Will fall in line. This morning, were asking just for republicans and independent viewers to call in and let us now know how you feel. If youre a republican, the phone number for you this morning, 2027488001. If youre an independent, 2027488002 is your number. You can also catch up with us on social media, on twitter, its cspanwj and on facebook. Com cspan. Good monday morning to you. Here are the headline this morning about this deal that was announced last night between the cruz and Kasich Campaign. Heres the front page of the New York Times. Kasich divides states in an effort to halt trump is the headline there. Both campaigns releasing statements within minutes of each other last night. Heres the statement from Cruz Campaign manager saying having donald trump at the top of the ticket in november would be a sure disaster for republicans to ensure that we nominate a republican and win in november. Our campaign will focus its time and resources in indiana and in turn, clear the path for governor kasich to compete in oregon and new mexico and we would hope that allies of both campaigns would follow our lead and other States Holding their elections for the remainder of the primary season. Our campaign will continue to compete vigorously to win. Thats the ted Cruz Campaign statement. Here are some of the John Kasich Campaign statement come from john weaver for the John Kasich Campaign. Donald trump doesnt have the support of the majority of the republicans. Not even close. Our goal is to have an open convention in cleveland where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting a party will emerge as the nominee. Donald trump responding almost immediately on twitter to these moves by the acadia kasich and Cruz Campaign. He said while Just Announced that lying ted and kasich are oing to conclude collude sad, he writes. We want to hear from our viewers this morning about what you think about this move by the cruz and Kasich Campaigns. Were talking to just republicans and just independents. Republicans, 2027488001, independents, 2027488002. Will start in california. That line for republicans, don, is calling in. Don, good morning. Caller good morning. Yes. I think that this whole thing is disgusting. You know, youre running to ask for a vote. They dont command votes. These people are not that they can tell them who they can vote for. Who do they think they are . S dont see how the r. N. C. Camp step in and tell them to knock this stuff off. You dont run for an office by having somebody vote for somebody else. If you cant win it, get out. Thats what im looking at. You know, ted cruz and john kasich, youre not Strong Enough to win the race on your own. Get out. Youre not good enough. Host don, you mentioned what the r. N. C. Could continue to were going to have the former chairman of the r. N. C. , Michael Steele on in about 40 minutes here on the washington journal and well definitely ask him about this and his thoughts on what it means for their chances and whether this is a strategy that could work. Paul is up next. Addison, texas an independent. Paul, good morning. Paul, are you with us this morning . Caller oh, yeah, im here. Host go ahead. Caller im looking at this and im saying that these people, it could backfire on them big time. I mean, they could make trump people so angry at both of them that they vote for trump so they wouldnt have to vote for kasich or cruz. So it could be a bigtime backfire on both of these campaigns and i think its a little too little and too late for both of them. So thats all i have to say. Host paul, youre an independent. Are you a trump supporter as an independent, paul . Or are you undecided at this point . Caller i voted for kasich in the primary here in texas. But ive been looking at trump and i think he has some strong points. I think i would like to see who he has on his short list for v. P. To see who he might pick to kind of shore up his weak points which probably are many. Host is there somebody who would make a difference to you if he picks . Caller actually, he might pick kasich as v. P. Or somebody like kasich or even jeb bush or krisity. Some moderate in the chris kristy or some moderate in the itt. If christie would have been in the race at that time, i would have voted for kasich. I think kasich is the only adult in the room. If they had started this earlier, it might have done them a lot better. But im with the caller ahead who is ahead of me that if youre not Strong Enough to win the race by yourself, get out. Host plenty of comments. I liked cruz at one point but this tells me how much of a cheat he is and amanda below that writes its amazing that politicians put so much effort into stop trump but they sure as hell do not work this hard at the jobs that they were elected to do. You can catch up with us on facebook and twitter as well. You can follow along every orning cspanwj. Seasons greetings talks about how cnn talks about how long initial t has been overture started about a week after they won the ohio primary but were met with silence. But talks started in earnest during the following week as both campaigns are in need to work Something Else before trumps big win in the new york primary, the sources said according to cnn. Of course, another set of primary is expected to come up or are scheduled to come up omorrow. Here is a poll from wall street journal nbc news maris poll were focusing on those slate of primaries that are happening tomorrow. But were talking about this divide and conquer strategy as its been called to coordinate ahead of three future primaries. Those primaries are indiana, oregon and new mexico where they have agreed to divvy up those states with the Kasich Campaign agreeing to stay out of indiana and the Cruz Campaign clearing the way for john kasich in new mexico and oregon. I want to get your thoughts from just the republicans and independents this morning. Just those viewers. Lines for republicans and independent, well put on the screen for you. Robert is on our line for republicans from fayetteville, orth carolina. Good morning. Caller i am a moderate republican and i think the strategy is a really good strategy because i dont think trump is a true republican. He says hes bringing more people into the party but these are his people. He has subverted the plotting his candidacy will have no coattails that needs i dont see very few senator in the congressman that will be running with him to support him. And since ive seen his listened to his rhetoric, all i hear is character assassinations. Havent heard any good plans he represents angry part of Americas Society at this point in time. He doesnt give any good ideas. And i think its a good idea to have this and all the convention should be good because he wants to change the rules from the delegate rules and regulations that have been established. Now he wants to change it to a plurality of the vote and anybody thats taken a sisks class should understand how the mechanisms of this government should work. I appreciate that. And you have a good day. Host bryant is next, an independent. Brian, good morning. Caller they just hatched this plan last week in florida to come up with the idea to undermine the American Voter. If these two guys want to be president but they have no problem screwing the American Voter out of their right to vote. You sit back and you look at kasich. By him taking and coming into this agreement, rule 40b will now make him ineligible to be the nominee. Ted cruz has been working for two oh three weeks to steal delegates but he cant get the people to vote for him. These are dishonest politicians who have given us nothing but 19 trillion in debt. Were getting invaded on our southern borders. Theyre shipping all of our jobs overseas. This is the proof that the republican parties is out to undermine and disinfranchise the ill of the people. Host paul is up next in chester springs, atlanta. Paul, good morning. Youre on the washington journal. Go ahead, paul. Caller good morning. I have to agree with the caller before me. I think its disgraceful what theyve done. Trump who will win, he had a tremendous turnout in harrisburg yesterday. Host did you go to the rally, paul . Caller no, i didnt go to the halle. A friend of mine went and told me what happened there. Theres a lot they had a lot of police there. Host do you think the effort between the cruz and Kasich Campaign, do you think it backfired . Do you think its smart on their part to be so open about this . Caller i think it backfired on them big time, especially here in pennsylvania. Host how so, paul . Aller i have a lot of friends n business and i live in Chester County and were all going with trump. Host all right. Thats paul in pennsylvania. Of course, pennsylvania, as we said, one of those states voting tomorrow. Here is where the map stands right now. Again, on the republican side, the magic number to get the nominations is 1,237 delegates. Donald trump at 844. Ted cruz at 543. John kasich at 148. Below marco rubio owe who had since dropped out of the race. But again, the cruz and Kasich Campaigns announcing disagreement last night to coordinate efforts in three upcoming primaries on where they will focus their efforts, where they will focus their time. Reports already on john kasichs website where he has listed campaign events, two events that were listed in indiana no longer appear on that website. Well see how that plays out in the coming days on the campaign. We want to hear your thoughts just from republicans and independents. You can keep calling in. But i want to turn to Cristina Marcos of the Hill Reporter to look ahead this week as congress is returning. The house in tomorrow for legislative business to senate in this around at 3 00 p. M. For a preview of the week ahead. Cristina marcos, please start on the house side for us. What are the big bills on the floor this week that were going to be hearing about . Guest one of the biggest thing is more of whats not on the house floor. Looks Like Congress is going to blow past a deadline to assist puerto rico with its debt crisis. But in the meantime as republicans and democrats work toward compromise on that issue, theyre going to vote on legislation that will overturn t the socalled feud share fa deutscheday dare fiduciary rules. Host and on the house side as well, i want you to focus on a story that you note that you wrote about last week. Its on the hills website. Vulnerable republicans asked to pause his pay until the house completes its budget. Take us through whats going on here as the house is going through the budgeting process. Guest as youll recall before Speaker Boehner departed congress, the house passed a budget deal that most republicans voted against. And as a result, those republicans dont want to vote for the same budget that they voted mostly 21 against late last year. So that stalled consideration of a budget in the house this year. And so in the meantime, while the house is unable to pass the budget which republicans have long said is one of the most basic responsibilities, one vulnerable republican, fram david young of iowa said last week that he is going to pay the house in escrow until the house is able to pass the budget or until the end of the caucus. Host how likely is he to get his colleague to go along with this or is this something that he was doing just for himself . Guest this is something that he can do just for himself to make a political statement for his Reelection Campaign back in iowa. However because of the institutions 27th amendment that prohibits congress from modifying their pay in the current session, hes limited how he can actually turn down his pay. So regardless, he will still get paid at the end of this year on his paycheck. Host take us what is going on on the senates side. Guest so while the house is unable to house the budget, theyre not able to take up any regular appropriations bill until next month. But in the meantime, the senate is plowing ahead with its first spending bill of the year. It funds energy and water projects. So the senates hoping to wrap up work on that bill before they reach a recess at the end of this week. Host this is a 37. 5 bill. What are some of the big ticket items or the big agencies that are included in that budget . Guest the Main Department in that bill is the department of energy as well as Water Infrastructure projects, that sort of thing. However, the Obama Administration has threatened to veto it if the republican attach olicy writers that would block regulations regarding environmental regulations. Host and any other legislation that youre keeping your eye on this week, things to look forward to in the news . Guest the biggest thing is whether lawmakers can find the default from may 1 if it doesnt get help in washington. And the natural rain showers forced to postpone Natural Resource is forced to postpone its markup. By the time they come back in two weeks there, may be some more momentum after seeing it default and they may increase to move something. Host Cristina Marcos with the hill newspaper. Thank you. And back to your calls. Were talking about this effort that is on the front page of the New York Times getting a lot of play on social media after it was announced late last night, the biggest twist so far in the past couple of weeks on the president ial campaign trail. Cruz and kasich agreeing to coordinate their efforts to try to stop frontrunner donald trump. I want to get your thoughts, your comment this morning. Patrick this glen burnie, maryland, a republican. Patrick, good morning. Go ahead, patrick. Caller i was a kasich support all the way up that announcement last night. Donald trump is now going to be my man. Theres no way i could ever vote for cruz. He is the establishment. And apparently, john kasich is as well and that the wool pulled over my eyes the entire time. Host had you gone out and given money to kasich . How active were you in his campaign . Caller im supposed to be at the polls tomorrow hanging up signs tomorrow morning. Im not going to be a part of it at all anymore. Host thats patrick in glen burnie, maryland. As a reminder tomorrow along with the maryland and pennsylvania primaries, rhode island is voting tomorrow, delaware and connecticut as well that mid atlantic state of primaries that is happening. Delaware, a winner take all state for republicans. Maryland, a winner take most states. And maryland, a winner take most states. Well be watching the results of those on both sides of the aisle. But today, leading into that primary tomorrow in maryland, Governor John Kasich will be in maryland in rockville, maryland, holding a town hall meeting. Well be covering it on cspan at 2 00 p. M. Lets go to don in greenville, ohio, an independent. Don, good morning. Youre on the washington journal. Caller good morning. How are you . Host im good, don. Caller really, i really think this is just like ross perot went through where both of these parties threaten his family and then he got out and came back in later on and won 25 of the vote. But to me, this is just an example of a cartel and both parties are involved in it. We need a third party because we, the people of the United States, and unless you have a third party, youre not and everybody get behind him, youre not going to until you have tax reform. Youre not going to have Campaign Finance reform. Youre not going