quorum call:

quorum call:

a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. a senator: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to a period of morning business with senators -- the presiding officer: the senate is in a quorum call. a senator: madam president, i ask the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. a senator: thank you, madam president. i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: i understand that there's a bill at the desk and i ask for its first reading.

the presiding officer: the clerk will read the title of the bill for the first time. the clerk: s. 3607, a bill to approve the keystone x.l. pipeline. mr. merkley: i now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i object to my own request. the presiding officer: objection having been heard, the measure will be read for a second time on the next legislative day. mr. merkley: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the appointment at the desk appear separately in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12:00 p.m. on friday, september 21, 2012. that following the prayer and pledge, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for

their use later in the day. that the majority leader be recognized and that the first hour be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first half and the republicans controlling the final half. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: unless we reach an agreement, the next roll call vote will be after midnight tomorrow evening. we hope we can work something out in order to complete our work. if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until

>> members of congress and political leaders announce new voter i.d. laws may affect poor and minority voters. they change voted last to require photo identification in addition to voter registration card and somebody must have been challenged in court. this is about two and a half hours.

>> good morning. we appreciate your presence and participation in this opening at the annual legislative conference. the me just say that we hope all of you will refer to what we are doing is the annual legislative conference. this could not come into the cbc or the cbc weekend. that was suggested this was the party that we hope you will see it as what it is what we intended intend it to be and to participate in some fabulous and well-thought-out forearms as well as brain trust. our foundation staff has worked all year to put on these events.

and since 2011, the american public, voting public has come under attack. we never would have did in the 1970s were in the 1980s that in the year 2011 we would be fighting an attempt to suppress or discourage minority voting power. we should have understood it because in 2000 may come, african-american and latino turnout was the highest ever. and for the first time -- [applause] for the first time in u.s.

history, african-american voter turnout equaled white voter turnout percentage wise. [applause] not a numbers, but percentage wise. and we are done if we did not understand that what the a response to that. and we did not predict what happened. and so, it has been estimated that the blog the vote efforts could cost about 5 million black votes across the country. and that could jeopardize the election whichever way you choose to vote. [laughter] this is a foundation. we take no political sides.

i am for whoever wants to win. last night nevertheless, we've had 176 restrict the field regarding voting laws that have been proposed in 41 states. now, understand that we cannot even find an instance of voter fraud and the last 20 something years, the justice department has investigated like to. so why, other than that i'm mentioned earlier would there be such an effort to deter minority voting power products say we see this as both numerous and dangerous. and think about photo i.d. i was born and raised in texas and when i started looking into the family background, the cleaver family background, i was

fortunate enough to have make great, great grandfather sweetmeat until i was out of college. on the cleaver side, the males tend to live a long time, most of them right up to her past 100. i'll probably get hit by a shark. but my great grandpa, the reverend noah albert cleveland live to be 103. my twin boys sat on this 100 earth day, my great grandpa preached, worked in the community and in 103 years, never voted. because he refused to pay for texas tax.

it was only $1.50, but $1.50 is a lot of money. even if he had it, and was the principal. in 1879, where constitutionally regarded as three fifths human, slightly above eight. 715th memo was passed, we didn't come in much better. the law was, unless your grandfather voted, you have to take a literacy test. and of course no grandfather of a black person had ever voted for mr. while the people in texas and many southern states had to take the test. in the test that has irritated me the most an alabama literary task, you can find these tests. it's amazing. zero it's going to do is make you angry. don't do it if you're trying to be nice to your spouse or something.

do it on the train or something. it says before you can vote, you must recite the constitution. and of course nobody's going to recite the constitution, so they tend to agree to be too illiterate to vote. and so, that is why i have become so angry at any african-american who refuses to vote. they are not worth the color if they don't vote. [cheers and applause] the african-american credentials need to be smashed. that is an insult to the ancestors of the people who brought us to where we are right now. there would be no black caucus but for the black men and women

who fight and died, that we may have an opportunity to gather in washington, the third 242 members of the congressional black caucus. so we are launching on the 25th of this month, national voter registration dale over the country, at least in areas where we have a black member of congress. we will have a rally at the election boards in all of these cities than in kansas city being one of them, will have huge concert at the top entertainers in the country. african american entertainers. at the register to vote come you come in free. if you're not registered, you can come register and then coming for you. if you haven't had a change of address, you can show up anywhere and coming free. we've got to do everything we can to get people energized and understanding what is being done to us. you know, if people understood

but was being done and still chose not to though, i understand they have some mental problems. but if they are unaware, then maybe that's our fault. and so we've got to lead from washington, going back home from explaining to people what's going on. so i appreciate the opportunity that you come here from all over the country. hopefully you will leave with a voter guide toolkit that you can take back to your home district and understand this voter i.d. law intended to have some consequences. my father is 90 years old. he turned 90 on july 16th. he's just as alert is anybody here and rides a bicycle about three miles two or three times a week. then it causes girlfriend and they go around and talk. but for the fact that my daddy

in the cleaver side of my family lived a long time and maintained the mental dexterity, my father wouldn't be able to vote because he wouldn't have a drivers license. and if you don't have an i.d. in the state of texas, it's $21. twenty-one dollars. and so we need to leave your energized and in some ways angry. that is the audacity that people have been trained to keep us from the polls. inadequate to stop this. people have been trying to stop us in this country for more than 400 years. we haven't stopped yet. at the time to even think about stopping. let the knowledge of some of my classmates from the personal that i came to congress with them when i first met her, i knew she was going to be

somebody special. she was already somebody special, but she was going to be even special her. and lo and behold, very quickly she began to move up in the democratic caucus. and then eventually she caught the eye of the president of the united states, who asked her to become the first member of the house of representatives to serve in a congressional seat would chair the democratic national committee. my good friend in the person who's been leading us to this point, debbie wasserman schultz from the 20th district of florida. [applause] >> thank you so much, good morning. thank you so much chemistry makes me very. really, can i ask you to give a round of applause to my friends that are later, emanuel cleaver,

such an incredible leader and spokesperson and i'm proud to be here to join my colleagues at the congressional black caucus and all of you for the 4d cbc has legislative. i am particularly focused on voting rights and ensuring we protect them as fundamental rights we all have as american citizens, the right to vote. and while i'm not worried by dnc chair had today, i would be remiss if i didn't acknowledge as a person charged a president obama to be the democratic national committee to barack obama and joe biden across the finish line, and especially interested in any efforts the price would deny voting rights as i know you all are too. it is really shocking that we need voting rates in 2012, but we press on. chairman cleaver, thank you so much for your friendship and your leadership and for all you do for the african-american community and all americans as chair of the congressional black

caucus. gwynne moore and the guy who has my back, andre carson, thank congratulations and her co-chairmanship. the program you put together his outstanding i look forward to participating in the workshops and events. i know a number of my colleagues are here today. mel watts, marcia thach and i'm glad to hear that excellent choice. the great john lewis and charlie rangel and so many others. it's a privilege to serve with all of the nations capital. 47 days until americans go to the polls. there is so much work to be done in so many fronts in another conference will help us focus in java legislative efforts over the next year, but we shall see his information we gather here to help inform others about issues at stake in this election. i know i don't need to chill and do in this room, but the defense of civil liberties and fight to

eradicate discrimination is not something relegated to the history books, is that? it's an ongoing struggle, one that each generation must fight and he appeared to stand together in the struggle and how they commitment to protect the fundamental rights to vote for all americans regardless of their party or political belief. that's because we no voting rights are at the core of our democracy. the franchise strengthens our society. we must not allow those who seek to consolidate power put it democratic process. it must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that all eligible americans had the opportunity for voices to be heard and ballots counted so we continue to move our country forward. i'm sure you are all of reason after is my home state of florida and across the country. in the past two years releasing a new organized assault on voting rights that may not seem as obvious as the overt effort.

but it is no less insidious. in 2011 the gloves, more than 30 state legislators introduce legislation to pass laws making it harder to vote, not easier. the new research of our short and early voting windows, eliminate election day registration amid a more difficult for poll workers to do their job. it's no coincidence here. we know these are sure to bloss affect all voters, but we also know they fall disproportionately on certain communities, especially african-american voters and they also know i'm a history of american voting rights, access to the franchise has never remained stagnant. as you can move forward fall backwards. the legacy of our generation's history is up to us to determine and i'm heartened that despite recent roadblocks are voting in some states, the momentum has turned and courts are enforced in our nation state, federal constitutional protection of voting rights. recently my home state of florida a federal judge permanently enjoined the

restrictions on community voter registration like those conducted by teachers at the league of women voters league of women voters. another panel of judges found restrictions on early voting was disproportionally attract minority voters can shorten the liberated from florida and the county is subject to section five of the voting rights act. it will be a court's decision probably today that will further address those concerns. just three weeks ago federal judges held a photo i.d. law in texas can one of the strictest in the nation also violates, finding data heavy burdens would fall disproportionately on poor and minority voters. two weeks ago a federal judge ruled in favor of obama for america and the dnc and the public party granting a preliminary injunction restoring voting in ohio on saturday, sunday and monday before election day. right now we continue to fight and the sixth circuit craig appeals. >> thank you, thank you. and we will continue to fight all across the land. just two days ago the

pennsylvania supreme court took action that questioned the new photo i.d. law. the court set aside a decision upholding the law until the trial court must make certain the new lab results and no voter disenfranchisement, nine. that case continues and so will we. we will continue to fight. thank you, thank you. we will continue to fight in congress, too. i'm proud to be a member steny hoyer's voting rights group along with any of my cdc collects an original cosponsor of congressman john lewis says voter empowerment act of 2012 compression surely her this morning. while working together to make progress and preserve voters to cast their ballots and have those counts and we need to make sure the public remains informed and vigilant and that is what this morning's panel is all about. remember, justices if any would prevail and that those who defend it remained credulous. tape or can remain resolute and by all means, vote and make sure everyone you know within the

sound of your voice and with your arms reach cast their right to though. thank you so much and have a wonderful conference. [applause] >> please welcome the cochair of deceased annual legislative conference, congresswoman gwynne moore and congressman andre carson. i'm also, please welcome congressman charles wrangle. [applause] >> good morning brothers and sisters. we want to thank chairman cleaver who we heard from this morning for his tireless leadership within the congress and within the congressional

black caucus as our chairman. we also want to thank our good friend and sister, my classmate, representative debbie wasserman schultz who you've heard from. i can tell you that there is no way to start a townhall meeting, this 42nd annual legislative conference without asking our elders for permission to speak. and so, we have on the stage with us today one of the founding members of the congressional black caucus to bless this affair and bring his greetings. ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, please welcome representative charles rangel from the fifth game tester of new york. [applause]

