we are going to hear from pete domenici and alice rivlin. we hope you can stay with us and we will have q&a for all of you. let me introduce and give alice a very brief introduction. many people, everybody knows alice. she's a senior fellow of the economic studies program at perkins commented professor of public policy institute at georgetown university. alice rivlin served as vice chair of the federal reserve board, since 1996, she was director of the white house office of management and budget. in february 2010 commissioners named by president obama to the commission on fiscal responsibility and reform. she also cochaired with pete domenici, the bipartisan policy center's task force on debt reduction. did i say to you that you also had a studio at one time? we are delighted to have unp you and pete and we will have questions for all four of you. >> thank you very much, senator, excuse me one moment. >> you all don't know what a fortunate man i have been here in my age -- to be asked to join with alice rivlin in forming a task force to atte

we have seen the nuggets of a plan that has been out there -- whether it is the minute she - domenici-rivlin, simpson-bowles. van hollen. we should be staying in congress until we put everybody back to work and resolve all lot of these artificial issues like the debt ceiling, something neither president reagan, president bush the younger, president clinton, or george w. bush had to deal with because congress understood implicitly that that was an important thing to do to make sure we honored our debt and had very little to do with the current debt. we saw this last summer. that has got to be avoided. i believe -- >> on that point -- >> i believe we will come together during this lame duck session because they recognize the magnitude of this. some will be leaving congress. some will be leaving because they are going to retire. others involuntarily. i hope they understand the magnitude of what we're dealing with here. >> patty murray indicated that democrats are willing to go off the fiscal cliff to get republicans to been on raising taxes. is that your position as congress is scheduled to com

where did it go on domenici and rivlin, down 26% or something, you're going to get democrats to agreeocrats would love to tackle the tax expenditures if they could get a big package, where the democrats have problems is on the entitlement side and there it has to be entitlement approach in the same package. >> i don't know historically what the lowest marginal rate top bracket we've ever had was, do you know? there's no way it was anywhere near 28% and they're already talking about the eisenhower years, we did 90, they're already talking about historically this is way too low. i don't see any of the things simpson-bowles ever being pal e palatable to both sides. >> they're moving sides. if you're missing the rate you miss the tax expenditure pieces. >> the grand bargain, everybody has to get something they want. >> just because they talk about it that way doesn't mean we should. >> david you said your biggest concern with this idea would be that this is just another thing, another can that gets kicked down the road in six months. how do we make them sick to this one if they're not goi

moreover, as pete has pointed out, the simpson-bowles and domenici-rivlin plans are very similar. and that's not because we colluded. it's because the arithmetic drives in a bipartisan group using realistic projections to the same conclusion. bringing the debt under control without derailing the economy must involve a combination of three elements. entitlement reform, reducing the rate of growth of medicare and medicaid i delivering health care more efficiently and effectively, and putting social security on a firm foundation for future retirees. that part, the entitlement reform, it's a hard part for democrats but it's absolutely necessary. you can't solve this problem without it him although entitlement reform won't help very much in the near term. second part is tax reform, that raises additional revenues from a tax code that is simpler and less of a drag on economic growth and remains at least as progressive as the one we have now. that's the part, the more revenue, that's the part that is hard for republicans, but it's absolutely necessary. we can't solve this problem without

and i think that that view is incorporated pretty well both in simpson-bowles and in the domenici-rivlin proposal. but one thing i do know is that that bipartisan broad agreement, someone mentioned earlier a grand bargain if you will, will be necessary if we're going to able to stabilize our debt. we cannot continue to move forward with the debt to gdp of over 100% for as far as the eye can see. and a grand bargain of course will require something that is badly, and many of your participants have said, it's going to require something that's become a dirty word up there at in disneyland on the potomac, and that is compromised. i'm not going, i won't go into the domestic consequences that i think would be associated if we just continue on our current path, except to say that i think they would be catastrophic. instead, let me as a former secretary and secretary of state, if i could focus on international aspects of this debt problem before mentioning for you a few of the elements that i think should be part of any grand bargain. right now, of course, we enjoying -- we are enjoying a period

