>> when the house returns live coverage here on c-span.

host: the drought and flow of the colorado rivers, facing big challenges out there for farmers and citizens alike. then this is the st. paul pioneer press. police force on kids is being examined in that state. this is from louisiana, the news star, the front page story for them is the budget boom that they are seeing in their state. it will continue for another year. and finally, in the iowa, city press citizen, has a story about covid and kids and how hospitals are filling up as a deadly winter is feared. those are just some of the public policy issues around the country. we want to know from you this morning. what is the most important public policy issue where you live? going back to what is happening here in washington in the

negotiations within the democratic party over the social spending bill, "politico'd" headline this morning is that president biden hosted senator manchin in delaware at his home there at a critical juncture, is what they say. from there report their reporting they found the president huddled with the west virginia moderate in delaware where biden is spending the weekend and senate majority leader chuck schumer also attended. the meeting comes at a critical time for biden who is seeking to clirch a deal with manchin and senator sinema, democrat of arizona, on a social spending bill in the next week. joining us this morning is nichlas wu, congressional reporter with commit could he to tell us more about this. what happened at yesterday's meeting in delaware? guest: based on the white house's read of the meeting it seems they had a productive conversation. it's going towards this goal that congressional democrats

have set, reaching some sort of deal on this that -- passing this infrastructure bill and reaching some sort of framework, agreement in principle, on the social spending bill by october 31, or halloween. it looks like they made progress with that. and we are really seeing right now last-minute horse trading and deal making that will make it possible to get this through. host: what does the deal look like right now? guest: that's still very much in flux. some of these big proposals that looks like they might have been dropped in the plan, family leave, speaker pelosi indicated yesterday, it was going to stay in. salt, for example, might stay in the bill. other things like free colleges have been dropped out. host: what is the price tag? guest: we don't know.

senator manchin has repeatedly indicated he will not accept a bill larger than a $1.5 trillion. but right now a lot of progressive democrats seem that they are more willing to accept a bill closer to $2 trillion. there is about half a trillion dollars of wiggle room that needs to be negotiated there. host: what is the plan to get this through the senate, through the house, and on the president's desk? guest: that's very tricky. the thing is with the senate the main goal of all this outreach is try to get these two moderate senators onboard, joe manchin of virginia, and kir sten sinema of arizona who have laid out their own list of demands for what they want and don't want. with that should be able to achieve unity. the trickier problem is the 200 some democrats in the house

where you have any number of different constituencies, many of whom, it's been their it school to put a lot of these programs in the bill. if any one of these programs, salt, so on, some of these constituencies in congress becomes an issue it could make it much harder to get it through the house. host: what is happening in the weight infrastructure deal? that the one that includes the hard infrastructure, roads, bridges, it passed in the senate. when will that see a vote -- in the house? guest: congressional leaders are aiming to hold a vote on it this week. the highway authorization overall expires on the 31st. in some way democrats have a hard deadline for themselves to pass the infrastructure bill which would renew the highway funding and authorize $1 trillion for infrastructure.

at the same time progressive democrats have said all along there needs to be an agreement on the social spending bill before they can proceed to a vote on the infrastructure bill. and one thing can happen -- can't happen without the other. this is a tricky act that leaders in congress have to work with right now. host: there is also the issue of debt ceiling. they were able to get agreement to republicans for a short-term fix. what did they do and what happens next? guest: the debt ceiling was extended until the beginning of december. their short-term fix that they had worked out with republicans. republicans don't seem like they are going to support another extension of it after that. one option that's on the table for democrats is to use that so-called reconciliation. whether or not they will do

that, remains to be seen. especially given that it can be a lengthy and drawn out and sometimes painful process for them to execute. host: congressional reporter with "politico," we thank you this morning for your time. guest: thank you. host: there you have the latest on what's happening here in washington. this morning, though, we want to spend time with you and what's happening in your community. the most important public policy issue where you live. if you live in the eastern central part of the country, dial in at 202-748-8002 -- 202-748-8000. mount yain and pacific. i reserve the balance of my time i reserve the balance of my time. 202-748-8001. your most important policy issue where you live. caller: good morning. one of the local issues is the three western counties in maryland are exploring ceding from maryland to join west virginia. part of that due to the