>> thank you my good friends. [applause] thank you so very, very much. you may notice that when speakers cannot hear to speak, normally they come out aloud and either read or greet you. but they told me in the back that i had one minute to speak to you. and so, with all of the 82 years i looked at both of them, startled. but they just smiled and said go ahead. what i had no idea if they were prepared to do what we do at the apollo. last mac in new york if you go over time for the audiences and please, they just drag you off. last mac but quite frankly, as

always, i am just so overwhelmed and excited by how far we have come. when i got to the congress in 1971, i was not my mentor charles stakes are in, michigan. so much vision recognized and not only were a raise from africa, but africa had to be a player on the world scene and he mentored me and together with the members that were there under my predecessor the lake and the great adam powell, we joined, the 13 of us became the congressional black caucus. we didn't get together just because living men and women of color. we got together because we recognized the coming together with the addition of strength.

come together and meant arvis meant something. coming together meant that we want to tell everybody, no matter where they observed, that whether or not they had a member, it didn't matter because we took the responsibility to speak for them wherever they were. and can you imagine in 10 years from 16 to 26, another 10 years to 36, another 10 years to 42 and 43 and now the congressional black caucus is the largest caucus that we have in the house of representatives. [applause] and to think and to dream and to perceive that among our membership, one of our members is now president of the united states. [applause]

and so it's all the struggles he suffered in the civil rights movement, with all of them marching in the prey and dying people have done for us, please don't any of you walk away without realizing that the struggle continues. and the same type of mentality that would prevent us from voting yesterday exists today with the same motivation to stop this from voting. so with all the pride, dignity and feelings that we have a super weekend and where we are today, please come each and every one of you walk away believing that this is just the beginning, for you, for your children and for your children's children. take me off. [applause]

>> charlie rangel everybody. my name is charlie. and now, this is the 42nd annual legislative conference and i want to welcome you to the national town hall meeting. as cochair of this year's annual legislative conference, it's been an on-air and quite frankly a thrill to work with my giant, and i mean that figuratively and literally, congressman andre carson at indiana. [applause] not only does this national town hall meeting, but all of the issues that will be discussed here and throughout the conference are very near and dear to the height of the congressional black caucus.

and i know that they are concerned that you and the larger community have as well. it is our wish that you will take the information, the handouts, the various speakers that we have to gather information together and take it back to your community. it can't be said enough that we need your help to get this crucial work done. we want you all to be like ants. and now, and snare multiple times their weight. you think, what can they do? but remember the old african adage? but remember the old african adage? but remember the old african adage? but remember the old african adage the alice sent.

>> thank you, congresswoman moore. it's been a not to share with you the serious alc. i mean it from the bottom of my heart. i'm from the midwest, how could i not? and you're looking gorgeous in that canary yellow. >> amant coming out. >> friends, it is an honor to be here for this morning's panel. you know, my home state of indiana was the first of many to enact voter i.d. laws. under republican legislator passed on to restrictive laws calling voters to present a voter i.d. in order to have their vote counted. they claim that this law was necessary because it addressed rampant voter fraud. but in truth, the state of indiana has never convict did

anyone of voter impersonation. what we do know is that this law makes that harder for certain populations to the, including the elderly, young people and african-americans. now it is alarming to have a responsibility to get the word out. i know it's still in court, but in the great state of texas, you can present when a gun license to the, but a student i.d. is an. that's a problem. now with this in mind, very pleased that we have a spectacular body is distinguished panelists, scholars and political strategists who will dive more deeply into these issues. but we must go forward from this conference inspired and motivated to show up and show

out in this years election. [applause] so before we get to our esteemed moderator, activists and educator, the foundation has a video we like to share. >> hello, my name is catherine clark and this is my mother, marin hutchence. my mother is 92 and this is a story about the trials she had to go through in order to get a photo i.d. in order to vote in the state of wisconsin. >> when i heard about the voter i.d., i've got a wisconsin idea,

social security number, driver's license, so that's all i need. so when my daddy tells them about this, she says she's talking to me. >> she's been voting for the 60 years in the state of wisconsin, even in a poll worker in the state of wisconsin. so it's upsetting to her and for me to find a well this time -- he has to have something extra in order to do what she's been doing before. we began our journey in terms of getting the i.d. in the election of 2011, my mother and i were them i decided to go to the dmv to get a photo i.d. for her. so we got there and they wouldn't give her one. now, another has an expired drivers license and they said

and they said it was that good because it was too old. she had a voter i.d. and they said that wouldn't work either. so the only way she could get a photo i.d. was to have a certified birth certificate from the state of mississippi where she was born. as soon as they told me i knew it's going to be a problem because i tried to get a certified birth certificate instead of mississippi in use prior to that and it cost me $2000 for the corrective certified or certificate. there's so many errors on the birth certificate they told me i would have to go to court and hire an attorney in the state of mississippi in order to do that. so the court costs was too grand >> wages and gentlemen, please welcome our moderator, cnn commentator, home to our black

world enterprise and columbia professor of education, dr. dr. lamont hill. [applause] >> good morning, everybody. welcome to our discussion on post-racial america. [laughter] you all he heard? this is an important conversation we are going to have today about voter discrimination of voter i.d. laws that constitutes really a new form, 21st century form of racial discrimination. a lot of conversation going on now but what these voter ids mean. republicans say a minimum is, democrats another. they want me to be nonpartisan and objective enabled in the panel comes out, and going to tell you all something. this is not anything to be objective about. this is a clear case of racial

discrimination. what is going on break now is important. [applause] because this election will be decided by these types of issues. republicans don't win by genius. they don't win because they make a compelling argument. they don't win because they convince their people, at least for the 47% of us, is good. but they do is they win by the margin of poor people that don't go. they win by the margin of black people that do not go. and even though in 2008 barack obama was able to register a whole new generation of voters, who is able to galvanize a whole wave of people who enter the polls and made different decisions about the future, education, health care, even all that happened, they managed somehow to convince us that for the sake of preventing voter fraud, they need to restrict our access to the polls. they tell us that is voter

fraud. you know the odds are of voter fraud occurring? it's like one and a trojan. you have a better chance of being struck a late teen in front of the house but she won publishers clearing house. [laughter] the odds are so slim, get what we have to do today is how the conversation. we have to have an analysis. we have to have an action plan. so were going to talk about the issues, talk about this is not new and doubletalk about what to do between now and november so that we do not lose this election. we could lose the election, but we can never lose the boat. but they say that again. we can lose the election, but we can never lose the vote because the boat is a reflection of our citizenship. the vote is a sign of how far we have come as a nation. the vote was cosigned in the 1965 voting rights act and was

written in the blood of our grandmothers and grandfathers and their great-grandmothers great-grandfathers of all the folks in america who has struggled to make us human beings. it is the is the world is not that fact, i am, you are, we are. cybill have a group of people of all political parties, different generations, i.d. is committed to protecting interests, vote and our country. before introduced the panel, i'd also like to thank the service employee international union. give them a round of applause. they are our sponsor. particularly want to thank valerie long who is the international executive vice president. i'd also like to thank jerry hudson, the vice president. they are both sponsored townhall and for nine years the aclu has been committed to building the farrakhan made, providing workers, ensuring that all working people live a moment

where unions are under attack in a moment for workers rights are under attack, it is so important for organizations to exist is to give them a moribund of of applause, please. [applause] and you want to come to your metallica masseurs now time to bring on the panel. first up is representative marcia fudge. [applause] there you go. [inaudible] nextstep of course course, another version, representative john lewis. [applause] we also have representatives melvin watt.

