Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 20150224

Congress should move forward. Give us a call. The numbers are on the screen. You can also catch up with us on social media on twitter, facebook, or email us. And a very good Tuesday Morning to you. The debate last night and the vote last night in the Senate Making the front pages of newspapers around the country today. Here is the front page of the Washington Post. And the front page of the houston chronicle, noting that security and Homeland Security funding left in doubt. The newspaper of capitol hill roll call headline on this topic for more on that plan and we are joined by the scene of belly Christina Helen tony. Guest good morning. Host what was decided last night. Guest it is very procedural but its just standalone bill that its the president separate from the funding for department of Homeland Security. Basically, Mitch Mcconnell said this removes the excuse blaming democrats for blocking the spill. This was bound to happen in the last hour. In the final moments, he was testing a lot of republicans during to shift their tone a little bit perhaps the court ruling that blocks the immigration actions temporarily might give them a pass in the standoff. Host that is the headline on the Washington Post story. Who are the members of the senate that are seeing the exit ramp here for this funding battle . Guest they are being very careful to sort of tiptoe around it, because nobody wants to say hey, we want to let the president have a pass. They understand this is a popular issue with a lot of the Republican Base and they want to see the president held accountable for it. At the same time, no one wants to shut the government down. Even though, of course, they were able to win control of the senate last fall, that is still not the best strategy. Republicans like kelly ayotte are up for reelection in 2016. That is traditionally ace swings date. Democrats would love to we two win that state back. You heard from senator ron johnson from wisconsin another vulnerable republican of in 2016, moderating his challenge. Mark kirk did not vote last night. Hes probably the most honorable republican most vulnerable republican in the 2016 elections. Republicans came in and said they wanted to govern. They spent a lot of time on this issue and i think everyone is really eager to move past it. And another big fight they are having is this keystone authorization. Its finally on the president s desk and you will have your first veto probably. Host the keystone legislation the subject of an opinion piece in usa today today this morning. Usa today this morning. But going back to the vote, failing 13 those shy of what was needed. One other option being talked about, that your reporters talked about in their story on this was changing the filibuster rules in the senate. How much of a realistic option is that . Guest you are hearing from republicans like Richard Shelby talk about this. You are seeing a lot of House Republicans saying there ought to be away for you to have less than 60 votes to move legislation that is budget related or president ial nomination. This is something Mitch Mcconnell has given a lot of thought to. When harry reid invoke this option more than a year ago there were a lot of warnings you know, if a look and swing that the senate, they can turn this around on you. There are so many people who are perhaps lovers of procedures, maybe that is too strong a word. They are tied to logistics. There are people who are deeply emotionally tied to the way the filibuster works. There will be resistance to change from both parties no matter which way do decide to go. Host and the timing on capitol hill, the standalone vote that Mitch Mcconnell was talking about on just executive action when is that expected . And do we know if there is a can a clean funding bill on dhs asked that . Guest that is my strong prediction, that there would be a clean funding bill. It would be a wednesday vote with the house with the timing in the senate. But we are also hearing in the house, Speaker John Boehner it has been pretty clear that he blames democrats. But he will have choices as well. Probably the house is realizing its time to move past this and if they can split it into these two votes, that might satisfy they conservative base that conservative base. And they could move on to things that could work for them, like the keystone fight, or more economic issues. Host christina bellantoni, we always appreciate it. Guest thanks. Have a good day. Host and we are wanting to your from you. And we want to hear from you. An executive order was lifted that was put in place by a texas judge last week. Your thoughts. Norman on the line for democrats. Caller i guess i just think that we went through the process like they did on the Health Care Bill and allowed republicans to vote against it. I guess that is an important process for the election for vote count, but now it is time to get to business. Put the bill on the floor of the senate with the president s executive order. We all know it will pass with 60 votes. And then boehner should put the vote on the floor with the executive order. If the bill wont pass in the house, then you go somewhere else. Or they could take a conference but we know that will not work. The president is going to veto without the executive order. And beside that, they cannot get it passed through the senate. If republicans want to prove that they can govern, which it doesnt seem to be then they need to go ahead and go through the process. They are consistently talking about regular order. This is regular order. Put the bill on the floor that will pass. We know, the American People know, who was ultimately to blame if the government shuts down. A democrat has never been blamed for the government shutting down, because we know that the gop hates the government. Host that is norman a waldorf, maryland this morning. For reaction from the Senate Democrat Claire Mccaskill on twitter yesterday amid this vote that was happening. Senator James Lankford republican of oklahoma, a freshman in the senate a tweet from senator rand paul from kentucky and finally, Michael Bennet democrat from colorado we want to hear from our viewers this morning on what you think the way forward is. Lets go to our republican line. Tom is waiting in fort lauderdale, florida. Good morning. Caller good morning. I want to ask everyone a question. What is congress supposed to do tell president obama just go do whatever you want . Is there any standard that democrats in force on any subject on any matter whatsoever you come any matter whatsoever . You talk about a clean bill, they are introducing the most obscene, pork filled unrelated items in the bill in the history of the country. When you state clean bill, that is pretty insulting for the democrats to be talking about that. Our constitution was set up to produce a what Goes Around Comes Around government. Will democrats be saying executive action when there is a republican president and the republican president is doing things they dont feel he should be acting on . Host tom, we are four days away from a department of security shutdown. What would be your recommendation . A department of Homeland Security shutdown. What would be your recommendation . Caller the build us fund Homeland Security. If the immigration part that is not funded. The bill does fund Homeland Security. It is the immigration part that is not funded. If it doesnt get past, yes, there is no funding. But if you pass it that means theres funding. That is the big lie that democrats are famous for. [indiscernible] there are funds in the bill for it. Host this is the fourth time that the senate has tried to pass the house version of the bill. It would fund the department of Homeland Security. It is the language in a that would strip out the president executive actions on immigration a democrats have disagreed with him that funding measure. Lets go to mike, waiting in houston, texas, democrats line. Caller good morning. Im calling you on the democrat line. Its about congress in general. If Congress Takes the collective action of by failing to continue to fund the department of Homeland Security, and thereby presenting a great threat to all of us in terms of our security, or god forbid, there is some sort of attack that happens during that time, is there any Legal Recourse that the citizenry at large could have against congress . You know, at large, im obviously know lawyer, but im thinking a class action suit of all the people in american against all of congress. Can we do anything to let them know that this kind of gridlock on both sides is unacceptable . Host a quicker route than the lawsuit might be the 2016 election. How do you think this ticking clock and this potential shutdown fight will affect your vote in 2016 . Caller im not sure. No, what am i saying . Unless somebody comes out from a third party or is able to go farther left than hillary clinton, you know, i dont see any going with any of the current runners on the gop side. And while it might be quicker, it is a tactic you know, some legal action that has not been tried, and it got everyones attention when they tried to sue obama for taking executive action. Maybe there are ways to have criminal penalties against these people if they allow terror attacks because they fail to fund dhs. Host that is like in houston, texas. Heres the lead editorial in the tribune review out of pittsburgh. Last night after that vote on the fourth time to pass the house version of the Homeland Security Department Funding bill Mitch Mcconnell took to the floor to talk about both that vote and the path forward. Here is a bit of what he had to say. [video clip] mr. President , democrats continue to date to block funding for the department of Homeland Security, actions that president obama referred to himself as ignoring the law. The vote came after after a federal judge conjoined legislation moving ahead with that overreach. I was glad to see that court decision. It issue will continue to the issue will continue winding its way through the courts. In the meantime, congress will continue to do what it can stop and even democrats that have what it can. And even democrats that have been critical of the president voted again to defend his overreach. My preference is still to debate and pass the funding legislation that is currently before us. It has already passed the house. It is the simplest and easiest way forward. And the democrats think it needs to be amended, and im sure they will try to do that. But first, we need to bring it to the floor. As long as democrats continue to did prevent us to prevent us from even doing that, the authors have provided us another option we can turn to. As another way to get it unstuck from a democratic filibuster and move the debate forward. Host that was Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell yesterday. Meanwhile, heres what happening at the department of Homeland Security. The standoff has left white house officials preparing for a partial shot down of the conglomerate Domestic Security Agency again, that shutdown would happen if there is no funding deal reached by friday. Lawrence is up next on the line for democrats. Good morning. Caller good morning. Im black to my retired from the private sector and military on Social Security, and a democrat. I reject to the whiny tone of that last republican caller. This is just another way that Mitch Mcconnell, who was around since the Deputy Attorney general under gerald ford at the time of watergate, and his conservative base want to impede truly assisting bipartisanly aiding our president barack obama in guarding National Security policy. Host all right. That is lawrence. Francis is up next on the line for republicans. What is your message for congress . Caller president obama said 22 times that congress or that he did not have the power because hes not an emperor or king, to pass these immigration changes. And then somehow, somebody put pressure on him and he suddenly added these changes to the law. Or to his powers. I do not understand why we think the amnesty for millions of people should begin by the president of the United States. The law does not work this way. The constitution does not give him the power. And we should ask the democrats why are you backing something the president continually oppose . Lets follow the voice of the people. Thank you very much. Host francis in tennessee. A few tweets from those following the show on twitter. The conversation also happening on our Facebook Page as well. You can follow along with those conversations as well throughout the course of todays show. We are, of course, taking your calls. Anthony is up next in st. Paul minnesota, the line for independents. Good morning. Caller i would like to make a couple of comments. I was listening to all of these comments. It doesnt seem like our congress, you know, you saw the ex mayor of new york talking about obama not caring and not loving america. Evidently, these people dont love america either. When you talk about d funding Homeland Security, i think you should have the money in theirre for jobs. But if you have no jobs and no training, it is a wasted effort. Another thing i have a problem with is im wondering if boehner still wants netanyahu to come to speak to congress after netanyahu nuisance 2012 that those knew since 2012 that those people were not making bombs. We need to be leaving for the right, not wrong. That is our whole problem. We need to start worrying about our people. Take care of these young people. When youve got minorities with 50 unemployment, that is where youve got unrest. You cannot put enough money in Homeland Security to deal with security enough when youve got all these people around here. We are the most powerful country in the world and the way we will only and the only way we will do with this is from within, not without. Host anthony there. We are discussing the funding debate playing at on capitol hill. We showed you the new majority leader mcconnell. Before that, Senate Minority leader harry reid also took to the floor to talk about this debate happening on capitol hill. Heres a bit of what he had to say on it. [video clip] collects water our republican friends trying to do syria trying to do here . There holding up dreamers and planners. That does not make sense. Their plan is destined to fail. I have said that many times right here. Republicans are not listening to me, and i understand why. My republican colleagues are not listening to a lot of people. They are not listening to the president of the United States u. S. Warns them that blocking the security funding will hurt our ability to respond to these new threats. Host harry reid recovering from that injury he sustained working out at home. To watch the full debate, you can go to www. Cspan. Org and watch the debate that happen before, and of course, some of the remarks that happened after that vote. Max is up next in michigan, line for democrats. Caller good morning, and thank you for cspan. A couple of colors ago, from tennessee, she questioned democrats and why they were backing obama. Well, obama says is perfectly says it perfectly. Congress has come up with no plan to do with immigration. Its just like two years ago with obamacare the Government Shutdown, because they tried to hold it ransom. I think we all know where this is going to go. About five minutes ago, you read an article and the last line was put wrigley, the gop was put perfectly, the gop has another chance they will squander. Thank you. Host that article was the editorial by the tribune review out of pittsburgh, the lead editorial. Here is the lead editorial in todays Washington Post also talking about this under the headline illogical governing. They end that editorial by noting the Editorial Board of the Washington Post this morning. Mike is up next in monroeville, ohio, on the line for independents. Good morning. Caller good morning. We have a mess here. The last election proved that the American People are sick and tired of what is going on. Im a retired veteran and im sick of having my security held hostage for a bill to pass other bills. We have to stand up to this and put a stop to it ourselves. Host how would you do that mike . Caller well, back in the 1970s, i can remember more marching on washington. I was just a little kid. I didnt understand. But now i understand what america is about. It is about freedom. The problem is, weve become a tyrant. All of these countries that weve helped around the world, now they are turning against us. Enough is enough. How much more are we going to take . We are about broke. The only people that are going to help us is ourselves and we cannot turn to washington leadership. It is obvious we are being held hostage again. Host that is mike in ohio. Up next, leslie in burlington. Good morning. Caller good morning. Let me ask you something, or im going to tell you something. This is the fourth time that theyve actually voted on this bill and he keeps going down you were saying. Well, no, they are actually trying host this is the fourth time it has been filibustered. Caller you are finally seeing the word but earlier you were saying that this is the fourth time they had voted and they voted it down. Let me finish please, i have another. Host go ahead. Caller at any rate, lets get it to the floor. The democrats can add all of the amendments they want. And there are several normal republicans that will go along with whatever amendments democrats actually put up some that we can get this thing through. And just everyone knows, they dont have to freak out. The Washington Post paper said there are 240,000 Homeland Security employees. I have heard 330,000. 