lame-duck congress. they should be wrapping things up in the next few weeks. what do you think about congress in the new year during a trump administration? what are your expectations? line for democrats in massachusetts. wondering if this congress is going to be a rubber stamp for donald trump. host: what do you think? caller: i think it is going to be. no matter what he wants, they will pass it. host: you don't think the democrats in the senate will have the power to stop some of those initiatives? caller: some of them, but not all of them. host: los angeles next on the line for independents. caller: hello. here, i'm hoping congress will put in some type of law that anyone running for president has to supply his taxes. everyone else did it. what is trump hiding? host: what are the chances we will see something like that? caller: he said he wasn't going to do it. i think we should have a recall. host: what are the chances that congress would enact something like that? caller: they should do it. i will r

take away a power from congress. article i, section 8 of the constitution gives the power to declare war. this proposed amendment would say that if congress did declare war, it could not go into effect until after that war resolution had been voted on in a national referendum. that was definitely an attempt to try to get the people's voice in there. although they did get a lot of support for this here, they didn't have enough support to actually get that into the constitution. over here we have another perennial issue related to amending. the balanced budget amendment is one that has been introduced repeatedly in congress. probably for the last 40 years or so, it has been a regular event. we include this video here of ronald reagan's 1988 state of the union address. in it he talks about and advocates for the passage of a balance budget amendment. president reagan: this is the conference report. 1053 pages report, weighing 14 pounds. [laughter] president reagan: let us do now what so many states due to hold down spend

it invites then congress to -- you hope congress will wave those things when we he have another great recession. i'm not sure that's actually going to put us in a better place. >> i just want to say, the budget committee, if you feel there are things you need to clarify how this works, just flag me. you could say, we do have automatic stabilizers. i know in other countries when they have these kinds of targets, they take the business cycle into account. >> it's always a really fun day gets to agreeffer with something the heritage foundation said. >> does that happen to you often, harry? >> i have some days where that happens more than it used to. what is really important is the idea that people should be able to see the process adjudicating competing claims. they don't see that enough. one thing that is important in these discussions is probably it needs to be broader in budget process and think overall about congressional process. i think a lot of the problem with not seeing claims adjudicated is when amendments are not allowed. so, there is just one vote and members have no opportun

it's in all areas of congress. think you see this in the election and what motivated millions of americans around this country is that they are not seeing their claims adjudicated in the halls of congress on the floors of the house and senate. they are told lots of stuff when their politicians were when their candidates are asking for their vote, but when it comes to congress they are told we can't do this because this will happen are we can't do that and all this other stuff and it's frustrating. i think having this and thinking through the process and it may not be the most glamorous thing, but i think it's important that we think through what kind of process we want and what kind of things we value and yes, it may make members of congress a little less secure elect poorly, but last time i checked, this place was not designed, congress was not designed so members could come back here in and year and year and year. it's designed to represent the people and i think it is clear that the people are not getting what t

, but of women in congress and of younger women in congress. she's the first member of congress to have a baby while she's serving. and she shows up on an ebony magazine cover holding her baby in something that is -- probably the first time there had been such a cover of a lawmaker holding a brand-new baby. shirley chisolm also becomes a national figure in ways that are shown by these two buttons we have here in the collection. they don't say anything about her running for congress, do they? they are all about her running for president. shirley chisolm is our girl for president, for president to represent all americans. and you could see the woman symbol around her face and the center of this really places her in with a feminist agenda and that is something that was very much important to her and on the national stage in the 1972 election, she was very much putting together a very interesting group of people. and if you look at film clips of her at the democratic convention, it is really interesting to see her really seasoned paul talking about

basically we need more congress flikt. it needs to be open and transparent so people can see what their representatives are doing, what they're advocating for and voting on thing and they can weigh in on the back end and say we love congressman x because he voted forry. congress doesn't give them that option. i would completely agree with that. until we have that kind of debate, none of this matters. congress is going to keep responding to the signals they're sending them. >> i think there's one thing that we should point out that people may not know that's in here which is this would establish a commission to recommend converted programs to discretion nair programs. you can say what you like about that. we don't know whether it's medicare et cetera, if you want budget process, i can get it for you. you will have your wish. >> i would say one other thing, you speak to the capacity issue. it's been done once before. we may not need an appropriations ability. at the turn of the 20th century, the house and senate, i believe,

