Transcripts For CSPAN Newsmakers 20140629 : vimarsana.com

Chair of the republican conference, number three in leadership. In studio here, Burgess Everett the politico and neil with c. Q. Go ahead. Senator, youre a member of finance committee and theres been a lot of talk with going toay trust fund reach a critical stage here in weeks. Ing senator Chuck Schumer who is, of course, a democratic senator from new york a member of the leadership, and on the finance committee, has just said that recently its iffy that there will be a deal done to avert a shortfall of the theway trust fund to find revenue to patch that hole. Whats your view on the prospects that theres going to agreement before the middle of july when this really gets to a head . I think theyre better than iffy. But its tough. A lot of ways to highway trustor fund spending. But we do hit this crisis sometime in july, perhaps maybe little bit into early august. But its coming. It is a crisis. With it. O deal it always seems like around here, unfortunately, that it has crisis beforeal you find the critical mass, the done. S to get something i think the house will act on an extension perhaps before the senate. Well see. Were scheduled to mark up later at least start the markup of a solution that would come out of the senate. Be hard probably finding agreement on what those offsets are, but i think we can that. There are some things that have been proposed by democrats, some republicans. Ed by and usually on Highway Trust Fund issues people eventually come together because its that important to the country and to the economy. Hope we can find the way forward. There certainly seems to be the both sides to do that. But as usual, you know, the devil is in the details. With what that right solution is isnt going to be an easy process but its necessary. Weve got to get this done. Are offsetshune, necessary . Well, they are, greta, i believe. I dont think we can continue to fund. From the general and thats what weve done now to the tune of about 53 billion think 2008. When we have a shortfall instead we just put itt on the backs of our children and grandchildren and borrow it, put it on the debt. Doing that. P if were going to have a highway. Pray, weve got to pay for it. Have to have a dramatically smaller Highway Program or weve got to come up make sure that doingdoing this in l this and accounting for it so its not being put on the debt. I think theres general consensus. Think there are some people who will probably propose because it would be the easy way a general Fund Transfer as weve done before. But weve got to come to grips here. Eality one is weve got the shortterm probablye need to fix until at least the end of the year, maybe next year. But then weve got to confront of a five or sixyear highway bill fundedrization that is and come up with that funding mechanic fix nix mechanism. Differentlots of proposals how to do that, but the immediate crisis is going to be the shortterm extension. Your question, i think its got to be paid for, yes. Senator, one of your colleagues, bob corker, touched the third rail recently. He said lets raise the gas tax on this issue. Tax receiptss gas havent been keeping up with spending. So what do propose to deal with this longterm . Do think the gas tax should be looked at in terms of increasing it . Want to keep a userfeebased program, thats i probably the most logical place that most folks would end up. Senator corker, senator murphy came out with a proposal. Increasets a sixcent in the first year, sixcent in the second year, and then index it after that indexing would do have more fuel efficient cars, high briefeds the rose. So it isnt raising the amount as in the past but taking those stillonsideration it is something highway users pay for. So there are reasons why if look at the various scenarios and options out there, if you have to raise revenue to this, its an option i think thats being discussed. There are other things being well. About as some of our members on the republican side and some democrats are talking about repatriation, repate rated ares, Multinational Corporation parked offshore right now, getting them to bring them back tax them at ary, lower level. That would generate some revenue that would fund things for a but thats not a permanent solution either. There are house members that ive talked to who believe opening up federal lands to Energy Exploration would more the cover the shortfall in Highway Trust Fund over a period of time. Thats something i think youll probably hear more discussion well. As so there are several ideas out fix, about a longer term all of which have shortcomes and liabilities. The highway the gas tax that senator corker proposed is up until now at least the administration, the president , has not expressed any openness to. They sound now a little bit more open to that, but i think until they get to that point its hard to be awfully feature Congress Going forward with that sort of a solution if you dont have the administration weighing in or engaging on it. So well see what happens on the longerterm fix. Right now were focused on this immediate crisis. And on the short term, thune, i want to be clear, if in the end the only that democrats put on the table is a general Fund