and mark rosenblum talks about the immigration policy and the debate over so-called sanctuary cities. and emily badger talks about housing and the efforts to provide to low-income families. ♪ good morning. the house returns at noon today before beginning legislative business at 12:00 noon. a sunday session yesterday notable for heated exchanges on the republican side of the aisle as ted cruz continued to criticize his own party leadership. mitch mcconnell accused of

being more concerned with republican interests than the voters who put them in power. we are asking viewers to weigh in. the number to call for republicans during the first 45 minutes this morning is 202-748-8000 and you can also catch up with us on facebook twitter, or e-mail us at journal@c-span.org. and a good monday morning to you. here are some headlines. the houston chronicle headline, senate clash keeps crews in the spotlight. bitter republican schism is another headline.

the front page of the washington times one of the headlines cruise calls mcconnell a liar again. the frustration of senate colleagues. crews calls mcconnell are a liar again. -- cruz calls mcconnell a liar again. here are some of his tweets. here is a bit of crews from the senate floor -- curzruz from the senate floor yesterday.

>> on friday i gave in unusual speech, a speech unlike any i have given in this chamber. a speech and was not happy to give. it is a speech to which the senior senator from utah is responding. in the course of that speech, i described a promise the majority leader had made to me and all 53 republican senior senators. that has not been disputed that the majority leader and front of every republican senator made that promise, looking me in the eye. there was no deal on the import-export bank. that it's proponents would have no special preferences whatsoever. we saw on friday, that promise was false. host: to help us understand what

happened we bring in a political congressional reporter. guest: good morning. host: explain this criticism from yesterday and where it came from. it has been long simmering between the majority leader and mitch mcconnell. guest: curruz is trying to showcase himself as the conservative leading the charge against the washington cartel. they have been fighting, with an overall strategy, the government shutdown in 2014, a fight over immigration at the end of last or at battles. this is the latest example of that.

ted cruz ratcheted it up when he accused mitch mcconnell of lying. the strategy to move the import-export tank. to take a step act, this started in the end of may when the senate was trying to pass a major trade bill. there were three senators who were holding out their vote on the bill. what mitch mcconnell promised those people, though senators, was the vote on the import-export bank. he said he would give them a vote. the debate is on exactly what he promised. part of the promise, mitch mcconnell looked him in the eye and said he would not move the import-up -- import-export bank on his own.

as we know any senator can block any amendment from being considered. what mcconnell did was, and he wanted to move to a vote to override a filibuster on the import-export bank amendment on the highway bill. they said look, the law is no secret. that is the nature of the dispute. ted cruz yesterday was very angry, coming on the floor lashed out at the senate majority leader for telling lies and for not truthful, and as essentially colluding with democrats to pass a big government agenda. it was a pretty remarkable thing . ted cruz one-a-day rollcall vote on a separate amendment to the highway bill, but given the way that to he has handled himself

republicans and essentially did not allow him to have a vote because there were not enough senators who seconded in his motion to have a rollcall vote so that was dispensed with. but it was pretty remarkable. host: on the headlines, senate smack down. ted cruz efforts squelched. the rift between mcconnell and ted cruz widens. you talk about ted cruz being disputed by mitch mcconnell's office, but it has he been directly responded to in kind? guest: it yesterday, when mcconnell spoke, there was a subtle reference to ted cruz. he did not call ted cruz out by name, but he said there was no special deal that has been discussed all along. we tried to ask them a question in the halls on friday after ted

cruz accused him of lying, and mitch mcconnell just smiled and walked away. he does not address the press until tuesday. he will certainly be asked then. probably similar to what he said yesterday. certainly, he will probably say there's nothing i backtracked on. it is a complicated procedural dispute. it happened behind closed doors so there is no transcript of the remarks of what mcconnell promised ted cruz and the rest. it may end up just being a game of he said, she said. host: in the leadership of the republican ranks, it includes senator john cornyn, ted cruz's colleague from texas. who was seen on the voice of

conservatives in the group of senators that make up that key republican leadership staff? guest: from the leadership perspective, it is hard to say exactly. john cornyn is certainly one of the more conservative members of the senate republican leadership team. the team is sort of broken down into several senior members. there is john barrasso, rory want, senators who have been serving for a long time. specific members of leadership who are sort of liaisons to specific locks of members of the house. conservative pockets. there is really nothing like that in the senate. part of the frustration from ted cruz and others is they believe the voice of the conservative movement is not represented and the party leadership. that is the reason you are

seeing some of the disputes play out. that is why ted cruz is kind of in the minority of the minority and the republican conference. there are a couple very notably standouts, and ted cruz is one of those. host: manu raju is a reporter at "politico." we are asking our republican viewers for this first 45 minutes on the washington journal to weigh in on some of the criticisms of ted cruz in the senate. also, what do you think of mitch mcconnell as the senate majority leader. just a republican viewers for just the first 45 minutes. david, good morning.

