To the polls. Are you thinking about the congressional contest in your state and district, and how would you feel about a split control of congress with democrats controlling the house . Phone lines are open this morning. Democrats can call 202 7488000. Republicans, 202 7488001. Independents, 202 7488002. You can also catch up on social media on twitter at cspan the bj and on based at cspanwj and facebook. Com cspan. This years importance of the Congressional Elections were on the front of Washington Times yesterday. Do not forget about keeping congress. The states for congress are also high. Former congressman allen west, a republican, writes that if Democrats Gain a majority in congress under clinton [indiscernible] the Associated Press yesterday encouraging their readers to keep their eyes on the set in on the senate. Democrats would need to pick up for seats four to gain control of the senate to once. If donald trump wins the presidency, democrats would need to pick up five seats. A longer stretch for democrats in the house. They would need to be dirty seats for democrats to take control. 30 seats for democrats to take control. The hill talking about down but races. There is the headline for you. Gop seeks boost from fbi down ballot. Dissociate editor at the hill joining us on the phone. After that access hollywood tape, a lot of democrats insisted that republicans down ballot had some sort of response to what donald trump said in that tape. Are we seeing a turnabout going on with the latest clinton email controversy . Guest yes, we are. Republicans are seizing on this controversy and they are suggesting that democrats need to either distance themselves or somehow tainted by this. We have seen a number of candidates make that argument. The republican senator in New Hampshire is suggesting that her democrat is trying to dodge and that she is not [indiscernible] so that is one example. Host is there one strategy that democrats are taking to respond to this . Are they staying united in their response or are individual members in individual districts crafting their own responses . Guest i think for the most part, democrats are fairly defiant on this. The Clinton Campaign has signaled its willingness to go after the director of the fbi and to criticize him. We are not seeing democrats distanced themselves from Hillary Clinton, certainly not in the way that republicans did for donald trump after the revelation of the access hollywood tapes that you mentioned. Host you mentioned the New Hampshire race. What are others that are viewers should look at to see if or how this might impact a close contest . Guest certainly in pennsylvania in has made mention that this controversy a couple of times. He is obviously running against a close race there, so he has been both suggesting that Katie Mcginty is somehow ethically similar to clinton, but also stressing the difficulty that he perceives Hillary Clinton to be in. He was talking in the immediate aftermath of Hillary Clinton being in hot water over this, so that is the kind of thing that is happening, but there is a broader issue here, where, for example, republicans are saying in general that this is a problem that the Democratic Party generally should be held accountable for. Host can you explain the impact of early voting . Over 20 million americans of our devoted as the controversy is playing out and pastors renewed focus today on Donald Trumps taxes in the wake of New York Times front page story this morning. The impact of early voting . Caller guest early voting is a crucial part of the dynamic and millions of people of our devoted. They voted at the time when Hillary Clinton had an even bigger lead in the polls but she does now. Well have to see just how much of a cushion she can build up in that respect. All of the caveats extrapolating too early is that we are never really sure until election day whether these are actually new voters that have been dropped to the polls or they are simply moving their existing boats around, or getting people who would have voted for them on election day going to the polls earlier, so that is the warning about taking too much of early voting. Host we will find out in seven days. Thank you. Guest my pleasure. Host that was Niall Stanage with the hill. We are focusing on the house, senate seats that are up in seven days. The 435 house seats. How much are you focusing on them as you head to the ballot box and which party do you think should control congress . That is our question in the first 45 minutes for the washington journal. We will start with benny democrat, california. Go ahead. Caller good morning. I went to vote the down ballot. I am not sure about hillary because she appears to be corrupt and [indiscernible] republican nominee, but i do think she dictates that a vote when because of the eight years they changed parties, so ill go down ballot from there. Host do you feel more sure about your down ballot choices because of the information that you have received . There has been so much focus on the president ial race, but you said you are more sure of what you are going to do dumbbell it . Caller right, right. Host why is that . Caller i am not sure about hillary. I was a Bernie Sanders supporter and i found that how they rate the election for her to win, so i am just not sure about hillary. Host we will go to read in california. Oakland, california. Fine for democrats. Go ahead. Caller i think it is really important for the democrats to take over at least the senate. There are seven senate races in play, not here in california but pennsylvania, New Hampshire wisconsin, indiana, nevada North Carolina, a. B. Missouri. Right now, im not sure if they can take over the congress, unfortunately, because if you look at what happened after 2008, it was the first two