Transfer, are republicans a no vote . I would say yes. There may be a handful that they would vote for that, but by and large i just think where our caucus is right now is that we cant continue to do what weve been doing for the five years. When we have this 10 billion shortfall every year, put it on the backs of our children and grandchildren and debt. To the i dont think we see that as an acceptable solution. Be paid for. Theres been a number of things offered, a list of offsets that necessaryyou the number, and senator widen put forward a list that would get number. Necessary his are mostly tax increases. Ours are mostly spending reductions. Something thaty can be found that would be middle ground if there are tax that dontissues represent new taxes and some spending reforms that would get place that you might be able to come up with the coverary shortfall and it, i think thats a solution thats out there. But well see in the next few days. As i said, we have a finance Committee Markup schedule for today and another one subsequent to that when we get back after the july 4 break where well try issue. Olve this senator thune, turning to energy and environment issues a minute, there has been an amendment thats been floated o the republican side republican side by Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell that would effectively, presumably, block the administrations e. P. A. Powertions for existing plants. And it seems that the democrats lengths to avoid vague vote on that amendment on floor. Ate do think that that amendment is going to have to get a vote november election in must to move some sort of pass legislation be it the continuingl, be it a resolution to fund the government or Something Like that . I think any legislation floor, theght to the leader, the democrat leader, the thatity, should assume republicans are going try to get a vote on that amendment. Its incredibly important in a states. I represent a state where coal fire power is a very big part of our energy mix. This is going to dramatically power in thisfire country i think the goal of the administration and the e. P. A. Is out coal firewipe power. It is a reliable, Affordable Energy source, probablily the probably the best we have right now until we come up with other replacements for that to see what theyre attempting to do would do anything but drive up electricity rates and hurt the pocketbooks of middle income families in this country. So its important to a lot of a lot ofrs to democrats, which is why senator reid i dont think wants to have the floor or for that matter even at the committee level, the appropriations committee. Theyre trying to move appropriation bills right now, amendments are being offered, are being pulled down because democrats dont want to offer or dont want to vote on some of the amendments that republicans are offering. And one of those would be this e. P. A. Amendment. To assumek you have that any significant legislative vehicle that moves across the senate floor in the foreseeable future there will be an attempt on thisast get a vote e. P. A. Issue. So stay tuned on that. Happens, but its awfully important to the Economic Vitality of a lot of this country, into the pocketbooks of middle income americans. Sawenator, last fall we republicans take a hard line on funding obama care which resulted in a government shutdown. Do think your party should take a stand on anything, maybe the e. P. A. , maybe the bank in september on a funding bill when funding runs out . I think, burgess, well probably have hopefully pretty spirited and vigorous debates on hopefully on e. P. A. If we can get it at least on the floor to get it discussed and debated, bank, too. E no republican is talking about using that as leverage to shut the government down. Weve got a budget number thats been put in place now that were under. Ng any continuing resolution that gets adopted this year, i meet that number. So the spending issue shouldnt really be a question. Are therestion is, other of these matters that we would like to get votes on that be a part of that discussion . I think its entirely possible be. They could certainly there isnt any republican in the senate thats know,g about using, you any kind of leverage in that circumstance to shut the government down. Not something anybodys talking about. So there might be a bit of a truce here in september to get think, the election, you on spending . Well, my guess is because those numbers were sort of budgetin by the agreement that was adopted wouldr this year that you see i think both probably ificans and democrats the democrats agree to stay under the limits that were suspect there, then i that that issue probably wont be as contentious as it has been weree past years where having a real debate about the level of spending because that upon. Ng has been agreed and if the numbers that the continuing resolution or whatever spending vehicle we end stays within those, those parameters, my guess is t there wont be probably that maybe one of those things that gets done in a way that theshes up the end of fiscal year. And then everybody can litigate these issues in the campaigns in november. Im guessing right now thats probably what happens. But, again, around here you know until you get