thompson go to nixoncenter.org. the gop transition team, led by a republican of oregon, is out with its list of those who will be helping with the transition. they are holding meetings tonight and tomorrow in washington. you can see the list here. if you go to our website, c- span.org, we have more information on our website. thanks for watching today's "washington journal." we will be back tomorrow. have a good day. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010]

congressman paul ryan of wisconsin and pete sessions of texas. also, they will hold their first meeting this evening with another scuttle sometime tomorrow. you conduct your website to seek a statement from the chairman and to learn more about what the team does. that is that c-span.org/

politics. president obama addressed the indian parliament. [applause] india is president obama's first off on his 10-day trip to asia. he leaves tomorrow for indonesia. this is about 35 minutes. >> mr. vice-president, madam speaker, mr. prime minister, members. most of all, the people of india. i've been to for the great honor of addressing more than 1 billion indians in the world's largest democracy. [applause]

i bring the greetings and french ships of the world's oldest democracy -- friendships of the world's oldest democracy, the united states of america. [applause] over the past three days my wife and i have the experience the beauty and dynamism of india and its people. from the majesty of the tomb to the advanced technologies that are empowering women and farmers, who are the backbone of india's society. from the celebrations with schoolchildren to the innovators. from the university students who will chart india's future, to you, leaders who helped to bring

india to this moment of extraordinary promise. at every stop we have been welcomed with the hospitality for which indians have always been known. so to you and the people of india, on behalf of me, michelle, and the american people, please accept my deepest thanks. [applause] [speaking in indian] i am not the first american president to visit india, nor will i be the last. but i am proud to visit india so early in my presidency. it is no coincidence that india is my first stop on my visitation or that this has been

my long this visit to another country since becoming president. and [applause] 4 in asia and around the world, india is not simply emerging, india has emerged. and [applause] it is my firm belief that the relationship between the united states and india bound by our shared interest and are shareou values will be one of the founding partnerships of the 21st century. this is a vision that our nations can realize together. my confidence in our shared future is grounded in my respect for india's treasure past, a civilization that has been shaping the world for thousands of years.

indians and bought the intricacies of the human body and the fastness of our universe. it is no exaggeration to say that our information aid is rooted in indian innovations, including the no. 0. [applause] india not only open our minds, she expanded our moral imagination. with pullet to imagine the future, where the mind is without fear and the head is held high. [applause] and with a man his message of love and justice and doers, the father of your nation. [applause] for me and michele, this is a

has therefore held special meaning. throughout my life, including my young the lilife his message has always been held dear. just as the sock -- summoned indians to seek their destiny, he implored trivia's in my own country, including a young preacher named martin luther king. after making his pilgrimage to india a half century ago, dr. king called his philosophy of non-violent resistance only logical and moral approach in the struggle for justice and progress. [applause] so we were honored to visit the

residence where gandhi state. we were harmful to pay our respects. i am mindful that i might not be standing before you today as president of united states had it not been worked on d and the message he shared and inspired with america and the world. [applause] an ancient civilization of science and innovation, of fundamental base in human progress, this is this 30 foundation upon which you have built ever since the stroke of midnight when the tri-color flag was raised over three and independent india. despite the skeptics who said

this country simplytoy too poor or too vast, you became a model to the world. instead of slipping into starvation, if you launched a green revolution that fed millions. instead of becoming dependent on exports, you invested in technology. in your greatest resource, the indian people. the world sees the results from the super computers to build to the indian flag she put on the moon. instead of resisting the global economy, you became one of its engines. reforming the licensing and unleashing an economic markell that has lifted tens of millions people for party and created one of the world's largest middle classes. instead of succumbing to the vision, if you have shown the strength of india, at the very

idea of india is its embrace of all colors, all creeds. [applause] it is the verse -- the diversity represented in this chamber today, the richness of face celebrated by a visitor of my home time of -- hometown of chicago more than a century ago. [applause] he said that holiness, purity, and charity are not the exclusive possession of any church of the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. instead of being lured by the false notion that progress must come at the expense of freedom, you built the institution upon which true democracy depends.

free and fair elections, which enable citizens to choose their own leaders without recourse action. [applause] an independent judiciary and the rule of law. this allows people to address their grievances, and a thriving prepresfree press. this year as india marks 60 years with a strong and democratic constitution the lesson is clear -- india has succeed is not in spite of democracy, india has succeeded because of democracy. [applause] just as india has changed, so to have the relationship between our nations. in the decades after independence, india advanced its

interest as a proud leader of the movement. too often we found ourselves on opposite sides, estranged by a long, cold war. those days are over. here in india, successful governments have recognized that deeper partnership with america is natural and necessary. in the united states both of my predecessors, one a democrat and one republican work to bring us closer leading to increase trade in deleon marked nuclear agreement. [applause] -- and a landmark nuclear agreement. people have asked, what its next? how can we build on the progress and realize the full potential of our partnership? that is what i want to address today.

the future that united states seeks in an interconnected world and why i believe india is indispensable to this vision, how we can forge a truly global partnership not just in one or two areas, but across many. not just for our mutual benefits, but for the benefit of the world. of course, only indians can determine india's natural interest in how to advance them on the world stage. i stand before you today because i am convinced that the interest of the united states and the interest we share with india are the best advance in partnership. [applause] the united states seeks security the security of our country, allies, and partners. we seek prosperity, a strong and

growing economy in an open, in turn national economic system. -- open, international economic system. two events these interests, i have committed the united states -- to advance these interests, i have committed the united states to the rest of the world. it is forging a deeper cooperation with 20 percent presenters of influence, and that must necessarily include india. [applause] india is not only emerging power in the world, their relationships between our countries is unique, for we are strong democracies whose

constitutions begins with the same words "we the people." we're dedicated to the liberty and justice and equality of all people. we are free market economies where people have the freedom to pursue ideas and innovations that can change the world. that is why i believe that india and america are indispensable partners in meeting the challenges of our time. [applause] since taking office, i have made a relationship -- our relationship of pirated. i was proud to welcome the prime minister for my first statement of the presidency. for the first time ever, our governments are working together across all whole range of common challenges we face. let me say it as clearly as i can, the united states not only

