English subtitles for clip: File:12-11-13- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:01,533 --> 00:00:02,963 Mr. Earnest: Before we get started, I do have a quick announcement 2 00:00:02,967 --> 00:00:04,797 that I want to echo that you may have heard 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,870 a little bit about already. 4 00:00:06,867 --> 00:00:09,937 Today, the Department of Health and Human Services reported 5 00:00:09,934 --> 00:00:12,164 that the number of people who enrolled in federally run 6 00:00:12,166 --> 00:00:15,666 marketplaces in November was more than four times October's 7 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:18,367 enrollment -- evidence of technical improvements that 8 00:00:18,367 --> 00:00:20,337 were made to healthcare.gov. 9 00:00:20,333 --> 00:00:22,903 Today, we're also highlighting the investments made 10 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:25,370 by the Affordable Care Act to expand access 11 00:00:25,367 --> 00:00:28,197 to high-quality health care for millions of Americans 12 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,670 by strengthening community health centers 13 00:00:29,667 --> 00:00:31,097 across the country. 14 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:34,000 For more than 45 years, community health centers 15 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,900 have delivered comprehensive, high-quality, 16 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:40,170 preventative and primary health care to patients. 17 00:00:40,166 --> 00:00:42,696 Today, approximately 1,200 health centers operate 18 00:00:42,700 --> 00:00:45,300 more than 9,000 service delivery sites 19 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:48,230 that provide care to more than 21 million patients 20 00:00:48,233 --> 00:00:50,133 across the country. 21 00:00:50,133 --> 00:00:52,563 Health centers are also an integral source of local 22 00:00:52,567 --> 00:00:54,597 employment and economic growth in many communities. 23 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,570 They employ more than 148,000 workers nationwide and added 24 00:00:58,567 --> 00:01:02,037 more than 35,000 jobs over the last four years. 25 00:01:02,033 --> 00:01:03,533 As community-based organizations, 26 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:06,363 health centers are well positioned to play a vital role 27 00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:11,167 in providing health care to their communities as millions 28 00:01:11,166 --> 00:01:13,396 more Americans begin gaining health insurance 29 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,030 under the Affordable Care Act. 30 00:01:15,033 --> 00:01:16,633 To help expand the capacity of health centers 31 00:01:16,633 --> 00:01:17,833 to provide health care, 32 00:01:17,834 --> 00:01:19,504 the Affordable Care Act includes approximately 33 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:22,770 $11 billion for efforts to strengthen and grow 34 00:01:22,767 --> 00:01:26,897 our community health centers, including by establishing new 35 00:01:26,900 --> 00:01:29,500 sites, renovating existing health centers, 36 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:31,070 and hiring more staff. 37 00:01:31,066 --> 00:01:33,366 This is one of the many ways the Affordable Care Act is expanding 38 00:01:33,367 --> 00:01:38,237 access to quality health care for people across the country. 39 00:01:38,233 --> 00:01:40,533 So with that important announcement, Mr. Kuhnhenn, 40 00:01:40,533 --> 00:01:41,833 I'll let you get started today. 41 00:01:41,834 --> 00:01:43,134 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 42 00:01:43,133 --> 00:01:48,003 A couple of those health numbers -- although that's I believe 43 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,200 more than three times the October total -- 44 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,000 it's still one-third of the 1.2 million that the administration 45 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,870 originally planned to have by the end of November. 46 00:01:56,867 --> 00:01:59,867 And today, Secretary Sebelius said 47 00:01:59,867 --> 00:02:01,897 that the backend of the system, 48 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:05,600 that part of the system that pays insurers and assesses 49 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,530 what the -- figures out what the tax subsidies will be, 50 00:02:09,533 --> 00:02:11,263 won't be ready until mid-January. 51 00:02:11,266 --> 00:02:15,066 So can the administration guarantee that anybody who wants 52 00:02:15,066 --> 00:02:20,666 to have insurance on January 1st will be able to get it? 53 00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:22,437 Mr. Earnest: If they sign up by December 23rd -- 54 00:02:22,433 --> 00:02:25,833 that's the deadline that's been put in place for individuals 55 00:02:25,834 --> 00:02:27,464 who would like to be covered by January 1st -- 56 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:28,897 that's the deadline that they have to meet. 57 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:30,900 The Press: And everybody who wants to sign up by January 23rd -- 58 00:02:30,900 --> 00:02:35,630 or by December 23rd will be able to? 59 00:02:35,633 --> 00:02:37,433 Mr. Earnest: Well, we certainly, as you know, Jim, 60 00:02:37,433 --> 00:02:40,503 have added significant capacity to the website where we can 61 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:46,070 handle much higher traffic to the website to accommodate 62 00:02:46,066 --> 00:02:48,296 the interest of people all across the country. 63 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:52,000 There have been some numbers that have been provided by CMS 64 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,670 that indicate that the traffic to the website has spiked 65 00:02:54,667 --> 00:02:57,737 after reports that it was functioning smoothly 66 00:02:57,734 --> 00:02:59,304 for the vast majority of users. 67 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:00,970 That's an indication that's there's strong interest 68 00:03:00,967 --> 00:03:04,697 all across the country on behalf of people who are interested 69 00:03:04,700 --> 00:03:07,800 in getting access to the affordable health care coverage 70 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,030 that is now available through healthcare.gov. 71 00:03:10,033 --> 00:03:13,463 So the improvements to the website allow us to accommodate 72 00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:16,037 more traffic and accommodate the significant interest 73 00:03:16,033 --> 00:03:17,333 that's out there. 74 00:03:17,333 --> 00:03:19,903 And according to the numbers that you've seen from HHS that 75 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:23,900 were released today, there is a significant increase 76 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,300 in the number of people who are actually following through 77 00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:27,300 and enrolling. 78 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:29,230 Now, the numbers that were released today 79 00:03:29,233 --> 00:03:34,233 all predate the most important and most tangible 80 00:03:34,233 --> 00:03:36,063 of the improvements to the website. 81 00:03:36,066 --> 00:03:37,896 So it is reasonable to assume -- 82 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:41,000 while I can't provide you specific data -- 83 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:47,470 that the number of people who are enrolling in health care 84 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:49,667 over the last 10 days since the improvements to the website 85 00:03:49,667 --> 00:03:55,667 were implemented, that there are more people signing up. 86 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:00,600 So the trajectory is moving in the right direction 87 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,970 and that's something that we're encouraged by. 88 00:04:02,967 --> 00:04:04,667 But there also is this lingering problem, 89 00:04:04,667 --> 00:04:05,867 that I think that you're referring to, 90 00:04:05,867 --> 00:04:10,367 that relates to the so-called 834 forms, 91 00:04:10,367 --> 00:04:13,767 which is the information being accurately conveyed 92 00:04:13,767 --> 00:04:16,137 from the website to the individual insurer 93 00:04:16,133 --> 00:04:17,963 who would be providing the insurance. 94 00:04:17,967 --> 00:04:21,737 And there are a range of fixes that have been put in place 95 00:04:21,734 --> 00:04:24,564 to iron out the kinks in that process, 96 00:04:24,567 --> 00:04:27,697 and they have made tremendous progress in eliminating 97 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:29,170 some of those problems. 98 00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:33,636 And they also have in place a system 99 00:04:33,633 --> 00:04:38,033 for going back and confirming that individuals who signed up 100 00:04:38,033 --> 00:04:40,533 very early on in the first six or eight weeks, 101 00:04:40,533 --> 00:04:45,903 when they were having the most problems with the 834 program, 102 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:47,770 to confirm essentially on both sides -- 103 00:04:47,767 --> 00:04:50,437 both with the insurance company and with the individual -- 104 00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:53,103 that both sides have done what they need to do 105 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:56,030 to ensure that that person is covered and will be covered 106 00:04:56,033 --> 00:04:57,233 as of January 1st. 107 00:04:57,233 --> 00:04:59,703 So we are confident that we have put in place 108 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:03,800 the kind of solutions that are required to confirm 109 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,470 that individuals who sign up and enroll in a health care plan 110 00:05:06,467 --> 00:05:09,697 by December 23rd will be in a position to have that coverage 111 00:05:09,700 --> 00:05:11,330 take effect on January 1st. 112 00:05:11,333 --> 00:05:13,033 The Press: On a separate issue, 113 00:05:13,033 --> 00:05:17,163 reports today that the U.S. has halted all nonlethal aid 114 00:05:17,166 --> 00:05:22,636 to Syrian rebels operating in northern Syria -- 115 00:05:22,633 --> 00:05:25,533 I'm wondering, is the U.S. losing faith 116 00:05:25,533 --> 00:05:28,433 in the ability of rebels to fight 117 00:05:28,433 --> 00:05:32,203 without Islamic extremist interference or participation? 118 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,270 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, as you know, 119 00:05:34,266 --> 00:05:38,196 a significant portion of our policy towards Syria has been 120 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,970 dedicated to providing support to those elements of the 121 00:05:41,967 --> 00:05:46,897 opposition that are moderate, that are committed to respecting 122 00:05:46,900 --> 00:05:49,900 basic human rights, that are committed to respecting 123 00:05:49,900 --> 00:05:55,600 the rights of religious and ethnic minorities 124 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:03,200 and even the political minorities in that country. 125 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,530 So that has been a focal point of our efforts, 126 00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:11,663 particularly when it comes to the provision of nonlethal aid. 127 00:06:11,667 --> 00:06:15,237 We have seen the reports that Islamic Front forces have seized 128 00:06:15,233 --> 00:06:19,103 the headquarters in question and warehouses belonging 129 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:20,470 to the Supreme Military Council, 130 00:06:20,467 --> 00:06:22,667 and we're obviously concerned by those reports. 131 00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:24,997 We're still gathering facts and consulting with General Idris 132 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,100 and the Supreme Military Council staff 133 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:30,230 to inventory the status of U.S. equipment and supplies 134 00:06:30,233 --> 00:06:31,603 that have been provided to the SMC. 135 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,730 As a result of this situation, as you pointed out, 136 00:06:33,734 --> 00:06:36,004 the United States has suspended all further deliveries 137 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,030 of nonlethal assistance into northern Syria. 