English subtitles for clip: File:1-6-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Happy New Year, everyone.

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It is great to be back
here with you all.

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I hope you had an
excellent break,

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those of you who traveled
with the President,

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those of you who did not.

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We did everything we could to
keep things quiet for you

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and we hope that you come back

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as excited to be here
as we all are.

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Before I take questions
on other subjects,

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I have with me today a
familiar face -- Gene Sperling,

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Director of the President's
National Economic Council.

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You may have seen him yesterday
on a couple of shows talking

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about the urgent need for
Congress to act to extend

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expired unemployment insurance
benefits to 1.3 million

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Americans and their families.

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So Gene is here to
talk about that issue,

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to take questions from you
on that issue and others

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in his purview, if you like.

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As we do normally
in these things,

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if Gene could go at the top, you
could have all your questions

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for him at the top so that we
can let him go back to work.

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I will remain to take your
questions on other subjects.

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I need a hard out at 1:55 p.m.

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So, minders of the time --

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The Press: Why?

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Mr. Carney:
I have a meeting at 2:00 p.m.
with a very important person.

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The Press: Who?

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(laughter)

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The Press: How?

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(laughter)

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Mr. Carney:
This is actually an
homage to Mark Knoller,

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but he's not here
today, by the way --

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The Press:
He's back there.

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Mr. Carney:
Where is he? Knoller?

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The Press:
He's back in the back.

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Mr. Carney:
You can hear me, Mark. Okay.

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The Press:
The one time you need him.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Carney:
The one time I need him.

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Okay, with that,
I give you Gene Sperling.

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Thank you all very much.

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Mr. Sperling:
Thank you.

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Thanks, Jay.

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There's no question
that we go into 2014

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with more economic momentum.

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Unemployment rate
is down to 7 percent.

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We've had 2.3 million private
sector jobs over the last year.

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We've seen housing up about --

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housing prices up
about 13 percent.

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But there's also no question
that we need to ensure

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the economy has more momentum
and that we're having a recovery

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that leaves no one behind.

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In terms of job growth,
there's no question there are

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opportunities for us to move
the ball forward as a country.

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The President has put forward
a grand bargain on jobs,

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a proposal that he
announced at Chattanooga,

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that would combine business tax
reform that would lower rates,

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have a minimum
foreign earning tax,

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combined with an
infrastructure initiative.

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We're working on bipartisan
legislation on housing finance

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reform, on immigration,
on manufacturing.

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But it's also no question that
we have to make sure

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that this recovery
does leave no one behind.

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And that means addressing what
is clearly perhaps the worst

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legacy of the Great Recession,
which is the crisis of long term

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unemployment that we
still face in our country.

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While we've seen the
unemployment rate come down

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generally, and particularly
for those who are short-term

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unemployed, those who are
long-term unemployed continue

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to face a very difficult labor
market and we know that those

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who stay out of the labor
force too long often suffer

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serious economic and
psychological wounds,

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and that we as a country have to
be committed to doing everything

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we can to help those who are
long-term unemployed find new

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jobs to support their families
and get them back on their feet.

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And that's going to take
an attack on all fronts

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on long-term unemployment.

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It's going to mean,
one, doing more to give

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the recovery more momentum,

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more job creation so
there are more jobs --

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so it's not three people
looking for every one job open,

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but that have many
more jobs created.

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Secondly, to work in partnership
with CEOs in our country

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to make sure that we are
all working in partnership

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to give those who are
long-term unemployed

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the most opportunities
possible to interview,

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to get a chance
at a new job.

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And we have been working
together in partnership

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with many of our
country's top CEOs.

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And the President will,
in the coming weeks,

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have more to say on that.

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But, finally, we have
to give the basic support

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for those who are out there
who have worked in the past

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and are out there every day
working hard to find a new job.

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We, as a country --

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we're a country that has
each other's back in hard times.

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We have never,
over the last half-century,

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cut off emergency unemployment
benefits when long-term

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unemployment was even
barely over half the rate

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that we have right now.

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Now is not the time to start.

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I'll tell you what today is.

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Today is the day that 1.3
million Americans start going to

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their mailbox and find that the
check that they expected to get

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today is not there -- the check
that is a temporary lifeline

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for families who are facing
long-term unemployment;

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a check that puts food on their
table and perhaps the gas

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in their car they need to drive
to interview for a new job.

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Today is the day --
today and tomorrow is the day

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that that mailbox will be empty,

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and those families
will face hardship

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in covering for the
basic necessities.

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Over 2014, over the whole year,
the number would be 4.9 million

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people who would find their
emergency unemployment benefits

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cut off at some point.

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And those 4.9 million support
an additional 9 million,

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so this would affect
14 million families

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over the course of 2014.

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Now, while today and
tomorrow are the days

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that the 1.3 million
Americans will find

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their temporary lifeline
not in their mailbox,

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today is also the
day that we have a chance

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to do something about it.

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There is a bipartisan piece
of legislation supported by

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Democratic Senator Jack Reed and
Republican Senator Heller from

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Nevada that says that we should
extend emergency unemployment

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for three months, right now.

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This will obviously give
us more time to figure out

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what is the best way to deal
with a longer solution for 2014.

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But we can act right now to
help those 1.3 million people.

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In fact, in these three months,
that number would grow

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to helping over
2 million Americans.

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I talked to Senator Heller
on Friday and he said for him,

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this was not ideology.

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This was being
a senator in a state

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that had 9 percent unemployment.

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It was talking to constituents
every day who are often

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in economic distress who
desperately wanted a job,

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and understanding
that we're a country

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that has each other's back
in these difficult times.

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I want to say just two points
before taking questions

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that are important to recognize.

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Number one, you are only
eligible for emergency

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unemployment benefits if you
are actively looking for work.

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This can actually help encourage
people to stay in the workforce

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and not get discouraged because
they have to be actively looking

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for work to be eligible
for these benefits.

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Secondly, to use a popular word
among those of you who cover

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the Fed -- the emergency
unemployment benefits

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are designed to taper off
as unemployment goes down.

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So for example, when
you talk about the fact

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that we have
46 extra emergency weeks,

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that is only for a state that
has over 9 percent unemployment.

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If your unemployment
goes beneath 9 percent,

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then there's
10 weeks less available.

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When it goes under
7 percent unemployment,

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then there's nine
less weeks available.

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When it goes under 6 percent,

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there's an additional 14
more weeks unavailable.

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So this is not designed
to go on forever.

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It is a temporary lifeline in
difficult times that our country

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has relied on for well
over a half-century.

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And the President feels very
strongly that this deserves

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the support of both Democratic
and Republican senators --

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a bipartisan proposal to
extend for three months.

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And we believe this should --

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this deserves to pass.

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The Press:
Gene, as you know,

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Republicans want this
offset at $6.5 billion

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for the three months.

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In any way, shape or form,
is the administration open

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to negotiating an
offset of $6.5 billion

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for the three months and
then using that as a precedent

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to offset the
much larger cost --

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$35 billion --
over a full calendar year?

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Mr. Sperling:
We have just an urgent
situation right now.

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As I said, today is the day
when people have been cut off,

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but today is the day they
find the check not there.

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The President believes that
we should pass this right away

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with no strings attached.

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Now, that is more in line with
precedent than anything else.

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Fourteen of the last
17 times in 20 years

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that it's been extended,

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there's been
no strings attached.

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All five times --
all five times that the previous

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President Bush extended
emergency unemployment benefits,

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there was no pay-for strings
attached and the unemployment

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rate was lower each of those
five times than it is today.

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So I think that the
compromise that is inherent

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in the Heller-Reed bipartisan
legislation is let's move

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quickly and pass this
three-month extension now.

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This will help Americans
immediately and this will give

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us more time to have a larger
conversation about what happens

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after the three months are over.

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The Press:
To follow up, would
you be willing to offset

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a calendar year if not
the three months?

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Or are you opposed to offsetting
under every circumstance?

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Mr. Sperling:
What I've said is
let's move quickly now

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because we're in an
urgent situation.

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We didn't get it
passed in December.

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If we take this step now, that
will leave more time to have

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a broader discussion about how
best to do it for the remainder

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of 2014 after that.

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The Press:
So you don't rule it out?

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Mr. Sperling:
Our focus right now is on the
legislation that is up there.

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It's the only bipartisan
plan that's been there.

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There's been talk, but
there's one bipartisan plan;

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it's to extend for three
months on an emergency level.

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That's where our focus is.

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That's what we want to
encourage people to support --

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with the understanding there
will be time to discuss

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what to do when
that three months is over.

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The Press:
But just to clarify,

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are you opposed --
is the White House opposed

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to negotiating those offsets?

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Are you -- I know you want
this short term, do it now.

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But if Republicans draw a line
on this that they're saying

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right now they want
it offset, is that something

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the White House is
willing to negotiate on?

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Mr. Sperling:
Our focus right now,
Jon, is to get this passed.

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And I just want to
point out, as I've said,

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this is the day --

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I mean, people have
already been cut off.

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People are right
now, today, who maybe got

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as little as $150 a week,

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or maybe an average
of $300 a week,

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but this was their lifeline.

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This was their basic support.

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When you have the first
bipartisan proposal,

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when it could be passed right
now with no strings attached,

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when that is consistent with the
overwhelming precedent before,

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the clear right thing
for us to do right now

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is pass this measure
now in its current form.

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And again, it's just
for three months.

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It gives more time to
have those types of further

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bipartisan discussions about
what else you might do

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to extend it after that.

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Mr. Carney: April.

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The Press:
Gene, what do you say
to Republicans who are not

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necessarily worried about
the fact that some people

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00:13:06,333 --> 00:13:08,467
are not getting their
insurance benefits,

242
00:13:08,467 --> 00:13:10,233
the unemployment
insurance benefits today,

243
00:13:10,233 --> 00:13:14,467
they are simply worried about
the fact that we are out --

244
00:13:14,467 --> 00:13:17,300
things are getting better,
we're out of recession,

245
00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:21,532
and the fact that it saves money
not to extend these benefits?

246
00:13:21,533 --> 00:13:25,066
What do you say to
those Republicans?

247
00:13:25,066 --> 00:13:27,200
Mr. Sperling:
First of all, extending
emergency unemployment

248
00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:31,033
benefits is the right thing to
do based on our economic values.

249
00:13:31,033 --> 00:13:32,433
These are our neighbors.

250
00:13:32,433 --> 00:13:33,600
These are community members.

251
00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,300
These are our fellow parents
struggling to get by.

252
00:13:37,300 --> 00:13:41,567
It's also the common-sense
thing to do economically.

