joining me, a member of the debt super committee, representative chris van holland., chris, for taking the time. i want to talk with you about the super committee's mission and where you think it, but on a day like this i can't help but ask you, what did you make of this whole speech snafu with the schedules? was the white house staff picking its poison, deciding it was better to step on the gop presidential debate than on an nfl game? >> well, matt, look. the best thing to be said of this whole episode is it's behind us now. the good news is that there is going to be a speech thursday night where the president addresses the nation on jobs and the economy. there's been a lot of talk about the scheduling issue, but hopefully we can nowç turn to e substance, what the american people care about. has are we going to do about the economy and about jobs. >> i want to turn to that. just one more than nano second. what about the leadership the party needs? >> the white house said they did reach out to the speaker's office and they had pre-cleared this. there must have been

joining me now is maryland congressman chris van holland, the ranking democrat on the house budget committeeve you on with me this morning. i want to ask, how do you respond to that? i know you answer in elections to your twants in maryland. but are you ashamed to be a congressman knowing that america feels this way about the people that you are serving with on the hill? >> well, thomas, i'm certainly disappointed in the fact that congress is gridlocked right now. that we've not been able to get important initiatives through here. i hope we'll have a chance to change that when the president comes before the congress on thursday to deliver his jobs program. and that will be a test for congress. because, the president needs a partner in congress to move forward his proposals, whether it's infrastructure investment, whether it's dealing with the housing crisis. whether it's dealing with the issue of putting a little bit more money in consumer's pockets so they get out there and purchase goods and services. so this will be a test, you know, we haven't been hearing a lot of support out of our col

you see people who are a very firm fixed -- chris van holland who is the ranking democrat on the budget committee, ranking member on the budget committee is also basically a reasonable guy and who could play a important role in the leadership. all of them have some tie-in to the leadership if they played this right their network properly could get something done. >> mr. friedman we agree with getting something done and their ability to do so? >> guest: they can. i may be a little bit less optimistic. as fred mentioned and these guys and women not to diminish them are instruments of their leadership on their committee. i think particularly on the republican side, it was made very clear that the leadership doesn't want to see new revenue, any tax increases. they'd allow some loopholes to be eliminated but only if the overall tax impact does not increase revenue. it takes a whole lot of options off the table. you would expect democrats to respond in kind in terms of entitlements on which leaves them with fairly circumdescri d described -- circumscribed options so they may do something a li

america and make sure we are both growing that the economy and accomplishing the goals that chris van hollandlined. this is an enormous opportunity for congress. let us be frank about this, when the general public's confidence in congress is at an all-time low. this is a chance for us to rally together much like we did on the steps of the capital back in the aftermath of september 11. it is a time for us to seize greatness. that is why i think the opportunity is here. it is bipartisan. we are proud as democrats to lead the way and to have a president that is out there continuing to be an ally to both sides to make sure it is an america that we move forward to this time of crisis. >> in further response to your question, congresswoman is going door-to-door in her district following up on the damage from hurricane irene. i am sure she would be available at any time to let you know how the infrastructure bank leverage is public dollars in a way that represents a real savings to us. it is 100 days approximately until the -- what, november 23. mr. larsen of force -- mr. lawson and force me 100 day