and we will hear from retiring member of congress charles wrangle as congress. we take you to the romeo and juliet wrongful death mock trial. where samuel alito serves as presiding judge. at 6:30, a look at the career of mike pence and his new role as vice president. on c-span and c-span.org and listen on the free c-span radio app. each week, american history tvs american artifacts visits museums, archives and years agoly 220 five on december 15, 1791, virginia ratified the first 10 amendments to the constitution. the bill of rights then became law. amending america is a national explores thebit history and the process of amending the constitution. this tour is about 45 minutes. my name is jennifer johnson and i am a curator at the national archives museum. black, i am anne outreach specialist. i am co-curator. we are standing out the gallery and about two take you through. next to me is a case showing the more than 11,000 amendments that have been proposed to the constitution. christina and i have been working on this exhibit for a couple of years right now. we

we cannot allow agencies to make law, circumvent congress and bypass congress and turn us into elected bystanders. i'm very optimistic that we're going to be able to do that. i'm tremendously excited about scott pruitt. i had a meeting with scott in denver, before i got elected and i had won the runoff. to talk about how the attorneys general can work with congress to restore constitutional authority. i think scott was one of the attorneys general who filed suit against the epa claiming that they were in violation of the clean air act, acting outside their legs lated authority. going forward, we have to look forward to the administration and having a guy like general pruitt as the administrator to the epa, i'm quite certain he won't send out 6,000 texts and when we ask for documents for backup the positions epa takes that we'll get them and also know this, if we're able to pass this agency accountability act and we have the power of the purse again, we can hold agencies accountable. we will be able to restore the authority of congress and make law appropriately. tim, i really appreciat

it is covering congress. crazyve 535 animated characters with their own agendas and stories and own ambitions. but also, it is just the access you get to principles that is unparalleled. i can be hanging around on the second floor of the senate -- the capital on the senate side outside the senate chamber and i could be hanging out there because i have nothing else to do. i turned the corner and catch harry reid going into his office. i have a question for you. other beats in washington do you get access to principals like that. >> i'm always encouraging our beat reporters to talk to lawmakers. covering health care, it is a great place to come up and spend a tuesday. much.nk you so appreciate your time. thank you again to the national press foundation for hosting. [applause] >> another group of reporters actions can be important in holding the responsible.ct this is just over one hour.

what i don't understand about congress, the people who are ahead or over congress, they have rules that they are supposed to be going by. i don't understand now they're pushing the rules away from trump because they are his family -- there he is tweeting, doing everything he is big enough to do -- looks like a club going in and out, in and out into the trump tower. everything you said you cannot do, he is doing it and he is getting away with it. that is hard to understand. it is not nothing that is nice, look like it doesn't have any -- i cannot think -- i cannot really think of what i am trying to say. it does not have any class. they act like just a bunch of saloon people. he is getting away with all the things they said he could not do. guest: i remember when i was younger, i grew up during the reagan presidency and reagan had these huge electoral landslide victories and would talk about how that was a mandate to enact his policies. donald trump does not have that. he lost the popular vote, won the electoral college, and we now have unified government, both houses of congress and the

in 2015 was the 114 congress 14 congress began.we'll show you the most recent interview beginning with a clip from 2015. >> we sun articles saying that you have a regular practice of entering the house chamber on the democratic side what you do that? >> i started to do, sometimes you go and on one side and sometime on the other side but i stop and talk to people. never sent which is been really most of my time here i just do it every time because i see my republican colleagues at different events, social and political events, we convene as a republican congress and i have plenty of opportunity to be with my republican colleagues but less so with my democratic colleagues. one of the the things i observed during the orientation process is that partisanship is built into the dna. if you are not intentional about overcoming it you just slip into being a republican or democrat with little interaction. it may seem like a simple gesture but for me it's an opportunity get to know people. >> can be seen others trying to make that intentiona

and janice hahn is someone who cared about her district in congress, but her district in congress was tiny compared to the district she represents on the l.a. county board of supervisors. we know she will do a terrific job there. she is very involved in the prayer breakfast movement here in congress. she made mp friends across the aisle as she did that and we will miss her. but we see all of these fine individuals when we go home as we do every week in california. now before calling on my colleague, mr. farr, i would also like to note that the timing of this was a little bit different than we had expected and a lot of members have statements. so i would like to ask unanimous consent that members have five legislative days to insert extraneous remarks into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. lofgren: and i would like unanimous consent to place in he record the remarks of doris matsui. i would like to yield to sam arr, five minutes. mr. farr: thank you very much, madam leader. madam chair, very much. this is probably the last time i rise on this floor to speak af

