arctic nation. and as such, we have responsibilities, we have obligations. there is activity that is happening in the north country that is without question. what is also without question is that as an arctic nation, we are woefully behind in certain infrastructure related to our arctic. what do most people think of when they think of the arctic? ice. how do you move through the arctic ocean filled with ice? an icebreaker. and it's not just for commerce. it is for -- from a national security perspective but it's for a research perspective, it is for all those things that, again, would allow us to be a leader as an arctic nation. this is not easy for us, because icebreakers don't come cheap. but it should be a priority for us as a national asset for an

arctic nation. i won't go through the list of what other nations have in terms of their assets, but let's suffice it to say that our neighbors to the east in russia have over 30 icebreakers. our neighbors to the -- excuse me our neighbors to -- well, it depends which way you're going around the globe. but our canadian friends the icebreaker capacity that they have are six. but it's not just the arctic nations that have arctic capacity through their icebreakers it's nations like china. mr. president, think how far away china is from the arctic. india is considering building an ice breaker. think how far away they are. it begs the question, why as an arctic nation are we not stepping up? so i am a he challenging my so i'm challenging my colleagues, think broader. i invited all members of the

united states senate to join the arctic caucus and understand what it means for you and your respective states, the benefits but also the obligations. so i look forward to the discussion on the issue of how we build out our arctic capacity and our infrastructure, and i also look forward to further discussion on how we can do more to ensure that the opportunities that we have for our economic development, our energy security can continue on the lands that we are blessed to have as a nation and the opportunities that will be made further available if we're able to move forward with the ideas that i've proposed this evening. with that, mr. president i yield the floor. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

mr. gardner: mr. president, i ask that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask that you can the pending amendments be set aside and i call up the ayotte amendments number 485 40 and 852 en bloc. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the clerk will report en bloc. the amendments are calmed en bloc. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent that the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous

consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 115 submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 115, designating april 2015 as national congenital die fragmatic hernia awareness month. the presiding officer: without objection, the sna the will proceed to the measure. mr. gardner: i ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: mr. president i ask unanimous consent that the appointment at the desk appear separately in the record as if made by the chair. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. thursday march 26, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired the journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two liards be reserved for their use later in the day. following leader remarks the senate resume consideration of s. con. res. 11. further, that all debate time on

the budget resolution be considered expired at 12:00 noon. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: if there is to further business to come behalf before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

spann >> questions to the prime minister. ann check in. >> question number one. >> thank you mr. speaker. mr. speaker i know the whole house will wish to join me in offering our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those killed in yesterday's airbus crashed in france. it is heartbreaking to hear about the schoolchildren, the babies the families whose lives have been brought to an impaired as the foreign secretary is that it's very likely there were some british nationals involved.

at the stage iii british nationals have been identified as been on the flight. we are working to establish if further internationals were on board or we are providing cultures is assembled a further mission as it becomes available that are better to france's upper crash site today that i spoke to prime minister last night to make clear the u.k. is ready to offer any assistance we can and i expect to speak to the president today. mr. speaker this morning i had meetings with ministers colleagues and others in addition to my stewed -- duties are so have further such meetings later today. >> magi in the prime minister and expressing sympathies to all the families affected by yesterday's tragedy? and 2014 the number of people working on contracts increased by 19%. unsecured borrowing rose by 9% and the percentage of living in relative poverty was at the highest level since 2001.

would the prime minister agree that under his watch the future of our young people is only getting darker? >> what has happened under my watch is there are 174,000 more people enrolled zero our contracts account for one and 50 jobs and it is this government that has outlawed exclusivity in zero contracts after 13 years of inaction from the party opposite. our own constituency they claim an account has fallen by 32% since the election. that is evidence better economic plan is working in scotland as throughout the rest of the united kingdom. >> thank you mr. speaker. one of the most disturbing scandals has been the infection of thousands of people across the nation with hiv and hepatitis c through contaminated blood. today lord penrose published a report which follows nearly 25 years of campaigning by members

on both sides of this house to address the scandal. could the prime minister as the last activist government ensure a full apology transparent publication and above all proper compensation for the families terribly affected by this scandal? >> my honorable friend is absolutely right to raise this with the penrose report published today and i can do all of the three things that the asked for. i know that many members on all sides of this house have raised the question of infected blood. i have spoken about how constituents have been through surgery. it is right that we use this moment to recognize the pain of the suffering experienced by people as a result of this tragedy. it is difficult to imagine the feelings of unfairness that people must feel in being affected -- infected by something like hepatitis c or hiv is an unrelated treatment into each and every one of those people i would like to say sorry on behalf of the government

server for something that should not happen. no amount of money can fully make up for what did happen but it's vital we vital we mill basin is possible to improve the way the payments are made to those infected by this blood. i can confirm the government will provide up to 25 million pounds in 2015/16 to support any transitional arrangements to a better payment system and i commit that if i am prime minister we will respond to the findings of this report is a matter of priority. finally mr. speaker i know that lord penrose was unable to present the findings of this report today because of illness and i'm sure the whole house would want to send him our very best wishes. >> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker let me first say i fully associate myself with the remarks of prime minister just made about the victims of infected blood and we undertake today to carry these recommendations forward as well. i i also done a premise and offering my condolences to the families who lost loved ones in

the devastating plane crash yesterday especially remembering the three british victims. our thoughts are with all of the victims, their families and friends. mr. speaker monday the prime minister announced his retirement plans. and he said, and he said it was because he believed in giving straight answers to straight questions. now after five years of prime minister's questions that was music to my ears mr. speaker. so here is a straight question, will they now rule out a rise in dag? >> and 45 days time i plan to arrange for his retirement. but he is right, straight answers deserve straight questions and the answer is yes.

>> let me say to him, let me say to him nobody is going to believe it and nobody is going to believe it. nobody is going to believe it because it extreme spending plans because his numbers don't add up and he promised it last time and he broke his promise. now if he is in the mood for straight answers let's try him on another one. can he confirm the spending -- those. >> order order. the leader of the opposition will be heard. if we overrun, so be it. it doesn't matter to me. the right honorable gentleman will be heard in the prime minister will be heard in every other member will be heard. the leader of the opposition. >> can he confirm the spending cuts he plans in the next three years will be greater even than

anything seen in the last five? >> he is wrong about that. a straight answer for me straight question to him, i have ruled out vat, will he rule out national insurance contributions? >> you will have plenty of time, he will have plenty of time to ask questions after may 7. i am afraid to say his own office of budget responsibility his own office of budget responsibility sets a much sharper squeeze on real spending than anything seen in the past five years. the next question, and they should be an easier one. five years ago he promised to cut net migration to tens of thousands. straight answer to a straight question is that a broken promise, yes or no? >> let me give him a second chance. i answered a very simple

question on vat. i ruled out an increase. let me ask him again will he rule out an increase in national insurance contributions? we all know this is labour's job tax. this is is for working people families and enterprises to let me ask him again straight question, straight answer, will he rule it out? >> mr. speaker there's only one person who can arrange taxes on ordinary families and have him and he's going to cut the national health service. he didn't answer the question. let's ask him a question about it. five years ago he promised no top-down organization of the nhs. now this is an easy one. can he confirm that the broken promise, yes or no? >> 9000 more doctors, 7000 more nurses, 20,000 more bureaucrats.

