concern about, when you talk about changing their health care. >> the medicare prescription drug plan a few years ago was the last major health care legislation. it did not seem have the drama that this is having. >> it never had a three-hour valid. allegations of bribery. and the democrats were against that because they said it was a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry. this is like a mirror image of that. they have to reinforce this with their president. >> certainly there is always discussion about that three-hour vote. the only thing that people remember about that bill was the three-hour vote. certainly the trauma -- drama, i was guilty as anybody about running around and chasing it.

but this is entirely predictable and it will be difficult to do something like this, especially on this kind of time line. in terms of the health care debate going on for 60 years, and in terms of the time between having a draft bill and passing it. >> and finally, german, what was your take on majority whip clyburn's focus on the regional difference? >> ben stein nights in the democratic caucus. -- that is really tying knots in the democratic caucus. that was being set by congress, pretty much. are you going to take that away from the congress? how did the states get locked into inferior payments? they want to equalize things. it is always north versus south versus east versus west issue.

>> he was that the -- focus on a grievance that may recalled. there are plenty of other disagreements out there. it is still regional because most of the blue dogs, especially the seven that are banding together and blocking the energy and commerce committee, are generally southern. that is a regional difference right there. >> mike soraghan and ed epstein. >> thank you for having us. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> the health care bill will likely not seen in action soon in the senate. it is possible the house could consider a bill before leaving town for the summer recess. house democratic caucus chairman john morrison plans to hold a meeting tomorrow starting at 4:00 eastern -- john larsen

plans to hold a meeting starting at 4:00 eastern. he said that the meeting will go as long as necessary to answer every question members have. >> how is c-span funded? >> publicly funded. >> donations, maybe. i have no idea. >> they get their funding for the taxes. >> federal funding. >> maybe, i don't know. >> how is c-span funded? america's cable companies created c-span as a public service, a private business initiative, no government mandate, no government money. >> "q&a" tonight. susan jacoby on the ongoing fascination on the trial of algar heiss. >> now, virginia governor and democratic national committee tim kaine. he talks about the importance

of grass-roots activism by young people in the democratic party and other issues. his remarks came at this year's national convention of the college democrats of america. it is about 40 minutes. >> i am the president howard university's college democrats. today i am honored to introduce a man that exemplifies public service. he preserves the environment and strives for excellence. this year's initiative is something this man is no stranger to. he began his career of public service when he took a year off of law school to volunteer with missionaries in honduras. there, he was a principal for small school for teenagers. upon graduating from harvard, his services and practicing law in richmond for 17 years represented people who had been

denied housing opportunities. he has won numerous awards and was recognized by local, state, and national organizations for his fair housing advocacy. during his tenure as governor, virginia and recognized as the most business friendly state in america. it was also the state where a child is most likely have a successful life. virginia has one of the highest median incomes and one of bell lowest unemployment rates in the nation. he is dedicating the last years of his administration to renewed virginia initiative which will focus on reducing greenhouse gases, protecting the environment, and developing green energy and a green collar jobs. he has helped democrats regain two senate seats, a majority of the congressional delegation, and control of the state sen. he has a husband, a father of three tanner, a role model, and

an inspiration to students, lawyers, and politicians everywhere. i am sure that he will be an inspiration to all of you. please join me in welcoming the 70th governor of the commonwealth of virginia and the dnc chairman, governor kaine. >> this is wonderful. the only problem is that i cannot really see you. but way they have to set out, and i am assuming that this is about 85,000 people? is that pretty much what we have from all that noise and excitement and enthusiasm? [laughter] i want a bank and not far nice introduction and thank everyone

associated with the organization for inviting me to come and share with you. thank you. that is great. i like that. i'd been reading all little bit about the program in the last few days. i know there has been community service and all kinds of policy dialogue, as well as political training. it is wonderful to see you from all over the united states have a chance to talk for few minutes. it's great have a chance to share a vision. thank you for your work. we will talk about what is to come because we are in the midst of an an historic moment. and a historic moment of our making, and we are accountable for turning it into a transformer that moment. but if the yankees before i began. i want to thank him for nice introduction -- i want to thank theemma for that nice introduction. i am trying to stay in his good graces because my son will be a

sophomore next year. last year, the young democrats worked hard on the obama campaign, especially canvassing norman -- no. va. neighborhoods. he really endorse it gw and i'm glad steven is with us. your officers are doing a great job and i know they are doing great. [applause] both are real dynamos and have done great work on campaigns in their respective states. we have two in terms have been working this summer with the operation. they are both here. james and eric r. worked really hard to pull this together. give them our rap -- eric got really worked hard to put this together. give them a round of applause.

