to we've also increased the council tax disregard. we made sure that the pupil premium is not just of able to children on pre-school meals but is available to all service children. we have put the military cabinet into the law of our land that will go on defending promoting and protecting our armed services personnel and their family. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the application spans three local authorities, each of whom independently -- [inaudible] subsequently a distant unelected planning inspector overruled them and even move forward his decision by three months so it could be made the day before the local bill got rural%. can he simply look into what appears to be a played slap in the face for localism? >> my honorable friend does make an important point and he knows as a result of the changes we're making, it will not be possible in future to overrule such

decisions so as to the original target because we've now got rid of those regional targets. we're getting much more authority and many more decision-making powers to those local bodies. our planning reforms will a sure that local people and their councils decide what it is that people need and how we meet that need. >> mr. speaker, is the prime minister worried that the scandal of -- has just gotten a lot worse given the previous broken guarantees to the public? prime minister is now rejecting a vote on this latest european changes. he must solve the issue to the public at large. will the prime minister give a guarantee to this house that there will be opportunity for the british people to deliver its verdict on the changes that are happening in your? >> what this government has given is something that no previous government has done in this country, which is we passed a law that means that if ever this government or any future government or any future house of commons fight to pass parse

from westminster to brussels it has to ask the british people in a referendum first. that would've meant they would have had to been a referendum on lisbon or on amsterdam or on those other treaties. so the fact that people, feel also betrayed under the last government. that cannot happen again. [inaudible] will the prime minister acknowledged a key factor in achieving growth as was the euro zone crisis is to take action in britain's interest, burdens on small companies, so many of which -- >> i think the honorable lady makes an important point to where to start here in our own backyard and stop the gold plating and the overregulation that happen in the past but that's why we have the red tape challenge with every will being put up on the internet so people

can show how little we need to keep it that so that the one in one out rule that applies to every single minister. they can introduce a regulation without getting rid of the regulation. but we have just achieved in europe a major breakthrough that michael businesses employing less than 10 people will not be subject to european regulation from 2012 onwards. that is a big breakthrough, something that hasn't happened before and shows it to make the arduous for growth, for jobs, for enterprise, you can when them. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister has refused to say that women and children will fear that grants of his failed -- [inaudible] no wonder he continues to turn off women. [laughter] would he expect -- 100,000 more children will be living in poverty as a result of his policy. [shouting] >> what i would say to the honorable lady is how on earth does it advantage women and

children to pile them up with the debt after after debt so that they didn't have to pay back? mr. speaker, we have been standing here for 33 minutes, all we have heard is proposals for tax reduction, for spending increases, for reforms that would ahead on come for scrapping the changes for public sector pension. they would take those women and children at we are concerned about, and pile them high with debt and let them live under that burden for the rest of their day. >> may i pass back a month through the seventh of november when i put three suggestions to my right honorable friend for containing the euro crisis with which he appeared to agree, but none of those he would those have been acted upon by the european central bank. so may i now expressed to him my

belief that the alternative policy of fiscal union will, as my honorable friend, for what he just said, pose a greater threat to the whole and his liberty for your. can he -- because he knows it makes germany more dominant. can the germans be persuaded to study the reason for the boston tea party, because -- [laughter] because no taxation without representation -- >> here, here.

[shouting] >> order. we have heard of the question. [laughter] we don't want to hear the prime minister's answer. spent as ever, the leader of the house speaks with great knowledge and wisdom and forthright. [shouting] but i will say to him, the reason that he and i don't want to join the single currency is that we would not be prepared to put up with the supernatural power of being told what our dads and to pressure debt and deficit and anything else is but the point i was at the make is if the countries of the eurozone want to make their system work, that it is clear to me fiscal rules are one thing that they may need, but that won't be enough without proper competitiveness, and the third point he made, the full hearted intervention and support of the institution fashion institutions of the eurozone including the european central bank. it is a decision that those eurozone countries have to make themselves. >> order. we come now to the 10 minute --

do hear a point of order? point of order, mr. matthew. >> mr. speaker, members members of this house are aware of the response was on the rules of not abusing their positions in this house and also the personal and financial business interest. therefore, is it appropriate that -- >> you on c-span to really the british house of commons now as they move onto other legislative business. you've been watching prime minister's question time in her life wednesday at 7 a.m. eastern apartment is in session. you can see this weeks question time again sunday night at nine eastern and pacific on c-span. for more information go to c-span.org and click on c-span series for prime minister's questions, plus links to international news media and legislatures around the world. you can watch recent video, including programs dealing with other international issues. >> in a few moments of the lighting ceremony for the u.s. capitol christmas tree.

in 20 minutes former vice president dan quayle endorses mitt romney for president. and then president obama's speech in kansas on jobs and the economy. >> this capitol tree as a

