, there are many opportunities between now and when the final report is developed. starting from my right, our incredible treasure. [applause] national finance chair. [applause] our amazing secretary, the mayor of the city of baltimore. [applause] the incomparable donna, who is the vice chair for voter registration of dissipation. [applause] -- and participation. and our vice chair, the chair of the new hampshire democratic party, who also is the leader of leaders. [applause] one of our vice chairs and has also been reelected as the chair of the labor council for the dnc. [applause]

and we have a special edition this morning. i went to give him it is thanks for his time and dedication in helping to shape the task force is luminary regulations along with the entire task force will i introduce in a moment. the governor of the great state of kentucky has joined us is morning as well. [applause] thank you so much. i appreciate that acknowledgment and round of applause that you're given them. i know that everyone is as excited as i am about last week's announcement that are 2016 national convention will be in the beautiful city of philadelphia, the city of love. this says briefly, but since we -- in addition to donna and others -- maybe it wasn't so great. we heard from him yesterday, but

i have asked him to take some time today at our meeting to tell us and give us a little glimpse at we have look forward to with the lid off in 2016 as we move in that direction. since being elected mayor in 2008, he has vigorously managed city government to the worst recession since the great depression by maintaining core services and reducing the city spending, most notably closing at $2.4 billion gap in the five-year plan without colonizing a single police officer, fire officer, sanitation, or health worker. that is an impressive congressman. [applause] he is been committed to public service since his youth in west philadelphia. prior to his election as mayor, he served for almost 15 years on the philadelphia city council. he is a graduate of the wharton school at the university of pennsylvania. he is a fellow member of the democratic national committee very pleased when welcoming the mayor of the city where it --

the mayor of philadelphia. [applause] >> good morning. madam chair, thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to address this incredible democratic national committee and this meeting this morning. it is truly a great honor but to start what i would like to do is ask that we join in cheering on and supporting our great chair, who will leave us -- lead us to an incredible between

2016. the work that she is that provide financial security for the dnc, to focus on issues related to our challenges going forward, while i think the governor for his work in the task force, re-examining challenges from the past that will help us as we move this party forward, as we move our nation forward, and for all of that, she is our great leader. she is tough. she is strong. she is focus. she gets the job done. for all of that and so much more would you pleas recognize and maybe come to our feet to recognize our great him a and the leader that she is. [applause] she has told you to sit down. to my friend and colleague in

the work of mayors, our secretary, stephanie rawlings, who i get to brag on just a little bit as well. she is too shy to mention it. in a few months, in june, in san francisco, as i am a past president of the u.s. conference of mayors, i've had the opportunity to work with her at a variety of levels, but she is also a leader as she is here at the dnc. in june and some cisco this year, she will become the first african-american woman president of the u.s. conference of mayors. we could not be more proud and more excited for her leadership as well. [applause] some strong women leaders around

here. some get nervous about strong women leaders. well, you might want to get used to that. [applause] madam chair, i'll leave it at that. to all of the officers here on the dais, and certainly as she introduced me yesterday, as the chair said, the one, the only, donna brazil, but our lord leaders here on the dais, recognize the leadership team of the dnc. [applause] lastly, our great ceo. [applause] we know as leaders for all the air time that we get, we don't

do this work by ourselves. it really is the folks on staff making things happen, whether for the chair and all the folks who work with the chair amy and her entire team, and the group that went all across united states of america seeing these great cities. we thank you for your work. speaking of those cities, phoenix, birmingham, columbus, and new york city, recognize them and their effort and their commitment and participation to this process. [applause] on a very personal level, my first convention was in 1992 in new york city. i was then a bill clinton -- when iran, polk said, why in the world would you become a delegate for a little-known governor in a poor state in the united states of america, who has no chance of winning

whatsoever. i said, well, that's fine. i will be a clinton delegate. i think you know the rest of that story. i have been a clinton delegate every time there was a clinton on the ballot, so we will see how that goes. we are excited. we are thrilled. madam chair and all the folks involved, we are honored, the city of philadelphia, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, we are honored to be the host city for 2016. as i mentioned the other day having last hosted the democrats in 1948, we have been prepared and excited for some time for this opportunity. philadelphia is the largest city in america with an african-american mayor. we will and the chair has insisted, we will have an economically inclusive convention in the city of philadelphia.

every opportunity, to include the incredible diversity of our city and our nation, we will look for those opportunities in the economics of what happens in the democratic national convention. we were also becoming to one of the diverse cities and united states of america by race, by age, by sexual preference, and every other measure philadelphia truly is a microcosm of the united states of america. you know our history, but let me just mention it. located on the eastern seaboard of the time, the second largest city in the greatest empire philadelphia was a safe port in a contentious political storm as the american colonist level towards the decision to break free from tyranny. this is where our nation's forefathers gathered and determine what form of new government we should have and how it should work. philadelphia helped to define what we now know as democracy in the united states of america.

