it's not allowed to judge a future congressman, opine whether something is a good or bad idea. many of the holes that transform the act on paper to in my view widen the already frightening deficits we face come from the fact that the bill contained literally a menu of budget gimmicks. probably the most i've seen. congress is skilled at budget gimmicks. they brought all their accumulated expertise to this bill included things like the class act which counted premium payments in during the budget window and ignored all the spending that would happen after that thus providing the budget, student loans rolled into the bill. it counted on cutting out of medicaid -- >> we'll breakaway with the

former cbo director and take you to c-span radio, our washington today program. >> two well-known muslim women in the u.s. to explore two distinctly different perspectives on the war on terror and shommic fundamentalists. one woman, somali born, fights against islam with her writing, while another was educated here in the u.s. is a strong proponent of jihad. debra scroggins discussion her book with the institute. debra job ins, wanted women, this friday 7:00 p.m. on afterward ward here on c-span radio. under current law we expect this year's deficit will be $1.1 trillion. that's 7% of gdp that is 2

percentage points less than the deficit recorded last year but still larger than any deficit between 1947 and 2008. >> the announcement from the director of the congressional budget office announcing the dus is heading for the fourth straight year with a trillion dollar plus budget deficit gichb giving republicans more ammunition to go after the president in this election year. welcome to hour one of washington day on c-span radio. i'm steve scully. we're glad you're with us. 5:00 in the nation's capital. polls closing in florida at 7:00 eastern time at the rest of the state, 8:00 eastern time we expect shortly after that to have an indication of who is winning in the florida primary. 50 delegates at stake. two candidates competing for winner take all mitt romney and newt gingrich, rick santorum looking at nevada and other caucuses as well as congressman ron paul of the nevada caucuses taking place this weekend.

meanwhile a note about politics and a republican super political committee and its nonprofit arm saying it has raised $51 million this year in an effort to defeat the president, super pac among the first group whose finances are reported today. super pac a product of that 2010 supreme court ruling on citizens united that removed restrictions on corporations and union spending in federal elections. at the bottom of the hour we'll have more on the isn't of state as she goes to work to talk about sanctions to try to bring down the assad regime. as many as 450 killed in the last month. the president holding a cabinet meeting talking about jobs and economy. let's begin with this announcement of the budget office predicting the deficit will rise to just over a trillion dollars in 2012. the office also projected that the jobless rate will increase to about 8.9%.

currently across the country it's 8.5%. it will increase by the end of this year and could jump to 9.2% in 201. here is more from today's announcement with doug elmendorf, director of c bcht o. >> as you know the pace of the recovery has been slow since the recession ended 2 1/2 years ago. we project it will continue to be slow for the next two years. reflecting both the lingering effects of the financial crisis and recession and the fiscal rerestaurant that will rise under current law. specifically current law fiscal policy will reduce the growth of output slightly in 2012 and significantly in 2013 through a combination of large tax increases and large spending cuts. our projections incorporate the expiration of payroll tax cut and emergency benefits. expiration of tax cuts enacted

in 2001, 2003 and 2009 as well as other expiring tax provisions. the constrants on spending imposed by last year's budget control act and winding down of budget area effects of the 2009 recovery act. taking tonight those policies will generate a sharp fiscal contraction. in addition the excess number of houses, loss of wealth, debt and other legacies of the economic downturn are continuing to weigh on household and business spending. as a result and shown in the slide, real gdp will grow 2% this year and 1% next year. we expect economic activity to quicken after 2013 but real gdp to remain below the economy's potential through 2017. according to our projections the economy is only about halfway through the cumulative shortfall

and out put that will result from the recession and its aftermath. the costs associated with that persistent out put gap are immense and born disproportionately with people who lost their jobs, have business that is fail. in particular the labor market still has a tremendous amount of slack mainly as a consequence of continued weakness in the demand for goods and services. the forecast, the unemployment rate remains above 8% both this year and next as economic growth picks up after 2013 the unemployment rate will gradually decline. in our projection it remains above 12% until 2015 before dropping to 5.25% by the end of the coming decade. while the economy continues to be weak during the next few years inflation and interest rates will remain low.

