thank you. thank you. thank you very much. >> friday night, president trump holds a rally in pensacola, florida, to talk about republican tax reform efforts. watch our live coverage getting at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span two. today on c-span, "washington journal" is next followed by live coverage of the u.s. house following morning business, they will debate a spending bill. in about an hour, we talk to daniel house about that spending measure, and then about the president's decision

to officially recognize jerusalem as israel's capital. ♪ host: good morning. it's thursday, december 7, 2017. pearl harbor remembrance day across the country. it marks the 76th anniversary of the attack on pearl harbor. flags have been lowered to half-staff at the u.s. capitol. the house and senate will both reconvene at 10:00 a.m. today. at some point this morning on the senate floor, minnesota democrat al franken is expected to make an announcement about his political future, one day after new allegations of inappropriate behavior emerged and after over 30 of his fellow democratic senators called for him to resign. that's where we begin this morning on the "washington journal," as we take your calls and hear your thoughts. phone lines -- republicans, 202-748-8001.

democrats, 202-748-8000. independents, 202-748-8002. a special line this morning for minnesota residents, 202-748-8003. you can also catch up with us on social media. on twitter, @cspanwj. on facebook, it's facebook.com/cspan. a very good thursday morning to you. you can start calling in now on the topic of al franken and his political future, as we show you some of the headlines this morning. from yesterday, in the wake of that new allegation and the cascade of calls for al franken's resignation from his fellow democrats, this from minnesota public radio yesterday, their headline, senator al franken will resign citing a democratic official on the front page this morning of the "washington times," they go with the headline, franken expected to step down from the senate. of course, al franken's office

responding very minimally yesterday, but they did send out a tweet saying, at 6:11 yesterday, that senator franken is talking with his family at this time and plans to make an announcement in d.c. tomorrow. any reports of a final decision are inaccurate. that is from al franken's office yesterday afternoon. for more on the latest on this topic, we turn to politico reporter maggie severn, joining outs phone this morning. thanks for being here. what more do we know this morning about what al franken will say when he addresses the senate, and do we know exactly when he's going to do it? guest: yeah, thanks for having me. you know, like you just mentioned, there's this tweet sent out by franken's office yesterday that said that no final decision has been made, and there hasn't been any real announcement about exactly when this might happen. meanwhile, what we're seeing or what i reported yesterday is

that, in minnesota, there's this scramble to, you know, if he resigns today, be ready to replace him, so governor mark dayton has been lining up different possibilities, and looks like he's leaning towards appointing the lieutenant governor as a place holder for the next year to serve in franken's seat. so, you know, we might not know exactly when this announcement is coming, but the wheels have certainly been set in motion if franken chooses to resign. host: a place holder until when? when would a new special election happen for that seat? guest: yeah, so if franken leaves today, the governor is expected to move pretty quickly to put someone in that seat, and then minnesota has an endorsement process, so early june of next year, people will gather to endorse a candidate. they'll have a primary in august, and then in november 2018 election, there will be a special election for franken's seat. whoever wins the special election will serve until 2020,

which is when franken would have been up for rehe licks, and they will run -- re-election, and they will run again, or there will be another election today so. we're going to have elections for franken's seat in 2018 and 2020 if he resigns. host: remind us what the story was yesterday from politico that seemed to break the dam here when it came to democratic senators calling on franken to resign. guest: yeah, so this story, as listeners well know, follows several other stories from recent weeks in which six different women have accused franken of either trying to forcibly kiss or grope them, and yesterday politico reported that another person who was working with franken on a radio show in 2006 had been -- he had tried to kiss her after a taping and then had said that it was his right as an entertainer to do something like that. politico withheld the person's name, but it was confirmed with two other people who she had

told after this happened. and i think that that extra allegation just, for some people, was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back. at this point, there are seven different women who have said that franken did something inappropriate, either before he was in the senate or in some cases after he was in the senate, 10 saw more than half the democratic caucus call on him to resign yesterday. scommoip it was a cascade of calls that just started around 11:30 yesterday morning, and it was -- it began from female democratic senators. was this a coordinated effort that we know about? guest: you know, it began with a group of female democratic senators that announced this together. you know, you can say that that's coordinated. and after that, i think that other people felt like they had some cover to come forward, you know, once there reached a critical mass, more and more people have called on franken to resign. you know, you saw people like

chuck schumer coming out yesterday and calling for this. so i think that having that initial push from a group of female senators helped give everybody else cover and a reason to say yesterday that now is the time. host: and maggie, have you gotten any more guidance from al franken's office today on exact timing of this? guest: i haven't, but i certainly -- we should all keep an eye out, because we're expecting this to happen today. host: maggie severns from politico, thanks so much for your time this morning. guest: thanks for having me. scommoip we're taking your calls this morning in the wake of this effort by democrats in the senate to call on al franken to republican down. we'll be addressing his political future this morning as we wait to hear about that sometime after the senate comes in at 10:00. we want to hear from you. phone lines for republicans,

202-748-8001. democrats, 202-748-8000. independents, 202-748-8002. a special line for minnesota residents this morning, it's 202-748-8003. and michael is on that line from pipestone, minnesota, a republican. michael, good morning. caller: oh, sorry, john, i am a democrat. host: a democrat, go ahead, michael. what are your thoughts? caller: yes, my concern would be, for mr. franken to step down, mainly because it's a distraction, and with him stepping down, we can move past this as a party and fight some bigger issues. now, i do understand that some women have been offended and has been assaulted, but we as a nation is under assault with this tax bill and all the other accounts that mr. trump has brought to the attention. with him stepping down, this is my opinion only, it opens up the door for us to get back to

business. scommoip michael, who would you like to see fill that seat if, in fact, he does step down, since you're in minnesota and i assume you're tapped into the politics up there. caller: yes, i am. to be honest with you, whoever governor presents would be fair with me. right now, i'm in pipestone, so we're in the southwestern part of the country, which is a republican-held community. and we are basically onan annex to minneapolis, but we have certain things going on as a party as democrats. host: michael, what do you think of tina smith, the lieutenant governor in minnesota, maggie severns from politico talking about her as a possibility for appointment. the "star tribune" saying she's the likeliest replacement, but would not expect it to be someone who would run for that seat in the ensuing special election.

what do you know about tina smith? caller: well, i met her too as well, because i work as well for education minnesota here in the state of minnesota, and i've met her at fund raging events, and even some issues that dealt with serious issues with education in our great state. she would be an excellent choice. but where do we go from her? you know, the thing of it is, we are in a scramble right now, so he needs to step on to the side so we can get everything in order for the june elections. host: michael, thanks for the call this morning. joy, park forest, illinois, line for independents. go ahead. caller: i have two comments. please let me say them. first of all, i don't understand why they're asking anybody to step down when trump is still in office and he has an admission of guilt on those tapes. i don't understand it. he's on video recording saying that he groped women by their private parts, but they're asking -- i don't understand.

it's a double standard. and second, i really would like move on with this issue, because why are we even talking about what happened in jerusalem yesterday? that's the hugest thing, because the moral fabric of this country is religion, christian and muslim and other religions. and for him to make that move yesterday in jersey limb, i think that's on the hearts and minds of many. can we please talk about that as well? it's huge. host: we are certainly going to be talking about that this morning. to remind viewers, donald trump, as the "financial times" reports, breaking with decades of diplomatic precedence by officially recognizing jerusalem as israel's capital, prompting warnings from foreign leaders that the move could raise regional tensions. the president also saying yesterday that he would move the u.s. embassy to the city. we're going to be joined later this morning by the ranking member on the house foreign affairs committee, certainly a topic of conversation we'll have with him and with some of our other guests this morning. so thanks for bringing that up.

if you missed the president's news conference on that, you can watch it in its entirety at c-span.org. we were actually just playing it on c-span just before we came on the air. you can go there if you missed it. peter, san francisco, california, line for democrats. peter, your thoughts on al franken. caller: yeah, what i'm confused about is, you know, at least al franken has admitted that he has done these things and he's, you know, asked for his apology, and he said he's going to seek help to straighten himself out. where it seems like some politicians like roy moore and donald trump that have been accused of even more allegations like that, they deny it and they just keep going. it's almost like if you deny it , you can stay in. and if you admit it, at least tell the truth and say you're seeking help. you get punished for it.

so there's something really backward about that. and, you know, it's almost like you getting punished for telling the truth. host: the conversation happening here, also happening on facebook and on twitter. on twitter, it's @cspanwj. here's a few comments from that thread, as we've been having this conversation this morning. about al franken and his political future, all he needs to do is change to republican and he will not have to step down. one says, if democrats want to use sexual misconduct and pedophilia against republicans in 2018, franken must resign. timothy writes in asking, will the same people who call for his resignation demand the esignations of trump, moore, farenthold and thomas? host: a special line for minnesota residents, 202-748-8003 is the number if you live in minnesota. give us a ring. eric is in white plains,

maryland, line for independents. go ahead. caller: yeah, good morning, pedro. good morning, america. thank you. thank you very much. when it comes to franken, i'm not surprised. i'm not surprised, because my opinion is that all politicians are hypocrites. they always say one thing, and they will do another. i can't remember how the democrats could decide donald trump when he did that comment about grabbing private parts and, you know. but my advice to america this morning is do not follow a party. be an independent. that's what i am. i am an independent. i don't vote the party. i vote the candidate. if you keep voting the party, you will always be disappointed. that's my comment. host: before you go, as an independent, as you look to the two parties and on this issue of misconduct and sexual harassment, do you think the two parties have handled this issue differently when it comes to their members?

caller: oh, yes, yes, they have handled it differently. the first reaction i will say is each party is trying to protect their candidate first, and then they try to drop it, you know? so far i congratulate the democrat because they have somebody resigning, while the republican, you know, they are just denying and denying and denying. but it's really sad, because at the end of the day, just show that politician doesn't really care about us. they just try to protect themselves. you think that this serial molester doing it for year and year, they knew about it, but they didn't say anything. host: all right, got your point. the editorial board of the "wall street journal" weighed in this morning, usually a conservative voice on the editorial pages. here's what they call it, trump's franken-moore nightmare.

this is what the state of play looks like -- host: if you want read more, "wall street journal" editorial board today. mary, republican from pennsylvania. you're up next. go ahead. caller: hello. host: good morning, mary. caller: hi. my name is mary.

you know, i think it's very good that they're all admitting their little mistakes when they were in their youth, like we all made. you know, when you're young, you're young. but hillary was not young when she called stand down to the military and had those four guys killed. she'll never convince me she's right. and then, you know, you can't blame people for making mistakes. host: donald trump, mary -- when you talk about issues in their youth, does 10 years ago count as youth for al franken, the latest report coming from the incident described in politico, described as happening in 2006. caller: well, you know, we make mistakes every day, whether you're young, whether you're old. but they're in the limelight. and people make mistakes if

they're innocent limelight. but, you know, donald trump is married three times. he'd even still be married to the first wife if not for marla maples. she thought she had talent. he brought her a broadway show. they wanted to be -- host: all right, mary, we got your point. not necessarily a conversation about marla maples, but we'll take the point and go to patty in connecticut, line for independents. go ahead. caller: hi. am i on? host: yes, ma'am. caller: ok, i just want to say is from ver her name new york -- host: senator gillen brand. caller: yeah, she's a little off the wall. i've heard her speak, and she has used, in speeches, the f word. no one went after her. i know she's running for president. and so was franken. i think she just knocked one off the wall.