30,000 of them will actually not come to work. They are the paper purchase. Paper pushers. All of the others will go to work. There will be two weeks at the most. They will actually be able to get their back pay. Congress will get there there boots together and get these people there paychecks. People are freaking out and its ridiculous. Host leslie, you think its a lot of show this week . Caller i do think so. Something is going to happen. And mr. Obama, i think he should have either try to reappeal that case sooner, or let them finish with the Homeland Security debate. On friday, they will have a ruling in court in texas to let them know whether this day actually stays this stay actually stays or whether we can start issuing Social Security cards and then drivers licenses and then they can vote. This has more to do than just Homeland Security. Host there are some republicans on capitol hill that are using this as an offering for allowing funding. Would you be all right with that executive action play out in the courts and for them to proceed on what they are calling a clean funding bill this week . Caller yes, that is what they should do. But i dont know why someone in the house didnt think of this. Someone could have ordered an amendment. The immigration and Naturalization Services are self funding. But the fees you have to pay actually fund the people who work in these programs to be able to get a paycheck and help these people get their documents together and all of this. Well, if thats the case then a could say someone could pass an amendment that the fees these immigrants pay during this amount of time will actually be sequestered until this is resolved in court. That is another way to do it also. Thank you for your time this morning. Host that vote that we were talking about last night was the vote to filibuster. It felt the it fell 13 votes short of the 60 needed to move to debate on the actual house bill on funding dhs. Some of the legislative language and movement there that leslie brought up. Curtis is on the line in georgia , line for democrats. Good morning. Caller how are you doing this morning . Host good, curtis. Caller im surprised i got on. This is the first time. Host i want to know what you think about the whole looming shutdown and immigration debate. Caller we are talking about dhs funding and immigration. I remember when president obama won the second election and john mccain came out and his message to republicans was, look, best than it population the hispanic population is coming up. You have to have a diverse voting group in order for us to win another president ial election. Im not a republican but it seems to me that its a good message that he had to republicans, that you have to be inclusive. And the Republican Party doesnt seem to be very inclusive. We are talking about Homeland Security funding and youre holding that because of an issue about immigration. Obama has been inclusive of immigration and latinos and trying to make america a broader country that we live in. Host that message that you bring up from republicans after the last election, its still being talked about by some republicans, including spencers rick, the fine sand finance director of 2012 for the campaign of mitt romney. Those of the words used by the Washington Times today. Your thoughts on that, curtis . Caller i would just like to add that im regular blue class, and i spent time in the murrays. In the marines. I served in the military. And i was watching a story about italianamericans, documentary about italianamericans and how italianamericans basically founded the bank of america because of how the founder basically understood immigration , and how italianamericans needed to have a place in the country. If you want to be inclusive, and you want to say im included in a party im a black american, 39 euros old, one daughter worked in the military, and i work 39 years old, one daughter, worked in military and i work 40 hours a week plus. If you really want that message that you are not just the 2 to come across, we cannot be held up in the government about funding will stop about funding. Republicans are all about Homeland Security, and we want to be inclusive. These people are here. They are part of america. Host all right, curtis. A few other stories to note for you before we get back to your calls in just a second. Christina berlusconi bellan toni of rowe call newspaper noting that Keystone Pipeline is before the president. There is a joint peace in usa today today from boehner and mcconnell. John boehner and Mitch Mcconnell in their piece today. And on the topic of boehner and mcconnell, heres the front page story in the Washington Times noting that the two of them will be skipping the conservative Political Action conference. It the annual gathering of Republican Leaders and activists. It is taking place just outside washington d. C. And one other story to note for you this morning, this news coming out of the administration and also in the Washington Times. Mr. Mcdonald did have a english a distinguished military record, 345 years in the 82nd airborne division, and completing ranger training and thus earning the ranger tab stop the ranger tab. Back to your calls. Lauras up on the line for independents. Caller i just wanted to make a statement. They are here. They are already here, these immigrants. Im an irish immigrant. My family came here from in the 1700s. These people ok, they are illegal, but they are here. We need to vote and get them out of the shadows and half and pay taxes and become citizens. Get at the end of the line. Pay a fine. Do all of that. They need to be paying taxes. Why should they be paying taking jobs away from people and not paying taxes . Its a nobrainer. And for them not to fund Homeland Security and let the whole world know we are not funding Homeland Security, that is really smart. The mall of america, you know, just let them know that everybody can do whatever they want because we will not be funded. And the last Government Shutdown cost 35 million to the taxpayer. The gop needs to get their head out of their you know what and get to business. Host laura, on the issue of the threats to the mall of america from the New York Times on the front page, their story about it raymond is up next in washington, d. C. , the line for republicans. Raymond, good morning. Caller good morning, and thank you very much for taking my call. This would be my message to congress. The proposal that the majority leader has made to split the vote makes the most sense to me. It takes the emotion out of it. It takes all of the hyperbole you know, all of the debate out of it. And i just want to make a slightly different point though, one that ive heard already. First of all, you take the first vote on the funding. Republicans can get on board. The agency is fully funded. It can function at its expense area out of the issue about what happens if there is a shutdown in the department of Homeland Security and it takes all of the hysteria out about what happens if there is a shutdown in the department of Homeland Security. And then he congress you can pass that in the form of a moratorium, which by the way congress can do, and it doesnt quite often on agency regulations. Its a point that, quite frankly, i did not even think of until this issue came up. Host explain how the moratorium would work. Caller ok, here is how the moratorium would work. You pass a moratorium which would temporarily given given executive order to congress to pass Immigration Reform. That would take the issue out of the court, because then the litigation becomes moot. Congress can focus specifically on immigration and the house can decide whether or not to do comprehensive reform, or do it piecemeal. Host and you are saying if they dont get it done in that time frame, then the executive order would be enacted once that timeframe ran out, is that what you are saying . Caller that is exactly right. And quite frankly, with all respect to the planets and the people who are commenting, that is the cleanest, least controversial way of doing it and it addresses both sides of the issue. Host raymond, that is sort of the stick there. What is the caret carrot to bring both sides together . They seem to be so far apart on this. Caller the carrot is with the moratorium both sides win. First of all, you stop the executive order and you take it out of the courts. I dont think the courts can really get it resolved. And you give the congress, both the gop and the democrats basically what they have asked for, and that is, the time to work this through the legislative process. That actually then gives the house the opportunity to do it one of two ways, either through comprehensive reform, or if they want to do it he, they can do that also. Do it piecemeal legislation they can do that also. And i will tell you why it is a brilliant stroke. Because everyone is focused on funding and then stopping the executive order by putting a writer on the whole agency without thinking of the other tools in the toolbox for congress. Host that is raymond on his thoughts on how the administration can move forward. In columbia, south carolina, line for democrats larry. You are on the washington journal. Caller they passed a clean border bill. Republicans are all about protecting the border. They have time to do that. Protect the border. Why are they spending money hiring Border Guards and stuff you know . Protect the border . Then you go to the people that are in this country. What do they do about that . Go back and read the bill, what he said. Hes just prioritizing who gets to go to be deported. Who we are, think about that. Republicans need to get off their high horse saying, look, protect the border, protect the border. Lets do something simple. Fund the bill and be done with it. That lady that colden, she didnt attack the president. She was a very reasonable person that lady that called in she didnt attack the president. She was a very reasonable person. I could work with her. Host next up, alfred. Thanks for joining us. Caller i believe immigration is a big issue in this country. Its too big for one side, for one party. I believe is going to be a lot of burden on the u. S. Citizens. One of those u. S. Citizens that is going to be burden is simple, bronx, new york. There are hundreds of thousands of people here in new york city which work in Retail Department stores. They work with wages from nine dollars to 13 per hour. If they are trying to be legalized all the way, they are point going to put a lot of pressure on the wages here. Host all right alfred in new york. Up next, we will be joined by North Carolina republican congressman walter jones. We will talk about congresss efforts to debate the war powers request in the fight against isis, and later, Texas Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee will be here to talk about the debate and the injunction that put the hold on the president s executive order. We will be right back. The Political Landscape has changed with the 114th congress. Not only are there 114 new republicans and 53 your republicans not only are there for a theory new republicans and 15 new democrats, but 12 new in the senate. The congressional conical page has lots of useful information there, including Voting Results and statistics about each new session of congress. New congress, best access on cspan, cspan2, cspan radio, and www. Cspan. Org. This sunday on q a, Baltimore Police commissioner anthony bass on the challenges of policing the city. The challenge was still very clear to me that i still had an issue with public trust and people believing things that were said. And regardless of the fact that i stand in front, like i did for you today and said use of force was down to 6 , that complaints were down 53 , that lawsuits are down, that officer involved shootings are dramatically down and we are moved in positive ways people in the communities would say, we dont believe it. And a night at 8 00 p. M. Eastern and pacific on cspan skew monday. Washington journal continues. Host we are joined by a familiar face on the cspan networks, congressman walter jones. You have been asking for a full debate on the war powers resolution the fight against isis. Now that we are starting the hearings this week, including in your committee, the Armed Service committee, are you confident we will get the full debate here . Guest i hope so, john. Jim mcgovern and members of the different parties about 18, including john boehner, join me in getting to a full and open debate meaning the amendment process and not having a close process. In 2002, when we debated the iraq a ums, we only had two amendments the iraq aumf, we only debated to amendments. This is important and we should have an open process. In addition, mr. Mcgovern and i had written a few weeks ago to mr. Boehner also to ask him lets have a full threeday debate eight hours a day, or six hours a day, on this issue. Its too important to the security of our country and its too important that we are spending absolutely billions of dollars with little accountability. Host and we have the letter that you and mr. Mcgovern worked on together, noting in that letter that was and over 1. 