mr. walker said government -- government grew too big. tell me where there has been a steady that government should be of a certain size? we've got 300 million-plus people in this country. we are stuck all over the world with all kinds of adventures and economic interests. why should we have a small government? guest: first, i think it is it -- legitimate to lead a discussion and debate what we think government should do. i think there would be a significant difference in opinion about whether we should be doing the policing actions around the world, including the latest one in libya. the fact is th -- in 1800, the federal government was 2% of the economy. today it is 25% of the economy, and it is on track to be 38% of the economy without any reforms by 24. if you add state and local government to that, government would be 50% of the economy by 2014. you can look at all of the studies in the world and find out the larger the government gets, the less economic growth peaked, the less innovation, etcetera. government plays an important role

mr. walker. how are you? a couple of questions. you say the entitlements are probably hurting us the most -- the biggest deficit. why did they cut the 2% from medicare payments -- and what i have not heard, the employer pays 2% less? and the other question is, when i they going to raise the limit of what people pay into social security? they raised it for years -- and gets up to $100,000 and they did not what people make more money to pay an extra in. those two things to not make sense. guest: the reduction in the payroll tax was for social security, not for medicare. there are things that were in the health care reform bill that talk about saving money in medicare spending -- provider reimbursement. but there is a real debate about whether not those would actually take place. with regd to social security, clearly, if you look asocial security reform, there are several major elements. first, we need a defined benefit program for the bass program. we need to strengthen the benefit. it raises the benefit for people near the poverty l

mr. walker. here in chicago we keep on hearing that the tax bracket for the upper 1% of america, if that was to be taken away, and were paying their fair share, how much of an immediate impact would that make on our financial situation? thank you. guest: there is absolutely no question that those that earn more and have more wealth are going to have to pay higher taxes. at the same point in time, we need to make a lot of other reforms, too. the lead bidder not, about 46% of americans pay no income taxes whatsoever -- believe it or not. yes, they do pay payroll taxes for social security or medicare, but the taxes they pay for social security and medicare are not adequate to fund the benefits promised. so, we are going to have to engaged in comprehensive tax reform to make sure that everybody who is above the poverty level pays something for the constitutional role of the federal government. those who end up hurting more and having more will have to pay more. but we need to transform the system to

can make cuts instead of simply going after entitlement programs at the state level with regard to mr walker governor walker's claim that it's about the the budget that simply fiction because the unions actually conceded everything that he requested and he's dealing now with projected budgetary shortfalls in the next two years so he's being disingenuous with the voters and it's very clear he's going after all collective bargaining rights going after he and governors from other states are getting together and that this is a ground plan we know that the phone call from the koch brothers or david koch that the phone call he made it very clear that this is an organized effort to go after unions so i wish that he would be more honest and i wish that the media framing was more honest in that respect with caroline help me she's a professor of politics at the dental college and that does it for now but of course for more on the stories we covered go to our website aren't you drop us a don't forget you can stream all the shows live on that website out for.

mr. walker, and the argument has been made that republicans in wisconsin and beyond, there are other states that are about to do the same thing, that this is about crushing unions in this country. do you have thoughts about that? >> well, i do not think there is any question about them wanting to crush unions, and i think the argument has been made here in wisconsin that he does not believe that unions work with their local districts, local units of government, and i think we have a lot of evidence to the contrary, that we do that, and that we are part of every community in this state. there are also republican governors who say they would not go as far as governor walker. they say they are not looking to crush unions. in fact, they want to work with the voice of labor in their states in order to make economic decisions about what is to happen and to move education reform, as just one example, forward. we are willing to do that, and the governor has chosen not to talk to us. paris -- talk to us. tavis: there are some democrats to have been running. some consider them cowardly, that the last

