have the government wield the big axe incase things go off the rail. that's where the healthcare reform package comes in. reform package comes in. it's starting guest: christian is right, we have to think about the long- term. if we had a perfect economy today and we first see large deficits in the future, but we are sobbing to problems at once. we have a slow economy and lots of unemployment today. that means larger budget deficits to keep the economy stimulated. at the same time, we are looking at large debt down the road. it is a very tough thing to solve both -- both of these problems at once. if we do not solve them both, we are going to be in very deep trouble. financial markets will not continue lending to us forever.

the president and congress have to take up some leadership. there is no choice but to make these choices. . wisconsin on the line. good morning and welcome. caller: this comes down to people needing jobs payroll gets cropped. i've been trying to find always american made stuff. it's almost impossible. if we had more stuff produced here, that would create more here, that would create more jobs and more payroll tax. would that help the problem?

guest: there's no simple answer but certainlyly more jobs would help. if you look at the current numbers, we are at the lowest level of revenue since world war ii. if you raise jobs, people have more money and pay more income taxes. the question is how do we get there. clearly, this is the first step to get us on the road to recovery. that's not enough. one thing we know for the entire economics. what businesses really like is predict blet. in that world, creating a certain predict ability for businesses, you need to see healthcare reform.

it creates center in terments of energy crisis and financial market. it make it's easier for businesses to plan for the future and spend their money. smch of the economy is uncertain. that ultimately has to be part of the long term growth and jobs picture to create an environment that's predictable. >> walter on our line for democrats. >> my question is would the new reform be open. what happens to the major insurance companies then and ultimately what affect would that have on the people? >> andrew biggs, go ahead.

the insurance company will remain in business. they'll become more like regulated ultilities rather than free standing business enterprises in terms of what they can do and what the charge will be more prescribed by the government than has been in the past. there has been an undue emphasis in the insurance company's roll in this issue. you see a lot of the profits. health insurancer earns a profit of a very low percentage. total profits nationwide are around $12 billion a year. but total healthcare spending going through the companies over $1 trillion. we could see limb nate profits for health insurance and it would make no discernable difference in the amount of healthcare in the fanl time

this is morning, china hints at currency, provided a visit this month by the chinese leader goes smoothly. christian, china holds a lot of the u.s. debt. they are adjusting of their currency stharks going to have an effect on our debt? implet over time, it will have an affect. we have to be real is tick. this eventually will come to an

end. eventually in the long run, we'll see the interest rates. we have to contend with the unwillingness of the over seas lenders whether japan, china, switzerland and germany. foreigners no longer want to hold dollars i think the chinese announcements will make more explicit than when we know anyway. it's another piece of the puzzle that puts pressure on the administration and the congress to address the deficit in the long run. host: assuming this comes up between president obama and the chinese president, what would you suggest the president say? guest: we are in a tough position with china they said

in the past, american presidents have talked forcefully to the chinese about human rights. today, president obama is talking to america's leading lender. when you are very dependent on people for your capitol, it changes you to your other concerns. certainlyly, it seems to me there's a couldn't ra diction there. it seems both for economic policy and federal security, we have to reduce the capitol for abroad. host: a call from tulsa for inds independents. caller: politicians are unwilling to raise taxes.

would they be more willing if it was called war tax? how are we going to recoup the inheritance tax we are losing right now. i for got the third one. host: we'll leave is it there. can you address the politicians and tax issues? guest: nobody really wants to cut spending either. when it comes to the long run keff sit problem, we have to do both, we have to take seriously the revenue side and build up revenue. we take a hard look at spending. on the revenue side, we have to take a look at the tax cuts. also have a serious reform about estate tax. i don't think anybody is proposing to back to 2000. on the spending side, you see

in the various projections, some reduction in spending. there's a long term reduction affect. there's also the end of the wars in iraq and afghanistan and some cuts to spending. it requires a calm discussion. it doesn't lend itself to buzz words or bumper stickers. host: and her concern about the inheritance tax? guest: i believe this year, it goes down to zero and then shoots right back up again.

the healthcare reform bill would raise taxes the top tax rate would go above the percent. i agree that we want to think about the efficiency of our taxes the real problem going out to 2020 is not that taxes are relative to the gdp spending is 25% of gdp. at some point, you have to reign that in if you can't bring that in to reign it over a 10 year period. i dispair for how

>> coming up sunday on "washington journal," all looked at -- we look at issues with alexander heffner, jonathan strong, stuart pratt, and stephen wayne. this year's studentcam competition asked students to deal with strength and challenges that we're facing. here is one of the third-place winners. ♪ ["lean on me" playing]

>> some time soon approximately 1.7 million american soldiers will be returning from combat to an understaffed, overtaxed, and overburdened veterans health network. modern deployments and combat- related stress contribute to rising numbers of divorces, suicides, domestic violence, crime, and homelessness. in order to cope with nightmares and the stress of returning, veterans often find released through drugs and all of addiction. 76% of our returning veterans battle of, a drug, or m ental illness.

