NPR 2012-03-27
时间：2012-04-12 06:17:21
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The deeply divisive national health care law is before the nation's highest court on the first of three days of arguments. People on both sides of the debate appear to agree that the justices would rule on the heart of the case — the constitutionality of a mandate1 for all Americans to have some form of health care coverage2. Debate over the law was a lot louder outside the Supreme3 Court, where NPR's Craig Windham reports marchers chanted in support of the law.
Kathy McClor traveled from Atlanta to show her backing for the law.
“I put my life on hold to participate and to see what's going on.”
McClor got one of the few dozen tickets set aside for the public to watch today's oral arguments. But opponents of the law were also sounding off. Among them, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
“I’ve always been for free-market health care, not for government-run health care.”
Santorum says his
opposition4 to the health care law is a central part of his campaign. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.
The Supreme Court says judges need to determine the constitutionality of a law that allows babies born in Jerusalem to record Israel as their place of birth on their passports. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports lower courts have thrown out the case, saying it represented a political issue best handled by the White House and Congress.
Chief Justice John Roberts says the trial courts handle questions about the Constitution all the time. He says lower courts hearing the Israel dispute misunderstood the key issue. How to evaluate a 2003 law allowing US citizens born in Jerusalem to record their birthplace as Israel. So he directed a district court judge to figure out whether the law
intrudes5 on the president's powers under the Constitution. Justice Stephen Breyer
dissented6, writing that in the Middle East, even paperwork can trigger big foreign policy problems. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
Florida authorities confirmed Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen gunned down last month in central Florida, was suspended from school in the Miami area for possessing a baggie that contained traces of marijuana. But he did not have a
juvenile7 offender8 record. Religious and civil rights leaders including the
Rev9. Al Sharpton say they expected the
slain10 teen's character would come under attack in this racially charged case. And Martin's mother Sybirna Fulton
spoke11 out a short time ago.
“The only comment that I have right now is that they’ve killed my son, and now they’re trying to kill his reputation.”
Fulton choking back tears after
briefly12 addressing reporters. Martin’s shooter George Zimmerman maintains it was self-defense. Zimmerman, whose father's white and mother's Latina, has not been charged. A rally is expected tonight to demand Zimmerman's arrest.
At last check on Wall Street, the Dow was up 142 points at, 13,222.
This is NPR News.
On the first day of the Global Nuclear Security Summit, President Obama is announcing an agreement between Washington and three European countries to minimize the production of highly enriched uranium. From Seoul, Doualy Xaykaothao has the details.
Mr. Obama's Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the goal of this new agreement is to counter the threat of nuclear terrorism.
“Through this four-party
collaboration13, the United States will assist Belgium, France and the Netherlands in converting existing
isotope14 production facilities from the use of highly enriched uranium targets to low enriched uranium targets by 2015.”
Highly enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear bombs. World leaders will meet again Tuesday to hash out more agreements before
finalizing15 a communique at the end of the two-day summit. For NPR News, I'm Doualy Xaykaothao in Seoul.
Two British soldiers have been killed by an Afghan soldier in southern Afghanistan, the latest in a string of attacks on
coalition16 forces in the aftermath of Quran burnings. US-Afghanistan tensions also
escalated17 after a US solider allegedly killed Afghan villagers earlier this month.
The Federal Reserve chairman is warning that the employment market will remain weak despite strong gains posted during the last three months. Ben Bernanke says the economy needs more
robust18 consumer and business demand. His comments signaled the Fed may keep interest rates at record lows though a while longer.
US stocks gaining ground, with the Dow up 142 points, more than 1%, at 13,222; NASDAQ and S&P 500 also up more than 1%.
This is NPR News.
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