Along the way, he became a proud graduate of Bradley University, located in my district, with a master's degree in civil engineering in 1995.
In his role as transportation secretary, Omar oversaw over 80 airports, an expansive waterway infrastructure system, 300 ,000 miles of roads and bridges.
There are railroads that transport 25 % of the country's freight that passes through Illinois.
The bottom line is, Secretary Osman has lived the American dream.
The gentleman yields back.
Pursuant to Clause 12A of Rule 1, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
And that was the gavel.
We are back with you here on Washington Journal.
We're going to have open forum for the next 45 minutes until 10 a .m. Eastern.
The numbers are Republicans, 202 -748 -8001.
We're interested to hear what you think.
Obviously a big news item for today is the possible government shutdown.
The government does run out of money tomorrow at midnight.
Here's what Politico says.
Johnson weighs spending Plan B as Elon Musk stokes opposition.
It says the speaker is weighing passing a, quote, clean funding package, leaving other discussions on disaster aid and more for the new year.
It says that the leadership team is quietly discussing a Plan B to fund the government amid conservative opposition and vocal criticism from incoming President Donald Trump's top ally, Elon Musk.
The Louisiana Republican is discussing dropping $100 billion in disaster aid.
So the government funding runs out tomorrow at midnight.
Where do things stand right now on Capitol Hill?
Right now, there's a lot of confusion and uncertainty when it comes to tomorrow night's spending deadline in a way that we haven't seen since October of last year, which, as I'm sure the viewers can recall,
preceded Speaker Kevin McCarthy losing his gavel.
We are right up against a deadline with no clear plan on how to move forward.
House Republican leaders was scrambling late last night to come up with a new plan after the president -elect and his
So what's going on with a new request for raising the debt ceiling?
Can you explain that?
And it's...
Pretty difficult to see a situation in which that will be included in the stopgap spending bill unless, or at least in whatever passes, because you do need Democrats in the Senate to get on board.
So what is the likelihood, do you think, of an actual government shutdown?
I'm always an optimist when it comes to spending and them working out a deal, but I think we are in, at least in the past few years, uncharted.
Uh territory here, with the Trump administration returning and a level of uncertainty when it comes to what the president -elect wants.
I mean, now it's a little, a little more clear about about his desires, but it did not become that way until wednesday, a few days, you know, right up until the deadline.
So I think at this point there's a reasonable chance.
I mean, we we do have the Christmas holiday lingering and that is always a motivator for members of congress to work out a deal, but there's no clear path forward at this point, And you mentioned former Speaker McCarthy losing his gavel over a similar situation.
What does it look like for Speaker Johnson keeping the speakership?
It's still a really far way away from January 3rd, at least from where I'm sitting.
There's definitely some members who are upset about how this was handled, but I think as long as he maintains the support of President -elect Trump, I think he will end up continuing to be Speaker at this point.
It's definitely a lot less art now than it was a few days ago.
So explain how today and tomorrow play out.
What are you going to be watching?
What's the process here?
So right now, we are waiting for some signs from House leadership about what their next play call is going to be.
Yesterday, they had a 1 ,500 -page bill that there's $100 billion in disaster aid, $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.
A lot of unrelated provisions, including a member pay raise, transferring the ownership of RFK Stadium back to the city of D .C., and just on and on and on, many, many provisions.
And that bill is no longer moving forward.
So House Republicans are right now trying to come up with a new plan that they think can get the support it needs to pass the House.
That said, Democrats are pretty clear at this point that they are not on board.
They had an agreement.
That's what they want to go with.
And it will be difficult to see how we move forward at this point.
At the end of the day, we'll have to wait and see what Democrats decide to do.
It is, again, right up to Christmas.
And there's a reason they put these deadlines so close to Christmas, which is really a motivating factor for lawmakers to get out of here.
That was reporter Aiden Quigley from earlier this morning on today's Washington Journal.
And we're in open forum, so interested to hear what you've got to say about anything related to public policy or politics, anything happening in Washington.
Of course, the big thing that's happening is the funding, and that is set to expire in about a day and a half.
So we'll start with Gabriela, who's calling us on the Republican line from Ola, Arkansas.
