. >> i'm joined now by president obama's economic point man gene sperling. he is the director of the economic council, assistant to the economic policy. and also here is the host of cnbc's "mad money," jim cramer. he's got a book out called "get rich carefully." gene sperling, the president's goal is to get the unemployment benefits restored for those folks out of work. republicans are saying, okay, if you can do it fiscally, responsibly. what are the prospects of passage of this? >> what i would say is tomorrow, tomorrow is the day 1.3 million americans go to the mailbox and find that the check they've been relying on to put food on their table, put gas in their cars, to look for a new job will not be there. and tomorrow is also the day where the united states senate will have a chance to vote on the first bipartisan solution, which is a three-month extension supported by -- >> so what are the chances of passage of congress? >> i would hope it would be quite good. because i would hope that people went home and realize some things, which is that these are pe

joining mess is the man leading the push, a key economy adviser to the president, gene sperling. gene, thanks for being here. >> thanks for having us. some republicans say, we're open to this, about you it needs to be paid for. others say, it just encouraging people to stay on unemployment until their benefits run out, and then they go look for a job. others say, wait a second, the economy is improving, this was emergency aid for the height of the recession, and we don't need it anymore. so why do you think we have to have it? >> you know, it is true that the economy's improving, showing mower momentum. unemployment rate in general is falling. what we are finding is that the worst legacy of the great recession is that there is a crisis of long-term unemployment. people who have been unemployed for six months or longer are finding it most difficult. we have to be a country that's committed to leaving nobody behind in this recovery, so that requires a full-court press. it does require more bipartisan effort to provide jobs. it requires the president's partnership to give moss are t

gene sperling, director consejo nacional econmico de la casa blanca "we've got an urgent situation.."ofensiva y sigue destacando la urgencia de estos beneficios, especialmente para aquellas personas en los nueve estados donde el desempleo supera el promedio nacional de 7,3%. s/randy serrano @randytelemundo 2014 es un aÑo electoral para muchos congresistas, y hay quienes dicen que los polticos nerle muchancin los tantes en cl desempleo y el sario mnimo si quieren conservar sus escaÑos en anca ---el lider las amadas auto-defensas "juan manuel mireles" result herido en un incidente aereo en el oeste de mexico este pasado fin de semana. pitch - cesar ---mireles fue trasladado con fuertes medidas de seguridad a la capital mexicana para ser atendido ---raul torres nos cuenta mas.. take pkg 0:01 0:29 1:02 1:22 1:47 - quick ---inicio de semana.. cesar ---lluvias? pronostico extendido.. javier.. take pkg pkg francisco ramirez y domina la accion blanca ---adelante juan francisco ===chroma key=== jf hola que tal cesar blanca, amigos del deporte, muy buenas noches un gusto saludarles de nuevo...

gene sperling, director consejo nacional econmico de la casa blanca "we've got an urgent situation.."anca sigue a la ofensiva y sigue destacando la urgencia de estos beneficios, especialmente para aquellas personas en los nueve estados donde el desempleo supera el promedio nacional de 7,3%. s/randy serrano @randytelemundo 2014 es un aÑo electoral para muchos congresistas, y hay quienes dicen que los polticos en washington tendrn que ponerle mucha atencin los votantes en cuanto temas como el desempleo y el salario mnimo si quieren conservar sus escaÑos en el congreso. blanca ---tambien hoy en mexico se celebra el tradicional dia de reyes... blanca ---tambien hoy en mexico se celebra el tradicional dia de reyes... take vo ---miles de personas abarrotaron un templo catolico de guadalajara, la capital del estado de jalisco, para celebrar este tradicional dia religioso, que marca la visita de los 3 reyes magos de oriente para dejar regalos al niÑo dios. ---sin embargo, muchos de los fieles tambien aprovecharon la celebracion para implorar por un mexico libre de violencia. take sot in: 00;0

