Monday
May012006
White House Gaggle
Monday, May 1, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Gregory Gorman
White House Gaggle
May 1, 2006
By Gregory Gorman
President's Schedule
The president met with the Secretaries of Defense and State this morning in the Oval Office at 9:00 am. They discussed the new unity government in Iraq as well as the Secretaries' recent trip to Iraq. The president spoke briefly today with Russian President Putin to discuss Iran and bilateral U.S./Russian World Trade Organization negotiations. At 10:15 am President and Mrs. Bush will make remarks at the Preserve America Presidential Awards in the Rose Garden. This afternoon, the president will travel to the Washington Hilton to make remarks to the American Hospital Association on his health care initiatives and his comprehensive strategy to make health care more affordable.
Gas Prices
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that the current high price for gasoline is a problem that has been decades in the making and one that will not be solved overnight. He stated, "We are a nation that is dependent on foreign oil and that has only increased over the last few decades. The president has outlined policies to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and weed us off foreign oil". The White House understands that this is a crisis for families that live on a budget but that the American economy is currently strong and very resilient. McClellan said that this is a supply and demand issue, "We need to increase supply and reduce demand".
War Plan
In response to Colin Powell's statement that his recommendation for more troops in Iraq was not followed by the White House, McClellan said that the president did seek advice from his entire team, including his military commanders, and that a lot of advice was given on how to best implement a war plan and how best to succeed. "The president, when he went around the table before the war plan was finalized, he looked at his commanders, he looked at his Joint Chiefs of Staff, he looked at General Franks and others, and said, 'Do you have everything you need? Do you support this plan? They all responded 'Yes'". According to McClellan, the final war plan was based not only on what was needed to succeed and overthrow the regime but what would be needed in the aftermath as well.
Health Care Plan
In today's remarks to the American Hospital Association, the president will discuss his five-point plan for better and more affordable health care. He will talk about not only the obligations of the administration for the poor and elderly on Medicaid and Medicare but as well as making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. McClellan believes that Congress is looking at this issue and stated that the White House had made this issue a priority.
Oil Companies
McClellan reiterated the president's view from last week that the big oil companies should be reinvesting some of their profits into redeveloping new technologies, promoting alternative sources of energy and expanding domestic oil production and refining. The president also believes that the big oil companies do not need to taxpayer funded incentives any longer when they are experiencing record-breaking quarterly profits and the price of oil is at record levels.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The president wants comprehensive immigration reform and believes that now there is a real opportunity to get immigration reform out of the Senate and into conference committee. McClellan said, "This is a difficult and emotional issue . . . We should all work together to elevate the debate and reduce some of the charged rhetoric that sometimes comes with an issue like this. The president is going to continue working with leaders of the Senate".
Vision for Iraq
McClellan said that the president remains committed to the vision for Iraq that was outlined and established in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, which called for a full democratic, pluralist and unified Iraq with full respect for political and human rights. He went on, "The Iraqi Constitution provides flexibility for the Iraqis to work out a precise division of authority in the federal government and provincial or regional governments . . . the unity government will really allow Iraqis to work out these issues in a manner acceptable to all communities. We will work with them as they do so".
"Mission Accomplished" Anniversary
When asked about some Democrats' negative comments on today's three year anniversary of the president's landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln and standing under a "Mission Accomplished" banner, McClellan said, "It is unfortunate those Democrats refuse to recognize that a new unity government has just recently been formed which really lays the foundation for more progress moving forward".
White House Gaggle
May 1, 2006
By Gregory Gorman
President's Schedule
The president met with the Secretaries of Defense and State this morning in the Oval Office at 9:00 am. They discussed the new unity government in Iraq as well as the Secretaries' recent trip to Iraq. The president spoke briefly today with Russian President Putin to discuss Iran and bilateral U.S./Russian World Trade Organization negotiations. At 10:15 am President and Mrs. Bush will make remarks at the Preserve America Presidential Awards in the Rose Garden. This afternoon, the president will travel to the Washington Hilton to make remarks to the American Hospital Association on his health care initiatives and his comprehensive strategy to make health care more affordable.
Gas Prices
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that the current high price for gasoline is a problem that has been decades in the making and one that will not be solved overnight. He stated, "We are a nation that is dependent on foreign oil and that has only increased over the last few decades. The president has outlined policies to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and weed us off foreign oil". The White House understands that this is a crisis for families that live on a budget but that the American economy is currently strong and very resilient. McClellan said that this is a supply and demand issue, "We need to increase supply and reduce demand".
War Plan
In response to Colin Powell's statement that his recommendation for more troops in Iraq was not followed by the White House, McClellan said that the president did seek advice from his entire team, including his military commanders, and that a lot of advice was given on how to best implement a war plan and how best to succeed. "The president, when he went around the table before the war plan was finalized, he looked at his commanders, he looked at his Joint Chiefs of Staff, he looked at General Franks and others, and said, 'Do you have everything you need? Do you support this plan? They all responded 'Yes'". According to McClellan, the final war plan was based not only on what was needed to succeed and overthrow the regime but what would be needed in the aftermath as well.
Health Care Plan
In today's remarks to the American Hospital Association, the president will discuss his five-point plan for better and more affordable health care. He will talk about not only the obligations of the administration for the poor and elderly on Medicaid and Medicare but as well as making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. McClellan believes that Congress is looking at this issue and stated that the White House had made this issue a priority.
Oil Companies
McClellan reiterated the president's view from last week that the big oil companies should be reinvesting some of their profits into redeveloping new technologies, promoting alternative sources of energy and expanding domestic oil production and refining. The president also believes that the big oil companies do not need to taxpayer funded incentives any longer when they are experiencing record-breaking quarterly profits and the price of oil is at record levels.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The president wants comprehensive immigration reform and believes that now there is a real opportunity to get immigration reform out of the Senate and into conference committee. McClellan said, "This is a difficult and emotional issue . . . We should all work together to elevate the debate and reduce some of the charged rhetoric that sometimes comes with an issue like this. The president is going to continue working with leaders of the Senate".
Vision for Iraq
McClellan said that the president remains committed to the vision for Iraq that was outlined and established in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, which called for a full democratic, pluralist and unified Iraq with full respect for political and human rights. He went on, "The Iraqi Constitution provides flexibility for the Iraqis to work out a precise division of authority in the federal government and provincial or regional governments . . . the unity government will really allow Iraqis to work out these issues in a manner acceptable to all communities. We will work with them as they do so".
"Mission Accomplished" Anniversary
When asked about some Democrats' negative comments on today's three year anniversary of the president's landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln and standing under a "Mission Accomplished" banner, McClellan said, "It is unfortunate those Democrats refuse to recognize that a new unity government has just recently been formed which really lays the foundation for more progress moving forward".
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