>> mr. krush, i'll let you answer that as well. >> i think my testimony and everything i've been saying here is, none of us worked on healthcare.gov, so speculating that it is secure or not is not something i'm willing to say. >> so you would say today, you would not state affirmatively to the american public that it is secure? >> based on information that i have read, a risk-based decision was made. there was a mitigation strategy that was very clear. they are doing weekly scans, daily scans, mitigation and remediation. that's pretty secure. >> so you are stating yes, it is secure? >> i am stating based on information i have right now i would say it is secure. >> we can have that difference of opinion, and i guess i'll leave it at that for the american public to make their own decision. i yield back. >> the gentleman from illinois is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chair. mr. krush, some like -- unlike

some other witnesses come you have expense we got federal government website from inside developing countermeasures against potential attacks and ensuring that websites are as secure as possible. is it true that what might appear like a security vulnerability or even a successful exploit from the outside does not actually always result in a security to? >> that's correct. we like to set things called honeypots meanings will set up -- we want to know what the attackers are actually doing to our websites and their systems so we set up articles and services that may not have anything to do with the website to find out who is coming in, what they're doing so that we can then build countermeasures internally to deal with those. >> i've also been told -- a weakness in place so that hackers will waste their time. of the times as i understand it, these weaknesses are put in place in what i.t. professions like you say, honeypots were a

hacker our white hacker gets caught trying to penetrate a system as you just said that was true. do you imagine with healthcare.gov that honeypots are in place to? >> because i didn't set up a honeypot i can't speculate on that either but it is a very normal practice and best practice in the government to set up honeypots so that we can understand what our adversaries or external or decisions are trying to gain access to what type of things are doing to our websites. >> and lastly, the healthcare.gov website uses remote authentication to verify that users are who they claim are in no to help cut down on medical fraud. speed we will be the last minute or so of this event. you can see it in its entirety on our website, c-span.org and live now to sacramento, california, this afternoon were governor jerry brown is about to deliver his yearly state of the state address. last week governor brown declared a state of emergency for the ongoing drought in

history. it is expected to be the driest year on record for california.wm >> we have several honored guese present today. please welcome the first lady and counsel to the governor. [applause] >> the constitutional officers of the state of california, lieutenant governor. [applause] [applause] secretary of state. [applause] the state treasurer and former senate president pro tem.

[applause] the control of the great state of california. [applause] instru lee superintendent of public hob instruction. [applause]nc the insurance com commissioner. [applause] chairman of th board representing distric four, honorabljeromehorton [applause] also from the boar o equalizations districtone, honorablbettyee. and from distric2, honorable george runner. [applause] we'rjoinedby members oth

we are joined by members of the california state supreme court. first the chief justice of california. [applause] associate justice. [applause] associate justice. [applause] associate justice. [applause] we welcome all the other elected officials that are present today and we are so happy to have with us representatives from the consummate diplomatic corps who are seated in the gallery. [applause] i believe that one of the effects of serving in the legislature is an increase in our appreciation for history and

traditions of the capital and before we go on i would like to make a note of history that's being made today in our chambers. as you know having the governor come and speak to a joint convention of legislature is not an everyday occurrence. last year governor brown -- in the number of such addresses made and today governor brown goes in history as governor of california's was deliver the most addresses to the joint convention of the legislature. so if i may i would like to present the governor with an acknowledgment of this milestone occurring in our chambers here today. governor. [applause] >> thank you. it is now my pleasure to

introduce the president pro tempore of the california state senate, the honorable daryl steinberger. [applause] >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. it's a great honor to be here, and i know that there've been some commentators i've read recently who said that the state of the state isn't outdated tradition. i stand here today and look at all of the assembled leadership in california and say, this is a great tradition and it is wonderful to be here and take part in this wonderful ceremony. and my part is to introduce our friends, the former mayor of the city of sacramento, the 49th lieutenant governor of the state of california, 49ers, 49, the honorable -- what did i say?

[laughter] did that -- well, that would be a step up. [laughter] [applause] the former mayor of san francisco at the lieutenant governor of the state of california. [applause] spent this is your last introduction. what a way to go out. [laughter] spent thank you, assembly member -- i mean senator, for the kind introduction. thank you for the privilege of the podium. i want to say having done this last three years i understand, being lieutenant governor, state of the state is a lot like being seattle seahawks richard sherman. nobody and i mean nobody wants to hear me run my mouth.

so with that in mind let me try to be as brief as possible. the are two things that i want to say. one, most important, thank you to all of you. the governor, thank you to members of legislature. thank you to the people of the state of california for define all the detractors, for stepping up and stepping in and defined the critics, for giving california's fiscal house back in order. for bringing us back on a path of stability and solvency and strength. thank you for your outstanding leadership last year. on gun safety. thank you for the extorted work you did on clean energy. thank you for the work you did on immigrant rights. thank you for what you did on civil rights, for students in our schools, transgender rights in the state. [applause] and thank you for the work you did to make right the wrong that has existed to investigate our minimum wage back closer if if u back to a living wage in

k closer if if you back to a living wage in california. so you all know this. we do introductions, now is not the time to be timid. that's obvious to all of you. now is the time to have the courage of our convictions and to step up and stepping on some of our long-term challenges. you with the issues of debt and implement, challenges associate with the issues of energy and climate change. not least of which addressing the vexing challenge that will define i think a lot of what we will hear from the government today, the issues of climate disruption and all the forms and manifestations not obvious which the severe drought that we are all experiencing. and hopefully we'll take the time to reflect on perhaps the most profound challenge we face in this state and i would argue this country, and that's the merger of i.t. and globalization. that's changing every job, every industry, every market, and every government. and it is significantly can get getting to stagnant wages and

lethargic job creation. not here in the state only but across this country. with that in mind i think it's important come we are moving now, we are no longer connected but hyper connected. no longer interconnected, but truly interdependent. tom friedman summed it up brilliantly. sosa simply by sink just imagine seven years ago, facebook didn't even exist. twitter seven years ago was a sound. the cloud was in the sky. 4g was a parking space linked in the prison. big data was a rap star. apps were things you filled out get into college, and skype for most of us was a typo. none of those things existed and now they are ubiquitous in our lives. the rate in change this world is unimaginable compared to what was just a few years ago. we are going from something old to something completely new. the texan gene is now out of the

bottle. with the white waters of change come with all of these white waters of change i think it is absolutely incumbent upon all of us to recommit ourselves to what we are doing better than ever, and that is to organic job creation. one thing i know is you cannot be pro-jobs and antibusiness. i was so enthusiastic when someone forwarded me a wonderful quote, and i'll quote from winston churchill who said, some people see private enterprise as the tiger, a predatory tiger that needs to be shot. others as they count that needs to be milked. not enough people see it for what it is. a healthy horse pulling a sturdy wagon. let us recommit ourselves to the number one priority in this state, and that's once again to reestablish california as -- for

job creation in the american economy. [applause] with that, with that, my honor to introduce to you a leader who has kept his promise to the people of california to tell the truth to get california's fiscal house in order and to continue to make the case each and every day, and he will again today, that the best is yet to come. ladies and gentlemen, please stand up for our great governor of the great state of california, jerry brown. [applause] >> thank you.

thank you, and seems like people are kind of excited. and so am i. i did come here to speak to all of you in 1975, a long time ag, but some of you may have forgotten or probably weren't born then. i came here in 1959 for the first time in my assessor google garb, little color and black suit. i sat down there, i looked up at my father. he gave his state of the state way back in 1959. lieutenant governor, i appreciate change but i also value continuity. [laughter] in fact i used to say take the instance of another take the alps and put them in. i don't say that anymore.