65-foot white fir from california. yesterday's lighting ceremony was 20 minutes. >> good evening and welcome and 20 deaths its capitol christmas tree lighting ceremony. i'm stephen s. from the architect of the capital, and i'm honored to be your master of ceremonies this evening as we carry out this wonderful tradition which began right here on the west front of the capitol in 1964. for everyone's safety i ask that you remain in your seats until the conclusion of this evening ceremony. each year i look forward to this event to officially kick off the

holiday season here on capitol hill. and nothing says christmas more than the playing of festive holiday carols. i'd like to extend a special thank you to the united states army band, pershing sounds under the direction of captain richard winkles, for being here and helping us create such a festive mood on a rainy evening. let's give them a round of applause. [applause] behind me, ladies and gentlemen, stand skewness it's capitol christmas tree, a wonderful 65-foot sierra white fir from the national forest in the great state of california. [cheers and applause] and in keeping with the tradition, the speaker of the house, the honorable john boehner, will extend his holiday greetings to you, and officially light this remarkable tree in

just a few moments. before we get to that big moment, i'd like to extend and welcome to members of congress, distinguished guests, our capitol hill neighbors, and those of you that are here visiting our nation's capital. thank you for joining us this evening. i would especially like to acknowledge the members from the california delegation joining us this evening, including senator dianne feinstein. [applause] congressman daniel lundgren. [applause] and congressman jeff denham. [applause] now, this incredible tree has been decorated with more than 3000 handcrafted ornaments by golden state residents, which reflect the theme california shines. it's quite fitting that this

year's tree comes from the great state of california, and for more than four years the united states forest service and the architect of the capital have partnered to bring a christmas tree to the capital from one of our nation's 155 national forests. [applause] vague, altogether, compromise some 193 million acres of forest and grasslands in the united states. let's take a moment to specifically thank the dedicated forest service crew, both the staff here in washington and in california, for help making this event possible. [applause] and joining us tonight is tom tidwell, chief of the u.s. forest service. he has a holiday message to share with all of you. mr. tidwell. [applause]

>> well, thank you and i'll take full credit for the rain to let off, and i also want to thank the folks from california for sending us this nice warm weather we have this evening. this is a tremendous honor for us to get to be part of this every year. and as was mentioned, all the effort that goes into this, things i want to just stress is that this is a collaborative effort, working with the community in california to come together, to put all the time and effort into this, and it's not just a tree, it's just not the ornaments that are decorated out, along with another 100 trees that are spread throughout this town today. it's a message that history is a model for. it's a message about the benefits people working together coming together in a collaborative effort to do something that is much larger than a tree. if you think about the thousands, tens of thousands of hours of volunteer time to tree represents, the efforts that

folks put into the fund-raising, and also the food drives. because this tree came across the country, it also stopped in a couple communities and delivered food to those who banks, and that is part of this overall effort. i want to thank everyone from california. i want to thank everyone from the forest service who is part of this effort every year. it's a great honor for us to be part of the. thank you so much for letting us to be part of your christmas year. thank you. [applause] >> thank you so much, tom. well, history has been on a tremendous journey. in fact, it's traveled nearly 4500 miles across the country from california, and just nine days ago it arrived here in our dedicated capitol grounds crew went to work decorating it, and didn't they do a fantastic job? let's give them a round of applause. [applause]

ted bechtel, our ground superintendent who has a tough task of taking this a tree out of the many beautiful trees that were unavailable for him in the national forest. next, ladies and gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce senator dianne feinstein. senator feinstein has been serving the people of california since 1992, and i've had the pleasure of working closely with her in 2009 as she served as chair of the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies. senator feinstein. [applause] ..

and it weighs 8300 pounds. it has come all across the united states through a number of different communities and it comes from the great stanislaus' of national forest. this is a 900,000 acre in northern california, three hours north of san francisco. it is the home of the peregrine falcon and the bald eagle. and today we have got some students from that area. the first largest want to recognize is johnny crawford who is the seventh-year-old student from sonora. mr. speaker, my understanding is he is going to be joining you in

letting the tree which is very special and we also have here the somerville high school choir from california who will play some holiday music for us. so i just want to say that this is a bit of california here and i hope everybody understands it. and mr. speaker, i am an appropriate on the energy and water appropriations committee. and the other day -- the staff director on our side told me he proposed to his wife at this tree at the tree lighting ceremony. so i think it does have special significance and thank you very much and welcome. [applause]

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♪ [applause] >> from somerville high school in california under the direction of madeleine young. another round of applause.

