without objection a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> by direction of the -- mr. hensarling: by direction of the republican conference i offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 6, resolved that the following named members are elected to the

following standing committees of the house of representatives. mr. hensarling: madam speaker, i ask that the resolution be considered as read and printed in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise? >> madam speaker, by direction of the democratic caucus, i have a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate considering. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the titele of the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 7. >> i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read and printed in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise? >> i offer a resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the resolution. the clerk: resolved, pursuant to

the legislative pay act of 1929, the six minority employees -- >> i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered read and printed in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? mr. dreier: let me say it's great to see you presiding over this great deliberative body. i'd like to offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title. the clerk: house resolution 10, unless overs ordered by tuesday, february 1, the hour of daily meeting of the house shall be 2:00 p.m. on mondays, noon on tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. on wednesdays and thursdays and 9:00 a.m. on all other days of the week and from tuesday, february 1, 2011, until the end of the first session, the hour of daily meeting of the house shall be 2:00 p.m. on mondays, noon on tuesdays, or 2:00 p.m.

if no legislative business was conducted on the preceding monday, nooned on wednesdays and thursdays and 9:00 a.m. on all other days of the week. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair will receive a message. the messenger: madam speaker, a message from the senate. the secretary: madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: madam speaker. the secretary: i have been directed to inform the house that the senate has agreed to s.con.res. 1, providing for adjournment of the senate and adjournment of the house of representatives in which the concurrence of the house is requested.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? mr. dreier: madam speaker, i offer a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate considering. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the concurrent resolution. the clerk: house concurrent resolution 1, resolved that pursuant to clause 4, section 5 of the united states constitution in the 112th congress the speaker of the house and squorte leader of the senate or their respective designees acting jointly after consultation with the minority leader of the house and the minority leader of the senate may notify the members of the house and senate respectively to assemble at a place outside the district of columbia if, in their opinion, the public interest shall warrant it. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the concurrent resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia rise?

>> i ask unanimous consent that during the 112th congress the speaker, majority leader and minority leader be authorized to accept resignations and make appointments authorized by the law or by the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia rise? mr. cantor: madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that during the 112th congress all members be permitted to ects tend their remarks and include extraneous material within the permitted limit within the limit in the section of the -- section titled remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. for what purpose does the gentleman rise? mr. cantor: i ask during the 112th congress, on monday and tuesday, when the house convenes, the house shall convene two hours earlier than the time otherwise established by the resolution for the purpose of conducting morning hour debafmente on legislative days of wednesday and thursday,

beginning february 1, 2011, when the house convenes pursuant to house resolution 10, the house shall convene two hours earlier than the time otherwise established by the resolution for the purpose of conducting morning hour debate. when the house convenes pursuant to an order other than h.res. 10, the house shall convene for the mup of -- for the purpose of conducting morning hour debate only as previbed for such order. that the time shall be allocated equally between the parties and may not continue beyond 10 minutes before the house appointed for resumption of the house and the form of proceedings for morning hour dehate bathe shall be as followed, the prayer by the chaplain, the approval of the journal and the pledge of allegiance shall be postponed until resumption of the house. initial and subsequent recognition for debate shall alternate between the parties and shall be from lists

submitted by the majority leader and minority leader. no member may address the house for longer than five minutes except the majority leader, minority leader or minority whip. no legislative business shall be in order except privilege red ports and following morning hour debate, the chair shall declare a recess pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1 to the time appointed for resumption of the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia rise? mr. cantor: thank you, madam speaker. your committee on apointed on the house to join a like committee on the part of the senate to notify the president of the united states that a quorum of each house has been assembled and is ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make has prmed that duty. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered.

under clause 5d of rule 20 the chair announces to the house that the whole number the house is 434. the chair customarily takes this occasion at the outset of a congress to announce his or her policies with respect to particular aspects of the legislative process. the chair will insert in the record announcements concerning first privileges of the floor, second, introduction of bills and resolutions, third, unanimous consent requests for the consideration of legislation, fourth, recognition for one-minute speeches, fifth, recognition for special orders -- order speeches, six, decorum in debate, seventh conduct of

votes by electronic device, eight, use of handouts on the house floor, nine, use of electronic equipment on the house floor, and 10, use of the chamber. these announcements, where appropriate, will reiterate the origins of the stated policy. the chair intends to continue in the 112th congress the policies reflected in these statements. the policy announced in the 102nd quonk respect to jurisdictional concepts related to clause 5a of rule 21, tax and tariff measure, will continue to govern but need not be reiterated as it is adequately documented as precedent in the house rules and manual. without objection, the announcements will be printed in the record. pursuant to 2 u.s.c. 2001 and

the order of the house of today, the chair announces the speaker's appointment of the gentleman from virginia, mr. cantor, and the gentlewoman from california, ms. pelosi, as members of the house office building commission to serve with himself. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house a message from the president of the united states. the clerk: to the congress of the united states, pursuant to title 2, united states code, section 2aa, i transmit herewith the statements showing the

apportionment populations for each state of as of april 1, 2010, and the number of representatives which each state would be entitled. signed, barack obama, the white house. the speaker pro tempore: referred to the committee on judiciary and government and oversight reform and ordered printed. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the honor karen l. haas, clerk of the house of representatives, madam, pursuant to house concurrent resolution 1 and also for purposes of such concurrent resolutions of the current congress as may contemplate by designation as members to act in similar circumstances i hereby designate representative eric cantor of virginia to act jointly with the majority leader of the senate or his designee in the event of my

death or inability to notify the members of the house and senate respectively or any reassembly under any such concurrent resolution. in the event of the death or inability of that designee, the alternate members of the house listed in the letter bearing this date that i have placed with the clerk are designated inturned for the same purposes. signed sincerely, john a. boehner, speaker of the house. the speaker pro tempore: the chair announces that the speaker has delivered to the clerk a letter dated january 5, 2011, listing members in the order in which each shall act as speaker pro tempore under clause 8-b-3 of rule 1.