welcomes india as a rising global power, we support it in we have worked to help make it a reality. together with our partners we have made the g-20 the premier forum for the economic policies. that has included india. we have increased their role of the emerging economies like india at international financial institutions. we valued india's important role at copenhagen. we salute india's long history as a leading contributor to the united nations peacekeeping missions. we welcome india as it prepares to take its seat on the united nations security council. [applause]

in short, which india assuming its rightful place in the world, we have a historic opportunity to make the relationship between our countries a defining partnership of a century ahead. i believe we can do so by working together in three important areas. first, as global partners we can promote prosperity and both our countries. together we can create a high- tech jobs of the future. with my visit, we are now ready to begin implementing our civil nuclear agreement. this will help meet india's growing energy needs and create thousands of jobs in both our countries. [applause] linney to forge partnerships in sectors like defense and civil

space, so we have removed india organizations from our enemies list and work to remove and reform controls on exports. both of these steps will insure indian companies seeking high- tech trade and technologies from america are treating the same as every closest allies and partners. [applause] we can pursue joint research and development to create corrine johnson did india more access to cleaner, affordable energy. -- we can pursue joint research and development to create jobs in india, more access to cleaner, affordable energy. and the united states remains and will continue to remain one of the world's open economies. by opening markets and reduced

foreign investments, india convcan realize its full potential as well. we can keep striving for a go around that is ambitious and balanced. with the courage to make the compromises that are necessary so global trade works for all economies. and together we can strengthen agriculture. today india as a leader in using technologies to empower farmers, like those i met yesterday who gets free updates on markets and weather conditions on their cell phones. the united states is a leader in agricultural productivity and research. as farmers in rural areas face the drops, we will work

together for a green revolution. today we are improving weather conditions. we will help millions of farmers save water and increase productivity. improve of food processing so crops do not spoil on the way to market and enhance climate in crop forecasting to avoid losses that cripple communities and drive up food prices. as part of our food security initiative, we're going to share india's expertise with farmers in africa. this is an indication of india's rise. we cannot export hard earned expertise to countries that see india as a model for agricultural development. it is another powerful example how american and indian partnership can address an herbal -- urgent global challenge. -- we can now exports hard-

earned expertise to countries that see india as a model for agricultural development. because knowledge is the currency of the 23 century, we will increase exchanges between our students, colleges, universities, which are among the best in the world. as we work to advance our shared prosperity, we can partner to address a second priority, and that is our shared security. in mumbai i met with the courageous families and survivors of the park eric attack. here in parliament, which was itself targetted because of the democracy it represents, we honored the memory of all those who have been taken from us. including american citizens on

26/11 and indian citizens on 9/11. this is a bond we share. it is why we're working together more closely than ever to prevent terrorist attacks and to deepen our corp. even further. -- our cooperation even further. it is why we refused to live in fear. we will not sacrifice the values and rule of law that defines us, and we will never waver in the defense of our people. america's fight against al qaeda and its terrorist affiliate's is why we persevere in afghanistan, where major development assistance from india has improved the lives of the afghan people. we are making progress in our mission to break the taliban's

momentum and trained afghan security forces. while i have made it clear that american forces will begin to transition to afghan responsibility next summer, i have also made it clear that america's commitment to afghan people will endure. the united states will not abandon the people of afghanistan or the region to violent extremists who threaten us all. our strategy is to disrupt and dismantle and defeat al qaeda and its affiliates have to succeed on both sides of the border. that is why we have worked with the pakistani government to address the threat of terrorist networks in the border region. the pakistani government increasingly recognizes that these networks are not just a threat outside of pakistan, they are a threat to the pakistani people as well. they have suffered greatly at the hands of violent extremists over the last several years.

we will continue to insist that pakistan leaders that have a bidding terrorists is unacceptable. [applause] we must also recognize that all of us have an interest in both in afghanistan and pakistan that a stable and prosperous and democratic. india has an interest as -- in that as well. in pursuit of regional security, we will continue to welcome dialogue, between india and pakistan, even as we recognize the disputes between your countries can only be resolved by the people of your two countries. more broadly, india and the united states can partner in asia.

today the united states is once again playing a leadership role in asia, deepening relationships, and we're real engaging with regional organizations and joining the east asia summit, organizations and witin which india is a part. we want india to a gauge needs because it will increase the security and prosperity of all of our nations. as to global leaders, the united states and india can partner for global security, especially if india serves on the security council over the next two years. the just and sustainable international order that america seeks, includes the united nations that is efficient, effective, credible, and legitimate. that is why i can say today in

the years ahead i look forward to a reformed united nations security council that includes india as a permanent member. [applause] now, let me suggest that was increase power comes increased responsibility. united nations exist to fulfil its founding ideals of preserving peace and security, promoting global cooperation, and advancing human rights. these are responsibilities of all nations, but those especially that seek to lead in the 21st century. we look forward to working with india and others to ensure the security council is effective.

the resolutions are implemented. the sanctions are enforced, that we strengthen the international norms that recognize the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all individuals. this includes our responsibility to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. since i took office, the united states has reduced their role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and we have agreed with russia to reduce our own arsons. we have put nuclear terrorism at the top of our nuclear agenda. we have strengthened the cornerstone of the corner storm regime together, the united states and india can pursue our goal of securing the world's " balm nuclear materials. we could make it clear that even as evas every nation has the rit

to security, they also have a [inaudible] . . [applause] this leads me to the final area where our country can partner. strengthening the foundations of democratic governance, not only at home but abroad. in the united states might administration has worked together to make government more open and more transparent and accountable to people. here in india you are harnessing technologies to do the same perio. the information act is empowering citizens to get the services into a title.

