we also have the va as well.h of the services have their own service oriented warrior transition unit. when they show up, the special forces people, they just disappear. they're taken care of. my concern is about to the department of defense programs and then the service specific programs. there's a different one from the navy and the army and the marine corps. who is helping to move to eliminate redundancies? >> the wounded warrior project manager from the army and involved in his care as an active duty. they actually work hand in hand. they even have him back to the care coalition office. i do a credit to the u.s. army for taking good care of my husband. >> i think the department of defense is working towards making it more efficient. sometimes people were trying to do good are stepping on each other. you're dealing with traumatic and difficult times the in the. >> thank you very much all of you for your excellent testimony. >> thanks, mr. chairman. i would like to add my thanks for your willingness to come and

we do a joint physical with the day -- with the va, and at the end of the process, va disability and army disability assessments will be completed, they will be enrolled in the va, and a lot of the challenges you have will be prevented by the way we are currently doing business. unfortunately, it is too late to help you and your husband. host: our guest is a graduate of the u.s. military academy at west point, and his awards included the bronze star, meritorious service medal, and army achievement medal. how does an officer with field artillery experience become the assistant surgeon general for care and transition? -- for warrior care and transition? guest: most of my experience has been in operational units and strategy policy, that type of thing. when they told me that this was the job i was moving too, my jaw hit the floor, but quickly told them that i would be honored to do that but i think there is some brilliance and a but the army has done. you cannot simply put the responsibility for the care of our wounded soldiers on the medical corps. it is also an army responsibility. th

we do a joint physical with the day -- with the va, and at the end of the process, va disability andwill be completed, they will be enrolled in the va, and a lot of the challenges you have will be prevented by the way we are currently doing business. unfortunately, it is too late to help you and your husband. host: our guest is a graduate of the u.s. military academy at west point, and his awards included the bronze star, meritorious service medal, and army achievement medal. how does an officer with field artillery experience become the assistant surgeon general for care and transition? -- for warrior care and transition? guest: most of my experience has been in operational units and strategy policy, that type of thing. when they told me that this was the job i was moving too, my jaw hit the floor, but quickly told them that i would be honored to do that but i think there is some brilliance and a but the army has done. you cannot simply put the responsibility for the care of our wounded soldiers on the medical corps. it is also an army responsibility. they have a soldier like me fro

the va is more government involvement. no one is talking about a system that is like the va. places with the va, but the va also was one of the countries best systems of electronic medical records, which other countries are trying to emulate, they have pioneered systems about medical errors, a lot of medical advances that other places have not done. the va has done a lot of good and exciting things, too. also, as i mentioned, there have been a lot of complaints appear government bureaucracy -- complaints about government bureaucracy. i will not say that they are to be all and end-all of medical care report. there are bad things about the va, but there are good things, >> the top prize is $5,000. create a five to eight minute video about the country's greatest strengths or a problem with the country is facing. enter before midnight on january 20. winning entries will be shown on c-span. cannot wait another minute. -- to not wait another minute. >> this week on c-span, it looked inside america's highest court. we spoke with the nine supreme court justices about the role and the

there may be bad things about the va but a lot of very good things about the va too. most important thing about va no one is suggesting having a national system based on the model of the va. >> host: one more call. columbia, tennessee on our republican line. will. >> caller: yes, good morning. am i on. >> host: yes, sir. >> caller: oh great. let me say thanks to c-span and i really appreciate what c-span does for the american citizen. truly only fair and honest open window all three branches of the american government and, i hope that you bear with me. i know you're running out of time i have three important facts or statements to make regarding health reform. number one, the reason for the defeat in legislation because of the congress's greed and corruption the lack of respect for the ethics laws in congress. fact two, reality on c-span has shown that the american people have not been given a fair returns from either democrats or the republicans in neither the house nor the senate has demonstrated any kind of accountability, transparency, even president obama has fai