>> congress is fundamentally responsible. there unwillingness to make hard choices they have taken the easy way out because their fundamental interest is getting reelected and they find the current system increases their power even though it would appear to people the delegation of legislative power is congress giving away power, something -- congress is more powerful and more likely to stay in office under this new systems the house of representatives has an incompetency rate higher than the house of lords. they established at hillsdale college is the author. you are watching but tv on c-span2 with top on action books and authors every weekend. booktv, television for serious readers. >> is 2016 comes to close many publications are offering their picks for the best books of the year. here are some of the titles that the economist has selected. >> he rebuilt the bourgeoisie and creative independence and a time like that when excess are under attack from politicians. it behooves is to study the expert who parlayed that expertis

she helped us to understand what congress was all about. and i'm honored tonight to say some kind words about her and to acknowledge a colleague who's here and will be saying a word as well, because time is of the essence for some of my colleagues, i will yield to my colleague at this time and ask that she would give her comments and she tells me that she will be coming right back. so let me continue. to my right is a photograph of very dear friend and former co-worker, jacqueline ellis. she was born in mobile, alabama, and she was born at a time when persons of african ancestry could buy a hat, but they couldn't try it on, at a time when persons of african ancestry would have to step aside so others could step forward, at a time when persons of african ancestry were relegated to certain places in life, certain schools, certain places of business. they had to go to the back door for their food, they would drink from colored water fountains. she was born at a time when this country did not respect all of her rights. and who could have known

it's covering congress. and it's primarily because -- i mean, obviously, you have 535 animated, crazy characters with all their own agendas and their stories and kind of their own ambitions, but also, it's just the access that you get to principles is just unparalleled. and i can be hanging around in the ohio clock corridor, which is the second floor of the senate -- second floor of the capitol on the senate side, right outside the senate chamber, and i could just be hanging out there because i have nothing else to do. i turn the corner and i catch harry reid going into his office. so i was like, leader reid, i have a question for you on "x" topic, and he'll make news that way. very few other beats in washington, maybe no other, do you get access to principals like that. so, i think -- >> you can use that for other beats. >> definitely, yeah. >> i'm always encouraging our beat reporters to come up and talk to lawmakers. if you're covering health care, it's a great way to come up and spend a tuesday. >> you k

you see congress doing this anyway. again, this is a reflection of the american people to the extent that people have an aversion to spending but they want to see things done. tax breaks are a way to divide government resources and particular activities and claim to not be increasing spending. i don't think there is a functional difference between whether a government subsidy is handed out via spending programs or tax breaks. the main concern with tax breaks is they are skewed towards those at the top due to the nature of the tax code. there is nothing inherently wrong where they make sense. but phil is right. they get a lot less scrutiny and are done with less transparency than spending programs. wayuld be nervous about a were the only way for congress responded with more tax breaks. >> stewart butler and i will be publishing a picture -- paper shortly about how to get a compromise on this. but also would not go unchecked as it does now unless there is proactive effort to do something where you have to consider the bud

congress to pass a law. they don't legislate, they delegate, they allow administrators, people nobody has voted for or any way accountable and congress tells them you write the rules, you make the laws. give them a very vague aspiration. we want clean air or no discrimination or fair railroad rates and allow those people who are supposed to be the experts to make the laws. congress what they do for the most part is sit back and intervene in individual cases, their constituents get in trouble with constituent service which is more helpful to them in getting elected and easier than the hard job of making policy choices and legislating. the problem is congress doesn't legislate, not doing its fundamental constitutional job. >> as the increase in the bureaucratic state in explicit, implicit, slow? >> in waves, in quantico the scientists call it. the first was in the progressive era 100 years ago woodrow wilson who was a political scientist before he was president, a theory about giving america a new style admini

