This Morning On The Stephanie Miller Show

A $410 billion spending bill that funds the U.S. government for the rest of the budget year passed the Senate yesterday despite complaints about nearly $8 billion in what critics called “pork barrel” projects. GOP critics are urging President Obama to veto the bill. The measure passed the House of Representatives last week.

President Obama began to flesh out the details of one of his signature campaign promises yesterday, outlining his plan for a major overhaul of the country’s education system “from the cradle up through a career.” He will push for more funding for “No Child Left Behind,” and merit pay for teachers.

President Obama is halfway through his first 100 days in office and he’s still enjoying a honeymoon with the American public. Obama’s job approval rating stands at 61% in a new CNN poll of polls, which averaged seven national surveys conducted over the past two weeks.

Vice President Joe Biden told NATO members yesterday that the situation in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan was worsening, adding, “The deteriorating situation in the region poses a security threat from our respect not just to the United States, but to every single nation” in NATO.

An Alabama man went on a shooting spree last night, killing 10 people – family members and apparent strangers – before turning the gun on himself. This morning, authorities are still trying to piece together the chronology of events and the motive for the gunman’s actions.