On November 5th, we sent a mandate to Trump.
We wanted the borders closed.
Over 10 ,000 special interest illegals have come in just in the last two and a half months.
These are people from countries that hate us.
We wanted America and Americans first.
We wanted lawmakers held accountable, but this bill makes them untouchable.
They only needed the bare minimum to carry us into the next 60 days.
Almost every piece of pork in this village is No,
they're not going to get a $70 ,000.
That was not in the provision.
It's a 3 .8 % raise.
So it's a cost of living increase, 3 .8%.
It comes out to, currently they're making $174 ,000.
I want to say it's going to go to $186 ,000.
I need to get you the actual numbers.
But it's 3 .8%.
Okay.
Well, $174 ,000 when we're on Social Security and we're living on less than $50 ,000.
Is there anything in the original deal that you would have supported, Gabriela?
Yes.
Take care of the farmers.
Take care of these people in Kentucky and Tennessee and North Carolina.
The disaster relief?
The bare minimum, yes.
That's all we need for now.
We don't need another stadium.
We're supposed to be saving money.
That's why everything costs so much.
Okay, and Gabrielle, I do have the number for you.
Cost of living increase would go from 174, which is current, then it would bring it to 180 ,600.
So that is a 3 .8 % increase.
And as has been said before, it has not been raised since 2009.
Well, they do have to take care of two places.
Got it.
Sheila, Greenville, Pennsylvania, Democrat.
Good morning.
I haven't heard anything about it.
I need an answer.
People are being punished because they have a pension.
They shouldn't get a raise when, if you have a pension, you're only getting 80 % of your Social Security.
I believe we'll pass in the House, but it's dead in the water when this fiscal year is up.
Sheila, I've got this from CBS News.
Hold on, I was going to find you something on...
That.
Okay, let me find it for you and I'll circle back, okay?
About that Social Security.
Okay.
Okay.
Phyllis in Renovo, Pennsylvania, Republican.
Yes, I would like to know how hard can it be to place a memo at each representative and senator's perch that states clearly to always be mindful of the needs of the majority of the legal American citizens when they are working on the budget.
They're clearly not understanding what is essential and what is unessential to make America great again.
Thank you.
And to respond to Sheila, so this is CBS News with the headline, Social Security Fairness Act Clears Key Senate Hurdle Heads to Final Vote.
So here's what's happening.
It's legislation to expand Social Security benefits to millions of Americans cleared a clear...
A key procedural vote hurdle in the US Senate on Wednesday afternoon, so yesterday afternoon, and is now headed toward another vote Thursday, that's today, with the clock ticking and only days left in the current session of Congress.
Senators voted 73 -27 to approve a motion to proceed with consideration of the Social Security Fairness Act according to an unofficial Senate tally.
The tally cleared the 60 -vote filibuster threshold with final passage only needing a simple majority in order to pass the bill to President Biden's desk.
Vice President -elect J .D. Vance of Ohio was among the 24 Republican senators to join 49 Democrats to advance the measure.
Quote, We will vote on taking up the Social Security Fairness Act to repeal flawed policies that eat away at the benefits of those who've worked as teachers, firefighters, postal workers, or public sector workers.
That's Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
He said that on social media shortly before the vote.
So hope that answers that on Social Security.
And here is Rhonda in Freehold, New Jersey.
Democrat.
Hi, Rhonda.
Rhonda, are you there?
Freehold, New Jersey?
Hear me?
Oh, yes.
Go right ahead.
Okay.
Everyone, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and Happy Hanukkah.
My question is, I was hoping I got that other guy on, the congressman, it's about Elon Musk.
I'm very, very concerned about this man interfering in our budget.
He doesn't have a security clearance, nor can he get one, okay?
And for him to have our private information on all of our finances...
In this country is a problem with me.
Especially knowing he's getting billions of dollars from the government.
They're going to rob us blind.
We're getting robbed.
America.
And we are going to go through some very dark days over the next four years and everybody better get ready for it.
This is my last Christmas.
I'm going to save every dime I got.
I'm going to put it in a safe and hide it in my closet because we are getting ready to see some very dark days.