5 trillion and lost over 6800 brave men and women in the wars in iraq and afghanistan. You have called the two dozen to vote for the aumf that you made one of the worst mistakes in congress. Is there something new you would look for in the vote against isis . Guest john, obviously that was a Different Administration and a different time. I sincerely believe that the Previous Administration had manipulated the intelligence to justify an unnecessary war. So im very cautious, and again ill use the were dubious. The word dubious. I know what the president sent to us was very vague and he probably did that in intentionally, because the committee on jurisdiction will start debating the a ums aumf before it gets to the floor. Six years ago, i had sent to the commandant of the marine corps and i asked him what he advised because of my limited knowledge on military issues. He said he would. He asked me not to use his name publicly, because activeduty generals do not care what retired general thing, but i disagree. I see no end to this resolution talking about the aumf. Host the one that just came down. Guest right. This is one of the basic tenants of an effective strategy that determines success. And it is very restricted in some areas, and openended and others. Congress needs to be wary. I would like to see more specificity on what is being requested. And this is the close. At the end of the day, we are going to spend a good deal of money on something that is unclear in both mission, measures of effectiveness, in state and exit strategy. Havent we been down this road before . I appreciate this general for his leadership. He is retired, obviously, but this is how i feel as well. We spent over 1. 7 joined dollars 1. 7 trillion in iraq and afghanistan. Our nation is in debt. Do i want to eliminate isil . Absolutely, but we have to have the benchmarks for success. That is what is missing. Host if you want to join the discussion, we are talking about the authorization of use of military force, the debate that is starting on capitol hill. You can call in now. The numbers are on the screen. We will get to the calls in just a second. But i want to ask you the debate that you want to have on the president s war powers, is that getting lost amid the daily youtube videos of atrocities by isis . Are members of Congress Focusing on the right issues . Guest i would like at this time to thank the king of jordan, to thank the president of egypt to for taking the lead to attack isil after they have done so much damage. This is what needs to happen. They are middle eastern countries, muslim countries. They need to take the lead. Let america support and back then, but not america continuing to send our men and women on the ground. I hope for an open debate. It is our responsibility based on the constitution to make these decisions to commit our young men and women to war. We need to have a full debate on this issue. Host lets get to calls. Janet is up first in maine. Caller thank you very much. Walter jones, i wanted to call you the last time you were on cspan. Of course, i didnt get through. And i tried to email you, but of course, i know you cant accept emails from somebody out of state. But what i wanted to tell you was do you remember the greek story about the how genies, who carried a lamp looking for an honest man about diogenes who carried a lamp looking for an honest man . Host guest yes, maam. Caller i thought that was you. I was impressed. Guest im humbled. Thank you. Caller i cannot remember what you even talked about last time that was stunning. But i just heard you say while i was waiting that the muslim countries should take the lead. Of course, they should. In fact, bill marr remapped remarked the other night that they sure got together, egypt and syria and lebanon, they should got together to attack israel. If they can do that, they can get together and take care of that over there. Guest i would like to thank her for the kind words. Im a man of strong faith, and i believe sincerely that god has given this opportunity to me to serve the people in the Third District of congress. I could not agree more with her comments. This is to be a world fight. And again, the countries who are muslim countries should take the lead and, lets support them. Lets give them what equipment they might need. Lets be there to advise them if they want that advice. Thats why i want this aumf debate once it gets out of committee to be an open debate so the American People can by letting the members of Congress Know how they feel in his opposition before the house. If one gets to the floor. Host what would change in the authorization . Guest that is part of the debate. I think the president has all of the authority he needs right now if we did not pass a new aumf. I think the the president has the authority he needs. He is bombing. Rand paul is a very dear friend of mine. If i could read one of his senses very quickly to stop the new very quickly. The new authorization does not put limits on the world and expands the definition of isil to associated forces. I agree with that statement as welcome as i did the former commandant. Thats why we have to have an open debate. We cannot have a close debate. I hope the people watching your show, whether they agree with me or not, will let the speaker of the house no, if you put an aumf on the floor, take a whole week and debate it. Host next up is brian on the line for independents. Caller congressman to my want to thank you for your seriousness when it comes to this ultraimportant issue. My comment is this. Weve been and ask and again been in afghanistan for 14 years, i believe, the longest war in u. S. History. We still have a presence in iraq. Frankly, we saw the military presence in korea and japan over 50 years later. My point is this, when you fight a Guerrilla Force and not a nationstate, it is obvious that the greatest might in military history, which is clearly our country, should not successfully win in terms of keeping the peace. And you and i know that is the key distinction. Sure, we could go in and carpet bombed these people into oblivion but with that ultimately be leading . When we went in and ousted saddam to my we opened up the floodgates for something much worse. With isis, i believe you could pick off some of these folks but a new generation of hostility will fill that vacuum and be stuck there. Because there truly is no way to keep the peace. I say to you, i respect and appreciate what you are doing. And i ask you this congressman do you feel lonely up there in washington . I was there were more people that feel the way you do. Guest thank you for your assessment of the situation and i agree with you 100 . I will say that on the democratic side, youve got jim mcgovern, and i marvin the and others that are outspoken is up on my side, jimmy duncan from tennessee is a great friend of mine and an advocate. What we need to do as we move forward, the American People need to let their voices be heard. Your point was so well made. Until the day i die, i believe that sincerely, if Saddam Hussein was still in power, i dont think we would have all of these jihadists running around the world. If you enable the caterer . Was yet evil was he an evil dictator . Absolutely. I believe we had not bombed libya and taken that qaddafi, i believe we would not have the terrorists living in libya. Its a different world living in the middle east. And diplomacy is the best way to try to maintain some type of order. And yet, i will say again, if these muslim countries will take the lead, then i think we should be there to give them support. Host gary offers this advice on twitter lets go to step in next stefan next in georgia new the air force base. Caller good morning. Im just wondering, what is the benefit of going through this exercise anyway for this additional approval . Congress has already, i guess, tacitly allowed the president to do this at the end of last year. And i do believe according to like you stated earlier, he does already have occupation based on the laws on the books now. Lets say this passes what does this make better bypassing . Guest i agree with you, the president has this authority. Maybe he wants congress to have some skin in the game. I dont know. That is an overused term, but thats the way i see it. But to me, this has been one of those issues this has been one of the issues where i believe the American People want security. I want security. We need to do Everything Possible to protect our homeland. When you start going to these countries, thousands of miles away, and spending trillions of dollars, and bombing, and not only killing the enemy, but also killing and i innocent people. When you are killing innocent people, their families will tell people for centuries that americans killed their uncle or aunt. This is a complex world. Host how did you come to regret your previous decision . Guest john, i went to all the classified briefings. Everyone from Donald Rumsey of the condoleezza rice. They came to classified hearings to talk about that threat of Saddam Hussein. I never believed what i was hearing. I did not read the cia analysis, i wish i had. I would not have voted for i did not read it. I want to be fair about it. I was very hopeful that if we gave president bush the aumf, he would not use it. I was very naive. The first to admit that. They had, in my opinion, that administration manipulated the intelligence. As i said just a minute ago i believe sincerely that we cannot take who will lead these countries in the middle east. It is a mistake. Host been is up next calling from grand junction, colorado. For democrats. Caller good morning. Ive been listening and am completely overwhelmed by what he has been saying from the republican side of things. I have not heard this kind of candor before. It is greatly appreciated. I think it is having an effect even on the phone calls you are getting this morning. Instead of the rant that i so often here, that makes me want to change the station, im hearing people say things in an earnest and straightforward way without rancourt attached. To get to where i want to say my concerns are this expansion in military philosophy that we of had now for decades. I see it in the advertising global force for good idea. We need to pullback from that. That is a hegemonic, mess and non manifest destiny kind of vision for the country that i think is harmful. What i hear and your voice is a drawback in that kind of thinking. I think we need to be hesitant in our thinking of that way. It is dangerous. Besides that, i want to say thank you for saying the things youre are saying. I think there is a great deal of support for the direction you are trying to take things. I think youre right that obama wants us to have this discussion. Originally, he opposed iraq, and i think for all the right reasons. Guest thank you for your comments. This again is why i have been very outspoken, along with other members of congress, that we, for too long, have advocated our responsibility. I still write letters. Not as many. I have sent over 11,000 letters since we went into iraq. I still go to walter reed to visit the bodies. I was there in october and need to go again, and will in march. We had marines for my district. Then this is what you know, and so many people watching the show, john, no. We still have men and women getting their legs blown off in afghanistan. Im forgetting out of afghanistan. Were not changing one thing over there. We had to marines from my district at walter reed. I go over there in the first young man i see, john, he is from louisiana. Hes up on what would you call it, and exercise table. He last two legs and an arm. 23 years old. His father had pain in his eyes. The next marine for my district he lost both legs. People fail to realize that when these young men, and women too, when they step on these it does a lot of damage. Again marine with a child, he said that he would be a really both asian in rehabilitation for 16 or 17 month. He said, congressman, i have to learn to walk. But he also said, i need to have my back them rectum rebuilt. We need to understand that this is a constitutional duty. Host for anyone who goes to your office on the hill, they will see faces of those who have fallen outside your office. Guest i went to a funeral 10 days after we went into iraq. I sat with his wife after they had brought the body home. John, i think that day, god intended me to be there. I needed to feel the pain of what i had done to vote to give bush the authority to go to iraq. From that time, jiving home driving to my home, i kept thinking when i was jiving myself, god, what have i done to disappoint you. From that day forward, i started the idea of remembering those who have given their lives with pictures and also with letters. Host here is a picture from military times. Coserving in Operation Iraqi freedom. Joseph is up next from portland, maine. Caller good morning. Representative jones, thank you very much for all of your i guess, many years of working to try and make sure that we are careful before we have an authorization of military force in going to war. I wanted to thank you for asking hard questions when it is not easy to ask those questions. I definitely want to encourage you to continue that good work. The other thing i wanted to mention that falls in line with that and having more information on things their obvious obviously so important is your work in encouraging the 20 pages of the 9 11 Commission Report to be released and unredacted. The people deserved have that information. Guest thank you very much. I really appreciate your comments. Thanks for bringing up the 20 pages. John excuse me, to other people and i put in a resolution calling on president obama to the 9 11 families and declassified the 28 pages that were in the 9 11 report bipartisan report, right after 9 11, but the bush administration, before they made it public, decided that 28 pages needed to be classified. I have read the pages. We believe that there is nothing about National Security. It is information that the 9 11 families, and the American People, need to have. I dont know how we can make for policy decisions unless these pages are declassified. Host is there a the you can tell us that if they are declassified how it will change the debate . Guest john, i think it will help educate the American People and members of congress to the role of foreign governaments in the attack. I cant say much more until it is declassified. Host bill on our line for republicans. Bill, good morning. Caller good morning john. And good morning representative. I respect you immensely. I like how you asked for gods blessing on the United States. I want you to continue being a strong advocate and a strong voice for nonintervention and diplomacy. A cue from what you do. I have skin in this game. My son recently joined the National Guard and put in an eight year commitment. Like you, i agree that Saddam Hussein, gaddafi alassad, and the rest of the dictators in the mill used are not our friends. We see what blowback is. Isis, to me, is just the pisa blowback. I want to focus the attention on the upcoming president ial election. If you would be of voice to reach across the aisle, and try to get a coalition of democrats and republicans that want a candidate for peace, because congress has a strong word, but the president , unfortunately with all the executive action, it seems to me that getting someone out there besides just a doubt of like obama, who is really not a dove. The last thing i will say is will you be on the floor when Benjamin Netanyahu makes his bees on the Florida House of representatives . I certainly hope not. Guest two answers. First, i am a strong supporter of rand paul. I believe sincerely that his position on Foreign Policy, not exactly like his father, ron paul, but i believe rand paul fully understands that this country needs to have a solid Foreign