we have heard it now, a clear promise on vat from the side of the house. no answer on national insurance from their side of the house. and it goes to a bigger point mr. speaker. he has had five years to come up with an economic plan. he has had five years to work out some policies for the future of this country. he has had five years to demonstrate leadership and he has failed on every count. >> nobody believes his promises on vat. nobody believes his promises of a national health service because he has broken his promises. now let's try him on one more. three years ago he promised, three years ago he cut the top rate of income tax. can he rule out under a tory government a tory government of further tory government a further cut on income tax? >> the richest in this country are paying more tax under this government than they paid under the last government. we have set out our plans for tax cuts. if you are young and you work hard you get an apprenticeship. if you are a family we will take

you out of tax for 12,500 pounds. i don't don't want to see in middle income families drawn into the top rate of tax. we have made are promises. now let him make a promise. willie increase national insurance, yes or no? >> mr. speaker nobody believes his promises. he has had five years of failing working families and worse to come more spending cuts, more tax cuts for the richest, more betrayal. this is a government of the few for the few. it's time for a better plan. it's time for a labour government. >> you have seen it all absolutely no ability to answer a question. this is a country where unemployment is holding the economy is growing the deficit is coming down and the operations are going up. more good places for children living standards rising inflation and zero record

numbers aboard. although this could be put at risk by labor. that is the choice in 43 days time confidence and a long-term plan that is delivering a set of the chaos of economic crisis from labour. >> thank you mr. speaker. mr. speaker, mr. speaker 13 months ago my constituents tragically lost her 3-month-old baby beatriz due to a rare heart condition. in an effort to help other families avoid the grief and despair of losing a child mrs. smith wants all schools to install defibrillators and teach lifesaving skills. will the prime minister offered his support for this vital course? >> first of all let me say to my

right honorable friend is his constituent there's nothing more heartbreaking than losing a child in everything we can do to help up as we should. in the budget for the group relators putting dfar bladers into schools. i want to see a situation where community building schools pubs village halls all of them have to fipa leaders because we can save lives in this way and particularly when we are saving such lives as in his constituent's case we must do better. >> thank you mr. speaker. can i start by expressing my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic german air wings air crash. there is just one in the secretary seat and yet there are 680 people seeking asylum in rochdale more than the entire southeast of england. we are proud of the assistant says his country offers to those in need.

public services are they stretched and this uneven dispersion is not helping the situation. as the prime minister accept that this is not fair and what does he plan to do about it? >> first of all can i say the honorable gentleman is right to raise this issue. what we inherited was completely unacceptable. the numbers of asylum seekers are down by one third from the peak they reached under labour. what we have done is where fast-tracking marquesas, resolving marquesas quickly but i have to say to him the legislation governing the distribution of asylum seekers was something put in place under the last labour government. i have been following with the honorable gentleman has been saying. he has set his dispatches from the front in terms of the knocking on doors in rochdale. any labor tell it -- politician that knocks on the door and says ed miliband is popular, they are telling lies. this elite view of the world just doesn't play in rochdale or

anywhere else beginning with an r outside the 25. what i would like to encourage him to do more interviews because he could have roslindale rutledge rye. and probably rough side too the way they are going. >> thank you very much mr. speaker. i don't think so, love. mr. speaker, in may of 2010 unemployment in south derbyshire stood at 1540. today it is almost a third of that at 5 hundred 80. would my right honorable friend agree with me that the strong conservative government and the conservative district council

with a long-term economic plan are able to succeed in bringing jobs and growth where the labour equivalent fail to do so? >> my honorable friend is absolutely right. inside derbyshire the claimant counts is down by 68%. those are the statistics but everyone of those people is someone with a job with their livelihood with a chance to provide for their families. that is what this election is going to be about young people who want jobs offered in apprenticeship young people who want homes pensioners who want security we have got the pension in the pension benefits guarantee. that is what is on the ballot paper and that is what i think people will choose in the next election. >> thank you mr. speaker. following the publication of the committee's report on the dash yesterday the man who went about

distributing these letters to ira fugitives jerry kelly has received the royal prerogative of mercy for certain crimes. with the prime minister enlist in the library to house all of those other members and leading republicans who have likewise received a royal pardon so republicans in northern ireland can know which of their star work leaders have either paid or asked or received probably on bended me such a royal pardon and secondly so everybody can know in the country which governments have been involved in such nefarious activities. >> what i would say to the honorable gentleman i would look carefully at the question he asked and all we can do to be transplanted this government not least by holding the on the run review have been transparent but i would say to him governments in the past had to make difficult decisions with respect to northern ireland to try and bring parties together together and produced a peaceful outcome

that we have today. that has involved difficult compromises and things that he and probably i have found at times deeply distasteful but nonetheless sometimes in the pursuit of peace the things have to be done. >> thank you mr. speaker. can i congratulate my right honorable friend and a transport for their securing a 50 million pounds rail infrastructure improvement scheme which feeds my constituency, however we still need better infrastructure additional track flyovers and power supplied if we are to get longer trains on faster journey times. will my right honorable friend meet me and discuss this further to see if we can further boost the economy? >> always happy to meet with my honorable friend and discuss these issues. i believe this government has done right by the southwest and not the least with the announcement of the transport

made with an additional 57,000 seats on the southwest trains 1000 pointed extra car space -- we can only have the strong transport investment not not just to the southwest across the country because we have a long-term economic plan that's delivering the growth this country needs. >> thank you mr. speaker. how has that premise to put himself on the fixed -- is he not concerned that it will be a contract of. [inaudible] >> is very simple what i have said. i answered very clear question and maybe the opposition will have to ask weird questions. it's very simple. to terms 10 years and one kitchen. >> mr. speaker is my right honorable friend as alarmed as i am? >> pauline latham.

>> is my right honorable friend alongside that alex simon is planning to place a series of series of events in the u.k. government and will he confirm you will have nothing to do with such demands? >> i think my honorable friend makes a very important point. as far as i can see alex simon has taken the entire labour party hostage. today, and today we have a ransom note in the ransom note is very clear. it says uncontrolled immigration, unfettered welfare higher taxes and weaker defense. that is what is being demanded and the british people have only one way of saying no to this appalling hostage situation and that is to vote conservative. [applause] >> mr. jim dowd. >> thank you very much mr. speaker. can cap i asked the prime minister about the continuing

dire position at london bridge station which is of course a major concern? is he aware that the abysmal service and the chaotic scenes of the network latest stage of development. cannot ask them to instruct for transport to personally take responsibility for resolving this and to bring forward an early straightforward compensation scheme for the many tens of thousands of commuters who had their life so seriously disrupted? >> be honorable gentleman is right right to racist. anyone who has seen the pictures of what has happened to mornings at london bridge station knows the pressures are immense. when you should do is make sure that transport for london and the department transporter working together as they are to bring about the best possible solution. what i would say though is that you cannot criticize his government for failing to invest in london's transport of the structure. the scheme which i visited again

is the biggest, they say we did that. they left an enormous bill. this government actually put the money in. it's one thing to promise something and it's another thing to put the diggers and the ground and to get it done and that is what we have done. >> mr. speaker is very easy just to say the words long-term economic plan. but the last five years we have seen sure -- sharply falling unemployment and increase business startups and the massive 480 million investment in a new hospital. does the prime minister think the sun will continue to shine on brighton?