253
00:13:41,567 --> 00:13:47,467
It's been estimated that
unemployment insurance extended

254
00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:51,400
in 2014 would mean an
additional 230,000 jobs,

255
00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,766
an additional fifth of
a percent of growth.

256
00:13:55,767 --> 00:13:57,800
People have estimated
that for every dollar

257
00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,632
you put in the
pocket of somebody

258
00:13:59,633 --> 00:14:02,600
in this kind of
distressed situation,

259
00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:07,767
it leads to a multiplier of
a $1.50 helping in the economy.

260
00:14:07,767 --> 00:14:09,500
So it's smart economically.

261
00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:13,367
But it's also just
the right thing to do.

262
00:14:13,367 --> 00:14:16,400
And I guess what I'd say is,

263
00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,834
the reason that you've had
emergency unemployment benefits

264
00:14:19,834 --> 00:14:23,367
like this over 50 years
over Democrat and Republican

265
00:14:23,367 --> 00:14:27,599
Presidents is that we
understand that perhaps when

266
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,667
unemployment is at a low level,
one can assume that most people

267
00:14:32,667 --> 00:14:35,834
should be able
to find work in some way

268
00:14:35,834 --> 00:14:40,199
and so you limit unemployment
benefits to 26 weeks.

269
00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,233
But when you have nine states
that are over 8 percent

270
00:14:44,233 --> 00:14:48,967
unemployment, when you have
Rhode Island and Nevada

271
00:14:48,967 --> 00:14:53,100
at 9 percent unemployment,
when you have historic levels

272
00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:54,767
of long-term unemployment,

273
00:14:54,767 --> 00:15:00,734
you know that there are
just millions of people still

274
00:15:00,734 --> 00:15:03,033
who are desperately
looking for work.

275
00:15:03,033 --> 00:15:05,100
They're eligible because
they were working before.

276
00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:06,967
They're looking for a job.

277
00:15:06,967 --> 00:15:08,367
This is not their fault.

278
00:15:08,367 --> 00:15:12,834
They're not the ones who were
packaging subprime securities.

279
00:15:12,834 --> 00:15:16,032
They didn't ask to
have a Great Recession.

280
00:15:16,033 --> 00:15:17,467
They didn't ask
to have to struggle

281
00:15:17,467 --> 00:15:19,800
with some of the hard legacy.

282
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,165
And the reality is that --
look, we are obviously pleased

283
00:15:23,166 --> 00:15:25,633
that the economy
has more momentum.

284
00:15:25,633 --> 00:15:28,100
We're pleased to
see unemployment overall

285
00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:29,266
coming down.

286
00:15:29,266 --> 00:15:32,632
We're pleased to see private
sector jobs coming up.

287
00:15:32,633 --> 00:15:37,166
But again, we work for a
President who wants a stronger

288
00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:40,967
recovery and wants a recovery
that leaves no one behind.

289
00:15:40,967 --> 00:15:44,066
And we could be an
administration that just comes

290
00:15:44,066 --> 00:15:47,467
in here and tells you
nothing but the good news

291
00:15:47,467 --> 00:15:49,600
that's happened,
or the improvement.

292
00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,200
But that's not what we're about.

293
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,800
We're about helping people who
are hardworking, responsible,

294
00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,266
and want to get
back on their feet.

295
00:15:58,266 --> 00:16:00,500
And that's why
we're willing to point out

296
00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:03,700
that even amidst the stronger
economic news we've seen

297
00:16:03,700 --> 00:16:05,700
and the stronger
economic momentum,

298
00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:08,400
there is a real challenge
in long-term unemployment.

299
00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,165
And we care about those people

300
00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,100
and we're going to do
everything we can to help them.

301
00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:13,367
The Press:
Can I follow up?

302
00:16:13,367 --> 00:16:14,699
Have you been personally talking
to some of the Republicans

303
00:16:14,700 --> 00:16:18,567
to help change their mindset as
it relates to the extension

304
00:16:18,567 --> 00:16:21,133
of unemployment benefits?

305
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:22,734
Mr. Sperling:
I would say
many of us have been

306
00:16:22,734 --> 00:16:26,367
in contact with many people.

307
00:16:26,367 --> 00:16:28,867
I don't want to
reveal conversations.

308
00:16:28,867 --> 00:16:31,834
I obviously, as I mentioned,
have been in conversations

309
00:16:31,834 --> 00:16:35,699
with Senator
Heller and his chief of staff,

310
00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:39,600
but you can be sure that
we are actively working this.

311
00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:40,967
Mr. Carney:
Alexis.

312
00:16:40,967 --> 00:16:44,000
The Press:
Gene, what does the vote
count look like since

313
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,400
you've been in touch with the
co-sponsors of the legislation?

314
00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:49,699
Mr. Sperling:
I don't know.

315
00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:53,700
I'm not here to predict, I'm
here to tell you it should pass.

316
00:16:53,700 --> 00:17:00,767
I really think there were
a lot of very moving stories

317
00:17:00,767 --> 00:17:03,600
that I'm sure a lot
of the papers here

318
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,500
and around the country
were responsible for,

319
00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:09,000
and I think they were
important because

320
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,767
they didn't just go
through the numbers I did,

321
00:17:10,767 --> 00:17:15,200
they told the stories of
real people and told stories

322
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,667
of people with
compelling stores.

323
00:17:17,666 --> 00:17:22,800
They put the names and
faces of people that clearly

324
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,666
are people that are
responsible, hardworking,

325
00:17:26,666 --> 00:17:30,800
have fallen in a tough situation
through no fault of their own

326
00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,000
and are trying to get
back on their feet again.

327
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,767
And that's who
we're here to help.

328
00:17:35,767 --> 00:17:38,967
The Press: As part of a larger
discussion, are you open to --

329
00:17:38,967 --> 00:17:41,834
or is the White House
open to further tapering

330
00:17:41,834 --> 00:17:43,734
the unemployment
insurance program?

331
00:17:43,734 --> 00:17:49,066
There's talk of wanting more
reforms, phasing it out.

332
00:17:49,066 --> 00:17:53,767
Mr. Sperling:
I think I'd put that in
the frame that I've put forward,

333
00:17:53,767 --> 00:17:57,000
which is we've got an urgent
situation on our hands

334
00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,133
with 1.3 million Americans
finding their benefits cut off.

335
00:18:01,133 --> 00:18:05,266
Let's get this bipartisan
three-months plan passed and,

336
00:18:05,266 --> 00:18:08,600
as I said, that will give us
more time to have a broader

337
00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:13,399
discussion, a more in-depth
conversation about how best

338
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,667
to go forward after that.

339
00:18:15,667 --> 00:18:17,500
The Press:
Gene, can you talk a little
bit, either you or Jay,

340
00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:19,667
about what the President
has personally been doing

341
00:18:19,667 --> 00:18:21,966
since he's been back
to try to get this passed?

342
00:18:21,967 --> 00:18:24,467
Any calls to read
out with anybody?

343
00:18:24,467 --> 00:18:27,500
And kind of talk a little bit
about what the event tomorrow

344
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:29,133
is supposed to do,
vis-à-vis the votes

345
00:18:29,133 --> 00:18:31,266
that may or
may not happen tonight.

346
00:18:31,266 --> 00:18:33,700
Mr. Sperling:
I can just tell you
the President's been active,

347
00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:35,433
and that he has --

348
00:18:35,433 --> 00:18:36,433
The Press:
Calling senators?

349
00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:37,767
Mr. Sperling:
He has made calls.

350
00:18:37,767 --> 00:18:42,667
But again, we don't have much
more to say after that because

351
00:18:42,667 --> 00:18:49,699
we're doing what we can and
sometimes that's more helpful

352
00:18:49,700 --> 00:18:51,700
with private conversations.

353
00:18:53,367 --> 00:18:55,332
The Press:
Could the urgency have
been avoided if the

354
00:18:55,333 --> 00:18:59,100
President had fought harder on
the Ryan-Murray budget plan to

355
00:18:59,100 --> 00:19:03,833
have these included in the plan
that was passed last month?

356
00:19:03,834 --> 00:19:07,800
Mr. Sperling:
I went back and
looked at our efforts,

357
00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,633
and I found that the President
of the United States had

358
00:19:11,633 --> 00:19:19,300
publicly called for extending
emergency unemployment in 2014

359
00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:24,000
seven times in 18 days --
seven times in 18 days.

360
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:30,367
I think I called for it
first on November 14th,

361
00:19:30,367 --> 00:19:33,033
again on November 17th.

362
00:19:33,033 --> 00:19:36,000
The CEA Chair, Jason Furman,
put out an entire report --

363
00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,667
I believe came into the briefing
room and spoke to you about it.

364
00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:40,600
The President did
a weekly address.

365
00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:44,567
He included it in his --
a weekly address entirely

366
00:19:44,567 --> 00:19:46,166
on this issue.

367
00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:50,367
He included it on his statement
on the agreement on Ryan-Murray.

368
00:19:50,367 --> 00:19:56,233
It was a significant part of
his speech at CAP on inequality.

369
00:19:56,233 --> 00:19:58,867
So I think the President and
the administration made very,

370
00:19:58,867 --> 00:20:02,934
very clear how important
we thought this was to get done.

371
00:20:02,934 --> 00:20:07,700
We're not of the belief that
the only way we should be able

372
00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:11,467
to work together is for
somebody to threaten a shutdown.

373
00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:16,200
And so we made very, very clear
that this ought to get done,

374
00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,333
and there's lots of
ways for it to get done.

375
00:20:20,333 --> 00:20:22,700
And the most
clear and present way

376
00:20:22,700 --> 00:20:24,600
is for the United
States Senate to start

377
00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,966
by passing the bipartisan
Heller-Reed legislation

378
00:20:27,967 --> 00:20:30,000
that will be
on the floor tonight.

379
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,367
The Press:
But a veto threat isn't
a shutdown threat,

380
00:20:32,367 --> 00:20:33,734
and you're talking
about urgency.

381
00:20:33,734 --> 00:20:35,966
If they're not getting checks
today you still would have had

382
00:20:35,967 --> 00:20:38,767
a couple days to get
a budget deal passed

383
00:20:38,767 --> 00:20:41,333
before the end of that timeline.

384
00:20:41,333 --> 00:20:42,600
Mr. Sperling:
Well, as said,

385
00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,766
the President called for
it seven times in 18 days.

386
00:20:46,767 --> 00:20:54,467
Just as many of us were leaving,

387
00:20:54,467 --> 00:20:58,333
Reed and Heller put
their proposal forward.