where is cory? great job. i met him earlier. i understand that frank, he has really worked on the technical side of pulling this together. are you here? we would give him a round of applause anyway. he is here somewhere. those are some thank yous but also all of you work so hard this past november. it was a truly transformative election. it is one of two or three most of the story elections in our nation's history. i don't think we have fully grasped how historic it is. we were in the middle of it. i worked very hard for the president and 15 states but especially in my on state trying to get the collective butts -- the electoral votes of virginia pine the president for the first time since 1964. i myself startled and thinking about the amazing amount of work

that we did. so much of the work was done by young democrats, by new voters, young voters, an amazing record numbers. we saw this in virginia and all over the country. i know how deeply the president feels committed to the young people of america for the support of his campaign in the epic numbers. but that the number of youths turned out, such as ipod of what it has been in previous years. we were going to make sure that it is not a spike in comparison to subsequent years. we're going to keep the community high. i wanna say how much the president and he cdc appreciates what you have done. let me tell you a little bit about me. i was a civil-rights lawyer for 17 years. i started out working as a missionary in honduras and went to law school. i never thought i would go to politics. if you let told me i was going into politics in moscow, i would

assume you are crazy. if you ever said i would be chairman, i would ask you what you are smoking. [laughter] one day i got mad at my city council in 1993. my city council in richmond, where i was working as a civil rights lawyer, i thought was to racially divided. i thought the rank-and-file work together but the leadership was split. i was nie 35-year-old civil rights lawyer. that is how i got into it. i tried to help people out. here i am six elections and 16 years later still doing it in this great way at the dnc. i was the first statewide official outside of illinois to support president obama's campaign. i've got to meet him when he was senator obama. he came across the river, if you have been to the claret and ballroom, it is a great place

for concerts' and dances. he came there to do a fund raiser. his office had reached out and said i know you are running for governor. they came over. the night before the fundraiser, i got a copy of his book which i had not read. i wanted have something to talk to him about. i've read through, skipping all the adverbs in accidents. i realize that he and i had some things in common. when i met senator obama at the fundraiser, i said we had four things in common. we're both harvard law school graduates. your editor of the law review and i went to a lot of red sox games, but -- [laughter] our diplomas look exactly the same. the second thing we have in common is is that we were both civil rights lawyers. he did work in chicago and i did fair housing work. we spent an enormous amount of

time abroad. his time in indonesia and my time and honduras were both very pivotal experiences in a way that we directed our lives after. the most important thing we have in common is this -- when you give a speech and you say your data is from kenya and your mom is from kansas, my mom and my maternal grandparents are from the same town that your mom and grandparents were from. alfredo, kansas is a very small town. when we realize that our mothers and grandparents were from the same town, that struck up a good topic. i came to appreciate his talents and i thought they would be the right mix for what the country would meet -- would need. we campaigned in 16 states and helped virginias electoral votes don't look for the first time. then i made a critical mistake.

i wrote him a letter and said that howard dean is not one to run for the dnc chair. he was probably the most successful dnc chair in history if you look at who was in office when he came in and who is in office when he left four years later. here's a person would be a great person to do that job. i made an extremely persuasive case of about this person. and then the president had didn't pluck call me to waiters -- had they been plouffe -- had david plouffe call me and say that person would be dead but the president wants you. the president reached out and really shared what it was that he wanted to see the dnc do. i have not been a washington guy, not bought in national politics. i've been deeply involved in state politics and as presidential race. when i heard the vision he had

for the dnc and the party in general, i got very excited. i said yes because you're supposed to say yes to the president. i said with enthusiasm because we talked about what the dnc to do. i realize that this was going to be exciting. the dnc is doing three things right now and those three things are -- two are unique to this president and this moment. let me just be really quick and tell you about them. the number one goal is presidential success. that is our number one goal. i have a different job than howard dean had. he was the loyal opposition. he did not have the white house. he had people loyal opposition and build up the party. now it is about the success of the president. the world needs and a successful american president right now. right? [applause] and our nation needs it, and a successful presidency makes it

easier for anybody running as a democrat in any office in the union, and a challenge president creates a head wind or at least a frost bite for the democrats. the first goal is presidential success so we have organized around the presidential success to be the political arm of the white house. that is what we do with the dnc. the staffers walk into that building every day and ask themselves, what can i do in my corner of the world to help the president succeed today? i think that you will all agree that in a tough economy since the 1930's, what we've seen in as president have been the seeds of a very transport the presidency. let me give you a couple of highlights that matter to me. health insurance for poor kids -- president bush be dead the s- chip bill twice and within two weeks of coming in, this bill had been signed by the congress. 11 million children in this country have health insurance who would not have had it if

that had not happened. for cuts -- us as governors worry about health insurance, that was important. equal pay for women during delhi ledbetter act which had been a dream of a lot of people and kept getting tripped up has been passed, is signed, and now women are guaranteed by law equal pay for equal work and it was way overdue. that has been done, that is in the rearview mirror, that is law. [applause] here is one that i love that hardly got any notice because there have been so many issues -- an historic deal to dramatically increase the cafe standards for vehicles so that they will be lower emissions and use less oil going forward. that is one that got announced one day and celebrated for five men's and we got on to the next issue. that is such a huge environmental well, good for economy, good for our workers. we are turning a new face to the

world. this is one of the ways that man as the most to me. i've spent time abroad and watched our relations with the world get torn, even nations that we were friends with. it is so good to see america back understanding that strength is a function of three things -- military strength, absolutely. i have assigned training to be a marine officer. i believe deeply that military strength as a part of it. but we also have had diplomatic straight -- strength, which we have let atrophy. and we have that have the strength of a moral example. president obama is restoring that in a balanced way as an example for other nations. i can give you others. in virginia i'm wrestling with a top budget. the recovery act at the present and past, signed with congress, when in a place in the february, as i was completing my state budget i did not have to lay off an additional 7000 state workers.