>> first of all let me pay tribute to my honorable friend who has been a real champion for brighton and he has campaigned so hard for the extra investment and the rebuilding of this hospital. i'm so glad the royal sussex county hospital will -- development will take place and i would note the claimant constituency has gone down 52%. the long-term payment has gone down 50% in on that basis i think we can say the sun will continue to shine on brighton. >> caroline lucas. >> i agree with the prime minister that the sun shines on brighton and it shines bright green on brighton. it was recently revealed in the space of a single month nearly 1700 trains between brighton and london victoria ran late but to add insult to injury it meant

the passengers could claim compensation on just 59 of those 1700 journeys. will he join me in backing the august newspaper campaign for further compensation system that puts money back into passengers pockets? >> i should've said in my previous answer the only part of brighton where the sun doesn't shine is the fact of the local grain council is incapable of emptying people's dustbins. so we need a tory gain there as well but she is right. she is right to raise the case of rail compensation. we are looking closely at the august campaign will can be done to make the conversation scheme easier and simpler to deliver to people. >> thanks to funding from the government thousands of constituents now think we should enjoy access to superfast broadband.

that should bridge the divide and also help smaller businesses benefit from our long-term economic plan. however getting the remaining congresses rolled out is going to be difficult or will my right honorable friend made to ensure we can get this delivery delivery out as soon as possible? >> possible? >> i'm a is happy to be with my honorable friend who's a champion for his constituents in his right to put this issue of rural broadband front and center in his campaign. as he knows when investing 780 million tickets super fast -- rolled up by 2017. that program is going well. every day our rollout reaches another 5000 homes and businesses. the party opposite complaint of broadband roller has doubled under this government. that is what has happened because of the work we have put in. we are investing extra money to make sure we can get to the most hard to reach premises and that will include subsidizing the

cost of installing superfast satellite services which will give access to those in the hardest to reach area who have the slowest speeds. >> mr. speaker a young couple in my constituency. >> order on both sides of the chamber. it's a disgrace to the honorable gentleman and his constituents. the honorable gentleman will be heard. >> a young couple -- couple. [inaudible] they got snow flies and they lost 47,000 pounds. they said they could not give any advice because it was unregulated advice. does the prime minister agree that company and companies like them should not develop a

financial fund plan opportunity if they give such advice to deal with this problem? >> first of all cannot pay tribute to the honorable gentleman? let me rephrase that. let me rephrase that. i have got to say i want to defend the team. this is my 146 appearance at the distaff -- dispatch box doing prime minister questions and we normally get these things right. let me pay tribute to it anyway. and wish him luck in the current battle he has in his constituency. he raises the case we have all had in our constituency people who have put money to timeshare

schemes by companies that have turned out subsequently to be disreputable. we have all had challenges in getting those companies properly uncovered and regulated. i will look into this specific case and write him either in his capacity as mp or whatever it is after the election. >> mr. speaker the prime minister knows i have often been on helpful to the government in the select committee but as a member of the select committee it's my duty to be impartial. this t-shirt -- share my concern that the objective role of the system has been fundamentally undermined by labor's refusal even to discuss a draft report and evidence of decreased costs and the health reforms hybridization slowing since 2005 ttip not posing a threat to the nhs, no charges induced and no plans. and does he agree --

>> order. the question must be heard. >> thank you mr. speaker. no charges introduced in no plans to. and does he agree refusing -- >> my right honorable friend makes a very important point which the senate -- select committee has been held that because labour members apartment to want to tell the truth about our national health service. they are only interested in trying to weapon eyes the nhs. the fact is there are more doctors, there were more nurses and more operations being carried out and that is what the truth is. it's disgraceful that labor tried to cover it up. >> thank you very much mr. speaker.

this is in fact my last prime minister's questions after 23 years in this place but i do hope that my very good friend the former member will be rejoining this place in may. so can the prime minister please tell us which causes him more anguish, his admittance return of or my departure? >> i was quite looking forward to missing you both. can i pay tribute? [laughter] i have sat in his house for 14 years and all this time he's been a member of parliament i remember passionate speeches not only about the iraq war for civil liberties and our country and making sure reese responded the right way to terror. he has stood up for his constituencies and he cares passionate about whales and he cares passionately about rugby and he will be missed by everyone.

>> thank you mr. speaker. on the very last day before the 2010 general election the prime minister and the leader of the opposition visited and a joyous education which led to my presence in the house today. will the prime minister make another visit to see for himself the dramatic improvement in business confidence taking place as a result of the government's long-term economic plans? >> it was a huge pleasure to visit my right honorable friend just before the last election. ipod it was a bit of a long shot but nonetheless he made it. and he has been a fantastic member of parliament standing up for his constituents. in wales we have 22,000 more small businesses and employment in wales going up by 52,000 unemployment coming down private

sector growth. we have seen a real recovery in wales and my right honorable friend back here standing up for his constituents. >> but i had mr. speaker a cutting from the press which says and i quote david cameron last night dismissed claims the tories would put up vat. that was the last election. why should the public believe promises that he is made for this coming election? >> i have given the straightest possible answer and this time in government we needs -- we know what needs to be done. the truth is both sides of this house has voted for a 30 billion pound adjustment. the labor party too we have set out what needs to happen.

welfare and tax avoidance. the labour party said half of the 30 billion must be raised in taxes so we know it. there is a tax bombshell coming from labor and it's going to be we learn today a jobs tax bombshell coming from labour. they have wanted to do it but for the last election. they wanted to do before the next election. would wreck our economy put up taxes for working people and there's only one group of people that can stop it. >> many hundreds suffer from -- from our constituency. would he agree to reduce the noise and developers are trying to put -- to the advantages to use their profits for those reduction measures? >> i think today is a good day to discuss noise pollution. i think it's very appropriate

that we go out and think about the subject for a minute. my honorable friend has consistently campaigned on this issue and as he's he's quite writes a big concern. we are providing 75 million pounds per noise mitigation on our note -- road network. i will look carefully at what we can do for his own constituency. >> last week some of the rougher elements of the house -- [laughter] chose to refer to the prime minister as chicken. i hope we have moved on. however with the prime minister agree that it's entirely fair to now refer to him as a lame-duck? >> i will tell him what is it lame-duck and that is trying to get into downing street on the back of alexander's coattails.

they now know they cannot win the election on their own so they are preparing to answer the ransom note, higher taxes, more borrowing, breaking up our union. that is how we are going to stop. i am looking at alex simon's poodle. >> thank you mr. speaker. local business and the local enterprise partnership we are launching a new campaign gateway to growth calling for a road that will deliver millions of extra investments in the jobs to the bristol region and provide the axis and eight. as part of his long-term economic plan will the prime minister look closely at the campaign?

