Newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. Lincoln financial committed to helping you take and with the ongoing support of these institutions and individuals. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff deadly attacks blasted hospitals and schools across Northern Syria today, killing nearly 50 civilians, many of them children. It signaled again theres no end in sight for the war, despite plans for a temporary cease fire. Activists blamed russian air strikes, and the white house condemned the attacks. Well get a detailed account, later in the program. Amid tensions across the middle east, saudi arabia today launched its largest war games ever. The drills involve 20 mostly arab and african countries. The saudis are already fighting shiite rebels in yemen, and theyve offered to help fight the Islamic State group in syria
[applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] good afternoon and welcome to the kid institute. Let me also welcome our cspan audience. Im roger pilon, the director of the Kansas Center for constitutional studies and your host for todays Forum Working the publication of a new book by professor David Bernstein, lawless the Obama Administrations unprecedented assault on the constitution and the rule of law. This book in this form could not be more timely. This yesterday as we all know we witness the president said he was directing officials in his administration to expand the regulation of the Second Amendment rights of americans in several ways these repeated usurpations have served to divert attention from a long list of domestic and Foreign Policy disasters, but theyve also serve fortunately to direct our attention to the constitution into what are its bedrock principles, separation of powers. That will be our focus today as we canvassed the many constitutional assault
America chartered by congress to disseminate information about the u. S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis. I cannot imagine a more inspiring for film and of our inspiring fulfillment of our congressional charter than the program we are about to share with you today. With our great partners at the federal Judicial Center led by judge jeremy fogel we have assembled some of the greatest federal judges in the country for two days of discussion and conversation about the historic and contemporary meaning of the reconstruction amendment. The reconstruction amendments are the amendments that were passed after the civil war to end slavery and guarantee equal rights. We have assembled the greatest historians in the country to talk about their historic and contemporary meaning. This symposium is bipartisan and assembles people of different perspectives for conversation and debate about the meaning of this text which unites us. This is the central purpose of the National Constitution center. W
When i come to washington i have to explain a little bit about the states. What you have read in the books and what people think about the states in washington often is not exactly true. So first of all its true all states are sulfur and yet, all states are not alike. Since we are sovereign we have our own ability to create our sovereign government in the way that we choose. Indiana is one of six states that has chosen what is a little bit more conservative path from our history and weve created the office of the attorney general as a Statutory Office. The other states are all constitutional officeholders but i serve as the indiana Indiana Attorney general under the Statutory Authority and that the distinction is one that i think merits some attention because if you are a constitutional officer you have some of the patriarchs which would allow you to do things based on the need of the population you serve. If you are a Statutory Office are coming you represent the State Government. So
Ive learned quite a lot. I, too, w like to associate as myself with the remarks of our chair about how enraged i think we all are when we hear some of the things that weve heard today. I think that just leads us all want to go forth and make sure we do everything we can to cooperate with you to minimize these issues that are out there, if not eliminate them entirely, and i do agree, too, that the role of the internet no doubt has been really important in magnifying the problem multiplying the problem perhaps in many instances, too, so thanks for being here today and i want to thank the chair again for having this hearing. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Mr. Ryan, thank you again for being here. We really appreciate your leadership. Appreciate your commitment to this country and our kids. We join you in that effort, and we look forward to continuing our relationship in that dialogue you spoke of and doing everything we can so that families can build better lives for themselves. With that, se