[applause] next step, what are my favorite people. i love watching them duke it out on the tv screen. next up is ms. donna brazile. [cheers and applause] nextstep comest amaze all my different civil rights leader acted as an tv on the tv screen, reverend al sharpton. [cheers and applause] about to give a special thank you to reverend sharpton -- onto the special thank you because he was able to fill in on short notice. when i asked him to come come i told him he was going to be moderating. when he normally does, he does with mark morreale, those key civil rights organization of the

naacp and the injunction. he didn't know that when he came out. i apologize for that. we do think and for that. give them a round of applause. [applause] guy said this was going to be a diverse panel. why are you laughing? would have some conservatives. we went through the whole cbc and found like to, both of them. first up, ms. crystal wright. [applause] and we have mr. ron christie. [cheers and applause] ..

just to let you know the impact these laws will have, 17 states have had worcester a voting laws. 17 states have had the potential to impact 2012 residential election.

beastie account for 218 you are a vote. 80% of of the elect are a folks in order to win the presidency. let me just y this, my mom taught me that when you change the rules that is called cheating. there is no place in our country or democracy to put before the people eligible citizens to show up at the voting booth this fall to produce multiple i.d.. i say this because my distinguished to this. in 2001 i when i managed al gore's campaign, where we won and lost both on the same day, my own sister who had the time lived in florida produce not one, not to, two, but three forms of voter i d. just to get a provisional ballot. so i told everybody, not just in my family but all throughout the country that regardless of what they tell you to show up with

the odor identification card and a driver's license. i want to -- your driver's license and your per certificate, your voter registration card, anything and your utility payment because this will, we will seek her to what we have not seen since 1965 and this is something that should other office. he gave one of the best sermons i believe he ever gave and that was get a ballot, give us the hours of the weekend toga legislative hall with limited good well so we can go out with men and women who serve with justice. ladies in this as well on course to it we are going to have a hard time in some he states getting the ballot to eligible citizens making cast their vote for the presidency and other positions. neighboring at utility bill.

even if you haven't paid it. [laughter] if it's yellow, you matter bring the bill. >> we understand the laws of changed, but the question here also is the racial? i hearing people say, why people have to show i.d. to. >> first of for all its discrimination because in any number of studies where people have talked about the disproportionate impact it has on africa and americans and tina. three things that i think we need to be your because what we have been doing, we been with him in ohio and have done 11 states with the naacp and urban league. one, we are not against identification. we are trying to act like you have to have i.d. to do anything. we are saying have the same

idea -- i.d. this year that you had when reagan ran and clinton ran in bush ran. [applause] people need to be clear we are not talking about we are against i.d.. we are against the new restrictive voter i.d. because they are trying to sell the photo and we just want to open up the pole. that is not what we are doing. we are saying there has been no fraud in the justice department has established a 0.000 cases of fraud so this is a solution looking for a problem, not a problem looking for a solution. [applause] it has a disproportionate impact on us that are black and latino. ayman told me in orlando florida, he said reverend i i am 85 years old. i live 27 miles from where you have to go get the state i.d.. i do not drive because i'm too old and i don't have a passport because i'm not going anywhere. he said so to do this it will cost me $27 to transport to go

and. that is a poll tax and we cannot have people with a fixed income or they cannot get the idea and therefore their vote is tonight. according to the brennan institute it will cost potentially 5 million votes. if you look at congressman were watt's stayed where we won by a low number of votes in north carolina, 200,000 in no way, 14,000 in virginia, just shaving off 100,000 votes in the states could turn this election. secondly, when you look at congressman john lewis that pay the price for us to vote, you think that donna is right, we need to have a two-pronged strategy. we have got to fight for the law and we need to do everything we need to do to vote this year so where we can't turn them around like ohio and pennsylvania and michigan and reverend charles williams and others in michigan,

we can still vote because if they could take no right to vote instead of against jim clark and get eaten like like john john ls san jose williams, then what excuse do we have if we can't get a couple of i.d.s and go to the pole? we cannot be that lazy that we cannot do what we have to do this november so as much as we are outraged about it, we need to have a strategy that we are there for going to be proactive in deal with it. lastly i'm glad you've said this because i'm with the conservatives. i'm a conservative. i'm trying to conserve the voting rights act. i'm trying to conserve the civil rights act. those that are trying to have a radical departure from what made this country great. we are trying to conserve the

country. others are trying to turn the country back and we are not going back. [applause] >> we are going to let our conservatives, the conservative members of the panel jump in and just be to be clear i was teasing. actually we are very grateful to have them on the panel that this nonpartisan event, nonpartisan caucus decide to come up with issues and answers rather than it is in -- bitter partisanship. reverend sharpton mentioned the law and the lawmakers we have in the room, we have representative emanuel cleaver, andre carson and andrew johnson. will you give them a warm welcome please? also -- can we give them a round of applause please? and i would like to go to the three lawmakers on the panel right now because part of what

in the someways as an abstract argument and it's become an ideological argument when people aren't entirely clear on what they think so i would like representative fudge to talk about is what kinds of issues or voters in your district in right now is departure voting? >> seniority. >> seniority. [laughter] >> first of all, the issue of being able to vote, being able to participate in the democratic process shouldn't be a partisan issue. the right to vote, the right to participate, to cast a vote as i said before is precious, almost sacred. people have died for this right. people stood in lines and in another period period and her history people have to --

[inaudible] they had to count the number of jelly beans in a jar and there were black lawyers in black doctors, college professors, teachers, ministers, lawyers who were told they could not read and write well enough. we thought we solved that issue. with the voting rights act of 1965. and why now during this election year we must fight this issue all over again to ask why do we talk about the past? if we fail to remember the past, we will repeat the history. we don't want to go back. we want to go forward. and that is what we must do. so it's not just -- a lot of people think it has happened in alabama, happened in mississippi, in georgia and

south carolina and north carolina but what is going on in pennsylvania is a shame and a disgrace and is an affront to the voting rights act of 1965 into the democratic trust us and we cannot and must not allow it to happen on our watch. [applause] now i will tell you, reverend al, that if we allow what is about to happen in pennsylvania to happen, maybe 700 or 900,000 people will be denied the right to cast a ballot. we cannot let that happen. the only thing i did during the 60's, i gave a little blood. for the right to vote. and i tell you --

[applause] some of my friends and colleagues, three young men that i knew gave their very lives, andy goodman and james chaney and fo us whether we are black, white, latino, asian-american, to not make some noise and that is why in a few days some of us are going to march to these voting places to the board of elections and we are going to dramatize the issue once again all across america. we have african-american members of congress. we are going to do it and we must do it. [applause] >> congressman, what is going on in your district in particular that voters are having trouble

with regard to that issue? >> first let me say i am from the state of ohio that is everyone knows noses at ground zero on what is going on in this country. if the secretary of state had that has done everything possible to restrict our ability to vote which we had in the primary this year taken a way longer hours which we had in the primary this year, has created so many issues but we have taken them to court and we basically won most of these battles but what people need to understand is that if we can't get our vote out, this election could change significantly in the state of ohio so our battle not only is to educate people on what they need to vote with more importantly, that they have to get out and vote. i mean we can make sure that people are educated. that is not our issue. we must force our state legislators to do away with voter i.d. so in ohio you can

still use your utility bill, you can still use whether it be your driver's license or any other form of i.d. that is appropriate so that's not a problem in ohio. are bigger problem is in particular african-americans have historically voted on weekends so what did they do? they took away the weekend vote. churches on sunday would bring buses to the polls on sunday especially the weekend before the election and what did they do? they took away sunday voting. we did get the sunday voting back the weekend before the election but let's just be clear why such a major problem. 25% of american -- african-americans, 25% according to the brennan center, african-americans have drivers licenses that half at half the rate of whites. only 22% of black men aged 18 to 24 have a valid driver's license. so you think of this is not a big deal. this is a big deal.

not only at our minority voters less likely to possess an i.d. that they are also more likely than white voters to be selectively asked for an i.d.. so when people say that this does not affect the african-american population, there is a mess in their thinking. when you look at the loss across this country must just take texas because this is one reason awful lot. in the state of texas you can use a hunting license as an official form of i.d. to vote but you cannot use your student i.d.. so now you know who they would want to vote and who they don't want to vote. it's very clear that across the country they are make it easier as reverend sharpton said, there is not a problem in the process. people don't go to the polls to pretend to be somebody they are not. so what did they not change? absentee ballots. because that is the way most

people of means and republicans votes are absentee. >> the one thing that could actually cause fraud is the one thing that they are doing. >> and i will say lastly to you and i say this all the time, we realize that something is important when people try to take it from us. people never try to take anything from you that is not important so understand if they try to limit our ability to shape their own futures and write our own futures, we can't let them do it and we can't go back. [applause] >> thank you. >> it i knew you were going to get to me at some point. i am anxious to hear how our friends on the far right in their response on this issue. >> so in my. >> i do want to talk about north carolina though and because

north carolina illustrates why this is so critically important, the vote and who we vote for is so critically important because we had a democratic governor, right? we had a governor who vetoed the voter i.d. law, and that has made all the difference in north carolina because we still have on the books what we had on the books four years ago and eight years ago and 12 years ago and 16 years ago, so we are not dealing with that. but i am anxious to hear the response and i know you are are going to throw it to them next so i am going to set the stage for you. when i think of voting rights, in addition to john lewis, i think of all of those long lines

that i saw in south africa. people standing in line. not a single registration was required. the whole idea of requiring people to register to vote in my estimation has always been undemocratic, right? [applause] come on now. we are not talking about presenting i.d.s to vote. these are people who were standing in line and had never registered to vote. they were just showing up. this is a basic democratic right, that we should be insisting on. i don't know what all this fuss is about presenting identification. our problem is not people showing up trying to get the

right to vote. our problem is people not showing up and not showing up and trying to, not trying to vote. that is the problem we are facing in this country. we ought to be encouraging participation, not doing something to discourage it. >> i see's want to make sure i understand your point though. you abdicate no registration? >> i would, i would but i don't want is get his get into that academic discussion. i would, i mean in this day of technology, we ought not to be requiring people to register. we ought not be requiring that they be in the state that they vote in. i mean, i mean, we can track people. i mean, if we can find somebody in pakistan to vote, we can figure out whether somebody is eligible to vote without them

having to march down with their utility bill. [applause] segui i just did want people to think that you were saying you didn't want any kind of -- you said you just did want a formal process. >> can i intervene? i agree with my colleague and friend from north carolina. it is so important and i think everyone should understand here. as far back as 1963, at the march on washington, august 28, 1963, 50 years ago next year, we came up with a slogan, one person, one vote and that was the slogan that was the cry of young people going south in the student non-violent coordinating

committee. that the only qualification for being able to vote should be that of age and -- nothing more and nothing less. and we are going backwards. and a democratic society, we should open up the process and let people come and and not try to keep people out. and that is what we should do now. [applause] >> that is a conservative principle which is stated. >> i'm going to go to the experts on that but for this round of questions that will i will make sure you all jump in. you have been hearing this, the first question, is there any dispute to the idea that this was a clearly racialized discriminatory policy, set of policies and laws that we implemented right now?