guest: thank you for taking my call. i really say, i have not decided which candidate i am going to vote for yet. what i say right on, and right on donald trump. although i do not agree with everything they do, i do not think there is any difference between the democrats and republicans. i don't know why the republicans automatically have to do this. it is just like it is all like everybody falls right in line. i think cruise should do what he does. speak the truth. right on ted cruz, right on track. host: what did you think about ted cruz's presidential run and where do you think it stands right now? do you think he has a chance in this large republican field?

guest: i don't. he tells the truth and truth is taking a beating in this day and time. i would support him, but i don't think he has a chance. you got the establishment, it has been pre-ordained between bush. it is a popularity contest. i don't know why bush has to be on top. host: david, you said you think he tells the truth too much. would you prefer to keep them on the senate floor rather than have him as the republican nominee. caller: i hope he stays with it, god lesson. he tells the truth. that is what it is about trump. people are starving for the

truth. not in a bad, trash way. people want the truth. they are starving for the truth. as the bible says, people are starving for the truth. host: we are taking calls, just republicans for the first 45 minutes. we're also looking for your comments on twitter and facebook . on twitter michael thompson says ted cruz is right, nothing has changed. robert little says, he is being accused of defining the established decorum. another says, this party needs to wipe out the roaches. we are taking callers just from republicans. that number is 202-748-8000 and

we want to get your thoughts on mitch mcconnell as majority leader. dawn from texas, good morning. caller: i have been an early supporter of senator cruz when he first ran down here. i saw his background and i was basically tired of people that i supported, particularly senator mccain column -- particularly senator mccain, calling us down here wackos. i think they forget they are elected by the people. senator mcconnell, if the people from kentucky are archaic old-time statesman, then he is their man. i saw the same thing back in the 1960's, it just was not on

c-span. they believe in a hierarchy. i also believe that senator cruz has to do something to catch their attention. but i will not stand for any more republicans, i am not a really conservative individual but i am a texan. he is a senator and he was voted into represent us. host: did you like how mitch mcconnell ran the republican party from the minority leadership position before he was the majority leader? did you have criticisms of him then? caller: i have many criticisms. harry reid called the president of the united states a liar. now we have the water carriers saying, oh my gosh we have to do something. there are rolls out there. he called a presidential candidate a liar and he headline

on the floor about mitt romney but i did not hear anybody else saying anything until after the fact. all i am telling you is, is that he is say -- you know, he does not have to be politically correct. but i will tell you this, i do enjoy hearing a person speak the truth. how much do these moderates actually care about the tea party? when you see a crime taking part in the irs, i did not see anyone jump right out. they know that these people are mad. they do not want to lose their positions. it's fun getting all the nice views. when i was a page, 19 69 19 70

i got drafted in 1972. i came from a line of politicians in texas. my uncle by marriage was lieutenant governor at the time speaker of the house before that. i thought it was honorable to serve. i think it was more honorable to serve in the military then it was in congress at the time. i am 62-years-old now. times have changed. and i never thought this country would change as much as it has changed in the last six years. to me, ignorance is bliss today. look at who is in the white house. look at all the roles that are change in. my gosh, and a trillion dollar debt? i don't know what my kids are going to do. i am trying to do the best i can

do to help. i just wish more people would get interested and really study and understand that those people represent them. host: that was abilene texas. speaking of harry reid, he weighed in on the other side of the aisle. here is the article. they said that this war between the republicans is the main similarity between now and his years in control. it has become increasingly clear that's what's wrong in the senate today, the same thing that troubled the senate he for republicans took control. good morning, you are on the washington journal. caller: good morning. i am proud of ted cruz unlike that last caller from texas. if the guy from texas does not

