Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 20140123

Be part of that conversation today. The first 45 minutes with you this morning, we want to ask you about Media Coverage that the governor has received over the last couple of weeks. We want to get your input on if it has been fair. If you have been watching it and you have an opinion on if it has been fair, tell us why. 5853880. 202 republicans, 202 5853881. Ndependents, 202 5853882. If you want to give us your opinion on our social media. Ites, it is twitter cspanwj send us an email, too. That is journal cspan. Org. This is media matters. Ir claim, did adoring christie coverage invite new jersey corruption . Trying to explain governor Chris Christie as unraveling political career as allegations mount, the New York Daily News quoted a local operative who diagnose it diagnosed it as. I goes on to talk about the way the media has covered it. Possible hisly staff would have behaved the same way without the rest clips of his first term, but it is easy to imagine how they might have created a sense of invincibility with the inner circle. You can see how they may have interpreted the praises of his bullying personality. They thought it may have been a green light for outlandish behaviors and thinking they could get away with it. If you go to another major media watchdog, they take a look at how the coverage of the governor compares to other things that have been covered that they watch. 44 times more tv coverage of christies traffic scandal than the last six months on the irs. Going on to say, in conspiracy, comparison, the same news outlets cover the last over the last six months have allowed a scant two minutes for the latest on Barack Obamas Internal Revenue service scandal. Christieson trafficgate led 11 out of 13 news programs. For our first 45 minutes, were turning our attention to Media Coverage. We are asking your opinion on if it is fair or not. A couple of things for you to do this morning, pick the line that best represents you. When you call in, tell us why you think it has or has not been fair. Again, the numbers democrats, 202 5853880. Republicans, 202 5853881. Independents, 202 5853882. During the course of the morning, we would like to roll in tweets and facebook postings. The tweet address is cspanwj. Off of facebook, it is facebook. Com cspan. You can also send us emails at journal cspan. Org. Lauren, stevenson ranch, california. Independent line. The media tends to take anything, if anything is going on the right, they take it on and run with it. If this was on the left, i doubt it would be getting the Media Coverage it is getting today. I think people need to hold off on bashingor christie for allegations of this point. Even the local media covers it and we dont have a choice. It is an opportunity to beat up on someone on the right and the whereverds to do it, they are, whatever opportunity they get, that is what they do. Host is a radio, television . Caller radio, talk radio tends to be more conservative. Locals definitely the media, television, the l. A. Times, different publications, they are hammering the guy, saying he has no chance. When our other governors going to run away from this guy, he is toxic. They dont have anything on this guy. Why do we let the facts come out. Why dont we let the facts come out . If they would focus on the real issues that are going on, we would be much better. Host tyrone, North Carolina, democrats line. Caller good morning. There needs because to be more coverage on what is going on with Chris Christie and the American People need to know. Up that aboutmes president obama, fox news will show it. It is all about politics. Upmas name shouldnt come with everything going on around in the country. Oft since the last couple weeks, the story has played out on a lot of media. You say more coverage is needed. Why . Caller the American People need to see the corruption that is going on from the Republican Party. Abouthing that comes up the irs, the nsa, they always put obama in it. And do what is right for the American People so they can see what is going on. Host here is gail, new jersey. News, partioned fox of the media matters coverage. We are going between the two sides. They have a chart taking a look at mentions on cable news. 38 mentions on cnn, free mentions on fox news. 44 mentions on msnbc. Gail, republican line. I used to be a democrat. I am not saying either party is perfect. All of the facts need to come out. Biasedia coverage is so to the left. I would like to see someone that is neutral and reporting accurately and not showing that istowards Wishful Thinking on my part. Mediawhat has the coverage been like within the state . Caller i dont watch the channels anymore. I have had it on the regular normal news, but i dont watch 4 and 7. I watch a little bit 2 and 4. They have a good amount of coverage. It is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, something negative about president obama did or did it didnt do. Youll hear case, about it. Host what about radio . Caller i dont listen to radio anymore. Here is john, camden, maine. Independent line. I want to congratulate you guys. You do a fantastic job of staying neutral. I rarely catch you guys leaning one way or another. On the issue this morning, two thoughts mainly. Chris christie did an admirable job of trying to get ahead of the curve. I dont know if there something more behind the scenes that he is culpable for. The buck stops with him. I think he did a pretty good job of doing that. We will have to see, Going Forward. Your numbers this morning showing the bias of the press, s forg to nail republican anything, is driven by the fact that he was pulling ahead of Hillary Clinton. Youre going to draw all kinds of attention from the media because they lean towards the democratic candidate. There is no question about that. Fox leans toward the republican candidate. Can i get your assessment on the coverage itself and the fairness or not that you have seen over the last few weeks . I think it has been fair. I think it has been overblown. They seem to be stretching to try to find something more that he is culpable for. By the very fact that they lead off with it as opposed to as the previous callers have pointed out, that is not unjustified by the seriousness of our problems. Mitchell, new jersey, democrats line. Isnt ishe question this fair in terms of the amount of material being presented. The question is is this accurate . As your last caller pointed out, because of the implications of Chris Christie making a run for in thent and showing very early polls that he could with thegainst someone stature of Hillary Clinton, all of the National Attention has gone on the story. If were going to look at the accuracy of the story, emails and the governor himself going on tv and apologizing and doing a mea culpa for his staff, andle lawyering up left right and documents redacted. You have the mayor of hoboken with a different story that goes hishe abuse of power and administration coming out with usations, i think there is there has been accurate for trail so far. The fact that theres going to be a political bend it to that is the nature of the beast. Been going through some of the media watchdog sites as they take a look at this issue. This is the Media Research center. Citing nbcs today, the crisis grows. The crisis feeds into critics perceptions that kristi fosters hardball tactics. It was governor Chris Christies were stay in politics ever. He labeled Thursdays Press Conference a political walk of shame for the republicans. If you missed it, coverage of governor Chris Christie if you think it has been fair, we are inviting you to give your opinion on our lines. Redwood falls, minnesota. Republican line. Caller good morning. It bothers me that so much time, money, and energy is wasted on trying to smear people. It is the same thing. Evidence isnt out. No one seems to look at what he has done. The same thing with scott walker. Look at all the wonderful things he has done. Host what do you think about the coverage . Caller it is biased. It is weighed to the left it is way to the left or way to the right. There is no middle ground. That is what i appreciate about you guys. It is information, the way it is. Host do you think it is to write or to left . Left . Right or too caller i think it is the media. If anyone threatens hillary or obama, there are a lot of serious things, questions about his presidency and they dont get the attention. 5853880. Crats, 202 republicans, 202 5853881. Independents, 202 5853882. It is coverage of Chris Christie has it been fair . Chris christie is covered to make a political point, but also because new jersey is in the new york city media orbit, it is all about them. What other governor poss inaugural address was televised nationally by multiple Media Outlets . Can give your thoughts on twitter, on the lines. Matthew, westwood, new jersey. Independent line. Caller thank you. Unfair. A has been the majority of the people of my state approved of what this man. As done to help us here is the example think three things. When is the media going to call for a special prosecutor to investigate the illegal the irs off by mr. Obamas opponents . When will the move the media call for a special prosecutor on the waste of over 600 billion on an incompetent website that ,hey knowingly know is insecure putting 6 Million People or more at risk of having their personal information, including their Social Security numbers stolen. When will the media call for a special prosecutor to talk to find out about a misleading statement, such as if you like your otherwise known as line. If you like your insurance you can keep your insurance and your doctor. Obvious thes media is biased. They never ask for a prosecutor Hillary Clinton as to why the security at our Foreign Embassy was in adequate and it led to the deaths of these for americans. You as far as the way monitor media is that National Channels you watch or local channels . I am interested in how your state those local outlets how they have handled this. Caller it is most of it except for fox. The newspapers have been outrageous. It is obviously biased because they will concentrate on this for their axe to grind. Host a panel on election reform released its recommendations to improve the voting process. Little bit of their recommendations. They say the panel identified proposals to make voting smoother. The Commission Said there is also a looming crisis. Voting machines purchased in 2003 are nearing the end of life. Shelf marianne, augusta, georgia. Democrats line. I think the media has been fair. Sells. E information i am concerned about the facts. We need to know facts. Ishas been said that kristi a bully and you can tell by his demeanor that something is not clean as far as his doings in new jersey. I think we ought to, whether we like it or not, we ought to be informed. You have the republican side in the democrat side, it is titfortat, all the time. Host how do you know the coverage has been fair . I vacillate between msnbc, cnn, and fox. I was looking at europe how how much ise covered by them. It is about republicans now. Wherever the chips may fall, they are going to fall. If kristi is guilty, he up to be punished. If Chris Christie is guilty, he ought to be punished. Lets give the guy a fair shake. Host jim, point lookout, new york. Caller good morning. I think it is unfair that so much attention and money has findspent on trying to anything they can on Chris Christie. I would love to see a measurement where you measure how much time and money has been spent from the media on Chris Christie, versus benghazi. Benghazi is a serious matter. The previous caller was talking is a bully. G he i would rather have a bully running the country than someone that commits crimes. Hasnt been Proven Guilty a, so lets prove it. Yet, so letsty prove it. Lets find out what is going allout the irs. If he is guilty, that is fine. Its not as serious as benghazi. We have to wake up. We have to find out what it is that we talk about to the people out there. Host Media Coverage and whether you think it is fair or not. Comment on our Facebook Page and participate in the poll. It is about even in those weighing in. For those who say yes, 66 people. Or those who say no, 67 people you can make your thoughts known on our Facebook Page as well. Romney, spencer, oklahoma. Independent line. , spencer, oklahoma. Independent line. Caller it is a lot more biased. They speak about Chris Christie way more than they speak about any other matter in the world. Morepretty sure they are impacted in what is going on than him supposedly closing down the bridge or having something to do with the bridge being closed down for four days. Ast 20 think it has been focused on the governor as it has been . Why do you think it has been as focused on the governor as it has been . Caller i think having to complete compete with Hillary Clinton is a scary thing for them. Host that is spencer, oklahoma. Giving his talk this morning. About the rnc winter meeting that is taking place. Us,he phone to talk to james hohmann. Thanks for joining us. Guest good to be with you. The start of the meeting. That is in connection with the march for life. What is the connection . Republicans are a party that opposes abortion and would wadeto overturn roe versus , so a lot of their Key Committee members and state party chairs spent yesterday marking at the marching at the capital. Is an issue that republicans ran into so much trouble within the 2012 elections. Two senate seats were lost because male republican candidates gaffed as they were talking about their position on abortion. Host how will this issue play out . St it will be similar viewers have seen this before where democrats are going to cry a war on women and republicans are going to present themselves as the party of life. Republicans and need social socialy conservatives. One of the things they said was the party focuses too much on divisive social