Transcripts For CSPAN British Labour Party Conference 20130930

Created by president obama, acts as an advisor the use of driving the efficiency and technology. Digital strategy, monday night on the communicators. Span 2. Ay on c cowboys mean a great deal to montana. Of livestock is a huge part of that. You still need a man or a woman or a young person who can get on a horse, take care of the livestock, whether it is getting them in to pull a cap or taking them to a calf or taking them to pasture with dignity. To take greats care of your cattle. , andcowboy culture began this man or woman or person was called cowboy had to live in all the elements. They lived and worked outdoors, so they had to dress accordingly. In the old days they really just had animal skins to use, just like the natives. Textiles. No modern they would cover their bodies with leather apparel. Chaps, derivedd from the spanish word. More cowboys and cattle as book tv looks at the history and literary life in billings, montana. The british house of commons is currently in recess, so Prime Ministers questions will not be shown tonight. Instead we will bring you remarks from British Labor leader admit live band ed miliband. An remarks are a little over hour. Flees welcome the leader please welcome the leader of the ed miliband. [applause] i want to start by thanking somebody from the bottom of my heart. A round of applause for justine,. Adies and gentlemen [applause] m, but a woman called ella phillips. Me on her bike. She fell off. I helped her off, and she called me something i had never been called before. She said i was an action hero. Why are you laughing . Heroaid i was an action who mysteriously appeared out of nowhere. Ed was not geeky at all. She said even the way he appeared was swath suave. I dont know why you find this so funny. He was dressed casually but had style. Sounds like me, doesnt it . This,pretty pleased with as you can tell, until something dawned on me. Ella said, i was seeing things because i was in quite a days. Not kidding, but let me say, if you are watching today, thank you. You have made my year. [applause] i want to start today with the simplest of thoughts. Change that has inspired for generations, the belief that great drive us into the reforming government of 1945, that is more important now than it has been for decades. And emotion felt across this country at kitchen tables every night. A feeling so threatening and words so modest yet hard to believe. Words that say britain can be better than this. We are britain. We are better than that in this. Are you satisfied with a country where people are working harder for less year after year . Are you satisfied with a country which shuts out the voices of millions of ordinary people and listens only to the powerful . Are you set the and with a . Ountry standing apart i am not satisfied. With theu satisfied country standing apart . We are britain. We are better than this. We have to rebuild. And economy built on your success. A society based on your values. , acceptingor alike we are goingbility to make it happen. Today i am going to tell you how. I want to start with leadership. Momentsout those lonely when you have to peer deep into your soul. I believed labor needed to turn the page and i was the best person to do it. I became leader i faced a decision about whether we should stand up to rupert murdoch. Wasnt what had been done in the past, but it was the right ring to do. Right thing to do. [applause] together we faced him down. The other week i faced a different decision about whether the country should go to war. Leadergest decision any faces. The biggest decision any party faces. All of us were horrified by the appalling chemical weapons attacks in syria. Became your leader, i said we would learn the lesson of iraq. It would have been a rush to war. I said no, it was the right to do. The right thing to do. [applause] you see, the real test of leadership is not whether you stand up for the week stand up to the weeak. Its when you stand up to the strong. Woman called molly. 70s. Was in her 70s pop she was in her front room, sipping tea, and she said to me, how can you possibly understand the lives of people here, their hopes, and their struggles . The right question, and here is the answer. To me it has to do with the values i have been brought up with. Mum whouse, it was my taught me about values. She is the most patient, generous person i have met in my life. She taught me never to be contemptuous of others. Was teaching me a lesson in life. Leave someo people say you have to leave these and see behind, but i have to say they are wrong. [applause] only if you reach out and listen can you do the most important , the mostader can do important qualification for being Prime Minister. Only then will you have the to know who to fight for. Guided by the only thing that matters, your sense of what is right. This is what i believe. This is where i stand. This is the leadership written needs. Britain needs. Needi think about who we to fight for, i think about all the people i have met over the last year. I think of the people of written and their enormous and extraordinary spirit. Our troops serving bravely all around the world. Let us pay tribute today. Ive seen in afghanistan those young men and women who are old enough who are young enough to be my son or daughter. Serving our country. It is a truly humbling experience. Doesnt see events in the last two or three days in can you remind us of the importance of eating vigilant against terrorism at home and around the world . Againsting vigilant terrorism at home and around the world . I think of the brave men and women of our police force who serve with so little credit each and every day in our country. Lets thank them for what they do. [applause] then i think of all the people i have met over the last year. I did something unusual. And talk town squares to people about their lives. I remember the town meeting i had. Just coming to the end of the meeting, and this low blokery up. This wandered up. He was angry. He was so angry he would not give me his name, but he did tell me his story about how he spent the last 10 years looking after his disabled wife and another four years looking for a job and not finding one. He was angry about immigration, and some people booed him,. Out in of the traders all weather, working at all hours, and they said, this country doesnt seem to be rewarding our hard efforts. Touchociety is losing with our values. I think of this beautiful spring day and this face in the crowd, this young woman who said she was an ambulance controller, so proud to be working for our National Health service. And so proud of her young son, because she was a single parent, 19 years old, and she said, why does everyone portray me as a word in on the system . I am going out there. I am doing the right wing for our country. Why doesnt anyone listen to my voice . [applause] met i think of someone i just around the corner from where i live. He stopped me in the street. He said, where is your bodyguard . Said, i dont have one. He told me his story. I do the work. I go all around the country. I earn a decent wage, but i still cannot make ends meet. He said, is anyone going to do anything about those gas and electric bills that go up faster than i can earn a living. He wanted somebody to fight for him. What do you learn . All these people of britain. Love britain. They embody it, but all of them believe written can do better can dois. Britain better than this. They are right. Written will do better than this with the government that fight for you. [applause] for britain to do better than this, we have got to understand why things are, so tough at the moment. Unless we put