joining me now is the president and ceo of common cause from pennsylvania bob edgar. congressman. thank you for joining us tonight. >> it's great to be with you eliot. >> eliot: i'm one of those who thinks that is against democracy, but explain to me where it's constitutional. >> it never was in the constitution. it was insented by accident by aaron burr, an historic figure. then three days after aaron bur, created it, it was called the filibuster and used more often in history to protect segregation and lunching laws than any productive purpose. only in the last few years has it been used as a tactic or tool of conservative minority to have have, in fact, have a veto over legislation they didn't like. we saw it with the disclosed legislation. it passed the house. it was ready to go to the president for signature. it got 59 votes in the united states senate but failed. common cause believes that the filibuster is not only unconstitutional, but the filibuster has add to the partisanship that we see in washington. we filed in the federal courts. while the constitution does give the

host: bob edgar, president and ceo of common cause.he group is filing a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the filibuster. up next, marsha blackburn will respond to questions about increased regulation on banks. later, a grass-roots effort to overhaul the made in the u.s. label. >> rebecca brooks said she and her husband will face charges over britain's tabloid phone- packihacking scandal. in north carolina, the eldest daughter of john edwards is set to take the stand for the defense today in his corruption trial. kate edwards is a lawyer who has been in the courtroom almost every day. he faces a up to30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. today is the primary in oregon with 25 delegates at stake. ron paul issued a statement yesterday saying he would stop spending money to compete in the primaries. mitt romney is 171 delegates short of the number he needs. the first all summer's plan -is- set forr's plan is today. there is a new website that is alzheimers.com. [video clip] >> this saturday, hear conversations between

current filibuster rules are unconstitutional in a statement released yesterday common cause president bob edgar said the abuse of the filibuster by minorities on both sides of the aisle although especially since republicans especially republicans and so president obama became president is quote an affront to our democracy and not the way the senate was supposed to work and quote since two thousand and eight when democrats won control the white house and both chambers of congress the republican minority in the senate has abused the filibuster breaking the record for the most filibusters ever in the senate from two thousand and nine to two thousand and ten democrats and in the house passed legislation to create a cap and trade system to cut down on carbon pollution pass legislation to cut off tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas pass legislation create a public option to pass legislation of for six the disclosure of election spending and they passed legislation to put young undocumented immigrants who are in college of the military or military on a pathway to citizenship unfortunately

our guest is the group's president and ceo, bob edgar. marsha blackburn of tennessee, will discuss bank and finance regulations and we will be joined by alan uk, the author of the book buying america back. about how individuals can affect manufacturing and trade. "washington journal" is live every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> reading has become, over the last 200 years, the ultimate democratic act of the ultimate democratic country. it makes it possible for the many to teach for themselves what if you once held close. the president can quote mark twain because he has read huckleberry finn, and the postman can understand the context because he is read huckleberry finn two. the demagoguery, although still possible, will require a lot more svelte than cleverness. but careful reading of books and newspapers and now material on the internet, their flows are revealed to ordinary people. it wasn't for nothing that the nazi made bonfires a book. >> in 1992, annie quinlan won a pulitzer prize for her columns on a wide range of political topics. in

. >> tomorrow all our guests will be bob edgar on "washington journal." bennett marsha blackburn. then we will be joined by the author of "by being america back -- "buying americax back." >> have a demand for spectrum, but we would be foolish if all we did was rely on incentive options. >> it is important to have the trial date with respect to the rules to ensure everybody is competing on a level playing field. >> learned more about the newest fcc commissioners. tonight on "the communicators," on c-span2. >> other days, c-span is airing more from the nixon tapes, conversations from 1971 until 1973. hear conversations from nixon and chuck colson, as they talked about the presidential nominee mcgovern. >> he does not have the stuff. he does not realize he is on the verge of an impending -- everything he has done has gone wrong. >> in washington, listen at 90.1 fm. >> today president obama delivered the commencement address at barnard college. later this month the president will deliver addresses to a high school in missouri. the president's remarks are 40 minutes. >> want to take a

our guest is the group's president and ceo, bob edgar.marsha blackburn of tennessee, the deputy republican will discuss bank and finance regulation. and we will be joined by alan, the author of the book buying america back. "washington journal" is live on c-span every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> reading has become, over the last 200 years, the ultimate democratic act of the ultimate democratic country. it makes it possible for the many to teach themselves with a few once held close. the president can quote mark twain because he has read huck finn, and the postman can understand the reference because he has read it to you. the bigger lies of demagoguery, although still possible, require more stealth and cleverness. with careful reading of books and newspapers and material on the internet, the flows are revealed to ordinary people like us. it wasn't for nothing that the nazi made bonfire a book. >> in 1992, anna quinlan won a pulitzer prize. in a few weeks, you can talk to the best-selling author on "book tv", sunday, june 3, on c-span 2's

our guest is bob edgar. and then we will discuss bank and finance regulation. and we will be joined by the author of the book "buying america back," about how individuals can affect trade. "washington journal" is live every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> saturdays this month, c-span radio is airing more from the nixon tapes, secretly recorded phone conversations from 1971- 73. this saturday at 6:00 p.m. eastern, here conversations between president nixon and white house special counsel and key adviser chuck colson, who passed away last month as they talk about the democratic presidential nominee george mcgovern. >> [unintelligible] >> in washington d.c., listen to 90.1 fm. nationwide on channel 119 and streaming c-span.org. >> president obama told college graduates on monday to never underestimate themselves. his speech was about 40 minutes. [cheers and applause] >> president obama, it is an honor and privilege to have you with us today. before represent your citation, i want to share two special guest that barnard presented to you just a short while ag