philadelphia hosted the first and second continental congress, declaration of independence, the u.s. constitution, where our foreclosures also said that everyone should have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. isn't that what we are really all about 200 plus years later as democrats? people should be able to enjoy their lives liberty when they are, and be able to pursue their happiness. that is what we have been doing for hundreds of years, and we need to stay focused on that mission. there is always of course a lot of monday morning quarterbacking about what happened, which should've happened, what did we do, what didn't we do, and some may have lost a little site of who we have been and where we have been, of what were trying to do today. some have may let fear dictate their actions instead of principle. you know we can't and won't do

that in 2015 or 2016 or any years going forward. we are the party of the middle class, not just those who are in it today, but those who struggle daily, working two jobs, putting kids through school, trying to get their own educational opportunities, struggling to get into the middle class themselves. in philadelphia, we have taken many of those steps for you heard the president remind us of his comment last year at the state of the union that it was time to give america a race -- raise. i was struck by the president's words that night. literally, that night i sent a message to my team that it was time for us to at least give those who work for contractors it was time within my power to give them a race. -- raise.

and i signed an executive order immediately -- [applause] -- assigned an executive order immediately doing those who work as contractors for the city of philadelphia to raise of $10.88 an hour. and then automatically raising the register $12 an hour with the consumer price index that every january 1 will get a raise. it is time to give america a race -- raise. [applause] fisher coincidence, but worth noting, the just last week on the same day that a bill was introduced in the congress to give paid sick leave across the country, i had the great pleasure of signing a paid sick leave built in philadelphia at city hall that we strongly supported with our philadelphia city council. we can do these

things. this is who we are it is what we are about. we remember the great recession, some said let auto fail. the president said, no. auto discovering back. something we cannot get health care. the presidents and we will. millions of americans have health care all across united states of america. we put thousands and millions of people to work with an economic recovery program of $800 billion, when not one republican in the house and only three in the senate actually supported it. it was a month into the presidents presidency when we heard all about the environment are we excited, goodbye yeah let's support the first black president, and a month later known consent up for americans but democrats all across the united states of america. that is what we do. [applause] with a party of labor, with a

party of labor. i mentioned on friday night at our party and today, yesterday i saw randy weingartner, recognize all labor in the house with this is morning. [applause] philadelphia is a city with the strongest lgbt protection laws and united states of america and we continue to strive to make sure that every but he understands that who you love and whose in your life is your business and there's no credit moment for me than when finally the doma law was struck on a pennsylvania. as mayor, i get a merry couples. now i say when i married a same-sex couples, and now with the authority vested in me, finally, i pronounce you wife and wife, husband and husband, coupling couple, whoever it is

you want to be, because everybody should have the rights and privileges in the united states of america. [applause] and so lastly, we have an incredible history lesson given to us this morning, the black caucus breakfast. chairman butterfield really needs to take what he did this morning and every child, black, white, green, yellow purple should see and hear what chairman butterfield said. i will be nowhere near as eloquent as him. i will repeat the one thing i did say this morning. if you have not seen the movie, selma, you want to see the movie selma. this is the 50th anniversary of an incredible struggle in america for voting rights, civil rights, human rights.

the dogs, the hoses, the lynchings, the abuse, the oppression, folks walked 54 miles from soma to montgomery. what i say to my folks back home is that i can't get some of you to walk five minutes out of your house to a polling place to uphold the rights that people suffered and died to give you the opportunity to exercise your franchise. no one can stay home on election day. it is a disgrace and an insult to the memory of dr. martin luther king jr., the active work today of john lewis and so many others across united states of america, because we know that when we vote, we win. as democrats. when we vote, we win.

we need to make sure that everyone is not only registered to vote, that's a great part but if you're registered and don't go to the polls, it just doesn't matter. we will give folks something to vote for. we will give folks something to be excited about. we have demonstrated what we can do when were active, when were energized, engaged we get things done. regardless of our status in the congress, we will fight these fights because they are the right fights to fight for americans all across the united states of america. and so i city you the democratic party has made history time and time and time again. we are expecting history to be made one more time in philadelphia in 2016. it is our full expectation that not only will the democratic nominee come out of philadelphia, but that nominee

will create history by having 12 straight years of democrats in the white house because -- [applause] -- because the road to 1600 pennsylvania avenue comes right through philadelphia pennsylvania. god bless you democrats. let's go out and win election. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you so much. thank you. we are also excited that philadelphia will host our convention and we look forward to working with you and your host committee and the people of philadelphia over the next 18 months.

as donna eloquently reminded us, next month marks the 50th anniversary of the selma to montgomery march. it was a peak of the modern civil rights movement. the courage of those civil rights marchers is something we recognize and hope to honor every day by the work that we do as democrats. join me and turn your attention to the screen for a video commemorating this historic moment and highlighting the importance of protecting the right to vote. [video clip]

[inaudible] [laughter] [applause]

caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] ♪ >> what does a vote mean? why do we march for it? why do we fight for it? it has been 50 years since we march from selma to montgomery, 50 years since we passed the voting rights act. our fight let us through bloody sunday to the halls of washington. the fight continues today across our country, that right to vote that we fought for, that we march for, that some died for is it risked. our right to vote is still the

continuing struggle of thousands of men and women. we must not forget our past. we must continue the struggle for every american in our democracy. as dr. king said, we marched and we march on poverty, and we continue our triumph of march until the realization of the american dream. [applause] >> that was an inspirational video. members of the dnc, and fights we engage in to make sure that we cannot i protect the rights to vote and expanded, isn't buying for me every single day could we have come a long way, but the fight clearly continues for the right vote. our next item of business today is a report on the resolutions

committee. the chair will now recognize the cochair of the resolutions committee. [applause] >> thank you, madam chair. the resolutions committee met last evening at 6:00 p.m. to consider 21 resolutions. they were a combination of message and commander of resolutions which have all been e-mailed to you this morning. they are in your inbox. in addition to the resolutions that we pass, that was an additional resolution of the executive committee submitted by dnc vice chair, donna brazil, it was a resolution on the right to vote amendment, adding a right to vote amendment to the u.s. constitution. we are only one of 11 democracies in the world that does not have a federal guarantee of the right to vote.