. >>> your health care, your money, a conversation with gene sperling, director of the national economic counsel. >>> then circumstance the one? >> the answers aren't going to come from washington. prouben governors are going to drive america's come back. >> he took on public unions and became the only governor in history to survive a recall election. wisconsin's scott walker is the first in our series on the republican party's search for itself. >>> plus, same-sex mar arrange and faith versus obama care, back at the supreme court. an explainer with court watcher joan business coupic. >>>, ready set, go, our panel ponderses the deciding issues in poll thinks year. 302 days until the midterms. >>> this is "state of the union". >>> good morning from washington, i'll candy crowley. >>> democrats on capitol hill have lost a full-court press for an extension of long-term unemployment benefits which expired last month. the senate takes up the measure tomorrow. the bill provides relief to the jobless for up to 73 weeks. it's not certain to pass but democrats are certain the politics of the issu

gene sperling will be joining us in a few moments.juana is now legal recreational use for the first time in colorado. we will show you the economics behind this. amazon's drones may seem like a dream. a fleet of shark tracking drones are patrolling the world's oceans. we will fill you in. state "in the loop." ♪ >> the white house and democrats pushing congress to extend emergency unemployment benefits. more than one million americans lost them earlier this week. gene sperling, director of president obama's economic council is with us. thank you for joining us. how does the white house expect an extension of benefits to be paid for? this is a concern to republicans. mostrst of all, the important thing is to make sure there is a bipartisan commitment to extending does benefit. saw in december was some members of the republicans in the house were suggesting they were against it philosophically. inshould have gotten it done december. what we've would like to do now is support the bipartisan bill in the senate by senator reid and senator h

gene sperling join us to talk about what he calls an essential lifeline. that's up next. ♪ ♪ did you run into traffic? no, just had to stop by the house to grab a few things. you stopped by the house? uh-huh. yea. alright, whenever you get your stuff, run upstairs, get cleaned up for dinner. you leave the house in good shape? yea. yea, of course. ♪ [ sportscaster talking on tv ] last-second field go-- yea, sure ya did. [ male announcer ] introducing at&t digital life. personalized home security and automation. get professionally monitored security for just $29.99 a month. with limited availability in select markets. ♪ her long day of pick ups and drop offs begins with arthritis pain... and a choice. take up to 6 tylenol in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. all aboard. ♪ became big business overnight? ♪ like, really big... then expanded? ♪ or their new product tanked? ♪ or not? what if they embrace new technology instead? ♪ imagine a company's future with the future of trading. company profile. a research tool on thinkorswim. from td ameritrade. tha

you heard from jean sperling that you can't get the betwenef w unless you prove that you are activelylooking for work, what do you say to them? >> first of all, notice that congresswoman rue refused to answer your question. she gave a long speech which i completely disagree with. you have to look at things and give states money to hire teachers and cops and firefighters and so forth and pay people unemployment insurance. you have to have been working and still actively working. and for those who say that if you give people unemployment insurance for more than 26 weeks they don't look for work, there is no evidence for that. the fact of the matter of that, in an economy in which there are three applicants for every single job, if it were true that they got the job, someone else wouldn't get the job because there is a limited supply of jobs. there is no evidence of that whatsoever. we have extended on a bipartisan basis unemployment insurance until the rate got to a more reasonable level so that people had a chance to find jobs. the second thing is when people get unemployment insurance

gene sperling. always interesting. taking a victory lap on the affordable care act as well.urveillance." scarlet fu defended -- demanded the day off. we said of course. cristina alesci here as well as we get your year started with a form on the east coast. bonnie schneider with us. going right back to the basic question, where does rain become snow? the treacherous icy surface, where will that be? >> right in the mid-atlantic. we have icy patches. a huge concern. look at all the radar -- the rain and working its way in from virginia. coming into such cold air, that is why it is going to be a big storm. a combination of really cold arctic air and moisture coming in and sticking around because this is a storm where the advisories go through friday at 1:00. >> we talked earlier about the definition of the wind. it is not funny. europeor those of you in . fahrenheit temperature, where does it get serious? that temperature gives you concerned? >> anything below freezing is concerned. this particular storm am a very strong wind. the wind chill will be at zero. it will be dangerous

