Thursday
Apr142005
White House Gaggle
Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 3:00AM
By Gregory Gorman
April 14, 2005
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. This morning the President will meet with Natwar Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, followed by a roundtable interview with sports writers from USA Today, The Washington Post and The Washington Times to discuss issues related to baseball returning to Washington after a thirty four year absence. Also this morning, the President will meet with some Republican members of the House of Representatives in the Cabinet Room to discuss Social Security reform. At 1:15 PM, the President will make remarks at the American Society of Newspapers Annual Editors Convention followed by a brief question and answer session with reporters. At 4:25 PM, the President will have a brief meeting with the recipients of the 2004 Presidential Award for excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching. This evening, the President will throw out the first pitch and attend the home opener of the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium. Mrs. Bush will attend the game as well as other members of the President's family.
Baseball Returns to Washington, DC
Press Secretary Scott McClellan was asked if the President has taken time to practice for tonight's first pitch. McClellan responded that the President has had some practice but expects to take more time later today. The President will be speaking to local sports writers this afternoon about issues related to baseball. He is one of many baseball fans in Washington who are pleased to see baseball return to the nation's capital.
Pressure on Social Security Reform
McClellan was asked if the President feels pressure to drop the issue of personal accounts from his Social Security reform. According to McClellan, the President believes that, "we need to make sure that Social Security is permanently sound and that it is a better deal for younger Americans. This is about strengthening it for our children and grandchildren". The President is continuing to educate the American people about the problems facing the Social Security system. McClellan reiterated that the President is open to all ideas for moving forward and finding a solution. He believes that there are principles for reforming Social Security that include making the system permanently sound, providing younger workers with an opportunity to see a greater rate of return on their retirement savings and making sure that senior citizens do not see any changes in their current benefits.
Immigration Reform
McClellan was asked if the President had plans to veto a bill that has been introduced in the Senate which would give citizenship to immigrants who can prove that they have been working in the United State for 2 to 3 years. McClellan responded that immigration reform continues to be a high priority and that the President has put forward ideas to move forward with a temporary worker program. The President believes that this is part of addressing the problems facing the immigration system. The administration will continue to working closely with Congress on the President's immigration initiative. McClellan commented that it was too early to discuss a presidential veto of a bill that is still in the Senate.
American Hostage in Iraq
Helen Thomas asked McClellan if the administration is doing anything to rescue an American hostage currently being held in Iraq including any back-channel negotiations. McClellan said that the White House is in close contact with the family of the hostage and that he remains a high priority. When pressed on the question of whether the administration was in contact with anyone in Iraq, McClellan said that is better to avoid talking about the issue in situations like this. He refused to comment further.
April 14, 2005
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. This morning the President will meet with Natwar Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, followed by a roundtable interview with sports writers from USA Today, The Washington Post and The Washington Times to discuss issues related to baseball returning to Washington after a thirty four year absence. Also this morning, the President will meet with some Republican members of the House of Representatives in the Cabinet Room to discuss Social Security reform. At 1:15 PM, the President will make remarks at the American Society of Newspapers Annual Editors Convention followed by a brief question and answer session with reporters. At 4:25 PM, the President will have a brief meeting with the recipients of the 2004 Presidential Award for excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching. This evening, the President will throw out the first pitch and attend the home opener of the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium. Mrs. Bush will attend the game as well as other members of the President's family.
Baseball Returns to Washington, DC
Press Secretary Scott McClellan was asked if the President has taken time to practice for tonight's first pitch. McClellan responded that the President has had some practice but expects to take more time later today. The President will be speaking to local sports writers this afternoon about issues related to baseball. He is one of many baseball fans in Washington who are pleased to see baseball return to the nation's capital.
Pressure on Social Security Reform
McClellan was asked if the President feels pressure to drop the issue of personal accounts from his Social Security reform. According to McClellan, the President believes that, "we need to make sure that Social Security is permanently sound and that it is a better deal for younger Americans. This is about strengthening it for our children and grandchildren". The President is continuing to educate the American people about the problems facing the Social Security system. McClellan reiterated that the President is open to all ideas for moving forward and finding a solution. He believes that there are principles for reforming Social Security that include making the system permanently sound, providing younger workers with an opportunity to see a greater rate of return on their retirement savings and making sure that senior citizens do not see any changes in their current benefits.
Immigration Reform
McClellan was asked if the President had plans to veto a bill that has been introduced in the Senate which would give citizenship to immigrants who can prove that they have been working in the United State for 2 to 3 years. McClellan responded that immigration reform continues to be a high priority and that the President has put forward ideas to move forward with a temporary worker program. The President believes that this is part of addressing the problems facing the immigration system. The administration will continue to working closely with Congress on the President's immigration initiative. McClellan commented that it was too early to discuss a presidential veto of a bill that is still in the Senate.
American Hostage in Iraq
Helen Thomas asked McClellan if the administration is doing anything to rescue an American hostage currently being held in Iraq including any back-channel negotiations. McClellan said that the White House is in close contact with the family of the hostage and that he remains a high priority. When pressed on the question of whether the administration was in contact with anyone in Iraq, McClellan said that is better to avoid talking about the issue in situations like this. He refused to comment further.
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