>> for so let me pay tribute to my honorable friend and his hard work for people in kingswood and bristol were generally. he's absolutely right that we do need to see better transit schemes in bristol and i know the transfer secretary will be happy to look at the campaign and the case he makes. also has a great historian and indeed someone who written about richard iii we shouldn't let this day pass without -- richard iii we buried tomorrow. it's worth remember this is the last time someone did their best to get the top job in the country ending in chaos.

>> host: beer backs fiscal health of status or topic for the next 45 minutes and we are joined by tuesday treasures jim mcintyre washington state treasurer here along with david lillard who is the tennessee state treasurer. mr. littler i want to begin with what the state treasurer is due? >> guest: state treasures are generally the chief financial officers and a manager -- manage hundreds of billions of dollars for state and local governments throughout the united states including in some cases pension fund so they play an important role. >> host: how do you go about

doing your job? >> guest: by basically investing money and being prudent stewards of that number one but also by offering programs to citizens that they can use in their states like financial literacy and programs like that. >> host: jim mcintyre at the state treasurer who do you report to in your job? are you elected or appointed? >> guest: i am elected by the voters every four years. we have nine statewide elected officials in washington state. other states have fewer but we are very active and i report to the voters. i'm there to try to make an independent voice on fiscal health and how do we manage our finances short and long-term? this is a long-term focus. in our state we issue a lot of bonds financing roads and schools in those bonds get paid off over 25 years. we invest pension funds for very long. it's the one place in state

government where we have a strong focus on the long-term fiscal health of the state. >> host: what are some of the short-term resources for states? >> guest: the short-term we have a lot of concern about transportation financing, gas taxes, our ability to finance our school system and build new schools with lower class size. those are real challenges. >> host: why did you come to washington this week? >> guest: many of the issues we are concerned about in the treasury affect the lives of our citizens. our ones that originate in washington and their legislative conference has just concluded those addresses and given straight -- state treasures not only chance to have education but to meet with members of congress and their staff to express her thoughts about the best fiscal policies. >> host: do you have a president and vice president?

what is your association why your association why do you think it's necessary to have in washington? guest of the national treasury of treasures is a national organization that includes officers from every state and we have three affiliate organizations involved in college savings in unclaimed property and debt management. it gives us an opportunity to share best practices best ethical practices among organizations but also to serve as a voice for fiscal responsibility not only in the states but the united states government as well. >> host: mr. mcintire what is the message to washington from state treasurer's? >> guest: the messages this week we are very concerned about municipal bonds and it's a primary tool for financing the public infrastructure of state and local governments build. we build about 75% of the public infrastructure, the schools, the roads, the bridges the public facilities of this country

largely financed by state and local government and typical finance is a municipal bond which has historically been tax-exempt under the tax code. >> host: what is your message to washington specifically? what world is washington played? >> guest: the specific message is we don't want to see the interest on those bonds tax. if we do that it's going to mean we can invest less in her structure. >> host: what is the impact overall in the state health? >> guest: the impact on the state's health will be quite significant. if we tax the interest on those bonds that would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the cost of infrastructure built over the last decade. >> host: david lillard your thoughts on this? >> guest: as david mcintire pointed out if the president postal has kept the interest rate on bonds a deductibility of

20% would have been in place. citizens would have paid more for the cost of infrastructure and as he pointed out we have built higher education buildings in our state. many states use them to build roads and others build essential government service buildings and provide services to the public. it's a very important thing and what he think about the citizen to the k-12 school that their child goes to probably was built in general general obligation bonds and strictly municipal bonds. the tax exemption on municipal bonds has been something that has been in the law for over 100 years and it has worked well for our country. it represents one of the best public-private partnerships we have seen in the history of this country. it has made america great today. the structure today three-quarters was built with those bonds. >> host: jim mcintire explain how they work. guess the one we need to raise money to build skills or new

bridge for example in the seattle area we go out to the bond market. we offer long-term bonds that go out 20 or 25 years. we issue those bonds iou to our investors and they give us very low interest rates. we have been able to finance a lot of construction during the downturn. about 3.5% interest rate which is very effective for the state of washington. he keeps our taxes low and it allows us to do a lot of construction particularly during a downturn. >> host: during the economic recession what role do these municipal bonds flied not only for your state of tennessee and also what role do they play for investors who are looking to put their money somewhere? gets good played a role for the states greater because during the downturn beginning of the

states an opportunity to continue infrastructure building. if you can acquire money to fund a project at a relatively reasonable rate you have the better chance of continuing to build a structure which maintains jobs and economy during that time period. also it benefits people who buy the bonds they can use the status of that interest in terms of their overall tax savings for them but i want to point out those bonds are not solely for high income earners. there are many retired couples on a limited income to invest in taxes and bonds so it's not just something that wealthy people invest in that regard. >> host: we are talking the two chief financial officers of their respective state here in washington this week stay treasures have gathered here to talk about the issues that impact them, the health of fiscal states around the country. we encourage you to call in with your questions and comments. tell us what's going on in your state as well. these two gentlemen here will

respond. david lillard tennessee state treasurer and james mcintire the treasurer for washington state. i want to before we get two calls talk about pensions as well. you are the stewards of pensions for your states. david lillard how does it work and what is the health of pensions and tennessee? >> guest: and tennessee the treasury department is the delegate who runs the pension system and consolidate a retirement system keeping records and paying benefits out and we also do the investment side in the treasury department. that's a 44 billion-dollar pension plan that serves 350 and 50,000 active and retired public employees at all levels state government local government. it's a very important thing for our state and we are one of the healthiest in the nation as his president mcintire's state. we are one of the top five or six in the country in terms of overall funded status.

that is because we pay the annual funding requirement at 100% every year and have since 1972. >> guest: washington has a little bit different organization. we have gathered all of the local pension programs and they are managed at the state level so everything is managed on a consolidated basis at the state level for state and local government. our pension system was reformed originally back in 1977. we put in place a benefit reform at that time. we have done additional benefit reform since then and are funding his hours remain strong. we are on a blended basis 94% funded and all the programs open and still accepting people are funded at 100% or better and we manage those funds very carefully. our investment returns are very

good and our benefit schedules are kind of the envy of the rest of the country. other states have been scrambling to keep up with where we are. we have two very good states and what you can find is some of the, some of these pension programs provide terrific returns. 84 cents of every benefit dollar paid out in washington state was paid for through investment returns because they made the right investments. >> host: let's get to calls. will a democrat, thanks for waiting on the line. go ahead. >> caller: i was just wondering what does the national association of strait -- stay treasures think about obama's proposal of infrastructure? >> guest: the present proposals on qualified infrastructure bonds etc. are constructive proposals but we prefer them as an additional tool in the toolbox as we said

earlier in our discussion. we believe the tax exempt status on municipal bonds must be maintained for reasons we indicated in to the extent that anything whether it's an alternative proposal or any aspect of it seeks to cap or cuts that interest is a problem from our standpoint. >> host: we will go to akron ohio wardell on the democrat line. >> caller: yes, i would like to make a comment. >> host: good morning color. you have to listen to your phone, not the tv. we have got to move on. frank in georgia, a republican. hi frank. frank in georgia. you are on the air. go ahead please. >> caller: kea wanted to ask the question also about the social security and where money is going and we want to know about the lottery.

