she hasn't she's been on the appropriations committee and has not really delivered very much to south florida for all of her time in congress and on the appropriations committee but on the ballot box burning to be clear a judge ruled that ballot boxes were destroyed and this is linked to someone called brenda snipes can you just explain a little bit about the yes brenda snipes was the supervisor of elections of broward county and like i said after the 2016 primary i put in a public records request to inspect all of the paper. ballots she stonewalled our request for i believe 7 months before i finally filed a lawsuit and it was quite shocking you know i'm a law professor and very much believe in the rule of law we were 3 months into our public records lawsuit against brenda snipes and we had served her with the discovery request to inspect the paper ballots when she suddenly just destroyed the ballots signed the destruction order and did not reveal actually concealed the destruction from the court and for me in my lawyers for more than 2 months she was seen openly campaigning with debb

to include chair and ranking members of the senate committee on appropriations and senate committee on finance. last, it would have required the house and senate budget committees to hold a joint hearing on the fiscal state of the nation. so while not included in the final recommendations, the committee debated and considered many budget process reform proposals and that included a proposal to lift the earmark moratorium. earmarks are generally defined as any spending or tax operation provision that would benefit a specific entity or locality and included in legislation at the request of a member. while house rules use the term earmark this is sometimes referred to as congressionally directed spending. in the early 2000s earmarks received more scrutiny and addressed growing concern and in 2007 the house and senate adopted chamber rules with the stated intention of bringing transparency to the earmark process. the rules are still in place and essentially require three things. first requiring that earmark included in legislation and committee report language be disclosed. second they

>> they are authorizing committees then appropriating committees, authorizing committees are charged with coming up with new legal authority and many of which allow new expenditures or changing existing legal authority, we could shut things down that are irrelevant or repurposed certain functions of the federal government. the appropriations committee is charged with taking whatever budget amount that's agreed upon through the budget process and allocating to some things that have been offering us. the appropriations committee will remain a powerful committee but it's not good policy to mix the two. if were going to mix the two dispense with this notion that we have because they're not making much policy if you're not passing an authorizing bill. your droid oversight which is very, very important. and so -- >> an authorization bill interview with the foreign relations committee, do we need to restructure the state department and reconfigure our priorities so you actually give a legislative guidance to the department, is that the idea? >> that's exactly the idea and unfortunately symp

not only for his work on the rules committee, but also for his work on the appropriations committee. and i think he understands the importance of making sure that we don't have any more government shutdowns, but he also understands that in this place, no matter who is in charge, you don't always get 100% of what you want. . sometimes compromise is appropriate and necessary to do the right thing. as the gentleman knows, we on this side try to accommodate the minority in terms of the underlying measure, changing the underlying measure at the minority's request. unfortunately, a member on your side objected so we were not able to do that. but i do have nothing but the highest respect for the gentleman. i appreciate his words. mr. speaker, i know that some of my friends on the other side of the aisle would have drafted a different bill if they were in charge. and i want my colleagues to know that if i could wave a magic wand and have my own way everything, i everything, i wo. i would, for example, i would have removed the four month extension of the patriot act fisa provision from this b

>> so there are authorizing committees and then there are appropriating committees. authorizing committees are charged with coming up with new legal authorities, many of which allow new expenditures, or changing existing legal authorities. so we could shut things down that are irrelevant, or repurpose certain functions of our federal government. the appropriations committee is charged with taking whatever budget, you know, amount has been agreed upon through the budget process, and allocating it to some of the things that have been authorized. the appropriations committee will remain a powerful committee, but it's not good policy to mix the two. if we're going to mix the two, let's just dispense with, you know, this notion that we have, to make distinct functions because you're not making much policy if you're not passing authorizing deals. you are doing oversight which is very, very important, and so speed is so an authorization bill in your view, >> the committee would think that do we need to restructure the state department, do we need to reconfigure our prioriti

