[Heidi Collins, Cnn Anchor:] Good morning, guys. Thanks so much. That's right. Here is what we're working on today for the "CNN NEWSROOM." How could so many women go in and not come out again? Investigators seek answers at a sex offender's home where 11 bodies turned up. Too sick to work, but she can't afford to take off. A bill in Congress would mandate some sick leaf for millions of workers. And take the CNN Challenge. We've got a new game you can play online. Good morning, everybody, I'm Heidi Collins and you are in the "CNN NEWSROOM." That's right. We do have a lot going on this morning. In fact, your health and your wealth is what we're talking about this morning. CNN's Christine Romans is on the money beat today. She is going to be talking about jobless claims; how they're on the rise but also the jobless benefits could actually be expanding. We'll get to her in a moment. Also, our Brianna Keilar is covering the road to health care reform. A long road it has been, but there is one proposal that is nearing a final vote. We'll get to her as well. Then, also, the president is planning a health care pitch on Capitol Hill tomorrow. Today, though, he talks with Native American leaders about their concerns. We begin this hour focused on your money. Lots of headlines on the financial front this hour. Just a few minutes ago, we learned new jobless claims dropped more than expected last month. 512,000 Americans filed their first claims for unemployment benefits last month. Now that's the lowest figure in 10 months. Meanwhile, the Senate voted yesterday to extend jobless benefits by as much as 20 weeks. The Senate also voted to extend the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. And lawmakers want to speed up next year's limit on credit card companies. Some companies have been rushing to jack up fees and interest rates before the limits go into effect. Let's talk a little bit more on the topic, or a couple of these topics, in fact. Christine Romans is prepared to do all of that, joining us from New York this morning. So, Christine, tell us about the Senate extending a lifeline for the unemployed. This has been an issue that's been out there for a while now.
[Christine Romans, Cnn Business Correspondent:] You're right. And Heidi, all of those things that you mentioned are incredibly important to your money and all of them could affect you very, very near-term here. This extension of the unemployment benefits, it would be the third. The Senate has passed it. It goes to the House. It's expected to be voted on and passed very, very quickly here. Because, remember, your Congress member and your senator, they are being inundated in their offices with questions from people saying, wait, how am I going to survive when this check runs out? Seven thousand checks running out every week. It would be a 14-week extension nationwide, 20 weeks of unemployment. More unemployment benefits for the states with 8.5 percent unemployment or more. And this would be paid by a two-year extension of an existing existing tax on employers. So this would be paid for by a tax on employers. It would not come out of your pocket and my pocket. But it would be the third extension here, Heidi. And it's critically important. Like I said, so many people are losing their unemployment benefits right now. Some 200,000 have lost their jobless benefits just as the Senate has been negotiating this. There will be a mechanism in here for people, who if you already have lost your unemployment benefits, they have run out, you'd be able to reapply for an extension. So there will be more details about this, but I would expect this is going to be done pretty quickly and the president will sign it eventually.
[Collins:] Yes. Probably. What about home buyers? They're set to get some help, too, right?
[Romans:] That's right. And so also the Senate is extending and expanding that tax credit for home buyers, for first-time home buyers, that $8,000 tax credit. That's also in this measure that the Senate has passed. You must close on a home by June 30th, 2010. So many of you who are racing to try to finish a home purchase by December 1st, this Senate measure would mean you will have more time. It also expands it so that there's a tax credit for people who might live in a house right now, Heidi, but want to buy another house. They want to trade up, they want to trade down, they want to downsize. It would be a $6,500 tax credit for those people. You have to own a home at least five years to do that. So this is not for flippers and quick-time traders.
[Collins:] Yes.
[Romans:] Also, it would raise the income cap to $225,000 a couple. So people who make a little bit couple who make a little bit more money, more higher up in the upper middle class bracket would be able to qualify for this, Heidi.
[Collins:] All right. Very good. We'll continue to get more details, I am sure, on all of this. Christine Romans, thanks for sharing it. Appreciate it. House Democrats moving towards a final vote on a health care plan as soon as Saturday. The Associated Press reports the legislation will get a boost today from a powerful lobby, the AARP. But House Republicans are saying not so fast, as they offer their own health care proposal. Our congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar is joining us with more on this. Brianna, good morning. Where do things stand right now in the House?
[Brianna Keilar, Cnn Congressional Correspondent:] Well, the heat is starting to be turned up today, Heidi, ahead of what's looking like a Saturday vote, a rare weekend vote in the House of Representatives. And at this point, Democrats are really still working to get those votes that they need. They need 218. They're not expecting to get any support from Republicans, so they're looking to their own ranks. But there is an issue at this point that is still sort of hanging up their efforts to get their votes. That's the issue of abortion and making sure that none of the federal dollars that would go to these tax credits, to these subsidies to poor and middle class Americans to pay for their health insurance, it's really a question of making sure that that money wouldn't go to pay for abortion. There are some abortion opponent Democrats who this is a major concern for.
[Collins:] Yes.
[Keilar:] And even two days shy of that vote, this is still an issue that's trying to be resolved. Meantime, Republicans late yesterday, Heidi, announced their alternative bill for overhauling health care reform. The issue with this and the reason why Democrats are hitting it is because it only would insure about three million more Americans than are currently insured.
[Collins:] Yes.
[Keilar:] And also, that issue of pre-existing conditions, of telling health insurance companies that you can't deny coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition, it doesn't have a reform like that in it in the Republican alternative.
[Collins:] OK. Well, what exactly is going to be happening today?
[Keilar:] This is going to be a taste of that August heat, I think, on a chilly day in November. What we are expecting is possibly thousands of activists, so-called tea party activists coming here to Capitol Hill today. I understand that some of these protesters are already milling about near the capitol. And they were coming today as sort of a just really to send a message to Democrats that they're not happy with what they see as ultimately a big government takeover of health care. And Republicans, certainly, have put an effort out there, trying to harness all of this energy that's going to be going on today. They've got a noon event that they have scheduled to really capture this audience. Even some Republicans who are encouraging these activists to go into the halls of Congress and tell their members of Congress or any members of Congress how they feel and what they want to see and really what they don't want to see two days ahead of this vote.
[Collins:] Yes, absolutely. All right. Well, we'll be watching that. I know they're going to visit other cities across the country as well. Brianna Keilar, thank you. Meanwhile, later this hour, President Obama will address the big issues impacting Native Americans. Leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes will take part in the interactive discussion. Also attending, six Cabinet secretaries and several other top administration officials. Today's agenda will focus on sticky issues like treaty obligations, sovereignty, economic development, housing, health, and education. It is the first meeting of its kind since President Clinton hosted a similar event 15 years ago. Just minutes from now, President Obama going to deliver opening remarks at the Tribal Nations Conference. That is scheduled for 9:30 Eastern, 6:30 Pacific. We will carry it for you live. Questioning police. People in one Cleveland neighborhood want answers. Why didn't authorities find a home with 11 bodies sooner?
[Reynolds Wolf, Cnn Meteorologist:] And Heidi, in our part of the world, it's been a very quiet time for hurricanes. Hurricane season ends in late November, but things are starting to get heated up once again. Coming up in just a few moments, we'll give you the very latest details on Hurricane Ida, where it's going, how long it may last, who it may affect. That's moments away.