i have met with senator bill nelson. iaanderstand how concerned he for creating the website so people can write in, and also for the work that they have done with the epa, the centers for disease control to test the chinese drywall. what i'm hearing also is that they haven't concluded what the problem is in terms of -- it inconclusive interbred environmental test. and we need to work collaboratively on this, and if confirmed, i would like to work with you to draw a resolution to find out what is causing the respiratory and what it was, the type of elements in the gypsum of the chinese product. understand that the counterpart agency in china, the counterpart to the consumer product safety commission is working with the commission to resolve this. and that chinese leaders are very aware of it and trying to address it. but it is a very real problem causing people great hardship physically, as well as damage to their property rendering their homes worthless. and i will assure you that if i am confirmed it will be a top prior

thave met with senator bill nelson and i know how concerned theis. he has told me about the thiiratory programs, the wiring and home corroding fear that gas lines in the wall, may be corroding. i have reviewed the letter that the acting chairman wrote laying out a strategy from the commission and 4 senators have asked the commission to set aside $2 million of the new appropriation to address the chinese dry wall problem. i want to commend the commission on the web site, and the work they have done, a test of the chinese drywall. what i am hearing too is they haven't concluded -- it is inconclusive as far as environmental tasks. we need to work collectively on that. the toxic elements of the chinese products, understand the counterpart agency in china, s.unterpart to the consumer product safety commission is working to with it to resolve this and chinese leaders are very aware of it and trying to address it. it is a real problem, causing great hardship as well as damage to their property, rendering their homes worth less. if i am confirmed, it will be

. >> we have been joined gloriously and happily by senator bill nelson, who has not even had a chanceto ask a question, much less make an opening statement which i know he's not going to do. >> mr. chairman, i did not make an opening statement. i'll submit it for the record. but i just have one question, and i'd like to address this to the two ceos. between the two of your companies, you received $80 billion in bailout. and you have now, between the two of your companies, requested another $36 billion. that's $116 billion. now, if you quibble with the numbers, whatever it is, it is large. and so what i would like you to address, because of the failures of the management of your two companies, a lot of people are losing their jobs. and i would like for you all to address the mechanics that are losing their jobs, the clerical workers, the kids that do the detailing of the cars, the sales men. and please share with them where did all that bailout money go? ? 2349 case of general motors, the money received so far, senator, have been used to finance the losses that we have incurred this ye

i've reviewed the letter the commissioner wrote to senator bill nelson. it's also the fact that florida has launched its own investigation to use high performance liquid hplc to isolate the particles of the drywall that may be emitting the gases. i understand that the epa has looked at in-home test as well as chamber test and no conclusive report has given about what it is that's emitting the sulfur or contaminating the walls. i have my access to information inside the agency is through the public domain is what i get off the website and briefings in terms of a briefing book but i would like to -- if i'm confirmed meet with the scientists first before i tell you what the time frame is. it is my understanding everyone is still grappling with the science and the testing of the drywall. but once this is -- we get some information, then we need -- then if i'm confirmed, i will come back to you; work with you and we can do a public information campaign to let people know what the hazards are and what their recourses are against companies that sold them the dry

senator nelson should be here momentarily to start managing the legislative branch appropriations bill. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. nelson: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from nebraska. mr. nelson: i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be vitiated. i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. nelson: madam president, it is my understanding there is an amendment already at the desk. the presiding officer: that is correct. the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from nebraska, mr. nelson, proposes an amendment numbered 1365. mr. nelson: madam president, i rise today to present the fiscal year 2010 legislative branch bill. i want to start by thanking senator murkowski and her staff for help in putting this bill together. i'm very grateful for her support on this subcommittee. this was truly a bipartisan effort from start to finish. i thank her. i note that her health is improving because her leg is improving

bill. we'll work with you. senator nelson is one of the most reasonable people i've ever worked with. so i don't see what fear my friend from south carolina should have by going to the bill. we have no games we're playing. we are not going to try to cut anybody off offering amendments. there will come a time, perhaps, when i will talk to the republican leader and say: have we had enough of this? mr. demint: senator, i'm prepared to grant a unanimous consent to move ahead right now if i can be guaranteed seven amendments, three by myself, two by senator coburn, and two by senator vitter, and i'll be glad to describe what those are if you like -- mr. reid: the only thing that -- as i want the -- as i told -- told you in my opening statement here, we'll -- the appropriation bills have a little different rules than just a regular bill. but we -- we're happy to work with you and i'm -- i'm curious to find out what amendments you're interested in. would you run over them with me? mr. demint: yes, i'd be glad to. and, again, this is a trust, but verify. we have had a few problems with getting

