From P.R.I. Public Radio International and KCRW. Santa Monica. This is To the Point. Global warming, the EPA and Republicans in Congress.

Hello again. I'm Mormon Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International. A daily look at the issues Americans count about most. Whatever the president says tonight about global warming, the EPA is the next

House Republican target after health care reform. Last year was the warmest on earth since

1850, but Congress wasn't alarmed enough to take action. So the EPA began regulating

greenhouse emissions. The U.S. Supreme Court said the EPA had no choice if public health was at risk,

but Republicans say the regulations are job killers that aren't worth the cost.

Are they a long-term requirement for coping with global warming?

Or an unconstitutional power grab based on scientific uncertainties?

On reporter's notebook letter on street protest in

Cairo. First, here's the news. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica

and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation

and the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Warren-A. Back with To the Point. After health care reform, the next target for House Republicans is EPA regulation of greenhouse gases. We hear about the latest development in the political battle over global warming. On reporter's notebook, a rare clash between police and protesters in the streets of Cairo is a reflection of

the revolt in Tunisia. First, this news update. Tonight's state of the union address is billed by

the White House as a blueprint for economic recovery and competitiveness, but it's also a formal

beginning to the president's re-election campaign in 2012. Can Barack Obama rise above the expected cliches? Walter Shapiro is senior correspondent

for Politics Daily. He wrote speeches for former President Jimmy Carter. Walter Shapiro, always good

to have you on a program. Oh, thank you, Warren. The White House is saying now that there's going to be

proposed a five-year freeze on discretionary spending. That's everything except the Pentagon and Social Security and Medicare.

Is that big news?

Given the fact that Obama proposed a three-year freeze on non-discretionary spending last year,

my heart does not go pitter pat.

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