to have term limits. And youre not going to get these borders closed. And really, the United States people, we need papers, almost, to get cross to across to canada now. So really, i think this has become nothing but a cartel. Its against average worker and voter of the United States. I thank you very much. Host all right. Neil is in myrtle beach, south carolina, republican. Neil, good morning. Youre on the washington journal. Caller good morning. Really, its very, very frustrating to see whats going on with this system. This is the reason why people dont like politics. We tell other countries that the elections are great. I mean, this is why we have no moral values in this country anymore. I mean, what bothers me a lot is cruz goes around and talks about how good christians he is and kasich talks about family values. Is this what you teach your kids and your grandkids about how to be properly be a good loser . The republican pear has shot themselves in the foot. I think they would lose the house and the senate eventually also. The Republican Party now has buried themselves as the g. O. P. Chairman does not put a stop to this immediately, the g. O. P. Will never be around anymore. And Hillary Clinton could not Even Campaign and spend a dime because if trump is not a bomani, she will win by a land slide. Shes got more scandals than anybody elses yet hes allowed to be running. The whole system is broke. This is why people dont like politics. Theyre disgusted and if trump doesnt get the nominee, it should be whoever has the most votes and the most delegates at this time of the convention should be the nominee. Cruz is eliminated. Kasich came away on the states. Hes lucky he won his own state. I mean, its a joke. How do you have an individual who is 30 states compared to another one who has seven, another one who has two and youre still to block him . They should put a stop it to tomorrow. And let trump and clinton go prepare for themselves for the general election in november. I mean, this country i really feel sorry for the veterans that fought for this country over the years to bring this country pride. We have no pride anymore. We are a laughingstock around the world. Host all right. Thats neil this morning, talking about the health of the republican. The caller before that talking about the need for a third party in this country. The r. N. C. Chairman was on this week talking about the possibility of the third party and his discussions with Party Leaders and over conservatives about that possibility. Heres a little bit of what he had to say. Ive talked to a lot of folks and they all conclude its a dumb idea and its not going to work and its never going to happen. If so, you know, theyre already behind the eight ball and in some state, they may not be able to get on the ballot. By the time they get to cleveland t going to be too late. I dont know anyone truly serious that has any money behind them, an organization to make it happen really thinks its going to happen. Its a nothing burger and its something that the media likes to spin and i dont buy it. Host were talking with our viewers about the announcement that ted cruz and john kasich have agreed to coordinate three states in an attempt to try to stop donald trump. Those three states, indiana which is holding its primary on may 3, oregon, and new mexico, which is holding its primary on june 7 for the indiana primary, heres some background on how this all might play out from the New York Times story that we showed you this morning. Indiana is seen as a critical state for ted cruzs chances of keeping donald trump safely of keeping that count. The public poll in indiana shows that cruz is trailing trump because kasich is threatening to win some numbers particularly in the indianapolis area. A fox news survey shows trump aking 41 of the vote host a website listing heduled evens for the kasich rally has been canceled. Lets go to joseph in taylor, many. Good morning. Youre on the washington journal. Caller good morning. Its amazing how the story of the truth actually gets twisted. You know the news uses words like theres a deal, theres a twist and these moves when the majority of republicans did not vote for trump. The vote was split between rubio and cruz and other conservatives that do not want trump in. Trump is really just a democrat in sheeps clothing. I mean, hes really just the other side of the coin of hillary. Supported democrats all his life with his money and his policies. Hes still to this day is for planned parenthood which is the biggest industry for killing preborn children. And people fall for it. One of the people that called in thinks cruz is the establishment. He stood up against obama care which is the government take over one 10th of our economy in the health care. Host put some numbers with what you talked about at the beginning. The never trump super pac which has developed to get donald trump from the g. O. P. Nomination has kept a running total number of votes for different candidates in this g. O. P. Primary this year. Trump has so far received 8. 8 8. 8 million votes. The number of caucus goers who voted for someone else is about 14. 4 million. But go ahead, joseph. Caller ok. So that makes my point that the majority of people did not vote for trump. Ut even if you use a general number, you know, of people voting, thats not how the election works. When you win a state, then you get a certain amount of delegates for winning that state. You could have someone win one state by a huge amount, and that doesnt mean that they should automatically get the nomination for the whole country. And thats different curblings people people in different parts f the state. , no values, they new york values, they agree by voting overwhelmingly for trump. That doesnt mean the rest of the country believes that way. Host robert is in bordertown, new jersey, an independent. Robert, youre up next on the washington journal. Caller thank you. Thank you for taking my call. Host go ahead. Caller ive been watching politics for the last 30 something years and over the time ive watched, ive seen the house, the representatives, the senators, all their paychecks keep going up six fission, this six figures that. They own three or four Properties Around the country. Yet the rest of the country suffers. Everybody in politics has their thing that they do. But donald trump, hes the new voice. Hes the new look. Hes the new hes everything that we need that gives somebody into office who has a job, who wants to do business and gets things done. The regular politicians around the country, they just sit there and they do nothing. For the last 30 years, everything thats been done in the country has been going downhill. The worst thing that you can imagine. Life itself has been good for me. I admit theres people out there that are struggling. Yes, were all struggling. But heres the thing. Donald is a businessman. I want the wall done. Theres problems in the world. Donalds looking at the world himself. Hes a businessman. I want donald to become p. Hillary can take a hike as far as going to the president ry goes. Shes never going to make it. Cruz is never going to make it. Kasichs never going to make it. They all need to look at the overall view. Donalds the one who is in charge. So look at the facts. Host robert, one of the arguments that the John Kasich Campaign will make is that they represent a better matchup against Hillary Clinton or a Bernie Sanders in the fall according to that new wall street journal nbc mayors poll thats out. Maris poll thats out. What do you make of that . Caller i make it perfectly easy for people to understand. This is all rhett risk. At the end of the day when the vote is in, the winner will be announced. I think and that speaks for everybody and everything. We all have to get out. We all have to vote. If youre registered to vote, if not, get registered and vote. Every vote counts this year. Everybody looks for your vote and thats it. And as far as the rest of the world goes, i appreciate you taking my call today. Thank you very much. Host carol writes in its a long time between may and november. And t. J. Est man win says cade has won one state, his state. Thats ohio. Why the media gives him the time of day is beyond me. Media is y is the what t. J. Writes. Got about 10 minutes left here. Janet is in martinsville, indiana. Line for republicans. This is directly affecting the primary campaign in your state. What do you make of this . Caller well, i think we ought to all wait until after the primary in indiana. But i really appreciate some of he thoughts that came before mine. They said just what i would say. I think the r. N. C. Has and the delegates, the Republican Party, think it is smarter than the masses of people out here. And i think this year because donald trump has awakened the apathetic people in the united at s of america to look whats going on around them. He needs to be honored for that if nothing else. And if he builds a wall, he will be doing more than obama or anybody else or hillary or anybody else thats running out here would do. Host can i ask you about the idea of blaming the r. N. C. For this decision that was announced by the cruz and Kasich Campaigns . Why do you blame the r. N. C. . Caller you do not think they had anything to do with it . While the media was doubting donald trump in the beginning and saying he will never make it, hell never make it. Youve never heard a thing from the r. N. C. It was when we went to the polls and we voted for donald trump and he was out doing everybody else that the r. N. C. Got involved and started going through their real task grills that they could pull up and take votes and delegates and everything from donald trump, thats when this happened. Its the r. N. C. Its the people in Congress Like the one guy said who gets the big paychecks, bigger and bigger every year. They dont want donald trump up there because you know what, i think donald trump knows whats going on in our congress today. And as far as the polls go, how much money do you think it would take to buy a poll taker to give you the wrong numbers . Host so janet, you dont trust the polls either . Caller do i think that would happen . Yes, i do, because i have seen what the Republican Party can do o try to change the wheel of the American People. Right theyre doing is not the will of the American People. Host janet, on the polls issue, james writes in on twitter that polling this early doesnt mean anything. So when were looking at some of these polling numbers and the potential matchups for november, james makes the point that its far too early along with those in the party in the r. N. C. That have discussed whats happening in the race and the candidates themselves. Some of those big names, those deeppocketted groups who have put in large amounts of money in past races and is putting money in this race have made their comments known about the tone of both campaigns. Charles coates was on abc news on sunday to discuss his thoughts on the race on the republican race. He decried the tone of the race according to the headline in the Washington Post and he talked about a possible Hillary Clinton presidency. Heres a bit of what he had to say. Is it possible another clinton could be better than another republican . Its possible. You couldnt see yourself supporting Hillary Clinton, could you . Well, her we would have to believe her actions would be quite different than the rhetoric, let me put it that way. We would have to believe their actions would have different than the rhetoric weve heard so far. Host koch and his brother have spent millions of dollars in the past but they stayed out of the primary fight this cycle to stop trump from getting the partys omination. I have about eight minutes left in this segment. I want to get your thoughts on this cruzkasich announcement yesterday to coordinate their efforts in three upcoming primary states to try to stop donald trump. James is in new york, a republican. James, good morning. Caller hello, john. Thank you for taking my call. Thank you all you guys on cspan. I watch you every day. I think trump is a business genius. Trumps business experience involves negotiations with Business Leaders and even and he likely has connections behind the scenes. Hes a real deal maker. Donald trumps background has been incredible. And what you see is pretty much what you get. So hes a commodity at this point, i think. As he says, he makes America Great again by being strong and patriotically correct, not politically correct. He is the kind of president we need in office. We are going to have tougher restrictions on illegal immigrates as well. And the last thing id like to say is that he leads primaries on the republican side and if the republican politicians want the unity of this party, they should drop out kasich and mr. Ted cruz. They both suck, you know. They are not president ial material. Maybe they should all unite behind trump to defeat hillary. Stop dividing the party of the republicans. And id like to just let me say i like to ask all American People, you know, all e Trump Supporters to just vote for conservative president. Host richard is an independent in massachusetts. Good morning. Aller good morning, john. My wife washington is corrupt and theyre crooked up there and everything which is true. What kasich and cruz is doing is wrong. But ive watched a segment on 60 minutes last night about fundraising. They cant call from their office but he probably has a communication republican and democrat. And these people spending an average of 30 hours a week raising money. And instead of doing their jobs, you know, and when i seen that, i wish somebody would do another segment on that. It was so unreal and i cant believe how crooked it is up there and i just hope trump if they give him a chance, anyway, what the heck . We gave obama a chance. Lets give trump a chance, you know. Thats all i got to say, john. I appreciate you listening to me. Host if youre interested to that topic on campaign fundraising, check the cspan archives. Weve done several segments on that on the washington journal. Ou can check in at cspan. Org. Very easy to find. Lets go to arnold in brownfield, texas, a republican. Arnold, good morning. Caller yes, i voted for ted cruz for senator but after this election deal, i wont vote for him again. And id like to say one other thing to donald trump. I think he ought to pick Bernie Sanders if helps to really beat hillary. Ill put that out there for a little conversation. Thank you very much. Host do you think Bernie Sanders would be open to it if he was asked . Caller i dont know. I think he should. If they want to beat hillary, thats the best play. Host that topic of endorsements and picks for presidencies and vice presidencies we showed that clip of charles koch yesterday on abc talking about how he would be open to Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton responded to twitter she want wrote not interest from endorsements from people who deny Climate Science and try to make it harder for people to vote. So her response to him. Should have showed you that earlier. Got time for a few more calls. Stevie is waiting from ocean shores, washington, an independent. Your daughters on the announcement of the cruz and Kasich Campaigns to coordinate their efforts in three states. Caller hi. Im calling