let me turn to my budget projections. under current law this year's deficit $1.1 trillion. that is nearly 2 percentage points less than the deficit recorded last year but still larger than any deficit between 1947 and 2008. over the next few years projected deficits in the baseline narrow sharply as you can see in the picture, 1.5% of gdp between 2013 and 2022 with deficits small relative to the size of the economy debt held by the public drops a little by gdp in baseline projections but remains quite high. much of the projected decline in the deficit occurs because under current law revenues will rise considerably. in particular between 2012 and 2014 revenues and our baseline

shoot up by more than 30% because of the recent or scheduled expiration of various tax provisions and new taxes scheduled to go into effect. federal spending on the baseline declines modestly relatively to gdp as the economy expands and statutory caps strain discretionary appropriations. later in the decade, though, spending turns up again relative to gdp because of increasing expenses generated by the aging of the population and rising cost for health care and because the accumulation of debt and rising interest rates will cause a surge in the government's interest costs. >> here in washington the congressional budget office director with the cbo's outlook for the next year and what it means for debt and deficit. joining us live on capitol hill while we normally don't focus on weather, eric is outside with an

unusually mild day today in our nation's capital. thank you for being with us. >> appreciate it. >> your story from the hill.com any surprises in the numbers from the hill director? >> i have to say i was struck by the unemployment numbers especially for 2013 with cbo looking at it going up to 9.2%. it's a little higher than i would expect it. the way doug elmendorf, the cbo director explains it, this has a lot to do with the fiscal policies that go in place, the budget cuts automatically triggered since the super computer failed to come to an agreement last fall on deficit reduction. the fact that bush year tax cuss expire and cbo assumes that will happen and saves the projection. we see unemployment going up. it's 8.9% at the end of this fiscal year in september, which is higher than the 8.5%, you

know, that cbo had forecast in august. so this doesn't really look very good for president obama in some ways. the other thing that was really striking was that treasury and cbo had been talking about the annual deficit for 2012 being just below a trillion dollars, the real sort of marker or book mark. now come to be above that at $1.1 trillion for 2012. that gives republicans a real ammunition to use against the president, because it will have meant for each of president obama's four years in office that will have been the debt over $1 trillion. >> i want to follow up with the politics, as we dig into the numbers, just alluded to this, doug elmendorf did say because of the inability for congress to work out this budget agreement these projected cuts and the bush tax rate that potentially

could expire will in his words restrain economic growth this year, significantry restrain growth in 2013. could you elaborate on those points. >> that's right. you're going to contract because government spending under most economic models is projected to increase demand and therefore increase growth. also tax increases are expected to reduce employment by taking money out of the economy. so about 30% increase by 2014 in taxes if the bush era tax rates and what's known as alternative minimum tax is not indexed for inflation, something that congress regularly does. cbo offers an alternative fiscal scenario in which what is more likely to happen, tax cuts are extended but amt passed,

something known as doc 6 for medicare, physician payments are not drastically cut for medicare providers. in that scenario, nick growth is better, unemployment could fall to 7.4%. the problem is the deficit balloon, balloons $4 billion the first year and by $11 -- goes to $11 trillion in extra deficit over 10 years. elmendorf made the point in the short run you could sort of do the less fiscally prudent thing and help growth but in the long run it would hurt the deficit and ultimately hurt growth. >> i'm going to frame this question in other news that came out, republican super pac announced it raised $51 million this year, an organization designed to defeat the president. i mention that because as we look at these numbers and what the projected unemployment rate will be as we move into the

summer and fall, increasing to 8.9% projected to 9.2%, this gives, if it's mitt romney or newt gingrich in organizations like super pac more political ammunition to go after the president. >> it does. you saw the produces fighting back today. jay carney was really putting the blame on congress. i think that's the jujitsu move the white house has to do. carney was saying these unemployment numbers don't reflect what would happen if the president's jobs package was passed of the president continues to want republicans to agree to a balanced approach. that's what democrats say that republicans need to come to the table, agree to a balanced approach that includes tax revenue increases and spending cuts. republicans come back and say tax increases are off the table. it's really going to come down to that kind of blame game. certainly the headline, four

years trillion dollar deficits from the white house. >> talking to eric wasserman joining us outside in capitol hill, a mild day in d.c. we're going to hear in a moment from senator john thune, really critical of the president and administration on all of this. what other reaction have you heard for members of congress? >> definitely paul rind house committee chairman said he will present solutions in the house budget. expecting him to release something similar to his budget last year which famously transformed medicare into private insurance system with premium support to seniors, those 54 and under currently. we're going to end up a "titanic" struggle, president

releasing his budget, the president's offer, real concrete details on how to get $4 or $5 trillion off the deficit in that plan. that's really what we're seeing, the sort of finger pointing going on. conrad, the democrat in charge of the senate budget committee said he will go to a mark up this year. he's actually involved in kind of an interesting skirmish with his own leadership. i don't know if that's ever going to come to the forebut he came out and showed we all need to get together on a balanced plan. seeing that rhetoric of a balanced plan for democrats and then republicans really saying need something much more drastic that deals with entitlement programs. >> eric joining us live on capitol hill. his work available online at thehill drkz reacting to latest numbers from cbo predicting a trillion dollar plus debt this year. we've reached 15 and approaches