the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house a privileged concurrent resolution. the clerk: senate concurrent resolution 1. resolved, that, a, when the senate adjourns or recesses from wednesday, january 5, 2011, through monday, january 10, 2011, on a motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its majority leader or his designee, it stand adjourned or recessed until 10:00 a.m. on tuesday, january 25, 2011, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first. and, b, when the house adjourns on the legislative day of wednesday, january 12, 2011, on a motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its majority leader or his designee, it stand adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on tuesday, january 18, 2011, or until the

time of any reassembly pursuant to section 3 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first. and when the house adjourns on any legislative day from wednesday, january 26, 2011, through friday, january 28, 2011, on a motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its majority leader or designee it stand adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on tuesday, february 8, 2011, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 3 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first. section 2, a, the majority leader of the senate or his designee after consultation with the majority leader -- with the minority leader of the senate or his designee shall notify the members of the senate to reassemble at such place and time as he may designate if in his opinion the public interest shall warrant it. b, after reassembling pursuant to section -- subsection a when the senate recesses or adjourns on a motion offered pursuant to

this subsection by its majority leader or his designee, the senate shall again stand recessed or adjourned pursuant to the first section of this concurrent resolution. section 3, the speaker or his designee, after consultation with the minority leader of the house, shall notify members of the house to reassemble at such place and time as he may designate if in his opinion the public interest shall warrant it. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the concurrent resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair lays before the house the following personal requests. the clerk: leave of absence requested for mr. defazio of oregon for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. for what purpose does the gentlelady from north carolina rise? ms. foxx: thank you, madam speaker. i move that the house do now

adjourn. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to adjourn. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. ac

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prorkvided as a public service. white house press secretary robert gibbs said it's time for him to take a little break as he explained his decision to step down. at the first briefing of the new year, mr. gibbs dismissed republican efforts to repeal the health care law and discussed the president's agenda for the next two years. this is one hour and 10 minutes. >> we got a crowd here. i noticed. many cameras. i see a number of christmas ties as well. fire away.

>> can you tell us a bit more, in a bit more detail about what you're going to be doing next? you're not going to be lobbying or consulting, how would you define your next job? >> let me start by saying a few things. it is -- and you all know this because you do this as well, and that is it is an honor and privilege to stand here, to work inside this building, to serb your country, to work for a president that i admire as much as president barack obama. i've been a member of his staff for almost seven years. it's, again, it's a remarkable privilege. it is in many ways the opportunity of a lifetime. one that i will be forever thankful and grateful for. what i'm going to do next is

step back a little bit, recharge some. we've been going at this pace for at least four years. i will have an opportunity, i hope, to give some speech -- some speeches, i will continue to provide advice and counsel to this building and this president. and i look forward to continuing to do that. >> in terms of the president, are you looking forward to the potential freedom that will come for not being behind that podium? >> look, we -- we're in a very different political environment than we've been in in a number of years in this country and i think whoever stands here, whoever goes on television to make the case for this administration should be an advocate for the decisions and the policies that are coming

from this building. you certainly have to play that role. i'm not going in order to be freed up to say a series of things that i might not otherwise say. i have enjoyed every time i've come out here and even on days when you -- even every day, even when you wake up at 4:00 and pick up the paper and groan that you have a sense of what the first several questions may bfment but i think it's important for this country and for an administration to come out here and advocate on behalf of and -- on behalf of its policies and answer your questions. >> you talked about how long you've been next to now president obama. can you talk about the impact that you think your leaving will have in concert with david axelrod and rahm emanuel?

>> one of the things you learn very quickly as you walk into this building each day, you are -- you're struck by the sense that -- of the history of this place and you realize that whatever your length of service here, it is temporary in the long and wonderful history of our country. and i think it does an administration good, and i think it will do this administration good, to have people like david and others come into the administration who haven't been here, who have been able to watch a little bit from the outside. we all admit -- you have to admit there's a bubble in here to some degree. soing having new voices and having fresh voices, some of those voices are coming back from having taken a couple of years off are an important part of this process. i think they'll serve the

president well, even as people like david axelrod and i go outside of the building and have a chance to talk to the president and people here with a slightly different perspective of not driving in here each morning. so i think it's unique. i think it's -- you know, the truth is, you walk around here and you see the history and such and i just e-- reiterate again, you realize that for however long you're here, it's temporary. but what endures is -- what endure source government. what endures is the great experiment of democracy that's proved to be such a wonderful thing for the world. >> a couple of question, one domestic. the incoming republican budget

chief of the house, paul ryan, said he would demand concessions from the administration, would the administration be willing to do this? >> i think we're going to have to have a discussion and we will have a discussion about steps to take to get our fiscal house in order. we've made extraordinary decisions over the past several years, some in this administration, some in the previous administration to deal with the financial calamity, to deal with the tremendous down turn in our economy and the job loss that it's brought. but we are not here -- i think it's important to understand, we're not here because of a series of decisions that just got made in the last six months. we're dealing with -- we're dealing with a series of decisions that they've had quite a long time, that the bills have continually come due for and we're going to have to

address them. what the exact specifics of those look like, obviously that's part of the process we're going to go through. i hope that everybody approaches not just the exercise of fiscal responsibility and fiscal restraint seriously but i think it's important as you heard chairman gulesby say this weekend, it's important to approach our upcoming vote as you mentioned on the debt limit in a way that's responsible and in a way that doesn't threaten the full faith and credit of our government. >> the president obviously has the upcoming visit on his mind, he stopped in for a meeting with the chinese foreign minister, how far is the president willing to push president hu on china's currency and human rights?

>> i think those two issues will be on the agenda and will be tremendously important. those are issues that came up yesterday in the meeting, as you said, that the president stopped by. china plays an enormously important role in our global economy and china has to take steps to rebalance its currency. and the president will continue to make that point when i would say that understand, human rights, global economy and currency are on the list. i won't go through all the topics but of course, the situation in north korea, i anticipate will also take up some amount of time. >> the president when it comes to human rights on china -- >> he has -- i think if you speak directly to the president of china about your concerns about their record on human rights, i don't think that's soft pedaling.

>> you reference comments about the debt ceiling and i wanted to read a quote from the senator. the fact that we are here to raise the debt ceiling is a sign of leadership. leadership means the buck stops here and washington is shifting bad choices. america has a debt problem. americans deserve better and i oppose the effort to increase america's debt limit. that is barack obama in 2006 against voting for raising the debt ceiling. >> understand that the raising the debt limit was not in question. in the outcome of that vote. >> it was a close vote. >> we have had closer. i think -- i think it's

important that the outcome, based on the outcome of that vote, as i mentioned the full faith and credit was not in doubt, full faith and credit of our economy was not in doubt and the president used it to make a point about needing to get serious about fiscal discipline and we, as i said earlier dealing with the legacy of decisions that had been made over the past many years, not paying for a prescription drug benefit, not paying for wars, not paying for tax cuts that changed our fiscal situation much more markedly than anything ever had. so i think it is up to and important for congress -- because we know not to play politics with this, not to play games, to find a way to raise that debt limit, understanding that we have to, as i mentioned

to matt, we have to take serious steps to get our fiscal house in order. but we understand, we know what happens. we know the catastrophic actions like social security and medicare if you threaten the solvency of the government. >> only voted that way because he knew that it was going to pass? >> i think he was sending a message. >> he knew it was going to pass. >> his vote was not necessarily needed on that. >> it would be ok for other senators to do the same thing this year as long as they know -- >> they may send a message. but what is important is that the ultimate bottom line is that we shouldn't upset the notion of that full faith and credit. we shouldn't -- we shouldn't that some have done leading up to this suggest that that's a

good way to deal with this and to not pass that. austin is a very bright economist. the effects of something like that, as he said last weekend, would exceed anything that we saw in the financial collapse in 2008. >> quick question about the assassination of the governor of panjab, pakistan. put it in the context, whether you think it indicates anything about how successful efforts are to root out extremism, the governor regarded as extremists -- >> look, i think it's important that our government express our condolences. as you mentioned, this is an individual who had worked hard to promote tolerance.