in. And im going with bernie now. Bernie or bust. Host who were you before, stevie . As you turn down your tv. Caller ok. I was thinking about kasich. But now its bernie or bust all the way. I mean, i cant stand hillary. And kasich was the only one that was close to being real. But bernie has got my vote. Host why does this change things for you, stevie . Caller well, theyre teaming up and thats not right. And you know what, if theyre going to play stuff like that, lets just go bernie or bust. Lets just do it. Theres no way hillarys going to get it. If she does, this country, we might as well just give up. Host rick writes in what kasich and cruz are doing is called politics. The low info workers of trump have no clue of what the game is played. Carrie is up in south carolina, a republican. Carrie, what do you think . Caller yes. Im here. Host go ahead, carrie. Youre on the washington journal. Caller yes. I just dot like the way the republicans are behaving against trump. Foruse ive voted democrats the last 16 years. And im voting republican this year. And i was very, very enthusiastic about it. And do the republicans even know how many of us are going republicans because of trump . There are so many crossover votes and there are so many people who have never voted who are voting. There are millions of us out there. And im all for trump and im so gung ho over the whole thing. And i hear about this teaming up business. I knew the republicans were having trouble. I know how they argue and so forth. But that is just wrong. Mr. Trump has my vote all the way. I cannot even conceive of how i could possibly get up from my chair or couch and vote for cruz. My goodness. They talk about the institution constitution. The man wasnt even born in the United States. And they need to understand this. And i dont just dislike him because of that. I just dont like him. I know he stands there and talks and so forth. We need somebody strong like mr. Trump. And thats why im voting for a republican. Host you say that donald trump has brought to the party. The topic weve been talking about was Michael Steele, hes joining us in just a few minutes here on the washington journal. Well be talking about this issue and the Upcoming Convention as well and later this morning on the washington journal, well be joined by ron pollack, head of the groups family u. S. A. Well talk about the implementation of the Affordable Care act including the recent announcement by United Health that theyre pulling out of most a. C. A. Exchanges by 2007. One 2017. President obama has approved sending another 250 u. S. Military personnel to syria to help Opposition Forces battling the islamic state. Obama made that announcement this morning. U. S. Personnel will not be engaged in direct combat but will be in advising roles on the ground. The 250 will join 50 u. S. Advisors that the white house had earlier authorized for syria. President obama yesterday in a joint News Conference with german chancellor Angela Merkel talked about this situation in syria. Heres a bit from that News Conference. President obama we all care deeply about the tragic humanitarian crisises inside of syria. I lived with this every day. I read about it every day. We talk to people who are experiencing suffering or witnessed the suffering thats going on there. We are in constant communications with turkey, our nato ally in finding ways in which we can resolve the situation. As you know, i spoke with president putin early last week to try to make sure that we could reinstate the cessation and make sure the political process does not unwind. But having said all that, the issue surrounding a safe zone in matter rritory is not of ideological injection on my part. Its a very practical issue of how do you do it and whos going to put on a bunch of Ground Troops inside of syria . And how do you let people in . And who do you let in and who do you let out . And how is it monitored . And the truth of the matter is is that when i go through with my Defense Department and wee done it multiple times, how a proposal like that might work as a practical matter, sadly, it is very difficult to see how it of us perate short essentially being willing to militarily take over a big chunk of that country . Host and to watch the entire segment, you can go to our website at cspan. Org. And now on the washington journal, Michael Steele joins us, the former chairman of the Republican National committee joins us for the next 45 minutes to talk about the r. N. C. , the Republican Convention, the race for delegates. But first, mr. Steele, i want to ask you about the announcement from the cruz and Kasich Campaign that theyre going to coordinate their efforts and free upcoming primary states to try to deny donald trump the delegates needed for a first ballot win at the convention. How unusual is this . Has this happened before . Guest its very unusual. Desperate times calls for the desperate measures. Theyre up against a huge clock and wall here in that donald trump has and i think theyre beginning to realize and it kind of proves the messaging thats been coming out over the weekend that not only will donald trump get close but likely will exceed the number 1237 that he needs going in because of the wins hes going to rack up tomorrow. The fact that hes now leading in indiana, the fact that he has , you know, really kind of grown up the campaign by bringing in some professionals to know who knows how to run this part of the stretch. So it makes sense for them to decide we have to collaborate. While theyre doing that, establishment is already behind ted cruz. They pretty much dismissed kasich but now theyll bring him into that camp. Whats the argument is donald trump going to make on for the electorates . Theyre ganging up on me. They cant let me beat the guys. Host is this fair . Guest well, it is. In politics, Something Like this is fair. It happens a lot. Weve seen that it grassroots level, lower offices. Candidates sometimes team up that way. What theyre essentially doing is theyre not going to compete headtohead in the upcoming states. So cruz will take indiana. Kasich will take maryland. Cruz wont compete so much in maryland. So theyre dividing up what they think their strength is on the remaining states. So that way, the goal to espull as many of those votes of donald trump given that ive got strength in indiana. Kasich wont. Host a remind over the math right now. The number, 1,237 is the number needed to win on that first ballot. Those numbers are going to change tomorrow after the mid atlantic primaries that are taking place. I want to ask you. One of our callers in our first segment says that she thinks the r. N. C. Is in on the effort to coordinate. What do you make of that . Guest well, they may have been part of the discussion. Someone in the building may have been part of the discussion. I dont think its anything that emanated with the chairman or the chairmans office. Maybe out of the Political Department or Something Like that. They may be a part of the conversation at some point of the meeting last week in florida. This has always been a difficult part for the party because theyve got to show and demonstrate that all stage has clean hands. They cannot be seen as trying to manipulate the process. They arguably have no control over two candidates decide to get together to team up against the third. They have no control against that. But they were made aware of it in some way. You know, its sort of falls back on them in a negative light and makes them makes the folks out there believe even more so that you guys are a part of the problem, which is why again, donald trump has done as well as hes done because that attitude has been out there festering for a long time. Host ive heard you describe the job as the guy with the biggest target on his back. If that job was available right now, would you want your old job back . Guest heck, no, no. Thank you. The best title that i have right now is former. Thank you very much. Host your thoughts on r. N. C. Chairman. Here he is talking about the need of the party to unify right before this announcement was made on sunday where two candidates were unifying against donald trump. It is essential to victory in november that we all support our candidates. This goes for everyone, whether youre a county party chairman, an r. N. C. Member, or a president ial candidate. Politics is a team support. And sport. And we cant win unless we rally around whoever becomes our nominee. I want to prove the doubters wrong and show that republicans are going to stand side by side with each other, stronger than ever before. And our candidates have a special opportunity to show leadership on that front. Our candidates are running for the nomination of the Republican Party. Theyre trying out for our team. No one is forcing them to wear our jersey. We expect our candies to support our party and our eventual nominee. Host how do you think that rally around the flag message plays out . Guest well unfortunately for the chairman, that totally under mines everything he just said. So what makes you think that the supporters of the third candidate, donald trump is going to rally behind a ted cruz or A John Kasich should they become a nominee when their perception, if not the reality, has been youve been fighting our guys tooth and nail every way. Youve colluded against him. You have worked against him. And now you want us to support your guys now that youve stolen the nomination from him . Its just didnt takes away the central argument, belies the argument that hes making and were going to movement from this process together and thats just not going to happen. If these things continue town fold the way they have. Host Michael Steele is the guy who had the job from 2009 to 2011. Former Lieutenant Governor of maryland. Here to take your calls, take your questions, republicans, its 2027488001. Democrats, 2027488000. Independents, 2027488002. Independents, christina is from oakland, michigan. Caller thank you for allowing us to call in. Mr. Steele, i admire listening to you so much. Youre so reasonable and im sorry sometimes that youre a republican but arent you glad that you put ron priebus in . The Republican Party has in dividing people for ages now, and that they played to their extremist and now youve got a firing squad going on. To regards of mr. Trump being a businessman, im from michigan. We elected a businessman here in 2010. His name is rick snyder. And he was a businessman. He never was a politician. And boy, he got us in a mess. He was cut, cut, cut. You know about the plant water situation was going on in detroit. But you know what, on top of it all, mr. Snyder is a businessman. Hes a millionaire. And we have to pay for his defense funds. , taxpayers, are paying 1. 2 million for his defense fund. This is what a businessman does. He doesnt look at people. Its the bottom line, the bottom line. I work in the medical field. Im a retired r. N. I worked in an operating room. For a corporation that was always crying for money, but theyre buying more and more and more things. And i didnt understand when they keep on saying they are losing money. I dont understand business. I always had arguments where i worked at the corporation that i dont understand is always a different budget. You dont have enough money but youre buying a bigger house. I dont understand that. Guest well, i will try to help a little bit with that. I mean, im a Small Business owner myself, have been for a long time. Host whats the business . Guest just a small Consulting Firm doing basically sort of crisis management, you know, for businesses and some candidates out there when they get in a little bit of hot water. But the thing to keep in mind, christina, there is a different mindset between a businessman whos never been in politics versus the Political Animal whos also been in politics. So theres one that wants to keep the machine moving sort of status quo, the politician. And the one who wants to come in and totally disrupt its, the businessman. The problem often time comes and this will be a very interesting challenge for a Trump Administration which is why having someone around him who really understands how the federal government works, those mechanisms that pull, you know, the leavers levers inside the system operates because this outside view of government is one that is stained by, you know, this sort of characterized or sort of stereotype notion of how government fails to do certain things. One of the things i learned as Lieutenant Governor of maryland is that government can work if you help it, if you make it, if you push it. You cannot go in with this one size fits all. Were going to deconstruct it, tear it down and rebuild it. Thats just not going to happen. So in the michigan example, governor snyders example, the reality is to just come in with this outside perspective without an understanding and appreciating how you get the machine to do what its supposed to do can lead to some problems. Host if you endorsed in this republican primary . Guest no. Host do you plan to . Guest no. Not at the moment. Host lets go to carlos in florida. Carlos, good morning. Caller good morning, mr. Steele. Its a pleasure talking to you. Ive been a republican for about 22 years. Hispanic. And i was just my concern that im sitting right seeing right now is the new guy lives in a box and joe and scarborough and theyre supposed to be republicans and one of the things that im concerned about is that i see this situation where fox news should change its name to trump news. Because all you see is trump news. Its ridiculous. Its not even fair. Trump talking about being unfair, he gets 80 of the news cycles. Let me make two points and then i will hang up that i will listen to you. Im not antitrump. Im proted cruz. Like oreilly and all of these , you know,ing that they are antiand antiestablishment. And ihe establishment have been a republican for 20 years. Im a conservative. I want conservatives values out there. Trump has compromise on abortion, everything i have believed, he is going to compromise. I will never vote for him because he does not believe what i believe. Host we got your point. Guest he makes a good and interesting point. The constitutional conservatives, cold socials conservatives, those who feel the process over the last 15 or 20 years, probably longer, they have been pushed out of the outside in the party has pushed them out of the situation. Establishment types follow the money trail and not the people trail. About, we will take out the irs p retirement or when we shut down the department of education as conservatives. Day. S a glorious people go, it never happened. That is the point. It never happened. This frustration. The problem with ted cruz, he made a calculated risk early in the campaign. He decided to be nice to trump, night things to trump nice things to trump. It seems like so long ago. Now he is going headtohead with him. There is a credibility problem. All of a sudden, you have a problem with the guy when six months ago, you were like, donald trump is a fine character and a good man and i have no qualms. Wait a minute question mark now you do . What changed . Donald trump, this is for his voters that are important, the same guy today as he was when he announced. All the crazy that has happened in between, they are like, ok, we got it, we understand it. I like someone, now i hate them. He is just like, he said straight up if you attack me, im coming after you and otherwise, you are good. Those who tried to play cute with him have been bitten by the process. Kasich did not have an approach because for three quarters of the contest, john kasich was relegated offcamera, an unfortunate result of the process. I had a real problem with the way the debate stage was set at the very beginning, which relegated very good and credible candidate to offcamera, basically. Part of his problem is folks dont know who he is or much about his narrative. Ohio, he could ultimately wind up beating Hillary Clinton, and i know democrats who said if he is the nominee, they will look at the campaign a lot differently. He is trying to play catchup with that. Any kind of alignment he has with ted cruz is a way to keep him in a game for the remainder of the contest. Mark is in cloverdale, california. Good morning. Caller you kind of answer my question. I was wondering if this was more A John Kasich lyrical moved to team up with ted cruz and stay in the race and become more relevant, or is he just giving up and is in cahoots with ted cruz and just wants to be trump . Is theno, i think it former. A smart move for kasich or he is in the cycle. People are talking about him in connection with ted cruz today and trump. Have their name in the headline. That is a good thing for john kasich as he looks to go in certain states in the next two weeks to get a strong secondplace finish. Host the indiana primary is taking place on may 3 where kasich said they would step away from the two states with ted away,aid they would step oregon in may 17 and new mexico in june 7. If there are dividends, paying off later down the road. Think it trump gets a very good run, particularly with the you, you have got to watch. 