News Correspondent Richard Lui

The debate over health care reform could be heading in a new direction. Democrats are considering going at it alone. That would mean trying to pass it without Republican support.

Caution: Relations between Dems and the GOP could get toxic.

Democrats want to use a process called reconciliation. It would only require 51 votes in the Senate to get a health care bill passed. Normally, a bill would require 60 votes to be passed. Also, with the reconciliation process, only 20 hours of debate would be allowed, no filibuster would be allowed, stamping out opposition debate.

Some Republicans might call the use of this process an underhanded move, and suggest that their efforts to hammer out a bipartisan solution unappreciated. Some Democrats would say their efforts to discuss major issues, even the public health plan option, are going unappreciated.

This is not the first time the reconciliation move has been discussed. President George W. Bush used it for major tax cuts. President Bill Clinton rejected reconciliation when he was trying to get his health care bill passed.

During the congressional break, bipartisan debate continues fervently in town halls across the country and in DC on health care. Democrats are trying to appease conservative members of their party to stay on board with the President, while wooing moderate Republicans.

What do you think of reconciliation? Smart move or the wrong move? Let us know what you think about the ongoing fight over health care right here, and we’ll share your comments later on Morning Express with Robin Meade.

Almost half a million Hondas are being called back to the shop due to a potentially deadly airbag defect.

If you or someone you know drives any of the following models, act quickly in getting your car looked at!

The driver's side airbags can over pressurize, and, according to Honda's release: "If an affected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants."

Honda spokesman Chris Noughtan told CNN's the potential defect has resulted in six known injuries and one known death.

The company will send a recall notice in the mail over the next few months, the release said.

The certain vehicles from the following groups are known to be affected:

2001-2002 Hondas
Accords, 2001 Civics
2002-2003 Acura TLs

Owners may check their car's recall status by visiting the Honda "Owner Link" Web site at www.owners.honda.com/recalls or the Acura "My Acura" Web site at www.owners.acura.com/recalls.

Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven

This might really help if you're struggling right now to afford your medicine.

You could get your prescriptions filled for free.

You might be able to get your prescriptions filled for free.

Pfizer is giving away some of its most widely-prescribed drugs for people who have lost their jobs and their health insurance.

To qualify, call them at 866-706-2400.

There are also many pharmacies (like Kmart, Costco and BJ's) offering cheap prices for many prescriptions.

This is a big deal: a recent poll found that almost 30 percent of adults say they haven't filled prescriptions because they cant afford it.

For more details, check out this story from CNN's personal finance expert Gerri Willis.

As a way to get the goods they want without shelling out big bucks, shoppers are turning to swapping as a way to keep their closets (and bookshelves, and gamerooms) stocked.

As the trend has gained popularity, swapping Web sites have cropped up for everything from books to music and games to clothes.

The Star Tribune interviewed Anneli Rufus, co-author of the book "The Scavengers' Manifesto," who explains that while people may have some reservations about swapping instead of buying, those reservations soon turn to a sense of satisfaction once people get what they want without paying any money.

Interested in doing some swapping of your own? You can check out websites like

Meetup.com – "Do something. Learn something. Share something. Change something"

Swaptree.com – "Swap books, trade CDs, DVDs and video games with other users for free."

Totswapshop.com – "An online marketplace for new and used children's goods"

Are you already a swapper? What are some of your favorite Web sites or ways to swap? Let us know in the comments field below.

President Obama will announce tough new fuel standards today, and they may end up costing you more money.

According to administration officials, Obama's proposed changes, along with the cost of already enacted fuel economy standards, will add about $1,300 to the cost of a vehicle by the year 2016.

However, the fuel efficiency regulations could make up for the cost in the money you'll save on gas.

Writer Lauren was kind enough to do the math for us.

- 10,0000 miles per year divided by 27.5 miles per gallon = 363.6

- Multiply that times today's average cost for gallon of gas: $2.31 x 363.6 = $840
gas per year.

- 10,0000 miles per year divided by new standard of 39 gallons = 256

- Multiply that times today's cost for a gallon of gas: $2.31 x 256 = $592

Under Obama's plan, in a passenger car that gets 39 miles per gallon, you'd get a 30% savings on the cost of gas for your car.

Is it worth it to you to spend a bit more on the initial cost of the car if you cut back on gas costs over time?

Let us know what you think in the comments field below!

Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven

Our team came across a great article today about a crop of websites that could help you save money and even earn a little bit too!

SmartMoney reports about the many new sites springing up to help people rent items – instead of buying them. This is great for items you know you are only going to use once or a few times – like jewelry for your wedding, a high-powered camera or a Nintendo Wii with guitar hero for a party!

There are all kinds of things that may be available for rent from someone in your neighborhood.

How about all the junk in your garage that you’re not quite ready to part with? You might be able to make a few extra dollars by renting out your stuff – maybe you have a power-washer or other tools someone might want to borrow.

SmartMoney.com says you can try sites like Zilok.com, Rentcharlie.com and ILetYou.com.

There’s always some risk, but they do have policies to protect you.

Political Correspondent Richard Lui

They are the fixtures in Everytown, USA. They are the family businesses that have survived generations of economic hardship, but now they are closing en masse.

Chrysler hopes to close about 1,100 small car dealerships.

GM and Chrysler are starting to hand out pink slips to dealerships around the country. Chrysler is asking a court to let it drop more than 1,000 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers - about a quarter of its network - as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.

GM wants to close 42% of its 6,250 dealer locations, which employ hundreds of thousands of workers.

They're spread out between urban centers and small towns. What’s different this time around is dealer owners will not get treated like the Oldsmobile dealerships that closed before. They received some $2 billion in compensation for shuttering their doors. This time it will be simple handshakes and goodbyes because of Chapter 11 procedures, which allow the automakers to bypass franchise laws.