[laughter] my message, there is no substitute for experience. [laughter] anyway, here i am -- [applause] i'm here to report on the state of our state, by choosing to ignore those who say that article v of our constitution which requires the government to avoid a legislature is outdated. that you can't report on the condition of our state from sacramento because californi cas to spread out and to diverse. it occurred to me that these critics who have long recited our state's decline perhaps have nothing to say in the face of california's comeback, except please, don't report it. well, i'm going to report it. and what a comeback it is. 1 million new jobs since 2010. [applause] a budgetary surplus in the

billions, in the billions of. [applause] but don't spend it, that's the point. and a minimum wage rising to $10 an hour. [applause] this year california has a lot to be proud of. for a decade budget institute was the order of the day. a lethal combination of national recession in tax cuts and too much spending created a financial sinkhole that defied every effort to climate. but three years later here we are with state spending and revenues solidly balanced, and more to come. for that i thank all of you for your courageous and dedicated legislative work. truly impressive. i also want to thank the members of my administration worked so hard to help make all this happen. but above all else, i think you should thank the voters of

california. in 2010 -- [applause] in 2010 through proposition 25, the is have a majority vote for passage of a state budget. [applause] that ended the gridlock and then in 2012, the improved a temperate tax increases of proposition 30. these two initiatives together with the recovering economy and the tough decisions you took made all the difference. we are not out of the woods. we are certain not out of the drought. life is uncertainty. the climate is changing, not for the better, and the business cycle and the stock market are historically volatile, with good years followed by bad, with painful regularity. while we know our revenues will fluctuate up and down, our long-term liabilities are enormous.

and they are ever going to let me list some of them. well over 100 billion for pensions owed to our state workers, teachers and judges. tens of billions needed -- by the way, judges is just 3 billion. you are part of the problem here last night that's only 3 billion. teachers and public employees are well over 100. tens of billions in retiree health care, like 60 billion. 65 billion is needed to maintain and keep our roads and buildings and other infrastructure in sound repair. we must also account for certain -- future risk which could negatively affect our budget. natural disasters and the uncertain cost of the effort will correct. we can't go back to business as usual. boom and bust is our life. we must follow the ancient advice in the book of genesis that joseph gave to the federal. put away your surplus.

during the years of great claim, so be ready for the link years which is sure to follow. most governors and legislators have forgotten this advice. this time we won't do that. we will pay down our debt anorg. this time we won't do that. we will pay down our debt and remember the lessons of history. the american philosopher famously said those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. help us keep our fiscal realities in mind, i have some playing cards here that puts the chart that's in the budget summary of the last 15 years. you probably can't see this but it's mostly red. with a little black in the beginning and the end. but just not to discourage you and lift your spirit, i put something on the back of the plane card, a picture, and underneath, on this side we have

the quote underneath, on this side we have the quote saying don't forget, those who forget the past will repeated it on this side a number of comments, this one says bark if you don't like deficits. [laughter] [applause] we have a few of them. i'm going to put this right here just in case, you know, we forget. and if i had supper here, he would be parking. all right. fiscal discipline is not the enemy of our democracy, but its fundamental predicate. the mistakes of the past we must spend with great prudence and we must also establish a solid rainy day fund locked into the constitution. in 2004, the people voted for a rainy day fund which was found to be unworkable. in 2010, you create another rainy day fund now scheduled for the november election. but this latest effort doesn't give the state the option to pay off its debts, doesn't it with

the ups and downs of proposition 98 and doesn't account for the spikes in capital gains. so let's fix these flaws before going back to the voters. this is work we need to accomplish in the next few months. [applause] >> last year i spoke of the principle of -- a rather clunky word that nevertheless points to a profoundly important principle, namely, that in our federal system there are separate layers of government, eacsystem there are separate layers of government, each with its own distinct responsibility. the oxidation or defines subsidiary as the idea that a central authority can have a subsidiary function performing only those tasks which cannot be formed effectively at a more immediate or local level. no better example of this can be found that in your enacted last year of a local control funding

formula. this was a major breakthrough in the way funds are allocated to california schools. so there are laws explicitly recognized the difficult problems faced by the income families and those whose first language is other than english. as a result, those with lesser going to receive more, and that's good for all of us. [applause] >> but something else is more in this local funding for the. instead of prescriptive commands, issued from headquarters here in sacramento, more general goals have been established for each local school to attain. each in its own way. this puts the responsibility where it has to be, in the classroom and at the local district. with 6 million students there's no way the state can micromanaged teaching learning

in all of the schools, and we shouldn't even try. last week 324 people from across the state traveled to sacramento to speak to the state board of education about the merits of this new law and regulation which should be adopted under it. principals, teachers, students, parents, religious groups, and, of course, lawyers. all came forward to express their views. now, that shows interest in real commitment, but their work is just beginning. each local district now has to put into practice what the local funding formula has made possible. that together with the new common core standard for math and english will be a major challenge for teachers and local students. but they're the ones who can make it work. i have every confidence they will. in a similar vein, in the field of public safety, we've changed historic practices in our prison system and transfer significant

responsibility to local authorities. the federal courts backed up by the united states supreme court have ordered major reduction in our prison population, and dramatic improvements in the medical and mental health programs the state makes available. in response, -- tens of thousands of lower level, low level, i said lower level from the state to our 58 counties. this realignment is bold and far-reaching but it's also necessary under the circumstances. and local enforcement has risen to the occasion. our prisons are pioneering new programs and treatments. but so are the counties. last week, i visited the jail just north of bakersfield and sat in on some classes. it was moving to hear the men's stories and their struggles. it was also inspiring to see the enthusiasm as the sheriff and his efforts to work with

probation, local judges and the police to find new ways to deter crime and help offenders straighten out their lives. of course, there are issues with real i'm bound together with a local partners we are facing them. we have plenty of work ahead of us, including building more capacity at the state and county level, and becoming more effective for those who suffer mental illness or who is a drug addicted. but we are on the right track and we want to stick to that. and all this, your legislative work, particularly funding is crucial. where we should never lose sight of the reality that life is local, and so many things we try to do here in the state capital can only be handled by local representatives and leaders for the people themselves. these problems that we face -- pardon me, they deal not with abstractions, the abstractions are the law, but with questions of reality of everyday life. that's a lesson i learned as

mayor. among all are uncertain is whether it's one of the most basic, we can't control it, we can only lead with it. now have to live with a very serious drought of uncertain duration. right now it's imperative that we did everything possible to mitigate the effects of the drought. i convened an interagency drought task force, declared a state of emergency. we need everyone in every part of the state to conserve water. we need regulators to rebalance water rules, enable voluntary transfers of water and we must prepare for forest plans but as the state water action plan lays out, water recycling, expanded storage and serious groundwater management must all be part of the mix. so too, must investment in safe drinking water. we also need wetlands and watershed restoration and for the progress on the delta conversation plan. it's a tall order that it is what we must do to get through

this a drought and get ready for the next one. we do not know how much our current problems derived from the buildup of heat trapping gases but we can take this a drought as a stark warning of things to come. the united nations panel on climate change says we are 95% confident that human beings are changing our climate. as younow, oall ofth states, and even most ofth country's of theworl california ith leader in dealinwith climatechange 8032 t buildin andapplianc standards. portfolio standard and sport o vehicles californisleddingth way. nevertheless i terms o green houses gas ourbiggeschalleng remains in the amoun o the amount of gasolineou californians use.vehicl

more than 14 billion gallons of gasoline to travel 330 also require that the countries with burn the most fossil fuel join with us. we started building the partnership with other states and countries like china. we'll go to mexico next. california can't do it alone. [applause] in so many other ways, california is a pioneer, we have 25% of the nation's foreign-born and the first state in modern times to have a plurality of families of latino origin.

it's not surprising that california is the state where immigrants cannot only dream but drive legally. [applause] we're also the state of innovation and silicon valley and venture capitalist investment than any other state by far. we are on our way to medical electricity vehicles and building our only high speed rail. expanding health care congress to millions more. and california is the nation's leader in developing medical and scientific advances that will cure diseases and lower costs. we have six of america's top-performing metropolitan areas san diego, san jose, san francisco, oakland, los angeles, and orange county. last year, we created tax credit to help innovators in these regions and beyond higher and expanding california. four of the world's 20 leading

academic bioinstitutions are located here in california. ucsf and berkeley, ucla, stanford, and uc san diego. just as california -- stem cell research so too we can pioneer the new fields of precision medicine. which uses agree mommic, medical devices, computer sciences, and other fields to treat individual patients instead of broad populations. yes, california is a leader in so many ways. but the dangers and the difficulties we face can never be taken lightly. we still have too many struggling families. too much debt and too many unknowns when it comes to our climate. over overcoming these challenges will test our vision. it'll test our discipline and our ability to persevere. over come them we will, as we do we'll build for the future not steal from it.

thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] without objection, the governor's state of the state address shall be printed in the journal. we will adjourn convention sine die. we are back in regular schedule. floor session thursday, january 23rd, floor session 9:00 a.m.

request will be deemed read and put in the journal. all the remaining items passed and -- all motions shall be continued. is in any other business to come before the house seeing in and hearing none. i'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. the house stands adjourns until thursday, january 23rd at 9:00 a.m. the quorum call is lifted. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] i didn't see myself who has a message for my world, but i see myself as a person trying to understand my and trying to situate myself. i think the idea came to me when i was giving -- of the u.s. air force academy in colorado. among the very nice -- liberal young air force officer who was looking after me had lots of -- which i find interesting. he told me that he's a liberal. he wanted to create, in my mind, an impression in my mind have

the media the us air force academy -- and full of strange radical libly call fundamentist. he told me he was a liberal. he told me he was in favor of immigration. he said when people come to this country, they should learn the nature of lang wanl. i didn't think he was speaking about -- i said yes, i agree. everybody should learn spanish. the settlement and evolution from the united from a hispanic perspective. "our america." part of booktv this weekend on c-span 2. online at the booktv book club. you have time to weigh in and join the conversation. go booktv.org and click on book club to enter the chat room. i would like to add a

personal word with regard to an issue that has been great concern to all americans over the past year. i refer, of course, to the investigations of the so-called watergate affair. as you know, i have provided to the special prosecutor voluntarily, a great of material. i believe that i have provided all the material that he needs to conclude his investigations and to proceed to prosecute the guilty and to clear the innocent. i believe the time has come to bring that investigate and the other information -- investigations of this matter to an end. one year of watergate is enough. looking back at five decades of note l state of the union addresses from lbj to george w. bush. sunday at 3:00 p.m. eastern part of american history tv this weekend on c-span 3. that's leading up to president

obama's 2014 state of the union address live tuesday, january 28th, on c-span, c-span radio, and c-span.org. [inaudible conversations] a recent report the murder of thousand of innocent civilians by the regime a reminder of the horror unfolding this will. we hope the significant progress from today's talk. last month the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, and i made a statement which welcome the government's leadership in term of the aid program. the u.n. high commission is also called on britain to be part of a program to help resettle the small number, the most vulnerable syrian refugees. 18 countries are part of that program. britain is not so far among them. doesn't the prime minister agree we should be? >> i completely agree with the gentleman how dreadful the news is that come out of syria in recent days about allegations of

torture and worse in that country. i think we are fulfilling our moral obligations to the people of syria. we are the second largest bilateral aid donor of the money that british taxpayers are providing is providing food and shelter and water and medicine. hundreds of thousand of people. we're also full filling all our obligations in term of -- we have taken over 1,000 asylum seeker for syria in recent months. we're making sure we can -- where we can help very vulnerable children who are ill including a child in a british hospital today. we take a, there as well. i don't believe that you can solve a refugee crisis of this scale when you've got almost half of the 9 million population of syria either displayed or reis of displacement with a quo that system where countries are taking a few hundred refugees. where i do agree with them, is that if there are very difficult

cases of people who do belong in refugee camps who have been either disabled by the dreadful attacks or in difficult circumstances i'm happy for us to look at the argument. britain always plays the right role in these desperate humanitarian crises. >> mr. speaker, i thank the prime minister for that answer. let me make a few points in reply on this important issue. first of all, we all agreed on the leadership that this government has shown in relation to syrian aid and contribute to the develop secretary and others. on the point about assum lum seekers those are the people who have been able to get here. we're not talking about people who have been able to get here we talking about people in the refugee camp in the moment. on the point whether it can solve the problem. of course it can. "the sun" talking about a small number of the most vulnerable people here including children who have -- and victims of torture. i was somewhat encouraged by the

end of the prrmt's answer of this. we are all proud of britain's tradition in term of taking refugee. why don't you look again and say britain will participate in the program and take a few hundred refugees and indeed -- [inaudible] >> i don't think there's a disagreement between us. the problem i see -- let me explain. i think some countries are using this quota system as a way of saying; therefore, i fulfilled by obligation. when you've got almost half of a 9 million population of risk of displacement the fact that the fins, swedens, french will take a few hundred people. it's not fulfilling the obligation. a massive amount of aid that britain is putting forward. the second largest in the world, i think is plague the most important role. as i've said to him, i think there are individual cases where we should be looking -- i'm happy to look at those arguments and issues. but let's not pretended that a

small qoi that system can solve the problem of syrian refugees. >> i do feel we are gradually inching forward on this. mr. speaker, let me be clear about this. let me be clear about this. it must not be an excuse for failing to provide aid. of course it's not. but we're not talking about either providing aid or taking vulnerable refugee. we're talking about doing both. now given the reasonable tone of the prime minister, will he now open discussions with the united nations about britain making contributions to the program. i think colleague from all sides of the house want it to happen will he say he'll do so. >> i made clear we're prepared to listen to the argument how we can help the most vulnerable people in the refugee camps. just -- some of the countries that are participating include in the quotas both the assume lum

numbers and refugee numbers which is not the argument we should be making. let me make it clear britain is leading the world in term of humanitarian aid in syria. we should be proud of that. fulfilling our obligations on asylum claims and should be proud we give hope to fleeing torture and prosecution. where there are extreme hardship cases i think we should look at them again. that's the approach we should take. i think there should be all party support for if. i think britain can be proud of the role we're playing. >> mr. speaker, i hope you'll take it away andlet say open discussions with the united nations. i don't think the members should grown on -- groan on this issue. we know britain can make more of a contribution on this. and i hope you'll open discussions. that exchange in the british house of commons earlier today. you can see prime minister live every wednesday beginning at

7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span2 and 9:00 p.m. on c-span or c-span.org. it has been a snowy day here in washington, d.c. it hasn't stop jay carney from scheduling a briefing. we get you there live. in news this afternoon, president obama met with member of the presidential election commission today discussing changes in voting processes and procedures including expanding online voting and increasing efforts to shorten wait times at the polling places. it was a brief five-minute meeting. be sure to join us leader today when the leader of the presidential commission will talk about some of the finding at an event in washington, d.c. the commission was set up by president obama last year to find ways to improve the voting experience for americans. see that live starting at 2:30 eastern on c-span2.

later another state of the state address. we'll have the event beginning at 7:00 eastern live. to get us to the start of the white house briefing. a portion of the washington journal where we were live from the washington, d.c., auto show. >> we're joined back at our studio on capitol hill by david. he's the washington bureau chief of the detroit news. i want to begin with a news coming yesterday from fiat had completed its acquisition of chrysler. how is the deal changing the u.s. auto industry? >> guest: for the second time, chrysler is wholly-owned foreign unit of foreign company. fiat automaker. back in 2009 the obama administration said they would only agree to additional bailout funds if chrysler could reach a tieup deal with fiat.

responsible for paying for retiree benefits for chrysler workers got 55% of chrysler over the last few years. fiat received part of the company for meeting certain requirements. they bought some shares back from the trust and just in recent weeks reached a deal to buy the remaining part of chrysler about 42% from the trust. so as of yesterday, chrysler is a wholly-owned arm of the italian automaker. >> host: what does fiat want from the deal in term what is happening in the european and u.s. auto market. >> guest: it's striking. when chrysler was in trouble back in 2009, fiat was the stronger company. today fiat is in essence surviving because of the profits that chrysler is generating here the sales of pick up and suvs

primarily. as you mentioned, the european auto market has been terrible shape at the 30 year low. sale have started to pick up slightly. because of the depression -- recession throughout much of europe, auto sales are struggling in europe. also a big drag on both ford and gm profits too. fiat needs the scale of chrysler to create a global brand and also, you know, because of the profits from, you know, from chrysler. >> host: some stats on the european auto market courtesy of the "new york times" on a story from last week. the european union's new car registrations totaled about 12 million for the year. it's the smallest number since 1995 about half as many countries. the annual decline of 1.7% last year was smaller than some analysts had predicted after the does ma'am start and in december a gain of 13.3% from a year earlier was the biggest monthly increase since 2009.

