Thursday
Sep112003
White House Gaggle
Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 1:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
Schedule:
The President made remarks after church this morning, observed a moment of silence and had his usual morning briefings. He has a meeting with the Secretary of State. Later today he will go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he will be with approximately thirty patients and their families and award eleven purple hearts.
On Friday the President will visit Ft. Stewart to meet with the 3rd Infantry Division. He will then attend a fundraiser in Texas and spend the weekend at Camp David.
The White House announced the President will travel to Monroe, Michigan, on Monday and then Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. His remarks in Michigan will focus on environmental protection.
Bin Laden Tape and Security Issues:
The President was briefed on the tape this morning. McClellan said that there are increasing indications that al Qaeda wants to strike US interests abroad. McClellan said that there would be readout from the intelligence community. He also said that an advisory was sent out that we remain under the current threat level and that it is a reminder that "there are still those that are enemies of peace and freedom." He said that Afghanistan was no longer a "safe haven for the Taliban."
Iraq:
McClellan said that Iraq has "become a central battlefield because of the progress we have made." He also said that the international community has a stake in building a free and democratic Iraq "and that the international community has a shared goal of transferring leadership to the Iraqi people as soon as possible." During a fair part of the gaggle McClellan was questioned by Fox News Channel's Goler and others about the cost to taxpayers if the international community does not make up the difference in the cost of rebuilding Iraq. The total estimated cost is 75 billion dollars. The US has budgeted 20 billion (for reconstruction) out of the 87 requested by President Bush. 12 billion is to come from oil revenues this year with 20 billion in the following years, leaving a huge gap. When questioned about it, McClellan would only say that "we are basing our assessments based on the facts on the ground."
Overtime:
The White House position remains the same. McClellan said that the bill "restores overtime protections that have eroded over the last 50 years for white collar workers and that the Labor Department estimates that it will add 1.3 million people who will be legible for overtime pay. He said that it does not apply to workers covered by collective bargaining. He also said that the Labor Department went through an extensive period of public commentary garnering 80 thousand public comments on this rule.
Mid-East:
McClellan said that the two-state vision is a hopeful vision and that "all parties have important responsibilities for peace to prevail." He again reiterated the need to dismantle terrorist forces. Regarding Howard Dean's position on Israel he said, "we are not going to insert ourselves into the Democratic Primary."
Schedule:
The President made remarks after church this morning, observed a moment of silence and had his usual morning briefings. He has a meeting with the Secretary of State. Later today he will go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he will be with approximately thirty patients and their families and award eleven purple hearts.
On Friday the President will visit Ft. Stewart to meet with the 3rd Infantry Division. He will then attend a fundraiser in Texas and spend the weekend at Camp David.
The White House announced the President will travel to Monroe, Michigan, on Monday and then Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. His remarks in Michigan will focus on environmental protection.
Bin Laden Tape and Security Issues:
The President was briefed on the tape this morning. McClellan said that there are increasing indications that al Qaeda wants to strike US interests abroad. McClellan said that there would be readout from the intelligence community. He also said that an advisory was sent out that we remain under the current threat level and that it is a reminder that "there are still those that are enemies of peace and freedom." He said that Afghanistan was no longer a "safe haven for the Taliban."
Iraq:
McClellan said that Iraq has "become a central battlefield because of the progress we have made." He also said that the international community has a stake in building a free and democratic Iraq "and that the international community has a shared goal of transferring leadership to the Iraqi people as soon as possible." During a fair part of the gaggle McClellan was questioned by Fox News Channel's Goler and others about the cost to taxpayers if the international community does not make up the difference in the cost of rebuilding Iraq. The total estimated cost is 75 billion dollars. The US has budgeted 20 billion (for reconstruction) out of the 87 requested by President Bush. 12 billion is to come from oil revenues this year with 20 billion in the following years, leaving a huge gap. When questioned about it, McClellan would only say that "we are basing our assessments based on the facts on the ground."
Overtime:
The White House position remains the same. McClellan said that the bill "restores overtime protections that have eroded over the last 50 years for white collar workers and that the Labor Department estimates that it will add 1.3 million people who will be legible for overtime pay. He said that it does not apply to workers covered by collective bargaining. He also said that the Labor Department went through an extensive period of public commentary garnering 80 thousand public comments on this rule.
Mid-East:
McClellan said that the two-state vision is a hopeful vision and that "all parties have important responsibilities for peace to prevail." He again reiterated the need to dismantle terrorist forces. Regarding Howard Dean's position on Israel he said, "we are not going to insert ourselves into the Democratic Primary."
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