What do you mean, Rhonda, this is your last Christmas?
We're not spending any more money.
We can't.
They're going to rob us.
They're going to rob Social Security.
They're going to rob us in taxes.
That's what Trump does.
He said he had nine floors on Trump Tower that he didn't have.
All right, Rhonda.
Got it.
And regarding, Rhonda mentioned Musk having a security clearance.
So here is the Wall Street Journal.
This is from December 15th.
So last week, it says this.
Why Musk doesn't have access to SpaceX's biggest government secrets.
Executives haven't sought higher security clearances for the CEO to avoid questions about his drug use and contact with foreign officials.
The answers might no longer matter.
This is an article in the Wall Street Journal.
It says that SpaceX payload, SpaceX launches into the heavens for the US military and spy agencies are usually treated as a government secret shared only with select employees at the rocket company who hold special security clearances.
You could read that at the Wall Street Journal.
And here's Mary in Richland, Washington, Republican.
Hi, Mary.
Hi, Mamie.
How you doing, honey?
Good.
I'm sorry.
I was texting you earlier because I couldn't get through to the man from Missouri, the Congressman.
And I texted C -SPAN and I didn't know all you had to put in.
No, I'm with you.
I mean, with the lady from New Jersey, Rhonda, that was just on.
Anyway, I want to wish you all happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, and all the other...
You know, happy holidays to everybody.
The one thing I'm not crazy about, and this has really got me, because I don't know if people remember this, and maybe the older people will.
I'm 67, but Gorbachev said years ago that they would never be able to take the United States militarily,
but they would have to do it slowly and divide us.
And I wish that my Christmas wish would be that we call each other Americans.
And I know you do it because it's a Republican line, the Democratic line.
I'm an American.
You know, I'm not an independent.
I'm not this, that, or the other thing.
I'm a mother.
I'm a child of that.
I mean, the one thing is, is Elon Musk has got so much to do with the Chinese.
Elon is a Russian name to begin with.
He's South African.
And the thing is, what bothers me most of all, meaning the reason I called you, because I haven't been watching any of this stuff, it upsets me too much, is because he's not, well, Mr. Biden, our president,
our president and leader now, regardless of what people think of him, he's still our leader.
We should respect him, and we should have respect for ourselves.
He's not hiding anywhere.
We know where he's at.
We're good to go.
I think?
Got it, Mary.
Bill in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Democrat.
Good morning, Bill.
Yes.
Just yesterday, I believe it's a CR to keep the government going, but for maybe another few months.
And apparently it was headed for being passed.
Then President Trump and his vice president, Elon Musk.
They can't wait to start destroying the government until January 20th.
Trump stepped in and told the Republicans, no, we don't want to pass this.
And this is what now, about two or three days until the government will shut down.
So once this is done, and of course it'll be blamed on the Biden administration because Biden is president right now.
When this is done, Trump and friends can move on with tax cuts for the wealthy in January.
Then they can start destroying the FBI, the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and so on.
So my point is, Trump can't even wait to become the authoritarian.
All right, Bill.
And this is what Representative Nancy Mace posted on X.
She's a Republican of South Carolina.
She says, shut it down.
At this point, if there is no plan, let the September CR lapse and let's reset January 20th.
It's not the scary shutdown the lying media tells you it is.
The president has the authority to prioritize spending.
And Richard in Malden, Massachusetts, Independent Line.
Good morning, Richard.
Good morning.
Yeah, I'm calling about two things.
One woman said about Social Security and Medicare being destroyed.
Well, it's already been destroyed by other politicians.
It's been destroyed by fraud.
And with the Social Security, I was a firefighter for 34 years.
I lost part of my Social Security because of that bill.
That was voted on by Congress.
They voted for it.
Now it's got to be voted on by the Senate by January 3rd.
So I got papers from Social Security letting me know.
So I just wanted that woman to know.
You too, Richard.
And this is John in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Democrat.
Good morning.
Morning, John.
So a lot of Americans, including me, I mean, I'm sure there's America's like me out there who have many disabilities, and what I'm concerned about is with Elon Musk and Vivek, with the Department OF Government Efficiency.