things right it will only be a recovery for the few. What i am about to tell you is the only important thing about what needs to change. For generations when the economy grew, the majority got better off, and somewhere along the way that vital link between growing wealth of the country and your Family Finances was broken. This goes beyond one party or one government. Than whichmportant party is in power. Up i saw the benefits. People were able to go on a holiday their grandparents didnt even dream of, to have a secure pension in retirement and also believe their kids would have a better life than them. Fromfeels a long way away where britain is today, and thats because it is. Somewhere along the way the link. Broken. They used to say a rising tide lifts all boats. Seems to lift the yachts. [applause] i say this to the people of written. Britain. If i were you i would not even take a second look at a Political Party unless they made it their central defining purpose, because your future depends upon it. Your childrens future depends on it. Depends on it. E i say we can do better than this. [applause]. Ow ive got a question for you do the tories get it . No. . They dont get it, do they i understand why three and a half years ago some people might have thought David Cameron did get it, and thats why people voted for him in the last general election. Change, but i dont believe they got the change they were looking for. Next week you are going to see David Cameron resuming his lap of honor for how brilliant he has done, laming credit for his enormous achievements, how he saved the economy. He will even be taking off his shirt and flinging it into the crowd, expecting adoration from the people. Maybe i should promise if i become Prime Minister, i will not ache my shirt off in public. Its just not necessary, is it . I will try to keep us honest. [applause] he iso David Cameron, going on this lap of honor. George osborne as well. Arent they brilliant . Million young people looking for work, more people working parttime who want fulltime work. More people working longer, the lowest Living Standards since 1870. That is worthy of a lap of shame. [applause] he does have one record. Minister forrime 39 months, and in 38 of those months wages have risen more slowly than prices. That means your Living Standard is following year after year. You will be asking, am i better off now than i was five years ago . We already know the answer will be know . You have made the sacrifices, theyou have not gotten reward. Time,w it would take whomever was in power, but when the tories tell you the pain donte worth the gain, believe them. They cant solve the cost of living crisis, and heres why. The cost of living crisis isnt an accident of David Camerons economic policy. Economic policy. [applause] let me explain why. Calledeves in this thing the global race, but what he doesnt tell you is he thinks for britain to win the global race you have to lose, lower wages, fewer rights at work, but britain cant win a race for the lowest wages against countries where wage rate our pennies an hour, and the more we try, the worse things will get for you. A race againstin the sweatshops of the world, and the more we try, the worse it will get for you. Againstcant win a race countries where Kids Leave School at the age of 11. The more we try, the worst things will get for you. Its a race to the bottom. Britain cannot and should not win that race. [applause] you see, its not the achievements of the stories that really gets me. If theyre low aspirations for you but their high hopes of those at the top. The bonuses are back, up 82 takes to the millionaires tax cut, so when they tell you the economy is better, remember they are not talking about your life. They are talking about your friends at the top. Its high hope for them, and ever so often, the mask slips. Howell, hecall lord was the advisor on fracking. He said it was wrong to frack in some areas but not in others. He said it was ok in desolate areas. In one casual aside, dismissing the whole region of the country. Thes tell the stories about northeast of england and every other part of britain. People go to work. Out for each other. They are proud. [applause] they are proud of their communities. The tories call them does lit desolatecall them areas. We call them the heroes of our country. [applause] they are fed up with a government that doesnt understand their lies and a Prime Minister who cannot walk in their shoes. We are britain. We are better than this. [applause] to make britain better, we have got to win a race to the top, not a race to the bottom. Other countries will buy our goods. Countries will invest. We arent going to be able to do it easily. Its going to be tough. Let me just say this. You think opposition is tough . You should try government. Tough. Ing to be we are going to have to stick to strict spending limits to get the deficit down. We arent going to be able to spend money we dont have. We can win a race to the top. Let me tell you how. About the talents we nurture. Its about the vested interest as we take on. The environment is a passion of mine when i think about my two kids. When i think about my two kids, theyre not that interested in the environment, hey are more interested in the autobots. The will say, were you first generation to get Climate Change . That is the question they will be asking. It is not just about environmental care. It is about the future. Afford to have avironmental commitments at time like this he is dead wrong, we cannot not afford to have environmental commitments at this time. Why labor has a leading role in government, to take all the carbon out. Newp towards one million green jobs in our country. To win that race the top, we have to do something else. We have the support businesses of the future. Small number of Large Businesses. Theou think 15 years ahead, change and dynamism is so great. Most of the new jobs being done will be done by companies that do not yet exist. Came tos government office, since they have come to office, they have cut taxes by 6 billion pounds and raised taxes on Small Businesses. I do not think that is the right priority. Frankly, they have sure changed Small Business and i will put it right. , innext labor government 2015, we will use the money that this government will use to cut taxes for Large Businesses to rates for one point 5 million businesses across our country. That is the way you win the race to the top. [applause] one nation, labor, the party of Small Business. , we willome to office benefit as mrs. Businesses and we will win the race to the top. To win that race to the top, we have to nurture the talent of the next generation and the skills of people. There are so many brilliant businesses in our country that provide training to the workforce. Business leaders say this to me, there are not enough of them. If you want a government contract, you must provide apprenticeships to the next generation. [applause] we will say, if you want to bring in a skilled worker, then you have a legal duty to provide for the next generation. I will say that companies doing the right thing, training the workforce, they will have the over competitors who refused to do the same and that is how we win the race to the top. It is not just business has a responsibility. We have a tragedy in this country. Hundreds of thousands of young people on the dole. Behind the short word is a tragedy of hundreds of thousands of young lives. Our young people should be in education or training and getting back on the road to a proper career. Tot requires government check our responsibility for the next generation in written. And that is what we will two. To win the race the top, we had to take advantage of