138 00:06:39,033 --> 00:06:43,133 At the same time, it's important for people to understand that 139 00:06:43,133 --> 00:06:45,863 our humanitarian assistance, which is distributed through 140 00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:48,997 international and nongovernmental organizations 141 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,130 including the United Nations, 142 00:06:50,133 --> 00:06:52,733 is not affected by this suspension. 143 00:06:52,734 --> 00:06:54,434 The Press: But is this in effect weakening 144 00:06:54,433 --> 00:06:56,733 the military opposition to Assad? 145 00:06:56,734 --> 00:06:58,734 Mr. Earnest: Well, what we are interested in doing 146 00:06:58,734 --> 00:07:01,964 is trying to coordinate with and lift up the moderate elements 147 00:07:01,967 --> 00:07:04,067 of the opposition, and that has been a challenge 148 00:07:04,066 --> 00:07:05,336 from the very beginning -- 149 00:07:05,333 --> 00:07:08,503 both to identify the moderate elements of the opposition 150 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:10,030 and to provide them the support that they need 151 00:07:10,033 --> 00:07:16,363 to try to bring about the kind of transition 152 00:07:16,367 --> 00:07:18,797 that reflects the will of the Syrian people. 153 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,230 That has been a challenging proposition 154 00:07:20,233 --> 00:07:24,103 from the very beginning and that continues to be challenging. 155 00:07:24,100 --> 00:07:26,830 The Press: And last, can you comment on the reports 156 00:07:26,834 --> 00:07:28,534 that the sign language interpreter 157 00:07:28,533 --> 00:07:33,433 that stood next to the President yesterday was apparently a fake? 158 00:07:33,433 --> 00:07:34,533 Mr. Earnest: I've seen those reports -- 159 00:07:34,533 --> 00:07:36,233 I'd refer you to the South African government 160 00:07:36,233 --> 00:07:38,463 about who that person was 161 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:40,467 and what their responsibilities were. 162 00:07:42,333 --> 00:07:44,633 I think my only reaction to that is that it's a shame 163 00:07:44,633 --> 00:07:49,163 that you had a service that was dedicated 164 00:07:49,166 --> 00:07:52,496 to honoring the life and celebrating the legacy 165 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:56,270 of one of the great leaders of the 20th century 166 00:07:56,266 --> 00:07:59,236 has gotten distracted by this and a couple of other issues 167 00:07:59,233 --> 00:08:04,303 that are far less important than the legacy of Nelson Mandela. 168 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:05,430 The Press: Any security concerns? 169 00:08:05,433 --> 00:08:06,833 Mr. Earnest: Not that I'm aware of, 170 00:08:06,834 --> 00:08:08,704 but I'd encourage you to check with the Secret Service 171 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:10,200 to see if they had any concerns? 172 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,330 They're ultimately responsible for the President's security. 173 00:08:12,333 --> 00:08:14,363 So, all right, Mark, I'm going to give you the next one, 174 00:08:14,367 --> 00:08:18,697 but anybody in the back, I'm looking at you next. 175 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:19,870 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 176 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,037 The budget deal announced last night did not include 177 00:08:22,033 --> 00:08:23,563 an extension of unemployment insurance, 178 00:08:23,567 --> 00:08:24,797 emergency unemployment insurance benefits. 179 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,530 Could the President sign a budget deal without those? 180 00:08:27,533 --> 00:08:30,563 How does he intend to push forward to get something 181 00:08:30,567 --> 00:08:34,397 that he has said is a priority for him? 182 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,030 Mr. Earnest: I believe the President's statement last night 183 00:08:36,033 --> 00:08:38,763 indicated that he was pleased with the budget agreement 184 00:08:38,767 --> 00:08:40,867 that was reached between Senator Murray 185 00:08:40,867 --> 00:08:43,467 and Chairman Ryan, 186 00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:45,997 and that is an indication that the President would sign 187 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,570 that agreement if it passes both the House and the Senate, 188 00:08:49,567 --> 00:08:51,197 which is what we expect. 189 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,900 In terms of unemployment benefits, 190 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:54,970 the President feels strongly that those unemployment benefits 191 00:08:54,967 --> 00:08:56,537 should be extended. 192 00:08:56,533 --> 00:09:01,333 There is a very persuasive humanitarian case, if you will: 193 00:09:01,333 --> 00:09:03,933 There are 1.3 million Americans right now 194 00:09:03,934 --> 00:09:07,164 who stand to lose their unemployment benefits 195 00:09:07,166 --> 00:09:10,696 if Congress doesn't act by December 28th. 196 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:16,430 That obviously is a terrible circumstance. 197 00:09:16,433 --> 00:09:18,533 It also has significant consequences for our broader 198 00:09:18,533 --> 00:09:23,233 economy that some analysts have found that the extension 199 00:09:23,233 --> 00:09:26,503 of emergency unemployment benefits would actually 200 00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:28,600 provide a significant boost to our economy, 201 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,030 or at least a perceptible boost to our economy, 202 00:09:32,033 --> 00:09:36,633 in the form of creating about 240,000 jobs, 203 00:09:36,633 --> 00:09:40,363 having a positive impact on GDP on the order of two- or three- 204 00:09:40,367 --> 00:09:42,367 or four-tenths of a percent. 205 00:09:43,767 --> 00:09:46,767 So the President will continue to advocate for this. 206 00:09:46,767 --> 00:09:49,767 There have been a few previous occasions where we've come down 207 00:09:49,767 --> 00:09:52,597 to the wire like this, and through the President's cajoling 208 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,770 and advocating we've gotten some congressional action. 209 00:09:55,767 --> 00:09:57,567 It remains to be seen if that will happen in this case, 210 00:09:57,567 --> 00:09:59,967 but that's certainly something that we're advocating for. 211 00:09:59,967 --> 00:10:01,797 And this is something that we've talked about quite a bit. 212 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,370 There was a report from the Council of Economic Advisors 213 00:10:04,367 --> 00:10:05,597 last week on this. 214 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,970 The President's weekly address just this past Saturday 215 00:10:07,967 --> 00:10:09,297 was on this topic. 216 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:13,900 So this is something that the President believes is a priority 217 00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:17,500 both for the economy, but also for the 1.36 million Americans 218 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:19,500 who stand to lose their unemployment benefits 219 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:21,170 during the holiday season. 220 00:10:21,166 --> 00:10:23,296 The Press: The White House has remained somewhat in the background 221 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:26,930 in these budget talks compared with previous rounds 222 00:10:26,934 --> 00:10:28,264 of budget negotiations. 223 00:10:28,266 --> 00:10:31,566 Is it the White House's sense that by remaining somewhat in 224 00:10:31,567 --> 00:10:35,197 the background, you've lowered the temperature of these talks 225 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,330 and thus contributed to the success of getting an agreement? 226 00:10:39,333 --> 00:10:41,563 Mr. Earnest: Well, in terms of sort of divining 227 00:10:41,567 --> 00:10:44,097 all of the different influences in that process, 228 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:46,670 I think I'll leave that to you guys. 229 00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:50,797 What I think is important about this process is that we saw a 230 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,730 genuine commitment from leaders in both parties to the regular 231 00:10:53,734 --> 00:10:55,304 order budget process. 232 00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:58,830 We saw a lot of lip service paid to that notion 233 00:10:58,834 --> 00:11:00,104 in previous years, 234 00:11:00,100 --> 00:11:01,730 but I think it's just in the last couple of months 235 00:11:01,734 --> 00:11:05,734 that we've seen a commitment on both sides 236 00:11:05,734 --> 00:11:07,734 to that regular order budget process. 237 00:11:11,433 --> 00:11:13,833 That means that you essentially had the budget leadership 238 00:11:13,834 --> 00:11:15,734 on the Senate side and the budget leadership 239 00:11:15,734 --> 00:11:18,234 on the House side get together in bipartisan fashion 240 00:11:18,233 --> 00:11:19,433 and hash through these issues, 241 00:11:19,433 --> 00:11:23,703 and do it in a way that leads to a vehicle for genuine 242 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:26,430 legislative action that actually addresses some of the problems. 243 00:11:26,433 --> 00:11:27,933 All of that was done in consultation 244 00:11:27,934 --> 00:11:29,064 with the White House -- 245 00:11:29,066 --> 00:11:31,596 that senior White House officials were involved 246 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:32,900 in those conversations. 247 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:35,570 But ultimately this was an agreement that had to be struck 248 00:11:35,567 --> 00:11:38,467 between the leaders of the House and the leaders of the Senate. 249 00:11:38,467 --> 00:11:40,597 That's the way the Founding Fathers 250 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,100 designed the system to work, 251 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:45,100 and we're gratified that they have reached 252 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:48,270 a bipartisan agreement that is good for the economy. 253 00:11:48,266 --> 00:11:50,096 I mean, look, you've heard us -- 254 00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:53,000 we've spent a lot of time over the last several years 255 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,070 talking about budget agreements and trying to find common ground 256 00:11:56,066 --> 00:11:58,836 and striking bipartisan compromises. 257 00:11:58,834 --> 00:12:01,804 The way that the President routinely evaluates 258 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,170 these kinds of budget agreements is by taking a look 259 00:12:04,166 --> 00:12:06,436 at the impact that it would have on our economy. 260 00:12:06,433 --> 00:12:08,663 And there are two important ways that this budget agreement 261 00:12:08,667 --> 00:12:10,737 has a positive impact on our economy. 262 00:12:10,734 --> 00:12:16,204 The first is that it does repeal parts of the sequester. 263 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,300 The sequester was a significant drag on our economy 264 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:20,100 over the course of the last year, 265 00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:22,000 and the President is pleased that Congress 266 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,030 will be taking away at least some of that drag. 267 00:12:25,033 --> 00:12:27,403 And it will give us the opportunity to invest 268 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:28,730 in the kinds of things that are so important 269 00:12:28,734 --> 00:12:29,964 to our long-term economic growth. 270 00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:34,037 Particularly early childhood education, 271 00:12:34,033 --> 00:12:36,463 Head Start programs stand to benefit from this. 272 00:12:36,467 --> 00:12:38,337 There's also the possibility of restoring some funding 273 00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:40,303 to research and development, which the President thinks 274 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:41,630 is so critical to our economy. 