They said and I saw a few articles that they want to cut Social Security and Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid.
The thing is is, I have Social Security, SSI and Medicaid and I'm worried that because of their drastic cuts with that, Yes.
This is Arthur.
I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and good morning.
What I'd like to talk about is You know, Social Security, when they brought this out, they said with baby boomers and that, that should have all kinds of money in there.
But I want to say, when you and your wife work all them years, 30, 40 years, and then one dies, you get the highest amount.
But your bills don't cut in half.
So that's what I'm upset about.
And also, I know for years that they've been putting IOUs in there, Congress has, and taking money out.
And have they ever paid it back?
Have you got anything, information on that?
And that's all I got to say.
And I wish everybody God bless everybody.
You too, Art.
And Robert is in Overton, Texas, Independent Line.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Go ahead, Robert.
Yes, I'm calling in regard to two things.
Number one, a government shutdown.
I lived through that in the 70s.
We all gathered together what funds we have to support the families who didn't get paid.
We came through that.
And the other thing I'm calling about is the strikers.
I'm telling you, anybody that's on strike, Here's
Leonard in Atlanta, Georgia, Republican.
Yes, this is Leonard and I'm calling in reference to everything that's been going on in the United States for years.
I'm a disabled veteran and I've been around for quite a while and I've been listening to all the other people that have came on this line and expressed their displeasure with how the United States government ...is and has been treating as citizens.
The thing I can't understand is why.
You know, it just seems like, you know, all of those people up there, whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, whatever you are or claim to be, you know, you got some kind of mental problem.
You got a mental problem and you got a heartless problem.
You don't really believe in God because God, you know, says that.
Guess what?
He wants his people to prosper.
And for this country to be as great as it is, there is a lot of impoverishment, you know, within its borders.
So, you know, I'm looking at the thing right now.
You ready to push the button?
All right.
Got it, Leonard.
And a previous caller mentioned the strike going on, probably referring to the Amazon strike.
Here's Fox Business that says this.
Teamsters Union launches historic nationwide strike against Amazon, quote, paying the price.
Teamsters represents about 10 ,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities across the United States.
If you want to learn more about that, it's at foxbusiness .com.
And Max in Easley, South Carolina, Independent.
Yes, ma 'am.
Just a question.
American who wants to be supportive of the judicial system and what it stands for, I get totally confused when the Justice Department tells us that President Biden is too old and too inept to stand trial,
but then he can pardon over 1 ,500 people.
Which is it?
If there's any explanation, is he not capable of standing trial, but is capable of making major decisions?
I'm really confused as a citizen.
And thank you so much for your time.
All right, Max.
This is John in Lexington, Illinois, Line for Democrats.
You're on Open Forum, John.
Hey, Mimi.
How you doing?
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you.
Yeah, I just got a couple of things.
I don't think it'll ever happen.
But, you know, we wouldn't be in these shutdown crises if our legislators, Senate and House representatives didn't get paid during the shutdown.
And I think Social Security would be in a lot better shape if the same people had to retire on Social Security, just like 95 % of the Americans do.
And the last thing I got to say is I think any...
Judy in Hudson, Florida, Republican Line.
Hi, Judy.
Hey, hi.
Listen, I'm watching the CNN, I mean, the open forum here.
I would like to say to Mary and to Rhonda, who badmouthed President Trump, I want to let them know that President Trump is the greatest president we ever had.
All he's trying to do is reform the government, to keep the crooked politicians from taking over.
And I just wanted to let you know that...
Wanda is way out of line, and she should keep her mouth shut about President Trump.
What he went through to become president is unprecedented.
Thank you.
John in Falls Church, Virginia.
Democrat.
Hi, John.
Hi.
Representative Green left a bad impression at the end of his discussion.
He said he was talking about Social Security checks wouldn't go out if the federal...
Bill?
Gone?
Okay.
This is Bill in Newfield, New Jersey.
Republican.
Hi, Bill.
Good morning.
One side, the Democratic Party is always talking about the rich paying their fair share.
Now, as far as Social Security is concerned, it stops now at $147 ,000.
Once you make that threshold, you pay no more Social Security, nor does your employer.