willingness or interest in fracking for gas wells that's banned in maryland, essentially. for other environmental projects and reasons. so that is one of the biggest local issues here. host: what's the -- tell me what's the debate like? do you have any say? do you go to any town hall meetings or council meetings? caller: i'm just following it -- i found it interesting that the three counties have wanted to do this. i know some projects in those counties are being held up from the department of environment perspective. that would be able to proceed if not for the state of maryland's regulations. that's the closest i'm following it.

the other issue is the debt and the bill. host: amy, aim going to stick this morning to the important public policy issues where you live. bernard in new york, good morning to you. caller: good morning, c-span. my important issue really would be crime. but it's not just crime. it's the left wing liberal rule in new york. i was a reporter for the washingtonite citizen and reported -- i did an opinion column, and i also was the police reporter. i saw the bodies, plept of bodies all over new york. here's the difference. when dinkens -- i started reporting when dinkins was the mayor in new york. i met him a few times and interviewed him once. he wasn't a bad fellow. but he had a left-wing liberal

ideology. the crime was 2,300 murders when he left office. when rudy giuliani came in, it was 300 murders. he cut crime dramatically. he did it because he used a different ideology. that ideology was a conservative ideology. if you look all across the nation where these riots took place, for instance, and very seldom reported on because we have a corrupt news media, peaceful riots by people over at cnn as the city was burning down behind them, the ideology is what made the difference. when giuliani, he changed welfare into workfare. he cleaned up the streets. there were no homeless people. very few homeless people.

i don't understand why people don't see it. it's simple enough. you put -- it's the same thing that's happening in florida and other cities. when conservative republicans are in charge, things go swimmingly. when the left -- host: got your point. let me ask you about the paper that you worked for. give me the name again. caller: the washingtonite sit citizen and inwood news. i'm going back 20 years or more. they kind of went out of business for lack of funding. host: this paper was for just that community, washington heights community? caller: washington heights and inwood. i live in inwood. i was born in washington heights. i know the neighborhood. and again, you just have to look at the difference. it's not -- you don't have to be a great thinker.

host: bernard, do you feel that because that paper doesn't exist and other local papers are going away, that this issue is not covered as much as you would think? caller: look, it's not covered. as a matter of fact, not only is it not covered, but it's brushed over and it's reported in such a way everything is peachy keen and isn't it wonderful. we have a corrupt -- you know what it is. here's the truth that people don't realize. to conservative -- this is not partisan, i'm telling you the truth. to conservative basically are looking for the truth in all things -- host: let me ask you this. when you were reporting, what did your editor tell you about how you report crime? was there a philosophy? you don't see today. caller: let me tell you

something. both of my -- the editor and the publisher were both gay men, which i didn't realize until i was working there for about six months. they never stopped me from printing anything i want. i printed an article. they never stopped me for what i wanted to say. they never interfered with what i wanted to say. and when i was on the street, you're bernard grant, get away from me. other half would wrap their total arms around me and say thank good we have somebody like you in inwood. we need add conservative voice. it's a mix bag. liberals are not bad people. but you've got to look at the logic and reason. come to an intellectual conclusion bereft of reason, logic, and facts. host: i got to leave it there so

i can talk to somebody else. gary in sterling, virginia. what's happening where you live? most important public policy issue? caller: most important public policy issue or top news story of the day is about this infrastructure or the build back better policy is going -- what is it going to be? nobody knows. nothing's written. host: how do you think that's going to be empact your community -- impact your community specifically? is there a bridge or a road that needs repaired? caller: interchanges, traffic congestion, pollution. right now we are buying six electric school buses when we could convert 144 school buses to natural gas. we are going to buy six electric

