i will not talk about the federal level. i will not at the regional level, preparing for the next round of funding, once it becomes available. one of our staff had been working on the lifeline transportation program. this task force had been comprised of agencies, advocates, and those benefiting from this program, which is targeted at low income persons and communities. one of the more challenging programs to the minister because the goals have not matched with the eligibility requirements. we are pleased to see that mtc is listening. many of the recommendations we see coming out of the draft report should get more attention. making sure transit and non- transit programs are eligible. we see a lot of requests for pedestrian improvements. we want to make sure we have flexible funding. we have a number of efforts related to year end closing. on prop k funds, we allocated $80 million. based on the 2009 strategic plan and the 5ypp, 73% of the money that we could have allocated. $74 million of this is from programmatic categories

be insufficient under the federal standards. as a result, those employers will be required to make changes in their programs. this slide is a quick example of precisely what we are dealing with, in terms of the issue that has arisen. the lot is currently interpreted such that when an employer allocates money to one of these health reimbursement accounts, the allocation count toward their expenditure. an employer who is required to provide $2,000 in spending on behalf of the worker allocates that money, over the course of a year. an employee may access only 20% of that. at the end of the year, the worker loses access to the remaining money. essentially, the employer retains the money, but they are credited with making a $2,000 expenditure when they have only made a $400 expenditure. rarely, firsthand, over time, and is forcing the ordinance. on the first player, i talked about the health insurance, city option, and reimbursement plans. by virtue of satisfying the requirements less expensively, we have created an incentive for emp

and i would much rather see a cooperative federal relationship among the agencies and the federal agencies with the states and with the industries involved. but that has not occurred and therefore it has created a era of mistrust, distrust, bitterness and outright scared attitude among our coal miners, whether or not they will have a job next year or even tomorrow and for how long their current job will last. so with that, mr. chairman, i do conclude by speaking in support of this legislation and i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman from west virginia, mr. rahall, yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from ohio is recognized. mr. gibbs: mr. chairman, how much time do i have? the chair: the gentleman from ohio has 12 minutes remaining. mr. gibbs: thank you. i think what this bill is addressing, we have 21st century problems and challenges and we're looking for 21st century solutions. i want to lay out the facts here a little bit and i appreciate my colleague from west virginia for his support of the bill. we have to realize that the state e.p.a.'s have

the freeze in federal spending. there are all kinds of things that have been introduced that if agreed to would be very much complementary. that is why it is important. >> he talked about how much you want to cut spending and how important it is, and any talk about cutting spending, you talk about procedural things. and you put some real significance into a budget resolution. why not actually come up with real spending cuts and actual changes to programs stand up here and say they want to raise the medicare age. they start talking about all these procedural things. who cares? what you say what you're going to cut? >> those are the things that lead up to a balanced budget. i have put out a social security plan. it doesn't increase taxes and it doesn't cut core benefits. maybe people don't like this or that part of it, but we have to get it out there. >> but you're talking about other things. >> i put the bill and. it is on the record. i have had press conferences, i have spoken about it. i have been to the heritage f

they are different from the federal government. they borrow to operate, to keep the lights on and doors open but the state governments and local governments borrow for financing of long-term projects like bridges and tunnels and infrastructure and things of that nature. those projects are economically productive. they create jobs in the communities. and if they have to postpone those project because they can't access the credit markets in an affordable way or can't access them at all that's going to have a consequence for them. >> ifill: how tightly is their ability to borrow tied to the federal ability to borrow? >> as i mentioned the federal government is the u.s. treasuries are the safest asset worldwide. 15 other states out of the 50 have a aaa rating like the federal government but moodies as well as other credit agencies have said that they would put even the aaa rated states under review if the federal government were to did fault and subsequently get downgrade there are states whose economies rely on federal spending and ha

