDS ONLY 6 TEASPOONS A
DAY FOR WOMEN AND 9 FOR MEN.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
JUST ONE 12-OUNCE SOFT DRINK
CONTAINS 9 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR.
CHECK A PRODUCT'S LISTED
INGREDIENTS.
IF A SUGAR IS ONE OF THE FIRST 3
INGREDIENTS, PUT IT BACK.
ALL SUGARS ARE HIGH IN CALORIES,
SO EVEN HEALTHY ONES LIKE HONEY
SHOULD BE CONSUMED IN SMALL
AMOUNTS.
KINDNESS OF ONE NEW MEXICO
COP.
A POLICE OFFICER OUT OF
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO GOT MORE
THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.
OFFICER LUIS HERNANDEZ
RESPONDED TO A CALL.
THE COUPLE OF WAS BEGGING FOR
MONEY FOR A BUS TICKET.
THEIR BABY RECENTLY HAD HEART
SURGERY.
OFFICER HERNANDEZ STEPPED IN.
I HAVE A CHILD THAT WAS
RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH
EPINEPHRINE LEP CIS.
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS WITH
MEDICATIONS AND ADDITIONAL CARE.
THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE WORRIED
ABOUT.
HERNANDEZ BOUGHT THE LAST
TICKET THE FAMILY NEEDED.
IT WAS HIS CHANCE TO GIVE BACK.
I KNOW GOD WILL REWARD HIM FOR
THAT.
GOOD FOR HIM.
SEE A NEED AND MEET IT, GREAT.
THAT IS ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF
"NEWSWATCH."
REMEMBER YOU CAN E-MAIL YOUR
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT
"NEWSWATCH" AT CBN.COM.