and to hold officials accountable. voters can get information about candidates by text message and are delivering information to world community's as i saw yesterday when i joined a celebration with villagers. in a new collaboration on open government, our countries will share experience, identify what works, and develop the next generation of tools to empower citizens. another example of how american and india partnerships can address global challenges, we will share these with civil society groups and countries around the world. we will show them that democracy, more than any other form of government, delivers for the common man and woman. likewise, when it ind indians v,

the whole world watches. 700 million voters. there is nothing like it on the planet. there is so much that country's transitioning to democracy can learn from india's experience. so much expertise that india can share with the world. that is what is possible when the world's largest democracy embraces its role as a global leader. as the world's largest democracies, we must never forget that the price of our own freedom is standing up for the freedom of others. [applause] indians know this board is the story of your nation. -- indians know this for it is

the story of your nation. just as others supported indian independence, india to check and the self-determination of peoples from africa to asia as they broke free from colonialism. [applause] along with the united states, you have been a leader in supporting democratic development and civil society groups around the world. this is part of india's greatness. we all understand every country will follow its own pasth. no nation should ever try to impose its values on another. but when peaceful democratic movements are suppressed, as they have been in burma, that the democracies of the world cannot remain silent.

and for it is unacceptable to gun down peaceful protesters and incarcerate political prisoners decade after decade. it is unacceptable to hold the aspirations of an entire people hostage to the greed and paranoia of bankrupt regimes. it is unacceptable to steal elections, as the regime in burma has done again for all of the world to see. faced with such gross violations of human rights, it is the responsibility of the international community, especially bidders like united states and india, to condemn it. -- especially countries like the united states and india, to condemn it. speaking up for those that cannot do so for themselves is not interfering in the affairs of other countries, it is staying true to our democratic principles.

it is giving meaning to the human rights that we say are universal. is a sense of progress that in asia and around the world has helped turn dictatorship and democracy. promoting share prosperity, preserving peace and security, strengthen democratic governments and human rights, these are the responsibilities of leaders. as global partners, this is the leadership that the united states and india can offer in the 21st century. ultimately this could not be a relationship only between presidents and prime ministers or in the halls of this parliament. alternately this must be a partnership between our peoples -- ultimately this must be a

partnership between our peoples. i want to conclude by speaking directly to the people of india who are watching today. in your lives you have overcome odds that might have overwhelmed a lesser country. and just decades you have achieved progress and development that took other nations centuries. you are now assuming your rightful place as a leader among nations. your parents and grandparents imagines of thid this. only this generation of indians can see the possibilities of the moment. as you carry on with the hard work ahead, i want every indian citizen to know, the united states of america will not simply be cheering you on from the sidelines, we will be right there with you, shoulder to shoulder. [applause]

because we believe in the promise of india. and we believe that the future is what we make it. we believe that no matter who you are or where you come from, every person can both help their god-given potential -- can ful fill their god-given tenterhook. potential. we believe that no matter where you live, whether it is the village, or a new high-rise,

every person deserves the same chance to live in security and dignity. to get an education, to find work, to get their children a better picture. we believe that when countries and cultures put aside old habits and attitudes that keep people apart, when we recognize our common humanity, then we can begin to fill these aspirations that we share. it is a simple lesson contained in the collection of stories, which has guided indians for centuries. it is the spirits of inscriptions seen by all who enter this great hall. one is mine and the other is stranger is a concept of little

minds, but to the large-hearted, the world itself as their family. this is the story of india. this is the story of america. that despite their differences, people can see themselves in one another. and work together and succeed together as one proud nation. it could be the spirit of partnership between our nations that even as we honor the history, which in different times kept us apart, even as we preserve what makes us unique in a globalized world, we did recognize how much we can achieve together. if we let the simple concept be our guidance, if we pursue the vision i have described today, a global partnership to pursue global challenges, i have no doubt future generations will live in a world that is more prosperous and more secure and more just because of the bonds that our generation has forged today. thank you. [applause]

long with the partnership between india and the united states. -- long live the partnership between india and the united states. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> president of, before the indian parliament earlier today. -- president obama before the indian parliament earlier today. later she will attend a state dinner. tomorrow the president heads to indonesia where he will give a speech. then he will go to south korea on wednesday. he will speak to troops on thursday, veterans day. the president will hold a closing news conference on friday wrapping up his asian t

our. he will then return to washington on sunday. >> the c-span networks provide coverage of politics, coverapoll affairs, and non-fiction books. find our content any time through c-span video library. we dixie's ban on their road with our local bus and content vehicle. -- we provide coverage of the road with our bus and content vehicle. as republicans prepare for the new majority in the house, greg walden today announced that 21 members of the transition team, among them john campbell of california, bob could lack of

virginia, and jim gordon who serves the fourth district of ohio will hold their first meeting tonight with another settle for some 10 tomorrow. you can go to our website to see a statement from greg walden. that is that our website at c- span.org/politics. rick perry is here in washington promoting his new book. he will discuss this book on the current political landscape at the heritage foundation. our coverage starts in about 15 minutes. until then, we will show you a discussion from this morning's "washington journal." weekend on c-span in three. host: our guest this morning eric pianin talking about racing

the debt ceiling. the headline in the washington times this morning. unfettered vote on the raising the debt ceiling. what is this? guest: [laughs] um... well the debt ceiling is set by congress by law and basically, it put as limit on the amount of borrowing by the federal government to cover it's operations and to repay borrowing from foreign countries and domestic investors. host: why is it that congress has to raise it? has to have this vote to begin with? guest: well if you look at history through 1917 during world war i. law was passed requiring congress to set a ceiling on borrowing that the government can do. and that law has prevails since then, but it's also been a

source of great political mischief and maneuvering. it's really in some ways kind of shameless politics which forces the party of power to pull up it's boots and make the unpopular vote to raise the debt ceiling while the party out of power stands on the sidelines and hoots and cheers and criticizes the party in power for irresponsible spending policies. host: republicans take control of the house. when will they have to take this vote to raise the debts ceiling? guest: right. well the national debt at this point is around 13 point 7 trillion dollars. government experts project some time next spring. maybe may. the national debt will start to bump up against this latest debt

ceiling of 14 point 3 trillion dollars. at that point, the obama administration and the congressional leadership will have to reach an agreement on what that new debt ceiling will be. it has to be raised. there's no question about that. timing is essential. the, again the politics around spending issues will be intense given you know the huge interest of that during the campaign and you know president obama will have to work out an agreement with the republican leadership in the senate and the house on some kind of new ceiling but it has to go up, otherwise the government could be faced with defaulting on it's obligations and that would be a disaster. we're coming out of the worse recession and turmoil in u.s. history. the last thing we need is to put