they won't vote, they don't take federal money for anything.hese other controversial people who sell cigarettes. the leaders -- none of them smoke. but they get their money from cigarettes. >> another surprising group. the largest a recognized tribe, these tribes are reaching out in a different direction. >> they are so unknown to most people not in north carolina. there are 56,000 indians and have state recognition but don't have federal recognition. the reason they don't have federal recognition is the eastern band of cherokee is don't want them to because they don't want to split the federal par for funding. they are thought to be the descendants of the lost colony of roanoke. they are interesting because there are part native and part african-american. we see the strands in this group when you meet them. they are very christian. they don't have any native religion left because that was lost with their language. they are very enthusiastic southern baptists and methodists and trying to get recognition but they don't have it yet. i live in cal

like many members of congress, i believe in federalism. i did not support the rights of the state -- i do support the rights of states to make changes in marriage if they choose, but i also believe that a state that changes its definition of marriage should not be able to impose that change on sister states or the federal government. section ii of doma adds a statutory enhancement to state authority under the full faith and credit laws of article iv section i of the constitution to maintain their own deaf definitions of marriage. in addition, the same-sex couples are not the only couples who face the issues we're going to hear about today from our witnesses. unmarried heterosexual couples, siblings, friends who live together face the same problem, some of which can be addressed through other means than this particular legislation and legitimately so. i'd like to note one of the witnesses describes the serious threats made against ordinary citizens who exercised their first amendment rights when the state adopted same-sex marriage. the mino

by the federal government -- funds not raised by the federal government. it became clear that there were some matters of overarching concern that could be arbitrated only by a true national government but they were at great pains to reserve maximum freedom at the local level where people live. nothing is more local than local funds a jurisdiction raises on its own by local taxpayers. you raise the funds, you get to say how they will be spent. the principle aprice to all. no second-class citizens on local matters, especially local funds, and that includes the 600,000 residents of the district of columbia. congress ceded its power to run the district of columbia in 1973 when it passed the home rule act. it still approves the d.c. budget but it does not change that budget. members of congress unaccountable to the electorate of the district of columbia have no right to use the budget process to direct spending away from matters that may be controversial to you but not to our own local jurisdiction. that is tea party doctrine, that is a principle of the democra

you want to burn it down. >> have the federal government take it over? >> i think they ought to get involved. the private sector is not solving the problem here. i would like to see rich move his entrepreneurism to detroit. >> are you being sarcastic. we need them. >> and i understand what mark is saying, but the federal government is not state of the art when it comes to ways to grow the economy and help out entrepreneurs as mark said. cities for years are acting like the tin cans. look what happened in new york in 1975. jerry ford said we will not nationalize locall debt and i am not saying that happened here. new york city got federally backed loans . but the only 10 cities in default from 99 to 2009. they can grow their way and fix their own problem. it is not businesses to blame. >> cities come back as our friend in chicago so sneeringly said because of entrepreneurs, it is the entrepreneurs and small business people that provide the real blood for this economy. >> look, every state and city and country is in competition is in competition for talent

banks, the 12 federal reserve banks.s. the banks could very readily receive 125 basis points more in the types of assets which the federal reserve calls minimum risk. they choose not to do that. it's basically because of their concerns about their capital account and various other aspects of lending. but the point of the matter is they have not moved, and if it weren't for the psychological effects, we could take a half a billion off the -- we could probably take a trillion dollars off the balance sheet of the federal reserve. it would essentially be removing the double counting that is going on. it would not have a significant tightening effect except psychologically. >> really interesting, because psychologically, we did see that sort of feeling richer element in the stock market. do you think that the economy needs more stimulus? and what tools does the fed have in this at this point for an economy that seems to be really just crawling? what is your assessment of the economy as well? >> it is a fact that a significant

federal court.the reason is some uncomplicated but congress has made a set of political positions to put unbearable tension on the judicial system beginning in the '80s congress war on terror drugs everybody from baltimore house to mention etfs but congress began to increasing the federalize crimes here to for fall within the province of state law while i don't intend to engage in a large critique there is little discussion between the enactment of new federal crimes and the federal courts. for those federal cases, a criminal case is a constitutional requirement is they received a speedy trial and this has consequences for the work and transparency of accords brought the time congress has been reluctant to increase federal judges of the circuit to carry the increased workload of the federal criminal cases but in fact, they sometimes have been discouraged to add judges by the judiciary itself up for the most part starving the federal judiciary is a badge of honor and and no party wishes to increase t