like ted cruz, we would be glad to ship him senator gannett and we will take cruise. he is looking out for the little guy and trying to get stuff past that senator mcconnell will not allow. host: your thoughts on mcconnell, go ahead. particularly the transition. caller: i agree with crews and what he said on the senate floor the other day. they are not going to put in the amendments they do not want in. if they agree with him fine, if they don't agree with that, they are not going to let it in. host: it that was colorado this morning. on our facebook page, mark asks, why is see even there? he's done nothing but badmouth other republicans. let him go away and come up with

another party, a new party of a senate empty of accomplishments. much like the president's record that he attacks. that was marked grove on our facebook page. yesterday, orrin hatch took some time to criticize senator cruz for the way he has been conducting himself. here is senator hatch's comments about ted cruz. >> i know some of my constituents have not had much of a chance yet to experience this and are less familiar with the tradition on comedy and respect. others may not know much about the history of rising above parochialism and narrow self-interest.

mr. president, as one who has had the privilege of serving here for the past four decades i can attest, from first-hand experience, that the senate can be and has been, in times not to far past, a distinguished and constructive body that does much good for our nation. our reply vividly times when this was marked by goodwill rather than rancor and disrepute. in some ways, we are a shadow of our former self. host: that was senator orrin hatch on the floor yesterday during a rare sunday session for the senate. you can watch the entire session on our website at c-span.org. we are just talking to

republicans for the next 20 minutes or so. here is a another quote of ted cruz this one in the washington times. he took to his twitter page. next up, california. the line for just republicans. good morning. caller: on this deal, i have no reason to doubt senator cruz's veracity when he said senator mcconnell secured his vote on legislation by saying that this would die and egg noble death. and once he secured senator cruz's vote, he turns around and throws the send as an amendment. now, when senator cruz points this out, the cronies stand up and say there is something wrong with the republican caucus.

that is not true, the problem is lies and the lying liars who are telling the lies. that is what the problem is. senator cruz was lied to and he stood up and said, i was lied to. now they want to point at him and say he is the problem. he is the problem because it he says he was lied to? what happened to the truth in washington, d.c. host: it that includes john cornyn, republican policy committee chairman john barrasso, and vice chair roy blunt. is there somebody that you think speaks for conservatives? somebody you think who is doing what ted cruz is asking the republican leadership to do?

callers: i see a lot of them pretending just before conservatives. a lot of them standing up and sang, i am a conservative. but i don't see any conservative action coming out of the congress or the senate. i just see a lot of noise. i see a lot of handwaving and finger-pointing. i don't see any action. all i see is the go along, get along, bunch of crimea some that has been going on ad nauseam you know, forever in that place. i am sick of it. host: that was a caller from salinas, california. and on twitter, edwin says ted cruz's version of the truth carries no weight. and sam says, at least someone is holding the leadership to a account. a color next from columbia,

maryland. caller: i believe cruz is a very good senator. a smart man. a constitutional lawyer. yes, he speaks the truth. mcconnell lied. he asked a question, mcconnell lied. i don't know how mcconnell became in charge. i wish they never agreed to make him in charge. as for mccain, i think he should retire. he has done nothing for the v.a. nor for the vets. he is collecting his paycheck and going on with business as usual. the problem of congress and business as usual, is these people are obligated to the people from their party. people put them in office. deep left to understand that is why i support trump for the next election. he is so funded, i believe he will bring it jobs. i also believe he will fix the

v.a. system and he will protect our borders. people talk about immigration. it is illegal immigration people are so concerned about. people take jobs for less than the minimum salaries. we are educating their kids. we are taking care of them medically. we really need to get a handle on this, people. as for the democratic party i believe you should study your history. you have a very racist history. you need to study at and realize where you are coming from. more government involved in your life. i am against that completely. i think cruz is a very good man. maybe he will be better for us in the senate than he was as being president. -- than he would be as being president. host: why do you think you would be better in the senate that he what is president?

caller: we need people who understand the constitution. we have far too many people who have probably never read the constitution. it bothers me. we need to go back to the cause judicial government and abide by our constitution. we have too many people indebted to the k street lobbyists. these people who speak to you on the campaign trail, they are being funded by k street. i corporations. by donors. big donors. wall street don't halls. they are not going to look after the little people. host: bobby -- a report on the new poll that was out. trump still leads the race. this comes out after a week of attacks over criticism that the

poll had trump leading jeb bush and 15% and scott walker at 10%. that is a new cnn poll that is out. ronald chung, the state of the union, talking about his dealing with republican national committee officials as some headlines came up last week that might make a third-party run if he does not get the republican nomination. here is a little bit of an interview with cnn. >> i have had some great conversations over the last couple days. he is a terrific guy. the group is good. now they are starting to view mean not as an outsider because i am leading and all of the polls. they are starting to see what is happening. there is a movement going on. this is more than me.