federal government to default on borrowing. host: there's also this debate coming up on lame duck over stock financials. what's that compare to this whole issue on racing the debt ceiling. guest: congress has yet to settle on a budget issue really. there's all these spending bills that have not completing they're operating on a continuing resolution. when they come back they'll have to decide additional spending policies and it'll be wrapped up in the whole debate over taxes. the government has to congress has to decide whether or not to extend the as spiring bush tax cuts. also confrontd with recommendations by the presidents fiscal commission that was charged with coming up with recommendations for spending cuts, ways to reduce entitlement spending, ways to

put the government on a long term path toward a balanced budget. host: so how might that impact the looming debate over raising the debt ceiling? guest: think it'll intensify the debate. we've seen over the weekend, congressional leaders like mitch mcconnell the senate republican leader. jim mack that with a lot of influence in the tea party. erik canter. all talking about their reluck stance to go along with raising the debt ceiling or refuse toll go a lon along because of the n of the cuts in the budget. there's going to be a lot of demands made by republicans for additional savings and spending cuts before they're willing to

even talk about raising the debt ceiling. host: let's shoe our viewers. he was on meet the press and asked whether or not he would vote for racing the debt ceiling. here's what he had so say. >> no, i won't vote for it unless debt sealing is combined some path to balancing our budget and return together 202008 spending levels. appealing obama care. we have to demonstrate we have the resolve to cut spending. raising the debt sealing is like paying off your credit card bill but we cannot allow that to go through the congress without showing the american people we will balance the budget. host: washington times quotes a spokesman saying that he will give law make anothers chance for a direct vote on raising the debt limit saying that would

break with the recent tactic of bearing the debt limit in parliamentary a nooufrs. way to shield vulnerable republicans and would give instantly leverage to those in congress hoping to impose spending cuts. how do you do that then? if they put it right there on the table and it's combined spending cut? guest: well, i think what he's saying is he wants to avoid - situation which was quite popular in the past. where leadership somehow find as way to avoid a direct vote on raising the debt ceiling. you either combine raising the debt sealing with some other legislative action or pass a budget and immediately pass another piece of legislation from the house to the senate and

which automatically races the debt ceiling. there's something called the again heart rule that republicans, would say, the democrats over the years try to avoid a direct vote on it. but reality is, there's been a lot of very controversial debt ceiling votes. you can go back to the last time republicans were in control. newt gingrich and bob dole- the house and senate and democratic president was in the white house and it was a huge fight over raising the debt ceiling and gingrich and others said we won't raise it unless we get concessions from the president and we want cuts in medicare. medicaid and energy environmental programs and that's our price going along with it. president said i'm not going to do that. one led to another and then it finally expired and then in the winter of 1995-96, we had the

spectacle of two government shout downs. historic events. newt gingrich at one point said if the government shuts down people won't even notice. but the reality was, it was a huge political backlash and republicans paid an awful price during the next congressional elections, and republicans have been chaste endowed by that as we head into this new, this new congress and this new tension between a republican leadership and another democrat sitting in the white house, we have different views on spending, um... everyone better be careful because you know, the economy is really in a very precarious position. our a lice oversees are watching us closely. you know we've gone through debt crisis in europe.

and if we were to default on our obligations, it would make the debt crisis look like a day at the beach. host: wow. guest: - because the scale of - u.s. obligations. the importance of the united states, to allies around the country, the importance of the dollar and the stability of the dollar, all could be impacted by care less politicking over racing the debts limit. host: headline from yesterday's "wall street journal" the weekend edition. gop to use debt cap as leverage on spending. sounds like the same scenario you are talking about from 1994. i think i read a quote from dick army. republican leader with newt gingrich back then saying, at that time he argued, look the

american people think that will never believe democrats want to shout down the government because they association democrats with government and vice ver v versa for republican. is that how it turns out? guest: i think back then there was a strong antigovernment posture about it by the incoming republicans. and, you know, there was big demands for smaller government, balancing the budget. that was a huge requirement of the contract with america. the republicans pushed. this time around there's a similar movement. we're coming out of a terrible recession. a lot of the democrats felt that not only should we have passed stimulus packet but should have spent a lot more money on

stimulating the economy and right now, the republicans who have prevailed in the election are arguing just the opposite, that enough of the stimulus spending. we need more fiscal discipline so there's talks about, you know, possibly cutting back current level office spending by 100 million dollars which is a huge amount. especially since it would be targeted not to defense and national security but all other domestic programming. if you think about that you're looking at cuts of 22% or more in key domestic programs. that's a lot. that could have a huge impact of things like unemployment insurance - the operations of key agencies including, you know, justice department and e.p.a. and hhs. so there's also other efforts to try to roll back the levels suspend together 202008 levels.

. caller: i hope the american

people remember the fact that what they are denying this, they are trying to keep the economy and a very bad state until 2012. they are born to hurt the people in the country -- host: doesn't that run counter intuitive of their hopes of gaining more in the senate? caller: no, if they can do the same thing they did this time. they were in opposition to everything, and they set certasaid certain things were nt done. did they have a time frame they give the president? if everything they want done, do we give them just 18 months to get that done? get things done?

host: to this first test will not happen until may. guest: there will be others before that. some of these comments over the weekend suggest republicans are demanding good faith efforts by the democrats to show they are willing to cut. with regard to the collar's ther comments, -- caller's other comment, we are coming out of a bad recession, unemployment continues to hover around just below 10%.

there is a huge debate over what is the best strategy to try to get people back to work, spurring the economy. we republicans' argument is need to get our fiscal house in order, slow the growth of spending, extend tax cuts, and we need to get government off of businesses backs. others believe we have not done enough, unemployment is a critical problem. so there is a real tension there. host: and the issue of extending unemployment benefits comes up again at the end of the month. guest: i believe that is correct. the last two times congress has considered extending unemployment insurance, there were big debate between the

democrats and republicans. jim bunning led the charge to block an insurance -- unemployment insurance until they realize that that was a dangerous tactic, and then they backed off of that. down the road, i think it will be harder to get approval of any social services, benefit extension, because of this argument that we have to get our fiscal house in order. people are also looking at what is happening in europe, germany, great britain, who are now imposing deep cuts in their spending, and budgetary policies, to deal with their spending. republicans are watching that saying, we should be doing that as well. host: dave.

