Portman. And a. M. , qa and the Scottish Independence referendum. On the cspan networks, and Education Department summit on bullying in schools. Guy and ahe science Creation Science museum foundered debate. James clyburn talks about his life from his youth to the leadership position in the house of representatives. Sylvia morris on her book. At 10 00 p. M. , Michael Lewis discusses a hidden world of highfrequency trading. American artifacts look at declassified documents from the gulf of tonkin incident. Moran hardings new really released lovewly letters. Find our television schedule. Let us know what you think about the programs you are watching by calling us. Twitter, use the conversation. N like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. Rob portman spoke to Business Leaders at the politics and eggs event. Isis, the american workforce, and a lack of bipartisanship in congress. He is a potential candidate in 2016. Thank you and good morning. Welcomeleased to senator portman. This is a special time of year for us. Listenhat if you closely, you can hear our athletes have made their way to campus. The new class arrives on friday and i told the senator that we of 25o have a class size more students than last year. In this environment, it is a good thing. You can make your way up the hill top and see the Residence Hall built and it is a unique we have 150ause beds. We have as much common space as we do bedroom space. Ande are two classrooms recreational spaces. Cooking areas and places to meet, each, and greet. When all is said and done between our weightless and students that have been put up in lounges, we have two empty beds on campus. Really good planning or dumb luck. We are very happy. Know, the premier is a forum and a first step for those entering the process. With the election on the horizon , the college will take a leading role in hosting town halls and gatherings like this one. New hampshire citizens, the media, and citizens can reap the benefits of being first in the nation. We thank the council and the new England Council remains a voice for capitol hill. The tireless work of fostering collaboration between businesses and leaders ensures a Bright Future for employers looking to hire from campuses like ours. In the laboratories and boardrooms. On behalf of our students, faculty, staff, and to the Monastic Community who studied and lived here for 125 years, portman. Enator [applause] good morning. Thank you foro the kind words this morning and for hosting this event here at the institute. As you know, the new England Council has a fabulous working relationship with our president and the team here at the institute. We work on these events over the last several years and we are happy to be back here again today. The Series Sponsors i would like to thank this Series Sponsors. And they ares distinguished members of the new England Council and corporate members in New Hampshire and new england. We want to thank them. ,efore i introduced the guest we have upcoming events. Those of you often travel to washington. We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the next event. Capital conversations was a huge success in washington. Breakfast in our nations capital. We are honored to have so many of you who have been so supportive in the past to join us. We have over 1500 of our neighbors from all of the states. Truly one of the most it willted events and be something that i think you will enjoy. Today, we are delighted to welcome back a special guest from ohio. This will be the mba championship city next year. We will see. Senator rob portman visits. He may be a native of the buckeye state. He is no stranger to new england. He earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology from dartmouth college. It happens to be a member of the new England Council. He attended law school and he established a career as an in his native city of cincinnati. He began his career in Public Service by joining the first bush white house. He had held several positions under bush. He was a director of the white house office. After several years, he returned to this great city and had a special election to he was successful and went on to represent the second Congressional District with honor and distinction for 12 years. During the second bush ministration he served as United States representative and later as president george w. Bush is stricter of the national budget. In 2010, he was elected to represent the United States senate. Since that time has established a reputation as a leader of variety and important economic issues, from a balanced federal budget to forming our nation entitlement and tax systems. As a member of both the Senate Finance and the Senate Budget committee, he played a key role in the development of Senate Republicans jobs for america plan, which was unveiled this past march. This plan is meant to serve as a blueprint to create private sector growth and strengthen our economy. Range of reforms in new policies for private sector job creation. They are well thought out. The above, energy strategy, regulatory reform, investments in system education to close that skill gap, increase exports and expanded andrts to foreign market, enabling businesses to grow and keep the jobs here in the United States. The senator has been a vocal advocate of reforming our nations Social Security, entitlement programs, and to balance our federal budget. The new England Council is honored to host and during our annual spring event in washington, d. C. We are truly delighted to welcome him to the new england area once again. Please join me in welcoming the honorable senator rob portman. [applause] thanks very much. For a good democrat