hat was her purpose. secondly, if there was a republican governor in minnesota, this would not be happening. so there's a method to their madness, as always. host: why wouldn't it be happening, because of the appointment process? caller: yes, yes. yes. they're throwing him out to -- they don't care what he did. this is just to make the republicans look, you know, bad. but i believe there's a plan. when moore gets in, which i think he's going to, once they get him there, they're going to throw him out, and then they're going to name someone, you know, to take his place. that's what i think is going to happen. host: that's patty in connecticut. you mentioned senator kirsten gillibrand of new york. the timeline as reported in "the washington times" today discusses how this went down when it came to calls from

fellow democratic senators for franken to step down. gillibrand made the first move, they say, quoting her facebook post, saying while senator franken is entitled to have the ethics committee conclude its review, i believe it would be better for our country if he is not a clear message that any kind of mistreatment of women in our society isn't accepted by stepping aside to let someone else serve. within 15 minutes, most of the enate's other democratic women followed ms. gillibrand in demanding mr. franken's resignation. soon afterwards, they were joined by other senators -- host: here's a statement from he senate minority leader --

host: expected to hear from senator franken sometime this morning. the senate is in at 10:00, so sometime after that. still about 8:00 this morning. our phones are turned over to you, our viewers, to hear your thoughts about how franken and the calls for him to resign. democrats, 202-748-8000. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. special line for minnesota residents, 202-748-8003. indiana, republican, go ahead. caller: hi. my name is joanna. john, i'm sorry, but i'm a democrat. i had to call on your republican line. i tried your democrat line, and it would not answer. it rang for over 10 minutes,

and then it hung up. but i feel that mr. franken, if he's going to step down, i want all the other ones to step down, including mr. trump. mr. trump should be the very first one, because he's the first offender of it all. franken, he was a show person. he was in show business. they did that all the time and still do that all the time, trying to touchy-feel each other. well, that's just the way they are. we know it. we knew it when he was -- now i want to know, is minnesota residents asking him to resign? if not, then no. if so, then i would like to see mr. trump take the first lead of it all, if he wants it all cleaned up. he's the one who admits it on tape doing the most obnoxious things to women. he doesn't respect us. why is he in there? host: we heard from one

minnesota resident this morning saying that he should step aside to get past the distraction. hopefully we'll hear more. we have a special line for minnesota residents, 202-748-8003. it does work best on this program if you do try to stick to your lines, lines for democrats, republicans, and independents, so we can cycle through, get a variety of opinions here. i apologize that it was a busy morning for our calls this morning, but a lot of people do to want talk about this, so stick with us on the lines that you identify with, and we'll get to you eventually. dawn in red bank, new jersey, line for residents. go ahead. caller: how you doing? host: doing well. caller: yeah, this whole thing with sexual harassment has gotten totally out of hand. i think that, you know, somebody says something, sticks and stones will break my bones, and, you know, if you force

somebody to have sex or you grab somebody in a really crazy way, then maybe, then that's wrong, ok? but you can't touch anybody anymore. you can't say anything anymore. and all of this is just used -- now, don't hang occupy me when i say this, but, you know, this government is a corporate government. it's not the republic, even though every time they do, you know, they pledge allegiance to the flag, which stands for the republic, but it's the republic that you should be standing for, not the flag. if you burn the flag, who cares? it's the republic that we need to keep intact. and people have got to get their shit together, excuse my french, sorry, i said that -- host: well, don, let's try to keep the cuss words out of our discussion this morning. we'll take the comment and go

to joe in mount arie, maryland, line for independents. joe, go ahead. caller: yeah, hi, good morning. host: good morning. caller: i guess everyone should agree that if you're accused of sexual misconduct, you have to step down from political office. i think there's a couple of things that are concerning when you sort of look at the republican versus the democrats . the one is on trump. i heard about a lot of these allegations and all of these women coming out, talking against us. i would like to know more, maybe you can have somebody on more on the specifics of that, because i'm very surprised that i'm not hearing more of the specific stories there. there's certainly enough people in the media that are not pro-trump. i'm just curious of why they're not more specifics on those stories and allegations. host: joe, let me ask you, the first thing you said when you started your comment was that if somebody is accused, they should step down. we've had other callers worried

about the right to due process, to face your accusers. does that -- do you think that doesn't apply to politicians? caller: you know, it's an excellent question. i guess you do create kind of a potential witch hunt kind of mentality, where if you want a politician out of there, you get rid of him. we do have cases -- and i know there's a number of 5% being quoted now frequently of cases that are false and people are arguing that number. but again, such an awful thing. you want conserve tism on those type of issues. but, you know, i think -- things like what's going on with moore and franken, where there's multiple people. there's some specific evidence. no one is arguing that. i guess that might be a better way of putting it. because you're right, there's been many cases, big cases like in the duke case and some others where it was obviously false allegations. but i think you start getting

multiple people, and the persons not directly saying things or there's other evidence. i think that's where things will apply. but i wanted to make one more quick point on moore. and on moore, i think that what's not being brought up, what was different about that case, regardless of your politics, "the washington post" did weaponize that information by the time of their release. they went after the people. they got that information. so it does create a different scenario, whereas as we know earlier with franken, you're going to have a democratic governor now appoint somebody, and that seat is probably going to go to a democrat because of the politics of minnesota. in a state like any southern state for that matter, obviously they're probably going to want a republican person in that state, because the politics, and you're basically going to force them to take some of the different politics, by the way, "the washington post" released the information, i completely agree

that the republicans should still not back moore and should make him, you know, should not vote for him. but it does create a little bit of a false equivalence with some of the other cases. host: you talk about the politics of minnesota. colleen is a minnesota resident, line for democrats, minnesota resident. colleen, go ahead. caller: hi. i really don't think he should resign. i think he should just serve out his term, and then not run again. but there are so many more things going on in the united states of america that we should take care of before we start -- this is getting to be a landslide towards people, because it's something that has just kind of snowballed. but i don't think he should resign. i think he should just not run for the next term. host: explain that to me. so you think it's bad enough

that he shouldn't run again, but not so bad that he needs to go immediately, is that what you're saying? caller: yes, because so many other people that did the same, resign, but there's so many other things that should be taken care of, that maybe some other stuff should stop some way or another. host: what's the standard for immediate resignation? i don't think -- think that it's -- yes, he has done it. he's admitted that he's done it. but he was a comedian, too, so you don't know for sure if that picture was taken as a joke. you can't tell if he's really

roping her or not. i just think then everybody all the sudden should be accused of the same thing should remine. host: that's colleen in minnesota, on the sperm line 202-7nnesota residents, 48- 003. nt to keep you up to date on what happened idea. congressman al green, democrat from texas, was here yesterday alking about his effort to get a vote on his articles of impeachment. the house tossed aside that attempt, how "the washington times" reported it, choosing -- many democrats joining the republican majority in voting 3364-58 to table that resolution from al green after democratic leaders said that mr. trump's actions may be upsetting to the party, but that talk of impeachment was

premature, quoting nancy pelosi -- host: one other story we talked about yesterday was that vote that was going to happen in the house on gun legislation, a series of bills that had been combined, but the one that caught the most attention was the concealed carry reciprocity act. here's what was in "usa today" --

host: officials failed to report the background check system. back to your calls, talking about senator al franken, his expected announcement this morning about his political future. roberta is in san diego, california, line for republicans. roberta, go ahead. caller: first off, i sit here and i listened for about 30 or

40 years to the people across this country laugh at the ridiculous sexual jokes, the dirty jokes, the nasty jokes that have been thrown at women, about women, for women. i don't get why all the sudden everybody is shocked that someone who's in the middle of that world doing everything that everyone's laughed about, thought was so funny, why are we shocked that he's now the example of -- we made him a poster child. i don't understand how we can be this stupid that we don't see what's happened to us. we have a group of people in one place, and this nation -- it's called hollywood -- they make movies that are terrible, that are sexual, that are violent, that are everything that is bad for our society. we have video games for our kids to play that are violent, that are bloody, that are horrible. we have everything that comes

out of hollywood. if anyone can call in and tell me anything good that's come out of hollywood in the last 20 years, i would really appreciate it if they would. but in the meantime, why are we so concerned about mr. franken? since we made him this way. we encouraged his actions. we laughed at him. we gave him awards. we did everything that we should not have done. my personal view is he was never funny, none of them were ever funny. the rappers aren't funny when they call women whores. none of this is funny. nothing that we have done in this country for 15 or 20 years when it comes to our thinking of things being funny have been funny. host: jim is up next, iowa, line for democrats. go ahead, kim. caller: i don't believe he should resign, because i think the women should be careful and put everything in one basket. sexual assault is wrong.

pedophilia is wrong. and i want us as women, we can give false statements, too. i've seen the pictures of al franken, and i did you not see any assault. one lady had her husband taking a picture. where's her husband? why hasn't he stood up and said, yeah, he sexual assaulted my wife? i don't understand why all women is putting pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment into one basket. they need to stop doing it. that is dangerous. and it's sad. host: how should we be thinking about these issues, kim? where do you prioritize them in terms of when a public official should step down? caller: well, we always talking about due process. he's going through a due process. now we need more laws.

i seen that word on our taxpayer dollars for the harassment and sexual assault. now we're going to pay for pedophilia. we need to stop putting all this in one basket. we need to change our policy and stop using our taxpayer dollars for nasty stuff. that's not right. and we need -- we've heard people, even men, they can lose their job. or someone to scream for being touched on the shoulder and say that's sexual harassment. it's wrong. and we need to stop it and think, ladies, don't mess this up. host: kim in iowa. we're expected to hear from al franken sometime this morning on the senate floor. here were his comments to reporters last week about the allegations that he faced at that time. senator franken: from the stories, it's been clear that one are some women, and

is too many who feel that i have done something disrespectful, that's hurt them, and for that, i am tremendously sorry. going to that i am ve to be much more conscious in these circumstances, much more careful, much more sensitive, and that this -- that this will not happen again going forward. again, it's going to take a long time for me to regain that 's trust, but i hope starting work today that i can start to do that. host: we'll hear more from senator franken this morning. here's the lead editorial from the editorial board of the

"star tribune" out of minnesota, what their thoughts are on al franken's political uture. host: no senator can function effectively when he's lost the confidence of so many colleagues -- host: that was the editorial board of the "star tribune" this morning. albany, minnesota, a democrat. go ahead. caller: yes, good morning.

i'm in support of al franken. he's been a great senator for minnesota, and i think that he'd made a great president. i don't see that he's done anything that wrong. i'm 79 years old, and when i was young, what they're reporting now would be just making a pass at a girl. and i don't think that -- being he was in the u.s.o., i remember when bob hope used to go out on u.s.o. tours, and he made all kinds of sexual innuendos and that against the ladies. back in those days, nobody thought anything of it. it was just making a pass. so i'm in support of al. scommoip maxine, what do you do -- and maxine, what you think if he steps down? is there somebody to fill that seat in the senate? caller: from what i'm hearing, our governor would appoint somebody. i think al has two years left

in his term or four, i'm not sure. host: the report right now is it would most likely be the lieutenant governor, tina smith, who would hold that until a special election could be called to fill the remaining years on his seat, but go ahead. caller: ok. our other senator is amy clobe char, she's a democrat, and they have done wonderful things for minnesota, so i would hope that al would not resign. nd if the governor dayton does support somebody else, i hope it will be a democrat. but we just need to keep him there. host: las vegas, nevada, john is a republican. go ahead. caller: hi. i did not think that al franken should resign. i don't think an allegation makes you guilty. and i think the timing of this has to be called into play. i mean, women have been empowered for a long time.

it's not like it's the 1950's. if something happened to you, you need to bring it up when it happens. 10 years, 30 years later, how do you prove it? host: all right. lore see in california, line for democrats. lori, go ahead. caller: yes, hi. i'm a bit on the confused side. i feel both ways about al franken. one, he's the only one that has apologized and admitted, and i think he ought to probably be able to serve out his term and then just not reapply. and i think trump, which is the president, he got in, and he admitted to doing much worse efore he was even elected.

he's really doing bad for our country, and they won't even impeach him. and then the longest running senator, i think he had 52 years -- host: talking about former congressman john conyers. caller: yes. he just retired, but he didn't dmit any wrongdoing. if he can retire and not admit any wrongdoing, and then the republicans want to put roy i mean, two e, and or three of those women had him signing their box from school.