Chrysler and GM need to cut capacity though. Currently their dealer network can handle double the volume both carmakers currently have ready to sell. By reducing the number of dealers, they are reducing costs and the need to send cars to underperforming dealerships, some of which have not invested in their facilities in years because of lack of profits.

Dealer owners aren’t taking this sitting down. Yesterday, more than 100 of them met with House and Senate members who are on the President’s auto task force. They want them to step in and slow the reduction, so communities can gradually absorb the jobs being cut.

So how is this affecting your town?

What does it mean to see the family businesses that have around for decades succumb to the bad times?

Certainly it will mean the end of their sponsorships for little league teams, charities and churches and their leadership on local chambers of commerce. And bottom line, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be gone, and that’s not good for the country.

Tell us what you think here, and we’ll get your comment on air on Morning Express.

Business Producer Gayatri Dhavan

Facing a Thursday deadline, Chrysler LLC appears on the verge of bankruptcy. CNNMoney has the rundown on why this automaker may not get all the help it needs.

Fiat may not be able to offer Chrysler all the help it needs.

If Chrysler files for bankruptcy, here’s what to expect.

If you own a Chrysler car:
- Warranties will still be okay
- The government has already stood behind the warranties.

For auto workers:
- The deal that workers agreed to yesterday will still be the nearly the same deal that workers will get in a bankruptcy.

For auto suppliers:
- There's no guarantee that all these suppliers will still be able to keep up Chrysler’s partnership in bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, there are still huge questions about whether Fiat can actually even help Chrysler.

Some experts saying: Fiat may not be successful enough to take on a problem of this magnitude.

More on Fiat:
- Fiat returned to profitability in 2005 after introducing new models and sharing more components among cars and through cooperative projects with competitors.

- Italian cars historically have a reputation for brilliant design but also quality lapses.

- J.D. Power data from Britain suggests Fiat has some way still to go.

- The firm's customer-satisfaction survey, which samples opinion after two years of ownership, has ranked Fiat at or near the bottom for the last four years.

Have a question? Leave it in the comments field below.

TV/Web Producer Kate Taylor

Hey folks, it's tax day! Regardless of who you are, you've coughed up a significant portion of your earnings to the federal government. You know the saying, only two things are inevitable: death and taxes. So, given that you can't get out of handing the money you earned with your blood sweat and tears over to the government, the least you could ask for is a bit of say in how they spend all that dough.

Oh America, tax time is never good for our relationship.

We asked Morning Express viewers how they'd like to have their tax dollars spent. Read through a selection of their responses below, and share your budget preferences in the comments field below.

- Taxes should help eliminate poverty and homelessness and increase access to health care for everyone. Duh! – Scott in Rochester, New York

- I want my tax dollars to stay in my pocket. Lower taxes fuels economic recovery not higher government spending. – Fred in Tampa

- I would like to see tax money used to put a temporary halt on foreclosures until we can get a more stable economy.

- I think tax dollars should go towards helping students be able to continue or start college, – Elanna in Myrtle Beach, Florida

- I want my tax dollar to go for new or revitalized railways–passenger and freight. This would create many new jobs and be better for the environment.

- I would like to see tax dollars go to anything but Bailouts. Let companies that aren't making it fail have how we learn from mistakes. – Trevor in Ohio

- I'd like for my tax money to go back in my pocket, but since that's not realistic I'd like to see it go to health care for all Americans.

- How about our tax dollars going toward the foundation of a Nat'l Peace Academy? – Randall in Austin, TX

- I'd like to see the tax dollars help with health insurance for all. It is getting way too costly, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.

- How about giving some tax money to teachers grades K-12? I'm a nurse and think teachers are way underpaid.

- I think our tax money should to education, without a formal education our future will amount to nothing. – Willie in Pensacola, Florida

- I believe tax dollars should go toward community festivals and events. This would bring people out of their homes and create a better sense of community.

- I would like my tax dollars to actually find cures for cancer and Alzheimer's.

- I would like my tax money to go to alternative energy research so in the future Exxon won't reap huge profits from helping pollute the planet. – Chad

- Mike from Sacramento. I want to see my tax dollars spent on keeping our bridges from collapsing and repaving our roads. Or wind energy research.

- I'm too young to pay taxes now, but I'd like to see my parents' and my future tax dollars spent on education, and AIDS research and treatment. Cure it!

- I would like to see my tax money spent on me. As a full time student who can't even find an internship to work for free, much less get paid, I need help!

- The only way to fix everyone's problems is to rid the world of money but, we all live in the real world and human greed won't let that happen ... yet. – Mike

- I think our taxes should go to the military and to creating a better standard of living for our nation.

- I would rather my taxes were spent on cookies than pay for some crook to go on vacation. – TK

- I'd like to see my tax dollars go to projects that are aimed to saving the environment.

- I agree I would rather see my tax dollars go towards Railway systems. – Jim in Pennsylvania
autism research and support! – Bekka

- I would like to see my tax money spent in ANY way that really matters, not some little bailout. – Jeremy in Missouri

Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven

April 15th is coming right up.

Some people may be behind because they haven’t done the work, but others may be worried that they just can’t pay the bill!

It’s human to procrastinate, but you’ll only pay for it later. The most important thing is to tell the IRS that you’ll be late.

Why: On midnight after April 15th, the clock starts running, and you may have to pay heavy penalties and interest.

Plus, it’s easy. You can do it right from your computer. Click here for the IRS form.

The IRS says it understands that American families are in very tough times, with millions out of work. So it’s message is: Let’s work things out.

IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman is due at the National Press Club later today to say what the IRS is doing to help those in distress – like giving IRS employees the flexibility to adjust or defer tax payments for some.

Questions? Leave them in the comments field below.