and his loss is a great one for pakistan. secretary clinton met with the pakistani ambassador to personally pass along the president's con doll ownses -- condolences. we remain committed to the efforts that the pakistani government is and must undertake to root out violent extremism and to bring greater peace and stability to that country and to region of the world. >> robert, are you going to be endorsing a successor in your job and give the president any advice and counsel. >> i don't speak publicly on the counsel. >> where do you think he is on the chief of staff? is he leading -- it has been made clear that if pete wants to

stay, he can. >> i don't have a lot new for you other than what was quoted a couple of days ago. i expect that a lot of -- a locality of personnel decisions will -- lot of personnel decisions will get wrapped up because the president and the team understand how much work there is to be done this year. their plate is full, and that we have many important issues that we have to address. and i will say i expect that the president is likely to make some economic team personnel announcements on friday. i will not get into who that might be, but i think on friday, we will travel in the area, visit a window manufacturer that

is -- that will take care of the expensing provisions that the president proposed in the fall and were contained in the ultimate tax agreement 100% expensing for the next year of investments that are made, that they'll take advantage of that and he'll draw some attention to that as well as react to whatever the jobs numbers are. [inaudible question] >> is he window shopping for windows right now? [laughter] >> i'm not going to get into that. >> real quick question on the medicare regulation and the "new york times" reports that you are going to take out the references that would have been covered in the health care reform law. it seems like -- dating back to 2009 there were false allegations that there was going

to be a death benefit. it seems like you are giving those allegations credibility. >> look, end of life counseling is something i don't think is a partisan issue. i think people understand and we have had great national debates about these topics in the past few years. it is an important part of your relationship with your doctor. the proposed rules did not have these provisions in there originally. we didn't think it made sense to necessarily include them in the final rule without having some discussion about that and so, this comes out of this rule but doesn't change bipartisan

support for having an intelligent conversation with a medical professional about your choices for end of life. >> does it upset liberals in his own party -- did he give in? >> we did not think that the process in the rule making was what we wanted it to be in terms of giving the public an adequate space in a public comment period to debate these kind of things. that doesn't change our support and others' support for these types of confidential discussions. >> could you talk about your personal thing that went into your making this decision. you have been on the government salary for a long time. there is the issue of personal freedom, maybe you are exhausted by this job and maybe sick and

tired of us. what went into this decision? >> i'm not good to talk about myself and maybe that's not a good trait to have if you live in washington. obviously, this wasn't an easy decision but this is a natural time period to make the decision to recharge a little bit. you know, i think a bunch of you guys in here covered the campaign that went for a couple of years and then we have had a couple of probably the busiest years that washington and the white house have seen in many decades. so, yeah, look, you guys know this because -- again, because

you guys cover this place, this doesn't stop, only rarely does it observe holidays like christmas and sometimes not even that. and you know, there's no doubt there is -- this is -- this is a tough place to work. now, again, it is an amazing privilege. i would not trade as i told my staff this morning, i would not trade the worst day i have had here for many of the best days that you might have in another job. i think the last two years have been extraordinary to watch, extraordinary to be a part of. i work with people i have a lot of respect. i work with a group of people who comprise my staff and

comprise the white house staff that i have worked with almost nonstop, many of them for four years, some -- one came to the obama campaign for senate a couple months after i did, well before anybody had given d.n.c. speeches and we were just running for the senate in illinois. i don't consider the people i work for just colleagues. i consider them among the best friends that i have. but it's time to take a little break. it's time -- there's a little boy who probably needs a ride to school every now and then.

[inaudible] >> i was talking about nick -- [laughter] >> the surf board doesn't fit in my car. [laughter] >> that, my friends, is not a tan. he's tan but those are the results of something a little bit more embarrassing. >> are we on tv? [laughter] >> i would like to follow up on health care. >> i would like to talk about health care than myself. >> health care is going to be under assault. how active is the president going to be? is he going to let this happen on capitol hill or plans by the president on my major speech and will you turn it into a political football like it was a year ago? >> it is important, chip and i think you have seen on many

proponents of repeal that this is symbolic. they understand that this is not going to land on the president's desk. it's not likely to pass the senate, that this is a bit of huff and puff. those are important. but i think it's important just to take a step back and understand beyond the symbolism, what this means, what this means is going back to a health care system where insurance companies are in charge and call the shots. where a child that is sick with a pre-existing condition doesn't have to get coverage in the greatest, strongest, most powerful country on the planet, where seniors don't get help with their prescription drug costs. >> will the president make a speech making these arguments?

>> i think the president's position on this is fairly well known. i don't anticipate -- i think as the debate continues and as the implementation continues, which i think is the most important part of all this, as the implementation continues, you will hear the president discuss this. obviously, the president is focused very much on the economy and in a job situation right now . he's remarkably proud of the accomplishment of health care. we have now the tougher task of implementing and to ensure that what i talked about a second ago -- i mean, we, a family not having to worry about losing their insurance or having their insurance coverage capped by the decisions made by an insurance company. fear of skyrocketing premiums with no accountability. as i said, fear of

discrimination on pre-existing conditions. i don't think that the american people want to go back to a health care system where -- where those safety nets are in doubt and that's what the law is. yes, sir. >> robert, just to follow up on two subjects. on the end of your tenure as white house press secretary, president obama has said what an effective advocate you were on his policies. how would you grade yourself? >> i will defer that question to the end of the class. i don't do well talking about myself -- >> would there be anything that you wished you had done differently? >> any job you would have done

and not have taken a good look -- of course. there may be something -- probably something every day. look, and again, i had -- i have the opportunity to work for and serve drk work with this president, served this country and worked with so many wonderful friends and be in the middle of what's going on, it's a tremendous, it has been a tremendous honor. >> would you consider what you did here a success? >> yeah. i think that we have been able to -- and look, i play a very small role in a big -- very big operation. so, i think that's important to understand that i think if you just look at what the president

