equal. and we are not guaranteed success but we are guaranteed the right to work hard for success. [applause] they understood that and they understood that succeeding in america was not about how much money was in your bank account but it was about whether you were doing right by your people. doing right by your family. doing right by your neighborhood. doing right by your community. doing right by your country. living out our values, living out our dreams, living out our hopes. that is what america was about. [applause] and so when i look out at this crowd, you inspire me. [applause]

and i have to tell you that the privilege of being your president is something that i thank god for every single day. i said to you in 2008 when i was running, i am not a perfect man. you can ask michelle about that. and i told you i would not be perfect prident will what i did say to you was that i would always tell you what i thought in where i stood and that i would wake up every single morning thinking about you and fighting as hard as i knew how to make your life in a little bit better. [applause]

i know times have been tough. i know change has not always, as fast as you would like. you know what? i have kept that promise. i have thought about you. i have fought preview. i believe in you. and if you still believe in me, if you are willing to stand up with me, and campaign with me, and make phone calls for me and knocked on doors with me, i promise you people finish what we start it. and we will restore that basic bargain that built this country. and we will remind the world just wide is that america is the greatest nation on earth. caught bless you and god bless the united states of america. ♪

♪

>> today it the governor of delaware and gives an overview of the national governors' association. the center for american progress senior fellow discuss this with their schools and united states are challenging their students. washington journal live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. if and watch more of the 1 1/4 national governors' association meeting this weekend here on c- span. our live coverage and -- includes of life panel to lower medicaid costs. later, roundtable discussion about veterans welfare.

sunday that conference wraps up with a look at the way states can support entrepreneur ship. that is live coverage of the association meeting this weekend. >> when you realize that the armies were not coming to is a, there was no escape to the west, that is when he collapsed when he realized it had come to an end and it was only a question of suicide. >> a new look at the second world war with a look at the rise to power to the final part days. >> the main objective was not to be cut -- caught alive by the russians. he was determined to die. have a brown was determined to die with him. >> more on sunday at 8:00.

>> this week, governors from across the country gathered for the one ordered for national governors' association meeting. the chairman of from nebraska and the vice chairman from delaware opened the meeting. they highlighted the challenges facing state governments and they urged president obama and congress to start making tough policy decisions. bob macdonald hosted the event. from the old capitol building in williamsburg, this is about 50 minutes. >> the cradle of democracy and all the other accolades that have been bestowed on our great state, i hope everyone will cut it chance to see why that virginia is still alive and well in the commonwealth. i am delighted to be the governor for this past of governors association conference and i'm delighted to be joined by the chairman from

nebraska and the vice-chairman of delaware. he will be here shortly. this place we were sitting is the old house of burgesses of virginia. literally history has been made. since 16 07, may 13, won a 144 brave men and boys landed at jamestown, va., they began the greatest experiment in freedom and democracy i think the world has ever known. we're excited about that spirit still alive in virginia. and 69 d, the settlers first part of what would become the oldest continuous legislative body in the entire world. that is the general assembly of virginia where they can been in a small church in jamestown, va.

which we can all see tonight. we're excited about the governor's being able to see that. in fact the old port of jamestown was just discovered after 380 years with sophisticated technology. they found the puddings of the old fort. it is literally history being able to the digging and removing artifacts as we speak. it is exciting that the governors are here. this place where you are today is a place that was built back in 17,005, back with the old capital being burned several times. they felt it was a need to move inland away from the river and the mosquitoes. the capitol building was built here and rebuilt in 1747 after several fires. this would have been the place for the house of burgesses and

some of the great names of american history of what actually have sat in this room and participated in democracy. george washington, thomas jefferson, george mason, and others would have been in this building, in this room. the first three governors of virginia, during the time that this was the capital, up until 1779, patrick henry and thomas jefferson. no doubt they would have been in this place where the speaker is sitting right behind us, addressing those assembled burgesses, including washington and others that would set in these plays. the place where patrick henry in 1765 railed against the stamp act. this place in this entire premises, rich in history from