>> thank you first for the opportunity to interact with all of you. i think this is a very important discussion that we need to have. [applause] and when i listened as a lawyer i recognize the support for the efforts of john lewis and many brave pioneers in the civil rights area -- era. we would not be sitting here having this discussion. [applause] but as a lawyer and as a student of history, when you ask dr. he'll is this a racialization questioners as overtly discriminatory i go back and give you a few things to think about. in the year 2005 president jimmy carter and former secretary of state james baker chaired a commission looking at federal election reform. one of the key recommendations these two gentlemen made was that we must have a federal voter identification card to ensure the integrity of the ballot box and the electoral process. i move forward three years later to the year 2008.

in the year 2008, in the united states supreme court in the marion county board of elections they took up is very issue of an discriminatory in discriminatory to have the voter i.d. because it marginalizes people who are less well off and third, does it meet constitutional muster? this was a 6-3 decision. this was not a stacked court. as it was not a biased court. this was a 6-3 opinion that was written by the hard-core right-winger john paul stevens and i say that facetiously of course. but what they said was it was constitutional. it was legal and it was proper for indiana to institute a voter i.d. system. it was proper that a republican legislature had decided to enact this and that while democrats had complained and said this was

an overtly partisan method the supreme court also said that is part of the electoral process and that is why citizens and the their representatives who made those decisions. the third day that i would come up with when you ask if this is a racialization question is the year 2012. that is the year we are in right now. earlier this year the richmond dispatch issued an editorial that said i like my orioles served medium rare. in that particular editorial they noted that they have strong opposition to the voter i.d. laws in virginia they were going to the legislature. they thought that they were racist and they thought they would disproportionately impact the pool of color. in april they issued that editorial that they liked it medium rare because they said just virginia did have a problem, that there were 10 felons, convicted felons who were found to have voted illegally and also in april of

this year and a state-wide report they found 50 people in virginia who voted illegally and so the richmond times dispatch said that this was not a problem in search of a solution or solution in search of a problem but is very real. we are all equal in this country under the color of the law. these voter i.d. laws were designed specifically to allow people to have the confidence and the integrity and a ballot box that has been uphill buyers up in court in our rule of law so no dr. he'll i don't think this is racialization. >> and i would like to if i make -- >> let them respond. in your answer, just like it is sort of, i'm going to push this forward just a little bit. so when you look at the data that suggests in these laws were implemented fewer black people have access to the polls. how is that not on its face a racialized set of laws and

policies? >> i want to backtrack a little bit and then i want to go to some data that nobody is mentioned and ron christie has touched on. i grew up knowing that my parents said at lunch counters, my mom tells me the stories, they resonate with me because they made me the woman i am, the fearless woman to have a different opinion than to sit here before you and say that i don't think martin luther king fought for us to be in the year 2012 to be told that blacks can't, can't, can't. i remember my mother telling me when she was a little girl she had to go to a segregated beach and had to sit on the side and watch the white people sunbathe, watch the way people enjoy all the beauty of the ocean and the sun while she and her family knitted together blankets to have a canopy to protect themselves under. i remember my dad talked to me about when he went to the

college of virginia and he was the only black to integrate his dental plan. he helped his white colleagues studied and they got better grades in him. this did not deter my father. he continued to press on and became a great -- that he still practices did they. when we were little my parents built their dream home in richmond virginia. in a subdivision where they thought they would affect access to a country club. i was in grade school and my parents were told they couldn't -- the kids their kids consume in the pool and they couldn't play tennis because we were black. they sued the salisbury country club. their case one of the web to the virginia supreme court. they one. they didn't win so that we could swim in the pool with the white people because we wanted to. they wanted to teach their children, myself and my brother, to fight for what is right. so that experience that i had growing up in the face of

adversity i can always achieve, this does not jibe with the voter i.d. laws and folks here are the facts. photo i.d. laws are not jim crow because they apply to all of us no matter what our skin color and i want to go back to the brennan center staff that respectfully congresswoman fudge highlighted. 89% of americans in this country have the proper i.d. to vote. whose fault is it that 25% of black americans will not or cannot get an i.d.? whose fault is that? when others seem to get i.d.s, you know in 2081 the supreme court ruled on indiana voter i.d. laws, they found it to be constitutional and guess what? after the laws were passed in indiana and georgia, minority participation in the electoral process -- for blacks by 40% and in georgia in 2010, when the

republicans were experiencing a surge, guess what? more black voters turned out by 40% and latinos and hispanic voters turnout increased by 140%. and american university and the university of delaware have all found that none of voter i.d. laws that have been passed have deterred people from the polls do matter what the color of their skin so i find it hard to believe and i'm tired of being talked down as a black woman being told what to do, to me what is wrong with the -- they need to get an i.d. to vote. we know that in colorado, in 2010, 5000 noncitizens vote. we know in a tight the tight race between norm colman and al franken, at that race was won by 312 votes. do you know what has happened right now quick 217 of those votes, 170 those votes have been

found to be of fraudulent and those individuals have been convicted. 66 of those votes are now being processed,. that was a vote i will remind everybody that minnesota's senatorial seat after al franken one that was the vote that decided obamacare. fraud does occur in fraud matters and if we check i.d.s, which we don't do primarily unless we have photo i.d. laws, we would know the kind of fraud we have. >> the congressman and the civil rights leaders are about to jump out of their chairs. very quick read i'm going to let reverend sharpton and congressman fudge respond. >> i'm going to very brief. i don't know that anyone here said that we cannot vote. the question is why should we? we fought this battle for a few

years ago. >> why shouldn't they? >> i will let you speak. no one here saying we can't. all of us have overcome something in our lives. that is not the issue. but we fought a battle for equality and justice a long time ago. if we don't stand up for it now our children and grandchildren will be fighting it. then you been you raised is followed is that people don't have i.d.s. my grandmothers per certificate is my bible. she doesn't have a birth certificate. it's in the bible. these young people that live in cities like new york and philadelphia, didn't even drive so why did they need a driver's license? they take public transportation. a lot of them don't have jobs because the way this economy is going. disabled people don't drive. why did they need an i.d.? we have to look at who has been singled out in this process. it is students and it is for people and it's the elderly and disabled the disabled and his people who historically vote

democratic. it is predetermined. >> we will let reverend sharpton response. [applause] 's the. >> first evolved, we can have different opinions but we can't have different facts. [applause] c. and where were my facts different? where were my facts wrong? >> i didn't interrupt you. >> let everyone response. >> the indiana case, the supreme court rule was not the same i.d. law that we are dealing with and pennsylvania and in other states. you are acting as though one case is a uniform i.d. law as congressman fudge said. we have state-by-state different laws. texas has one line pennsylvania and other law and ohio another

law. if in fact as ron christie said they have a national federal i.d. law you could say that. we are talking about different states, different laws and we should not act as though the supreme court ruling said that. is a case in point, the fact is the texas federal court just said it is discriminatory the i.d. laws that they putting texas in 2012. that is one. that is a fact. that is a fact. [applause] secondly, when we talk about people -- that has nothing to do with people that want i.d. laws. saying that someone fraudulently voted, the people -- i.d. laws would not protect that. you are mixing apples and oranges. thirdly to say why does the 11% have their had their i.t. and why can't we catch up with the game? white change the rules of the game in the fifth inning?

