so let's welcome secretary dan glickman. so i just want to start in the background lived on a commission on political reform. it was sort of born out of a stormy political presence that we're living in, and i think right now will introduce the others -- senator bennet. [applause] senator bennet is also a senior fellow at the bipartisan policy center and prior to that he served in u.s. senate for 18 years, first being elected in 1993. senator bennet was on the banking committee to the joint economic committee so he is a strong background in national economic issues, also a member of the appropriations committee so he has a great understanding of budgeting process and spending process. a lot of people don't realize aren't the same process. prior to serving in the senate, senator bennet was a successful entrepreneur. he was the ceo of publicly listed company and he continues to work sort of in the private sector on entrepreneurial issues. for me as a good understanding of the nexus of those two issues. at one thing i want to br

then, then glickman -- dan glickman discusses the prospects for bipartisanship in the 114th congress. then, bob cusack on the legislative agenda. the most diverse congress industry poised to take power and a wave of new lawmakers is arriving on capitol hill. republicans called it the ranks. and that spirit, the hill should look at the quirks of the voting members and the new congress. there is a record number of female lawmakers, alongside 430 men following the departure of michael grimm. you taught -- senator tim scott is part of the largest black republican lass in congress since the reconstruction era. there will be 46 black lawmakers and the new congress. hispanic lawmakers will have 33 in the house and 30 senators. that is peter sullivan reporting on that. the 114 congress gavels in tomorrow at 9:00. next, we hear from former white house officials and the obama bush, and clinton administrations. >> this would not happen without pat griffin. he has been a background of being an assistant director and assistant to be president under clinton. he organized this and he came up with th

let's welcome secretary dan glickman. [applause] >> i just want to get some background on our commission of political reform. it was born out of a stormy, political presence we are living in. right now, we will introduce senator bennett. [laughter] [applause] senator bennett is also a senior fellow and bipartisan policy center. he served in the u.s. senate for 18 years, first being elected in 1993. senator bennett was on the banking committee, the joint economic committee, so he has a strong background in national economic issues and was also a member of the appropriations committee and has a great understanding of our budgeting process and spending process which a lot of people do not realize are not the same process. besides serving in the senate, he was a highly successful entrepreneur. he was the ceo of a publicly listed company. he continues to work in the private sector on entrepreneurial issues. yes a good understanding of the nexus of those two issues. one thing i want to bring up -- two great quotes about senator

but the first person i want to bring up is former agriculture secretary dan glickman. he is a senior fellow at the bipartisan policy center and co-chairs our commission on political reform which is what we're here to talk about and as well as our physical physician and nutrition strategy. and he is the director of the aspen institute congressional program which is a nongovernmental or non-partisan session of congress. and we do have programs out there that help congress do their jobs better. and this is one of the most interesting jobs glickman had, he was chairman of the motion picture association of america representing hollywood and those folks in california and also the director of the institute of politics at harvard. now before he had all of these great jobs, he had a career in politics. he was the agriculture secretary during clinton administration and 18 years in the house of representatives, representing the fourth congressional district in kansas. so let's welcome senator michael thorning. >> thank you. so i want to start and give some background on our commi

for which the democrats paid in terms of the election result in 2014 referring to what secretary glickman said in the lame duck, who was there on the democratic side leading the effort to make sure we got regular order done and the appropriations process handled in an intelligent manner. harry reid. harry reid and mitch mcconnell two old pros sitting down in the senate saying the election is over, we have to govern we have to solve the problem. and harry reid, however much he deserved how we have been beaten up by the republicans for what he did previously now says okay, mitch, how do we work this out and make this happen? and it was very, very interesting to see how they made it happen. in the senate it was harry reid and mitch mcconnell working together. in the house, it was john boehner and steny hoyer. because nancy pelosi said i don't want no part of it. and steny hoyer, the number two democrat was saying, nancy we have to govern. and who was there with the two from the senate and the two from the house that were trying to make it work, making phone calls to members of his party sayi