president bill clinton and former south african president nelson mandela. mr.reenberg discusses his book with republican strategist mary matalin. >> host: welcome, book lovers. welcome, c-span lovers. c-span, they changed the world and books that are still selling not as well as they were a couple of years ago. but the industry that hasn't changed much and there are people who love them madly. and carry them everywhere with them. i'm mary matalin. here here with stan greenberg. i'm going to do one from your bio and from our history. >> guest: thank you. >> host: i've known you forever but i didn't know you were such a big cheese. stanley b. greenberg a strategic advise religious companies in campaigns. this is stan's seventh book, dispatches from the war room. in the trenches with five extraordinary leaders. the seventh of political-type books you've written these other great histories, the two americas our political deadlock, how to break it, described by my husband as the most important book in american politics. >> guest: true, true. >> host: middle class dr

later, stanley greenberg on advising bill clinton, tony blair, and nelson mandela. he is interviewed by mary matalin. and live on sunday, bill ayers. his latest book is "race course." for a complete schedule, go online to booktv.org. >> now a house hearing on state secrets. the chairman is co-author of legislation to make it harder for the state secrets privilege. this is about 90 minutes. >> the hearing will come to order. today's hearing will examine the state secrets privilege. the chart recognizes himself. the legislation that i have introduced with other members of the committee would codify a uniform standards with dealing with claims of the state secrets privilege in civil litigation. the last congress at an oversight hearing. our experience has demonstrated destructive impact that secrecy can have on our nation. for the rule of law to have meaning, liberties and rights must be enforceable in the courts. separations of powers concerns are highest with regard to executive branch contact. -- conduct. claims of secrecy have been used to conceal matters from congr

dispatches from the war room, stanley greenberg on advising bill clinton, tony blair, and nelson mandela. then, another look at all of today's coverage from the chicago tribune. and alive, tomorrow, and that with bill eyres. the university of illinois professor and former underground member. he will take your calls. for all of this weekend's programs at times, go to book tv dog or. >> today marks the sixty fifth anniversary of d-day. president obama was in normandy, france to attend the ceremony. joining him was french president nicholas sarkozy. this is just over an hour. >> president obama, your royal highness, prime minister rao, prime minister harbor, presidents are cozy, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. -- president sarkozy. it is our privilege to welcome all the illustrious visitors joining us today. we extend a special welcome to the d-day and world war ii veterans and family members in attendance to honor us all with their presence. [applause] today we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the d-day landings that took place in the early morning hours of

have said that the five leaders we keep referencing, you were chief advisers to tony blair, nelson mandela, bill clinton, ehud barak i do not know of your bolivian. we will get back to them in a minute but more about this tutorial because people are, this is my theory, people have bought and cynical are skeptical because of the increased understanding and observance of the polls. that is because they're out there and seeing them more and reporters like them because i like a horse race it is lazy reporting and they create stories and we know that is true to the negative impression of polls. but for the purposes of jockeys are not even jockeys the people who cannot avoid looking at polls, what is a good poll? not a good republican and democratic poll but what should people look for at the end of every newspaper or public poll says how many respondents, registration, a go through that. >> guest: i will talk about that but then i will talk about the way i use it because when people think of pollsters, they look at what they see on tv which is the nerd, number cruncher. >> host: you are not a nerd fo

the legislative branch appropriations act; that the motion be agreed to, and once the bill is reported, the nelson of nebraska substitute amendment, which is at the desk being be called for consideration. further, that following -- that the following be the only first-degree amendments and motion in order: mccain, nebraska photo exhibit; coburn, onloon disclosure of senate spending; demint, visitors center inscription "in god we trust"; vitter, motion to recommit 2009 level, demint, audit reform federal reserve, upon disposition of the amendments in motion, the substitute amendments, if amended, be degreeds, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, the bill as amend be read a third time and the senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill; upon passage, the senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the house on the disagreeing votes of the two houses, and that the chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the senate, provided further in a point of order is raised against the substitute amendment, it be in order for another substitute amendment to be offered min