there. Senator thune, i wanted to a different sort of finance committee question. Ways andthe House Means Committee announced or that senator grassley, who like you, is a member of the have beenmmittee, may subjected to some extra scrutiny or at least there may have been an attempt to subject him to some extra scrutiny by the andlyal Revenue Service lois lear lerner in particular. If you have any updates on the state of the Senate Finance committees investigation into the i. R. S. And whether or not senators have all been reviewing their own to see ifax histories in fact, anyone else other than senator grassley may have been subjected to any sort of enhanced scrutiny. Were all very concerned when i. R. S. , int the addition to targeting political conservative political groups conservativeing senators who have been critics of the i. R. S. Senator grassley has a termstion around here in of his integrity. Impeccable. So these suggestions by lois perhaps others at the i. R. S. , that they ought to somehow audit him or examine, thats just, again, another example of an agency with a bunch of people who really have amuck. Da thats run is there a discussion about it . Yes. On those revelation that came out on these emails and generated i think a good amount of discussion. But with respect to the finance committee, as you mentioned, grassley and i serve on that committee, we were trying to get this concluded, this investigation, the bipartisan investigation, i might add, by the finance committee. But we cant get answers from i. R. S. Its like everything else. They are evasive. They are misleading. Providing answers in a timely way. There is no accountability there. At least the republicans on the finance committee are incredibly frustrated. Too,e the democrats are, at the lack of answers were getting from the i. R. S. Revolution about senator grassley is sort of view, a very my cumulative amount of evidence these guys were completely using that agency which has peopless power on life, tremendous power. The ability to ruin and destroy werees lives that they using it for political purposes. And thats just wrong. I think the American People are it. And tired of i hope we can get if we cant thathese investigations congress is trying to do concluded, we need a special prosecutor to look into this. Hope eric holder at the Justice Department will conclude andd on recent evidence evidence before that its time to do that. The American People deserve answers. Them. E not getting sir, can i also ask, youre this pentup frustration with the republicans dealing with the administration. Isthe House Speaker boner now talk Speaker Boehner is now talking about suing the administration. Do you agree with that attack . And is this something you and other republicans may associate themselves with . Think most of us will support the houses actions. That speaker bayn boehner has reach ofd the enormous the administration, the way in which theyre going outside the bounds of the law, that this is unlawful behavior by an administration, needs to be challenged. And there are have limited ways which you can do that. So the speakers lawsuit is an attempt by House Republicans to tod this administration account. We support those efforts. Notuestion is im sure could Something Like that happen in the senate . Probably would have to get the votes in order get a resolution that. I suspect in the Democraticcontrolled Senate thats unlikely. But i support what the house is doing. Senator, you support this when it could be a cost to the the millions . Can t could take months it could take months to get through may nott system and even be taken up during this have anration, and impact on a possible republican president in the future. You know, those are all good questions, greta. I think things people right as they look at these issues are saying, perhaps thats true. I dont know. Process fairly knew to me. But i do think fairly new to me. I do think the American People are tired of spending millions and millions and more becauseollars of the Regulatory Overreach of a lot of these executive agencies acting outside of their legal authority. Thats got to be challenged. We get the question i get the question every week when im back in south dakota or traveling elsewhere ash the country around the country, cant you guys do something about this . We have limited tools at our disposal. Of course the legislative branch thehe government through appropriations process sometimes can control a little bit of that, but you still have here in the United States Senate Harry Reid and the democrat majority thating any attempt to do and protecting the president from the accountability i think the American People deserve. Limited tools at your disposal. Again, this is something that just recentlys announced. Obviously manufacture russ looking it are many of us are looking at it as a possibility, one way in which the accountability to hold the administration to account and maintain the checks american i think people and balances i think expect. Ican people looking at the 2014 map which we mentioned earlier in context appropriations process Going Forward into december righte that will be before an election, looking election,he 2014 aside from the big picture think thef what you