gene sperling, you heard him a moment ago.said, if this is about playing politics, republicans can take the political game off the table by passing some of these laws. take a listen. >> if anybody suggests that somehow we want to fight for the minimum wage or extending emergency unemployment for political reasons as opposed to it being the right thing to do, i have a really good solution. let's get them done right now in a bipartisan way. then everybody can share credit in doing something that's the right thing for the american people. >> now, democratic senator chuck schumer was on abc yesterday and was blunt about saying democrats want to turn the page on in the just health care but the issue of budget deficits and instead want to focus this year on some of these economic issues he says republicans don't vote for them, they'll turn into something where they put republicans on defense in these 2014 midterms. gretchen? >> all right. ed henry. i'm glad to see you made it back from vegas. >> good to see you. it was fun. >> i was

gene sperling, the white house north lawn. thank you, sir. >> thank you, chuck. >>> up next, some carolina blues as the president gets set to head to the battleground state of north carolina. we're going to talk to the republican governor there, pat mccorey, about the state of his state and the president's visit. and the latest on governor christie's jersey jam. speaking of jams, wait until you see what jimmy fallon and bruce spring steen did last night. first, a look ahead today's politics planner. as we told you, the president is traveling. we have a new poll coming out, nbc/maris coming out this evening on 2016. [announcer] word is getting out. purina dog chow light & healthy is a deliciously tender and crunchy kibble blend. with 20% fewer calories than purina dog chow. isn't it time you discovered the lighter side of dog chow. purina dog chow light & healthy. [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball b

but gene sperling during this press briefing a few moments ago saying the president wants this passedh no strings attached. and wolf, one thing we noticed, keeping in mind, this is the first press briefing of the new year here at the white house and first we have heard from this white house really since president obama held that year and news conference late december. check out what was very different inside the white house briefing room, and that is the press secretary, jay carney. jay carney came out, sporting a beard. usually he is a clean-shaven press secretary. not so much, wolf, as you can probably tell. his facial growth there resembles a certain anchor at cnn. i'm trying to think of the name. it's just not coming to me right now, wolf. >> he looks very young. that beard, did he give an explanation why he grew the beard on his vacation, or did he just say it was time for a change? >> reporter: he said that his wife, claire shipman, who works over at abc, said that she liked it. and that he was trying to resemble mark noeler, a little bit, trying to follow the fashion trend, lon

gene sperling joins me now. from the warmth of the white house briefing room. thanks for joining us. >> that makes would of us. >> yes indeed. happy new year. >> thank you. >> what do you say to the 1 million people who were just left out of that negotiating deal? the white house and the democrats and the republicans came up with a short-term small budget. but what about long-term uninsured -- unemployment benefits? >> it is very difficult to know what to say to those americans. you are right. this is a time between christmas and new year's it is a time of community and where we look out for our neighbors and 1.3 million americans and their families who are still out there working hard. looking for jobs. and it is very unfortunate that we allow there in the united states congress allows their benefits, unemployment benefits to get cut off. that very week between christmas and new year's. we can analyze why that happened. but the most important thing is to do something about it. so i think that -- we feel that if we want a good new year's resolution, let's make

i been used to being yelled at actually you learn things when people yell and you know the gene sperling who's the head of the economic council and you know yelled and he apologized and. i said don't worry about it it was my feeling and i said it's not the way to deal with something like this. but you know we made up by been over to the white house to talk to him and he's. he's somebody who had that job for clinton he goes way back like i do along the white house as you've covered and written about how do you rank this one in the era of. of compliance of woodenness well what because i have this luxury of time i can work for eighteen months on one project or a book and then spend a lot and send a long memo to president obama and it appeals to the cerebral side in it of him and so i sit down and talk to him extensively about how he made his decisions so i haven't had a problem i think. going after people who've really been in so forth i can understand the motive there i think it's just not a good policy the problem is there isn't that there's not enough openness in government it's not that