was able and the vice president were able to get accomplished at the end of the last -- end of last year, start treaty that will make real discern tibble deductions in our deployed nuclear weapons, repealing a law that he believed for many years was unjust in don't ask, don't tell, ensuring our economic recovery -- by making sure that tax rates for middle-class families didn't go up. all of those are important things and in a slow year or slow two years count for the entirety of what you were able to do. that was just two weeks here. >> two other things real quick, on the medicare rule, your explanation that the rule was revoked because it didn't meet your preferred standards for the

rule making process leaves open the possibility that you seek to re-introduce it in a way that does comport to your preferences of the rule making preferences. >> i would point you over to h.h.s. >> and lastly getting to the question of how you expect to work with the house g.o.p. majority, congressman cummings appeared on one of the sunday morning talk shows saying he would be vigilant to look out for the g.o.p. majority especially if the committee conducts witch hunts. congressman issa sent out a bunch of letters and made pretty plain his agenda as the chairman of that committee. everything you have heard from congressman issa whether you think he is engaged in witch hunts or conduct that committee do you think you can work with him? >> he and the vice president i think had a productive meeting

at the end of last year. i think what is important is to understand that everybody in government should and certainly everybody here does want oversight that ensures that the intent of the law or the intent of the policy is being effectively carried out without waste or fraud. if you look at something the size and scope of the economic recovery act, you get a sense the degree of importance that we put on that here. at the same time, i don't think -- people want good joffer sight -- as your question said, people are not interested in relitigating everything in the

past. we have problems in the future that we need to focus on. so i think we are happy to be a part of responsible oversight. >> what do you think about what you have heard from him so far? >> i think that congress not even an hour and a half old. again, i think we -- mabel's want to wait for me to grade him like i did myself. but again, i think the question is there's a standard for responsible oversight that doesn't exceed the type of partisan ideological political witch hunts that people like congressman issa have spoken out against in the past. >> when's your last day? >> sometime toward -- probably the beginning of february. i don't have a final last day. >> do you have a successor would

be named before you go? has the president called john boehner today? >> i believe there is a tradition of hearing from the new congress. he will speak to eric cantor and nancy pelosi on a call they are going to place here at 3:30 this afternoon. i can check on whether he intends to speak with the new speaker. obviously he had an opportunity to speak with him many times since the election. and again, i think -- i think what this administration hopes for is that for the type of bipartisanship and the type of friendship during the lame duck,

we dealt with some tough issues and dealt with some stuff that had been on the books or on our plates for quite some time, but we were able to do that in a way that served the interests of the american people. i think it's a pretty good path toward what this president would like to see how to work in a bipartisan manner, to make progress and move this country forward. >> would the president invite him to play golf? >> i could see that happening, yes. i think the president might want to practice a bit before i think the new speaker -- >> you are leaving and saying that the president isn't great in golf? >> i think the president would probably be the first to tell you -- i don't know what speaker boehner's handicap, but when you

tell people what your handicap is, it indicates that you are good enough to know what that number is. having played on occasion with the president, none of us have discussed our handicaps in playing golf. >> has the president spoken to bill daley? >> not that i'm aware of. >> will he this week? >> it's possible. >> is the republican retreat something open to the president? >> we continue to have interest in that and i don't know where that lies. >> in terms of the departures and replacements in the left wing, a lot of the candidates who are certain to take those roles are coming from within the white house or within the general obama neighborhood.

do you see advantages or disadvantages in terms of not having -- >> some people will take on new roles that have been in here. and look, i think you guys understand there some sense of continuity, which is always important. look, i look at somebody like a david plouffe, he is quit well known to the president and played an important role in the president getting to the white house, you think david will bring a perspective that is fresh because he hasn't been inside of here for two years. and i think that's important. i don't think it's a matter of necessarily just seeing totally different people. there is a perspective that you gain when you're not -- when you're not here in -- every day.

i believe plouffe will start next monday. >> are you open to working for people other than advising barack obama? other democrats? >> i have probably -- i'll probably -- my current boss is probably my last political candidate. >> and what about in terms of corporate clients, do you imagine taking anything on? >> i haven't gotten that far. obviously, i wouldn't want to get into that while i was -- while i had not made any intentions known about what my future held. >> and lastly, as an advisor to the president from the outside, would that be a paid position

and be compensated in any way? >> i don't know we have gotten all through that. sometimes the advice that several of us give the president here, he might consider worth what he paid for. but that might not be -- -- that might -- we might not want to do that necessarily on a sliding scale. but i will work through some of those issues. [inaudible question] >> seems like a pretty good one to stop on. >> robert, when you come out here, has it be a help or a hindrance to be a main advisor and a supposeman? -- spokesman? >> to me it's been a help and to you it's been a help because i think you want -- whoever who is

in this role -- look, i have a pretty unique relationship with him from -- based on just how long i have been here. and the types of -- you spend two years on the road with somebody or almost two years on the road with somebody, you get to know them pretty well and know how they think and i think that's helpful. look, i have always -- the way i have operated has been and when we first started here, there are people, do you want to know this, do you want to see these memos? look, i would rather know and have to be cautious than to go out here and say something that turned out to be false. i haven't done that. and i don't think -- i think if

something like that happens, it's hard to do this job. so my -- look, other people may be different. i'm answering from my percent text afe -- perspective, and i would want to know. and look, i can't get into stuff, i'm not going to get into that, but i would rather know than to land on the wrong side of what the truth is. >> through the years, there have been certain press secretaries who have been strictly mouth pieces and others who have had the dual role that you have. would you advise that your successor has the same access that you have? >> i do think it is -- i do think i have -- because i have been with him so long that there is a uniqueness to that. i think any press secretary has

to have the ability -- and i don't think any press secretary would be hired in this building that didn't have the ability to go see the chief of staff, senior advisors or the president or vice president when they needed to. i have had that ability. obviously most of the counterparts that have stood up here, i think most of them will tell you that unless you have that ability, it doesn't make any sense to do that job and i don't think anybody in this building would put any potential successor of mine in the position of not graventing them the ability to -- granting them the ability to know what the answers are. there is always the time in which you know stuff that the president is going to make news on. look, i read a certain amount and i'm involved in meetings in the situation room that you just can't talk about. you will have those

opportunities, but it's important to be able to walk into his office and say, sir, i need to get your opinion. >> finally, might you write a book? >> not in the near future, no. >> you mentioned on friday there will be personnel announcements. what else could we expect that day? >> it is one of those occasions that i was just speaking of one might know and one might decide whether one wants -- let me do this. because i don't think all of those final decisions have been made. let me address that possibly tomorrow. >> the recovery board, could there be a new person for that? >> i will say this. i do not believe that that is envisioned for friday. >> and is the president, after