prospects are that republicans might take back control of the i wantedates senate, to ask you specifically maybe little bit ironically, but in your partys leader in the senate has come under a challenge to what extent do think that youre part the perhaps the reason or the example, number one that people leaders because youre the person who successfully was able to out of the democratic leader in south dakota . And can you talk a little bit how that race and your success there may have changed things since then . Yeah, sure. I think, niels, that what in my example, of course in arguedakota, you know, i that senator daschle at the time was using his leadership way that was contrary to where a majority of were. Dakotans senator daschle was a very different example in the sense misaligned with the views of the majority of the people in our state. I think eventually that caught think the big difference between that and where senator mcconnell is in race is senator mcconnells views on the issues and the way he represents his much, i think, reflects the majority view in the state of kentucky. You dont have an individual political positions, his leadership is out of alignment not representative of the views of the people in the state. So i think people will draw parallels that these are attempts by challengers to members who are leaders in the United States senate, but the circumstances, the dynamics each of these races is very different. Ofhink that the state kentucky, in the last couple of elections, voted overwhelmingly for the republican nominee for president. And if you look at their views whats being and advanced by the obama administration, those things, thoseissues, and positions are going to be very out of step with where he kentuckians are at. Think the prospects for senator mcconnell look very good because hes running against somebody whose positions are going to be very much left of the state. More in linemuch with where his states voters are. About five minutes left here. Senator mcconnell thrashed his its Party Opponent in the primary. Thad cochransaw surprise a lot of people by beating chris mcdaniel. In virginia,ost the majority leader. But hes looking more and more whip. The like a blip. The Senate Republicans have been able to fend off the challengers. You think the conservative movement hit a High Water Mark . Know, i think a lot of ton labels get attached people, i think the senate, most of us here in the senate are conservatives. So the conservative movement i think is alive and well. But i know theres a perception around country that these are races between the establishment and the its party. Welcome the views that are brought to the table by the its party and the energy that they bring. That that will be converted into going out and trying to defeat democrats in the fall because thats where the real contrast is. Most of these races that have youvehere of late where had primaries i think there have been individual circumstances in races. The quality of the campaigns, the turnout efforts have made the difference in most of these races. So they are kind of ifividualized, customized, if you will, races, in various places around country where i candidates,ality of of the campaigns, has made a difference bust i wont for difference. A minute suggest that we should not be listening carefully to the view that are being articulated by some of who are bringing challenges in these primaries. I think its important for us to have a robust discussion within our party, but i think most of running foro are reelection in the United States senate in a lot of our of center, right mainstream republicans who are who believe in limited government, in personal freedom with individual responsibility, believe in peace through strength. Theyre pretty much down the line economic conservatives, fiscal conservatives. I think thats where most people are. Is country i have think most people vote pocketbook issues and thats where most of our candidates and incumbents running for reelection are. Are you preparing for a primary challenge in the future . Always have to be prepared for that. The day and time in which we a lot of outside groups spending that you dont havey control over. Every candidate who gets into this arena or incumbent needs toor reelection be paying close attention to the home state to their home district, staying very connected the people and to the issues that are important to them. Country. This and people in south dakota have a way of punishing folks who get their ares with what are. I think whats incumbent upon anybody who wants to enter the political arena is you better be prepared to defend yourself against the attacks that are come from any direction at you. But weve seen a lot more primaries of late. Suspect thats probably not going to change in the future. Work. s our democracy at i dont think thats a bad thing. Policy side, one tension between socalled republicans and its party is this debate over whether or not to reauthorize export import bank. Do support reauthorization of that agency . You know, i have supported the past, greta. And i will look at as we get the debate this time, determine what the role of the should be in our market what types of reforms and transparency can be brought to