his signature, and he says he didn't know them and didn't date them. well, then how come they got is signature in their books? so i just think republicans don't have any morals, and we need more morals in government. host: that's lore knee california. you bring up john conyers. some continued reporting on the former dean of the house and the now former congressman, mr. conyers, announced his decision to step down in a call to a detroit radio show earlier this week, my legacy will continue through my children, he said, endorsing his son to succeed him in the house. however, nbc news reported wednesday that the younger mr. conyers, age 27, was arrested on domestic violence charges against his girlfriend this year in los angeles. police declined to press charges because of a lack of independent witnesses, and the reasonable possibility that the

woman's injury was accidentally sustained, according to that report -- host: we saw senators calling for al franken to go. here's the chart of how it went down yesterday, starting just after 11:25 a.m. narcotics span of seven minutes, four democratic senators, all women, publicly asked for al franken to step down. they were joined by just minutes later by tammy baldwin of wisconsin, senator robert casey of pennsylvania became the first male to join the female senators in calling for franken to step down. he was followed by joe onnelly, sherrod brown, debbie

stabenow, michael bennet, richard durbin, the minority whip in the senate, dianne feinstein, ron widen, senator omas carper, senator amy chobe char tweed out in the ternoon yesterday -- senator klobuchar said it is unacceptable, and this afternoon i spoke with senator franken, and he will be making an announcement tomorrow morning. i am confident he will make the right decision, she said. back to your calls. jerry is in barstow, california, line for independents. go ahead. caller: good morning. my question is this -- if mr. franken does resign or is removed, will he receive a golden parachute as a retirement package? that's about it. thank you. have a very nice day, sir.

host: jerry, i'm actually going to write that down. we're going to be joined by david hawkings, senator editor at roll call, and a man who knows capitol hill very well. i'm going to ask david hawkings that exact question on his pension. john, north branch, minnesota, line for those minnesota residents. john is a republican. go ahead. caller: yeah, hello. i do believe al franken should resign. and i was wondering, i kind of wish this would have came out before he was re-elected, or before he was elected to the senate, because if we remember, , won by a very small margin and if this would have came out before the election, i'm sure he wouldn't have won election. and that's all i had to comment on, thank you. host: did you vote for him in that election, that very close

election? caller: no. host: and why not? caller: i wouldn't have voted for al franken because he's a democrat. i'm a republican. host: john, who do you think could try to take that seat over as a republican? who few support in minnesota to step up -- who do you support in minnesota to step up and maybe run in that special election if al franken does step down? caller: i don't remember who he was running against. so if it was eric paulson or who it was, i can't remember. host: i remember it was norm coleman, right? is there somebody right now in innesota that you'd support? caller: well, i don't know who's running, who would be running. host: well, we'll certainly see. the first step would be for senator al franken to resign today. and we're expected to hear from

him on the senate floor. also a reminder this week, we are moving closer and closer towards a potential government shutdown. it would happen at midnight tomorrow night if it isn't averted. yesterday, president trump was asked at a cabinet meeting if there was going to be a government shutdown. here's what president trump had to say. president trump: it could happen. the democrats are really looking at something that is very dangerous for our country. they are looking at shutting down. they want to have illegal immigrants in many cases, people that we don't want in our country, they want to have illegal immigrants pouring into our country, bringing with them crime, tremendous amounts of crime. we don't want to have that. we want to have a great, beautiful, crime-free country. and we want people coming into our country, but we want them to come on our basis, and that's why we're being so

careful with our process and our screening. and as you know, we had a tremendous victory the other day in the supreme court with the ban. got quite a bit of attention, probably not as much of attention as it deserved. but we had tremendous -- that was a tremendous victory for this country. not a victory for me. it was a victory for our country. so the democrats maybe will want to shut down the country, because they want people flowing into our country. and i want people coming into our country, but i want to vet those people, and i want to vet them very carefully, because we don't red cal islamic terrorism in this country, and we don't want to have crime in this country. host: that was the president yesterday. for more on where we are when it comes to government funding past friday night at midnight, we're joined on the phone by the senior senate staff writer at roll call. walk us through the next 48

hours in terms of government funding and efforts to stave that off by members of the house and senate. guest: well, good morning. it seems like the crisis is going to be averted, at least for about two weeks. the house is going to move forward, already gone through the rules committee, as i understand it, and they're going to move forward on a two-week continuing resolution. it wouldn't do much except for change the date of the expiration of the government funding. and also make sure that they don't run out of money for children's health insurance programs between now and then, making a little bit of a technical change there. which really pushes the whole issue off until december 22. all indications are that pretty much as soon as the bill arrives from the house, that

the senate will ask to pass it as well, and that's if they don't ask before they move. sometimes the senate will come up an agreement to basically vote on a continuing resolution, even before it has the paperwork. so everything looks good for the next couple of days, but really, if you've got plans the week leading into christmas, you may need to re-evaluate. host: so what are the hangups for a longer term deal coming sooner? on the 22nd or what's stopping that from happening, and what changes in 14 days? guest: well, it's not what changes in 14 takes. obviously the leadership is heading to the white house for a meeting with president trump, and this time nancy pelosi, the house minority leader, and chuck schumer, the senate minority leader, are actually supposed to show up, so that's one change. but more significantly, the

question is whether or not there's going to be an agreement on government funding levels more broadly. this is the sort of top-line spending level for the various departments from defense and also domestic programs, whether that's going to be reached between now and the 22nd, if it is, then clearly they'll just sort of punt things off probably until january when the omnibus spending bill, the big package, can be ready. but as indicated by the president in that clip that you just played of concerns about rampant crime and the various immigration lines of rhetoric from president trump, there is always the chance with this president that he says no, i want the funding for the wall today. we tonight think he's going to do that this week, but he very

well could on the 22nd say, no, you know what, you didn't fund my wall, domestic border, so i'm going to not sign this bill. that's the kind of thing that we can't really predict how it's going to turn out, even if under normal circumstances we're talking about a budget deal to try to kick things off until mid to late january. with donald trump as president, we just don't know. host: and when that budget deal comes together, what about some of the other issues that the president talked about, that democrats have talked about, the immigration issues specifically? where is that going to fall as far as you can tell right now? guest: well, for the democrats, they are really pushing for either some version of the so-called dream act that would allow the people who received deferred action from president obama, mainly young people who came to this country without

legal status when they arrive, who sort of -- were sort of left in legal limbo for a really long time, and with this expiration coming up in the springtime, democrats really, really want that issue addressed before the end of the calendar year. but what we don't know yet is whether or not they will filibuster any sort of government funding bill at the end of the year, or if this is just going to be lot of democrats voting against a spending bill. the other thing that has to be worked out, or one of the other things that has to be worked out that i'm looking at, but hasn't gotten a whole lot of attention yet, is that they -- to re-authorize the some of the provisions of the foreign intelligence surveillance act, some of the wire tapping language, or the wire tapping secret court sort

of stuff has to be reviewed and renewed as well before the end of the year. so there's going to be a whole basket of things that has to get into that december 22 going forward continuing resolution, and that could complicate matters, too. host: we'll all watch it in the days and weeks to come. viewers can read about it in roll call as well. niels, always appreciate the time. guest: thank you. host: and as niels pointed out, a step in that process expected to take place today in the house with that vote on the short-term funding gap. here's some other action in the house today, other hearings, including one we're covering featuring the f.b.i. director, christopher ray. he'll be before the house judiciary committee at 10:00 a.m. this morning. we're showing that on c-span3. you can also watch it at c-span.org and on the c-span radio app. also, the house administration committee is having a hearing today on changing sexual

harassment reporting policies on capitol hill. that happening at 10:00 a.m. we'll be streaming that on c-span.org. about five minutes left before 8:00. ment to get back to your phone calls. we've been talking this morning about the expected announcement from senator al franken about his political future, expected to come sometime after 10:00 a.m. this morning when the senate convenes. he's expected to go to the senate floor and make that announcement. chuck in ohio, line for independents. what do you think? caller: thank you for c-span. i think it's a little premature for al to step down. i mean, there's some people that have paid people to keep their mouth shut on the congress and senate that need to come forward and be honest about what they're doing. and then we have a president that has 12 women that said they have been molestly by him, and he got away with it, even a

verbal announcement of it. i think it's all wrong. and it's hypocritical of this country. thank you. bye. host: dave is in oakland, new jersey, line for republicans. go ahead. caller: yes, good morning. i agree with that last caller whole heartedly. i'm a product of the 1960's. my dad was a gentleman. my mother was a lady. ok? what we have here are serial seducers. i have four daughters. if i ever caught one of these serial seducers, they told me about what they were doing, you can bet i wouldn't allow for it. and you notice they're all unattractive men who are not married. no wonder no woman would want to stay with them. thank you for c-span. brian lamb should get the congressional medal of honor for having c-span. thank you, sir. host: todd is in baltimore, maryland, line for democrats. todd, go ahead. caller: good morning, c-span. thank you for taking my call. i think and i'm hoping that al franken will do the right

thing, not just for himself, but for the democratic party. show he at least has some class left. as for our president and the american people, i'm still in shock that we have a president who has admitted to sexually assaulting women. and i think the bar is low. as a matter of fact, the bar is in the basement. it's on the floor. they need to get that president out there. i give credit to the media for exposing this administration, along with what senator al green has tried to do, keep the president, but shouldn't be there in the first place. thank you. host: judy is in minneapolis, a democrat. judy, go ahead. caller: no, i'm not a democrat. i called in and told you i was an independent. host: ok, judy, independent. caller: i'm a registered independent. i'm also a victim of pedophilia as a child. and this is back in the 1950's. i can tell you that this is one

of the saddest things during my fe, and i was a moderately ttractive woman. he would be physical. i remember slamming one man's hand in the door. i quit after that. another time i got a job. i was there two days and made coffee and typed. and whatever, was married. manager of that office asked me out on a date, and i quit that job. i was fairly bright and hard working and did that. but i'm surprised. i don't think al franken should resign. i think if he thinks that this in -- we fired every male congress that hit on someone -- and by the way, including there on c-span.

as younger people, you do really stupid things and do it all the time. and so do women. but i can tell thaw someone tried to force a kiss on my and stick their tongue, i would fight them. there's always your knee. there are ways to defend yourselves. i don't believe all these women. i don't believe that when you take a cell phone picture and you have to get practically cheek to cheek to get in on the phone, you know, who knew where his hands were? was there someone standing behind them? you want to cut off their arms? maybe now men should just raise their hands if they're in an elevator. i can tell you that the charges of pedophilia are one thing. i was 11 years old. did they succeed? no. i got away. he was naked. you know, i got away and ran to a neighbor's. it's a case. it was

back in those days believe me, girls didn't tell. things to erious women. host: thanks for sharing your story. caller in the t first hour of the "washington joined by xt we are dan newhouse to talk about the government funding and daca program then elliott engel and just president trump's ecision to formally recognize jerusalem as israel's capital. >> this weekend on american 3 saturday n c-span 7:00 p.m. eastern yale

historian joanne frequently on alexander hamilton. became washington president he made hamilton the nation's first secretary of treasury. in that post hamilton structureed a national system strengthen and mpower the national government watching a fierce political battle against those who wanted left powerful national government and thomas jefferson and james madison were his opponents. >> sunday at 4:00 p.m. the 1980's training film unwelcome ffection about inappropriate behavior in the work place. > you are new here and hard to imagine on the staff i make a lot of decisions. i pick up evaluation reports. i sign three-day passes and just a word of advice if you want to get along on the

beneficial to e you to be nice to me. > at 8:00 on the presidency historian daniel feller on president andrew jackson's challenge and cripple the bank of united states in the 1830's. president before had said anything like this. warned esidents had americans against entangling foreign alliances. they had warned americans intense sectionalism and partisanship. e wonder them against control of their own government by the rich and powerful. all erican history tv weekends every weekend only on c-span 3. >> "washington journal" continues. host: congressman dan newhouse from member and

the house will vote on the short-term resolution to stave the possible government shutdown. what is your sense of how tough that will be and how much it might face? guest: thank you for having me. today to you bor and rest of the country. some time today we will be a continuing resolution that will fund the government through the 22nd of december. i think over the last several a lot of 's been conversation and back and forth conference especially to prepare for this day. that from what i'm hearing today should go pretty smoothly. host: why do we have to wait before a government shutdown to conversations? could this concern about the lights going off in government avoided? have been guest: i don't know that we were

for any ff or delaying specific or strategic reason. been a lot there's on our plate up to this date and dealing with ions those things right in front of it. i think this is not an unusual thing we are here today. i said, i do believe we are in a good place and we should be able to get this done any problem. host: what does two weeks get you and what do you want to see a longer-term deal? guest: that gives us more time o negotiate some of the things that are necessary in order to funding o pass a measure for the rest of the funding year. i should point out the house, we member of the appropriations committee have all 12 job, we passed appropriations bills. e sent them to the senate two months ago. and -- more than two months ago.