un ejemplo para el gobierno federal de los estados unidos. >> sÓlo la intervención federal terminarÁluciÓn federal al tema de la inmigraciÓn, expertos creen que serÁn aÚn mÁs los estados que aprueben leyes por su cuenta. >> al regresar de la pausa crece la tensiÓn por la violencia de las fuerzas de seguridad contra manifestantes en siria. >> el desmantelamiento de una red de lavado de dinero. >> toda la emociÓn de la repÚblica depo >> miles de personas se manifestaron a favor del lÍder dictador libio. destacÓ la necesidad de que los ataques aÉreos de la otan en el paÍs se detengan para salvar vidas de civiles. >> una operaciÓn conjunta entre la policÍa espaÑola y estadounidense desarticulÓ una red de lavado de dinero internacional. en el operativo se incautaron 60 vehÍculos de lujo y 140 millones de dÓlares en efectivo. ademÁs 17 personas fueron arrestadas en espaÑa y estados unidos. el dinero procedÍa de la venta de droga proveniente de colombia e inclusive de espaÑa. >> los reactores de la planta nuclear japonesa se estabilizaron cuatro meses despuÉs del desastre las cuales estÁn t

guest: nics is a joint state/federal operation in which the federal government which administers nicsing on documents and records that it gets from state governments in large part. the problem is that it cannot compel the state to provide that information, and another problem is that there are sometimes statistical and technical and legal and moral issues surrounding the supplying of those records. a well known that in that process -- gap in that process has been mental detectives, a term under the law, which was exploited by the virginia tech shooter during that catastrophe. here reared itself again in the tucson shootings. after virginia tech, there was a nics improvement act signed by president bush. it was an effort to jump-start the process of delivering those records by setting up a system of incentives and grants that would help the states modernize their records system and expedite the flow of records. that was the good news. the bad news is that in the subsequent years, virtually little if any of that money has been appropriated by congress. less than 5% has actually been app

you know, i guess he's not a federal case but federal courts around the country, what happens if there'so money to pay the clerks, the judges, everything that goes on in a federal courthouse? >> we really -- it's amazing. we really don't know. as you know, lawrence, in federal shutdowns, there is legislation governing who stays on and who doesn't. it's people who are vital to national security, vital to protecting people. we actually don't have legislation like that for a debt default. we have never dealt with this situation before. it isn't clear what would be legal and what isn't. it isn't even clear. let's say you're a member of the fbi. you don't want to go home because your work is vital to the nation and you assume you'll get paid eventually. it's not clear you can keep coming to work lawfully. >> "washington post," ezra klein, thank you for joining me tonight, rezra. >> thank you. >>> coming up, the person who did the ads for senator ted kennedy nearly 20 years ago knew exact lee how to hit mitt romney, a devastating anti-romney ad that never aired is coming up. >>> and jon stewar

a federal judge releases a confidential report suggesting federal authorities poorly survived during the kidnap. tonight, we show you what she says in her new book about life in the backyard and we'll tell you what the judge had to say about government's failure to monitor him. it's described as some of the disturbing details released earlier in the magazine. >> these are newly released pictures of her in people's magazine. she was abducted in 1991 when she was 11 years old. that first night she was forced to undress and take a shower with him. after the shower is over, she says, i must be very quiet or i will get in trouble. if i'm quiet and a good girl, everything will be fine. i ask him if i could put my clothes back on, he chuckled and said no. in another excerpt she rights, he says he has to put handcuffs on me. i shake my head no and say i won't try to get away. the reason she didn't try to escape, he gave -- as a scary place made of ped files and rapists. i've come to realize this was not true. the most precious in the thing -- came out of it my daughters. a portion of the sal