Policy and not always look to send the troops over to enforce the Foreign Policy. Im a strong supporter of rand paul. Secondly, i will not go but it is not protest. I just quite truthfully feel that i do not go listen to for leaders. I guess maybe i am skeptical about what they will be saying. I just do not believe i have not been in years, to be honest with you. It is not really a protest. I just do not go. Host the caller talked about you possibly being someone to reach across the aisle. You started your career as a democrat, became a republican. Democrats have tried to recruit you in the past to come back to be a democrat. Have you thought about going back . Guest john, no. My teeth of my chief of staff with me today would defy my voting that in this way. When he goes to the floor, i do not know how he will vote. He will either vote as a conservative, or a centrist, or libertarian. I do not think i fit in to the Democratic Party at all. I just somewhat faded to the Republican Party. Host lets talk about the immigration debate and the da just jot down the is looming in less than four days. After that filibuster last night, what is the endgame here in your opinion . Guest i think that mr. Mcconnell and mr. Boehner have been talking during the president ial that took place last week, and we have our conference tomorrow, the republican conference, and i anticipate mr. Boehner giving us some options. At this point, i dont know adoptions will be. I think he will give us options. You know, i never made anything personal about the president. I think he is a good man, i just do not agree with his policies. I feel that the action he took to say to a group of individuals, who came here illegally, that now you are legal, i think that was the wrong thing to do. He had said 20 or 22 times that i do not have the authority to take this action, and that he took the action. I think its a bad message to the American People. Host could you accept what could be a clean dhs bill . Or do you want the issues tied together . Guest if they came as to separate bills i think there needs to be a statement by the house, and send it to. This is where i get that with my own side with war, and other things. It almost seems like the constitution does not matter anymore. Really. Aumf. Someone called earlier and said it is just bypassing the constitution. I think the action that the president took was wrong. There needs to be some type of statement by congress. I dont know what options we have. Host paul is waiting on our line for independents. Paul, good morning. You are on with norh North Carolina congressman walter jones. Caller i have two comments. Let the immigration bill be a separate the. Number two, if we do not stand with israel, this nation will fall. This would be the third time that mr. Netanyahu comes here, and both times our nation has been warned by god through him. This will be our third and final warning. This nation will fall. Guest guest out, thank you for your service. And i think is that your brother, thank him for his service. For the sacrifice you have both made. I am very hopeful that the director will get things straight. Obviously, it will not happen overnight. At least, i think he is moving in the right direction. I know that we have a v. A. Clinic in my own district in North Carolina, which is the home of a marine base and an era station. We know that in our clinic, the majority and i see those veterans from time to time at grocery stores, churches, and other places. They are telling me that their v. A. Has gotten the message, and things are changing in a positive way. I hope you will call your member of congress where you live because i have one of the best young men, down in greenville, taking care of the veterans in my district. Host this system it has not been expressed so far by a cause, but a new poll out says that in october, americans were divided on sending Ground Troops to fight isis. In the latest numbers, 65 of americans view ices as a major threat. 18 view it as a minor threat. Does that concern you . Guest you cannot have a strategy for victory unless you know what the endpoint is to that strategy. Again, i respect the American People. I tried to listen to the people of the Third District. After 12, 14 years in afghanistan, we have spent over 1. 7 trillion, our nations 18 trillion in debt we are headed towards collapse. We have to be smart. Yes, lets defeat isis. But lets get the middle east countries to take the lead. Lets support the middle east countries. Lets let them put their troops on the ground and fight them. Then, everyone to put advises there, special ops with those troops, but lets put the middle east troops on the ground first. This is a middle east problem. Yes, it could spill over to our country, we know that. The point is lets go to the area where they are primarily and take them out with middle east armies. Host we are talking to congressman walter jones. A member of the house Armed Services committee. He is with us for another 10 minutes or so on washington journal. Jeff is up next. Line for republicans. Caller good morning. Im a desert storm vet. I agree with what youre saying. My question is yes, the middle east, they need to take the lead. The u. N. Made have Peace Keeping forces. Is there any way that they can play a role in getting a Coalition Force together to help the middle east countries . Guest thank you for your service in desert storm. My philosophy and yours is very close to me because i believe if the middle east countries are asked to take the lead by our administration, and even from the united nations, i believe that this is a world fight. The countries of the world need to come together, and especially those who are in the middle east. There are more muslims killed by isis than any other group. I believe there is a strategy, but the strategy has to be with the countries in the middle east s think that we will put archers on the ground. I believe, sincerely, with actions taken by egypt and jordan, this is a start. We, as a nation, ought to encourage that and say to these middle east countries, we will help you. We will give you wherever you need. You take the lead, and we will be there to support you. Host line from democrats. Ellen is next. Caller good morning. I was listening to you earlier and you mentioned libya and iraq. What you said is if those leaders had stayed in, and not been killed, a lot of this full shift going on would not be going on. I think i want to correct you on libya. Libya the people rose up against gadhafi, and then gaddafi decide to go out against his own people. Thats when the United States started yelling at them saying we have to do something about this. Right about the time he was going to go after his own people is when the president said, no, this must stop. Its not like we just went in there and to come out. We went in there because the people rose up. In iraq, the people did not rise up. This is different from libya. Guest helling, i would not fully disagree with you. I would say this, sometimes when the people riled up, you do not know who the people are. What has happened since gadhafi has been taken out, look at the country. It is in total chaos. The people that rose up, they are jihadist and taking over our embassy. I sort of want to agree with you, but not totally. Host maryland from Robert Robert from maryland. You are on with the congress men. Caller good morning. You provided an excellent arguments and not go to war in the middle east. Trillions of dollars. Began the trillions of dollars, i am a journalist, and i have interviewed members of congress and different agencies. The concern i hear more than anything is the military contractors and lobbyist. You are a member of the Armed Service committee. How much influence to they have a twisting the story and pushing the United States to go to war where we shouldnt . Guest thank you for your statement. I would agree that special interests in washington has too much influence. Whether it be on the military a duster comple military complex, or other groups. Im actually on a group with a representative from maryland that would be alternative. You have to go back to the court system, but there is an alternative that i think would help bring more democracy to our process and less influence from special interest groups. I do think that the militaryindustrial complex and there are other groups to. The way we raise money, both parties are guilty of this. Constantly raising money whether youre a democrat or republican. I dont know the lab in my lifetime, but may be in yours, or johns, that we have an alternative to the system we have now. The system will always be there. I think at some point in time, in the next few years, when you have these millions and millions of dollars in campaigns, someone will make a mistake and there will be an indictment. Host the next caller may be a constituent of yours. Harper island, North Carolina. Robin is waiting on the line for republicans. Caller good morning. Weve been watching a show this morning, it has been a very good show. Thank you for your comments. I just got a couple of questions for you. We still are not sure we cant get it to your head where isis came from. For years and years it was we had to fight al qaeda, the afghanis. In six months, these people, and all of a sudden they are the fattest people over there and they have all these weapons. Are they using weapons that our government supported them with the star all this . Guest i appreciate you taking the time to call you. You are exactly right. That silly questions about how isis is functioning. We know how evil they are theres no question about that but where they getting all this money . Obviously, they got some weapons when they went into iraq. They got some weapons that the American Government had given to the iraq he army. After the iraqi army collapsed about a year ago, i got some of the equipment. Today, with all the isis is doing, some element is funding the campaign. Theyve got a b. There are millions and aliens of dollars a barrel spending. Host a caller from your district wanting to ask about a proposal that may affect your district. Possible drilling. Your thoughts on the proposal. Guest john, i believe in always have believed, that if there is any exploration by any oil company or corporation, the state that will be impacted, if the exploration is off the coast of North Carolina, then the state of North Carolina should share in the revenues. I will not be supportive of any proposal unless i know that the states that will be impacted our nation will be able to share in the revenue. Host tony is up. Tony, good morning. Caller good morning, cspan, good morning, congressman. A couple of brief things. Ive asked military. I will not get into the specifics. I believe you are on the Arm Service Committee. Correct . Guest yes, sir. Caller then, you should know what is about to happen in most cool. Correct . Guest i do not, to be honest with you. Caller you should look into that. Guest i will look into it. Caller it pertains to independent contractors, and we are about to kick them but over there. As far as the aumf, dont you think that is president obamas way of just trying to include you. A gentleman said that before include you in the fight as a courtesy. Because he really does not need that authority. Guest i will look into the area that you just brought to my attention. I know i have my staff on the hill watching the show. Absolutely. I really believe that it we did not do anything on the aumf, it would be a good decision. The president has the authority. Unless he says that i want you in congress to repeal both aumf, afghanistan and iraq, which he has only said iraq and afghanistan, i think this is dangerous. The constitution gives us the authority. Real quickly. James madison said, the power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war is fully and exclusively vested in the legislative. That is congress. That is why i am so outspoken about the aumf and other issue. I Want Congress to uphold its promise to the constitution, which is usually doubtful. Host the Arm Service Committee will be debating on the aumf this week. We will be looking out for that. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. Next, we are joined by democratic congresswoman, Sheila Jackson lee of texas. She will discuss the immigration debate there is happening in washington dc and a texas federal judges decision on the presence executive order. Later, we will talk about the secret world of Government Debt collection with two cnn money investigators who really looked into that topic. We will be right back. The Political Landscape has changed with the 114 congress. Not only are the 43 new republicans and 15 new democrats in the house, there is also 108 women in congress, including the first africanamerican woman in the house and the first woman veteran in the senate. Keep track of the new congress with the congressional chronicle. New congress, best access on cspan. This sunday on q a, Baltimore Police commissioner on the challenges of policing the city. It was very clear to me that i still had an issue with public trust and people believing things that were said. Regardless of the fact that i stand in the front and say that use the of forces down an officer involved shootings are down, and we are moving in positive ways, people in the community say, we do not believe it. Sunday night on cspans q a. Washington journal continues. Host we are joined now by another familiar face to cspan networks. August woman Sheila Jackson lee. Congresswoman, the texas judges order on the executive action. How do you see the judicial side of this playing out before we get to the legislative side . Guest obviously i am a fan of the constitutional framework which the president used to determine which cases needed to prosecute under Immigration Law. I think his effort under the executive action was legitimate. However, many states, republican governors, in particular, have decided, along with our friends in congress, that they will not cede to the president authority. That is what it is. In this instance, they were shopping. I think your listeners need to know that lawyers can look for a course that will be friendly. This court has spoken out against the practices of the administrations Border Security plan. Probably without noting knowing tha details of the plan. What he said is it was a question of process. Host administrative procedure. Guest i beg to differ somewhat with his perspective. There have been many executive actions. Many executive orders where that has not been the case. This state, then, was to flesh out these issues. Now, the Justice Department is asking the judge to stay his order. Which can be asked. It may come out today or tomorrow whether he does so. And they will have their arguments as to the legitimacy of the executive action. Then, the Justice Department has been asked to immediately appeal to the fifth circuit. That is a conservative circuit. Host of former Municipal Court judge for the city of houston. This day that the federal judge in texas issued, did he overstepped, should it just have been for the texas cases or did he have the authority to talk about all these other states across the country . Guest i think it is a very good point. My concern is that it was brought in his determination. Those were parties to the suit. Therefore, his action could impact and could hold for parties of the soup. The argument that he cited was the argument that the state of texas made i think the public should know that all of the is being paid by the individuals who will be