millions and millions of dollars a year is going to the government from the lottery. why doesn't anybody ever say what are they investing in doing with that money instead of helping people that need the help. you can't retire at 65 anymore and the kids that are working now have nothing to look forward to until they can't retire and where is all that extra money going in the taxes that they are paying from 65 to 72 or whenever they can retire? >> host: two different issues of jim mcintire if you can take up the lottery issue. how does that were? >> guest: in washington state and i can't speak for georgia but in washington state the lottery produces about $120 million a year and it has for several years so it's actually not a growing revenue source. it's a pretty small part of our budget but all of those funds are dedicated to education

expenditures. in washington we are pretty clear about how we spend lottery money. >> host: why is it not a growing resource? >> guest: certain population finds the lottery to be fascinating and interesting in something they want to do on a regular basis but it's a source of entertainment for people and it's not a growing population. so it's just not a real growth revenue source. just go in tennessee the lottery has been a growing source of revenue and the money is used solely for education. for us is used to fund the hope scholarship program for post-secondary education and sosa used to fund that we call the tennessee promise, a program to provide free community college to residents of the state. tennessee's biggest need going forward in a 21st century work for a -- workforce ready

population we have to have post-secondary education to do that. >> host: is that a large funding source for you and tennessee? >> guest: is a large funding source for the hope scholarship and the tennessee promise and some other related programs in education. but it's not used for general fund purposes or any other purpose like that. i just want to assure our viewers its use for very good purpose. >> host: what is the biggest source of revenue for states? >> guest: depends on the state and how their taxes are structure. in tennessee we don't have a personal income tax on earned income so the sales taxes 60% of our general revenues followed by the franchise and excise tax so those are our biggest sources revenue for the general funding of first aid and of course we also receive federal funding dollars. >> host: jim mcintire? >> guest: in washington we pick to treasures from the sixth state to have no personal income

tax. for most states that's their largest revenue state but in washington we get half of our revenues in the general fund from retail sales tax and a large tax source is our tax on business and gross receipts tax so that's about 20%. those are major sources. some come from property tax. .. is lower. it is significant. host: ted, raymond, new hampshire, and independent collar. caller: my question to the gentleman is, they hold the bonds for a lot of the buildings and construction of state schools and stuff. new england has had some of the worst weather in years and a lot

of schools with flat roofs have failed dramatically, causing >> and cave-ins. why can't they design these schools and put like a pitched roof and have entrances to end of the buildings where they had a metal roof, it would be self-cleaning and nobody would get hurt and the roots and everything else would last more? host: getting into architectural details of local schools. guest: i serve on the tennessee state building commission and your met -- and the caller is close to my heart because we should be moving away from groups. some of the things he points out are very appropriate points to take into consideration. guest: washington has all kind of weather experiences.

of course, we have a lot of rain, but we also get a lot of snow. it depends on the part of the state you are in. frankly, the architectural work on our schools is very good. all of our school buildings that are being built now are green. just about everything we finance with our capital budget are green. i want to point out, one of the things we talked about in terms of lawns and having all this -- of bonds and municipal bonds these are issued largely to construct and build things that will be there long after the bonds are paid for. host: nick, pleasanton, california. a republican. caller: all these bonds, it takes over 30 years to pay them off and a lot of money they are asking for.

bonds have tripled the money and nobody talks about that. the people that can buy the bonds are restricted to millionaires. people who have a lot of money. the individual who lives in the area cannot buy bonds, you have to bite 1000 -- up to buy thousands of them or you can't get any money. when they do that, the price of the project goes up and you are left to borrow the money for something else. like governor brown, he likes to raid all the money that is being gathered for certain things and take some of the money out of there to put where he wants to put in. host: ok, nick. jim mcintyre guest:. good point. we have to do pay attention to

this. we do not issue bonds -- pabon's for more than 25 years. under federal tax law, the projects have to last longer than our bond payments, so as a result, we do think we are matching the time period for this. in many cases, we are building large project and it is very difficult for us to be able to do those on the pay-go basis. i think both of us have urged our states to do more pay-as-you-go financing for capital projects, transportation . to save taxpayers money. we lowered our debt limit to push that. host: do you have to be a millionaire? guest: no, you do not. to binding is supposed bonds you do not have to be a millionaire. it depends on the practices of the particular state, many have a retail sales. -- retail sales period.

we encourage retail purposes with our bonds and they are limited to 20 years. we are cutting that interest cost as opposed to a 30 year bond alike treasurer mcintyre was talking about. it is important to think about that. host: what is happening with the invisible bonds postrecession and into this recovery? are you think less investors? guest: not necessarily. i don't think there are problems with purchasers of bonds or willing to invest. there have been some of market uncertainties but they yields on bonds created a cap at about 20% and the president's proposal is an issue. guest: the bond market is about $3.6 trillion from invisible bonds. host: across the country? guest: yeah, it is very active. i think it is a little over 50% of the interest it -- that is paid is paid to households with

income. so less than. host: john, democrat of new jersey. caller: my question is basically, you are talking about college savings and i am paying off a lot of student debt and i have a younger sibling who will enter college. i want to know about college savings plans. i heard they want to do some other bill in the coming months. you have any idea to what the bill will entail a, could mean for potential savers? guest: in our state in tennessee, there is a bill filed on behalf of the college savings plan network which is an affiliated to the national association of state treasurers. that with among other things would make computers qualified education expenses. you can use those college saving funds to buy a computer. i think we could all agree for postsecondary education, computers are very desirable and necessary. i would urge and i'm sure

treasure mcintyre what, everyone who has a child or other relative or friend, etc., who is going to college or post secondary education and that qualifies for college fund, establish a college savings account to get out of the levels of that we have these days for college. guest: you can invest in these college savings plans and the interest on that, the earnings on that, are not taxed and can be turned around and paid directly into your tuition for child tuition. host: how do these funds help states? what is the benefit? guest: one of the significant bars post secondary education, the ability to pay for it. as the caller indicated, people aren't a lot of debt. sometimes from post secondary education. that is one of the main things this attacks. studies have shown that a child with a college savings account established for him or her is

much more likely to go to post secondary education. that is one of tennessee's greatest challenges, to have a 21st-century workforce-ready population. this is a big part of that. host: there is a revenue stream here for 529 college fund? guest: there is not one for this day, but i would point out at least in washington, tuition is an ever-growing portion of the state cost for education. so more and more, and this is true in most states, more and more of the education cost is being borne by tuition. this is at least one way we can help people save for tuition. washington has a guaranteed tuition plan, which you invest today and you can then be guaranteed it will cover the highest tuition cost in a public university in the state. host: william is calling from washington state, republican. hi, william. caller: good morning.