the most recent projections by members of the federal reserve board and presidents of the federal reserve banks at the meeting in late june is that the economic recovery will pick up in the coming quarters. they anticipate an increase to gdp for 2011, inclusive of the weak first half. that will constitute a normally better performance than what we have seen so far this year. we will continue to see the economic recovery strengthening. this is picking up to 4.2% in 2013. the central tendency in 2011 and 2012 were marked down nearly 0.5%. this suggests that participants sought at least some part of the first half slow down as persisting for a while. there was slow growth in consumer spending, even after accounting for the effects of high energy prices, the housing sector, limited access to credit for some households and small businesses and fiscal tightening. participants and expected that over time the jobless rate will decline, albeit slowly, toward its long-term the level. forecasts for the unemployment rate were to 8.9% for this year. 7.8% of the end of two dozen 12. the most recent dat

and they have state recognition but they don't have federal recognition. and the reason they don't have federal recognition, they say, is 'cause the eastern band of cherokees in north carolina don't want them to because then they'll have to sort of split the federal pie for funding. but they are -- they are thought to be the descendents of the lost colony of roanoke. and they're interesting because they're part -- part native, part anglo and part african-american. and you see sort of the strands in this group when you meet them. and they're very -- they're very christian. they don't have any native religion left 'cause that was lost along with their language so they're very enthusiastic southern baptists and methodists and they are trying to get recognition and they don't have it yet. and i live in california and almost no one i met have met lumbis. >> now, when we talk about tribes, there's a word that -- sort of the operative word for legal and other purposes, which is enrollment in tribes. >> uh-huh. >> that becomes sort of a choice. i don't enroll as a

i have to talk about the federal numbers. infrastructure in the u.s. has crumbled, yet, thousands of why they needed improvement projects are languishing for the lack of funds and attention. therefore, it is doubly damaging when scarce infrastructure is wasted on a week projects. today, you are being asked to approve the first phase of a $200 million tunneling contract. next december, if the federal government approves the full funding grant agreement, which is by no means assured, the currently recommended new starts grant for 2012 is $200 million. the problem is, even if the republicans in the house of representatives approves the full funding grant agreement, the $200 million is not insured either. it may or may not remain. if san francisco does receive the $200 million, the mta can probably finish the tunneling contract. however, they would still remain hundreds of millions of dollars short to complete the project and put the subway into operation. you have a big hole in the ground and no operation. if the republicans should cut that $200 million,

we can create more revenue for the federal government, not by -- we can create more revenue for the federal government not by raising taxes but by raising taxpayers. we do that by putting people to work and creating a strong economy. it's absolutely critical for the future of this nation. we can't keep going down this road. the national endowment for the arts and national endowment for the humanities, i've heard all the arguments and for the smithsonian institute and other things that a lot of people think are very beautiful and nice, just like that luxury automobile. but we need to stop it. the future of our nation depends upon it. i'm fighting for america. i'm fighting for the future of our children and my grandchildren. funding for the national endowment for the arts does not need to be a priority in the midst of these trying times and i urge my colleagues to support a very simple request to reduce its funding by 10%. i yield back. the chair: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia rise? mr. moran: i think i'll wait. the chair: for what purpose does t

most of the federal dollars stoica's group receives in turn goes to marriage education groups run byy christian churches and religious groups, such as the catholic diocese of san bernardino county, which held this marriage forum. it now gets more than 50% of its marriage education funds from the federal government. >> and it makes sense that the 1 church would be interested in this. i mean, if you think about it, no matter what religion somebody belongs to or you're affiliated with, all religions that i am awre othink tha marriage should be a holy institute. so it is a strong alignment of values, yes. >> the material used in government-funded marriage education programs mostly deals with communication problems and conflict management between spouses, like this scenario in a video produced by a federally funded group in alabama. >> robert! you didn't even start dinner. i asked you two things and you promised two things, clothes and dinner. all you had to do was turn on the oven! i left you a note right on the refrigerator and i know you saw it because see what's in yr ha. hey! >> ew!