our talent. I took my sunday meal to his first day of school. He was nervous. Pretty soon, he started having fun. Its like joining the labour party. It is not exactly like being the leader of the labour party. Schoolands of the daily and we havey to understand that. That. E to change it was okntury, because one pair could stay home. It is not ok now. That is why we want every Primary School to have afterschool care that parents need. That is what the next labor government will do. Two when the race to the top to win the race to the top, we have to focus on minimum wage. [applause] facts. To face there are millions of people in this country going out to work , unableng home at night to afford to bring up their families and that is wrong in one of the richest countries in the world. Mustext labor government deal with the scourge of low pay. To do that, we have to learn lessons. About business and unions working together in the right way to keep the minimum wage at the right level. The minimum wage has been falling in value. I do not often say anything nice about the banks, but there are some sectors that can afford to pay a higher wage and they are. At sectors that can afford higher minimums. We have to do it on the right basis. That is what we will do. The next labor government will strengthen the minimum wage to make work pay for millions in our country. That is how you win the race to the top. To win that race to the top, we have to hold the race to the bottom. Im the son of two immigrants. Im proud of the welcome that britain gave me and my family. Contributepeople who and are part of our community. Let me say this, if people want offth to cutting themselves , labor is not your party. If people if people want a party that will set the right rules for working people, labor is your party. The only party that will do it. Employers not paying the right age and government turning blind eye. It is a race to the bottom. Not under my government. As a race to the bottom, not under my government. People exploiting people. That is a race to the bottom. Not under my government. Rogue landlords putting 15 people in housing. That is a race to the bottom. Not under my government. In our country, in our country, in our country. Shady and dubious Employment Practices are a race the bottom. Not under my government. [applause] asks whether we are pandering, lets tell them that we stand where labor has always stood emma countering comeitation, wherever they from. We have never believed a race to the bottom and we have always believed a race to the top. In a race to the top, we had to take on the vested interests that hold our economy back. In the 1990s, we commit to a Dynamic Market economy. Think of those words. Dynamic market economy. Think about this. What happens when competition fails . It fails againen and again and again . Somebody has to act. Trade companies. Payday lenders who force people into unpayable debts. Up. Ing prices up and that is not good for the economy. That is not Dynamic Market economy. At thee sector does well expense of others. That is bad for business and for britain. Ultimately, i do not think these companies are where the blame lies. I think it lies of government. I think it lies with government. With to the powerful interests and not standing up for the small. We need to just will Energy Companies in britain. Many to invest in the future. We need to get a fair deal. Frankly, there will never be public consent for bad investment on less we get a fair deal. The system is broken and we can fix it. In 2015, the election the next labor government will electricitynd prices until 2017. [applause] [applause] your bill will not rise. It will benefit businesses. That is what i mean by government that fights for you. Thats what i mean i saying that britain can be better. Companies are not going to like this. It will cost them more. They have been over charging people for too long with the market that does not work. It is time to reset the market. Well pass legislation in our first year in office to do that. Well have a regulator that is genuinely on the customers side and enabling the investment that we need. That will be better than this. [applause] so, making britain better than this starts with our economy. Your economic success is the foundation for britains economic success. It does not stop there. That society has lost touch with values. What theyre saying is, they do hard work and effort to bring up their kids in the right way and they feel that their kids are going have a worse life than them. Never has that been more true than when it comes to renting or buying a home. Buy. Renters want to 9 million people. We dont just have a cost of living crisis. We have a housing crisis. In 2010, there was a problem. Are, byrry on as we 2020 emma therell be 2 million to few homes in britain. We had to do something about it by 2020, there will be 2 million too few homes in britain. We have to do something about it. That is what the next labor government will do. [applause] authority. E a local neighboring authorities cannot to stop it. Just stop it. Aim thatll have an britain will be building homes. That is how we will make britain better than this. [applause] theere do we need to put reddish dye use back into our ntry more than in our nowhere do we need to put the British Values back into our country more than in our health care. Girl was suffering from depression and anxiety and told me a heartbreaking story about how she had ended up in hospital for 10 weeks. Affects rich and poor, north and south, young and old. We have swept it under the carpet for too long. It is a british thing. We dont like to talk about it. Back, orve a bad suffering from cancer, youll talk about that. If you have depression, you dont want to talk about it because it does not seem right. We have to change that. We have to change that it is to that. It is too [applause] it is important for National Health. You might say that it will be tough. There will be difficult decisions in government. Heres the thing, the 17year old said, and that letter, if somebody has identified the problem, i would have ended up in hospital and costing the state thousands of pounds. It is about that early identification. If that is true of Mental Health , you can do that for care with the elderly. [applause] more that ourch country could be doing for our grandmothers and grandfathers. It is the same story. Rail in the home stops people from falling over. And, all the money that that costs. Times, we have raised our site and create the National Health service. I want this government do the same. Even in tough times. Together physical health, Mental Health, and the care of the elderly. To create the greatest National Health service. That is the goal. [applause] we do not just need to improve the Health Service, we have to do it. And, the liberals to. Too. Berals, i really speeches by David Cameron. He said that the three most important letters were nhs. He has a funny way of showing it. Howas still ship saying great everything was. Have you noticed that they have changed their tune . Now they say that everything is bad in the National Health service. A majority of nurses do a good job. When things go wrong, we should be the first to say so. Cameron isdavid running down the nhs is not because of doctors and nurses arent doing as good a job as they were. They have come to a realization that the Health Service is getting worse on their watch and they are trying to find some the else to blame. When the doctors, blame the nurses, when the last Labour Government, that is what they are doing. You about the record of the last Labour Government. When we came to office, they were targets that were not being met. When we left