i've got a couple of questions. i will ask the first one. we put all of our money into wind energy and solar energy, especially in washington state. there is energies out there like water that make 800 times more energy than wind starting out. when you multiply that using the paddle wheel type generator, you multiply that by 12 times and you can keep multiplying because of the way the water hits the paddlewheel and we will multiply that by four, in the and run you have water making energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 100% power and it ends up making 1650 times more energy. host: ok, william, i had to jump in because we are running out of

time. your question or comment. caller: well, why don't we look into energies like that instead of wind? host: jim mcintyre, this is in your -- guest: we don't directly invest in energy or power generation at the state level, but we do encourage a lot of energy investments and conservation. at the same time, washington our, a lot of it comes from hybrid electric power already and the waterpower, so waterpower is a real source of energy in washington state and it gives us some of the lowest power costs in the country. host: jeannie's next in new jersey. an independent. caller: hi. i was going to ask about the 529 plans but you answered that well. i have another question. just on news this morning, they

were talking about how americans are living longer and a 70 is the new 50. i was wondering how you guys as state treasurer's or people as investors factor that into pension planning now? guest: that is a very good point. mortality is moving in favor of individuals who live longer. american society of actuaries revised the tables to show that both men and women are living longer. for defined benefit potential -- pension plan, it means your liability goes up as a plan and you can expect to collect benefits longer, so that is an investment challenge for plans for those who are in some type of hybrid plan. there is a need to look at how long you will need the money and to plan accordingly. also this emphasizes the need to save regularly during your lifetime. whether it is in ndc plan or some other vehicle because

people are living longer and that trend is not going to be any shorter in the future. host: weight in georgia, a democrat. -- wade in georgia, democrat. caller: i have a question for both gentlemen's. what has affordable care act impact -- what impact has affordable care act had on the state? guest: tennessee has not expanded medicaid and we do not run a federal exchange in our state. the federal government runs the exchange. so in terms of state government it has not had that much impact. it has impacted our version of medicaid because as people who were eligible for a sick medicaid who have not signed up, it is called the woodwork effect, they came forward and signed up for the program which is basically a two thirds federal program and one third state match.

guest: in washington, we had already expanded our health care program, so when the affordable care act was enacted, it actually lowered our cost because the federal government came in to help and pick up the cost of some of the health care that we were already providing. so it lowered our state expenditures by i believe a couple hundred million dollars. it was very effective. we have our own state exchange which we started before the federal care act was passed, and so we were able to get ours up and running. it has been very effective. one of the effects of the affordable care act has actually been to bring down costs for health care. that is one of the things i know cbo just did a study that suggested that the affordable care act is actually resulting in lower cost increases. host: ted from jackson, tennessee. caller: i have a comment, not a

question. this is for mr. willard. first about -- mr. lillard. first of all i was looking can give me an answer, anyway, a lot of kids have had minor drug sellers, and they have less than one month in jail and they get out and cannot get a job because it is on the record as a finale. -- record as a felony. they are not murderers or anything, i just wondered if tennessee is making any progress and i will listen to off-line. guest: thank you for that question, ted. the treasury department and my role in tennessee, i do not directly address that. i would urge you to talk to your legislator or senator or state

representative. they have various bills at various times to change requirements and to deal with the reality that you speak of. host: we have about 10 minutes left with our discussion with jim mcintyre and david lillard. i'm going to ask both of you, we asked about the largest revenue streams for your states, what are the biggest drains on the state budget? guest: one of the biggest expenses in tennessee, the ten-year program. the medicaid program i spoke of earlier. >> >> now the radio and television correspondents' association congressional dinner joaquin castro and his twin brother julian deliver the joint keynote address. this is c-span2. >> we have the privilege to represent the american people all rework to hold the elected representatives

accountable but none of that would be possible without the tireless efforts of the staff in the house and senate galleries. [applause] back is a liaison between congressional offices in the capitol hill press corps without them we would be lost. on the outside there is director, . [applause] id on the senate side, thank you. [applause]

now we turn to an important part of this evening awards for exemplary journalism on capitol hill and abroad and the first is the david bloom award. before there was live news and smart phones david bloom helped to invent the first of the kind global filing center to report live while traveling through combat zones resulting in the creation of the now famous blue mobile he passed away suddenly welland iraq but his legacy of innovation and courage and integrity lives on through this award. here to present this award is one of david bloom's daughters to call - - nicole. [applause] >> goodleaf name. is wonderful to be back again tonight. i'm usually appear with my two sisters but my twin is

is is and abroad of a little sister went to go visit her so it is just me. [applause] i cannot tell you how special it is to be here every year to remember my dad is hard to believe he has been gone 12 years but tonight we honor acidulous -- journalist to put themselves in harm's way the islamic state rose to prominence getting international headlines as a to a plant in northern iraq to a march toward baghdad. with the kurdish troops initially were passed was pushing past the insurgents. the bbc travel to kiev iraqi town that needed to stop the event -- a variance of places -- isis stick nikes'

to of baghdad a battle is forced these kurdish forces are trying to help the iraqi army stop isis from marching on the capital. the next town is in the hands of isis and the kurds believe there are some backed by sunii tribal fighters on the kurdish base the general bakes him to switch sides. he asks them to libyan bin isis to avoid the bloodshed but it doesn't work. the kurds know they have to stop isis here or they will go into the nearby town. the iraqi army is making a desperate state and the last big town before the capital

to send reinforcements to the frontlines we stayed behind the town is secure they say they spot movement of three or four gunmen. polis would come from a tour of three directions at once. snipers. they thought they had secured the place the 75 vehicles are making their way here the battle goes backwards and forwards they have isis on three sides we

need to get them can you hear me? there is growing panic they think they're coming in through the back of the building. they're right there. they are behind us. a man was shot through the legs and survived eventually the fighting starts to die down was just probably a few good men left behind not the massive attack that they figured. but in skirmishes like this in small towns all the way to the capital the fate of baghdad may be decided.

[applause] as this video clearly demonstrates paul manage to keep his cool as he shows the chaotic nature of the battle and the difficulties forces face to take on the enemy. this year's david bloom toward -- award honors paul to show he is a remarkable journalist and one of the best war correspondents living today we honor to present this year's award to the bbc paul would -- [applause] he is on ford's side right now so excepting his award as the cameraman who shot the video. [cheers and applause]

[applause] >> while. pictures are my strong point and not words. we'll keep the short. thank you very much for this award. paul cannot be here tonight to except this but i am delighted to except that on behalf of all of the team that put up that piece. we didn't go looking for trouble that day but as we cross the street he probably saved my life says he told me to get down. all the training we have to

stay safe and find cover i am fell there crossed my feet in broad daylight not a good roof. then you can hear our security adviser say come with me. he finds a safe spot where we could stay. then in the darkness of the basement in between filming second camera the soldier who was injured then finally at the end you can hear paul:the situation and to our producer and without all of them we would not have got the peace and i would not be able to get it out on the 10:00 news that night so with that we receive the award in that basement i think it is fair to say those there we didn't then we would see the next day coming or to be in such distinguished company for

the bbc. i just have to say thank you. thank you. think your. [applause] >>. >> congratulations to paul and stave rand to our judges next we honor those in the television happen the people behind the scenes to shoot the video and capture the sound effects the technical problems that make our product worth watching. to present the jury thompson of order i am pleased to introduce day nav and josh.

