today we have with us laura meckler and patricia murphy. the most significant story of the last week? guest: there were two. in terms of politics. domestically there were ntinued discussions on the budget. republicans in the senate are battling the white house to discover how significant do cuts will be. the forces of colonel gaddafi were bearing down on the rebels. the u.s. government is attempting to figure out what to do about it. guest: the bget is really tying down democrats and republicans. they cannot even agree where they are as a starting point rather than getting together as a compromise. i think that this is about policy and the 2012 election. this will be the issue. the second topic is just a brief hearing sponsored by peter king about the radicalization of islam in the united states. it was sort of the storm to forgocalm -- storm before the calm. the hearing itself was not that remarkable. congressman keith ellison, the first muslim elected to congss, had a very emotional moment. it was the media explosion of the day. the frida

with us is laura meckler and patricia murphy. we took a look at the arrivals at the gridiron dinner last night. national journal headlines, " obama and daniels, he got the special musical instrument -- introduction at the dinner. as the band struck up a familiar chord he belted out -- born in the usa. [laughter] patricia, what does something like that say? guest: as much as everyone can talk about politics, it is still a relatively closed culture between those that are indeed. you can think that you know a lot, but there is so much going on behind the scenes. so much business is done without the american people's knowledge. it is an uphill climb every day. gridiron is a good example of that. guest: this is a case where you see people all political persuasions commingling. if you talk about insider washington, gridiron is always exhibit a. it is one of the most insider clubs out there. that is why they do not want c- span cameras there. even with a lot of tense moments and issues debated, you often find that people in washington a

laura meckler is joining us live on the phone. she covers the white house for the "wall street journal." we had a very brief statement from vice president biden that it was a good conversation and that it will continue. at what happens next? guest: they will continue to meet. and yesterday was the top level members of congress as well as the white house chief of staff and budget director. what happens next is an agreement to hold a couple of test votes in the senate. the agreement is to put forth a democrat plan and a republican plan and showed that neither has enough to pass the senate. they hope to show that compromise is needed. the problem in trying to negotiate an agreement, it is not just negotiating the agreement, but selling it to the members. host: they're going to keep the government running through march 18, and that was the departed the process. where are the budget cuts coming from? guest: the white house said yesterday that they could do another $6.5 billion. at first they were not willing to say where that would com

. >> sunday on "washington journal," laura meckler discusses a bill to fund the federal government through september. and the cato institute on cutting foreign aid during the economic downturn. and michael doonan talks about the struggles of his state's health program. "washington journal" at 7:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. >> the ninth circuit court of appeals heard an oral argument on wednesday on a challenge to an organization's designation as a terrorist group. they will decide if the al haramain islamic foundation was denied due process when the government withheld information and evidence to justify its designation. a lower court that the labeling of the group as a terrorist organization. but found that officials violated the group's writes by failing to provide -- rights by failing to provide notice about the designation. this is one hour, 15 minutes. >> we will take a brief recess and hear the remainder of the calendar. nice to see both of you again. you may proceed. >> may it please the court. i would like to reserve five minutes for a rebuttal. the government has shut down a u.

with laura meckler of the "wall street journal" and citizen jane politics founder and editor patricia murphy. also, a

. >> sunday on "washington journal" -- laura meckler and tricia murphy on the latest congressional discussions on funding the government through september. ian vasquez on the economic downturn. and michael doonan talk about the success of the states' health care program. that is live at sunday -- that is live sunday at 7:00 on c- span. >> this weekend on c-span's road to the white house, minnesota congressman michele bachman at a fund-raiser. >> australian prime minister julia gillard address a joint meeting of congress. she spoke about the australia- united states security treaty, solidifying the alliance between the u.s. and australia. other topics included afghanistan, the global economy, the g-20, and global trade. this is about 20 minutes. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister of australia. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister of australia. the speaker: members of congress, i have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the honorable julia gillard, prime minister of australia. >> thank you very much. mr. speaker, mr. president pro tempore, dwibbed members of the senate and h

national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> today laura meckler and patricia murphy to discuss the latest congressional negotiations on a bill to fund the federal government through september. then cutting foreign aid during this set at downturn. then the discussion on the success and struggles of of the medicare program. "washington journal" live today at 7:00 a.m. here on c-span. can a potential republican presidential contenders have been making stops in key primary states. this weekend, michelle bachman in nashville and new hampshire. -- nashua, new hampshire. >> the house returns on monday at noon eastern for morning our speeches. at 2:00 p.m., a legislative budget -- legislative business. this federal spending bill should extend funding for three more weeks. current this -- current funding expires march 18. also the end of foreclosure assistance programs. dennis kucinich plans to offer a war powers resolution that would require president obama to withdraw all u.s. armed forces from afghanistan by the end of the year. follow the house live on

coming up to maurer, a political roundtable -- coming up tomorrow, patricia murphy and laura meckler. we will talk about recent developments. ian vasquez from the cato institute. he will give his perspective on the calls. michael doonan from brandeis university. we will talk about the massachusetts health care system. that the requirements in place to have adults and children covered within the state and we will get an update on how that program is doing as it is being touted as a larger model for president obama's health care plan. that is it for "washington journal." we will see you tomorrow. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] . . >> this hearing is two hours and 25 minutes. [background conversations] i want to welcome everybody and especially our two witnesses today. the co-chairs of the president's national commission on fiscal responsibility and reform. our hearing today will focus on the commission's plan and how it would address the nation's long-term debt crisis. i want to begin by thanking the witne