Suspended Santorum; then, the ‘Buffett Rule,’ politics & the economyt

Hour 1

Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum suspended his campaign yesterday, one week before Pennsylvania’s primary election. We’ll check in with NPR National Political Correspondent DON GONYEA, who covered the announcement in Gettysburg yesterday, about the announcement and what it might mean for voters, donors and frontrunner Mitt Romney.

Then, President Obama and Senate Democrats are busy this week drumming up support for the “Buffett Rule,” which would legislate that the wealthiest Americans pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes.  Republicans say that the proposal does nothing to create jobs at a time when unemployment and gas prices are foremost on the minds of the public.   Last week’s jobs report was disappointing, with only 110,000 new jobs added in March, and it raised more concerns about the reality of a long and slow economic recovery.  And the budget battles continue on Capitol Hill, where Republicans in the House approved a budget developed by Rep. Paul Ryan that would cut over $3 trillion from low-income programs over 10 years.  We’ve invited two economists with differing ideas and perspectives to join us.  ANTONY DAVIES is a professor of economics at Duquesne University and JOHN T. HARVEY is a professor of economics at Texas Christian University.

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[audio: 041112_100630.mp3]