388
00:20:58,333 --> 00:21:01,166
The President, from his
vacation, called both senators,

389
00:21:01,166 --> 00:21:02,833
asked how he could help.

390
00:21:02,834 --> 00:21:05,600
The administration has
been out there continually.

391
00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:10,300
So you may have noted that we
don't always have 100 percent

392
00:21:10,300 --> 00:21:12,533
control over the
United States Congress.

393
00:21:12,533 --> 00:21:17,433
But I think the record is pretty
clear that the President and his

394
00:21:17,433 --> 00:21:21,166
White House and the Secretary
of Labor have aggressively been

395
00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:24,934
pushing for this both in
December, both in the break,

396
00:21:24,934 --> 00:21:28,934
and as quickly as possible
as we've returned.

397
00:21:28,934 --> 00:21:31,834
Mr. Carney:
Gene, thank you very much.

398
00:21:31,834 --> 00:21:33,200
Mr. Sperling:
Thank you.

399
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,233
The Press:
Gene, is this the last time
that we're going to hear

400
00:21:36,233 --> 00:21:39,533
from you in this role or in this
administration from this podium?

401
00:21:39,533 --> 00:21:43,367
And if so, is there any sort of
thoughts about the economy or --

402
00:21:43,367 --> 00:21:45,567
that you wanted to share?

403
00:21:45,567 --> 00:21:48,300
Mr. Sperling:
Well, I don't know
when Jay is asking me back.

404
00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:49,300
(laughter)

405
00:21:49,300 --> 00:21:51,600
I will probably be
here for all of January

406
00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:58,367
and probably quite
a lot of February as well.

407
00:21:58,367 --> 00:21:59,367
The Press: March?

408
00:21:59,367 --> 00:22:01,265
(laughter)

409
00:22:01,266 --> 00:22:04,667
Mr. Sperling:
Jeff and I were
talking yesterday,

410
00:22:04,667 --> 00:22:09,332
and I'm quite confident
that when March comes

411
00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:11,967
I will be somewhere else.

412
00:22:11,967 --> 00:22:15,266
The Press:
Can I ask you
one broad question?

413
00:22:15,266 --> 00:22:18,166
A lot of stories this
weekend and today

414
00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:20,100
on the 50th anniversary
of the War on Poverty.

415
00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:23,132
You served in the
Clinton administration;

416
00:22:23,133 --> 00:22:26,367
you saw the Bush years
and now the Obama years.

417
00:22:26,367 --> 00:22:27,367
These policies --

418
00:22:27,367 --> 00:22:28,466
I think the broader
point, obviously --

419
00:22:28,467 --> 00:22:30,300
have been building for
a long time, decades --

420
00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:31,533
the problem of poverty.

421
00:22:31,533 --> 00:22:34,433
But you were talking a moment
ago about historic levels

422
00:22:34,433 --> 00:22:36,266
of long-term unemployment --

423
00:22:36,266 --> 00:22:39,066
46 million people
still in poverty.

424
00:22:39,066 --> 00:22:41,500
How much responsibility
does the President bear

425
00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:44,367
after having five years
in office for at least

426
00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:47,166
some of his policies
to take hold?

427
00:22:47,166 --> 00:22:50,133
Mr. Sperling:
Well, look, on
the broader question,

428
00:22:50,133 --> 00:22:53,000
I think there's no question
that the War on Poverty

429
00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,200
that Lyndon Johnson declared
50 years ago Wednesday

430
00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,333
has made very
important advances.

431
00:23:00,333 --> 00:23:01,433
There's just no question.

432
00:23:01,433 --> 00:23:04,700
I mean, in 1963,
51 percent of African Americans

433
00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:06,667
were in poverty
and about 25 percent

434
00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:09,233
had graduated from high school.

435
00:23:09,233 --> 00:23:13,399
I think that one of the things
you've heard us talk about

436
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,300
and I think you'll
see Jason Furman,

437
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:18,767
our Council of Economic
Advisers talking about more

438
00:23:18,767 --> 00:23:22,333
is that the Bureau of Labor
Statistics has now started --

439
00:23:22,333 --> 00:23:25,266
our government has started
looking at a broader measure

440
00:23:25,266 --> 00:23:27,867
of poverty that makes
sure that we're looking

441
00:23:27,867 --> 00:23:31,100
at all the things that
affect how people are doing,

442
00:23:31,100 --> 00:23:34,033
including things like earned
income tax credit, food stamps.

443
00:23:34,033 --> 00:23:36,966
And I think when you
look at that measure,

444
00:23:36,967 --> 00:23:40,734
that you would find that
poverty has come down close

445
00:23:40,734 --> 00:23:46,867
to 40 percent, perhaps
35-40 percent since then.

446
00:23:46,867 --> 00:23:49,800
So there has been important
progress and I think it

447
00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,200
is important to understand
that many of the things

448
00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,200
that have been done over
the last 20 years have mattered.

449
00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,900
So, for example,
when I came into --

450
00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:03,033
when I was first here in '93,

451
00:24:03,033 --> 00:24:09,699
there was probably
about 1.5 million-1.7 million

452
00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:11,200
Americans that were
above the poverty line

453
00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:12,200
because of the earned
income tax credit.

454
00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,734
Now, because of measures
that have been done

455
00:24:14,734 --> 00:24:16,367
over the last 20 years,

456
00:24:16,367 --> 00:24:19,966
including President
Obama extending

457
00:24:19,967 --> 00:24:21,166
the earned income tax credit

458
00:24:21,166 --> 00:24:23,300
more for people with
three children or more,

459
00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:26,934
reducing the marriage
penalty and extending those,

460
00:24:26,934 --> 00:24:30,633
there's 6 million
people out of poverty.

461
00:24:30,633 --> 00:24:33,200
When you look at the
refundable tax credits

462
00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,934
and the child tax credit
and the ITC together,

463
00:24:35,934 --> 00:24:39,200
it may be as many as 9 million
people not being in poverty.

464
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,266
Now, I think when
you look over this,

465
00:24:41,266 --> 00:24:43,233
I think there's no question over
the last 50 years things have

466
00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:45,399
been done wrong, but I think
we've learned from lessons.

467
00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,867
I think that both Democrats and
Republicans have learned you

468
00:24:49,867 --> 00:24:55,332
have to look at -- to make sure
about the incentives you're

469
00:24:55,333 --> 00:24:57,834
creating and that
policies are better

470
00:24:57,834 --> 00:25:00,400
if they are designed
to reward work.

471
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,533
One of the reasons the earned
income tax credit has been

472
00:25:02,533 --> 00:25:07,065
so important is that it's
an incentive for work.

473
00:25:07,066 --> 00:25:11,133
You get that assistance
as you are working.

474
00:25:11,133 --> 00:25:15,667
It has positive incentives and
it's giving positive support

475
00:25:15,667 --> 00:25:17,332
for the program.

476
00:25:17,333 --> 00:25:20,100
And just to give an
example, going back to 1993,

477
00:25:20,100 --> 00:25:23,132
when you look at the
alternative poverty measure,

478
00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:25,300
the broader poverty measure,

479
00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:31,533
the poverty rate was
actually lower in 2010, 2011

480
00:25:31,533 --> 00:25:34,000
than it was in '93.

481
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,467
So my first time
in office here,

482
00:25:37,467 --> 00:25:41,900
a year or two after
a very mild recession,

483
00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:46,967
poverty was higher than it
was after the worst downturn

484
00:25:46,967 --> 00:25:48,800
since the Great Depression.

485
00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:50,800
So, look, we should be judging

486
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,767
and looking at all
of the different things

487
00:25:53,767 --> 00:25:55,166
that we are doing.

488
00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:56,600
We should be willing to reform.

489
00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,632
But I think that there are
things that this President

490
00:25:58,633 --> 00:26:01,200
has done that have
made a big difference.

491
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,533
The Center for Budget and
Policy Priorities estimated

492
00:26:03,533 --> 00:26:06,766
that as many as 8 million
people are not in poverty

493
00:26:06,767 --> 00:26:09,133
because of things done
in the Recovery Act.

494
00:26:09,133 --> 00:26:12,066
The fact that when we've been
in these budget agreements,

495
00:26:12,066 --> 00:26:15,033
while everybody else is focused
on what's going to happen

496
00:26:15,033 --> 00:26:17,966
to the middle-class tax relief
and the upper-income tax relief,

497
00:26:17,967 --> 00:26:21,200
that the President has made a
priority to fight for extending

498
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,567
the earned income tax credit,
the refundable part

499
00:26:23,567 --> 00:26:25,600
of the American
Opportunity tax credit,

500
00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,000
the child tax credit --

501
00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,734
has shown his commitment --
there's no politics in that,

502
00:26:29,734 --> 00:26:32,332
not even much attention,
it's just in his heart.

503
00:26:32,333 --> 00:26:33,567
And I'll tell you
one other thing

504
00:26:33,567 --> 00:26:35,333
that would make
a big difference.

505
00:26:35,333 --> 00:26:37,567
A very smart professor,
Professor Dube,

506
00:26:37,567 --> 00:26:39,100
University
Massachusetts Amherst,

507
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:43,399
who just came out with a report
that many of you saw in the last

508
00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:47,233
few days that said if we
were to raise the minimum wage

509
00:26:47,233 --> 00:26:51,567
to $10.10 in the staged way it's
projected by the Harkin-Miller

510
00:26:51,567 --> 00:26:56,767
legislation, that that would
lift 6.8 million people out

511
00:26:56,767 --> 00:27:00,433
of poverty; it would make them
less dependent on government

512
00:27:00,433 --> 00:27:03,967
programs; it would not
add to the deficit one penny

513
00:27:03,967 --> 00:27:06,100
but it would reward work
and reduce poverty.

514
00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:08,934
And those are some of the things
that you're going to hear from

515
00:27:08,934 --> 00:27:11,734
your President now in
the State of the Union,

516
00:27:11,734 --> 00:27:13,600
and, more importantly,
those are things

517
00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,100
that we're going
to fight to get done.

518
00:27:16,100 --> 00:27:19,500
And if anybody suggests that
somehow we want to fight

519
00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:24,467
for the minimum wage or
extending emergency unemployment

520
00:27:24,467 --> 00:27:25,567
for political reasons

521
00:27:25,567 --> 00:27:29,533
as opposed to it being
the right thing to do,

522
00:27:29,533 --> 00:27:32,867
I have a really good solution:
Let's get them done right now

523
00:27:32,867 --> 00:27:34,367
in a bipartisan way.

524
00:27:34,367 --> 00:27:36,633
Then everybody can share
credit in doing something

525
00:27:36,633 --> 00:27:38,633
that's the right thing
for the American people.