williamsburg to jamestown. this also is the place where i was inaugurated in 2005 as attorney general, the first inauguration since 1779, so it was a real honor to be inaugurated in this place. i could not think of a better place for the governors like the ones that we hear, as well as the one who joined us earlier. i cannot think of a better place for governors who love the country, who love the rich history of america, whatever stayed there from, i know they join me that believing that this is the greatest and prosperous country on work in frigid on earth and we want to do things that are positive and effective anarchic respective states to keep this great land of liberty alive and well. coming back to the roots of jamestown and williamsburg and being inspired by the founders to walk in the footsteps of the founders, something i hope that

it will be a great source of inspiration not only to you but to all the governors. we have a lot of important business to talk about that all of the leaders discussed. everything from health care to energy to sequestration to other issues, the ones we're going to discuss, at every meeting, we have very inspiring speakers. and i know we're going death star with mr. collins to and talk about how we can manage our state's wealth and we have major activities that will take place in jamestown tonight, and williamsburg, the old southern colonial palace to mark, i think it will be very great for governors. a lead for good joining our governors and talking about the issues of the day, the system of federalism that we have in america, the states being the

laboratories of innovation and democracy that our founders decided to be, with the 10th amendment, we will continue to talk about the ways the week of work together work with their stand up to the federal government if they over richard did not give us the flexibility to cover well and hopefully have some positive things for republican and democratic governors joining us. we have this belief that this long and storied history of our country and our long history of experiment in freedom in the american republic it now to under 36 years old, born right here in this place, is one that we all share a great love for and wanted to our small part as governors to keep that torture freedom burning brightly. but that i want to turn it over to david who is the chairman of the national governors' association to make remarks. >> thank you very much. as you're giving those remarks about american history and in

particular virginia, you could have given that when i was on high school and i could've gotten a better grade in class. i want to thank you for that update although it is a few years late. the morning and welcome to the 2012 national meeting. i do want to thank bob macdonald and his wife maureen for this warm welcome to williamsburg. we have a great event last night. we are looking forward to all the events occurring this week and we're appreciative of all you done. i know your wife and my wife have done more work than you when i combine and we appreciate what they have done. i am delighted to be here with a good friend, the delaware governor jack markell. jack and i have known each other for more than a decade and research together as state treasurers. i want to thank him for the support he is giving me this year as the vice chair. we have worked together on a variety of issues in different

capacities. i have great respect for jack and the work he does as the governor of delaware. working with jack and all the governors is one of the things that makes the nga unique organization. provides governors a platform to have a bipartisan candid conversation about developing innovative and a group approach to governing. it has been a privilege to serve as the chair of the mta and i'm proud of our successes and out like to share a couple of those with you. during the last year, we were able to streamline the nga policy process and change the way we do business of the governor's priorities are at the forefront of everything we do including our lobbying efforts on capitol hill. for example, governors worked together on the issue of d- block and urged congress to establish a nationwide conditions effort for our first response is providing them with

a reliable access to the most modern communications technology was and remains a good approach for all governors for the next as implementation. nga recently held meetings with teams from 50 states and territories to help keep policy- makers examine and understand the challenges and opportunities related to implementing the public safety broadband. nga continue to support additional opportunities to force state leadership on broadband build out and governments. following our winter meeting in february, the governor's continued to work together to preserve our air national guard and protected from disproportionate and damaging reductions. we fought hard to be part of the process and to provide a path to meet fiscal responsibilities while protecting the aircraft and personnel list -- necessary to fill the guard bus critical

mission at home and abroad. we're also bringing together a group of states in a prescription drug abuse policy academy. the abuse of prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem in the united states. alabama governor robert bentley and the color of governor -- and the color of a governor are leading this exercise in strategic planning aimed at reducing the abuse. the recent supreme court ruling regarding the new federal health care law remains at the top of governor's mind. even though governors have different opinions on this issue, we will be having many conversations about this issue to throughout the conference. finally, states continue to face fiscal challenges which is why i chose a growing state economies as my chair policy initiative. economic growth and job creation is fundamental to our