he finalizes these decisions, will he make any changes? >> look, again, we talked earlier about in each different phase of the recovery, there are different -- there are different aspects that to be focused on. obviously fiscal discipline and diss call responsibility after some of the extraordinary steps that the white house has had to take on the road to that recovery, half of those obviously getting our fiscal house in order is an important one. but, look, i think that ensuring our competitiveness and making sure that we are as an administration investing in the

investments that will create a work force that is more educated, more competitive and able to better compete in a global marketplace, those are the things that are trem dousely important for this president. >> how could a person be an effective advocate with the business community. >> without using that hypothetical name, i think that this president is -- i think that we have taken steps that were important to ensure financial statistic bibblet and to ensure that -- stability and to ensure that the president -- the president would be the first to advocate for what he believes are strong prohibition policies. if you look to take a second and look at the -- bless you -- look

at the auto sales numbers from yesterday. they were checking for me and i don't know how long the big three increased their market share and you saw an investment in the auto companies that was made by this administration that restructured chrysler and gm, put them in bankruptcy, restructured them and took them out, has led to what anybody would term as an unqualified success at this point. stronger economy has lifted auto sales. as i said, the big three added market share for the first time together in a long time. and i think those are the type of pro-business policies the president is proud of and the president will have the opportunity to enhance and outreach to c.e.o.'s and business leaders throughout the

country. >> would someone of his stature go out? >> always helpful to have more and more people who can do that for you. >> robert, why was the decision made to announce your departure before a replacement was announced? >> i don't know. i don't know that it was that unusual. >> more public -- >> i don't know the answer. >> my other question is that follow up to laura, if you are going to have some kind of a major role, outside role, why wouldn't you rule out taking corporate clients for the duration? >> i don't think i did. you have to understand that -- this is an announcement that is only a few hours old and i

haven't totally figured out what i'm going to do with the rest of my life. >> but for the duration that you are a paid consultant to the re-election campaign. do you feel it would be all right to have corporate clients at the same time? >> it was something i decided to do and i felt comfortable with who those clients are -- again, i would not get into the hypothetical of that at this point because it's just not something that is at this point relevant. >> one last question on health care, to the extent that debate is going to be relitigated, i'm wondering if you feel the white house has a chance to make a more effective argument and maybe per said more people than ended up being persuaded of the merits of this last year and the insurance reforms that are popular like children with

pre-existing conditions or the doughnut hole, is the white house ready to defend robustly the things that are most controversial about the plan, the expense of universal coverage and individual mandates? well, i don't think that's necessarily the case since the individual mandate is something that is that we have discussed in here recently because there are a myriad of court cases that have been brought around that. understand -- we talked about fiscal responsibility a few minutes ago. one thing that is unique about what we passed was we paid for what we passed. ok? so let's understand what that means for repeal. it is interesting and unique to see when one pays attention to

and when one ignores the congressional budget office, right? the congressional budget office, how much -- what's the price tag on this, how's it being paid for, are questions that we answered a lot during the debate and we were asked that by those who opposed us by what we were trying to do. repealing it adds $140 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. they have to cut the $100 billion but i assume they are going to pay for that, too. doesn't cut the trillion dollars in the 10 years after that. we're happy to talk about the expense of this. let's also be clear and talk about the expense of what happens if you repeal it, not just for families with children who are sick, not just for families who are worried that

their coverage might have been capped or god forbid an insurance company is making medical decisions, but what it means for the deficit and our debt. >> again what you are going to be doing in the future -- >> have the cowboys found a -- >> are you going to be a paid consultant for the campaign? >> at some point. >> when in the future can we expect to see you on television or acting as a surrogate? >> hopefully as we speak -- [laughter] -- i don't know that yet. i assume i will continue being an advocate for the decisions that are being made and have been made in this house and i'm certainly happy to do this. >> once the decisions on

personnel are known -- >> there will be a test. >> what will it say about the difference between now and the end of the administration? >> we have always talked about the fact that the next two years were going to be different than the first two years. we were able to pass health care reform and financial reform, things like the repeal of don't ask, don't tell, all of which now have to be implemented. and the president has always looked at the first two years as a period of legislation and at least the next year as a period of implementation and a period of continued economic -- taking steps to continue that economic recovery. so i think you -- there's a little bit -- there's a group of

people occupying. there are people in a slightly different environment that what i think the focus of this building is likely to be. >> how does that translate in the skill set he is looking for? looking for people that fit in a round hole and a square peg? >> we have a larger tableau of what those announcements will be. in each position, there is a skill set that given the agenda and the environment, it might be slightly different than what you have again in the past two years. we can deal with that as we get into this.

there will be multiple announcements on friday and there may be some more on friday . announcements. >> any others? >> not that i'm aware of. >> any before friday? >> i have nothing new on chief of staff. >> sticking with the big picture, robert, given the number -- is this a major overhaul, minor tweaking, big change in direction, retooling of attitude or just shifting -- bigger than a bread box? >> good question. i think there are -- i think -- i think in many ways this is a pretty major retooling. but part of this is based on the fact that that there are a lot

of us who just feel like we need a little bit of a break. some of that happens because just as a natural cycle of this. i think that's -- i should have layered that in my answer to jackie's question. that is certainly important. again, there are new environments and there's a new congress, there's a whole host of things that one has to and should take into account when you are making a lot of these decisions and the president and the team are doing it. >> it's more than just new faces doing the same thing? >> i think so. and the truth is, i wouldn't necessarily think of the fact that there may be functions in one area or domain or in the box of one personnel position that may get moved or shifted.

any time that you have the natural change in the white house, it's not just simply what you did, somebody else sits where you did -- i think there will be some retooling of that. >> major retooling from what? >> the reason i would consider it a major retooling, a lot of people who have been here for a while and certainly since the inception of the administration that are leaving, as i said to you guys countless times, some people want to leave because it's time to take a break, it's time to do something different or it's time to -- you know, some people, dr. summers is a good example, somebody who was going to serve four and told the president he would serve for two

years. >> those people can leave without a major retooling. you just said that? >> let me be careful. there are going to be a lot of new faces. >> to what degree is the president satisfied with the performance? >> i would suggest that almost all of what you have seen -- not always, but a decent amount of what you have seen is the natural attrition of an administration. >> when you talk about natural attrition and exhaustion of people who have been doing this for four years if you count the campaign. how would you describe the president's energy level? finally a lead? [laughter] >> that's good. look -- look, you sign up for

and understand that as the president, you can't take a year off to recharge. so i think it's important to put people around him that have the -- have a fresh perspective that have come into a different job or have come into the administration after having not been here for a couple of years and give this place the vitality that it will always have largely because it's the white house. but i think it's important that -- and i think the president believes that's important, having additional voices, having different and fresh perspectives coming from folks that haven't necessarily been inside this bubble for two years or four years or seven years, that