seeking a drivers license. You do not get a drivers license for free. For the service that you render through the state, you are then paid by the people seeking that jarvis license. It is well noted that texas under this executive action will be rallies of money. The other thing is that if that were the case, he limited his decision to the impact on texas. Yes, it is expanded to all the other states. The Justice Department did say when he just limit his order to the state of texas. That would be a fair request. I think it would be in order that the judge should render. Host that is the judicial side of this. Lets talk about what is happening this week over the fight over the presence executive action and the issue of funding the department of Homeland Security. What is the endgame in your mind . Guest let me add that the endgame, or in that, for some a families in my district, in texas, and across the nation. First of all, we have hurting families. Those who have began to line out and prepared to pay fees. We are making sure that there is not fraud. The government has been working very hard to that this office. What has happened is last night, the senate failed again to pass the dhs bill that the republicans put forward, which is to defund dhs and eliminate the presence executive action. You could almost say that that bill is looped because there is a core proceeding as we speak and the court has rendered a temporary judgment, if you will. Now, rightly so, the majority leader, which i think should have been done weeks ago in the climate that we are in, with heightened action of isil, this is a full is discussion. Last night the senate, rightly so, the democrats, held at and dropped. The bill was not successful to have dhs funding tied to the elimination of the executive order action. Rightly so. Now, majority mcconnell is offering a compromise, a separate upper down vote on eliminating the executive action and finding the 40 million that is needing to keep parts of the faa functioning, ice officers that is so important to the internal process of those who have come to the country illegally. How so for this to say the administratio is not doing its job, and then you want to defund it. Border Security Officers for the northern and southern border, who are again on the front lines. Those of us who live in texas have visited the border a number of times but also the northern border, a porous border, if you will. It is interesting that all the focus is on the southern border. If all the workers, who are deemed essential, have to come to work without being paid and i know because of their patriotism, i see their work every day, i thank them every day for their work, they will be there. But how full is it is for the legislator, which is a partner in the executive for ensuring our security of this nation, would block these born sermons these foreign servants. Executives guiding, and steering, if you will, the works of those on the front lines. Ive hoping, i would like to vote today. I would like to vote tomorrow to fund the department of Homeland Security the 40 million that is a bipartisan, legislative initiative that came through the congress and the appropriations committee. Why not just passive tomorrow . If im too early for tonight why do we present tomorrow so that this nation can be protected. Host if you want to talk to congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee about these issue, she is with the for the next 40 minutes or so. Phone numbers. Republicans can call 202 7488001. Democrats, 202 7488000. Independence, 202 7458002. If you are outside the United States, 202 7480003. Derek is up first calling from here in washington dc. He is on our line for independents. Thencaller i do live in d. C. But the close as i get to any congressperson is right here on cspan. Thank you for taking my call. My big thing is that we really need to pass some type of immigration bill, but also secure the border. A couple of years ago when the Senate Passed the immigration bill, the house, they would not consider it at all. Some of the biggest people there were saying lets secure the border. Why dont we just get that out of the way, particularly the southern border, just because that is where a lot of people are crossing. Secure the border so that rightwingers do not have the argument anymore. Secure the burdenorder. Lets have an immigration bill. It is really difficult. Im a property manager, and i see a lot of people here without papers and all they want to do is work. Its not right how we operate. What exactly do we show other countries. We have not gotten anything done in eight years, basically. Nothing. Guest first of all, i greet agree with you 100 thank you for your astuteness. I just what is that we have worked really hard with present obama and passing the Affordable Care act and this issue of terrorism, returning soldiers. I want the caller to know that we have tried to work in a bipartisan manner. He is right. We past the Border Security building he would have been proud of. I remember a because we worked on it in a bipartisan fashion. Many of my colleagues added amendments and changes. It would have major operational control of the southern border with enhanced resources for our Border Patrol agent. Frankly, are Republican Leadership would not allow it to come on the floor of the house. I am committed to Border Security. He is absolutely right. I think we can come together on a Border Security bill. A bill that was just as recently, that was not bipartisan, it was voted solely out by republicans. That bill has been viewed as too liberal and not being allowed for an upper down vote on the floor. I would argue that the gym and is obsolete right. Of course, they are deporting 5000 persons, which is the argument of our friends in the congress who are not supporting the idea of Border Security legislation and comprehensive immigration. Apprehension of these people would cost 5. 4 billion. The detention of them 10 billion. Transportation 5. 4 billion. The total would be 10,000 per person. These people are investing in our country. They have families. As the dominant indicated, they are trying to work. Host we will go to judy from florida. Caller good morning. I have a question. My question is why do we have to put those bills together . Homeland security and immigration. Why can we not separate them . Vote on them separately. We need an immigration bill, absolutely. We have mothers that will be set back and children will be left here. It would be a burden on our country. The second one is we need Homeland Security. Our country is very important. We have families, children here. We do not want the war here. We need to fight isis separately, and we also need to fight to do something about immigration. Not to blackmail, hold one against the other, if we do not get one, we do not get the other. Host judy, it seems like the senate is moving in the direction of having these two separate vote. One on the present executive order on immigration, and the other on the department of Homeland Security funding. Congressman, commerce woman i will let you respond. Guest you are right. She has a great idea, and we can all agree to that which is a separate vote. I think what is important is that we reach the house of representatives Speaker Boehner to except the compromise that the majority leader is now moving forward, or attempting to move forward on a separate vote. She is so right. There are mothers that would be separated from their children. 50 billion to the port deport these 5 million. People probably know that this president has already deported more people than past president s already. In this in since, he is trying to show instance, he is trying to show americas heart and commipassion. Host does the president have the will of the American People behind him . Jake sanders brings up on twitter, the president exceeding his authority. Here is a post from the Washington Post that came out earlier this week. The question was among all adults, 47 said yes. Guest they have demonized it, the honest with you. We know that president eisenhower, clinton, reagan, among others have used executive action. Particular reagan, in the instance of Immigration Reform, when he thought that congress had not gone far enough. I think if we explain to the American People that once these executive actions are given a chance to be an place, they will see the orderliness of what we are trying to accomplish. My perspective is is it better to not know who is in this country or to know who is in this country . What we are trying to do is have regular order under the effect of action. That is to give the Families Agency to deport criminals and drug dealers, but not families. Felons over family. When you hear the painful story of mothers who are working, but still hiding, who want simply to be old to take their children to school, to watch a school play without the fear of deportation that is all we are doing. I think the American People will agree that that is a good approach. Host in our last segment, congressman jones brought up the 22 times that president obama said he could not create his own Immigration Law by issuing executive action. One of those was on march 20 8 2011, the president said, the notion that i could send immigration through executive action, that is not the case. How do you explain those statements . Guest the president indicated that he could not massively suspend deportation. He is not. Every day, persons are being deported. The executive action does not in any way stop deportation. What they do is defined and discern who may be eligible under the discretion that agencies have. The determination is whether or not you fit an extensive criteria. You may have a citizen child, or a green card child. That means the child would have the ability to make their parent eligible. It does that mean the pair will ultimately be approved. It means that they are eligible. The president was absolutely right. What his team did was constitutionally that whether the writing of his executive action fit within his basic authority. I believe that they did a thorough job. His executive actions are streamlined, narrow, detailed as to specific elements of eligibility. And allowing that to go forward under a wellknown term of the nations prosecutors, who are very much aware of utilizing it, prospect inventory host bruises up next. Bruce, good morning. Caller good morning. Thank you miss jackson for fighting for the immigration bill. I work with these people out there. They are very hard workers. You are right there are families that have feared to come out because of this. The president is doing the right thing by doing this. He is not breaking the constitutional law on doing this. The other president in the same thing. A lot of them signed declarations what i was trying to say is executive orders. You know. It is wrong what they are doing against the law. The president has begged them before all this. He kept telling them, come on lets do this Immigration Law. Together. They kept playing with him. Do you agree with that . Guest first of all, it is good to hear a good friend from texas. Host is he in your district . Guest pioneer that area. Im in houston. It is always good to hear from a texan. Let me offer my sympathy to the family of one of our firefighters who lost his life over the last few days. A great leader and hero to our community. I know that whenever wheatle whenever we lose a First Responder of his caliber, not only does the community mourn, the state more and, the nation mourns. The collar is absolutely right. First of all, the executive action would generate millions of dollars for the economy. This is not a free ride. This is not a process that will be easy. There will be a number of checks and vetting on the individuals that apply. Host is Economic Impact just in the fees that these. The pay in registering, or are you talking about Economic Impacts in taxes . Guest taxes, the already paying sales tax. There will be some determination about other taxes, if you will, determination on investing in Social Security, and other aspects of what consumers do when they spend money. I also think it is important when people are listening and saying that these people might be taking their job. Many of them are already employed. In addition to that, we, as a congress, are beginning, and should be beginning to looking at further job creation through science, engineering, math. The president s announcement about extending our Community College degree to every american who desires to have it. Job creation through a number of industries, increasing manufacturing, increasing production in the auto industry. We are mindful that we need to create jobs for a myriad of americans, including veterans returning, to students graduating to the unemployed. I dont want anyone to think that we are unconcerned. The investment including a pathway, as ecologist at as the college is said, encouraging them to come out of the shadows. It helps to turn the economy. Host lets go to new york. Ellen is waiting. Alan, you are on with congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee. Caller good morning, congress wanted. The reason we are in such bad shape with immigration is because the law that was passed in the 1986. We were promised a lot of things. We were lied to at the time. A lot of what was promised never came through. We were promised that the border would be secure. That never happened. We were promised that an employee of, who employed illegal aliens, would be fine. And maybe even jailed. We were promised that they would know who they would have they would have a situation where they would know who was illegal. We did not get everify until four years after that. At that time, it was made voluntary. You people in congress are not worthy of my trust anymore. I have been lied to to many times. You are not trustworthy. Guest im disappointed in her disappointment. We own the American People the truth. As well, the implementation of what we promise. I know the 1986 legislation was not as sure as it shouldve been. I have served on the immigration subcommittee and we have seen the results of that law. We have attempted, since that time, to make efforts. Unfortunate, weve not been able to do so in a bipartisan manner. What i would say to the caller is that no one disagrees that there must be strong Border Security. We need to find a bible a bipartisan initiative. I indicated that a House Resolution was ready to go to the floor last congress. It is ready to go to the floor again and be voted on by the house and the senate in a bipartisan manner. We need to have a prospect of technology where employees can have the technology to be able to determine who is eligible to work and who is not. We are working on that, to coordinate between the employer and the system. The system is not as perfect as it should be. To the caller, what i think should she should be calling on is for congress to work in a bipartisan manner. More than two decades plus after 19 six, we have the technology to do Immigration Reform correctly, and we have the ability to do Border Security. We need to have the will you go i have the will. Host are you cant lay of that we would not be back in a similar situation 25 years down the road . Guest what we have now that we did not have in 1986, and tragically, the department of Homeland Security came out of 9 11, is a copper heads of department that now has all of the elements under one roof to provide oversight to our administration to make sure works for the American People. Another aspect of what we have is increasingly improved technology. Not