years that obama got anything done and after that was. Obstruction at the detriment to not only the people in their districts, but to the American People. I hope that republicans have learned their lesson. I am not sure, but i think they will really lose in two years the democrats show up to vote. I think it is important because this hold, a thing has just been crazy this whole comey they has been crazy. Host you are hopeful for democratic senate, so that would set up a split senate and reach longer for democrats to end the house. When you talk about obstruction sounds a few awkward about things not getting done. Do think split control of the house and senate, much will get done under that format . Caller well, it will be better than the situation now. I think that republicans will be under a lot of pressure to get some things done. Obviously, the obstruction in the last six years including hearing the Supreme Court nominee are voting on that. They will have a lot of pressure from the American People in general to get things done so i think there is a greater possibility, even with the split between democrats controlling the senate and the house getting some things done but we dont take over the house of representatives at this time, we have to make sure we do next year round. Host on twitter, the congress has been that under gop leadership, it is time to change which party leads. Country ahead of party. Lets go to california again mike is with us. Good morning. Caller thank you for cspan. I met there is for the elite liberal media i and embarrassed for the early liberal media. It is really abominable what they have done. In terms of securing contests and so forth. Obamacare was all liberal democrats and not one republican voted for that so the democrats have been the problem. As far as obstructionism does, i do not get that because america does not agree with the liberal democrats in terms of a lot of policies. That is why Hillary Clinton is not running on policies and telling us where she stands. She does stand for bigger government, more bureaucrats and higher taxes. That is the difference between the parties. The democrats that is what we have witnessed the last eight years, that the democrats want government control. That is what is central to obamacare and why they made it mandatory that the government dictates what policy you get and everything and they took choice away from the American People. Everything the democrats want is under more government control of their lives. Host you mentioned obamacare and that the Obamacare Exchanges are getting a lot of attention going into this election because of the premium rate increases. This is the story in usa today that you can see on your screen, noting that open enrollment starts today on the Affordable Care act and exchanges, and they have a chart next to it showing the averages of state premium increases in various states as of yesterday. The darker the color, the more the premium rates increase. The Darkest Black space on this map with rate increases of 50 . If you want to read more, that is in usa today. On the republican line, ron, salem, oregon. Caller good morning. I think the republicans to have it great for one, as they say in the liberal media, all of the media is liberal, practically. We have got to have [indiscernible] Loretta Lynch and obama, wink, wink, we are not going to put her in jail, we are going to brush this under the rug, youre not going to prosecute them, you let them walk. It is all we need the repo act. That is what we need. That is all i have got to say. Host aisha is, like a democrats. Caller good morning. How are you . Host doing well. Go ahead. Caller all right m going to say is been i pray that democrats win the house. And senate. Production can get things done. What happens to obama . I do not wish for that to happen to any other president again because he is the president that has a lot to offer. The republicans in the senate ended the congress did not want to do nothing. One other question, i believe what donald trump said that they do not sit down there and think we do not have to do anything and they sit down and do not want to do nothing, so that is all i have to say. Im a democrat, i are devoted and eroded the clinton, and i know she is going to end. Host aisha in florida, a closely watched swing state and the newly every election cycle. Our phone lines as we asked which party should control congress and how much are you thinking about you congressional votes as you head to the polls democrats, 202 7488000. Republicans, 202 7488001. Independents, 202 7488002. To show you one of the story from usa today this morning noting that the number of women in congress is likely to reach record highs after the november 8 election, boosting female lawmakers to more than 20 of the house and senate for the first time, but also affecting the continued difficulty of achieving equal representation. The story noting that projections show that the number of women in the 100 Member Senate could rise of 20 to 23, despite the retirement of two democratic women, senators Barbara Boxer of california, who served 24 years, and barbara. The number of female members could increase by about one dozen, boosting the total from 84 to perhaps 96. Also noting that the 2017 freshmen class of perhaps one dozen women in the house would be happy with what it was in 1992, when 24 women were elected in one was dubbed as the year of the woman, but it would still be the largest fourthlargest bimah freshman class since 1976. We want to hear how much you are focusing on the congressional races in the first 45 minutes of the washington journal. Tad is in rhode island. Caller good morning. Thank you for taking my call. I have been thinking about the gridlock in congress, which has really stated people