17 delegates will be assigned straight off the box just straight off the that. You have delegates who will not be assigned, who are at large, they have pledged that they will go in their state. That could be a boon for someone like trump if he does well on tuesday. Unpledged and pledged delegates are causing consternation for some as they are learning the process and here is donald trump last week in new york, talking about the system being raked going into the convention. Right. Mp the system is it is not meant for a cow like me who has not taken any money from these special interest. I am self funding the campaign. I paid to come up. System, just like so much else in government is right. But i have never seen anything have colorado or wyoming, in the case of colorado, they were supposed to vote. They said there were no changes made but there was. People saw i would do great in colorado, and all the sudden in august, they change this is some and took the vote away from the people of colorado. They did not give the vote to the people of wyoming. Done really well because im good at dealing with the bosses, but you have had it and you say, forget it. To hotels,e them out on planes, whatever you want to do. I said no way. We are going to get there can we dont need it. It is a raked and corrupt system. We will get there and i believe we will do it more easily than people think and we will do it in the first ballot, we will get to the big 1237. Do you understand this concern among some with so many different, located rules heading into the convention that it might seem rate this system . Absolutely. The system has a few kinks that need to be ironed out. You step back and realize a couple of things about this year. This is the first time, and i have said this for a while now, and folks in the town to not get it still. The folks in capitol hill, they are not driving this. Timeis really the first that people have decided to take control of it. The election of the nominating process, they are exposing a lot of things and along comes strong trump to put a big spotlight on it. We have seen how the process is worked. Going back a number of years. Normally you have the nominee. You do not think about which delegates are bound and which are not bound. You do not think about the primary of the caucus, where the state party has a convention and then allocates those delegates. We now have a light on the process and people see it for what it is. They say wait a minute. Caucusto the polls or by and took all the time to participate in the process in a have not voted in 30 years, first time i voted in 10 years, and you are tell me the guy i voted for does not get the most delegates because you have a secondary process in which you will allocate those delegates and my guy loses . That strikes them as patently unfair. That will lead to changes in the system by the time we get to 2020. People will not tolerate a system in which the person who actually wins does not. Pennsylvania, charles is a republican. You are on with Michael Steele. Caller here is a good example of a rate system. Awas just watching here about half hour, msnbc, they were interviewing delegates. They had a woman on their and ,he fellow asked her a question who are you going to vote for as a delegate. She says ted cruz. Said, even if the people vote another way . You still going to vote for ted cruz . She says yes. That is an example of a rate system. How can she even be a delegate . I have a comment. Everybody needs to rally around trump, bottom line. Kasich has been in washington and ted cruz has been in washington. They need to rally around trump because washington needs a good shaking up. Guest with respect to the she is probably committed to ted cruz and depending on the rules, i do not know if this was a pennsylvania or maryland delegate, but depending on the rules of her state, she is not bound to a person who wins their state. Pennsylvania, they are more likely to be bound after the first though, the first vote at the convention, and she is biting herself to ted cruz afterwards irrespective of whether or not ted cruz or trump wins the state. That is what the rules allow. Part of what you have seen ted cruz do is go out and grab right,es and say, all trump is going to win pennsylvania, and youre going to have to vote for him on the first one but i need you to be bound for me to me for the third ballot. Ted cruzhat you see doing right now which is what donald trump had failed to do at this point because they did not anticipate the backend of the process. We saw this in louisiana and virginia and georgia. Had to go out and actually locked down the delegates for third or fourth ballots. The latest poll, trumpet 45 . At 45 . That is happening tomorrow along with four other states here on the east coast. Dave is in rochester, michigan, an independent. Good morning. Caller good morning. Your analysis. E you are one of the very few to. Blicans i can listen but anyway, as far as a rate andem, i am an independent i have been voting democrat. I hold my nose and vote democrat. Both parties have let the workingclass down. Rate with both parties, fordemocrat and the dnc hillary, and bernie rocked the vote. Point, if trump got income i used to think he had no chance. I think he has got a slight chance. Sure, with cruise or anyone else, i think it will be worse you have got to work. Ole with trump im still hoping for bernie. I think he is one of the few politicians who is really talking about the right issues. Both parties have let us down. I could take you for miles and of manufacture and decay and not just around detroit. Fort wayne and northern ohio, flint, where is the conversation . You strength on a very important point, an interesting one for the cycle. As i travel, one of the most fascinating things to hear when you talk to a Bernie Sanders well, if who says, bernie loses, im voting for trump this fall, portland they have primaries, i do not know which i will vote for, bernie or trump, that argument works for those voters along the lines they just mentioned, and that is manufacturing, creating jobs in our industrial belt of the nation, which we offloaded a lot of those jobs and to the extent they still exist, wages have been severely suppressed. We have two individuals who are opposite sides of the same coin talking about restoring the value of manufacturing, the worker, and how important it is that it is not centered around wall street but main street. That will be a question between trump and hillary because trump aces her on that. Sanders have bernie going into the narrative with donald trump, which may rub a lot of republicans the wrong way because of trump passes views on trade issues and the like. It is where mainstream america is here that is the strength of the trump candidacy. He brings into play voters who otherwise would not necessarily be there for the Republican Party. Into women and hispanics not liking them and what the polls show, but in a general election, you always have a reset with voters and candidates. Looking fresh, head to head, they themselves come at each other very definitely differently than in the primary. If got bernie and Martin Omalley at one point on the other side. Line for democrats were herbert is waiting in georgia. Good morning. Caller good morning. Good to see you. Educated and you are aware of what is going on in america. As a black person, i am 65 years old. Breathe so ted cruz has not talked to none of the black caucus or nothing else. Person being in the Republican Party, i do not see the party looking more like me. Up imo caught caught up in the character. Wondering, i want to be a member of the party, not a wing of the party. You do fight for the individual. I would love for you to keep on doing it. The thing is the Republican Party has got to come back and do more. For example, come into for the schools, they get people like steve harley and tavis smiley. You do not see people at a black Republican Party, Janet Jackson we do not see, them in the black community. I do not see them in miami and i did not see them in georgia. You have opened up a big box there. There are a lot of reasons we see the Current Party structure operating the way does. The court of the argument is the key thing. I made it very important and very clear to the 168 members of the national committee, that they have to be in the community. They cannot build the party from top down. It is not a washington Centric Organization nor should it be. You should know who the black leadership is in your state and york county, whether through the ncaa peak, the urban league, whether it is the black chamber or whatever is going on in the community, you should have the finger on the pulse if you are about the business of making the argument for your Party Relevant in the conversation that they are having in those town halls and community. And hearo sit outside the institutions and organizations and individuals articulate what we perceive to be a conservative message, that they are just like us and they agree with us on the life issues and the family issues and the economy. How do you know when youre not fully engaged in the conversation. As one thing to say black folks, we know you appreciate the do,life message, and they but then when you do not talk to them about Voting Rights, they go, that is great, that was your issue so we are not driving prolife in the black community, where driving Voting Rights. See her actions as being antithetical to the issues in Voting Rights and that creates the tension the party needs to address and the only way to address it is to be in the neighborhood and the community all the time. I remember the first week after i was elected, i hosted a town in harlem and three of people showed up spur of the moment. The blowback i got from the Party Officials was stunning. It ranged from, where you going to harvard that is where the future votes are. If you want to grow and expand the party, you better be in harlem, those boroughs in those parts of the city and the community that you are currently now walking past. Host have the efforts fallen by the wayside . Guest i think they have their they are mixed result in people like to point out you had this meeting or that meeting. It is not just having the meeting. It is doing with the concerns of the community. When you have the Voting Rights andsitting was no action going into a president ial election cycle, where do you think or how you think you will engender trust from that community was something that is important to them that they will perceive to be as problematic if there are problems this fall. They will blame you because you had a chance to fix it and do something about it. It is that simple. Put out an autopsy talking about hispanics and we have got to reach out to a candidate is out there talking to donald trump talking about, mexicans, were building a wall, that message is counter productive to your image in the party. You have got to correct that and make sure the message, regardless of who the candidate is, is the one who is driving the day. That is a struggle. The only way to do that is in the community. Host centreville, virginia, tonya is waiting period caller waiting. Caller good morning. To share two messages, one for all the American People. Either be born in this land or sit on the ground that. If you really love your country, if you really care for your security, if you really care for thesafety of your children, future and the honesty, vote for donald trump. That man is maybe not politically correct and maybe not freezing his words to scholars and whoever in offices but heike to phrase it, is honest you get what you see. He is not faking it. He loves this country. He will make this country way greater than what it is at the moment. He will bring the glory of the past. To the best of his effort and his ability. Host Michael Steele. Guest you cannot walkway from the passion you hearing your voice. And the concern. That is consistent across the country with those who support donald trump. I do not hear the same passion for the other candidates. I just dont. You do not hear it for the other 16 on stage. Trumpis something donald withone that has connected the American People. A growing number of them, that is personal for them. It speaks to the frustrations but also their hope. He talks about america being great again, a lot of people see their stories on that. I want the businesses to be successful again and my family to be strong again. I want my country to be first and foremost again. Observing politics and being a part of it, it is a game of emotion. You do not hear that emotion about the other candidates out there. If he asked you to be his Vice President ial running mate, would you do it . Guest [laughter] oh my gosh. I do not know. We would just say that for later. Host hartford, connecticut, kim, line for independents. Because of calling the delicate process. There is such a light on it now. They pick who want to be delegates. Causing anger in america. I want to know how the Republican Party will take care of the problem because it will cause such a problem in the next election that the systems going to go and there is going to be so much animosity for republicans that they may not worldo be how in the can they stop the problem . Finger on one the of the conundrums of the establishment on the hill, mcconnell who backtracked off of the comments he made about the process, got into the weeds and overstepped the line and looked like he was putting his