school bus buses -- school buses it $140,000. it's going to -- it's like a hailstorm. six buses versus 144 school buses. we could have a lot better infrastructure on neighborhoods that would be cleaned up wouldn't be inundated with carbon dioxide or diesel fuel. host: gary, how much is this going to cost taxpayers? the six electric school buses? caller: it's $1, $440,000. we could convert 144 buses to natural gas which would clean up

five neighborhoods >> this will prevent waste, fraud, incompetence, and partisanship. host: thank you. dotti in griffin, georgia. we'll go to you. caller: how you doing this morning. host: morning. caller: the main thing i wanted to say is the man who was talking about the newspaper. that man went on talking for three minutes. put him back on the subject he's

supposed to be talking about. he's talking about how he used to run the newspaper -- host: let's get to your most important. caller: thank you. a special option sales tax they are trying to pass. they try to pass one every two or three years. then they don't use the money for what they say the sales tax is supposed to be for. that's all i have to say. i wish you make these people stay on topic. host: let me ask you about the sales tax. how much is it? why do you think it's not going towards what they say it's going to? caller: it's a penny. plus you have one that's expiring that they use for pickle ball court. i think this one is supposed to be used for roads. i don't think believe they are going to use the money for what they said they are going to use it for. host: this is just for the city much griffin, georgia? caller: right. you said local.

host: yeah. caller: you live in. not the whole state or the whole government. people talking about what the federal government is doing. and what happened when they were here. nobody cares what that man did 50 years ago. host: let me ask you, have you been to a city council meeting about this sales tax? caller: no. host: you haven't expressed -- you don't know where -- caller: yes, i do know what the money is used for. i vote not voting for the sales tax and planning on voting this time. host: terry in cleveland, tennessee. what's happening where you live? caller: well, really nothing much. just one excuse after another. we have to show our date when we buy cigarettes and alcohol. so why can't we show i.d. when we vote?

mail-in votes. we are supposed to get a big raise this year on our social security. i'm curious of how much insurance, medicaid and stuff, is going to take from us. that happens every year. host: ok. so, terry, you're concerned about the medicare expansion that they are debating here in washington? caller: every year we get a little raise like 2%. and our insurance goes up $20, $25. they get the raise. the people don't. host: ok. caller: now we got a $96 ways raze and i was wondering how much of the insurance is going to take it. host: terry, who represents you in congress? caller: green, i do believe. host: have you ever gone to a town hall meeting?

caller: no i hadn't been able to go. host: have you ever called your congressman's office? caller: you just don't get to go out very much. host: terry in cleveland, tennessee. some other head lierns from around the country. this is the florida times union. and the top public policy issue on their front page is clean water. more clean water funds sought. and then in idaho, making the front page of the idaho statesman, is the issue of kids and mental health and how the pandemic has impacted their mental health. and then in pennsylvania, newspaper there, altoona mirror, the front page, food providers feeling the pinch. perhaps this is happening where you live as well. down in texas, their public policy issue, rising energy costs are hitting families there. and then in washington state, belling ham herald, it's the issue of dams and -- along the

snake river and the infrastructure there. that's what we are wondering this morning. what is happening where you live. it's your turn to tell washington about it. some important public policy issue. martin in tunnel hill, georgia. go to you. good morning. caller: good morning. it most important issue for me right now is food prices. but i would say also on a national level most important issue is the truth. we need politicians and media and everything. a portion of our population quit believing nothing but a bunch of lies. let's start accepting the truth again. because the truth shall set us free. thank you. host: all right. martin in tunnel hill, georgia. the debate over the social spending bill is also a local issue. the front page of the "washington post" talking to citizens in west virginia.