i would have to lay off people because the economy was bad. [applause] that meant that teachers, public safety professionals, and others who were serving people in a tough time are not out hitting the." line, trying to find work in the toughest job market in the past 20 years because of the stimulus package. $1 billion invested in infrastructure projects, we're seeing construction companies put people back to work. that is happening in virginia and all of the place. we see the transforming the seeds of a -- a transformative seeds of an amazing presidency. we're going to continue to make his tenure as every bit notable as a legendary the second ball at the dnc is grassroots topics. this is really fun. this is the one that made me said yes with enthusiasm.

i was a civil-rights lawyer and i come at this from a grass- roots ankle. i was a local official, a city councilman, a mayor. you did not have to raise money to win in richmond. you just had a knock on every scene -- every single door. i knocked on every single door in richmond and got elected mayor. i like grass roots politics. wasn't it a great thing? of all the great things about the obama campaign, was it not a great pain that big donors were fine, but the donations of small donors really mattered? campaign professionals and staffers were great, but even the hour or two volunteers had took a place and they really matter? people with great policy ideas were fine, but regular people but there on ideas, they really mattered. that was something about this campaign that i know you felt wrapped up and, it was a

community, it really mattered. everyone had something to offer. it was not a big democracy of three under 50 million people people's voices were not important. you really mattered. we decided at the dnc and with the party nationally, we wanted did that same thing, a communal sense that everyone has a role to play. we want to work and not not just around an election on a day, but we want to organize around policy. we want to organize around changing the health care system in this country, to bring costs down for families and businesses and make sure that all confined coverage. we want tackle climate change for better future for this country said that we can be leaders in alternative energy into the right thing by the economy and the environment by doing so. we won organize people ran an education system -- we want to organize people around and education nets will be the best in the world. 40 years ago, the united states

was the undisputed leader in the world and the percentage of our population getting college degrees. there was not a close second. eight are nine nations have passed as, another 10 or 15 are on the path that pass -- path to pass us because we have been flat. that is what organizing america is all about. organizing america, the largest apartment that did not exist when i walked in the door -- the largest apartment at the dnc that did not exist when i walk -- the largest department tat te dnc that did not exist when i walked in the door. we are charging these organizers with their colleagues to energize and engage american citizens are round policies, to make these big things happen, at the hall that president achieve what he campaigned on, but find these paths ford on issues that

had just created inertia in washington for such a long time. this is very exciting. as i travel around the country, i talk to ofa activists who are doing neighborhood can the scene or parties. i find this to be a very compelling model. it is an experiment. it has not been done at the dnc or rnc before. it also dishes -- is audacious. it may be audacious but it is not audacious as a guy like barack obama thinking he could be president of the united states. we can do this. just the way that this campaign was conducted in a grassroots manner change this campaign, we can change policy and the way policy is done by giving american citizens of boys and a confidence that they have a way to make this happen. that is goal no. 2, build up a grass-roots movement, energized

and millions of americans that worked in this campaign, keep people encased as volunteers and donors and do it to organize around, not just an election, but making important change in taking the nation forward. i could not be more excited about this. howard dean was a great cheer for the dnc because he came up with something that was remarkable. we're going to be original party. we have to be a 50-state party. the 50-state strategy was his innovation very smart and simple. this ofa is the next debt beyond. our dane -- howard dean took as to what it-state strategy. i think it will be good for us on the policy side, and if we do it, we will have great benefits for all of our people running elections. i would encourage you as you go back to your communities and to the places where you live, if

you don't web where you go to school, in gauge organizing for america where you are. they are doing a dance and canvases and town halls all of the country every weekend. there will be ofa chapter where you are. engaged in it. that is the second goal of the deal and say, making social change the grassroots policy. the third goal is the when you are familiar with, more with the state organizations to make them stronger. it is going to be how strong the 50 states are. justice chairman dean was working in those parties, so were we. we're doing that in a collaborative way, where ofa working in tandem with the state parties, we are sharing best practices and dollars. that is the third goal. that is what the dnc does, basically presidential success, brace for it policies, state

organization developments. let's talk about the things that we're focused on right now. health care and health insurance. i had an opportunity yesterday, which i have every year, which i have taken for the last five or six years ago to one of the most amazing events that i have ever been to. in a community in southwest virginia, it is an avalanche of, completely at the other end of the state. a couple of catholic nuns, this woman at w. pdf -- vw beetle began at distributing supplies 15 years ago. it became a bus, and thus became a winnebago. people started here about her and the st. mary's help whit and health -- health wagon.