>> not according to federal rules.ow, some of them may be subject to, pension funds, for example, may have state rules. >> there are no federal-- i want to be clear, you're saying there are no federals to that effect? >> i tried to explain it and i can't get it out because you want to oversimplify it. the fact is-- >> because that's the gist of the issue. >> let me explain it. >> neil: five different ways. you're saying there are no requirements, period, so you don't have to sell? >> here is the situation. i'm sorry it's more complicated than maybe you can-- >> i'm sorry i'm stupid. >> you're not being stupid, this is the mode of journalist, i'm trying to explain it to you. one the statutory requirements are gone in some cases requirements imposed by regulation and we've mandated the regulators take those out. bank regulators and sec, they are in the process of doing that, what i've said is doing this, in the one case where the regulation hadn't yet been removed and offering was given, without a rating and this sec dat

in the federal health-care law? >> first of all, the federal mandate is unconstitutional. that is a pretty significant difference. havedly, the state's differences between them. what works in massachusetts is not necessarily going to work in mississippi and montana. we have differences. under a federalist system, which can adjust our programs. when the federal government has a one size fits all plan, you ignore those differences. i think you are going to find that in this country people say they do not want obamacare. i wish the president would have given me a call. i would have said do not impose this on the nation. american said no to obamacare in every way they possibly could. >> but you think the mandate is right for some states? >> what we did in massachusetts is a decision massachusetts makes. i understand the most recent poll there by a factor of three to one people support that plan. but we also have in massachusetts a curriculum for our school system, and all of our schools teach to the same curriculum. if

to try to use the federal dollars. that's wrong. we shouldn't allow it and we should never, ever risk politicizing the political process. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. ms. eshoo: how much time do i have left, mr. chairman? the chair: the gentlelady has one minute. ms. eshoo: i'd yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. andrews, the remainder of my time. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. andrews: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the chair: without objection. mr. andrews: i thank my friend for yielding and the chairman. i'd say to my friend from oklahoma through the chair he makes a very compelling case. i agree with him. i think that the secret groups that are funding massive usually negative ad campaigns against people running for office should be held in the exact same standards as labor unions. if they pack money to advocate for or against a candidate or cause they must disclose it to the publi

as such, the fdic supports a federal state collaboration between the department of justice, other federal agencies in the state's attorneys general to address a broad range of industries regarding the servicing process. the comprehensive resolution passed servicing errors is essential to the recovery of the housing market in the greater economy. past servicer errors have given rise to a multitude of actual and potential claims and litigation lacing a cloud of uncertainty over the recent foreclosures in the recent transfers of title. targeting site is regarding the ownership rights it the obligation of the poorest of investors. the expectations regarding the housing market's recovery and discourages the return of the private capital to the mortgage market. accordingly the fdic has encouraged the financial stability oversight council in examining the potential financial system at risk surrounding mortgage servicing and foreclosures. furthermore, until the servicers improve their practices and process these, some current homeowners will miss opportunities to avoid foreclosure while others wi

look, i work in a federal building. i understand in a federal building i am going to work under florescent light. i get that. when i go home at night i should be able to read my paper in the light of an incandescent bulb. that's my choice. i am able to make the choice about adult things. i should be able to use what wave lengths of light i should choose. can i have 30 seconds in mr. barton: i yield an additional 30 seconds. mr. burgess: those of us at a certain age, we don't look as good as an incandescent bulb. and another man suffers spectrum fatigue on an incandescent bulb. we need to be able to have the type of bulb that america chooses, not what congress chooses. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? mr. waxman: i am pleased to yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. holt. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for three minutes. mr. holt: madam speaker, i thank the gentleman and rise in op

i work in a federal building, i understand the federal government gets to tell me what type of like under which i must work in that federal building. but when i go home at night to read my "denton record chronicle," i should be able to choose what type of light i use for this illumination. in 2010 the last major fwmplet e. facty that manufactured incandescent light bulbs closed its doors and as a direct result, 200 people lost their jobs this wasn't the only plant to close as a result thoof 2007 legislation. these policies kill jobs. it's the clearest example of how real consequences affect real people with this reckless legislation. these jobs are being sent overseas. yen electric said that the new lights cost about 50% more to make in the u.s. than in china. the overregulating government policies have to stop. it would not only be better for the environment and our pocketbooks but bring those jobs back to america. my amendment at the desk would give dave his choice of light and would allow other -- every other american to choose, yes, choose, what type of light bulb they want to use in