can make cuts instead of simply going after entitlement programs at the state level with regard to mr walker governor walker's claim that it's about the the budget simply fiction because the unions actually conceded everything that he requested and he's dealing now with projected budgetary shortfalls in the next two years so he's being disingenuous with the voters and it's very clear he's going after collective bargaining right he's going after he and governors from other states are getting together and that this is a ground plan we know that the phone call from the koch brothers or david koch the prank phone call he made it very clear that this is an organized effort to go after unions so i wish that he would be more honest and i wish that the media framing was more honest in that respect speaking of honesty are so are all these economic decisions whether they be at the state or federal level are they just sort of based on the short term because of the political cycle because either way the thing to be playing politics here. and great observation dean i mean what we're talking about is a lo

plain and simple the reagan began the process you know with patco he's sort of the super hero of mr walker and and now you know in the last decade we've seen the top the top tax rate the maximum tax rate if you make billions on wall street at fifteen percent that's the highest income tax you can pay but if you're a long haul truck driver something like that you make a pretty good eleven used to be anyone you can pay up to thirty six percent income taxes i mean it's this is this is nuts this is absolutely nuts you're right it's a shared sacrifice warren buffett said you know he says to my secretary more is based more taxes than i do and he's one of the richest men in america and she does and he's going what's wrong with this picture there same thing with corporations you know one of the big pushes now by the right wing is going to lower the corporate rate it's thirty five percent in america you know this is one of the highest anywhere in the world we can't believe this is going on but when you look at what they actually do you know boeing pays eighteen percent i thing.

mr. walker's amber restorative. >> hitchens: my cup overflows. >> kroft: hitchens has a legion of close friendshat includes writers martin amis, ian mcewan, and the critic james fenton, all of whom attest to his superior intellect, social skills, and a legendary constitution that allows him to consume staggering amounts of alcohol. author christopher buckley recalled a restaurant lunch that began at 1:00 p.m. and ended near midnight. >> christopher buckley: at the end of this ten-and-a-half hour epic lunch, i would have happily checked into the nearest hospital to have oxygen, blood, and extensive liver work. i think he went home and wrote an essay on george orwell. >> salman rushdie: christopher never does anything by halves, you know, so his attack is always a 250% attack. >> kroft: salman rushdie occasionally hid out in hitchens' apartment after the ayatollah khomeini authorized his murder for blasphemy. and graydon carter, the editor of "vanity fair," is a longtime hitchens employer, having assigned him to write about everything from what it's like to get a complete spa makeover to what it'

mr. mcclain, walker from the sunset district. there's an idea cranking around in my mind for some time and it's about a teachable moment and it's when the driver becomes a pedestrian and that moment happens in a very concentrated way when they have to put money in the meter and i wanted to suggest that and i'm sure there's all kinds of rules against doing this, but put little traffic pedestrian, driver rules in plain english, not fancy ordinance language right on the meter so they're confronted with one rule on one meter and one rule on another to teach because they've just become a pedestrian. >> great idea. i'm going to get this gentlemen next. gray turtleneck? >> thank you. i'd like to ask mr. mull and mr. fleck you both talked about count down traffic signals and it's note worthy in san francisco we have lots of them. we all learned early in life the devil is in the details and one of the issues people have. the countdown traffic light at van ness and it gives you less than four seconds of walk time to walk six lanes of traff

that's what we see going on it was we in wisconsin today republican governor scott walker and his cohorts are trying to mr direct that anger and divide the middle class and pick corporate workers who are desperate against government paid workers the private sector union membership has steadily declined in the last few decades public sector unions like teachers and state and local government officials have remained almost exactly the same for the last thirty years virtually immune from reagan's war on unions as the union busting industry has been going into private corporations to do their dirty. republicans want to destroy a major funder and supporter of democratic party politicians unions and the low hanging fruits right now are the still unionized government employee unions the republican strategy is simple and old is time divide and conquer by telling union busting corporate workers that all their troubles can be blamed on public sector union workers the g.o.p. is fomenting rage among a desperate population at the same time keeping themselves out of the crosshairs angry about your low wages don't blame