that we passed an executive committee and that goes into the package as well. resolutions that the committee passed included a resolution highlighting president obama and democrats economic a conference, a resolution on expanding economic opportunity for women and families, resolution in support of comprehensive immigration reform and the right of the president to use the executive order -- power to stay deportations, a resolution recognizing blackish to month on the 50th anniversary of bloody sunday resolution showing that democrats stand with the people of france, who lost lives tragically when terrorists attacked a french satiric weekly in a kosher market. resolution recognizing lunar new year resolution reaffirming our

commitment to state parties, which incidentally have the most cosponsors of any resolution i've ever seen, resolution -- [applause] -- supporting health care, education for our service members, and then some commemorative resolutions, one recognizing the life and career of former new york governor mario cuomo, his daughter maria is here with us today. i would like to ask her to be recognized if you would. [applause] we have a resolution can renting the life and legacy of former boston mayor, and a resolution honoring the life and career of our d.c. mayor marion berry. we also passed a resolution urging democrats on all levels to support the right of the district of columbia to full statehood. thank you. [applause] i urge adoption of these

resolutions. >> you can never take the staffer at of the girl. thank you so much. that is the report of the resolutions committee. is there a motion? is there a second? all those in favor. motion carries. the committee's report of the resolution committee is adopted. to thank all the committee members for their hard work. thank you. [applause] i have spoken to many of you this weekend about the democratic victory task force. i don't want to feel -- steal his thunder and give too much away, because we have a great privilege of hearing from him this morning as he delivers the

task forces for luminary findings. it has been wonderful though working with and getting to know the governor over conference calls and hours of meetings, and there were moments during the process when we work completing each other sentences. i am honored to be his opening act this morning. i'm going to tell you, this morning were going to hear some tough love. frankly, we need to hear it. i strongly believe that we have to look back in order to move forward. we cannot be too proud to learn. i love this party. i love standing up and saying, i am a democrat. our passion for this party only gets it so far. we cannot just say we are democrats. we need to do a better job of telling people's our stories telling them why were democrats. and my family's dinner table, i remove rescue my parents, why

they were democrats. their answer was clear. because democrats care about people, because our government has the ability to affect real change in people's lives, as a jewish family, as good citizens in the society, we believe that it is part of our responsibility to help others. we even have a term for it in my community, repairing the world. those kitchen table conversations became a template of who i am at my core. i never looked back. i knew i was a democrat. i am sure that for many of you it is the same. i wonder how many people in this room live in a home where photographs of fdr and jfk running on the all right next to the photos of grandma and grandpa. maybe even above them. you all know what i'm talking about. you also know what motivates you to knock on the doors, make the phone calls too, -- to pull out

your checkbook. something made you drag yourself out of the bed into a hold -- hotel conference room. seriously, i know all of you know that i'm talking about, and i know what i'm fighting for. i know why i am a democrat. my parents helped lay the groundwork for me, but as an adult, there are two experiences. one is exhilarating, and the other devastating. i associate those with being a democrat. the first was having children. even before i have my kids, i knew i wanted to bh urban's advocate in government. as a parent relying on the general intuition that children are the most vulnerable members of our society is not the same as actually being a parent.

since having children of my own it is some was impossible for me to make any policy or political decision without thinking about how what we do now will shape the being a mother has brought my mission into sharper focus. understanding not only the threats we have to protect our children from but also the opportunities we want to be sure are open for them. the other experience reminds me why i am a democrat was being diagnosed with breast cancer. at a time when you want to be strong for yourself and for others, the greatest source of joy in your life, all of a sudden become the triggers of your deepest fears. you cannot help but think of the baseball games graduations weddings you might miss.

you wonder how many anniversaries you have left. sorry. even now, celebrating my 24th wedding anniversary earlier this week -- [applause] healthy and cancer free. [applause] i can only imagine what would've happened if in 2007 i was one of the tens of millions of americans who were uninsured or underinsured. how long would it have taken for me to know that the lump i found was breast-cancer? when would i have decided it was worth the expense to see a doctor? how would i afford care without insurance?

why am i a democrat? because thanks to democrats more americans today have access to quality, affordable health care. [applause] they don't have to make those decisions. why am i a democrat? because thanks to democrats, it is more likely that my children, our children will enter a workforce where women make equal pay. a society that does not discriminate on the basis of who someone loves. thanks to democrats dreamers will get their shot to pursue the american dream. [applause] women can make our own health care decisions and we just might have a chance of tackling climate change before it is too late. [applause] as democrats, we know all these values come reality in one place, the ballot box.

the last several midterm elections have shown the democratic party two things. americans overwhelmingly support the people and issues that the democratic party fights for a daily basis. we have seen voters support initiatives and legislation to raise the minimum wage, support workers rights and back amendments guaranteeing the right to vote. at the core, the democratic party is our belief in equality for all. in midterm elections, democratic incumbents and candidates have suffered losses at all levels of government. since 2008, we have lost 69 seats in the u.s. house. 13 in the u.s. senate. 900 and 10 state legislative seats and 30 legislative chambers. 11 governorships. enough is enough.

