Today at Talk Radio News Service

Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Tamboli will be covering Supreme Court opinions, UN Correspondent Dan Patterson will be covering events at the United Nations this afternoon. Pentagon Correspondent Meredith MacKenzie will be covering the White House gaggle. The Washington Bureau will be covering a hearing on China’s Proliferation Practices, a discussion on “Iran in three dimensions”. In the afternoon, reporters will attend a news conference on ‘war and decision’ with former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Douglass Feith, and a discussion on ‘Gross National Happiness.’

President Bush addresses White House Summit

The White House Summit on Inner-City Children and Faith-Based Schools was held today and President Bush addressed the crowd with a thirty minute speech. The summit is being held to discuss the benefits of educational programs that benefit lower income families and the advantages of faith-based schools. President Bush reiterated his support for the No Child Left Behind initiative and was emotional in his beliefs and support for ensuring education to those that wouldn’t normally have the opportunities.











President Bush also noted programs such as Cristo Rey and Notre Dame ACE that enhance education by offering higher education and supportive opportunities to students. There was a product of the Cristo Rey program in the crowd whom benefited from the program that ultimately led way to her being a student at Georgetown University. She then wants to be part of the ACE program which will put her in the classroom as a teacher while still being a student earning her masters. In a supportive crowd, President Bush delivered a commanding speech that reiterates hope and need for better education in this country.

White House Gaggle, April 23, 2008

Briefer: Dana Perino
By: Ellen Ratner


Schedule:

The President had a private meeting with the King of Jordan in the dining room off the Oval Office. On the King’s visit, Dana said that the President had lots vested in mideast peace talks and that it was good that leaders could talk frankly with the President. He had his usual briefings and then will give the Medal of Honor to Dr. DeBakey. Later he has a photo op with Johns Hopkins donors, and then he will give the Baldridge Award.

Taxes:

The White House wants people to know that it is important for every taxpayer to fill out 1040A form so that they will get a stimulus rebate. This is available for anyone who makes $3,000 plus per year.

North Korea and the Syrians:

Dana said that they would continue to brief members of Congress on national intelligence.

Equal Pay Bill:

Dana would not comment on the bill or if the President would veto as she said they might not be able to get the votes for cloture in the Senate.

Pakistan:

Dana would not comment on reports that the Pakistani government is working with the Taliban militants. She said however that they are “concerned about these types of approaches.”

President’s Remarks Yesterday on Economy:

Dana said that we don’t know what this period is yet and we do not have the data yet, and that the President wants more robust growth in the country.

Farm Bill:

There may be a push for a one-year extension if they can’t get it done.

White House Gaggle

Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings at 8 am this morning. At 9.10 am he attended a meeting with his Cabinet. At 1.15 pm, the President will present the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the United States Naval Academy Football team. This evening at 6pm, President Bush will make remarks in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s 265th Birthday.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.30 pm today.

Airline Disruptions

When asked if the issue with the airline industry last week came up in today’s Cabinet meeting, Dana Perino said that Secretary of Transportation Peters provided an update about the airline security congestion issues. Secretary Peters was very concerned about the disruptions and the inconveniences for that many people. Peters also talked about the ongoing efforts to ensure air passengers safety to improve air travel for all passengers by taking steps to reduce congestion and delays. On the specific issues of the two airlines that had problems in terms of inspections, they have worked to address the flaws in the system. Peters wants to accomplish two main things; first letting Americans know that the Department of Transportation is fully committed to making sure that the airplanes are safe and secondly to do everything they can so to make sure these disruptions are not repeated in the future. Perino was also asked if the federal government bears any responsibility for the delays in terms of either inspections or the way that the industry runs. She responded that American Airlines took responsibility for the inspections, and there is where the responsibility lies.

Columbia Free Trade Agreement

Perino was asked if President Bush and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are having conversations, and if they are trying to come together on this matter, or if the White House considers the matter to be dead. Perino replied that they have not spoken since last Wednesday, though there have been discussions on staff level. Perino continued to say, “The President believes that she made a choice to kill the Columbian Free Trade Agreement. And if and until she schedules a vote on the [Columbian Free Trade Agreement], she has in fact killed it. “ If she commits to a day on the calendar for a vote, then her assertion that she hasn’t killed the agreement will remain true--but up until then, she has killed it, Perino said.

Papal Visit

Perino was asked about the Pope’s visit to Washington, and how it differs from a diplomatic visit, since there seems to be extraordinary protocol taking place. President and Mrs. Bush will travel out to Andrew Air Force Base to greet Pope Benedict the XVI, and according Perino, this is the first time he has ever done so during his presidency. “The President is very much looking forward to raise the level of this visit to one where he and Mrs. Bush will take time out of his day to drive out to Andrews and welcome him as Shepherd One arrives at Andrews Air Force Base” , she said. The following day there will be an official White House ceremony for the Pope.
There was also a clarification of the Dalai Lama coming as a religious leader and instead of the Oval Office met with the President in the Residence, while the Pope is greeting as a Head of State and therefore will meet President Bush in the Oval.
There was also a White House dinner scheduled for Wednesday for catholic leaders in honor of the Pope, though Benedict the XVI will not be attending since he is meeting with US bishops instead. However, the White House made sure to let us know that they were aware of the Pope already having other dinner events while in Washington.

White House Gaggle by Dana Perino

White House Gaggle
By Ellen Ratner
Briefer: Dana Perino

The President’s Schedule
The president had his usual briefings.
At 11:30 a.m. he will make a statement on Iraq. In the morning he met with Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multinational Forces Iraq and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker. The president also met with the special envoy to Sudan.

This afternoon he will go to the ranch in Crawford, Texas. The White House announced that the president will make three commencement addresses this year. The first is May 4 at Greensburg High School in Greensburg Kansas, the second is May 29 at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the third will be May 31 Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The White House announced the summer schedule for tee ball on the White House lawn. There will be three games this summer: one in June with Hispanic Americans and others with members of the U.S. military.

The president also had a private meeting in the Oval Office and on the Truman balcony with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, but Perino said that would not discuss the content of the meeting.

On Iraq
Perino said that the cost of reconstruction is increasingly being picked up by Iraqis and that they have more resources available to them. A question arouse as to the timing of a dramatic pull out in Iraq as it relates to the U.S. presidential election. “From our perspective, politics will not enter into it,” Perino said.

She explained that the speech is going to focus on the recommendations from Gen. Petraeus. The president will speak about the planning reduction from 20 brigade combat teams to 15. The president will also announce his support for a 45 days of “consolidation and evaluation” before another draw down of forces is scheduled.

The president will also speak about the tours of duty for soldiers scheduled to deploy after August 1, 2008 will be 12 months in Iraq and a min of 12 months at home in the United States. Perino said “the troops will continue to come home,” but she said “some people" (implying the Congressional Democrats) want to “change the goal posts.”



On Columbia Free Trade
Dana said that they “dismayed and disappointed” and if Democrats have a vote today they will effectively kill the agreement. She said they had been working with Democrats for months and yesterday’s meeting was cordial and frank. The president feels that his hand was forced.

On Torch Relay and Protests
The president said that people around the world have the right to express themselves he will continue to have private talks with China about human rights. Perino said that President Bush has a good relationship with the Chinese, which allows him to do that.