that's really important to the process of running an administration, of running a white house and governing a country. >> robert, having been at this for two years, can you talk to us about the value of the daily briefing, is it helpful to the public, white house, would you like it off camera, on camera? >> we experimented -- i think there is a great utility in doing some off-camera gag wills and truth be told, we haven't done enough of those. there is an ability to talk about things slightly differently without all these fancy lights. i think it's important, though, as i said, i alluded to earlier, important to, as a government to

come out here and talk about and answer -- talk about the policies and decisions that are being made and to answer the questions surrounding those. like i said, there are days in which -- my guess is, it will happen again this week where you pick up that newspaper or turn on your computer at 4:30 in the morning while your coffee is still brewing and you grown, oh, god, and you get on your blackberry. but there is a usefulness to that. i think there is a reason that this has been an enduring quality. i do think -- look, i think there has to be -- i think there should continue to be experimentation. we tried more stuff on social networking that i think will continue long past my existence inside this building because

that, too, is important. you have the ability to -- i got on something like twitter largely from watching you guys tweet while the president was standing right here and it's a fascinating concept. i think that will endure and the briefing will endure and what gets added to and what complements the briefing in terms of breaking down any walls that exist between the people and government will only accelerate. >> on that end of life counseling, can you talk more about that? >> i'll come -- [laughter] >> toll follow up on a couple of the other questions regarding

the retooling, there was a lot of criticism and some came from within the administration about messaging and communications, you are leaving and david ex ell rod is leaving. should we read anything into it? >> no. look, we would be the first ones to tell you that we haven't been perfect. this is a difficult environment given where we are economically. that's not to make any excuses. you people here me joke, i hadn't been to a policy problem meeting yet. every meeting i go to is the policy is fine it's just we aren't communicating it well. i get that that is some of the way that you go through problems

here. but i think you will see continuity in the message operation here. that is important and again you will see people like david plouffe and will be a fresh perspective, but i think -- i don't think it would be fair to read into the fact that the reason we're leaving is we haven't felt we accomplished anything. >> even if the the mid-terms didn't turn out to be so difficult? >> i didn't make a decision to step away and recharge because of the mid-terms. it's a very natural time in the administration and good time to get fresh voices, including somebody up here. margaret. >> can you talk about how it doesn't necessarily need to be a

new voice but a fresh voice. have some been given serious consideration. is that a service in what they represented and their experience back in the clinton years -- >> let me say this -- i'm not going to -- as jackie pointed out, i have been pretty good at not making the news today. i will -- i don't want to get into -- i don't want my answer to be based on the names that you brought up. look, i think there are -- i guess part of the problem with this is there's not one type of person, right? you want people -- there are people that are important to have in here that haven't served in government and there are

other positions where previous service in government be it for clinton, be it for others is important. we have people here obviously -- you know, i go down to john brennan's office. there is a picture of help and george h.w. bush. there are people who have been through a bunch of different administrations. i hate to talk about it real large because sometimes it's, you know -- sometimes -- i don't think the example necessarily carries as easily. >> does this administration believe that having some of the advisors who were responsible -- >> look, whether it's jack, whether -- dr. summers who had been here before secretary

geithner served also in the clinton administration and others who and jason, there are folks that have important experience. and i think that's good to have, you know. they understand and have -- they have, as i said, they have important experiences. they understand what the job entails. >> there is some discussion about you staying on in the administration, but not as press secretary. i'm wondering why you decided not to go that route? was it a matter of being too tired or not finding the right portfolio? >> i had some -- i think the best service that i can provide this president is for the next couple of years outside of this building.

and that's that could insides nicely with my wanting to get a little bit of a break and it all worked out that way. >> do you think you would be back to the white house if there is a second term? >> i wouldn't close the door. i told the president i'm happy to serve as ambassador to italy in the second administration. [laughter] >> i'll do it, ok, all right, you got me. i'll do it. >> do you think you will be back here in the second term? >> one of my next tasks is to make sure that he has the ability to make some of those decisions. >> what did the administration make of the unusually public way that the israelis asked for the

release of jonathan poll ard just today and -- pollard and is this decision being taken in the context -- >> obviously the state department answered this yesterday in saying they received the request and they'll take a look at it. i think it is important to underscore that mr. pollard was convicted of some of the most serious crimes that anybody can be charged with. >> yes, sir. >> your use of social media platforms like twitter and youtube to what degree can you gauge its effectiveness in terms of bypassing us? >> here is a great misnomer -- social networking and using those types of tools, i don't

look at it where i can now talk to people and you guys, i'm going to go around you. i've never said that. because, quite frankly, i subscribe to what you write and you subscribe to what i write and i have greatly enjoyed them, though i realize that -- and i know you agree that very few of my answers conform to 140 characteristics, but you know, i think it's interesting that you can have a dialogue with people who are going about their daily lives, who have questions for the administration about what it's doing and you guys have written off of that. and i think -- i think the biggest -- i just don't think people should look tep increased transparency in their government, greater explanation of the decisions that we're

making as an effort to move around and go around you guys. >> when was your last vacation? >> agh -- serious vacation? that's an excellent question. when was the last time i took a vacation and didn't take my blackberry? it certainly exceeded -- it's probably been almost seven years. that will be nice. [laughter] >> are you still going to be a two blackberry man when you leave here? >> i hope not. i hope not. >> you had an end to life counseling. >> was the president concerned by issuing this executive order that he might be portrayed as

vorkian given that particular aspect of the health care bill in the u.s. population? >> your characterization did not play a role in the administration's determination of that. there is -- i think if you look at poland -- public polling, while there is some concern about that provision, at least i have not seen something that would have people believe that the great majority of people believe in the concept and i think it's wisely been debunked this notion of a so-called death panel. >> rewarding doctors and giving them bonuses doing this kind of counseling would pressure a lot of people. >> i think that is a pretty

broad mischaracterization of what the rule would do. this is -- that's just not an accurate characterization of what's going on. >> robert, will you miss us? >> i will miss you starting right now. [laughter] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]. . following the election and swearing in of members and the new speaker on the house floor, members take part in the ceremonial swearing in and photo opportunity with speaker boehner. here's part of that event.

>> great. thank you.

>> thank you. >> left hand right there. raise your right hand.

>> over here. raise your right hand. >> thank you. >> good to see you. >> thank you. >> thank you.

>> you come up here with me. >> left hand there. raise your right. look right over there. there you go. there you go. >> that's it? >> that's it. >> how are you, buddy? >> thanks for doing this.

>> i'll hold it. >> nice so see you. >> good to see you, too. >> how are you doing?

>> nicole is from ohio. >> raise your right hand. look right there. right here. look right here. >> one, two, three. >> all right, great. thank you all. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you all. [inaudible]

>> put your hand up.