[applause] nobody, nobody wins you change the state laws, closely early this year and late last year, the game was already on for this election. we are not talking about changing something later. we are talking about changing something now. people cannot vote now. they could have voted in the last election and many did. that is changing again make game. don't blame people for not being prepared for changing the rules. if we are having a 12 round fight in its middle of the fight, you are going to change it to an eight round fight, you have -- don't tell me why we are not prepared. why did you change the game? [applause] >> i just want to echo, reverend

sharpton wants to deal with facts and i did bring a couple. and 2011 only two states passed voter restrictions. as i mentioned we are now at 41 states. the problem is proving citizenships. in some states in addition to having the poe and poe right form of i.d. you have to show other proof of citizenship and those laws are changing state-by-state. only one state to my knowledge, of virginia has issued identification to presidents who do not have all the other forms of i.d. that are required to get a quote unquote non-driver's license permit. now in my home state of louisiana, you have to show up with citizenship. has every went -- anyone of hurricane katrina? i don't even want to go chapter and verse because i will have a pity party if i did.

the fact is you have to not only show up with this proven citizenship but you also have to show up with $39.50. here is the problem with 11% of the american people, 25 million citizens without proof of identification. many of them do not have the resources or is reverend sharpton and others have mentioned they don't have anyone who can drive them to the local dmv in order to get the proper form of i.d.. [applause] >> i promise i will give you both a chance to respond but who we have bed waiting for a long time, we have people joining us in six cities, austin texas, chicago illinois pittsburgh pa, atlanta georgia and new york, new york. [applause] if you all give them another round of applause. wave at them. give them your love. [applause]

.. >> prior to this ruling, a gun owner would be able to use a gun license to vote, but i would not be able to use my student id.

my question first is do you think that this ruling will provide equal opportunity opportunities for minors and if it wasn't upheld, would it be fair that example to government would be able to use his or her id but i can't use my student id to vote. >> that is a good question. it is right and the rhythm we are talking about. >> let me just address this. it's an excellent question. this is something that i think reverend al and i actually agree with. i think the indiana supreme court case paved the way to allow states to craft their own voter id laws. i have a lot of problem with the state of texas with what they have tried to do. it is true that they have convicted that the people of voter fraud in texas over the last couple of years. i think the id should be free if

the state is going to require you to have it. [applause] secondly, the state of texas also has put a system in place with the voter id office is only open from nine to five. that impact people and makes it difficult for people to give that voter id. they should have a mobile id system. third, many of the states, when they say that there is no one and we can't prove anyone who has been harmed by this come in texas they did have a gentleman who proved that he would have to drive three hours in one direction to go to a non-wisdom three hours in another direction, they couldn't be discriminatory and i couldn't agree more with that.

[talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> one second, let me just answer this response a little shorter to accommodate the people and make sure that everyone gets this ladies and gentlemen, thank you. but we didn't talk about, and ron touched on this as well as is that many of the states offer free ids and tennessee offers transportation for elderly people. i think that should absolutely be in that state laws. free ids come how do we get transportation for those who don't have access to places where they can get the voter ids, sunday undies are being used for voter ids, but i think with respect to virginia, i want to go back to virginia's law. you know, in virginia, you can bring more than eight forms of id. you can bring a utility bill, you don't have to have a driver's license, what the

stated in virginia as they mailed out voter ids to everyone. and they are not photo ids. i find it hard to believe and with the free ids, i'm still not going to buy that. only 40% of americans bother to vote. all of us can agree that more americans need to get engaged in electoral context.

>> that's what i'm saying, you have to have a government issued photo id. >> some states allow medicare and medicaid. and unacceptable form of voter id. i am with you that we should have a national -- if we had a national voter id law, fine, but we don't. right now, the states have the right to do this. going back to reverend sharpton's comments, last time i looked, the supreme court is the law of the land. with texas and all of these other states that have been denied, when they take their case to the supreme court, they're going to look at the passing of 2008 by a majority of six to three and they are going to stay but that the state president.

>> it was constitutional for them to establish id. they did not say that all of those states were subsequent -- [talking over each other] >> let me finish two no, no, no to it is the law of the land. >> everybody, everybody -- [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> come on, you all. >> reverend al, if i may call you that, 30 states had it on the books before barack obama became president. >> there were voter id laws on the ballot. >> everybody hold on. [talking over each other] [cheers] >> i am calling a timeout. we need to move past this. i need 30 seconds to state this point.

i want reverend sharpton to respond. i would like condoleezza rice to respond. in that order. thirty seconds, okay. go ahead. >> what he wanted to say? >> you were trying to a certain point. >> you are all wrong. >> my response is the supreme court in their decision that indiana has the right to certain laws to not say that therefore, whatever state says laws are okay, they are discriminatory, so you cannot have been court decision and said that say that that means going toward everything that was constitutional. >> that's not what i said it has

nothing to do with the laws that i am arguing now. >> these laws are subsequent. >> okay, okay. >> now you have 30 seconds he meant what i said was the supreme court, as it rules cases throughout history, sets precedents for other cases that come before the court. when texas and florida, if they decide to appeal in the case comes and i'm sure we will have some of these state voter id laws, and the supreme court has not been done, they're going to the united states supreme court. they will look at the case of precedents. president does not mean that indiana applies to all of the other states. that is not what i said. >> okay. >> [inaudible] >> will we spend a lot of time on this. yes, we have. a lot of these are very big issues. another big issue is early

voting. voter registration campaigns. every american is prepared to go to the polls with the knowledge and information so that everyone can have their balance ballots counted. >> i just want to make a distinction here so that everybody is clear, we have heard all this stuff about this -- last time i checked, there is no constitutional right to drive a car. to go to a nightclub. to do all of these things that you all are talking about. identification -- there is a basic democratic right to vote

for you all to lump us together -- it is missing the point. >> i want to go back to hang out. they have a wonderful question coming up. welcome. >> hello, my name is andy came from chicago, illinois. i am a senior staff member and member of the american center of justice, according to u.s. census the u.s. census bureau, around 32% of asian-americans are limited english proficiency and have trouble communicating english. getting these ids are we're talking about now are very difficult to get our community. in 2006, the congressional black caucus working with the asian pacific american caucus and hispanic caucus health costs the

reauthorization of voting rights act. limiting voting to englh only with something that conservatives push for and i know congressman, you were instrumental in defeating those efforts. so thank you. the congressional black caucus has done good work, but they're so long ago. my question is, in what way can the african-american community continue to work with other communities to increase access to voting for all americans? including new americans with limited english ability. >> let me respond. i would like to agree with the questioner, the reauthorization of voting rights act, he was off the charts and advocating for this kind of equality.

he gave us the credibility that we needed and the historical credibility that we need is to really drive home how important slides. we address this english language thing in the voting rights act by requiring voting jurisdictions to print their ballots in different languages. that is a basic provision of the voting rights act. i think there are opportunities that present themselves and it will continue. opportunities to coalesce with not only african-americans, and hispanics, asian-americans, elderly people, who really don't -- who have challenges, complying with these id laws,

getting to the polls, i mean, because we think voting is such a basic part of our democracy. this is absolutely critical. >> congressman, when you think about 1965, we think about the games that black folks achieved for themselves. there were also poor white people who also benefited from that. white workers and those who got access to things they couldn't do before. it seems to me that in the struggle, we see the same thing. at the same time, the black people are leading the charge to make sure that we vote and disabled people are getting access and women are getting

access. it seems to me, there is this intersection again of black folks helping to make the nation more free. how central has not been in our struggle for rights? not just now, but overall? >> i have been sitting here contemplating and it makes me sort of sad, really, that we are having this discussion, all this many years later. that we are fighting from the same battles and fights may be another generation several years ago had to go through the same thing. it's all americans. maybe 150 years ago, maybe lincoln didn't free the slaves. but, the civil rights movement did not -- they didn't free the

nation. [applause] when we stand up and fight, we are not just fighting alone. we really believe. i've been trying to be very nonviolent today really. [applause] but we truly believe that we are one people and one family, one house. we used to say over and over again, our mothers and fathers came to this great land in different ships. but we are all in the same vote now. people must learn that. they must get it. so it is not just african-americans, but also

asian-americans. latinos, whatever it takes, we have to get out there and vote like we've never, ever voted before. we've got to do it. >> on that note, i want to change gears just a little bit and ask the question, once we get people to the polls, what are they voting for? what are the issues, what are the struggles and the laws that we want to see enacted or changed or held onto let's start

first with what are we going to do. to i think the first thing that people need to realize is that when it comes to politics, politics affects every single part of our lives. it affects your educational system, whether eurosceptics, the air you breathe, the quality of the feud you eat. why would we not want to have some input into the people that are making decisions about our very daily lives. that is the first thing. some elderly people are saying, why are we going to vote, it doesn't make a difference? if you want someone to make decisions for you, then don't do it. but if you decide you want to make some decisions that might help your mother or your father or your grandmother or your aunt

or uncle or children or grandchildren -- then you need to be a part of the process. because if you opt out, somebody is going to fill that void. nine times out of 10, it's not in the people they care about you. >> i'm going to jump to the other side and say what we voting for? >> i associate myself with the congresswoman. i think she is right. it doesn't matter whether you're republican or democrat or independent. we are going to the ballot box in exercising her constitutional right to elect the leaders that best represents you of the state, local, and federal government. to ensure that people regardless of their skin or ethnicity, but they have the right to go and exercise their franchise. that is exactly what we are voting for.

it is who is going to represent you in your county or state government. in this election more than any, it's critical that everyone goes out and has not only the opportunity to vote, to make sure that your neighbors and friends and people who you might think don't have the access or ability to go to the polls, to take them with you. >> we are moving into the lightning round now. if we are going to go forward,

we have to start with where we were. many of us are measuring where we want to be down rather than from where we were out. four years ago, we were on the brink of an economic disaster in this country. four years ago, we were dealing with a country that was engaged in two wars. it was during this country. four years ago, we had no health care. for millions of americans in our communities had a disproportionate number of people with pre-existing conditions. four years later, we are out of iraq and the auto industry was saved. so we were able to turn around a ship that was going over the

cliff. has the ship come back to doc? no, but it is headed away from the cliff, toward the dock. the question is -- the question is, have we become angry and disappointed that we are not at the beach at in our swim trunks sunbathing -- that we left the folks that were driving us over the cliff, get back to steer the ship or do we keep the people that took us back off the brink and trust that they are headed in the right direction? where we need to go? so i think that a lot of the measure of things, in my opinion, a lot of things include being caught up on history in 2008. the first president of color. it was historic. but when i look at it today, when we talk about things like the portal health care act or we

have children with asthma and pre-existing conditions, where we are looking at jobs and we cannot get past it in this congress, where we are looking at voter rights under question, in my judgment it was historic and personable. they are trying to take from us personal things. i think the president has done a great job but even defensively, i need someone to come back and bring me back to the brink. we have here a member of the panel. welcome. >> my name is gwen moore and i hails from the great state of wisconsin. currently we have voter id laws that have been joined by two separate ports in the state of wisconsin as a result of a lawsuit.