$16 trillion in the debt overall. eric, thanks for being with us. >> thanks, steve. >> we'll be talking about this with jim demint. he's out with a new book called "now or never saving america from economic collapse" he's our guest tomorrow morning on the washington journal heard live here on c-span radio. also a conversation with congressman ryan. not paul ryan but tim reina member of the budget committee, co-chair of manufacturing caucus. reaction on capitol hill, senator john thune is a republican from south dakota. >> as the leader pointed out the cbo update we got today is a reminder how important it is we focus like a laser on jobs and the economy. cbo is forecasting by the end of this year the unemployment rate will be back up to 8.9% and by the end of next year up to 9.2%. at the same time the leader mentioned we've got now a fourth

year we're running over a trillion dollar deficit. that is the obama record on the economy. you've got higher fuel costs, higher health care costs, higher tuition costs, higher debt by 43% over what it was when he took office, chronic unemployment, massive amounts of debt. that is the obama economy. that's why it's so important, and we've repeated before, that republicans in the senate are ready to work with this president and with the democrats on pieces of legislation that will actually create jobs. if you look at how many bills passed the house of representatives, there are over 20 bills that have come over to the senate awaiting action. i offered an amendment to the current bill on the floor today that has broad bipartisan support, passed by the house of representatives 411 to 13 that we ought to be taking up that would make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to get access to the capital they need to grow their businesses. those are the types of things we

ought to be working on. unfortunately that stuff gets to the floor of the united states senate or gets to the united states senate and gets put on a shelf. we're not talking about the types of things that guess people back to work. that's what has the american people most frustrated. that's why i hope democrats will change their ways and work with us in a constructive way to enact legislation that will address basic fundamental core problem most americans recognize is getting people back to work and growing our economy. >> the comments of senator john thune, a republican from south dakota. the president taking senator thune up on that offer focusing on jobs and the economy he held a cabinet meeting at the white house. the washington times has this story with this headline, the president serves up a package to aid small businesses. susan crabtree writing the president is trying to slice through partisan divisions on capitol hill and urging congress to swiftly take up taxes for

small businesses encouraging startups in an effort to spur new jobs. the president sent the message to congress that draws on various proposals that draws on democrat and republicans. all of this in an of the to act on an initiative the white house announced last year, creating jobs, encouraging entrepreneurs to follow suit. the president speaking to reporters briefly from the cabinet room at the white house. >> hello, everybody. this is my first cabinet meeting after the state of the union address. it gives me the opportunity to share my ideas and initiatives with my cabinet but also to get some feedback from them. one of the top priorities i mentioned during the state of the union was the need for us to promote small business. and i'm very pleased that we've got karen mills here who has participated in our meetings before but now an official member of the cabinet. it is a symbol of how important

it is for us to spur entrepreneurship, to help startups, to move aggressively so we can assure more companies that create the most jobs in our economy are getting a leg up from the various programs that we have in our government. i mentioned at the state of the union that there have been discussions, bipartisan discussions between republicans and democrats about a whole set of measures that can accelerate financing to startup companies, can provide tax breaks to startups and small businesses that are interested in either hiring more workers or increasing their wages, that looks at innovative ways for them to raise capital. and my expectation and hope is that they will get a bill together quickly, that they will pass it and get it on my desk. i will sign it right away.