[inaudible] >> good luck, mr. speaker. >> thank you. >> i'm glad you did that. thank you.

glerch look at the camera.

>> thank you. >> down the middle here. >> i'll middle here. >> right this way. >> right here. raise your right hand.

>> congratulations. >> how are you sir? >> great. thank you all.

>> right over here.

>> left hand here. put your right hand up. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> i heard. left hand here. raise your right back. >> thank you very much.

[inaudible] >> raise your right hand. not in front of your wife's

head. there you go. >> thank you. >> hi, how are you? >> left hand here. raise your right hand. look right here. >> make sure you're not blocking her. >> right here.

right here. >> ok, ok, ok, ok. >> left hand here. left hand here. raise your right. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> oh, my. >> oh, my. >> raise your right hand. >> thank you.

>> nice to meet you. where are the little guys? come here. right here. right here with me. right here with me. there you go. raise your right. we're going to look right here.

>> raise your right.

>> all right, we got it.

>> pick her up. pick her up. >> we're all here. >> all right. congratulations. >> go get them, tiger. >> go get them, tiger. >> all right.

>> there you go. >> all right, thank you. oh, boy. >> here we go. move up a little bit. put your right hand up. all right. right in front of me. here we go.

thank you. thank you all. >> hey! >> get over here. come here. >> how do we do it? >> right hand here. no. left hand here. raise your right. you're right in front of me. right here next to me.

put your left hand on there and raise your right. not in front of your wife's face. >> thank you. i'll thank you today. >> raise your right.

>> ok. >> uh-oh. >> hello. >> there you go. raise your right.

>> not going to work. >> all right. >> all right. here we go.

[inaudible] >> thank you. >> good job. >> likewise. >> oh, my. oh, my. >> all right. >> hi. how are you? look right here. left hand here. raise your right. come around, look right here.

>> congratulations. >> how are you? >> left here. >> there you go. >> raise your right.

>> i can't see the people in the back. >> there we go. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you.

>> left, right. here we go. all right. hi, how are you? doing good. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] today marked the opening of the 112th congress. john boehner was elected to serve as the new speaker of the house. following the vote, outgoing house speaker nancy pelosi of california presented mr. boehner with the ceremonial gavel. here's part that have event. it's a half hour. [applause]

[applause]

[applause] [cheers and applause] [applause]

[cheers and applause] >> it is a high honor to welcome all members of congress and their families to the house of representatives. to the members -- new members and their families, it is a special welcome and congratulations. we all wish you great success. [applause] congratulations to you. we all come here to represent our constituents. our respect for each other is founded in our respect for the

people that we represent. this month, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of john f.ennedy as president of the united states. as a student, i was there in the freezing cold. for some of you, you have read about it in the history books. to us, it was our youth. i was there and i heard his stirring address which inspired generations of americans to public service. in his 1962 state of the union address, right from the status -- dais, reza and kennedy said the congress, "-- president keedy said the constitution makes up all the trustees of the american people -- custodians of the american heritage. today, as we take the oath of

office to support and defend our constitution, we do so as trustees of america's best hopes and as custodians of america's highest values. however we may differ, let us never lose sight of our common laws -- love for this exceptional nation and are shared obligation to the way forward. [applause] i started off by an acknowledgement, welcoming, and congratulating the members and their families. our families have always felt like the way forward -- helped light the way forward to all -- for all of us. i want to thank my family, my husband of 47 years, paul pelosi. [applause]

my children, nancy, corinne, christine, and my grandchildren. i am proud to be from a large family, the youngest of seven. i want to acknowledge my brother, the former mayor of baltimore, md. [applause] let me thank my constituents in san francisco who i am proud to represent in the spirit of the anthem of our city, the song of st. francis. i am so pleased that was recited by all of us at the interdenominational service this morning. i am grateful to my colleagues for their commitment to equality, which is both our

heritage and our hope, giving me the historic honor of being the first woman speaker of the house of representatives. [cheers and applause] and now more doors are wide open for all of america's daughters and granddaughters. [applause] i am also honored is to be the first italian-american speaker. [applause] like many americans, our heritage is a source of great pride and a deeply ingrained patriotism summons us to build a stronger nation. we recognize that the proudest titles we will ever hold are not

supported on this floor. it is the simple dignity of the title "american." part of our great democracy that continues to be the greatest hope of liberty and progress for the entire world. [applause] when i was first elected as speaker, i called the house to order on behalf of america's children. now, as i prepared to hand the gavel over to speaker boehner, i know one thing above all else. thanks to you we havetood with those children, for their families, for their health, for their education, the safety of the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat. [applause] thanks to you, for those children and the families, we have made the largest ever commitment to making clege more affordable, enacted wall

street reform with the greatest consumer protections in the history, and passed a strong patient bill of rights. [applause] that means that children with pre-existing conditions can get care. young people can stay on their parents' policy until they are 26. pregnant women or cancer patients can no longer behrown off of their insurance. our seniors are paying less for their medical prescriptions. taken altogether, it will save taxpayers $1.30 trillion. [applause] thks to you, to all of us, we advanced at defining the american cause of equality for all. from the first day of congress, with the passage of the lily ledbetter fair pay actto the last days with the real of the don't ask, don't tell policy. thanks to you, we achieved more

for america's veterans than at any time since the passage of the g.i. bill of rights in 1944. [applause] because of our courageous troops and our veterans, we will always be the land of the free and the home of the brave. let us now salute our men and women in uniform. [applause] to honor them, we must build a future worthy of their sacrifice, which includes a good-paying jobs when they come home. it is not enough that we staved off a depression. much me needs to be done to open up the american dream and

looked up the american economy -- lift up the american economy. the only acceptable outcome is to restore prosperity and good- paying jobs. our mostmportant job is to fight for american jobs, to make it in america. democrats will judge what comes before congress from either side of the aisle as to whether it createsobs, strengthens the middle cla, and reduces the deficit, not when the new speaker of the house, john boehner, and the new republican majority -- and congratulations again, come forward with solutions that will address these american challenges, you will find us a willing partner. [applause] as we congratulate speaker boehner and our republican colleagues, as we wish them

success, we must stand ready to find common ground, to solve problems, and to build a more secure future for all americans. and as we take the oath of office today to support and defend the constitution, we must be ever-mindful that it makes us trustees for the american people, with an obligation to do what is right for them, and custodians of the american heritage, our great values. thank you, my colleagues, for the honor of serving in that tradition as the speaker of the house of representatives. i thank you, my friends. [applause] again, i want to congratulate all of the new members of congress, all of you who have been reelected, but especially the new majority and the new speaker of the house, john boehner. now the house will be led by a

proud son of ohio, a man of conviction, a public servant of resolve, and a legislative leader of skill. speakeboehner is a leader who has earned the confidence of his conference and the respect of his colleagues in the congress. [applause] he is a man of faith, faith in god, faith in our country, and faith in his family. it is very important for us in acknowledging that, for us to a knowledge his family, his wife -- mrs. boehner is -- there. [applause]