it. I havent made a final decision on that yet. To constantlye examine these agencies, what ofir role is, what the cost benefits are to our economy, and creating that were conditions where a free market andomy can really thrive prosper. Some of these agencies are put in place at times in our wasons history where there a need for that. And sometimes, perhaps, theyve usefulness. Ir im not suggesting thats the case with the bank. Have a debatee to about what the role of these institutions should be going. Orward and for sure, do everything we can to bring about the kind of type ofency and the reforms that if these agencies are going to continue to function, that well make them accountable, more efficient, and i think better for the american taxpayer. I think we can get in one more question. Let me just end on a question about a different kind of primary. Up in the one that comes 2016. At one point in time you told a of School Children that you were not particularly interested, necessarily, in having higher aspirations of your own. But im curious, south dakota is far away from iowa. If youre plan any travel there any other sort of plans beyond trying to get the majority in the senate. Well, i hope to get to iowa to help our Senate Candidate niels. Ere you dont rule anything out. I think when youre in politics, if you want to make a difference public life, you dont rule out potential opportunities or close doors. I said it ats and the school group and more recently than that im not at president. Rung for the right now my political activity is getting the majority of the United States senate. Say somewhere down the road, as things start to pick up, you dont make an and determine whether or not where you might be able to make the biggest difference or contribute or try have an impact for your state and your country. But at the moment my Political Activities are geared very much toward our activities here in the senate today and what we do if we couldo win a few seats and get the majority in november. Chair ofr john thune, the republican conference. Thank you very much for being our newsmaker. Thanks. With you. We turn o to our two about what wetalk heard from the number three in leadership in the senate. Policy front. E when they come grabbing this fourth of july recess, the highway transportation bill is going to be staring many of them down. Right. Senator ron wyden, the finance chairman, has said this week that his expectation is the date that this is going become a problem is july 18, which will give him just about out when to figure it they come back from the. Eeklong july fourth break what senator thune said that was interesting in that there may well be he was talking about Tax Compliance issues being in where they might find done in ground find common ground. The democratic proposal that is out there is about half Tax Compliance revenue. Thats the case, then we may only be looking at a 4 billion or 5 billion hole instead of a 9 billion or 10 billion hole that will be filled in the next couple of weeks. You heard, though from this burgess, that there are not offsets for the highway spending bill. Vote. Icans are a no right. Its not unprecedented for them to miss this deadline. Pasthappened in the temporarily. My sense is these things, in this climate, always wait until the last minute. I have a hard time believing that four months before the Election Congress is going to take this sort of failure and have all of these summer Construction Projects dry up. Passnk they will probably some sort of passible at the last minute, difficult to understand how its paid for and hard to explain to the public and they will relitigate this fight after the election. So between now and election , what will the senate be working on . Than, well,other you know, there will be a number sort of staged political votes that will be staged by democrats that are designed to help incumbent Democratic Senators in tough races. Burt other than that, the primary function of the senate will be preventing the highway fall and keeping the government open. Thats going to be the biggest key. Was verye things that interesting that senator thune said was that republicans will every opportunity to try and get a vote on the e. P. A. Green regulation amendment. But then he turned around and subsequently told burgess in thatnse to a question there was no appetite for shutting down the government. So trying to figure out how to snea needle will be a key. I get the sense nobody wants shutve this government down fight again. Republicans got creamed in the when they were blamed largely for the shutdown. Ever since the story has been about the president s declining Approval Ratings and how that translates to the democratic fortors who are running reelection. So i have a hard time believing the gop wants to take that spotlight off the president and on. It back themselves. So i think they will probably forcing a vote on anything contentious on the spend being bill. Do you think that sentiment one youre expressing is that runs throughout the Republican Party including the Party Faction of the party . Its hard to say. Everybody i knew that was way than me last fall said we would never be nighting over defunding obama care in a way that would shut down the