[applause] >> it is my pleasure to introduce to you congressman daniel lungren from the third conditional district of california. [applause] >> i love this place. i think if you don't get a chill up your spine when you come to this place it is time to leave but every time i go home always said that throughout americana is when we're home in a small setting and see the folks back home so the days -- today is the best of all possible worlds. we are at the u.s. chapel and we have home with us great students doing a great job. free from our own state of california which i would just like to remind you predicted those of you from the east, our state has owned 45% by the federal government so it is nice

when we can bring part of the federal government back here with you. i am privileged to represent one county in california, 96% owned by the federal government with parts of three national forests and a couple of wilderness areas. we're very proud of that part of the state of california. we are proud of the fact that this 3 took up 4200 mile trip here to be representing us and the nation as this, the u.s. capitol christmas tree. god bless all of you, god bless america and let's have a great celebration here in our nation's capital. [applause] >> thank you. next from the nineteenth district of california congressman jeff denim. [applause] >> thank you and good evening.

it is truly an honor to have the people's 3 come to the nineteenth congressional district to share a part of california not only with the rest of the nation but the rest of the world. this was made possible by a partnership with the indians who helped bring the tree here and also celebrate its significance across the nation as -- met with other native americans throughout the nation but stopped throughout california and throughout the nation. being able to raise money, to pay for the expenses, welcome to the nation's capital. we appreciate you being here as well. [applause] >> it has been an exciting process to be part of the lighting of this not only getting out here and the festivities but i can tell you it really hit home when the tree

arrived. the tree arrived, not just for crime across the nation but around the world, the significance about celebrating a religious holiday because of our freedom in this great country was overwhelming. i want to thank you for having the people's 3 and some from california. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great privilege to introduce the speaker of the house, john boehner has served the people of the eighth district in ohio since 1990 and held numerous leadership positions over the years. in january he became the fifty-first speaker of the house. ladies and gentlemen legal the hon. john boehner. a [applause] >> let me just say thank you and i want to thank all of my colleagues that are here today and all of you who have come out

this evening. to celebrate the lighting of the capitol christmas tree. makes a worthy addition to this great capital tradition of hours. the winner is upon us. the christmas tree forages as a symbol of everlasting life. that life is christ. fulfill the prophecy of joy and salvation. on the field where the shepherd's slept broke the silence by singing glory to god in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill towards men. this story by serving one another and by showing it is more pleasant to give than to receive and especially when so many of our fellow citizens are without jobs and indeed for christmas is not a distant historical event. it is a spirit always bringing

us closer to each other and closer to the piece of which the angels and. on behalf of debbie and i and our family i want to wish all of you a very merry christmas. [applause] now we're going to do what we came here to do and that is to light the tree. to help in the others, turned around the leader of the will to help in the honors here is johnny crawford, a 7-year-old from california and not just any 7-year-old. he is the cubs scout. if something goes wrong he will know how to figure this out. he is here with his parents, lisa and richard lugar tunnel his older brother ricky and little sister lizzie. how about a round of applause for johnny crawford. [applause]

this is the big switch here. how about we do a count down? we will start with 5, 4, 3-peat digital 2, 1. come on. [cheering] ♪ ♪ [applause] >> thank you. doesn't the tree look wonderful?

ladies and gentlemen? thank you once again for coming this evening to join john boehner, members of congress, california delegation, for service began land other guests this year to lead the united states capitol christmas tree. good night and merry christmas to everyone. thank you. [applause] [inaudible conversations] >> it is so convenient to listen to c-span anytime anywhere with a free c-span radio air when with streaming audio of c-span radio as well of all three c-span television networks 24/7. you can listen to our interview

program including two day, newsmakers, the communicators and afterwards. c-span. it is available wherever you are. find out more at c-span.org/radioapps. >> presidential candidate mitt romney was endorsed by former vice president dan quayle at his home in arizona. this is 15 minutes. ♪ >> welcome, everyone. the american dream. the american dream. you don't just wake up one day and all your dreams become reality. in america you have to earn it.

that is the way that our country has made such great strides. freedom. not only freedom of speech but freedom of religion, economic freedom. and this is what many of us who are attracted to governor mitt romney understand that our economy is struggling. the very economy that has made america strong and kept us free must be preserved and when we look at the future of america and many of us see it is uncertain and we have a president who is wrong on the economy and we have so many candidates who are out there seeking the office of president but there's only one who has worked 25 years in the private sector that understand the essence of the free market. and about job creation. that is something that america needs desperately. and so at a time when there is

uncertainty in the world we look to leaders who have proven themselves not only an elected office but in the economy, to understand it is more than just religious freedom and freedom of speech and that we see our strength in the diversity of race, color, national origin and economic freedom. that has been threatened in america. i want to introduce to use somebody who many of us are big fans of and have seen go fruit this slugfest and presidential contest but we know there's one man to stand up and represent the republican party across america and speak to the essence of freedom and economic freedom and understand that our american people if we are on the same level as other countries around the world, americans will win every time. and i am introducing --