Now, I feel that everybody should pay Social Security on their...
Working earnings.
Not investment, but they're working earnings.
The rich people like the CEOs, like the man that got killed, I feel bad for him, but the man that got killed, $10 million a year.
If they paid Social Security on that money, the Social Security would probably triple in the amount they get.
If they listen to me, please, please don't shut me off.
If they listen to me and take part of that money, And pay down in national debt, we can stop beating people up.
Thank you.
So, Bill, you still there?
No.
And this is Timothy in Larchmont, New York, Independent Line.
Hi, thank you.
Good morning for taking my call.
I want to preface the call by saying I'm a recently retired 30 -year veteran New York City high school history teacher.
I taught in the Bronx for 30 years.
And because I was social studies and was a vocational high school with a paralegal program, I've taught everything from American history...
World history, civics, economics, and even classes in political science.
I'm sorry, I got distracted here at home.
Nonetheless, let me get to the point.
The issue that is the bottom line to every problem that every caller has addressed this morning is the level of ignorance in this country.
And that's why I mentioned that I'm a retired teacher.
I'm not a retired fireman like my father.
Okay, and I'm not talking about the kids in the Bronx I taught.
Some of the most amazing kids I've ever met.
I taught girls who escaped Boko Haram in West Africa.
I had Syrian refugees.
I had the son of a Jordanian pilot in one of my classes.
Okay?
Now, the reason I mention all of this is because this country is now 13th in education.
I looked it up yesterday.
We used to be number one and two next to Japan and Germany.
13th.
And currently, only 51 % of our population has a tertiary education.
That's a sad state of affairs.
What do you mean by tertiary?
That's considered above high school.
So you either went to a technical school, or you went to a junior college, or you went to a four -year college university.
In other words, we got people with high school diplomas, and then that's it.
And after that, they don't know a thing about political science, they don't know a thing about the government, and that's why we have elections the way we do.
And I can back this up by saying, look at the number of people who are anti -vaxxers, QAnon believers and the misinformation and the disinformation that the technological age has given us.
I watch the kids in the classroom go from beepers to sidekicks to blackberries to cell phones to smartphones.
And it's supposed to have made the country and the world smarter.
It has not.
It has dumbed down America.
And that's why we get election results the way we did.
The woman who spoke against Juan, who spoke against the previous president, who I can't even say his name, All right.
All right, Timothy.
Let's talk to Charles in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Independent Line.
Hi, Charles.
Good morning.
About a week ago, I heard the fact revealed that since the COVID ended, something like 96 % or 95 % of government workers don't show up to work.
They do it at home.
This was revealed a few years after... COVID ended.
The problem is, one of the problems is that the people in Congress work 140 days out of the year.
They barely show up to work.
Most of the work, including this 1500 page dossier, was put together by staff.
Congress doesn't show up to work, which is emblematic.
How would the Congress actually authorize 95 or so percent of its workforce, they don't have to show up.
It seems to me, it's, I want to use the word criminal, but who's minding the store?
And it seems as if no one's minding the store, which is the problem as to why every single year we're $2 trillion in the hole, because they just continue doing things and not show up to really figure out what it is.
That they want to do.
How can any American actually understand how 95 or so percent of the American workforce that works for the government doesn't show up at the end of the Clinton administration?
Charles, I was looking that up.
So this is GovExec, and it states that as of May of 2024, 54 % of federal employees spent all of their work hours at traditional work sites because of the nature of their work precludes telework.
46 % of the federal workforce is eligible for telework.
Only about 41 .4 % actually use the workplace flexibility to telework, at least situationally.
And that data comes from the Office of Management and Budget.
I'm not sure where the 4 % number figure comes from.
Do you know where that came from?
Well, what it came from is the news programs say something like 95 % of the workforce doesn't need to show up.
Do you remember which news program?
I could look it up.
Almost any one of them.
That's the point.
They seem to be all of them saying this.
My point is that could you imagine that The normal worker working, let's say, at Ford or General Motors or working as a teacher in a school could say, well, I can do this at home.
You can just have a television screen.
As the man before said, I can instruct my students by home.
It just seems to be, it seems idiotic.
