congressman john larson said, i believe that further flexibility needs to be granted to religiously affiliated organizations. john heilemann, this isn't about birth control coverage in your health care plans. which is now required by obama care, by the president's health care plan. for example, governor kaine made it a point of calling us and making sure we know that. it's about whether there should be a broad religious exemption for churches, hospitals and other religious groups that don't believe in birth control and are against it as a matter of sin if youio will. >> well, look. i watched it on our network last night. i watched david boise make a compelling argument about why these people are, in fact, wrong. >> who is wrong? >> the people who think there should be a broader religious exemption. it's a matter of labor law and employment law. as an employer, the same laws should apply. you can't exempt -- they're not exempt from tax laws or discrimination laws or workers' comp. i think there's some part of the president that thought on the merit he's was right. clearly it's a political probl

>> where were they -- >> where was tim kaine and john larson?ay we're not opposed to making sure that people have contraception, in fact we want everyone to have access without co-pays. what we want is to expand the religious exemption, so beyond churches and universities to other institutions. i think that's a perfectly reasonable point to have, but what they're not saying is they're not in disagreement with the health care approach. >> the goal. >> yes. >> this was ham fisted, david axelrod made news when he came on our show and said they're willing toe compromise. >> that's the end game. they'll figure out some sort of way to put a bow on it and say we're getting these exemptions expanded. >> and willie, a warning to the left who want to make it about contraception. if they want to make it about contraception, then they don't understand what the controversy is about, baud, you know i don't think most americans have problems with contraception. it's the federal government telling a church -- mandating what a church must do with their organizat

john larson, who is the chairman of the national kau cushion on the floor of the house. john manchin also. kaine said "i think they made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exemptions." >> i was on the conference call with the white house on december 3rd urging them not to do this. i thought it was wrong and an infringement of the religious rights in the constitution. they went ahead and did it any way. >> the chairman said i believe that further flexibility needs to be granted to religiously affiliated organizations. john heilemann, this isn't about birth control coverage in your health care plans. for example, governor kaine called them out to make sure we know that. it's about whether there should be an exemption for churches and other religious groups that don't believe in birth control. >> well, look. i watched it on our network last night. i watched david boise make a compelling argument about why they are wrong. why the people who think there should be an exemption, it doesn't raise an issue. it's about an employment law. the same laws

joining me now is congressman john larson. sir, let's talk politics here.you guys have a winning issue here, you are talking tax cuts for the first time you are on the happy side of the taxes, which means cut it and you are on the pro side of jobs, you are on winning side of this issue. is this why the republicans want to screw you up? they don't want you to win this thing? >> well, chris, they have had a myopic loyalty to doing anything that will stop the president from the united states looking good. listen, i give boehner credit here, i think he understands this. we cannot go through another process of hostage taking where they take us to the brink. there's nothing out there to be gained. when you see senator demint saying the same thing, there's nothing to be gained here. let's come together and do something in the interest of the american people. that will benefit the president, because this is his initiative. but more importantly it will benefit the american people and that is what it should be all about. so, i think we hope, that we are able to get t

john larson, a good friend of yours who headed the democratic caucus wrote in a letter to kathleen sebelius the following, "i understand and support their concerns, i believe further flexibility needs to be granted to religious organization." you have bob casey in pennsylvania, tim kaine in virginia, both from swing states. you're in charge to getting democrats elected to this house. how does this issue play in places like ohio, pennsylvania, western and upstate new york where you need to sweep in order to get to that 25? this can't be a good issue for you. >> there is no question there is a pretty strong range of opinion on both sides of this issue. frankly, if you take a look at most of the polling, majority of people agree that if you happen to be a woman teaching at a catholic hospital, you shouldn't be denied access to contraception. a majority of people agree with that. i fully understand this is the kind of issue that is, as mark said, contentious and complicated. maybe there are ways to work it out. i will also say this. the people in pennsylvania, ohio, in other states where we are