[applause] -- when it comes to the grand canyon state we love mitt romney here in arizona. [cheers and applause] we are going to be part of that wave of change of true hope that understands the proud history of america as the restore that hope by putting people back to work and getting government out of the way and out of the private sector. i introduced you our friend, former governor of massachusetts and the next president of the united states, mitt romney. [applause] >> thank you. thank you, sheriff. thank you, my friends. good to see you here today. old friends and new friends. thank you so much. appreciate the chance to be with you. i know you are not here just to see me. there is a favorite son of arizona standing next to me and

i am going to make sure we give him a chance to say hello. i want to say a couple things. i was surprised to see the president today in kansas giving a speech in kansas and he made an unusual comparison. he said he was like teddy roosevelt. i thought in what way is he like teddy roosevelt? teddy roosevelt, of course we profound a boost party. when this president is talking about how he helped the economy there is something else that wants to mention. this election is really going to be a fundamental choice about what path america is going to take in this century. are we going to remain a nation which is a merit based opportunity society, where people 5 virtue of their education, hard work, a little luck. will risk-taking, pioneering, enterprising spirit are able to earn rewards and keep those rewards and pass them to their

kids and by doing so create a stronger and more vibrant nation? or are we going to take the course president obama has outlined, fundamental change in america where we have an entitlement society, where rewards are taken from some to give to all. where everybody is the same. for nt that everyone is equal balsa certainty that everybody is poor or nearly so. because that is what has happened in an entitlement society throughout the world. this is a fundamental choice. are we going to have a society of marriage and opportunity for a nation instead of entitlement? are we going to have a government that is so strong that it manages our lives and managers are enterprises and manages our economy or are we going to have people so strong that they got their own lives and build their own enterprises? this is a nation, this is a state, place distinguished from any other in the world. this is a unique nation. it is an exceptional nation.

because of the premise written in those first words of the declaration of independence. that we are and out by our creator with certain unalienable rights. among them wife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. those words the pursuit of happiness referred to opportunity. our ability to pursue happiness in our own way is. not to have the government tell us how to do it. not to have them give us a check they might want to give so they can be confident of our vote for them in the future. instead be able to pursue happiness in our own way. that is what makes us unique. our conviction in a creator. our conviction that individuals are and out by their creator with rights that do not come from government working. writes that come from the creator himself. i love this country. and of the future i see for it. i am happy the people in america are increasingly recognizing how important this election is. al it will be watershed decision of which course we take and as for me i take the course for

freedom and opportunity. a [applause] i happen to associate those values with a term you heard time and again, conservatism. those who believe in the fundamental values and fundamental principles that make america america. they're standing next to me a man who is known as a conservative conservative. a person who has been conservative in his life and the values he lived and the things he has fought for and his service for our country. i had the privilege of seeing his old boss last week. i was that president george herbert walker bush and former first lady. what an inspiration they are. what wonderful people. what wonderful man. [applause] what a wonderful man i stand next to. a son of arizona. a former senator.

former vice president of the united states, vice president dan quayle. [applause] >> thank you, governor. welcome. thank you. thank you very much. welcome to the great state of arizona and this historic place. all of us that live around the area know this very well. my grandfather, my grandfather lived three blocks from here so this has been a place i called home for a long, long period of time. but today we are here to give enthusiastic support to the next president of united states of america, mitt romney. [cheers and applause]

step back just a moment with me and see where america is today. just last month we learned that 300,000 americans dropped out of the work force. unemployment is still at an all-time high. 80% of the american people say the country is headed in the wrong direction. america around the world over the last several years have lost respect and credibility. my friends, washington is a mess and we need to send mitt romney to washington to fix the mess out there. [applause] under president obama's

leadership our nation's capital has become dysfunctional. we have got to figure out who's the best person to go to washington and turn things around. it is not washington politician. it is not a washington--it is somebody who has balanced budgets, comes from the private sector, who knows how to create jobs and knows how to fix problems. there is one big problem in washington d.c. that needs fixed and that is to get rid of president obama. [applause] in selecting the next president of the united states, i think there is more important criteria that we should examine. first, leadership. second, character.

third, a conservative philosophy. and forth, electability. let's just take those one at a time. leadership. governor romney has leadership and the private sector. he has balanced budget, cut taxes, reduce regulations, turned around the olympics in utah, he has a great record that is creating jobs in the private sector. leaders make decisions. leaders have to have the courage to make decisions and tough decisions. and also to be a good leader have to have a vision and equally important we have to have the tools and the ability to implement that vision. mitt romney is a leader. [applause] character.