275 00:12:41,633 --> 00:12:46,003 So taking away some aspect of the sequester 276 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,170 is a positive step. 277 00:12:49,166 --> 00:12:50,366 The other thing that we're seeing -- 278 00:12:50,367 --> 00:12:51,997 and this is something that, again, 279 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,930 that people who have stood at this podium have 280 00:12:53,934 --> 00:12:57,334 expressed concerns about -- is this propensity that Congress 281 00:12:57,333 --> 00:13:01,003 has had lately to lurch from one crisis to another. 282 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:06,870 And in this case, Congress is able to reach what even I would 283 00:13:06,867 --> 00:13:08,667 describe as a modest agreement. 284 00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:09,967 But they were able to reach that modest, 285 00:13:09,967 --> 00:13:12,897 bipartisan agreement without the threat of a crisis, 286 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:14,900 without a threat of default, without the threat 287 00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:16,200 of a government shutdown, 288 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:17,830 but by working through the regular order, 289 00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:19,664 by identifying some common ground 290 00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:20,897 and striking an agreement. 291 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,000 That is going to be -- 292 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,700 that's not just good for the political process, 293 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:27,070 and might restore some faith in the ability 294 00:13:27,066 --> 00:13:28,196 of the United States Congress 295 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,800 to actually get good things done on behalf 296 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,200 of the American people. 297 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,300 It will also provide some certainty to the private sector. 298 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:35,770 This is something that Republicans have said is really 299 00:13:35,767 --> 00:13:38,967 important for our economy; the President agrees. 300 00:13:38,967 --> 00:13:42,467 And that is another way in which our economy will benefit 301 00:13:42,467 --> 00:13:47,737 from what is a modest but important budget agreement. 302 00:13:47,734 --> 00:13:49,464 The Press: Jumping to an international issue, 303 00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:51,237 there's renewed violence in Ukraine. 304 00:13:51,233 --> 00:13:54,363 In spite of the White House and U.S. condemnations 305 00:13:54,367 --> 00:13:56,137 of past instances of violence, 306 00:13:56,133 --> 00:13:57,863 the violence seems to continue. 307 00:13:57,867 --> 00:14:01,097 What leverage does the United States have to try 308 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:04,070 to calm things down there? 309 00:14:04,066 --> 00:14:05,996 Mr. Earnest: I do have some prepared comment on this, 310 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,730 so I'm going to start with that, and I'll get to your direct 311 00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,304 question: The United States was appalled last night 312 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:13,100 by what happened in Kiev. 313 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:16,200 The Ukrainian government's response to peaceful protests 314 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,900 over the last two weeks has been completely unacceptable, 315 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:20,900 and it's difficult to understand why they have decided to move 316 00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:23,670 against their own people repeatedly with force rather 317 00:14:23,667 --> 00:14:26,667 than engage in a real dialogue with the opposition. 318 00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:30,267 The right to peaceful protest and assembly must be respected. 319 00:14:30,266 --> 00:14:32,596 Violence of the sort that we have seen on the streets of Kiev 320 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,930 is impermissible in a democratic state. 321 00:14:35,934 --> 00:14:38,964 We're also very concerned by credible reports of security 322 00:14:38,967 --> 00:14:42,367 services raiding the offices of opposition parties and media 323 00:14:42,367 --> 00:14:44,367 organizations in the last few days. 324 00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:47,767 Political repression is not the way to respond to the legitimate 325 00:14:47,767 --> 00:14:50,767 grievances of the Ukrainian people. 326 00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:54,637 Vice President Biden urged President Yanukovych in a Monday 327 00:14:54,633 --> 00:14:57,533 phone call to avoid violence and immediately take steps to 328 00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:59,203 deescalate the situation. 329 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,700 He's clearly not done that. 330 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,530 This is President Yanukovych's moment to meet the aspirations 331 00:15:03,533 --> 00:15:05,863 of the Ukrainian people or disappoint them. 332 00:15:05,867 --> 00:15:08,797 It is past time for the leadership in Ukraine to listen 333 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,770 to the voices of its people and to restore a path to European 334 00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:15,097 integration and economic health. 335 00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,330 It is fair to say that the lines of communication between this 336 00:15:17,333 --> 00:15:18,603 administration and the leadership 337 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,700 in Ukraine remain open. 338 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:26,000 And I think the sentiments that I have just read to you also 339 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,900 reflect broadly the opinions of the international community. 340 00:15:32,266 --> 00:15:34,396 And there is a pretty clear choice it's facing, 341 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,430 the Ukrainian government right now. 342 00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:40,163 And we're hopeful that they will choose a path that reflects the 343 00:15:40,166 --> 00:15:43,066 will of the Ukrainian people and reflects an opportunity for 344 00:15:43,066 --> 00:15:49,066 reconciliation, and to restore some civility and peacefulness 345 00:15:51,533 --> 00:15:53,533 to that dispute and hopefully find a way to resolve that 346 00:15:53,533 --> 00:15:56,033 dispute peacefully. 347 00:15:56,033 --> 00:15:59,703 The Press: If I can just follow up on one thing 348 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:01,800 that I asked about earlier. 349 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,270 Speaker Boehner has apparently said today that he has not seen 350 00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:10,336 an acceptable plan from the White House to extend long-term 351 00:16:10,333 --> 00:16:11,333 unemployment insurance. 352 00:16:11,333 --> 00:16:13,203 Can you respond to that? 353 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,630 Has the President made a proposal? 354 00:16:15,633 --> 00:16:18,463 If not, why not? 355 00:16:18,467 --> 00:16:21,137 Mr. Earnest: A specific or detailed proposal in this case 356 00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:22,503 probably isn't required. 357 00:16:22,500 --> 00:16:25,200 We're talking about extending a program that has been in place 358 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,600 for several years now. 359 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,730 It was originally signed into law 360 00:16:28,734 --> 00:16:31,264 by President George W. Bush in 2008. 361 00:16:31,266 --> 00:16:33,766 It's been extended at least a couple of times 362 00:16:33,767 --> 00:16:36,997 in the last few years. 363 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,800 So we're simply seeking to see that program extended 364 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,870 in the same way that it has been in the past by this Congress. 365 00:16:43,867 --> 00:16:46,867 As I pointed out earlier, there are important consequences 366 00:16:46,867 --> 00:16:49,897 for 1.3 million Americans who are at risk of losing their 367 00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:51,630 unemployment benefits in just a couple of weeks. 368 00:16:51,633 --> 00:16:53,733 And there are important consequences from our economy 369 00:16:53,734 --> 00:16:55,734 that would benefit from the extension of this program. 370 00:16:55,734 --> 00:16:57,704 So that's what we're hopeful that Congress will do. 371 00:16:57,700 --> 00:16:59,500 Let's go to the back here a little bit. 372 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:00,830 Jared. 373 00:17:00,834 --> 00:17:03,404 The Press: Josh, we're expecting the next -- 374 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,400 I know we just got the most recent numbers, 375 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,130 but the next numbers middle of January. 376 00:17:08,133 --> 00:17:12,503 Will we get any report about the population of people 377 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:14,030 who have signed up -- 378 00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:17,963 who have gotten in under the December 23rd deadline, 379 00:17:17,967 --> 00:17:19,897 since obviously that population will be transmitted 380 00:17:19,900 --> 00:17:21,570 to the insurers? 381 00:17:21,567 --> 00:17:23,237 Mr. Earnest: And you're asking? 382 00:17:23,233 --> 00:17:26,003 The Press: Will we get that information around Christmas? 383 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,030 Mr. Earnest: What kind of information? 384 00:17:28,033 --> 00:17:29,733 The Press: The population of people who have signed up 385 00:17:29,734 --> 00:17:33,704 in advance of December 23rd for January 1 benefits. 386 00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:35,030 Mr. Earnest: Right. 387 00:17:35,033 --> 00:17:37,503 And so you're asking if we'll have a list before January 1st 388 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:39,330 of the people who have signed up by December 23rd? 389 00:17:39,333 --> 00:17:41,803 The Press: Or January 15th or January 11th. 390 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,870 Mr. Earnest: I would not anticipate additional enrollment 391 00:17:43,867 --> 00:17:46,267 numbers until the middle of January, 392 00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,366 which has been our custom these last couple of months. 393 00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:49,997 So that's when I would anticipate 394 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,030 you'd get that additional data. 395 00:17:52,033 --> 00:17:54,503 The Press: And on the sign language question, 396 00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:57,330 I know that you said that -- 397 00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:00,233 referred it to the South African government. 398 00:18:00,233 --> 00:18:03,063 But if the President had been translated 399 00:18:03,066 --> 00:18:04,696 into another language incorrectly, 400 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:06,330 another audible language incorrectly, 401 00:18:06,333 --> 00:18:09,563 wouldn't that have been a breach of protocol? 402 00:18:09,567 --> 00:18:12,837 Would we have not seen a different reaction 403 00:18:12,834 --> 00:18:15,904 from the White House? 404 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:17,230 Mr. Earnest: That's a hypothetical. 405 00:18:17,233 --> 00:18:19,733 It's difficult to evaluate for two reasons. 406 00:18:19,734 --> 00:18:23,934 One is maybe he was translated incorrectly in some other 407 00:18:23,934 --> 00:18:26,334 language in his speech yesterday and we don't know about it. 408 00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:29,703 That possibility does exist. 409 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:32,870 Secondly, it's not clear to me that this person 410 00:18:32,867 --> 00:18:34,837 mistranslated the President at all. 411 00:18:34,834 --> 00:18:38,304 I think the point is, is that he apparently was not translating 412 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:40,400 him into anything, but was enjoying the opportunity 413 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,470 to be on the stage. 414 00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:44,637 So it makes it difficult to answer your question. 