the va is more government involvement. no one is talking about a system that is like the va.es with the va, but the va also was one of the countries best systems of electronic medical records, which other countries are trying to emulate, they have pioneered systems about medical errors, a lot of medical advances that other places have not done. the va has done a lot of good and exciting things, too. also, as i mentioned, there have been a lot of complaints appear government bureaucracy -- complaints about government bureaucracy. i will not say that they are to be all and end-all of medical care report. there are bad things about the va, but there are good things, too. but nobody is suggesting having a national system based on the model of the via. host: tennessee, republican line, will pre caller::l. caller: thank you for c-span2 it is the only open -- thank you for c-span. it is the only open and honest window to call all three branches of the american government. i have important facts and since regarding health reform. -- and statements regarding health reform. the reason

also according to the va 1,000 veterans who are technically under the auspices of the va care are attempting suicide every single month. also when they come back home and when they get a valid discharge from the military the average wait for a soldier for their first appointment at the veterans administration is six months, 179 days. so think about the soldier comes back. they have severe posttraumatic stress disorder, ptsd. they might have traumatic brain injury, which is what happens when a roadside bomb goes off nearby your patrol and your brain gets slapped around in your skull a bit. then they discharge from the military. they finally after doing some pretty serious stuff medicating they realize i'm not sleeping, of having nightmares, flashbacks, i feel violent, rage much of the time. all very, very common symptoms of ptsd. they finally break down and decide, i think i will go to the va. their average wait is 179 days. if they file a disability claim with the va that claim is denied and they appeal that claim, the average wait is f our-and-a-half years. how did these folks get through t

the va, we have actually increased the budget for the va by 11% last year, which was the largest increase 30 years. and we will be increasing it again this year, because we think it is important to place and catch up. rick shinseki, who was a great american hero and now the secretary of the va, one of his tasks is to upgrade a bunch of the old systems in the va. the truth of the matter is, you should not have to make a phone call. you should be able to get on line. that would be more efficient, and what that tells me is -- i mean, the fact that your having to make the call tells me that we have not fully upgraded our information systems yet, the way they need to be upgraded. but he is working diligently i have -- we have a lot of work to do on this front. we are, i think, going to get it in a good place by the time through in washington, but in the meantime, you will, i promise, get a return phone call. thank you, everybody. god bless you. [applause] ♪ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> president ob

i thank god every day for iteh he va. without them, i don't know where i would be. guest: i agree completely. but -- the department is not perfect, but not always get it right, but they are great partners of ours. i got a call from the mother of a soldier who is having difficulties, and as it turns out, she told the story of how he had been wounded in afghanistan, a real serious brain injury. he arrived in a coma. ultimately, his next treatment was done at the minneapolis va, and she described his treatment -- she said it was nothing short of a miracle that he went from basically in a coma to walking, talking, fully functional. as he went to the next stage of his care, he started to the problems, and i spoke to him, and he said that it was not aggressive enough for him. we brought him back to walter reed and completed his care there. this young man has reenlisted, is an intelligence specialist, will stay in the army. i returned to minneapolis to thank the va care providers there for all they have done for him. i'm glad they're taking good care of you. they are a gre

i am all for va care, and in certain areas, the va is far superior to anything else. should do to veterans is give them a card and let them go wherever they on, rather than say that you have health care and if it is a good va clinic, a great, but if it is not, you don't have a choice. if you want of the hospital, great. if you want to get it down the road at a general hospital or anywhere you want, if you have ed ourountry, we ought to give you a choice. there are many fine doctors in the system. but government-run programs, the outcomes are not as good. you can look to the literature anywhere you want. the outcomes are not as good. host: pennsylvania, and joyce, republican, you are on with senator tom coburn. caller: good morning, thank you for taking my call. guest: good morning. caller: there was a question asked earlier of a representative from moveon.org. she did not answer is, and then there was banter about the lieberman act. the question is what is the constitutional authority to mandate buying a product, health insurance, and putting a criminal penalties on t