senator manchin's home state. and some of them upset with the proposals that senator manchin would like to see removed from any final legislation. this according to "washington post" reporting. raising kids is work is one of the quotes. from the newspaper. and they feature a couple who are raising their two grandkids, ages 10 and 17, who are benefiting from the expanded child tax credit. they are getting a monthly check because of what the biden administration, congress passed in march. and that has been relief for them. this couple that you are seeing there is another couple that's few teurd in the newspaper -- featured in the newspaper that have a small child and then they have a set of infant twins as well. here from the newspaper what they note, in west virginia, 170,000 children became newly

eligible under the tax credit expansion, which was included in president biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package passed in march. the changes to the tax credit raised the maximum benefit from $2,000 to $3,600 per child, per year. and dramatically expanded the share of poor families receiving the credit. in july. the food insecurity rate in west virginia household with children dropped from 11.6% to 8.4%. and in september a survey found 86% of west virginians felt the payments had made, quote, a huge difference. more from their reporting. parenting is work. as the payments hit bank accounts in july, the benefit reached an estimated 60 million children in 39 million households across the country. a team of researchers from columbia university determined that the first round lifted three million children out of

poverty. and that is all eligible children had access to the payments, child poverty would be reduced by 40%. the is ecenter or budget and policy priorities estimated that in west virginia 93% of children would benefit from a permanent expansion of the credit. maybe that is the most important public policy issue where you live. if you are receiving this expanded child tax credit, call in this morning and tell us what it's doing for you. loni in brownsville, pennsylvania. we'll go to you. good morning to you. caller: good morning. host: tell us what's happening in brownsville, pennsylvania. caller: the roads, roads. this infrastructure deal that the government wants, i would like to know what the federal government does with the federal highway use tax, commercial trucks pay each year, billions of dollars, why aren't they contributing it to the roads,

bridges, and tunnels? i'm sure there is plenty of the money there to cover all this stuff. i never heard one question about where this money is going from our government. host: tell us about brownsville, what are the infrastructure needs there? caller: roads. bridges. we have one tunnel. it's in pretty good shape, though. host: what are your local politicians saying about it? caller: not much. not much at all. host: how do you -- have you attended any town hall meetings with your congressman about that? caller: no. host: do you want -- caller: just talked to our local road supervisors and stuff. host: what do they tell you? caller: they are going to get on it. like all of them do. host: let me ask you, if

democrats cannot come to an agreement over the special spending deal, what will be your reaction if they also don't pass the hard infrastructure deal? the roads and bridges. what would be your reaction? caller: they should have enough money from the highway use tax to take care of all that. for years now what they are selecting off the taxes from the miles you run on the road with the commercial vehicle. plus the highway use taxes per vehicle per year. i'm sure they are not using what they are supposed to on the highway use tax they get. they use them for something else, i believe. host: loni in brownsville, pennsylvania of the here's a tweet from jim. he says no stores have dog food in my area. bare shelves. biden is the hash tag he puts

there. marie on facebook, education is a big public policy issue. public schools in south bend are terrible a close second is crime. brian moore on facebook. same as everywhere. easy access to quality health care that does not devastate one's finances. this includes mental health, too. body, mind, spirit cannot be separated. i'm especially distressed by the lack of access in our rural areas. i don't care who gets to plant the flag and declare political victory. just do it. john? bentleyville, pennsylvania. good morning to you. caller: good morning, greta. host: doing well. what's it like in bentleyville, pennsylvania? caller: well, greta, we have a water authority in town that passed a piece of legislation that says that they could charge you for water and sue for

garbage on your home if you have electricity turned on. i had a vacant property across the street and it was up for sale through a local realtor. and because i had the electricity on through the winter, they -- >> we'll breakway from this recorded program. get you live to the floor of the house for the very first votes of the week. live coverage on c-span. ms. was and pass h.r. 4111. on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title. the clerk: h.r. 4111, a bill to require the secretary of the treasury to direct the united states executive director at the international monetary fund to advocate that the fund provide technical assistance to fund members seeking to enhance their compass toy evaluate the legal terms of sovereign contracts and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house