the most important virtue of, character, is integrity. without integrity, in my view you don't have character. if you don't have integrity don't have trust worthy. the american people want to believe in their leaders and see an honest leader. a man of integrity and he has edomites integrity his whole life whether it is public life or private life throughout, he is mr. integrity and we need that more than ever in our nation's capital. [applause] conservative about values. our values are the same. we understand the importance of limited government, we understand reducing taxes to create jobs, we understand the importance of a strong national

defense. conservative value, the values of ronald reagan, my boss as we affectionately call him. right after you were there he spent the very best. but conservative values need to return to the white house and mitt romney has those conservative values to take america in a new and better direction. [applause] electability. who is our best hope to take on president obama? mitt romney. i tell you one thing. the obama people believe he is the toughest competitor. they don't want to run against him. but he is our best hope to change the direction of america.

and after he hopefully wins the primary which i am very confident that he will do, he will bring the party together. he will reach out to disenchanted democrats, the independents, people from all walks of life and different ethnicities and religions and bring america together again. he is our best hope for the future. governor, i am here today to give you my enthusiastic endorsement and support. i am confident that you will be our nominee and i am even more confident that you will be the next president of the united states of america. [applause] >> thank you, my friend. thank you. thank you. that is quite a speaker. are you available to go all over the country with me, mr vice president? thank you.

i want to thank each of you for being here. fa was very moved by the vice president's comments and hope to live up to his confidence. i'm looking forward to being our nominee. i believe i can push up against president obama. i believe i can represent the values that we share. i will hold true to the values that americans love. i love my family. my faith, my country. i also want you to know that i have spent a lot of time in the economy, appreciate it the spirit of enterprise, entrepreneurship and pioneering that keeps america economically strong. i love our men and women in uniform. recognize our important is to provide for them. [applause] the best equipment in the world and the protection and best health care when the come home. we owe those men and women our greatest support and help. this is the big important time for us all and i am honored to

be with you to share this announcement. the vice president is on my team and hopefully to have everybody join that team and take america back. thank you so much. good to be with you today. ♪ ♪ >> several live events to tell you about on c-span2. the republican jewish coalition presidential candidates' forum. we will hear from rick santorum, jon huntsman and mitt romney at 9:00 eastern. on our companion network c-span3

the senate and house homeland security committees hold their first joint hearing to look at threats to military communities at 9:30 a.m.. also on c-span3 and 2:00 eastern we will return to the republican jewish coalition presidential forum to hear from newt gingrich, governor rick perry and representative michele bachman. >> president obama went to kansas yesterday to talk about jobs and the economy. this is an hour. >> the president of the united states. ♪ [cheers and applause]

>> thank you! thank you very much. thank you. thank you very much. thank you, everybody. please have a seat. thank you very much. thank you. good afternoon, everybody. i want to start by thanking a few folks who joined us today. we got the mayor, phil dudley is here. [cheers and applause] your superintendent gary french in the house. [cheers and applause] and the principle, doug chisholm. [cheers and applause] and i have brought your former

governor who is doing an outstanding job as secretary of health and human services, kathleen sibelius is in the house. [cheers and applause] we love kathleen. it is great to be back in the state of texas -- oops. the state of kansas. i was giving bill a hard time a while back. as many of you know, i have roots here. [cheers and applause] i am sure you are all familiar with the obamas of both the what

may --osawatomie. i like to say that i got my name from my father bought my accent and my values from my mother. [ cheers and applause] she was born in wichita. her mother grew up in augusta. her father was from eldorado. so my kansas roots run deep. and my grandparents served during world war ii. he was a soldier in the army. she was a worker on a bomber assembly line. and together they shared the optimism of a nation that triumphed over the great

depression and over fascism. they believed in an america where hard work paid off. and responsibility was rewarded. and anyone could make it if they tried. no matter who you were. no matter where you came from. no matter how you started out. [applause] these values gave rise to largest middle class and strongest economy the world has ever known. it was here in america, the most productive workers, the most innovative companies turned out the best product on earth. every american shared in that pride and in that success from those in the executive suite to those in middle management to those on the factory floor.

[applause] so you can have some confidence that if you gave it your all, you have taken enough to raise your family, send your kids to pour -- to school and health care covered, put a little away for retirement. today we are still home to the world's most productive workers. still home to the world's most innovative companies. but for most americans the basic bargains that made this country great have eroded. wong before the recession hit, hard work stopped paying off for too many people. fewer and fewer of the folks who contributed to the success of the economy actually benefited from that. those at the very top grew

wealthier from their income and investment, wealthier than ever before. everybody else struggled with costs and paychecks that weren't. too many families found themselves racking up more and more debt to keep up. for many years credit cards and home equity loans over this harsh reality that in 2008 the house of cards collapsed and we all know the story by now. mortgages sold to people who couldn't afford it, even sometimes understand them. banks that investors allowed to keep packaging the risks of selling it off, huge bets and huge bonuses made with other people's money on the line. regulators who were supposed to warn us about the dangers of all this but looked the other way.