so the va is paying twice. it is waist, plain and simple.y and to the secretary and the people of veterans affairs, they're putting a stop to it. the changes already under way. of course, her proposal was just one of many great ideas that came to us. when it already begun to implement a host of suggestions made through the contest. and while promoting electronic pay stubs or scheduling social security. on line the main not be the most glamorous reforms in history, but when taken together, these small changes add up. they add up to that transformation of however the works. that is what we're going to turn the save awarded to an annual event. that is what we're holding a forum at the white house next month to get more ideas from the private sector. we will see how to use technology to reform our government for the 21st century. after years of irresponsibility, where once again take responsibility for every dollar we spend the same way families do. it is true that what i have described today will not be enough to get us out of our fiscal unmask

i'm all for va care, in certain area, va is superior to anything else.should is give them a card and let them go wherefore you want. if it's good, great. if it's bad one, no. you don't get that choice. what needs to happen is you need to have the commit, if you want to go to one, great. if you want to get it down the road at your general hospital or anybody you want, if you served our country and we committed health care, we ought to give you a choice. freedom. there's many fine doctors in the va system. government-run programs, the outcomes are not as good. look at the literature anywhere you want. the outcome is not as good. >> host: republican. you are on with senator tom coburn. >> caller: good morning. thank you for taking my call. >> good morning. >> caller: there was a question that was asked earlier by the representative -- of the representative. she didn't answer it, and then there was banter about the lieberman act. the question is what is the constitutional authority to mandate buying a product health insurance and putting criminal penalties o

so the va is paying twice. as waste, plan and simple, and thanks to nancy and to secretary shinseki and the folks at the veterans affairs we are putting a stop to it. the changes already under way. of course nancy's proposal was one of many great ideas that came to us. we've already begun to implement a host of suggestions made through the state's contest and while promoting the electronic pay stubs or scheduling social security appointments online or three purposing on used government supplies may not be the most glamorous reforms in history, when taken together these small changes add up. they add up to the transformation of how the government works. and that's why we are going to turn the save award into an annual event. that's why we are holding a forum at the white house next month to seek more ideas from the private sector, specifically about how we can better use technology to reform our government for the 21st century. after years of irresponsibility, we are once again taking responsibility for every do

i worked in the va hospital in michigan in the early 1970's.ur patients were just beginning to return from vietnam. i wore my nia bracelet for six years. i continued to pray for that person. i learned early on to value you and your fellow veterans. i will always be grateful. sincerely, i lean aren." >> this is left by a daughter in honor of her father. "the true testament of a life well lived is the love you leave behind. remember with love" >> this card was designed and written by ariel pool, from oklahoma high school in el cajon, california. "i support you in every way possible. merry christmas to all the families of loss soldiers prepared and will always be remembered. happy holidays to all and happy new year's. yours truly, ariel poole." >> this card is merry christmas on one side and as a picture of private first class anthony mccormick, the class of 2008 from alcohol and ballet. he is evidently now serving in iraq. "merry christmas, i get many many thanks to all the men and women in our country that fought for our american freedom. you gu

host: chesapeake, va., on our line for democrats prin. caller: i read this story rmkearlier.s a security professional, technical, i came back from the middle east. it is interesting to see some of the procedures that were put in place. there were a number of things and i listened to different colors. we've gotten to the point where we distrust her government. our government has made mistakes and there are some things that have gone a certain way but it didn't. host: you say you are a security professional, what does that mean? caller: i am of the technical side. i do work in the u.s. embassies and consulates, technical and non-technical. there are things that happened and for this gentleman to get through, that means that they have upgraded their ability to flaunt our technology to detect certain incendiary and explosive devices. this says there is a progression in their knowledge base. i am listening to everyone said what they're saying but they are not paying attention to the details. a lay person will not know that. host: as a professional, how much does it concern you tha