and enate has that package i think we should automobile -- able to get there. give us time to negotiate some of the things that are required. talking about budget caps and spending for domestic and military side. to be worked ed out to get a final package passed. package n that final passes do you think it will daca e some language on and the immigration issue. i know it is an issue you joined of your republican colleagues to talk about. i think that i have been saying a long time this is an that i believe can pass on its own merit. is a strong enough backing congress.e there's a lot of good arguments made in the house and senate, from the administration a lot strong statements that i

that weefer and i think can accomplish this passing a legislative solution without having to resort to on a spending package. host: when does that happen? that march ntil deadline? of a i have been part group that has been pushing to get this condition sooner end of the y the year so we can take this off the peoplend put these young who are in legal uncertainty, legal certainty in their lives, some continuity. enough nk if there is urgency we should address there not e the end of the year, wait until the march deadline. losingre people each day legal status and it is something we owe it to them to be able to with a legislative solution that will work for

them. ost: one possible solution proposed senator grassley the senate judiciary committee three-year extension tied to border security to build technological infrastructure along the u.s.a. mexico border. support?a plan that you guest: i don't know all the details about that. in my estimation i certainly with some of the things that the senator is trying to accomplish. on one hapnd but on the other can down the he road as far as finding that legislative solution for these we have ple, i think the ability to do that right now and accomplish some of the things that i think most people like to see as far as increased border security and other issues. -- we are talking newhouse.essman dan 202-748-80 and 48-8001, 202-748-8000

202-748-8002 are the numbers. your calls an comments. the congressman is a member of -- projections committee appropriations committee and house rules committee. for those that don't exactly rules committee is explain your role and because it a lot of focus this week on the high profile bills. guest: the rules committee is the oldest standing committees. place where every single piece of legislation goes through authorizing or has to ations committee come through the rules committee before it can go to the floor. we can determine whether or not amendments can be made in rder or what the amendments could be. we can amend the bill if we choose to in the rules committee. is kind of the gate keepers of the legislative prosecutes. you need to do that? why not allow members to make they have enough support on the floor of the house before the final vote

happens? a good question. f there is a lot of need to be able to have a filter, something used to be the speaker's committee so it is an pportunity for the majority leadership to be able to have some impact on the legislation to its coming to the floor. robert is calling from georgia, line for democrats. go ahead. caller: good morning. when i was in school the teacher used to say show your work. up daca?lding i want names. that is all i want, tell me the names. who is holding up daca? right now what is happening -- anybody is say that holding up daca at the moment. is anassure you that this issue that is probably as much asanything maybe not as much tax reform but because that is a

huge issue as well. conversations on a regular basis between all of congress. there are small group meetings every day. probably at i spend myself at least half of my day , siting with members of my -- both s much the sides much the house, instead of to do this 't want people are trying to find the correct balance. some one-on-one r want a -- some want a clean daca bill meaning nothing related to border are included.ose host: is that the dream act? guest: yes. others are wanting to see more in the way of security measures. find a e trying to balance, that sweet spot in the of le that a majority members of both houses can

accept. a very important thing to remember is the administration will accept. we need one very important vote that is the president. we want -- in my estimation, we one shot at this. one shot to get it right so we to get it very hard to that spot where the majority of the house and the president support it. host: how would you describe that sweet spot? you? would it be for guest: i think it is clear the american public would like to improvements in the security measures that are taken not only n the border but in the interior of our country. plus, and this is a very mportant thing, we want to get to where we don't have in 10 or 15 years to go through this again. we want to prevent us being -- prevent us from being in the situation in another decade. o, take measures to prevent this kind of situation.

idaho, jake scow, is a republican. caller: good morning. first of all say thanks for doing your job on this. appropriations bill and the senate needs to do their job. and and, second, on daca, the president said he didn't want to kbg out the daca students. i'm glad to see you are standing this, he president on especially another many segregation issue this is so important to family farms. we have a lot of them in north idaho. making sure people have access here and staying here is huge. so my question is, do you think with a solution by the end of the year? do you feel confident in this happening? guest: on the daca issue itself, sir? host: i think he is gone but i he meant.at is what guest: i have to tell you there is a lot of support from other house to do e

something soon. that people are beginning it realize the urgency of doing something soon. president as you know gave us until march. 8 have a march, i believe, deadline. but like i said before, there are young people being impacted daily basis as their daca expires so we need to address it sooner than later. think that the momentum is building. i'm optimistic but cautiously optimistic. easy to get anything assed in the house or senate but we are working hard on a daily basis. i appreciate your bringing up up segregation and importance -- immigration and agriculture and i'm a farmer just across the eastern washington and it is a huge issue in washington state as well as around the country. host: what does it mean to your

farm? family farm?cre guest: it is. i'm from ley is where and we have a large variety of different crops that are raised washington. over 300 crops are raised commercially in washington state is a huge agricultural state. but it is intensive. necessary to is raise crops that we have in our states. is a huge issue, it really is. that we need it solve this immigration problem ecause of the fact of the matter is the folks that we have coming in to do the agricultural absolutely need. there's not enough american citizens to get the work done to feed our country and rest of the world. so this is a solution that we working on in order to not -- agriculture

but other aspects. have you hired daca people on your farm? we don't ask that so i can't tell you whether i have or not. ost: we are talking with congressm congressman dan newhouse. david is in crab orchard, west virginia, independent. morning. caller: good morning, congressman. if a nonpolitician president the american people are tired of congress not doing funding of our nation and said he was not going to accept anything short of being the ished didn't you -- funding for the iscal year or continued resolution for the fiscal year those two options, instead of partial two weeks, two toths, but he was only going accept one or the other instead

of playing around with it, which congress is doing saying they need more time. why don't you partially fund it whole year. that way you have plenty of time and don't have to play silly games. what congress does and hat is what the politicians have been doing the last 20 years playing games. guest: well, david, i appreciate your thoughts on that. -- i do not like a continuing resolution. most people do not. it is not a good thing for our it is not good for the military. host: why? what continuing resolutions do is set the last ng levels for the fiscal year and by law there can where the tments to money goes. whether the needs change or not. really ties the hands of

agencies in order to be able to those funds, those raceway where they should go. i will support a temporary c.r. but i would be reluctant to a longer mething for term because that just is not fiscal action that we should take. it is in the responsible. host: jim. leesburg, virginia. republican. combat vet in afghanistan and i was there in my nse of my country and citizenship is priceless. for a in san diego while. nd come in e in apbd emporarily make sure you get them out of my country. i'm not mother teresa. work something out long term with these kids brought one of them y should be verified they were brought in under the

ircumstances that they described. i know you will do the same thing you will talk about this give them amnesty. i will go back to the parents. parents have to go. the world has to know you cannot with your e and children or yourself and lay 20 years and 5 or you will be a citizen. jim, thank you. thank you for your service as well, sir. great points. like i said earlier, the efforts we are going through now is to this problem that we have in front of us and to make ffort to prevent it from being a problem in the future. that's why we can't just pass a act. dream we have to have other measures to do e so we don't have it again in 10 or 15 years. these young people were brought

ere under no fault of their own. they were young of age and no ontrol over what their parents were doing. hold untry, we do not children accountable for the actions of their parents. it is a difficult question. we do? it is something i think that is the right thing to do and also i said, we time like don't want to have to repeat this in the future. earlier you pointed out a very busy week in congress. we have seen a lot of them recently. other big story and yesterday was the president jerusalem as israel's capital. i want to get your thoughts on process of moving the u.s. embassy to jerusalem. . think it is the right decision. it is something that other administrations and presidents to doing and haven't been able to get there so the president is following hrough on a commitment and recognizing what truly is in fact the center of the israeli

government. we have had a consulate in jerusalem many years and so i is a logical step. talking with ongressman dan newhouse republican of washington. following up on that move, i sanders' how bernie tweet from yesterday after this came out. he said there's a reason why all past u.s. administrations have not made this move and why have s around the world warned trump it with undermine the prospects for an israeli israeli-palestinian peace our abilityd damage to broker it. guest: i had not soon that tweet i don't think that in any potential agreement that i have i know is anythat being of jerusalem not part of israel. most of the functions of the

take place rnment here and it is a logical step as every other country with do. we would recognize the capital and place our embassy there. -- i will just say that estimation not in my impact negatively the peace process between the palestinian israel.y and i think it is a logical step we kudos to the nd president for following through on his commitment to do so. host: rodney is in florida line for democrats. since we got away from you got understand when you are dealing with juvenierusalem don't

belong to the people that you put there. the reason the united states is happy the jewish people they put there came from europe. you had people there established nd you come there and put your people that you like the best. that is whether donald trump is trying to do now. don't want nobody with any color to them to come to the united states. hat is the reason you are having the problem with daca. he wants to pick and choose the white folks. look at his cabinet. you want to pick white folks. that is as simple as that. host: can you respond? for the ank you comment. at the m has been united ship between -- jerusalemvenile goes back. i don't necessarily agree with your point of view but i respect that. like i said, i think this is

something that the president saw a natural step to take as we have had a consulate in time and for a long the center of israel's overnment, many functions already in jerusalem. this is something we would do with any other country in the world. thomas from tennessee a republican. caller: good morning. are y'all? epresentative don't let them shut the government down because it is going it hurt every one of he people in the united states and it will definitely hurt our economy. ed look to go back -- i ould like to go back to the subject of al franken. only reason they are calling for resign is because they caused the black congressman to esign and the way democrats spoke is white supremacists.