here with us now is chairman of the house democratic congress, john larson. he's pushing a renovation of sorts. also james homan who is probably too familiar with the data we were just referencing. congressman, does anything that just came out of my mouth on mississip msnbc surprise you? >> no, but it did remind me quite a bit of that old line that i wanted to be buried in st. mary's cemetery so i could remain politically active. >> hold on. you're not surprised. james, from your perspective, you're on the beat. were you surprised with the revelations in this data? >> not at all. this is the same data we have been seeing for years. after the debacle in florida, nothing happened. it's clear something needs to be done. >> clearly, we're out to lunch. we are out to lunch every way possible. congressman, you are, obviously, not only aware of this, but have prepared some form of legislation that's attempting to address some of of this. >> right. >> tell us what the legislation that exists right now that would address this. >> dylan, i think you're absolutely corre

pennsylvania, tim kaine the president's former hand-picked chairman of the democratic party, congressman john larsonemocrat and member of the house democratic leadership. they were among the sharpest critics here, madam secretary. were they playing political football? >> well, i think that they were voicing their religious objections and their hope that we could find a way to both respect religious liberty and deliver these incredibly important preventative services so women could make their own determination about their health and their family's health. and we've done just that. >> some of those long-time allies and friends who objected pretty forecefully here say you had to have known this would happen. you had to have known you wouldn't get a year to work this through. and they wonder how does a president especially a president heading into a re-election campaign seem so tone deaf? >> well, john, again i don't think it's a question of not being aware that this controversy was out there. but i just want to remind you what was called for was a vast expansion of a total exemption, making millions of

here's more from a key house democrat, john larson, a few moments ago: >> we're being hostage to a conference that can't even agree itself on whether it's forward or not. >> reporter: so the payroll tax extension as it stands now is due to run out three weeks from tomorrow. negotiations seem kind of stuck at this point, jon. jon: and it could be stuck for a long time, or so it would seem. mike emanuel, keep an eye on it, thanks. >> thanks sir. jenna: jury selection is underway in a high profile very emotional case, of a promising athlete accused of killing his ex-girlfriend. you'll recognize the two of them, the girl was a universal of virginia lacrosse player. the trial is just starting now. jon: also, facebook and twitter. millions of people just can't do without them. really can't. a new study says the pull on social media is stronger than other addictions. believe that? we'll explain. [ wind howling ] [ technician ] are you busy? management jt sent over these new technical manuals. they need you to translate them into portuguese. by tomorrow. [ male announcer ] ducati knows it's better fo

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pelosi broke ranks and supported the measure, as minority whip steny hoyer, james clyburn, and john larson voted against it. a similar bill was filed last year by senator mccain and harper, a delaware democrat, and has 42 cosponsors. what duppinge about the house passing this legislation? we're going to begin with a democrat in michigan. brian, you're on the "washington journal." good morning. caller: good morning to you. i just don't think that it's going to pass muster in the courts. it happened last time, it was challenged by the republicans. it's going to be challenged by somebody, and they're going to find it's not constitutional, a constitutional means of opinion. host: what's your pick -- what's your opinion of it though? caller: my opinion of it is that i think the chief executive should have line-item veto rights. maybe it would save some money and save us some embarrassment down the line. host: and one of our twitter followers agrees with you. this is anthony, who says line-item veto is unconstitutional, or he doesn't agree with you -- well, he does agree with you in the sense, e

john torle are -- jantorial are included, and a common area and your own space. it is great a good deal for film makers if you are interested in participating. craig larson is the owner of the building. he has worked with us, and he has been so generous to make it where we could afford this space and where we could give it to you at an affordable rate so. thank you, craig, even though you're not here. i think that's it for now. christine, if you would like to come up and introduce the next [applause] [cheers and applause] >> they were all telling me how excited they were to do an inauguration last year. but it was just for that local mayor of san francisco.