i'msaying that, youknow, the knowled out there, the data th is out there, is va and it the e-ils deal with a smalsliver. thother thing the american pele should know is we are talking about u. scitists as well. the aren't -- you know, if you re some of the prss onhe e-mails, you might think thamost of the data that's out there is foeign data. therare u.s. scntists and u.s. organizations that have bn collecting data we, separate and apart and all ofthat has been analyzed by scientists the world oer. >> ill: does any of this ad us upto strier standards now for vehicles, something that would ha a direct impact an embattled actor -- secto, the autindustry? >> yea they do, but there are no srprises there. thefinding is the fouation that allows us to then propose and finalize autobile emissions rules. those res, we worked on witthe automobi industry, withhe state of california and with othertates who are lookingor cleaner cars. with labor unions and with environmentalists. in fact, i think onof the most upstanding accompshments we've had in the clean energy and climate space haseenreaching a

and so va-hud had never appointed conferees, and so it goes. the conferees in these instances included a series of members from the majority side, from the variety of the committees in each case. at that time mr. young of florida was the chairman of the appropriations committee, and i could go on here. 2003, the consolidated appropriations resolution that completed the 2003 budgetary events included agriculture, commerce, district of columbia. those were still part of -- it was still a separate subcommittee. energy and water development, foreign operations, interior, labor-h, legislative branch, transportation, treasury and postal service. we're now getting back at least two different reorganizations of the jurisdictions of the appropriations committee all during the period that the present minority making the motion was in control and moved very quickly on the actions. in that year, 2003, every one of the bills that i had mentioned had never been considered in one or the other branch. several of them had not been considered in the house, and s

i think the va system did a bad rap in this country. we only hear about things that happened at walter reed and we hear about our servicemen, home with ptsd and problems and our resources are limited and all of that. but you are exactly right. the va has been a model when it comes to patients' safety efforts. they were one of the first to advocate an early disclosure and compensation model, and they have had great success with that. they have an electronic medical record that has been held up as a standard, a model for the rest of the country. and i couldn't agree with you more about the use of nurse practitioners and physician's assistants and nurses. we desperately need those people. we are sitting on a physician shortage into the future, particularly primary care physicians, and we will need -- i don't know if this health care bill is going to go through, but if it does and we have more people who are able to have health insurance, we are going to need a lot more health professionals to care for them. we know that from massachusetts,

you worked with the republicans here in richmond, va.d to see that you are working with a group where people work together. what happened to republicans? they say they want to participate, but you know it is a political thing. host: charles, we will leave it there. guest: i do not think that we shall be put in a position where one group or another stonewalls the other. what iÑi was governor, i reached out to all communities in the state. we put the card text into place in virginia, it was designed to put more money back in the pockets of the regular people. the left and liberals have been relentless enemies of the car tax cut. ever since that time, they continued to oppose it. i think is a good program for people. i have worked with people across party lines. governor wilder, who was from the opposition party, is a good friend of mine brighton -- and i talk with him all the time. i then we need to set a new idea out there, that is, that we can freshen up and find some different ideas that do not exclusively come from the left. some ideas

springfield, va., joseph r. republican line, your favorite political story of the year?: thank you for taking my call. the biggest story of the year being the senate leadership bribing senator nelson of alaska to secure a 60-vote on the health care bill. everyone except for nebraska is forced to pay for their services while nebraska's are not. article 2 states attacked the vice president and also will office of the u.s. will be removed from office on impeachment or conviction of bribery. therefore, centers read, nelson, and possibly other senate leaders to include the president and vice president should be charged at once with articles -- with bribery. host: dallas, tx, your favorite political story of the year? caller: for the gentleman that called in from michigan, this economy was bad when george bush was in there, but when robins was in there, everybody tried to keep everything -- when republicans was in there, everybody tried to keep everything hush,. the other thing that i did not like was when they were calling him hibbert -- hibbert and signs and guns and everyth