morristown, new jersey. caller: to the previous people, all of this was caused by too much debt. the fact that we are trying to cut is a good sign. what is the point of having a debt ceiling? we're just going to raise it anyway. we can avoid a government shut down if we just start cutting now. we are just drawn down -- and drawing out the inevitable. republicans have never cut. host: what about that strategy? if republicans could get it approved by the president, start cutting in order to avoid running up against the debt ceiling? guest: they could do that, but it is like running on a

treadmill. the scope of the rising debt is so great, you would almost have to get to a balanced budget within months to have any real impact on that. that is not going to happen. a lot of the cuts that will be approved will not take affect four months down the road. the debt ceiling is our obligation to meet the debt that we've run up. a colleague of mine made the analogy of someone going on a spending spree, buying a yacht, having a party, and then when the bill arrived, they say i cannot pay that, it is too high. that is not where you make the decision on spending. you make it earlier. once you do, you have to live

up to your obligations. host: looking at the historical levels of u.s. debt. do those figures out about right? guest: i think they do. a lot of that is our obligation to investors, domestic and foreign. part of that is the government borrowing from itself, dipping into the social security trust fund, other things, to keep things going. that is factored into the $13 trillion totaled. host: joe, a long island, new york. caller: talking about debts and

deficits, one thing i did not hear about before, a total of the fall. -- total default. what happens, for example, if california goes bankrupt? if i could not pay my bills, the creditors would line up to take my car, my house. what happens when a large state goes bankrupt? guest: it is a good question. the immediate effect is that government will have trouble borrowing in the future and will have to pay a much higher interest-rate for borrowing. i think it would undermine the confidence that allies have in

that country, if it were the united states, which is a superpower in the world looked to for support, stability in times of crisis. it would have a terrible, detrimental impact to our credit rating, it could have a ripple effect throughout our markets. there are all kinds of consequences for an established country, government, welshing on its agreement to pay its borrowers. we have seen that, not in a large scale, but in a medium- sized scale from what we saw in europe last summer. greece, spain, and other countries were having problems with runaway spending,

oversized debt, difficulty in paying their bills and creditors. the crisis in greece required a global response, really, with many of the other european countries stepping in, as well as the u.s., stepping in to help, international financial institutions, rushing in to prop up the government. since then, things have stabilized. i think they are now in a position where they can readily barrault, but that was not the >> and we go to texas governor rick perry. he is promoting his new book "

the fight to save washington." >> he served as a cabinet officer for gov. george allen, as well as a director for ronald reagan as well as at the department of justice and the department of interior. please welcome at me in and joining -- in welcoming my colleague. >> thank you. let me add my words of welcome to all of you here. what a great opportunity you all have to hear from one of the best governors from the entire country. we are delighted to welcome him to heritage. he has defended conservative values, but brought principled solutions to tough challenges. sound like our kind of governor,

doesn't it? as a result, texas i am sure that some of you know texas has led the nation in job creation. texans are safer because gov. harry has pursued an aggressive border strategy that is putting votes on the ground. he has put more peace officers standing between texans and exploiting drug violence across the border. he has dealt with a $10,000 budget shortfall in 2003. he was the first texas governor

to sign a bill lowering state spending and has done it twice. as governor, rick perry has used his line-item veto to cut over $3 billion in proposed spending. he led the battle to pass the country's most sweeping lawsuit reforms, closing the door on lawsuits that had been making trial lawyers rich while driving countless doctors out of the state or out of the profession altogether. since texas voters approved these claims and access to health care is increasing across the state and doctors have applied in droves to practice in texas. i am sure that makes him more concerned than most governors about the recent passage of the suppose it health care reform here. in 2005, governor. signed an historic property tax

cut for homeowners that included new taxpayer protections against appraisal increases. in 2009, he approved a tax cut for approximately 40,000 small businesses in texas and protected the rainy day fund for future challenges. he is a fifth generation texan. he grew up the son of tenant farmers in a tiny town. he was one of the first in his family to go to college, earning a degree in animal science at texas a&m where he was also a member of the corps cadets. so, he has the story is right, he has the business right, and he knows how to lead and operationally. between 1972 and 1977, rick perry served in the air force,

flying c-130 tactical aircraft. is a lifetime member of the national rifle association and the american legion. he has also served as the commissioner of agriculture in texas, and he served in the texas house of representatives. he married his childhood sweetheart and they have two children, griffin and sydney. we are delighted to once again welcome governor rick perry to the heritage foundation, and we are delighted to hear from him today, both his ideas on how to improve america, and his new book, which we will have copies of available for you, and he has indicated the willingness to sign if we have time today. without further ado, let's welcome to the podium governor rick perry from texas. [applause]

>> thank you, thank you very much. it is indeed an honor to be here today that at the heritage foundation. this foundation has become a singular standard bearer of conservative thought for some time. i just want to thank you for what you all have done. today is almost a week now since the american voters have sent a message to our nation's political establishment. it was not complex. it was pretty short and sweet, actually. they said, we are fed up and we are ready to take our country back. americans are fed up with the democratic party that long ago set aside their own interest in favor of expanding government, raising taxes, doing the bidding

of labor unions and personal injury trial lawyers, activist judges. americans are fed up with the repeated incursions into their liberty. however, their disdain for washington does not stop at the party line. americans are fed up with democrats and republicans to have embraced bailout, championed a so-called stimulus programs, and supported big government giveaways. voters understand the true breadth posed by this mountain of debt and are increasingly perplexed by bankrupt programs like social security and the are deeply frustrated by federal officials to do nothing to address these serious problems. the american people are fed up with bureaucrats telling them how to live their lives, calling

the shots of health care insurance. they say they must buy. the kind of food they eat, the kind of light bulbs that use in their homes. they are fed up with elected judges telling them when and where they can pray. how we can display the 10 commandments. this simmering frustration erupted into an overwhelming landslide for republicans on election night. and looking at the historic gains in both the house of representatives and the united states senate, some commentators call that a republican tsunami. i refer to with -- i prefer to extenuate the positive and echo what senator-it's m letarco rubio said. he said it was a second chance

for conservatives in washington. it offers a second chance to republicans and democrats in washington to set aside the accepted way of doing business in the beltway. devote themselves to getting it right, starting with the essential constitutional limits on government. i believe the united states constitution cast of very narrow role for government. today, our founding fathers understand government closest to the people truly governs best. the key phrase "the power is not delegated to the united states by the constitution, nor prohibited to it by the state's" are reserved to the states or to the people.

