John King: Cheney's health, patients' bill, and other political news

John King

John King is CNN's senior White House correspondent.

CNN: Good morning John King and welcome all to CNN Politcal Week in Preview chat.

KING: Hello and happy Monday.

CNN: The vice president went back to work this morning after he received a heart regulating device implant this weekend. What are Cheney's doctors saying about his health and prognosis?

KING: His doctors are saying he should be able to keep a normal routine and that this device allows them to monitor him better and, if necessary, control any irregularities in his heart beat. Cheney told aides this morning his shoulder is a little sore from the procedure and he is taking Tylenol for minor pain. But doctors say the prognosis is good and the administration brushes off any talk he will have to slow down.

MESSAGE BOARDS The Bush presidency Health care reform   MORE STORIES Cheney returns to work at the White House Daschle vows to fight veto of patients' rights bill Congress questions affordability of Bush's defense plan   PREVIOUS TRANSCRIPT John King: Patients' bill of rights and other political news

The White House had been widely criticized for its handling of Cheney's visit to a hospital back in March to repair a clogged artery. So the administration seemed to want to take a pro-active approach this time, and also appeared to be trying to convey that this was a routine procedure. Cheney himself said he was feeling no pain, hoping to put to rest any concerns about his condition as he serves as the president's number two.

CHAT AUDIENCE: Has there been any concern in the worldwide press about VP Cheney's health?

KING: There has been coverage in the worldwide press but it has been fairly routine; this is not a vice president who has traveled or taken on much of an international portfolio. But there has been coverage of the procedure and the prognosis from our international outlets here at CNN and others.

CHAT AUDIENCE: How do you assess Bush ordering U.S. troops to escort [ethnic Albanian] National Liberation Army rebels?

KING: Well the issue poses a delicate balancing act; the administration says the "rebels" were disarmed and escorted away from hot spots as part of a NATO operation; the executive order and other administration actions taken last week are designed to prevent travel to the United States or financial transactions involving individuals the administration in concert with NATO and the European Union are linking to what they consider to be the disruptive activities in Macedonia.

CHAT AUDIENCE: What is the latest White House view on the alleged rape in Okinawa? Considering Okinawa's history of rapes, will that facility be part of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's plan to close additional U.S. military bases?

KING: The Rumsfeld plan is geared much more toward closing more bases in the United States. The Okinawa base is considered critical by The Pentagon to U.S. security interests in Asia, and there are negotiations with the Japanese over continued operations there that become more sensitive of course when there are allegations of rape and other misconduct by U.S. military personnel. President Bush voiced regret over the weekend and the government is promising to cooperate with investigators.

CNN: How are Democrats responding to the charges made by some Republicans that the Senate patients' bill of rights is more a lawyers rights bill that allows greater litigation?

KING: The Democrats say the Senate version offers patients the best recourse and a deterrent if you will for HMOs to think twice before denying care; this is a debate that has dominated this issue for the past five years. Republicans say it is far too generous to lawyers and will encourage frivolous lawsuits. It is up to the House now to put its mark on the debate and the president is heavily lobbying Republicans to make the House bill more to his liking.

CHAT AUDIENCE: It's interesting that the Bush administration is painting the HMOs as victims of lawyers should the patients' right bill pass. Why, if their logic follows, don't we exempt all industries from litigation?

KING: The administration position is not to exempt the HMOs from litigation. The president wants there to be a non-judicial review first and then suits in federal court -- and he now supports limited suits in state courts. But only for actual medical damages and then pain and suffering awards of perhaps as high as $750,000. What he opposes is additional "punitive damages" - the Senate bill allows up to $5 million on punitive damages in addition to direct costs and pain and suffering awards.

CHAT AUDIENCE: Yellowstone was going to phase out snowmobiles. However, Bush is overturning this decision because it needs "more study." Just what study is he ignoring and calls insufficient?

KING: I can't say I am an expert on the Yellowstone snowmobiling issue, but I do know it is one of several late Clinton administration regulations and policies that Bush promised to reconsider.

CHAT AUDIENCE: What is the Bush administration's views on the upcoming Milosevic trial?

KING: The administration is voicing gratitude that the government of Yugoslavia turned Mr Milosevic over to the tribunal and says it should send a powerful signal; the decision freed up the United States and others to support major reconstruction aid for Belgrade.

CHAT AUDIENCE: The surplus is shrinking badly. What will the White House's spin be if Congress has to dip into the Social Security fund? It looks like the raise in defense alone will be a budget buster?

KING: The White House says if Congress uses discipline there will be no need to dip into Medicare and Social Security, but this will be a major point in the continuing debate over the tax cut and appropriations now over the next few months.

CNN: What can you tell us about the meeting between the president and the Japanese prime minister at Camp David this weekend?

KING: The White House is quite satisfied; top Bush aides say Prime Minister Koizumi promised a very aggressive economic reform program and also said he understood the president's disagreements with the Kyoto global climate change treaty -- the prime minister and president disagree on that point but the prime minister's statements gave Mr. Bush a little political room, if you will, as he tries to come up with some alternative.

CNN: What is on the president's agenda this week?

KING: He is going to Philadelphia for the 4th. This week is fairly quiet with Congress on recess but he is working on energy issues and today focusing on mentoring programs and preparing for his first fireworks viewing as a resident of the White House - he was here during his father's presidency as a guest.

CNN: Thanks for joining us today, John King.

KING: Have a great week and a good holiday. Take care.

John King joined the CNN.com Newsroom from his office at the White House in Washington, D.C. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Monday, July 02, 2001.

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