To the Point
Are Katrina Victims Forgotten Already?
Our guest, James O-Byrne is Editor of the Living Section of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he-s been shaping news coverage of the recovery. He-s especially well qualified for that assignment- because he-s one of those who lost his own home. Making News: House Votes to Extend Tax BreaksDespite the increasing federal deficit, Congress yesterday completed the passage of $56 billion in tax cuts, focusing on stock dividends and capital gains. That-s a far cry from what passed the Senate, and there-s little time to reconcile their different versions before the end of the year. Jodi Schneider is Economics Editor of Congressional Quarterly. Reporter's Notebook: New England Journal of Medicine on Vioxx StudyMerck faces 6500 suits over Vioxx, the painkiller it pulled off the market. We-ll hear about other challenges facing the world-s 5th largest pharmaceutical company. The New England Journal of Medicine has published what it calls an "Expression of Concern" about Merck & Co., which took the painkiller Vioxx off the market last year. The prestigious magazine says data showing that Vioxx caused heart attacks was removed from a crucial study involving the drug. Merck says the results were "fairly and accurately" reported.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenOur guest, James O-Byrne is Editor of the Living Section of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he-s been shaping news coverage of the recovery. He-s especially well qualified for that assignment- because he-s one of those who lost his own home.
House Votes to Extend Tax Breaks
Despite the increasing federal deficit, Congress yesterday completed the passage of $56 billion in tax cuts, focusing on stock dividends and capital gains. That-s a far cry from what passed the Senate, and there-s little time to reconcile their different versions before the end of the year. Jodi Schneider is Economics Editor of Congressional Quarterly.
New England Journal of Medicine on Vioxx Study
Merck faces 6500 suits over Vioxx, the painkiller it pulled off the market. We-ll hear about other challenges facing the world-s 5th largest pharmaceutical company. The New England Journal of Medicine has published what it calls an "Expression of Concern" about Merck & Co., which took the painkiller Vioxx off the market last year. The prestigious magazine says data showing that Vioxx caused heart attacks was removed from a crucial study involving the drug. Merck says the results were "fairly and accurately" reported.