Vice President Joe Biden this week caused a stir with his suggestion that without passage of the president's job bill, the U.S. could see a spike in crime -- such as rapes and murder -- because some police departments are facing layoffs.

The White House today didn't back away from those claims: "I think it would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t agree with the simple equation that fewer police officers on the street has a direct effect on the crime rate," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. "Having more law enforcement officers on the job, police officers on the job, would have a positive impact on crime. That’s the point he was making. And that’s a point that the President absolutely does share."

Under Obama's $447 billion jobs package, cities and towns could get money to prevent firefighters, cops and teachers from losing their jobs.

The most colorful moment of Joe Biden's trip to Asia comes during brief stop in Mongolia.

This from a great pool report by Mike Memoli:

"VP arrived at 4:25 in an open field outside of Ulan Bator for a cultural demonstration...

"Next: Three Games of Men: a wrestling competition. Eight men wearing boots, undershorts and a garment covering only their arms and back squared off in pairs on the dirt field. Four other men in blue or red robes seemed to be officiating."

Vice President Joe Biden took off Tuesday on a trip to China, Mongolia and Japan, his first to East Asia as vice president.

In China, he'll spend 4 days visiting Beijing, Chengdu and Dujiangyan City. Top on the agenda, visiting with Vice President Xi and developing relationships with the next generation of China's leaders.

In Mongolia, he'll spend a day visiting the capital of Ulaanbaatar, where he may be greeted with a demonstration of Mongolian sports including archery, horse racing and wrestling. "We're looking forward to that," said one aide.

Biden will be the first vice president to visit Mongolia since Henry Wallace in 1944.

Wrapping up with a two-day visit to Japan, Biden will go to Sendai, where U.S. forces helped reopen the airport after the earthquake this year.

President Barack Obama visited the Norwegian Embassy in Washington Tuesday to extend his sympathy over the rampage in Oslo that killed at least 76 people.

Obama was joined by Vice President Joe Biden in the unannounced visit.

After a testy night of fingerpointing, congressional leaders met for just under an hour this morning with President Barack Obama and vice president Joe Biden. No word yet on the next steps -- Obama said he expected leaders to present him with a plan to avoid default after talks between the WHite House and House Speaker John Boehner collapsed.

Despite the weekend casual look -- the men in blazers, no ties -- the mood looked grim from the pool video shot at the beginning of the confab.

From the White House pool report: "Strained body language suggested a school principal's office with a handful of sullen suspects sitting grimly downcast as the boss says: 'OK, we're going to sit here all day until I find out who shot that spitball.' "

The sitting arrangement has the president flanked by House Speaker John Boehner on his right, and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid to his left. Across the table, facing the Rose Garden: Biden, flanked by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on his left and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to his right.

President Barack Obama will take a break Saturday at the presidential retreat, Camp David, before returning to the White House Sunday for a round of deficit reduction talks.

It could be a looong night: the schedule has Obama and vice president Joe Biden meeting with congressional leaders at 6 p.m. Sunday to begin the talks. Biden will spend Saturday at his home in Delaware.

While the pros play the U.S. Open across town, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are playing golf Saturday at Andrews Air Force Base.
The foursome – filled out by Vice President Joe Biden on the Democratic side and Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the Republican side – allowed reporters to watch them finish the first hole.

From print pool reporter Sam Youngman, no slouch himself on the links:

“On the first green, Gov. Kasich, wearing long pants and an Ohio State University, missed a 30-foot putt but tapped in for par (scores are unconfirmed but an official's estimation).

“Next up, VPOTUS drained a 15-footer to make what we believe is bogey on the par 5 first hole.

“POTUS putted next. Wearing long pants and a white polo, he crouched down to line up his shot before just missing a 12-footer. He tapped in for par.

“The Speaker, who apparently hit a nice approach shot, putted last, hitting a short putt for par.

“After holing out, the foursome walked back to their carts with POTUS patting Boehner on the back. They are riding together while VPOTUS and Kasich ride in the other cart.”

The second day of bipartisan debt reduction talks ended Wednesday with lawmakers saying they hoped to reach an agreement by July 1.

That would give Congress about a month to consider any plan, expected to aim to dramatically reduce spending and perhaps increase some taxes, before the government runs out of borrowing authority, likely August 2.

While no formal agreements were announced, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., top House Budget Committee Democrat, said "there was broad support for the idea that we put in place a mechanism that ensures deficit reduction."

That could mean triggers that would automatically reduce spending if the deficit grew too large.

The talks, presided over by Vice President Joe Biden, have been going on for more than a month, and are expected to continue later this week.

Let's not go home, Senate Republicans say.

The Senate is supposed to begin an extended Memorial Day recess Friday, and not return until June 6. But the Senate has not yet adopted a budget blueprint for fiscal 2012.

The House of Representatives passed its plan last month, but the Republican-authored proposal died in the Senate this week.

Senate Republicans want a budget--or, they say, they should stay in Washington until one is adopted. Democrats counter that because Vice President Joe Biden is leading bipartisan talks aimed at an agreement, there's no need to act now. Biden met Thursday with the group.

The Senate GOP letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada:

"In our view it would be an astounding abandonment of responsibility for the Senate to go on recess without having taken any steps to produce a budget. We hope that, as required by law and in your capacity as Majority Leader, you change course and follow the example of the Republican-led House and provide the American people with the honest leadership and the honest budget they deserve."