national economic council director gene sperling over jobless benefits.that met with, uh, an unfortunate accident. while he's been incapacitated, somebody's been paying him cash. now, is this your doing? aflac? now, if i met with some such accident, would aflac pay me? ♪ nice. this is your stop. [ male announcer ] find out what aflac can do for you and your family... aflac? [ male announcer ] ...at aflac.com. i needed a new laptop for my pre-med classes, something that runs office and has a keyboard. but i wanted a tablet for me, for stuff like twitter and xbox, so my downtime can be more like uptime. that's why i got a windows 2 in 1 which does both -- works as a laptop and a tablet. so i can manage my crazy life, and also have a life. [ beep ] gotta go. ♪ >>> welcome back, everybody. long-term unemployment benefits expired last saturday for 1.3 million americans after congress failed to pass an extension. joining us to talk about the impact this could have on the economy is gene sperling, the assistant to the president for economic policy. gene, thank y

so i don't know the details of the proposal, but i'll tell you, i ran into jean sperling on the floor of the senate afterwards and said i'm not sure of the details but i'd like to see. they because depending on what it is it could be something we could work together on. >> now that we've accentuated the positive, you have this new op ed in the "wall street journal," the imperial presidency of barack obama. you accuse him of wantonly ignoring federal law. that's not quite accusing him of being a criminal but comes a little bit close. >> it's actually a different thing. it is we have never seen a president in the history of our country who when he disagrees with a law simply says he will not enforce it and unilaterally dedecrees changes to it. when he didn't agree with immigration laws or drug laws or welfare laws he said his administration will not enforce them nipg anymore. with obamacare. over and over again he is directly contradicted the law, just changed it unilaterally. granted an exemption for big business even those text of the law says big business doesn't get an exemption. he

and ebony williams, good to have you here, since i mentioned you last ebony, i turn to you first, sperlingit is false there was a quote, unquote magic number that after the washington post, had given administration two pinnochios for lying about 7 million. >> i have to say even as a left wing supporter that number was certainly -- out there. it was the target number, we heard from secretary kathleen sebelius, now this is an opportunity for dang to kind of make a fuller statement, saying that was an ideal number we would be satisfied with continual yee enroll am. lou: a half million. >> well not a hf a million. they need more, but ty need more context on what the number represents. lou: judy, context, this dang has a hard time -- this dang has a haradministration has a hard e dealing with context. >> i think that is a very good theme for them this tale of two country, de blasio large theme, rich versus -- >> de blasio has just been in office for a couple of days, president for 5 years, democrats control both houses of congress for two o those. senate throughout th. and the presidency throug

. >>> we welcome our guest host for the hour, scott sperling.from the ceo of cantor fitzgerald as well. "squawk box" will be right back. . that's why new york has a new plan -- dozens of tax free zones all across the state. move here, expand here, or start a new business here and pay no taxes for ten years... we're new york. if there's something that creates more jobs, and grows more businesses... we're open to it. start a tax-free business at startup-ny.com. isn't it time you discovered the sleep number bed? the only bed clinically proven to relieve back pain and improve sleep quality. and right now, for five days only, save $300 to $800 on our newest innovations. plus special financing until january 2017 on select sleep number beds. ends monday! only at a sleep number store, where queen mattresses start at just $699.99. sleep number. comfort individualized. life's an adventure and it always has been. but your erectile dysfunction - it could be a question of blood flow. cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's righ

gerri: i have to get you to the highly entertaining quotation on the sunday show gene sperling talkingyou think they actually want to sign up? >> there is no magic number. the key is to enroll as many people. gerri: no magic number? i thought there was. i thought it was 7 million. they have no goal now? >> right. it was clearly stated the goal was 7 million by the end of open enrollment but like many other pieces its is falling short and it may not get to where it needs to go so they take away the expectations so it cannot fall short so it does not comfort americans who are experiencing premium increases are paying taxes. that will not come for the people who feel the heat of the law. gerri: meanwhile those changes without congressional approval continue to pile up. thanks for coming on the show. we appreciate your time. coming up tomorrow state attorneys general are fed up with the changes to obamacare the president makes on his own. we with the reaction tomorrow. and coming up the smart phone wars are heating up with at&t taking drastic measures to pay you for your business. we will

