the obama administration, how would that translate in terms of people either above or below the poverty line? more fall below or just the opposite? reporter: probably. that s what folks we re talking to think. we can t get a clear answer on that from the administration. let s take a look at new york city. i want to show you what happened in new york city. two years ago the city started using their own measure of poverty. they factored in the extremely high cost of living here, for example, under federal guidelines when they followed the federal procedure was 17.6% in this city. when they followed their own guidelines, the poverty level, the rate, if you will, was 22%. that s 350,000 more people in one city that fell under the poverty line. imagine that multiplied on a national level. and that s why this is so important, especially in this economy. so we re going to be watching for those numbers and more on this from the administration. something to keep an eye on, though. the formu
back to work, the priority for the administration, for members of congress, ahead of the mid terms this year. major garrett is at the white house. he s a bit covered. we need to get you a hat, buddy. reporter: no hat needed! jane: tough guy, this meeting is happening in the midst of this blizzard. talk to me about it being a long time in coming. reporter: it really is a long time in coming, african-american leaders have been asking this president what specifically are you going to do, sir, to deal with unemployment and the situation among african-americans. the labor department came out with slightly good news in january, i put the emphasis on slightly, 9.7% unemployment rate, down 3/10 of a percent from 10 percent. remember the unemployment rate for after african-americans, 16.5%, and for african-american men over the age of 20, 17.6%, and we have video of three of the four members arriving at the white house, just a couple of minutes ago,al