the simpson-bowles commission and the domenici-rivlin task force, i got to serve on both of them, proved that republicans and democrats can engage in serious and civil dialogue about how to get the debt under control. even people currently serving in government, and most of the

chapter five is not david wessel's version of bowles-simpson or rivlin-domenici.but the role in the journalist is to say look, this isn't so complicated, let's break it down. it is hard to understand because it's so big that instructions at the white house and set to agencies to tell them how to submit requests for the president's budget runs 972 pages. the budget itself, for printed volumes, you can read them free online, 2238 pages last year. and content each one of those pages is a whole nother set of explanations. my favorite is the department of homeland security which submitted to congress 3134 pages to justify their budget, one for every $12.6 million they wanted to spend. the budget is big, $3.6 trillion a year, $400 billion a day, $70 million an hour. dave barry was a humor columnist be used to write for "the miami herald," is really good at this stuff, once said the problem, the reason people don't understand the federal budget is it's in millions billions and trillions sounds too much like. if we just call them golf balls, watermelons and how to bless i

erskine bowles in a bipartisan policy center debt reduction task force chaired by a pete domenici and alice rivline will hear from this forum next week and we have our friend keep with us today. both groups were able to reach agreement on plans that called for shared sacrifice for substantial changes throughout the federal budget rather than some selected parts of it. both groups took our fragile economy and short-term economic concerns into account while they not credible, long-term, structural reforms. they put everything on the table. they did not pretend they can make social security and medicare untouched and get the oxide of the ditch. they did not pretend we can increase the defense budget and decrease revenue and get the oxide of the ditch. in both the house and senate, some courageous members of both parties also desired their efforts to build up pond to simpson/bowles and sent through recommendations. our annual dinner on thursday september 20 goodbye she was pleased to honor senator saxby chambliss and senator mark warner 213 of six in the senate, leadership on this crucial issue. to ra

of the big plans that have been presented, whether it's the ryan budget or simpson-bowles or rivlin- domenici, the $4 trillion figure has been sort of a magic number. >> but you've already used -- what you're saying -- but you're counting a trillion already? >> well, because they were cuts that were negotiated -- >> -- this is a $3 trillion -- how would you -- if we were doing math -- >> the plan was a $4 trillion plan, of which $1 trillion in cuts, just cuts has been enacted. and again, that $4 trillion figure reflects in rough figures what simpson-bowles was looking at, and rivlin-domenici and others, as what was necessary to begin to get our fiscal house in order. and that's why the president had a plan that reflected that. and remember, it was built on the principles of his fiscal commission, the principles that some folks celebrate without knowing what they're talking about, because simpson-bowles not just -- not only did simpson-bowles include revenue, it includes substantially more revenue the president has asked for and put in his plan. not only did it include defense cuts, it include

it was also the recommendation of the domenici-rivlin panel, another bipartisan panel. both would have recommended -- or did recommend a more logical, more equitable, more growth-oriented tax code. why, we may ask, is tax reform so urgent? earlier in month, the world economic forum released its new global competitiveness report. america is not alone in trying to create jobs and grow our economy. we're competing with other economies, other countries around the world. as recent as 2508, the united states was ranked the most competitive country on the planet. in the latest index, we felt we were heading in the wrong direction when it comes to competing in the global economy for the jobs so that americans can work and provide for their families and put food on their tables and gain the dignity that goes along with working and providing for your family. harvard business school also recently surveyed 10,000 of its alumni to find out their views of american competitiveness. harvard business school, one of the premier business schools in the country. alarmingly, 71% of those re

we're going hear from pete domenici and alice rivlin. we hope erskine bowles you and allen can stay with us. we have questions and answers for all of you. pete has been well introduced. let me give alice a brief introduction. many people, everybody who followed the budget for the last twenty knows alice. she's a senior -- public policy at georgetown university. before returning to brookings, she serves as vice chair of the federal reserve board, 1996, 1999, she was directer of the white house office of management budget in the first clinton administration, in february of 2010, alice was named by president obama to the commission on fiscal responsibility and reform, she also co-chaired with former senator pete domenici the bipartisan policy centers task force on debt reduction. and alice, did i say that you also have cbo at one time? you have done so many things. alice is a well-known commentators on an awful lot of business programs. so we're delighted to have you. i don't know who is going lead off. we'll be delighted to have you and pe