the president's economic advisor, gene sperling said it is one way to take the politics off the tablesten. >> if anybody suggest that is somehow we want to fight for the minimum wage or extending emergency unemployment for political reasons, as opposed to it being the right thing to do, well i have a really good solution. let's get them done right now in a bipartisan way. then everybody can share credit doing something the right thing for the american people. >> reporter: now as you mentioned the president is expected to speak here at the white house next hour after the senate vote react whether it goes up or down. even if it passes today in the senate, still has to go you through the house, martha. it is not clear they have the votes there. martha: what about the efforts on republican side, yes, we are willing to do this but we want to see commensurate cuts? >> reporter: republicans like tom coburn saying we want to help the long-term unemployed and lost their unemployment benefits but you have to find a way to find the so-called offsets to pay for it to make sure the money is not ad

. >> and simon, you heard gene sperling, there is no magic number. the media did not make up the sen million figure. that is the figure they used and here is the evidence. this is what kathleen sebelius said to reporters in june. she said, we are hopeful that 7 million is a realistic target. three months later she used the number in september. >> i think success looks like at least 7 million people having signed up by the end of march 2014. >> success locks like 7 million having seened up. are they back pedalling now. >> yoke so. what gene was saying, we know it is going to be more than just how many people sign up, but whether they get the health insurance and all of the back end stuff is working. success is more complicated than the numberic sign up. 4 million for medicaid and 2 million in the private insurance. and 3 million in the dult plan. and 7 million signed up through the system already. and so the administration feels like things are working okay after a very bad start. >> let me stop you for a second. you are counting 4 million on medicaid

>> he's back in the back. >> ok, gene sperling, thank you very much. >> thanks, jay.here is no question we going to 2014 with more economic momentum. the implement rate is down to seven percent. we've had 2.3 million private sector jobs over the last year. we've seen housing up about 13 -- housing prices up about 13%. question is also a that we need to ensure the economy has more momentum and that we are recovering in a way that leaves no one behind. in terms of job growth, there's no question there are opportunities for us to move the ball forward as a country. the president has put forward a grand bargain on jobs, a proposal he announced at combineoga that would his newest tax reform, lower rates, have a minimum tax combined with an infrastructure initiative. bipartisaning with legislation on housing finance reform, immigration, manufacturing. thatt is also no question we have to make sure that this no oney does leave behind. and that means addressing what is clearly perhaps the worst legacy of the great recession, which is the crisis of long-term unemployment that

coming up on the program i'll speak with president obama's point man on the economy gene sperling andand on the economic battles ahead. and janet napolitano as she plans to lead the u.s. olympic opening in sochi. >> that will do it for this sunday edition of today. dillon hanging out in green bay, you stay warm up there. >> have fun. tape some hand warmers inside your jacket. >> see if you can squish your whole body into your hood. >> maybe somebody will bring you warm beer you asked for. dillon thanks. we'll see you back here soon. to everybody else h

a conversation with gene sperling, director of the national economic council. >>> then, is he the one won't come from washington. >> he took on public unions and became the only governor in history to survive a recall election. wisconsin's scott walker is the first in our series

coming up on the program i'll speak with president obama's point man on the economy gene sperling andet napolitano as she plans to lead the u.s. olympic opening in sochi. >> that will do it for this sunday edition of today. dillon hanging out in green bay, you stay warm up there. >> have fun. tape some hand warmers inside your jacket. >> see if you can squish your whole body into your hood. >> maybe somebody will bring you warm beer you asked for. dillon thanks. we'll see you back here soon. to everybody else >>> good morning. i'm sam brock. coming up on "today in the bay," a little boy missing in oakland now back with his family. the mom wants to know how he disappeared in the first place. >>> and a little girl's frightening ordeal with a kidnapping ends peacefully after being taken at gunpoint in front of her house. we have new details on the investigation and the exploits of the man accused of snatching her. >>> and a major east coast airport shuddered temporarily this morning. we'll tell you why. this is "today in the bay." >> from nbc bay area, this is "today in the bay." >> 7:00