success and our future and it is the most important issue facing governors. we want to help the private sector grow and create new job opportunities for our citizens. this past year, we held four regional summit attended by 10 governors and staff for more than 35 states and territories. we heard from the business community and education leaders at each summit. the goal of growing state economies is to provide governors of the policy -- and other policymakers to assess the economic environment in their state and strategies to foster business growth. high-growth businesses are one of the driving forces of the modern global economy and a primary source of job creation, prosperity, and economic competitiveness. a key component of growing state economies focused on how

governors can foster an environment where small business and -- and neutrons can transform into high-growth businesses. today, governors will receive several deliverable from my initiative. the first is a report entitled "a policy framework" which highlights six issues which can be refined to improve the conditions for job creation. the second is a report and accompanying pocket card that i brought with me that provides governors and other state policy makers with better policy directions and strategies to foster business growth. it emphasizes understanding the path away through which a small business becomes a fast-growing firm and the policies that support the transformation. finally, each governor will receive an individual state profile that provides a set of measures and information to help them understand where their jobs are coming from, of who

they're entrepreneurs and business owners are, and what likely sources of business groups are. we will continue to cover this topic throughout the weekend when we hear from author and management educator jim collins and author and professor steven blank. of like to ask a very good friend of mine and someone who has been supportive of our efforts this past year, governor year markell, our vice chair to say a few words. >> good morning, everybody. i want to start by thanking governor heineman for being a tremendous leader and his tremendous focus on state economies. he has, but a number of strategies that i think are helpful to states across the country.

we appreciate your leadership. to governor mcdonald, thank you for hosting this. we love virginia, it is a beautiful state. for a state that came relatively late to the union, this is not bad. [laughter] in case you're wondering, delaware is the first state. thank you so much for your hospitality. one of the things that is so great about being a governor is that the people of very clear expectations about us. it is not about the speeches we give or the rhetoric, it is about whether we're improving the economic climate in our states and whether we're improving schools and whether we are being good stewards of the taxpayers' money. that is what our people expect of us. that does not mean we don't have disagreements. some of them can be strong disagreements and i think that can be very healthy thing. i am thinking specifically, as an example, the affordable care act. regardless of the governor's decision about whether to accept the federal offer to cover millions of additional people for medicare expansion, medicaid does have a state chair and different governors have been looking for different ways to try to find greater efficiencies including reforming

delivery systems, expanding managed care, and handsome program integrity efforts. all that cannot stop the growth of medicaid so we will be talking about innovative strategies to lower medicaid costs during our health and human services committee meeting tomorrow. in addition to that, later this month, the national governors' association will bring together our whole policy advisers, medicaid directors, insurance commissioners, the people who are taking the lead in our states to develop the exchanges and bring in all those folks together to talk about next steps with respect to the implementation of the affordable care act. the affordable care act is really just one part of what will happen to hear this weekend. while it may generate some heat, there is so many other areas of agreement that we want to bring to light including results from our center for best practices, sessions focused on

finding the common threads that bring us together as states and we can be heard by congress. example, governors continue to feel the squeeze on their budgets because of constraints revenues, increased expenditure, pressures from reductions in federal funding, the need to replenish reserves and to provide resources for critical areas that had to be cut during the recession. the education and work force committee will discuss the reauthorization of the elementary and secondary education act, the economic development and commerce committee will focus on agricultural trade. the natural resources committee will talk about the role of states creating a modern electrical grid. the special committee on homeland security and public

safety will discuss veterans issues followed by a discussion on by a surveillance. the people in washington tell us the worst day in our states is better than the best day in washington. i think there's probably a lot of truth to that. washington may be caught in the grips of partisan paralysis but in the state capitals, we really don't have that choice. we've got to figure out ways to keep people working together so we can put our people to work. this weekend is a great platform for us as governors to work together across party lines to create new efforts to push our core priorities for word of better jobs and stronger schools. is a chance to get past the partisan gridlock that is so much defining our nation's capital and work together on solutions that will help drive each of our state's forward. it is great to be here and i'm looking forward to the meeting and i will let governor heineman take the podium and i will be happy to answer some of your questions. >> there is one final comment

