washington times reporter jeff mordock and then later we have julie rovner. "washington journal," starts now. ♪ host: good morning everyone on friday, january 20. the annual march

host: julie rovner, insurance company with an army? guest: that is a pretty good description. that was a completely accurate description of how mandatory spending works, how our entitlements work. if you qualified, you automatically get these. if congress wants to change them and the president agrees, you can do that. that is what happens in most of these budget reconciliation bills. that is what the bills are for, congress to make changes to the nondiscretionary part of the budget, which is the congressman points out is the largest part of the budget. we have seen many changes to medicare and social security. most of them have been small. some have been significant. in 2003 it was republicans who pass the bill to put prescription drug benefit into medicare and did not pay for it. both parties are guilty for letting things on that have made these programs more expensive and more generous. host: before we get to calls, are there bipartisan proposals for adjusting these programs so that they can remain solvent? guest: probably not in congress. nobody wants to step out. there are

washington times reporter jeff mordock and then later we have julie rovner. "washington journal," starts now. ♪ host: good morning everyone on friday, january 20. the annual march for life rally will take place two days before the anniversary of roe v. wade in the first anniversary since road was overturned. our coverage of the march for life rally beginning at noon. or online at demand at c-span.org. before we get to that, we want your thoughts on abortion policy. more restrictions on abortion access. if you support that (202) 748-8000, if you impose restrictions (202) 748-8001. you could also text us your thoughts include your first nam e, city, at (202) 748-8003. joining us this morning is the national health care reporter with the washington post. the anti-abortion activists has participated in the march for life for 50 years but this year they are taking a detour, why is that? guest: first off, thank you for helping me. they are going down constitution avenue but they are taking a detour to walk past the u.s. capitol. what they are saying is they are tel