issues, like abortion and gay marriage. That upset a lot of people and what you saw with the public display at the march for life was their party trying to reassure social conservatives that they are not throwing them under the bus. How would you describe the purpose to those who follow . Guest they have three of these meetings every year. There are 168 people on this committee. Three from each state and the territories. This meeting is relevant because they vote on some little changes 2016will affect the primary calendar. They will stiffen the penalties for states that go earlier than they are allowed to under the targeting aically place like florida, which always wants to move it i marry up. They are also going to make progress in deciding the committee that will decide where the Republican National convention will be in 2016. Theres a competition between las vegas and kansas city, with denver and a couple of other places making a play to get the rnc in 2016. Of knows what everyone elses preference are. It is seen as an important straw vote on the question. To 2014 does the discussion about 2014, but at this meaning it will kind of topics . It is a committee dominated by the republican establishment. Theyre going to talk a lot ground game and field operations. Theyre trying to replicate some of what the Obama Campaign did successfully in 2012. The bigger will be issue level of how does the Republican Party win elections. A lot of republican primaries and key places within a places senate races with senate races. A lot of these need to stay neutral in the primaries. They are trying to get everything in position so when the primary is in place, they can help their candidates compete against democratic incumbents. About part oft the topic dealing with rising stars. Talk a little bit about Chris Christie. We have been talking about him, but how to see factor into the conversations at the rnc . At the last rnc meeting christie wasris the start. He gave the lunch speech and it was an important speech because he basically outlined what his rationale for running for president would be. A lot of social conservatives on this committee are leery of christie. At the time, he won them over. People are excited about him and said he was the gop frontrunner. I am going to spend today talking to the same folks and see what they think now. If this group turns on Chris Christie, it is significant. It is the party establishment. It is his base that he needs to have a realistic shot at the nomination. There are two republican congressmen calling for the resin calling for the resignation of david eczema agima. Not expected to come. Canceled his hotel reservation. He is socially conservative. He is one of 168 official members. He has not spoken publicly. He has made controversial remarks over the last several months, but a couple of recent days have prompted a lot of republicans, including those of congress and the republican governor of michigan to condemn him. We will see how that plays out. James hohmann, with politico. Thanks for your time. Calls on the Media Coverage of Chris Christie and if it has been fair. Brooklyn, new york, patricia. It has been three years since i have been hearing about the Affordable Care act. They are talking about Chris Christie now. He has just started. Years ive been listening to them about the Affordable Care act and obama this and obama this. I dont understand what the republicans are talking about. I dont understand when they say has had the longest he is running for president. Has begun to get investigating. I dont know what theyre talking about. Charleston, west virginia, republican line. In answer to your question, absolutely not. It is no big surprise when you consider the Media Coverage that has gone for the last six years. The fact that they have ignored most of the socalled Mainstream Media they have ignored major scandals that have taken place in the Obama Administration. Consider if george w. Bush were president , our embassy in a foreign country was attacked, four americans were killed, bush himself and members of his Administration Lied for two weeks about what caused those attacks, because to a bit the truth would have harmed his. Hances of being reelected it culminated with the secretary of state sitting before congress and asking the question, what difference, at this point doesnt make . Under ahad taken place republican administration, what would have been the Media Coverage at that point . It is Hillary Clinton, we have reviews in the media about her brilliant were aance as if it movie and she was an actress. Were are going to spend Major Network time and leaned every coverage with a traffic jam in new jersey. I do not know how anyone could possibly say this coverage has been fair. Thank you. Ties in your face form of governance somewhat attracts coverage. Hillary. Hreat to on the right, hes a threat to the tea party. Kentucky, republican line. The last time i called and was when bush was getting in florida. Chad messedrandson up one up messed up,. All of the scandals that, come right back to the Democratic Party. It doesnt make sense. The coverage is going to come to a head sunday and they will figure it out. They just wont listen to him. , but they arefox number one as i am concerned. Some of the political stores behind governor christie, this is off of politico. This is elizabeth titus, saying anday be easy to brush off investigation, but it is not so simple to dismiss the entire matter when the u. S. Attorneys office is looking into it. If Chris Christies supporters go too far in the protests of partisanship, a constraint it could hurt his reputation as a straight shooter. Earlier this month, after emails and texts linked christies aides and appointees to the closing of lanes in the George Washington bridge, it is part of a political vendetta, the governor apologize. Kathleen. Independent line. Caller thank you for letting me talk a few minutes. I am 94 years old. I have lived a very long time. I have seen a lot go down in my lifetime. Lot my dad was a democrat, my mother was a republican. I wish both was never heard of. George washington had no a political had no political affiliations. Go find farmers and let them go to washington and straighten this mess out. We have a bunch of greedy, selfish people in america. Adays, they are going to our constitution says it is of the people, by the people, and for the people. Host lets talk about the subject at hand. What do you think about it . Not concerned with Chris Christie. He is just a little boy messing things up, along with other the along with the other men that are in this mess. Host we will leave it there. Secretary speaking on the debt ceiling. Protecting the fullface and credit of the United States is the responsibility of congress. The congress can extend of borrowing authority. No congress has failed to meet that responsibility. I urge congress to provide certainty and stability to the economy and Financial Markets. Taking a look at the nsa. A report that has come out from a privacy watchdog. Taking a look at some of the practices of the nsa. The board lays out woman out the mostbe the detailed critique of the government once secret legal theory behind a program. A law known as section 215 of fbipatriot act allows the to obtain Business Records deemed irrelevant to an investigation, can be legitimately interpreted as authorizing the nsa to collect all calling records in the country. Privacy serious threats to privacy and Civil Liberties as a policy matter. John, New Hampshire, democrats line. I like Chris Christie. Bipartisanis truly a and most of his motives and applications of what he is of what his view of Politics Today are, people need to understand that the bridge itself is part of the department of homeland s watchlist of a terrorist target. Such a situation as a traffic jam, people dont realize [indiscernible] people would use both sides of the bridge to evacuate the city. There are far more reaching implications than just a traffic jam. Else, i likething Chris Christie. I think he is true to his word. He has been bipartisan on a lot of legislation. [indiscernible] my local news station, w m you it is a catch22, depending on what type of state you are living in. Host looking at personal wealth of the papers today. Poll on inequality and poverty in the United States, asking a couple of questions. What is more to blame . 35 say it is a lack of effort. 50 say circumstances beyond his or her control. Another question what have to do with why a person is rich . City one percent say they work harder than most people. 38 say they had more advantages in life than other people. Harvardrvey out of looking at the topic of upward mobility. Of moving up or down the income ladder in the United States has not changed. The study is done by a harvard professor. He said that he and colleagues believe there is a lack of mobility. Discrimination, the odds of escaping a station of ones birth are no higher today than they were decades ago. Dave, maryland. Republican line. Good morning. Caller i wanted to touch on a gets me upset. Ly that is the fact that everybody calls Chris Christie a bully, but nobody is recognizing the fact that every day middleclass conservatives are being very much bullied. It everybody forget what happened when this obamacare was passed . How many conservatives were at thatin the house time . It was a secret vote. I am concerned, Chris Christie is bipartisan and how he deals with everything. What is scaring everybody is that 16 different scandals are coming out and theyre going to be attributed to the Democratic Party when hillary runs. Is on mediacus coverage. What have you seen so far . Caller i am disappointed with the fact that they are putting a lot of emphasis on what is rather than what is on what ifs rather than what is. Crude exports face obstacles. On easing orbate ending the near total ban on the u. S. Crude exports. Dependence on foreign oil has a key driver of policies in several president ial administrations. The resolution of the debate carries important implications on the profit potential of exporters. Taking a look at the political plans senator ron wyden to hold a hearing on lifting the weeks. Next few he is open to all the pros and cons, but stressed that he wants to hear about the potential impact on consumers. Harvey, virginia, independent line. Caller good morning. My feelings is that the sensationalism concerning chris also theand sensationalism as compared to Chris Christie and henry crown blown Hillary Clinton is out of proportion to the point. Hat americans become confused you have to look and see where theyre going, who can replace Chris Christie . Who can replace hillary . Situation, i any time this before, a hydrocarbon is born is burned, it goes directly into your bloodstream. Caroline, texas, democrats line. Allowinghank you for me to speak. I voted democrat in the last democratic election, next year i may vote independent. On therespect that is media is one concern of mine. Fair that you have up there, i think that should be a different word. I want to say this about the demeanor when we look at Chris Christie. That is what it makes me feel like, that he had to have known how can a man not know if all of this is going on around him. He has not been Proven Guilty, but it is to look at it and his demeanor, that is what gets me. What do you think about the Media Coverage . Media coverage has put a lot of focus on a. Our main media is fox where i live. The demeanor that this man has on his face when you see the to , you can like. A lot of coverage has been on a. The pentagon looking at religious articles. The pentagon loosens restrictions. Releasedse Department Regulations on wednesday, ensuring the rights of Service Members to display their beliefs outwardly, such as wearing a turban, scarf, or beard, as long as the practices do not interfere with military discipline, order or readiness. It will still be decided on an individual basis, but will only be denied if the item impairs the safe use of military equipment. Or if it impairs the safe use of reposes ace or poses a health or safety hazard. I am a conservative. I am not a big christie fan. The media has been lopsided on this. Obamao all of the. Dministration scandals you had a border agent murdered coverdbc and cnn barely it. T and made excuses for if this had been george bush, they would have been calling for an impeachment hearing. Another thing i am bothered by, you showed a chart by media matters, showing the how done by fox, was and it made it look like media matters was a moderate organization when they mischaracterize everything that is republican. A looke have been taking at both of these organizations. Go to the individual websites themselves to check out what they have written and posted on these issues. Mcdonnell and issues of corruption playing out in the paper as well. Post takes an look at what prosecutors have to find. They laid out a startling Corruption Case against the buter virginia governor, the Government Faces a high bar in proving that the couple committed a crime. The case is going to boil down to proving the quid pro quo. They cannot show he got the gifts. They must route that he received them in exchange for official acts. The story is focused on taking a look at the spouse, but also other political spouses as well. When political spouse helps cause a downfall. Jesse jackson junior who went to prison for stealing 750,000 often attributed his decision to run for congress on his wife. Newt gingrich took out a tiffany credit line of up to 500,000 to buy jewelry for his third wife, which became an embarrassment as he sought the republican president ial nomination in 2011. When they left to cruise in political. Gingrichs consultants quit en masse. Maria, independent line. You will be the last call on this topic. Thank you. I think it is unfair and i think it is overblown. He has done a lot of good dings in new jersey and he is a lot of good things in new jersey and he is