>> it i find more and more the behavior of professional sports owners to be unseemly in the sense that they want hundreds of millions of dollars from their communities yet they don't participate in the problems of those communities. >> tonight, a best-selling author and "washington's boats -- washington post" sports author. >> monday on c-span, live coverage of a presidential form in iowa. we will hear from possible republican candidates, former house speaker, newt gingrich, rick santorum, former governors and the former ceo of godfather's pizza. i know what is scheduled to hold the first in the nation presidential caucuses in early 2012. this is organized by the iowa

faith and freedom coalition. live coverage starts at 8:00 eastern on c-span. >> this week on" we want to welcome held rogers from kentucky. he is joining us from somerset. welcome. >> good to be with you. >> we have to reporters with us to help us with questioning. >> good to be with you. i wanted to ask, the vice president went to the hill to jump-start talks on how to fund the government through the end of the year, dispatched by president obama. you were not in the meeting. i wonder if you expected to be invited or does that tell you anything about the pace or tenor of the big initiations going on right now? >> i am glad the president is

involved finally. i think it is very helpful to have the vice-president on the hill, his old stomping grounds. this was an elected leadership meeting on the part of the house and senate and i am glad they're at. >> do you think they're likely to make progress bridging the divide between house republicans who have asked for $61 billion of cuts from the budget and democrats here have said they want a freeze for this year's budget or maybe $10 billion under that? >> that's just it. we did not know what the senate has in mind. i believe in regular order and we have passed are built on the house side. it is now up to the senate to pass a bill and it will go to conference and work out the differences. that is the way we do business. the senate has not acted and we do not know what they have in

mind. for the moment, the only thing on the floor is the house bill. >> mr. chairman, they have put out cr for the rest of the year that would cut about $6.5 billion from current spending levels. if you split the difference, that would put you at your initial $35 billion. do you think that would pass the house? >> i don't think so. also, what they put out is one thing. what they can pass and put on the conference table is another. i want to see what they put on the conference table. i do not think it will be what they say they're trying to do. >> what about what u.s. house republicans can pass? some of your members wanted to have more cuts than $61 billion. now that number is likely to

have to come down. do you think you can get a bill off the floor that has less than that level of cuts? if not, what's this negotiation going to accomplish? >> i hate to be repetitive but i want to see what the senate actually offers. we haven't seen it yet. i think the senators heard the same voices we heard on collection day. that is cut spending, reduce the deficit because it is out of control, cut the spending because you have been on a spending spree the last two years. people don't realize that over the last two years, the democrats have spent 24% more than before. if you include the stimulus and tarp money, they increased spending by 84% in the last two years. that is unsustainable and the

public said grab hold of this thing and cut it out. cut the spending spree. that is what the house has responded to. i think the senators will respond to the same message. >> do you think there could be some wiggle room on the policy writers that were included? do you think that is an area negotiations could be frugal? >> we will see what the senate offers. we don't know what they have in mind. >> it is unlikely that president obama were congressional democrats would go along with a bill that did not fund health care are epa regulations. given that some of those things were not in your underlying bill, there are added before it was approved by the house, whether you think some of those things are able to be stripped off in negotiations? a lot of your colleagues say they will not vote for another continuing regulation -- continuing resolution that doesn't have those policies in

it. >> whether or not repealing obama care's funding, whether that was to be in the base bill or added on the floor was discussed beforehand. we decided to leave it out of the base bill so it could be added on the floor. that was a calculated decision. we will have to see what the senate has to say in their bill, if they can pass one, to see what they have in mind. i would remind everyone that the 2012 bills are being discussed now. in fact, we have hearings this past week with six or seven of the secretaries in different subcommittees' discussing the funding they would seek in their 2012 requests. obama care will be a subject of conversation this year. in the 2012 bills as well as the