senator shelby is the chairman of the appropriations committee. only three committees have a vice-chairman and we have met continuously. we met this week along with senator mcconnell and senator schumer. done. get it we are having a meeting the first part of next week with our counterparts, congresswoman foley and congresswoman ranger and we will have questions about allocations and all. to the members of congress, republicans and democrats alike, we could get it done before the continuing resolution runs out, and it would be a terrible mistake if we were still in the continuing resolution after the first of the year. for a whole host of reasons. and i would rather just come in and vote for things up or down. it has been difficult with the -- i'mouse because what one would say as an understatement -- they have not always been consistent and what they want. fundings in past fights, it appears the border wall is holding things out. democratseement with wanting to spend zero dollars on the wall and republicans at the advocating's behest for $5 billio

chairmanhelby is the of the senate appropriations committee, and the vice chairman. only one of three committees that has a vice chairman. we have met continuously. with boths week senator mcconnell and senator schumer. they said, leave it to us, we can get it done. we are having a meeting next week with our two counterparts, congresswoman lowy and congresswoman granger in the house to try to work it out. they do have questions of allocations and all. if it was left to us, if it was left to the memos of congress, republicans and democrats alike, before thet it done continuing resolution runs out. i think it would be a terrible mistake if we were still on a continuing resolution after the first of the year. i would rather we just come in, vote things up or down. it has been difficult with the white house because -- i am trying to think. they have not always been consistent in what they want. past spending fights, it appears the president's border wall is what is really holding things up. there is disagreement with democrats wanting to spend zero dollars on the wall an

committee itself that the subcommittee on defense appropriation and helped to advance so many national priorities. today is the ted stevens birthday if he was alive today he would be 96 years old later this evening there will be an annual gathering friends of ted that gather to raise a glass to a great alaskan and a friend of mine today i believe he would be smiling at what senator sullivan and i were able tose observe this morning with the three of us with a full alaska delegation at the lockheed martin plant to participate as we seek to roll off the line the first s 35 based in ogden air force base the first two squadrons a complement of 54 but it was a reminder to all of us all we have done in the state of alaska with a strategic position not only in the country but in the world and clearly he recognize that as he was a visionary in so many areas. he was a visionary when it came to understanding the promise of the arctic itself and how we ensure that is pretty remote and isolated and is prepared and able to protect. so today, as we think about that role that senator stevens envision

i chair the sub committee on defense, which is part of the whole appropriations committee, and the security of the nation is very important. it's paramount and it's the largest expenditure we do. we have a lot of adversaries in the world. competitors, china, russia, and a lot of upstarts. and we have to be on the cutting edge and huntsville is on the cutting edge of technology as far as missile defense, as far as missile technology, the space commands there the fbi is big there missile intelligence is located there. i'm bullish on huntsville. i think it's going to continue to be the army's brainchild and that's very important for the nation. >> do you worry about so much of the future of u.s. space in the hands of tech entrepreneurs. >> no. i don't. we started the program, but the private sector has got a role here a lot of the stuff is to the private sector government doesn't do it all, but it has a list in what the requirements are, and they work together and i think working together is where we want to go and stay >> lastly, senator, as chairman of senate appropriations committee we've g

because today the budget committee and the appropriations committee announced out of the blue, surprise, that even though the impeachment committees are being stone walled by the white house, those two committees budget and appropriations, they have been getting stuff. they have received documents related to the white house holdup of military aid to ukraine. the committees had apparently asked omb for these documents in september, all related to the withholding of the military aid for ukraine. the agency ignored the committee's october deadline to produce those documents, but in a surprise twist today, hello, the house budget committee announced actually it has started receiving some of those documents. now, the committee is not releasing those raw documents to show the public at this time, but they did share a summary of the findings from these documents with reporters. that summary says in part, quote, after careful review the chairs have become more concerned that the apportionment process has been abused to undermine congress' constitutional power of the purse. specifically number o

>>> -- who always chairs the appropriating committee nd from the library, and i think that's particularly helpful you could be here with us for this today as well. also a member of this committee. so she's here as a member of the committee but also on these topics, particularly valuable in her role as appropriating. we've been having with the library, with the smithsonian, with the architect of the capitol, these kinds of oversight hearings to fulfill that responsibility and be sure we're giving the agencies the help they need. we're glad to be here, of course, with the librarian, dr. carla heyden, and karen temple, registry of copyrights. i think we want to talk primarily about modernization. we had a chance with dr. hayden at the last meeting to talk about the physical plant ideas of how to make the library even more of an experience for people who visit there. i think we want to talk about today more of how the modernization of the i.t. elements at the library are coming together and how all services are being benefitted by that. the library, of course, performs a lot of functions for