office, waiting time targets were being met. Only came to office, when we came to office when we came to office, when we came to service thate had they can rely on. When we came to office, people had fewer services. When we left office, they had more services than before. People said that they did not think it would be there in the next generation. We left them with the highest satisfaction in history. We did rescue the National Health service. [applause] when you hear David Cameron when you hear David Cameron talking about what is happening in the nhs, remember it is not complicated. It is as simple as abc. It is anyone but cameron. We know was responsible. Who is responsible. The topdown organization that nobody voted for and nobody wanted. Services,ntation of we know who is responsible. Window was responsible for fewer we know who is responsible for fewer nurses. It is this Prime Minister who is responsible. It is the same old story. We rescued the nhs and they wrecked the nhs. We have to rescue it all over again. That is what the next Labour Government will do. [applause] [applause] [applause] ok. Right. Now, ive explained to you how we can make britain better at changing our economy. I want to talk about how we can change the politics. Heres the bit you are looking. Or two, party reform here is the data that you are. Ooking forward to change is difficult. Change is uncomfortable. I know people are uncomfortable about some of the changes. The mix like you white is so important. All of the forces rage against us and we cannot just be a party of 200,000 people. 500,ve to be a party of 600, that 500,000, 600,000, or many more. 500,000, 600,000, or many more. Link with trade unions. I want to mend that link. I wanted to hear the voices of working people in our party. Not written before. You see, our history, it is you who have been telling us that we have not been rooted enough in the workplaces of our country. That is going to change. That is part of my reform. My reforms are about hearing the voices of people. From people and Small Businesses to people working in supermarkets and people at the heart of our party. It is about my politics. Leaders matter. Of course they do. Changeend, little happens because people make it happen. You cannot beat it party for working people unless you have working people at the core of thisparty up and down country. Thus the point of my reforms. We can make ourselves a mass membership party. The people ourselves upon party again. s party again. Politics, to change our politics, we have to do more than that. I think about our young people. Their energy and their voices. The voices of young people demanding a job in the voices of young people demanding that we shoulder and do not shirk our responsibility to the environment. Ledyoung people who have the fight and won the battle for equal marriage in britain. [applause] and the voices of young people, particularly young women , who say that the title for battley is not one for inequality is not won. To beant 50 of mps women. They are right. They are not satisfied. That not satisfied. They are not satisfied. We still do not have equal pay for equal value. They are not satisfied and they are right. And they are not satisfied. And they are not satisfied that women aret 2013, still subject to violence in everyday sexism. They are not satisfied. They are right. Friends, friends, lets give a voice to these people in our party. Lets give a voice to these people in our democracy. People part ofe our democracy. You know, we have to win the battle. The most Important Institution of all is our united kingdom. [applause] friends, evolution works. Minister of wales shows that evolution works. Ofs praise the leadership our scottish leadership for the brilliant job that they are doing. Referendum is going to be conducted on facts and figures and arguments and counter arguments counterarguments. I the story of kathy. She living glasco. She worked in local supermarket. In 2010, she was diagnosed with a serious heart problem. Delegate. N 2011 as a ell ill. Ill f the doctors said that they would have to give her a long and risky operation. Foreigner. Lets win the battle for the united kingdom. Talk to you today about policy and what a Labour Government would do, how it would make britain better, win a race to the top of our party, get back in touch with peoples values and change our politics to let new voices in. For the next election isnt just going to be about policy. Its going to be about how we lead and the character we show. Ive got a message for the tories today. They want to have a debate about leadership and character. Be my guest. And if you want to know the difference between me and David Cameron, heres an easy way to remember it . When it was murdock versus mccann, he took the side of murdock. When it was a tobacco lobby, he took the side of the tobacco lobby. When it was a millionaire who wanted a tax cut but the people paying the bedroom tax, he took the side of the millionaires. Come to think of it, heres an even easier way to remember it, David Cameron was a Prime Minister who introduced the bedroom tax. Aisle be the Prime Minister who repeals the bedroom tax. You see, heres the thing about David Cameron he may be strong at standing up to the weak, but hes always weak when it comes to standing up against the strong. Thats the difference between me and David Cameron. So lets have that debate about leadership and character. And i relish that debate. Well see the tories in the next election. People on benefits versus those in work. People in unions against those outside of unions, people in the private sector versus the public sector. People in the north against those in the south. Its the worst form of politics. I stay with brit ta britain, were better than this. Telling anyone, telling anyone whos looking for a job, that theyre a scrounger, however hard theyre working, even if work were available, i say were britain, were better than this. So come on. I have a message you can tell your linten crosby, it might work elsewhere, but it wont work here with britain. Were better than this. Is i believe seeing the best in people, not the worst. Thats what im about. Thats how we create one nation. Thats how we make britain better than this. Thats how we have a government that fights for you. Prepare yourself for that fight. When you think of that fight, dont think about our party, think about our country. Im going to win this fight for labour. I want to win it for britain. Throughout our history, the voices of hope have been raised against the voices of fear, the voices of hope have won through. Those who said at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution that working people needed the vote and they wouldnt wait. They knew britain could be better than this. And we were. Those that said those are the bit of the new century. For those with the birth of a new century that working people needed a party to fight for them and the old order wouldnt do. Those who said after the Second World War that britain could rebuild after the war and said never again, they knew britain could do better than this. We did. Those who said the 20th century grew old and the battle for equality is still young, they knew britain could do better than this. And we did. So now its to us to build one nation, the country for all, a britain we rebuild together. Britains best days lie ahead. Britain can do better than this. Were britain, were better than this. Ill lead a government that fight for you. Thank you very much. [ applause ] the british house of commons is in recess as members continue their annual party conferences. Prime ministers questions were turned wednesday, october 9 with live coverage on cspan 2 with 7 