where it needs to be, but it is an improved and the sd check the balances are much more viable. I would say to the American People, yes, we have the ability to do what they are asking too. I would say to my colleagues, it is important that we do it together, in a bipartisan matter. Host Sheila Jackson lee, i guess. On the judiciary committee, she serves on the immigration subcommittee and has been working on these issues for a long time. Her 11th term in congress. Joining us for the next 20 minutes or so. James is joining us from apple valley california. James, good morning. Caller good morning to you. Host go ahead with your question or comment, james, we can hear you. Caller congress lady, i have been watching often on for years. Every time she comes on, she is talking about immigration. I would guarantee that the majority of her constituents are africanamericans, otherwise she would not be eating there. That black caucus of their in washington is not worth the salt on the earth. We need to get rid of all of them. Host do you want to respond . Guest i do. I want to wish him a wonderful morning. I hope that he will take either to the internet or choose to read some books because the Congressional Black Caucus has remained as a steadfast legislating entity that has served this nation very well. It has served this nation as democrats, who have been strong advocates of Immigration Reform who have likewise been strong advocates of increased opportunity for education, increased opportunity for income closing the gap of wealth and inequality. Certainly, the Congressional Black Caucus has been a major leader in civil rights reformation, if you will. Including, the Voting Rights act , although there were a few members in 1965, and the successes of reauthorization the fight that we are waging now to fight against voter id laws and for the authorization of the Voting Rights. I served now as Ranking Member on the crime, terrorism, and Homeland Security committee. With a great commitment to criminal justice reform, an issue that all of america cares about. All lives matter. As well, over the years, as a member of that committee, i have worked on issues as far ranging from copyright and patent law to Immigration Reform to issues dealing with Early Release for the federal system. Memories of the Congressional Black Caucus and have spread their talents on the energy and commerce committee, the judiciary we have leadership roles and committees across the congress and we have been effective advocate for the rights of all people and africanamericans through president s as long as we can remember from the time that the Congress Congress caucus was founded. I encouraged him to read up and seek to those who we have actually intervened and change their lives. Host congressman butterfield from North Carolina. Have you led that organization . Guest our chairperson as have others are great leaders on issues of concern to the nation of africanamericans. In particular, we had a powerful meeting with the president to speak about crucial issues like education, the issues dealing with ferguson, on the issues dealing with wealth inequality. We are a working caucus and we work with the Democratic Caucus and we work with republicans for the betterment of this nation. Host let us go to dennis and tennessee. Good morning. Caller good morning. Here is what i have a problem with. It is two things. If the president of the United States is supposed to be a commanderinchief, why did he secure that border why did you not secure that order . Isnt his response ability to secure the borders . He did not know how many people were coming over here. His responsibility is to secure the border. Then, if they want to deal with immigration, they should deal with it. The other thing i have a problem with is we have a 11,000 people here. Now, the president is wanting to say that there are too many to transport over. Yet, there wanting to send 4000 people from another country or they can send 4000 of them back over here knowing that we have 11,000 immigrants already here. Host i think dennis was talking about 11 million 11 million being the estimate of undocumented aliens and United States. The question of securing the borders first before dealing with the immigration question. Do you want to take that on . Guest i do not think there is one member of congress who disagrees with securing the border. It is a very constructive pathway. A major reformation of the immigration system is in the senate. And hill was passed out with republicans and democrats conservative to and it was writing to go last year a bill was passed out with republicans and democrats and it was ready to go last year. Chairman maccoll and myself as the Ranking Members of the subcommittee and the last congress as the chairperson of that committee passed a bipartisan Border Security bill. What the caller is saying i want to offer a correction. This president has reported more persons deported more persons. I think he might be talking about the surge of children. This expedition is a clear excavation. I was down at the border. I watched childrens children get off the buses. They were four years old and five years old. They were in diapers. They were documented, fleeing persecution from their respective Central American countries. Documented murders and killings in the street. Some of their family members have been murdered. Mothers who were fearful that their children would be captured by gangs. Almost as horrible of a situation as going on with isil and taking children into childrens camps and training them on the horrors of terrorism. That was the circumstance where the administration ways a major effort to educate in those countries that this was not a place to come. These children are being processed of those who are being eligible to stay because their family members are here and staying. This is a country that abides by laws. It is also a country that has compassion. Those who cannot stay have been sent back. And large numbers have been set back. I would say that the president has been an effective leader in securing the border. We must have an effective partner in the United States congress. I think it is important that my friend on the republican side of the aisle work with us as the legislative body of this nation to deal do what the American People have asked to secure the border and in in an intelligent, staff manner and they move on to copperheads of Immigration Reform. I think we can do all things together. We can explain to the people passed reform. Democrats are ready. Leader pelosi is ready. We are working with the leadership of the house. Mitch mcconnell has now offered a compromise, if you will, to pass the funding of dhs. Again, im calling right now today that weve boat on that legislation, if not tonight tomorrow morning. Host houston, texas is up next. Hattie is calling on our line for democrats. You are on Sheila Jackson lee with Sheila Jackson lee. Caller im so glad that ive got on with Sheila Jackson lee. She is in my district. I agree with her on immigration has nobody because nobody should be discriminated against. Ive got friends with that. They work and they want to pay taxes. They want to be legal. The republicans they have got to realize that we have more tax money and everything. If they are working and they are saving money so they will not have to pay these taxes, it is like a personal check to them. They will not even have to pay that tax and do cheap labor. This is not right. Another comment that i have with ms. Leahy miss Sheila Jackson lee here is that my husband is a veteran. He has not been treated equally at the va hospital and everything. This man from california that is what he is saying. Sometimes, you do not step up. Some of them are not doing what they are supposed to do. Host congresswoman. Guest i think here i think her so much for her comment. What a generous spirit that if we can find an eligibility process or immigrants that they can come at the shadows and be eligible for being paid fair wages and paying their fair share of taxes. They will be contributing to the community. I want to say to her personally and i hope she will reach out to my office, that we want no veteran turned away from service in the Veterans Affairs department or the Veterans Hospitals. I was the first member of congress that went on the ground of the Veterans Hospital in houston to challenge and ask about service there and have continued over the years to work on issues in our veterans community. I would ask that she reach out to our office and to determine how we can be of help to her husband and any other ventures veteran. Our obligation and duty has never ended with a whether it a veteran who has put on that uniform to serve for our nation. We are completely honored by their service and obligated to them for the services they have rented to this nation. Host we have been talking about president obama during the segment. You had a tweet over the weekend that caught my attention. I want to ask you about it. It is in the wake of Rudy Giulianis comments about the president and that he does not love america. Your tweet if Rudy Giuliani doubts the president love of the usa and willingness to protect americans, he just site should seek a Second Opinion from Osama Bin Laden. Would you like to go further . Guest i viewed him in the horrors of 9 11 as americas mayor. He led that city and showed himself as a great american. I have great disappointment in his assessment and willingness to determine a man or womans heart. How does he know the president s heart, commit the commitment and passion . I think it lowers his own status. I was very disappointed. My suggestion there was that this president as ive watched them loves his country and less his family. He has evidenced it by the dogged way that under his command of the United States military move forward to find Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice. His many visits to the many men and women in the United States military, overseas in iraq and afghanistan, are his outpouring of sympathy to the victims of floods and hurricanes and the horrible explosion in waco texas. Those citizens took to the president as he came to comfort them. And his commitment to being the president and bringing the Affordable Care act or health care to all of america. The statistics have shown that this is the lowest number of uninsured americans in the history of this nation. By next year, more americans will become in short under the affordable insured under the Affordable Care act. That is what he has tried to do in refining his words fully constructed words, a fortunate words unfortunate words, untimely words in a time when a nation should be joined in a fight against a terrific a horrific terrorist group that continues to snatch people christians, and others, that threatens the world. This is a time where we need to be united. It is not a time to challenge the president s patriotism. For me, i was hurt and many of my constituents were hurt. It is something that we have not seen before. We only ask mayor giuliani to find it in his heart to apologize. And to find it in his heart to speak about unity and for us to come together. I still hold him as americas mayor for his stunning and dedicated service to the most trying times that not only new york has gone through, but this nation. Host we just have a few minutes left with congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee of texas. Auburn, alabama. Mo, you are on the washington journal. Caller i have a question. Im a legal immigrant that has promised not to be a burden to this country. Now, we talk about the current tax credit. The white house never asked what would happen. That means that illegal aliens can go back four years. That becomes a lot of money. Many of them also, they have American Children which means they get food stamps. As a legal immigrant, that is not something that i can do because i promised not to be a burden to my new country. What about the child credit that a lot of illegal aliens have been in program . Have they paid that back . Are they going to stay in that country . Host congresswoman . Guest first of allguest guest first of all, the executive actions. The individuals under the executive actions will not get in line in front of those who are online through the Legal Immigration process. We thank our caller for her commitment to being part of the american dream, which this is a nation of immigrants, but also aid a nation of laws. The executive action does not differ any immigration status on these individuals. They will not have any status that is by law. What they will have is the ability to delay deportation. And so, i would say to the caller that much of what she has indicated in the income tax relief is to a status person. They will not have a status. We will continue to look to how we can improve Immigration Reform or the immigration system so that it can be fair to those who are in line already through the Legal Immigration policies process so that the distribution of benefits to those citizens are fairly distributed so that americans understand that there is a distinction between not being deported versus having an immigration status. These individuals 5 million will not have an immigration status. They will not be eligible for the benefit. Host congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee, we always appreciate the information you bring and we hope to see on the floor soon. Guest thank you for having me on this one. Host up next, well talk about the secret world of Debt Collection with cnnmoneys lake blake ellis and melanie hicken. Well be right back. The Political Landscape has changed with the 114th congress. Not only are there 43 falcons and 15 new democrats in the house and 12 the republicans and one democrat in the senate. There is the first africanamerican republican in the house. Keep track of the member of congress using congressional caught chronicle on cspan. Org. The page has lots of useful information including Voting Results in each session of congress. New congress, best access on cspan, cspan2, cspan radio, and cspan. Org. The cspan city to her textbook tv and American History tv on the road traveling to u. S. Cities to learn about their history and literary life. Next weekend, we partnered with comcast to a visit to galveston, texas. [indiscernible] with the opening of the suez canal, sailing ships were almost dealt a death blow with the opening of the canal, coal fire ships have a shorter route to the far east and to india. The sailing ships really needed to find a way to make their own living, so instead of highvalue cargo, they started carrying lower value cargoes like cold oil, cotton, etc. They really found a niche in carrying cargo that did not required heading into the market at a very fast pace. The connection to galveston is really unique in that she sailed and arrived here in galveston about 100 years from where we are standing right now back in 1883 with a cargo full of bananas. She came again a second time later on in the 1880s and 1886. It was real important for Galveston Historical Foundation to have a connection. The fact that she was a sailing vessel with all the more important. Christ watch all of our events from allison saturday, march 7 at noon eastern on cspan tv. And watch it on American History tv on cspan3. Announcer washington journal continues. Host blake ellis and mel Kelly Melanie hicken Work Together on a cnnmoney piece on the secret world of Government Debt collection. They are us to talk about that story here on the washington journal. I want to start with blake