His contention is at odds with the Congressional Budget Office findings last August that the stimulus package increased the number of people employed by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million and cut unemployment by between 0.7 percentage point and 1.8 percentage point.

The speaker also repeated an assertion made by House Republicans that their plan to privatize Medicare will give future recipients "the same kinds of options that members of Congress currently have."

The Congressional Budget Office projected in an April 5 report that under the Republican plan, by 2030 the government would pay 32 percent of the health-care costs of a typical 65-year-old. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management's benefit handbook says the government pays 75 percent of the health-care costs of federal workers, including members of Congress.

More Talks Today

Negotiations led by Vice President Joe Biden resume today among congressional leaders, including Kyl and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican.

"I am guarded in my optimism" about the discussions, Cantor said today on Bloomberg Television. "There needs to be an acceptance that we're going to have to do some tough things."

One possible area of agreement may be the duration of the debt-limit extension. Conrad suggested a short-term increase through year's end to give lawmakers a chance to approve a plan. Boehner said there is "no hard date" for raising the debt ceiling.

The Treasury Department says the U.S. will reach the debt limit of $14.29 trillion as early as May 16. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said he can use "extraordinary measures" to continue borrowing money through Aug. 2.

In his appearance before Wall Street financiers, Boehner was challenged to give investors enough assurance that the U.S. won't default on its obligations without undermining his bargaining position in the debt-limit talks.

'Somewhat Uneasy'

"I know there are a lot of you in this room who are somewhat uneasy with this debate," he said. "I understand your concerns."

"Allowing America to default would be irresponsible," he added. "But it would be more irresponsible to raise the debt ceiling without simultaneously taking dramatic steps to reduce spending and reform the budget process."