>> as we congratulate them, w congratulate and thank debbie for sharing him with us and lindsey and trisha and the entire boehner family. thank you, and congratulations to all of you. now, rognizing our roles under the constitution, united in our love of our country, we now engage in a strong symbol of american democracy. the peaceful and respectful exchange of power. i now pass this gavel, which is larger than most gavels here that the gavel of choice by mr.

speaker owner -- i now pass this -- [laughter] i now pass this gavel and the sacred trust that goes with it to the new speaker. god bless you, speaker boehner. [cheers and applause] god bless you, congress, and god bless america. [cheers and applause] [bangs gavel] [applause]

thank you. >> it is still just me. [laughter] speaker, thank you for your kind words, and thank you to your service to this instituon. secondly, i welcome all of our new members and their families on what is a very special day. all of us who have been here remember vividly that first day that we served here. i think any of us can tell you that you will never forget today. my own family is here as well. i think you have just met debbie. next to debbie r. lindsey and trisha -- next to debbie are lindsay and trisha, our two daughters. thank you, and i am glad that

you are here. [applause] 10 of my 11 brothers and sisters and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law are here as well. my brother who runs a restaurant in georgia was unable to be here, but i wanted to a knowledge him. i also wanted to let knowledge some of my close friends that are here from the other side of the capital. mitch mcconnell, the senate republican leader is here. two of my best but, richard burt from north carolina, and my friend from georgia, along with my buddy lathem, thank you for being here, gentlemen. i appreciate it. [applause] i am honored and humbled to represent a great, hard-working community in congress.

the peoples of ohio's eighth congressional district continue to afford me the privilege to serve, for which as we deeply grateful. we gather here today at a time of great challenges. nearly one of 10 of our neighbors are out of work, health care costs are still rising for american families. our spending has caught up with us, and our dead soon will eclipse the entire size of our national economy -- and ourebt will soon eclipse the entire size of our national economy. no longer can we fall short, no longer can we kick the can down the road -- the people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin to carry out their instructions. [cheers and applause]

in the catholic faith, we enter into a season of service by having ashes markdown our head. it reminds us that life in all its forms is very fragile. our time on this earth, fleeting. but as the ashes are delivered, we hear those humbling words. remember, you are dust, and to dust, you shall return. the american people have humbled us. that refresh our memories just out temporary the privilege of serving as. they reminded us that everything here is on loan from them. that includes the gavel, which i accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing that i am but its caretaker. after all, this is the people's house.

[applause] this is their congress. it i about them, not about us. what they want is a government th is honest, accountable, and responsive to their needs, a government of respect to individual liberties, honors our heritage, and valves before the public that it serves. let's start with the release package that the house will consider today. if passed, it will change how this institution operates. with an emphasis on real transparency, greater accountability, and a renewed focus on our constitution. our aim will be to give the government back to the american people. in seeking this goal, we will part with some of the rituals that have come to characterize this institution under

majorities,oth republican and democrat alike. we will dispense with the conventional wisdom that bigger bills are always better. that fast legislating is good legislating. allowing amendments and open debate makes the legislative process less efficient than our forefathers had intended. these misconceptions have been the basis for the rituals oa modern washington. they, in my opinion, have not been served well to the american people. today, mindful of the lessons of the past, we open a new chapter legislators and the public will have three days to read the bill before it comes to a vote. legislation will be more focused, properly scrutinized, and constutionally sound. committees, once bloated, will be smaller, with iranian mission, including oversight. old " -- with a renewed mission, including over said.

old rules will be replaced by new reforms that make it easier to cut spending. we will start by cutting congress' own budget. [applause] but above all else, we will welcome the battle of ideas, encourage it, engage it openly, honestly, and respectfully. as the chamber closest to the people, the house works best when it is allowed to work its will, and i ask members of this body to join me in recognizing this, in truth. to my colleagues in the majority, my message is this. we will honor our pledge to america, built on the process of listening to the american

people. we will stand firm on our constitutional principles that built our party and built a great nation. we will do these things, however, in a manr that restores and respects the time- honored right of the minority to an honest debate, a fair and open process. to myfriends in the minorit i offer a commitment, openness. once a tradition of this institution but increasingly scarce in recent decades, will be the new standard. there and no open rules in the house in the last congress. in this one, there will be many. and with the restored openness, however, comes a restored responsibility. you will not have the right to willfully disrupt the proceedings of the people's house, but you always have the right to a robust debate and an open process that allows you to represent your constituents, to make your case, offer

alternatives, and be heard. [applause] in time, i believe this framework will allow the house to be a place where the people's will is done. it will also, i hope, rebuild trust amongst us and the people we serve, and in so doing, provide a guidepost for those who follow us in the service of our nation. to our new members, democrat and republican alike, as you take the oath today, i know that you do so mindful of this shared goal. and know that your constituents have placed much trust in you. as speaker, i feel part of my job is to help each of you do your job well, regardless of your political party.

my hope is that every new member, and indeed every member, will be comfortable with approaching me in regard to matters of the house. we will not aays get it right, and we will not always agree on what is right. there is a great deal of scar tissue that has been built up on both sides of the aisle. we cannot ignore that, nor should we. my belief has always been that we can disagree without being disagreeable. that is why it is critical that this institution operate in a matter that permits a free exchange of ideas and results our honest differences through a fair debe and vote. we may have different, sometimes a very different, ideas about how to go about achieving the common good. it is why we serve. let's now move forward, humble in our demeanor, said in our principles, dedicated to proving worthy of the trust and

confidence that has been placed in each of us. if we brace ourselves to do our duty and do what we say we're going to do, i do not think that there is anything we cannot accomplish together, again on behalf of the people we serve. more than the country, america is an idea. it is our job to pass that austerity of the blessings that have been bestowed on us to those generations that follow. -- it is our job to pass that prosperity and the blessings that have been bestowed on us to the generations that follow. i want to wish you the very best. welcome to the people's house. welcome to the 112 congress. [cheers and applause] [applause]

>> i am now ready to take the oath of office, and i ask the dean of the house, the honorable john dingell, of michigan, to a minister the other office. >> i thank you. is the gentleman from ohio will please raise his right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that

you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god? >> i do. >> congratulations, mr. speaker. [cheers and applause] >> thank you, thank you. thank you. >> according to precedent, the chair will swear in a members- elect in mass bit of the elect in mass bit of the members-elect will