[appropriating committee for our own vicinity and from the point of view ofmoney available and how that money is sent , incredible ability to not only ask the right questions but help you help us understand the answers so the responsiveness to the committee is important. idon't think we had problems with that . doctor hayden since he became a librarian responding to questions on our staff and our staff then spending a lot of time on particularly this modernization effort systemwide over the last couple of years and we intend to continue todo that . but grateful to have your time. doctor hayden, do youhave anything you want to say that we might have covered today and didn't that we need about ? >> i just want to reiterate the attitude that we have towards the support and we want to encourage your continued input and feedback. we want to keep these discussions going helpful for us as we move along. >> anybody else? you all for taking the time with us today, sharing your views. the record will be open for one week today for others on the committee to ask questions. we asked to respond toth

on the republican side and both of the committees on appropriations and authorizing the 733 figure that we use was an acceptable figure. a figure by the way acceptable to the joint chief of staff but it's very hard to reach anth agreement of one side does not say anything or send any bill or take any action. there was nothing to negotiate on in the gentleman talks about a bill, first of all the only thing that was agreed to was how much money we will spend overall on discretionary spending, a little over 30% of the entire budget. but there was no agreement on the distribution of those dollars to the various committees. the gentleman says so much on the defense, nondefense and the gentleman is correct. but quite frankly what the senate democrats are concerned that they will be passing bills and money will become from programs that we feel are important to build a wall. a wall the somebody brought a hundred dollars saul to home depot and cut a hole in. so i would reiterate my disappointment with the total failure of the united states senate led by republicans to enact any bill that approp

they didn't bring a single appropriation bill to the floor. if you don't like our ideas put your ideas on the floor and have them voted up or down. if they lose than you either have to get a compromise or you don't get a bill passed. i will leave it to the american public to determine who is being partisan on this issue and who is not. i yield. >> we know the rules of the senate operate differently. we might both agree we would do things differently, we do things differently in the house than they do but also we both sides have to come to an agreement and hopefully that happens in the next few weeks, not the midnight hour of december 20th. unless the gentleman has anything else, you'll back the balance of my time. >> follow the house impeachment inquiry and the administration's response on c-span. and filtered coverage live on tv, radio apps and online. watch prime time rears on c-span or screen anytime on demand, c-span.org/impeachment. up next, our campaign 2020 coverage continues as former massachusetts governor deval patrick announces his

said she's here as the committee and also on these topics particularly valuable in the roles of appropriating we have been having with the library, with the smithsonian, the architect of the capitol these kind of oversight hearings to fulfill that responsibility and be sure that we are giving the agencies that help they need. we are glad to be here of course with the library and doctor carla hayden and the library's chief information officer and the register of copyrights. thank you all for being here today. i think we want to talk primarily at least i want to talk primarily about modernization. we had a chance at the last meeting to talk about the ideas of how to make a labor even more of an experience for people who visit. i think we want to talk today about how the modernization of the ailments are coming together and all of the services or being benefited by that. the library of congress provides a lot of functions for this historically. one of them has been the copyright office. i think initially that was to be sure the library would be a recipient of the great treasure of the copyright

he cannot do that without the consent of congress about the appropriations committee and the armed services committee. they did not follow any type of regular order. it was no wonder that these budget -- these omb staffers were so deeply alarmed and some left their jobs over it. they didn't abide by the rules. >> what i find really interesting is not that a president knew that there was a whistle-blower and an investigation. that he knew what he had done was wrong. that is, i think, what is revealing here. he knew what he had done was wrong because he immediately reversed it. so he and the people around him were scared enough about the whistle-blower and about congress' investigation that they immediately released the aid. if the president believed he was right, why release the aid then? >> of course. and we've seen this whole effort now. we saw it in the testimony released yesterday from sandy and roker. that this whole let's come up with a reason now why he did what he did then. it's a bright red flag people knew it was wrong and they're trying to cover up. by the way, just use common sen