government. So certainly crazier things have happened. But the biggest difference i in termsthe calendar of the election being around the corner. Youre shaking your head, niels. I think thats right. Certainly one of the things as the fall, where the polls start to go in some of thee races, where we see committees and outside groups start pulling out money and throwing some candidates under the bus has always happened, getting into october. Some of what we do and what we see happen in the senate may by which racesd are competitive as we get towards election day. Well have to wait and see. Niels, thank you very much. Well forthank you as being part of newsmakers. Thank you. Tomorrow attorney ken feinberg will announce his proposals for providing compensation to the victims affected by General Motors ignition switch defect. Mr. Feinberg previously advised compensation programs for the and ther 11 attacks Boston Marathon bombings. Well have the News Conference eastern on00 a. M. Cspan2. And here on cspan, live at 2 30 on educationrum policy hosted by the Education Commission of the states. The speakers will be former Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano who the university of california. You had broadcast tv and then then came along and satellite. What if satellite had said, you know, were different than cable, we have a slightly so were Technology Going to take that and not consider ourselves to be what is an mvpd . Lled so we dont have to negotiate. Do that. Lite didnt and so why should aerial be able different with a technology and say we dont have to negotiate for copyrighted material . From the beginning this isnt about being opposed technology. Theres still a technology in aerial and maybe theres a Business Model for it, but that can evade theou law to run a business. The Supreme Court decisioSupreme Courtwith the hel broadcasters, gordon smith, monday, 8 00 eastern on cspan2. Book tv sat down with Hillary Clinton in little rock newest book,r hard choices. Ive learned the secretary of state to expect the unexpected. Nobody expected the socalled upon us ng until it was us. And we have to learn to be agile and ready for the unexpected while we try to build the world want, especially for our children and now for my future bendchild, but weve got to aware of the fact that all of these other countries, all of people,llions of theyre making hard choices every single day. That. E to be ready for i am absolutely convinced that we have to continue to lead the futurento the kind of that we want. We cant sit on the sidelines. Retreat. Were going to have setbacks. Were going to have disappointments. But over time our story has dominant story. It represents the hopes and spirations of people everywhere everywhere. Thats what i want americans to understand. The main reason i wrote this book i know theres a big debate going on about our role the world and we have some real unfortunate consequences from prioral with decisions and the like. Abdicate our responsibility. We define it, how we execute it will be the stuff of political debate, but the world needs us. World. Matters to the and, yes, the world matters to america for our prosperity and our security and our democracy. Hillary clinton spoke about her Decision Making process, the perceptions of the United States around the globe, and some of the decisions she had to make as secretary of state. The full interview airs on book saturday, july 5, 7 00 p. M. Eastern and sunday, july 6, 9 15 a. M. Eastern. Voters in several states went the polls this past week for primary elections. In mississippis runoff, incumbent senator thad cochran was declared the winner against its Party Challenger chris mcdaniel. Here he is speaking to his supporters. [cheers and applause] thank you. Wow. Thank you very much. You. Thank you. Hank you thank you very much. You, congressman gregory harper. Thank you all for being here to help celebrate our great victory. [cheers and applause] this is your victory. Its been a real pleasure closely with so many of appearances in towns mississippi, being in Church Services with gregory , attending meetings that were important to talk about the state. Of o you are and what we have tonight is a consensus for more and better jobs for mississippi workers. [cheers and applause] thelitary force and capacity to defend the security interests of the United States of america. [cheers and applause] those were our principle grounds, planks and the platform for the campaign but you are the who helped reach all the voters, make sure we knew that important to this election. Because its a group effort. Its not a solo. We all have a right to be proud of our state tonight. [cheers and applause] much. You very thank you for this wonderful wonderful challenge that lies ahead. Thank you very, has very much. [cheers and applause] chanting thad] [cheers and applause] our great Lieutenant Governor governor. Hes a trooper, a wonderful friend. From chrisrks mcdaniel who was challenging senator cochran before tuesdays loss. Y his remarks to supporters are about 10 minutes. Cheer[cheers and applause] dont give up [laughter] all right. Let me say this. Let me just say this. We fought. Dream. A and the dream is still with us. [cheers and applause] for too long we have