, so congress has done that. >> when did they do that, though. >> in 1998/1999. >> if congress wantedhings that were germane and right right now with how our government conducting sensitive operations, you see that would still be okay even though it could jeopardize lives. >> it would still be okay because my bet is, this congress and committee would act pretty judiciously on that. you're not going to willie nilly. >> i get it -- >> i have a lot of confidence -- >> well, there's certain constitutional prerogatives, we, obviously, have the power to legislate the executive has -- the executive power means something, i mean, there are certain things. what i'm trying to figure out is, are there certain bplaces, think we all agree some of this stuff is ridiculous. there's an incentive to take -- some of this stuff isn't even classified0a" being protective. let me give it to you on the end. >> i do believe there's constitutional protection for secrecy, but at the same time as tom said in his at the same time we'll have tozv get down throug the challenge process or through briefings that con

congress since the summer of 2011. my first was a nice introduction to congress and i'm from iowa. >> let's start off with our alumni and when we were talking before we were talking about what happens in unified control. in 2009 and 2010 it was under the bush administration from 2003 ended i2003 and in the shod from the 2001. the tendency is for people to make more in politics you exaggerate the mandate that you may or may not have. let's talk about the burden that can be also. if you remember at the beginning the democrats once he was sworn and you have 60 votes in the senate and control of the house and president obama in the white house and they were ambitious with their legislative agenda. at least the house pushed through the energy bill and i think it will be interesting to see how they handle what they do, do they see a mandate that was handed to them and also what do they do with that and i think what will help guide that is the philosophy of the leaders in the house. christina and i were talking about this. it

>> congress is fundamentally responsible. their dereliction of duty, unwilling to do the hard choices, the hard choices they've taken the easy way out. their fundamental interest is in getting reelected and they find the current system increases their power. but people see that they're giving aware their power. it's self-abdi gaiting. it's not. congressmen are more likely to stay in office. that's why there's an incumbency rate higher than the house of lords in england. >> in the 19th century in the old days when congress actually did its job, the concern then was that congress was interfering too much in the day-to-d day-to-day administration of government. so we've had problems with congress on both ends. delegating too much power and micromanaging too much. the constitution is a healthy balance in terms of congress not being overwhelming part of it. >> the book is here and paul moreno of hillsdale college is the author. >> here is a look at some of the staff picks from politics and pros bookstore in washington d.c. olivia

host: what will you miss about congress? rep. mcdermott: every day when i get up, i open the newspaper, and somebody has done something somewhere, and that means the day here will be different. when i said at home now -- after this, i will open the newspaper, somebody will have done something somewhere, and i am not going to have any part in changing it. that's a real -- i mean, i look at that and i think, how do you make yourself feel relevant? how do you find -- deliberately, but there is a bitter sweetness to it. on the one hand, i love that i did.i loved being in congress . i have nothing bad to say about it. it was tough. i had hard days, real tough days. but in the end, i loved it. but there comes a time when you have to say, time for somebody else to do it. host: what were the low points of your career? probably the : lawsuit and the whole business with john boehner. when i got into that, i didn't quite understand everything that i was going to learn i. an 11 years of a lawsuit you learn a lot. i'm still here, and both gin

reminds us of the important of effective representation in congress. they tell us detailed stories about our families and our neighborhoods and the governments that work for us. >> this weekend we are featuring the history of tempe, arizona. and other about tempe stops at the cities tour on www.c-span.org/citiestour. you are watching american history tv on c-span3. >> next, christine hefner, former ceo of playboy enterprises, talks about comedian lenny bruce's life and legacy. she focuses on social commentary in his standup routine and how he pushed the boundaries of free speech. this is part of a two day conference commemorating the recent acquisition of lenny archival collection at brandeis university. this is about 30 minutes.

. >> other members of congress echoing that sentiment. republican senator lindsey graham saying, "i am not challenging the outcome of the election, but very concerned about russian interference and actions at home and throughout the world." this from robin kelly -- today on american history tv on c-span 3, at 1:00 p.m. eastern, a symposium on world war ii spies and code breakers. and an american family that aided in french resistance. >> the decision to join the resistance was very serious. she had a husband and 15-year-old son. by starting to use it as a place where the resistance could meet, she was risking not only her life but her husband and son's. a little after 5:00, italian anarchists were tried, foricted, and executed robbery and murder in massachusetts. law professor brad snyder talks about the controversy in this case. vant 9:10 p.m., sacco and zetti were transferred and the governor declared they had had a fair trial. the boston press to clear the case closed. >> at 8:00, historian george nash talks about herbert hoover's huma