00 a. M. And later in the week at 9 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Some of our live programs include new york city, an address by the syrian deputy Prime Minister. His remarks come days after the u. N. Security Council Unanimously voted on a resolution that would eliminate syrias chemical weapons stock pile. That will be live on cspan 2 at 9 45 eastern. Later, well be live at the National Press club in washington, d. C. With education secretary arnie duncan for the priorities for the remainder of the obama administrations second term. Thats at 1 00 p. M. Eastern. We were going to do the book after he died, but he preempted that and i was horrified, quite honestly. And then i was delighted. I always felt that people are more alike than they are different. And so the artist in me rose to that occasion that if i could create something that is so moving and that permits the kind of distance that you sometimes need from what is painful, then people will understand. And understanding is what is fundamental. The point is that no organization is it given to that effect. None of the relevant facts are considered. And this is regarded as one of the half dozen cases where the theory entails the use of military force is legitimate. The only National Television network devoted exclusively to nonfiction books every weekend. Throughout the fall, were marking 15 years of book tv on cspan 2. I was so inspired that we went down to the Public Library in the town of alabama trying to get library cards. Trying to check out books. And we were told that the library was for whites only and not for coloreds. Or book signing with my book, walking with the wind. John lewis is our in depth guest next sunday. Heel take calls and comments live for three hours starting at noon eastern. In the months ahead, look for kitty kelly on november 3. And radio talk show host, january 5. Currently if the bill is not agreed upon on both chambers of commerce, it would be shut down for funding. The News Conference is a little over 30 minutes. It begins with remarks from conference chair Kathy Mcmorris rogers. Good sunday afternoon. Im Kathy Mcmorris rogers. I have the privilege of serving as the chair of the House Republicans of congress. We were here late last night, almost midnight, taking action, tests after midnight. We were here after midnight taking action where the house would stay open the senate doors are locked. Harry reid are locked. Theyre shut down. If the senate doesnt act, it may be inevitable. The senate needs to act. Why arent they waiting . Why arent the doors open. I would like to have my colleagues share some of their perspective starting with tim griffin. Tim griffin, Second District of arkansas. You know, i think the fact that the senators arent here and harry reid is off somewhere is all of the evidence you need to know that they want to shut down the government. Ive been told that by high level democrats in town that this has been a plan for a while. I personally believe that senator reid and the senate want to shut down the government for political reasons. They blamed every bad thing in the world on sequestration which was the president s idea, they made the decision within the agencies to make the pain as bad as it could be. I believe thats the plan here. The only evidence you need, folk, is the fact that theyre not here. This is the old football strategy. They run out the clock because they like where they are. Thats exactly whats going on here. If they really if they really cared whether this government would shut down or not, they would be here instead of saying that theyll be back tomorrow afternoon at some point at some late hour, theyll pass something and then theyll say, oh, my gosh, weve run out of time. Well yeah, theyve run out of time. Theyre not here. That is precisely what theyre doing we were here until way in the morning last night to do what we can. We heard my way or the highway. Weve had two proposals that we sent over to them, theyre stuck on the first one. Sounds like my way or the highway is the senate way. So were just asking them in good faith, come back and do what is required of a democracy and thats to negotiate and work with us. Instead of being off wherever they are today. So we ask them to come back and get something done and work with us to avoid a shutdown. I think a shutdown is bad policy and i think its bad politics and were doing everything we can to avoid it. Im Marsha Blackburn from tennessee, tennessees seventh congressional district. We were just talking. We were saying we could have a great country album going on in this. I could say o brother where art thou but now its o senator, where art thou. Theyre too preoccupied yesterday. Too busy to come back today. What theyre trying to do is shut down the government. This is what president barack obama wants. This is all part of his game plan. Shut it down so he can get the checkbook and so he and the attorney general eric holder can decide what parts of the federal government are going to stay open. Now, they keep saying, oh, well, its all because of obama care, well let me tell you something right now, we have tried to work now with the issues. The American People have asked us repeatedly to address the cause, the inconvenience, the loss of access to health care and jobs that have come about because of obama care. We are doing our job on behalf of the American People. We continue to invite the president and the senate to come work with us and to help us negotiate the issues around the continuing resolution and the debt ceiling. So senate, get on back to town. We are here to work. And the senate has been absent for two full days. Were doing the work of the American People, our constituents, we all have families. Were here. Unlock those doorings, i say to harry reid, and come out and do your job. The senate must act. They must, must act. We do not want to shut this government down. Its wrong and we want to work and negotiate and get the job done. On friday, harry reid makes it clear were going to take just a lazy break until monday at 2 00. The clocks running out. And theyre not here. It was our way or the highway is what the senate said on friday. And we hear from Senate Democrats and the president that obama care is the law. So just forget about it. Its not changing. I would remind the president harry reid, Senate Democrats, the debt cerealing is the law as well. And unless you want that shoved back in your face, you need to be flexible and help American People. Weve heard from hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people in my office who have already been hurt by obama care. Hes given hundreds and hundreds of waivers and exemptions to cronies and those who supported him in the election. And whos left out . The American People. The American People want an exemption, want a waiver for at least a year. Hes given it to business. Now come on back and lets do the right thing by america and lets give the American People an exemption for a year as well. Thats all we ask. I grew up on the farm. When you grow up on the farm, you learn you work until the work is done. I would say, hey, dad, im done. Hed say, yeah, its not done well enough, do it again. I learned the value of staying at it, do the job until you do it well. We care about the people that we represent. They deserve better than they get right now when the Senate Leaves them high and dry and we might have a democratic shutdown in this country. We do not need that. Thats why were here working. We asked the senate to come back, get the job done, show you care about the American People. Were going to continue to be here until this job is done because we care. Thank you. Shawn duffy, wisconsin seven it is 4 13 