about delaware and virginia. in the mid 1860's, there were experiencing difficulties and needed a state to join a union to help them move forward so 1967, neb. join the union to help these two states out. [laughter] we will be glad to try and answer your questions to the best of our ability. yes, sir? >> this morning, several of us in the room join you in a partisan political event as you gave your opening remarks here, you talked about the founding fathers and this hallowed hall and i wonder what you would think and your fellow governors would think that this is more of a bipartisan event but what do think they would think about the state of our politics in this modern age? and is it and evolution of what they practice years ago? >> >markell well that while we have similar challenges as ceo's and leaders of our states,

we also have some broad disagreements. we discuss those openly and some of our governors only meetings. the fact that we have similar jobs is not mean we don't have very different approaches. a lot of it is with respect to policies coming out of washington and how affects all of our state's on health care, energy, taxes, jobs, and regulation. i have been very clear that i think a lot of the policies that have come out of washington have been devastating to virginia on energy, jobs and health care. i have a different approach than governor markell has sent some of the maybe philosophical and some of them may be how the medicaid expansion would be good for his state but i don't think it is good for my state without reform. the debates that took place in this building 236 years or so

ago were pretty vibrant. mr. henry stood up and started talking about the crown in 1765 and his rebellion against the stamp act. he certainly did not mince words with that. my guess is the burgesses, when they were debating, whether we should have revolution, there are strong divisions between the likes of henry and washington on one side and some on the other side that took a modest approach. that is one of the biggest decisions ever taken in the history of the united states. having this discussion here, while we have differences of opinion between republicans and democrats, we also know that the buck stops and the governor's desk. we don't have the luxury of being able to borrow money in the way washington does. we have to balance our budget, 49 of us have that in our constitution. we cannot print money. we have various significant constraints that are put on everything from bar weighing to

other things where we have to make very specific practical decisions. we now have a different approach and philosophy, the specific and pragmatic decisions that every governor has to make on a host of issues are important. we have empirical measures on jobs, on surplus or deficit, on medicaid population, on any number of things we are held directly accountable for by the people of our state. there is a lot of common ground that we will discuss today -- everything from sequestration to energy to some of these wonderful joint initiatives that date and jack have put together in the center for best practices to say what is working in some states that are getting best results and we can tap into that and a state of virginia might not be doing things as well as nebraska or delaware. of course there are differences and we will discuss openly as we always do. there's an awful lot we learn

from each other and i look forward to this. >> in my state, my focus the entire time, nearly eight years that i've been governor, is on education and jobs. the people in my state expect me to get things done. the biggest frustration i have with the federal government is they never make a decision. they never act. we are forced to do it and want to do it every single day. we make those tough calls. we may differ on some of the outcomes or the decisions we make but i know jack and bob and i are willing to make those tough decisions and so are other governors and we would like the federal government to make decisions about the budget. we won't agree with every single one but we need to know that in order to move forward with our own budgets and other decisions. >> can you expand on how the affordable health care act is good for delaware?

what would be like as a governor to potentially be getting money from taxpayers in another state? >> math is matt. we spent a lot of time looking at the map and we also understand that there is a significant cost to do nothing. the way it has been for a long time is that people are not covered, they will get sick and eventually end up in the emergency room and they will get care in the most expensive place possible and that will cost all the rest of us who have insurance. it is called uncompensated care and the cost of that is really quite high. as we look at the expansion and run the spreadsheets -- this is not political. this is a financial analysis of what it means to cover an additional 30,000 people, in our case. what kinds of resources will be

available to us from the federal government and what will it take from delaware tax payers? my view is that we understand it all properly. this could absolutely be a good deal for delaware taxpayers. i understand the other states will make different determinations based on their own reading of the math. for us, as we understand it to this point, this looks to be a good decision. >> can you give us your position on that? if you had to make a decision today to opt in or not, what would you say? greg i would say that medicare expansion without reform is irresponsible. president obama said exactly the same thing in 2009 when he spoke to the senate democratic caucus in d.c. putting more money into a system that already is somewhat broken does not make sense. i think we have all talked to secretary sibelius and others