enough is enough. in november, i assembled a task force to conduct an assessment of the democratic party's role in recent elections. mission is simple, examine the last several election cycles. how we can improve the long-term strength of the national democratic already. the task force has digested a great deal of information since november. the task force met with experts in a variety of categories. each member of the task force has been assigned to meet with groups in their fields of expertise including elected officials come a campaign managers, consultants, academics and activists and voters in every state. i have been so proud and

thrilled about the earnestness and commitment with which the members have undertaken this assignment. join me in thanking them. thank them so much. [applause] i am going to introduce them when i introduce the governor for his remarks. they have been listening and speaking with arrived -- a variety of -- they will continue working hard until there renditions are finalized in june. the dnc conducted a postelection poll. the association of state ever traffic chairs -- democratic chairs conducted a survey in each of their committees. we will continue to work together. the work has reached into all 50 states to look at what it takes to build run and win political campaigns in america.

the bottom line of looking need to do is educate people who are not in this room. go owners -- donors, community leaders and we need to do it through every channel possible. as the dnc it is our responsibility to be the vehicle which enables our party committees to take our values, our polic beliefs to voters. the dnc has been busy making the transition from the 2014 to the 2016 election cycle. we will elect a democrat as the 45th president of the united states of america. [applause] a few things we have been up to. in 2014, the dnc test data and technology team continued to build on the tall set from the obama campaign's. our teams offered training and assistance so that each tool we

developed was used to its fullest potential and was deployed up and down the ballot. we have compiled ada from more than a decade of campaigns including volunteer history. even the smallest campaign had access to the same technology and analytics tools climate -- pioneered by the obama campaigns. the dnc has developed analytics platforms to synthesize and enrich our voter targeting tools and processes. the dnc's data and technology programs were worth millions of dollars in savings to party committees. all of this is designed to get more people out to vote. later this year, we will recognize the 50th anniversary of selma and the voting rights act. since the support desk -- we have watched republicans seize every opportunity to curtail voting rights across the country

. they have pushed voter id laws. the democratic party has long defended the right to vote. last year, a shift for us towards a more proactive water expansion mission to ensure that every eligible voter is registered, every registered voter is able to vote and that every vote is accurately counted. that has been done under the leadership of donna brazil. [applause] the dnc has worked with our state parties to develop voter expansion programs including dedicated voter expansion staff in more than two dozen states. last cycle we recruited him a trained and mobilized more than 30,000 volunteers. and more than 3000 poll workers. the dnc has made a concerted effort to engage constituencies through a variety of avenues.

our constituency department under reverend regina thomas continues to work with our caucuses to execute plans to robust -- mobilize members of the democratic base. a media campaign to reach african americans, hispanics and women voters. the diversity of our supporters and our ideals. we must do a better job of ensuring that each of our supporters and voters feel that they are a welcome member of an accessible party. this is an important issue that we as democrats care deeply about and we must continue to look for new and innovative ways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into our party and make sure they feel welcome and included and embedded for the top of our party to the bottom.

our chief diversity officer has worked every day to ensure that the party's business practices and commitments with up -- live up to our expectations. the dnc has launched five initiatives to ensure that we reflect the diversity of our party and nation as a whole. improve the party's diverse contracting party -- processes. continue to grow training programs. ensure that diversity policies are followed. improved diverse hiring practices monitoring senior and general staff in identifying more diversity in our internship opportunities. work with our state partners to grow diversity by sharing best

practices and helping develop state specific expectations and goals. the strategies, tactics and tools of the party our health -- are to help us spread the democratic message. middle-class economics works. six years ago, president obama inherited an economy that had been losing 750,000 jobs a month. the housing bubble had burst in the auto industry was in danger of collapsing. under democratic leadership we experienced our 59th straight month of private sector job growth. that is a remarkable achievement. pay and benefits rose in 2014 by the most in six years. the auto industry is thriving and millions more americans have access to affordable health care . it is our responsibility to fight for families in the middle class.

the trickle-down economics of republicans has failed again and again. which will, may have tried to take credit for our success but make no mistake, every republican tony 16 contender wants to go back to the same economic policies that have failed in the past. they want to stack the deck in favor of millionaires and corporations. let's take a look at their candidates so you can see how clear this is. first, the governors. jed the busbush, it has always been and always will be what is best for him. he slashed taxes by billions, largely benefiting the wealthy. when his brother was president jeb backed his plan to privatize

social security. jeb bush is the heir to george bush's record. chris christie likes to think of himself as a straight talker. he is happy to tell you all about it. here is some straight talk he will not like. his administration has been modeled on his leadership style dysfunction, it in competence. his failed leadership has driven new jersey's economy over a fiscal cliff, leaving the middle class to fall further behind. scott walker is talking about bringing wisconsin to washington. the fact is he has already brought the worst of washington's divisiveness to wisconsin. in contentious and ideological fights.

walker's latest republican -- walker is the latest republican to stumble during a trip to london where he dodged tough questions like his views on evolution. he sat silent when he was -- he refused to condemn when rui giuliani -- rudy giuliani directly said that our president questioned the president ross -- the president's patriotism. rick perry's biggest liability is that in his 14 years as governor to texas -- two texas is emerged. one for the working families and very poor that have to suffer the suck consequences of his policies.