on sunday afternoon. We are less than 32 hours away from a Government Shutdown. And wheres the senate . Theyre not here. Listen, the American People need to understand this is divided government. And when you have divided government, you need both sides to come together, Work Together to get the job done. The job doesnt get done when the senate doors are closed and were 32 hours away from a shutdown. That comes together. Lets Work Together. Lets do the job for the American People. That doesnt happen unless theyre here. So, tomorrow coming back at 2 00 in the afternoon, ten hours away from a shutdown, our country expects more than that. They deserve better than that. Come back today, lets Work Together. Lets keep the American Government open and running. The American People asked us to do two things, to address the Health Care Law because its hurtling americans. They also asked us to keep the federal government funded. We tried now twice to do that with this senate. The American People expect leadership in addressing these issues. The house is here, were going to be here, were going stay here until the house is finished. I urge the senate to come back. Glad to invite to the microphone our distinguished majority leader in the senate, harry reid. [ laughter ] oh, im sorry, harrys not here today. Maybe hell show up later. This was the plan of the democrats. Im congressman dana rohrabacher, 48th congressional of california. Democrats say the republicans want to shut down the government. Their plan is to shut down the government and blame it on us. The American People want to assess whats going on here, last night the republicans after a long time of discussion and consideration decided on what our compromised position would be. We reached out to the senate. We reached out to the democrats that control the senate with a compromised position. That is when you have two sides fundamentally opposite of each other but we respect each others right to disagree, we try to reach a compromise. The Republican Party which now controls the house offered our compromise. If this government shuts down, it is because the senate, the democrats who control the senate playing politics want to shut down the government because they have refused to even consider the compromise that we have offered. This president negotiates with all kinds of despots and terrorist leaders. He wont even negotiate with us. We have reached out. Weve offered the compromise. Lets have a oneyear delay. Obama care isnt even ready to launch anyway. Lets give it a oneyear to consider for the American People and the Government People could get ready. Weve offered the compromise. Theyre turning us down. Theyre the ones that are shutting down the government. Im virginia fox from the Fifth District of north carolina. I think my colleagues have stated the case very well. But lets put it in even simpler terms two branches of this government two parts of the threepart equation are controlled by the democrats. The senates control over the democrats. The president s controlled by the democrats. And i want to say we need to use the word control and not leadership bill johnson is correct theres a total lack of leadership here because leadership will be working to get things done. What theyre doing is aiming for a shutdown of the government. You hear republicans constantly talking about keeping the government open, not closing the government. Its only the democrats who talk about wanting to shut down the government. Their attempt is to blame it on republicans. But you know what . Again, theyre 2 3 of the equation. Its pretty simple. Even most kids can understand that. They have 2 3 of the opportunity here to solve this problem. Were 1 3. So lets the senate should be here. The senate should be working on this issue. And the president should be joining them. Tom reid from new york, 23rd congressional district. I wanted to simply state this. If this government goes into a shutdown, and were working to avoid that in the house, understand what it goes to shut down on. The senate has a package in front of it to delay obama care for one year. President obama delayed it one year with his pen for big business. Were just asking on behalf of all of the other american, mr. President , harry reid, treat american citizens equally. Its only fair that the delay in obama care that the president says should occur for big business, we believe, should also occur for every other american. Treat each other equally and treat us fair, mr. President , avoid this shutdown, senate, come back, accept the compromise, and lets move forward and work out our differences. Thank you. Pennsylvania 12, a freshman member. I have to say, im very frustrated. Here we are the day before september 30. I came out of a long career in the private sector where deadlines matter. And you worked overtime and you worked long and hard to get the job done. Its frustrating that the Senate Majority leader is not bringing the senate back until tomorrow but he needs to get back here because we want to add dress the problems, solve the problem, we voted to keep the government open and were going to work hard to keep the government open. Thank you. Kevin cramer, the state of north dakota where i represent the entire state where we have 25,000 job openings that pay very, very well. If you come to north dakota, you better be prepared to put in a long, hard day to earn that good pay. And i can tell you ive been very frustrated at the work ethic in the chamber above us. Whoever you blame, whatever your position is in the issues of the day, the issue today is that at the end of the day tomorrow, we meet a deadline. And were here to work. Compromise requires two sides, negotiation requires two sides. Tim, a Football Game requires two teams. Picking up your ball and going home makes for sort of a lousy game. These are big issues. Im here to work through the weekend and i expect the senate do the same. That people demand it and the people deserve it. John carter from the 31st district in texas. Last night in the debates we heard a litany from our democrat colleagues across the aisle of all of the terrible things that were going to happen when this government shut down. It was almost 30 minutes just one thing after another after another. This is at the time when the republicans were introducing a bill to protect our soldiers and our military from anything that hurt them on their pay as a shutdown. And they were acting as if it was automatic we were shutting it down. But we were introducing a bill to continue the government. Today, the senate has an opportunity if they were here to continue the government. Instead, they take a walk. Might be a crusading reporter here might get on the phone and start calling Senate Residents here in washington that you might find havent even left town. Most have us live here most of the time. Most of us find some place else, to work here. If you want to make a news story, call them up and see if they are here, you never know. If they did their job after last night, whos trying to shut down the government . Its not hard. Even in texas, we can figure that out. Todd mcclint to being from the Fourth District of california. If harry reid wants to avoid the shutdown, why arent they here. It was designed to work with a bicameral system where the house exercises its best judgment and the senate exercises its best judgment. Both sides have done that. Then theyre supposed to come together and negotiate their differences. The entire process is built on that premise. For 225 year, when crises have loomed over this capitol, the house and the senate have done that. Theyve got up together and compromised out their differences. This is not happening now. The process cannot work