Last votes before the holidays

Analysis:

The story is about what the Senate voted on just prior to the Christmas break, which included the Defense spending bill, a deficit reduction bill and the USA Patriot Act. Each of these bills would require their own story, but channel 17 tries to summarize all three in the same story. The story has one line about the Defense Spending bill, a bit more about the USA Patriot Act and most of the time was devoted to the deficit reduction bill. The FOX 17 reporter presents the information like a sports commentator. Ask yourself after reading the excerpted comments from elected officials, mixed in with the reporter’s commentary whether or not you understand what is going on?

None of the comments from any of the elected officials is verified and no other perspectives outside of the Democrats or Republicans is provided on any of the issues being voted on, particularly the USA Patriot Act and the deficit reduction bill. Viewers should ask themselves if only providing these congressional excerpts helps them to understand what was being voted on?

Story:

WXMI Newsreader – US senators trying to wrap up the nations business before they head home for the holidays. Since this morning they passed a deficit reduction plan and they’ve come close to signing off on more money for the defense department. So far though, no extension of the Patriot Act. FOX 17’s Grant Rampy is live on Capital Hill tonight with the very latest on the senate voting, Grant?

Reporter – Good Evening Christian, and actually just in the last little while there has been a big development up here, we understand senators have agreed to extend the Patriot act, or at least key provisions of it that were set to expire, for another six months. Major news in the meantime they are trying to get home for the holiday break and they have gotten a lot done all day long.

Reporter – Selling it as a package to cut the deficit by 40 billion dollars, Republican leaders finally got their way, but only after Dick Cheney jumped in at the last minute.

Cheney – The Senate, being equally divided; the Vice President votes in the affirmative.

Reporter – In pushing the plan GOP lawmakers say there goals been to reduce the rate of the federal government’s growth.

Rick Santorum (Senator) – To make sure that the moneys wisely spent, effectively spent.

Reporter – But Democrats counter the poor are getting squeezed so the rich can get a windfall.

Harry Reid (Senator) – How can it be that we are about to cut student loans, cut Medicare and Medicaid, and then turn around and provide even more tax breaks to special interests and multi-millionaires.

Reporter – Score one for Democrats, they’ve long fought to prevent drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Republicans stuck a provision clearing the way for oil exploration there into a defense spending bill which also includes billions more for Katrina victims. Both sides argued….

Unidentified Senator – We should show respect for our men and women in uniform.

Reporter – And argued some more…

Ted Stevens (Senator) – I hope the good lord will help me hold my temper.

Reporter – It appears the defense bill will pass with ANWR getting the axe, but what about the Patriot Act?

Unidentified Senator – Our goal is to mend it, extend it, not end it.

Bush – The terrorist threat is not going to expire at the end of this year. This obstruction is inexcusable.

Reporter – Again we understand, breaking news, the Senate has agreed to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act another six months. No official vote just yet but this should give critics time to find more safeguards for civil liberties. Live, in Washington, Grant Rampy, Fox 17 News at Ten.

Total Time: 2 minutes and 9 seconds