they set up camp on the state fair campgrounds and they said we're going to provide free medical care or dental care to people who do not have health access in this poor part of appellation -- appellation -- appalachia. it is gone to the point where there are thousands of people who do not have health insurance, who do not have coverage, who are in difficult help -- a drive from all of the east coast of the united states to come in the most powerful and greatest nation in the world to camp for days in this parking lot and wait in the hot sun for our said that they can get their teeth pulled. they don't have dental care so an extraction could be all that they get, or get a mammogram,

tested for cancer, but were down on their vision. they can get a pair of eyeglasses for the first time in our life. i went down there for the first time this week in and sat at the registration desk. people started coming in on tuesday. by the time i was there for three hours, i was up to talking to the people who were 900 in line, there for at least 18 hours before they got in. at the same time, it is one of the most inspirational things i have ever seen because of the passion of volunteers. it is also one of the most challenging things i have ever seen. we are better nation in this. every industrialized nation in the world as a health care system that provides some basic level of health care to all of their citizens. they are not better than us. they are not smarter than us. they are not more compassionate than nice. we can do this.

every president since harry truman has said that we could do this. and yet it has not happened. it has not happened. it has not happened because frankly the system is set up in such a way that pokes basically inside the beltway why is it the way that it is. the people outside the beltway, the 47 million who do not help insurance and some any that do have it but cannot negotiate and get treatment or cannot afford the copays are deductibles, this is what we're working very hard in the dnc. we are working with a passion not just about election but about results. that is the only reason to do this thing. elections are great but they are a means to an end, not be in. there and his results for the american people, at their kitchen table for their small businesses. that is why this debate is sell important and so critical. in virginia, 1.1 million virginians -- and we are well

off. our median income is in the top 5% in the country. 1.1 million virginians do not have health insurance. i tell people that i love being elected officer. there is only one thing that makes me ashamed of being in elected office. i meet people every day in virginia who pay taxes to buy me an assurance and they did not have insurance of their own. .

most of them work. seven percent of them are workers and children. i had a stereotype about people who were not insured. i figured they were people who were not pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. this is a working person's problem. just 15 years ago, most of these workers work for small businesses. big businesses tend to do this. 15 years ago, over 16% offered health insurance to their employees. today, it is 38%. the option of a that is to say that we cannot experiment. just in the last few months, hundreds of thousands of

americans have lost their health insurance. that is why the president has such a sense of urgency about it. that is why we have an urgency at the dnc. that is why they have a strong obligation to do this it connects directly to the economic competitiveness and so we're working very hard on that. it is challenging. you were seeing the same thing that i am seeing. we have another side that just they do not like, they will do that to slow down. but we will not be denied this. the american public overwhelmingly supports reform of health insurance and the

health-care system. they overwhelmingly support a public auction that would inject meaningful competition into the market. we will stay on this as the dnc. we will stay on in working with members of congress until we make it happen. the president has said it will happen. i believe it. i fundamentally believe that at the end of the day, it is what the american people want. we are smart enough and compassionate enough and innovative enough to figure out how to do it. so many other nations have figured it out. we can figure it out and make it happen. i have asked you to get involved with ofa when you go back to your community. both sides have to pass bills, both houses. then there will be reconciliation. that will play out over some time. we need to keep a sense of urgency about this. you can do that in your communities in amazing ways. i encourage you as you go back to make that happen. we are also interested in politics. let me talk about politics in conclusion. every november is a bit of a greeting card for the president.

every november puts new partners in place for the president and congress. we are starting this year with two races i cared deeply about. to be biased about governors' races, and partial to them having been a governor. governors are the employment is. they are the ones that hold depends on redistricting -- told the pens on redistricting and are out there making it work every day. this year, there are two. will hear about them later. one of them is the race to succeed me. we are the only state where you could only serve once. it is only the only state. it is also the only state where the title is "your excellency."

[laughter] that is kind of nice. i think they thought that eight years of it would make it too hard to live with. a dear friend of mine who is a longtime member of our state legislature and senate, who was my running mate running for attorney general for years ago, lost in the closest statewide election in virginia by 300 votes. he is running to continue to a great tradition of democratic leadership in virginia. he brings his own unique set of skills and abilities to the table. it is a very close race. it is a dead heat right now. his republican opponent and he are debating at the virginia bar association today. i feel good about the race. it is a dead heat. four years ago when i was running for governor, i was down in the race. i had both u.s. senators campaigning against me. i had a strong majority of the house delegation campaigning against me. both of the state houses of the

legislature were republican. they were campaigning against me. the white house was campaigning against me. but i won. this time, he is in a dead heat. he has to u.s. senators campaigning for him. he has a majority of the house delegation campaigning for him. he has a state senate campaigning for him. the state house has gone from a 30-seat republican margin down to five. that is pretty much a drop. more importantly, he has what he has always been. he is an up front, honest public servant. he grew up in rural virginia and we will break away from this recorded program and go to a live event. at sarah palin is stepping down. earlier this month, she announced her intention to resign.

she is about to transfer power over to lt. gov. sean cornell. a live picture, courtesy of ktuu tv in anchorage.