415 00:18:44,633 --> 00:18:45,633 [laughter] 416 00:18:45,633 --> 00:18:46,633 And it's why I've referred the question 417 00:18:46,633 --> 00:18:48,263 to the South African government. 418 00:18:48,266 --> 00:18:53,136 But, again, at the same time, this was an historic event 419 00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:55,763 in which the President delivered some very powerful remarks 420 00:18:55,767 --> 00:18:58,267 about the personal impact that President Mandela had 421 00:18:58,266 --> 00:19:02,196 on his own life and his own commitment to public service. 422 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:03,800 He talked pretty eloquently, I think, 423 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,570 about the impact that President Mandela had on democratic 424 00:19:07,567 --> 00:19:11,937 movements all across the globe, and it would be a shame if a 425 00:19:11,934 --> 00:19:15,964 distraction about an individual who's on stage in any way 426 00:19:15,967 --> 00:19:19,137 detracted from the importance of that event and the importance 427 00:19:19,133 --> 00:19:20,433 of President Mandela's legacy. 428 00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:21,703 Alexis. 429 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:23,600 The Press: Hey, Josh, I have two questions. 430 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,100 Let me follow up first on the question of the budget. 431 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:30,270 If the President signs, as he indicated he'd like to, 432 00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:33,136 the Murray-Ryan deal, does that become the President's template 433 00:19:33,133 --> 00:19:35,063 for his budget submission in February? 434 00:19:35,066 --> 00:19:40,466 What does he do with that in his own budget for the coming cycle? 435 00:19:40,467 --> 00:19:43,967 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't want to get ahead of the budget process. 436 00:19:43,967 --> 00:19:47,167 As you would expect, this is something that involves a lot of 437 00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:52,666 planning and a lot of technical expertise to design a budget 438 00:19:52,667 --> 00:19:54,937 submission that reflects the President's policy priorities. 439 00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:57,364 So I wouldn't want to get ahead of this process. 440 00:19:57,367 --> 00:19:59,467 But suffice it to say the President is pleased that we've 441 00:19:59,467 --> 00:20:02,797 been able to find some common ground as it relates to this 442 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:07,330 interim budget agreement that sets some parameters for what 443 00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:09,463 the budget will look like in Fiscal Year 2014 444 00:20:09,467 --> 00:20:11,467 and Fiscal Year 2015, 445 00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:14,397 and therefore provide some stability and certainty 446 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:15,600 for the private sector. 447 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,570 The Press: Just to follow up on that one question, 448 00:20:17,567 --> 00:20:20,597 would we expect the President to take that forward and say, 449 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,900 I'm signing this but I'd still like to get rid of sequestration 450 00:20:23,900 --> 00:20:25,830 over a 10-year period? 451 00:20:25,834 --> 00:20:27,504 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm confident that our budget 452 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:29,970 proposal will include some of the President's own ideas 453 00:20:29,967 --> 00:20:32,997 about the investments that are so critical for us to make 454 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,200 to strengthen our economy, to expand economic opportunity 455 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:36,470 for the middle class. 456 00:20:36,467 --> 00:20:39,597 Those ideas will be reflected in the President's budget. 457 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,370 The Press: Okay, second question -- can you clarify why Mr. Podesta, 458 00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:45,097 who is coming in as a counselor next year, 459 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:49,230 would feel the need to recuse himself, as been reported in AP, 460 00:20:49,233 --> 00:20:52,833 on Keystone when all of us in this room know that John, 461 00:20:52,834 --> 00:20:59,004 as being so linked with CAP, has many very known public views 462 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,870 on many, many policies? 463 00:21:00,867 --> 00:21:02,037 Mr. Earnest: He does. 464 00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:03,233 I'm glad you asked this question because I do want 465 00:21:03,233 --> 00:21:05,263 to take advantage of this opportunity to clarify something 466 00:21:05,266 --> 00:21:07,096 that leaked out late overnight. 467 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,000 The word "recuse" here is not the right word, right? 468 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,430 There's no suggestion of some sort of conflict of interest, 469 00:21:13,433 --> 00:21:15,203 financial or otherwise, 470 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,970 as it relates to Mr. Podesta's opinions, 471 00:21:18,967 --> 00:21:20,867 views and positions on the Keystone pipeline. 472 00:21:20,867 --> 00:21:22,797 So "recuse" is not the right word. 473 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,570 What is true is that Mr. Podesta approached Denis McDonough, 474 00:21:26,567 --> 00:21:28,937 the Chief of Staff, and suggested to him 475 00:21:28,934 --> 00:21:33,604 that Mr. Podesta shouldn't work on the policy-making process 476 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:35,630 related to the Keystone pipeline. 477 00:21:35,633 --> 00:21:36,903 And the reason for that -- 478 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:38,270 there are a couple of reasons for that. 479 00:21:38,266 --> 00:21:39,666 The first is this is a policy process 480 00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:40,937 that looks at the State Department right now, 481 00:21:40,934 --> 00:21:42,304 not at the White House, 482 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:43,870 and Mr. Podesta is coming to work at the White House, 483 00:21:43,867 --> 00:21:45,167 not the State Department. 484 00:21:45,166 --> 00:21:47,736 The second thing is this a policy process 485 00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:50,204 that's been in place for several years now, 486 00:21:53,233 --> 00:21:57,963 and having him enter that process at the very end 487 00:21:57,967 --> 00:22:03,567 or near the very end doesn't seem to be the best way 488 00:22:03,567 --> 00:22:05,697 to carry out that process and to move it 489 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:06,800 across the finish line. 490 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:12,000 The third thing -- and this is important, too, 491 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,600 and it relates to the subject of your question -- 492 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:15,730 his views on this are well known. 493 00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:19,604 But there are people who have been working on this 494 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,330 for a number of years and who are looking at this 495 00:22:21,333 --> 00:22:23,033 from a variety of perspectives, 496 00:22:23,033 --> 00:22:25,903 and want to make sure that this policy outcome 497 00:22:25,900 --> 00:22:29,270 reflects the President's views and can approach it 498 00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:31,336 in an impartial way. 499 00:22:31,333 --> 00:22:33,563 The comments and views that Mr. Podesta has expressed 500 00:22:33,567 --> 00:22:35,867 have been done without the benefit of -- 501 00:22:35,867 --> 00:22:39,337 or without the reality of him working directly 502 00:22:39,333 --> 00:22:40,763 for the President of the United States. 503 00:22:40,767 --> 00:22:42,897 So in this case, he felt it was most appropriate 504 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:47,400 to basically send a signal early on that this is not something 505 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,330 that would be part of his portfolio. 506 00:22:49,333 --> 00:22:52,363 He communicated that desire to Mr. McDonough, 507 00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:53,937 and Denis agreed with him. 508 00:22:53,934 --> 00:22:56,134 The Press: If the natural follow-up then is just to say, 509 00:22:56,133 --> 00:22:59,463 is there any other policy terrain or topic 510 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:05,130 that the President's incoming counselor would feel 511 00:23:05,133 --> 00:23:06,263 or express to the President or the Chief of Staff 512 00:23:06,266 --> 00:23:08,696 that he should not or does not want to work on? 513 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:10,470 Mr. Earnest: Not that I'm aware of right now. 514 00:23:10,467 --> 00:23:12,367 Kristen. 515 00:23:12,367 --> 00:23:13,467 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 516 00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:15,867 The health care law succeeding sort of depends 517 00:23:15,867 --> 00:23:18,367 on about 2.6, 2.7 million young, healthy people signing up 518 00:23:18,367 --> 00:23:19,367 by April 1st. 519 00:23:19,367 --> 00:23:20,637 Do you have those figures -- 520 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:23,903 how many of those people have signed up to date? 521 00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:25,400 Mr. Earnest: That is also a question -- 522 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:26,930 you and Alexis must be coordinating, 523 00:23:26,934 --> 00:23:30,634 because this is the second question in a row 524 00:23:30,633 --> 00:23:35,133 that I'm pleased to have the opportunity to talk about -- 525 00:23:35,133 --> 00:23:38,163 because it is important for people to understand 526 00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:39,436 that as they evaluate the Affordable Care Act, 527 00:23:39,433 --> 00:23:41,503 that measuring the success of that program cannot simply 528 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:44,970 be done based on the number of people who have signed up. 529 00:23:44,967 --> 00:23:48,137 It would be nice if the world worked in that simple 530 00:23:48,133 --> 00:23:49,203 of a fashion. 531 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,830 It simply doesn't. 532 00:23:50,834 --> 00:23:55,404 I understand the desire for people to want to try to reduce 533 00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:00,370 the metric to a simple number related to people 534 00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:02,367 who have enrolled in health care. 535 00:24:02,367 --> 00:24:05,667 But that will not determine the success or failure 536 00:24:05,667 --> 00:24:08,337 of the Affordable Care Act and the exchanges that are set up -- 537 00:24:08,333 --> 00:24:10,633 the marketplaces that are set up under the rubric 538 00:24:10,633 --> 00:24:11,963 of the Affordable Care Act. 539 00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:19,397 What we need is the right mix of individuals 540 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,000 in these individual exchanges. 541 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,570 My point is, you can't evaluate the success or failure 542 00:24:25,567 --> 00:24:28,867 of the Affordable Care Act based solely on the number of people 543 00:24:28,867 --> 00:24:30,897 who sign up all across the country. 544 00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:34,870 What you should do to evaluate the success of the program 545 00:24:34,867 --> 00:24:38,737 is to consider the mix of people who have signed up 546 00:24:38,734 --> 00:24:42,364 in each of the individual marketplaces. 547 00:24:42,367 --> 00:24:45,367 That is a task that's hard to reduce down to one number. 548 00:24:45,367 --> 00:24:49,267 But that is the best way for you and others 549 00:24:49,266 --> 00:24:51,096 to evaluate the overall success of the program. 