fingers on the scale in the selection process, none of that is lost on voters out there. Do is keepc has to clean hands. That is why you saw the chairman last week going to florida saying, we are not making rule changes and not touching the rules. They sit down and take it with the rules here and there, we celebrated in 2012 where they literally blocked ron paul from getting his name nominated on the floor, would not allow the man to speak at the convention when he brought all of the energy and new voices into the process. To have thatfford happen, certainly donald trump, who raise all kind of hell if they did. They cannot have that happen. You will see them step back as much as possible, keep the fingers off the scale to the greatest extent possible, and let the process unfold naturally. Trump, ifot donald the establishment backed candidate was winning in this point in the primary, with the rnc be pressuring the other candidates to get out of the race and unite question mark guest unite . Guest probably would. Rubio in there position donald trump is now in, there would be all kinds of pressure. The process would have been unfolding very differently. You would not have had millions of dollars used against him in the primary process. Be a great cry from leadership on the hill rallying around the establishment candidate. Annoyedhat would have the heck out of the base and we saw that play itself out in 2012. Almost 3 million republicans stay home and did not participate and mitt romney lost. What happens when you put your finger on the scale. There is enough baggage that the party will have to carry into the fall to heal the wounds that from the in place primary process. Another thing people need to be clear about, you hear folks talking about if donald trump is the nominee, we will lose the senate and the white house in the house. House,ff, i built that we are not losing the house. The house will be good for a few more years. Number two, the senate is in play not because of donald trump but because of the scotus nomination process. The Supreme Court process. Took a hard edge position that is now beginning to put in peril. Ix or seven u. S. Senators it is a democrat cycle. They have fewer seats up for reelection than republicans. Seats and ihave 24 think that is a smaller number and a territory that places a map for democrats. Host lets go to georgia, a few minutes left. Line for democrats. Caller good morning. I will push back on the donald trump thing. Anybody who looks like you and myself, how do you explain the phenomenon in the new york central park, where he led a lynch mob against the kids who wind it up taking half apologize . The twol me about incidents with discrimination . Also, can you please explain to the American People what donald trump found out about our president in the first situation that he hired detectives to do . Guest right, a lot of that i think, with the color drills down on is our issues that will come back this fall. All of this, from the birther issue to some of the dealings in his business affairs, and some with newcial issues yorkers that donald trump may or may not have been a part of, he will have to address the issues. I think that will be one of the challenges and will certainly be fodder for the Hillary Clinton campaign and that is a concern for the party now, how much of that waste down the effort to win this november if the distraction is, we are now reliving birther is him four years later . My guess is that will not be an issue as much as people hope it will be. I think donald trump will back some of that. Cycle,ther issue in this he has dismissed it himself, he has not taken the debate taken the bait. I think thatll be the challenge, whether he will take the rate on those questions. Connecticut,e and indiana is up next and that is the state where the John Kasich Campaign has agreed to step away to allow the ted Cruz Campaign to be against donald trump. Nate is in indiana, a republican. What you think question mark caller think . Hitch if youre going to a ride to the white house, do not get in and start complaining about the temperature in a Radio Station in the wheels in the driver and how fast we are going. The system is set up to protect the party. If you go to the convention and you do not have a majority of the publics, how do you expect to win in the general election . You have one of two problems. Or both. You either do not represent the party, or your negatives are so bad that you cannot win the election. Itselfty is protecting and does not want to lose the house and the senate and the notcial, so the system is rate to be unfair, but if you go in to the convention, and you do not have a majority, how do you expect to win . Point in earlier caller made. The gop primary according to the never trump pack that is keeping ,abs on this, 8. 8 million votes and almost 4 million report almost 4 million republicans have voted for someone else. Guest and that is the process. Opponents have combined 52 of the vote. Great. If you look at the 51 he has against him, why do we assume donald trump is not the second choice for some of those voters . If john kasich or ted cruz drops out, the 51 is not all the sudden go on to whoever is surviving. Donald trump will get some of those voters. Member two, i agree the process process. Donald trump took advantage of the opportunity to expose something that people were not aware of. 56 of republicans themselves are saying whoever has the most delegates should get the nomination. Even the party itself is not buying the idea that you have the 1237 coming in the door. If you have got the most, if donald trump is 100 delegates or less, he still gets it. Has to runel steele soon, but robin has been waiting in new york, an independent. Caller i have been watching you for a while now and i understand that people are upset that the system is right. But the system is rate. And trump is taking advantage of it. I would argue if you look at his behavior, he will serve his own interests rather than those who called up and were very upset about the system and how it affected her. Why is no one in the Republican Party pointing out that what he behavior, to past suggest that he is fact would not even be supportive of that that behavior. He is acting out of his own interests. I do not understand. Host were running out of time. Guest stop trump move has been had. Part of it is they waited too late to do it, they waited seven or eight months into the campaign to go after donald trump. Took jeb bush seriously and known to advantage of the opportunity here for to the party in june and july and august when he opened up an attack on donald trump. The response from donald trump was you are lowenergy. It took jeb bush out of the race, but there was no backup. Everyone else stood silently by. Did not want to offend donald trump and did not want to go after him. They sit there and they go, wait a minute, what has changed . Donald trump has not he is saying the same thing as eight months ago. And yet you sat silently and said nothing. See that at least he is standing and fighting for something that he believed in, right or wrong, that is the guy i trust and that is the problem a lot of folks have with the Trump Movement and a lot of the problems theyre having to convince voters to come their way. Host heelys appreciate your time here. , ron pollack. Will be able to talk about United Health, pulling out of most exchanges by 2017. We will be right back. Tonight, the safety and security of the u. S. Electric grid is the topic of nightline anchor. The book, lights out, a cyber attack, a nation unprepared, examines the potential for cyber attack on the grid. It looks how vulnerable is thetric is to an attack and degree to which electric companies of care to respond to a an attack. That you willn give over control of the industry requires that you give up an awful lot of information and a lot of these companies do not want to give up. There was a bill passed last years, the senate, after and that now has private industry willing to pass on information to the government. But only after they have sanitized it. Watch tonight at 8 00 eastern on cspan two. Washington journal. Is back at ourck desk now. Director of a consumer Abbasid Group that has it and has been a long supporter of the Affordable Care act. I want to start with the news last week defamation paths largest insurer of private health is scaling back its participation in the aca. Losing just too much money in the area. How big of a problem is this for the Affordable Care act . I think the story is much ado about relatively little. United health has not been the largest participant in the Affordable Care act. Out his they sat opinion the Affordable Care act. Footprint in the beginning was virtually no. Expand in 2015 and 2016, of the reason i say this as much a do about relatively little is because the impact of their withdrawing from various markets is not going to be a major change for people participating in the reason is of communities across the country, there are at offeringee insurers coverage in the marketplaces and that is beyond the ones that united provides. There are still going to be substantial competition and the if they withdrew, it would have it most about a 1 impact on premiums. I looked at the study you are referring to. In 536 different counties in the country, if United Health does a complete list or all of the Affordable Care act, those counties are left with only one insurer. What does that due to competition and possibly prices . Guest the areas you are referring to our rural areas. We clearly do want to see competition. My hope is as we have seen with respect to the Affordable Care act, we will see other Insurance Companies provide coverage in the marketplaces. I believe in some of the places, that will be the issues are united. We do not yet know where united will pull out across the country. We know they will pull out in close to half a dozen states. But the kaiser study showed is ift the impact would be united decides to withdraw all across the country. Host different lines in this segment. If you get your insurance through a ta exchange aca exchanges, employerprovided insurance uninsured ast mixing up the lines little bit and we want to hear your experiences. Story has this quote. Some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have raised the prospect of pulling back. Concern that this becomes a trend . I do not believe that will happen. I think the biggest concern that has been expressed has been that we may see a number of Insurance Companies increasing premiums. Is always concerning. But there are two things i think your viewers should keep in mind. Individualscern for is what will you be paying outofpocket . Vast majority of people who are participating in the Affordable Care act are getting substantial subsidies. If premiums do go up, him the subsidies will go up as well. The impact from the pocketbook of individuals will be minimum. Some folks on the hill would argue it is the impact on the taxpayer pocketbook that will go up through the subsidies. Was a Congressional Budget Office study that came out recently putting the cost over the next 10 years of the eighth day, hundred 36 billion higher than with the estimated last year. Guest and that figure was a whole lot lower than it was when the Affordable Care act was initially adopted. One thing the opponents of the sinceable care act said, i to say, if you have got employersponsored insurance, in termsa huge dropout of supplying coverage. We do not have quite as many in thewho joined marketplace as he would have had it been that migration. Host we are talking with ron director ofcutive. Amilies usa if you have questions about premiums, we can talk about all of this for about the next 40 minutes here. Blue springs, missouri, he gets his insurance through the aca exchanges. Good morning. Caller good morning, thank you. A couple of questions are of quick. What is your background . I hate to tell you what started off as a lawyer. Running various Public Interest groups and i was dean of a law school and i been directing families usa for over three decades. Caller are you a physician or have you ever dealt with health care payments, copayments, or were you involved in the health care in any way before your position . I am not a physician and i am not a nurse. In ae were deeply involved debate about the Affordable Care act. Over threea for decades has been one of the leading groups to try to get Major Health Care reform. At one point, we had about 50 Million People who were uninsured. A lot of people needed access to care and cannot get it. Do is we we tried to tried to make sure we would get that will make Health Care Accessible to people across the country. Guest how much do you make a year . How much do you make a year . Guest over 200,000 a year. Host do you have another question . Caller yes i do. I appreciate the commitment to do. Th care, i really , i think it isnd a big scam. Concerned that aca is a big scam here at what is the proof at this point from your perspective . The greatest proof is over 20 main people now have health care coverage. Got people excluded from the Health Care System because they had a Health Condition where there was webetes and insurers said will not provide coverage to you because you have a preexisting condition. Insurance is real insurance. It does not stop when you have an accident. Women are no longer discriminated in the premiums they pay. Young adults can get coverage through their parents up to the 26th day. Get services for free. The Affordable Care act has that extra ordinary things for millions upon millions of people. Kim gets her insurance through her employer in ohio. Has your employer changed since the past six years since the implementation of the Affordable Care act . Insurance has gone up and we pay over three dollars a month now. Eat any other coverage and it irritates me after listening to president obama saying our premiums would go down, which i really do not believe anyway. Ofm now facing the reality her insurance premiums have gone up and i still have kids in school and one in college and it is not a good time for me. Im extremely this i am extremely disappointed and it may have helped some people but it is hurting a lot of people. No question that prior to the formal care and after it passed, premiums have still been going up. What kim was describing was something others have experienced as well. That is not caused by the Affordable Care act. This has been a trend that has been going on for decades. It is something that hopefully we will deal with in the future. It is not a factor of the Affordable Care act. The aca has modestly bent that curve. Has it done so adequately . I do not think any of us would say that Health Care Costs have been moderated sufficiently. You see a story in todays hottest paper and there is a great deal of concern about what is happening with Prescription Drug costs. Upy have been going substantially. It is something that is going to have to be a top priority agenda for next administration. Host going back to the curve, was the aca supposed to than the curve more was is sold as something that would bend it even more . I think when the Affordable Care act debate began, there were dual exit objectives. The key objective was to make sure those people who have been excluded