i would like to see that bill signed this year. in addition we've got all the cabinet agencies who are here replied. they are putting forward their own initiatives to enhance the ability of entrepreneurs to get up and running. so for example department of homeland security, my understanding, we're going to be talking about how we can improve the visa process for those interested in investing in the united states and starting businesses here in the united states. i know that the department of commerce, energy, and education as well as sba are all launching complimentary initiatives to support entrepreneurship as well. and so what we want to do is to make sure that every single agency, even as they are tending to their energy initiatives or providing homeland security or transportation or defense, that we're also thinking about how

are we advancing the cause of giving small businesses ant entrepreneurs the opportunity to create the next google or the next apple or the next innovative company that's going to create jobs and improve our economy. it's that kind of all hands on deck approach that is really going to make a difference. and we're looking forward to hearing additional ideas from our business council and from those who are involved in startups that can help to promote these -- this agenda. thank you for participating. i'm looking forward to hearing your ideas. i will see you guys later. thank you. >> mr. president, tomorrow hear details on helping homeowners get out from under water. >> i will talk to you then about it. i wouldn't want to, you know,

use up all my good stuff now. all right. >> the president from the cabinet room as he met with reporters, and, of course, members of his cabinet of the president mentioned could go yesterday from the white house. a town hall meeting co-sponsored by google+ and youtube. during part of the exchange the president was pressed by a woman why he was giving visas to foreigners when her husband, a construction engineer, was struggling to find a job. the president made a comment, he thought it was interesting her husband could not find a job. the word we're getting somebody with that kind of high-tech job, field, should be able to find a job today. cbs news questioning jay carney about this. >> getting back to the opening questions on the resume

conversation the president had yesterday. what is going to happen to the resume from this guy and what are you going to do about the inevitable tens of thousands of resumes that are sent here because of that. >> i can simply say my understanding is the resume has been sent and received i don't have any further guidance to give you on what might happen beyond reviewing it. i think to go back to my discussion with them, the change reflected the president's sincere interest and concern in the experiences of folks out in the country and how they are dealing with what remains a very tough economy, even as we continue the recovery that we've been engaged in now for 10

months. there are a lot of folks out there looking for work the high unemployment rate is proof positive of that. this president's energies are focused on doing everything he can to grow the economy and create jobs, to alleviate that kind of anxiety, that economic insecurity that this conversation reflected. so it was a snapshot into the fact, spot world that reflects we have a lot more work to do. we have to continue to take action, build the economy, grow the economy, create jobs, build the infrastructure necessary to have a foundation for further economic growth in the future. while we have made progress, we still have a long way to go. >> who received this resume and,

again -- >> i don't know who specifically received it. >> the wider question, you guys already receive a lot of resumes here. what's doing to happen to the -- thousands of people are going to be sending resumes. >> i'm sure that's true. i have received a few. >> labor department, small business administration, what's happening? >> i don't know at this point. i'm sure it will be reviewed, which is what the president said. you know, again, this person's story reminds us that we need to keep focused on growing the economy and creating jobs. while we've created over 3 million private sector jobs over the last 22 months while the economy created those jobs, the hole is quite deep. 8 million is a large number of jobs lost by this recession. that's why the president is

going to keep at it. that's why the president put the proposals forward he did in the state of the union address. why you'll hear more from him in the coming days and weeks and months about the things we should be doing to move the country forward. >> the comments of jay carney earlier today, the whole exchange over the resume is when the president told the woman whose husband has been out of a job. he's an engineer. saying it was interesting and asked her to send him his resume so he could for up. he was the chair of the republican national committee following up on all of this today in a statement issued by the rnc he said, quote, the president's exchange with a concerned woman whose husband is out of work shows exactly how out of touch this president is with the dismal climate he's created. his ivory tower and economic recovery is in stark contrast with the harsh reality of millions of americans struggling

to find jobs because of barack obama's failed economic policies. the chair of the rnc, all of this after the town hall meeting sponsored by google+ and youtube. this is washington today heard coast-to-coast on xm 119. we're streamed on the web at c-span radio.org. >> some other news, wall street, dow fell 20, nasdaq up 1 and s&p down a fraction. lawmakers say they have reached an agreement on a four-year bill to extend the faa, federal aviation administration, its operating authority and air traffic modernization efforts. total $63 billion. house infrastructure committee says the bill provides long-term stable funding faa needs from transitions] from air traffic control from world war ii technology to one based on gps technology. the operating authority expired in 2007 and it has continued

along under a series of 23 short-term extensions. the most recent extension expires february 17th. a judge in washington, d.c. says the federal government must notify one of the last major occupy encampments if it intends to close down a downtown park to protesters of the federal judge also says occupy d.c. protesters will have a chance to contest any eviction plans. the national park service telling demonstrators camping is not allowed at occupy d.c. sites in mcpherson square. many protesters there and government officials have not given any indication of when or if the demonstrators will be cleared out. president obama toured washington, d.c. auto show today bringing attention to his decision to rescue general motors and chrysler three years ago and drawing contrast with mitt romney, republican presidential candidate. the president said the u.s. auto industry is back, gm's success