welcome to al jazeera america. i'm del walters. these are the stories we're following for you. the farm bill now about to become law. the new jobs numbers are out. unemployment dips, but there are concerns about a shrinking economy. >> i'm obviously not going to comment on private diplomats mattic conversations. >> after a very candid conversation about negotiations in ukraine a top state department official now holding her tongue.

president obama is now in east lancing, michigan, in just a few minutes he's expected to sign the new farm bill into law. mike viqueira is in washington with more on the bill and why the president went all the way to michigan to sign it, mike? >> well, there were a couple of reasons for that. some just plain old poll licks. the chair woman hails from michigan. michigan state university is where the president is going to be appearing. it's a variety verse agricultural community, many people don't know that. $956 billion -- let's just call it an even trillion, del over ten years.

and it has been a long time coming. the country has been without a farm bill since last september when the last farm bill expired. but the fight had lasted much longer than that. chief among the concerns, the reformers in the tea party felt as though too much money was being spent on food stamps. they had an enormous cut, some 10% of food stamp expenditures, that did not come anywhere close in the final product. about 1%, $800 million a year cut, still a lot of people very unhappy about that. environmentalists are unhappy, the administration defends this bill, saying this is the best they could do under the circumstances. some crop subsidy programs -- people living in

manhattan were actually getting payments from the government. those come to an end, but critics say it is replaced by a new insurance program that is very wasteful. peanut farmers, cat fish farmers, all kinds of special interests are helped here. although there are cuts ash the margins. they over came some of the partisan difficulties here. they are trying to cut some of these programs, normally in washington, the farm bill a trillion dollars goody bag, but when you are cutting programs or becomes a sub tracktive kind of then, then legislating it turns out gets really hard. but a bipartisan success. a lot of folks don't like the final product, but the president is expected to laud it, and

expected to announce some ideas he a has to try to help the agricultural community. >> critics are saying cutting billions from the food stamp program means that millions of americans will go hungry. bisi onile-ere is life at a food bank in detroit, michigan. michigan is within of the states that stands to lose a lot of money under the farm bill. how are they treating the president? >> reporter: he action here is really mixed. i'm inside one of the largest food banks in the area. and they said in the past couple of months they have seen their need for services increase. and they expect now more people will be knocking on their food. 28-year-old works part-time at

this diner in michigan. she recently took on a second job to help make ends meet. >> with something like food, it's just -- it adds a different level of stress. >> reporter: she is among 47 million americans who depend on food stamps. right now $200 a month buys her groceries and a peace of mind, but with the passing of the new farm bill, old fears are setting in again. >> it's going to be hard. it's going to be really hard. >> reporter: here is why, the law will take away $800 million in food stamps every year. that cut her benefits nearly in half. she is among 850,000 households who will see their food stamps reduced. people living in washington, d.c., and these 15 states, including michigan will be hit

hard. because that's the bill eliminates what some lawmakers called a loophole. >> any reduction in services will be very tolling on us. because we're already serving more than we can serve. >> reporter: this woman heads the food bank council of michigan. she says food banks that are already working with limited resources will have to find ways to serve even more people. >> i can't imagine not just for myself, but for my friends that have families to feed too, like trying to stretch the budget even further, you know? >> reporter: a future millions of americans will share. food banks will receive over

$200 million in funding from this farm bill, but a lot of organizers say that's not going to be enough money to help keep up with the demand, del. >> thank you very much. the bill is going to have substantial impact on farmers. robert ray is live in washington, louisiana, tell us what the situation is there with the farmers. >> reporter: good evening, del. a lot of farmers, especially small farmers in pockets of the south are very pleased that this five-year farm bill about to be signed. let me tick out a couple of things about the state of louisiana. $29 billion in agricultural exports, everything from cotton, rice, grain, soybeans, beets and sugar cane. joined by antonio harris.

how is the farm bill going to benefit you guys? >> we're especially excited about the farm bill because the small farmers in the past we have gotten no funding for technical assistance to improve our pastures, infrastructure, fencing, and even our herd, so that's encouraging to know we can have those doors opened again to get technical assistance. >> reporter: and jobs, you were saying earlier this could promote job growth for you guys. how is that? >> exactly. when you start to open those doors again, you have young people coming out of college that wants -- before couldn't get those jobs through go. i think now with the nrcs, and the fsca offices, we can get people once again employed. >> reporter: experts. how about that? >> farmers who go out of business, when we get those

doors open, we can encourage the beginning farmers to get back into farming, and start farming anywhere from beef to soybeans again. >> thank you, i appreciate it. del? >> robert thank you very much. and we continue to keep our eyes at this hour on district michigan. the president is going to be signing that trillion dollars farm bill into law. this is the seen right now in michigan. meanwhile there is a feeling in washington that democrats and republicans were finally getting along, but those days may be over. get business done could be tough. all of the house up for reelection. thomas drayton takes a look at the legislation that is still stuck in the hopper. >> reporter: after passing the farm and budget bills in

