Chairman, thank you. Speaking of cops on the beat, well now go to michael copps, served as acting chairman of the federal Communications Commission from january to june of 2009, and served as commissioner from 2001 to 2011. Prior to joining the commission, commissioner copps worked right here on capitol hill, and the u. S. Department of commerce. Commissioner copps, chairman copps, thank you for being with us, and we look forward to your comments to round out our panel. Thank you chairman walden, chairman upton, miss eshoo and mr. Waxman, vice chairman, former chairman, all the members of the committee, im delighted to be here. Were here today to review whether the Communications Act needs to be updated or otherwise reformed. Ive heard some say that simply because the act is old it must be obsolete. That no matter how well it has served us an act written 18 years ago cannot have relevance in todays altered world. As someone only a little younger than the original act of 19 34r, i would
Good morning, welcome to al jazeera america. Im Morgan Radford live from new york city. Its a tough weekend for those still struggling to find jobs. Emergency jobless benefits, a life line for many of americas unemployed, expire today. About 1. 3 Million People who have been out of work for months are finding themselves cut off. The government check they depend on, a little more than 1,000, will not show up in the mail. The benefits program was introduced in 2008 at the height of the recession. The payouts cost the federal government 225 billion. Extending them for another year at 19 billion, but congress has not done that yet. Tony harris reports. Months ago they lost their jobs. Now they are losing the money they get from the government to get by. Since 2008 congress extented the Compensation Program a dozen times. This time lawmakers let it lapse. This means people who lost their jobs will no lodger have a cushion once state benefits run out. Usually after 26 weeks. With the extensi
While the economy seems to be picking up millions of americans are simpling for jobs and relying on government Unemployment Benefits to pay the bills. But long term Unemployment Benefits expire today. 1. 3 million americans who have been out of work for months have been cut off. The government check they depend on will not be showing up. The longterm Program Began i in 2008 at the height of the recession. Since then the payouts have cost the federal government 225 billion. Extending them into next year would add another 19 billion. The congress has yet to do that. President obama is vacationing in hawaii right now. Were live in hawaii on who this effects. I understand that this seems to be the top of mind for the president and it has not amounted for a working vacation, correct . Well, it certainly is, and richelle the white house has stressed the president is very much on vacation. Hes still doing the peoples business and hes working behind the scenes. As you mentioned richelle this i
Over bear stearns. That was hard enough to get it done. I agreed with them. It was no way that the withution procedure intervention that we had in there. Ss the government will come and take it over. It would not have flown. I want to add this. Sometimes we make a mistake. It is driven by the perceptions of voter sentiment. The tarps a Great Success but hated. Media, itians, the makes me nuts. The voters are no picnic either. I used to say that when i was in office. Born had a quote. Oh barney had a quote. The stitches are not so hot. The constituents are not so hot. You have this ideological tremendous intervention. You step in and to get rid of the board of directors and you fire people and you take the shareholders money. It was a hard enough job for me as chairman. I would never want to put it to a vote of the action by the fed being so active. It wouldve failed in committee. Said youmously have never want a serious crisis to go to waste was dubbed i believe kristi waste. Doubly kr
Take you. Thank you so much for coming today. I would also like to thank National Press club staff, centerng our journalism for organizing event. You can find more information ut the National Close press club on our website. Thank you. We are adjourned. [applause] on this weekends newsmakers, iowa senator chuck wesley is our guest. He talks about some of the issues rating facing congress. He is the Top Republican on the Judiciary Committee and one of the conferees working on a Budget Proposal for 2014. Here is a reef look at the interview. Brief look at the interview. I do not believe will be easy for us to make an agreement between the republicans and the democrats. Because the democrats want to increase taxes they want to if theres going to be in agreement, it would have to be are agreement if we willing to give something up on sequestration, but only if there is a longterm agreement on medicare and Social Security. Can that happen . I am very pessimistic. But i know republicans are