>> let's give the color guard a round of applause. [applause] wasn't the a wonderful rendition of the national anthem? [applause] >> if you would go ahead and be seated, i just returned from a national conference of state legislatures, and during that, they swore in new united states citizens. that is the first time i have

ever seen a naturalization ceremony and it was quite moving. they were announced allegiance to their former country and i was reminded of the beauty of our government. i am reminded of this during the peaceful transfer of power from gov. sarah palin to gov. cornell -- parnell. skipping over the officials the will be addressing you in a few minutes, if you would hold your applause until i get done with the introductions. to my left, accompanying governor pailin -- gov. sarah palin is her husband, lt. gov. parnell and his spouse.

it is also important to have the support of your family. sitting on the second row to my left, i am pleased to introduce to of the governor's daughters, piper and willow. likewise, in coming governor parnell are his two daughters. former lt. gov. jack cargo, former mayor, he has done it about all. the alaska commander dave atkins. on my second row is just los and data winfrey -- justice daniel winfrey. . finally, help us to give them

all at one interior welcome. [applause] i first met governor sarah palin in the winter of 2002 at a candidates' forum. i think it was october. it was cold and dark and she had traveled all the way from mazzola -- from wassila. we traveled there to discuss state policy and because of the temperature and the time of year, there were not that many people there, but the governor was glad to engage the citizens that did take the time to show up and discuss policies.

of course, she was not successful in that run for statewide office but it whetted her appetite and she became the first female governor in the state of alaska. as she prepares to leave office, i want to personally thank her for the time that she has given to the state of alaska and the service she has given to the state and to wish her well in her future endeavors. [applause] with that, ladies and gentleman, without further ado, let me welcome the governor of the great state of alaska, the governor sarah palin. >> thank you so much.

thank you so much for that very warm welcome. what an absolutely beautiful bay is. it is my honor to speak to our alaskan family this last time a short governor. it is always great to be unfair banks. -- to be in fairbanks. the most patriotic people you'll ever know live here. one thing that you are known for is your steadfast support of our military community up here and i thank you for that and i think the united states military for protecting the greatest nation on earth. together, we stand [applause] this is the best road trip in america, soaring through nature's finest show. soaring under the midnight sun.

it is the frozen road that is competing with the view of frigid beauty. and then, in the summertime, about 150 degrees hotter than just some months ago. the most -- of the merciless rivers that are reminding us that here, mother nature wins. as throughout alaska, that life is steaming along the road. that is what we get to see every day. what the rest of america gets to see, along with us, is that in this last frontier, there is hope and opportunity. it is our men and women in uniform and we are facing tough challenges in america.

some seem to be hellbent on tearing down our nation and perpetuating some pessimism and suggesting american apologetics. suggesting that perhaps our best days were yesterday, but as others have asked, how can that pessimism be when proof of our greatness and our pride is that we produce the great, prob volunteers that sacrifice everything for country. [applause] this week, sean and i were playing taps -- they were playing taps for soldiers. together,, or for the course, i

am going to exercise that. >> and, first, some straight talk for some in the media they are informing this could be an honest profession that could be a cornerstone of our democracy. democracy depends on you. that is why our troops are willing to die for you. so, how about you quit making things up.

[applause] and don't underestimate the wisdom of the people. our new governor has a very nice family. so, leave his kids alone. today is a very beautiful day. no one will be happier than i to witness by god's grace, alaskas strength of character of advancing our beloved state. sean is that. i remember on that december day

when we took the oath to uphold our state constitution and it was written right here in fairbanks by a very wise pioneer. we share the vision for the government. our founders wrote that all political power is inherent in the people. all government originates with the people. it is founded upon there will only and it is instituted for the good of the people as a whole. cthose words guided us in our efforts to serve you and put you first and we have done our best to fulfill promises that i made on alaska date of 2005 when i first asked for the honor of serving you. remember, then, our state so decide and so deserved ethics reform. we promised it and now it is the law. ironically, it needs additional reform to stop abuse from

partisan politics. we promise you that you would finally see a fair return on your alaskan owned national resources, so we built a new appraisal system. this is an equitable formula to usher in a new era of competition and transparency and protection for alaskans and the producers. this incentivizes new expiration and it is the expiration that is our future. it opens up oil basins and insures that people will never be taken advantage of again. do not forget, you are the resource owners by our constitution and that is why, when oil prices soared and state coffers swelled, you were smacked with high energy prices. we sent you the energy rebate. it is your money and i have

always believed that you know how to better spend it than government can spend it. [applause] i promise we will protect this beautiful environment while ethically developing resources and we did. we built the petroleum oversight office and a subcabinet to study climate conditions. i promised we would govern with fiscal restraint so as not to immorally burden future generations, and we did. we slowed the rate of government growth and i vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars. we saved billions for the future i promise that -- i promised that we would lead a charge to fund education and keep schools responsible. we pay down pension debt. i promised that we would manage

our fish and wildlife and that we would defend the constitution and we have, though outside special interest groups still do not get it on this one. alaskans need to really stick together on this with new leadership. in this area especially, encouraging new leadership. stiffen your spine to do what is right for alaska because you will see anti hunting and an anti second amendment circuses from hollywood and here is how they do it. the use these delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity stars. the use alaska as a fund-raising tool for their anti second amendment causes. stand strong buy your right to bear arms. [applause]