or didn't have the authority to look at all. it was wrong. it combined the breathtaking greed of a few with irresponsibility all across the system. and it plunged our economy and the world into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover. it claimed the jobs and home and basic security of millions of people. innocent hard-working americans who had met their responsibilities but still left holding the bag. endeavour since there's a raging debate over the best way to restore growth and prosperity, core balance, restore fairness. drop the country it sparked protests in political movements from the tea party to the people who have been occupying the streets of new york and other

cities. it left washington in a near constant state of gridlock. it has been the topic of heated and sometimes colorful discussion among the men and women running for president. but osawatomie, this is not just another political debate. this is the defining issue of our time. this is a make or break moment for the middle-class and for all those fighting get into the middle class. what the stake is whether if this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build modest savings, own a home or secure their retirement. in the midst of this debate there are some who seem to be

suffering from a collective amnesia. after all--the worst economic crisis and worth financial crisis since the great depression they want to return to the same practices that got us into this mess. they want to go back to the same policies--stacked against middle-class americans for too many years. their philosophy is we're better off when anybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. i am here to say they are wrong. [applause] been brought applause] [applause]

[applause] i am here in kansas to reaffirm my deep conviction that we are greater together than we are on our own. i believe this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot. when everyone does their fair share. when everyone plays by the same rules. [applause] these are not democratic or republican values. these are 1% values or 99% values. they are american values. we have to reclaim them. [applause] this isn't the first time america has faced this choice.

at the turn of the last century when a nation of farmers was transitioning to become the world's industrial giant we had to decide what we settle for a country where most of the new railroads and factories were being controlled by a few giant monopolies that kept prices hy and wages low? what we allow our citizens and even our children to work ungodly hours in conditions that were unsafe and unsanitary? would we restrict education to the privileged few? because there were people who fought massive inequality and exploitation of people was just the price you pay for progress. theodore roosevelt disagreed. he was the republicans son of a wealthy family. he praised what the titans of industry had done to create jobs

and grow the economy. he believed then what we know is true today. that the free-market, the greatest force for economic progress in human history lead to prosperity and standard of living and matched by the rest of the world. but roosevelt also knew that the free market has never been a free license to take whatever you can from whomever you can. [applause] he understood the free market will works when there are rules of the road that ensure competition is fair and open and honest. so he busted up monopolies forcing those companies to compete for consumers with better service, better prices.

and today's a still must. he fought to make sure business could profit by exploiting children or selling food or medicine that was unsafe and today they still can. in 1910 teddy roosevelt came here to osawatomie and he laid out his vision for what he called a new nationalism. our country, he said, means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy. of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed the opportunity to showed the best that there is in him. [applause] for this roosevelt was called a

radical. he was called a socialist. [laughter] even a communist. but today we are a richer nation and a stronger democracy because of what he fought for in his last campaign. eight hour workday. minimum-wage for women. insurance for the unemployed. and for the elderly and those with disabilities. political reform and a progressive income tax. [applause] today over 100 years later, our economy has gone through another transformation. over the last few decades huge advances and technology allow

businesses to do more with less. it is easier for them to set up shop and hire workers anywhere they want in the world. and many of you know firsthand the painful disruptions is cause for a lot of americans. factories where people thought they would retire suddenly picked up and went overseas where workers were cheap. steel mills that needed 1,000 employees are now able to do the same work with 100 employees. they too often became permanent. not a temporary part of the system. these changes didn't just affect blue-collar workers. if you were a bank teller or a phone operator or a travel agent you saw many in your profession replaced by atms and the internet. to date even higher skilled jobs like accountants and middle managers can be outsourced to

countries like china or india. if you are somebody whose job can be done cheaper by a computer or someone in another country you don't have a lot of leverage with your employer when it comes to asking for better wages or better benefits especially when fewer americans today are part of a union. just as there was in teddy roosevelt's time, there is a certain crowd in washington who for the last few decades has said let's respond to this economic challenge with the same old tune. the market will take care of everything, they tell us. if we just cut more regulations and cut more taxes especially for the wealthy, our economy will grow stronger. they say there will be winners and losers but if the winners do really well, the jobs and

prosperity will eventually trickle down to everybody else. and they argue even if prosperity doesn't trickle down, that is the price of liberty. it is possible theory and we have to admit it is one that speaks to a rugged individualism and our healthy skepticism of too much government. that is in america's dna and fits well on a bumper sticker. here is the problem. it doesn't work. it has never worked. [applause] it didn't work when it was tried in the decade before the

great depression. it is not what led to the incredible postwar booms of the 50s and 60s and it didn't work when we tried it during the last decade. [applause] understand it is not as if we haven't tried the spirit. remember in those years in 2001-2003 congress passed two of the most expensive tax cuts for the wealthy in history. what did it get us? the slowest job growth in half a century. massive deficits that have made it much harder to pay for the investments that provide basic security that the millions of americans reached and stay in the middle class. things like education and infrastructure, science and