>> the congress. actually, it's a ten-year term, and the librarian of congress is the only staff member/employee of the library of congress that is a presidential appointment. the other people who work, 3,200 people who work at the library are government employees, federal employees, and so it's not an appointment process, so that when i mentioned congress, the appropriations committees that have oversight and quite a bit of interaction with congress. >> is there still a joint committee? >> it's joint committee and both houses. >> are they active and involved? >> they're active, and what's been very heartening in working with congress is to realize, and i think both of my colleagues can share this, the interest of most of the legislators in history, and you could, you're both nodding, because you've noticed that, and it really was striking during my confirmation process, visiting the different offices, and how many things were either on loan or how much the legislators knew about history and wanted to

hayden: did congress. -- the congress. it is a 10 year term. the librarian is the only appointee that is a presidential appointment. the other 3200 people that work at the library are government employees, federal employees. there is not an appointment process. when nine inch in congress, there are appropriations committees that have oversight, and quite a bit of interaction with congress. susan: is there still a joint committee? mr. ferriero: yes, in both houses. susan: are they active? ms. hayden: they are active. what has been hard in working in congress is the interest of most of the legislators in history. it was striking during my confirmation process, seen how much the legislators knew about cement and wanted to their place in history. susan: what is your operating budget? how much of that is federally subsidized? ms. hayden: just about all of it. $632 million. the smithsonian has done a wonderful job of working with patriotic philanthropy. the library has been relatively new to that. the fact that we are in this coolidgea gift of mrs. w

there's got to be -- is there any place, i guess, that congress can't go into that, or could congress basically legislate as far as it wants in your judgment? >> can legislate as far as it wants, the power of the purse. separate the power of the purse from the power of the sword. that's key. >> i think absolutely. so the congress could abolish cia if they wanted to. there's no requirement you have that. we do have intelligence agencies. we do that. could congress pass a statute saying declassify as much sensitive stuff as we want. would there be any constitutional concern with doing that. >> none and congress has done so with the nazi war criminals which exposed the files of nazis the cia recruited and brought to the united states. it worked. >> when did they do that? >> 1998 and 1999. >> i guess my points is if congress wanted to start declassifying things that are germane and right right now with our government's conducting sensitive operations, you say that, would it still be okay even though it could jeopardize lives? >> it would still be okay. my bet is this congress and committe

congress does not have all the answers nor should it. if it did, i'd be very, very scared but i hope that new conservative majorities in congress can partner with the new trump administration to get these energy questions done right. american democracy and american free trade have given more freedom to more people in the world's history than all of our wars combined. free market principles guide us in a way that preserves our way of life, keeps the lights on, and passes a booming economy on to our kids and grandkids with an environment we could be ploud of. in closing, thank you very much, go navy, beat army, and merry christmas to y'all. thank you. [ applause ] questionsifies? missed some votes so no big deal. >> i wanted you to react to this. this is dan pleifer the millenial speechwriter for president obama and he says "at the risk of being dramatic, scott pruitt at epa is an existential threat to the planet." the left pretty upset. what is a scott pruitt appointment mean for the future? >> well it's common sense again. it basically m

speaker, when i came to congress as i suspect most new members come to congress, you tend to look around for those members who you can take a little something from. to improve yourself, to see what they do, and also what they don't do. congressman bob dold is serving out his second term and i'd like mr. dold to know that i have taken a great deal from him. i find him to be a very honorable man and a friend who has served with purpose, a positive attitude, and partisan free. he's a great example how to serve in this body effectively with distinction and with a great attitude. i wish you the very best, congressman dold, in all your future endeavors. mr. speaker, richard hannah serving new york's 22nd congressional district is retiring. i just wanted to commend congressman hannah on his thoughtfulness, independence, courage of convictions. i find him to be a great example of how to serve in this body honorably and i wesh him and his family the very best in his retirement. mr. speaker, congressman mike fitzpatrick of pennsylvania's 8th congressional district is retiring. his brother, ryan, h

with the do-nothing congress we beenhad, have there examples of congress doing less where a presidentad to issue executive orders? i have not seen the final numbers but we have seen to be hitting a new historic low as far as bills passed. these are imperfect measures because a bill can do everything from renaming a post office to implementing the affordable care act. they don't have the same weight. looking at the numbers of bills doesn't always tell you the full story, but this congress has been less active and president obama has used executive action .o fill in that action obama never used the term executive action and the only after that they lost the house of representatives that you heard president obama pressed her to cannot get anything through congress, start talking about using what he called the pen and phone congressto get around like increasing the minimum wage. he could not do it for all employers but for federal contractors and hope that other that that sets the example and raises the bar. the federal government is a huge enterprise and controls a significant portion of