of the need to do things in maintenance of effort and waivers in certain areas and the lack of flexibility that the states have an more abilities to have managed care and be creative and entrepreneurialism our states to save money and set the program the way it works for us. we have been denied that so i don't think that i can make a decision right now. i wrote a letter that went wednesday to the president and secretary and ask about 30 questions on exchanges and medicaid expansion. it is a 3000-page bill and people are still trying to figure it out. until we get more information from washington on some of these bags, it is hard to make a decision. there were two things that came out of the court's decision that were not fully expected. one was that the decision would be made on the fact that it was a tax. we thought it would be on the side of the commerce clause. secondly, the 7-2 ruling that

the court would say that it is not proper to penalize states to refuse to expand the medicaid program, not only deprive them of that additional money, but to penalize them with their existing medicate based, that creates new options. the original act was very punitive for stays that did not expand medicaid. this now gives some options which a don't think a lot of us expected to be part of that decision. it is about 10 days past than and the secretary has announced new time lines and has given us two years to apply for level one or level two for exchanges and their host of issues about medicaid expansions. the nga just until letter of with five or six questions that we want to have answered. i have a number of other ones i propose. i don't think is responsible from -- for my state to make a decision now because there's more to be done. >> one place where want to

comment -- i agree with governor mcdonnell that the additional reforms are important but i also don't believe those additional reforms have to come from the federal government. we have to face the fact that in our state and in the country, we've got to move away from what has become a sick care system where providers and facilities are basically paid based on how many procedures they do and we've got to move toward a health care system where providers are rewarded basin whether or not they keep people healthy. that is not something that has to happen at the federal level. each state can come up with their own plan to do that. there is legislation now in massachusetts the governor patrick is working on to get away from the fee-for-service system and we're looking at that carefully and we have a

couple pilots in delaware. in my view based on our understanding so far, the medicaid expansion is the right thing to do for delaware. we will have to continue to work to move away from the sick care system toward a health care system. >> let me just add to that a little bit -- you are hearing a great discussion and what it means ultimately is there will be 50 different states solutions. i respect the fact that jack is going one way and bob is going another way and we will probably go slightly different late in the sense that in nebraska, we believe is on funded medicaid expansion will result in cuts to public school funding, to higher education and increased taxes and i am opposed to that. i agree with jack that we need to focus, for example, on prevention, will miss, and out comes. i hope everybody in this room got one, a pedometer to keep track of your steps every single day. as part of nebraska, we started well as program three years ago and the people, all of us are part of the wellness program have to do this every single day.

our premiums have gone up less than 2% per year for the last three years. we need electronic medical system in this country like we have an electronic financial system. we need greater hospital transparency. let's put out the cost of routine operations on the internet for every hospital in the country so consumers can compare. good, i can step out. >> it is interesting to hear you talk and a clinical sense about how you will discuss all these issues. nothing is as compelling this year as the aca and it is timely and it occurs not only after the supreme court ruling but in the middle of a presidential campaign that certain people on this stage could be front-line players in. [laughter] talk a little --

>> from this morning, the nga when you do not have the challenge of a presidential campaign. >> every year is a hybrid charged year. it is probably not a great thing for the country but what we have to do, but i am committed to doing as best i can is to keep the focus on what we as governors can do. this is not a party convention for either party and i think -- their reason the taxpayers of delaware want me to come here is to learn from other states who may have ideas or maybe implementing initiatives that we can learn from in delaware. perhaps we are doing things in delaware that others can learn from as well.