to endorse the jobs plan is a big deal. Its great to be back. I was honored to speak to your group when you guys were in washington in march and i am hopeful about the legislative agenda. It is great to be back. Hayes. Od to be at saint thank you to dr. Desalvo for having me. I found out this morning why was invited. Goingmonths ago we were through the mail and there was a big package that came from New Hampshire. We have a daughter in school and i thought, she is sending me something. Some straight as. It was an invitation to speak to you all. Thanked dr. Disalvo for inviting me andrew, who is a freshman, and it said, it was andrew who invited you. I appreciate reaching out to me. I also want to thank the nstitute in it is good to be with a lot of great friends. I have been in New Hampshire a lot over the years and i am feeling like i am here with people i know well. Comcast told me that he was around 1996 for bob dole that my plate a surrogate. I rhyme or him because at one point he was sliding down one of the exit ramps on the ice and getting in the middle of i90 traffic. My best recollection was when we were up somewhere in northern have sure, New Hampshire, and bob dole couldnt come. About fivee in candidates, none of whom you remember. The grizzly bear remember him . He was from alaska and we had a fun time debating that night. It was my first president ial debate in the republican primary. Thats the wonderful thing about New Hampshire. Candidates come here in they have to be people in New Hampshire can look right through them. Doing these debates and town hall meetings, i think it is fantastic, a gives us all the opportunity to see politics. I was asked to talk about what is happening legislatively in washington. That would be very short speech. [laughter] not a whole lot is happening. Theres a reason that congress has a 10 approval rating. I gave a speech recently in cincinnati and said to the audience, 10 means paid staff and family members. Jane, who was in the audience at the time, said dont count on it. [laughter] instead of talking about what is happening id like to talk about what should be happening and what can happen. I am very hopeful about the future of our country. I think we are in trouble on the International Stage over the last 24 hours even in syria and libya and ukraine. We also have trouble here at home. Iless we change direction, worry that america will continue to slip. Peopleleadership in the of our great country will continue to fall behind. Thats what i want to talk about, how we can find that new direction. I watched they, news last night, which is probably a mistake because there is nothing good. Fire is burning around the world. Seeing what is happening in ukraine, i was there during the president ial election a few months ago. At that time, the people of ukraine were crying out for american leadership. We have not been forthcoming. I think we should step it up, be aggressive in helping them. Certainly here in New Hampshire with jim foley and the people who have seen the fact that evil does exist, in the brutality and tragic circumstances remind us of our vices. The security threats to our country. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of jim foley. I think it reminds us of the fact that without american , into that vacuum chaos and violence breed. We are elected leaders. Reluctant leaders. We are the sole remaining superpower. What we have seen around the world even in the last 24 hours is that america is not engaged. Not only did people of this country suffered, humanitarian crises in Northern Iraq and other religious minorities, but also theia National Security is threatened. Caliphate,ablish the it is a hotbed for terrorism and it concerns us and freedom loving people. I know americans are very i wore. Very at war. I know we must reluctantly except our responsibility. The reality is that we are the one indispensable country and if we are not out there jim talked about that role. It was a great honor, i went around the world representing our country. I had the opportunity to talk about how we should not condemn barriers to trade and fight corruption, promoting transparency. Always, andlic, not always in private my fellow trade administrators would say to me, thank goodness america is out there. Who else is going to do something . Not the europeans. Not the emerging inning emerging economies. It is america who was out there, which is ultimately for the wellbeing of all countries. I think the same is true across the board, whether it is human rights or democracy building or keeping roots in the south china sea. We cant be the worlds policeman. I agree. A posse. Got to get i we cant do it alone. That posse iof allies is what we need. If we leave from behind it is impossible for us to lead other countries. To solve some of the real problems we face around the world. War on the world can only be strong here at home. Tbelieve we are in deep rouble. I am hopeful at the feature about the future but i think, is this it . Is this the new normal . It cant be. Weakest economic recovery since the great depression. When you look at the gdp growth in the jobs numbers, people can say there is little improvement here and there, but the reality is that this is a remarkable slacking economy. Folks are saying, that is the way that is going to be. See doesnt enable us to the kind of opportunity that we have become accustomed to. With this weak economy, the american jane dream is really in trouble. Jobs foroned this america plan i will talk about it in just a second. We have some of the components to get us back on our feet. Take thehere is to institutions of our economy from taxes to energy, to health