550 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:55,570 What our goal is, is to sign up as many people as possible, 551 00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:58,637 to give as many people all across the country as possible 552 00:24:58,633 --> 00:25:01,303 the opportunity to go onto the website, 553 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:03,130 to work with a navigator in their community, 554 00:25:03,133 --> 00:25:06,033 to call the 1-800 number, and to find out what options 555 00:25:06,033 --> 00:25:07,303 are available to them. 556 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:08,230 And many people are going to find out that they're going 557 00:25:08,233 --> 00:25:09,603 to qualify for tax credits. 558 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,970 Some of them will qualify for expanded Medicaid coverage. 559 00:25:12,967 --> 00:25:15,437 But there are a lot of ways in which individuals will find out 560 00:25:15,433 --> 00:25:17,003 that they're going to benefit from the Affordable Care Act, 561 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,200 and we want as many people as possible to do exactly that. 562 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,570 The Press: All right. 563 00:25:20,567 --> 00:25:21,867 And I understand that you don't want to give specific numbers. 564 00:25:21,867 --> 00:25:25,467 But HHS last night said they're on track to have 7 million 565 00:25:25,467 --> 00:25:27,167 people sign up by April 1st. 566 00:25:27,166 --> 00:25:29,696 And a lot of industry insiders have questioned that and have 567 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:32,200 said the pace really needs to pick up if you're going 568 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,000 to get that many people. 569 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,130 Mr. Earnest: It does. 570 00:25:35,133 --> 00:25:36,733 The Press: Not dealing with the 7 million figure, 571 00:25:36,734 --> 00:25:38,304 does the pace need to pick up? 572 00:25:38,300 --> 00:25:40,800 And can you guarantee that you're going to get the right 573 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,270 mix and the right number in the end by April 1st? 574 00:25:43,266 --> 00:25:44,936 Mr. Earnest: What we have said about the website since 575 00:25:44,934 --> 00:25:48,064 before the website was even rolled out was that there would 576 00:25:48,066 --> 00:25:51,036 not be a linear relationship between the number of days 577 00:25:51,033 --> 00:25:53,863 that have gone by since the website opened for business 578 00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:55,797 and the number of people who would sign up; 579 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,430 that we anticipated that there would be some spikes 580 00:25:59,433 --> 00:26:00,803 in this process. 581 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:02,930 We anticipated, for example, that there would be a spike 582 00:26:02,934 --> 00:26:05,964 shortly before the deadline in which people -- 583 00:26:05,967 --> 00:26:09,537 that people needed to meet in order to get insurance coverage 584 00:26:09,533 --> 00:26:10,933 by January 1st. 585 00:26:10,934 --> 00:26:13,534 That deadline has been moved to December 23rd to give more 586 00:26:13,533 --> 00:26:15,403 people the opportunity to sign up. 587 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,030 And we do anticipate that there will be a spike 588 00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:18,903 in advance of December 23rd. 589 00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:21,270 For all we know, there is a spike going on right now. 590 00:26:21,266 --> 00:26:23,136 And that's because of -- 591 00:26:23,133 --> 00:26:25,763 that's simply ascribable to nothing 592 00:26:25,767 --> 00:26:27,037 other than human nature, 593 00:26:27,033 --> 00:26:29,463 that we have -- that we're compelled to take action 594 00:26:29,467 --> 00:26:30,797 when we get close to a deadline. 595 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,430 So I would anticipate that we'll see another spike in mid-March 596 00:26:33,433 --> 00:26:36,663 before the deadline for the open enrollment period expires. 597 00:26:36,667 --> 00:26:38,097 So we've always anticipated 598 00:26:38,100 --> 00:26:40,970 that there will be spikes in this process, 599 00:26:40,967 --> 00:26:44,537 that there would be more traffic and a greater rate 600 00:26:44,533 --> 00:26:47,033 of enrollment at certain periods than others. 601 00:26:47,033 --> 00:26:50,063 So that's why it's difficult to assess exactly 602 00:26:50,066 --> 00:26:52,036 what we're on pace for. 603 00:26:52,033 --> 00:26:53,863 What I can tell you, though -- let me just say one last thing, 604 00:26:53,867 --> 00:26:55,367 which is because of the improvements 605 00:26:55,367 --> 00:26:56,597 we've made to the website, 606 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,430 we now have the bandwidth to accommodate about 800,000 607 00:27:00,433 --> 00:27:02,603 or a million people a day to visit the website. 608 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,830 And that means that there should be ample opportunity for people 609 00:27:04,834 --> 00:27:06,764 who are interested in this program 610 00:27:06,767 --> 00:27:07,797 to go check it out for themselves. 611 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,100 The Press: And just to be clear, 612 00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:11,500 these figures that you've put out today are the number 613 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:13,270 of people who have signed up, not actually enrolled? 614 00:27:13,266 --> 00:27:16,266 In other words, not necessarily sent in their checks 615 00:27:16,266 --> 00:27:19,266 and finished with the entire process? 616 00:27:19,266 --> 00:27:21,596 Mr. Earnest: My understanding is that they actually provided 617 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,930 two different numbers along these lines -- 618 00:27:23,934 --> 00:27:24,934 didn't they? 619 00:27:24,934 --> 00:27:26,934 Let me take a look here. 620 00:27:29,867 --> 00:27:31,497 I think they did put out enrollment numbers. 621 00:27:31,500 --> 00:27:36,330 They said that 365,000 people through November had enrolled. 622 00:27:36,333 --> 00:27:38,703 The Press: Have actually sent in their checks, finished? 623 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:40,070 Okay. 624 00:27:40,066 --> 00:27:41,396 Mr. Earnest: Well, that they have enrolled, 625 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:42,400 that they have committed -- 626 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:43,730 that they have signed up for a proposal. 627 00:27:43,734 --> 00:27:46,734 I think the payment option is something that is responsible 628 00:27:46,734 --> 00:27:50,264 for the individual insurance companies to execute. 629 00:27:50,266 --> 00:27:52,836 But in terms of the enrollment, that they have made a commitment 630 00:27:52,834 --> 00:27:55,034 and that they have selected a plan that they like 631 00:27:55,033 --> 00:27:58,033 and would allow them to get coverage by January 1st 632 00:27:58,033 --> 00:28:03,663 if they've done it obviously in October or November. 633 00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:09,266 The Press: And can I just get you to respond -- 634 00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:10,566 or does the President have any response 635 00:28:10,567 --> 00:28:11,567 to these latest poll numbers, 636 00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:12,567 which show his lowest -- 637 00:28:12,567 --> 00:28:13,567 or his highest disapproval ratings ever? 638 00:28:13,567 --> 00:28:15,137 Does he feel like it's time for a reset? 639 00:28:15,133 --> 00:28:16,933 Is that part of the reason for bringing in Podesta? 640 00:28:16,934 --> 00:28:18,404 How does he view those? 641 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:19,500 Mr. Earnest: No, to be honest with you, 642 00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:20,970 we don't spend a lot of time looking 643 00:28:20,967 --> 00:28:22,197 at these individual poll numbers. 644 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,870 You've heard us say that both when the numbers are good 645 00:28:23,867 --> 00:28:26,197 and when the numbers aren't as good, as was suggested 646 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:27,670 by at least one poll today. 647 00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:29,837 I know there's another poll that suggested something different. 648 00:28:29,834 --> 00:28:32,334 But the fact of the matter is what we've been looking at, 649 00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:34,233 and I think what I would encourage you to consider, 650 00:28:34,233 --> 00:28:37,363 is that while your poll was in the field, 651 00:28:37,367 --> 00:28:38,497 there were some important priorities 652 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:40,230 that we made progress on. 653 00:28:40,233 --> 00:28:44,363 Mel Watt got confirmed to be the director of the FHFA. 654 00:28:44,367 --> 00:28:45,837 Patricia Millett got confirmed 655 00:28:45,834 --> 00:28:49,864 to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals -- right? 656 00:28:49,867 --> 00:28:52,797 The Volcker Rule got voted on and approved, 657 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,330 and is now being implemented -- something that six months ago 658 00:28:56,333 --> 00:28:58,363 you guys thought I was crazy if I had suggested 659 00:28:58,367 --> 00:28:59,767 the Volcker Rule would be done by the end of the year. 660 00:28:59,767 --> 00:29:02,037 We even got a budget agreement through the Congress. 661 00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:03,703 So these are the kinds of priorities 662 00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:05,070 that we're focused on. 663 00:29:05,066 --> 00:29:06,536 And all these things happened just yesterday at the same time 664 00:29:06,533 --> 00:29:07,933 that you were announcing the results of your poll. 665 00:29:07,934 --> 00:29:10,404 So that's what we're focused on. 666 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:11,400 The Press: Fair enough. 667 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,700 But the poll shows that his signature piece 668 00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:14,070 of legislation is health care law. 669 00:29:14,066 --> 00:29:17,536 It's part of the key reason that these numbers are so low. 670 00:29:17,533 --> 00:29:18,733 Mr. Earnest: I mean, the truth is, Kristen, 671 00:29:18,734 --> 00:29:20,904 you could say that any time over the last three years 672 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:22,600 when it comes to these polls. 673 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,270 The President has made clear that the President has pursued 674 00:29:24,266 --> 00:29:27,866 the difficult topic of health care reform not because it would 675 00:29:27,867 --> 00:29:30,437 burnish his poll numbers, but because he thought it was the 676 00:29:30,433 --> 00:29:33,063 right thing for the country; that it would expand affordable, 677 00:29:33,066 --> 00:29:35,896 quality health care to millions of Americans who currently don't 678 00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:38,170 have it; and it would also do really good things for our 679 00:29:38,166 --> 00:29:40,366 economy in terms of expanding economic opportunity 680 00:29:40,367 --> 00:29:41,697 and creating jobs. 681 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:43,770 So that's the reason that we've pursued health care reform, 682 00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:47,467 and that's the reason that we're working so doggedly to implement 683 00:29:47,467 --> 00:29:49,837 it in a way that will maximize the benefits for people all 684 00:29:49,834 --> 00:29:52,164 across the country in spite of the poll numbers. 685 00:29:52,166 --> 00:29:54,166 Viqueira. 686 00:29:56,467 --> 00:29:57,967 The Press: Thank you. 687 00:29:57,967 --> 00:29:59,667 Two questions -- both foreign and domestic. 688 00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:02,097 First, Kathleen Sebelius today announced that she has asked the 689 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:04,800 IG over at HHS to investigate what happened with the website. 690 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,700 I mean, presumably, the IG, who is after all supposed to be 691 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,900 independent of what Kathleen Sebelius wants or doesn't want, 692 00:30:09,900 --> 00:30:11,370 is going to do that himself. 693 00:30:11,367 --> 00:30:12,367 Is that adequate? 694 00:30:12,367 --> 00:30:13,367 Is that enough? 