the politics will be " the politics are. gov. pete: i have fundamentally different approaches to the expansions of mellon debt -- government donilon i have fundamentally different approaches to the expansion of medicaid. i'm going to listen to what he has to say. in the end, we are looking at this issue very differently. the other governor said, there could be different solutions here. the impact of the presidential campaign does not enter this. >> if i could, just briefly. we may have some disagreements on this. jack kony had been on panels together, china and other, a lot of broad agreements. we talked about jobs where we have similarity in our approaches and things. the corporation laws and so forth, we need emulate that in

virginia. piquancy with delaware and the breast is doing. this is where we can truly learn from the best things going on in other states and incorporate them into our states. the impact of the president to raise cannot be overlooked. we also have 12 governor's races. we will have some difference of opinion. i have that other job as chairman of the our g-8. -- rga. we talk about things that we are working on in virginia. it is not all about conflict. it is about working and learning from each other. the president to rise does impact health-care decision because i do not want to spend taxpayer money, either federal or state, in building an exchange or expanding a program that may look dramatically different in six months. governor romney has said day one i am going to give the states broad waivers from obamacare.

day one, a bill on repealed and replaced. one thing from me practically is that i do not think i can look the taxpayers of virginia in the eye and say i am spending your money building and exchange i might not need. the deadline of two more years, i do not think that we are on a time crunch. but there is no question that we're going have disagreements about a should be the government -- the president of the united states, but there is not -- but they're still alive that we can work together on. >> the sequestration part. you and other republicans have sought to put the blame on his shoulders. >> i say a pox on all houses and all parties. but we do not -- we cannot blame

the legislature. we have to take responsibility. >> many republicans voted for this. >> it is a pox on all houses. but the president's insisted the split pea 5050. this is an area where there will be democratic governors and the last couple of days to have a lot of defense staff in their states. they have the same concerns that i get, that the $600 billion may weaken the united states military. secretary panetta said he is concerned about it. number two, with no real plan on how that will be implemented from the department of defense, what are the companies that are great citizens in virginia, lockheed martin and others, how are they supposed act? there is a lot of uncertainty

and unpredictability which is devastating for the military if you cannot begin to predict the next weapons system and whether research and development money will go, and how the business -- and how the bases will be aligned. there is concerned with is because this is really not supposed to go into effect. it is supposed to put pressure on everyone. but we're five months away from january 1. i do not see one sign in congress right now that they will do anything from now until november 1, which is very concerning. it is certainly something that i intend to bring up. i've talked with governors on both sides of the aisle. i say that the president ultimately drives the budget. he put forth a budget this year -- governors, president, executive branch is responsible for drafting the budget and we needed to better than a sequestration. >> i thought was a very good

promise to the question. >> i agree, a pox on all houses. >> it goes back to what i said earlier. the president and congress did act. bob makes decisions every day. jack makes decisions every day, so does every governor in america. it is time for the federal government to start acting in making tough decisions. yes, sir. jetting a lot of uncertainty in that context. you have to run different sides of the presidential race. the utility challenge by the decisions to be made? -- is that impact in the policy- making in the states. i there other areas? >> certainly always an issue. for every state, we have a

presidential election every four years. it is important that every american will turn out and voted make a personal decision. i support governor romney because i believe we need to focus on jobs. the unemployment rate has been above 8% for over 40 months. in nebraska, we have the second lowest unemployment rate, 3.9%. if we had that unemployment rate of america, we would all be moving forward. again, i will come back to -- you know what i would prefer? the president and the congress to make a few tough decisions and maybe go on vacation for couple of years. >> i like that. >> the question about uncertainty as a very good one. and maybe for different reasons. that has to do with -- certainly the uncertainty makes it difficult for us as governors. but the uncertainty make its -- makes it difficult for business

executives deciding to make investments. we've heard about the hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of dollars sitting in corporations around the country and they are not certain about which way the decisions will go in washington. when that money gets out, it will be good for all of us. i am supporting the president. i think he has -- first of all, we have had 28 straight months of job growth. there is important stuff on jobs, including signing the jobs act and focusing on export promotion. foreign direct investment. >> if let's try to get to a few more questions. we're having too much fun, jody. >> a question for you. president obama is in town. would you welcome him? would you welcome him to come to