host: donald trump yesterday on cnn's state of the union. we are seeing a rare segment where ted cruz continues to air his concerns about leadership in the senate. just talking to republicans this morning, 202-748-8000. caller: good morning. thank you for taking my call. i would like to say the president leadership right now is no different from the democrats. they do not serve their people. mcconnell, boehner, they are brought into the myth. they rammed everything through now the republicans are buying into the hype.

ted cruz is speaking the truth. he is airing people starting laundry and they do not like it. host: ted cruz press release from over the weekend. today's event shows that the mcconnell-read leadership team -- mcconnell-reid leadership team caller: good morning. this is the exact reason we need term limits. to get guys like mcconnell boehner, reid pelosi, and dinosaurs like john mccain out of there. i think we should hold for senators to two terms and hold members of the house of representatives 252-year terms, and then force them out, and forced them to live under the laws, or lack of laws, that they have accomplish during their

timee. this is the exact reason why donald trump has risen to the number one spot as a republican contender. the american people are sick of crony capitalist established republicans fear they're just as bad as the democrats. trump, i believe, is not a fluke . they are attacking him for the main issues that are supposed to be in the republican platform and agenda -- illegal immigration, the deficit, jobs make america great again. they should be embracing him not attacking him. he is only defending himself. thank you. host: on the issue of a illegal immigration, we will be talking about in one of our segments on "the washington journal" today, this issue of sanctuary cities. we will be joined by mark rosenblum to talk about that

issue. in the meantime, it getting just republican calls on senator cruz 's criticism of republican leadership. james, please go ahead. caller: i wanted to say that the caller before me made -- that we need new blood, and should change the congressmen and senators. i think that is bright, i think the root of the problem is not that the people are therefore very long time. i think just the two-party system and being republican or a democratic nominee guarantees that you will be in the senate or congress. if you are outside these two parties, this means you won't

get anywhere. this is the root of the problem. i'm asking you as a program that covers the whole country, and a program that goes for the issues , you should have programs about this issue. the topic should be third parties and the necessity for existing other parties. even in presidential campaigns. i think we need new blood and politics. the root of the problem is people have been doing this for a very long time, no the system, and are in it, and ruling it. people who want to do good for the country can't do anything because they are not playing by the rules of this 200 year old system that repeats itself over and over again.

we say we are a free country and i think being free means that everybody who wants to participate cap it is of you have a good idea, you are american, and do your best, you will get far. this is the american dream. this is what we were promised. now, it does not matter that you do this or that you are the best. this topic is the best topic you could go for. host: we always appreciate suggestions on topics. i want to let you know that we recently did an entire segment on third-party candidates in an effort to get the third-party candidates into the debate, the debate coming up next year. you can check that out on c-span.org. we just did that one or two weeks ago. i want to get in richard waiting in florida, as we continue to just talk to republicans on ted cruz's criticism of republican

leadership. you can join the conversation, just republicans, (202) 748-8000 . caller: i just have a question for everybody out there. where were the republican senators when harry reid stood there on the senate floor accusing the koch brothers of being dishonest? accusing mitt romney of never paying taxes. he repeatedly lied and lied. the koch brothers s citizens like myself. robbie at the time you have been the root nominee for the republican party, that he is a citizen two. months later, harry reid said that he knew that he lied on the senate floor, but they want. where is all the outrage about harry reid being a liar? think you have a good day. host: rick on twitter says

remember when there was a rule that republican members did not fight publicly airing dirty laundry. we are taking your questions calls, and tweets as well. as we pointed out before, a member of the leadership team that ted cruz has criticized his fellow texas republican john cornyn. john cornyn also taken to the senate for yesterday to defend mcconnell and talk about some of the rule changes or rules that ted cruz was proposing as part of this export-import debate bank discussion. here is a bit from senator cornyn's comments. [video clip] senator cornyn: mr. president, i have listened to the comments of my colleague from texas. i have to say that he is

mistaken. first of all, if in fact the majority leader had misrepresented the 54 senators what the facts are in relation to the bank. i expect you would find other voices joining that of the junior senator, but i hear no one else making such a similar accusation. secondly, i would say to my colleague that there is an alternative explanation. there is an alternative vaccination. -- explanation. as the majority leader has said time and again, any times exceed five senators want to do something, sooner or later, they will get their way. indeed, that represents the flow on the bank, something i will end up voting against, but i realize majorities will carry eventually. if the rule that the junior senator from texas is arguing for is embrace, we will lose all control of the senate schedule.