2011 continuing resolution. >> what about planned parenthood of funding? how important is it to have a funding bill that bars federal funding for abortion and for planned parenthood? >> obviously, it is very important. the bill that we passed was a very adequate in all of those matters. >> what is your relationship with a frenchman -- of freshmen and a tea party wing? we forced to change your proposal at their best? did you think the $100 billion cut from the president's fiscal 11 budget was imprudent? >> there was a misunderstanding on what the pledge we ran on in november actually said. it actually said we would cut

$100 billion this year. some of our caucus thought that meant this calendar year which would take us into 2012 spending. some thought that meant only in the 2011 fiscal year. that was the difference in interpretation. the freshmen, primarily, believed that -- and they ran on the promise we would do that in this fiscal year, so we had a conference, those different interpretations were discussed, it was concluded by leadership and the conference that we would do it in this fiscal year, so we went back to the drawing board on the appropriations committee and came up with those numbers, to cut $100 billion off the current fiscal year. >> what did you learn from that experience?

what did it tell you about what is possible with your conference, the way it is constituted this year, in terms of how you needed to put together spending bills in the future and how would you apply that to this negotiation going on right now? >> we have 87 freshman republicans in the house. a very impressive group of young men and women. they ran campaigns that were focused on the deficit, by and large. so there's is the freshest viewpoint of the public represented in the congress. i think we should listen and are listening to all members of the conference, including the new freshmen members, and number of them were put on the appropriations committee and all of the other important committees of the house. we are listening to these new as

carriers of the public message in the house. >> won't that make it difficult to compromise with democrats on spending matters like the one in front of the right now? >> the freshmen are especially adamant in their views and admirably so. they do not have a lot of give in their opinions about deficit spending, but neither do why. we are all in agreement that we have to cut spending and stop the spending spree that is driving our nation into a fiscal crisis. the deficit this year is estimated to be one trillion $650 billion, adding to it that that will exceed $14 trillion dollars, which is unsustainable. we have never been here before. this whole we have dug ourselves

into a is it going to be difficult to get out. but the old saying goes, if you want to escape from a whole you have been digging, stop digging. that is what we are trying to do here. the freshman see that more clearly than any of the rest of us. >> yourcr includes cuts to a lot of favored programs and some mayors and governors have pleaded with you not to cut the community develop block grants, the local communities on day-to- day government issues. i was wondering how do you answer those funds the need to do the day-to-day government -- governments? >> we spare no sacred idylls. every, practically everything was touched in one way or

another. we have to prove we are sharing the sacrifice and everyone is pitching in to the problem we have. these cuts are why and deep. that includes the items you mentioned. the states are having their difficulties as well, but the federal government's cannot be the banker for the state. we simply do not have that luxury. i would point out to the governors and everyone else that we are broke. we have got to fix this problem and everyone has to be part of the sacrifice. >> where in your district of these cuts hitting you the worst? >> if they are enacted into law, my district would be heard almost as bad as anybody in the country. i have the second poorest

district in america. most of the programs we are cutting are in that district and my people are having to sacrifice probably more than practically anyone else. but they are willing. i have talked to them and they realize the fiscal hole year- end. that is a crisis and they are willing to sacrifice their part. that is admirable. these people are patriotic. they are self sacrificing, they're willing to do their share and i am proud of them for that. >> i am wondering if you can go back and walk our viewers through -- the past the two-week extension to keep the government running. if the two sides to not come to an agreement, what will happen, at least on the house side? >> my goal and the goal of the

republicans in the house is to not have a government shutdown. that is our overriding goal. we realize how important the government is to a lot of people and to the progress of the nation. we are determined not to have a shutdown. as long as the leaders are negotiating with the white house, trying to reach an agreement on the balance of the year, we will be a part of that conversation. but we will attempt to pass another continuing resolution to give the senate time to act and the negotiators time to resolve the spending problems. >> isn't that disruptive to government, isn't that difficult to govern under those short-term bills? >> yes. it is terrible. we were handed this problem by the democrats when they left