in my view, the federal government for help shameless -- the government's shameless disregard of the 10 commandments census down that slope, the precept of the bill of rights. the compromise. the essence of our republic can be lost forever, along with those god-given freedoms. the words of the 10th amendment are timeless. the also are a rallying cry for such a time as this. reminding citizens of their rights, reminding officials of their responsibilities -- that includes officials who wrote that wave of dissatisfaction into state houses across the nation. i believe some 19 legislators -- legislatures switched to

republican control that night. including north carolina and alabama, which will be experiencing republican leadership for the first time since the 1870's's. that is a long time to wait. that is a long time to wait. but we must ensure that it is worth the wait. at the state level, my federal governors and i need to work with legislators to prove the wisdom of our founding fathers. when they limited the power of the federal government and entrusted the challenges of day- to-day governance at the state and local level. james madison wrote, "the powers delegated by the opposed constitution to the federal government are few and defined. those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite."

if he were here today, i have to wonder if mr. madison would look at today's leaders in washington d.c. -- washington, d.c. and say, "did i mumble?" [laughter] i believe he and our leaders were incredibly clear. in short, free people work harder. they live better. they take better care of one another than those who are being crushed under the weight of an oppressive government. that freedom helped america grow into the greatest nation the world has ever known. bart 9. -- bar none. unfortunately, that greatness is threatened because washington

has expanded at the expense of liberty. maybe it was the desire of earmarks for local projects, but we have allowed for the creation of a monster. the federal government's current role directly contradicts the principles of limited constitutional government that our founders, they established to protect us from. my impression of this skewed balance of power that subjugates state rights to federal dominance led me to write that book. lead me to write "fed up -- our fight to save america from washington." the federal expansion really kicked into gear during the progressive era, as it is sometimes called, with the adoption of the 16th amendment to give the federal government

access to our wallets via taxation. i know a lot of people think the world of roosevelt's new deal. i grew up in rural texas. the fact of the matter is it is a legacy of glut. glut of federal programs. including a social security program that is not only bankrupt, but also has little to do with america's emergence from the great depression. i congratulate scholars likeburton folsom -- burton folsom to pop the balloon of adoration around these programs. unfortunately the new deal has become the third rail of american politics, that

indiscriminately kill the careers of any political leader who would be courageous enough to criticize them publicly. you combine the new deal with president johnson's great society, and medicare and medicaid cost, and you end up with $106 trillion of unfunded liability and $0 set aside to pay for it. that is not the sort of thing we do in texas. i consider texas of prime example of how responsive and effective government can be when it is closer to the people. for example, texas has long led the nation in job creation, as that he shared with you. half the jobs created in the country this year were created in texas. since 2005, four out of five

jobs, at 80% of the private sector jobs created a united states, were created in texas. the jobs were created by texans to -- it was by people who risk their capital. he got up every day and went to work. and what -- and worked long hours in a fiscally conservative environment with four simple principles we adhere to in texas. first, we cannot spend all the money. we left a fourth of $8 billion in our rainy day fund. secondly, we have defended a predictable and stable regulatory climate, so employers know what to expect and they can take the risk at that point in time and they know what those costs are going to be. we formed our legal system so that we would cut down

substantially on a plate of junk lawsuits that had doctors and employers tied up at the courthouse instead of creeping -- creating wealth and doing good. and we put in place public schools that send the clear message that the skilled work force will be available if you expand or if you want to move from another state, like many from california are doing today. 153 californian businesses since the first of the year through september have relocated to texas. my fellow republican governors, including bob macdonald andchris christie -- and chris christie, they are doing the same things we are doing in texas. they get.

-- they get it. the challenges are still real, that the states face. the states have their work cut out for them however, the difference compared to federal government is rather faster -- drastic. texans paid 100 predict $520 per capita in debt. per-capita debt at the federal level is our round $42,600, and growing as we speak. at the same time, the average texan pays $1,691 in local taxes, but a whopping $8,916 in federal taxes. even if you take away the 25% for national defense -- and we gladly do -- the federal tax

burden is twice local and state tax combined. our citizens can do the math, and they see the difference in value between the state and federal government. and they are really ready to regain the constitutional balance. last tuesday's vote totals pretty much reaffirms that for me. on november 2, 2010, people pushed back. they pushed back against a washington establishment that is spending too much and are willing to much, that is ignoring the constitution, and i might add, the views of our citizens. the election affirms the power of individual americans, and it actually, in a powerful way, repudiates an overly-controlling central government. we need to keep the dialogue rolling on how limited

government will maximize our liberty. our citizens have elected leaders willing to fight for our beliefs, it is time to hold these leaders accountable. for example, repealing and defunding national health care in its entirety is vitally important. you cannot go through that kind of legislation it piecemeal and parts every element of it. instead they need to start from the premise that the states can handle these questions better. and look to them to support that process. they need to support the states, not punish them. the new leaders in washington, and those who profess to be conservative should vote to handcuff the big spenders. simplify our tax system.