526
00:27:38,633 --> 00:27:40,200
So thank you very much.

527
00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,200
Mr. Carney:
Thanks, Gene.

528
00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:46,233
Any other questions?

529
00:27:46,233 --> 00:27:47,233
Julie.

530
00:27:47,233 --> 00:27:48,399
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

531
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,734
I had a couple questions
about the situation in Iraq.

532
00:27:50,734 --> 00:27:54,800
Secretary Kerry said that this
is a fight that belongs to the

533
00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,166
Iraqis, but I'm wondering if
the President feels any kind

534
00:27:58,166 --> 00:28:00,600
of special responsibility for
assisting the Iraqis

535
00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:04,667
given the very recent history
between these two countries.

536
00:28:04,667 --> 00:28:08,033
Mr. Carney:
Well, the United States
maintains a strong relationship

537
00:28:08,033 --> 00:28:12,033
and commitment with and
to the government of Iraq.

538
00:28:12,033 --> 00:28:16,233
And we remain in close
contact both from Washington

539
00:28:16,233 --> 00:28:19,800
and our embassy in Baghdad
with Iraq's political leaders

540
00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,066
about how we can
continue to support

541
00:28:22,066 --> 00:28:26,200
the government's efforts
to defeat al Qaeda --

542
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,066
what's known now as
the Islamic State of Iraq

543
00:28:29,066 --> 00:28:32,400
and the Levant, which is the
al Qaeda umbrella group there.

544
00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:39,567
We have,
as Secretary Kerry said,

545
00:28:39,567 --> 00:28:43,166
made a significant commitment
to helping the Iraqi government

546
00:28:43,166 --> 00:28:46,600
in dealing with that situation.

547
00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,065
And what Secretary
Kerry's point also was --

548
00:28:50,066 --> 00:28:52,367
and I think this is
a broader point about conflicts

549
00:28:52,367 --> 00:28:53,700
in the region --

550
00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:58,600
is that this is something for
the Iraqis to take the lead on

551
00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:00,466
and handle themselves,

552
00:29:00,467 --> 00:29:02,867
but that doesn't mean
that we cannot assist them,

553
00:29:02,867 --> 00:29:04,332
and we have.

554
00:29:04,333 --> 00:29:07,800
We're working closely with the
Iraqis to develop a holistic

555
00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,466
strategy to isolate the
al Qaeda-affiliated groups,

556
00:29:11,467 --> 00:29:14,100
and we have seen some
early successes in Ramadi,

557
00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:16,800
as you know, where
tribal forces and police,

558
00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:18,767
with the Iraqi army
providing support,

559
00:29:18,767 --> 00:29:23,000
appear to have isolated
ISIL in pockets of the city.

560
00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:24,233
Now, this situation
remains fluid,

561
00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:27,567
and it's too early to tell
or make conclusions about it,

562
00:29:27,567 --> 00:29:30,533
but we're accelerating
our foreign military sales

563
00:29:30,533 --> 00:29:32,766
deliveries and are looking to
provide an additional shipment

564
00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:35,800
of Hellfire missiles
as early as this spring.

565
00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,367
These missiles are one small
element of that holistic

566
00:29:39,367 --> 00:29:44,100
strategy, but they have been
proven effective at denying ISIL

567
00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:46,466
the safe haven zones
that it has sought

568
00:29:46,467 --> 00:29:49,200
to establish in western Iraq.

569
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,834
I can add that in addition
to those Hellfire missiles,

570
00:29:51,834 --> 00:29:55,667
through our FMS program we will
also be providing 10 ScanEagle

571
00:29:55,667 --> 00:29:58,065
surveillance UAVs
in the upcoming weeks

572
00:29:58,066 --> 00:30:02,433
and 48 Raven surveillance
UAVs later this year.

573
00:30:02,433 --> 00:30:05,600
These UAVs will help the
Iraqis track terrorist elements

574
00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,265
operating within the country.

575
00:30:07,266 --> 00:30:10,133
We also provided Aerostat
surveillance balloons

576
00:30:10,133 --> 00:30:14,066
to the government of Iraq
in September of last year,

577
00:30:14,066 --> 00:30:16,667
and delivered three additional
Bell IA-407 helicopters

578
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:20,367
in December, just last month,
bringing the total purchase

579
00:30:20,367 --> 00:30:23,734
purchase buy and
delivered to Iraq to 30.

580
00:30:23,734 --> 00:30:25,833
So this is I think
representative

581
00:30:25,834 --> 00:30:30,033
of the comprehensive package of
assistance that we're providing

582
00:30:30,033 --> 00:30:31,567
to Iraq in this effort,
which, obviously,

583
00:30:31,567 --> 00:30:34,100
they are leading and
the government is responsible

584
00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:35,199
for carrying out.

585
00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:36,700
The Press:
John McCain, Lindsay Graham,

586
00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:38,900
and some others say that some
of what is happening on the

587
00:30:38,900 --> 00:30:43,266
ground in Iraq is
a consequence of the U.S.

588
00:30:43,266 --> 00:30:44,867
completely pulling out.

589
00:30:44,867 --> 00:30:47,200
And they say that the
administration should learn

590
00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,533
a lesson from that
and not go to the so-called

591
00:30:49,533 --> 00:30:50,699
zero option in Afghanistan.

592
00:30:50,700 --> 00:30:53,333
Is the President looking at
what's happening in Iraq

593
00:30:53,333 --> 00:30:55,367
and applying that
to his decision making

594
00:30:55,367 --> 00:30:57,800
on Afghanistan in any way?

595
00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,800
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would say a couple
of things about that.

596
00:31:02,834 --> 00:31:07,333
I don't think -- I've heard
members of Congress suggest

597
00:31:07,333 --> 00:31:09,333
this, but if members were
suggesting that there should be

598
00:31:09,333 --> 00:31:14,266
American troops fighting
and dying in Fallujah today,

599
00:31:14,266 --> 00:31:16,467
they should say so.

600
00:31:16,467 --> 00:31:18,800
The President
doesn't believe that.

601
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:23,966
If they believe
that we should not end

602
00:31:23,967 --> 00:31:26,467
our combat mission
in Afghanistan,

603
00:31:26,467 --> 00:31:27,633
they should say so.

604
00:31:27,633 --> 00:31:28,834
Now, the President,
when it comes to Afghanistan,

605
00:31:28,834 --> 00:31:31,300
has made clear that
he believes we should

606
00:31:31,300 --> 00:31:36,734
and can have a continuing
mission there focused solely

607
00:31:36,734 --> 00:31:41,500
on training Afghan troops
and counterterrorism.

608
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:45,967
But being able to do that
and fulfill that requires

609
00:31:45,967 --> 00:31:51,333
the Afghan government to sign
the bilateral security agreement

610
00:31:51,333 --> 00:31:53,734
and they have not done so.

611
00:31:53,734 --> 00:31:56,699
And as each day passes,
it becomes harder

612
00:31:56,700 --> 00:32:02,967
to plan with our NATO allies
for a post-2014 mission

613
00:32:02,967 --> 00:32:05,934
because we can't do that
without a BSA that's signed

614
00:32:05,934 --> 00:32:07,867
after it's been negotiated.

615
00:32:07,867 --> 00:32:10,966
And as you know, there were
commitments by the Afghan

616
00:32:10,967 --> 00:32:13,734
government to complete that
by the end of the year.

617
00:32:13,734 --> 00:32:16,132
The Press:
But does he believe
that if the U.S.

618
00:32:16,133 --> 00:32:17,700
doesn't leave some
small contingent there,

619
00:32:17,700 --> 00:32:19,533
even if their primary
mission is training,

620
00:32:19,533 --> 00:32:20,867
counterterrorism --
does he believe

621
00:32:20,867 --> 00:32:23,233
that that could leave
a vacuum in Afghanistan similar

622
00:32:23,233 --> 00:32:25,600
to what we're seeing in Iraq?

623
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,533
Mr. Carney:
Well, the President
believes that the best policy

624
00:32:28,533 --> 00:32:33,934
is to maintain a presence
there focused solely

625
00:32:33,934 --> 00:32:35,332
on the missions
that I've mentioned.

626
00:32:35,333 --> 00:32:40,700
But he cannot and will
not do that absent a BSA,

627
00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:43,767
which is why it is so
important that Afghanistan,

628
00:32:43,767 --> 00:32:48,667
the Afghan government move
quickly to sign that agreement,

629
00:32:48,667 --> 00:32:52,300
which would then allow
for preparation for 2014

630
00:32:55,300 --> 00:32:56,667
under the conditions
that I talked about,

631
00:32:56,667 --> 00:32:58,132
which would be
a continued presence --

632
00:32:58,133 --> 00:33:00,233
ending the combat
operation in Afghanistan,

633
00:33:00,233 --> 00:33:02,633
but having a smaller
contingent --

634
00:33:02,633 --> 00:33:05,100
or, rather, a smaller
contingent of American forces

635
00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:08,033
in Afghanistan focused
on counterterrorism

636
00:33:08,033 --> 00:33:11,265
and training Afghan troops.

637
00:33:11,266 --> 00:33:13,767
I think it's important to know
when you make this comparison --

638
00:33:13,767 --> 00:33:15,800
which is an
excellent question --

639
00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:20,533
that there was
sectarian conflict --

640
00:33:20,533 --> 00:33:23,233
violent sectarian
conflict in Iraq

641
00:33:23,233 --> 00:33:28,633
when there were 150,000
U.S. troops on the ground there.

642
00:33:28,633 --> 00:33:32,734
So the idea that this would
not be happening if there

643
00:33:32,734 --> 00:33:39,399
were 10,000 troops in Iraq
I think bears scrutiny.

644
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:45,433
The President believes that
we ought to pursue our national

645
00:33:45,433 --> 00:33:48,567
security interests in our policy
with regards to Iraq

646
00:33:48,567 --> 00:33:51,367
and with regards to Afghanistan,
and that's what he's doing.

647
00:33:51,367 --> 00:33:52,899
Steve.

648
00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:55,633
The Press:
Jay, do you have a new deadline
for when you'd like to see

649
00:33:55,633 --> 00:34:00,767
the Afghan people sign the
bilateral security agreement?

650
00:34:00,767 --> 00:34:05,100
Mr. Carney:
Steve, we never set a
December 31st hard deadline,

651
00:34:05,100 --> 00:34:07,500
but it was certainly
our preference to complete

652
00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:09,467
that agreement in 2013,

653
00:34:09,467 --> 00:34:11,100
which was consistent,
as I just mentioned,

654
00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:13,967
with the goal that was set at
the beginning of negotiations

655
00:34:13,967 --> 00:34:17,100
and reiterated by President
Karzai during his visit

656
00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:19,833
to Washington last January.