rid of have to get franken because the blacks are cane about it. that is the whole truth there. ost: i will give you a chance to respond. guest: no one likes to shut down government. hat is not a physically responsible move to take. o, just as today the president will meet with leadership of the house and senate it talk about so i'm hopeful and heads imistic that cool will prevail and we can keep the government open. not goodith you, it is for anybody and hurts a lot of people. of your question had to do with israel -- al franken. the thing i think we need to like any f this, just other ememployment location in

the congress needs to have a safe, secure work every one for involved. e need to take positive steps to make sure that is the case. i will be working hard to make sure we do. host: what are some steps congress could attactake. is a house administration committee hearing looking into possible changes it the reporting process. guest: that has to be open and people have to feel comfortable they can come forward. barriers.ld be no they need it feel protected -- to feel protected. one thing to changes there should be no taxpayer dollars settlement of sexual harassment in my estimation, either. host: we will talk more about later this morning. we will be joined by david senior of roll call editor to focus on the house

administration hearing. to get as many cal calls. line for shington republicans. will newhouse. i was wonder iing i think it is president is he doing with jerusalem and i think he's doing well with the economy. i wish people the democrats would fall behind him because he is doing a good job. but my question for you is, do you think you guys are going to the house in 2018? what is it looking like? yet? you know guest: thank you for the question. y the way, forbes, washington, has a special place for me. my sister lived there over 30 years. calling. for we have our work cut out for us, i will admit that. we need to produce and show the merican people that we can govern and can accomplish

hings, the priorities that we ran on last election. i feel good that we will be able to do that. measure he tax reform that is in conference committee right now. i truly believe that is going to a big step for our nation and the individuals around the country. be a before thing. it will help jump start the conomy and that will benefit all of the citizens of the united states. but the onus is on us. the proof is in the pudding. we will have to run on our records and i will be looking to more accomplishments between now and next election so we can optimistic that follow through and be successful. host: as we come to the under of he year is this where you taul thought you would be with the republican house, senate and when you were thinking about it in january on opening day of this congress? the house from my

perspective have done a lot. hundreds of d bills. we have accomplished a lot of things. many of them in a bipartisan way. some big things that tax reform right there.s we have done other things but unfortunately our colleagues the capitol dome have not had time or not gotten to as toy of them as we would like see. but i would like to see more to get to the president, yes. absolutely. we have still got time. it is something i remind my people, nts and other our forefathers came up with a well and t works very this system makes it very bills into lawss rightfully so. it should be hard. day it is r difficult. so there is a lot of frustration country but our part on how hard it is. but i think it is the right should be and it hard to pass laws that people

have to live under. they ave to be as good as can be. host: carrollton, virginia, joe is an independent. caller: good morning. with regard to the government funding the sad about this is it accomplishes nothing other than myself tial people like who got sent him during the reagan administration get sent week and we later get eimbursed so nothing is accomplished. secondly, with donald trump, trump, moving the united states embassy it i'm in full support of it. i think it should have been done but when you o talk about israel you truck -- about jerusalem. as far as getting bills passed, i gest problem i have is cannot understand how people can

down part lanes ontinuously -- party lines continuously instead of voting for the good of the country. party lines toss get stuff done. ost: are you still a federal employee? caller: yes. host: what kind of work do you do? enjoy being a federal employee? host: i have been retired since 2010. but back during ronald reagan's everything he shut down i was if you are leed for a furloughed. i got paid in the end but it accomplished nothing because the didn't shut down, the only thing that shut down were nonessential people. guest: thank you, joe. i appreciate your comments. know about that particular shutdown it actually government ting the more than if we kept it open.

guess it makes a political point. t is kind of that ultimate nuclear option that -- but in what does it accomplish? not a whole lot. hard to avoid ng th that. if we can come to an agreement and leadership of both houses are meeting today list of is high on the the agenda. i do appreciate your comments on israel as well. thank you very much. i agree, i think it is the right step. a call from illinois line for democrats. caller: thanks for taking my call. capital to moving the to jerusalem, i'm asking this tongue in cheek but how uch did the president consider living in a place like jordan

until y daughter lived just recently? she just moved about a week ago. that would be.lt as a matter of fact, they lived embassy. the u.s. not 'm so glad that she is there. but how much did he take into consideration and also the fact there's tpno ambassador in of run thingskind there for them. iat is one of the issues that don't think he even thought about. what do you have to say about that? i can't tell you how much was thought about by the president before making his decision. i don't know. i can tell you that this is not just happen overnight. it will take three to four years for the transition it happen. gradual.l be

we may probably have a new different than the consulate the security measures considered.o be i really have no insight as to things that the president took into consideration in making this decision. said, it is a follow-through on a commitment he made. listens and nk he takes advice from many different people before diagnose something like this. it is also something that republican trations and democrat have also committed there. never got it is a culmination of a long happening. the thought process i really can't answer that. courtesy images from of getty from overnight the past this from gaza some eaction to the president's

announcement yesterday. bei concerned s like the caller's daughter? guest: well, i have just seen of the images myself. hottest ne of the button issues in the middle east certainly. is we are recognizing what in fact the capital of the count country. ally in the iggest middle east. , someone we have depended on and they have depended on us many years. so, this conflict we are working hard to solve as you know and we for a long time. given time nk that this should not pose a hurdle or obstacle to finding that peace. host: john in cleveland, ohio.

independent. caller: good morning. the continuing resolution and more riations are nothing than a figure leaf. i used to be in a fortune 500 company. fighti -- we are fighting budget is a sacred cow, sponsors i understand. i have been watching c-span the 1979 when it went on air. i watch it -- i don't understand congressman. i don't care if republican or democrat. continuing resolution is a spoiler the they don't have to minute.il the last the wolf is at the door. inside wolves.re why? the payroll thing reduced sacred cow for defense

programs are cut. is that thing. i'm not a conservative or liberal. had to oud american who pass the citizenship test. most of them won't pass the test.nship these people cannot walk in their shadows. i taught public policy. ost: john, we will give the congressman a chance it answer. guest: i agree that the c.r.'s good if that was the point you were making and in live there age we are concerns around the globe militarily and one of the negative impacts of this continuing resolution is not for a the government full fiscal year is the impact, on the readiness of our armed forces. necessary roops with tools, resources that they need

ith a certainty so they can plan for the future to be able o respond to those things that we face around the world. i think it is key. the primary f functions of the federal government, to protect the and that is probably he biggest casualty of irresponsible financial fiscal planning on the part of congress is exactly that, our military readiness. that is something we are working not to have happen. host: we have heard about efforts to try to get the outside of this continuing resolution process to do that funding as the rest of this continues to be however long that takes. is that possible or no? it whether 't speak we can do that right now but certainly there is good reason for that. do that, every

branch, every agency within the embark government has to on an effort to be as fiscally possible.e as that doesn't exclude the either.y branch we need to be as efficient as we dollars. taxpayer certainly auditing, budgeting, ccountability is incumbent on every agency. host: we want to thank -- itioning man dan congressman dan new hourps. e joined by elliott engel the ranking member on the affairs committee but until then open phones we will calls on any public policy issue you want to talk bout the republicans 202-748-8001, democrats call call 8-8000, independents 202-748-8002. you can start calling and we will be right back.

after words at on old star father calls his immigration from pakistan to the united states. interviewed by california congressman jimmy panetta. trait, two ommon our audience can draw the conclusion one is they free press because free press criticizes them. of law -- rule of law. they do not lake judges and rule they do not like judges or rule of law. such a given me perspective of nothing having

having l liberties to all of these dignities and as we speak further i will tell you moment it was when i went to take the oath of citizenship. i wish every american would at least read the oath of citizenship. so much and speaks to hopefulness and dignities that enshrined in our constitution and bill of rights. 9:00 t is sunday night eastern on c-span 2 book tv. >> c-span where history unfolds daily. in 1979 c-span was created as a america's ice by cable television companies and is brought to you today by your satellite provider. on the en phones "washington journal" on public

policy issues. you can call now. on the put the lines screen on this pearl harbor day.mber entrance 76 years after the attack the taking place today as it does every year at the world valor in the pacific national monument in pearl harbor. to begin at 7:50 local time and a moment of 7:55 the ll occur at began and flyover follow in attendance today and bar ll be pearl similar survivors, world war ii veterans, family members and dignitaries. is the picture there on he pearl harbor remember entrance -- remember entrance day. they are at half staff at the capitol.

gunmambrills from maryland, line for republicans. for having me on. i want to comment on the topic talking about, i guess the new embassy will be jerusalem in israel. it is kind of concerning. should concern more americans why it seems that such a pivotal subject in america. america should be first. e should not be thinking about what israel -- where our embassy is in israel. any sense.make considering israel attacked the the u.s. erty to get into a war with egypt i don't think that -- i really don't that is a really good ally. -- what they er

oaxed us into with iraq and syria. host: when republicans say allay is the strongest the u.s. has in the phaoerpls middle east in the you don't agree. caller: no. strong ally will do that. i think they manipulate our a elligence agency and doing lot of bad things around the world covertly through their american government with apac. big s more money than pharma and oil put together. lobby.s a pretty powerful most powerful in the world. host: michael in maryland. fort washington, india indiana. fort washington, maryland. caller: sorry about that. -- host: sorry about that. caller: i want to say i wish on the time check

that is spent in vietnam. longest i have been trying to tell people we sent so many pedophiles to vietnam because system of the there had the power to donate these people and over there were using there r young girls to make oney just to make a living because of the conditions. but let me tell you. somebody should investigate the time moore was in vietnam. host: that is james in fort washington. go to capitol hill where we are joined by congressman elliott engel parts of the bronx and westchester county and ranking member of the house affairs committee. congressman, we have been talking about president trump's jerusalem recognize as israel's capital. you released a statement move tive of that yesterday. why is that?

guest: first of all, the back in 1995 -- i was part of it, i voted for it -- move the u.s. embassy to jerusalem. a waiver in the bill and every president has used it.t to delay at what point should the listen to congress? has been mething that on the books for 22 years. jerusalem is clearly the capital israel. the parliament building, r is in jerusalem. the prime minister and ministers jerusalem. and it is not really a question government seat of is. the uestion of course is dispute over the palestinian state. e have waited a long time and there doesn't seem to be much

progress in negotiations the past several to a twice israel agreed two-state solution with the palestinians nd rejected it. there is why congress voted for the 1995 and i support moving of the embassy. it doesn't mean that the peace that they dead or cannot still have further negotiations down the line. no doubt in my mind i have been to israel many times nd jerusalem is the capital of israel. host: the editorial board of the times calling it dangerous decision and senseless provocation. respond.ou to they say it not only provoked ut-raj among muslims but fuel for extremists and diminished america in the eyes of the world. his words about not taking a position on the city's final

seems to have p it empted his agreement t broker a deal. for someone had prides him on is odd e deal maker it he should surrender this card before negotiations have begun. guest: i don't know what card they are talking about. now ve not up until ecognized jerusalem as the capital and i don't see the palestinians rushing to make peace. can't have the threat of violence deter you from moving forward and doing what you think right. i don't think this puts any obstacle -- i think that there i supported a two-state solution and there should be negotiations. negotiations now and nothing is really changed, you are going to get the same you have been getting the last 50 years. and let's be clear about this. state of israel was founded

n 1948, and in 1948 they declared juvenile their capital -- jerusalem their capital so it 50 years plus, 70 years plus has been the capital of israel. so we're not changing facts on the ground. just saying we recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel. in future negotiations if there are any between israel and want to tinians they change that it is up to the parties concerned. americans we are saying that our embassy will be in now recognize e jerusalem as the capital of congress in 1995 voted that way. so, presidents just implemented congress did 22 years ago. we should have moved it 22 years ago. host: how would you assess the job jared kushner has done in between israel and the palestinians?