we've, talking with our viewers this morning about the auto bailout. we're asking them whether they thought it was worth it or not. can you talk about the companies involved in the bailout and what their sales were in 2013 and just the state of their business right now. >> guest: sure. so three primary companies got funds from the auto bailout, gm, chrysler, and ally financial. which was the former lending arm of gm known as gmac. during the auto bailout crisis was tapped to provide loans to gm and chrysler. both gm and chrysler are doing very well. they are making billions of dollars in profiteds. chrysler has reported -- i think, for four years of increasing sales in the u.s. they're up about 98% since 2009. they basically doubled sales. gm is also up about 35% from 2009. these companies got much smaller.

gm shed half of the brands, and more than 1,000 dealers during a bankruptcy. and chrysler got much smaller. the companies basically became sized so they could be profitable with a much smaller overall auto market. but since 2009, industry sales are up about 50% last year was 15.6 million. the best in six year. and this year analysts think the market will be above $16 million, which will be the first time since 2007. and really, sort of back to what some thing a new normal for the industry. >> guest: market watch has a chart talking about rebound in auto sales. you can see the change from 2009. this is annual light vehicle sales up until 2013. we've also been talking about gm and had some questions from some of our viewers this morning on some of the money that the treasury department lost on the government efforts to save gm. it was about $10 billion.

has gm said anything recently about whether they will repay that $10 billion that the government lost on that? >> guest: right. no. they said they are not going to repay the money because they're not required to. remember 2009 -- first a bailout began during the bush administration. about $25 billion president bush put in to gm, chrysler, and the auto finance companies. president obama added $60 billion to the tally. gm received about $50 billion from the u.s. government, $10 billion from the canadian government. in the case of the u.s. rather than require gm to repay $50 billion the obama administration decided to swap $42 billion of that for stock in the company. gm was only required to repay $8 billion of the $50 billion. taxpayers over the past four years sold those shares off to make more money. but in the end, the shares were only worthy about $20 --

$30 billion. >> why not hold on longer to see if you can make mor money. >> the stock has gone up quite a bit as the government has got out. the government decided they didn't want to own part of an auto company forever as some european companies own part of european automakers. they wanted to get out as quickly as possible. however, during the 2012 campaign, governor romney made an issue of gm potential losses, you know, the $10 billion figure. the administration opted not sell the rest of the shares during the campaign. waited until december twelve to really start to sell the rest of them. there was a concern, i think, the impact on the $10 billion loss on the overall assessment of the bailout. but the reality is it would have taken potentially years, if ever, for the remaining shares to get to the high level. in fact, canada opted not sell

all the shares waiting for the price to go up to try to make more money. diswhrg washington bureau chief of detroit news. if you have questions for him as we talk about the state of the u.s. auto industry. give us a ring. our phone lines are open. democrats can call in at 202-585-3880. blanking we look for your tweets and e-mails as well. but john is waiting on the line for republicans this morning. john is in silver spring, maryland. good morning. >> caller: hi. since detroit has a large muslim population, which has been effected by the post 9/11 world, serving your readers as part of your papers d.c. bureau means covering all aspects of that event. there is scientific evidence

proving that the third tour building 7, which wasn't hit by a plane was brought down with preplanted explosive. >> host: we'll hold off on the 9/11 calls. we're sticking to the auto industry. do you have a question for that? >> caller: why are you afraid to talk about building 7. >> guest: i'm not afraid to talk about it. we want to stick with the subject since we have a guest here who is an expert on it. we go to ray in clinton, pennsylvania. on our line for independents. good morning. >> caller: good morning. you already touched on this. the gm should be made to pay back thats loss on the stock. and obama should be brought up on charges just like mctolds. it was a quid pro quo he saved gm by giving taxpayer money away. it wasn't the taxpayers who did it. they gave him shares in the stock.

the union the uaw kicks back to the campaign heavily so the ceo and those people up at gm. so i don't see the difference between obama -- i won't buy another uaw made car neither will my family. ford, chrysler, or gm. they are all -- like i said the thugs, the union thugs they get back to this guy in the white house. it's no different from what bob mcdonald did in virginia. they should be brought up on charges. >> host: how has the bailout impacted unions for the auto companies? >> guest: it's been a mixed bag. certainly it's been good that the companies have survived and continue to add jobs, but as part of the bailout, the unions took very dramatic concessions. new workers of the company a post bailout only made $14 an hour as the uaw president noted. for a family of four, that's -- a uaw worker would qualify for food stamps in the most recent

contract the wages have started to go up. there is still dramatically lower than the older workers. so certainly significant concessions, but the caller is certainly raises the anger a lot of people feel that the unions -- especially in the case of the chrysler case put a head up on the creditor and general anger about the bailout. >> host: going to me melissa. >> caller: good morning. i want to reach out. i work for a.pro. i've been in the auto industry for four years now. i got in -- after all of this happened, and you know what i've learned in the last four years is how far reaching the auto industry is. a lot of people think of it in term of manufacturers or the dealerships, but we partner with so many different industries to supply services and goods and products and if the auto industry would have failed or one or two would have failed.

the job loss would have been huge. i can appreciate why people wouldn't want the government to be so involved. but at the same time, you know what would have happened to our economy had the support not been there. >> guest: you raise a really good point. remember march of 2009 when the obama administration was cdzing do they save both chrysler and gm. the u.s. economy was shedding 600,000 jobs a month. so and you're right that the impact of the auto industry is staggering. the largest purchasers of steel, of electronics, of other raw materials. and in every part of the country, people are, you know, the dealerships, repair shops, auto parts, the massive impact of the auto industry has felt way beyond detroit and the industrial midwest. so, you know, certainly the collapse of the industry would have been felt. some argued could have push the u.s. in to a depression. >> host: we've been showing our viewers this morning live

shots of washington auto show. the financial times this week had a story on auto shows. the headline "motor shows risk becoming the side show ." i want to get your thoughts on the importance of the car show. >> guest: i think there is a lot of hurdles for our car shows going forward. number one, a lot of these events are being live streamed. not as many reporters are going. we will leave the discussion that the point to go live to the white house for today's briefing. here is spokesman jay carr my kids still haven't gone to school. good afternoon, i hope you are holding up in the wintery weather. before i take your questions, i would like to tell you that this

morning the president and vice president held a meeting in the oval office with attorney general holder, secretary hagel, duncan, and senior administration officials to discuss their commitment to combating rape and sexual assault in all settings. during the meeting, the president and vice president reintegrated their deep personal interest in doing everything possible to root out these type of abuse and build on the steps their administration has taken to protect americans from it. they discussed the findings of a report issued by the white house council on women and girls. it was issued earlier today and identified key areas to focus on as part of the continued efforts. including working to change social norms, improving criminal justice response, and protecting students from sexual assault. each of the cabinet members briefed the president and vice president on various actions the respective agencies are taking. to lead a coordinated comprehensive effort to combat sexual assault from the military to college campuses and beyond.

and later today, the president and vice president and these cabinet officials will join additional representative on the council of women and girls for a meeting in the east room. which i think you know, where the president will sign a new presidential memo to establish the white house task force on protecting students from sexual assault. in his meeting this morning, the president said he looks forward to seeing recommendations from the task force within 90 days. working to combat rape and sexual assault in all settings has been a priority for the president and vice president throughout their time in office. and these new efforts built on steps this administration has taken to combat these crimes including l.a. year's reauthorization of the violence against women act. which the president -- the and the vice president himself authored and the series of executive actions that secretary hagel recently announced to address sexual assault in the military. with that, i take your questions. julie. >> reporter: thank you. i had a question about iran and syria. i know, the state department

talked about this over the weekend. what is the white house's understanding of what happened with the invitation to iran -- the syrian talks about having to pull that invitation back? >> well, i would refer you to the u.n. secretary general for more detail about this. i think he has spoken to it and explained our position never changed, and remains today what it has always been, which in order to participate in the geneva conference, you need to endorse the geneva communique. the purpose of the agree knee have a 2 conference is the full of that communication including the establishment by mutual consent of a transitional body governing body with full executive authorities. so i would refer you to what secretary general bond said on the issue. our position is clear and we're certainly following events in it

now as the conference has gotten underway. . >> reporter: is there any concern that any tension created through this invitation and invitation might -- [inaudible] and the nuclear talks between the u.s. and iran? >> no. i think that we have made clear and the p5+1 in general has made clear that the focus of those implementation of the joint plan of action and the next step, the six month process of trying to reach a comprehensive resolution of the matter. is on how we can persuade iran to abide by the international commitment. how with he ensure that iran will not obtain -- cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. there are other issues. very serious ones in the iran

account that we have. that includes our profound differences over syria. and the fact ion has -- iran has clearly played a negative role there and a violent role there. >> and on those talks that are off to bit of a rocky start. the administration sees this as the last chance to get assad out and end -- the end of talks about positive conclusion where does the discussion on syria go from here? ..