walker into them. we would joke about mr. double-double.ou would buy two double-double whiskys at a time and it was heavy drinking and we did have a lot of time. they never referred to him as barack. they also referred him as barry. barry did this and barry did that. but i think the danger we assume too much significance in this because president obama changed his name from barry -- i mean, he had no choice. he had no option about being called barry. that's what he was called in hawaii by his mother and by his grandparents and by his schooled children. -- school children. >> you're talking about the president. >> he was originally called barry. he didn't adopt that name. he was just given it. and i think when he became a young man and he was trying to find his own identity, he opted for barack who knows why. you think it has some sort of political undertone. i would say maybe it's because it's more distinctive. it's a bit more mysterious and it would more with the girls. his mother changed her name and wasn't in a position to change her nam

walker. >> as i did if we could get an update as to what is happening, it is a responsibility. >> adopted by the administrator's office as that commission right, thank you. >> mr. corn field is one to be joining us. is it possible to be joined -- that when he is in here he will be able to come back every few months -- update the commission. well at -- but in these together and working with the director is difficult, i realize. i appreciate murphy for art work on this, for years and and we really did need to post stuff >> thank-you,. >> thank you. any questions? i congratulate commissioners [applause] hechanova and mar. i look forward to working with you. >> further comments? >> also, the new vice president. >> thank-you. >> item #9, future meetings and agendas. our next meeting is in april, the third wednesday. >> what are the schedules of the nomination committee? >> litigation met yesterday. the nomination i do not think there are any appointments to do until 2013, but we do have -- ken cleveland was appointed to something by

walkers only see in the screen it costs me over three. thousand dollars a year not to mention more down the road let me mr collector part the rates i've alluded to the issues that are being discussed here city are not unique to bet a city or state of wisconsin these are national issues bodies being taken away from workers and the tax breaks if there's hope gracious this is republican plans for fear an attempt to. supplant we need to. now this grassroots campaign is pro union protesters are calling it has expanded their efforts are being felt all over the country just yesterday people marched through d.c. showing their solidarity for the people of madison so are the democrats and pro union efforts working many out there was say yes even republicans have come forth saying of the wisconsin g.o.p. needs to keep a watchful eye the bear being organized just because the bill passed doesn't mean that this war is over and it's clear the people of wisconsin are willing to work talk to constituents and take part by any other means they can to show that they aren't going down without a fight using democracy the way that it should be used by gathering the

walker should stop attacking his state teachers and his public servants. . the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlelady from ohio, ms. kaptur, for five minutes. ms. kaptur: thank you, mr. speaker. almost one in our homeowners in our country is under water. meaning they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. and all of this misery is due to wall street's rigging of our economy. but on wall street they are popping champagne works. the nation's biggest banks, bank of america, wells fargo, citigroup, j.p. morgan chase, goldman sachs, and morgan stanley, have been raking in huge profits, all at the expense of the american people. in fact, these institutions have doubled in size through predatory mergers since the fall of 2007, and six banks, these six banks, now control 2/3 of the banking system in our country. they cleaned up with profits in 2010, $51.6 billion in profits. more profits than they made before the american people bailed them out. main street is under water, wall street's going on a pleasure cruise. it doesn't take a mental giant to figure who got our money. accordings to a recent report -- according to a recent report, the economic crisis th

mr. durbin: i would say to the senator from kentucky, he is correct in his statement that not only president george herbert walker bush but also george w. bush came to congress and really kind of broke precedent. thathat hadn't happened in korer vietnam. congress deliberated those wars and voted. and i will tell the senator from kentucky since he's my friend and he's new here, it is one of the most compelling votes you will ever cast and i hope you never face it, but if you do, it is one of the votes that will keep you up at night trying to think what's best for america and what's best for the young men and women who may lose their lives in the process. so in fairness to both presidents bush, they did come to congress. their circumstances were somewhat different. the leadup to the invasion of iraq went on for weeks, if not months. the same thing was true for afghanistan. but remember, in the situation with afghanistan, after 9/11, we were here in this building when it happened. we knew what 9/11 was about and we responded accordingly. this is what i will say. the senator from kentucky has the right to express his