657
00:34:19,833 --> 00:34:22,600
Now, our position continues to
be that if we cannot conclude

658
00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:24,766
a bilateral security
agreement promptly,

659
00:34:24,766 --> 00:34:27,433
then we will be forced
to initiate planning

660
00:34:27,433 --> 00:34:31,233
for a post-2014 future
in which there would be no U.S.,

661
00:34:31,233 --> 00:34:34,800
nor NATO troop presence
in Afghanistan.

662
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,066
That's not the
future we're seeking.

663
00:34:37,065 --> 00:34:40,833
That's not the policy the
President believes is best

664
00:34:40,833 --> 00:34:45,065
and we don't believe it's
in Afghanistan's interest.

665
00:34:45,065 --> 00:34:47,899
But the further this
slips into 2014,

666
00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:51,734
the more likely that
outcome will come to pass.

667
00:34:51,734 --> 00:34:53,199
The holidays are
over, and I would expect

668
00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:56,500
that as the interagency convenes
to continue considering options

669
00:34:56,500 --> 00:35:00,967
to present to the President
for a post-2014 presence,

670
00:35:00,967 --> 00:35:03,900
we will have to increasingly
factor the lack of a BSA,

671
00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:06,667
a signed BSA into our plan.

672
00:35:06,667 --> 00:35:10,165
The Press:
So how much longer then do you
give them to think about this?

673
00:35:10,166 --> 00:35:13,033
Mr. Carney:
Look, I don't have
a specific deadline --

674
00:35:13,033 --> 00:35:16,100
The Press:
Are you talking a matter
of weeks or months?

675
00:35:16,100 --> 00:35:17,767
Mr. Carney:
-- or other policy
decisions to announce today,

676
00:35:17,767 --> 00:35:20,133
but I can tell you that
we're talking about weeks

677
00:35:20,133 --> 00:35:21,299
and not months.

678
00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:24,533
And the clock is ticking
for the reasons I laid out.

679
00:35:24,533 --> 00:35:29,799
We can't contemplate a continued
presence there absent a signed

680
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,667
bilateral security agreement.

681
00:35:32,667 --> 00:35:36,533
The planning necessary for a
continued presence to fight --

682
00:35:36,533 --> 00:35:41,066
to take on counterterrorism
missions and to assist

683
00:35:41,066 --> 00:35:43,100
in the training of
Afghan security forces

684
00:35:43,100 --> 00:35:45,866
needs to happen early this year.

685
00:35:45,867 --> 00:35:48,600
And absent a signed BSA,

686
00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:52,400
we'll have to plan
for that contingency.

687
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:55,400
The Press:
You've got Syria peace
talks coming up in Geneva

688
00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:56,734
later this month.

689
00:35:56,734 --> 00:36:01,200
What role do you perceive the
Iranians have in this process?

690
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,799
Mr. Carney:
Our position on that,
Steve, has not changed,

691
00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:07,433
which is that in
order to participate,

692
00:36:07,433 --> 00:36:11,834
Iran would have to commit
itself to the Geneva Communiqué.

693
00:36:11,834 --> 00:36:17,299
The purpose of the Geneva II
meeting on January 22nd is to

694
00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:21,433
move forward on a principle laid
out in the Geneva Communiqué,

695
00:36:21,433 --> 00:36:24,033
so obviously you cannot
participate constructively

696
00:36:24,033 --> 00:36:27,200
if you do not buy into those
principles and publicly say so.

697
00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,232
That position has not changed.

698
00:36:30,233 --> 00:36:31,233
Brianna.

699
00:36:31,233 --> 00:36:32,600
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

700
00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,567
On unemployment, on the offsets
that you hear Speaker Boehner

701
00:36:36,567 --> 00:36:38,500
and some Republicans
are open to,

702
00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:41,433
what's the reasoning for
not being opened to offsets

703
00:36:41,433 --> 00:36:45,000
for the short term
and the long term?

704
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,400
Mr. Carney:
As Gene just said,

705
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,166
we're already now a week past
the point at which 1.3 million

706
00:36:50,166 --> 00:36:54,000
Americans and their families
had those benefits --

707
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,834
emergency benefits cut off --

708
00:36:55,834 --> 00:36:58,933
The
Press: Is it because it would
delay -- it delays the process?

709
00:36:58,934 --> 00:37:01,567
Do you think offsets are
damaging in some way?

710
00:37:01,567 --> 00:37:02,967
What's the reasoning for --

711
00:37:02,967 --> 00:37:04,834
Mr. Carney:
What I would say is there's
a bill in the Senate

712
00:37:04,834 --> 00:37:10,299
that will be voted on
soon that treats this

713
00:37:10,300 --> 00:37:12,367
as the emergency it is,

714
00:37:12,367 --> 00:37:14,433
would extend benefits
for just three months,

715
00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:16,266
and we ought to act
on that, as Gene said.

716
00:37:16,266 --> 00:37:19,400
It is also the case
that all five times --

717
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:21,200
as noted earlier by Gene --

718
00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:24,265
under President George W. Bush
when unemployment insurance,

719
00:37:24,266 --> 00:37:26,133
emergency benefits were
extended, they were unpaid for.

720
00:37:26,133 --> 00:37:27,866
And the fact is
the unemployment rate

721
00:37:27,867 --> 00:37:33,734
was lower than it is even now --

722
00:37:33,734 --> 00:37:36,232
at 7 percent,
even though it's coming down.

723
00:37:36,233 --> 00:37:40,300
And also what is distinct
from at least the latter times

724
00:37:40,300 --> 00:37:43,934
that unemployment insurance was
extended under President Bush,

725
00:37:43,934 --> 00:37:46,700
the deficit is going
down instead of up.

726
00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:52,633
So when it comes to the need
to be mindful of our deficits,

727
00:37:52,633 --> 00:37:54,700
the fact is,
as has been much reported on

728
00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:55,966
and we've discussed

729
00:37:55,967 --> 00:37:59,100
from here, the deficit is
coming down at the fastest rate

730
00:37:59,100 --> 00:38:00,165
since World War II --

731
00:38:00,166 --> 00:38:03,000
which does not
mean we don't need

732
00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:07,300
to be extremely mindful of
how we spend our resources,

733
00:38:07,300 --> 00:38:09,166
but we have an emergency
situation here.

734
00:38:09,166 --> 00:38:12,233
We have a bipartisan bill in
the Senate that can and should

735
00:38:12,233 --> 00:38:14,667
be voted on with
a majority of support.

736
00:38:14,667 --> 00:38:18,165
And we hope Congress will
take action right away.

737
00:38:18,166 --> 00:38:22,300
As Gene said, that would give
immediate relief to these

738
00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:26,166
families and remove the fear
that I think now many of them

739
00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:28,900
face not knowing if and when
they'll ever get those benefits

740
00:38:28,900 --> 00:38:33,300
back, and would allow for time
for further discussions

741
00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:37,166
about how to move forward
for the rest of 2014.

742
00:38:37,166 --> 00:38:39,533
The Press:
As we await some developments

743
00:38:39,533 --> 00:38:42,400
on Supreme Court
Justice Sonia Sotomayor

744
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:44,300
temporarily blocking the mandate

745
00:38:44,300 --> 00:38:47,600
that all employers of
religious affiliation provide

746
00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,433
contraceptive coverage through
their health insurance,

747
00:38:50,433 --> 00:38:54,700
are you concerned that that
move undercuts the mandate

748
00:38:54,700 --> 00:39:00,734
considering this is a justice
that President Obama appointed?

749
00:39:00,734 --> 00:39:05,700
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't comment on
pending litigation matters.

750
00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:09,533
But we remain confident that
our final rule strikes --

751
00:39:09,533 --> 00:39:12,200
rules, rather, strike
the balance of providing women

752
00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,767
with free contraceptive
coverage while preventing

753
00:39:15,767 --> 00:39:18,600
nonprofit religious employers
with religious objections

754
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,400
to contraceptive coverage
from having to contract,

755
00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:24,800
arrange, pay, or refer
for such coverage.

756
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,734
Now, our aim is to balance
the goal of providing women

757
00:39:27,734 --> 00:39:30,100
with coverage for recommended
preventive care,

758
00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:32,734
including
contraceptive services,

759
00:39:32,734 --> 00:39:36,033
with no cost sharing and the
goal of respecting the concerns

760
00:39:36,033 --> 00:39:37,500
of nonprofit religious employers

761
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:39,166
that object to
contraceptive coverage.

762
00:39:39,166 --> 00:39:41,433
But on ongoing litigation,
I would have to refer you

763
00:39:41,433 --> 00:39:43,433
to the Department of Justice.

764
00:39:43,433 --> 00:39:46,033
The Press:
I'm not talking about
underlying litigation.

765
00:39:46,033 --> 00:39:47,500
Mr. Carney:
But you're asking about --

766
00:39:47,500 --> 00:39:49,333
you're reading
into a decision made

767
00:39:49,333 --> 00:39:51,433
about what it means
and the context,

768
00:39:51,433 --> 00:39:53,100
and I'm saying that
this is an ongoing matter

769
00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:54,299
that the Department of Justice

770
00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:59,100
would comment on both at
the low level and the high level

771
00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:00,333
in terms of its broader meaning.

772
00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:04,266
I think we'll wait and see
what action is taken further

773
00:40:04,266 --> 00:40:05,700
beyond what we've seen already.

774
00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:07,466
Jon.

775
00:40:07,467 --> 00:40:11,133
The Press:
Jay, we learned that
2.1 million people

776
00:40:11,133 --> 00:40:15,466
have enrolled
through the marketplaces.

777
00:40:15,467 --> 00:40:19,266
Can you tell us how many of
those people are young people,

778
00:40:19,266 --> 00:40:22,433
how many are in that
18-34 demographic?

779
00:40:22,433 --> 00:40:25,433
Mr. Carney:
What I can tell you
is the demographic data

780
00:40:25,433 --> 00:40:30,500
isn't available yet, but I know
that CMS plans to make data

781
00:40:30,500 --> 00:40:32,400
available as soon as possible.

782
00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,867
Several states who are running
their own marketplaces

783
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:40,300
are reporting that a good mix
of people is signing up,

784
00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:43,100
and that's important when we
talk about what the overall

785
00:40:43,100 --> 00:40:48,066
goals here are for March 31st,
the end of open enrollment --

786
00:40:48,066 --> 00:40:51,033
the mix is really
a key element of this.