All right.
Got your point, Charles.
And this is Randy in Hager City, Wisconsin, Republican.
Hi, Randy.
Yep.
Good morning.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
I want to let everybody know that Social Security, Medicare, I've paid into that.
I'm retired, 75 years old.
And I paid into that for all my years that I worked, and I still worked right up here until the last few years.
It's our money.
The government can't take our money.
We paid into that.
That's our money.
And when they have a shutdown...
The shutdown should stop the money with no representation back to the people at one strike, but it should stop the money from everybody in Congress.
They don't get paid, and they don't get any money back when they go back to work.
So they better get that budget all straightened out.
They got a whole year to do it, and then they wait to the last minute, and then look what we got every year.
That's the way it should be.
Thank you very much.
David in Flemington, New Jersey, Independent Line.
Good morning.
Thank you, Mimi.
I just want to make a couple of very quick points.
One of the reasons that Head Start is on that 2025 whatever is because it is the avatar, the symbol, it is the iconic program of the left, LBJ's Great Society, when it started.
The problem with Head Start is that, like the other programs from Lyndon Johnson in the 60s, It's meant to address generational poverty.
Here in Flemington, New Jersey, 90 % of the students in Head Start are first generation.
There's almost no African Americans, no Native Americans, and no of the poorest white Americans who are from places like Appalachia, etc.
We can debate that all we want.
Secondly, though, what Republicans and Democrats could agree on regarding Head Start. is getting rid of the community action programs that exploit the workers.
These community action programs around the country take in billions of dollars in grants.
They are never monitored.
Here in New Jersey, the one that runs the one in Flemington has executives who live very comfortably, and they have sub -poverty wages for the workers in Head Start.
And I wish Republicans and Democrats would look at how these community action programs
All right, David.
Here's Letitia in Palm Springs, California, Republican.
Good morning.
I just wanted to mention because it's an open forum that well a lot of people that were mentioning about education.
Our education is very low compared to the rest of the world and we have exceedingly excelled in that.
But my point that I wanted to say is that most people don't realize that if you're in debt the way the United States is in debt, how do they think, or what do they think, that is going to happen to the United States?
If you don't pay your credit cards or your bills, or you don't pay your taxes on your home, you lose your home you, you no longer are the owner of your property, and that, and our debt, goes to the rest of the world, especially China and other countries.
So I I think that people need to look at that problem.
All right, Leticia.
And this is Axios has this article that just came out.
It says that U .S. economic growth revised up to 3 .1 % in third quarter.
This is a change in GDP, the gross domestic product.
And here it is for the third quarter of 2024.
It says that the US economy grew at a 3 .1 % annualized pace in the third quarter, stronger than previously thought.
That's according to the Commerce Department.
It says the revision suggests 2024 was yet another shocker year in which the US economy surprised to the upside as other major nations grappled with sluggish growth.
You could read that at Axios.
And here is Rick.
Hi Mimi.
Hi Rick.
How's it going?
Is that what you're suggesting?
All right, Rick.
And a couple of items just for your schedule.
Later today we have Secretary Blinken that is already underway.
He's at the UN Security Council for two meetings.
So the one that's going on right now is about artificial intelligence and the implications for maintaining international peace.
Then at 1 .30 it's the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
That's all on C -SPAN 3.
Also, we have this breaking news just before I let you go from Axios.
Fannie Willis is disqualified from Trump's Georgia election interference case.
That's according to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
It ruled today to disqualify the Fulton County District Attorney Fannie Willis from President -elect Trump's state 2020 election interference case over a conflict of interest.
And that's all the time that we have for today's Washington Journal.
Thanks for joining us.
And we'll be back again tomorrow morning, 7 a .m. Eastern.
Have a great day, everybody.
Since 1979, we've been your primary source for Capitol Hill, providing balanced, unfiltered coverage of government, taking you to where the policies debated and decided, all with the support of America's cable companies.
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And a live shot of our nation's capital here just the week before Christmas with Congress less than 48 hours away from a deadline to fund the government and still no clear path or plan for getting a temporary spending bill passed.
A tweet this morning from Max Cohen of Punchbowl News explaining where things currently