booktv, after words and dispatches from the war room, stanley greenberg on advising bill clinton, tony blair and nelson mandela. >> sunday on washington journal author richard wolf and his new book renegade, the making of a president. it is a biography of barack obama based on interviews conducted during the 2008 campaign. it begins live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span and we will show it to you again at 10:00 p.m. eastern here on booktv. >> booksellers convention at the center in new york city, he was stacy lewis the director from city lights booksellers san francisco. would you have coming out this fall? >> will come of this fall we have a couple books coming out from angela davis. we have a collection of essays. it is our first book that has been published in about four years that covers the emcee is particularly interested in, racism, sexism, the prison industrial complex and particularly interesting but we are publishing with angela is a new edition of the narrative of the life of frederick douglass and american slave which contains douglas's narrative as well as essays by davis that were part of a

always could go right into the -- as nelson mandela and house bill clinton who to me i still think he's a better politician than barack obama. i'm not trying to make comparisons, but what i am making the point on is with all the tools you give them, with all the frame work, with all the testing and a manipulative way what is the best way to say it? they -- it's something else they bring. >> look tony blair was very articulate. and he also had i right in the book he had an underlying religious faith which was central will was driving his purpose. it led to a kind of chaotic politics within britain because britain is so uncomfortable with the notion of religious faith and expressed publicly. and so it wasn't something he could actually give voice to on till the miami 11 when he was able to then speak about the kind of fundamentalist right and wrong, you know, the fundamental threat facing the space societies. and she was able to speak in religious terms and found his voice and that is when you particularly dealt with in the post-9/11 period and in the iraq period. but, you know, he listen

bill. some do not like the r.e.s. some think it needs to be much higher. senator nelson has threatened to filibuster. i think senator bingaman -- my earlier comment is that there is something in here for everyone to hate. the question is, do you hate it so much that you would be willing to throw away the more helpful pieces? do you foresee that the process is so bad that it will take it? it is just getting started. and we did the walk-through last week. -- getting so bad that it will taint it? there was this 600-and-some-odd bill. there were sections where they are just essentially placeholders. as i left work on friday night, i was talking with someone, and she was, like, "boss, i am prepared to be writing amendments all week long, and i know where you are going on this one piece, but my challenge, "she says, "i do not know what i am doing, and we are moving to a markup in two days." and so, that is extremely frustrating. you will hear republicans complain off the route that we have not seen a complete text -- you'll hear republicans complain all throughout that we have not seen a complete text. the

bill. some don't like the res. think that it needs to be much higher. senator nelson from florida has threatened a filibuster because of the destin dome piece. i think it was senator bingaman there's been a lot of lines drawn in the sand and my earlier comment was there's something in this for everybody to hate. the question is, is do you hate it so much that you would be willing to throw aside all of the other helpful component pieces. your first question about the help committee and do i foresee that this is -- that the process is so bad that it's going to taint it? we're just getting started. i mean, we did the walk-through last week. what was frustrating with that walk-through was there are portions of this 600-some odd page bill are completely blanked titles. sections where there just essentially are place holders. when i left work on friday night, i was talking with my help, she said boss, i'm prepared to be writing amendments all week long and i know where you're going on the rural piece but my challenge, she says, is i'm -- i don't know what i'm amending in ma

nelson: i share that concern. and as it is noted, the increase in the spending requested in the appropriations bill is about 2.4%. while $200,000 is a lot of money and it certainly is a lot for people today i think it's important to point out that this is associated with a the legislative branch in the following matter. the durham museum is seeking to provide a public service of federal interest making it appropriate to promote a public-private partnership. the funding of the project in this bill is only 10% of that total cost. the durham museum will be privately raising the remaining 90% and occur all ongoing operating costs. $200,000 requested to this bill for the durham museum is to begin the brez vacation and digitalization of the museum's photo archive collection that will create new jobs, preserve our history and improve access to these priceless treasures. the project will be moved significantly forward by the able assistance of the -- by the library of congress and i thank dr. billington, the librarian of the library of congress for his willingness to assist us in this important project. it's important to