there will be chaos, and indeed we will not be able to meet simple deadlines, such as the one that exists on the 31st of this month in regard to the expiration of transportation funds. host: that was senator john cornyn on the senate floor at yesterday. this is one of the stories in the conservative news daily, the headline there "crews fight with senate leadership grows." we are taking a calls, just for republicans for the next 5-10 minutes. mary is in south carolina. caller: my name is mary, i live in south carolina. i wanted to comment that i do not think it is just the senate leaders. it is also john boehner. i hope when the bill comes up

about the nuclear deal that they can get enough votes to override obama on that. this is going to be a catastrophe. for the middle east and for us. if they have to tell those democrats, hey, vote for this to go with obama, we will do everything in our power that is possible. thank you very much. host: mary in south carolina. joel is up next in rockford, michigan. good morning. caller: good morning. i just want to say that i back ted cruz 100% in what he is trying to do. if the republicans would try to get the true conservative vote, as hard as they are trying to get the hispanic, black, and modern votes, we could win again. host: what did you think of

mitch mcconnell's leadership of republicans and the senate when he was minority leader before he took over majority leader rules at the beginning of this year? did you have criticisms of him then? caller: yes. i think he lets the democrats walk all over him. he never defends the republicans when harry reid stands up there and says all these terrible things about the republicans, i never see mitch mcconnell defend them in any way. host: we are talking just to republicans for a few more minutes this morning. jerry is in shreveport louisiana. if you are a republican and want to join the conversation, it is (202) 748-8000. caller: one thing that ted cruz does well is talk. that is about it. if he leads in tennessee, he would be a tennessee talking horse. mitch mcconnell has a tough job. this is all about ted cruz using the senate floor to used his own chances because his campaign for

president is waning. i've been a republican since i was 14, and i'm 66. ted cruz is bad news. thanks. host: caret is calling in from new york, also a republican. good morning to you. caller: good morning. i'm a little nervous again. let me just say this. i fully support ted cruz, which is why i fully support donald trump. it is refreshing for us to hear some politicians finally talking for the american citizens, and not special interests, not lobbyistss. w all know tha washington is totally broke. it is dysfunctional. it is not just the senate or congress. the whole town is, for some reason, but out by politicians

-- broughtought by politicians. it is ironic when we hear senator hatch saying that i've been here for 40 is a never seen -- that's the problem, you've been there for 40 years. it is enough. you have not done anything. senator cornyn is another one. it is a big boys club. anybody who does not agree with them is an outsider. host: you say you support donald trump and ted cruz. who do you think will go farther in the republican presidential primary? caller: i'm hopeful donald trump. he is the leader of our band. he has admitted and said openly, and is what we all feel that this is a movement. this is a movement that -- i am a 68-year-old woman. i have been around a hell of a long time.

i've been very much involved in politics since john kennedy. i have seen the change in this country. these guys are telling us that they can't believe that they are being lied to. well ted we know we have been lied to for the last 30-40 years. yes, i do support trump. it is a movement, i do believe that we are on her way, thank god, to a better america, a great america once again. host: we want to get in dave, calling in from ted cruz's home state of texas, killeen, texas. caller: good morning. the people down here in texas are proud of ted cruz and standing up for the state of texas and the american people. what he set on the floor last

week is true. we don't really -- some of us texans don't like john cornyn because he said he would do one thing and he did a flip-flop on us. as far as the leadership, and the gop, they've got to go, they been there too long. we've got to get some young blood in there. ted cruz the standing up for iran, i hope they don't go through, a bunch of us veterans are scared about it. god bless this country because we are really hurt right now. i don't care what nationality we are, let's will for ted cruz and get these other people out of their. thank you and have a blessed they. host: if you stories of events happening today. "the washington post" noting that there are still few details

in the louisiana theater shooting. the two women killed in the rampage are preparing to have funerals on monday. that is mayci breaux and jillian johnson. those funeral set are today. in overseas news this morning the leads dohring in "usa today" -- the lead story in "usa today" notes that the president has meetings today in ethiopia, and on tuesday he is set to address the 54 country african union at its headquarters in addis