Friday
Jan092004
White House Gaggle
Friday, January 9, 2004 at 1:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
White House Gaggle
By: Ellen Ratner
January 9, 2004
President's Schedule
The President had his usual round of briefings and met with the National Security Council. Secretary Ridge was present. He then taped his radio address. This morning he is attending a Department of Commerce meeting with small business owners. He is also meeting with the ambassador to Afghanistan. Then he will be speaking to the National Catholic Education Association in the East Room and then meet with Senior Executive Service and Agency leadership at Constitutional Hall. He will then leave for Texas. This afternoon Dr. Rice will brief on the president's trip to Mexico. Tom Ridge will brief at 11:30 this morning.
Future Meetings
Prime Minister Aznar from Spain will meet with the President on January 14th and there will be a dinner for him that evening. The president of Poland will be welcomed at the White House on January 26th and the Prime Minister of Turkey will be in Washington on January 28th. They will discuss counterterrorism issues, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, as well as economic and trade matters. Turkey will host NATO's summit in June.
Economy
Asked about the drop-off in employment, McClellan said, "America has gained more than a quarter of a million new jobs since the peak of unemployment. This underscores that there is more to do." McClellan went on to say "there is a need to act on the president's six point plan." Then when asked about the IMF report he said that "the economy is on the right course." He said there needs to be lawsuit reform, control of health care expensive, regulatory reform, and a permanent tax cut.
Space Program
When asked about the space program and the deficit McClellan said "listen to what the president says next Wednesday." He added that the administration took "a comprehensive review of our space policy" and that this was done by the Domestic Policy Council and the National Security Council who "looked at the way resources were allocated." McClellan concluded: "The president believes in putting forth a responsible budget that meets our priorities."
Weapons of Mass Destruction
McClellan said that the Iraq Survey Group continued to do its work now that the world is a safer place because Saddam Hussein has been removed from power. He added that "Iraq was in material breech of UN resolution 1441." He said that there was speculation about Dr Kay quitting his position, but there have been no announcements yet.
Week Ahead
On Monday and Tuesday, President Bush will be in Monterey, Mexico. On Wednesday, he will attend a Republican National Committee luncheon, a space policy speech, and meet with the President of Spain. On Thursday, the President will travel to New Orleans and attend a speech on faith based initiatives. He will then travel to Atlanta and lay a wreath at the King Center to honor Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He will also attend fundraisers that day. On Friday, the President will travel to Camp David and return to Washington on Sunday.
White House Gaggle
By: Ellen Ratner
January 9, 2004
President's Schedule
The President had his usual round of briefings and met with the National Security Council. Secretary Ridge was present. He then taped his radio address. This morning he is attending a Department of Commerce meeting with small business owners. He is also meeting with the ambassador to Afghanistan. Then he will be speaking to the National Catholic Education Association in the East Room and then meet with Senior Executive Service and Agency leadership at Constitutional Hall. He will then leave for Texas. This afternoon Dr. Rice will brief on the president's trip to Mexico. Tom Ridge will brief at 11:30 this morning.
Future Meetings
Prime Minister Aznar from Spain will meet with the President on January 14th and there will be a dinner for him that evening. The president of Poland will be welcomed at the White House on January 26th and the Prime Minister of Turkey will be in Washington on January 28th. They will discuss counterterrorism issues, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, as well as economic and trade matters. Turkey will host NATO's summit in June.
Economy
Asked about the drop-off in employment, McClellan said, "America has gained more than a quarter of a million new jobs since the peak of unemployment. This underscores that there is more to do." McClellan went on to say "there is a need to act on the president's six point plan." Then when asked about the IMF report he said that "the economy is on the right course." He said there needs to be lawsuit reform, control of health care expensive, regulatory reform, and a permanent tax cut.
Space Program
When asked about the space program and the deficit McClellan said "listen to what the president says next Wednesday." He added that the administration took "a comprehensive review of our space policy" and that this was done by the Domestic Policy Council and the National Security Council who "looked at the way resources were allocated." McClellan concluded: "The president believes in putting forth a responsible budget that meets our priorities."
Weapons of Mass Destruction
McClellan said that the Iraq Survey Group continued to do its work now that the world is a safer place because Saddam Hussein has been removed from power. He added that "Iraq was in material breech of UN resolution 1441." He said that there was speculation about Dr Kay quitting his position, but there have been no announcements yet.
Week Ahead
On Monday and Tuesday, President Bush will be in Monterey, Mexico. On Wednesday, he will attend a Republican National Committee luncheon, a space policy speech, and meet with the President of Spain. On Thursday, the President will travel to New Orleans and attend a speech on faith based initiatives. He will then travel to Atlanta and lay a wreath at the King Center to honor Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He will also attend fundraisers that day. On Friday, the President will travel to Camp David and return to Washington on Sunday.
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