695 00:30:13,367 --> 00:30:14,367 Should there be more? 696 00:30:14,367 --> 00:30:15,367 Should heads roll? 697 00:30:15,367 --> 00:30:16,667 Should there be further investigation? 698 00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:18,837 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think that there were -- the reason 699 00:30:18,834 --> 00:30:20,534 I'm looking at my notebook is because there were a couple of 700 00:30:20,533 --> 00:30:21,633 other things that she announced. 701 00:30:21,633 --> 00:30:22,963 She did ask the Inspector General to take a look 702 00:30:22,967 --> 00:30:26,797 at the process related to the development of healthcare.gov 703 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,970 and to examine the mistakes that occurred and to offer up 704 00:30:30,967 --> 00:30:33,197 some solutions and some suggestions for how 705 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,130 to improve that process moving forward. 706 00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:38,063 There are a couple of other steps that she announced today. 707 00:30:38,066 --> 00:30:41,336 She also announced that she had directed the CMS Administrator, 708 00:30:41,333 --> 00:30:44,903 Marilyn Tavenner, to create a new position and appoint a CMS 709 00:30:44,900 --> 00:30:48,270 chief risk officer, who will focus on mitigating risk across 710 00:30:48,266 --> 00:30:52,836 CMS's programs, to basically evaluate the ongoing progress 711 00:30:52,834 --> 00:30:56,664 or lack thereof of CMS programs, and to try to intervene 712 00:30:56,667 --> 00:31:00,467 before they result in significant problems 713 00:31:00,467 --> 00:31:02,197 like the rollout of the website. 714 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:06,830 She also announced a new training regime that would 715 00:31:06,834 --> 00:31:13,304 update and expand the training process to give CMS employees 716 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:16,430 more information about best practices for contractor 717 00:31:16,433 --> 00:31:18,933 and procurement management rules and procedures. 718 00:31:18,934 --> 00:31:22,104 So there are a number of things that the Secretary announced 719 00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:28,670 today that would address some of the problems that were exposed 720 00:31:28,667 --> 00:31:31,197 by the healthcare.gov website rollout. 721 00:31:35,467 --> 00:31:37,237 And I would anticipate that if there are other ideas 722 00:31:37,233 --> 00:31:39,903 that she has about what we can do to strengthen the process, 723 00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:41,730 the internal processes over at HHS, 724 00:31:41,734 --> 00:31:43,264 that she'll propose those, too. 725 00:31:43,266 --> 00:31:46,636 I wouldn't anticipate that this is the -- 726 00:31:46,633 --> 00:31:50,103 The Press: Do you anticipate more actions to be taken? 727 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:51,900 Mr. Earnest: I would leave open that possibility. 728 00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:53,570 I don't know of anything else that's planned right now, 729 00:31:53,567 --> 00:31:55,967 but I certainly would leave open that possibility. 730 00:31:55,967 --> 00:31:56,967 The Press: All right. 731 00:31:56,967 --> 00:31:58,197 And back on Syria, just to follow up, 732 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,700 nonlethal aid -- I mean, a lot was made about lethal aid 733 00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:03,830 finally being sent after the chemical attack. 734 00:32:03,834 --> 00:32:07,404 Why is this moratorium only on nonlethal aid? 735 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,200 What about lethal aid? 736 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,130 Mr. Earnest: Well, for questions about that I think I'd actually refer you 737 00:32:11,133 --> 00:32:12,833 to my colleagues at the national security staff. 738 00:32:12,834 --> 00:32:15,464 I don't have details about any changes to other assistance 739 00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:18,537 that might have been provided by the administration. 740 00:32:18,533 --> 00:32:20,133 Ed. 741 00:32:20,133 --> 00:32:21,903 The Press: Josh, on that question that Mike was asking 742 00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:24,670 about accountability with Secretary Sebelius -- 743 00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:27,367 on the Podesta hire, you've obviously added him, 744 00:32:27,367 --> 00:32:28,997 you've added Phil Schiliro as well, 745 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:30,130 a familiar face around here. 746 00:32:30,133 --> 00:32:32,533 But is the President planning to subtract anyone 747 00:32:32,533 --> 00:32:34,033 from the equation? 748 00:32:34,033 --> 00:32:35,563 Mr. Earnest: I don't have any personnel announcements at this point. 749 00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:36,567 The Press: So you don't -- I mean, 750 00:32:36,567 --> 00:32:38,967 I realize you don't have them at this moment, 751 00:32:38,967 --> 00:32:41,537 but you don't expect -- as the end of the year comes, 752 00:32:41,533 --> 00:32:43,133 you don't expect there will be any changes? 753 00:32:43,133 --> 00:32:45,903 Mr. Earnest: I think it is -- having covered us for the last five years, 754 00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:47,230 Ed, you're aware that the end of the year 755 00:32:47,233 --> 00:32:50,133 is a traditional time for people to make some decisions 756 00:32:50,133 --> 00:32:52,063 about their own personal lives and to make decisions 757 00:32:52,066 --> 00:32:54,566 to leave the administration and pursue other opportunities. 758 00:32:54,567 --> 00:32:56,797 That also means that people from the outside are brought 759 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,130 into the White House during that period. 760 00:32:58,133 --> 00:33:00,903 And I would anticipate that something like that is probably 761 00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:02,770 going to happen again around the end of this year 762 00:33:02,767 --> 00:33:03,937 and the beginning of next, 763 00:33:03,934 --> 00:33:08,864 but that is not a -- that is neither a commendation 764 00:33:08,867 --> 00:33:10,337 or a condemnation of their performance 765 00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:12,533 at the White House at this point. 766 00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:13,863 The Press: On Kristen's question about polls -- 767 00:33:13,867 --> 00:33:15,637 I'm glad you referenced that you don't look 768 00:33:15,633 --> 00:33:17,003 at any individual polls, 769 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,170 because I checked the gaggle on November 25th and you said the 770 00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:20,966 same about a poll that day that said 771 00:33:20,967 --> 00:33:22,597 that 53 percent of the public -- 772 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:23,600 I think it was a CNN poll -- 773 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:24,930 thought the President was not trustworthy. 774 00:33:24,934 --> 00:33:27,304 And you said you don't follow the ups and downs, 775 00:33:27,300 --> 00:33:29,400 but you're looking at "the broader trends." 776 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,270 So since November 25th, there's been a fair number of polls 777 00:33:32,266 --> 00:33:35,036 that suggest a trend that the President's honesty, 778 00:33:35,033 --> 00:33:36,403 trustworthiness has taken a hit -- 779 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:37,770 in a whole range of polls. 780 00:33:37,767 --> 00:33:40,137 Will you at least acknowledge that the health care issue 781 00:33:40,133 --> 00:33:43,163 has damaged the President's credibility? 782 00:33:43,166 --> 00:33:46,166 Mr. Earnest: I don't think I agree with that conclusion. 783 00:33:46,166 --> 00:33:49,566 I recognize that there may be some polling evidence 784 00:33:49,567 --> 00:33:50,797 to indicate that, 785 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:52,430 but just looking at polls I don't think gives you 786 00:33:52,433 --> 00:33:54,733 a very good read about what the President's priorities are. 787 00:33:54,734 --> 00:33:56,734 And I don't think it gives you a very good -- 788 00:33:56,734 --> 00:33:57,734 The Press: We're talking about the public's mood -- 789 00:33:57,734 --> 00:33:58,734 not his priorities -- 790 00:33:58,734 --> 00:34:00,064 but what the public thinks about. 791 00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:02,736 The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll says a lot of people -- 792 00:34:02,734 --> 00:34:04,164 I think it was 75 percent -- 793 00:34:04,166 --> 00:34:05,596 think the economy is either going to be as good 794 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:06,900 or better next year. 795 00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:08,270 That's good for the President. 796 00:34:08,266 --> 00:34:10,396 And yet, they're not giving him credit for that 797 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:11,400 and saying that -- 798 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,770 his disapproval has reached a new high. 799 00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:17,037 Not about his priorities, but the public's mood seems 800 00:34:17,033 --> 00:34:18,433 to be very sour on him. 801 00:34:18,433 --> 00:34:19,633 Mr. Earnest: Sure, I understand. 802 00:34:19,633 --> 00:34:22,103 Look, I think it is perfectly legitimate for your news 803 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:24,800 organization and others to consider all of the public data 804 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,170 out there and to draw assessments 805 00:34:26,166 --> 00:34:27,896 about what the public mood is. 806 00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:30,630 I think that is a perfectly legitimate enterprise. 807 00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:31,903 I think I'm just making the case to you that 808 00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:33,130 that's not what we're focused on, 809 00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:34,463 that there are a variety of other policy 810 00:34:34,467 --> 00:34:36,837 priorities that the President believes is more important 811 00:34:36,834 --> 00:34:39,664 than trying to figure out within a particular statistical 812 00:34:39,667 --> 00:34:43,237 confidence interval what his polling numbers are. 813 00:34:43,233 --> 00:34:47,963 So what we're focused on right now is the President's 814 00:34:47,967 --> 00:34:51,467 core priorities related to expanding economic opportunity 815 00:34:51,467 --> 00:34:52,467 for the middle class. 816 00:34:52,467 --> 00:34:53,897 And if we can make progress by extending 817 00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:54,900 emergency unemployment benefits, 818 00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:56,570 if we can raise the minimum wage, 819 00:34:56,567 --> 00:34:59,767 if we can put in place policies that will ensure that every 820 00:34:59,767 --> 00:35:02,497 child in America has access to a quality early childhood 821 00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:04,900 education program, that those are the kinds of things 822 00:35:04,900 --> 00:35:07,030 that are going to have a material difference 823 00:35:07,033 --> 00:35:08,163 on our economy. 824 00:35:08,166 --> 00:35:10,236 And if we can make progress on those priorities, 825 00:35:10,233 --> 00:35:13,703 the poll numbers are going to take care of themselves. 826 00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:14,830 The Press: Two other quick things. 827 00:35:14,834 --> 00:35:17,404 On the website, at the top, in responding to Jim, 828 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,600 you were saying that if anyone signs up by December 23rd, 829 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,430 they will be "in a position to get insurance." 830 00:35:23,433 --> 00:35:26,763 But his question was, are you guaranteeing 831 00:35:26,767 --> 00:35:27,867 that they will get it -- 832 00:35:27,867 --> 00:35:29,067 not that they'll be in a position to get it -- 833 00:35:29,066 --> 00:35:30,496 but if you sign up by December 23rd, 834 00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:33,930 are you guaranteeing you'll have insurance on January 1? 