fair. Maybe he is a bully, but that is how you get innings done. There are more that is how you get things done. There are more important things that should give more coverage, rather than the traffic on the bridge. I think there are more important things that the media can pick up, like how did the lthcare. Gov get into being when it is so messed up. Mayors talk about issues affecting their states. Were going to talk with the mayors of baltimore and houston. At what isr a look going on in their cities, but how that is played out nationwide. Later on, the future of the gop. Myself ast see someone who has a message for my world. I see myself as a person trying to understand. The idea came to me when i was giving lectures at the u. S. Air force academy in colorado springs. A very nice, young air force officer have lots of chats with me. He told me that he was a liberal. He told me he was a liberal and that he was in favor of immigration. But, he said, when people come to this country, they should learn the nature the nations language. I agree. Everyone should learn spanish. Our america, saturday night at 10 00 eastern. Part of book tv this weekend on cspan2. In still have time to weigh on the liberty amendments. Read the book and join the conversation. Go to booktv. Org. Did i feel prepared . Yes. I was not elected. It did not make that much difference. I did notice that the difference between being the Vice President s wife and the president s wife is huge. Ie Vice President possible can say anything. Nobody cared. The minute you say anything as president s wife, you made the news. That was the lesson i had to learn. Pretty quickly. Watch our program on barbara on cspan. Org, or see it saturday at 7 00 p. M. Eastern. Our series continues with Hillary Clinton on monday. Washington journal continues. Host we take a look at the issues of cities across the United States. We have representatives of two cities joining us at the desk today. Joining us, the mayor of houston, annise parker. Ofo joining us, the mayor baltimore, stephanie rawlingsblake. Thank you for joining us. You are here as part of a conference that takes place. Can you tell our audience when you gather here, what are you talking about. It play out overall in the United States . We talk about everything that happens in cities. We are divided into committees and we have a committee on parks, public safety, infrastructure. We share best practices. Resolutions. We offer each other moral support. Can you talk a little bit about what youre most concerned about . Guest there are a lot of concerns about meeting epa requirements and making sure we are able to keep the Infrastructure Improvements affordable. Weinteresting to hear have our own challenges in baltimore and it is interesting to hear you different concerns that each of the cities are having. Drought, water a access issues. Some have a similar infrastructure issue like we have. Is do we approach it there a unified way to approach it . I think that is an example of president issues in city example of present issues in cities. Get to learn from their cells or other people. Sidesther issues, both infrastructure besides infrastructure issues do you generally share concerns with . Guest it changes with each meeting. E meet twice a year lastnuary in d. C. , but the meeting, we were talking about detroit and what it might mean for our cities and the issue of whether the bonded debt of ,etroit, if it wasnt protected what would it mean to borrow money as cities. It ranges widely. Your economies are concerned, give a snapshot of where the economy is and how it is affecting your city. We released a report yesterday and it talked about the fact that we are growing out of this recession. We are going to see real inflationadjusted growth in about every single metro area across the country. It is clear that while the economy is growing, we are leaving too many people behind. Too many people have left the job market. How do we create jobs that can get those individuals that have decided to leave the job force, how do we get them back to work . Host what would you add to that . Thet we have one of strongest economies in the United States, even through the recession. Even in a city that is doing well economically, any unemployment is a challenge. Areicularly, the worsthit minority males. There is an education issue that is part of that and often violence issues around that. Your Unemployment Rate . Guest i dont know what it is right now, but an enviable rates. The way your economy is growing, what would you attribute that to . The oil ande still gas capital of the world. This is a good time for oil and. As americas largest exporting port. We have a Strong Manufacturing base. Host what about your economy . What is it like, what is unemployment like . Guest our unemployment is higher than the national average. We have, unfortunately, the concentration of the states poor, elderly, seniors, and that presents its own challenges. Very strong medical institutions, including johns hopkins. We will be hosting millions throughout me summer. Throughout the summer. I was encouraged by what i heard from the commerce secretary yesterday. She addressed the mayors at the meeting. It was about the interest of the Obama Administration in a reshoring a lot of the manufacturing jobs that have left the country. A bluecollar city, we are poised to take advantage of that. Guest the conference meets here direct accesshave to whatever president ial administration is in office. They have been very responsive to us. Ofare the economic engines the United States. We are where the economy happens. It is important to keep the city healthy and strong. I want to let our viewers know they are welcome to ask questions of our guests. If you have questions for them, the phone lines available to you democrats, 202 5853880. Republicans, 202 5853881. Independents, 202 5853882. You can send your thoughts cspanwj on twitter. Is leonard, michigan. Democrats line. Caller happy new year to you. Goingstion is kind of with the cities and how they fit together all of the different from the governors state, all of the extra money they are spending, when that be better to stay within. The mayor of ohio ran for presidency. He that man there decided to hold onto his city instead of letting big business take over the cities, which helped the city quite a bit. With bigger government getting involved with the cities, correct me if im wrong. Does the city not have the power to overturn the government . We will let our guest respond. The year of the mayor. Thinkbelieve it there will be a mayoral revolution. Is withthe revolution respect to how the federal government and administration sees this. There is no debating policy. We have to get it done for our constituents every day with no skis is. It is that attitude mayors have to have that i think is to theive administration. You have seen more mayors prominently featured. We had our former mayor, now the secretary of transportation. There is no revolution but there isnt enough. The result is controversy appear about whether this is and do not have to worry about that. Cities have to function 24 7. You will find whether we are republicans or democrats. In general, we are all democrats. We are very pragmatic and focused on getting the work done. We think that kind of attitude would benefit up here. Also from michigan. Hi. I think she left us. Also, that is his assessment but i do not know how that plays out. Guest we have experienced the most Violent Crime in decades. A very preventable crime. Down forrime has been several years. We are a gun rights state. Conceal and carry and have guns in their home. In baltimore, we have seen homicides in the last two years. We were able to get homicide rates down to the lowest while violet crime has reduced, the homicide rate remains consistently high. We talk about how to address that. I discuss with other mayors here at the conference of mayors. We are looking forward to bringing some of those into baltimore to reduce some of the homicide rate. Kennedy onith david his ceasefire model. It is a heavily Community Involved process. He helps cities like new orleans reduce their homicide rate. There is a program that works with young people who have repeatedly offended and when no one else wants to work with you, this program does it out of massachusetts, another program we are bringing in. We are dealing with Violent Crime in the sense we have worked in the schools of elementary kids, teaching young people who, all they see is violence as a way to deal with conflict and teaching them another way to deal with conflict. We are trying to head it off in early stages. We are also dealing with a heavy with those repeat violent offenders. We have strict gun laws. We continue to work with our federal partners. Almostar alone, we took 2000 illegal guns off the street. We cooperate with all levels of government. Texas is a border state. Port, therere major is human and god and drug trafficking. We have to cooperate and coordinate very closely. Lot of the opportunities we share thet, id criminal justice committee. There are federal grant opportunities for cities for various elements of security. Also, as far as your city. We are working closely with federal prosecutors. It has shown to help reduce the violence for cities. I look to do more. The president called the mayor wee a conversation know there will not be a lot of new money coming out of congress. To federalaccess resources or federal tools to help us fight crime . Trafficking and access to the prosecution, not just prosecutors and, but also with drugsthat deals and guns, those of a tyson things we work on and talk about and collaborate on. The president brought the mayors and police chief out of 20 mayors, talk specifically about violence in cities and what the federal government could do to assist. Providence, rhode island, here is jack, independent line. Good morning. I would like to speak to the two mayors on two separate issues and one more thing into the other. City of houston and their Unemployment Rate and plus, theof texas, state of texas, they do not have a state income tax. So prosperous,y but you look at states around here and they are in the red and they go broke. Accounting background and i would like an honest answer on that issue. That is all i would like to say. I will give a couple answers about texas. We are a low tax state. Chosen not to pay a lot of things that other states do pay for. We are not a state where we expect much public assistance. That if you do not have resources, you may struggle. We have been blessed over the last few years by the boom in the oil and gas industry, texas. Larly helpful to we aggressively competed to move manufacturing jobs into texas. We have worked to compete against states that do have an impact tax. We have a fairly high property tax. Beenk of an income tax has an advantage. As a border state, we benefited from having a large workforce, many of whom are undocumented. Texas tends to have a fairly pragmatic attitude. To texas, ifgot they contribute to the economy and do not break local law, we welcome them to texas. We could debate tax policy all day long, but it is about overthinking and looking for ways you can have access in whatever city you live to grow the economy. The focus in maryland and baltimore. I mentioned manufacturing. , and thatconference really rings true in baltimore where the industry is thriving and growing. It is one of the top places in the country to start a tech business. Despite our taxes, different than texas. We have a lot of smart people in baltimore growing jobs and growing businesses. We will continue to use the assets we have to move baltimore forward. We are underfunding education and transportation. Most of our state is in severe Drought Conditions and we have been underfunding water infrastructure, though we are making strides in that direction. It is about choosing what you want to pay for. We have chosen not to spend a lot of energy and money. Host how do you achieve that . Guest tough decisions. Ive had to raise taxes, lay off people. We do the tough things the folks across the street talk about but we have to do it because we have to have a balanced budget every year. I do not way tax raise taxes, but layoffs. Certain things have to happen. The water and sewer have to function for public health. Is on the after that table. We are joined by two mayors democrats line up next. Hi. Hello. Commentlike to make a to mayor blake. As a longtime resident of baltimore city, i would like to commend and thank you for the excellent job you have been doing with snow removal in keeping our cities if. Thank you. Thank you. Host both have issues and get called in your office. Guest there is no democrat or republican way to pick up trash or remove snow. That is what we bring to washington when we come and convene here for the leadership meeting. Andrew is from the walkie. Republican line. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for cspan. Both mayors have mentioned water infrastructure. I wonder if they could expound upon them more. E focus on these issues it is one of the issues that we focus on every aspect of the economy. I understand it will cost a lot of money. Talk about your role as an exporting city. An important part of creating jobs and making the economy grow. Houston is of americas largest exporting port. It is the only port in the United States that does more business, the port of new orleans. That is mostly internal work. If you close your eyes and picture the United States, on the east and west coast, houston is the megacity on the gulf of mexico. Of entrylogical port for the United States. We talk about exports. A lot of it is manufactured goods in and out of the United States. In terms of water attribute ite, i to texas and the fact we are in a july time. We have had conditions in the state. A bundle oflly has water. We are in a coastal plain but i and i have to worry about flooding not snow. Aboutreas, it is learning how water conservation. In other areas, it is about replacing aging infrastructure. West, water will become the most precious asset we have peered larger and larger cities resourcesithout water to support them. I do not know how you support the water on the east coast. The east coast, aging infrastructure. We have fights and are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the starspangled banner. We have fights 80 years old and 100 years old. The funding for infrastructure repair is on the backs of our constituents. That is what brings up the affordability issue we are talking about. Mintsare federal manage managements. Guest the caller made a good point. Where will the money come from . If we are expecting our citizens who are trying to grow their way out of the recession, that they need to be able to afford it. Point, enough is enough. One thing i can say, i have been pleased with the willingness of the Obama Administration to work with us. This is on the back of ratepayers. How do we finance it . Innovationthings is and how we fund these projects. , the private partnerships to be able to afford Infrastructure Improvements. With giving dealing the cities some autonomy. Done in work is collaboration and cooperation with the epa and the federal government. I want to take a call but does this play out in your individual city as far as what is done in washington with Climate Change . Does but i do not know if washington figured out what it wants to do with Climate Change. The president recently assembled a panel of mayors and governors Climate Change and resiliency. Without getting into what causes Climate Change, we know it changes over time. Sea levels rise. Those have impact on cultural coastal cities, and we have to figure out how we will adjust as communities. Not been an issue we have been grappling with. Air qualityrt with and making sure everything we are responsible for as far as contributing to the costs of global warming, that we are doing our part. It has not been a big factor in baltimore. Working with storm water and storm water runoff and what we can do to reduce the pollution in our waterways. I put a lot of Political Capital into infrastructure. Infrastructure is the backbone of the city and the united dates. Without an interstate highway system, we would not have the economy we have. We have infrastructure all across the United States and when you invest in infrastructure, you invest in Something Real and longterm. Engaged in a massive overhaul of our water sewer system. I refuse toearlier raise taxes to run the city. Voters and the voters approved a drainage fee builtest in our environment in houston. How do you pay for it . There are no easy answers. You just heard from the mayor of houston. ,lso joining us, of Baltimore Louis on our independent line. Good morning. It is a pleasure to talk to the mayor. I practiced in baltimore for a number of years i had the pleasure and honor with director henson. Idea toted to her as an employ some of the younger men in baltimore city, that they inld take 100 or so baltimore and dedicate the housing to vocational schools and have them set up a Renovation Program where they could renovate plumbing and electricity and roofing and they andd manage the income finally, they would own this housing. And the problem is baltimore, you have no replacement income for the young man. You set up a housing rebuilding course and put these young men in atlanta houses are complete, they can rent and manage them and landscape them and sell them and the vocational schools have taught the young man how to do plumbing and electricity and what needs to be done. I want to thank the caller who mentioned he knew my parents. That was very kind. I agree with the caller there are a lot of ways we could put people to work rebuilding the city. We have a very robust flight plan where we are terror tearing down hundreds of homes. The time of over the program well over 1000 homes. Byspurred private investment satan those landlords who are speculating, buying properties and not taking care of them. It causes a join on the resources and the value of the community. We have spurred millions in private investment. One of the things we are reviewing now is the idea of deconstruction as we are removing these homes, as well as workforce training in the new homes taking place. I agree and we are working with notforprofit partners that do the rebuilding and workforce use the to help Us Initiative as a job creator as well. We have been so focused for our kids, and i want my kids to go to college as well. But we have not provided opportunities for people to see careers in the trade. Lack in manyious places in the United States. People who can do plumbing and electricity. There are plumbers and electricians and carpenters who we will who will be building the america of the future. We have a large immigration into houston in the crafts rates thee we have the jobs and work. We need to focus on that. From have a viewer twitter. How do you avoid becoming detroit . I had to deal with a looming budget deficit when i became mayor. The pension system. I had to make tough decisions. Unpopular decisions when it came to reforming our pension. Was tough. It had to be done in order to deal with looming costs. Detroit . Avoid being you do it every day demanding fiscal accountability and making tough choices. We have to balance the books. Every year. We cannot run on a deficit. On, i have aocused 10 year financial plan. We took an assessment of the health. M fiscal we found out we had a longterm structural deficit. We went through the work of fixing that efforts at. Of the structural deficit we identified when we started the 10 year financial plan, we have driven that down almost by half. It has to be done if youre going to leave your city better than the way you found it and better for future generations. You should mention this yesterday morning. Fire and municipal and various funding levels. Completely controlled by the state of texas. Cannot negotiate with them and i have been trying for four years to get my legislature across the table so i could write checks. I am looking for the ability to directly negotiate benefits. What you think the likelihood is that you will get that . We rathered state with a right wing legislature. Attack theefused to issue. What is the political makeup and how does it affect getting it done . Am inm a democrat, but i a nonpartisan position. When we were in the council, you would be hard pressed to know what the political affiliations for each member is. Baltimore is a heavily democratic city. Partisan have bickering. As in any political organization, we find other things to bicker about other than party affiliation. The mayors. Thank they seem so responsible. D after theiree a names, they are responsible and hardworking. Every sign every time i see a forblican, they are working themselves. Infrastructure of our country is about the most important thing. Everyone should be worried about it. I think it should help to take marijuana money for each state. It would help a lot. We need that much money. Out there any way for republicans. I think the republicans and everyone fighting against legalization are afraid the middle class and poor people will go hurt them. They do not realize everybody who is smoking marijuana already does. It is funny how people can look and thinkhibition that was a good thing. It was not a good thing. The government lost a lot of money and people drank. Not in a position to deal of marijuana laws. The interesting issue is what happens legally when you have states with such widely varying positions on these issues, whether it is marijuana laws or equal marriage. There will be interesting Supreme Court decisions coming out. We cannot have it is wanting to have experiments in democracy across the United States. When you have sidebyside states with a lot widely divergent systems with some of the big issues, it has to be sorted out. The tensions rise pretty quickly. A marijuana issue in baltimore . Is something being debated in the state legislature as we speak. It is interesting, for the first time, i heard, pot for potholes. It is something that opinions are clearly changing. I do not think the opinions in maryland have changed that much will be alegalization reality in this legislative session. A conversation about pot and the money leaving our jurisdiction Violent Crime, prohibition. Right. It is a conversation as we begin to put hard numbers on that, i would not be surprised if more states are not looking at legalization. I doubt it will be maryland anytime soon. Virginia, announcing he will try to turn the state ban on samesex marriage. How do you deal at that . I have been a huge proponent of marriage equality. I am a very strong proponent and opponent. My it is an issue of justice. An issue that far too many states are in the dark ages. I was married to my partner 22 years last week area she still has the glow. [laughter] it was said it was unconstitutional for me to marry , but, with the Supreme Court ruling on federal recognition, it seemed time to move ahead. That,s something marijuana laws, when the issues, where it varies so widely across the United States, the supreme as a leveler. In what was the reaction among wereconstituents . Most happy. I have been blessed with a lot of congratulations. Productively, local republican officeholders fired off about how it is a political plot, it would will agenda to change the laws of the United States. I was not thinking about politics. A call from randy, republican line. Morning. Congratulations, mayor parker, on your recent marriage. Us out here are interested in our government working well for the kids. Find, at least, this is what i find, because i own a private forprofit education business that has to compete with local funds with not for independent then contractors also contracted by schools, i have been calling in this program for 12 years. Ownsrate in a program that multiple programs to promote health and safety and education in these poor communities. When i come up with a program that does so well, and you probably never heard of me, and i have worked in maryland and in the d c area, when i can show up on the corner and replace a business that has historically been there for years, drugs and alcohol, and a Safety Center for children. Will you like our guest to address . Come from the not inside. We need change from the outside to challenge it. The issue of childhood obesity. With something we grapple in baltimore. Andplea please obesity overall. It it impacts so many preventable diseases. Toas very pleased recently received a Healthy Community grant and we are expanding the opportunity for people to Work Together on their weight loss and fitness journey is an do the same kind of education he is speaking about. It is important to get our young people involved. I am inspired by the work many mayors are doing activating cities and making health a priority. I am striving to make baltimore a much healthier city and looking forward to getting great ideas while im here. Were doing a lot of work to reintroduce people to their food. A lot of kids think food comes from a Grocery Store and is wrapped in cellophane. These mayors have a really Robust Program to help work on food issues. Costs we paygterm for health care, there are obesity and also direct costs in terms of medical care. Time, and to the callers point, a lot of our schools cut back on recess and physical activity for kids. They are spending more time in classrooms teaching to the test. Theyre not doing the same thing we did when we went to school. Pe is one of the first thing that goes. Mayors,e joined by two the mayor of houston also hearing from the mayor of baltimore. Thank you both for joining us. As part of the coverage for mayor, the mayor will hear from us. You can watch that live on c span. About up, a conversation politics. Later, we will learn with Bruce Williams round. The conversations will take place after this update from c span radio. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] a lawmaker criticizing the u. S. Ambassador. It said she is ignorant of local politics and has got biased views. Colleen bell, a producer of the soap opera, the bold and the beautiful, repeated concerns andt the state of checks balances in the country. Her comments, leading the lawmaker to say hungarians are set up with the double standard applied to the central right government, and urged the governor to get informed before talking about democracy and hungry. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry says a u. S. Decision not to invite cairo to a summit of African Leaders to be held in washington in summer, was wrong and shortsighted. The African Union suspended the membership in july after what they called what ousted president mohammed morsi. The removal of morsi qualified ofan unconstitutional change government. First Lady Michelle obama is expected to announce today the spend sandwich chain will 41 Million Dollars over three years to encourage young eaters to eat more food that comes out of the ground or grows on trees. Subway will only offer a kids federalt mirrors standards for kids lunches. Lowfat or nonfat plain milk or water as a default average. The announcement is being made at a subway shop today. Those are some of the latest headlines on cspan radio. Millions came down to the nationwide protests. Mystifies driving towards the square, the military has come down to the street. I stopped at one of the checkpoints and they searched the car. We notmy previous film, as the country is exploding. They said, come with us and we just want to talk for a while. I went to a place, and i still not do not i still do not know the location. At the time, you do not know who is in television you. I realized this is the cdi have in the car and i have to get rid i excused myself to the bathroom and tried to destroy the dvd by breaking it apart. I do not know if youve ever tried. It is quite hard area hard. I shoved down the drain and went i haveeling confident gotten rid of evidence that could possibly keep me there for a lot longer than i wanted to be. About five minutes later, the guy cleaning the bathroom comes dvd in a piece of the his hand. Documentary, the square. Us now, thank you for joining us. What should be the topic Going Forward . Guest winning the senate and winning the presidency. Ideas,they did they some but the ideas can be developed in congress by some governors. What do you do about the party itself and the ideas he talked about . One important thing is the candidates. Eople can talk about democracy people are voting for x and y. Republicans have a lot of attractive candidates this year. Some of them are unopposed in primaries. It will be the recumbent democrat. Others are roman running with two or three candidates. Young people, women, that, a bushe different from the and mccain and romney. I voted for the mall, but i think we will see one of the big is that began to happen and will really now happen in 2014 is a generational change in the Republican Party. Expand on that. Nebraska will stay a republican seat. Senator, cap members cabinet members, very intelligent and conservative. Osborne, who served in the military, state treasury, i think he is 39. Whichever one wins, we will have a 40yearold verylican senator interested in ideas and an expert on health care and how to replace obamacare. Some of these other states, they are attractive young candidates. Running in a swing district in and decided not to run. Likely to the republican. I think she is 29. She will be 30 by election day, so she will be illegal. 30 is the senate. The house is younger, 25. In any case, she could be there. I really think they are interesting republican candidates running. Races,ome of these philosophies come out. Look at the senate rate race. James interested in the position and already getting some heat. What does it say about the internal politics amongst conservatives and republicans . A lot of fighting and it will occasionally result in sometimes the candidate does not do well when he is really on the general election stage. I would preferred to have competitive primaries with two or three. And energy inh the party. In the old days this is still them, theyt a lot of hate the idea of the primary. Lets clear the field. A lot of primary fights produce very good candidates and good senators and governors. Marco rubio upset in the primary in of florida. Energy of people coming into the races and thinking they have a chance. A certain amount of wailing and crying and whining, i have the opposite point of view. You lose once or twice, you have like, you do not crystal joining us to talk about politics. You can ask him questions. Democrats during the course of the morning, we will hear from students asking some questions. They are from Texas Christian University asking about issues. We will meet them as the morning goes on. Those callsll take in just a moment, the emails in twitter as well. A quick headline as we go to calls. In the Washington Times this morning, it deals on larger issues with governor christie and governor mcdonnell. Headline says in a few short years, mighty republicans have fallen, specifically about Chris Christie. According to mr. Mcdonald in virginia, in terms of the president ial bid, he said mr. Christie may have some life in him. On what you have seen play out especially on large scale politics. Ofpolitics is a zigzag kind business. It is a big mistake to project the future from last year. Andles reputations statuses rise and fall quickly. Heginia, i voted for him and was a good governor. A terrible story. It is not just a story. A federal indictment. A good reminder all these people confidently saying here early 2014 what the political sit should situation will be, i have my hunch, but it is a mistake. Things can change so quickly. Knows. We will have to see what happens. The main thing with scandals is that facts matter. If you are indicted, that is one thing. Is nothingt there really done that was illegal and it is not clear he really knew about it, that is something that may be a serious problem but maybe not so serious. 20 years ago, the chief of staff, i remember meetings where a Senior Bush Administration one day he was not didnt i, he guy,ber cuomo is a serious governor of new york and an eloquent speaker, and now we have the governor of arkansas with personal issues and possible scandals and so forth i remember being everyone everyone being relieved with clinton. He eat us handily and got himself elected and survived impeachment. Sometimes these are damaging. The main thing about Chris Christie, from a National Point of view is, the new york republican donor class, the givers to the party and the candidates, they thought Chris Christie was the front runner. I remember saying to people, he is a front rubber runner. Is he necessarily going to be scott walker or Mike Huckabee or rick perry ordered jeb bush or ted cruz . I could go on and on. Caucus or New Hampshire primary. I do not think that is obvious. He has been a good governor for four years. A lot of people will run and make their case. The media was wants to find a front runner and anoint him. Republicans isor they have a lot of interesting candidates. Some of them will outperform. Turned out to be an awfully eloquent, impressive guy. There is an awful lot that will happen. It is good to have this kind of debate, a real chance for these guys to get out and prove themselves. And to have guys scrutinize them. That, students from the Texas Christian University join us. To ask questions. Use either group to ensure there. Guest. St student is our good morning, go right ahead. Good morning. Was a time of self reflection for both parties, for the democrats. Obamacare, whereas republicans took much of the blame during the government shutdown. There is obamacare inspired by employees that will help candidates. Will that be enough to ensure the public is safe in the Republican Party . A good question. Two ory visit their three years ago, good Panel Discussion. I listened to students mostly in the class. Have a horn frog on my desk, a mascot. People say, what is that thing . Anyway, a party needs to restore his own reputation and that is ultimately done by having a real government agenda. In a mostly done president ial campaign. For all the unhappiness in the senate and the house, there are a lot of republican governors governing successfully. Brand, not is because people think. Obamacare is not going anywhere in my opinion. Storiedit is a i think thatea will help republicans quite a bit. Say,ther thing i will there are a couple of chances for republicans to mess things up over the next several months. One would be with the debt ceiling, coming up in march. It provides an opportunity for republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. They are working hard not to do that. Immigration is another thing that would split the Republican Party. My proposal for the House Republican leadership, Tea Party Types, the Tea Party Types let the debt ceiling go through. Would love to delay medicine obamacare and get rid of the bailouts, but it is probably not worth having fights on the debt ceiling and endangering the National Debt. People should give up on the , the establishment types, you give up on trying to ram an immigration bill through this year or next year, republicans will probably have the senate. No default. I think of those two traps can be avoided, the republicans will have a good year. Here is mike with California Independent line. Good morning, gentlemen. Theuestion has to do with global war on terror. It strikes me it is ill conceived, that we have had more than a decade of fighting. Hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trillions of dollars have been spent. Despite having the greatest military in the history of the a gang ofare fighting psychopaths. The war is not abating. It is expanding. It strikes me the reason for that is that it is poorly conceived. And havingconferring a war on criminals, which is what al qaeda is, we have inadvertently conferred on them a title of warrior. I do not agree. There have been mistakes made, but they are not just criminals. They have an ideology. It is one reason they are able to up hell to people. Fighto means we need to for the fight against them. We cannot let them take over chance of countries. We are in pretty good shape in the war against al qaeda and islamic radicalism and extremism. Some,istan they let slide but president obama ordered a search there, which also worked. The biggest set of mistakes president obama made was announcing afghanistan at the same time he announced the surge. Mightw it looks like he not even do so in afghanistan. Is a sort of, we are pulling back. That message is dangerous. It does hardens those who want to stand with us and emboldens those who hate us and those who are on the fence and want to be opportunistic are more inclined to go the other way. I am worried about a resurgence of al qaeda. It is patently false president obamas claim that they are on the run. I wish they were. He said in an interview this week the Junior Varsity the jv where is the uniforms, they are still the jv. The fact that al qaeda is recruiting new generations of terrorists is not something to be complacent about. If they are just jv, they seem to have half of russia on lockdown. A very credible threat against the u. S. Embassy. Is a little too much cockiness there on the part of the Obama Administration that they are on the run. I am worried the whole country is to complacent. Talk. E cavalier we probably do not need to be listening to all of the stuff. Just collecting the metadata. All these phone calls and messages, i am not so sure about that. One reason we have had we have had weve been safe is that we have had a pretty good handle on where these guys are in their networks and who theyre talking to. We are starting to lose the ability to connect the dots. Back to before 9 11, i think. Samantha is on the line. Go ahead with your comment. Tomy question is a followup one of the other questions. You mentioned two things republicans avoid going in to the next election. You think they will be strong. My question was, what do you strength . He biggest 2014 is off year as an election. I believe as strongly as anyone the importance of having important conservative ideas. They will on their a more unveil a more comprehensive version of their own Health Care Reform that will be better than obamacare. People are working on that and doing good work. ,istory suggests the election it is about that partys tenure on the white house. Do you want to have to help them . Ut, or check senators that will not go along with president obama and given like his approval rating, it looks to me like republicans are in good shape. I think republicans hold the house. Different from 2016. President ial elections are about the future. Nonincumbent president ial elections, particularly about, president obama will have been there for eight years. Or do we go now . Where do we go now . Very important for what they want to do and what their agenda is. The governors start on the state level. Publicans are probably a little slow on this but it is now beginning to happen, developing serious government agendas and domestic and Foreign Policy at the national level. It happens in magazines Like National affairs and others. Think tanks. A little slow to pick up. So until we get into the 2015 and 2016 election cycle. Important for republicans at this point. To say, ok, whatever happens, happens. If you are public in, you do not like it, if you are democrat, you like it more. That is the key question for 2016. I do not really distinguish. The dynamics of the off year election, which, already, you can see a pattern, is good for republicans. That is one set of dynamics. It does not translate to 2016. Midterm elections, they lost. Not much correlation. The good news for republicans is voters tend to want to replace the party in power after eight years. Relapse incumbent after one term and then kick that artie out of the white house. Out kicked the democrats after two terms of clinton. Think the forwardlooking agenda is really important for 2016. These are political offers, mostly. They are not really going to be discussing in detail how to reform Higher Education loans or how to get rid of obamacare. Tax reform and so forth. They will talk more of candidates. They will try to adjust the primary process and the debate process to make it more manageable for the party, in better shape, when it produces a nominee in 2016. Personally, i am interested the house is in pro forma session. We go to the house. Without objection the house stands adjourned until noon january 27, 2014 for debate. Hour host with that the pro forma session ends. Have students from Texas Christian University joining us on the line right now. Richard from Texas Christian University, a journalism student there. Go ahead with your question or comment. Caller good morning. Mr. Kristol i have a question. Why is it that today more than the partisan divide is wider than its ever been. Compromise the very word . For reasons beyond anyones this,l no one intended things are more different. They are more ideological, amonge more united themselves in their world view. In the old days the parties were theral republicans in Republican Party, there were southern conservative democrats, Old Fashioned machine democrats, as well as reformed democrats. Some of the most interesting fights of my youth in politics parties. In both on the democratic side there were all these reform democrats democrats inachine new york or chicago. Then of course there were the Scoop Jackson democrats, they went away. So various social why logical, Political Trends led to this sorting out of the two parties. And its just a fact that they further away from each other. Everyone now, a lot of people now think it a bad thing and it has its