the consequences. under bobby jindal's watch, louisiana is facing a budget shortfall. polls show he is one of the least popular governors in the country. if you can't govern your state how can you be expected to govern the country? it is not like senators are any better. ted cruz has essentially been the de facto leader of the gop for more than a year and look at how that has turned out. cruz is the embodiment of what is wrong with the republican party. opposition and obstruction when it comes to helping middle-class families. they shut down the government. back at the ranch, marco rubio

has shown he is not a leader with fresh ideas. he is a follower using a tired playbook. at every turn, he panders to the republican base, going so far as to run away from his own immigration plan when the party put the slightest bit of plush -- slightest bit of pressure on him. his book tour happens to stop in iowa, south carolina and new hampshire. behind the shiny book cover are just some of the same failed ideas voters have rejected in the past. finally, rand paul. the good doctor likes to tell people he is a candidate who can broaden the gop's appeal to african-americans but then he gets mad when you point out he is questioned the civil rights act, opposes fixing the voting rights act, opposes raising the

minimum wage and when asked about the president's nomination of loretta lynch bragged, she is going down. he confirmed he wants to end foreign aid to israel. he wants to come across as the future of the gop but repeat lies about vaccines causing mental defects. who is this guy? amid the contradictory positions he takes to pander, his policies are way outside the mainstream and consistency -- consistently would hurt the middle class at home and abroad. every day, he is something new. these are considered the front runners. when you add in ben carson, rick santorum, mike hanke huckaby -- mike huckabee, this crew is going to make the gop field look presidential. i cannot wait to watch their debates.

it will be an incredible circus. it will put ringling to shame. we recently announced where the 45th president of the united states will be nominated. the selection of philadelphia to host our convention is the culmination of a long process. all three finalists cities put inch-long bids but philadelphia stood out -- put in strong bids, but philadelphia stood out. i'm sure our attendees will have a fantastic experience that will launch us into the general campaign united and excited. with the rich history philadelphia offers a stage -- an ideal stage. it was there that our founding fathers had the courage to declare independence by

observing adherence to itself evident truths. the belief that all men and women are created equal is indebted in the fundamental values of the democratic party. we are the party of inclusion and expanded opportunities to read we are fighting to ensure that all americans have their fair shot and a chance to get ahead. why am i a democrat? i know what being a democrat means to me. i know that every person here has their own reasons as well as. over the coming months, we need to distill our collective stories into one narrative so that the american voter knows we are on their side. that must come through every day in our words, actions and priorities. we have a lot of work ahead of us and it will not be easy but nothing worth doing ever is easy. i'm excited about our future. thank you for your continued support, for rolling up your

sleeves and for focusing on the work we have ahead. we have many days that are better ahead of our party and i look forward to working with you . thank you, so much. [applause] thank you. [applause] as you know, shortly after the 2014 elections, i appointed the task force to conduct an assessment of key components of the democratic party's role in recent elections and so that we could identify places where the party can improve operations so we can better serve our candidates and constituents. i want to acknowledge our task force members. some were held up by the weather

. i want to thank them for their hard work. naomi eberly. she might be buried under seven feet of snow right now but she sends her regrets. she is also the vice chair of the dnc's national committee. donna brazil, vice chairwoman of the democratic national committee. [applause] maria cardona, visible of the dewey square group. [applause] marc elias, the chair of the perkins dewey political group. [applause] teddy goff, a partner in position strategies. maneesh coyle, the president of mpg marketing. [applause] bric palacios and lee saunders.

[applause] i am so pleased to recognize kentucky governor steve beshear. the defective chair -- the defect facto chair of the task force. he drew the short straw. he has focused on initiatives to help kentucky families particularly in the areas of health care education and economic development. governor beshear has a long background in public service. he served as attorney general and lieutenant governor prior to the elected governor. he holds degrees from the university of kentucky. i can tell you, his service on

this task force has been remarkable. he has participated in every single task force meeting and is here with us to give up his time to make sure we can be walked through the task force's preliminary recommendation. join me in welcoming governor per sheer -- governor beshear. [applause] gov. beshear: good morning. i want all of you to sit back in your chairs. fasten your seatbelts, but don't fall off the podium. fasten your seatbelts and take a deep wbreath. we have some serious things to talk about.

it is not all happy faces when we talk about them. as you know, my name is steve beshear, the governor of kentucky. i'm a proud democrat. [applause] but i am also here to tell you that the democratic party has lost its way. we have always been the party of the people, by the people, and for the people. i purposely use the words of the very first republican president of the united states, a great kentuckian, abraham lincoln. if he were here with us today he would be disappointed in what his party has become that he would be reregistering a democrat. [applause] democrats have always been the party that believed deepest in

and fought hardest to protect the economic and political well-being of all americans. thanks to our efforts, the dream of a better life has been both visible and reachable for workers, families, entrepreneurs, new arrivals, no matter what their economic background, no matter how humble their origins. unfortunately, the last few decades have given birth to a dangerous and ugly trend in america. we now live in an era in which the privileged few are grabbing a larger and larger share of wealth power and hope. those vulnerable by birth or health or other circumstances have found themselves powerless

and voiceless. this should be the time, this should be the time for democratic leaders to rise up to the forefront as defenders of the people. we think we have. we think we have. the american people, by their votes, do not agree with us. they do not think we have. in this increasingly volatile climate, when the american people need us the most, the democratic party has too often allowed its message to become muddled, it's passion, its strength to be diluted. it's strategies and execution to grow flabby and our core supporters to grow distracted. rather than gain in strength and