of the house appropriations committee will have a meeting 5:00 p.m. eastern time to try to work out over all spending rest of this year, through october next year. what we have to approve between now and next thursday night, interim spending bill, a cr known on capitol hill. we think we might get text later this week. they are doing that. somewhere behind the scenes, criticism on the senate floor by mitch mcconnell, the senate majority leader, democrats in the house not moving the usmca because they're so obsessed with impeachment. connell: right. that will be where all attention is over however long this lasts i guess. we'll try to cover it all. set up tomorrow for us if you will. state department official george consent, along with bill taylor, acting ambassador to ukraine of the those are the witnesses, a public impeach hearing, what about lines of questioning. what can we expect? >> democrats will try to stay out of the way, facilitate, let them tell their story. this is from one democratic source earlier today, to me, he said, quote, taylor had t

and the appropriations committee. and both of our chairs wrote a letter in september, questioning what was taking place, and, of course, they responded with documents, but not the full compliment of what we needed. secondly, there was, as you indicated, and i'm glad you gave the timeline, because there was a pattern of abuse, and in fact during this process, can you believe, two career individuals who were just doing their job, they were removed from the process, and a political person -- an appointee was placed in that position. and they went on and withheld the $400 million in security assistance. this was very dangerous. first of all, they'd attempted to circumvent the congressional authority. this president, i guess he has no clue that this is a democracy, not a deke day shoreship, and there are three branches of government, because they continue to try to usurp congressional authority. and we see this in what has taken place as it relates to the $400 million in security assistance. >> it's possible the president

committee of jurisdiction, it should not be exempt from debate on the senate floor. it was crafted with strong bipartisan input, there are no problems advancing by regular order. the question needs to be forced upon law-abiding gun owners. if i wanted, my grandson, my hunting rifle, would we first have to appear before a licensed gun dealer and go through a lengthy and expensive background check? we have many questions like this. my constituents would like to have an opportunity to weigh in on measures like these, we can't fast-track ministration that affects america's second amendment rights, i object to this unanimous consent request and yield the floor. >> objection is heard. >> the senator from connecticut. >> appreciate the good faith objection of my good friend from mississippi. the good news i could convey to her is my republican senate friends who want to have some impact into the consideration of the future of american gun laws have ample opportunity to do that because you are in the majority. senate republicans control the judiciary committee, senator mccon

. >> you're a member of the appropriations committee. is there any chance of -- of government activity becoming a part of this conversation? >> well, we're very nervous that president trump will try and shut down the government, as he did earlier this year back in march. i would just remind people that back then, we actually had what we thought was an agreement. we had an agreement between republicans and democrats in the house and the senate. republicans, including senator mcconnell, thought that president trump had signed off on it. but once we passed it here, the president pulled the rug out from everybody and shut down the government. so when you're dealing with a president who is so erratic and unstable in many ways, that is always a risk. now, if you left this process to members of congress, democrats and republicans, i'm confident that we could get it done. there are negotiations going on right now between the house and the senate. but the best way to avoid a government shutdown is to keep president trump out of this discussion. o

committee of jurisdiction. it should not be exempt from debate on the senate floor. if this so-called commonsense bipartisan legislation was indeed crafted with strong bipartisan input, it shouldn't have any problems advancing by regular order. many questions about this legislation need to be answered before it's forced upon law-abiding gun owners. if i wanted to give my best friend's son or grandson my hunting rifle, would we first have to appear before a licensed gun dealer and go through a lengthy and potentially expensive background check? this is my understanding. we have many questions like this. my constituents would like to have an opportunity to weigh in on our measures like these, which is why we can't fast track legislation that affects america's second amendment rights. i object to this unanimous consent request, mr. president, and i yield the floor. the presiding officer: objection is heard. mr. murphy: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from connecticut. mr. murphy: i appreciate the

committee ruling on it as the constitution requires. letting the children be separated from their parents on the southern border and some of them dying living in terrible conditions you know how many things you need to impeach a president why don't they pursue these things so what's going to happen is this is going to come around to bite them because if the deeper they get into ukraine the deeper joe biden and his son are in deep shit as my south korean friends say and the whole thing's going to fall apart when the democrats pursue this line as very narrow circumscribed line and and neglect the real the real impeachable offenses is the president have not only that but it's looks like if the senate does not convict him trump will be able to accuse the democrats with some reason doing this pitch battle against him forever for another year all right former a former cia officer ray mcgovern always interesting to hear a thought thanks for being with us here on our to international most welcome john. or you are watching right international we