by the way, hollywood needs to know that we eat, therefore we can't. -- and therefore we hunt. i promised energy solutions and we have a plan that calls for 50% of our electricity generated by renewable resources. those who hold the lease is to develop our conventional resources, that they do so now, on alaskas terms. finally, after decades of top, we are seeing oil and gas drilling at point thomson. i promised that we would get a natural gas pipeline under way and we did. since i was a little kid, i remember the discussions that talked about and dreamed of commercializing our clean,

abundant, needed natural gas. our gas is thanks to our outstanding team. they knew that this is the vehicle to drive this project and bring everyone to the table. this bipartisan victory came from alaskans working together with private sector principals and now we are on the road to the largest private sector energy project in the history of america. it is for alaskas future and it is for america's energy independence and it will make us a more peaceful, prosperous and secure nation. what i promise, we accomplished. we, meaning state staff commissioners and conscientious

alaskans outside the bureaucracy. many volunteers have stepped up to the challenge as good alaskans, but nothing could have succeeded without my right hand man. chris is my right hand man and much success is due to chris. [applause] so much success. in alaska, there is so much in store further down the road. to reach it, we must value the pioneering spirit that made this date proud and free and we can resist enslavement to big central government that crushes hope and opportunity. be wary of accepting government largess. it does not come free.

often, excepting a takes away everything that is free. melting into washington's powerful, caretaking on this old just suck incentive to work hard and sharp in -- and chart our own course one of us. it makes us less free. i resisted the stimulus package. [applause] i resisted the stimulus package and we have championed earmark reform, slashing earmarked requests by 85% to break the cycle of dependency on a stifling, on system -- unsustainable federal agenda and other states should follow this. we do not have to feel that we must beg an allowance from washington other than to ask the

allowance to be a self supporter. alaska must be allowed to develop and to drill and climbed to fulfil statehoods promise. [applause] at statehood, we knew that we are responsible for ourselves and our families and our future and 50 years later, let's not start believing that government is the answer. it can't make you happy or healthy where wealthy or wives. what can? it is the wisdom of people. it is god's grace helping those that help themselves and then, this allows that very generous, voluntary hand up that we are

known for enthusiastically providing for those who need it. alaskans will remember that years ago, we supported the old bumper sticker that said " alaska, we don't give a darn how they do it outside." remember that? >> when would roll our sleeves and we would diligently sow and reap and we can still do this, to carve well out of the wilderness and make our living on the water with strong hands and innovative minds. now, but smarter technology. it is what our first people and our parents did. it worked because they work. we must be prudent and persistent and press for the people's right to responsibly develop god-given resources for the maximum benefit of the people. [applause]

we have come so far in just 50 years. we are no longer a frontier outpost on the periphery of the world's greatest nation, now, as a contributor and a secure of america, we can attain our destiny and the promise of our motto, north to the future. the pressing issue of our time is energy independence because there is an inherent link between energy and security. alaska will lead with energy and we will prove that you can be both pro development and growth environment -- pro environment. we will protect alaska. yes, america must look north to the future for security and

energy independence and for our strategic location on the globe, alaska is the gatekeeper of the continent. we are here, today, at a changing of the guard. people who know me know how much i love this state and some are still choosing not to hear why made the decision to chart a new course to advance the state. it should be so obvious to you. [applause] it is because i love of last cut this much serv that i feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive politics as usual lane dek session in once last year in office. how does that benefit you? >> with this decision, i will be

able to fight even harder for you and for what is right and for truth. [applause] i have never felt that you need a title to do that. as we all move forward together, we need to keep championing alaska and when i took the oath to serve you, i promised to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state like that grizzly guards her cubs. as a mother naturally guards her own. i will keep that vow were ever the road may lead. todd and i and our family we

will forever be grateful to have served you. our whole family thanks you. i'm very blessed to have had their support all along. i am thankful, too. i have been blessed to have been raised in this last frontier. thank you for our home, mom and dad. in alaska, it is not an easy living, but it is a good living and here it is impossible to lose your way. wherever the road may lead to, we have that steady no. start to guide us home. it i thank you, alaska. god bless alaska and god bless america. thank you, guys. [applause]

>> thank you. thank you, governor palin. at this time, supreme court justice daniel winfrey will administer the oath of office to our new governor and a temporary oath of office to our lieutenant governor. >> i sean parnell do solemnly swear that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of alaska. i will faithfully discharge my

duties as governor of the state of alaska. to the best of my ability. [applause]

>> i, craig e. campbell do solemnly swear that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of alaska and that i will faithfully discharge my duties as delegated to me pursuant to alaskas statute 44.1 9.026. . as a temporary substitute for lieutenant new government to the best of my ability. congratulations. >> thank you. >> governor parnell will now

find their oaths of office.