this. they have not passed a single appropriations bill. they passed a continuing resolution until march 4th. we took over in january and there is a problem. no spending bills passed. waiting on march 4th to come, trying to put together a way to fund the government for the balance of the year with no cooperation on their part. it is a terrible way to do business. i want to get 2011 out of the way as soon as we can. we are already doing the hearings on the 2012 budget hearing requests. i want to do all of those in -- by august through the house, under open rules on the floor and get back to the old fashioned way of legislating. the 2011 fractus is a distraction. >> you were in congress the last time the government shut down

because of a budget impasse like this one. i heard you say republicans want to avoid that at all costs. but some members of your own conference, some of the freshmen, have said a shutdown might be necessary to get people to sit up and take notice and appreciate the -- appreciate the importance of cuts. do you agree with that measure marked by a shutdown the needed to force the issue and get the public engaged in a discussion about what needs to happen on the federal level? >> i don't think so. i don't think we need a shutdown. i would be adamantly opposed to that. we're going to try our best to keep the government open and running and operating. the number one goal in all of this are jobs. the economy needs a boost and i think they would get a boost from the fact, if it can happen, that congress is

finally grappling with the deficit. i think that would do more to instill confidence in the business community where jobs are created than most anything else we could do. it would be a confidence builder to get the government passed to shutdown. that would be a big help to the business community. second, all of this huge borrowing we are doing is going to have an impact on interest rates because the money the government borrows as many private enterprise would be borrowing to expand their business and hire people if they had the confidence the government is finally doing its job. >> does that mean in order to avoid a shutdown that he would be open to a six week extension?

>> we will see how the progress is going with the white house and congressional leadership group. we will see how they are performing and what they say they need and we will make that decision next week. >> you mentioned the fiscal 12 bills. i wondering -- i was wondering if you have a number in mind? he took $60 billion from fiscal 11. what is the target for fiscal year 2012? >> we will see what the budget committee comes up with. is up to the budget committee in the house to come up with a number that will be -- that we will be spending. we will take the big number and divide it among 12 subcommittees and go about appropriating different segments of the government based on that big number. >> but you expect that to continue to cut from current

levels? >> yes, i do. >> do you think there would be a backlash once people realize how these cuts are going to hit them? there is a group of parkinson's sufferers that came to lobby congress against cuts. >> every dollar the government appropriates has a constituency. there will be groups and individuals that do not like what we are cutting. but if they see the cuts are judicious, fair and equally sacrificial, i think that is our best argument. by the way, the funding in the bill call week reduced that funding by $1.6 billion below last year's level, but those were very thoughtfully crafted

so as to have no effect on biomedical research. the bill ensures almost 9000 new competitive research awards are maintained. we think those cuts are judiciously made. >> more broadly, are you concerned that the public in general is going to get the sense that republicans want to cut programs that are important and perhaps even more important to the most vulnerable people in society and could that comeback and harm republicans in 2012? is that a concern? >> i don't think that's the way it is going to pan out. the public told us in the election to cut spending and get the deficit under control because that means jobs for our people and a better economy and a better way of life. to save our kids and grand kids

from this huge pile of debt. i think people are going to realize their sacrifice, as long as others are sacrificing equally is worth it. >> you mentioned the bills -- is the early first quarter and you are fighting over fiscal year 11. despite the fact you're trying to get the bills through the house by august, surely there will be -- do you expect an omnibus, that's something i know appropriators don't like. it does not bode well for the fiscal 12 process. >> not necessarily. we are continuing with the 2012 hearings and we will have those over with in time in early summer, perhaps even earlier, to

begin those individual bills, getting them on to the floor and passage through the house. i don't think at this time the 2011 battle is having a delaying impact on the 2012 process. and i am determined that not. i want this to do regular order and pass the bills in the regular manner before the august recess. that ambition is shared by my colleague, the ranking democrat on the committee. he and i are in agreement that we will proceed forthwith in an open way and pass these bills before august. >> you have been on the appropriations committee for a long time. you are well known in your district for securing the federal funds, including the studio where you're speaking to us from. i'm wondering what it's like to be the chairman of the