with the federal funding, and the mta has been working with the comptroller's office. you may recall that this is the way that it is historically done. i think that this will be funded at all levels requested. commissioner mirkarimi: very good. discussion? public comment? >> i am the planning manager at chinatown cdc. we have been working on this project for a 15to 20 years -- 15 to 20 years and we would like to come to you to ask for support. san francisco is a transit first city. we are all working on transit inclusion and access for everyone. it has been mentioned that federal money is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain, and that we are so close to the finishing line, after 15 years of work, from the mta, city community, and we want to use this opportunity to lock in the infrastructure benefits for our neighborhoods. lastly, to point to some of the economic benefits and job gains -- one of the businesses that relocated, they moved two weeks ago, and they have already hired local small-business people. i just want to point that out as for the small busine

benefits and a lot of the federal government.ecisions. but the great thing is that he doesn't have to wait until then. he doesn't have to wait until august 3rd because there's a plan that will prevent that from happening and it sits in the senate right now. unfortunately harry reid is trying to kill it as opposed to promote it. right now we need solutions not those who are just trying to kill things. let's promote this legislation. move it to the desk of the president and get past this tough time. >> congressman graves appreciate your time tonight. >> thank you, john. >>> so let us know what you thicht we're on facebook or follow me on twitter @ john king cnn. >>> our political panel weighs in on this. and later the story of a conman turned good guy turned conman again. now let's check in with isha sesay. >>> the brutality we've seen already in syria has been horrifying. but there's new word tonight it could just be the beginning. new reports tonight of a growing crackdown on ordinary people. regime stepping up attacks on its own

easy to publish by the federal migration service a million economic migrants come to russia every year many of them come to the country illegally and have. another problem is people coming from. either speak russian family or don't speak it all together these factors make their integration to russian society difficult or impossible this needs to rising racist anger. he says russia needs to make up the shortfall in the workforce. that's key thank you for coming to our talk show hello my dear your first question before we actually start discussing integration and whether we should try to prevent it or merely regulated is this present day industry developed economies do without migrant favorite all were migrants absolutely indispensable and then we should take for granted that he wouldn't. well it's a definite slow fact of life we can do without migrants games migration is the movement of world so we large masses of people or smaller groups depending on economic demands and the economics move people urging them to travel for jobs migration but the migration is a global phenomenon and we c

some of the agencies are worried about federal money because it does touch locally controlled federal money, too. we recommended watch, and will be working with the senate appropriations committee to tighten up the applicability. there are two bills. i tried to report on them each time i am here. the first is s.b. 223. this is the vlf catch-up bill. it has been amended to scope itself down to apply only to the city and county of san francisco, so the availability up to the full prior to% is limited only to you, if the bill is signed. going forward, it requires a 2/3 vote of the board, the legislative body, and a majority vote of the people. i think he has format did it in a way to do two things -- one to meet the governors need to have a vote of the people on taxes, and second, to avoid having an overwhelming opposition. i know automobile manufacturers and some other tax groups have been opposed to it because a state wide applicability. supervisor mar: mr. watson, looks like it takes a 2/3 of the county transportation authority members and a majority vote of the ballot. >> the general

it is a profound confusion who believe that the values of federalism requires the federal government to defer to or incorporate the marriage laws of the various states in determining what marriage means in provisions of federal law. now, it's worth noting that the current members of this committee who voted on doma in 1996, 1997 -- seven voted for it. senator leahy and cole as well as senator shumer and durbin who voted as house members. vice president joseph biden, harry reid, barbara and others i don't have time to say. it refutes the revisionist claim that doma somehow embodies an irrational bigotry against same-sex couples. doma's spousal benefits reflects the longstanding judgment that that relationship which is inherently lippingd to procreation and child rearing is something of support. people often refute that judgment. but no one can be surprised of how it is operated. while it's natural that everyone would hope for more federal benefits for themselves, no one can plausiblely claim that doma somehow disrupted his or her own financial planning. doma was enacted eight years be