someone who has objected to by one side or the other. in other words that means that assad cannot and will not be part of that transition government. now, the most important work that we've done in the coming days and weeks and months ahead with the regime and opposition sitting down together to negotiate implication and the transition governing body will be hard work. but today is the beginning of an important process that will hopefully lead to an end to that

terrible war. >> how far do you expect to get them to even come to the table? do you see this as the last best chance at a political solution? >> there is no alternative to a political solution, a negotiated political settlement. and i wouldn't -- as these talks are just starting -- moved ahead to an assumption that they would fail, although i will recognize, as we all well and the president will, that this will be tough and complicated work. but there is no alternative. there is no other way forward for syria have sent the negotiated political settlement and a settlement based on the principles of the geneva communique that calls for the transitioning governing body that is reached by mutual consent. that is going to be hard work.

but it is important that it's gotten started. >> the president spoke yesterday and today discussed national security. mo but more might the white house do and what would the united states like to do to address the concerns of the security? >> let me say that starting with the call yesterday that the united states has offered its full support and any assistance to the russian government and its security preparations for the sochi games. russians will be responsible for this activity over the olympics and they have a security lead for the united states but we will send diplomatic security and fbi agents with the host nation security and law enforcement officials and that is standard operating procedure

for the defense like this. with thousands of u.s. citizens and athletes from team usa and corporate sponsors and members of the media are present for an extended period of time. the united states and russia have discussions on counterterrorism cooperation and a number of the news as we noted in the past including working groups of the bilateral. the united states has been working with the russian government through the international security group on the sochi representative group as we do with any other host country. u.s. citizens planning to attend the games should be in contact with the state department. the threat for safety and security can be found on the web site at the department of the travel web site. i would also note we have seen an uptick in the threat reporting prior to the olympics, which is of course of concern. although it is also not unusual for a major international event.

we offered as i said assistance to the russians that they might need to counter that threat. >> [inaudible] >> i would refer you to the department of defense on the assistance that has been offered and i would also say that we are having ongoing conversations with the russians about this and have offered any assistance that we can provide. they also have a way for the security and the host nations. >> does that come from the concern that they are not doing enough? >> i think that this is an international event and there will be a large u.s. citizen presence for an extended period of time and we take the necessary precautions. as you would expect the pentagon said monday of this week the united states offered its full support to the government and that includes the two u.s. ships that have been sent to the black

sea as a part of the prudent planning and preparations that are acquired for an even like this. >> one other issue. "the washington post" had a story putting the u.s. officials expressing concern that they would not be able to make good on their promise for the telephone records in nsa proposal. how confident is the white house that deadline is met or not realistic? >> the relevant agencies are already at work implementing the direction of the president's speech that he gave. they've already been working on them over the past six months and doing everything in our power already to meet those time lines. so, it is complicated, but the word is already gone out, some of the work has already been done. the president looks forward.

>> who called when he received the call? >> i don't know the answer to that, john, with some frequency but i can find out if there was even an initiator. >> what is your assessment, the white house assessment and how or the russians dealing with security? >> again what i can tell you is there has been an uptick in some of the reporting that that is not unusual. it's not unusual for an even like this. the state department has handled and is handling the issue for the u.s. citizens, and we are offering any assistance they might require or request in a situation like this. but i wouldn't be qualified

except to say these major events around the world obviously present security challenges. this one is not unique, and we take a matter like this seriously because the u.s. citizens. that's why we are working with the russian government and offering the assistance we are offering as well as encouraging u.s. citizens planning to travel to sochi to be in touch with the state department to make sure they are aware of the advisories that are out there. >> can you characterize our level of confidence with the steps taken and have you heard who is responsible for bringing steel around the sochi olympics and we have confidence they followed up on this? >> all i can tell you, john, is we have had conversations with the russian government about security in sochi. the president spoke with president putin about this and we have offered any assistance they might want to avail

themselves of, and we are taking i think prudent precautions on this matter as evidenced by some of the steps the department of defense and the state department have taken. i would want to assess from here, and because this is a complicated piece of business obviously, the olympics in general, because unlike already complicated defense -- evin the last 03 period of time. >> on the nuclear issue, the white house believes if you can reach an agreement with the iranians the sanctions can be lifted without congressional approval and further sanctions lifted on some steps which your able to do without congressional approval, but can you strike a deal with iran without the

sanctions in congress? >> i haven't seen that assessment made because it presupposes what is the only acceptable outcome to these negotiations which is a verifiable agreement to forsake its weapons ambitions. offered in a way that is 100% reassuring in the international partners that they will not and cannot pursue their weapon. there will be an opportunity for iran to end its isolated state that its international obligations have brought upon

its but how that process would work it's a little early to discuss that because the period that they are talking about for the comprehensive solution is just beginning. >> the first lady had her 50th birthday party and the president picks up the cost for that party? >> i think we put out information -- i don't have it here -- >> i was just wondering if you have an estimate with the cost was. >> i don't. but i would refer you. >> on the reporting -- he said something you should expect with events like this, but really going beyond that, part of the uptick is because recent events in the area because the region we are talking about; is that correct? >> well, i mean you're asking me sort of to assess the region. i think that the international event like this always represent

or present rather security challenges, and that's broadly speaking. obviously come each event has unique challenges. but i'm not going to get into a detailed analysis of how this one might be different from another one. but the approach of the u.s. government takes and the administration takes is one of prudent preparation because of any risk that might be out there. so as i said -- as you might expect in a run-up to an even like this in some of the reporting, and we are taking precautions accordingly. but that is not unusual. >> does he seem welcoming? >> i think that we have communicated at a variety of levels including the two presidents that we are absolutely willing to assist the russian government where we can,

and those conversations are being engaged, and i wouldn't characterize them. i can point you to the defense department in some of the conversations they have had and the steps that they have taken, but we are going to continue to work with the government and have those conversations moving forward. >> the president said a couple things about marijuana and said that the legalization experiment in washington state and colorado should go forward and he also mentioned he didn't think that marijuana was any more dangerous than alcohol. in 2010 the white house put out a policy paper on the national drug policy stating that marijuana shouldn't be legalized. was he sitting at the drug policy? >> the matters haven't changed a thing he was meeting a couple points. number one, that we ought to use discretion appropriately and

prosecution of priorities, the prioritization. line comes to marijuana use, he sees it as a bad habit and not something that he would encourage. this is a quote it's not something i encourage and i told my daughters i think it is a bad idea, waste of time and not very healthy. but there is a question that we have acquired drug walls in a way that is counter-productive. and that there are issues that need to be addressed. i think that it's important because he is quote quite extensively in that article to look at the full context of some of these quotes that have been taken out and phrases when at least in this instance there is an opportunity to see him speak at length. >> but he does want to see those experiments go forward in washington -- >> i think the point that -- again, you're probably not aware of the entire sentence.