mr. chairman? >> reporter: after three weeks of stalled negotiations, the republicans pulled off a political end-run. passing the bill without any democrats, in only five minutes. >> the senate is adjourned. >> reporter: republican governor scott walker says he applauded their action. >> they wanted to take away any of the substantive collective bargain reform. if you do not pass major reforms in collective bargaining, local governments will not be able to balance their budgets in the future. >> reporter: but democratic leaders are outraged at republicans. >> they are so eager to take away the rights that people of this state have enjoyed for 50 years. >> reporter: the governor is going to get his way and probably sign that bill into law very soon. but the fight is not over yet. union organizers are planning demonstrations across the state later today. george? >> okay, chris. thanks. >>> and for the third time in a week, another young sports star has collapsed and died while competing. the death of this teenage soccer and track star is raising questions about the problem of sudden cardiac death in athletes. let's go to ryan owens in gainesville, florida. good morning, ryan. >> reporter: good morning to you, george. this time, we're t

mrs. huffington to run the online media operations. >> mark: bifurcate leader of the democrats to fled to delay passage of the bill that takes away collective bargaining rights is asking gov. scott walker asking in a letter delivered today for an in person meeting as soon as possible to resume negotiations. democrats are ready and willing to find a compromise. the what the meeting near border. >> darya: honda is recalling more than 35,000 civic hybrids to fix a problem with the electrical system that could cause the headlights to turn off or the engine to stall. honda says the recall covers 2006- 2007 model year civic hybrids. the company says the voltage converter that relays power from the motor assist system to the vehicle's electrical components could fail. honda received seven reports of stalling engines and 82 warranty claims connected to the problem. the recall is expected to begin in mid- march. the california department of public health announced a warning to not eat some hazelnuts that were distributed by defranco and sons from losangeles because they could contain the escherichia coli bacteria, e. coli. the hazelnuts have been associated with seven people becoming ill severa

mr. president, this ain't it. we have seen this type of overreach before. in the recent battle in wisconsin where governor scott walkerent to war with the state's public workers. governor walker started out seeking concessions from the unions on their benefits in order to reduce wisconsin's budget shortfall. in a spirit of cooperation, unions agreed to reduce their benefits, but the governor didn't take yes for an answer. he went further and insisted on ending collective bargaining entirely. the budget fight going on right now in this chamber is also about more than just budget cuts. the conservative republicans in the house are showing themselves to be scott walker republicans. they are using the budget to try to shoot the moon on a wish list of far right policy measures. if this debate were only about spending cuts, we would probably come to an agreement before too long, but we will have a hard time coming to an agreement with these scott walker republicans who are trying to use the budget to enact a far right social agenda. i urge speaker boehner to consider the path to a solution to this year's budget that may not

mrs. baldwin. >> thank you. right now across the country and particularly in wisconsin, we are seeing the effect of our attacks by the nation's governors on the values that we hold dear. i'm sorry that scott walker declined the majority invitation to be on the parent today. governor walker's bill would not only strip away workers rights and gut the medicaid program. it violates the tradition of comprehensive coverage for our citizens by eliminating insurance coverage for 63,000 parents and 6800 adults and reducing coverage for current and future enrollees. his plan is also fiscally irresponsible. he's offered under the guys of repairing the state budget and saving money, the proposed medicaid provision would not yield any savings this year. instead, the plan would put the state at risk in losing billions of dollars of medicaid funding at a time when it can least afford to lose. i stand with my fellow wisconsinites who have taken to streets for the health and safety of people of our great state. i yield back. >> gentleman -- gentlelady's time has expired. it's my understanding that the policy committee has approved donna christianson to be back. without objection, i'll now recognize the following

mr. walker. here in chicago we keep on aring that the tax bracket for the upper 1% of america, if that was to be taken away, and were paying their fair share, how much of an immediate impact would that make on our financial situation? thank you. guest: there is absolutely no question that those that earn more and have more wealth a going to have to pay higher taxes. at the same point in time, we need to make a lot of other reforms, too. the lead bidder not, about 46% of americans pay no income taxes whatsoever -- believe it or not. yes, they do pay payroll taxes for social security or medicare, but the taxes they pay for social security and medicare are not adequate to fund the benefits promised. so, we are going to have to engaged in comprehensive tax reform to make sure that reform to make sure that everybody who