much money they want to cut. they feel democrats don't want to cut anything from the fiscal year right now. republicans have staked out their strategy on 61 billion of the current fiscal year. they're going to try to go to the negotiating table and try to find some number in the middle. remember, the budget that house republicans passed which right now is their starting point contains a lot of things that are deeply unpopular to democrats. cuts into things like women, infants, children, pell grants, things like teach for america, amer core. someone like joe biden who knows someone on both sides and senate democrats taking something that mitch mcconnell can pass through the house. it's going to be quite a monument al task. >> luke, how does it change the tone of the meetings when we say vice president biden is going to be attending, directing them. >> well, one thing we have heard from a lot of republicans is that the white house has had no involvement in discussions