my question is, i'm very happy to meet you in person. both you and ms. wright have circulated that you don't think that this is a racial thing. so i would like to step back and say, do you see this as being a problem of class? because the right to vote does not stipulate that you have to be middle class in order to vote. if you are a homeless person and you don't have an address for an electric bill that you pay for not, or if you are like my granddaughter who is going to be 18 on october 26, and does not have a bill to present a row, were like me, i didn't have the kind of id that is required

under wisconsin law until i was 30 or so. i was one of those 47% that we heard so much about. i was on base, didn't have a bank account, i did have a student id, but it didn't have an expiration date on it. what i am saying is if you live in rural america, or if you are elderly, or if you don't have a car and you live 27 miles away from the dmv or you live in milwaukee, wisconsin, where the only dmv is 80 miles away, and i understand, i lived in the home that i live in. if you are poor and you lose every three months, because you are being evicted, because you can't pay your rent, you still have a right to vote. i'm saying that these kind of -- >> you're saying that this is a

classic western? >> if the dmv -- if i had been evicted for nonpayment of rent and the dmv sent in my car -- i would receive that. what you say about the class argument that this might disenfranchise people of all kinds of colors who are not middle-class. they are homeless and poor and so forth. thank you. [applause] >> you raised some very critical questions that must be addressed. i think overall, it is very easy for us to say that you have the means and opportunity to go to the dmv or go by absenteeism, there is no issue. but i think that many of these states need to address very specifically, people, as you and

i would agree, who might have to travel a long distance in order to obtain a car. does that put some sort of restriction on their ability to vote. i am not going to say hook line and sinker that all these voter id requirements, that there are all equally applied. it depends on our constituency. i absolutely agree with you that if the laws have a disproportionate effect on people and their mobility or economic status, absolutely we need to make sure that that does not take a situation where people are disenfranchised. >> i agree with you, especially with the homeless and continuing circumstances which reminds me that i was reading about pennsylvania's law and economics said that he has been homeless for a number of years but he takes a lot of pride in carrying around his social security card and his birth certificate because he said that connects them with the world that he wants to be part of again.

and i just say that because that is a struggle. and i agree with ron. we have to look at ways. i know that some states have not all the state laws, but some of the voter id laws have affidavits were you can go to officials and like what you are talking about, there are ways to say, i i am who i am. can i sign an affidavit to that so i can vote. i think we need to look at that and people who haven't had a home should not be disenfranchised on economics. [talking over each other] >> i want to add one more thing. some also offer free transportation and ids that we talked about. >> okay, all right, moving on here. in terms of moving the conversation forward, what can we do to make sure that more

people have access, whether it is based on class or what can we do to mobilize. because i don't want people to leave here hearing a lot of entertaining speakers but not knowing what to do when they leave. what can we do. >> first of all, i think everyone in this room must confirm their voter status before november 6. do not wake up on the morning of november 6 and say, let me go and check and see all the proper identifications. in denver, for example, mayor hancock told me that there were people who did not vote in 2010. i would say educate yourself. you need to have a three-part

program right now. confirm your polling site and call somebody and ask them to do the same. do not take anything for granted. this year, over 48 states making some minor changes. we need to go to the polls and be prepared to know that. if they give you a provisional ballot, but that will be counted. many of you were students in this room, it is time now to begin to request your absentee ballot. because it also changes those rules and states now need, some of you may have to come up with an excuse as to why you need your ballot. anyway, i'm just warning everybody. the rules have changed

overnight. >> that is really good. i want to get back to the point, and we3 overnight. >> that is really good. i want to get back to the point, and we have another group of people who have a question. they are about to ask that question. >> good morning, my name is richard forrest. and i am a city councilman from the city of clinton and a member of the political action committee, which whom some members are seated today. my question is the relationship to the voter id law. the law was passed by the commonwealth, then the supreme court heard the for the law and kicked it back to the commonwealth court to say that we have some problems with this law and we want you to take another look at it.

and judge again. my question is, what can we do as a group and as a nation to review this voter id law? the second for my question is what federal support can we get at the voting polls to ensure compliance of voters rights. >> i will ask that of the entire panel. >> i want to start with you because you have been working very hard on this issue for very long time. what are some of the things that people can do. >> i think that everyone should check their voting status. and the status of their families. and every gathering, churches,

sororities, fraternities, to push back, regardless of whether we agree or disagree, do we maximize turnout under the existing laws and states to the wall beside the laws in the courts, that we don't lose the voters that have to come out. secondly, i think that we need to organize to make sure that we have pollwatchers. we need to be there to make sure that even the laws we don't agree to are not held to an extreme in that they are used in way that are not cited in the law. we need to be pollwatchers. and i think it's very important. the justice department has gone in and contested some of these things that we talked about on

the federal level. especially those that are under the voting rights advocate south carolina's one, there has been some federal clearance. we need to be supportive of those suits. but the court system takes a while, which is why we need to organize despite of the unfairness and say i don't agree with this, i think it's unfair. i'm going to show you that i'm stronger than you think i am. i'm going to get this done so that we can vote in big numbers. [applause] >> for those of you who don't know, congressman lewis and the other congressmen are working actively to protect and defend the rights. we've heard about what we can do leading up to election day.

this is not a fight that is going to end in november. what do we do, what can voters and citizens do post november to make sure the voter rights are protected? >> first of all, people when they observe or see something that happened, when something's just not right, just report it. on election day, under the voting rights act, you can have and request federal absurdities. you can request under the department of justice. counties and states and cities and towns. federal observers to be there to observe the election process. >> let me just say, and i know that this is not a question that is asked often, but i want us to focus on this election.

because they are going to be lot of legal battles. a lot of these are not going to change with election day. so that we we know that we're going to have to continue to fight. we have two referendums to change the law and too late to do that now. we know that we have gone to court and we have basically told our secretary of state that he is an idiot, and he is, and we changed a lot of things for the court. but it's too late to do any of that right now. right now we have to focus on what we're going to do to make sure that we get out and vote on election day and my colleagues and what he was alluding to, on september 25, most of the members of the congressional black caucus will be having an event in their district to bring attention to this issue, but to make sure that people are registered and understand what they need to vote in their communities. so look for, if you are in a district that has a congressional black caucus, september 25. coming out of here.

everybody here should be engaged in that process. so look for that. >> we want the opportunity to look on the election. and look beyond the election. but looking to the election is looking beyond the election. because this election is about a basic fork in the road, whether we are going to turn back toward the cliff or go back toward the shore and the people who will be making these decisions beyond this election, we want to be sensitive to our position. and a lot of these issues, all of these issues are not day-to-day issues. they are long-term issues.

the first thing we have to do is elect the right people. >> i'm glad you said that, because one of the things that i wanted you to be able to do them before witches were some of the issues that we should be concerned about i'm going to allow you to go ahead and get to the audience. what are some of your initial thoughts for next democratic want to go back to what the congresswoman said. because she summed it up very well and ron christie added to that. on a whether you are voting for the head of your civic organization were in dc, we have what we call neighborhood advisory commissions, i think it is incumbent regardless of your party affiliation know who and what you're voting for how these

people and their progress will affect your pocketbook and where you live and how you think and where you go to church. all of these things. and it should happen on a very local level from the council level come all the way up to the president of the united states. and i think that what this election is about to me, if we're going to frame the debate with respect to black americans, to me, this election is about why is it that in 1960 we had 36% of black males that were incarcerated in 1960? i was rereading the moynihan report. which the deceased daniel patrick moynihan wrote for president johnson about the state of black america as we saw in 1964. then i thought about it today

where we have 65% of blacks in prison. and i look back at the report and i thought it in 1964 when moynihan wrote this report to give it to president johnson, he said that the biggest thing that he saw, the crisis affecting black americans was the breakdown of the black family. because at the time, you had 23% of black americans being born into single parent households. today, that number i think that the civil rights crisis facing black americans today is crime and why so many of our black males are being put down. you should ask how are these people affecting that. because we are not going to -- we will not have the economic prosperity as are white, asian,

until we deal with those two things. so i think this election should also be about the issues facing us as black americans. >> okay, it is now time to take questions from the audience. we would love for you to come up to the microphone and ask your question. i'm sure this would never happen at an event like this, but in a perfunctory fashion, please make these questions and comments, statements, sales pitches and anecdotes. [laughter] >> a question.

he calls for the reduction and representation of state [inaudible] i am the gartner. it has been forced in the constitution that george henry white, asked for [inaudible] to reduce the representation of states that would disfranchised. >> okay. >> why are most of the white organizations trying to enforce. >> that's a great question, brother. let's stretch it a little bit. what kind of penalties should be think about is we are trying to enforce the protection of this

vote, whether it is reducing representation in the state, economic council, what can we do to apply pressure? >> [inaudible question] you can give out flyers, i want to make sure that we can get a lot of people answered. run limited time. >> i don't think one of those remedies is to take away their rights. that is what we have been talking about. our challenge is to expand the ability of people and to be able to participate, you know, the whole premise of your bill, i don't think it is one that i would necessarily subside, based on what you describe it.

we awarded the phoenix award -- we have risen up and we want to say risen up. >> okay. we have time for a quick question. >> i represent cops and citizens and the question is disenfranchisement of the black population in this country because with all due respect, there are three wars in this

country, iraq, afghanistan, and the war on drugs. it has killed more african-americans in the communities than all combined. my question is why are we not discussing that there are hundreds of thousands, one third of the black males in florida cannot go because of the drug war prohibition conviction. thank you. [applause] >> i actually agree with him. to take away somebody's constitutional right because they've been convicted of a crime, or going to jail for possession, the problem is we haven't figured out a way to address that at the federal level. all of these voting rights, including the voter id have been state-by-state, because the constitution says that the criteria for voting is set at the state level. we haven't figured out an effective way.