after that, dan glickman and robert bennett discuss bipartisanship. members of the congressional black caucus were sworn in tuesday morning at the capital. gk butterfield said criminal justice reform will be a top issue. nancy pelosi also spoke. this is just over one hour. >> good morning. facing the rising sun of our new day. what an extraordinary group of americans i have is my colleagues to face that rising sun. with new challenges and new opportunities. i want to congratulate my dear friend, marcia fudge, on the extraordinary leadership she has given. [applause] congratulate my friend marcia on her extraordinary leadership. [applause] [applause] [applause] and to commiserate with my brother, leader butterfield and all of the officers. thank you all for being here today. martin luther king said that i may not get there, but i have seen the comments. and everybody in this audience knows that we may have seen the promised land but the promise is not yet within it. but there is still much to do and allows congress and the cdc to play a central role. a

then, then glickman -- dan glickman discusses the prospects for bipartisanship in the 114th congress. then, bob cusack on

glickman fall left off. but it is the most immediate way to help our economy. there is now one of us here whose congress districts would not benefit greatly with the adequate level of investment in infrastructure. and use started to say something and never by to hear your thoughts. >> and to make the point of the death tax so about how people move to and from work and around the country. it is roads their bridges and transportation it is broad bands so when in some situations in those parts of the country to use revenue sources to invest in interest for station and infrastructure. >> so what else to cut its core energy have our job creation or our economy? >> if you look at the comparative the with the private sector we need a supportive environment for the united states. what i hear the most is the weakness of the infrastructure with the lack of investment. and for the business people traveling back and forth. >> your time has expired. >> my congratulations to your chairman right in. for the free-wheeling conversation i want to talk about tax reform does speci

with the opprobrium harry reid took referring to what secretary glickman said, in the lame-duck, the was there on the democratic side leading the effort to make sure we got a regular orders done and the appropriations process handled in an intelligent matter? harry reid. harry reid and mitch mcconnell -- two old pros sitting down and saying, we have to solve the problem. harry reid now says, ok mitch, how do we work this out and make this happen. it was very interesting to see how they made it happen. and the senate, it was harry reid and mitch mcconnell working together. in the house, it was john boehner because nancy pelosi said she did not want any part of it. the number two democrat was saying nancy, we have to govern. and who was there with the two from the senate and two from the house making phone calls to members of his party and saying, will you get in line and help out? barack obama. barack obama making common cause with john boehner and mitch mcconnell because the people had sent the message that they wanted things to start to work again. that is where you come in. because

we will hear from former congressman and agriculture secretary dan glickman and former utah senator robertennett. the bipartisan policy center and the washington center host this event. [applause] >> thank you and welcome. it is great to see you all here. i want to talk a little bit about the role of the faculty director. this is a key person for you during this experience. it is a key position of the washington center in our academic seminars because the faculty director is the person that will help frame the issues of that are prevented -- presented to you from over 20 speakers during the week. she will frame them within an academic context to help you draw them altogether. she will also take questions from you about your reading, the speakers and moderate discussions between all of you students. she is really central to your seminar experience. week one of inside washington 2015 is called exploring a bipartisan solutions. simply by following the news, you are familiar with some of the challenges of bipartisanism today. the week ahead will task you with thinking about many of these chall

glickman fall left off. but it is the most immediate way to help our economy. there is now one of us here whose congress districts would not benefit greatly with the adequate level of investment in infrastructure. and use started to say something and never by to hear your thoughts. >> and to make the point of the death tax so about how people move to and from work and around the country. it is roads their bridges and transportation it is broad bands so when in some situations in those parts of the country to use revenue sources to invest in interest for station and infrastructure. >> so what else to cut its core energy have our job creation or our economy? >> if you look at the comparative the with the private sector we need a supportive environment for the united states. what i hear the most is the weakness of the infrastructure with the lack of investment. and for the business people traveling back and forth. >> your time has expired. >> my congratulations to your chairman right in. for the free-wheeling conversation i want to talk about tax reform does speci