through that allows 17 year olds to vote in the presidential primary if they will be 18 by the general eelection. and the theory is that they ought to have a say in who they are voting on and since it's a primary function, we okayed that and it passed overwhelmingly, 75% to 80%. we run a poster and essay contest, from grade school, middle school and high school to talk about civics and at the grade school, it's a poster

of choice f you have a nonpartisan election where the top two candidates advance to the general eelection. is it the case that you need over 50% of african americans to elect their candidate. or can you count on cross over voting. if african americans can dominate the primary and their preferred candidate advances, well, then, will there be white democrats and others who would vote for that candidate? that was sort of the issue in the social science in the ki kingston case, there's a article that is on point with this. there's a piece from a few years ago, that looks at all the issues with blanket primary party rights. the courts have been hesitatent to get in it. because once you go down that road, you get the problem of -- >> we have time for one more question. >> i'm mike and i practice law if oakland. i would like to hear a comment on how commissions have performed in this two difference context, one the citizens reapportionment, compared to other reapportionment or referees that have been appointed by courts in the past. both for a p-p -- both with different reporting structures and

a whole look at the confirmation process, and i think that we ought to do it now before the next eelection. and it does not matter democrat or republican, and it needs to be reformed, because it is a sensible process, and as far as this is concerned, i oohm not going through the meat grinder here, and to the credit of the leaders aed on the lamar l alexander and chuck schumer, they did take 230-something nominations that were lower level agency things that had to go through the confirmation process and take them out of the confirmation process, and so there are reforms that are clearly should be considered, but the senate is unique. i geuess one of the problems an served well over the years, i was an institutionalist and i didn't like when we attacked the house of representatives and tried to tear it down. i didn't like that. this is a great institution representing the people, and if you make it attacking it everyday, that is not good, and the same thing with the senate. it is a unique place and i would not take the uniqueness away, but i do think that it is not good for the leadership an

manufacturing that rick has gone o but it's an appealing message for a lot of of voters in this eelection, under the economic conditions we are in right now. vy i have to tell you this, he is consistent with this message and he delivers it well. >> what about the other issue regarding santorum's message, that he basically was against mandates, that he said, you mitt romney were if favor of the mandate and you newt gingrich were in favor of the mandate. i'm clean. obama care is the problem and in fact with the religious and cultural over tones, obama care becomes a bigger problem. tea party hates obama care, and santorum connecting with the tea party and running through super tuesday. i see a connection that governor romney has a problem with. >> they have to get the message right, santorum has an appealing message. but the states that he won last night, steve lost those same races, right, steve? >> as john mccain's campaign manager. >> and still went on to win the nomination convincingly, right? so that is where santorum is now. >> you were a top strategist, the top dog, the big guy, you

higgins: we were recipients of the largest beacon grant for eelect treasonic medical records. the nation's first comprehensive cancer center was designated to conduct clinical trial trsfromsing new therapies for using vaccines to bolster the body's ability to fight cancer. this cowl fundamentally change the science of cancer research and treatment. innovation in health care must be sustained by the federal government. today, the national institutes of health rejects nine of 10 applications for prime city -- promising research due to lack of funding. 25 years ago, 25% of the research grant were funded. today it's 8%. the only failure in cancer research is when you quit or are forced to quit through lack of funding. i urge my creags to support fully cancer funding and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from texas rise? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, i continue to wear a yellow ribbon to re