from Health Coverage for many years could now gain access to coverage. The Affordable Care act has gone a long way fixing the problem. It is not completely fixed. We have a significant way to go. There was also a desire to spark down. Ess of getting cost the process is beginning but it has got a long way still to go. ,o pass the Affordable Care act it was not an easy task. It needed 60 votes in the United States senate. Of8219 votes in the house representatives, two hundred 18 votes. We got 219 votes. Too far in pushing the pharmaceutical companies and the insurers and the hospitals, you probably would have lost. Initial steps were taken. We have got a long way to go. Is on the uninsured line, south carolina. Caller i enjoy listening to cspan every morning. Tell you my situation. My situation was i got into the and my premium was zero because i am on a fixed income and i cannot afford it. I do not want to get a penalty when it filed my taxes because they would take it directly out of my social security. A nobrainer. That being said, the next year i they told me they no longer had the plan and the only plan was for 149. And id not afford it filed for an exemption on my taxes and i got my exemption. This year, i am retired so i will be getting medicare in october. For 10 months this year, i do not have any insurance. I guess i will have to file for exemption. That was the only advice they could give me. I would like to hear your comments on that. There is no question one of the reasons people decided to get insurance is they do not want to pay the penalty. Is a requirement that you will have to pay a tax penalty. My hope is that people do not pay the penalty and actually get health insurance. That is what the whole exercise is about. One of the things about the Affordable Care act is the subsidies for tens of millions of people who cannot afford it before, provided on a sliding scale. The lower your income, the greater the subsidy. Who tend to bes an entrylevel jobs or may not they get larger subsidies. For those people, they have the greatest difficulty paying for coverage, as tim has probably had, the largest subsidies are made available. Tonkfully he will be able participate in medicare very soon. That is important. We are finding that huge numbers of people are finding that coverage for the first time is truly affordable with those subsidies. Her subsidiests through the aca exchanges. Go ahead. I have a son who is not able to find work. How much of the penalty do they charge if you do not have any insurance . It will depend on his taxes. Is your son under 26 . Is, he can get insurance through his mom. After he is 26 years of age, what he will have to pay outofpocket will depend on what his income is. If he has got relatively little income, if he is unemployed, he will essentially get the coverage virtually for free because the subsidies will be much larger. I think he is likely to be one of the candidates. And allas texas, hurt she gets her insurance through her employer. Caller i am calling because we have blue cross and blue shield in our deductible went from 350 22 two 2000. We wanted the same insurance we had last year. A deductible is way too expensive. Only 500. The you say about Affordable Care act because of us . It did not affect the damage to us. People who us, i have gotten six weeks of pneumonia, and we have to pay a lot of money because of the high deductible. The aca is great for those who qualify for medicaid and subsidies but for everyone else, a huge financial burden for bad insurance. What do you say . Guest that is not quite accurate. For those people with insurance, the Affordable Care act has not had an impact with respect to that. It is true that employers across the country higher to the Affordable Care act and subsequent to the affordable have been increasing the outofpocket burden their employees are paying, including deductibles. One of the promising Things Health and Human Services is now doing, which i think will ultimately have an impact, is what kind of services can be made available to people predeductible . Are there Critical Services people can get without any regard to the deductible . Can they go to the doctor and access Prescription Drug medicines . Department of health and Human Services is doing is experimenting with what they call a standardized plan and that is going to make more of those services applicable predeductible. It does not apply to people who have employersponsored insurance. It does not have a major impact on employersponsored insurance. What she and others are experiencing is not really based on the Affordable Care act. It has been the insistent increase in cost and the Affordable Care act did not cause or increase in deductibles. The caller and commentor on twitter broke bringing up medicaid. We talk about the status of the medicaid expansion, provided in one provision of the Affordable Care act . Guest there are now 31 states plus the District Of Columbia that have expanded medicaid. 19 states have failed to do so, and those states tend to be in the southeast. Caller we will show the map host we will show the map from your website when you are talking. Guest that is Unfinished Business all of us are hoping to achieve. Mind you, the expansion of for the is a great deal states. In 2014 and 2015 and 2016, the states that expanded coverage for tate 100 of those costs by the federal government. None of them were paid by the states. In 2017, it will go down to 95 and ultimately to 90 , but it will not go lower. There are proposals the president has offered and Hillary Clinton has offered if she becomes president , that for the states that have not yet opted into the medicaid expansion, that they would get 100 payment by the federal government for the first three years of their implementation. Deal for thed states for a number of reasons. They will get a substantial amount of money from the federal government. A lot of states pick out what we call uncompensated care cost. Someone goes to a hospital and they are uninsured and i cannot pay for it and the states pick up those costs in a number of public hospitals. One of the things we have found is in the states that have asked and it coverage, it has been helpful in adding jobs. More revenue is being generated to the state. This is a good deal and hopefully the states will pick this up in the future that have not done so yet. List of theep a states that have not expanded and you include the number of residents who could gain medicaid if the expansion did happen. For example in virginia, 235 residents could gain access to medicaid. 235,000 residents could gain access to medicaid. You can go to their website and find the numbers and find a map of the different state. Lets go to karen in leesburg, virginia. She gets her insurance through her employer. Good morning. Caller caller i have one son that was in college and one that it was about to go and being able to have them on my plan through age 26 has been a blessing. I have United Health care. I think consumers are misdirecting where the blame is. I had surgery two years ago. It was surgery that cost upwards of 52,000. The problem is we dont need to look at who the company is, we need to look at the cost between insurance and the hospital system. That is where we are losing ground. If you want to complain about why our premiums are going up, we need to talk to United Health care and why they are not negotiating better rates. Its astronomical, what they spend through patient care. So paying 900ms for an actress is ridiculous because i can pay 49 and urgent care. Guest she certainly nailed it. The cost of health insurance, the cost of care has risen. Need to do a better job. Weve also got to make sure some of the providers do a better job. Thats why i was raising the question about pharmaceutical costs. Those costs have risen rather significantly. There are huge numbers of groups coming together to try to fight that. They are strange bedfellows. They represent very different interests and they are all feeling that we have to do something about those escalating costs. Thats got to be done both ie insurers and by public programs. One of the problems is the Medicare Program which is a key for seniorsverage and people with disability, right now, by law, it is precluded from bargaining with pharmaceutical companies to get prices down. Thats ridiculous. How can one of the biggest payers of pharmaceutical costs be handcuffed and be told you cannot negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies . Thats something i know secretary clinton would like to change. Bernie sanders has said he would like to see that change. I think there is going to be more interest in putting downward pressure on these costs. Medicare n the medicaid expansion. In louisiana, according to your numbers go to denham springs, louisiana, good morning. Caller good morning. To weigh in and represent a Small Business owners. We are a Small Business owner here in louisiana. We have always appreciated having good health care. Before the Affordable Care act, Health Care Costs were rising and we knew there needed to be a and prayed that government would come up with something that would help everyone that needed health care that didnt have it. It is a blessing they are able to have that area however, when you look across the spectrum, it is weighted in a lot of areas. As Small Business owners, we pay higher premiums to get a better plan and then we were told that this last year, our plan had been discontinued and we were forced into another plan that had the deductible doubled out of pocket. When a Small Business owner is trying to make ends meet and provide for themselves and not have a rely on the government and not have to rely on anyone and make commerce happen in a Free Enterprise system and youre forced to pay something that is basically unaffordable. If you talk about subsidies, if you make around 70,000 on your adjusted gross income, the subsidy cuts off. My 20 4000 per year premium, 1800 per month plus my out of pockets and the dock doubles, my income drastically goes down so itst 1 4 unbelievable how many Small Businesses are struggling just to be able to keep their insurance and pay their premiums. There is no competition out there to be able to shop it. It makes it hard and when you go to the doctor under this plan, no one can tell you what your cost will be. You want to try to mitigate and understand your cost up front and the doctors cannot tell you what their contracted amount is. You call your provider and they cannot tell you what the cost will be. Until you get your bill, you have no idea of how much is going out of rocket or to your deductible. Its very complex. Host thanks for sharing your story. Guest i very much appreciate her comments. The Small Businesses are somewhat vulnerable. They dont have the same kind of clout to bargain with an insurer as a larger business would have. Some Small Businesses are dropping coverage and telling their employees to go into the exchange. Actually are available to people somewhat the on what she was describing. If you live in a fourperson family, the subsidies go up for a family with income up to about 97,000 per year. They reach pretty high. One of the things she mentioned that i think is very important and i think we will see increasing improvements in is we dont really have transparency about prices. People are unaware of what prices they will pay and they whether somebody whos got a different kind of insurance is paying different kinds of prices. I think there is a cry to make sure we have far Greater Transparency so that we are not line folded when we get care and we have no idea what we will pay out of pocket. When do we start to see the effects of that. When do we see the menu of prizes women go to the hospital . Is we will start seeing that more frequently over the next few years ahead. That theot something key Interest Groups in the Health Care System are excited about doing. May negotiate different prices with different insurers. Uninsured or fewer in medicaid or in medicare or you have private insurance, you wind up paying different prices. That is why transparency is going to be very important so theres a sense of predictability. Medicare in is in seattle, washington, good morning. Caller good morning. Ask about 1040. 11 . line what is that . 1040 tax return, its the one that you have to declare that you are covered every single month in the tax year. By the Affordable Care act. Or else you pay a penalty. The reason i bring this up is because i am trying to help a young man who is 23. He finally got a job last december so he is only worked one month last year. He had paid 97 in federal taxes. I was trying to help them fill and we come to line 11 and he will not get his 90s evan thousand dollars back because he did not have any insurance last year. He did not have the common sense to go get it. He would have been covered by medicaid. And thats ridiculous. 97 whatt get his about that . Right but if he has no income or had relatively little income, theres a good chance he would have while a five for medic aid and he wouldve gotten coverage for free. If he got that coverage through medicaid for free, there would be no issue as to whether he would have to pay a penalty. If he was not eligible for medicaid given his low income, he would have gotten a very substantial subsidy and he would have gotten he wouldve been able to purchase Health Coverage almost for free because the subsidies would have been a norm is for somebody who has no income area unfortunately, there are still people like the person she was trying to help who are not aware of the benefits they can get out of the Affordable Care act which in some instances will provide coverage for free or in other instances almost for free. They have not signed up and then all of a sudden, it hit them that they may have to pay a tax penalty. Make whereere can can they go to find help with that. Guest if he is in a state where the federal government is running the marketplace, he can and whenlth care. Gov he does that, you will find out what kind of plans are available and what those plans provide and what the outofpocket cost would be. If he happens to be in a state where the state is running the market place as opposed to the federal government, each state has its own marketplace website and he can go to that and he can learn what the benefits are. In addition, there are a group of forks we call navigators and a sisters. Assistors. Sters they help people figure out what they will get and help them get enrolled. This is a very Important Group that he can get significant assistance for free. There is no cause to it and he can learn what he is eligible for and they can help them get enrolled. Host lets go to mark in new york who is uninsured. Hi, host turn your tv down. I just heard a remark about this insurance. I was in an accident a long time blue cross, blue shield, every kind of insurance. Accident and went to the hospital and they sent me home and everything was fine or whatever. Haver later, i still problems and i go back to the doctors and i come to find out that i had a broken back. They took me out of work immediately and send me to a big facility and i had to keep paying for my own insurance. They just kept using my money. I have spent a year and a half trying to get surgery done. My insurance