it's important for the experiment to go forward because it's important for society not to have a situation in which a large portion of people have a one time or another broken fall and only a select few get punished. in other words, he's talking of the issue of the disparities and the prosecution of our drug law, that an experiment like this may be addressing. he's not endorsing any specific move by the state. he simply making an observation on the position of the matters haven't changed. >> on syria there has been a huge cache of photos that have been released showing what appears to be widespread killings, mass killings and mass torture as the white house examined the photos and has an opinion on what should happen with respect to those photos? >> we stand with the rest of the world in these images that have come to light and condemn in the

strongest possible terms the action of the regime and call to the international obligations with respect to the treatment of prisoners. while we cannot independently confirmed the information that was presented recently, these photographs cannot be ignored or dismissed. they suggest widespread systematic violations of international law and demonstrate how far the regime is willing to go and harming its own people. they are very disturbing images. >> that on the medved -- meta data, was it ten minutes after the president's speech? >> i will refer you to -- >> [inaudible] >> i'm saying the the examination of the issue was a part of the review process, so moving forward, participants in that effort are not starting

from scratch. that is the point i'm making. not that the president had issues in this specific directive prior to the speech, but there is a knowledge base that was built in part by the review the president asked for and got, and that will certainly be of assistance as it goes forward to make the determinations about storage. >> did you know if the attorney general has assured the president that he can make the deadline? >> again, i would point you to what i said earlier. work has been done on this issue, so people are not starting from scratch. it's a complicated business as the president expects that action can be taken in the timeline sat psp nicu have a component of making a congressional [inaudible] what would happen if the congress did not have the deadline the president is talking about? is the president willing to stop -- he said in a speech that the government will no longer

maintain the data base -- >> we are going to work with congress because it's the kind of thing that can join bipartisan support and there is a shared interest in moving forward on this, so i think that we hope and expect congressional cooperation moving forward. >> thank you. on income inequality, the president has repeatedly made it clear the next three years how much is he going to put behind the measures? >> there is no question as you heard the president say late last year and as you heard him say over the years and earlier this year that the challenge we face when it comes to economic mobility in the country and the

ability of americans from all stations in life to achieve the american dream is something he considers his number one priority. and addressing that challenge and making sure that there is an opportunity for everyone is something that we can do together with congress and also something that he can tackle using all of the tools in his toolbox as the president of the united states. and you have seen him do that, rather you have seen examples of how he can do that with the promise zones that he talked about in the manufacturing hub in north carolina where we can continue to work on the renaissance of manufacturing in this country and focus on the advanced manufacturing in the kind of industries that create well paying jobs for middle

class families to live on here in the united states and you see it in the initiatives last week with on hundred representatives from colleges and universities and elsewhere interested in improving education for americans and that in turn helps address the issue because it is not something that a single piece of legislation will result result. you have seen it to raise minimum wage state-by-state. the president strongly supports action by congress, strongly supports action here in washington to raise the minimum wage because of the basic principle in this country. you ought to be able to earn a living by not living in poverty to put in a hard day's work.

the years on a bipartisan support so there is an opportunity with the congress on that specific issue and others. so, the president is fiercely committed to this agenda that goes right at the heart of what he believes america has always been about and it has been the foundational belief that no matter what the circumstances are that you have endless opportunity in the country to advance yourself and your family if you are willing to work hard and if you're willing to decrease one's abilities and a few are willing to of educate yourself and foxed help your family moved for worth. so, this is obviously something that the president has spoken about before and i think you can

expect something that he will speak about in the coming days and weeks and throughout his presidency. >> how do you measure success? >> i think he would measure by evidence that we have improved economic opportunity in this country for everyone that the mobility that we have seen declining in this country is on the rise again, where you don't have i think surprising statistics that suggest the countries in europe have greater economic mobility and the united states, which sort of goes to the heart of who we believe we are in this country and what our history has been about when it comes to opportunity for people who've been willing to work hard and take responsibility. so that is an agenda that could not have more presidential force

behind it. >> the report last night the pentagon sent the president a report or a recommendation that there would be 10,000 u.s. military personnel in afghanistan after 2014, providing that those forces would be removed by 2016. can you concur if that is true and if so is it presidential desire to wind down the war completely by the end of the term even if the bilateral security agreement is signed by the afghan government? >> what i can tell you, major, is the president has not made any final decisions about the troop numbers, and i've not going to discuss ongoing deliberations. we will be weighing an input from the military commanders as well as the intelligence community's and diplomats and development experts as we make decisions about our post 2014 presence in afghanistan. as you mentioned in addition, our position continues to be that we cannot conclude a bilateral security agreement

promptly, then we will initiate planning for a post 2014 future, in which there would be no u.s. or nato troop presence in afghanistan. that's not the future that we are seeking. it's not a policy that we think is best, and we don't believe it is in afghanistan's best interest, but the further this slips into 2014, the bill more likely the present outcome is. meanwhile, as the agency convened to consider options to present to the president for the post 2014 presence, we will have to increasingly take into account the lack of the sign based on the position that we cannot pursuant to the post 2014 mission. and that mission if i could just reiterate would be one that is tailored to focus on counterterrorism operations and on the training and the support of afghan security forces. so, no decisions have been made

and we are not going to go into that further deliberations, and it's important to note in the context of all of these discussions that we are still waiting for the afghan government to sign. islamic is the difficulty in obtaining that suggest any of these deliberations a question of the utility keeping the forces for a long period after 2014 because they may not be welcome there and therefore the utility -- it might be in question. >> i think in fact they strongly endorse the bilateral security agreement and the body that represents the opinion of the afghan people. we think that is significant and reflect the fact that they were negotiated in good faith with

the afghan government, and we consider that to be another strong reason why it ought to be signed. >> in the discussion of karzai and this being a why of issue certainly presents itself in the succession of the karzai government and not just by the lawyers but whoever made the speakers. >> i think that is probably the case, but we are not basing the need for them to be signed on that timeline in the afghan politics. we are basing it on the fact we have to make decisions, we and our nato allies have to make decisions for 2014. that need to take into account whether it has been signed because there cannot be a further troop presence at the center of it being signed sow

the further that we slip into this year, the more we have to take that into account. >> suggested on a couple of sunday talk shows the possession of the u.s. government may have received assistance from the russian government trend on its way to russia and that he may be cooperating in ways that is harmful to the u.s. government in an ongoing basis. does the administration agree with those assessments? >> i would say this is an ongoing criminal investigation and i don't have anything to add from here on that matter. >> would you care to cast any doubt on those suspicions? >> i don't have anything to add. there is a case that has been presented against mr. snowden. charges have been brought. it is our firm position that he ought to return to the united states and face the charges

against him here where he will be affordable the protection of due process that our judicial system provides. >> the president said that he was haunted by syria. [inaudible] there's also no alternative to assad stating in power. why is there any alternative to assad staying in power? he's been there for almost two and a half years. the military does not appear to be any less aggressive in the assad regime that has been from the start. the opposition and the geneva peace conference or conversations ought to assess the rocket start. why is it possible that assad stays and the president is haunted by the duration of this administration? >> because there is no future that the syrian people will endorse for the country that includes assad and the government or as president. he has forsaken in bloody

fashion any claim he might have to lead that country into the future. bye massacring his own people. i mean, -- >> and key undermined his moral authority to the practical reality is he's there and the military fight aggressively to keep him there. >> and there is a war and there is no solution. there is no end to that war absent a negotiated political settlement and that satellite has to be based on the geneva communique which calls for the transitioning government authority based on mutual consent, and there is no achieving mutual consent in syria on the members of the government authority that could include assad in the government. it just won't happen. it can't happen. so, our view that assad can't be part of syria's future is not one that we make on our own. it's one that we observed in the

fulfilment of the geneva communicate because there is no way the opposition would agree or shut to the governing traditional authority that would include assad among those participants. >> on that point is the u.s. military strike against syria, the potential strike still on the table? >> well, i don't think that we would ever rollout options when dealing with matters like this. but what i can tell you is, you know, we foresee no u.s. troops in syria, and there is the only resolution here i think suggesting that the use of force somehow when we said there is no resolution here that doesn't include a negotiated political settlement. >> do they consider u.s. force was right up to the line of it and went to congress and that played out a few months ago. my question is to summers ago the president from the podium had a news conference on the red line and the laws of chemical

weapons. >> as was the threat of the use of force. >> and the president, then when he drew that red line august of 2012 said of the cross the line there would be enormous consequences. now, in addition to the mass killings that we talked about a moment ago, chemical weapons were used in mass fashion, and as a result in a positive step, syria started turning over some of those chemical weapons. but my question is, assad is still in power has major suggested. he's still killing his own people. what is -- what can the u.s. do about that? >> well, if we could clarify the history that you recounted. the president made clear that there was a red line for syria to use chemical weapons, and he then very clearly and forcefully threatened force when the evidence demonstrated that the syrian government had used chemical weapons. it was because of that incredible use of force or

threat of force, rather, that something happened that i don't think anybody would have predicted, which is that a government that had long denied that it even possess chemical weapons agreed to give them all up. and that process is underway. what remains the case is if there is an ongoing civil war. with the president said is we will do everything we can through the provision of humanitarian assistance, through pushing the geneva process forward including meetings under way now, through help and assistance to the opposition, to help bring about an end to the war and negotiated -- >> for a couple of years now i guess is my question. if the president is haunted buy --

