To the Point
Barack Obama Crosses the Border
Barack Obama leaves the country for the first time as President. We hear about free trade, troops in Afghanistan and environmental protection from the US and Canadian points of view. Also, California’s budget madness sort of comes to a close, and universal healthcare – Canadian style.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenBarack Obama leaves the country for the first time as President. We hear about free trade, troops in Afghanistan and environmental protection from the US and Canadian points of view. Also, California’s budget madness sort of comes to a close, and and a debate that’s not happening in Washington on single-payer healthcare.
Banner image: US President Barack Obama (L) speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesCalifornia Budget Madness Comes to a Close, Kinda Sorta
California finally has a budget …or does it? After months of debate and a week of all-night sessions, agreement on $40 billion in spending cuts, tax increases and borrowing came early this morning in Sacramento. Democrats have huge majorities in the Assembly and Senate, but not the two-thirds the budget requires.
Read the story6 minObama Visits Canada
On his first trip to another country as President, Barack Obama is spending a few hours in Canada , America’s biggest trading partner. He’ll hold a news conference with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but he won’t address Parliament or the Canadian public.
Read the story28 minCanada's Single-payer Health System
The major players in Washington’s healthcare debate -- businesses, hospitals, doctors, labor unions, insurance companies and the members of Congress – have agreed that a “single-payer” system is “off the table.” That’s infuriated many Americans.
Read the story15 min