787
00:40:51,033 --> 00:40:53,200
And when we have demographic
data to provide --

788
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:56,966
we being the administration,
CMS in particular --

789
00:40:56,967 --> 00:40:57,967
we will provide it.

790
00:40:57,967 --> 00:40:59,700
But we don't have
it at this point.

791
00:40:59,700 --> 00:41:00,866
The Press:
Why don't you have it?

792
00:41:00,867 --> 00:41:02,900
I mean, the states are
able to give us this --

793
00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:04,367
Mr. Carney:
I think some states,

794
00:41:04,367 --> 00:41:06,433
several states --
there are 50 of them --

795
00:41:06,433 --> 00:41:10,066
several states have been able to
do this and provided some data.

796
00:41:10,066 --> 00:41:14,366
We will and I think I just
noted that CMS plans to make it

797
00:41:14,367 --> 00:41:15,667
available as soon as possible.

798
00:41:15,667 --> 00:41:19,500
I think, Jon, that if you look
at how we've dealt with data

799
00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:22,166
as it's become available over
the past several months,

800
00:41:22,166 --> 00:41:25,567
both good data and bad data,
we've done our best to provide

801
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:32,000
it to you when we are confident
about the accuracy of it.

802
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,133
And I'm confident
CMS will do that.

803
00:41:35,133 --> 00:41:38,799
We don't dispute the notion if
the question is why aren't you

804
00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:42,166
providing data because
there's something about it

805
00:41:42,166 --> 00:41:43,934
that we don't like --

806
00:41:43,934 --> 00:41:48,133
that just wrong, because we
don't have the data to provide.

807
00:41:48,133 --> 00:41:49,133
The Press:
You don't have it yourselves?

808
00:41:49,133 --> 00:41:50,133
You don't even --

809
00:41:50,133 --> 00:41:51,133
Mr. Carney:
We don't.

810
00:41:51,133 --> 00:41:52,466
I certainly don't.

811
00:41:52,467 --> 00:41:53,500
And I know that it's not --
we don't have data that's ready

812
00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:56,667
to be released.

813
00:41:56,667 --> 00:41:58,266
What I can tell you is
we don't dispute the notion

814
00:41:58,266 --> 00:41:59,333
that the mix is important,

815
00:41:59,333 --> 00:42:03,000
that whatever the total
figure is of people

816
00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:06,700
who enroll by March 31st,
the aggregate number,

817
00:42:06,700 --> 00:42:10,299
the total number is not as
important as the overall makeup

818
00:42:10,300 --> 00:42:12,533
that you see in that population.

819
00:42:12,533 --> 00:42:14,100
The Press:
Some of the outside experts --

820
00:42:14,100 --> 00:42:18,133
Kaiser has said 40 percent
need to be in that age group.

821
00:42:18,133 --> 00:42:20,433
Is that the benchmark
you're looking at?

822
00:42:20,433 --> 00:42:22,300
Mr. Carney:
I don't know the
answer to that question

823
00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:24,133
in terms of what
our percentage is.

824
00:42:24,133 --> 00:42:27,000
I know that obviously
a good mix is important,

825
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:29,867
and that includes
young Americans.

826
00:42:29,867 --> 00:42:32,166
As we've talked about, there are
obviously campaigns underway

827
00:42:32,166 --> 00:42:38,066
to reach as many people
as possible about the wisdom

828
00:42:38,066 --> 00:42:40,265
of taking advantage
of these opportunities

829
00:42:40,266 --> 00:42:42,200
to sign up for health insurance.

830
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:46,399
And we're going to be,
as we have all along,

831
00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,900
engaged in an effort to provide
a product that is clearly

832
00:42:49,900 --> 00:42:54,233
very much in demand to
all the Americans who want

833
00:42:54,233 --> 00:42:55,633
to avail themselves of it.

834
00:42:55,633 --> 00:42:57,433
The Press:
And when you say "soon"
for this data --

835
00:42:57,433 --> 00:42:59,300
Mr. Carney:
I don't have anything
more specific than that.

836
00:42:59,300 --> 00:43:00,867
The Press:
And just one last thing.

837
00:43:00,867 --> 00:43:04,233
The President
over the break enrolled

838
00:43:04,233 --> 00:43:08,100
in a "bronze" plan, correct --

839
00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:09,100
individual plan?

840
00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:10,266
Why did he do that?

841
00:43:10,266 --> 00:43:12,300
I mean, he's not actually

842
00:43:12,300 --> 00:43:14,900
going to use this
health coverage, obviously.

843
00:43:14,900 --> 00:43:17,166
Mr. Carney:
I think, as we said
when it occurred,

844
00:43:17,166 --> 00:43:22,133
this is largely a symbolic move
to demonstrate obviously

845
00:43:22,133 --> 00:43:24,834
his commitment, which I don't
think could be any clearer,

846
00:43:24,834 --> 00:43:25,866
to the Affordable Care Act.

847
00:43:25,867 --> 00:43:27,767
So it's correct that
like all Presidents

848
00:43:27,767 --> 00:43:29,700
he gets his military care
from the military --

849
00:43:29,700 --> 00:43:31,165
I mean, his health care
from the military.

850
00:43:31,166 --> 00:43:35,367
But he enrolled
for that reason --

851
00:43:35,367 --> 00:43:38,600
because he said he would
and because he believes that,

852
00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:40,633
as so many millions
of Americans have demonstrated

853
00:43:40,633 --> 00:43:42,500
over the past several months,

854
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:48,433
that it is very much
a product that is worth having.

855
00:43:48,433 --> 00:43:50,133
The Press:
But he didn't enroll
himself, right?

856
00:43:50,133 --> 00:43:51,633
Staff went and did it for him.

857
00:43:51,633 --> 00:43:53,433
Did he directly engage in this?

858
00:43:53,433 --> 00:43:55,266
Mr. Carney:
I think w answered these
questions several weeks ago,

859
00:43:55,266 --> 00:43:56,266
Jon.

860
00:43:56,266 --> 00:43:57,867
His assistant did
the physical --

861
00:43:57,867 --> 00:44:00,767
The Press:
This is the first time I've had
a chance to talk to you since.

862
00:44:00,767 --> 00:44:02,200
Mr. Carney:
Sure. But he did
not physically enroll.

863
00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:04,500
I don't think anybody would
doubt how busy the President

864
00:44:04,500 --> 00:44:06,967
is or anyone would doubt
that this President

865
00:44:06,967 --> 00:44:08,166
is highly computer-literate.

866
00:44:08,166 --> 00:44:14,300
But his assistant did
the enrolling for him.

867
00:44:14,300 --> 00:44:16,834
The Press:
You just said that the
aggregate number at the end

868
00:44:16,834 --> 00:44:19,767
of March is less important
than the demographic mix.

869
00:44:19,767 --> 00:44:23,500
Why is the administration
backing away from the 7 million

870
00:44:23,500 --> 00:44:26,333
person enrollment figure
that Kathleen Sebelius,

871
00:44:26,333 --> 00:44:29,600
Marilyn Tavenner, and various
other incarnations said was

872
00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:32,366
the goal and a legitimate
goal and a reachable goal?

873
00:44:32,367 --> 00:44:33,867
Mr. Carney:
What I would say, Major,

874
00:44:33,867 --> 00:44:37,333
is that the 7 million estimate
was a CBO figure from earlier

875
00:44:37,333 --> 00:44:39,533
this year on how many people
they thought would come

876
00:44:39,533 --> 00:44:41,866
in during the first
enrollment period.

877
00:44:41,867 --> 00:44:45,100
Some estimates were lower
and some were higher.

878
00:44:45,100 --> 00:44:47,633
This is the first time this
has been done obviously,

879
00:44:47,633 --> 00:44:49,332
so it's hard to predict
what that number would be.

880
00:44:49,333 --> 00:44:52,633
It's important to understand
that there's not some magic

881
00:44:52,633 --> 00:44:57,633
number -- 6,999,999 --
and the system collapses,

882
00:44:57,633 --> 00:44:59,533
one more than that and
it functions perfectly.

883
00:44:59,533 --> 00:45:03,299
The issue, obviously, is there
has to be some buy-in --

884
00:45:03,300 --> 00:45:06,000
some estimates have
been as low as 2 million --

885
00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:09,400
but what that makeup looks
like both demographically

886
00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:10,400
and geographically.

887
00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:12,934
So all of these
issues are important.

888
00:45:12,934 --> 00:45:15,700
We're not backing
away from a number

889
00:45:15,700 --> 00:45:18,567
that we didn't put
out originally.

890
00:45:18,567 --> 00:45:22,867
I think that others noted that
7 million is a fine target

891
00:45:22,867 --> 00:45:26,834
but that that will not determine
whether the marketplaces

892
00:45:26,834 --> 00:45:27,834
function effectively.

893
00:45:27,834 --> 00:45:29,533
The issue is --

894
00:45:29,533 --> 00:45:32,100
The Press:
But, I mean, Secretary Sebelius
said on September 30th --

895
00:45:32,100 --> 00:45:33,299
this is a direct quote --

896
00:45:33,300 --> 00:45:36,800
"I think success looks
like at least 7 million people

897
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:39,433
having signed up
by the end of March, 2014."

898
00:45:39,433 --> 00:45:42,867
That sounds like she's embracing
that not just conceptually

899
00:45:42,867 --> 00:45:44,834
but she says that's
what success looks like.

900
00:45:44,834 --> 00:45:46,866
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think success
looks like having

901
00:45:46,867 --> 00:45:48,900
many millions of people sign up.

902
00:45:48,900 --> 00:45:50,100
What is important --

903
00:45:50,100 --> 00:45:54,967
because I think the conflation
here is an estimate,

904
00:45:54,967 --> 00:45:57,300
one of which,
by CBO, was 7 million,

905
00:45:57,300 --> 00:46:01,000
of a total number of
enrollees and what that means.

906
00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:03,266
Obviously, the more
enrollees there are,

907
00:46:03,266 --> 00:46:05,633
that's a measure of success.

908
00:46:05,633 --> 00:46:09,433
But in terms of how effective
the marketplaces function,

909
00:46:09,433 --> 00:46:13,100
the makeup, the mix of
the population that enrolls

910
00:46:13,100 --> 00:46:16,165
is more important
than the total number.

911
00:46:16,166 --> 00:46:20,433
And that's why so many efforts
are underway to reach different

912
00:46:20,433 --> 00:46:25,166
populations with the message of
the options available to people

913
00:46:25,166 --> 00:46:26,734
for quality,
affordable health insurance.