ellis. What is Government Debt collection and why is it a secret world . Guest Government Debt collection refers to debt collectors that are hired by state and local governments to collect everything from taxes and parking tickets and told violations and they are hired by agencies all across the country. We kind of stumbled across this. We cover Debt Collection on the personal finance debt beat for years. We never heard of this whole other world of Government Debt collection. Looking into it in our investigation, we found it was interesting because Government Debt collectors get to play by a completely different set of rules than other debt collectors going after things like credit card debt. As a result, they can charge much higher fees and issue pretty scary threats like foreclosure and even arrest. Host melanie hicken, how long did you spend looking into this and how did you find people to talk to that are highlighted throughout this piece . Guest we spent over five months on this. It has been six october. We have been living and breathing the stuff. We found consumers all over the country through complaints that they filed a state attorney generals. We filed a public records request. This is how the whole project started. We were not looking for Government Debt collectors, or even debt collectors in general we were interested in looking at what consumers were complaining about. This cap coming up. Kept coming up. We were able to get their Contact Information and reach out to them. We found complaints to the Better Business bureau and places like yelp. We found a lot of consumers who had a lot to say. Host you can read the story at money. Cnn. Com or follow along with us this morning and call in with your questions and comments. If you are in the eastern, it is 2027488000. We not talking about the federal government that seems to be the focus of the piece, but more state and local governments. Guest yes. Some debt collectors are hired by the federal government. Some companies that we focused on, at one point, they did work for the irs. The irs has experimented with using private debt collectors but it always had a lot of controversy around that and ended their program back in 2007 using private debt collectors. Recently, it has been on the table again, but so far, nothing has happened with that. Mainly, what we got, private debt collectors hired by local governments who collect on property taxes or toll authorities that go after unpaid tolls. They collect for 2300 government clients across the country and have the ability to collect in every single state. Is a Huge Industry collecting through local and state governments. Host melanie hicken, talk about specific examples of that collection that you came across. Guest some of the people that we highlighted really ranged from the most horrifying example it is a woman from brooklyn new york. She received a more than 700 bill for the police car that killed her son. It was from the city of new york. It was obviously a terrible mistake, but there were a lot of people who are getting these mistaken bills where it is a lot harder for them to prove that. In her case, she obviously should not have been billed for the damage that killed her son. Another man that we spoke with received more than 100,000 bill from the state of oklahoma. It was for taxes that he paid more than seven years earlier or a business used to own. He was patch or five because his proof testify because his proof of payment had been disposed by the bank. Or months, he was trying to prove that he paid his taxes. No one would listen to him. Those were two of the courageous examples. Host one of the issues that you highlighted in the story was that government that collectors can have more of the power of the state with the local government by men to threaten, perhaps, prison time or other penalties that private debt collectors cannot have it there disposal. These stories are sometimes scarier when you are on the receiving end of this. Guest in one case, that is a great example. It is not just a threat, it is something that can happen. We found one man in kansas who went to jail three times for an unpaid 100 speeding ticket. For the government side of things, they say that he missed Court Hearings. He was in contempt of court. We are going to put him in jail. He was patch or find of going to jail. He did not go to court because he was afraid that he cannot pay his bill. He went to jail because he did not go to court. It is a terrible cycle. Guest that also brings up the issue of the huge fees that they charge. There is an example of this man who ended up in prison that started out as a 100 speeding ticket and ended up with a bill of over 2000. Once the collection fees were added and court costs and government penalties it starts with these small dollar debts and can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. We have seen a couple dollars and tolls go to a 300 bill for these people. Host what do the companies are private Companies Working with the state and local governments what do they say when you go to them with these courageous examples and these poor stories from some of the people that you highlighted in your piece . Guest the company spoke we spoke with would not comment on specific examples. They would say on this overarching thing they say mistakes are rare. We talked to a lot of people who have mistakes made. You kind of wonder. They also stay say that to avoid sending a letter is to avoid pay the debt in the first place. For the toll if you pay the toll, youre not going to get the letter. When we talk to people, they say they never got the original bill. The government forgot to bill me. It seems like there is a different disconnect in a lot of ways things. Host this company that you focused a lot in your piece has a presence in a lot of state and local governments. This map shows the offices that they have relationships too. You point out in the piece that linebarger has an a plus piece in the Better Business bureau. Guest we came across a lot of ripoff complaints on yelp. We went to check them out on the Better Business bureau and they havent a plus rating. We talked to the Better Business bureau and they said that linebarger response to response to issue that people file and that is one of the parts of a look for the reading. Rating. Linebarger is a paid member of the bbb and that brings up issues as well. Host tolls and other debts collected on behalf of the government. We are happy to get your thoughts and stories and comments with our two reporters from cnnmoney who recently wrote a piece on this issue. We are joined first by iris. Good morning. Caller good morning. Mi am i correct in believing that when debts are turned over to debt collectors that it still will not clean up in your reputation . You are still known as a terrible person. And your Credit Rating never improves because that is the way it is. It is just a way of collecting money. You do not clean up your reputation and that is the way goes. Guest that is a great point especially with consumers. Consumer debt collectors can report you to the credit euros. Bureaus. And other stories, we heard of other nightmares where people had trouble repairing the Credit History. One of the good things about Consumer Debt collectors is that it tends not to be reported to credit bureaus. At least on the Credit History side of your vacation, the government would not happy there. Heart you there. A lot of people who are threatened with jail and arrest warrants definitely threaten your reputation. Host the rules that do not apply is known as the fair Debt Collection practices act. Can you run it through what that is and what the protections are there . Guest the fair Debt Collection practices act is the main rule governing consumer Debt Collections. The point there is that it is consumer Debt Collection. Government Debt Collection is not considered consumer Debt Collection. It falls completely out of the rule of that. They have all kinds of rules under that regulation like deception, the fees that you can charge, all kinds of things. Host all those go out the rule of government . Guest all those go out the window. Guest there has to be lying a good or a service like when you are using a credit card, you are buying something. With tax or a fine or a speeding ticket, that is not considered a consumer transaction. There are very rare instances where a Government Debt collector might collect Something Like a water bill, which we did were told should apply under the law, but the vast majority are in a hold another world. Guest another problem with that is that because they do not follow these regulations that it is hard for consumers to get help because other organizations enforce existing regulations. And people who come to them with complaints about lineberger, after them and they cannot do anything about it. That is one of the biggest problems that we found. Host the story is about the secret world of Debt Collection. It is on cnnmoney if you want to read it. Up next, minneapolis, minnesota. Youre on with blake ellis and melanie hackett. Melanie hicken. Caller this is paul. I have an issue in 1984. I make a pretty good leaving living. Every time i paid off that loan they would wait two years and then they would start garnishing my check to pay off the loan. How come i never got a letter of resolution . They said we do not get them. Host this is a federal student loan that we are talking about . Caller yes. I finally got a hold of the people and they said, you have several loans. I said, no, i took one loan out for 1500. So far, ive paid 20,000 for that 1500 loan. And now, they say that i still of the government money and they are going to garnish 25 of my Social Security disability. Host thank you for sharing your story. Blake ellis. Guest that is a terrible story. While our investigation did not focus on Student Loans necessarily, there are lots of Companies Going after those loans and i know that theyll fees can be quite high on those. The wage garnishment issued is a great issue is a great point because many people are getting their wages garnished over things, like in your case with Student Loans. They are getting their wages garnished over unpaid taxes and it seems like it can happen for other kinds of debt as well. In one case, we talked to this couple where the wife had 100 of her wages garnished. She was earning eight dollars an hour as a career coach or Something Like that. She was complaining and writing into the attorney general saying that i cannot live like this. All my money is being taken. That is definitely something that we ran into and could be a horrible situation. Host maggie is up next from roanoke, virginia. You are on washington journal. Caller does this Organization Also collect for the irs . Guest maggie, they did collect for the irs at one point. They were part of a trial period back in 20062007, they were one of three companies chosen by the irs. They were discontinued after the iris got rid of that program entirely. Interesting thing about the irs is that they lobbied quite have early and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get that law change in the first place and get hired. Definitely, there were with the iris was an interesting point in their history. Host let us go to antonio in sioux falls, south dakota. You are on with blake ellis and melanie hicken. Caller im calling because i have a problem as far as being on medicaid. Ive been on medicaid mostly on my life. I have medical problems. They have been sending me bills and stuff like that. With me being on medicaid, i just received a 13,000 bill and ive been back and forth to the doctor has a medical problems. My medical problems still have not been rectified. I just got another medical problem. They do surgery on my foot. With them doing surgery on my foot, now, i cannot walk. I used to be able to walk. They messed with my foot. They put metal in my foot. I cannot do anything and now, i will have a 13,000 dollars bill and im getting worse instead of getting better. Host does medicare and medicaid these private debt collectors for bills through that . Guest that is not something we looked into during our investigation. Guest i will say that linebarger did work for the Treasury Department for many years collecting for a variety of federal agencies. There is a chance i know the Treasury Department has the option to work private collectors. They could be, but we do not look at that. Guest could these host could these the electors collectors work and how much axis do they have to government records . Guest the Government Agencies that they work with supply them with as much information as they have about each person. One thing that we kept running into is that a lot of it can be outdated or have errors in it. That is where we do want to make the point that while these Government Debt collectors, there are a lot of problems there, it is also the fault of the government and in a lot of cases as well. They are the ones hiring these collectors and they are the ones supplying these information which a a lot of times can have errors in it. These debt collectors rely on that information to go after people. Some of these debts can be like 30 years old. The information is outdated and theyre going after the wrong person or sending it to the wrong address. These step tracing techniques to find people and locate them on their own if they do not have the addresses. They have a lot of information. Host you also make a point in your story that some of the people on the receiving end of these the let that caution calls get a letter from a private company and do not believe it is coming from the government on its whole on a toll or Something Like that. Guest that is a huge problem. If you look on the web and search linebarger, all these people are posting that it is a scam and do not pay them. There are so many scammers out there sending letters that when people to a letter from a collector that they have never heard of, saying there is a warrant issued for your arrest about a debt that they do not remember or it is not theirs to begin with, people are very confused. The problem is that if it is a legitimate debt that they do oh if you do not pay it, it just gets worse. In one case, we spoke with a man who got a bill for 1. 