stature, our candidates find himself -- themselves increasingly's se shunned. democrats have been successful in presidential races, but the results at almost every other level bold ill -- and boat de ill for the future of this nation. since 2008, the collective democratic party has suffered losses. losing congress hurts bad. we are also being squeezed out of governor's offices and city council halls around this country. those numbers are scary. the problem lies not with the

party's core beliefs. they are as relevant and necessary today as ever in this country's history. it is clear by many measures that the american people support the people and issues that the democratic party fights for. rather, the fault lies in our inability to convey our principles in a concise and passionate way. it lies with our inability to demonstrate the truth of how we are the party that puts people first and whose values and priorities best aligned with a brighter future for the vast majority of americans. finally, the fault lies with a single dimensional election

strategy. that strategy which is blind to anything it seems beyond 1600 pennsylvania avenue. for the sake of this country, we have got to fix the shortcomings. we will fix the shortcomings. for three months, the members of this victory task force have been formulating a plan and it is a plan that is based on input from you, the entire democratic family across this country, to improve the long-term strength of the party and return it to strength at all levels. i want to congratulate our chair because she had the courage to step up and set this in motion. like us, we know how strongly she believes in this democratic

party and shares our passion to win elections. today, we unveil a preliminary plan with recommendations with the goal that the democratic national committee releasing a complete and final report will happen in may. however, these preliminary recommendations unveiled today identify several areas where work must start right here and right now. i've been chosen to be re-flea on this. why me? i will tell you why me. it's because kentucky's political story demonstrates how we can stem the tide that is presently moving against us. not -- nationally, the bluegrass

state is considered red. after all, the president received just a third of our vote. both of our u.s. senators, five or six congressman are republican. thanks to defectors, the gop took control of our state senate years back and read pains and control to this day. but six of our seven constitutionally elected statewide officers are democrats. [applause] since the 1930's, republicans have held the governor's office in control only three times. democrats have also controlled our house of representatives for almost 100 years. in 2007, i defeated a republican incumbent governor and it 2011 i easily one reelection. but, after democratic setbacks

nationally in 2012, kentucky republicans smelled blood in the water and they probably proclaimed they would take over our statehouse in 2014 and many gop groups, including the famous or should i a infamous koch brothers joined in the effort. they were in kentucky in our legislative graces and in that 2014 midterm election cycle that ended in november, kentucky democrats retained control of the house of representatives. [applause] folks, mitch mcconnell carried 110 of 120 counties. think of how many thousands of kentuckians had to go into the voting booth on election day and after pulling his lever and pulling republican congressman's lever went and searched for the

democratic state representative? not only did we not lose control, we didn't lose a single seat. [applause] and we came within 200 votes of adding a seat. so, successfully defending our house in a kind of political climate is a great achievement. how did we do it? we did it because we spent our time talking to families about rings they care about -- jobs health care, educating their kids and we did it in a way that a aged them and excited them and demonstrated very clear terms how democratic leadership was making their lives better. some cautioned me talking about things like health care and core academic standards and the economy because so-called

obamacare and common core are unpopular, they say. and the economic narrative just wasn't convincing. today, kentucky remains the loan southern state with a democratic-controlled legislative chamber because i ignored that advice. [applause] my friends, this is something we all know -- when you take care of the people, the politics take care of itself. because of our strategy, because of our messaging, kentucky voters know that a vote for a democrat in state races means access to health care for families that don't have coverage. it means a job for those who don't have one, it means early childhood programs that get children off to a better start in life and a tough curriculum

for our kids in school. they know democrats are fighting for families and a higher quality of life for all kentuckians and not just a privileged few. we made it clear, and this is very important, we made a clear kentucky democrats willing to work with anybody. democrat or republican, anybody at any time on any issues provided only they leave the parliament -- leave the partisan politics out the door. and voters of all persuasions appreciated that we put families first, far ahead of partisanship for its own sake. all of us know the republican narrative. it is a narrative of negativity that plays on fear and frustration, plays on bitterness.

the national republican party as a collective whole is an excellent -- an absolute expert at that. its leaders have been successful playing at people's emotions and they use that passion to fuel the rank partisanship and narrowminded nature of their views. democrats, on a national level, need to channel that passion of the american people and channel it in a positive direction by focusing effectively on things democrats stand for. that, my friends, is the top recommendation in this preliminary or court. you will see that these recommendations all into five primary areas with four others still under discussion. the very first area has to do with the parties brand. quite simply, we need one. we need one. [applause]

as this report points out our party is loosely understood as a long list of policy statements and not as a people with a common set of core values. that hurts our recruiting and hurts our support. we need a cohesive, value-based narrative that defines our relief and helps voters identify with who we are and how we best represent them. this national narrative project is already underway. the second recommendation is equally as basic. we need to strengthen partnerships with date parties to ensure wins on the local and state levels. [applause] for the last several elections cycles, the dnc has focused time