amend the constitution to restrict federal spending. a balanced budget amendment would be the perfect tool for that, and it would protect future generations from this new administration to run rampant. like my fellow voters, like my fellow conservatives in this room, i do not see storm clouds and sadness on the horizon. i see some of our greatest days ahead of us. i see a bright, bright future. it is contingent upon our return to our essential constitutional values and individual freedom. restoring a constitutional limits to government will take a massive effort, but our people are more than equal to the task. surely the people who were willing to die on foreign

battlefields in the defense of freedom for others and shelter complete strangers in the aftermath of storms like katrina and ike have the heart and compassion to tackle this. will be continued influence of conservative groups like -- will the continued influence of conservative groups like the heritage foundation -- we can surely recapture what is great about america. restore this nation to pre- eminence in the world as a beacon of economic prosperity and individuality. there is no greater cause in our time than that. thank you for coming. [applause] i will be happy to attempt to

answer any of your questions. >> good. let's make sure when you stand up with a question, you get a microphone before you speak. identify yourself and your organization. all right. i think we have got -- we will start from here. >> yes. >> yes, i write for the pakastani spectator. my question is, do you feel any backlash from some segments of the republican party by not moving all moslems and together and not trashing is long? you get very positive -- and not ai trashingslam? you get very positive feedback. >> i think i used the example of my friend -- not only a very

dear personal friend, but a businessman of some note in texas. i am sure there are a lot of ladies in the audience that no his products. he is a great businessman. we were talking about the issue of granta 0. and he said, i know how to take care of this. we build a synagogue, a mosque, and a church. we have a great moslem -- muslim community in texas. a business communities that are dear supporters. a substantial number of -- whether it is the india house in houston, the very large pakastani population we have across the state of texas -- and working together to build our state. i think it is very important, whether you are democrat,

republican, independent or do not want to be associated with any of those parties, but the future of our country clearly lies in finding the things that bring us together, and not separating ourselves by culture, religion, or what have you. recognizing clearly those that would use religion in the wrong way, whether it is radical islamists that would use that, and they are the enemy of all. yes, ma'am? >> [unintelligible] the tea party -- some of credited them with the republican tsunami. i am wondering if you see the movement here, and now that they have some candidates in, how you

think it will be working with the republican party, the relationship between the two blocs? >> i give the tea party great credit for a number of things. one is, there have been no more people that have read -- there have been more people that read the constitution in the last 18 months than in the last 18 years. i give them credit for that. if for no other reason, there engagement has been a very positive impact on our country. politically, i saw the tea party, i went to many of their events, focused on small government and fiscal conservatism. that was the mantra day after day. very diverse group of people from all across the political spectrum, i will suggest to you. i suspect that there engagement

will be still positive, and i hope they will stay engaged, for a number of reasons, the least of which is to really hold the feet of the elected officials to the fire when it comes to the constitution, respecting the 10th amendment, and allowing the states to become the laboratory of innovation. to compete against each other. i will share with you one anecdotal story that i think crystallizes it very well. cnbc does a yearly ranking of the states. they have a matrix the measure, and they break the states for the business climate, the best state in america to do business. in august, it came out that texas was number one. and rightfully so. [laughter] but number two was virginia. the first phone call i got was

from bob macdonald, and he was very upbeat and gracious said,"perry, i want to tell you congratulations for being ranked no. 1 in that poll. enjoy it, because we are coming after do." [laughter] and that is exactly the type of competition and spirit that should happen in all 50 states, not having washington, d.c. mandating from on high, this one size fits all, whether it is health care, transportation policies. those can best be addressed at the state level. frankly, they can be done more efficiently, more effectively, and we can see substantial

amounts of money in the process as well. yes? in the back? >> i am with the huffington post. george bush is doing a media tour for his book right now. i wonder if you can reflect -- you talk about the need for republicans to reclaim the lost opportunities of the past. this that extent to missteps in the bush to administration? >> i-20 to read the book, first off. so i will refer you to that. republicans are not unscathed. democrats, republicans, the supreme court all get on my radar screen. and the to repay those have been launched. they hit those targets. -- and torpedoes have been much. nobody walks out of "fed up"

unscathed. >> what about the prescription drug program. >> [unintelligible] [laughter] >> ok, let's go over here. >> i am a texan and of fighting texas aggie. >> it is wonderful to be ranked in the top 25 in both polls. >> i wanted to ask about the health care bill. of course, we are hoping that john boehner will be the ability to replace. it will not happen overnight what will you and your like- minded governors do to slow or defer the implementation in the meantime? >> one of the real aspects of this book is to talk about how

all these states can be engaged in a conversation. as i said in my remarks, there have been political figures totally and absolutely afraid to talk about social security as a ponzi scheme. my oldest child is 27. my baby is 24. they know social security is not going to be there for them. but talk about it. what are the options that are out there? i think that is one of the great roles that governors can play in meeting those conversations. the fact is that many of us would like to be in charge of those pension programs. medicaid -- excuse me, yes, medicaid is a good example. just last week, right after the elections, our texas house had a

study group on how to better deliver those health care costs. we think we can save the federal government over the next six years $40 billion in health-care delivery cost if they will let us do it in the states, and frankly, we will have more people covered and be able to deliver the health care better. we feel very comfortable we can do that. saturday night, presumptive speaker-elect john boehner and i had a meeting. we spent a couple of hours talking about how the governors can be more engaged with this process. the message from john boehner is very clear. he was listening tuesday night, and finding the solutions to the challenges that face our country emanate from the states and not from washington, d.c., and there is going to be a real

partnership there but we have not seen possibly onion decades and decades. yes, sir. >> good morning, governor. my name is james from california. i am a freshman at washington university. this is one of the most politically active schools in the country. many of my friends and i have aspirations of entering politics. what advice would you give us? >> i would suggest you find some campaigns to work in. go actively involve yourself in public policy and find out if it is really what you think is going to fade. find a campaign to work in. as well as an office somewhere where you are in turning orin -- terning or -- interning or --

fined as places where you are passionate. we are different than any other country in the world. people can give back. it does not matter whether you join the peace corps or the marine corps. give back to our state, our country, our communities, and in that, you will find your place. yes, sir? >> this is going to have to be the last question. >> my name is callebs. i am from massachusetts. i am an intern here at heritage. when president bush tried to save social security, he could not get a hearing in his own congress. have you think republicans have proposed reforms to entitlement programs without scaring people who cannot invest a lot of time to look into it?