i know that can be done in the congress. it is not done now. i think a much more free flowing processing of legislation is the best way to go. any movement we could get back to the committees having more control over how the debate occurs on the floor without the intervention over the rules committee. i know george norris actually in going back, i hate to do this to you but going back to 1908, led the effort against speaker canon here to -- to restrict the power of the speaker in deciding what legislation comes to the floor. i think we're kind of at that place again. >> going back to politics for a moment, tell us what it was like to campaign during this very intense presidential campaign. what was it like for you on the local level? rep. ashford: my campaign started the day i got here. my opponent announced that he was going to run and that we needed a change even though i had yet to find my apartment or my office. if i'm being flippant, i don't mean to be. i think the campaigning is way over -- takes way too much time and effort away from the

what does that tell you about the congress? to jay's point, when you're constantly testifying on the hill before multiple committees and subcommittees, it's thoord do your job. and i think it paralyzes the department from the core mission of protecting the american people we just introduced a bill, dhs improvement act. that trofrd nine other committees on the hill. how in the world can i get anything done as chairman? it needs to be fixed once and for all. i'm going to propose in the rules package and amendment to fix this problem once and for all. and i think we've got the support of the national security chairman. it needs to be done. i have a cybersecurity bill to reorganize the cybersecurity agency within the department to authorize it. i cannot get that past in the congress right now. and there are multiple visa bills that can't get passed. i can go on and on good legislation paralyzed by jurisdiction. reorganizing it into an agency so we have an agency responsible for the u.s. government cybersecurity mission is at least

the issue was how do these states be represented in congress? large state guys madison, hamilton said all of the representation should be done according to population, proportional representation. small state said, uh-huh, that is not going to work for us. the power of the states will be unequal. william paterson of new jersey says with a large state folks put up their plan for representation, new jersey will never agree. she will be swallowed up. the man of delaware says, to the large state folks, madison and the rest, i do not, gentlemen, trust you. he did call them gentlemen. i do not trust you. sherman of connecticut says, before july of 1787, we are now at a full stop. we are not going to get this thing done. delegates break for the fourth of july. the 11th fourth of july, if you will, 1787. in philadelphia, there is celebration here they take stock of what they are doing, what they are here to do. they come back with this resolve to get something done. to make some sort of a compromise to get a new constitution, and they do on july 16 of 1

he is going to be trump's liaison to congress. he has a very good relationship with paul ryan and many others in the house from his time there and i think that he will probably be the person in the administration who seeks to feelingser any hurt for harsh disagreement. of course, a lot of this is going to depend on who is in control of congress. we know with the case will be for the next two years but after that, if democrats were able to take back one of the chambers, i think that could be a very different scenario and i think you could see pence bringing out some of the more hard lined tactics in that case. >> in march of 2011 at the height of the shutdown crisis, tea party activists rallied in washington, demanding government shutdown if indeed significant budget cuts were not made. congressman mike pence spoke to that group and supported some of their goals. gov. pence: i am mike pence, from indiana, the tea party, patriots, americans, welcome back to your nation's capital. [applause] with the death of $1.65 trillion in the na

i study congress. i have to say i've been here in washington for about 20 years and every year congress gets slightly worse. so i'll just leave it right there. >> my name is sun min kim. i i'm a political reporter. i've been at "politico" since 2009 and covering congress since the summer of 2011. and i'm from iowa. >> let's start off with our paul miller alumna. and we were talking a little bit before we started the proceedings here just about what happens under unified control. it is not terribly -- we haven't seen that since the first couple of years of the obama administration, 2009/2010. before that it was in the bush administration from 2003 to 2007 and for a short period of time in 2001. the tendency i think is for people to make more in politics, this just makes sense, you exaggerate the mandate you may or may not have in order to pursue your agenda. let's talk about some of the things, what sort of burden that can be also, sung min. >> i think if you remember at the beginning of the obama admin

host: what will you miss about congress? rep. mcdermott: every day when i get up, i open the newspaper, and somebody has done something somewhere, and that means the day here will be different. when i said at home now -- after this, i will open the newspaper, somebody will have done something somewhere, and i am not going to have any part in changing it. that's a real -- i mean, i look at that and i think, how do you make yourself feel relevant? i gave it up deliberately, but there is a bitter sweetness to it. on the one hand, i love that i did. i loved being in congress. i have nothing bad to say about it. it was tough. i had hard days, real tough days. but in the end, i loved it. but there comes a time when you have to say, time for somebody else to do it. host: what were the low points of your career? rep. mcdermott: probably the lawsuit and the whole business with john boehner. when i got into that, i didn't quite understand everything that i was going to learn. an 11 years of a lawsuit you learn a lot. i'm still here, and bo