914
00:46:26,734 --> 00:46:29,767
The Press:
So that's a redefinition
of success, the mix --

915
00:46:29,767 --> 00:46:33,466
Mr. Carney:
Major, I think, again,
as I've just said,

916
00:46:33,467 --> 00:46:35,100
neither the Secretary
of Health and Human Services,

917
00:46:35,100 --> 00:46:37,033
nor anyone else
involved in this effort,

918
00:46:37,033 --> 00:46:40,232
or any expert in the field
would argue that success alone

919
00:46:40,233 --> 00:46:42,233
depends on the total aggregate
number of enrollees.

920
00:46:42,233 --> 00:46:47,667
That would not pass academic
or intellectual scrutiny.

921
00:46:47,667 --> 00:46:53,100
Obviously, the mix is important,
that getting a substantial

922
00:46:53,100 --> 00:46:54,866
number of enrollees --
and I think everyone here

923
00:46:54,867 --> 00:46:57,367
has reported on and would
agree with an assessment

924
00:46:57,367 --> 00:46:59,567
that the numbers of enrollees

925
00:46:59,567 --> 00:47:02,300
has been increasing
significantly in December

926
00:47:02,300 --> 00:47:05,333
over the previous two months,
and we expect that number

927
00:47:05,333 --> 00:47:07,600
to continue to go up
across the country.

928
00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:10,967
Let me move up and back --

929
00:47:10,967 --> 00:47:12,633
The Press:
On the question of Iraq,

930
00:47:12,633 --> 00:47:16,000
there's sort of an analysis
in the foreign policy community

931
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:18,934
that from Iraq
to Syria to Lebanon,

932
00:47:18,934 --> 00:47:23,333
there is an ascendency
of al Qaeda affiliated

933
00:47:23,333 --> 00:47:24,600
or sympathizing groups,

934
00:47:24,600 --> 00:47:27,165
and that American
interests are in jeopardy

935
00:47:27,166 --> 00:47:29,633
in ways that they simply
weren't six or 12 months ago.

936
00:47:29,633 --> 00:47:31,866
Does the administration
share that anxiety

937
00:47:31,867 --> 00:47:35,967
and does it see in these three
places now a spike in violence

938
00:47:35,967 --> 00:47:38,600
but an unsettling
spike in violence,

939
00:47:38,600 --> 00:47:41,600
and how does it plan to respond?

940
00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:44,400
Mr. Carney:
Well, there's no question
that the violence in Syria

941
00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:47,667
continues to be a problem,
and as we have said all along,

942
00:47:47,667 --> 00:47:54,866
that the more that civil war
continues and is not resolved

943
00:47:54,867 --> 00:47:57,600
through the political process
that is required to resolve it,

944
00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,232
the more possibility that
that conflict would spread

945
00:48:00,233 --> 00:48:01,767
beyond the borders of Syria.

946
00:48:01,767 --> 00:48:04,399
And we've seen some
of that take place already.

947
00:48:06,967 --> 00:48:08,900
There is no question
that there are conflicts

948
00:48:08,900 --> 00:48:12,266
that have to be resolved
within these countries,

949
00:48:12,266 --> 00:48:14,133
and that political --

950
00:48:14,133 --> 00:48:19,265
whether it's Iraq,
Syria, Lebanon --

951
00:48:19,266 --> 00:48:23,200
that the only resolution
to these conflicts

952
00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:24,633
is through a political process.

953
00:48:24,633 --> 00:48:29,933
And we are working very closely
with our partners and directly

954
00:48:29,934 --> 00:48:32,900
with those who support
political reconciliation

955
00:48:32,900 --> 00:48:33,900
to help bring that about.

956
00:48:33,900 --> 00:48:36,333
And that includes
the Geneva II conference

957
00:48:36,333 --> 00:48:37,333
with regards to Syria;

958
00:48:37,333 --> 00:48:39,567
it includes the efforts
we're undertaking

959
00:48:39,567 --> 00:48:41,533
with the government of Iraq,

960
00:48:41,533 --> 00:48:45,232
and obviously with our support
for Lebanese security forces

961
00:48:45,233 --> 00:48:48,567
and for the Lebanese
government's stated policy

962
00:48:48,567 --> 00:48:51,967
of disassociation from
the conflict in Syria.

963
00:48:51,967 --> 00:48:55,100
But broadly -- because the
context of some of the stories

964
00:48:55,100 --> 00:48:58,933
you're mentioning
is that somehow

965
00:48:58,934 --> 00:49:02,266
a greater American presence,

966
00:49:02,266 --> 00:49:03,266
troops on the ground,

967
00:49:03,266 --> 00:49:07,834
would result in
a different dynamic.

968
00:49:07,834 --> 00:49:09,734
And obviously it's
hard to prove a negative,

969
00:49:09,734 --> 00:49:14,767
but as I said earlier, there
was a great deal of sectarian

970
00:49:14,767 --> 00:49:18,265
conflict in Iraq
when tens of thousands,

971
00:49:18,266 --> 00:49:19,834
more than a hundred
thousand U.S. troops

972
00:49:19,834 --> 00:49:21,165
were on the ground.

973
00:49:21,166 --> 00:49:24,033
So I think that
demonstrates that --

974
00:49:24,033 --> 00:49:25,834
The Press:
But some might argue --

975
00:49:25,834 --> 00:49:27,265
Mr. Carney:
-- 10,000 troops --

976
00:49:27,266 --> 00:49:28,467
The Press:
-- beaten back
then by the surge,

977
00:49:28,467 --> 00:49:30,066
and then that the
absence of American forces

978
00:49:30,066 --> 00:49:31,466
has created a vacuum.

979
00:49:31,467 --> 00:49:33,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, the
fact of the matter

980
00:49:33,266 --> 00:49:35,767
is when there were
150,000 U.S. troops

981
00:49:35,767 --> 00:49:36,767
on the ground there
was a great deal

982
00:49:36,767 --> 00:49:39,500
of sectarian violence in Iraq.

983
00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:44,800
When there was a decision
made by groups within Iraq

984
00:49:44,800 --> 00:49:48,567
to pursue
political reconciliation --

985
00:49:48,567 --> 00:49:50,934
and in the case of Iraq,
the Sunni Awakening,

986
00:49:50,934 --> 00:49:55,266
for example -- to choose
a path that is supported

987
00:49:55,266 --> 00:49:57,934
by the broad majority of
Iraqis regardless of their

988
00:49:57,934 --> 00:50:03,000
religious or regional
affiliation to reject al Qaeda,

989
00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:05,367
for example, reject extremism,

990
00:50:05,367 --> 00:50:07,867
that that produced
positive results

991
00:50:07,867 --> 00:50:09,200
in terms of reduction
in violence.

992
00:50:09,200 --> 00:50:11,633
And that is what we are working
with the government of Iraq

993
00:50:11,633 --> 00:50:15,966
to pursue again during this
current stage of conflict.

994
00:50:15,967 --> 00:50:18,066
The Press:
Could I follow on that?

995
00:50:18,066 --> 00:50:20,399
Mr. Carney:
Let me just move around
a little bit, Connie.

996
00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:21,400
Jon-Christopher.

997
00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:22,800
Then Margaret.

998
00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:24,533
The Press:
It's the first press
briefing of the New Year, Jay.

999
00:50:24,533 --> 00:50:27,533
Have you discussed or have any
insight as to the President's

1000
00:50:27,533 --> 00:50:28,567
New Year's resolutions,

1001
00:50:28,567 --> 00:50:31,367
especially in
dealing with Congress?

1002
00:50:31,367 --> 00:50:32,934
Mr. Carney:
Look, the President --

1003
00:50:32,934 --> 00:50:36,000
I have not had that
conversation with him

1004
00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:37,967
in the context of
New Year's resolutions.

1005
00:50:37,967 --> 00:50:43,100
I know that the President begins
this year committed to working

1006
00:50:43,100 --> 00:50:48,000
with Congress cooperatively
and in a spirit of compromise

1007
00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:49,834
to get things done that
help the American people,

1008
00:50:49,834 --> 00:50:54,933
that help the middle class,
that help our economy grow.

1009
00:50:54,934 --> 00:50:59,633
He was heartened, as were
many of us, all of us here,

1010
00:50:59,633 --> 00:51:06,299
by the progress demonstrated
in the budget resolution,

1011
00:51:06,300 --> 00:51:09,400
the budget bill that
passed that was negotiated

1012
00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:12,266
by Senator Murray
and Chairman Ryan.

1013
00:51:12,266 --> 00:51:15,000
And while that was modest and
we acknowledged it at the time,

1014
00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:18,967
it was a break
from past practice,

1015
00:51:18,967 --> 00:51:20,100
at least the immediate past.

1016
00:51:20,100 --> 00:51:21,266
And it was a positive sign.

1017
00:51:21,266 --> 00:51:26,300
So we are hopeful that
that might foreshadow more

1018
00:51:26,300 --> 00:51:28,734
opportunities for
cooperation in areas

1019
00:51:28,734 --> 00:51:32,165
where there is agreement
about how to invest

1020
00:51:32,166 --> 00:51:34,633
in our economy, how to,
as I think Gene mentioned

1021
00:51:34,633 --> 00:51:36,133
on one of the shows yesterday,

1022
00:51:36,133 --> 00:51:39,332
how to embrace,
for example, our commitment

1023
00:51:39,333 --> 00:51:44,100
to reduce the corporate
tax rate and eliminate a lot

1024
00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:48,500
of tax loopholes,
and to, as part of that deal,

1025
00:51:48,500 --> 00:51:51,233
to invest heavily
in infrastructure

1026
00:51:51,233 --> 00:51:54,600
in this country so
that we can create jobs today

1027
00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:58,133
and a stronger economic
foundation for the future.

1028
00:51:58,133 --> 00:52:01,866
Comprehensive immigration reform
is another ripe opportunity for

1029
00:52:01,867 --> 00:52:05,266
bipartisan cooperation given the
broad bipartisan support around

1030
00:52:05,266 --> 00:52:09,433
the country and in Congress for
taking that action

1031
00:52:09,433 --> 00:52:10,734
and moving forward with it.

1032
00:52:10,734 --> 00:52:15,299
So you will see from the start
an effort by this President,

1033
00:52:15,300 --> 00:52:20,100
by this White House to find
where we can work together with

1034
00:52:20,100 --> 00:52:22,133
and compromise with
Republicans in Congress,

1035
00:52:22,133 --> 00:52:24,600
get things done on behalf
of the American people.