but consider this, bill, and it was implied in part in what you heard gene sperling just say, one of reasons why they want to extend unemployment on what they are saying is an emergency basis is that four and a half plus years into this recovery, unemployment is still so bad that it constitutes an emergency and that it must be remedied by extending unemployment compensation benefits for, what, the fourth or fifth time. >> yeah, it's 99 weeks now, and it would extend it out from 99 weeks. . it's been extended beyond 99 weeks a couple of times, and moreover, let's extended, republicans saying let's do that, okay, we're ready to do that, but let's pay for it. and democrats are not interested in that and they are not saying this will be the last time. and if you look at minimum wage and the whole broader picture of income inequality, that has deteriorated during the obama years, so the president is now hoping to resurrect his party's political fortunes by saying he's going to fix problems that have either occurred or worsened under his administration. >> the only way he can fix them, you

. >> you know, just very briefly, jared, earlier today we heard gene sperling talking about the possibility about a grand bargain for jobs. i thought we weren't supposed to say grand bargain anymore, but apparently it's back. with the idea of some tax cuts on one hand. sort of offsetting some ideas for investments and job creation. and, again, to the point that mike makes in his piece and that you have made, many of these ideas have already been out there. they've already been rejected. and we seem to be up against a group that thinks cutting programs like safety net programs is a way to create jobs. and we know that's just not true. >> right. i don't think there is a lot of energy for coming together on the kinds of ideas that would really help create significant jobs. i will say this. this little budget plan at the end of the year, which paul ryan was a considerable advocate of did reduce the fiscal damage that was baked in the cake for 2014 and 2015. so, again, if you kind of look at some knew answered policy changes, you can see some recognition that the agenda that republicans have had

. >>> your health care, your money, a conversation with gene sperling, director of the national economiccumstance the one? >> the answers aren't going to come from washington. prouben governors are going to drive america's come back. >> he took on public unions and became the only governor in history to survive a recall election. wisconsin's scott walker is the first in our series on the republican party's search for

white house economist gene sperling argues congress exteched the -- extended the benefits many timesthe last 17 times in 20 years that it's been extended there's been no strings attached. >> reporter: president obama will push congress to support the three month extension in a speech today at the white house. he'll be joined by americans whose checks stopped arriving. reporting live in the newsroom, cate caugurian, kpix 5. >> the weather impacted much of the nation yesterday and that delayed the senators from getting to washington. >>> lawmakers meanwhile in congress are trying to finish writing a $1.1 trillion spending bill. their goal is to wrap up the writing later the week so they can vote on it very soon. they are up against a deadline of january 15th to avert another device. the bill -- government shutdown. the bill fills in details in one-third of the federal budget devoted to today. today operations of federal agencies. >>> guanyl yeten is now the -- janet yellen is now the head of one of the most powerful financial institutions in the worlds: the senate confirmed her as the

let me play gene sperling, white house adviser, on "the daily rundown." >> we're making a tangible, concrete difference in creating jobs and innovation, even without an act of congress. i think what you're seeing is a commitment of the president to get things done for real people. >> here's something the president is doing without congress. is that important, considering he doesn't exactly get a lot of cooperation, not a lot is getting done on capitol hill? >> yeah, a lot of presidents face this difficulty in the second term where congress is blocking parts of their agenda, so they start relying more and more on the executive powers that the president has, and i think we're going to see a lot of this from president obama. he has said that he will do everything he can through his pen and his voice to promote his various agenda items. this is a part of it, this public-private partnership he's going to be promoting in north carolina today, and i think we can expect to see that not only on the jobs front, but also on things like gun control, which we've seen him issue executive orders, immigrati