guest: i'm not familiar with the negotiations. haven't been informed about them so i couldn't comment on it. host: do you think rex tillerson should be more involved in there process from what you have been see from the outside? guest: there is a problem and if you just put together the same old equation the same ind up with old product. we know what we think is fair or an ultimate deal of a two state solution. but if that is is not what the parties are going to be able to set up more of the same you will get the same result. nfortunately the same result over the past 20 to 30 years has they have notthat been able to agree on anything. of s clear it me the fault they had inians when prime ministers they had peace

talib table giving palestinians part of the use as their capital. i think the palestinians ought soul searching. i think that they deserve a state of their own but they are by going to get it threatening terrorism. i heard the leader of believe hamas rning of threatening. ofy won't get it on the back terror and you cannot use terror coerccoerce. it is forthright to threaten be terror is going to if we do this or move our embassy. we have to do what we think is to say weagain i want where thest jerusalem knesset is and seats of power in remain in se

jerusalem and our embassy could territory that is not disputed. eople want to make a big deal about there can and again quite frankly i wish the united states moved its embassy to jerusalem or put its embassy in in 1948 when israel was formed. but we have always had difficulty. i think it is 70 years later and it.is time to do for the have some calls congressman. democrat from new york. anking member of the foreign affairs committee. we will start on the line for independe the bronx.s mark in caller: good morning. thank you for c-span. at first i have to tell you i was not happy about this to move the capital to jerusalem. but listening to congressman

i think it might not be -- it probably isn't such a big can't be put under threat of terrorism. things i think and i'm not a conspiracy person i see mike pence he ind donald trump during t announcement and i know that an evangelical and i believe a lot of people come e that jesus won't back until jerusalem is the capital of israel and i really might have just said, you know, needling donald decision so the that jesus can come back. pence believes that. ost: congressman, i will give you a chance to respond. . and pence was my colleague house member for many years and

he served on the foreign affairs me.ittee with i know him well. he's always been a strong israel.er of i think that he always tries to comes right thing when he to the middle east. so i don't know what factors decision. but he's always been a friend of israel. everett, washington, debby is a democrat. caller: i would like to make the that jerusalem is an to rtant religious city many, many religions and it them. belong to all of not just the jews of israel. horrible to the the jews n people and not indigenous people to the area. they don't even belong there. it were given there place live and taken land from other

people. and they have been horrible to the people around them, all the countries around them. them.have attacked and they are bad actors. host: congressman. well, i disagree 100%. irst of all, the jewish connection with israel and years old, 2,000 can't be denied. he jewish people come from the middle east. i think that the call are should ead the bible and learn something so she apparently doesn't know much about the situation on the ground. host: how soon could we see jerusalem?e to how does that process work? some insight?s take it could and will several years. i think that the president made declaration is

first a suitable place has to be found. a lot of security requirements for our embassies the world. bviously important embassy in jerusalem with threats of violence and things like that we to be protected. it will take several years to or build a ilding new facility. watching in kosovo the u.s. embassy there in capital go up and i was there the ground breaking about a year and a half ago and when i i we -- other week progress.ade it takes several years to build an embassy. there is make sure security and it is modern and up to date and there are a lot of particularly an embassy in the middle east that as the opportunity to be volatile. it will be a several-year

process. i don't know how many but three four. something like that perhaps. host: when we talk about the overseas i americans want to shift your focus to south korea. , y concerns about americans not only americans assigned to work there by the government but living in that area especially in light of the latest missile launch and from north korea? guest: it is a major concern. kim jung un the leader of north seems to just be unhinged ending all those missiles over japan, provocations. but we have to deal with him. dismiss him. it is not easy to say we will something like that. that is wrong thing because they weaponry and so

is probably about 35 be s away so there could terrible tragedies with the also south korea. in obviously we have a lot of and military nnel personnel in south korea so we have to be careful. there is no magic bullet. we have to work with the chinese are he chinese in my value the ones that have most of the we have to deal with the country we have differences with. -- we need be very to be very careful and frankly

ame calling is not very helpful. host: do you think we should reconsider sending u.s. athletes it south korea for employment games in two months. is that something that the raceway should consider. guest: the president is privy to a lot of documents but i wouldn't reconsider. i don't think we allow treufrss they are individual terrorists or the government is or a threat i ts don't think we need to let do.ows threats g what we if we allow that to happen every terrorist orist or government would make a threat it with influence what we do and we don't want that. so, i think we should take precaution and i think that our ecurity forces know what to do and i think our intelligence knows what to do and i think we along as usual.

but of course obviously take a precaution. host: wood ridge, illinois, terry is a republican. good morning. i think that president trump did about putting the embassy there some time. i do. it is the writing on the wall he palestinians face it and realize it is going to happen. they have to accept it. with this about breaking down talks, what paes talks? 25 years, 70 years, nothing has helped. with the man who said that mike he e behind him saying elieves jesus won't come until it is there, he needs to read the bible. land is says when the taken away from the jews for the it will e that is when

occur. again, jerusalem has been srael's capital since the founding of the modern state in 1948. think that what we are doing is simply acknowledging that. countries been other that have had embassies in juvenile to terrorism, have to stop insightment, we just passed a the congress to prevent the palestinian authority from what they call moderate payments to terrorists who kill maim israelis and americans. merican soldier, not jewish, christian, was in israel studying, he was a graduate of served in iraq and afghanistan and was knifed

by a palestinian terrorist. count this kind of behavior and the palestinians will o understand terror not get them their state, i think people should sit down and try to hash out a solution, but know ke demands that they will go nowhere. i think again, what the thing to was the right do. jerusalem is the capital of srael and i think we need to get fixatednot fix, on this. there are plenty of things that be done. israel is america's strongest ally in the region, we share all intelligence with israel, we share all kinds of with ry cooperation israel, israel has helped the united states behind the scenes security, with intelligence and it is a very important

and to people who are going to protest, i say, get talk peace, sit down and talk peace, put your energy peace process and peace solution and not condemning the u.s. move. right to put ourours wherever we want. if a country recognizes us, andgnizes the united states wants to put their embassy in chicago, we would object because capital is washington, d.c., israel has the same right to xpect embassies in their capital. host: to campbells burg, indiana, line for independents, morning. caller: good morning, thanks for taking my call. a question.ment and considered a holy city by muslims, jews and think it would be more favorable to name it is

of peace.tional city my question, could you tell me conesant, the building of the conessant? host: congressman? guest: i don't know who funded conesant, the tell you building this, since israel has been in control 1967, of jerusalem since all the areas you mentioned have access to the holy sites in jerusalem, that was not the case israel had 7 when part of jerusalem and the arabs or palestinians had the other part. so, there has been, yes, an major nt city for three eligions and israelis respect that and allow prayer and ncourage it from all the religio

being ns, i don't think the capital of israel diminishes religions to claim ties to jerusalem and worship there. proven, hat's been certainly since 1967. ost: congressman, want to ask you about the potential impact of this move, if any, on the iran nuclear deal and what actually is going to be deal in the h the coming months in 2018? oppose the iran nuclear deal, i voted against it. iran is a bad player in the region, probably the worst player in the region, by the way, the reason why israel and of the sunni player in thearab states the gotten together behind scenes because both look at iran as major threat to the reason. enemy of my enemy is my

friend. cooperation t of behind the scenes. i think it benefits not only arabs, as the sunni well. i don't think they will be up overto blow all that this embassy move. though, since we signed the deal with iran and it's been in effect for two years and by the way, i didn't prevent iran e it from having nuclear weapon tdelays it 15 years. i don't think that is enough and i didn't like the money iran got a result, iran is the single around r of terrorism the world, the regime that upports more terrorism, state sponsored terrorism than any other regime. signed two years ago, implemented. the ve our close allies of u.k. and france and germany all

, and makey want us to their feet are held to the fire. in the congress, if warranted, iran, not for on nuclear weapons, but for and for ballistic missiles, which goes against the united nations security council resolutions. do, ink there is plenty to don't think it matters whether we're in or out, i don't think put the emphasis on are we in or out, we have to put sure iranis on making complies with the deal, working iran's allys to hold feet to the fire to prevent them from terrorism and all the other we find are --

>> america has been on the wrong of history with slavely and black a man leave home and return home white. since he believe in the bible, he that is last shall be first. i would like to find out if he knows he's quoting black people true jews, why palestinians and israelies are over it. host: did you get that? guest: i don't know where to begin. let me just say this, the united israel are strong allies and that is why there is support, strong bipartisan support for israel in the congress. united states e should continue working with our find a just ds to

of peace in the middle sxeeft by our embassy to jerusalem, we are acknowledging the fact jerusalem is s capital of israel, the government buildings are there, the government work is done there and that has been a fact 1948. so, let's get on, let's move on, let's work for peace. i do support two-state solution jewish state and living ian arab state side by side with peace and security. palestinians have to understand they are never going to get on the back of terror. instead of threatening violence move, they of this ought to work to peace, they like to try it, they might it. host: congressman eliot engel rom new york, foreign affairs committee, appreciate the time. guest: thank you. my pleasure. "washington on journal," we'll be joined by

at d hawkings senior editor roll call newspaper and roll well, of ite, as course, talking about sexual misconduct complaint process on potential for d change against it. we'll be right back. >> sunday 7:00 p.m. eastern on t.v. on c-span 2, former advisor, rex tillerson, worldses his book digital war, islamists, extremists and for supreacy. if you think about that, you now, the way i like to think

about isis and others, you know, we're in a content war. 8, former msnbc news anchor with the book "everything you need to know about social media without having to call a kid," and -- know, in social media, everybody can get together and join together and do incredible there are stories about what others have done with social media. not really new. all that is new is delivery platforms, i mean, think about it, smoke signals, that serves social media, anybody can see signals, party line, telephone line, that is social media, everybody in the block phone.t on the what is so different, everything is amplified and in terms of how you reach and of course the speed of the communication. schedule go to book t.v. dot org.

>> c-span, where history unfolds daily n. 1979, c-span was a public service by america's cable television brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. >> "washington journal" continues. host: always glad to be joined hawkings, senior editor at roll call, expert on all hings congress, joining us today to talk about sexual hill, the on capitol complaint process, how it could change. i want to get your reaction to expected, ut an perhaps, resignation, by al after , we'll find out 10:00 today this, coming on the heels of john conyers, dean of resigning over sexual harassment allegations, is this sign sign of fundamental shift apitol hill when it comes to sexual misconduct and

harassment? uest: cliche, tipping point towards what many members are describing as zero tolerance. precisely they have zero tolerance for, i think is still vague, whether it's that it is in the case of mr. conyers, zero tolerance for half a dozen women alleging he had harassed orvague, whether it's that it is preyed upon them he was a member of congress. in the case of senator franken, date, egations to certainly i believe all allegations to date involve his he became a re senator. but yet, when seventh woman came yesterday and alleged that he hadibly tried to kiss her a decade ago, within minutes, or nine senators, all women who had apparently discussed this beforehand, great story by our competitors at politico, said al franken has one more misstep and we'll

call for his resignation, the of last night, 32 or 33 of he 48 senate democrat his called for his resignation. host: today house administration prepared to hold a hearing to discuss the sexual harassment reporting process, changes, explain to us what that process is now and hat the criticisms of that process are? guest: sure. history for a moment to 1995, when the with america, the platform, propelled republicans o controlling congress for the first time in 40 years, their first promise on opening day of they would apply rightsce labor and civil laws that apply to the rest of the country to congress. a law within two weeks after taking control with by ually unanimous support democrats and republicans, alike, apply 11 laws to

congress. the challenge was who should enforce this. congress didn't want the branch enforcing these civil rights and labor laws on ongress, so congress set up in this law, its own office, the office of compliance to set behavior.s for host: the law, congressional accountability act. is t: that is what it called, set up the office of compliance, it should be noted majority from what we know in office of compliance entirely detailed in this forthcoming, but what is that in the last 15 years, they've paid out settlements, i have the numbers here, $13 256lion in settlements, some cases, but only a couple have by lved sexual harassment members of congress, we only know of one at the moment, congressman, a republican from texas. so the way it is supposed to

aggrieved employee this, is criticism, too an ensome process, if you aggrieved employee, you are required to spend 90 days in called mediation, at least 90 days, trying to work out an agreement with your boss, ofts of compliance, if you have exhausted lengthy rocess of mediation and internal negotiations, if you are still dissatisfied, you have the right to take your complaint public, to go to federal court and try to sue for damages. are f those damages awarded, the law is very clear, that individual member is not be held liable, the treasury is supposed to be held liable for any damages. set up that way and why does this process seem we are e right now as viewing it in light of what is happen nothing society? years i would say that 20 ago, that was the legislative deal that was cut, in order to bill to eed this enactment early in the year with

unanimous support, members of congress did not want to be held personally liable and not want -- stated fear at the time, they did not want laws used as political weapon against them, their statement was they insulation from frivolous complaints about them to have d their right them, complaints adjudicated executive branch. and o this opasty requirement treasury pay for them was the deal that was cut. time, sexual e harassment, most of what was being discussed, most of what being discussed was racial discrimination, workplace big y, the capitol is a complex, many people work in the complex who do not work for members, helping them write legislation or be the lots of kesman, janitors and construction workers worked in

heating and led cooling tunnels under the capitol and that was the focus this, trying to protect those people and the idea was a member of congress held personally iable if somebody placed hazardous desk in the way of a fire door during a fire drill and somebody tripped and broke ankle. host: david hawkings has been stories this, editing about it for well over 20 years at cg roll call. reat person if you have questions or comments about congress and sexual misconduct reporting process. phone lines, if you want to call in, republicans, 202-748-8001. democrats, 202-748-8000. independents, 202-748-8002. as folks are calling in, what pecifically is the house administration committee looking at today or are there bills that will be examined that will process in specific way? guest: i think this is sort of