the task force that was headed by a was rivlin and pete domenici, a democrat and republican. also said that with regard to medicare we need to do something about the op east and smokers and they have a proposal which was more complicated than ours for restricting spending on end of life care. by the way, these are difficult, painful decisions, but we are going to have to face them. >>> and now the american security project holds a discussion on the prospects of passing the comprehensive test ban treaty. the u.s. has observed a moratorium on the nuclear testing for the past 20 years but have still ratify the treaty. this is about 45 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, i am steve chaney, ceo of the american security project and welcome to asp. if you're not familiar with asp we are a 501c3 non-profit and take on national-security issues from a non-partisan perspective. we were founded in 2006 by senator hagel, senator kerry, heart and governor christine todd whitman who will remain on the board today. and one of the points they raised them and it's still pertinent today was a lot

these other bipartisan commissions and so forth to a task force that was said about alice rivlin and pete domenici, democrat and our republican. also said that with regard to medicare we need to do something about the obese and smokers and also had a proposal which was more complicated than ours for restricting the spending on end-of-life care. by the way, these are difficult, handful decisions are but we're going to have to face them spent fixing the economy sunday at 8 p.m. on c-span's q. and a. >> next a form on the 2012 elections focusing on demographics, the economy and a center for american progress report on how the presidential candidates can get the electoral votes they need to win. we wished as much of the hour and have even as we can until our live coverage at nine eastern. >> good afternoon, everyone. my name is daniella gibbs leger and i'm vice president for american values and newt gingrich are at the center for american progress. i want to thank you for joining us. for the past, rogue demographics, economics and voter registration, voter ideology in the 2012 election. and i want to

but this what the simpson- bowles commission recommended, what the rivlin-domenici commission recommended of this in the ryan budget. this basic idea of broadening the tax base and then using that to raise revenue rather than just raising rates is, i think, something that the party might be able to get behind. again, we have to work out the details, but there is a lot of potential. host: let's hear from tyrone, an independent caller in baton rouge, louisiana. caller: good morning, c-span, and how are you doing, mr. bixby? guest: good. caller: i did not hear anything mentioned about the, whether it was a republican or democratic convention. my point is simply this -- they can make all the promises they want, but until they uphold the constitution and protect the constitution, as they swear under oath when they take office, you are never going to get this budget under control. the federal reserve creates the money. congress mandates -- i mean, the constitution mandates that congress regulates the money. we can hold them accountable to guarantee rights to vote them in and vote them out. unti

it was also something that was advocated by the rivlin-domenici task force that looked at our fiscal cliff situation and when it came to the idea of the notion of how to reform medicare, premium support was something put forward was something that could save the taxpayers money, introduce competition in the same way that the medicare part d program has introduced competition and actually saved money over what it was proposed to cost. it's not a new idea, it is an idea that has been tried with medicare part d was adopted, the premium support concept was included as part of that, and you can see the results of that have led to lower cost, more lower cost than predicted. frankly, mr. president, that's because it introduced the idea, the element of competition into the whole way that we deliver health care services under medicare. well, that's something that was proposed and built upon, developed as part of the budget passed in the house of representatives. but, again, it's something that's not new around here. it's had lots of support in the past from democrats. it seems to me at least

the task force headed by alice rivlin and pete domenici, democrat and republican also said with regardedicare we need to do something about the obese smokers and they also had a proposal more complicated than ours for research into spending on end-of-life care. either way, these are difficult, painful decision. but we are going to have a face them. >> friday on "washington journal" can we talk to cnbc host, maria bartiromo, about wall street's view of the economy. this is 50 minutes. >> well, joining us from our new york studio is a familiar face to anyone who has ever turned on cnbc, maria bartiromo, the anchor of "closing bell" on that channel. maria bartiromo, want to start by asking about two headlines this morning "the wall street journal" site eyesight. numbers auger trouble ahead about the drop in durable goods that was reported yesterday and the headline next to it is obama trumpets revise job data, saying we are adding jobs. how would you describe our economy today? >> guest: well, i think right now the economy has worsening. you've got jobs problem pretty severe and persisten