they are in mclean, va., and he lost the caucus. he was on the phone about losing the iowa caucus."that's all right, teddy dear, i am sure you will work hard. teddy, do you know that nice blue sweater i give you a christmas time? >have you warn it? -- worn it? if you have not morning, can you send it back because i have one here that is just as nice and not nearly as expensive." his parents. >> i think the most interesting parts about his parents are about his father. everyone for a long period of time put rose kennedy on a rightful pedestal. in a certain extent, his dad is the one he truly loved, as well. everyone but told him to talk about his parents isolationism. he said he was too young to understand his father's isolationism. "in some region of my mind, he remains eternally and solely my dad." he counters the idea that his father pushed him into this or that. he kissed him when he came home for school, made his games at harvard. when he was running for the senate, i felt the full measure of my father's respect for me as a man. you can imagine what it was like for him to knowi

john lawson the executive director of arlington, va. ms.hami, the president of nickelodeon. my grandchildren what's that a great deal. we also have mr. james steyer. he is that ceo of common sense media. it sounds like a very dangerous group treat. [laughter] he is from san francisco. >> i came from lake tahoe. it is a very important hearing. >> we are joined by the good senator from alaska. he got here too late to make a statement. he just barely missed it. he is terrific. he is 47 years old, the mayor of anchorage. his first term, he walks in yohere and seems to know everything. he is part of the new eagerness of this committee. we are a different committee. we have hired investigators. we look into dark corners. we love of reading up on the insurance industry. we are very good at it. we do not want to have to do that on television. mr. gary knell, can we start with you? >> thank you very much. we are delighted the you have a new vigor added to this committee and are focusing on children's television. this is so necessary as we move forwa

host: roanoke, va. caller: no matter what they decide i would like them to be able to implement whatever it is and run it honestly. right now they're not doing a very good job. maybe they can put unemployed people to work. host: dallas, republican line. your thoughts? caller: they need to start over again entirely. they need to concentrate on reducing costs, to start with, then see a thing need to increase. we are going to lose a lot of doctors in this country. ridiculous, thinking that we would add 30 million people to this health care situation. thank you. host: delaware, good morning. caller: good morning. i think it is sad but we do not all have rights to health insurance. i do not see what the bickering is about. why can we not all have health care? host: all right. bob cusack, you have been listening to the phone calls for the last five to 10 minutes on what people want from health care bill, what is your reaction? guest: a lot of wants and needs out there. callers mentioned the costs going down,

springfield, va., joseph r. republican line, your favorite political story of the year? caller: thank you for taking my call. the biggest story of the year being the senate leadership bribing senator nelson of alaska to secure a 60-vote on the health care bill. everyone except for nebraska is forced to pay for their services while nebraska's are not. article 2 states attacked the vice president and also will office of the u.s. will be removed from office on impeachment or conviction of bribery. therefore, centers read, nelson, and possibly other senate leaders to include the president and vice president should be charged at once with articles -- with bribery. host: dallas, tx, your favorite political story of the year? caller: for the gentleman that called in from michigan, this economy was bad when george bush was in there, but when robins was in there, everybody tried to keep everything -- when republicans was in there, everybody tried to keep everything hush,. the other thing that i did not like was when they were calling him hibbert -- hibbert and signs and guns and

host: fairfax, va., peter on the republican line. caller: joe lieberman.a real powerful voice. he left the democratic party and went independent and was voted in and because they know he is a guy they can count on. i am a republican but i love this guy. i think he stands up for what we the people really want. the only other guy i say is really a pivotal, ron white the comedian, because as this new administration goes, you can't fix stupid. host: baltimore. fully on the democrats' line. caller: president obama. despite that one caller, i think we all just need to come together. because there is a problem with this country as far as the economy. and we are not giving this president a fair chance. he has not been in office this whole year yet and it seems like the far right wing is doing nothing more less than disagreeing with anything. not saying one positive thing about president obama. i think we just need to stick together and give him a chance before we try to judge him on not eating a whole year yet. thank you. host: another call from baltimore. sam on