blunt: in the department, i used to be the top republican on that appropriating committee, they have a number of cio's, but any big project has to be cleared by the central usda cio, do you own an outside contract on information, would that go through a clearance process with the library as well? ms. temple: yes. sen. blunt: i can answer that. is managed by the library. contractingat for and services for other federal agencies and libraries. is -- that is a part of the centralization of the standards and the operation of any i.t. has a review. temple, doess. that process were quickly enough in your review and certainly gives you a safeguard you otherwise would not have? ms. temple: yes. obviously, all people in the government would love things to work more quickly than they do, but yes, we have an efficient process where what we itis work with both ocio, if is an i.t. related project, to send that through the centralized contract process. the digitization side which is more of a business site project, that also does, though the resulting contracts will go through the contracting offi

issues. >> we work together on the appropriation committee. >> i would allow him to have another hearing. >> thank you. chairman and ranking member i appreciate the opportunity. obviously i have similar concerns about the maintenance backlog and wanting to do whatever we can to give either resources to address that. >> i want to talk to you -- is it 155 million objects? >> yes. >> in you talk about the storage and is necessary to have a plan for that and you mention collection space framework plan? can you talk more about that and other challenges you're facing and what we should be aware of. >> the somebody as a director of the museum i realize the only thing current in the smithsonian arts collection, everything else is fleeting and is crucially important press to preserve those collections but we have to realize we have to continue to build those collections as these stories are told no research is done. what we've looked at is creating the collection framework documented 2015 was so important. it was the first time he gave us an accurate sense of exactly what the conditions were in a

and i must say the tremendous appropriations committee staff works even more hours. but it can't be a one-side negotiation. and we can't be expected to divert even billions more in taxpayer dollars to fulfill president trump's cynical campaign promise as part of the final deal. it doesn't have the support in this chamber or among the american people to carry that day. if we had up or down vote in this body, will you take this money away from housing for our troops, for medical research, and all these other things, to pay for an infec ineffective wao the president won't be embarrassed by having it come out that he did not keep his word that mexico is going to pay for it, of course that would fail. tf course that would fail. nobody wants to go back home and say they did that. we have billions of dollars in here to keep our borders secure, and we want to. everybody wants to, republicans and democrats alike. let's not waste the money on symbolism, especially if it means we don't do our medical research, we don't take care of housing for our troops and all of the other th

visit ncicap.org] >> this week, newsmakers interviews senator patrick leahy of the appropriations committee. he was asked about his experience in the senate during the clinton impeachment trial and what he hopes will happen now in the event of a trump impeachment trial. >> to be honest, there are a lot .ore partisan members now there is not a robert byrd or edward kennedy or ted stevens anymore. you are one of the few, a handful of old-timers. do you think the senate is up for it? ism.ge- your point is valid. i think with the senate, it will be more difficult. the work we do with howard baker and trent lott .nd tom daschle, bob dole it has been less than that. speaking as a democrat, i have seen chuck schumer try. with senatorions schumer and senator mcconnell, i urged this. i think there is a possibility, it is ironic. hear more frank conversations walking to the halls on the way to the vote, republicans and democrats talking to each other. a lot of members of both parties would like to see us go back to that. a lot of members are very disturbed by the senators that go out and announce som

as a member of the appropriations committee i included a primal set aside in three previous fiscal years, justice packages which underscores the importance of passing authorizing language such as my survive act. this also includes savanna's act which was named for savanna, a pregnant woman from my home state who went missing and was found murdered eight days later. savanna's project death did not go unnoticed and raised awareness about missing and murdered native american women. savanna's act will address cases of missing or murdered indians by directing the attorney general to review, revise and develop law enforcement and control justice guidelines, improving access to federal databases, holding tribal consultations with indian tribes, tribal organizations and urban indian organizations when the department of justice develop sentiments guidelines, requiring training and technical assistance to indian tribes participating in guidelines, implementation process and mandating data collection and reporting by the department of justice. the senate majority version includes important tribal b