checks from the federal government as a federal employee. and it's not small, it's big. and so there is $60 billion a year that -- i mean over ten years that we could save just by reforming the social security and disability system. and that doesn't say you don't want to help people that are disabled. it says you want to do what's the best thing for our country and help those people that are disabled. but we have undermined and we have taken advantage of those who need our love and care and they cheat the system and we have a bureaucracy that doesn't take them off the system, and we have an incompetent system of jurisprudence within the social security administration that puts people on that should never be on. but the attack comes that you don't care about people if you -- if, in fact, you want to fix this program. social security, everybody says don't touch social security. this congress and the congress before it has stolen stolen $2.5 trillion from the money you have put into social security. they have written a little bitty i.o.u. note

if the federal reserve looking -- is the federal reserve >> yes, senator, we are. we and the department of justice are typically involved in approving the mergers and acquisitions, and when we do that, one of the key exercises we do is we look at the concentration of big and services within the local area, within a city, within a county, and we want to be sure that we take into account all of the banking services, thrips, and others that are in the area, that any other merger acquisition does not create a situation where one firm dominates that market, and so, we do pay a lot of attention to making sure there is competition, that consumers and businesses have alternatives to go to within their local market when we approved those mergers. hot -- it is true that larger banks, particularly recently, have been not as forthcoming with small businesses, some local banks, community banks, and we see a lot of advantage, of course, to community banks, and we are very supportive of community banks. >> we would like to see a healthy banking system. >> mr. chairman, good to se

we want less spending, we want a smaller federal government, not a larger federal government. we want the federal government to do what we have to do, the american family has to do and small businesses have to do, and that's live within their means. so i would hope, mr. president, that this debt debate, it is a comes to a conclusion -- and i hope it will come to a good outcome, a good result for the people of this country -- it is not -- we do not want to have this country in a situation where we are not a making payments, where we are defaulting on our debt. but we cannot just continue this pattern of raising the borrowing authority of this country, of adding to the federal debt, without doing something to get that debt under control, without doing something to reduce the amount that this federal government spending every single year. spending at 24% to 25% of our entire economy is a trend that cannot be continued, it cannot be sustained, and we need to get back to more of an historical average where the american people i think want us to be. the reason they reacted the way t

interrogator who was under investigation by a federal grand jury. the second case involves a militant named gull rahman who was captured in 2002 in pakistan and held at a secret prison in afghanistan known as the salt pit. hosed down and left in an unheated cell overnight, rahman died of hypothermia. neither prisoner had been singled out for special interrogation. they both apparently died of simple misuse or neglect. >> pelley: david, what are you hearing about the c.i.a.'s reaction to this today? >> reporter: well, this happens to be c.i.a. director leon panetta's last day on the job before he takes over as secretary of defense. none of this happened on his watch, but he is clearly pleased by the decision. he issued a statement, saying "we are now finally about to close this chapter in our agency's history." >> pelley: thank you, david. leon panetta will be taking over tomorrow for robert gates. today, president obama surprised the outgoing defense secretary with a going-away present: the medal of freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. gate

it is a minuscule federal agency. a very effective, but a very minuscule federal agency. and in this town, money and employees are the currency of this town. and the problem in this town is that fema has always been, i shouldn't say always, fema became relegated to the back waters the bureaucracy. it became relegated to the monolith. see how liberating it is to be out of the government. you can say all of these things and you don't give a rats ass what people think. write that down, guys. it became monolithed to the government of national security. imagine being in a budget meeting with dhs, and you are arguing over trying -- you have $3.5 billion for operating. you have begging for an additional half a billion. versus everybody else arguing over the tens of millions of dollars. it's just a fact of life. they are not being creative and fema should not been part of the dhs. that's an argument that i'll continue to bang my head. nobody listens. that's fine. next question? >> how do you have society change it's thought about what fema does? seems like every time something ha