[applause] [applause] >> to many of you, his name may be new, but the lieutenant

governor is not new to state service. he has served as commissioner of the department of military affairs and as agilent general for a number of years. he is also no stranger to local government, having served on the municipal simply for a number of the leaders. -- municipal assembly for a number of years. -introduced, the lieutenant governor, the tenant gov. campbell. >> i thank you all. thank you for coming out today. it is a typical summer day in fairbanks. it is more beautiful today after what you heard from governor palin about what the future is or to be like. we are witnessing an historic moment where the power of the executive branch is being transferred from governor palin to gov. part now. at the same time, the lieutenant governor seat will be

filled in an ongoing process. the house judiciary committee met for informational meeting as a prelude to a full joint session of the alaska state legislature on august 10. it is subject to the legislators confirmation. today, as part of that process, i am honored to accept the position of the temporary substitute of lt. gov. pending that confirmation by the legislature on august 10. my remarks today will be brief. i would like to start by thanking former governor, rakowski to allow me to serve as a commissioner of military and veterans affairs. i enjoyed the four years i worked with him and i appreciate his willingness to allow me to

be on his cabinet and to serve that a state level in the great state of alaska. it was an important position to me and i think i did a great job and i think i was confirmed by sarah palin. she kept me on as the commissioner and kept me on as the agilent general. she and i have known each other a number of years. i first saw her when she was on the city council. she wanted to push the envelope to make sure that her community was represented by a voice. i have seen her grow to where, today, governor palin has stepped up to do what she must for the state and for our country and we should be honored and appreciative for what she has done. >> [applause] some of this crowd never understand what sarah palin did, but what she did is greater than herself. it is for our state and our

country and this lady is born to go far and america will be very appreciative of what she brings. let me tell you why i feel that way. during her term as governor, we had an opportunity to work together on some very difficult issues. she advocated for state control of our national guard and to demonstrate tenacity in the face of federal attempts to limit the power of her governor over her own national guard. she was a leading voice to make congress return that authority. that is sarah palin. [applause] >> governor, as you leave office, your cabinet appreciates all you have done. you will be missed and the ball is beloved. -- and will always be loved.

i would like to congratulate governor sean parnell. the citizens of alaska made a great choice when they selected him to be our state's lieutenant governor and who would have guessed that we would be standing here on this stage and transition that power to gov. john cornell. as he takes oath of office a day, he is committing himself to the leadership of this state's needs. as governor, you will do an outstanding job. i work with you and senior foreign number of years. the main not know that i worked with your father and i watched as you grew for your attorney * through what you did on the governor's staff. this state is gaining a great statesman. if you are always pointed in

your direction and guidance -- guidance. you were always careful to make sure that we understood that we had to keep the last in our heart and education makes us strong. i am ready and prepared to serve with you. >> [applause] i am excited about the prospect of serving as lieutenant governor pending confirmation. we share the same agenda and over the next year and a half, you will see our ministration work on economic development. today, in addition to my wife, my youngest daughter and her husband and three granddaughters think you very much for being here. our other daughter melanie is a

nurse in california. you know california has some economic problems. she said she had to work today. she is there with our other granddaughter. we know we are in their hearts. of course, i was the vice commander of the 168 alaska air national guard represented down here. i have been in fairbanks and i love fairbanks. it is where our state started with the constitution and it is the right place to start today. god bless you fairbanks. i look forward to the future and working for alaska. >>[applause]

>> thank you, very much, lieutenant governor. i first met the governor sean parnell was served on the house finance committee. that was back in 1993. over the years, i appreciated his calm demeanor and his sense of fairness. as we grapple with tough state legislative decisions and state fiscal policy. he brings to the office a wonderful suite of experience, having served in the legislature, practicing business law and the private sector, he served as a deputy commissioner and as lieutenant governor. in trying to figure out exactly how this changeover would take place, the governor gave me a call and indicated that after having the attorney general's office look into the matter, the interpretation to go to different ways.

but having looked at those two options, and knowing it could tip either way the governor chose to go with full legislative involvement. there was no need to put government against each other. it was a sensible process to move forward with and that was what he chose to do. i think that will mean that this transfer of power will be seamless. many of you do not know him, and i do and i know that he is up to the task. he served in the senate finance committee as the head of the budget at the time. when we were finishing up what we call the five-year plan. that was before oil took off and that was back when oil was $9 a barrel and we were away underwater. the legislature decided to put together a plan to cut the budget over five years.

sean had the very difficult task of serving in the senate finance committee during the last two years of that five-year plan. if you felt the first couple of years were tough, but last two were especially tough. i can assure you that he is up to the task. as we have this transfer of power, as the reins of power are turned over, i feel very comfortable that he is up to the task. he has the personal strength and the dedication to public policy and that you need to demand from a governor. help me to welcome a man i admire and respect, governor sean parnell.

[applause] midafternoon. thank you, alaska. as alaskans, we have learned to expect the unexpected. we are resilience and we take what comes and we face our challenges squarely with the termination and an eye toward victory. gov. sarah palin, general adkins pushe, i am honored to stand bee you as your governor. you are my witnesses. i have given my pledge and that is my promise to serve i have pledged to follow in the footsteps of remarkable people. alaska is from that word that means wetland. we're the largest in the nation. we are blessed with lush green forests and soaring peaks,

crystal clear water, minerals and oil and fish and game. alaska is indeed a great land. alaskans are a great people. our native elders in sure they're rich history and bridge the gap between young and old, passing their culture from one generation to the next. from the earliest days when alaska is first people settle the land to the gold rush of the late 1800's to statehood and even today, our people have sacrificed much and contributed much to our state and nation. alaska, you are a great people. alaska still has much more to offer. given today's economic climate, the stakes are high. you have my commitment to work with you and for you to position alaskas economy for growth and our children and families for opportunities in the future.