in this function. The lights are on, but nobody is home back there. My background is as a veterinarian. I didnt come here for a job, this is for a cause and our country. The problems are bigger than the republicans and the democrats. These problems need to be put in front of us. They need to come together. I heard a lot of theatrics and a lot of drama that the republicans wanted to close down government. Anything but that. Nobody wants that done. But the words coming from our districts are that the American People want us to deal with the Affordable Care act in a real way. And so the republicans are here and my question is, wheres mr. Reid and wheres the president . Were here to solve these problems and id sure love to have them here and im sure you would and the American People would too. Thank you. Im another floridian, john micah from floridas seventh district. I think we voted over 40 times, most of us here, voted over 40 times to repeal or do away with obama care. Yesterday, last evening, working into this morning, we voted for a compromise some of us maybe didnt like it, was to just put a oneyear restraint on obama care which again you heard is already done for business. Now, were here to do the peoples business. Were here this morning they have six, seven, eight hours to get folks back here. Theyre not here. This boils down to basically a plan to close down the government to not appear to the last minute, shove a bill back and try to blame the republicans. But whats really happened is today, the day they should be working, the United States senate is awol. Questions . You kind of got some tourists here. Normally you dont have press conferences with tourists around, some presumably travelled a great distance at great expense to see the nations capitol. What do you say to them . Our message is one that the republicans want to keep this government open. We have taken action to keep the government open. And were calling on the senate to come back, do their job. Theres two bodies in congress for a reason. And just because one body hasnt done its job doesnt mean that the other doesnt want to. And weve shown weve acted, weve shown the leadership. We need the senate to act now. Many of you talked about many of you talked about the problems you have with health care and the opportunities and the concern you have of a Government Shutdown. Which is worse, the Government Shutdown or having obama care in place. We have put a bill we have put legislation on the table, obviously, that would keep the government open and delay the obama care for one year, as well as eliminate the medical device tax. This is what were hearing from the people we represent. We represent people back home who sent us here. We have a responsibility to act upon what theyve asked us to do. We hear from them. They want to keep the government open, but they are also panicked over this Health Care Law. And the weigh this on a scale, which is worse compromises in between. Yeah. There are let me say this, ive got a little different perspective than maybe a lot of you. The differences between us and the senate on substance are often great. We can have that conversation. But theyve got to be here to have it. The point of this is a disagreement on substance. I give you that. The point is how can you say you care one wit if youre not here. It cant happen when these folks arent here. Were asking us to negotiate with themselves. You ask us to make the choices which one weighs more. Were saying to the senate, tell us which one ways more than you. Republican members of the senate. They call on harry reid. It leaves a signal that they are eager to be done with this. This is an effort that was organized by the house. The house is enacted. The Senate Leadership in the house and the leadership as well as the president needs to act. Weve heard from the president , weve heard from the Senate Democrats that they think it should be a clean cr and a clean debt ceiling. You know, that is taking the easy way out. And thats the foolishness that got us into the place and has frustrated the American People that they see status quo coming out of washington, d. C. And were here to say were here to excuse me he was elected by the American People. Maam. Maam reporters. Sit down. If i may, if i may. Is. I was elected. I represent you have individual constituencies and we are representing the people that we all work with. What are the option s . Were waiting for the senate to act. They need to have the debate in the senate. The unaffordable law is hurting people around this country. They want relief from a government thats spending beyond its means. Thats what we want the senate to act on and were going to keep pushing the senate to act. I have one more question. Come on presume was the influence. Theyre grandstanding and making up a point they make up points as if its reality. Its not reality. Im afraid when theyre covered too often and too much and lord knows the American People start to think theres a point there. And unfortunately, its not. Its just grandstanding. Its carrying on. Theyre all made up to the camera. Oh, my goodness, its so artificial. What was it that they said in particular that lit your fuse . I think it was i think it was obviously at the end when she said this thing we heard a million times that her, quote, constituents are panicked she used the word panicked by obama care. Im livid its called obama care. Its the Affordable Care act. I love barack obama. But he did not pass it. The democrats did it. Im not saying its perfect. But it means people will have insurance. And that democrats dont even explain its a moral issue. The people will have insurance if we pass this law. They just act like its all strategy and all tactics. And its not. Its not the best, but at least more people will get insurance and these people they know that. I cant believe they dont know that. So i got angry. Can you give us your name again . Cathryn carroll. Can you spell it . And you live in baltimore . Im from baltimore. I live around here. What do you do . I teach . I teach english. For what grade . College. College. Thank you. That News Conference taking place earlier today with House Republicans talking about the ongoing debate over funding the federal government passed monday night which is when the current fiscal year ends. We heard from House Democrats on the issue when the house was preparing to vote on two amendments to a bill that requires senate approval. Heres some of the Democratic Caucus chairman, javier bahs serra talking about the debate over funding. Im the chairman of the democratic caucaus. We held the other caucaus meeting this saturday evening, september 28. T minus essentially two days and countings where it appears that republicans have decided to move forward with their plan to shut down the government. So here we are. Its a case of a deep and intense family feud within the Republican Party here in the house of representatives where the tail is wagging the elephant and the folks who are going to get hurt are the American People and certainly the middle class. If basic Government Services are shut down because of a political feud. But that seems to be where were going. It seems that there are some people who are intent on putting party before country. And letting our budget for the federal government not move forward so we could keep the doors of all of those Government Services open whether its for seniors or for our veterans or for young families who use the services through headstart and other programs to make sure they can go to work. It seems like were moving in the direction the republican direction of shutting down government. I think it was Albert Einstein who said it best doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is