technology, medicare and social security. remember that in those same years thanks to the same folks who are now running congress, we had weak regulations. we had little oversight and what did it get us? insurance companies that act of people's premiums with impunity and denied care to patients who were sick, mortgage lenders who tricked families into buying homes they couldn't afford, a financial sector where irresponsibility and lack of basic oversight nearly destroyed our entire economy. we simply cannot return to this brand of you are on your own economics if we are serious about rebuilding the middle class in this country. [applause]

we know that it doesn't result in a strong economy. it results in an economy that invests in its people. and in its future. it does not result in a prosperity that trickles down. it results in a prosperity that is enjoyed by fewer and fewer of our citizens. look in the statistics. in the last few decades the average income of the top 1% has gone up by more than 250%. 1$.2 million per year. i am not talking about billionaires'. people who have a million dollars the people who make $1 million every single year. for the top 100th of 1% the

average income is now $27 million per year. the typical ceo who used to earn 30 times more than his or her worker now earns 110 times more. yet over the last decade the income of most americans have actually fallen by 6%. this kind of inequality, a level we have seen since the great depression hurts us all. when middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, when people are slipping out of the middle class, it drags down the entire economy from top to bottom. america was built on the idea of broadbased prosperity and strong consumers all across the

country. that is what a ceo like henry ford made it his mission to pay as workers enough so they could buy the car as he made. it is also why recent study showed countries with less inequality tend to have stronger and steadier economic growth over the long run. inequality distorts our democracy. it gives an outside voice to the few who can afford high-priced lobbyists, unlimited campaign contributions and runs the risk of selling out our democracy to the highest bidder. [applause] it leaves everyone else

suspicious that the system in washington is rigged against them. that our elected representatives aren't looking out for the interests of most americans. but there is an even more fundamental issue at stake. this kind of gaping inequality gives lies to the promise at the very heart of america. that this is a place where you can make it if you try. we tell people, we tell our kids that in this country even if you are born with nothing, work hard and you can get into the middle class. we tell them that your children will have a chance to do even better than you do. that is why immigrants from around the world historically have flocked to our shores. and yet over the last two decades but runs on the ladder

of opportunity have grown farther and farther apart. the middle class has shrunk. a few years after world war ii a child who was born into poverty at slightly better than 50/50 chance of becoming middle-class as an adult. by 1980 that chance had fallen to around 40%. if the trend of rising inequality over the last two decades continues it is estimated a child born today will only have one in three chance of making it to the middle class. 33%. it is heartbreaking enough that there are millions of working families in this country who are not forced to take their children to food banks for a decent meal. but the idea then those children might not have a chance to climb out of that situation and back into the middle class no matter

how hard they work is in excusable. it is wrong. [applause] it flies in the face of everything that we stand for. [applause] [applause] fortunately, that is not a future we have. because there is another view about how we build a strong middle class in this country. a view that is truer to our history. a vision that has been embraced in the past by people of both

parties. for more than 200 years. it is not a view that we should somehow turn back technology or put up walls around america. is not a view that says we should punish profits or success or pretend that government knows how to fix all of society's problems. is a view that says in america we are greater together. when everyone engages in fair play and everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share. [applause] what does that mean for restoring middle-class security in this economy? starts by making sure everyone in america gets a fair shot. the truth is we will never be able to compete with other

countries when it comes to do his best at letting their businesses payable lowest wages, who is best that busting unions, who is best at running companies. as much as they want. that is a race to the bottom that we can't win. and we shouldn't want to win that race. [applause] those countries don't have a strong middle class. they don't have our standard of living. the race we want to win, the race we can win is a race to the top. the race for good jobs that pay well and offer middle-class security. businesses will create those jobs in countries with the highest skilled, highest

indicated workers, most advanced transportation and communication, strongest commitment to research and technology. world is shifting to and innovation economy and nobody does innovation better than americans. [applause] nobody does it better. no one has better colleges. nobody has better universities. nobody has a better diversity of talent and ingenuity. no one's workers or on for nors are more driven or daring. the things that have always been our strength match up perfectly with the demands of the moment. what we need to meet the moment. we need to up our game. we need to remember that we can only do that together.

it starts by making education a national mission. a national mission. [applause] [applause] government and businesses, parents and citizens. in this economy a higher education is the surest route to the middle class. the unemployment rate for americans with a college degree or more is about half the national average. their incomes are twice as high as those that don't have a high school diploma. which means we should be laying off good teachers right now. we should be hiring them.