ran out because i could not afford it. Process of the getting insurance through the government. As soon as i did that, the huge place i was going to drop me. They sent me to a Major Medical center. They said the should have been done a year ago. They told me to sign up for this and they said i work for a big trucking company. I work on heavy equipment. They said you will never go back and do it again. This should have been nipped in the bud right then. They are upset with the company. The lady said we have seen this before. Curious furious and now that this is happened, theres nothing i can do. I talked to a lawyer about it and because it happened years ago and ive been dealing with it, i said its a big train wreck. You said youre trying to get new insurance . Once i could not afford it, i sold everything i andto keep up my insurance it has destroyed my family. Ago athere three days the upstate Medical Center where i live and they could not , fixed this was not done years ago. It has destroyed my life. Host maybe our guest can give you suggestions. Speak to theot malpractice that may have occurred. Obviously, hes got good reason to be dissatisfied with the treatment he got. Apparently, it was ineffective and failed to deal with key things that needed to be dealt with. Im trying to read between the lines but it counted like he no longer is getting employer sponsored insurance but now is trying to get his own. What he is probably going to have to do is probably going to have to enroll in coverage via the Affordable Care act. It sounds like he is earning very little income because of his disability. Because of that, the subsidies he will receive are going to be very substantial and they are probably going to make coverage more affordable than he expects. The Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care act or not throughout the year. Is thaton for that someone could decide on not going to buy insurance, im healthy, why buy insurance and all of a sudden, they get into an accident and have a major disease and then they enroll. Happen,llow that to premiums will skyrocket. He is going to have to wait probably for the next open Enrollment Period that will start in the fall and he can get enrolled. People who can get enrolled prior to the open enrollment. These are people who have major changes in their lives. They have been divorced or they lost a job which may fit him. He may be able to get enrolled by what we call a special Enrollment Period and he should look into that. Host dave in irvine, california, gets is an insurance through his employer. Caller they need to get medicare for all and i think people should vote for Bernie Sanders. Nothing is free but everybody should have insurance. The Affordable Care act was a good thing that needs to be changed a little bit and not gotten rid of. I just want to make that comment. Host how would you change it . Caller i would just do medicare for all and everybody that has insurance. It seems like everybody else is getting insurance and certain ones dont. There was a guy in california who was in prison for murder and he was ready to get a sex change and they said we have to let him out. They did not want to pay for it. People go to prison and i get all their health care. I dont know how it would change. I would take the profit out of it, for one thing. These Insurance Companies are making money. People go to the emergency room and they love it because we pay more. Somebody has to pay for it. If you had medicare for all like Bernie Sanders and they have in every other country, it would be a lot cheaper. If you have insurance through your employer, it is going up. The people who did not have insurance are getting the break. Guest its the first time i have been on the show when we didnt have them i kratz and republicans i and independence. We didnt have democrats and republicans an independents. Many people think a singlepayer system would be good in this country. A number of other countries have done it. Politically, that is impossible. When the Affordable Care act debate began, i think we could count your than half a dozen people in the United States senate who would have supported a singlepayer system. There was a hybrid. There is some help for the Public Sector and others being done through the private sector. In the Public Sector, we have expanded medicaid significantly and that has been tremendous for the lowest income folks. We provide subsidies for people who are buying private insurance. It would have been politically impossible to move a singlepayer system. Merits ande of the dave could make a good case that it could be helpful, politically, its a nonstarter. Host we will get back to the political debate. In this election cycle, are you where voters concerns are this cycle . That was a recent poll showed that among democrats, health care, 43 of democrats, said health care was important. Andg independents, 30 among republicans, just be 7 said the issue of health care is extremely important to their vote for president. Are you surprised by that . The number was higher before. We have a huge crisis in the Health Care System and so many people were priced out of health care that it was a bigger concern. I think it will be a significant issue in the general election. Thats because the differences between the democratic candidate , presumably Hillary Clinton, and the republican candidate whether its donald trump or ted cruz, will be enormous. Every republican candidate has said im going to repeal the Affordable Care act. Its different how they say it but clearly, that their intent. Who now that people have protections for preexisting conditions could lose it. It means those people who are under 26 who are getting coverage could lose it and women will be discriminated again in terms of premiums. It means the Insurance Companies will be allowed to establish annual or lifetime caps so of you have a major illness, youre in bad luck. The democratic candidate, presumably Hillary Clinton, wants to build in the Affordable Care act and make it better. Hillary clinton is correct in saying the Affordable Care act is by no means perfect. Even those of us who are strong supporters of the a formal care act, we have never said its perfect. There are a lot of things that need to be improved. I think you will see such a huge difference between the 2 president ial candidates that it will be a major issue in the campaign. Some of the groups that who have benefited the most from the Affordable Care act are some of the critical voters. This year they are hispanics, africanamerican, women, young wills and so i think this be a far more visible issue. There is not much to say on the republican side. The 17 candidates, when they started, it was only different how they said how and how quickly they would repeal there up a repealed the Affordable Care act. There was a debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. But they have more in common than they have in opposition with one another. When it comes to the general election, there will be a huge difference. I think people are going to learn that they have a significant personal stake in not having the significant protections of the Affordable Care act eliminated. Is director ofck families usa. You can follow them on twitter. We appreciate your time. Guest delighted to be with you. Host in our last 25 minutes or so, we will return to the president ial campaign. We will return to the news that happened last night that ted cruz and john kasich announced an agreement to coordinate in three upcoming primary states in order to stop donald trump. We will talk to republicans and independents about that move and you can start calling in and the numbers are on your screen and we will be right act. We will be right act. Right back. Tonight, the safety and security of the u. S. Electric grid is the topic of a new book. Bite ted koppel. It examines the potential for cyber attack from the u. S. Electric grid. It looks at what could happen and how vulnerable the u. S. Electric grid is to attack and the degree to which Government Agencies and electric companies are prepared to respond to an attack. The notion that you are going to give over control of the defense of your industry requires that you give up an awful lot of information that a lot of these companies do not want to give up. There was a bill passed last fall in the senate after years of wrangling. Has private industry willing to pass on information to the government but only after they have sanitized it. Watch tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan two. Continues. Journal host on the front page of the New York Times they are talking about a decision that was announced last night by the ted cruz and John Kasich Campaigns to Work Together in three upcoming primary states to keep donald trump am receiving the nomination. Here is the statement from the ted Cruz Campaign the John Kasich Campaign released a statement from their chief strategist the two campaigns announced of this last night and donald trump was quick to respond on twitter. He said we want to get your reaction and we are talking to just republican and independents in this last 25 minutes or so and what you make of this decision on the Republican Primary Campaign trail. Steve in corpus christi, texas, good morning. Voted in the past, i democrat in the past. I am 55 years old. John hasek is out there and he can do something for the American People. He has been so irrelevant for the last 3 4 of this cycle in a makes no sense. Does this decision make him more relevant . Caller hopefully they can get to the convention and he can get to the nomination. Its not the first time this has been done. I dont know people are old enough to remember but it has been done in the past. Host what would you say to the folks that say that is dirty pool and that taking away the nomination from donald trump if he was so close to the delegate just isntluding fair . Caller thats why you go to the taking carend its of at the convention. It has always been done that way. This is nothing new. Its just that has been brought to the forefront of the american public. Its nothing new. Host we are talking to independents and republicans about the news late last night. Chris is in gaithersburg, maryland, good morning. Good morning, i voted early in maryland and i did support ted cruz. That was before the announcement. I dont think its fair to be ganging up against the donald trump. If he has enough delegates to take it and i mess with him at the convention, i will not vote. Maryland is one of the States Holding its primary tomorrow. , connecticut, pennsylvania and rhode island as well. It is a different system in pennsylvania. Democrats are holding those same five primaries tomorrow. More delegates are at stake in general in the deli in the democratic primary. It takes more delegates to get the nomination. That gives you a sense of where the candidates stand Hillary Clinton has more super delegate numbers, the Party Officials and elected officials who get votes at the convention as well. We are talking about it all this morning. We will talk about the primaries tomorrow. Just from republicans and getpendents, we want to your thoughts by this move on the john kasich and ted Cruz Campaign to coordinate the primaries. New jersey is up next, mary lou is an independent. Caller good morning to you and thank you for cspan. Gentlementh these two are doing is absolutely disgusting. I think the American People need to be aware and watch this carefully. If this does not show how afraid washington establishment is of the American People taking our government back, nothing will. I want to make a brief comment about both of these men. John kasich is no conservative republican. John kasich is a democrat in disguise. He is one of these reach across the aisle guys. For the people out there like myself who are really concerned about this illegal immigration, if he gets in, nothing will be done about that. Cruz, at one point, i would have voted for ted cruz until he started all these dirty tricks especially with what he did to ben carson in iowa and what he has been doing ever since. One last comment i understand ted cruz is what they call a dominion christian. The people out there who think of supporting ted cruz need to look that religion up and investigate. Host im not quite sure what that term means. You are calling in on the line for independents. It sounds like your choice is between republicans. Why are you an independent . Caller actually, i was disgusted with the republicans because of the way congress let us down. That is why i became an independent. Usually come i vote republican. I never vote democrat. Betty is up next in mississippi, also in independent good morning. Caller good morning. Good morning. Host go ahead. Morning, washington journal, i am so glad i am on the air. Is this man talking about . I dont understand nothing he is saying. I do not understand donald trump. Someone gets a meeting coming he does not want to go to the meeting. What is he talking about . I dont know his layout . Why is he talking about building a wall . A wall standing up there so what wall is he talking about . Is he trying to build it lower . What is he trying to do . On wheree background this decision came from and how long its been on the works between the ted Cruz Campaign and the John Kasich Campaign to coordinate the three upcoming primary states. Cnn talked to A John Kasich insider. Pat is in irvine, california, republican, good morning. Caller good morning. I dont understand this. You have two men who are trying to survive and you got donald trump who is coming in like a big bull. He does not solve any problems. You have a black man in the white house now. We are doing the same thing with donald trump that we did with obama. I dont understand this. There are other people in this race trying to sell you trying to tell you something and the people are falling for the image area i dont understand, thats all i have to say. Host manassas, virginia, independent, good morning. Caller good morning. About ted cruz and john kasich agreeing to coordinate. If i am in indiana, who do i vote for . Kasich, the vote goes to ted cruz or vice versa. Come on now, does this make any sense . Host so the John Kasich Campaign is canceling some events in indiana to try to open up the path for ted cruz. There has been questions about what the various super pacs will do. Haveof the super pacs taken out attack ads against one or the other so will they pull back . We will have to see in the coming weeks but the Campaign Manager and chief strategist statements from last night noted they will Work Together in these three states and saying they hope the supporters follow along. That is the news from last night and we are getting your reaction. Heights,n arlington illinois, republican, good morning. Caller good morning. I am a moderate republican. The first word that comes to mind when i hear whats going on is pathetic. I think this is what is drawing so many people into the trump camp and he will play off of this. I am not a donald trump fan or supporter either. What Everyone Needs to keep in mind is this whole theme is that the voters should decide. Doing what they are voting for donald trump. I did not vote for donald trump in illinois but the people have the say so and that the way its supposed