-- this is the second hearing, i don't think they have synthesized where they want to go. they realize going into election year, they need to do something make the process less opaque and i would predict to change rules so that a member of congress could be held personally liable for misconduct to do with his personal behavior, not necessarily of congress generally behavior as a member of congress in his or her official capacity, but personal behavior, they should be held personally liable. behavior as a member of congress don't think there is legislation yet, but i get the sense this is something the is keenly leadership aware of that could be a political problem for them if move quickly. this, of course, over the holidays, we would be right to be more ere will members this behavior come to of a hard to believe out group of 535 lawmakers, that the

date, e know about to would be the only four that we ferenholt, whose received $84,000 in taxpayer money. the republican leadership has him to resign. mr. conyers, resigned. franken, whose resignation may yet happen today house know about freshman member from nevada, a democrat, propositions one of his campaign staffers for sex campaign.ng the host: let you talk to a few viewers, agatha up first in the bronx, line for democrats. go ahead. to er: yes, i just wanted say that president trump, he moore.or roy now why would he go for roy moore when he was molesting you could say, i guess

the president is the same thing, goes for him. i don't understand why he would do that. if he's not yet elected, he should go against him to show not that way.e's host: special election happening next tuesday. agatha, is uesday, right, to introduce roy moore into this conversation, of -- there are a collection of women in alabama who say that when roy moore was young district attorney in his 0s, he sought romantic involvement with them, he touched at least one of them. should mitch mcconnell, the republican leader, has shifted in recent days, after saying roy moore was not fit to be in the senate. he's now changed his position a little bit and says the people decide if roy ld moore is fit to be in the senate, but if the people of send him to the senate, the ethics committee,

the senate ethics committee will an investigation straight away. host: stay on that for a second, xplain what that means, how an ethics investigation is conducted, what we as citizens what we about that and don't find out. guest: we don't find out much, auch we don't find out much. the senate ethics committee, to an active hasn't been panel in recent years, they the lelast time they issued rebuke of a senator was i years ago, so it's been quite a while. host: do you remember who it was? guest: i believe john hinson of lurid who also had and it didn't involve sex, but having affair with hief of staff's wife and doing financial impropriety to cover that up. ago, the long time committee will get, we believe,

ather busy next year, some senator franken stick around, to ittee promised investigate him. menendez, from new jersey, just on corruption al case in federal court up in newark, now if he does not -- to be retried, and i believe the prosecutors haven't decided retry him, senate ethics committee says it will nvestigate misbehavior and if roy moore is elected to the senate, he would do that, too. your question was how much do we know. occasionally they have public hearing, often the press tries attention to who comes and goes, if they have private camp outside the door to see who is coming and going and know who they are to.king in a case like roy moore's, we expect them to interview the women who complained mostly to the "washington post" and try a case, learn, decide if the women are complaining

credibly. in laurel springs, north carolina, republican. dennis, you are on with david hawkings. dennis, you with us? stay by your phone. jorge, in new mexico, line for democrats. jorge, go ahead. caller: hello, good morning. 'd like to point out the blurred line between childhood and adulthood for males and females. 14-year-old female isn't allowed to consent to sex, but a who goes and y commits a crime and often tried believe that -- host: jorge, bring it to congress. caller: i'm sorry. host: bring your comment to congress, what is your -- i thank you should be laws enacted, they are children or adult, male or female. you. host: that is jorge's comment in new mexico. to comment, go to imen, line for democrats.

ahead. caller: thanks for taking my call. think this sexual harassment, when you say the word sexual harassme harassment, it means something simple, when you describe the word it is very disgusting you employee asking having sex in office or tried to grab their see, are we saying the congressmen, sexual harassment, we think it is very simple. but you have to go deep when you escribe what the sexual harassment is. people who deal with sexual harassment, it is very when you tell someone you have to see them every morning and work with him and you, can we have sex in the office, this is very disgusting. thing is this, the republicans, they complain about the media already reported that donald trump harassed more women and you know what, they say, we don't care, we'll vote for him.

is not orally -- this the republicans as we know, it you disgusting to me that cannot even say roy moore, get out. look what mitch mcconnell say. he said -- host: got your point, imen. the ings up an issue editorial board of the "wall street journal" was talking about, how republicans seem to dealing with roy moore and how democrats are dealing with improper s of behavior, whether by conyers, or democrats, getting them off the board if in fact al decides to resign today, versus the president and the rnc moore.porting roy guest: i think at least to this point, that is clear, right, the democrats have set very, very standard of phatic forcing conyers, out, even if al franken decides not to resign, he would return to work knowing

hree out of four of his democratic colleagues think he should have resigned. some l be ostracized to degree. yet on the other side so far, the republican leadership does to have taken quite an emphatic -- also on the third congressman, mr. kuwyn, from pelosi, democratic the mark in off call og mr. conyers to resign kuyen should resigned and pulled campaign support for him. side, to republican repedeiation lute of roy moore, no call for mr. resign.t to host: historical knowledge, packwood was. guest: chairman of the senate finance committee, one of the most prominent, powerful republicans in the senate. principal author of the last tax

bill 30 years ago and sexual predator. and there had been for years, been sort of rumor and preying on -- of his his staff, on lobbyists, on some ultimately the senate ethics committee spent a couple these s investigating charges and came out with a comprehensive report alleging or laying out evidence behavior by mr. packwood against a couple dozen women. mitch recall mcconnell -- guest: mitch mcconnell was the leader of the investigation for ethics committee. when that report came out, it as clear that the senate was prepared to excel bob packwood for this, in the fall of 1995. packwood decided to resign

instead. hat is probably good to bring up, probably the most famous case in modern times of a sexual harasser in congress being drummed out of office before this year. tyler, texas, line for independents. bob, go ahead. caller: thank you very much. far as packwood goes, i had a eer with him at a portland brewery before all that happened. host: how did that come about, bob? guest: i don't know, i used to get paid to drink beer, that was the places. he was sitting at the bar and we got into a big conversation that happened.l anyway, that's beside the point. okay. caller: i'd like to bring this constitutional resolutions. the first is, shame and self-removal. secondly, representatives are elected every two years, they removed by the people that elect them.

the ly, senators before 17th amendment, were supposed to by emoved on good behavior heir legislators, so if we original intent of the constitution, would be easy to emove senators from the state legislators. the senators are representatives of the state, not particularly in those states. brought ther thing, i up, a week or so ago, was the moore, ions against roy mooretruth.us, is facts of d with the ll these blatant lie accusations against him and anybody can find any mistake website, that mooretruth.us. host: got you. bob, on the first part of what said, do you think what happened yesterday when the cascade of democratic senators

saying that al franken should resign, do you think that as that shaming process that you first talked about there? caller: absolutely. it.hink that is part of if they are really innocent , they can defend themselves against those accusations. they're not, they should crawl away in shame. host: david hawkings. of the o one distinctions that i think you are partly getting at between congress should be punished versus how somebody in the private sector should be that the employers of the member of congress are people nstituents, the who elected them. so there is a -- some reluctance i storically and in this case, for members of congress to some them say to overturn results of the election, to say, the people of minnesota may have for al franken to send to the senate, but we're going to essentially trump that decision, we're going to one up that decision by kicking them out.

having been said, the constitution does say the house and senate are the sole judge of qualifications of members. that has been subject to much the years, there have been attempts in the past from being embers seated, to actually chamber of ongress would refuse to swear in a member. that actually got to the supreme 1960s, a in the late congressman from new york city, turmoil, personal wasn't showing up for work, spending most of his time on an the caribbean, the house refused to seat him, he the supreme court, the supreme court said, you can't keep him out of office for for work, only for essentially not being qualified, not being the right citizen, etcetera. since then, the only more recently, some of you may remember the case of roland burr

burroughis, from illinois, when elected ama was president, his senate seat ecame vacant, government of illinois, essentially put the senate seat up for auction. said, whoever will give me the most political money or help in campaign, you get the senate appointment. senaat, the t the senate refused to seat him for two dozen days, ultimately barack obama d said, i don't want this in ishing my opening days congress. he denies he did this, they agreed not to run, the ethics committee investigated and found he had truthful about the terms by which he got that appointment. all that by way of saying, there are means for the senate and the some extraordinary

measure necessary extraordinary cases, not without risk. two outstanding questions you sat down for the discussion, what al franken is going to say and when he will say it. answer to one of those. al franken twitter page posting, scheduled to n is deliver a speech from the senate floor at 11:45 a.m. eastern. can watch that on -span2, 11:45, we'll look to see what he says in the statement. guest: we sure will. fascinating to watch. host: time for a couple more calls. for , connecticut, line republicans, go ahead. caller: good morning, c-span, like most in the mind, in my opinion, the democratic party is o get rid of donald trump, okay. by this -- by sacrificing some th own, will help that

senators, e of the especially al franken and be like they seem to the weakest link, they are willing to sacrifice these in order to ultimately get to getting rid of donald trump. this raises a question to me, how important are the enators if they can be gotten rid of that quickly? in other words, you know, what there as far as i'm concern -- erned, it is host: dave hawkings. guest: interesting point, it is mr. conyers both represents conyers reliably democratic district compared to detroit, half in the suburbs, no question, but the democrats will be able to hold that seat in a special election, similarly if senator franken resigns, democratic governor in dayton would k have the power to appoint a

successor, emporary who would serve until a special election next year. seems likely based on our reporting yesterday, governor appoint his lieutenant governor, a woman last name is smith, i've forgotten her first name, to seat.ut the senate so it would stay in democratic hands until the next election, minnesota in theory, there are some circumstances by which the republicans could make a competitive race. i think you are on to something which is that tribalism s such in congress that both parties are weary of doing the right thing ethically if it will cost them politically, but more illing to do it, take harsh line on ethics and behavior if they think it will work for them survivable or be politically. host: lieutenant governor of

smith.ota, tina guest: i won't forget that. host: bob in oklahoma, line for democrats, go ahead. caller: very important discussion. would like to point out the hypocrisy going on here, in franken. i think al franken is valuable to the democratic party and country and to just him under the bus becau because -- about how this looks, mean, right there is hypocrisy, what does it look like? democrat, i as a want al franken staying on the job. the senate.in he's come out, apologized, he's with the situation. he's shown character versus the mr. trump and his administration, who has tearing character, keep the country down, tearing it apart.

steroids.pocrisy on host: dave hawkings, have any caucus of the democratic in the senate made that point? ou mention there's two-thirds come out of the membership, the senate democrats saying he needs resign, anybody saying he needs to stay on, he's apologized? guest: there are. i mentioned senator menendez, he said,e first senator that no, no, senator franken should stay and , he should let the ethics process play out before he does resign. franken is -- he has gained, nteresting to hear this, al franken has kept quite a low the le in the senate at start of his tenure, worked hard to overcome his reputation from "saturday night live" days, only this year he sort of positioned himself for the start of his a more prominent an nationally, took aggressive tone in questioning

some of president trump's nominees. before we go, we should mention hat mr. trump's own behavior with women is not without some crutiny, that there is a defamation lawsuit, a federal lawsuit by one of the women who she was groped by donald tomp, who has taken her case federal court, defamation suit, is going i don't think away any time soon. be the there will system, it treats different sexual harassment cases different ways, the system will it. an eye on host: if you don't have to run, one or two calls. kate, in maryland, line for independents. kate, go ahead. a question f.have congressman or a senator were eliminated from congress, booted out by the congress, and they went back to their home state, they be re-elected? guest: yes, they could.