probably the best way to define insanity. On the evening of september 28, we find ourselves with a clear definition of insanity. I dont see how we can continue to keep our middle class growing, how we can continue to believe that it will remain strong, how we can continue to tell those in the middle class they can provide their kids with the promise of a Better Future if we continue to create these manufactured crises which close the doors of government, perhaps even in the next week or two, jeopardize the full faith and credit of the United States. It seems odd. But i want to make it sort of crystallize whats going on here republicans are complaining that our president is not negotiating with him on this legislation which is supposed to be a budget bill but republicans have turned it into a bill where they can attach all sorts of all sorts of things or aspects of the republican agenda, their conservative agenda, especially the repeal of the Health Security law thats now in place. The republicans are prepared to shut down government and we are on the floor tonight to vote for the 45th time. To repeal in whole or in part the Health Security law that on october 1 will extend access to Quality Health insurance to millions of americans. They are not getting enough to negotiate on this republican bill is never once did the republican colleagues in the house approach democrats on what to do in this bill, what to include in this bill thats going to be on the floor in a matter of hours for us to debate. As the fiscal year ends monday night at midnight, the house is scheduled to return monday morning at 10 00 a. M. Eastern for legislative business. The Republican Leaders said votes could come as early as 11 00 a. M. You can watch the house live on cspan. The senate is scheduled to be in at 2 00 eastern and at some point consider a pair of judicial nominations. Theyre expected to take up the bill amended by the house to fund the federal government and a separate bill to pay for the military in case of a Government Shutdown. You can watch full gaveltogavel coverage from the senate live on cspan 2. For more on the debate of federal funding, we talk to a capitol hill reporter. The republicans passed a bill that will be unacceptable to the democrats in the white house. They want to delay the obama care for a year. They said before they acted they would reject any kind of a measure that touched obama care. House republicans are responding to their own conservative members and moving to this bill, but its going to be rejected by the senate and it means with the government set to shumiight on y no closer to a solution. They referred to the party as tea party anarchist. They tried to put all of the blame of the Government Shutdown to the republicans. There are politics going on behind the scenes here. Most people think that the only chance that democrats will have for winning back the house, for example, next year is that republicans doesnt fund the government if the government doesnt shut down. So the democrats are working hard to put the blame on the republicans if the government does shut down. And theyre being helped by fighting within the Republican Party. Many republicans in the senate, some in the house think their party is making a tremendous mistake by tying government funding to the Health Care Law. So there are some republicans that are very worried that their party could lose senate seats, could even lose control of the house next year because of a game theyre playing right now on the shutdown. This is the headline from the washington post. As the house pushes the u. S. Closer to a shutdown. In a photograph of the speaker of the house, john boehner, being asked questions by reporters on capitol hill. Is he in control of his own caucaus. A number of republicans are looking to get more from senator ted cruz than john boehner. Republican leaders in the house have tried a couple of different strategies for getting past the october 1 deadline to fund the government and a strategy knocked back in part by their own members and in part by cruz. So i think a lot of people are starting to ask the questions, who really is leading the republican caucus, Speaker Boehner or ted cruz. The house is not in session today. Back tomorrow morning for the house tomorrow afternoon for the senate. Walk us through some of the scenarios. What are you looking for . What do we expect will happen . It doesnt look like the senate is going to come back today as you said. That means that the senate will be scheduled to come back tomorrow. I think they will try to quickly dispose of this bill. But its not clear whether theyll be able to do that. As you know, it takes a long time for the senate to do anything because of its rules. So they would have to get all of the senators to agree to give up their time so they could quickly proceed with the debates on the house bill. And move forward. Its not clear if that will happen. We saw them last week, senator cruz decided to try to delay actions that would involve stripping things he didnt like from the government funding bill. If cruz wants to prevent senator harry reid from removing the obama care language from this bill, we could see the Senate Action drag out a few days and the government will shut down on tuesday. Swanson whos following this for the hill newspaper, hes Available Online at thehill. Com. Thanks for being with us. Thanks for having me, steve. As lawmakers continue to debate how to fund the federal government past the current fiscal year, were looking for your reaction to the funding impasse. Go to the Facebook Page and answer the question, whos responsible for the current fiscal stalemate in congress. You can post your thoughts and see what other people are saying on the subject at facebook kponlt cspan. During speeches, he would stand here beside him. This was the perfect backdrop. It showed the human side of the hardings. They did not live in a mansion. They live in a normal house like most of the folks who were coming to see him speak, so florence was a part of the message. She was a visible part of the campaign. Always near him on the front porch when he was speaking. She gave interviews herself to magazines, especially womens magazines. She alternated between being the savvy politician to being the home body, the whif, the caretaker of the candidate. So she knew how politics worked. The first Lady Florence harding monday night live at 9 00 eastern on cspan and cspan 3. Also on cspan radio and cspan. Org. Rosa parks and Martin Luther king jr. Inspired me to find a way to get in the way. I was so inspired that in 1956 at the age of 16, as some of my brothers and sisters and cousins, we went down to a Public Library in the town of true, alabama, trying to get library cards, trying to check out some books. We were told that the library was for whites only and not for coloreds. I never went back to that library. Not the same building. And july 5, 1998 with the book signing of my book, walking with the wind. John lewis is our in depth guest next sunday. Hell take calls and comments live for flee hours starting at noon eastern. In the months ahead, look for kitty kelly on november 3, feminism critic Christina Hoff summers on november 1, and mark levine, january 5. In a few moments, q a with dr. Toby cosgrove. He talks about his life and career and the thoughts on the Health Care Law and the impact on the medical community. After that, British Party leader Ed Millibrand addressing labour members at their caucaus. Then nigel ferage. Dr. Toby cosgrove, give us an overview of what the Cleveland Clinic is. Were a large group practice. We have 3200 physicians. We have facilities in cleveland, ohio. A main campus and eight