the only insurance i have is from the va. they saved my life and legs.e never been more happy to have something. host: i could act like a republican and say i got mine, the hell with you. i do have mine. i got other generations. both my boys are public serve ands and will have a good life. the democrats have always supported the poor, the sick and the elderly. host: another call from kansas. you are opposed to the bill? caller: i am. i am so disappointed. i have taken my christmas tree down. this is supposed to be a nation under god and it isn't. they have ruined christmas for all of the senators and representatives that are supposed to be under god. this is god's holiday for the birth of his son. host: you took down the christmas tree because of the senate healthcare bill? caller: i did. i would like to see every light in the nation go out. >> why are you so opposed to it? caller: it's devicive between my son who is younger and myself. in many families, it's that way. either it is genocide on the seniors with this hospice. scotland wouldn't have anythin

host: the next call is from fredericksburg, va., louise on the republican line.nk they should put a 50% tax on some hedge funds. host: why is that? caller: these are the people constantly buying up company. i personally think warren buffett and people like jeffrey xdimmelt are the evilest peoplen the world. they are buying all these companies. they are the ones keeping money from the shareholders. the shareholders are trying to keep their heads above water and these people go in and buy a company and shoes -- sell it in a hurry and the average ordinary joe loses. the system is rigged. we of the state pension investment board, totally corrupt all over the country. they brought us everything from the junk bond kings to the savings and loan crisisw3 to the collapse of the so-called technology boom. these people are absolute fees. it is interesting they are all graduates of harvard. it is interesting. and immelt, as far as i'm concerned, g.e. capital is one of the biggest sum -- subprime lenders i would not buy general electric products if i had to. host: more from "

host: roanoke, va. caller: no matter what they decide i would like them to be able to implement whatever it is and run it honestly. right now they're not doing a very good job. maybe they can put unemployed people to work. host: dallas, republican line. your thoughts? caller: they need to start over again entirely. they need to concentrate on reducing costs, to start with, then see a thing need to increase. we are going to lose a lot of doctors in this country. ridiculous, thinking that we would add 30 million people to this health care situation. thank you. host: delaware, good morning. caller: good morning. i think it is sad but we do not all have rights to health insurance. i do not see what the bickering is about. why can we not all have health care? host: all right. bob cusack, you have been listening to the phone calls for the last five to 10 minutes on what people want from health care bill, what is your reaction? guest: a lot of wants and needs out there. callers mentioned the costs going down,

the va remains as it is. adam president, let me bring my remarks to a close. by giving you an example of where i think we should be going of the country in terms of health care. and oddly enough, the process that i think we should be using is what a small country of 23 million people, the country of taiwan did in 1995. 1995, taiwan was where we were now. massive dissatisfaction with the functional health care system. and they did what we didn't do. if that was put together the best commission began, the smartest people we know, let's go all over the world. let's take the best ideas from country all over the world here at its not the michael chan vice president cfo of taiwan's national insurance health insurance bureau explained that an interview earlier this year the taiwanese ultimately chose to model their system, after their worldwide search, after our medicare program. that's the way they went except that they chose to ensure the entire population rather than just the elderly. after searching the globe, the taiwanese realized what many americans already kn

let's go on to lynchburg, va. for the independent line. caller: i have three quick questions.through the summer the president was speaking and nancy pelosi said the bill is not about abortion. yet we have this big debate about it. the second issue is with harry reid who does not know his history. democrats were responsible for segregation, slavery, and other means of subjugation toward women. he should remember that. the last thing, more importantly, why would we by a car and then not be able to drive it? the majority of americans do not want this bill. let's get the people out who supported a get america back to being prosperous. host: david on the democrats' line in baltimore. caller: all right, i want to try to correct the last caller that if this plan were to go through as of now, if you are 55 years old you will be able to go in as soon as june next year. the question to find out -- if you are 55 and older and working can you leave your job insurance and go over to the medicare? that would save a lot of small businesses a lot of money. this plan does not have everything i