white house economist gene sperling argues congress has extended these benefits many times before inough job markets without offsetting cuts. >> 14 of the last 17 times in 20 years that it's been extended, there's been no strings attached. >> reporter: president obama will push congress to support the three month extension in a speech today at the white house. he'll be joined by americans whose unemployment checks have stopped arriving. reporting live in the newsroom, cate caugurian, kpix 5. >> the senate was supposed to hold a test vote yesterday. >>> and developing right now the record-setting cold temperatures taking over parts of the midwest and extending into the east and south this morning as well. it's making venturing outside very dangerous. it was minus 16 in chicago and 13 below in fort wayne, indiana. and to make matters worse, this morning, some 30,000 homes and businesses in indiana are without power right now. and minnesota schools have been shut down statewide. >> this is the kind of weather where in five minutes, ten minutes kids can get significant frostbite. >> toda

>> some people feel that i was not that nice to gene sperling on "meet the press." i read his book. hyped his book. what is he talking about? i do believe that the republicans if they would just say, you know what, let the chips fall on this health care plan, we'll see you in november, then the market would go up and the republicans would be able to celebrate, that listen, we didn't stand in the way of it but now vote us in. >> you're the best. name of your book, "get rich carefully." i've been taking your advice for years. thank you, jim cramer. in more ways than you can imagine. what a smart guy you are. i know how you vote. we'll be right back after this. >>> let me finish tonight with this. i've been going over christmas and new year's as you know, but really gone. kath and i, thomas and caroline were in two countries in africa that seem to be doing quite well. being a week at each, it's hard to say, for sure, but i heard things. i've been involved for a number of years in the efforts to save the wildlife of the african continent. good work and what is for me a vital mission to

. >> gene sperling talked about this this weekend, about speaking with senator heller about it. let's listen to that. >> i talked to senator heller on friday, and he said, you know, for him this was not ideology, this was being a senator in a state that had 9% unemployment, it was talking to constituents every day who are often in economic distress, who desperately wanted a job, and understanding that we're a country that has each other's back in these difficult times. >> richard wolffee, this does highlight what for me is a republican phenomenon i've watched many, many times, which is they get it if it happens to them. so the republican with the highest unemployment rate in the country in his state is the republican who gets this. and the others are immune to it. >> i don't think that's unique to nevada or anywhere else. you know, we had a great story at msnbc.com today about the kinds of choices these individuals are having to make. people who've saved up for their pickup truck. people who are going to face selling their home today because they're not getting these benefits. a

it was interesting yesterday when gene sperling was on "meet the press," 13 of the last 17 times unemployment benefits were extended, it was without strings. that's really the sticking point here, isn't it, for a lot of republicans. the question is, will they they? >> there's 600 more they need in the house, but it is really important. the rand paul clip, i thought, was critical. we did a story early on from kentucky from his state, there's a lot of people who count on unemployment benefits right now in his own state and 1.3 million people is a lot of people and people are right now thinking about what do i need to sell, you know, am i going to get rid of my truck? we have a story today of voters trying to figure out how to make it through a single week while they are waiting for more debate as lamar alexander says, on benefits. >> is it clear if the democrats said, okay, here's how we're going to pay for it and somehow that gets written into the bill that republicans would accept it? >> that's exactly right. senator chuck schumer, who has been advocating strongly, we don't need to worry abou

>> some people feel that i was not that nice to gene sperling on "meet the press." i read his book.hat is he talking about? i do believe that the republicans if they would just say, you know what, let the chips fall on this health care plan, we'll see you in november, then the market would go up and the republicans would be able to celebrate, that listen, we didn't stand in the way of it but now vote us in. >> you're the best. name of your book, "get rich carefully." i've been taking your advice for years. thank you, jim cramer. in more ways than you can imagine. what a smart guy you are. i know how you vote. we'll be right back after this. [ male announcer ] here's a question for you: is your tv powered by coal? natural gas? nuclear? or renewables like solar... and wind? let's find out. this is where america's electricity comes from. a diversity of energy sources helps ensure the electricity we need is reliable. take the energy quiz. energy lives here. afghanistan, in 2009. on the u.s.s. saratoga in 1982. [ male announcer ] once it's earned, usaa auto insurance is often handed down