[applause] >> i was barely 20-something working at the cnn tape library and the cameraman took me under his wing tishri the tricks of the trade and how far you can get in this business by actually being a good person. i am hardly alone with the impact he had on his colleagues but also want his kraft he was such judge talented photographer always going that extra mile to get the right to shot and right ankle and was so incredibly generous and was taken far too soon and far too young

but i know they know how much as his colleagues mr. m and the example he set for all of us is a lot because there is this award in his name. here to present the award his former partner john wallace. [applause] >> the first date of late to say is i had a fund-raiser for jerry to help with medical costs stand kids' college tuition and i have to say dana was one of the first people to step up to say what can i do to help? that was meaningful. jerry and i were not only partners for years at cnn

but the best of friends and their loved him as a brother. he symbolized all that is good this with honor and our professionalism this award honors his legacy. with all that in mind it is a privilege to hand this jerry thompson memorial award to wesley's grogs from nbc news. [cheers and applause]

>> i have not yet more then 25 years from cnn to nbc a cannot think of anyone who epitomizes the new and what jerry was. as an incredibly talented end with his down-home demeanor just like cher f andy taylor. [laughter] the guy next door that would give your cat out of the tree, six your table stop on the bill late to fix your tire and pick up something you have dropped, that's is wes. feel free if you need a helping hand, called wes. 202-312-0523.

[laughter] [applause] >> from the most distressful to the least stressful if uc wes there it gives the crew of a sense of calmness if he is there i know it will work whatever it takes he will get it done. >> we have a switching issue on port number for. >> his seat like an eternity >> he is my problem solver and mr. fix it. >> he does all the maintenance in the field that all locations capital or state department or the pentagon. >> key is the backbone where the state the old buildings need to be connected to the modern world and he has done that. >> if he did not design the he had input his name is the guy for. mitt diver.

modern-day macgyver. just knowing he is they're getting that transmission stuff than to make live tv will come out just right. >> i cannot survive without my coffee. >> he is called and has that southern charm. >> relief you call somebody like wes it is because something is broken or not happening fast enough so people are already upset or nervous or anxious and he has a way to calm things down and fix them fast. >> i cannot hear. >> we were in mexico and nbc was doing one of the first internet transmissions and our internet circuit was not working. the press was about to show up with no transmission but wes figured it out.

>> above and beyond. >> loyal. >> kind. >> indispensable. >> warm and engaging and a really nice person. >> and would not be sitting here without wes through my entire career he has been the guiding force. >> you can feel the passion he has for this industry and was sharing that knowledge she has accumulated. >> he is always willing to teach to give time and effort to help you grow. >> warm hearted generous and a witty sense of humor and a lot of laughs. >> i don't think anybody works as hard to do the job as wes. love working with people like wes that make it fun every single day to come to work. >> i cannot tell you how much i appreciate it he is there and has my back and the entire organization he genuinely loves what he does to come to work when he

could do anything for any of us. [applause] >> up to this very moment throw my entire career i have been able to avoid being the center of attention. i don't even like to give the microphone check dash defense but to receive this award means so much to be that i had to face those fears so i could still appear to personally thank you. in the early '90s i had the privilege to work with jerry and it is wonderful that john led the charge to keep his name and memory alive with an assault. [applause]

this is and have not passed out yet. [laughter] if i could quickly say that nbc we have some of the most amazing people am for starters ken and make and are my bureau chief. it doesn't get any better than that. and every week i get to go to nbc to work with these incredible and amazing people like jim green and brian and joe and susan dave fantoni i cannot mention them all. i wish i could. but my boss is our director. you are perfect. [laughter] and i will have you hooked up by next week. i promise.

[laughter] but my boss is director of engineering and he lets me design and build and install the latest and greatest myth is for transporting our signals and the only time he raises his eyebrows of my purchase request because of mimas of dyslexia. i have known to order fiber optics transmitters and a blender. i think are really did that. [laughter] i get those numbers. [laughter] and also with us tonight is tracy i cannot see enough about her. our executive vice president and general manager for technical operations her title is longer but i can say it. [laughter] but she has guided dallas through so many processes

with nbc and she held our hand through holes transmission from analog to the complex digital world that we were again today. i know she remembers this she said to be in a sidebar conversation always ask for the moon and with stacey she is a type of person if you show her how to get signals from the moon she will figure out how to get you there. i know i have to quit. [laughter] but throughout my whole career every step of the way is my beautiful wife susan and my voice. [applause] because of her 100 percent support that has made my playtime worthwhile.

i hope i have been able to share with you how much love broadcasting in how privilege i feel to work with all of zero and just to be mentioned in the same sentence with jerry is an honor. here's to you and i thank all of you. [applause] >> they key you to our judges. by the way i have been told we're also live on c-span2. [cheers and applause] the career achievement award is a journalist years covering capitol hill not only made an impact in his and her colleagues but

congress has a whole the distinguished award will go to cbs news radio bob. [applause] >> charlie will be accepting the award. >> i am filling in who was originally scheduled to do this by he is on assignment today and cannot be here. bodyman died have something in common. we both entered college as 16 years old he went to stanford went to the oscar and we both fell love with her college radio stations and that changed our lives. bob by the time he was a senior at stanford was covering patty hearst kidnapping as a freelancer for the ppi radio that led

to a permanent job at upi and he became the west coast los angeles bureau chief and later spent many years covering news throughout the country for them and later went to nbc mutual radio networks and in 1998 joined cbs news radio and we had a chance to work together 16 years. he got there just in time for the impeachment of president clinton and the subsequent trial for:that we will never probably see another story quite like that. if you have the pleasure of reading his memoir that is called kidnapped pie --

which is a true story and available on amazon, you may have heard this story of one of the greatest scams ever pulled the the history of broadcast journal was of -- journalism he convinced his bosses in the work that he should cover the very beginning of the new millennium january 1, 2000 in the very first time zone. because it is right next to the last time zone at the end of the day he could cover both the beginning and the end of the new millennium. so he convinced us he should be sent to tonga. [laughter] he found a location and

outdoor location were the case would lead the people at the stroke of midnight and he reported live then there were no direct flights across the international dateline to use of allied but there was a goal for a charter then he flew to the other side and covered the last time zone to celebrate. it only cost maybe $30,000 may be. [laughter] but it was worth it and very good radio. during the course of his career he managed to cover one story after another of extraordinary events in dishes first cbs broadcast on the television side as

the star of the episode of lassie when he was a little kid. the story line was there was a young kid who was disabled who was sad and angry during the course of the episode he overcame that and realize what was happening the dog looked great you may be able to find the episode on youtube. he thought that may lead it to a career in television but we're thankful it did not. we first met 1988 both designed to cover the dukakis campaign running for the presidency against george h. w. bush. he was not in figger rating

or inspiring candidate but the reporters got to know each other very well but we became lifelong friends and i am so honored to be here tonight to present this award. i think we have little tape of the highlights of his career. >> cbs news capitol hill. >> documented triamcinolone tantrums to metal before they voted to block the bill to raise the minimum wage. >> professional journalist for the past 40 years. >> republicans argued. >> is first experience came before that. his voice was first broadcast 50 years ago. on an episode of lassie he played a boy named jimmy who was angry and and tell the

cali showed him the way. he covered everything from student politics. >> in a special election stooges defeated. >> and then the camera flash point for the vietnam debate. bob discover the stories he was covering for the campus station had a broader market and became a stranger for upi radio and nbc radio. 1974 he began his professional career working for upi to take into your can balance and california. >> causing such problems for farmers tried of the woodlands to mickey covered every major story in the west. >> even though the district attorney indicated he could be released on his own cognizance -- recognizances.