there have been bipartisan commission and task forces, that was headed by alice rivlin and pete domenici, also said with regard to medicare we need to do something about the obese and smokers and they also had a proposal which was more complicated than ours for restricting the spending on end of life care. by the way, these are difficult, painful decisions. but we're going to have to face them. >> fixing the economy, tonight at 8:00 on q span's q & -- on c-span's q & a. host: we are continuing with a look at third party presidential candidates, virgil goode is a nominee for the constitutional party. thank you very much for being with us. guest: good to be with you this morning. host: let's go to the basics. how many states are on the ballot and what's your message to voters in 2012? guest: we're on the ballot with the democrats and republicans in 26 or 27 states, we're on the states that have write-in ballots. not all states have that. on approximately 10-12 more. so we are high 30s or low 40s in the total number of states people can vote for us and we're still working to be like on the

the task force headed by alice rivlin and pete domenici, democrat and a republican, also said with regardto medicare, we need to do something about the obese and the smokers and they also had a proposal which was more complicated than ours for restricting the spending on end-of-life care. by the way these are difficult, painful decisions but we are going to have to face them. >> fixing the economy sunday at 8:00 on c-span's q&a. >> the reason i like that is simply its unbiased.??? there are no ads. that? is arguably the biggest reason. i'm a firm believer it is one of the most, i would say one of the most historical archives thereo are so i primarily watch the "washington journal", the house of representatives and c-span2 for the u.s. senate. >> congress is in recess until after the november elections and will meet only in pro forma sessions and tell until then. democratic congressman chris van hollen and henry waxman spoke briefly at today's session and later called to congress to resume its legislative work in comments to reporters. >> we tried on the house floor to raise the fact

the task force headed by alice rivlin and pete domenici also said with regard to medicare we need to do something about the appease and smokers, and they had a proposal for restricting the spending on end-of-life care. these are difficult, painful decisions, but we are going to have to face them. >> fixing the economy, sunday "q&a."0 on c-span's >> from the annenberg policy center, this is an hour and a half. >> good morning. i direct the annenberg public policy center at the university of pennsylvania. welcome to our session. these sessions will try to address the question, what is the role of journalism in holding campaigns accountable? to set a friend for our discussion, we are releasing the results of a survey of 1522 adults. we will offer the conclusion that the public still has a lot to learn from the race, and we will say that those who seek out fact checking on the internet no more. let me offer specifics. next slide. a sizable portion of the public failed to understand the plans and records of major presidential candidates. we know when people watch debates their level of kn

doing other bipartisan commissions and so forth of the task force that was headed by alice rivlin and pete domenici with regard to medicare we need to do something about the op east smokers and they also had a proposal which was more complicated than ours restricting the spending on the end of life care. but we are going to have to face them. >> next peck texas politicians debate the economy, the deficit on immigration and other issues at the annual texas tradition festival in austin. the democratic mayor of san antonio and the keynote speaker at this year's democratic national convention. ted cruce is the republican candidate for the u.s. senate. he won the primary race by beating the texas lt. governor david dewhurst to read this event runs about an hour. >> i think you know the drill today we have a long day of debates and discussions and the. conversations i hope you will enjoy as many of those as you can troubling the venues and among them you see the great program and we have in store for you today. if you have a phone and you are not going to be trading around not goin this eveg nt please tu

to start by thanking my longstanding partner, pete domenici, and the by privacy -- and the bipartisan center, including steve bell and allison rivlin who is not here this morning, but will be here for the forms. is special thanks to my co- chair. warren could not be here today. evan could not be it today. they have been full partners in planning and cheering this form with the de medici and with myself. bob ricks bay and the concord coalition team, we thank you very much. we will be hearing from you during the course of these forms could this is the first of four forms that has been organized by several organizations, who, from a variety of perspectives, believe that america is currently fiscal course is by -- is irresponsible and unsustainable. leaders in this arena for a long time -- the james a. baker iii institute of public policy at rice university. you'll hear from jim baker later. the bill for a center -- the bill for center -- the belford center. the former cbo director rudy who has been invaluable in his advice. we are working in full cooperation with the campaign to by ede debt cheeaired rendell and my mcginnis. i'm not s