down sides. Is 50, 60 years ago, political scientists were all fact that voters didnt have a clear voice. Totally parties, but confusing, democrat and republican dont mean anything. Clarity, ad is Political Science associates about a report about a system ine twoparty the 50s, and its point was we need to have two parties like parties we have today that really stand for something different. Prochoice. Now, we have that, we see its in some ways not bad. For democratic accountability. But in other ways it can lead to deadlock, especially when voters elected barack obama and a democratic congress, they thought they had a mandate, they did a lot. Aesident obama thought he had mandate obviously the second part of his first term. Suddenly the 64 Republican House seats that were democratic and the republicans in the house thought gee we have a mandate to obama, and then in 2012 president obama gets republicanbut the house gets reelected. A lot of my conservative friends are annoyed that president obama liberal. Govern as a a lot of media types are annoyed that republicans in the house supposed to behave like conservatives, thats what they ran as. Come tonot supposed to washington and say forget what i said on the campaign trail. Led lock is a result of the voters indecision. Neither party has really presented a convincing way forward. Begin tolock could break in 2014. I think 2016 becomes a very lex. R 2016 is really a fork in the road. Democrats win a third term, for conservatives like me it you get things back. The Supreme Court goes in a more liberal direction. Foreign policy i suppose continues on this track. If republicans written in 2016 the houseue to hold and maybe the senate, then suddenly you have a did it situation. So 2016 becomes maybe a moment gets broken. Dlock host tim is from beaver falls, hes on our, democrats line. Youre on, go ahead, please. Morning. Ood bill, im curious, where do you think the energy comes from for the tea party . And another question, short, if indiana when dick even was being primaried, though im a democrat, if he had won that primary, i would have decision to make statesman, man is a and he was defeated. Its like theres some kind of on in the country that i dont quite get. Lugar, hes take dick was defeated in a primary in and then murdoch lost the general election. Lugar probably would have won general because he had a history of getting democratic votes. I know dick lugar, i respect him, but i dont agree with him on some issues. Hes with a pretty moderate republican on some issues and conservative than a lot of republicans would like. He also was 80 years old, being 80rong with years old, but certainly may be a time for a change in your senator. I dont think it was crazy for Indiana Republicans to i thought they, thought he would be a better candidate. One thing that happens when you have a party thats in turmoil lot of energy from the grass roots from the pea party, with different funders coming in. There used to be money only on the establishment side. Thats not the case any more. I was, i would take the energy in return for some of the losses of seats that maybe didnt have to be lost. Otherwise i think you just have party, you reelect dick lugar, you reelect the 75yearold bob bennett in utah, is that going republicanew of the party . So obviously some mix of experience and Youthful Energy thing. Od but this is what happens when parties under turmoil, it difficult to go through it but for the party. If you look at American History these periods of turmoil and even some defeats sometimes do with or host clarify. The generation al change and to some degree the ideological change within the party. Host our next student from Texas Christian University, haveed in 1873, we students from the bob sheaf fear school of journalism on the phone. Schmitt, go ahead, please. Caller my question is, in the election, do the demographics prove that the majority of the young generation are voting democratic, so i my question is i want to know how the Republican Party has taken this into consideration and what Campaign Strategy reforms we should expect to target that the 2016 election. Guest thats a good point, do think thats the most of all president obamas groups he did the best in cali, the young are persuade. T to try to the great thing about being young is that you can change of you voted for president obama, but the great thing about growing up is you mistakes. Your and a lot of them certainly are happening with obamacare, with the economy, and i think Foreign Policy as well wondering maybe this path that i thought might be a good idea. Snt such a good i know many people in my vote forwardo mccoverage, carter and ended up voting for reagan and republicans since then. Very doable. s it would be crazy if peel didnt try to learn anything from experience. It would be christmas if parties didnt try to change their image and also try to adjust to the times. Where thebe issues Republican Party has to say look, the country isnt there so were going to change our position or at least change the on we presently our position some issues. But i come back to the generation al change. One problem republicans have had pretty obvious, the democrats are running, the 43yearold the 44,nton and then 45yearold president obama first time he ran. Their 40s. Young tickets, clintongore. Runningrepublicans were president bush and then senator dole, then senator mccain, and romney, theyre all people i voted for. But if youre a young person, think the democrats look like theyre a little more in touch with me and my generation. Time republicans won since the cold war was with bush who was younger, maybe two years older than gore, and younger than kerry. So i dont think it hurts to have younger candidates, thats why im a little skeptic about clinton. Its either in the nomination fight or the general election, not so sure about that. The pattern of the last several years is better off with a young heernor, young senator, but seems on dealing with issues, im not sure voters like looking days. Rd these host another student from t. C. U. , michelle. Caller good morning, here in that its estimated latinos will outnumber any other ethnic group by 2019. Were also found in several important swing states like florida. Latinos will be an important demographic in upcoming elections, so how do you see the g. O. P. Changing their strategy address this demographic concern . Guest the main thing you have groupss speak to these and respect them and show that you care about them, and people for you. A lot of the problem republicans have had thats been less latino working class. Re think, and again its maybe not their fault, its the wealthyey, its finance. The world of i think seemed out of touch with middle class, working class concerns. Romney, whom i respect as a person, spent all this time talking about entrepreneurs, people who are building businesses, but didnt spend a lot of time talking about the people who are working 8, 10 hours a day as nurses, teachers, whotruction workers and will never start a business, but theyre equally valued, theyre up their kids, contributing to their communities. It important for republicans to connection with those voters and citizens. So that requires some fresh thinking. But genuine thinking about how to have policies that are better for people like that, not simply pandering or thinking that this batch of immigration that if immigration,e for so many people change their vote. Hostile,ou cant be obviously, to the republicans made a mistake some of their rhetoric in 2006, 2007. But i dont think you need to views about path to citizenship and so forth. I do think being serious about middle class and concerns is awfully important. Into ethnic groups come american life, italians jews, their own mind to some degree, they also just become different as groups. Every latino is theirng a latino, i think intermarriage rate is pretty high. Point there, they are americans already if theyre voting. I guess im less concerned about appealing to this group or that group and more concerned about republicans having a really serious message that appeals to all americans, but especially i say middle class working class americans who have had a rough time the last few years. To alex in go tennessee, republican line. Morning. Ood actually i have more of a comment. My daughter says im the oldest person she knows, Old Fashioned that is, and i just wonder why words likeear patriotism, god and country from today. These politicians i vote every year, every time an up. Tion comes hear the same old garbage, but i abouthear anything patriotism and im very disappointed in our country right now, because theyre taking church out of the schools, and everything. I guess im just too Old Fashioned, cant keep up with times. But i just dont know what to do. Mybrother died in vietnam, ancestors fought in the revolutionary war, and i guess i patriotic to my country and i love my country. Host thanks, caller him. Guest thats very well see. I wouldnt be too despairing. Problem that politicians speak about god and country and seem insincere, and it turns out they are sincere. Do maybes what they more than what they say. And i think theres a lot of there. Ism out im struck by that when you see abouts attitudes returning veterans, compared to war. Ietnam i just did a Panel Discussion former where we discussed the civilian do, we didntd to really fight the war here, but i can do toes more we integrate civilian and military lives, make sure were doing a good job for our vets and also our active duty military obviously. But i think the patriotism is think. Than people but its an interesting question, sort of how everyone the millennial generation, as theyre called, interested iness that, im not so sure about. I think a candidate who can god, country, community, family, in a way that hollow, that didnt seem pandering actually would have a great appeal any time, 2014, 2016. I dont think people are just interested in my paycheck, my this or that. Tea party for all the people criticize it, the pea party was a patriotic effort. Certainly i think the obama camp, the people who rallied to president obama also thought thingere doing the right for the country. Tea party didnt have any self didntt in this, they ask for taxes to be cut, and i remember watching earlier in reporter on cnn bewildered by what are you doing here at this, obama is not raising your taxes, hes only raising raising the taxes on the wealthy care about this, he said i think were damaging the country. So i think theres more out there than people realize. I think theres too much, too professionals have told too many politician as peel to this group that way, 18 to with this promise, and obama was good on this, you can stay on your Parents Health plan. Wantre about you if you contraceptive coverage. I think for republicans, theyve got to elevate the discussion to about something bigger than what Government Program is going to do this little thing you or out. Host the students today were chinbull. Y professor our next student is matt jennings, good morning, go ahead. Caller good morning, thanks for us on. I just was wondering with all the talking the last couple years about National Deficit and finally creating a national budget, whats going to be the strategy moving forward regarding managing the deficit and deal with the National Debt . Guest thats a very good wastion, and the debt which so huge in 20092010 has receded a little bit. The deficit has been reduced some, but were still running up amazing amounts of debt each year. Bond like so far the markets and others havent penalized us for that, but that in my opinion him so i think everyone would be wise to continue focusing on the debt we have an think important development, which is the republicans, paul ryan put seriousbudget that had reforms. Everyone said it political whatever, ryan and romney didnt win in 2012. But theres no evidence that it hurt the campaign, the medicare attacks, the attacks on ryans reform plan didnt seem to work, republicans held the house which is the body that had budget. His republican candidates in 2014 are on board with that budget and i think theyre doing fine. I think at least the Republican Party, i think is getting more serious about debt and deficit. Now in practice people have bill,interests, the farm subsidies, they dont want to give them up, so its easy to its hard in general, to do it in reality. Way to testey, one the next republican feel of president ial candidates, and i inclined to will be do this to say what really are you going to do. I think voters will require a degree of specificity in 2016 that they havent particularly president ialecent elections, i think theyre distrustful now of everyones stuff and will say show me what your plan is about federal spending. Not down to every tiny detail. But basically with a is your platform. And i think republicans who try, votersocrats too, the may not like that as much. Host we want to thank charter helpingations for arrange the visit at t. C. U. Today. One more student, this is on withmorris, youre bill kristol. Caller good morning. My question is in the 2012 more women voted for president obama than mitt romney. What is the Republican Party women foreach out to the 2014 and 2016 elections . Well, look, women have always been a little more liberal than men, it goes back of reagan,y days theyre a little more more compassionate, a little more concerned if someone says these asicies will hurt the poor opposed to gee we cant afford this any more. Gender been a consistent gap. Wasnt any bigger in 2012 than elections andus republicans won a lot of those elections with reagan and bush amonge they did very well mening anded acatly well among that youo im not sure need to reach out to one gender as opposed to the other. Most women want whats right for the country, their rightes, not just whats for individual members of your own gender. I think it doesnt hurt to have and as,en as candidates you know, the governors and