25 in toll charges that he did not pay. He ignored the first letter and he did not go to a hearing because he thought it was a scam. He called the number and said that he called once and they talked him improved that they never did. The next bill that he got was for 200 four r 286. Thats the problem. People say they are not going to pay it and it just gets worse. Host youre talking about Government Debt collectors and Government Debt collection in relation to the tea leaves to the peace. David is up next in missouri. Good morning, david. Caller thank you for taking my call. Here are my issues. When i became disabled and put into medicare when they gave me the b section somebody arbitrarily put me in a prescription company. Im a vietnam era veteran with special needs. I get all of my care from the a. I contacted the company that i never signed up, i never needed their services, and they keep sending me a bill is is beginning to mount to the thousands. They sent me Communications Tell me that i never use their services, but the computer keeps generating a bill for me. Eventually, it is going to go into my credit reference, which is going to start affecting me china to get loans. Host thank you for sharing your story. Health care was not the focus of your piece, but do you want to comment on this. . Guest we found so many people with similar problems with this firm where they just keep getting bills. More and more bills. They say that i never owned this or i never got this notice 10 years ago. They are people who keep getting asked to pay. He spent months and months trying to prove this wasnt his and trying to get a proof for a loan and he sent letters and had to hire an accountant and lawyers to help battle this firm. Sometimes, it can be nearly impossible to get them to leave you alone. We ran into many situations like that where it is frustrating. Host mike nights knights story a center of your piece. He was billed more for a tax bill that he arty pages if you want to read his story or other pieces, it is about the law of the secret world of that collection on cnnmoney. Randy is up next. Good morning. Caller good morning, cspan. I would like to comment on the caller who called in a couple of phone calls ago. I got a student loan back in the 70s for 2500. During the 80s, i do not follow through on paying it back. They garnished my wages. They garnished it and i cut it off. A few years later, they would garnish it again. In the 90s, they kept doing it. I found out when i finally got paid off, i realize what they did. They would take it down and stop garnishing it and then let the penalties and fees go way up. It would be like 5,000 in penalties and fees that i would be paying on them. Like the one caller said, he paid 20,000 off a thousand dollar loan. That is just about what i paid. Also, and other thing. I became disabled in 2004. I went on Social Security and medicare. Anyway, when i finally got on Social Security, they went and they pulled up some old old event that was like my parent or somebody. They would not explain why i got to ducted on my wages deducted on my wages a few thousand dollars. They said was an overpayment of like my father back in the 60s or 70s host thank you for your story. How do you know when you have paid off your debt . The caller brought up that they thought they had finished paying off a Student Loan Debt and they find they are paying and getting more letters again. Guest this is from the National Consumer law center. I would recommend that any of you who are out there who are having problems with Student Loans, that might be good place to turn. In terms of paying you prove your debt, sometimes it is hard. In terms of pay speeding tickets or tolls, some people thought they had paid it. It seems to be a problem. I do not know if there is a solution that we can get. I would recommend that people reach out to Government Agencies where that originated and that may good place and that may be a good place to start. Host in ohio, ellen is waiting period you are on with blake ellis and melanie hicken. Caller my question is to the ladies. Being that you brought this to the forefront, im wondering if you have got feedback from the government and backlash. If you do get backlash thanks again for what you have done. I appreciate it. Host have you gotten backlash and what advice would you give to those who are out there in this experience so that they do not get backlash . Guest we have not gotten backlash yet. We have not heard from the firm that we have written about. But what is interesting is that we have gotten flooded with reader responses. We have gotten 130 responses so far from very passionate readers who fall on either side people who should be paying their debts, this shouldnt be a big problem, the only reason that there are these Government Debt collectors are because people are not paying what they oh and also people who think it is wildly unfair and that the fees are just way too high. We have not gotten backlash yet but the story is still getting out there. You have actually gotten a lot of very positive responses from lawmakers and consumer groups who think this is a huge problem that needs to be brought to the forefront. Host on the issue of the fees, compare the fees from Government Debt collectors versus the fees that private debt collectors can charge. You said they are high. How much higher are they . Guest there is no easy answer to that. It depends statebystate. A lot of it is determined by state law. To give you an example typically, at a collector collecting for credit cards can only charge for collecting that debt. Whenever that cost is. In the case of a Government Debt collector, in florida for example, they can tackle 40 on top of what is already owed. A flat 40 regardless of what they are doing to collect that. If they are sending a letter they can charge that. In total cases, we have seen where it can go over 100 effectively like the case where it became more than 300. We spoke with one man in texas who had been a former collector himself in Consumer Debt and he got a bill for toll charges. He told us that i could never charge these five as a consumer collector. These are crazy. Host laverne, youre on with blake ellis and melanie hicken. Caller good morning. The issue that i have is photo traffic tickets. I have a photo traffic ticket and i failed to appear. And then, they suspended my license and jeopardized my livelihood to get to work. And photo tickets are unconstitutional because there is no officer that can vouch and court in court that you violated a traffic violation. If i can get you to explain how a City Government can coordinate with the dmv to suspend my license for a traffic ticket that is unconstitutional and has no officer was their present when the photo was taken. Host blake ellis, do you want to take up photo traffic tickets . Guest this is a great story because we heard from a lot of people who have had trouble going to the dmv and they cannot get their license renewed because they have these outstanding tickets. A lot of people that we talked to, when they see the picture that was taken, one god named john reitz said that he was sent a picture of a bmw and said that he ran a toll. He said he never even owned a bmw and was not driving in the place where they said he was driving in. In most cases, the only way that we have heard of these people getting the issues resolved is going directly to the dmv because when you go to the debt collector, they say, this is what we were told from the local government or from the dmv. Theres nothing we can do about it. I would definitely recommend going straight to the dmv and saying that this is a mistake are going to them with what ever concern you have and getting it cleaned up with them directly rather than working with the delight the debt collector. Guest i will jump in on that. The caller brought up a good point on how the governments are strict on getting paid. He said this was a red light camera ticket. They suspended his drivers license. For that kind of power and the government idea that a Credit Card Company cannot get you drivers license, but the government can. It shows that he thinks it is a government a constitutional case and that is his opinion. Host we have had a conversation for those of us following along at http twitter. Com cspanwj. This Debt Collection problem is one of privacy tatian of the public responsible to pay government should limit how bit big that that can grow. Irish eyes rights, who is this firm that ms. Ellis keeps referring . Guest they are a law firm out of texas. They are one of the biggest players in this entire industry. They are able to collect in every single state in the country. We kept seeing complaints popping up about this firm from all over the country because they can collect on taxes parking tickets, toll violations, pretty much any sort of Government Debt. So many people have had experiences with this firm. We also looked at them because they have had a very controversial past and we look at the ways that they have gone about getting contracts because they havent criticized for having very cozy relationships with politicians. They even have some elected officials on their payroll. They spend millions on lobbying and campaign donations. These are to the same people making decisions over whether they get these contracts. Theres a lot to look into with this firm. Host again, here is a map from your story of the states where linebarger has relationships with state or local government contracts with them. William is up next for maryland. You are on with lake ellis and melanie hicken. Caller good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking my call. I just wanted to say that i have a student loan, but i do not complete school. What ended up happening was that work and life took over. I was still responsible for that student loan and i paid for my student loan. Understanding that i am a president in my community. I understand how to get and how bad people can be when it is in reference to paying back bills or like, Association Fees or things of that nature. Collection is hard. Like in my situation, with 65 of your community and paying, and you do not see it for years and your time to clean that up, you know how much money is spent going after people who are actually telling falsehoods about where they live and running out their houses to people that they are not supposed to be renting it out to . I mean you do not know how tiring this has been to try to get things right. Host are you saying use of with the state local governments here and you think they should do whatever they can to collect on these taxes that are owed . Caller yes. You have to. Heres the thing. The reason why those cameras are there is for the safety of the public. The problem is if you can keeps speeding and you get into an accident, what happens then . They will say we didnt do enough. We would have to put more Police Officers and spend more money in these locations and people will say, why are my taxes going up . Host are you seeing this response to your article . Guest that is a good point and we try to make that clear in our story. The reason that government say they are hiring these firms is that it can get more expensive as they do it themselves. They get it free of charge because the debtors pay these fees. Host as opposed to private debt collectors were comes out of the company itself . Guest exactly. The company itself says the Business Model is so great because as the caller said, the lawabiding taxpayers do not have to pay. That is something that the government would agree with them i am sure. Guest the debt collecting from that we talk to and the government client said that we think it is so important that brings in revenue that we it would of other lies lost and hopes things like schools, teacher salaries, Road Construction all kinds of Vital Services that need to be funded and a lot of these cash dropped communities do not have the money for. This extra revenue helps them. Host we just have a few minutes left with lake ellis and melanie hickens. Lake ellis and melanie hicken. Radical taoist writes on twitter went is a collective for debt . Guest it can happen over a missing Court Appearance and it can happen for parking ticket and speeding tickets. I think the most common way that it is issued is if you miss a Court Appearance. In the case of David Jackson who went to jail three times over the unpaid speeding ticket, he got the award because he missed war it because he missed warrant because he missed the Court Hearings and he was aware that he cannot pay these debts. Guest in texas, we were confused by this. They said, i do not miss a Court Hearing, i just got this letter. It seems like in texas that when you get a traffic, you have 10 days to pay or challenge it. It seems like that if someone does not do either of those things, that is basically considered mere missing a Court Hearing because theyre not settle the debt or challenged it. Guest it is not as simple as some make it sound. In texas, there are thousands of people with outstanding warrants. One woman we talked to had an arrest warrant issued for her for not mowing the lawn on properties she no longer owns. That was a statistically specifically interesting one. Host lets go to chris and maryland. Youre up next. Caller im just curious about how this company has the monopoly of being able to cross all the state lines and be able to collect all these debts for the governmentss because i think each state would have different laws, like calling somebody on a sunday or things like that. Different states why would i want to hire this company for my state . Do you know what i mean . Because different local laws would be different in different states . It seems like they have a monopoly in all the states. Guest that is a great point. This firm is really great at playing the political game. We talked to a lot of people who said that they did start in texas, but they have expanded quite rapidly. They are very good at making connections to political leaders and the places they want to do business. They say they get the work because they are good at what they do. We have been told that money seems to play a part in that. This thing that you also brought up about different laws. A lot of people things think these laws were not apply. Things like calling on a sunday applied to Consumer Debt. It gets back to that idea. Guest another strategy that we have heard is that they hire influential people in local communities or states and hire them as consultants to help them get business there. They have really got it figured out to keep getting business all over. Host you have some reaction from linebarger in your story. What has been the reaction from the Company Since the story came out . Guest we have not heard from the company yet. We have not heard back from them. We are still waiting. Host the story is on cnnmoney. We have a few minutes left. Well take it to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing. We take it to mike in colorado springs, colorado. Good morning. Caller good morning. I have a statement and i have a question. Well, our country was raised on biblical principles. Those visit biblical principles were to forgive debts after seven years and that has been thrown out the window. I was wondering i had a ticket that was 30 years old. Im sure that i paid it. I got a letter in the mail that i still others ticket. Oh this ticket. Iowowe this ticket. They are going to suspend my license. Wonder the statue of limitations change went to the statue of limitations change on these charges . Guest in some cases, by decriminalizing traffic tickets they have stepped over the limitations. Host lowes get this in before the hearing stores. Leroy in minnesota. Caller good morning. I think the ladies for taking on the topic. With my case, i think it is now in the business interests of politicians in bed with each other. My taxes, my paycheck, etc. Were threatened under these things because i married a lady older than myself. These were loans from when i was 12. I was an active Duty Service Member and she was working at the house. They garnished all my returns first through private, and then through the iris again. It turns out it was duplicate copies with the exact same low numbers on it with an original lesson 2000 and it was 20,000 over 10 years. Jeb bush refused to do anything. So to president obama. So did president obama. Ive can vacation with all these offices. Ive records that were not in my name. Host we appreciate the story. Want to give you a last minute or so to respond. We want to give you a last or so to respond. Is this a situation you have seen . Guest we have heard so many Horror Stories about this. We are trying to get word out about this. That is why it the title of our story is the secret world of Debt Collection. A lot of people do not know about this and a lot of people do not know that these