talk about issues regarding health care? >> here? that is up to the chairman. >> we are always glad that the commander in chief here in town. i have the honor of welcoming him several times at a couple things. to be honest, there's a lot of common ground and those issues between what washington is trying to do and what we're trying to do. ironically he has done some good opposition research. he has gone to the two places where i live. i appreciate him going to my old homes. i note the people there and i know what they are concerned about. they're concerned about jobs and debt and deficit and energy and getting the greatest country on earth back to work and out of debt. i hope that he talks about those issues, undoubtedly things that he will say about how we get there will be different than our

you in virginia, 5.6% unemployment and three surpluses and a row. we've got some good ideas on how to get there. this is what democracy is all about. this is what happened to the 36 years ago, people talking about very different ideas, hopefully with this and altman called paul auster -- more prosperity in liberty in choices for the people but very different ideas. i earned sharpens iron. the debate between people sharpens the idea and ultimately, with one solution. the majority vote, that is what our system is all about. yes, i welcome the president here. of course i welcome mitt romney a little more. whether he comes here and speaks here is up to the chairman. >> next question. i want to get to someone who is not ask a question. >> we be more favorable on

expansion? could you elaborate on what you are looking for? and you want more flexibility in your existing plants? >> the me talk about what i prefer -- more flexibility and medicaid. i was the federal government would allow every state to determine the eligibility and benefits. what i need to do in nebraska is different than what bop wants to do in virginia and jack wants to do in delaware, let alone the york, massachusetts, or california. that is the first death. additionally, i would like to see copays exist in our medicaid system so that their skin in the game. that would be very helpful. those are two ideas, for example. >> the republican governors association created a medicaid reform blueprint last august. we said that to the president and we're still waiting for the answer.

we sent to others in congress right before the debt committee was meeting, some ideas that we had that were policy based from a number or medicaid directors around will country, helping us put that together. rga.org, it is still there and we're continuing to refer to that and there are other ideas. i and poor -- there are many things that can be done apart from anything the federal government does that are unique to our own states the on everything from revising health care to the scope of practice and, you remember we have done that program and we continue to look at states solutions. all to milly everything from fuel eligibles -- dual eligibles to things that the governor mentioned.

maintenance of effort and things like that. unless we get some federal relief, we are not good to be able to do some other reforms that need to be done. >> and i think that is actually a very good question and i think i have found interesting two years ago when the governors met with the president, democrat and republicans alike, he said to us at the white house, i am hearing a request for more flexibility around medicaid. the specific. in our experience is that he has worked with us as governors of both parties. we need to have these conversations and as the governor said, we need to continue to focus on things that we do an hour and states regardless of what the federal government does. >> if all the governors were together, i bet we could find a solution. beaches which the congress and the president would do that. >> would it be coercive with the

loss of medicaid money, that surprised a lot of governors. of the governor's going to be speaking about what the thick and challenge the strings that are routinely attached to other federal aid? >> i would not be surprised have a conversation about that. did any areas particularly the chief think? >> across every subject matter from the federal government. every governor would like less strings attached. too often the federal government has one-size-fits-all policies that they are developed for big cities that certainly do not apply to states like delaware and nebraska. again, more flexibility that we could have, i understand that they will impose certain restrictions and regulations. but more flexibility we need. >> this is something that is true of the state level as well as the federal level. a number of states including my own priscilla lodge regulatory reform initiatives. we're having our state agencies that issue state regulations are required to have a public meeting in each of our counties

for individuals and businesses can come and let them know about specific regulations that are a problem for them. we can look and see if we can get rid of them. to their credit, another -- a number of cabinet secretaries and governors have done the same thing. as an example, when the governors gathered this year with the president is someone asked about relief with respect to the efta. the president's war response was quite responsive. secretary duncan would be here today. he was the most flexible than the world except for high expectations for students. we won a similar conversation with each of these agencies. >> a couple more questions. >> going back to the question about obama, was he invited and one former another?

