Tuesday
Feb062007
White House Gaggle
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle
February 6, 2007
By Victoria Jones
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He is visiting Micron Technology in Manassas VA, this morning. He will make remarks on fiscal responsibility.
Budget
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked if it was fair to say that the budget does not raise taxes when the health care plan would raise taxes on some people. She said that the plan is budget neutral. There will be some people that will possibly have additional taxes based on the plan, but that totally obscures what the President's policy is. The reporter pointed out that this is the job of the press. Perino noted that the press is very good at it. She said the vast majority of Americans would have a tax savings.
Perino was asked what the President thinks the chances are that the Democrats will buy into his budget plan. Perino said there are several administration officials on the Hill talking to Members of Congress about the budget. There will be additional Cabinet secretaries through the end of this week, going into next week, going to talk to them. It is a budget that gets to the goal of reaching a balance by 2012, a balance the Democrats say they share. The President has shown a way to do that without raising taxes, she said.
A reporter said that there was nothing in the budget to sweeten it for the Democrats. Perino replied that there is additional money for education and Pell grants. There is money for HIV AIDS and international development programs. There is significant spending for the global war on terror and keeping the country safe.
Perino was asked what some of the points of negotiation are, as some have proclaimed the budget dead on arrival. She said that was not a very responsible way to deal with the taxpayers' money. The President's responsibility is to put forward a budget, and the Congress' responsibility is to work on a budget that funds the federal government.
The President thinks we have to fund the global war on terror, and we have to look at entitlement spending and what can be done on that. He is asking people to come to the table. If they have different ideas, then let us hear them. There are no preconditions on that.
Asked if there are areas to compromise, such as energy and education, Perino said there are probably more places where there is agreement than disagreement on some issues. On energy, there is core bipartisan support for renewable energy and alternative fuels. No Child Left Behind is another. Pell grants are another. There are some tougher issues.
It was pointed out that in the budget the vast majority of the $290B for terrorism goes to the Department of Defense, and only about $10B goes for non military initiatives. Perino was asked if there were any non military initiatives that she could point to. She said she could not, but would hook the reporter up with the appropriate person.
Iraq Resolution
Perino was asked if the Iraq resolution is dead. She said the President supports Senator Lott, Senator McConnell and the Republicans who believe that all sides have a right to be heard. She said it was puzzling that some have charged that they want to limit debate when what they are calling for is full debate on three resolutions, including one about funding for the troops.
It was stated that Sen. Durbin says that the White House pressured senators to insist on other resolutions, in addition to Sen. Warner's. Perino was asked if that is accurate, and if so, how this comports with the kind of bipartisanship the President spoke about as recently as Saturday.
Perino said the White House is engaged. This is the President's policy. Approaching 200 Members have come to the White House as the President came to his decision for the new way forward. The President is supportive of Sen. Lott, Sen. McConnell and the other Republicans in their efforts. She declined to characterize it in any other way. Sen. Durbin might be giving the White House too much credit, she said.
The White House has to continue to explain the President's decision making, how it got there, and why he thinks this is the best way forward. The White House has to explain why it thinks sending mixed signals to the troops and the enemy is not in the national interest. Any opportunity to explain what is happening on the ground is welcomed, and you will see Gen. Pace and Sec. Gates talk about that today at their hearing.
Micron Technology
Perino was asked whether the President knew that a Micron executive pled guilty to price fixing in December. Perino did not know, and said she would look into it.
White House Gaggle
February 6, 2007
By Victoria Jones
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He is visiting Micron Technology in Manassas VA, this morning. He will make remarks on fiscal responsibility.
Budget
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked if it was fair to say that the budget does not raise taxes when the health care plan would raise taxes on some people. She said that the plan is budget neutral. There will be some people that will possibly have additional taxes based on the plan, but that totally obscures what the President's policy is. The reporter pointed out that this is the job of the press. Perino noted that the press is very good at it. She said the vast majority of Americans would have a tax savings.
Perino was asked what the President thinks the chances are that the Democrats will buy into his budget plan. Perino said there are several administration officials on the Hill talking to Members of Congress about the budget. There will be additional Cabinet secretaries through the end of this week, going into next week, going to talk to them. It is a budget that gets to the goal of reaching a balance by 2012, a balance the Democrats say they share. The President has shown a way to do that without raising taxes, she said.
A reporter said that there was nothing in the budget to sweeten it for the Democrats. Perino replied that there is additional money for education and Pell grants. There is money for HIV AIDS and international development programs. There is significant spending for the global war on terror and keeping the country safe.
Perino was asked what some of the points of negotiation are, as some have proclaimed the budget dead on arrival. She said that was not a very responsible way to deal with the taxpayers' money. The President's responsibility is to put forward a budget, and the Congress' responsibility is to work on a budget that funds the federal government.
The President thinks we have to fund the global war on terror, and we have to look at entitlement spending and what can be done on that. He is asking people to come to the table. If they have different ideas, then let us hear them. There are no preconditions on that.
Asked if there are areas to compromise, such as energy and education, Perino said there are probably more places where there is agreement than disagreement on some issues. On energy, there is core bipartisan support for renewable energy and alternative fuels. No Child Left Behind is another. Pell grants are another. There are some tougher issues.
It was pointed out that in the budget the vast majority of the $290B for terrorism goes to the Department of Defense, and only about $10B goes for non military initiatives. Perino was asked if there were any non military initiatives that she could point to. She said she could not, but would hook the reporter up with the appropriate person.
Iraq Resolution
Perino was asked if the Iraq resolution is dead. She said the President supports Senator Lott, Senator McConnell and the Republicans who believe that all sides have a right to be heard. She said it was puzzling that some have charged that they want to limit debate when what they are calling for is full debate on three resolutions, including one about funding for the troops.
It was stated that Sen. Durbin says that the White House pressured senators to insist on other resolutions, in addition to Sen. Warner's. Perino was asked if that is accurate, and if so, how this comports with the kind of bipartisanship the President spoke about as recently as Saturday.
Perino said the White House is engaged. This is the President's policy. Approaching 200 Members have come to the White House as the President came to his decision for the new way forward. The President is supportive of Sen. Lott, Sen. McConnell and the other Republicans in their efforts. She declined to characterize it in any other way. Sen. Durbin might be giving the White House too much credit, she said.
The White House has to continue to explain the President's decision making, how it got there, and why he thinks this is the best way forward. The White House has to explain why it thinks sending mixed signals to the troops and the enemy is not in the national interest. Any opportunity to explain what is happening on the ground is welcomed, and you will see Gen. Pace and Sec. Gates talk about that today at their hearing.
Micron Technology
Perino was asked whether the President knew that a Micron executive pled guilty to price fixing in December. Perino did not know, and said she would look into it.
Reader Comments