are joining by sander levin, and ian swanson. ian, go ahead with the first question. >> thanks. >> we have known each other for a few years. >> yeah, i will start with a disappointing topic at least. the labor department put out job figures for may, the economy only added 54,000 jobs, and after news on jobs and manufacturing. i am curious how worried you are approaching a possible double-dip recession? >> i wouldn't say that double-dip is all likely. but i think it's clear that we have an economic challenging continuing. and that's why i am really disappointed why in the house there is a lost sight of that. and any effort to try to do something to stimulate the economy is shunted aside. and the interest seems to be cut the deficit. and that will somehow work miracles. we have to cut the deficit, but it surely won't work miracle in the short run. i was just talking earlier today about the build america bonds. which brought $100 billion of infrastructure development and the republican house refuses to look at them. that's the kind o

questioning -- alberto sanchez, budget and appropriation reporter with the "national journal," and ian swansonnews editor at "the hill" newspaper. ian, go ahead with the first question. >> thanks. >> glad to be here. we've known each other a few years. >> yes, and i'm looking forward to the talk today. i'm going to start out with a disappointing topic, at least -- the labor department today put out a report for jobs figures for may that found the economy only added 54,000 jobs last month. this came, of course, after a slew of other bad economic news, on housing, other private sector forecasts on jobs and manufacturing. i'm curious how worried you are that we are approaching the possibility of a double-dip recession. >> i would not say double dip is at all likely. i think it is clear that we have an economic challenge continuing. that is why i am really disappointed when -- in the house. they've lost sight of that, and any effort to try to do something to stimulate the economy is just shunted aside. and the answer seems to be cut the deficit, and that will somehow work miracles. we have to cut

. >> we're back with our reporters, alberto sanchez of the "national journal" and ian swanson with "the hill." ian, let's just begin -- the congressman talked -- and we're talking on this friday afternoon -- he talked about a meeting that he and the democrats had with the president on thursday. and as they go forward with negotiations over what to do about raising the debt ceiling -- august 2nd is the deadline -- what did you hear from him? >> what i heard was a lot of confidence that democrats feel the president has his back on medicare and he will not agree to any benefit cuts with republicans. republicans say that they have to have that as part of the deal. they have a lot of leverage on the president because he wants to see the debt ceiling raised. but representative levin sounded very confident that there is not going to be a deal that will disappoint he and other democrats. >> it sounds like they are making a stipulation there -- medicare benefits. does that mean something dealing with medicare is on the table? >> i would not rule it out. senator mcconnell has been very adamant th