1/3 of our entire homeless population our veterans. -- are veterans. the department of justice reported that there were 225,000 veterans held in our nation's prisons and jails. the pentagon pledged to hire more mental health specialists while the army is short about 800 specialists. new programs are being implemented, however, access is in -- limited. the hardest part is the embarrassment soldiers often feel when admitting they need help. >> we have an obligation and responsibility to our returning veterans and to educate the public as to how they're returning and what we can do to help them with the transition. this country does a magnificent job of caring for the active-

duty soldier in uniform. but the moment they get out of uniform, they become invisible. we call it the self virus -- stealth virus, where we forget about them. we need to remember the impact that the family goes through. the veteran who comes back to a wife and children who have grown and changed and the veteran has not been able to be aware of. the veteran has changed as a result of their experience. we need to not reached the assumption that they can very easily transfer back into the civilian world. as a nation, we do a fantastic job of training civilians to go into the military and be

proficient in the military way of doing things. it is time to come back to civilian life -- when it is time for them to come back to civilian life, they expect to do the transition in three hours. they're required by the federal government -- it does not happen in three hours. we just assume that the veteran, he or she, can just switch uniforms and switched their way of thinking and that just is not going to happen. ♪ call me >> it is a very common, everyday occurrence that no one thinks twice about. we have been trained, day and night, day after day that you did not walk into a crowd of 150 people because there are all kinds of dangers associated with it. if i have a text book on my desk

and move it and it lands on the floor, nobody thinks about that. we pick it up and put it back on. when the text book falls and makes that noise, for the veteran, his or her immediate reaction is to say that the debt -- hit the deck. >> it is a difficult war with many horrifying sites. -- sights. it can be one of the contributing factors that gets in the way of relationships. >> the head of the veterans administration -- i would ask them to please consider expanding the application of this g.i. bill which is so fantastically generous to the veterans and have that also apply to the veterans spouse, so that they can get a degree.

♪ >> our programs are really focused on rebuilding relationships. the chaplains have a program called "strong bonds." we are trying to do early detection in screening for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and other things that may contribute. we're doing a lot of treatments -- what we call evidence-based treatments, treatment that there is good evidence for. we're also looking at new an alternative treatment, including -- new and that alternative treatments, including virtual reality therapy. we're open to any treatment. we want to know what the best treatment is for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychological effects of war.

>> it has given me the best opportunity in life. i would not be studying here without being a military policeman for the united states army. [inaudible] >> it defects eased as older and their families -- effects each soldier and their families. ♪ we all need somebody >> even the majority population, just walking down in uniform and

have people say thank you -- that goes a long way. it makes it worth it. ♪ lean on me when you're not strong ♪ >> to see all of the winning entries in this year's competition, ivisit studentcam.org. >> this week on america & the courts, a moot court. ken starr, dean of abidine university law school. that is today at 7:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span. >> this weekend on c-span2 barack "booktv -- c-span2's

"booktv," nell irvin painter. and a book called "superpower illusions." find the entire schedule at booktv.org. follow us on twitter. >> in his weekly address, president obama discusses the report and sent out greetings for the holidays. he is followed by kevin mccarthy who talks about the democrats' plan to set new rules for the financial industry.

