billion and $61 billion. the number two senate democrat dick durbin would not confirm that the number has moved from $33 billion to $40 billion. the brinksmanship of republicans have already resulted in billions of dollars of cuts just from the continuing resolutions that have already been passed. affected highway funding, education programs, programs designed to arrest climate change as well as reductions in a vast array of discretionary spending while, of course, leaving the department of defense essentially untouched. thafls all of this while the official unemployment rate is around 9%, stagnating wages and millions of foreclosures continue to hammer middle class families and threaten the very delicate beginnings of an economic recovery. we may be looking at death for that recovery by 1,000 cuts as i speak. let s bring in congressman barney frank of massachusetts. good evening, congressman. good evening. what is your feeling right now about what the ultimate outcome of this?