1036
00:52:24,600 --> 00:52:28,000
And you will find continued
commitment by this President

1037
00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:32,967
to not take congressional
intransigence

1038
00:52:35,066 --> 00:52:39,700
as the end of the story,

1039
00:52:39,700 --> 00:52:42,332
by moving where he can
administratively and through

1040
00:52:42,333 --> 00:52:45,266
his executive authority
to advance an agenda

1041
00:52:45,266 --> 00:52:47,033
that helps the economy grow

1042
00:52:47,033 --> 00:52:50,232
and helps the middle
class feel more secure.

1043
00:52:50,233 --> 00:52:51,233
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

1044
00:52:51,233 --> 00:52:53,767
On a personal note, have you?

1045
00:52:53,767 --> 00:52:56,232
Mr. Carney:
I don't share my New
Year's resolutions --

1046
00:52:56,233 --> 00:52:58,767
except to look more
like Evan -- but, yes.

1047
00:52:58,767 --> 00:52:59,899
(laughter)

1048
00:52:59,900 --> 00:53:01,033
The Press:
Thanks.

1049
00:53:01,033 --> 00:53:03,066
I wanted to check in
with you on South Sudan

1050
00:53:03,066 --> 00:53:04,466
as well as another question.

1051
00:53:04,467 --> 00:53:05,867
The peace talks are underway.

1052
00:53:05,867 --> 00:53:09,533
Can you give us a sense of how
the President is following this

1053
00:53:09,533 --> 00:53:11,799
and how the U.S.
will engage in this?

1054
00:53:11,800 --> 00:53:15,467
And then on Iraq, I just wanted
to ask you how what's happening

1055
00:53:15,467 --> 00:53:17,367
there is affecting
the U.S. calculus

1056
00:53:17,367 --> 00:53:21,867
on Iran as well
as Afghanistan?

1057
00:53:27,166 --> 00:53:29,166
Mr. Carney:
On South Sudan, the
President is regularly

1058
00:53:29,166 --> 00:53:32,300
updated on the situation there
and we remain deeply concerned

1059
00:53:32,300 --> 00:53:36,400
by the conflict in South Sudan
and are working on multiple

1060
00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:39,800
fronts to bring about
an end to the violence.

1061
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:42,467
The President's Special
Envoy, Donald Booth,

1062
00:53:42,467 --> 00:53:45,834
is in Ethiopia in support
of talks between the parties.

1063
00:53:45,834 --> 00:53:48,000
He is pressing them
to reach a cease-fire

1064
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:50,867
and ensure humanitarian access.

1065
00:53:50,867 --> 00:53:52,800
As Secretary Kerry
said on Sunday,

1066
00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:56,066
these negotiations need to be
serious and both sides need

1067
00:53:56,066 --> 00:53:59,466
to listen to the region and
to the international community.

1068
00:53:59,467 --> 00:54:02,200
The dispute cannot be
resolved through violence.

1069
00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:04,767
The parties must work
to find a peaceful,

1070
00:54:04,767 --> 00:54:06,734
democratic way forward.

1071
00:54:06,734 --> 00:54:10,433
If I could, I'd like to add that
to be meaningful and productive,

1072
00:54:10,433 --> 00:54:14,000
senior SPLM members
currently detained in Juba

1073
00:54:14,000 --> 00:54:15,667
need to be present
for discussions

1074
00:54:15,667 --> 00:54:18,734
on political issues --
to help the talks move forward.

1075
00:54:18,734 --> 00:54:22,333
We urge the Government of South
Sudan to uphold its commitments

1076
00:54:22,333 --> 00:54:25,467
and release political
detainees immediately.

1077
00:54:25,467 --> 00:54:29,033
I think I've got
time for one more.

1078
00:54:29,033 --> 00:54:31,633
The Press:
But what about the --

1079
00:54:31,633 --> 00:54:33,265
Mr. Carney:
What was the other one?

1080
00:54:33,266 --> 00:54:34,667
Sorry.

1081
00:54:34,667 --> 00:54:38,433
The Press:
It was to say we've been
talking a lot about Iraq --

1082
00:54:38,433 --> 00:54:41,033
how is the situation there
affecting U.S. calculus

1083
00:54:41,033 --> 00:54:42,333
on the Iran negotiations

1084
00:54:42,333 --> 00:54:43,934
and on the Afghanistan
withdrawal?

1085
00:54:43,934 --> 00:54:47,200
Or maybe the question
is better asked vice versa --

1086
00:54:47,200 --> 00:54:50,767
how are the talks in Iran
and how does the situation

1087
00:54:50,767 --> 00:54:53,033
with troops in Afghanistan
have the potential

1088
00:54:53,033 --> 00:54:55,600
to impact al Qaeda's ability?

1089
00:54:55,600 --> 00:54:58,633
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure how to answer
that except to treat

1090
00:54:58,633 --> 00:55:02,100
the issues specifically in terms
of what actions we're taking.

1091
00:55:02,100 --> 00:55:04,967
I've talked about our view of
the need for Kabul to sign --

1092
00:55:04,967 --> 00:55:10,066
the Afghan government

1093
00:55:10,066 --> 00:55:13,399
to sign the bilateral
security agreement.

1094
00:55:13,400 --> 00:55:17,967
The time is coming when we have
to make, with our NATO allies,

1095
00:55:17,967 --> 00:55:20,033
preparations for
a post-2014 mission,

1096
00:55:20,033 --> 00:55:26,033
and absent a BSA that action
cannot include a troop presence.

1097
00:55:26,033 --> 00:55:30,567
On Iran, work is still being
done by technical teams

1098
00:55:30,567 --> 00:55:33,000
on the interim agreement,

1099
00:55:33,000 --> 00:55:35,166
but we expect action
on that relatively --

1100
00:55:35,166 --> 00:55:36,633
fairly soon.

1101
00:55:36,633 --> 00:55:42,165
And then with regards to Iraq,
I think I would just repeat

1102
00:55:42,166 --> 00:55:45,200
what I said before, which is
that we are committed to provide

1103
00:55:45,200 --> 00:55:48,466
assistance to the government
of Iraq in its efforts

1104
00:55:48,467 --> 00:55:54,467
to work with tribal and
regional leaders to expel

1105
00:55:56,934 --> 00:56:01,367
al Qaeda-affiliated groups
from those areas because

1106
00:56:01,367 --> 00:56:04,133
it's in the interests
of the Iraqi people.

1107
00:56:04,133 --> 00:56:05,332
So we're going to
continue to do that.

1108
00:56:05,333 --> 00:56:08,266
We're going to continue
to speed up the assistance,

1109
00:56:08,266 --> 00:56:09,633
as I mentioned earlier,

1110
00:56:09,633 --> 00:56:11,834
that we believe can help
them achieve that goal,

1111
00:56:11,834 --> 00:56:15,232
and continue to discuss
at a political level,

1112
00:56:15,233 --> 00:56:18,500
as I think Deputy National
Security Advisor Antony Blinken

1113
00:56:18,500 --> 00:56:20,367
did the other day
with an Iraqi leader,

1114
00:56:20,367 --> 00:56:22,767
the need to pursue conversations
in a spirit of reconciliation

1115
00:56:22,767 --> 00:56:28,734
so that the common
interests in reducing violence

1116
00:56:34,033 --> 00:56:39,133
and rejecting
al Qaeda is achieved.

1117
00:56:39,133 --> 00:56:40,433
So we'll continue
to work on that.

1118
00:56:40,433 --> 00:56:42,667
The Press:
Jay, the First Lady
stayed behind in Hawaii

1119
00:56:42,667 --> 00:56:44,165
and the White House
said that that was

1120
00:56:44,166 --> 00:56:46,233
an early birthday present
from the President.

1121
00:56:46,233 --> 00:56:48,133
Does that mean he's paying
for the flight back,

1122
00:56:48,133 --> 00:56:50,433
or are the taxpayers paying?

1123
00:56:50,433 --> 00:56:52,300
Mr. Carney:
As with all personal travel,

1124
00:56:52,300 --> 00:56:54,033
the First Family
will appropriately fund

1125
00:56:54,033 --> 00:56:55,366
personal expenses, Ed.

1126
00:56:55,367 --> 00:56:57,967
And in line with travel of past
Presidents and First Ladies,

1127
00:56:57,967 --> 00:57:00,900
the First Lady will travel
via government aircraft.

1128
00:57:00,900 --> 00:57:02,166
But you're accurate
in your description

1129
00:57:02,166 --> 00:57:08,166
that this was her
decision to remain

1130
00:57:08,166 --> 00:57:11,100
at actually the President's
suggestion in Hawaii

1131
00:57:11,100 --> 00:57:14,467
to spend time with friends
ahead of her upcoming

1132
00:57:14,467 --> 00:57:16,166
very big birthday.

1133
00:57:16,166 --> 00:57:19,600
And if you have kids, you know
that telling your spouse

1134
00:57:19,600 --> 00:57:21,100
that they can go
spend a week away from home

1135
00:57:21,100 --> 00:57:23,066
is actually a big present.

1136
00:57:23,066 --> 00:57:24,567
Not that we don't love our kids.

1137
00:57:24,567 --> 00:57:25,967
(laughter)

1138
00:57:25,967 --> 00:57:27,600
The Press:
You might get in trouble
calling it a "big birthday."

1139
00:57:27,600 --> 00:57:29,000
(laughter)

1140
00:57:29,000 --> 00:57:30,834
Mr. Carney:
I think she's acknowledged
which birthday it is.

1141
00:57:30,834 --> 00:57:33,200
The Press:
Jay do you have
a week ahead yet?

1142
00:57:33,200 --> 00:57:34,265
Mr. Carney:
I don't think we do,

1143
00:57:34,266 --> 00:57:36,200
but we'll see what
we can come up with.

1144
00:57:36,200 --> 00:57:38,366
I've got to run to a meeting.

1145
00:57:38,367 --> 00:57:40,300
The Press:
Do you have an update
on the President's address

1146
00:57:40,300 --> 00:57:42,900
that you said would be
prior to the State of the Union

1147
00:57:42,900 --> 00:57:44,633
on national security
surveillance?

1148
00:57:44,633 --> 00:57:46,767
Mr. Carney:
On the disclosures issues?

1149
00:57:46,767 --> 00:57:49,232
The President will
speak about those issues

1150
00:57:49,233 --> 00:57:50,433
prior to the State of the Union.

1151
00:57:50,433 --> 00:57:54,166
The State of the Union
address is on January 28,

1152
00:57:54,166 --> 00:57:57,767
so sometime between now and
then he'll address those issues.

1153
00:57:57,767 --> 00:57:58,767
Great to see you all.

1154
00:57:58,767 --> 00:58:00,834
Thanks a lot.