they could. okay, so the people decide, in the end, the people decide? uest: in the end, the people decide, yes. it doesn't happen often, i can't somebody lly think of who has been driven out by come back, a has couple have tried, a congressman traficat was m onvicted of bribery and corruption. he refused to resign, the custom is that when you are convicted crime, you resign rather than force your colleagues to kick you out. went through the motion of requiring his colleagues to kick federal nd went to prison and filed for re-election vote.t 12% of the host: david hawkings cover its newspaper, ll rollcall.com. senior editor there. time.ciate your come back. thank you. you can start call nothing on

"washington n the journal," we'll get to your calls in just a minute on open phones. want to turn to the new dean of the house of representatives, phone, don young, republican from alaska. house of dean of the representatives now that john conyers has left, congressman, us about the job of dean, hat are the duties formal and otherwise? guest: well, the main duty, the one people see most, when i next speaker as don dengle has done and myself. second part, as dean, you put a in.of time i've been with nine presidents, congressmen, seen almost anything that can occur within a body. i like to give advice once in a while, i don't give it voluntarily, they usually ask me and i tell them what i think done. be my intent, if i can do it, get

hide away, we'll have meetings both sides of the aisle and see if i can't help the speaker put packages together that can done, right now we're having a bad time putting practice together. host: congressman don young, congressman.ing any special privileges that come with being the longest serving party?sman of either you mentioned a possible hideaway. only yeah, probably the privilege you get, i've always said, i take this seriously, but recognize the title and nickel get me half a cup of offee, really you're not elected, it is because of seniority, time you served in he house and body and history behind it. they do frankly, i feel honored, will say, what do you think and i'll tell them what i think. they don't have to agree, if me because of experience and i enjoy that wit part. been dean ntioned, since resignation of john

onyers, did the former dean give you any advice on this job in he past couple days or the month before since he's been dean? guest: not john. friends, byere good the way, i always plan on being dean and i plan and i told john try to outlive him, he is 88 and i was 84, there was a possibility of that. but i did talk to john dengle, a close, close friend of mine, when he was chairman, strongest chairman in the helped me out an awful lot and he's been dean forever, as you know. him, he says the main thing you have to remember and people will watch you that will cause me problems, i'm not ferent individual, i'm above popping somebody once in a while, i will have to be a -- let's say statesman-like. host: you welcome the extra or no?on guest: i do and i don't.

i take it with a grain of salt. i'm in this business long enough to know our shelf life is about second. of a you know, that has always me, we schmooze up to you get in and when trouble, people leave you on the limb. i saw that with john and other embers, even myself, i was under investigation for a period of time and people sort of shun ou, but that is the business and i know that. i just take this as one of those me, rs they have give to i've been blessed, served seat of alaska 45 years in march 14th this year, carl swore me in, serving the i love house, i like being the only member from alaska. host: what do you think about coming in these day? is congress being well served by freshmen and youngest member? guest: well, i think they are, we have great young people coming in. biggest challenge we have is

aankly the gerrymandering and lot of state districts. both sides of the aisle, side.essive and the right when they are safe, they don't look at the benefit to the as a whole, they look at nly their little small district, a lot of times they don't look forward to working as to understand nothing changes fast in the congress. that is just democracy is not govern, so i o have to explain to them, erseverance, be dedicated to what you wish to achieve and don't expect it to happen over might, but concentrate and eventually if it is the will thing to do, it happen. that is something that has been very dear to my heart and it is a young guy, he's all fired up, you know, i want to do this and that. tell them not to promise anybody anything because your speak for them, you're the spokesman for the people in

your district. sometimes they try to do, if they ask you to do something it.rect, keep after host: don young, longest serving congressman. dean baker young, thank you for the time this morning. thafsnk you, god bless you. ost: we'll end today in open phones before the house comes in. any public policy issue you want to talk about, the phone lines this morning, it's 202-748-8001 for republicans. democrats, it's 202-748-8000. independents, 202-748-8002. you can of course as always on social th us media, on twitter at c-span wj, it's facebook.com. we'll start -- facebook.com/c-span. paulina, i'm sorry, go ahead. caller: hello.

paulina. ahead, caller: i just wanted to talk about the sexual misconduct. of these women, i'm not going to say all of them, but over 18 and 21 and know that these men are and what happened to the faith that the united states to have about thou shall not commit adultery. people make mistakes, i forgive al franken tis not for me to judge, we all make mistakes, you have girl necessary college that working through college as and doing de dancers table dances, so consider that there's guilty on both sides in some cases. think al franken should stay and i think that we should because i can't condemn or judge and thank you.

roseann, wisconsin rapids, wisconsin, line for democrats. good morning. yes, good morning. i just would like to say it's all of this has been brought to light. this has been going on forever. it is not just in politics or hollywood, it's everywhere. i worked in the service industry pretty much my whole life and has been of thing commonplace. it is like when a woman has to workforce, i he can't believe they have to put like that and ng all of a sudden, when they get caught, oh, boy, i didn't mean really , it didn't happen and then you're uestioning a woman's truth in telling what has actually happened to her. just think it is about time that this has finally come to light and i thank you for taking go c-span.

host: to suzanne in kent, washington, line for independents. suzanne, good morning. caller: hi, i'm calling because a feeling i know why don young has been in office so long. he's been around what, 40 years now? waiting for the president because his tax bill when the president does, they little piece of legislation that will turn over the most beautiful, in all ofeces of land alas to take it from the native americans who have lived lives and then they're going to go in there and drill 2000 g to square miles and try to pull oil of that land. guess who is going to get a

way?e payoff along the don young. bye. washington. christopher is in tallahassee, florida, republican, good morning. caller: hey. host: go ahead. caller: i didn't think i was get through so quick. first of all, i seen your bus yesterday down by the capital, i really appreciate you bringing it to the capital city. checking itiate you out on the 50 capitals tour. appreciate you all, your representatives asked our concerns about our community and shared what my concerns are about high price of edical -- high price of drugs, but my comment to you is this. i just turned on c-span and i heard one of your callers before talk about women that dance at to pay for college. and she thinks it is okay that franken should stay. women do that because sometimes

hey might not be able to find any other job. al franken is accused of pushing himself on women that don't want him pushed on them. don't think he should be there. i don't think any other ongressmen that does this should be there, forgive and forget? no. if you are an accuser and you people that work for you feel that uncomfortable, i don't think you should have that job. what you do eciate and thank you for coming out to my city yesterday, god bless you all. host: thank you for welcoming us to tallahassee. franken, we to al will find out together what he's going to announce about his office l future, his sending out a tweet earlier, it will be 11:45 announcement from of the senate. you can watch that, of course, c-span2 there is the tweet from the senator's office this morning. also keeping you up to date on stories that we've been tracking on capitol hill when it

comes to the russia yesterday the resident's son donald trump jooush was facing questions on russia links, the president's testifying before the house intelligence committee for closed-door s in a session yesterday. also on the russia from igation, the story politico getting a lot of attention this morning. ongressional democrats saying wednesday they have evidence from a confidential minutes of r within president trump's inauguration, fl michael flynn sent a a plan was good to go. democrats on the house oversight committee said in the letter yesterday, the whistleblower reported attending inauguration day event with former business associate, the acu ing partner of strategic partners. the whistleblower says he gushed

trump's inauguration was the best day of his life, the company efforts create u.s.-russia energy agreement in middle easts, was moving forward. e said flynn was making sure obama-era sanctions, which threatened the nuclear project according toed up, the whistleblower, that story in politico this morning. illinois, lines, for independents. lilly, it is open phones, what is on your mind? caller: yes, i was calling about the sexual misconduct and orcing out of conyers and trying to tell al franken to leave. i believe that if they have paid $15 million, i think they misconduct ual settlements, that -- host: that wasn't all for sexual settlements, that was the report on settlements of of all kinds. i'm not sure $15 million is

orrect, i think it was more like $13, but go ahead. caller: okay, if there are any saerp senators or congressmen that out, theyttlement paid need to also be forced out, too, exposed and made to leave, also, if they're going out.orce these two host: one settlement payment come up, payment made to an accuser of texas congressman blake ferenthold, a on that, reporting discussed that.ome up, payment if you missed the segment with the roll call senior editor, it hould already be online at c-span.org. bill, hazelwood, missouri, line for republicans. ahead.o caller: yeah, my congressman, gerrymandered democrat, i discussed that. believe should take

he high road and all other gerrymandered congressmen and resign. it is disgusting to have to be a based on aive simply gerrymander. hank you, congressman clay for voting to impeach our president at this point. disgusting and is worse than sexual harassment. thank you. host: the impeachment vote, yesterday to e table resolution on impeachment green.ongressman al congressman green, the author of against of impeachment president trump was on this program yesterday, offered those on the floor of the house yesterday, 364-58 vote to table democratic on after leaders said that president trump's actions may be upsetting but talk of impeachment was premature, that is the story in the washington today.r you can catch al green's

appearance on our website as well.g, ann, wisconsin, line for democrats, go ahead. caller: hi. thanks for c-span. i don't lled to say, think franken should resign unless those who have also been same thing, like trump, resign, as well. thank you. minutes before the house of representatives comes in for the day, we'll be aking you there, of course, when this happens. an update on other hearings that on c-span ring here today, the house judiciary committee is holding an the ight hearing today on f.b.i. with f.b.i. director christopher ray, that is 10:00 on c-span3. live shot of the judiciary room.ttee hearing you can also catch that hearing n our website, c-span.org, or on the c-span radio app. also, the house administration hearing is holding a on sexual harassment, possible

changes to the reporting on capitol hill. that is happening at 10 a.m., as c-span.org.t back to your calls, rodney in california, line for democrats. rodney, go ahead. caller: yeah, good morning, c-span. for c-span, i really do like c-span, i watch every morning. think al franken should resign because, you know, having this been law that congress has been aying victims with taxpayer money for all these years, but women in thew, the senate are speaking against this law. they before? they should have been speaking against this law a long time know, that the paying in should be pockets when accused. that is not the point. is franken, he kind of apologized right away.

obody else has done that, you know, he said, one person one too im that was many, that is a real decent thing for a guy to do. mistake when is we're young and a lot of people don't appreciate a woman the way be appreciated until they get married, until they or me a boyfriend or uncle granddaddy, then they start seeing a woman in a different not trying to 'm make excuses for al franken, but i just don't know where people just didn't fight law a long time ago. i think al franken is a decent somebody right away admits they're wrong and -- honored.ld be a lot of people get probation in maybe parole or acquitted and i think this is you give a cases, guy another chance, thank you very much.

host: paul is in craig, alaska, for republicans. paul, good morning. caller: good morning. how you doing? well.doing caller: listen, this is a message to all the people in alabama. you think about corruption, think about the democratic party. voting you think about for judge roy, why? of a ese four women all sudden after 40 years decide to fact ut and reveal the they had been molested with or roy?ver by judge the situation is they could have before, well aid before the primary, the situation. thinking about, when you think about whether to vote for judge roy or not, think bout corruption from the democratic party trying to mess up the election in alabama. host: paul, before you go, let ask you, we got off the phone a few minutes ago with your the essman don young, longest serving member of either

of the house.n does that make a difference to you? don do you think about young? host: paul, you still with us? caller: he's been -- alaska, he's visited our veterans in craig and he's been fine representative for alaska. alaska.ul in lynette, bountiful, utah, line democrats. good morning. caller: good morning. i would like to urge everyone to call their senators and ask them killing of nst the 90,000 wild horses, there is an birth controlt is and blm has not given it a fair chance. more than ever spent birth heir budget on control and it is -- birth more l, although a little expensive up front, it would be

eclining cost, whereas the killing solution proposed by my representative, chris stewart, passed so far to get it to the senate, that bill will never go down. will always be expensive to keep killing and birth control eventually bring the population down to stasis and at that point -- it : we'll have to leave there, the house of representatives is coming in. we'll take you to live coverage we'll see you back here tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. 4:a.m. pacific, on the "washington journal." le dave brat to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, paul d. ryan, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 3, 2017, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the partie