stood by have watched strange things happen. For too long conservatives toded a voice, someone to stand for them to fight for them. [cheers and applause] you are that voice. Are that voice. The party i was born with, the was 13 joined when i years old, was the party of a former actor from california named ronald reagan. [cheers and applause] it was one afternoon my father called me into the room and youve got to watch this. Youve got to see what this man is saying. And there in the tv was this former actor from california. ,nd he looked right at me looked right at my father, but he was really speaking to an entire nation. He said things to us that intuitively made sense. Talked about liberty and freedom. E talked about balanced budgets budgets. He talked about traditional values and personal responsibility. And my father looked at me and must bell, son, we republicans. Are. Indeed, we were and thats the party i joined. Thats the party ive always a part of. It was a party of principle at one point, a party of courage at one point. It was reagan that said we will bold colors not pastels. And yet there are millions of feel like strangers in their own party. Cheers] it appears the different wings yet come to a conclusion. I want to be very, very clear. Dangerous oring extreme about wanting to balance a budget. [cheers and applause] is nothing dangerous or extreme about defending the constitution and the civil there in. [cheers and applause] and there is nothing strange at standing as people of faith for a country that we believe in. We [cheers and applause] but there is something a bit strange, there is something a bit unusual about a republican thats decided by liberal democrats. [cheers and applause] so much for bold colors. Principle. I guess they can take some consolation in the fact that something tonight by once again compromising, by once reaching across the aisle, by once again abandoning the conservative movement. [cheers and applause] i would like to know which part today ourrategy republican friends endorse. I would like to know which party that strategy today our statewide officials endorse. [applause] is not the party of reagan. No but were not done fighting. And when were done, it will be. [cheers and applause] too long. Ught we have fought too hard to have. Voice in this party and today the conservative movement took a back seat to liberal democrats in the state mississippi. Yeah, we did and the most conservative state in the republic this happened. If it can happen here it can anywhere. And thats why we will never stop fighting. No [applause] state areple of this the most incredible, loving, hospitable people ive ever been around. Traveling the corners of this it state for the last several the honor of my life. This was a fight we needed to have. This was a fight that had to happen. For the very reasons you saw tonight. For the very reasons you saw tonight. We will find our backbone again. Conscious of we conservatives again. Were going to force our party asfind that conscious well conscience as well. I want to thank you for being there for me. Want to thank you for standing with me. Theyve called me everything in book. Millions of dollars to character own. Sinate one of their or so it seemed. Seemed. Thats ok. Thats ok. Thats ok. Still standing. Im still standing. [cheers and applause] we live in the greatest country in the history of the world. Theres no question about that. It is an oasis amid a desert of cynicism. And and we conservatives have a responsibility to keep it that way. Stand for those early principles. We are going to stand for our founders. We are going to stand for the reagan. Of even sometimes when its difficult, even sometimes our ownthose within party shun us or as trie size us or ridicule us. Tonight. Ight we were right tonight. Yes, we were [cheers and applause] so thank you. You know today, folks, there were literally dozens of irregularities reported all state. This yeah and you know why. Yeah read the stories. Corrupt state familiar. Youre familiar with the problems that we have. Now its our job to make sure that the upheld. Of the vote is before this race ends we have to be absolutely certain that the republican primary was won by republican voters. [cheers and applause] my man [cheers and applause] and so we will stand with courage. We will stand with judgment. We will stand with integrity. Stand with dedication. This is our fight, conservatives. Its necessary for years if alone. Ry but we are not prone to surrender, we mississippians. [cheers and applause] sturdy people we are, a brave people we are, a people that still can lead the revival in this country. And we will lead the resurgence. That begins right here in mississippi. God bless you all. This has been a great night. Thank you for being here. Soon. See you [cheers and applause] thank you all. Thank you all. Congressmanc Charlie Rangel secured the nomination tuesday setting up a potential 23rd term in congress should he go on to win in novembers general election. Addressed supporters in new york city. He cameis contest, but to support me before his vote was in. Has won airman the chairman has won [cheers and applause] the chairman has won [cheers and applause] the chairman has won the chairman ahas won won