from the left, the right in the middle. What i think should happen is looking at the senate, on the first day of the new congress, baddest only time the rules of the senate can be changed and you have to wait two more years, so i would recommend to our folks, or that they be democrat or republican, i have four recommendations. For one first on, limit or eliminate filibuster. Second one, a simple majority to move the question. Right now, they have 51. The third one is no fast tracking of legislation. They have no problems fast tracking these trade deals. They shift through them so fast and nobody knows what is going on. The fourth one is freestanding legislation. You cannot put on any poison pills. Each bill should be freestanding and it is going to pass on its own merit. After the senate gets straightened out, you look at gerrymandering in the house, but i think the senate will probably be the easiest way to go to start up the new year. Thank you. Host just a new proposal that you put out there so i understand, so you want to get rid of fast tracking and he went every bill to be voted on individually . Do you think that would slow down the process, which was your concern that things are getting too slow and not getting done . Caller no. There is stuff that is good for specialinterest like a trade deal. They do not fast track the health care legislation, they do not fast track anything except the deal secular jobs away. I think that will not slow anything down. No. The thing is you have got people that will insert poison pills. The bills put in our trash, and they voted on a good bill but they opposed it. I do not think it will slow anything down. I think it is worth attempted because right now, were in a state of permanent gridlock and i do not see anything changing unless we change the rules. Host so it is a buck anyway did the legislative maneuvering that goes on at the and of the process sometimes . Caller maneuvering it at the end of the process, what do you mean . Host with the poison pills were talking about with legislation inserting it at the end. That is what you want to get rid of . Caller yes, getting rid of the poison pills, no more fast tracking, and then the filibuster, that is another one. One senator from either party can block the whole thing first line is the issue once too, which causes billions of dollars to shut it down or whatever. That is nonsense. One person should not be able to slow down the process can help 100 members involved. Host thank you for thinking about the process and sharing your thoughts. Catherine is up next, among come rake, alabama come alive for democrats. Good morning. Montgomery, alabama. Line for democrats. Good morning. Caller good morning. I would like to see the democrats take over the house and senate because all we have had for the last eight years of the republicans denying everything, whether it was good for the country or not. They did not give it a chance only because of obama. Anything obama opposed proposed, they always denied it just because it was obama. That is not good for the country , so i would like to see the democrats get a chance this year. Host a few more comments from twitter, let the republicans hold on to the house and give the democrats the senate. And bobby writes we have seen what republican control does obstructionism government shutdowns, and we see that republicans are only about party. Carol wrightson, when congress are writing big tax breaks are the rich donors, not those who legally take advantage of it. Speaking of Tax Advantages and how you can take advantage of those Tax Advantages, the lead story in todays New York Times focuses on Donald Trumps taxes getting a lot of attention today, noting that newly obtained documents and donald trump avoided reporting hundreds and millions of dollars in taxable income by using the tax avoidance measure, so legally dubious that lawyers advised him that the Internal Revenue service would most likely declare it improper if you were audited. Host if you want to read more, the lead story in todays New York Times. Steve, ohio, independent. You are next. Caller thanks for taking my call. I am for one party, the Republican Party, taking congress, having congress and the presidency because we have got big problems and the choices this year are solutions versus rhetoric. The children to not play well in the sandbox and im referring to people in congress, and there is only one person who has set the agenda and identified the issues and has the background to solve the problem, and his name is donald trump. Host under your scenario, how well do you think donald trump plays with paul ryan and Mitch Mcconnell if republicans to maintain control of congress . Caller i really do not care. I think he ought to get rid of both of them. I do not think they have done their job and quite frankly, the next step is the Republican Party, whether donald trump wins or not, and he will bring in a landslide, 106 Million People to not vote in the 2012 election because they cannot tell the difference, and as it has been noted, the registered and unaffiliated number of people who have voted so far is 36. 9 so the best thing he said was term limits. We have got to get new blood in and for both parties because they do not play well in the sandbox and they do not represent the American People. They represent themselves, so we have got to get people in their who really care and represent the people. The things i am sorry about is that i could not run for president this year. Host steve in ohio, speaking of focusing on the president ial election, a special section from the New York Times today looking at the data, the upshot going to election data, dating back to 2012. It will slip through the New York Times section to show you how it looks. Here are separate sto