nelson mandela, and others. he is interviewed by someone from the bush-cheney white house. and then, bill ayers, the university of illinois professor and former weather underground member. he talks against white supremacy, and he will take your calls as well as questions from the audience. for a complete schedule of this weekend's schedule, fox online to booktv.org -- go on line. >> how is c-span funded? >> i do not know. >> from public television? >> i do not know where the money comes from. >> contributions from donors? >> how is c-span funded? 30 years ago, america's cable companies created c-span as a public service. no government mandate, no government money. >> earlier today, president obama had a meeting with german represented angela merkel. here is the schedule. he has stops in france tomorrow in paris and normandy, where he will celebrate the 65th anniversary of d-day. his speech in cairo, egypt, continues to generate attention. we will show it again on sunday here on c-span. now, craig newmark, creator of craigslist. this is about 55 minutes. >> craig new2mark probably does not

club is staff members of melinda cook, pat nelson, joanne booze and howard rothman for helping to organize today's lunch, and things to the npc library. billive is provided by the press club of broadcast operations center, events available for free download on itunes as well as the website and non-members may purchase transcripts and videotapes by calling 20262 -- 7598 or archives@press.org. and for more information about the press club you can go to the website www.press.org. that is it for today, thank you so much. we are adjourned. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] how is c-span funded? >> private donations. >> i don't really know. >> from public television. >> donations. >> i don't know where the money comes from. >> beverly. >> contributions from donors. >> how c-span fonted? 30 years ago america's cable companies created c-span as a public service, a private business initiative with no their mandate and no government money. >> sunny and warm in the nation's capital on this mond

nelson mandela. he's interviewed by mary madeleine, former counselor in the bush/cheney white house. and live sunday in depth with bill ayers, university of illinois professor and former weather underground member. his latest is race course, against white supremacy, and he'll take your calls as well as questions from the audience. for a complete schedule of this weekend's programs and times, go online to booktv.org. >> now a hearing on the fiscal year 2010 budget for the military's special operations command. including navy sales and army rangers. this is about an hour. >> it's right at 1:00. we certainly expect other members to come terroristing in as we proceed -- drifting in as we proceed, but want to be respectful of the admiral's time and get started on time and welcome you, as always, before our subcommittee, admiral olson. certainly we appreciate the work you do for our country in leading the special operations command. i have an opening statement that i have written that i will submit for the record. just briefly i want to say how important the special operations command is to our nation's national security. a

nelson: that amendment is identical to legislation passed in the house of representatives by a whopping vote of 402-19. it will put the brakes on excessive speculation in the oil markets. the bill directs the commodities futures trading commission to use its existing authority, including its emergency powers, to immediately curb the role of excessive speculation in any market it regulates and to eliminate -- it directs them to eliminate excessive speculation, price distortion, sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or unwarranted changes in prices. now, you wonder how does this occur. it occurs because as people get into the marketplace wanting to protect against the future rise of the price of a barrel of oil, they buy a contract to lock in a certain price for that oil to be delivered in the future. now, naturally, a business that would want to do that would be, for example, the airlines. if they think that the price of oil is going up, they want to get in and buy a supply of that petroleum at the price now before it goes up. but what happens is that when these commodities exchanges were unregulated by the enron loophole in december of 2000, there is no regulatory authority by th

nelson: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, the senate energy committee has just approved an energy bill that adopted a very controversial amendment that would allow oil to be drilled ten miles off of the coast of florida. i want to refer -- here is the peninsula of florida. this is the panhandle of flori florida. pensacola, fort walton beach, panama city, cape sandblast, sosome of your largest military installations in america are here, the pensacola naval air station, the big complex of the air force, egeland air force base in that area of fort walton beach. down here in panama city, tindle air force base, where they are training all of the f-22 pilots. as you can see on this map, the rest of the gulf coast of the united states. alabama, mississippi, louisiana, and then texas. and this was a chart that when senator dorgan offered his amendment, he offered up this chart showing the western planning area of the gulf, the central planning area and what is known as the eastern planning area. the chart shows that in legislation that we passed in 2006, a compromise was struck whereby the oil industry could drill in an additi