>> i guess i would point you to when the president has made it clear that we cannot intervene militarily in every civil war, but we can do what we have done in this case, which is work with international partners to help try to bring about a negotiated political settlement, and we can, as we did, working with our international partners help bring about the commitment by syria to give up one of the largest collections of kunkel weapons in the world -- chemical weapons in the world and that is positive and ongoing. >> on health care, the paper reported a couple days ago that the procurement document in late december said the federal officials decided to bring on extension for the healthcare.gov contract and it was because they

justified in the administration by saying they had to move quickly because they said the health insurance industry was at risk if the site was not fixed. they also went on to say, quote, the health care reform program is jeopardized if the fixes are not made by the middle of march. >> who said that? >> federal officials. >> [inaudible] >> i didn't see the article. i'm not aware of those -- >> they are turning the corner. it is the document suggested there are still concerns in the administration? ..

>> reporter: can you confirm that. even if you can't is the u.s. concerned that there may be -- >> margaret, i don't have more. i adopt have -- i have not seen that report. what i can tell you is that we are having conversations with the russians. we have made clear we are prepared to provide any assistance that we can if russia asks for it. we're going continue to work with them and take steps as we have been taking given this is a kind of event where security isen an issue.

>> reporter: call with mr. putin. one thing in the readout that i didn't know notice was any mention of edward snowden. can you tell us explicitly are they in the agree or disagree cat category and not talk about it. >> i don't have more detail on the phone call. what i tell you is our position on mr. snowden, i think, is abundantly clear to everyone including the russians. he ought to be returned to the united where he will be afforded all rights and protections in our system. that hasn't changed. i don't think there's any doubt in moscow or elsewhere of our position on that matter. >> >> reporter: the foreign policy spokesman the party -- [inaudible]

and what he said is that it's their view what the president has promised or offered in terms of foreign leader aspect of the nsa for all of last week is it quite enough and that, transatlantic religions are in the deepest crisis since the iraq warn. i was wondering for the president is concerned about ongoing relationship with germany specifically and what he's doing at the end of the day . >> we have had direct country-to-country and in some cases leader-to leader consultation on the matters as they have arisen. we have been clear about that when it comes to the united states and germany and president obama and chancellor merkel. i would say at their direction we have undertaken extensive close consultation on our intelligence cooperation in recent months, which they have

resulted in a better understanding of the requirement and concerns that exist on both sides. those consultations will continue among our intelligence services. i think they reflect the very close relationship we have across the board. including on issues and matters of intelligence. >> reporter: there was a greater degree of sharing the past olympics in london, vancouver, and beijing. what specifically would you like to see with russia that give the administration more confidence in the safety of americans not just in soji but throughout russia. >> i just don't have more on this beyond what i've said which is that we are in conversations with the russians. we have made clear that we are prepared to offer any assistance they might require. russian authors, of course, are responsible for overall security at the olympics. they are the host nation. and the state department's bureau for diplomatic security

has the security lead for the united states. as part of that responsibility we will send diplomatic -- to lee adjacent with host nations and security and law enforcement officials. i think that reflects, you know, our actions we have taken in situations like this. they are fairly standard. these are obviously events that present security challenges. we work with host nations and we take actions that we think are necessary to make sure that precautions question take are taken. >> at this time, is the white house satisfied that russia is prepared to host the game? >> i think that russia has responsibility for overall security in term of the steps they have taken and assurances they can make, you know, are ones they have to make. our view is that, you know, we

partner with the host nations and lee -- we also, in this case, are offering security assistance, and we'll continue to work with the russians as the event approaches and begins. >> you said a couple of dais ago said i wouldn't go and wouldn't send the family. americans are making the decision now. should they go? >> as i understand it, a lot of americans which is why, of course, we pay close attention to an event like this. there will be team u.s.a. members there as well as corporate sponsors. and our advice to americans who might travel to the games is to avail themselves the information provided by the state department in the form of travel advisories related to this. and take the standard precautions that those

advisories recommend. and, you know, beyond that, we're going to continue to work with -- to take necessary pre-- precautions and work with the russian government. >> chairman rogers this weekend discussed his suspicious or belief thoor edward snowden -- asked earlier. he made these you can call them allegations or accusation there was the -- the senior fbi official told us it's the bureau's conclusion that mr. snowden acted alone. i guess i'm curious right now. chairman rogers and others using that language like that somehow hinders the relationship u.s. is trying to develop with russia by making the suggestions when it appears the administration has no -- >> i think the disagreement we have with russia over edward snowden, i think, has been publishingly expressed with some frequency. i don't think that -- i don't think that that is

really an issue. the president spoke with president putin directly and does so with some frequently as the president -- >> no. i'm saying in general we don't -- that the president can talk to president putin and does, and in our relations with russia we have areas of significant cooperation where our interests are aligned. we have areas of significant disagreement including but not limited to the matter of edward snowden. but i don't think we're anything but transparent about that. we have expressed that clearly both on that matter and other matters. that's been the approach the president has taken in our relations with russia. he thinks that best serves the interest of the united states. which is a very clear-eyed approach to u.s.-russian relations that allows for

cooperation on matters that are vital to u.s. national security and u.s. interest. and can also allow for the clear expression of descree.s and that happens. we rabble -- are able to move forward and cooperate with the russian on a host of everything including p5+1. it includes counterterrorism cooperation in general, and obviously the ability to discuss security around the games. >> quickly, we're under the impression you'll get back to us on who placed the phone call president putin or president obama yesterday. we've been told that the conversation was apparently several days or even weeks in the making. do the two of them agree to have other conversations and have other conversations have been set before the games where further decisions will be made in term of cooperation? >> i don't have any previous additional phone calls that may or may not happen. as i said, the president speaks

with president putin with some frequency. i don't know when the next call will be. >> reporter: on the u.s. -- you announced earlier this week. you talked about what prompted that and why egypt has not among those invited. >> well, i can tell you what prompted it is the and highlight america's commitment to africa's security. it's democratic development and people. i think that in -- on matter of the invitation list, the on

egypt -- i have it. hold on. i can give you egypt has not been invited because it is suspended from the of african union. that's the reason why egypt of not invited. i can read you the entire list of the invitee, i think you have probably seen it. that was why egypt wasn't invited >> is it a concern to have missed opportunity -- >> i think we have regular discussions with egyptian leaders and authorities focused on the bilateral relationship on security matters, but also on developments in egypt. our belief that egypt needs to transition to a civilian-lead government in a process that is

inclusive where egyptians from all walk of life get to express their view and be heard. >> reporter: yesterday after he was indicted, [inaudible] and the attorney both described his actions while he was governor as similar to things president obama has done in the white house. they said in the legal president the president routinely participates in critical events with benefactors in the white house and -- [inaudible] that includes benefactors and senior administration officials in describing or explaining governor mcdonald's action with johnny williams. i'm sure you're going to refer to questions about the justice department. does the president concede the point that a lot of the people involved in the policy discussions are people who contributed to the campaign? >> i have no comment on what is

