. >> host: eliza krugman is with us as well, she is our guest reporter with politico. commissioner, if we could start with a vote that the fcc took this week which was the comcast/nbcu merger. you voted for it, and in your statement you attached strong reservations to the whole process and to the vote itself. why. >> >> guest: good question. you know, historically, the fcc has taken too long, and they've attached too many not pertinent conditions to the merger. and this is my first time through a merger at the fcc. and, unfortunately, i would have to say that we've fallen into the same pitfalls. for instance, comcast filed this merger with us on january 28th of last year. we have an internal shot clock of 180 days for review. now, this is a big merger, and it should be thoroughly vetted, and we should absolutely carefully consider it, but with i think we need to do it in a more timely manner. as far as the conditions go, let's just take one, for instance, broadband deployment. now, you know that i've been involved in the policy area for the last eight years really with

against reporter eliza krigman at politico. next topic area get >> another issue you are going to be looking at in february is the reform of the universal service fund. could you delineate with the agency can do on its own and what it needs the congress to legislate? if there are bills in congress and it's a little bit technical and confusing to the estimate is technically confusing and i use the word bone crunching confusing. it's an $8.8 billion fund. last quarter of the contribution factor was 15.5% and what that means is it is a 15.5% tax on every once phone bill. its $8 on a $50 phone bill. that is a lot in an economically challenging time. it's clear that it isn't sustainable and that it needs reform, and i think we have commitments from all sides of the commissioners to move forward on that. congress is also interested in this and if congress has more ideas on how to revise the fund that's been traditionally for telephone for broadband, then obviously those ideas are very welcome. i think we all kind of have similar star

and eliza hirsch is the supervising attorney in the clean slate pride is at the east bay community lawter. welcome, panelists. i want to tell the audience that while we are having this session, if you have questions, feel free to write them down, and the ushers will get them some you. at the end of the discussion, we will have a question and answer session. dr. richards, it is my understanding you have some personal experience in this area. i would ask you to share your experiences with us and tell us about the barriers that exist for people who have a criminal record. >> i'm a

and eliza hirsch is the supervising attorney in the clean slate pride is at the east bay community lawter. welcome, panelists. i want to tell the audience that while we are having this session, if you have questions, feel free to write them down, feel free to write them down, and the ushers will get them

. >> eliza krigman? >> is this a matter of self restraint with the commission is? >> we do what congress tells us to do. we know congress is going to take a look at it. it is an area of concern that i have. >> if it were up to you, how would this have been conducted differently? >> it would have been more rapid it would have been in a timely manner. there would be a nexus to the harm called by the conditions. there were some conditions that are extraneous to the deal. >> congress was mentioned. there is a new republican house in the 112th congress. several members of the energy and commerce commission have talked about bringing the fcc to task and to hearings up on the hill. how do you see that? >> i expect to spend a lot of time on capitol hill in the next few months. that is their prerogative. the first order of business is to look at our net neutrality rule. this is something i have objected to. if you want to talk about all of my objections to this, meet -- which might be here all day. my basic exemption to it is that i wish we had been more humble. if we look

and eliza hirsch is the supervising attorney in the clean slate pride is at the east bay community law center. welcome, panelists. i want to tell the audience that while we are having this session, if you have questions, feel free to write them down, and the ushers will get them some you. at the end of the discussion, we will have a question and answer session. dr. richards, it is my understanding you have some personal experience in this area. i would ask you to share your experiences with us and tell us about the barriers that exist for people who have a criminal record. >> i'm a convicted felon. i'm an ex-con. and i'm a professor. i'm the leader of the convert criminology group. if you just go to google and google convict criminology, you will find our website. our group was actually started many years ago by professor john irwin, who was at a san francisco state university for 30 years. john recently passed away. john, even after he retired in 1995, for nearly 15 years helps me to organize the convicts criminology group. there is now 30 of us. we are all ex cons, ph.d., and profess