care, trade. To be able to compete globally by having a better Education System and have workers trained. The need for us to be able to have regulations that make sense for businesses. A number of you talked to me earlier about your businesses. All these things america is behind on because we are not addressing the issues. Some of my friends tell me when i talk about this, including the last couple days in the debate with the conservative republican friend of mine, washington should be doing more. Washington should be doing less. I mentioned some of you are good at that. I would disagree. I think were at a moment in our history were all washington where washington ought to be doing more, to change these fundamental economic systems that dont allow for the prosperity of the enterprise system that we have been accustomed to. Forward andstepped made the changes that are necessary to unleash the entrepreneurial power of america. I think d. C. Does have real consequences. We are missing an opportunity to engage on these issues and to be able to have people get back on their feet. The American Dream is a risk. Many people in this room understand that because youve experienced it. You dont see it today. I grew up in the Small Business family and when i was a kid my dad left a job as a salesman or he had health care and a retirement plan, into give it all up to start his own business, as many of you have. We started off with five people, my mom was a bookkeeper. We lost money the first few years. He had borrowed money from my moms uncle. He couldnt get a loan from the bank. Over the years, he found his footing, and by the time he retired my brother took over the business of about 300 people. I worked there. Today, some of the guys have known me my whole life, technicians, mechanics, who retire with 4000 knowledge with 400,000. That is the American Dream. To grow something. It, because the fact that washington is i worry about it because the american schools are in trouble. The most troubling points all summer was not about a race. It was about the American Dream. It was a wall street journal poll. That 76 of americans do not believe the next generation will be better off than our generation. 76 . These are record numbers. Also, another poll, a cnn poll, asked young people what you think . Are you better off . Over 60 said no. Almost ams to be resignation right now. People saying, its the new nor mal. Its not and it doesnt have to be that way. Its no wonder that people feel that way. Poverty rates are up. Health care costs are up. The middleclass squeeze. Stronger,covery were just as strong as the average, per capita income would be 6,000 higher than almost 14 million more americans will be working. Would be working. What we have tried hasnt worked. Yesterday i was in New Hampshire talking to a friend. Some friends in ohio have lost their jobs. Some of them are working. One of my friends is no consultant, is now a consultant, selfemployed. He was able to get back on his feet. I see some heads nodding. If you look at the Labor Participation rate, the percentage of people working, we are at record lows. Back to the 1940s. With something recently the situation in missouri. It was a discussion about the africanamerican community. The point was made that among africanamerican males, the number was her markedly low. Historic levels. Among many women combined it goes back to the 1970s. We dont want a repeat of the carter administration. I am reminded of doubledigit unemployment. Thats certainly not where we want to be. I do think there is an opportunity for us to get back to the kind of growth that we have been used to. This cant mean the new normal. This little proposal we talked about into jim mentioned it is important because it says not only is there an agenda here to our election but a blueprint forced fast. We are working with a republican majority in the United States senate. I think we have to c hange, to break through the gridlock. The only way you can do that is to get the president of the table and start discussing some of these issues. It takes two to tango. This is something that Republican Leadership will have to do. I certainly hope that will be true. By the way, this has been done before. Ronald reagan never had a majority in the United States congress. 1986, working with tip oneill and others, he was able to get critical tax reform for the Economic Growth over the next couple of decades. 1983, working with tip oneill and democrats, he put in place Social Security reforms. Incredibly important, vital programs on the mandatory side of the budget, the entitlement spending programs. But they were unsustainable. This is not something we havent had before. Newt gingrich doesnt particularly like him and yet they are able to Work Together and move forward with welfare reform and balanced budget and tax reform. But me give you three examples of what can be done in the first 100 days. Tegyis an energy strag that improves the pipeline. To begin to make us energy independent. Public infrastructure public. And all of the above, looking at all the resources. Second, i think we can see immediate expansion of exports. People talk about the fact that we are trying to negotiate trade agreements but the fact is we cannot be successful in my view. To be able ability to take these agreements to congress. Every president in the United States since fdr has had that ability. Finishrucial in order to a specific partnership with the europeans. Although the president called harry reid said over my dead body. But that Republican Leadership that is not going to happen. Getting themsy back in the business of expanding our exports and creating jobs. And the time since the last