>> he has revoked the right of citizens who have served their time in prison, or jail, not a no longer have voting rights because they have built that. >> some would argue that the war on drugs is connected to what we talked about earlier, this much is family. >> the war on drugs and has made dogs and turned drugs cheaper and easier to get than ever. >> i'm just going to make -- i miss winter member that. how is it that you can say that

there is no discrimination or that it's very easy to do. they went with her thumbprint and they were voting in. >> thank you for your question. we got your question. we thank you for your work. >> not only did they not ask us in iraq, they didn't ask for voter id and any republican primary state. isn't it interesting that they are so concerned about fraud, why are they only concerned in november? they have -- they said that we ought to have ids in the

republican caucuses, so it's only a november problem. i wonder why. >> would you say? >> could use a crystal or christine? >> responding to the question, and the raptors still have to give it fingerprint of your thumb. [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> use me, when you do not have a checking account at wells fargo, they make you give a

thumbprint, right? right? why they do not it at the bank? why do they do it at the bank? >> they do it because of fraudulent reasons is why they make people do that. people have to give their thumbprints before you have to catch your check. >> that's a good question. >> i have a question for you -- [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> hold up, hold up. >> crystal, crystal, hold up. everybody, just will. >> four minutes. the question will be -- why wasn't there voter identification demand during the primary? >> that's what i think --

>> i'm being nonpartisan here. the question is why was there not one. [talking over each other] >> i cannot speak for that. all i said is that at the outset of my comment, is that there should be a uniform system that president carter and secretary of state baker said that there should be in place. i cannot speak to why a particular state did or did not pass something. >> i hope you could at least imagine -- the. >> what you think it is? [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> i am an objective moderator. [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> why don't you say that so that we can all hear it. [talking over each other] >> why do we take this question and the sister behind me, her question at the same time. >> just. >> all right, all right, i am an

activist with the grass movement here in washington dc. one thing i'm also going to ask of this is history -- one thing that i have noticed is that black folks have to come together -- we have worked together for centuries -- what can we take to build a strong black nation here in america and also run the world? >> hello, and when you think our brother martin luther king would say today he was on this panel?

>> let's take one more. [applause] >> i'm waiting. [talking over each other] [talking over each other] >> my name is vivian covington. i appreciate it. maybe they can take my phone bill, my health bill, i'm going to work certainly hard, i'm going to get together a organization called young legislatures. can you give me the statistics on the white folks. what are you doing these statistics that? there are a lot of white people on unemployment, on welfare as well, but we never hear those numbers. so some data, reverend. >> we appreciate that. what are some other strategy strategies that black folks should be deploying.

>> what would doctor king say first of all, i knew martin luther king jr. very well. i miss demand. i was 18 years old. if doctor king was here today. he would be grateful for the progress that was made, he would be grateful that they elected president barack obama as president. but the election of rocco, is not the fulfillment of his dream. this is only a down payment. that we need to make some noise, he would say that we are too

quiet. .. that was not the that laid the groundwork for progress in years past. we need to be raising our voices, not only at the voting is, but outside the voting booths, expressing ourselves in

positive ways and i think that's an important stretch. >> two thirds of all jobs by 2020 will require college education. [applause] >> absolutely. were going to take another question. >> quick question. my son has just entered into north carolina anti. >> aggie pride. >> absolutely. >> now that we got that out of her system. >> you attorney t. like many other students always that college he's not able to do an absentee vote. what do we do in that case? he's going to be 18 in two days. >> key is that ant? >> get a register at north

carolina. so the a lot more help in north carolina that he will in your state. [applause] >> okay, thank you. >> give me his name and phone number, i'll call and get them registered this week. >> and from one to load from philadelphia. i also have an employment agency in philadelphia, where right now we have many young people that i know are going to be able to get new voters. the problem basically is there senior citizens. they are the super voters in philadelphia. they are almost 70% and we cannot get them to be able to have that idea. we have a big problem in philadelphia. i think at one point they said we were having -- they were able to get the i.d. for free. their inner change. we have people going to the

driver's life and come to find out that pay and training to be $19, $20. >> i can tell you in philadelphia still. were doing a lot of work there. connected and afterwards i can tell you some of the church there, reverend wallace doing work. so connect with me. for getting people out. so we'll do that. we're doing that. >> basically, my grandmother is 103 years old. [applause] she doesn't have a birth certificate. last year she did so. she's been getting a social security check, haven't been getting anything from the government. what do you do in this case? if they want to find you, they're going to fight you. >> the irs has no idea? [laughter] i think you said it right. i think they are organizing a

lot of people. we need to get the i.d. and the hand. we should not just roll over. >> absolutely, absolutely. >> mna strengthens, president pristina for dr. massey among i want everyone to know that i want to thank reverend sharpton for putting these on the front burner. i want to thank them so much. i would like to ask that we can get the message out on a national level that there are 620,000 federal taxpaying residents in the district columbia better voter suppression number one. >> absolutely. that's a great question. we do have another special guest. a house minority leader, nancy pelosi is here. please give her a warm round of

applause. [applause] [cheers and applause] >> i give my 30 seconds to the amazing, phenomenal, nancy pelosi. [cheers and applause] >> good morning, everyone. good morning, distinguished panel listening very attentively to the give-and-take between the third distinguished guests in the audience and all of you and it appears very clear that we have important work to do to protect our democracy in the weeks ahead. at the start of my remarks, i want to call to mind are here

from her deceased collie, donald payne. [applause] he had a call to service that was about respecting the dignity and worth of every person, wherever that person lives in the world. he made us very proud of our country and of his service. i know he would be very proud and blessed of emanuel cleaver, or distinguished chair of the congressional black caucus. of l. c. scott and her work as president of the cbc foundation and kidneys washington is chairman of the board and members of the cbc cover the congressional black caucus. we always refer to as the conscience of the congress. last year when they came together, you remember that whether the changes of the time

of the dedicate 10 of martin luther king memorial and later to a cobra. right around this time, we were in the midst of that glow and they would continue always to be. but dr. king talked about time. he talked about the urgency of now. he typed about the gradualism, which should be avoided and i'm so pleased a sure thing as voting rights, the new age discrimination, age, time factor and also inspiring leaders, building generations. that's about time, too. so everything we do is how we use that very finite quality of time. dr. reverend king, i imagine that martin luther king's memorial is they are. lincoln and jefferson and washington and the founders on preservers of this great

american democracy. he honored the vows of our founders and took them to new heights in terms of civil rights and liberties of all americans. and we know that somewhere console inspired by him and draw strength from him. and right now today we have a challenge that we must take the time to succeed with meeting and push for the new generation and new discrimination that we must call a halt to. so here's the way i see it. i had other remarks in to listening to the panel understanding which are major concern is. here's the way i see it, because great wealth was established in our country and the disparity of income has become almost a moral, there are some people who

have so much money. when i was young and when i say this to the audience in the last couple of days, they don't what i'm talking about. perhaps there's somebody in the audience. maybe john lewis, our birth rates are close. oho that's rich. you ever hear the discussion? they are so rich they haven't the faintest idea what it's like, but we do and we are about reigniting the american dream. in his past eight years before president obama took office, there is a growing disparity. we must reignite the american dream, build ladders of opportunity to work hard, play by the rules, take responsility, recognize the small business entrepreneurship in a strong middle class. we were to do to achieve that come especially since it is very clear that there are those who would snuff out the american

dream. so in this election, our names are on the ballot, marcia fudge's name, john lewis, melvin watt, our names are on the ballot. but whatever is on the ballot is nothing less than our democracy. because our founders -- they sacrifice their life, their liberty and sacred honor for a democracy. the government of the many, not the government of the many. [applause] and these people are more billions of dollars have said there bladen. they say, what difference does it mean if echo $100 billion on the table or 200 or 300 or $400 million into the election? i'm going to save billions of dollars on my estate tax. it's all transactional. my industry is going to a

subsidy. it's going to give tax breaks to shift jobs overseas. the sense of community and stating that we cannot allow that to happen. and our strength is our vote and that is under attack, too. so you put endless money to suffocate the air out of the airwaves, suppress the vote and poisoned the debate. and the poisoning of the debate has as much to do and i know my colleague, marcia fudge is now working with mr. clyburn. that has as much to do with voter suppression because the people get turned off by the system. what do they do? victor up their hands and walk away. what are you will just figure it out. and that is a victory for the special-interest suffocate the

airwaves, suppress the vote, poisoned the debate can make the discussion so unpleasant that when you hear something and think, why would anybody say such a thing? how could they even think it? they oppose me the debate to turn off the electorate so they can have it all for themselves. and i say this with great sadness and with great regret, but it's what we're up against. so as we attack about, it has to happen in the end. not just on election day. as former chair of the state party in california. it's about how you make sure that voting officials live up to the standard. don't let them define what it's about. we all do it together. it is a democracy. so they make sure the rules are fair. and if they are not, we just don't agonize, we just organize. we go out there and we make sure

that everybody who is eligible to vote is registered to vote and that their vote is counted as cast, counted as cast. so preparation and it bands, the procedures on election day and we have to have a recount, then we are in a better position because we have shone a bright light on the election day process well in advance. early voting is our friend. they are trying to suppress. why would people come instead of removing obstacles because of participation to vote in a democracy. it's not a beautiful thing? why would they want to establish obstacles to participation? they're afraid of the vote of the people.