on december 4, 2006, the governor sarah palin and i swore an oath. i placed my hand on the bible just moments ago and pledged once again to pull the constitution. to be here in fairbanks, today, it brings us back full circle. just over 50 years ago, on a hill not far from here, our delegates wrote alaskas constitution. today, we peaceful transfer power, a transfer envisioned by those delegates and i am delighted that a few of those visionary's remain with us. we think these zero wonderful people and their staff for their determination and their love of alaska. today, i also want to honor and say thank you to our friend and our governor, governor sarah

palin. [applause] i want to say thank you to todd and to the palin family and to the heath family. i am thankful to have served alongside such a good and decent human being. from the beginning of for administration, gov. palin stood up for all of us with respect to the gas line and energy and education and more. a lot to say thank you, governor for holding fast to your principles and thank you for your enduring faith. thank you for your love of alaska and for your love for alaskans. let's hear it for governor sarah palin.

[applause] i want to say thank you to lt. gov. campbell and to emery. thank you for being willing to step into this new assignment. thank you, very much. but you're conservative voice, your military service, your guard leadership, i want to say thank you. i look forward to working with you as governor pailin -- as gov. palin did with me. [applause] the year was 1954, and that bessel that sits behind me, it made its final journey at the river. for a generation, this might watercraft connected our river

communities and by 1954, time passed the river boat by. there were more efficient ways to move people and goods around our state. it went from a vital economic link to a museum piece. as a last embark on its next 50 years of statehood, we face a critical question. will alaska move forward or will time pass us by? how do we create a strong economy for the next half century? how do we thrive and not just survive? first, we affirm our core principles that all are created equal and that life and freedom are precious, that all political power belongs to you, the people. in affirming life and freedom, we take time to honor our military, the guardians of these

precious rights. alaska has almost 10,000 men and women deployed on foreign sorrell -- foreign soil at this time. our alaska family, we will acknowledge and honor the sacrifices made by these people today. thank you. thank you to the men and women who selflessly serving our nation and all of her people. having spoken to our core values, i now turn to our to priorities -- our two priorities. on economic policies, i will not be constrained by a short-term view of our economy, but i will work for less his future. many of us feel the uncertainty of global recession. many of us feel the weight of high energy prices. alaska it is not immune from the economic downdrafts and we will continue to weather the storm for some time.

alaskans struggle to pay for gas just to get to their fish camps to operate them. there, they experienced then runs, leading people concerned about food for the winter. there were too few paying jobs. in our urban communities, businesses are stretched and people spend less and are impacted. we will not stand idle. we will position alaska for growth and we will train and educate more alaskans for jobs. state government is more to do this by maintaining a stable tax regime and we should not nickel and dime alaskans for a few more cents at the pump. [applause] we will be disciplined in our spending and focus on results for you. by doing so, state government

can help produce an economic climate that is right for job creation. things to'gov. sarah s help, we will continue to insure alaska is resources power alaskas homes. what this means, is that cheaper energy is in our reach. it is now communities challenge to ban that together to evaluate those resources and take charge of our energy future. i am happy to report that it lies closer than ever. today, credible and to use insurer a natural gas pipeline. i will continue the course set

by gov. palin and put the interests of alaska first. but it is not just about big projects. it is about other research and development. it is about the backbone of our economy. i know the challenges that our small businesses face because i have been there. i ran a small business in alaska four years. -- in alaska for years. 10 years from now, i want it said that alaska inspires and grows dreams. i wanted said that alaska and children can see opportunities for themselves. i want alaska to be a place where owning a small business leads to greater financial security.

but still, i recognize that our future is not determined by the economy. the health and restoration of our families determines our destiny. alaska families feel the strain. walk into any title one funded school and you will find kindergarten teachers trying to calm children that were traumatized at home. visit a domestic violence shelter and see women and children suffering. understand the harsh conditions of the interior and attended high school graduation. i ask yourself where all the freshmen went there should be graduating today. while we missing so many? >> clearly, our young families and children are challenged. in the last 2.5 years, our administration has increased

funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. in the past, they had to choose between paying for heating oil and food. there is still much to do. here is my vision for our families. i 1 alaska to be a place where every child has a safe home or a series called to go to. i want alaska to be a place where every alaskan can have job training so that our graduation rates improved. and whether younger or our elders, we want to save them let us ask those crucial questions once again. will allow us to move forward oval time pass us by? will each of us be a vital

player or will we stay on the bench? will we just survive or will we choose to thrive. >> a live picture on your screen from fairbanks alaska. he is giving his first remarks as governor. we have seen the remarks of former gov. sarah palin who has stepped down as of today. if you missed some of that, we will have it at 10 minutes after 10:00 p.m. eastern time and then again after 10 minutes after 1:00 a.m. eastern time. your chance to weigh in with your reaction will be tomorrow morning right here on c-span with washington journal. >> you are watching c-span, created as a public service by the nation's cable companies. q&a is next. that is followed by british prime minister gordon brown said news