congress, other big issues appear to have stalled in washington. issues that threaten the economic well-being of the country abroad. first immigration. after signalling he would seek immigration reform this year, john boehner is retreating a bit. and the biggest obstacle to the goal, says boehner is the president. >> listen, there's widespread doubt about whether this administration can be entrusted to enforce our laws. >> reporter: that charge rejected by the white house. >> the president has an exceptional record of improving border security on his watch. there are more agents on the border now than ever, consistently. >> reporter: another reason for the potential gridlock, the president's promise to act alone when congress won't. >> wherever andhen ever i can

take steps to expand opportunity for more american families, that's what i'm going to done. >> he is talking about his phone his pen. and he is feeding more distrust about whether he is committed to the rule of law. >> reporter: as for extending jobless benefits to the 1.7 million who lost them, republicans shot down the latest proposal by democrats who are vowing to keep up the fight. and then there's the debt ceiling. today the country reaches its debt limit and runs out of money at the end of the month. republicans say there is time for a deal, but the white house wants action now. >> we're not going to pay ransom in return for congress fulfilling its responsibility. again, we are watching the situation in detroit michigan at this hour. the president expected shortly

to sign that massive farm bill into law. $1 trillion will be on the table, but a lot of controversy behind it. controversy coming out of washington earlier this morning. 113,000 jobs being created last month, but that's far short of the number economists had been predicting. the unemployment rate drops slightly, and the rate participation was up slightly. >> this jobs report is an indication that the american people are struggling. middle class people, unemployed workers, and others are really struggling. >> tom perez tells our ali velshi that one of the reason for the negative numbers was layoffs of government workers.

>> if we had just kept government jobs flat during that period, our unemployment rate would be probably something like 6.2% right now. it's unfortunately. a number of really self inflicted wounds. >> you can see all of ali's interview on "real money." and the initial selloff on the news quickly changed directions. the dow is up now. others believe the fed right consider pulling back on its stimulus plan. in florida there was a bailing hearing for a shooting that happened in a theater. the 71-year-old shooter, and the 43-year-old victim have military backgrounds. the defendant is pleading

self-defense. the former new orleans mayor is back in court today. he is accuseded of taking bribes and kickbacks in exchange for valuable city contracts. prosecuteders confronting him with evidence from city contractors who admitted that he bribed them. still ahead, escaping holmes. some trapped syrians are finally getting out.

the president of the united states of america, barack obama. [ cheers and applause ] >> and you are looking live right now at east lancing, michigan. the president has just been introduced. the man doing the introductions, a cherry, apple, and plum farmer. the president there to sign off on that $1 trillion farm bill. it has been popular and controversial at the same time. it is cutting $8 billion in food stamp assistance.

this is the president of the united states. >> hello! go green! [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you so much. everybody -- everybody have a seat here. the -- it's good to be at michigan state. thank you ben for that wonderful introduction. give ben a big round of applause. [ cheers and applause ] >> he has got his beautiful family right here. how did dad do was he pretty good? there he is? he did good? i thought he did great. it is good to be in east lancing with all of you here today. i'm here because i have heard about all of the great things that you are doing, and i want to thank major triplet and president simon for hosting us. i am house here to do some scouting on my brackets. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> i just talked to coach issel,

spartans are looking pretty good. but the truth is that coach izzo, he always paces so that you peak right at the tournament. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> that's a fact. then i got a chance to meet mark dee -- dee antonio. so you already have a rose bowl victory. [ applause ] >> you guys are -- you are greedy. [ laughter ] >> you -- you want to win everything. but, but it's wonderful to be here. i love coming to michigan. mainly i love coming to michigan because of the people, but i also love coming here because there are few places in the country that better symbolize what we have been through

together over these last three, four, five years. the american [ technical difficulties ] >> and mark shire who believed that -- [ cheers and applause ] >> folks what believed that rescuing america's most iconic industry was the right thing to do, and thank to your determination, the american auto industry's engines are roaring, and some plants are running three shifts ash the clock, something that nobody would have imagined just a few years ago. [ cheers and applause ]

>> so -- i just had lunch with detroit's new mayor mike duggen. he told me that he wants everybody to know that detroit is open for business. [ cheers and applause ] >> i'm really proud of him. the point is, we have all had to buckle down. we have all had to work hard, and fight our way back these past five years, and in a lot of ways we are now better positioned for the 21st century than any other country on earth. this morning we learned that our businesses in the private sector created more than 140,000 jobs last month, adding up to about 8.5 million new jobs over the past four years. [ applause ] >> our unemployment rate is now the lowest it has been since before i was first elected.