to be in a democracy. I think the donald trump problem is he plays off of this, that everything is against him. The rules are the rules. They have been established by the party for the party and people have to keep that in mind. Its just amazing whats going on, thank you. L is in summerville, south carolina, and independent. Caller good morning. Donald trump like to talk about how everything is unfair. Lets talk about having a tv show on the air for 10 years or businessman a big and all over the press who is getting bill oreilly to put them on the air virtually every night for about a month and a half. Donald trump has had a huge unfair advantage from the beginning of this thing. When you get down to it, its at the beginning of the process, if you could have put donald trump on any one of those ballots and not put his name there but put northeastern liberal, loudmouth, are money who voted donated to Hillary Clinton, he would not have gotten out of those primaries. Everyone knows who donald trump is and im sorry to save but most of the American Voters pick name recognition. Thats how come we have the problems we have. As you watch this as an independent, do you think the primaries on both have united the parties or been more divisive for the parties . Wholl do a better job of coming back together for the general election . Caller i will get to your answer in a roundabout way. The primaries have brought together the media. They can start a fight have Something Interesting for people to tune in and watch. In the grand scheme of things, the way it has worked out has been divisive. Host we will keep taking your calls but i want to point out some other headlines for you. President obamas overseas visit in germany talking about a trade deal. This is the front page of the Orange County register. Also the front page of the philadelphia inquirer. Also the front page of the financial times, the trade deal is the transatlantic trade and Investment Partnership which has been beset by political opposition in the u. S. And europe. Are talking about that trade deal and the president s visit overseas. Tear calls, rose in nashville, tennessee, a republican. Caller how are you . Im glad i got through. I have been wanting to talk about this for a long time. About the media and different articles and they say of donald trump is the nominee, all the down ticket races will be lost if here is my take i am a republican and i usually always vote republican. , if he is cheated out of the nomination in cleveland, he has brought not only republicans he got, independents, never voters and democrats to support and vote for him. If he is cheated out of the nomination, millions of us will sit home. Those down ticket races, they need our votes. Congress our votes in in order to either stay in the majority in congress or maybe be unemployed. If millions of us stay home is what im saying. You think what ted cruz is john kasich are doing cheating . Caller i absolutely do. I think its collusion. , theare doing everything establishment is doing everything they can to cheat donald trump out of the nomination. Its just not right. With this whole primary process and caucus process, we found out that voters were not allowed to vote in a primary in colorado. One wasthe other wyoming. A lot of these delegates in different states happen to be governors were people high up in the Republican Party. Thats not representative of the people either. The whole thing has been exposed. Donald trump has helped expose how unfair all of these rules are. I dont care how long they have been in place. Its not fair. The peoples voice should be heard. Host are you going to get involved in Party Politics in nashville, tennessee . Localget involved in your party or state party and try to change these rules . Caller i would like to. View iso but my basic that of donald trump is cheated out of this nomination, not only will i said home but i will never voted him. Again. Vote in tennessee for our primary, i feel like that was my last vote i will ever cast. Unless he wins the nomination fair and square without all of this collusion. Its just crooked. Comeswhat if donald trump in a couple of votes shy of that 1237 mark . What thedoes not have rules specified. Should he still get the nomination . Caller i think he should because hes got millions and millions of more votes than any of the other candidates running on the republican side. The people really have spoken. , and im 66 years old, in my lifetime, i have never seen a republican nominee draw tens of thousands of people to their rallies and to come and hear them speak. Hasnt injected and enthusiasm into this election that i have never seen in my lifetime. I have voted ever since i was old enough to vote. Mabel is in pennsylvania, a republican, good morning. Are you with us . You have to stick to your phone. Lets go to kathleen and washington. She is an independent, good morning. Caller good morning. I am an independent and the reason i am is because i thought the democrats did not run an honest. The reason i quit the republicans is because i felt they were no longer being honest. What is happening of both parties right now is extremely dishonest. Host what you do as an independent . What is your plan for the fall. Caller i have done a lot of donating two different organizations that are trying to fight rings like this. Thats what ive been trying to do. I am nott vote and particularly protromp but i will not vote for donald trump or hillary. Host what is an organization thats trying to fight something that you have donated to . Who is trying to change the system . Caller i will have to find one in my state. I think things are dishonest in both parties. Deerfield beach, florida, joseph, a republican, good morning. Caller good morning, sir. That as like to say is was said this morning on the they should stop fighting among themselves and yet together to fight Hillary Clinton, not to fight among themselves. They are only destroying themselves and wasting good time. If those people want to get out, let them get out. Its totally unfair. They could not get on so they decided i dont need anybody else, i can do it by myself area when they go off i themselves, they bunched together to try to destroy a system. In florida, who did you vote for . Caller i voted for donald trump. Trompason why was i like and i think he will do good but the most important thing is he is the only one who is destroying the government which is a corrupt system. That is the reason i voted for about time that people in this country had an even shake. Take for example some people who stand in line for a few hours to give their vote but their vote is not counted. There are people who decide who votes and who does not. If your name does not come up, you dont vote. So why vote . Do you think donald trump would have been better off running an independent campaign . Are you glad hes running as a republican . Caller i am happy to see him run for the republicans. Elect a bunch of crooks, i would rather see donald trump act as an independent and show the world we are a nation where people who really think the right way get a fair shake. Host we are talking about the decision announced last night by the john kasich and ted Cruz Campaign that they will Work Together in three upcoming states to keep donald trump from getting the number of delegates needed to secure the republican nomination. This is days after the annual rnc meeting that happened last week and here is a clip of chairman reince previous previous preibus. [video clip] it is essential to victory in november that we all support our candidate. This goes for everyone whether you are a county party chairman, an rnc member, or a president ial candidate. Politics is a team sport and we cannot win unless we rally around wever becomes our nominee. I want to prove the doubters wrong and show that republicans are going to stand sidebyside with each other, stronger than ever before. Our candidates of a special opportunity to show leadership on that front. Our candidates are running for the nomination of the Republican Party. They are trying out for our team. No one is forcing them to where our jersey. We expect our candidates to support our party and our eventual nominee. Host we are getting your thoughts this morning after the from tedent last night cruz and john kasich to coordinate to stop donald trump. Jeff is in clint clifton, new jersey, and independent. Morning, we are considered undeclared in new jersey. I believe the whole primary is not fair. Buildings,ing public fire houses schools to hold these primary elections and when you go in, you either cannot vote if you are independent or undeclared or you have to. Eclare to a party f i dont know how we can let them do it without letting all registered voters vote using our Public Holdings. Thats discrimination. Looks lets going on with bathrooms now. Thats my comment. Host is the argument for no party . Caller no parties when you vote. I dont think they should be listed, just the names of the individuals. Host do you think parties should still be allowed to put up a nominee . Caller yes, but when you go to vote, parties should not be listed and as long as you are registered to vote, you should be able to vote. Especially using Public Holding unless they want to pay. Host what about the primary process itself . Should there be a primary when everyone runs in the same primary and the top two candidates move on . Caller it does not sound like a bad idea about everyone running in one primary. Host thats one suggestion that is out there. Caller i feel it is not fair they are using our public buildings. Why go to vote, have to declare a party which i really dont want to ever since ross perot ran, i have been undeclared. I think its unfair. You have private organizations and certain rules, its not right for registered voters. The people we vote for dont necessarily get our delegates either. They should go with the majority of the people who vote for them. Thats all i have to say. Thank you for listening to me. Rick is next in annandale, minnesota, and independent. Caller good morning. Good morning. Host you are on washington journal. Caller i think the combining of john kasich and ted cruz is more dirty politics that started with ted cruz all the way back in iowa. He has basically been doing appease he can to whoever he can and when i watch his delivery come i think is nothing more than watching a used car salesman. I would like to wait to make one more comment about the aca. I think the aca should be called the on Affordable Care act because its going to and up on affordable and the good thing about it is it will die of its own weight. Host referring to our previous segment about the Affordable Care act which turned six years old. Lets go to connecticut and not call, a republican, good morning. Caller good morning. Itm calling because i feel john kasich and ted cruz are just going for the delegates in this race, they are ignoring the voters. If one of them should get in as president , they are not going to , the voters. Tizens they will be for the Republican Party. Little closed clutch. Host your states voting tomorrow so what is your plan . Caller i am planning on voting for donald trump. How long have you been a donald trump supporter . Ever since governor christie endorsed him. At first i was for governor christie. My second choice was mr. Bush. Then when mr. Christie endorsed him, i went for donald trump. E in oakville,icol connecticut. Thes is the front page of connecticut post heres the front page of the new journal in delaware the frederickof news post in maryland. Pennsylvania is also voting tomorrow. The big prize tomorrow on the republican and democratic primaries, 71 delegates up for grabs in pennsylvania. 71 the grabs republican primary and 210 in the democratic primary in pennsylvania. Rodney is an independent in florida, good morning. Caller good morning. I am confused about this party stuff. I liked the first bush because i think he was a man of integrity. Personally, when they deal with the health care, i dont understand what does parties do not want to see citizens with health care. The environment is causing a lot of these Health Problems. We have to live in this environment. I dont understand why they dont look out for the people when it comes to health care. Most people cannot afford it. Host as you look ahead to the most important issue for you this fall, is it health care . Ander its health care having equal rights for all. Health care is the most important thing because i am looking at neighborhoods were even in michigan, all these people got killed they got sick. Its through no fault of their own and you turn around and it the public making you sick. Run they turn around and from the obligations of getting you well. I dont understand it. We did not have these Health Problems 20 or 30 years ago. Stuffis new Health Happening because of what they put in the environment. Host about 30 of independents say health care is important for their vote for president. These numbers are coming from the wall street journal poll released earlier this month. You can check those numbers out at over quote the wall street at the wall street journal. Caller good morning. The upsetting to me that hold the bottle with john kasich staying in the race hoping that when he makes it to the convention that may be some miracle, he can promise out his way to the presidency. People have spoken. The majority of the people like donald trump. I personally want ronald trump and second pick was ted cruz. It needs to be done by the vote and by the peoples will. Backdoorays these dealings and promises being made. Whereetting to the point im ready to leave the Republican Party and become an independent. Stand behindem to but the people want so whats the sense of having them . Its always a game. Im tired of the game. Host how do you stop the games . Caller we need to start voting these people out. These people on the down tickets are the people coming up with these ideas. To you over the weekend with the Republican Convention meeting in florida. Usy understand and they hear and they will not try to switch these rules midstream. John kasich is not won a majority of anything. Now theyre just trying to buy somebody and hes trying to buy his way into the white house ar with promises. He does not have the money of donald trump and ted cruz but the only way for him to make any headway is to do the old promises thing that when i get in, i will take care of you. It andhow hes doing thats how he will make the amount. Hoping to win majorities in oregon and new mexico. This deal was announced late last night. The john kasich and ted Cruz Campaign were together on this. Bob has been waiting in santa rosa, california, go ahead. Caller hello . Host you are on washington journal. Caller i dont see why something is not come out more about what ted cruz really is. He stands up to the standards of his father. Newspaper read a about what was going on in cuba. Havana was run by the mafia. The dictator running the country was killing people. Now we have this guy coming over here and he is all against these things. , their over there doing it now they are over there doing and now. It now. Host lets go to matt in connecticut, independent. Caller i want to echoing comment that many people have echo a, that many people have said