, resources and talent on presidential battleground states and has had great success in the fight for the white house. we must and we will be successful again in that fight in 2016, but that strategy has not in broad enough to win seats in congress, governors offices and state legislatures. we can and we must aim at wins on all levels. this national party a three more accountable to our state parties and all of our state parties are going to have to be more accountable to the national party. we have got to work together to make this happen. [applause] the third recommendation aims to protect the vote. we need a more aggressive, multifaceted legal strategy to ensure every voter is both

registered and has access to the polls. we used to do this. we need to do it again. because every single vote counts. [applause] the fourth recommendation, prepare for the next round of redistricting. we need a three cycle plan that targets and wins back legislative chambers to ensure the next redistrict ring and reapportionment cycles encourage democratic growth. the current gop success is the result of more than 30 years of organizing fostering talent, and significant financial investments at state and local levels. my friends, you and i both know it all starts at the local level.

it all starts at the local level and that is why the fifth recommendation is we need to build our bench. [applause] we need to build our bench. we need to increase the number of democrats running and winning at all levels by helping to identify, engage, train and nurture the next generation of democratic leaders. that includes not only the candidates it includes their advisors and includes their staff. the task force continues to talk about other issues, including the need to engage voters outside the election cycle, to create a more open and accessible national park, to invest in more aggressive indication strategies, and broaden our coalition of voters. all of these recommendations and all these discussions is just beginning.

we continue to invite feedback as we firm up and lash out these actions steps in advance of the mayor toward. this isn't rocket science. this isn't rocket science. this is politics 101. we are not calling for changes in the values of the democratic party. we know who we are and by god, we are proud of it. [applause] we don't have to convince americans that republicans don't represent america's core values. they already sense that. we don't have to redefine words like family, patriotism and freedom and turn them into negative weapons to use against other americans. we don't have to incite divisions or create imaginary crises to spur allegiance to some calls. that is not who we are. nor do we have to hide who we

are. [applause] we are the party of equal opportunity and interest. we support fairness in all dealings. we respect both the dignity of the individual and the strength of the unified people. and look at what that some bull formula has produced this country over the last 200 years. we led the fight for civil rights for workers rights, we created social security, medicare, the g.i. bill of rights -- all of those represent major turning point in the history of this nation which set our people on the path to opportunity, security and prosperity. and the democratic party is

still making history. president clinton elevated the federal deficit and gave the country's first balance budget in a generation. president obama, with a steady hand and sound economic policies not only save this country from a deep depression but made health care affordable for millions of americans. [applause] yes, but neither the president nor democrats have received the credit we deserve what is accomplishments. [applause] because we have failed to effectively communicate those accomplishments to the american public. [applause] folks, what we are fighting for is the very identity of this nation. it's hard, it's soul. on one side are the voices that want to return this country

return this country to the days of anxiety, the days of suspicion, the days of fear, the days of hatred, and on the other are those of us who believe americans are better than that that this is still the land of opportunity, that if you work hard and lay by the rules, you will create a better life for yourselves and your children. the democratic party is the voice for all americans and search of that her life. so today, let us begin reclaiming the confidence of the american be, thank you. -- the american people. thank you. [applause]

>> thank you so much. thank you so much for that clear eyed set of truths that is sobering and difficulty here but one that i know our membership is ready to take to heart and thanks to the task force for your hard work. i know that members will have questions, but if you can hold your questions until we go into the informal sessions after we adjourn the meeting, that would be incredibly helpful. now, i'd like to ask you to turn your attention to these greens once again because as we rapidly approached 2016 campaign cycle i know we are all watching the roster of candidates taking shape on the other side of the aisle. so please turn your attention to the screen highlighting the special set of candidates on the

other side. just the hit parade of fun they are providing us. >> in a nation searching for its next president more than a dozen republicans are standing up to fight for the wealthy. >> he wants a more fell -- a more fair and balanced income tax, he's going to have to lower rates dramatically for the upper income folks. >> and leave the middle class behind. flex marco rubio and several other leaders of congress have blocked a bill that would have helped grant pay back their student loans. >> should we raise the minimum wage? >> not at all. >> to protect digg corporations. >> governor mike pence wants to cut taxes on corporations, and that means higher taxes for someone else. but and make us weaker at home and abroad. bush has released a list of 21 of his former -- foreign policy of fibers.

all but a third work for his brother or his father. >> they may be looking out for their well-connected donors. >> i know they are out there reporting to the koch brothers. >> we need to repeal obama care. >> we need to repeal every word of obamacare. x they want to run the country and only you can stop them. gop 2016, coming soon. [applause] >> thank our talented video team for that little bit of fun for now, we move onto to the final items on today's agenda. i don't believe there is any old business, but does anyone have a old business to bring in front of the committee? is there any new business being brought in front of the committee? seeing none, there's no new

business and i will now ask secretary rawlings blake to make any announcements she has top >> thank you. good afternoon, everyone. we've had an exciting and productive last few days and as this meeting comes to a close with a couple of announcements for you. since we are a sustainable hearty, as you leave the room, there will be staff out the door will be collecting their plastic badge is. i know you have probably grown accustomed to them, so we are going to ask for them back. we will reunite you within a later time. we also have two big announcements as we close -- the dates and locations of our next executive committee meeting and more portly, the data locations of the next time our full body meets. the spring executive committee meeting will take lace in san francisco on may 1 and second

stop was there somebody excited about san francisco? we are expecting you to show us a good time out there. and our summer meeting this year will be held in one half of the twin cities. home of the mall of america and most importantly minneapolis minnesota, august 27 and 29th. he had to leave. yes. i'm getting a fried something. i don't know what it is. as usual, my office will provide you with more logistical information regarding room blocks for both of those meetings. thank you again for your continued support of my office and your continued feedback. we'd take it seriously and try