the companies across the country are saying they intend to higher even more folks in the months ahead, and that's why i believe this can be a break-through year for america. and i have come here to sign a bill that hopefully means that folks in washington feel the same way. that instead of wasting time creating crises, we're going to have a congress that is ready to create new jobs, new opportunities, and positioning us for the future, and making sure our young people can take advantage of that future. even though our economy has been growing, and we have been adding jobs for four years now, what is still true, something that was true before the financial crisis, and still true today is that those at the very top of the economic pyramid are doing better than ever, but the average american's wages, salaries, incomes haven't risen

in a very long time. a lot of americans are working harder and harder just to get buy, much less get ahead, and that has been true since long before the financial crisis and the great recession. so we have to build an economy that works for everybody. restore the idea of opportunity for all people, the idea that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you came from, how you started out, what your last name is, you can make it if you are willing to work hard and take responsibility. that's what is at steak right now, and that's what we have got to work on. [ cheers and applause ] >> now -- now the opportunity agenda i laid out in my state of the union address is going to help us do that. it's an agenda built around four

parts. number one more new jobs. american manufacturing, energy, innovation, american technology. a lot of what you are doing here at michigan state helps to spur on that innovation in all sorts of areas that can be commercialized into new industries and to create new jobs. number 2, training folks with the skills to fill those jobs, something this institution does very well. number 3, guaranteeing access to a world-class education for every child, not just some. [ cheers and applause ] >> that has to be a priority. that means before they even start school, we're working on pre-k that's high quality and gets our young people prepared and takes them all the way through college so they can

afford it and beyond. number four, making sure our economy rewards honest work with wages you can live on, and savings can retire on, and health insurance that is there for you when you need it. [ cheers and applause ] >> now some of this opportunity agenda that i put forward will require congressional action, it's true. but as i said at the state of the union, america does not stand still, neither will i. that's why i have taken steps without legislation, without congressional action to expand opportunity for more families. we have created a new way for workers to start their own requirement savings. we have helped to make sure our students have high-tech learning tools that they need for this new economy. but i have also said i'm eager

to work with congress wherever i can. because america works better when we're working together. and congress controls the purse strings at the federal level, and a lot of the things that we need to do require congressional action, and that is why i could not be prouder of our leaders who are here today, in particular, i could not be prouder of your own debbie stabenow -- >> [ cheers and applause ] >> -- who has done just extraordinary work. [ applause ] >> so we all love debbie for a lot of reasons. she has been a huge champion of american manufacturing, but really sheperded through this farm bill. she worked with republican senator, thad cock -- cockrin

who has been very helpful in this process. and our own secretary tom billsack -- [ applause ] >> so congress passed a bipartisan farm bill that will make a big difference in communities across this country. i want to recognize one of your congressmen who is doing an outstanding job, dan killdi, and somebody who was just a wonderful mentor to me when i was in the senate, and has been just a great public servant not just for your state, but for the entire country, karl leven. [ cheers and applause ]

>> he is always out there. and especially when it comes to our men and women in uniform. we're very proud of him. [ applause ] >> and you have been listening to president obama, talking about attempting and getting ready to sign that farm bill into law. he is in east lancing, michigan about 94 miles away from detroit. mike viqueira a little closer to what the president calls home right now in washington. you nailed it, the president touting that this is a bipartisanship legislation. >> that's right, del. the critics of this farm bill say it supports people and commodities that don't need supporting, and it makes cuts to the food stamp program, although certainly not as draconian as

was favored by the republicans. this is the latest in a string of victories for republicans and democrats coming together in washington, if you include the spending bills and budget bills. although things aren't looking so great for things like immigration and the debt ceiling. del, the president giving a mini state of the union there, hitting some of the high points. raising the minimum wage, put more money into education, and putting a positive spin on the jobs numbers, which by all accounts if you talk to the experts was a mixed bag today. certainly a far cry from the highs -- the double digits highs it was at the outset of the obama administration. one thing i thought was interesting in that regard. the president will always issue a caveat when he is talking

about jobs numbers. i didn't hear much of that today. and he said this could be a break through year for america. so the are the is expected to announce some orders, increase exporters and facilitate that. that's what he is going to be talking about here at michigan state university, and then ultimately back to the house with. >> mike in 30 seconds of your wisdom, speaker boehner saying that the immigration bill may be dead on arrival. >> yes, he was very pessimistic. he changed his tone -- you remember last week, as the republicans retreat -- they were on the eastern shore in kansas and he put forward a plan that included a green card. yesterday backing off. a lot of people thinking an election year is going to be too

far of a bridge to cross. del. >> mike thank you very much. as far as the situation is concerned on wall street, your 401k might be smiling. the dow is up 139 points. world with a sun bed. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