eliza krigman, politico. thank you. >> anti-abortion activists were in the nation's capital today to mark the anniversary of the supreme court 1973 roe v wade decision >>> abortion opponents were on the national mall earlier to protest the anniversary of the 1973 roe v wade supreme court ruling that legalized abortion in the united states. speakers include members of congress and religious leaders. this is about two hours. ♪ what so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ whos' broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ through the perilous fight ♪ ore the ramparts we watched ♪ were so gallantly streaming ♪ and the rocket's red glare ♪ the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ that our flag was still there ♪ oh say does that star spangled banner ♪ ♪ still ♪ or the land of the free ♪ and the home of the brave [cheering] >> welcome to the march for life, 2011 triet [cheering] ladies and gentlemen, i want to introduce to you now nellie grey, president of march for life. >> welcome to the march for life, everyone.

project management minimizing our civilian and military footprint, leveraging contractor expertise, we eliza -- utilize local nationals. the combination provides diversity. are in country military's civilian and contract employees provide the daily construction oversight, the santonio provides technical, financial, administrative support along with continuity of the construction program. due to changing requirements or site conditions. none of our afghanistan -- as we drive begich strive to provide timely construction support, we welcome recommendations. we understand there is interest in several areas, and i look forward to answering your questions. >> please proceed. >> i am the assistant to the enmesh trader and director of the office of afghanistan and pakistan affairs at usaid. first of want to compliment you on the critical work of this commission. i began working in afghanistan in 1993 during the time when our country was ignoring the plight of afghanistan to our mutual peril. i spent many of the last 18 years working on that country, and i have written and testified extensively about

project management minimizing our civilian and military footprint, leveraging contractor expertise, we eliza -- utilize local nationals. the combination provides diversity. are in country military's civilian and contract employees provide the daily construction oversight, the santonio provides technical, financial, administrative support along with continuity of the construction program. due to changing requirements or site conditions. none of our afghanistan -- as we drive begich strive to provide timely construction support, we welcome recommendations. we understand there is interest in several areas, and i look forward to answering your questions. >>lease proceed. >> i am the assistant t t enmesh trader and director of the office of afghanistan and pakistan affairs at usaid. first of want to compliment you on the critical work of this commission. i began working in afghanistan in 1993 during the time when our country was ignoring the plight of afghanistan to our mutual peril. i spent many of the last 18 years working on that country, and i have written and testified extensively about the

project management minimizing our civilian and military footprint, leveraging contractor expertise, we eliza -- utilize local nationals. the combination provides diversity. are in country military's civilian and contract employees provide the daily construction oversight, the santonio provides technical, financial, administrative support along with continuity of the construction program. due to changing requirements or site conditions. none of our afghanistan -- as we drive begich strive to provide timely construction support, we welcome recommendations. we understand there is interest in several areas, and i look forward to answering your questions. >> please proceed. >> i am the assistant to the enmesh trader and director of the office of afghanistan and pakistan affairs at usaid. first of want to compliment you on the critical work of this commission. i began working in afghanistan in 1993 during the time when our country was ignoring the plight of afghanistan to our mutual peril. i spent many of the last 18 years working on that country, and i have written and testified extensively about

>> this is my daughter eliza. >> i'm the mom. >> you look like a sister, mom. >> congratulations. you must be really proud. it's a great day for you all. congratulations. congratulations. >> where is she? is she coming in? >> she's at the reception. >> you owe her. you owe her. >> thank you, honey. how old are you? 8? [laughter] >> you know, my dad use the to say to us, two brothers, one sister, you have one obligation, keep boys away from your sister. [laughter] tomorrow you're 16? >> yeah. >> you guys are getting old. [laughter] >> have a great day, you deserve it. >> thank you so much. ..span, and the senate on c-span2. >> "washington journal" continues. host: we have a senate historian, donald ritchie, joining us, as well as congressional scholar norman ornstein. help us with a little historical perspective -- divided government, a big win for the house, the republicans and the house, a democratic senate and a democratic president. guest: it is unusual to have an election where one house goes to another party and the other stays the same, but it is important that divided gover