issues. >> we work together on the appropriations committee. he's a cardinal, i'm just a cardinal in waiting. but german blunt, put your permission i would ask -- the senator has another hearing, so i will allow her to proceed with her questioning. >> thank you. i appreciate the opportunity. obviously, i have some concerns about the maintenance backlog. i want to do whatever we can to assist and give you the resources you need to address that. i want to talk and ask a question about -- you talk about having 155 million objects -- or is it 1 million? >> hundred 55 million. >> you talk about how the storage is necessary to have a plan for that, and you mention a collection space framework plan. can you talk a little bit more about that, and are the challenges that you are facing than what we should be aware of? >> as somebody who was a curator, as a director of a museum, i realize that the only thing that is permanent in the smithsonian are its collections. everything else is fleeting. so it is crucially important for us to preserve those collect

issues. >> we work together on the appropriations committee. he is a cardinal, i'm just a cardinal in Ãbut chairman blunt, senator cortez musto has another hearing some and allow her to proceed with questioning at this point. >> thank you. thank you chairman and ranking member, i appreciate the opportunity. obviously i have concerns about the maintenance backlog. we want to do whatever we can to assist and give you the resources you need to address that. i do want to ask a question about, you talked about having, is it 155 million objects? >> 155 million. >> he talked a little bit about how the storage and then it's necessary to have a plan for that and he mentioned a collection space framework plan. can you talk a little bit more about that are there challenges that you are facing and what we should be aware of? >> as somebody who was a curator, a director of museum, i realize that the only thing that's permanent in the smithsonian are its collections. everything else is fleeting. it's crucially important for us to preserve those collections

it's difficult to look at a member of congress who says no on the appropriations committee and spend that money. act, thebanking problem with the banking issue, is the real money laundering is when congress takes the proceeds and buys votes. about effortsing on capitol hill and elsewhere to legalize marijuana. you are the director of federal policies for the marijuana policy project. does that mean the lead lobbyist on that? onlysically yes, i'm the lobbyist for the marijuana policy project on capitol hill. we are bringing some other folks on board. there are plenty of other lobbyists who have come to the space because the industry is hiring lobbyists because they want to be viewed as credible and legitimate. this industry really is credible and legitimate. i always tell the industry, you need to make sure your elected officials come to see your facilities. in less than get a chance to see areregulated the states creating this industry, they don't know. they know what they saw on "the wire," but other than that, they don't know, it is everything they remember from the 1980's and 1970

lowey: while the house did 12 work and passed appropriation bills through committee and 10 appropriation off the floor, delays in he senate mean the appropriations process is behind. ith just days until current stopgap funding expires, we must to a continuing resolution keep government open and fund negotiate ies as we subcommittee allocations and finalize individual appropriation bills. his legislation avoids controversial policies and thatad contains provisions reflect shared priorities, including bipartisan language to fully fund a fair and accurate decannial census, a 3.1% pay raise for our military, and to rescind $1.6 billion in highway funding. provisions, to these the c.r. includes a package of extenders that will keep health critical to american families up and running. extending these programs and government funding through c.r. will , this allow additional time to enact responsible long-term funding for priorities country safer and stronger and give working families a better chance at a better life. pass eaker, even as we today american families and businesses and communities

>> you know, i sit on the appropriations committee as well, and so hearing from an omb official on what the heck was the motivation behind president trump ordering the withholding of $400 million of vital assistance to a foreign country that desperately needed it to keep russia at bay, this was money that we passed into law that the president signed in law, and that the pentagon certified, that could be released because ukraine p taken steps to reduce corruption. so all -- everything was in place for that money to be transmitted. and everything i have heard up to this point has indicated very clearly that president trump withheld it intentionally in order to make sure that he could get the president of ukraine to start investigations against his political opponents and interfere in the 2020 election. that's what i'm hoping to hear from, is what did the omb know about president trump's involvement and what he said about withholding those funds. >> and why did you decide not to be there to ask those questions yourself in person, since you're on the oversight committee, one of the three le