>> it was the elder reaches of the solar system. >> he headed east to join nbc mutual to cover the institution he would follow the united states congress when thomas foley was the speaker. september 1998 he moved from one booth with the congressional radio gallery to another beginning with the cbs news and arrived as president clinton's administration was giving the constitution a workout. he got the most coveted handoff in broadcast journalism. we are live on capitol hill with bob.

>> the first to confirmation hearings. >> but then came the big surprise speaker john baker cannot believe he is leaving his home away from home. >> he is on a remote island and thailand to not answer the phone against iraqi signed off for the last time thursday may 8, 2014. >> that was the only radio newscast walter cronkite ever did in his entire career at cbs i am honored to introduce the winner of their career achievement award to bob. [applause]

faq. i am very honored and thank you for that introduction and for putting together that video tribute. i looked good when i was 10. [laughter] i want to do thank the executive committee for this unexpected you wonderful honor. as you heard by worked in los angeles and i cover the academy awards for many years and that the oscars a lifetime achievement award ovitz went to the oldest person in the room and i looked around i am not sure that is me but i am thrilled and honored it has special meeting coming from my

colleagues. also to all the people at cbs news for their support and friendship and covering congress can be challenging to explain to the listeners what they're doing is not always easy but i do believe it is vitally important to work to function properly our democracy depends on floater's knowing what their elected leaders are doing for them or to them and it was a privilege to spend 23 years at the capitol trying to do the work and it is gratifying to know there is some a terrific reporters tonight doing that still. thank you so very much. [applause] >> the title lord of the

evening the award for excellence in the washington based reporting congressional political affairs with the most prestigious in northfield -- in our field. >> is very nice to hear about the lives of people in whose honor their named burger their special people because of their achievements and their personalities and who they were. in the he was one of them. in her career at cbs news joan when a researcher during watergate to executive producer at "face the nation" and was barely 30 years old. that was a 1977 when there were very few women in any

kind of executive positions at the networks prepare she got the job because she was brilliant in politics and because she worked harder than anyone else. she battled cancer tenures and most of the time those of us that worked with her and never knew what she was the way through. our lives were better for having her as our friend. with that thought said joan barone award for excellence of washington-based reporting of public policy represents the best working in our craft here is what the judges say about this year's winning entry civic the tragic reality of delayed health care sigrid waiting list at virginia facilities around the nation. it showed real people died

before they could see a doctor. the winning teams coverage sparked outrage over the treatment of veterans that led to congressional hearings and notes will lead to the resignation of the secretary of veterans affairs. one judge noted the peace embodied the type of an enterprise reporting des is our rarity in the days of the 24/7 news cycle in case you haven't figured it out the winner is cnn for the reporting of a crisis for the reporting of the veterans affairs. [applause] he is on assignment so patricia is except 89 behalf of drew and the entire investigative unit. [cheers and applause] >> covering that lack of care of the v.a. hospitals

to meet u.s. veterans are dying because of delays of diagnosis and treatment at v.a. hospitals. the internal document updated exclusively by cnn says 19 veterans have died because of delays of simple medical screenings. >> the most disturbing example yet. >> it was from top management at this veterans hospital to hide as many as 1600 veterans waiting months just to get a doctor's appointment. cnn has learned least 40 veterans left waiting for care many from the secret list are now dead and the case of a 71 year-old veteran though great ended much sooner. >> restarted to lead in his urine i said we have to get you to the doctor. >> this is a copy of the v.a. charter stating clearly

at the top urgency he should be seen by primary care physician or urologist within one week. she kept calling day after day september through november then she belonged had a reason. he died november 30th, 2013 from inoperable stage for bladder cancer. >> they called a december 2nd. he is dead already spending she says we have a primary for him for gore really? you are too late to sweetheart. >> it took six months of your reporting to get the attention and the resignation. >> in the end he could not trust that he was unable to recognize the problem under his own nose and justice of the person to lead the v.a.

out of this debacle. he was trusted the very people that was lying to him and ignoring the voices that were trying to tell him the truth. [applause] >> thank you very much for this award it means a lot to as. drew is working on the latest installment of our v.a. investigation the first car ran last week from the el a v.a. facility but it is from hard-working journalist and this is one heck of a the first project of your career. [laughter] restarted to work july 2013 and it did pass are like this i have a low-grade idea

to let stew military veterans who cannot get appointments but instead it was an idea we went for that it turned in to be one of the biggest tourism all of our careers. we'll be uncovered was forgotten veterans dying because the government failed to give them a simple test to save their lives in those dozens of stories we learn to about veterans all across the country died while they waited on a secret list journalist federal. they died because'' managers needed to get bonuses or they wanted to tell congress there was no wait time. it was shocking but which is why we want to thank cnn anderson cooper for never giving up on this project to decide that our duty to uphold the constitution and

our part of the bargain with the right to of free and fair aggressive press is important. [applause] as is so abhorrent to honor those 21 million american veterans who have sacrificed so much to defend that right for us. thank you. [applause] >> tuesday the castro brothers catapulted onto the political scene is an understatement after regretting from stanford the ford year-old identical twin brothers are a force in washington is it in their

home state of texas. joaquin castro in search of the texas legislature before being elected as the congressman for the 20th district in 2012 and his older one minute to brother julian servers on the san antonio kelso before being elected mayor after which chosen by above it to be the 16th secretary housing and urban development. joaquin castro was elevated past week rand julian is a possible vice president's role back for hillary clinton and she surprises us and decides to run if not enough even actress eva along korea has of a tv show based on the tour i cannot tell you which one is which i cannot -- i can introduce

to you joaquin castro and julian castro. [applause] >> good evening. we are the castro brothers. who is to? ♪ rigo the travel restrictions from cuba have been lifted but we want to reassure you have the right castro brothers'. [laughter] if you don't know i am joaquin castro. >> i am julian there really

are two of us. if you are seeing double you are not drawn diffuse the four of us it is time for you ingreses spader ginsburg to call it eight night. the victorious rbg. as similar as we look we are as different as left shark immune to write sharp. i am a little more laid-back and relaxed. . .