>> i believe congress should. in fact, some committees by virtue of roles have empowered themselves with the option, yet to my knowledge have never been acknowledged. it's a dicey issue but to call equal branches of government -- >> you look like you wanted to weigh in. >> that's one of the things we fought for original. it was only led to be a challenge internally and we fought that it could be internally or externally. so i would think the same process should be applied classified information as well. >> i see my time has expired. >> the chair recognizes -- >> thank you so much, mr. chairman. and thank you for raising what i think is a very important, complex list of issues actually. i recognize we need to do much about security. we need balance, accountability and fairness. this is a huge area with so many people interacting, and in many cases there's disagreement among agencies. a lot has to be done. i wanted to ask you questions and help you answer them in sort of succinct as possible, recognizing you are onl

host: what about your first two years in congress? have you had a chance to travel with congressional delegations? rep. russell: i have been 222 countries this term and are going to three more by the end of the year. so yes, extensive travel. i have often related that trade is better than tomahawks and diplomacy better than disaster. host: what had he tried to do on those trips? rep. russell: i have met with heads of state to talk about things we share, things that are concerns. they have ranged from our potential conflict, where we do not want to be in conflict, like we see in asia, or like we do with europe. the refugee crises that are shaking the foundations of governance there. we see it in a sunday, which has a doctrine of re-acquisition. on i have not even touched our central and southern african partners that are concerned stable countries becoming unstable with what we see in the northern parts of the continent. there are a lot of things to be engaged in. host: how that steve russell personally. how are things with travel, mee

some of that will take an act of congress and some of it can be done by congress. when he was the candidate the line was that he wanted to rescind all of the unconstitutional executive orders in the memorandum and they were signed by president obama. it's what is unconstitutional. clearly there are some executive actions that have been taken and the provisions have been struck down in the courts. i am thinking of some provisions of the immigration actions, the clean power plan. they wanted their way through the courts. the other thing he said is that he had a presidential memorandum in the formulations with the recognition that a lot of people in congress are relatively new to this realization that not all the executive authority comes from the executive order. so, maybe talk a little bit about some of the vehicles for the terminology so you know sort of what they are and look for them in the first days of the trump administration. first is executive order and what we must think of end notes about. the numbers were up to 13,000. they instruct the branch to do some

the defining power of congress. and so there is a strange thing going on i think madison did not anticipate with regard to who the members are and how they changed. i think that is different. i was a 14-year-old page. there were people there, giants who fought for the constitution. not just byrd, moynahan. they put away their alliances and fought for the institutional integrity of the chambers. that's what's missing often today. >> i guarantee you democrats will be much more receptive. it is important how republicans are going to respond, if similar actions are taken. the politically easy thing is just to fall behind. i think that it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. >> i'm so encouraged to hear the comments about reclaiming the lost power of the legislative branch in this country. i talk about the dozens of lawsuits we filed. it was the cause we were forced to follow those lawsuits baits was very clear that the executive branch had overstepped his authority. he said i literally have a pen and a phone an

the first bill i did in congress was 1987. i got several hundred million dollars for housing for people living with aids. for a freshman to get that much money in a program that is still going on today, 28 years later -- we spent billions of on dollars housing for people living with aids. so there is a whole lot of things that i have done that i am proud of. none of them were perfect. we had to change some of them. but i think you have to think of government and the legislation as being like evolution. it changes every day is going someplace, and you have to react to it. it never stays the same. that is why conservatives in the end always lose. because the tide moves on and changes things, and you have to respond to that change. greta: you have worked with several presidents during your tenure here. what stories, or do you have a story, of working with the president, stands out to you? rep. mcdermott: well, one thing i would say about george bush -- i never said good things about him. i thought getting into iraq was a terrible