to incorporate it. we look forward to the upcoming meeting and if you haven't enough hide, it is snowing, so everyone please traveled back safely and try to stay warm out there. [applause] >> thank you so much, madam secretary. thank you and your office for doing a fantastic job keeping our members informed of all the logistics and important information we need. please thank julie when you see her. she's doing an incredible job. now i'd like to ask reverend courtney miller to deliver our benediction. originally from chicago reverend miller received his bachelor's of business administration and masters of divinity from howard university and washington, d.c.. he was ordained at mount area church in washington dc. please welcome reverend courtney

miller. [applause] >> if you will, please let us stand so that we may pray. most gracious and internalize god, we thank you very much for these times of fellowship, stimulating discourse and 40 people who have come from miles around who care for democracy, for liberty, for justice for the indivisibility to stand behind as we push the agenda forward. we ask you to grace our intellect as we embrace his place and go to our home so that we my continue to make a difference and stand up for those, to stand in the face of fear mongering, we ask you as we go from this place to keep us

forever and make our driving safe, less, train, by what ever mode you let your angels care for us. protect our leadership, that they may stand for family, that they may stand for the working class, that they may stand for those who suffer under the oppressive nature. stand for the babies that have been put out on the rivers of life to float unattended, that they might have stayed shores -- safe shores. not for four more for fashion, but that we might really be one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. there is so much we could ask for, but such a limited time to ask.

search our hearts and know our minds and bring to pass those things that work according to your will. the lord shine upon and be gracious. and give the piece as we might all say together, a man and good night. -- amen and good night. >> thank you very much, reverend miller. where we adjourn, i want to hank the dnc staff for their incredibly professional ability to put on all the logistics that are so complex and making sure we all had a good time in the process. please join me in welcoming the remarkable hotel staff at the hyatt here. they've done such a good job for us. [applause] that concludes our business for today. immediately following the german, we will take a five freight and reconvene for an

informal session or national democratic career members only -- is there a motion? is there a second? motion carries, we are adjourned. >> the political landscape has

changed with the 114th congress. not only are there 43 new republicans of 15 new democrats in house and 12 new republicans and one new democrats in the senate, there are 108 women in congress, including the first african-american republican woman in the senate. keep track of the members of congress using congressional chronicle on c-span.org. there's lots of information there, including voting results and statistics about each session of congress. session c-span, c-span2, c-span radio and c-span.org. >> during a forum on cyber security with jeh johnson, the homeland security spending bill was discussed stop the senate has scheduled another vote on monday to move it forward. secretary johnson urged congress to pass a bill. funding will run out this week.

>> politics, as you know, the art of compromise is sometimes important. what we wanted to be funded, but what is the administration putting on the table to resolve this agreement on policy? can the administration with hold putting into play the executive order until it is finally resolved by the supreme court? this issue is ultimately going to be resolved in the courts. what is the administration putting on the table to resolve the current impasse? >> my response is that we want to have a debate in congress about immigration, immigration reform. we've been wanting that debate for years. the senate passed a conference

of bill in 2013 and we were hoping the house would do the same in houston not act. and so we, in november issued a number of things that across the board would reform the immigration system. it's not just a new deferred action program it's a southern border campaign strategy for arizona, new mexico, texas and it is getting our immigration enforcement personnel a pay raise. it is helping to facilitate employment and high-tech so there are nine different initiatives we launched in november, all of which there is an effort to define will stop it's not just the deferred action program. my point is that if congress wants to have a debate about our

executive actions, about immigration reform, let's do that but don't hyatt to the entire budget of the department of homeland security, which include the coast guard, the secret service fema, cbp ice cics and so forth. that is why i'm fighting for a clean, fully funded ajit because there are real consequences to pursue its mission in your states and homeland security as long as we are on a continuing resolution we face the prospect of a complete shutdown of my department, which is where we are now. next so there is no compromise? >> when congress comes back into town, they will have to decide how to break this impasse.

the president has said he will veto an appropriations will that comes to his desk that defends our executive actions. i believe that is the right position because you should not tie one to the other. the litigation plays a factor, i'm sure. we have said we will appeal and seek a stay and that will play itself out. but we need to break this impasse and i'm hoping in the coming week, we will be able to do that. >> in a moment, we will hear from utah governor who serves as vice chair of the national governors association. he is our guest on "newsmakers." then author george dyson discusses his book "cathedral -- the origins of the digital universe. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its

caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] susan: our guest on "newsmakers" this week is utah's governor gary herbert. the nation's governors are meeting in washington this week for their semi-annual confab and the governor is the vice-chair of the organization. this summer you will be taking over the gavel. before i introduce our two reporters, you announced to your reporters at home that your focus, when you take over the chairmanship, is going to be federalism. can you tell us what that concept means to you in 2015? gov. herbert: well, we are partners in sharing the responsibilities of government. the federal government with the states. it has always been envisioned that they were equal partners. states should not be subservient. yet we see with this continued growth and expansion, the federal government encroaches, i believe, into the responsibilities of the states. and that is not a partisan issue, that is a -- democrat republican, independent agrees that the government is taking over too much. so let's get back to the concept of responsibility as defined in our constitution and what we've always known as called "federalism."