while we were shipped in different ways, remember the shared humanity that inhabit us all -- while we were ship -- worship in different ways, we remember the shared humanity that in habits as all. it can be easy to lose sight of the eternal. on this easter weekend, let us hold fast to those aspirations we hold in common as brothers and sisters, as members of the same family -- the family of man. all of us know how important work is, not just for the paycheck, but for the peace of mind knowing you can provide for your family. we seek not only the security,

but also the sense of dignity and community that work confers. that is why it was heartening news that last month, for the first time in more than two years, our economy created a substantial number of jobs, instead of losing them. with begun to reverse the devastating slide, but we have a long way to go to reverse the damage of this recession. that will be my focus every day. we value our health and health of our loved ones. we have all experienced an illness, all lost, or personal tragedy. all of us know that no matter what we're doing or what else is going on in our lives, if the health of someone we love is endangered, nothing else matters. our health is the rock upon which our lives are built for better or worse. we value education and no that in and economy as competitive as ours education is a prerequisite for success. we also know that education is about something more in greater. it is about building the lives

within each of us to rise above any barrier, no matter how high, to pursue any dream, to fill our god-given potential. all costs are striving to make a way in this world, the build up first -- all of us are striving to make our way in this world, to build a life true to its potential and that serves others. these are aspirations that stretch back through the ages, aspirations at the heart of judaism, christianity, at the heart of all the world's great religions. the rights of passover and traditions of easter have been marked by people in every corner of the planet for thousands of years, in times of peace and the people and war -- and upheaval and war. one such service was held on iwo jima, where a chaplain rose to deliver an eastern german b ser.

together, they huddled in foxholes or crouched in a bloody sand, practiced virtue, patriotism, love of country. the heritage they have left, the vision of a new world which is made possible by the common bond that united us. the only hope is that this unity will endure. they only hope that this unity will end the war. on this weekend, as easter begins and passover closes, but as remain mindful of the unity of purpose and a common bond -- let's remain mindful of the unity of purpose and a common bond for which they sacrificed all they had. also, let's make its pursuit and fulfillment our highest aspirations as individuals and as a nation. happy easter and happy passover

to all those celebrating here in america and around the world. >> i'm congressman kevin mccarthy. i have a great opportunity of representing california's 22nd congressional district. i also serve as the house republican chief deputy whip. i want to start by wishing those families celebrating easter and passover of a year of peace and prosperity in this holiday season. i need not remind you that this is the time of great economic anxiety for almost everyone. americans are rightfully asking, where are the jobs? why is washington raising taxes in times of recession? does not anyone care about us? is anyone actually listening? i know what you're thinking, enough is enough. stop the spending. stop the waste. stop the broken promises. republicans agree. major employers are already being squeezed because of the tax increases and cost hikes

banks to the new health care law signed by president obama -- thanks to the new health care law signed by president obama, the newest of anti-taxpayer loss coming out of washington. -- laws coming out of washington. it is by no means alas. as a small-business owner, i know there is risk involved in turning a new idea into a successful business. there is no reward without risk. my small business, like many others, was started on credit. at this time of high unemployment, when we need to focus on jobs, we should not be expanding government spending, government commitments, and government promises that crowd out the small businessman and small business woman. that is not good for jobs or for anyone. from t a r p and permanent bailout to the cap and trade national energy tax, the government takeover of health

care and huge increases in national debt, and now, still more demand for more spending to change financial regulations, we have run out of money. and yet, the administration want to spend -- wants to spend even more. on behalf of a hard-working taxpayers in my district, i have one question for washington -- who is going to pay for all your new spending? last fall, when the controversial tour program was on tractors expire, republicans -- they r. p. -- t.a.r.p. program was on track to expire, republicans -- they are using it as a slush fund for more ways of spending. president obama wants to pass job-killing legislation that would guarantee permanent bailout for wall street. under this plan, and elected washington bureaucrats would be granted virtually -- unelec

ted washington bureaucrats would be granted virtually any power. what is worse is that this legislation fails to address the root causes of the economic crisis and housing all down. the lack of accountability in washington and on wall street. republicans have proposed a plan to protect taxpayers and it read of park bank -- of t.a.r.p. it would adopt accountability and the new approach to the markets that would not include using the taxpayer as wall street's financial lifeline. more blue-ribbon commissions are not the answer. putting taxpayers on the hook for more bailouts will not revive our struggling economy. it will only compound the pain for struggling small businesses

and for families who played by the rules, lived within their means, and acted responsibly. earlier, i asked whether anyone was listening. i am kevin mccarthy, a member of the house republican conference, and we are listening. if you want to put an end to these big government bailouts, the reckless, wasteful spending, and the mountain of debt, we hope you are listening, too. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> coming up next, "the communicators" with verizon vice president tom talk on the fcc's national broadband plan. after that, a moot court on whether non-citizens can be denied a life-saving vaccine. also, the head of the endowment for humanities talks about the importance of understanding american