congress women, and senators and thats happening in the Republican Party. And its happening kind of as a reflection of developments over the last 20, 30, 40 years and now its really hitting. It hit the Democratic Party a little earlier, but now it quite widely. Leading barbara come stack has a distinguished record in the Virginia House of delegates, i shes likely to win the general election. Sheo one recruited her, decided to run, no one tapped her on the back and said youre a woman go out and do this. I think its naturally happening in the Republican Party and i think that will help the democraticke charges which are pretty demagogic charges him. Host we want to thank the Texas Christian University for joining us today with their questions and comment. Guestant to think our bill kristol. Guest my pleasure. Later today, the Republican Partys winter meeting, the topic, g. O. P. Stars, live on cspan at 2 00. Coming up were going to talk about the National Flood program. Its a topic of debate expected in the senate next week. From thelliams brown Government Accountability office will join us for that discussion. From we get a news update cspan radio. Its 9 22 eastern time. Jobless numbers show the number of americans seeking Unemployment Benefits rose by last week to 326,000, a level consistent with steady job gains. The Labor Department says the fourweek average, a less volatile measure, fell for the week to 331,500, toh figures are close prerecession levels and suggest companies are laying off fewer workers. Of same sexhe issue marriage, virginias new attorney general mark herring that thencluded states ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional and he will no in federalnd it lawsuits. Virginia widely considered a Battle Ground state on an issue nationwide will instead side with the plaintiffs who are seeking to have the ban struck down. This from a spokesman for the attorney general in an email to the associated press. Looking ahead to next weeks address, theynion write today that president obama dose oflude a healthy the income inequality message the white house has focused on in recent weeks as well as energy and college afford ability. Cspans coverage of the state of the Union Address airs live at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time next tuesday january 28. Cspan watch it live on television. Or listen to it here on cspan radio. Are some the latest. Eadlines americansnately, many are longing for hope, some of their poverty and some because of their color. Too many because of both. Task is to help replace with opportunity. Today,s administration here and now, declares on poverty inwar america. Looking back at five decades notable state of the Union Addresses, from l. B. J. To george at 3 00 p. M. Ay eastern, part of American History tv this weekend on cspan 3. Thats all leading up to obamas 2014 state of the Union Address, live tuesday andspan, cspan radio cspan. Org. Cspan, we bring Public Affairs events from washington inectly to you, putting you the room at congressional hearings, white house events, briefings and conferences and gavel to gavelte coverage of the u. S. House, all as a Public Service of private industry. Cspan, created by the cable tv industry 35 years ago and funded by your local cable satellite provider. Watch us in h. D. , like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter. Washington journal continues. Host joining us now is horace theiams brown with Government Accountability office, the managing direct for for Financial Markets and community investments. Welcome to the program. Thank you. Host the topic is the National Flood Insurance Program. For the average person at home, why should they be concerned about this program . The average person at home, they need to realize that everyone lives in a flood zone. Question is do you live in a low risk or high risk flood zone. Mortgage, you probably know that because that determination has to be made. So you know if you have to buy Flood Insurance or not. Even if you live in a low risk area, Flood Insurance is always an option because 90 of the involves in the u. S. Some type of flooding. Host for those who dont know, program work . Guest the way the program works, in 1968 congress enacted create thetion to National Flood Insurance Program, this is a program that is administered by fema through sectorrk of private Insurance Companies. So if someone is interested in purchasing Flood Insurance, they femas website, withsmart. Gov or check their Insurance Company that provides their homeowners policy ad look into purchasing policy from their Insurance Company with the understanding programs actually a administered by the federal government. Host part of the issue with the some of thehat costs that were initially paid were subsidized by the federal government . Guest yes. Way the program has been structured, if your community opts to join the program, its a voluntary program, so opt to join and over 20,000 communities are part of program. If your community is involved your community joined the program your home was already built and it wasnt existingly built to standards, then you were given a rate that was subsidized so you actually paying the full risk rate. And subsidized rates generally 45 of their full risk rate. So as part of the political this, was thatng there was a rate increase that was expected. You talk about that . Guest yes, the insurance reform of 2012 phased out subsidies for second homes, businesses, the subsidy if you purchased a new home in a special flood hazard area and the previous owner had a subsidized property for let their that policies lapse, they would face a higher risk. The risk would be for the businesses, nonprimary residences, the new rate went immediately as of an effective date. In other cases the higher rates would nonsubsidized rates be phased in over time. Host so part of the debate next letting thoser rates go higher, if i understand it. Guest yes, there is legislation personalling in the house and senate, various versions of legislation that would delay the for those nonsubsidized rate. Host sop is there a way of higher folksw much are going to pay once the subsidy goes away . Guest it really varies. Property, it varies where your rate is currently, it on whether or not you have an elevation a truecate that gives risk of your particular property from flooding. Vary fromly does situation to situation. Host fair to say, though, that be increase would probably significant . Guest it could be for Certain Property owners. Our guest is here to talk about the National Flood Insurance Program. Heard some details, debate on the senate on this issue about rate inkreetses expected week. Xt you may have questions about it yourself. Call. E are the numbers to 2025853880 for democrats. 2025853881 for republicans. 20258533882. S, if you want to send an email to us, you can do so at journal at cspan. Org. A you want to be send us tweet, well take those momentarily. Was a press Conference Held earlier this month, new york senator chuck schumer, one of those concerned about the status of the program, talked bigger what would happen to homeowners, to say. Hat he had second, for those of us who experienced sandy this is sort whammy. Ble homeowners, average middle class 80,owners scrowng together, 90, 100,000 to fix their homes, they finally move back in and a later somebody comes, knocks on their door and says youve not you go to pay 5,000 for Flood Insurance a year, when they were playing 300, 400. So just unconscionable, it cannot stand. Coalition indicates that it wont stand. Were going to pass this bill in the senate, were going to pass wereill in the house, going to go back to the drawing board and do Flood Insurance as it should be done, to benefit people, not to hurt them. The fiscaltle about condition the program as it stands today. Where does it stant . Program isently the about 24 billion in debt. That debtajority of the program accrued following katrina. The 24also went up to following super storm sandy. Host so though two were mainly responsible. Guest yes. Host how had its been doing as health before that . Guest prior to Hurricane Katrina, the program had basically been self sustaining. Were years where the program may have had to borrow certain years, but the program able to repayn the borrowing. Hadof the things the g. A. O. Been pointing out sense the programs inception is the way that its structured with the subsidized rates and not bringing in enough premiums to floodingatastrophic event. The program was always at risk exposed to catastrophic event and then having to borrow from thes of money treasury, which is exactly what happened after Hurricane Katrina and then subsequently hurricane sandy. From 16 billion of claims the program, as part of katrina. Sandy about 7 billion. Hurricane i reason in 2011, 1. 3 billion. You add those up you have the figure have you today. Guest yes. Talk a little about Insurance Companies. Have Insurance Companies did, they flee from the program . By the federal government, but did some decide this is too much much a risk for on . O take guest well, the Insurance Companies that actually sell and do notter the policies bear any of the risk of the program. All of the risk is born by the federal government. Insurance companies will sell the policies, they will administer the claims part of thoseocess, but all of claims are the responsibility of the National Flood Insurance Program. Through its line with the department. So the Insurance Companies are reimbursed for that from the and theys well generally keep about a third of normalmiums in a flooding year. W. I. O. s,katrina, the the Insurance Companies that sell it. Once they process the claims ended upkeeping about twothirds of the premium for year. Articular g. A. O. Is in the process of looking at what those expenses following super storm sandy. From eric, hear atlanta, georgia, democrats orrisyoure on with Williams Brown of the Government Accountability office. Caller yes. What i would like know, like on the the Flood Insurance keeps paying these claims over and over even for new jersey, all the damage is going to happen when the next hurricane comes, going to destroy this infrastructure again because of change,n and climate the coastline is eroding in california. Do these peoples property, a going to be are not there. I feel like this is a scam and a republicanshe, the don like bailouts, but when it comes to helping them and asuilding their homes such want, they just dont basically the mass of the people to be helped by the government. Of points raised by eric. One, the repetitive loss no question weve done work, weve looked at the issue of repetitive loss forerties, they did account a substantial portion of the losses. Theyre a very small percent of policies, but they do account for a fairly significant part of losses each year. Of the things that the act attempts to do is address the loss issue. If someone has a property thats storm,y damaged after a they or another group of policy hollers that end up losing their if they were a subsidized property, and there are also mitigation requirements for severe Repetitive Loss Properties, and those property to mitigateng properties. But no question when you look at rebuilding, its very important, mitigation is a very important addressing issues around flooding. And its something that we have pointed out and our work has to be an important part of the equation for the solution in addressing those repeative loss properties. Host from petersburg, virginia, independentla, line. Hi. Caller hi. I grew up in mississippi, went to school in florida and worked louisiana after katrina, and my biggest concern is that, im awe addressed the repetitive properties question, but my greatest concern is that highest Risk Properties are often River Properties where people were forced to move due poverty, and that there will be such a great inequity when Flood Insurance is applied, they werent able to afford any they were pushed into the river communities. These are not like coastal vacation communities. Are really poverty communities. Themy second concern is flood maps arent even finished in most of the communities that of. Aware so im really concerned about the inequities that are about to that have already been there, but that are really going inequitable after the increases occur. Guest couple much points to address. No question river flooding is also a huge issue, we hear a lot about coastal storms, but river flooding tends to be the inning out happens year in year along the flood plains. Subsidized properties, keep in mind that 20 of those properties were subsidized provider to issued aters much we report in july of 2013 that look status of theng pool of subject diezed properties. One of the things we found in terms of properties that continue to get the subsidy are properties that are higher value value. Er they tended to make up a larger the properties getting subsidies. So you touched on a point that only are higher value alsorties affected, but lower Value Properties are affected. Recreation al need and greed, building and rebuilding acceptablenes at an level and do we need to subsidize much of this . Question, and its one of the things that g. A. O. A reportut, we issued yesterday where with we reiterated a previous Position Congress is if going to revisit the issue of subsidizing and keeping in place, one way to do that is to make the subsidy explicit. Are many ways, it can be need based, but if you make makeubsidy explicit you sure homeowners understand that theyre living in harms way. But you also make the subsidies very transparent to the taxpayers, because it would get a separate appropriation just the subsidy. Host anthony from palm harbor, florida, democrats line. Hello. Anthony, are you there . Hello . Host youre on, go ahead, please. Inler thank you, i live pinellis county, florida from there are morend Flood Insurance policies than any other county in america. Recently purchased a hope that is on slab, its in a flood put a significant amount of money down on my home curious on, you know, what the bill is going to look congress. Are rates going to be going up significantly . Lose the equity in my home . Can you talk a little about some of the solutions they have, and my second question would be is tore going to be any money grant to help raise, mike like an i. C. C. Claim or something that. Thank you. Guest ill deal with the impact. Depends. One of the things that it depends on in terms of will your rate increase, depends on whether or not its a property before there was a rate map in place. Are calledthose preform properties, those are the properties that have the 20 of properties prior to bigger waters were Subsidized Properties. So 80 of properties are already paying a full risk rate. 80 of policyholders shouldnt see huge increases in their policies. Solutions, congress is looking at a variety of of delaying the phasein for a number of years, fema to complete the afor ability study before they put place. N and also in terms of mitigation options, fema has a number of grant perhaps that provide some assistance for Property Owners that are interested in mitigating the properties, also for communities that are interested in engaging in more broad based mitigation activities. Host up next, bill, from line. Nooga, tennessee, ib hi. Caller yes. I am calling regarding of course Flood Insurance program, and charged forat are Flood Insurance. As the commenter said, im calling from chattanooga, rate, i bought the 1,236 2012, my rate was a year. A 5,000 deductible. To 11. 