host: chesapeake, va., on our line for democrats prin. caller: i read this story rmkearlier.s a security professional, technical, i came back from the middle east. it is interesting to see some of the procedures that were put in place. there were a number of things and i listened to different colors. we've gotten to the point where we distrust her government. our government has made mistakes and there are some things that have gone a certain way but it didn't. host: you say you are a security professional, what does that mean? caller: i am of the technical side. i do work in the u.s. embassies and consulates, technical and non-technical. there are things that happened and for this gentleman to get through, that means that they have upgraded their ability to flaunt our technology to detect certain incendiary and explosive devices. this says there is a progression in their knowledge base. i am listening to everyone said what they're saying but they are not paying attention to the details. a lay person will not know that. host: as a professional, how much does it concern you tha

about it, thinking it is interesting about what he said about his own habits print host: scott hill, vaould ask each gentleman one definition of peace -- hubris and egalitarianism, please. guest: you mean the degree to which that determines presidents? let's face it, they all come in with hubris. you do not get there without it. they were all the presidents of their first grade class and had been running for something evers' as per the ones who were not wereut the ones i like the most would have been harry truman, dwight eisenhower, and jerry ford who were there almost by accident the others, sure, they have to have self- confidence to go through this tremendous obstacle course to get there. guest: you wonder why anybody would want to put themselves through that but there is something we've to say that there is a fire in your belly and if you haven't you run and you don't you don't. most of them do have. lyndon johnson as a poor example. back i want it so that he could taste it. -- that god wanted it so that he could taste it. obama did not have a lot of experience when it can into this

host: alexandria, va., scott, on the under 55 line. let me put you on hold. this is the headline -- financial bill hits big banks the hardest. it says the house is likely to take up this legislation wednesday with the vote expected on friday. the legislation has several measures aimed at pleasing big banks. regulators would be able to block a healthy bank from practices, even order it to shrink if variables were deemed to pose a risk to the u.s. economy. albuquerque, new mexico, on the line for those under 65. caller: good morning. host: what are your thoughts? on expanding medicare? caller: i think it is great. i have been on medicare cents 2007 and i cents50, retired. i think it is a degree plan. -- i have been on isince 2007. the fat cats need to spread the wealth and the people need coverage. host: minnesota, with david. go ahead. you are. 55-64. caller: yes, i like to remind all these pie in the sky in the if you have calling in this morning that medicare in its present form is going bankrupt. it will be insolvent by 2017. if you add the people down to a

caller: my question is, the va hospital was originally built for 80 million veterans and i wonder why utilize -- i guess only 20 million left at this point. i wonder if putting a parallel system and competing head to head of the insurance companies in existing hospitals would be a really good way of saving money. thank you, i was at my answer of the air. host: we will let it stand as your open phones comment. as promised, our next guest joins us from the white house, jared bernstein, chief economist and economic adviser to vice president biden and the topic is green jobs. thank you for rejoining us. nice to see you. guest: my pleasure. host: a headline -- white house plan would increase clean energy tax credit with the hope of creating jobs in the green job every. could you tell us more about the plan? guest: this is a $5 billion increase the administrations of the -- supports and recovery act program. it has not to memorable name, 48c tax credit. it is for advanced w(acturing, specifically to make green and manufacturing components, that is, the machinery behind the green economy, ri

the va remains as it is. madam president let me bring my remarks to a close by giving you an example of where i think we should be going as a country in terms of help here. and oddly enough the process that i think we should be using is what a small country of 23 million people, the country of taiwan did in 1995. in 1995 taiwan was where we are now, massive dissatisfaction with the dysfunctional health care system. and they did what we didn't do. they said let's put together the best commission we can come of the smartest people that we know. it's go all over the world. let's take the best ideas from countries a look at the world. let's talk to michael chen, vice president, ceos national insurance bureau explained in an interview earlier this year the taiwanese ultimately chose to model their system, of their worldwide search after our medicare program. that's where they went, except that they chose to ensure the entire population rather than just the elderly. after searching the globe the taiwanese realize w