appropriations committee when appropriations has become a dirty word and you have 87 new republican members of congress who think it earmark is a naughty thing that should never surface. >> i agree that the attitude of the country has changed as far as your marks are concerned, and rightly so. but when they were in vogue and we did not have this fiscal crisis we are in, i ate represent the second poorest district in america, a region plagued by flooding, a flood of drugs, by rivers and streams that have become embarrassingly polluted, and sure enough, i went after those problems from my district. flood walls to protect the town's from five major rivers that course through these narrow

valleys. a drug problem that has been described as the number one in the nation. and a lack of good highways and all sorts of difficulties that we have had to try to overcome. i tackled them. the state did not have the resources to help build flood walls. only the corps of engineers can do that, so i worked in my career to help my people out of severe difficulties. i am proud of that. but the nation is in difficulty now. we have got to turn our full attention to the fiscal crisis the country is in. so my people are sacrificing, and i thank them for it to help the country through this difficulty. >> do you see a time when earmarks' will be in vogue again? or you will have the ability to do that again? >> i don't see anything on the horizon. >> we are talking a lot about

the fiscal year we are now in. but there are a lot more fights down the line, including raising the debt ceiling coming up. do you expect the negotiations over spending to be subsumed in that. are we going to hear more about that reduction? will you personally be able to vote for a debt limit increase? >> we have a number of big questions converging in time. you have the debt ceiling that is probably going to occur sometime before may. then, you have the budget resolution for fiscal 12 that is forthcoming for the budget committee. then we have the 2011 continuing resolution we're dealing with and all the while, we're doing

hearings on the 2012 budget requests. we have a number of big, budgetary matters that are converging in time around us. whether we want to or not or whether by design or not, those decisions could become interrelated. >> chairman rogers is serving, thank you for being our newsmaker. >> i enjoyed being with you. >> we are going to continue the conversation. what did you hear about the process going forward for a continuing resolution? that is basically going to fund the government until the end of the year, running up against another deadline. >> it sounds like he is locked in, the house republicans are locked into their position and feel like the ball is in mid

democrat's court to come their way. as far as they are concerned, there is no upside in showing their hand with what they're willing to not willing to give up in the way of spending cuts. they want $61 billion in cuts, so vice-president biden has only been to the hill once, but there will have to be more give-and- take before anyone is willing to come off their decision. >> the chairman was not part of the conversations with the vice- president. who will be part of them as they go forward? will the vice-president continue to talk? >> it appears is at the highest levels of government now. these issues are usually settled by appropriators, but it has reached a higher level land looks like the leadership is calling the shots. but it is difficult because i do not see a clear path toward to

how they're going to square the circle on this. >> senate democrats did come out with a plan on this friday, what are they saying? >> today, the senate democrats came out with a rest of the fiscal year budget plan that would cut $6.5 billion from current levels and it looks like senator reid will hold test votes on those, which will likely fail. in an effort to show some kind of middle ground will have to be forged, but that remains elusive. i don't see with chairman rogers saying 61 is an important figure to them, it's not clear how they are going to get through. >> you did not hear a door for negotiations? >> he did not rule it out. he said we have to see what the senate democrats give us. i think the door is ajar, but at

this point, they're not getting any because it's not in their interest in negotiations to say we could live with half of that. the same goes for the policy or writers. they did not say we had to have them but he also did not say they were willing to reconsider how important they were to some of their members. he did bring up the appropriation bills in the context of his answer, so depending on what you want to read into it, up some of these policy riders, the fight to fund health care may end up moving to another discussion about funding the next fiscal year. you have to imagine they -- there's going to be a time when they will be dug into those things. >> who would be to blame if the government were to shut down? government were to shut down?