835 00:35:33,934 --> 00:35:35,504 Mr. Earnest: That is the deadline that we have established 836 00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:37,000 for individuals -- 837 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,830 that if people who sign up on December 23rd, 838 00:35:39,834 --> 00:35:40,834 that that's what they need you to do 839 00:35:40,834 --> 00:35:42,904 in order to qualify for insurance coverage 840 00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:44,200 by January 1st. 841 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,070 We have individuals who are -- 842 00:35:46,066 --> 00:35:47,696 we have a team of experts, actually, 843 00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:48,800 more than just individuals, 844 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,900 these are experts who are in place to make sure 845 00:35:50,900 --> 00:35:55,270 that the proper linkages are connected between 846 00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:57,936 the insurance companies and the individuals who are enrolled. 847 00:35:57,934 --> 00:35:59,564 The Press: But you can't guarantee them. 848 00:35:59,567 --> 00:36:02,897 People are trying, but you can't guarantee them. 849 00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:04,970 Mr. Earnest: We are confident that by December 23rd 850 00:36:04,967 --> 00:36:06,767 we'll have ironed out these problems. 851 00:36:06,767 --> 00:36:09,697 And Mr. Zients himself has said that we are confident 852 00:36:09,700 --> 00:36:15,600 that past and future 834 issues will be resolved. 853 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:19,070 The Press: Very last thing on the budget today -- 854 00:36:19,066 --> 00:36:20,066 you said the President is pleased with it; 855 00:36:20,066 --> 00:36:21,196 he put out on a statement to that effect. 856 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:22,300 Paul Ryan, though, is touting the fact that he says 857 00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:23,430 that it sets a new precedent. 858 00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:25,433 It's all spending cuts for the deficit reduction, 859 00:36:25,433 --> 00:36:26,533 no tax increases. 860 00:36:26,533 --> 00:36:28,733 The President ran in the last campaign, 861 00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:30,704 as you know better than anyone, on saying there has to be 862 00:36:30,700 --> 00:36:33,000 a balanced approach -- that's his guiding principle. 863 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,000 He won the election and said that's how we're going to do it. 864 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,100 Paul Ryan says now there's a new deal -- 865 00:36:38,100 --> 00:36:40,200 it's spending cuts, no tax increases. 866 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:44,130 So does that suggest his guiding principle is no longer valid? 867 00:36:44,133 --> 00:36:45,133 Mr. Earnest: It does not. 868 00:36:45,133 --> 00:36:47,203 The President continues to be - 869 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,370 The Press: Well then why didn't he get it? 870 00:36:49,367 --> 00:36:50,797 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me answer your first question, 871 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:52,300 then I'll get to your second one. 872 00:36:52,300 --> 00:36:54,370 The President is committed to a balanced approach, 873 00:36:54,367 --> 00:36:56,537 and that is something that he'll continue to advocate for. 874 00:36:56,533 --> 00:36:59,133 This deal actually does reflect a balanced approach. 875 00:36:59,133 --> 00:37:01,263 The President is committed to making sure that we're not in 876 00:37:01,266 --> 00:37:03,636 a position where we're asking middle-class families or 877 00:37:03,633 --> 00:37:06,703 Medicare beneficiaries or people who rely on Social Security 878 00:37:06,700 --> 00:37:11,770 income to pay the bills -- we're not going to ask those people 879 00:37:11,767 --> 00:37:14,167 to make sacrifices if we're not also going to ask the oil 880 00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:15,696 and gas companies to make sacrifices, 881 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:18,830 or for hedge fund managers to make sacrifices. 882 00:37:18,834 --> 00:37:21,364 So the President will continue to pursue a balanced approach 883 00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:22,737 to deal with our deficit challenges. 884 00:37:22,734 --> 00:37:25,504 But what's also important as the President considers these kinds 885 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:28,400 of budget agreements is he wants to make sure that the priorities 886 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,600 that are included in these budgets reflect what should 887 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,530 be our core priority, which is expanding economic opportunity 888 00:37:34,533 --> 00:37:36,463 for the middle class, and that is something that -- 889 00:37:36,467 --> 00:37:39,297 again, this is a modest budget agreement but it does reflect 890 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:40,870 those priorities. 891 00:37:40,867 --> 00:37:43,437 Moving forward, the President will continue to make the case 892 00:37:43,433 --> 00:37:44,933 for budget agreements that are focused 893 00:37:44,934 --> 00:37:46,304 on middle-class priorities. 894 00:37:46,300 --> 00:37:50,330 The President will also continue to make the case for tax reform 895 00:37:50,333 --> 00:37:52,533 that reflects middle-class priorities, 896 00:37:52,533 --> 00:37:56,533 and that is something that we should be able 897 00:37:56,533 --> 00:37:58,033 to find common ground on. 898 00:37:58,033 --> 00:38:00,803 And if this is a precedent for finding common ground 899 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,570 with Republicans, where we're going to -- 900 00:38:02,567 --> 00:38:04,237 to go to your second question -- 901 00:38:04,233 --> 00:38:05,733 where we're actually going to compromise on something, 902 00:38:05,734 --> 00:38:06,934 where neither side is going to get everything 903 00:38:06,934 --> 00:38:08,804 that they want but both sides are going to be able 904 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:09,930 to point to something that they think 905 00:38:09,934 --> 00:38:12,004 is positive about the deal, 906 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:13,800 then I hope that it is a precedent. 907 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,300 Jared. 908 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:16,800 The Press: Thank you very much. 909 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:18,700 Following up on Alexis's questions, 910 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:21,730 why would Mr. Podesta feel a need to, 911 00:38:21,734 --> 00:38:25,504 I guess, remove himself if he knows already, I assume, 912 00:38:25,500 --> 00:38:28,170 that the process at the State Department, 913 00:38:28,166 --> 00:38:30,796 it just doesn't square? 914 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,270 Mr. Earnest: Well, this is -- well, because he doesn't work 915 00:38:33,266 --> 00:38:34,266 at the State Department, 916 00:38:34,266 --> 00:38:35,496 I guess is the first thing, right? 917 00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:38,230 So this is a process that lives there. 918 00:38:38,233 --> 00:38:40,433 At some point, there will be some -- 919 00:38:40,433 --> 00:38:42,403 The Press: But why would he need to remove himself 920 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:43,630 if he is coming here? 921 00:38:43,633 --> 00:38:45,603 That's what I'm confused about. 922 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:46,600 Mr. Earnest: Right. 923 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:47,600 Because the process will eventually shift 924 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:48,730 to the White House, 925 00:38:48,734 --> 00:38:50,264 that there will be some White House involvement 926 00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:51,596 in that process. 927 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:53,330 The President has talked about that pretty extensively already. 928 00:38:53,333 --> 00:38:56,563 And he felt like it was -- that it was in the best interest 929 00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:59,037 of that policy-making process to not insert himself 930 00:38:59,033 --> 00:39:01,063 and his well-known views at the very end of that process. 931 00:39:01,066 --> 00:39:02,496 The Press: But he has no -- you said -- 932 00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:04,670 no financial or other conflicts of interest 933 00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:07,067 besides his previous stated stance -- 934 00:39:07,066 --> 00:39:08,696 Mr. Earnest: Not that I'm aware of -- 935 00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:10,030 not that I'm aware of. 936 00:39:10,033 --> 00:39:13,003 But suffice it to say that Mr. Podesta like everybody else 937 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,900 who works here will meet the most stringent ethics 938 00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:17,600 requirements in history that the President put in place 939 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:18,830 in his first day in office. 940 00:39:18,834 --> 00:39:19,834 The Press: Thank you. 941 00:39:19,834 --> 00:39:20,934 And then one other question. 942 00:39:20,934 --> 00:39:23,134 I know that last week in his interview with MSNBC, 943 00:39:23,133 --> 00:39:25,403 the President spoke pretty glowingly of Pope Francis, 944 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:27,970 and today he was named Person of the Year. 945 00:39:27,967 --> 00:39:30,497 Have they spoken at all recently? 946 00:39:30,500 --> 00:39:32,500 Mr. Earnest: I don't believe that they have, actually. 947 00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:34,770 I think the President said in that interview 948 00:39:34,767 --> 00:39:38,197 that he had not had the chance to speak to him yet. 949 00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,730 But I think I'll let the President's words stand. 950 00:39:40,734 --> 00:39:43,304 The President spoke eloquently about what an important figure 951 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:46,130 and what a really important message Pope Francis has sent 952 00:39:46,133 --> 00:39:50,133 to the world in just the six or eight months that he has held 953 00:39:50,133 --> 00:39:52,103 that important position in the Catholic Church. 954 00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:53,100 Major. 955 00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:55,000 The Press: Couldn't you also argue, 956 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,600 countering Paul Ryan's assessment, 957 00:39:57,600 --> 00:39:59,930 that the new precedent is the Budget Control Act 958 00:39:59,934 --> 00:40:02,404 has been rewritten, at least for two years, 959 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,030 and that the sequestration numbers have changed and there's 960 00:40:05,033 --> 00:40:06,763 going to be more spending than there was under 961 00:40:06,767 --> 00:40:09,097 the past agreement that was also bipartisan 962 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:13,170 and also signed by the President? 963 00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:23,430 Mr. Earnest: You guys are interested in drawing precedents here. 964 00:40:23,433 --> 00:40:24,533 I'm actually interested in looking at the impact 965 00:40:24,533 --> 00:40:25,463 that this budget deal will have on our economy, 966 00:40:25,467 --> 00:40:26,497 and that's how the President made -- 967 00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:27,730 The Press: That's the latest deal, though. 968 00:40:27,734 --> 00:40:28,434 You don't disagree with anything I just said, do you? 969 00:40:28,433 --> 00:40:29,663 Mr. Earnest: Well, I -- 970 00:40:29,667 --> 00:40:30,567 The Press: I'm not asking you to rub his nose in it. 971 00:40:30,567 --> 00:40:31,297 I'm just saying, isn't that the fact? 972 00:40:31,300 --> 00:40:32,300 Mr. Earnest: [laughter] 973 00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:33,300 I'm not suggesting that I would. 974 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:34,430 What I'm -- 975 00:40:34,433 --> 00:40:35,363 The Press: Why don't you answer the question? 976 00:40:35,367 --> 00:40:36,597 Mr. Earnest: What I'm suggesting is, 977 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:37,700 is that what we have reached is a compromise agreement. 