to intervene with the federal government on behalf of constituents to get social security checks or va benefits or travel documents. the bulk of the business that we are now doing calls for people trying to get credit and get out from under and survive the credit they were already extended disproportionately calls of that and i have an even greater appreciation for that this past weekend when mr. marks group, the neighborhood assistance corporation of america bought their road show to my congressional district in charlatan and well over 45, 50,000 people showed up from all over the country seeking to have their loans modified, and we are in a serious problem, and the programs out there even when they are working are not working on a scale that's large enough to have the impact that needs to be had, and then on top of that the loss of jobs has added a whole another wave of foreclosures and defaults that made the problem worse. so i welcome this opportunity to hear from the witnesses today and my time is expired and i now recognize the gentleman from florida, mr. klein, for two minutes.

of how collateralized debt obligations, the former merrill cfo admitted that the forecast was not a va

to intervene with the federal government on behalf of constituents to get social security checks or vanow doing calls for people trying to get credit and get out from under and survive the credit they were already extended disproportionately calls of that and i have an even greater appreciation for that this past weekend when mr. marks group, the neighborhood assistance corporation of america bought their road show to my congressional district in charlatan and well over 45, 50,000 people showed up from all over the country seeking to have their loans modified, and we are in a serious problem, and the programs out there even when they are working are not working on a scale that's large enough to have the impact that needs to be had, and then on top of that the loss of jobs has added a whole another wave of foreclosures and defaults that made the problem worse. so i welcome this opportunity to hear from the witnesses today and my time is expired and i now recognize the gentleman from florida, mr. klein, for two minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman and for putting this important hearing. i

. >> senator mark warner, in supporting va's 90-year-old colonel, a medal of honor recipient, whose homeownersassociation has threatened to sue him if he does not remove the flag pole. my question -- does the president joined senator warner in supporting the colonel? >> i am not taught to the president specifically about this. i've heard this through news accounts. well, i like to resume to finish my answer. i think all of us believe that at the very least, we can show our gratitude and thanks to somebody that has served our country so admirably. i think it is silly to think that somebody that has done that cannot have a flag pole and show the proper respect and appreciation that any flag deserves by flying in that neighborhood. i dare say we of all had run- ins with neighborhood associations that somehow have forgotten what it means, whether it is to display -- i got into an argument about displaying -- it might add been markhor for governor -- in my yard assigned -- a sign. i've had the same thing happened

. >> and my recollection is that you went and you visited va hospitals. well, this is information that most private parties cannot really offer to the court, and one can go through a number of other issues where there is this wisdom, this knowledge within the federal government. and so the challenge is to determine that it's really going to be helpful to the court. and as rex lee said -- and this has to do with changing positions also -- that he wanted to be known when he stood before the court as the solicitor general of the united states, not the panel me tier general of the united states. and i've always taken that as a challenge for anybody who serves in that office. >> and i may have even a slightly different view. i don't think it's radically different, but i always think when the united states files an amicus brief in the supreme court, in some respects the most important section of that brief is maybe the one that's read the most rapidly. but that is the interests of the united states. the supreme court's rules require that to be in the brief. and

i am all for va care, and in certain areas, the va is far superior to anything else. but it is highly inefficient. what we should do to veterans is give them a card and let them go wherever they on, rather than say that you have health care and if it is a good va clinic, a great, but if it is not, you don't have a choice. if you want of the hospital, great. if you want to get it down the road at a general hospital or anywhere you want, if you have served our country, we ought to give you a choice. there are many fine doctors in the system. but government-run programs, the outcomes are not as good. you can look to the literature anywhere you want. the outcomes are not as good. host: pennsylvania, and joyce, republican, you are on with senator tom coburn. caller: good morning, thank you for taking my call. guest: good morning. caller: there was a question asked earlier of a representative from moveon.org. she did not answer is, and then there was banter about the lieberman act. the question is what is the constitutional authority to mandate buying a product, health insu