hairman has im happy clap along if you feel you, thank you, thank any green cabse in here but i saw a whole lot of green cabs outside. The drivers of the green cabs in here . Hank you all the lion has roared. Be crazy but im about to say thank you. Thank you. Wheres my wife . I made so many promises to my and im going to have to start producing. Bring up my wife here. Alma there alma alma im happy clap along if you feel like a room without a roof clap along if you feel like happiness the truth because im happy clap along if you know what happiness is you shhhh. House. S is in the i want to personally thank you. F i thank you from the bottom of my heart. You. The ministershank me the strength even to onsider running for reelection reelection. All theohnny green, all of us that are here. Gain the imams that were there for came out fors who me. , the twins. Listen, there are too many of individually thank individually, but i want each one of you to go home and know that this was your victory. Your congressman. And you can rest assured all i be doing is thinking about you and bringing these resources home. Thank you. Speaking language other than english] thank you so very much. Thank you, molly sweetheart. Thank you so much. Thank you, my brother. You. Thank you, pastor. Much. You so thank you so much, your new restaurant. Our ambassador internationally. Thank you so much. The whole congressional staff, jones, neil. Campaignank the james. , rasheeda put it all together. King who was the consultant on this. Here. Id a great job over i want to thank all of those. Eople that put this together george henry who came up and put. He pieces together talked about the great. Rom the west side, thank you people. Helen, so many ok. The stage is shaking. Thanks, all of you. God bless you. Ok. Im about to say for over 35 years cspan eventspublic affairs from washington directly to you putting you in the room at congressional hearings, white events, briefings, and conferences, and offering gaveltogavel coverage of the u. S. House all as a Public Service of private industry. Thee cspan, created by cable tv industry 35 years ago and brought to you as a public local cable or satellite provider. Watch us in hd. Like us on facebook. Twitter. W us on captioning performed by the national captioning institute. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] representative dingell has a tenure that spans six decades only one of two world war ii veterans currently serving in the house of representatives. Hour. S an welcome. Fternoon and im an adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of media and public fairs and the 107th president of the National Press club. The National Press club is the worlds leading professional organization for journalists committed to our professions through our programming with events such as this while pressing a free worldwide. For more information about the press club please visit our website at press. Org. On behalf of our members worldwide id like to welcome our speaker and those of you attending todays event. Guestsd table includes of our speaker as well as working journalists who are club members. In ourou hear applause audience, i note that members of the general public are attending necessarily lack of journalistic objectivity. [laughter] id also like to welcome our cspan and public radio audiences. Action onllow the hournpcsing the hour lunch. Well have a question and answer period. Ask as many questions as time permits. Now its time introduce our head table guests. Id like each of you to stand briefly as your name is announced. Right, aaron kessler, automotive writer, the new york times. Marissa schultz, washington correspondent for the detroit news. Marcos, Staff Reporter for the hill. Barrow, former head of the house of Representatives Office guestislative consul and of the speaker. Kevin marita, managing editor,. He Washington Post richard frandsen, former House Committee commerce counsel who handled environmental matters and guest of our speaker. Over our speaker zeremsky,nt, jerry chairman of the npc Speakers Committee and a past npc president. Angela king, a Bloomberg News thee house correspondent, 2013 National Press Club President , and the member of the Speakers Committee who luncheon. Todays angela, thank you very much. Consuela washington, Congress Committee counsel who handled matters andinancial a guest of the speaker. News,shepherdson, detroit washington correspondent. Lauraly the van, congressional Bloomberg News. And warren rojas, c. Q. Roll call, heard on the hill columnist. [applause] when our guest today took his seat representing michigan in u. S. House, it was the same year the first mcdonalds gas cost . 23 a gallon, and you could buy a car from the motor city from only 1900. John dingell took office in 1955 during president eisenhowers administration. He served alongside 11 president s and is not only the longest serving member of the house now, hes the longestserving member ever. He announced in february that he will retire at the end of his 29th full term. When he was only 29, he succeeded his father in the congressional district. His district is the heart of the big three in auto country. Hes hoping that the dingell dynasty continues with his wife , debbie,