mr. dingell and mr. waxman. we have had a history on this committee and subcommittee going back at least 40 to 50 years when we have had major issues and tried to approach them on behalf of the american people and a dash in a nonpartisan and very open way. it appears we are going to continue that tradition today. i hope we can show the best to the american people that congress at its best gives the facts, presents the facts and does so in a way that in the future, we protect the public health and safety for the american people. with that caveat, i have a few questions. a number of congressmen so far have made -- >> you have been watching our special live coverage thereof very barat, ceo of gm before the subcommittee as this panel tries to understand why it is it took 10 years for gm to finally issued a recall, given the company has been linked to 13 deaths as a result of faulty ignition switches. 2.6 million vehicles have been recalled. we have matt miller standing by outside the hearing for some analysis. thoug

mr. dingell and mr. waxman. we've had a history on this committee in this subcommittee going back 40 or 50 years, when we have major issues we try to approach them on behalf of the american people in a nonpartisan very open way. and it certainly appears we're going to continue that tradition today. so i hope that we can show the best to the american people that the congress at its best gets the factses and presents the fact and in the future we protect the public health and safety for the american people. with that caveat, i have a few questions. a number of congressmen have made the point that the ignition switches didn't appear to meet specifications. and my assumption is that you've agreed that they did not meet specifications, is that correct? >> we've learned that as we did the recall. >> now, i'm an industrial engineer and i used to be a registered professional engineer, i'm not currently registered but have been in the past. why in the world would a company with the stellar reputation of general motors pu

mr. dingell and mr. waxman. we've had a history on this committee and this subcommittee going back at least 40 to 50 years that the when we have major issues, we try to approach them on behalf of the american people in a nonpartisan, very open way, and it certainly appears we're going to continue that tradition today, so i hope that we can show the best to the american people that the congress at its best, gets the facts, presents the facts, and does so in a way that in the future we protect the public health and safety for the american people. now, with that caveat, i do have a few questions. a number of congressmen so far have made the point that these ignition switches didn't appear to meet specifications, and my assumption is that you have agreed that they did not meet specifications. is that correct? >> we've learned that as we did the recall. >> now, i'm an industrial engineer, and i used to be a registered professional engineer. i'm not currently registered, but i have been in the past. why in the world w

mr. dingell served 50 something years and mr.axman was there 40 years and george miller was there -- but i will tell you something. those were very effective legislators. you may disagree with them, but in large measure, most of those that will be leaving were real craftsman, individuals that we all learn from. and if we took those lessons -- and that is my fear -- what is less of that kind of legacy, will it suffer? or will someone else carry on? i am concerned about it. >> here is an e-mail we've gotten from gavin of syracuse, new york. how often will it happen that members of congress get together, not to talk about politics but to forge some personal relationship? would it make a difference? >> it would make a great difference. ,hen i came into the congress the other bush was president. when i came into congress, the older bush was the president. relationships were much better. and during that season while he was there, one of the things that he did -- he was in the gym with us. he exercised with the members. the connection b

mr. dingell and mr. waxman. we've had a history on this committee in this subcommittee going back 40 or 50 years, when we have major issues we try to approach them on behalf of the american people in a nonpartisan very open way. and it certainly appears we're going to continue that tradition today. so i hope that we can show the best to the american people that the congress at its best gets the factses and presents the fact and in the future we protect the public health and safety for the american people. with that caveat, i have a few questions. a number of congressmen have made the point that the ignition switches didn't appear to meet specifications. and my assumption is that you've agreed that they did not meet specifications, is that correct? >> we've learned that as we did the recall. >> now, i'm an industrial engineer and i used to be a registered professional engineer, i'm not currently registered but have been in the past. why in the world would a company with the stellar reputation of general motors pu

mr. dingell, the sec should be pro-active in saying to congress this is what we need going forward. >> i will answer your question. washington communications lawyer, absolutely. i don't want to answer my own questions but i will say my primary preoccupation if i were back there today would be to modernize the ownership rules which i think i badly outmoded today in the modern communications age particularly the metamorphosis we of seen in the marketplace in the last year and they are counterproductive but let's move ahead to other questions. henry rivera, this question was submitted by professor at ennis you named waldman or something like that. from a big picture standpoints what do we need to know that we perhaps don't know about the evolving communications technologies and markets, so we could effectively serve the policy standpoint. >> i think he touched on this in his introductory remarks. regulators today do not have the appropriate strategic and regulatory schools to deal with the rapid developments we are seeing in the communications space, technological development we are seeing.

mr. dingel was there for 50 years and mr. waxman was there 40 years and george miller there, but i'm going to tell you something, those were very, legislators.e you may disagree with them. but in large measure, most of leaving werell be real craftsmen, individuals, learnedaid, that we all from. and if we took those lessons and what's left ofis that kind of legacy. will it suffer. will someone else carry on. i know that others that have house believe that there are individuals that will pick up that mantle and carry forward. concerned about it. >> here's an e-mail from gavin do you think that the lack and if so what steps would bh taken to facilitate this action? would it make a difference? >> it would make a great difference. en i came into the congress, bush was president. the older bush was the president. relationships were much better and during that season while he was there one of the things that he did, he was in the gym with us. he exercised in the gym with the members. the connection between people makes the differenc

mr. dingell was their 50 something years and mr.? and was there 40 years and george miller -- but i'm going to tell you something, those are very, very effective legislators. you may disagree with them, but in large measure, most of those that will be leaving for real craftsman, individuals like i said that we all learn from and we often took those and that is my fear that is what is left of that legacy will suffer or was something else carreon? others that have served in the hospital if there are individuals that would pick up the mantle and carry forward. but am concerned. soon a congressman, here's an e-mail i've gotten from cabin air lit for for syracuse, new york. who writes how often do members from across the aisle socialize with one another without debating political issues? do you think the lack of friendly personalized interaction outside of the political urbina is a consider and what steps can be taken to facilitate? how often would that happen members of congress get together not talk about politics, but to forge some kin