[applause] we shouldn't be expecting less of our schools, we should be demanding more. [applause] we shouldn't be making it harder to afford college. we should be a country where everyone has a chance to go and doesn't rack of $100,000 of debt just because they went. [cheers and applause] in today's innovation economy we also need a world-class commitment to science and research. the next generation of high-tech

manufacturing. our factories and our workers shouldn't be idle. we should be giving people the chance to get those skills and training at community college so they can learn how to make wind turbines and semiconductors and high powered batteries. by the way if we don't have an economy built on bubbles and financial speculation our best and brightest won't all gravitate towards careers in banking and finance. [applause] because if we want an economy that is built to last week need more of those young people in science and engineering. this country should not be known for bad debt and phony profits. we should be known for creating and selling products all around the world with three prod words, made in america. [cheers and applause]

[applause] today manufacturers in other companies are setting up shop in places with the best infrastructure to ship their products, communicate with the rest of the world. that is why the over 1 million construction workers who lost their jobs when the housing market collapse should be sitting at home with nothing to do. they should be rebuilding roads and bridges, lying down faster railroads and broadband, modernizing our schools. [applause]

all the things other countries are already doing to attract jobs and businesses to their shores. yes, business, not government, will always be the primary generator of good jobs within comes that lift people into the middle class and keep them there. but as a nation we have always come together to our government to help create conditions where both workers and businesses can succeed. [applause] historically that hasn't been a partisan idea. franklin roosevelt worked with democrats and republicans to give veterans of world war ii including my grandfather the chance to go to college on the g i bill.

it was a republican president, dwight eisenhower, proud son of kansas -- [applause] -- who started the interstate highway system and double down on science and research to stay ahead of the soviets. of course those productive investments cost money. they are not free. and so we have also paid for these investments by asking everybody to do their fair share. if we had unlimited resources no one would ever have to pay any taxes and we would never have to cut any spending. but we don't have unlimited resources and so we have to set priorities. if we want a strong middle class, than our tax code must reflect our values. we have to make choices. today that choice is very clear.

to reduce our deficit already signed $1 trillion of spending cuts and proposed trillion's more including reforms that would lower the cost of medicare and medicaid. [applause] but in order to structurally close the deficit and get our fiscal house in order we have to decide what our priorities are. most immediately short-term we need to extend a payroll tax cut such to expire at the end of this month. [applause] if we don't do that, 1 sixty million americans including most of the people here will see their taxes go up by an average of $1,000 starting in january and would badly weakened our recovery.

that is the short-term. in the long term we have to rethink our tax system more fundamentally. we have to ask ourselves do we want to make the investments we need in things like education and research and high-tech manufacturing, all those things that help make us an economic superpower? or do we want to keep in place the tax breaks for the wealthiest americans because we can't afford to do both. that is not politics. that is just math. [applause] so far most of my republican friends in washington have refused under any circumstances to ask the wealthiest americans to go to the same tax rate they were paying when bill clinton was president. let's just too a trip down memory lane here. keep in mind when president

clinton first proposed these tax increases folks in congress predicted they would kill jobs and lead to another recession. instead, our economy created nearly twenty-three million jobs and we eliminated the deficit. [applause] today the wealthiest americans are paying the lowest taxes in over half a century. this isn't like in the early 60s one the top tax rate was over 90%. this isn't even like the early 80s when the top tax rate was about 70%. under president clinton the top rate was only 39%. today thanks to loopholes and

shelters a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of you. millions of middle-class families. some billionaires' have a tax rate as low as 1%. 1%! that is the height of unfairness. it is wrong. [applause] it is wrong that in the united states of america, a teacher or a nurse or a construction worker may be turns $50,000 a year, should pay a higher tax rate to somebody raking in $50 million. [applause]

it is wrong for warren buffett's secretary to pay a higher tax rate than warren buffet. [applause] by the way warren buffett agrees with me. so do most americans. democrats, independents and republicans. and i know that many of the wealthiest citizens would agree to contribute a little more if it meant reducing the deficit and strengthening the economy that made their success possible. this isn't about class warfare. this is about the nation's welfare. it is about making choices that benefit not just the people who have done fantastically well over the last few decades but to benefit the middle class and those fighting to get in to the middle class and the economy as

a whole. finally, a strong middle class can all we exist in an economy where everyone plays by the same rules, from wall street to main street. [applause] as infuriating as it was for all of us, we rescued our major banks from collapse not only because of a financial meltdown that would have led to a second depression but because we need a strong healthy financial sector in this country. part of the deal was that we wouldn't go back to business as usual. that is why last year we put in place new rules of the road.

that refocused the financial sector on what should be their core purpose. getting capital to the entrepreneurs with the best ideas and financing billions of families who want to buy a home or send their kids to college. we are not all the way there yet. the banks are fighting us every inch of the way. but already some of these reforms are being implemented. if you are a big bank or risky financial institution you now have to write out a living will that details exactly how you will pay the bills if you fail so taxpayers are never again on the hook for wall street's mistakes. [applause]