obviously an ongoing matter of prosecution, and i'll leave it at that. mark? >> reporter: jay, how will leaders now if they are among the friends and allies whose phone calls to the united states will not conduct surveillance. >> mark, what i would say is that we have direct conversations through diplomatic channels on this issues, and we'll continue to do so. , you know, we can -- i think you can address those questions that question elsewhere. i think we, as have been the case since the revelations began where they have affected our relations with specific country. there have been direct and substantiative conversations between the two countries using diplomatic channel which is the tradition. >> you're saying you'll tell

them? >> mark -- in the phone calls won't be surveilled. >> well, i'm not sure what other method you might suggest, mark. i can simply tell you we have, you know, close relationships with our friends and allies. our close friends and allies. we -- these kinds of discussions take place through normal diplomatic channel. >> reporter: have you responded to the ad yesterday in the paper from europe one radio requesting an interview with a president. would you suggest that's a way for many of us to request inter-- [laughter] >> no. i think cbs has requested interviews through more traditional means successfully. as have many of the news organizations here. but i wouldn't rule out that as a means to request. i think it's an expensive way to do it. but --

keep those invitations coming. thank you very much. >> thank you. [inaudible conversations] for today's white house briefing if you missed any of it. we'll have it available for you shortly online from beginning to end c-span.org. check the c-span video library. president obama early today met with members of the presidential election commission discussing changes to voting processes and procedure including expanding online voting. and increasing efforts to shorten wait times at polling places. it was a short meeting, but after wards the president called on congress to act and declared that no american should wait more than a half hour to vote. later today, the leaders of that presidential commission on election administration will

talk about some of their findings during a panel discussion here in washington. that commission set up by the president last year to improve the voting experience for americans. you can see it live starting at 2:30 eastern about 40 minutes from now right here on c-span2. a little bit later today we'll bring you another state of the state address south carolina governor will address the legislature from the state house in columbia. that will be live beginning at 7:00 p.m. eastern on c-span2. during today's prime minister's question time in the british house of commons, in an exchange with labour party leader prime minister talked about the u.k.'s response to the refugee crisis in syria. he recommended great britain provide more relief to refugee as opposed to taking them in. here is a portion of thatlping p debate.ndwe grve witle] >> this is speaker recent report of the murdera of thousand ofmre innocent civilians by the regime in syria.er we all hope the significant

progress from today's talk icant progress in today's talks. last month the prime minister, deputy prime minister and i made a joint statement about the plight of syrian refugees which welcomed the government leadership to come to the aid program. the u.n. high commission for refugees has also called on britain to be part of a program to help resettle a small number of the most vulnerable syrian refugees. 18 countries are part of that program. britain is not so far among them. doesn't the prime minister agree that we should be? >> first organic completely agree with the right gentlemen just how dreadful the news is that is come out of syria in recent days about allegations of torture and worse in that country. i think we are fulfilling our moral obligations to the people of syria. we are the second largest bilateral aid donor. theamong the bridge taxpayers ae providing is providing food and shelter and water and medicine for literally hundreds of thousands of people. we are also fulfilling all our

obligations in terms of asylum-seekers and we've taken over 1000 asylum seekers from syria in recent months. we are also making sure that where we can help foldable children were ill including a child in a british hospital today, we take action there as well. i don't believe you can solve a refugee crisis of this scale when you've got almost half of the 9 million population of syria either displaced or risk of displacement with a quota system where countries are taking a few hundred refugees. but where i disagree with them is that if there are very difficult cases of people who don't belong in refugee cams who have been either disabled by these dreadful attacks or in very difficult circumstances i'm happy for us to look at that argument. written always plays the right role in these desperate humanitarian crises. >> ed miliband.

>> mr. speaker, i thank the prime minister for that answer. let me make a few points in reply. it's important issue. first of all we all agree that this government has shown in relationship to searing tait and i pay tribute to him and others. on the point about asylum seekers, those are people have been able to get you. were not taught the people have been able to get here, we're talking to people in the refugee camps at the moment. on his point about whether this can solve the problem. of course, again but the u.n. is talking about a number of the most affordable people including children who've lost their parents and victims of torture. i was somewhat encouraged by the end of his answer of this. we are all proud of britain's tradition in terms of taking refugees. why doesn't he look again and say that britain will actually participate in this program and take just a few hundred refugees and, indeed, set an example? >> i don't actually think there's a disagreement between us. the problem i see -- at me say,

the problem i see some countries are using this quota system as a way of saying, therefore, i fulfilled my obligation. when you've got as i said almost half of a 9 million population at risk of displacement, the fact that the fence or the french or the sweeps will take a few hundred people, that is not fulfilling your obligation where as the massive amount of aid that britain is putting forward, the second largest in the world i think is putting the most important role. but as i said to him i think there are individual cases where we should be looking and i'm happy to look at those arguments and those issues, but let's not pretend that a small quota system can solve the problem of syrian refugees. >> i do feel we are gradually inching forward on this, mr. speaker. let me be clear about this. let me be clear about this. it must not be an excuse for failing to provide a.

of course, it must not but we're not talking about either providing aid or taking over refugees. we are talking about doing both. given the results on of the prime minister, will he now open discussions with the united nations about britain making its contribution to this program? i think colleagues from all sides of the south want this to happen. will he now say he will do so? >> i've made very clear we are prepared to listen to the arguments about how we can help the most vulnerable people in those refugee camps. but just to correct him, some of the countries that are participating, include in the quotas both a side in numbers and refugee numbers which i think is not the argument we should be making. let me be absolutely clear, britain is leading the world in terms of humanitarian aid in syria. we should be proud of that. we are fulfilling our obligations on asylum claims and we should be proud that we do give him to those who fleet torture and persecution. where the our extreme hardship

cases i think we should look at those again. that is the approach we should take her i think it should be all parsable for anything britain can be proud of the road -- proud of the role we are playing. >> as i say, we will open discussion with the united nations. i don't think honorable members should grown on this issue. i really do not. i didn't see myself as a profit who has a message for my world. i see myself as a person trying to understand my -- myself. i think the idea came to me the idea of the book came to me when i was giving the u.s. air force academy in colorado. and among the very nice -- educate through broad-minded libbial young air force officer who is --

[inaudible] ha lot with me which i find interesting. he tells me that a liberal. he wanted to create in my mind an impression i got from the media the u.s. air force academy is right-wing and full of strange radical fundamentists. he tells me he's a liberal and in favor of immigration. which i can -- but when people come to the country they should learn the nation's language. i don't think he was speaking about -- [inaudible] i said yes, i agree. everybody should learn spanish. the settlement and evolution of the united from a hispanic perspective. part of booktv this weekend on c-span2. online at booktv's book club. you have time to weigh in.

read the book and join the conversation. go to booktv dpoirg and click on book club to enter the chat room. we will show you as much as we can until the state of the state address in south carolina with governor nicky haley. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] thank you to the concerned veterans of america for putting on the events, which i've been to at lough events and the mayors in washington. a lot of discussions. i think the quality has been very high, really serious interesting discussions at the events i've been at. i hope we'll adhere to that standard today. this morning. [laughter] admiral, i'll do my best -- he needs no introduction.

he's the chief of naval operations in 2005 to 2007 and chairman of the joint chief for two terms. 2007 to 2011. a very distinguished military career of over four decades. i want to thank him for his service, and thank him for being here this morning. the brief discussion we'll talk about the debt, which as pete mentioned, admiral highlighted himself and testimony to congress or an interview. >> through a random question a reporter asked me walking down the path at the pentagon. >> it's a mistake answering random questions. three years ago i think in 2010 a random reporter in the the pentagon said what is the greatest threat we face in the united states. he said the biggest threat we have for national security is our national debt. that got a lot of attention. our national debt was a little above $13 trillion.

it's now a little bit above $17 trillion. why did you say it then? are you encouraged by anything that happened in the last three and a half years? >> would you say it again? >> well, thank you, bill, for doing this and pete and you and your organization. i think what you're doing is critical. i would say that it's good you're young. it's a long haul. [laughter] it isn't going to happen quickly, but please persist. i'm delighted to be able to spend some time with you. the storm issue is a terrific issue. the seat does afford me an opportunity despite the fact there's no snow to watch my car get towed away. it's in a snow emergency route, i'm sure. [laughter] it really is -- i was telling bill earlier. i can't actually remember the forum, if you will, that was