08 per thousand dollars. Coverage. Which they had no coverage for coverage whatsoever, okay. Elevationished an certificate. At 685n my home level is and the inned level is at 680. Homeowners insurance cost me 2. 52 point thousand dollars. Can you see the difference maam . Guest absolutely. Homeownerss of policy, Flood Insurance policy, the challenge with flood, and part of the reason why the Flood Insurance program was in 1968 is because private Flood Insurance was no longer available because Insurance Companies basically had exited the Flood Insurance its extremely difficult to appropriately rate insurance, because often these are fairly low very high loss risk, or depending on where you there is, its considered nuisance flooding where you get a couple inches of water every couple of years. So the difference between the two really has to do with the involved between a standard homeowners policy and a Flood Insurance policy. Host bill from charleston, carolina, independent line. Talking with orris williams of the Government Accountability office. Go ahead. Inler i live in charleston a prefirm area, and many of my are having their insurance costs, the premiums increased because of the biggers act. S flood and in charleston weve had two hurricanes since 1851. There was one in 1851 and there was hurricane hugo in 1999. Doesnt seem right to me that our premiums are so dramatically. Ive seen premiums from some of 1,000 aors go from year. O 5,000 or 6,000 a we have a fairly low probability i noticed that probably the biggest losses that have been incurred by the Flood Insurance program were from katrina and from sandy. Especially katrina. So many of our neighbors around even on the water, near the water. My question is why such a the policiesween and the cost for insuring in its myon, when understanding that the same outerin louisiana or the banks of North Carolina or the panhandle of florida, the going to be the. Ame guest in terms of the rate setting process, the rates, as said, are set by zone. The one thing Property Owners the elevation certificate to find out exactly inre their house is swayed the sich waited in the particular zone that theyre mapped into. Terms of the history of flooding, the rates are based on flooding. Ility of so there are many situations lived in theirve property all of their lives. I saw this in boston before the floods a couple years ago. And people were saying that im having to pay, ive now been high risk flood zone, i now have to buy Flood Insurance. And ive lived in this house for and its never flooded. And a week later, literally, the flooded. Was so it really goes to the unpredictable nature of flooding based onact that its a oneyear rate. So if your property floods one year and a 1 chance of flooding, its totally possible that the next year. N flood so thats really the challenge that the program faces, and its big differences that we pointed out between the National Flood Insurance Program private Insurance Company. If a private Insurance Company were to underwrite a inned policy, it would do so on a per federal basis, for a program that would be cost it really has, you know, so its made the decision that they look in these broad zones that are based on the probability of flooding for a particular zone. And then overlays that with the certificateion piece of the puzzle. Of other thing in terms property, policies for property and the premium and why rates gone up. The rates didnt increase because the property may be at a increased level of risk exposure. Subsidized property and it fell into one of those out orthat were phased eliminated the subsidy, it actually just bringing that rate. To the full risk so no question to the policyholder, they see the the programt from perspective theyve actually gone from a subsidized rate and removing our phasing out that subsidy and bringing that rate to a full risk rate. The lines on your screen. The topic is the National Flood Insurance Program. 2025853880 for democrats. 5853881 for republicans and for 2025853882. Jim of twitter asks if subsidized Flood Insurance incentivizes building areas with unreasonable risk without responsibility to pay cost. Guest its one of the and its one of the issues with a subsidized policy. G. A. O. Has looked at this in the past and we found that there is thingsoff and one of the that weve stressed thats very important is for people to understand that they are living harms way. And thats a big issue with that people are paying full rates, that are able to pay null rates, but that everyone is aware of what the full risk is for living where they live. Host so for Things Congress can do to change not tobl way people thethe insurance but overall debt of the program, what would g. A. O. Recommend . Guest one of the things we recommended a couple of things. We hado biggers waters recommended that the subsidized rates be phased out. When the program was initially created, the thought was that over time Subsidized Properties away because houses would be rebuilt, theyd be replaced and through natural attrition that they would phase out. The structures have lasted thought,an many Repetitive Loss Properties were a big issue, people were rebuilding. So we would look at that. Weve also made recommendations around mitigation making sure thats part of the solution. Recommended that the program be allowed to factor in erosion and Climate Change, and changes and to pop reaf, those topography. Thatauthorized fema to do when they set rates Going Forward. Also when g. A. O. Talked about the subsidies and moving to a full risk rate, we toered a number of options address low and moderate income policyholders, because we that they would also be affected by that. Mentioned earlier, one of the things that could be done could be looking at afford measures, vouchers. The other approach that could sounderprogram on financial footing would be to have a separate appropriation subsidized portion of the policy. Host are there clear maps that, what the agency would be, maybe fema, that strictly show high risk, low and how often are those updated . Guest mapping has been a huge program andr the keeping maps up to date because does change,y conditions change and some of the maps that fema has been relying on were maps that were created men decades ago. So its been constantly trying the maps. The mapping process is done in fema and theith local communities. Sore spot, always a especially if a property is being remapped into a higher area. So you may end up with people who didnt have to buy Flood Insurance before. Now theyre faced with a mandatory purchase requirement Flood Insurance, and fema has a number of programs in mitigate that, byt also have been impacted waters if you fine out youre going to be mapped into a area, you can purchase Flood Insurance at your rate, and hold onto it once youre mapped into higher risk area. And the other option is called a preferred rate policy. Thats another option for theowners that are facing remapping. A bige mapping has been change l program. For the they are trying to make sure that communities and homeowners have recourse to make sure the data used to make the new maps are correct. But mapping has been and is an ongoing challenge for fema. Morning. El, good consider yes. We have gotten a bill for Flood Insurance and i have lived in that i am in, in madison heights, for the last 60 years. And we had a terrible flood here 1969, and were not in a flood area, and we got a bill to pay 70 a month Flood Insurance, and the only way we can get out of get a lawyer to verify that we dont live in a flood area. Guest this is the challenge. Ith flooding everyone lives in a flood zone. All areas so the zone is either a high risk, medium risk, low risk. You may be coastal. In some type. So the question is whether or plain. Live in a flood one, have a conversation with your insurance agent. Can you also go through flood smart. Gov. Put in your address to see if ifr area has been mapped and to. Hat its been mapped the biggest challenge with that knowingng your zone, what the purchase requirements are. This has been a mandatory requirement. What you would do is have a lender toon with your find out if this is a forced place policy, which means that lender has information that you actually live in a special flood hazard area, which means you have to have Flood Insurance you have a mortgage provided insuredulated or. Nstitution and if do you have a forced policy there may be other options for you. So i would definitely have a conversation with your lener and also the Insurance Company thats providing the coverage. Host someone asked about the perspective saying are Flood Insurance rates influence bid participation. Seems without government incentives it equals higher rates. Way, part of the movement to subsidize properties with increasing participation in the program. It was one way to make sure participation, which is important for any type of Insurance Program. You do need. Host ocean springs, mississippi. Republican line. Hello. Caller ive lived on the years. Ippi coast for 70 and if you look at whats the years, theres livedo where people have and houses have been all that time, katrina did affect quite a future them. They wereeas where not been helped by fema as far as the individual homeowners. You look at the google map, youll see that very, very has been rebuilt as far as homes. Most of the money that has come out of fema has gone into inspired public programs. Are such as one example is water and sewer been bit out 12 miles away from the coast any water. Was never of fema, femas administers the National Flood but it alsoogram, provides emergency and disaster relief. Those two are separate. The Flood Insurance program is through they premiums it collects from the policyholders and then as i the additional money that they can borrow from treasury to pay claims. In terms of the assistance that youre referring went to communities, rather than individual homeowners would be money that come from fema or some other type of disaster assistance. The Flood Insurance program, if the homeowners had Flood Insurance coverage, then they would have been able to claim and get assistance, then the question becomes did a mortgage. If they had a policy and they mortgage, the bank just like with homeowners insurance, the lender has the first right to have that loan covered. So its really to help you cover the money that you owe on the loan, and whether you have additional money to rebuild is entirely. Sue host we have a viewer on those inwhy shouldnt Tornado Alley suffer a bigger loss. Is Flood Insurance strictly for damage by water or is wind part of that . Guest Flood Insurance is for water. Where the win comes in to play storm surge. But for wind damage that happens flooding,elated to the Flood Insurance program wouldnt have a role. Virginia up next, dick, independent line. Hi. Caller thanks for taking my call. Ive got a couple of questions. The payment of the monies for monthly insurance go to . S is it to the federal government . It likeo, do they keep supposedly they kept Social Security. Go to private Insurance Companies who, if they situation like the recent one in sandy, would have a small Insurance Company or whatever . Where does the money go and what with it . Ultimatelymoney flows to the federal government. A private Insurance Company is call, called write your own Insurance Companies, are the ones that sell and service the policies. So when you make the payment, you may actually be making the payment to a private Insurance Company. But they remit that money, they to fema through the National Flood Insurance Program. To those premiums are used pay the administrative costs for running the program, including reimbursing the private theirnce companies for sales and service activities, and to also pay claims. Host dont forget well see some action in the senate and the Government Accountability itice, thanks for explaining for us. Thats it for todays program. A threehour Program Comes your at tomorrow starting 7 00 a. M. Well see you then. Capital, Nations Congress continues for additional work week. In washington, lots of meetings going on. The rnc. S meeting an independent federal review board is releasing a report concluding that the collection of americans home records is a legal. President obama allies changes but did not recommend ending it. We will likely hear more about the topic today at the white house briefing, which jay carney has