it diminishes the power of their money by the power of the people making their voices known. so nothing less is at stake in this election than our democracy. it's on the ballot. the middle classes on the ballot. medicare is on the ballot. all of those things on the ballot in addition to our names. now, mal and marcia and john and i, we have to say, andre and quine -- all of our colleagues here are on the ballot. we have to see nancy pelosi, marcia fudge, john lewis, andre carson, gwen moore. i approve this message. but the billionaires, their names are nowhere to be seen. but the public should know the special-interest is weighing in

the expense of the people interest. so going to issue the stair. d. disclose. i'm jumbos, i approve this message. his name should be on the ballot to so people know. disclose, transparency. who is paying for this? amend the constitution to overturn citizens united must be done. it must be done. clawback reform the system. in order to do that, we have to win. i'm not talking politically here, but certain people have to win. public financing of campaigns that diminish the role of money in campaign. disclose, amend, reform, elect reformers. i don't care if there's democrats or republicans who want to reform the system so that we're true to our

democracy. i promise you this, you lower the role of money in politics. you increase the stability by stopping their poisoning of the debate. over the role of money, increase stability. you like more women, more minorities, more young people to public office. that's a very wholesome thing in keeping with your inspiring leaders building generations for the future. thank you for which you are all doing in this regard. nothing less at stake and what mark at the king taught us so well. thank you all very much. [applause]

>> i attribute to my wanting to get more invites with politics. i love the information. i love the current events. i love the hot topics. as i watch her neck, pulling it up on my mobile device.

>> massachusetts senator comes scott brown and elizabeth warren held the first of televised debates. in 2010, scott brown defeated martha coakley and a special election for the post held by the late ted kennedy for almost 47 years. elizabeth moran recently spoke of the democratic convention in charlotte. courtesy of wbz-tv in boston, this is an hour. >> welcome to the marc lamont hill debate. welcome to our listeners on wbz news 1030, online at boston.com and across the nation on c-span and a special hello to our spanish-speaking viewers

computer vision, brain is not shakespeare bochum also to the candidates. they are the incumbent scott brown, former state senator in january 2010. and the challenger, elizabeth warren of cambridge, professor at harvard law school, who is making her first run for elected office. before we begin, a brief for data format. all us questions for the debate is that voters who submit them to cbs boston.com. each candidate will have 90 seconds to answer the same question so you can compare answers side-by-side. they will take turns going first. and they've each had their turn, will begin in no pain. every bottle in debate, during which the candidates are free to question address each other directly. the only hard and fast rules is not talking over each other. no filibustering and obey your moderator always. and with that, let's begin the prior arrangement.

go take the first question first. before we get into the policy issues that will dominate this debate, let's get something out of the way. at times during this race, each of your campaigns has appeared to question the character of your opponent. is your opponent's character an issue in this race? >> thank you, john. i want to thank you wrote in this event and obviously wbz for pinafore than professor warren for coming out of viewers and listeners participating as well. as you know, i have been the senator for two and half years. that being said, aside from my marriage to kill my two kids come up in the center is the greatest honor i've ever had. as you know, what you refer to is the fact that professor warren claimed she was a native american come a person of color. and as you can see she's not. that being said, she checked the box and had an opportunity to make a decision throughout her career when she applied to penn

and herbert car she checked the box claiming to is a native american. clearly, she's not. that being said, i don't know and neither did the viewers know whether in fact she got ahead as a result of that check in the box. the only way we'll be able to find that out is to release the personnel records and make sure they did not have an advantage that others were entitled to. we have to pass a test and that's one of honesty and truthfulness. i believe that others believe she failed that test. >> thank you. ms. warren, is your opponent's character a pub in case? >> i want to say thank you very much for inviting me to be here. this is my first time to do anything like this be a senator brown, it's good to see you here. i was going to start this by saying and i think senator braun is a nice guy and that what this

race is about is about the issues, that's what's important, not when someone says if you could think some of the time, but how some of those all the time. senator brown wants to raise an issue about my character, i laid out there. when i was growing up, these are the stories they knew about my heritage. i believed my mother and my father and my aunts and uncles and i never asked anyone for any documentation. i don't know any kid who did. but i did know this about my parents, my mom and dad love each other very, very much and wanted to get married in our father's family said no. because my mother was part delaware and part cherokee and i'll abide by its for my three brothers and me, but it's a big part of separation of families. but i never used it for getting into college, never used it for getting into law school. and the people who have hired me for my jobs have all made clear they didn't even know about it until long after i was hired.

so i think it's out there with the story is. but i really want this race to be about is about the issues, not about my family, to families across the commonwealth of massachusetts who are very affected by this race. >> thank you, rebuttal. >> john, thank you. you are a nice woman, too. i know you're a good teacher hard worker, but this is about some things that could be answered very easily. she distributes or personnel records and she's refused to do so. i think that speaks volumes and the answer we know. this race clearly is about issues and when she referenced that i don't go all the way that they want me to come against come i'm not going to be voting with the democrats 100% of the time are republicans. on the second-most bipartisan senator and the united states senate. there is no monopoly good ideas.

the democrat ideas and good republican. although for the better to regard associate. >> so let's just be clear about this. this is my family, this is who i yam and it's not going to change. it's also clear how i got hired. charles freed, who was selected by ronald reagan to be solicitor general of the united states, the top lawyer and u.s. that imprints that he voted for senator brown is a person who headed up for harvard. he said he didn't know about it. nobody knew until long after i was tired. "the boston globe" has interviewed more than 200 dozen people who were involved in hiring throughout the years they've all made it clear. the people who hired me has spoken and they been clear about it. i didn't get an advantage because of my background. but i will say this, this is about family. i can't and won't change who i yam. i am who i yam. so if are going to talk about character, i think that's really an essential part.

>> if i may come at thank you, professor. the only way to set this record straight is for you to release personal records. i will say in great detail whether you check the box to get an advantage and taken advantage of it from someone that would've been entitled to it. you refuse to release your records and i think that speaks volumes. >> senator brown, i think it is made clear the people who hired me are the ones who have said whether or not they even knew about my background. the question has been asked and answered. i think the senator just doesn't like the answer. >> i think you both had your piece on that. this next question no star, ms. morin. we learned today the massachusetts lost 4800 jobs and the unemployment is on the rise here. gloria from norwich.

howard were with the most new jobs be created next year and what we do in the senate to spur their creation? >> is a really great question because jobs is a central issue here. i think the answer is we have to have both a long-term plan for jobs, which has to do with leveling the playing field so small businesses have a chance to compete a really good out there and create jobs. but in the short run, we also of work that needs to be done and people who need those jobs. some might view as we should put them to work. that is why it was so surprised when senator brown last fall voted against three jobs bills in a row. jobs bills would've put 22,000 people. a jobs bill that would've prevented the layers of teachers, firefighters and police officers all across the commonwealth. and a jobs bill that would've put 11,000 -- supported 11,000

jobs, mostly in construction here in massachusetts, which is particularly hard hit. we put into jobs bills, work that needs to be done. and that's how they get this economy jumpstarted. those families have paychecks. the small businesses seem our customers coming in. that's how it works. i want to go to washington to fight for jobs. >> thank you. mr. brown, 90 seconds. new jobs in the commonwealth. >> as you know, the done over cannot jobs. three jobs bill he refers to would've raised your taxes $450 billion. by partisan rejection. political votes pulled up just to score points so you could talk about it today. they were rejected a democrats and republicans because they recognize taken by many of of hard work in businesses and individuals have given it to federal government is not a good idea and i'm not going to be

part of that. the jobs bills have been working on, john, very clear. we passed a bill come the 3% withholding torn into effect it would've affected our contractors doing work the federal government. that's gone as a result of my affairs. the new crowd funding that would've create jobs and saws to new opportunities to create up to a million dollars commemorates a million dollars online and have investors and take that money and partly to more and more opportunities for job creators. the only parts of the president's jobs bill that passed for mine. as a result of that, we also did if you remember the third so. i know you commented on it. a third route i took was a jobs bill that got money out the door and we did it without raising taxes. that's the key. worse proposals according to the national federation of independent businesses. tax proposal seeking more money at the pocketbooks and wallets would have 700,000 jobs

nationwide. i'm not going to stand for that. >> rebuttal. >> let's talk about the three jobs bills. i met last week with richard. he's a carpenter and his top about what it's meant in-house bodywork has been. sometimes there's work and a lot of times there's not. those are three jobs bills that would've supported jobs here in the commonwealth of massachusetts. and how would they be paid for? they would've been paid for by just a fractional tax on people making more than a million dollars a year. these are fully paid for jobs bills on that's what i really don't understand. when i typed to people in the commonwealth who are really struggling, i don't understand how senator brown could vote against one jobs bill come another to protect teachers, firefighters, police officers and a third for construction workers. we put people back to work. we avert that needs to be done. the senator brown is lining up with the republicans to