correct good point. standing up and basically -- >> good point. standing up and basically telling the truth about it and not being afraid. i tell people, i say, if you need a reason i am not running for the presidency of the united states, i wrote this book. [laughter] i love this country. i love taxes. i wanted to be a powerful and a great place to live for my children. for it to be that way, we have to address these issues and not be afraid and tell the truth and pushed back on those who would do nothing more than to be fear mongers for the standpoint of, oh, they are going to take your social security away. but they do not have to tell my children that. they know that. there will be no social security for them unless you stand up as a people and address this issue. that is a powerful message, i think, the 20-something and the

young 30-year olds, they want a country that is economically sound and on good, powerful, a solid foundation. to do that, washington has got to stop spending money that we do not have on programs that we cannot want. god bless you all, an thank you for coming out -- and thank you for coming out. [applause] >> thank you, governor rick perry. we do the books available outside. the governor will sign books once you get those and bring them we appreciate having governors to think about the 10th amendment. so, thank you for coming today. thank you for writing this great book. we look forward to the conversation i had. [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010]

>> it is another great example. >> why does our federal government, he know, get involved in -- i believe in the

purpose. these are my new shot for the federal government to get involved in. m these areinutae -- minutae. there is somebody. i love to see them coming with pens. you tell me who you want me to sign to. >> to tom. >> to tom? [unintelligible]

rex thank you. >> there you go. come on big ed. [unintelligible] >> from colorado, maryland. >> r-i-l-y?

>> bill. >> very good. thank you, sir. see you are round. >> [unintelligible]

>> w-i-l -- >> i graduated from utsa. thank you. >> when did you get back up here? >> [unintelligible] thank you. >> be back. [unintelligible] >> not happening. [laughter] i got this job. i hope someone will run for the presidency. make washington less consequential in our lives.

>> [unintelligible] >> my husband is a generation texan. >> my wife is. where is he from? oh, he is smart. good on him. thank you. tell me your names? james? >> can i take a picture? >> have you ever seen a governor before? >> 1, 2, 3. got it. words for have any this. [laughter]

>> 11 years now. when do you go back home? >> you are free to come. you are free to leave. at will. yes, sir. thank you. >> josh. >> josh, howdy. you want this as "josh?" >> yes, sir. i appreciate the great work that is going on there. my parents and all -- my parents and siblings all voted. >> good on them. thank you. >> 13. . that is pretty big. >> howdy.

>> [unintelligible] >> i have a 2009 model. >> i have a 2030. >> j-e-s -- >> i came up here to work on the hill. [unintelligible] back in san antonio. >> what does your husband do? >> [unintelligible] >> good. one of those good aggie architects. [unintelligible] >> [unintelligible] [unintelligible]

man, thank you for coming and being with us today. comingm, thank you for and being with us today. >> i am looking for an intern job. >> who is the intern? here at heritage? >> he is a pretty big guy. >> my niece went to school there. >> sign it -- >> yes, ma'am. vanessa richardson? >> there are four.

>> she did go. they lived in richardson. >> ok. [unintelligible] and i am good friends with broke -- brooke. >> this is the 10th amendment project? >> [unintelligible] thank you so much. >> you are welcome. audihow -- dy. -- howdy.

where are you from? >> [unintelligible] >> what high-school? [unintelligible] >> [unintelligible] >> one of those good mccallum girls. we live right up there. >> of my sister -- >> >> l-o-r-e? >> that is my last name. >> oh, really. yes, ma'am. you are welcome. how do you spell it? >> m-a-d-s.

that is my first name. >> we have a lot of danish technology in texas and wind energy. >> oh, yes? >> we have four -- we have more wind reduction in taxes than all the other four countries. we have a huge margin of the number-one wind energy producing state. people think of us as being oil and gas. we have really diversify into alternative energy as well. >> i am shelley. >> s-h-e --

jus >> t y. >> thank you for your service. >> thank you for your service. i spent a lot of time on the green ramp. >> thank you. >> b-e-c-k-y? >> thank you. >> thank you. >> hi, governor. erica borden, with citizens against government waste. >> [unintelligible]

the had a big huge job. on corporate spending. spell it for me? >> [unintelligible] >> thank you. just handed up here and tell me what name? with an "i"? >> you understand. >> thank you, governor. i appreciate it. >> thank you very much. it is nice meeting you. [unintelligible]

>> yes, sir. godspeed. >> ok. >> [unintelligible] >> thank you for being here today. >> i am from dallas. i am going tout dallas. -- to ut dallas. >> that is a great school. they have some pretty cool stuff going on.

you know what? the marines are supposed to give me a ride, and my friends to have blown up, they say they are a pretty hot little machine. i went to italy in 2005 and flew one of the earlyc-27j's -- early c-127j's, and it was an awesome aircraft. this was the two-thirds model, a twin engine. 310 knots indicated, and it just flies like a dream. they got a lot better pilot than me. ready to go? >> ready. >> thank you, you all.

>> in political news, republicans are preparing for new majority in the house of representatives. transition chairman gred walden announced the transition team. some of the new members include members from alabama, illinois, and south carolina. the team will hold its first meeting tonight, with more meetings scheduled tomorrow. you can find more information on our special politics web site, c-span.org/politics. >> this tos yearstudent cam --

this year's student cam video competition is in full swing. up load your video before the deadline to win the grand prize of 25 -- up $5,000. go online. >> every weekend on c-span3, experience american history tva. here historic speeches by national leaders, eyewitness accounts of events that shaped our nation. visit museums, historic sites, and college campuses, as leading historians fell into america's past. american history tv, all weekend, every weekend on c- span3. >> we turn now to iraq and the latest pentagon briefing.

lieutenant general robert, is over in baghdad. he proved -- he praised the troops over satelliteb -- riefed trips over satellite. this is about an hour and 20 minutes. >> our like to welcome to the briefing room, the deputy commanding general for operations with u.s. forces in iraq. he is also the commanding general for 3 corps in fort hood. he took over operations in march of this year. this is the first time he has joined us in this format. he will be speaking to us today from a palace in baghdad and provide an update on current operations in the new missions