> when i started covering congress, you had people like senator russell long, wilbur ,ills, danny rostenkowski howard baker -- people who were giants in their own way. a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble but overall, these were people -- they were all very intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation. he knew how to do a deal and they all worked with whoever the president was. whether it was their party or the other party -- yes, there were politics, but at the end of the day, they found a way to come together and make decisions for the good of the country. today, you don't see that anymore. i think the quality of members of congress in the house and senate in terms of their intelligence and their work ethic has diminished. there are still great people and i should not malign -- there are wonderful members on both sides but i think they are a minority. increasingly, people are driven by the politics and by their own self survivor -- cell survival. -- self survival. the hardest work they do is raising money, it's not crafting deals -- is making speeches and positioning themsel

> when i started covering congress, you had people like senator russell long, wilbur mills, danny rostenkowski, vaper, people- who were giants in their own ways. a couple of those guys got themselves into problems. peoplerall, these were -- they were all very intelligence. they knew how to craft legislation. he knew how to do a deal. and they all worked with whoever the president was. there was politics, but at the end of the day, there was a way to make decisions for the good of the country. today, you do not see that anywhere. first of all, i think the quality of members of the congress and their intelligence and their work ethic, has diminished. they are great people, and i should not malign -- there are wonderful members on both sides, but i think they are a minority. i think increasingly people are driven by the politics and by their own sort of survival. i think the hardest work they do is raising money. it is not learning the issues. it is not crafting deals. it is making speeches and positioning themselves to get reelected. myers is leaving washington, d.c. behind. find out why. >> the

started covering congress, you had people like wilbur mills, danny rostenkowski , people who were giants in their own way. a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble. but overall, these were people who knew -- they were all very intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation. they knew how to do a deal. and they all worked with whoever the president was. yes, there was politics, but at the end of the day, the usually found a way to come together and make decisions for the good of the country. today, you just don't see that anymore. first of all, i think the quality of members of congress, house and senate, in terms of their intelligence and work ethic has diminished. there are still great people and i should not malign -- there are wonderful members in both sides, but i think they are a minority. i think increasingly people larger than by politics and by , and i thinkvival the hardest work they do is raising money. not crafting deals. making speeches and positioning themselves to get reelected. >> emmy award-winning journalist and investigative reporter lisa myers is leaving was

when i started covering on chris, you had people like senator russell long, wilbur mills, danny rostenkowski, howard baker. people who were giants in their own way. a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble. but, overall, these were people who knew -- they were all very intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation and do a deal. they all knew who the president was. whether was their party or the other party. at the end of the day, they usually found a way to come together and make decisions for the good of the country. today, you just do not see that anymore. first, the quality of the members of congress in terms of their intelligence and their work ethic -- it has diminished. they are still great people and i should not malign. there are wonderful numbers on both side. i think they are a minority. increasingly, people are driven by the politics and their own self survival. and, i think that the part of what they do is raising money. not learning the issues or crafting deals. it is making speeches and positioning themselves to get reelected. journalistrd-winning lisa myers is lea

> when i started covering congress, you had people like senator russell long, wilbur mills, danny rostenkowskihoward baker, people who were giants in their own way. a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble, but over all these ar these were peo knew how -- they were all very intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation. a new have to do a deal and they all worked with who ever the president was, what it was their party or the other party. yes, there was politics but at the end of the day the usual featherweight to come together. and make decisions for the good of the country. >> today you just don't see that anymore. first of all i think the quality of members of congress, the house and senate, in terms of their intelligence and the work ethic has diminished. they are still great people and i shouldn't malign some of -- there are wonderful members on both sides but i think they're the minority. i think increasingly people are driven by the politics and by the own self survival, and i think the hardest what it is raising money, not learned the issues, not crafting deals tickets maki

waxed one i started covering congress you had people like senator russell long, danny rostenkowski.oward baker. people who were giants in their own way. a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble. but overall, these were people who knew -- they were all intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation. i knew had to do a deal. they work -- they knew how to do with the president was. there was politics. at the end of the day they usually found a way to come together and make decisions for the good of the country. there is still great people. i should malign some of them. they are wonderful members on both sides. they are a minority. increasingly people are driven by the politics and their own self survival. work isthe hardest getting the money. >> next, a house veterans affairs committee hearing on veterans health care. it is 3.5 hours. >> the committee will come to order. thank you for coming to this hearing this morning. we have numerous members who were on their way. we want to respect the time of our witnesses and we appreciate them being with us today. before i begin i wa

>> when i started covering congress you had people like senator russell long, wilbur mills, danny rostenkowski, howard baker. people who were giants in their own way. a couple of them got into trouble. they were all intelligent. they knew how to of craft legislation. they knew how to do a deal and they worked with whoever the president was. whether it was their party or the other party. yes, there was politics. at the end of the day they found a way to come together. first of all, the quality of members of congress and the house and senate in terms of intelligence and their work ethics has diminished. i shouldn't malign some of the -- there are wonderful members on both sides. i think they are a minority . increasingly people are driven by politics and their own survival. you know, i think the hardest work they do is raising money. it's not learning the issues or crafting deals. it's making speeches and positioning themselves to get re-elected. >> investigative reporter lisa myers is leaving washington, d.c. behind. find out why sunday at 8:00 on q & a. >>> the house foreign affairs committee

>> when i started covering congress, you had people like nator russell long, wilbur mills, danny rostenkowski, howard baker, people who were giants in their own way. now, a couple of those guys got themselves into trouble, but overall, these were people who knew how -- they were all very intelligent. they knew how to craft legislation. they knew how to do a deal, and they all worked with whoever the president was, whether it was their party, the other people. yes, there was politics, but at the end of the day, they usually found a way to come together and make decisions for the good of the country. today, you just see that anymore. first of all, i think the quality of members of congress, the house and senate, in terms of their intelligence and their work ethic, has diminished. i mean, there's still great people, and i shouldn't malign -- there are wonderful members on both sides, but i think that they're a minority. i think increasingly people are driven by the politics and by their own self-survival, and, you know, i think the hardest work they do is raising money. it's not learning the iss