-- in one form or another? >> and neither he or governor romney were invited. we always invite the president the united states to our meeting in washington, d.c. >> the conversation about medicaid expansion. are you try to seek some kind of bipartisan statement that would be paid to the administration and congress, or what you hope to come out of those discussions? >> mckenzie from the conversation already, i would not expect any statement coming from the nga. we are trying to have a whole series of questions that we need answered. we need new federal guidance from the department of health and human services as a result of the new supreme court decision. a number of governors have already sent questions to the secretary. i hope we can coalesce around a series of issues that we know we

need more information before we make final decisions. many of us would like to know exactly what would be the federal-state partnership if we move forward on an exchange? how would that work exactly? how much with a fund versus what we would? the interface and medicaid programs? we're trying to determine the unknowns >> who was the final question? although in the back. -- all the way in the back. >> they are saying that governor romney is timed in bain capital should not be part of the records and were you there? what i said was clearly he was employed for 15 years at bain

capital. what he did as the manager certainly is fair game. i said that record is about 120,000 new jobs, investments and start of countries, and the freedom to succeed or fail. sometimes you do but when you are in business. that is the story of the american dream and the free enterprise system. it is absolutely wrong and it should not be part of this and tremendously disingenuous on the part of the administration and their team in this campaign to save that the things that happened after mitt romney left bank capital, as a managing director when he went to rescue the olympics and ran the best olympics in the history of the program, 2002, salt lake city, and to treat those things -- to agree that there was any policy that was promoted outsourcing, that is not fair. that is not honest. if you've got those things on the ad, he needs to pull them. that is what i said. i tell you what -- again, i of

lived in these couple of communities from the question before. and you know what? they're generally not concerned about paying capital. they are concerned about -- bain capital. aboutren't concerned increasing taxes, obamacare, or tax increases now that will take place for anyone over 250,000, i think many small businesses that concerned about energy policy. the policies of the epa in the administration have been devastating to the coal and natural gas and nuclear and offshore industries in virginia. my brodeur report was support. the president to pick on the record. just tell the truth. the washington post and quoting theg, i'm washington post. both of them that said that it

is not true. do not part -- but that is part of his record. but secondly, and the president said this ferry well when he was campaigning in 2008. he said, if you do not have the record to run on, then you try to play small ball and scare people about the opponent and that is exactly what he is doing, exactly what he said not to do in 2007. talk about that, but jack and i and david all agree on this. the biggest decision facing the country right now is how to get rid of the crushing unemployment depriving the american dream of 25 million people. and how we get the greatest american -- the greatest country on earth it growing, how we get a handle around that. and there is bipartisan blame for that for 30 years. every president but bill clinton has racked up the national debt. this president has done more than any other president. we have to have the leadership

to get us out of that. >> i will be brief. >> jack was the rebuttal. >> number one, bain capital is fair game. it romney's record as governor of massachusetts is fair game and it was not a good record when it comes to job creation. number three, take a look. you have a president who is trying to make sure that is focused on building the middle class and on a tax policy that will help the middle class. and we can have a very long -- it is not the point of this session but we look forward as governors under the leadership of the governor is figuring out how we as governors can help drive our own states for. >> let me just conclude all of this -- and now you're focused on 2012. but let me let you down a little secret -- i am working with these guys for a bipartisan team

who will run for president. i do not know who will be at the top of the ticket. i will be the chief of staff. thank you very much. >> coming up, next your calls on washington journal. followed by steny hoyer talking about u.s. manufacturing and the economy and then we will bring new two national governors' secession panels. the first will discuss lowering medicaid costs at 10:30 a.m. eastern, and the second will be veterans issues it to 30 a.m. eastern. -- to 30 p.m. eastern. >> when he realized that these omni's turbinate of farmers were not coming to his aid. -- these remnants of all armies

were not coming to his aid, that is when he collapsed and p l highs that it would come to an in in a was only a question of suicide. >> a new look at the second world war from eight of hitler's rise to power, to his dark chaotic final days. and he made the decision not to be captured alive by the russian parity was afraid of being paraded through moscow and a cage and being spat at it ridicule. so he was determined to die. eva braun was determined to die with him. >> more at sunday at 8:00 on c- span. >> next, at 7:45 a.m. eastern, and jack martell gives his overview of the 104th national governors' association meeting this week. at 820 the 2012 presidential campaign. in our final hour, a look at where