president obama's chief economic advisor -- gene sperling -- spoke at the white house today... >> the clear right thing for us to do right now is pass this measure now in its current form. and again, it's just for three months. it gives more time to have those type of-- you know, further bipartisan discussions about what else you might do to extend it after that. >> reporter: but a number of republicans-- including say the cost must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. within it's a total violation of fiscal responsibility. it just is. if just is. i wish if weren't so. i wish we could just do this and it wouldn't cost anything. >> the president means to step up the pressure on congress tomorrow when he hosts a white house event for people who've lost benefits. >> ifill: now we look more closely at the broader political fight brewing this election year. first, the case made by the president's team. thomas perez is the secretary of labor. he joined us from the white house earlier this evening. secretary perez, thank you for joining us. >> my pleasure. >> ifill: th

here's gene sperling, the white house money guy, on extending it. >> so look, why don't we do this. les pass the heller-reed proposal tomorrow. that will extend unemployment insurance for three months. it will help these 1.3 million people and their families. and then we can have time to then work for what is the best way to extend it for the rest of the year. >> you know what we're seeing right now? starting today the first day that th*e back for this new year 2014, we're seeing exactly what the dynamics are going to be going into the elections in november. it's very simple. the democrats think they've got a winner in income inequality. so they're going to push unemployment. they're going to push minimum wage, things like that. meanwhile, on the republican side, what they're going to do is they're going to remind people that the affordable care act, which the democrats installed, has been a disaster. democrats want to change the subject and the republicans want to remember, people, how bad it is right now. >> we want to ask you this on facebook let us know how long do you think job

[laughter] [applause] we are in the back, and gene sperling, who did extraordinary work putting this whole summit together, said, everybody is so excited that michelle is here. [laughter] well, what about me? [laughter] you should be excited for her being here. and a bodya passion , a passion to this issue that is extraordinary. i could not be prouder of the work she is already done and the work i know she will keep on doing around these issues. she left one thing out of her speech. that is that it is her birthday tomorrow. to keep that in mind. [applause] are here for one purpose. we want to make sure more young people have the chance to earn a higher education. economy, wecentury all understand it has never been more important. the good news is that our economy is steadily growing. and strengthening after the worst recession in a generation. we have created more than 8 million new jobs in manufacturing -- and manufacturing is growing. thanks to keep public investments and research and development, what we have seen is not only an energy revolution that bodes well for our future, bu

gene sperling he did the extraordinary work putting this all summer together said everybody is so excited that michele this year. i said, well, what about me. he should be excited about her being here. she brings a passion, a body of experience and a passion to this issue that is extraordinary. i could not be more proud of the work she is done in the work the issue will keep on doing around these issues. she did leave pointing out of her speech. it is her birthday tomorrow. i want everybody to keep that in mind. we are here for one purpose. we want to make sure more young people have the chance to earn a higher education. and in the 21st century economy we all understand is there been more important. the good news is that our economy is steadily growing and strengthening after the worst recession in a generation. we created more than 8 million new jobs, manufacturing is growing, led by a bull ring of industry thanks to some key public investments and advances like affordable energy and research and development. will we have seen is not only in energy revolution in this country the boswell

here's a little bit more of what gene sperling had to say. >> we do admit that the worst legacy of thisf long-term unemployment. and as jim says, we have to hit it on all fronts. we have to do job creation and work with ceos, but we have to give them support. >> another big item on the president's agenda, getting immigration reform passed. you'll recall a bipartisan bill pass the through the senate, but there was really no movement on that in the house. but his biggest priority will be turning the tide on health care. as you know, a rocky rollout in 2013 of the health care website. the administration has gotten the website functioning far more smoothly. more than 2 million people have enrolled, but there are still some glitches with the enrollment applications. so the administration will be focused on getting those glitches worked out. it is key for this administration to make that happen in order to turn the narrative around on health care so that the president can focus on the other items on his second-term agenda. >> i think you even added things to his agenda. so break is so over, c