978 00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:38,830 The President certainly did not get everything 979 00:40:38,834 --> 00:40:39,764 that he would like to see in this budget agreement, 980 00:40:39,767 --> 00:40:40,567 and Mr. Ryan, I think as he has said 981 00:40:40,567 --> 00:40:41,537 a couple of times publicly now, 982 00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:42,903 didn't get everything that he wanted. 983 00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:45,330 But what they were able to do was put aside those differences 984 00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:48,133 and focus on some common ground and strike an agreement 985 00:40:48,133 --> 00:40:49,633 that is in the best interests of our economy, 986 00:40:49,633 --> 00:40:51,463 and that's something that the President is pleased about. 987 00:40:51,467 --> 00:40:54,197 And again, if putting aside partisan differences, 988 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:57,900 focusing on common ground and demonstrating a willingness 989 00:40:57,900 --> 00:41:01,100 to reach a compromise, if that's precedent-setting, 990 00:41:01,100 --> 00:41:02,370 we're all for it. 991 00:41:02,367 --> 00:41:04,637 The Press: Then let's go down that road a little bit. 992 00:41:04,633 --> 00:41:10,833 Because if the precedent is to use one year or very short-term 993 00:41:10,834 --> 00:41:15,304 fees and other minor-league revenue increases, 994 00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:19,130 and adjust spending upward, this seems to be not a small step 995 00:41:19,133 --> 00:41:21,563 toward a grand bargain, but a complete step 996 00:41:21,567 --> 00:41:22,897 in the opposite direction. 997 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:25,130 Because none of the structural things are dealt with because 998 00:41:25,133 --> 00:41:28,863 the politics was obviously too difficult for both sides 999 00:41:28,867 --> 00:41:31,297 to even discuss, let alone draft. 1000 00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:32,700 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't agree with all of that at all. 1001 00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:34,470 A couple of things. 1002 00:41:34,467 --> 00:41:37,167 One is, I'm not comparing this to a grand bargain at all. 1003 00:41:37,166 --> 00:41:38,836 The first time anybody in this room has said "grand bargain" 1004 00:41:38,834 --> 00:41:39,834 is when you did. 1005 00:41:39,834 --> 00:41:41,034 I didn't say that. 1006 00:41:41,033 --> 00:41:42,803 The Press: No, I'm not suggesting you did. 1007 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:43,970 Mr. Earnest: Okay, okay. 1008 00:41:43,967 --> 00:41:45,097 The Press: But that's been the sort of overhang 1009 00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:47,100 for all these confrontations for quite some time. 1010 00:41:47,100 --> 00:41:48,400 Mr. Earnest: It has, it has. 1011 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:49,530 And the President's proposal for that grand bargain continues 1012 00:41:49,533 --> 00:41:50,863 to sit on the table for -- 1013 00:41:50,867 --> 00:41:52,467 continues to sit on the table right now. 1014 00:41:52,467 --> 00:41:54,767 That is an option that is available and that has been. 1015 00:41:54,767 --> 00:41:56,737 I think we're coming up on the year anniversary 1016 00:41:56,734 --> 00:41:59,534 of that initial proposal. 1017 00:41:59,533 --> 00:42:02,133 It was codified in the President's budget as well. 1018 00:42:02,133 --> 00:42:04,933 But what we're focused on right now is trying 1019 00:42:04,934 --> 00:42:07,704 to strike budget agreements that reflect the best interests 1020 00:42:07,700 --> 00:42:08,800 of our economy. 1021 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,670 It is our view that a so-called grand bargain, 1022 00:42:11,667 --> 00:42:13,537 based on the outlines that the President has put forward, 1023 00:42:13,533 --> 00:42:15,763 would actually do really good things for our economy. 1024 00:42:15,767 --> 00:42:17,737 A more modest agreement, like the one that was reached 1025 00:42:17,734 --> 00:42:20,034 just yesterday, would also do helpful things for our economy, 1026 00:42:20,033 --> 00:42:21,933 and that's why the President is pleased -- 1027 00:42:21,934 --> 00:42:23,164 The Press: Or less harm. 1028 00:42:23,166 --> 00:42:25,536 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm a glass half-full kind of guy, 1029 00:42:25,533 --> 00:42:26,533 Major. 1030 00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:27,833 The Press: Okay. 1031 00:42:27,834 --> 00:42:29,864 Why didn't you demand also a resolution for the same period 1032 00:42:29,867 --> 00:42:32,467 of time, or at least another period of time, 1033 00:42:32,467 --> 00:42:34,997 on the debt ceiling? 1034 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:37,900 Mr. Earnest: Well, the fact of the matter is Senator 1035 00:42:37,900 --> 00:42:40,900 McConnell has been pretty outspoken ever since the end of 1036 00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:43,730 the government shutdown back in October that we're not 1037 00:42:43,734 --> 00:42:45,334 going to be in a position, that Republicans are not 1038 00:42:45,333 --> 00:42:48,003 going to be part of holding the economy hostage 1039 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,130 and not going to be part of threatening default. 1040 00:42:50,133 --> 00:42:55,233 And we at the White House are confident 1041 00:42:55,233 --> 00:42:57,163 that Senator McConnell is right. 1042 00:42:57,166 --> 00:42:58,636 The Press: So you think you can deal with that? 1043 00:42:58,633 --> 00:43:00,303 That's not an issue anymore? 1044 00:43:00,300 --> 00:43:01,470 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's the responsibility of the Congress to deal with it, 1045 00:43:01,467 --> 00:43:03,497 and we're confident that they will without any drama. 1046 00:43:03,500 --> 00:43:04,630 The Press: All right. 1047 00:43:04,633 --> 00:43:05,863 Let me just put two things together that you said 1048 00:43:05,867 --> 00:43:09,597 about December 23rd, January 1st coverage, 1049 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,400 and what Secretary Sebelius testified to. 1050 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,970 Because I think there's a fundamental disconnect there. 1051 00:43:14,967 --> 00:43:18,297 She says the backend of the website -- 1052 00:43:18,300 --> 00:43:21,570 which is the part through which insurers are paid 1053 00:43:21,567 --> 00:43:24,537 and guaranteed payment is confirmed -- 1054 00:43:24,533 --> 00:43:27,163 won't be done until mid-January. 1055 00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:32,136 How can you so assertively predict with confidence that 1056 00:43:32,133 --> 00:43:35,863 those who sign up on December 23rd will have actionable 1057 00:43:35,867 --> 00:43:37,437 coverage on January 1st? 1058 00:43:37,433 --> 00:43:40,563 Because they have to -- as every customer does, 1059 00:43:40,567 --> 00:43:42,167 has to go through the backend system. 1060 00:43:42,166 --> 00:43:44,396 I mean, are you literally going to have people sort of 1061 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:47,700 monitoring everyone who falls into that category 1062 00:43:47,700 --> 00:43:50,330 of December 23rd and January 1st coverage? 1063 00:43:50,333 --> 00:43:52,303 Because if you don't, I don't see how they don't slip 1064 00:43:52,300 --> 00:43:53,470 through the cracks. 1065 00:43:53,467 --> 00:43:54,537 Mr. Earnest: Let me unpack a couple of things. 1066 00:43:54,533 --> 00:43:56,163 Because I was getting ready for this briefing, 1067 00:43:56,166 --> 00:43:58,366 I wasn't able to watch every minute of her testimony. 1068 00:43:58,367 --> 00:44:03,567 My understanding, though, about those references to some aspects 1069 00:44:03,567 --> 00:44:06,567 of the backend needing to be fixed or still need to be built, 1070 00:44:06,567 --> 00:44:10,137 that relates to several other processes related 1071 00:44:10,133 --> 00:44:11,333 to health care -- 1072 00:44:11,333 --> 00:44:14,333 not necessarily to this one 834 issue. 1073 00:44:14,333 --> 00:44:17,103 So that's the first thing. 1074 00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:20,300 But the second thing is that the problems that we've had 1075 00:44:20,300 --> 00:44:28,000 with that program were much worse very early on. 1076 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:33,800 So in October and November, we saw that the 834s were not 1077 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,470 functioning and not being transmitted with a lot 1078 00:44:36,467 --> 00:44:39,637 of accuracy, that there were concerns about information being 1079 00:44:39,633 --> 00:44:42,633 left off the forms, that there were duplicates being sent. 1080 00:44:42,633 --> 00:44:45,663 Because of some of the technological fixes that have 1081 00:44:45,667 --> 00:44:48,937 been implemented over the course of the month of November, 1082 00:44:48,934 --> 00:44:51,534 a lot of those problems -- I guess I should say this: 1083 00:44:51,533 --> 00:44:55,203 The rate of those problems has dropped significantly. 1084 00:44:55,200 --> 00:45:00,700 So now, at the same time, there also were many fewer people 1085 00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:02,400 who are enrolling in health care because of the problems 1086 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:03,670 related the website. 1087 00:45:03,667 --> 00:45:07,437 So the universe of people who are -- 1088 00:45:07,433 --> 00:45:08,963 who could potentially be affected 1089 00:45:08,967 --> 00:45:12,937 by some of the 834 problems is relatively small. 1090 00:45:12,934 --> 00:45:15,204 And we have a team of experts who is working 1091 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:17,030 both through technological fixes, 1092 00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:19,033 but also through some elbow grease, 1093 00:45:19,033 --> 00:45:22,063 going through and confirming that that information 1094 00:45:22,066 --> 00:45:24,736 has been conveyed accurately and completely, 1095 00:45:24,734 --> 00:45:28,734 and to confirm that they will be signed up for health care 1096 00:45:28,734 --> 00:45:31,934 and eligible to get covered on January 1st. 1097 00:45:31,934 --> 00:45:33,264 The Press: Back to Jared's first question. 1098 00:45:33,266 --> 00:45:37,736 It seems amazing to me that you will not and HHS 1099 00:45:37,734 --> 00:45:40,534 will not commit to as thorough as possible a discussion 1100 00:45:40,533 --> 00:45:44,363 of these numbers on January 1st or very soon thereafter. 1101 00:45:44,367 --> 00:45:48,967 Because that is your very first actual acid test of numbers 1102 00:45:48,967 --> 00:45:52,137 and people who sought coverage and obtained it. 1103 00:45:52,133 --> 00:45:55,433 And is the entire country and those consumers themselves going 1104 00:45:55,433 --> 00:45:57,463 to have to wait until the middle of January to find out 1105 00:45:57,467 --> 00:45:58,797 if it all worked? 1106 00:45:58,800 --> 00:45:59,970 Mr. Earnest: Well, those consumers individually will know 1107 00:45:59,967 --> 00:46:01,297 whether or not they're signed up because they'll -- 1108 00:46:01,300 --> 00:46:02,630 The Press: Then why not tell us? 1109 00:46:02,633 --> 00:46:05,363 Because then you'll know, as well. 1110 00:46:05,367 --> 00:46:06,597 Mr. Earnest: -- have signed up by December 3rd. 1111 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:07,970 We will tell you as soon as we can, 1112 00:46:07,967 --> 00:46:09,667 and I think waiting a couple of weeks to make sure 1113 00:46:09,667 --> 00:46:10,667 that we've scrubbed the numbers 1114 00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:12,767 and got that information accurate, 1115 00:46:12,767 --> 00:46:15,237 that we have ensured that there are no duplicates involved. 1116 00:46:15,233 --> 00:46:16,463 We're also compiling information 1117 00:46:16,467 --> 00:46:19,067 from 14 different state-run exchanges. 1118 00:46:19,066 --> 00:46:20,796 We're also compiling information that didn't 1119 00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:22,270 just go through the website, 1120 00:46:22,266 --> 00:46:25,666 but also went through either in-person signups 1121 00:46:25,667 --> 00:46:26,837 or through the call centers. 1122 00:46:26,834 --> 00:46:28,804 There are a variety of ways that people can sign up. 1123 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:31,370 So compiling all that information, scrubbing it, 1124 00:46:31,367 --> 00:46:34,867 deduping it, making sure that that information is accurate, 1125 00:46:34,867 --> 00:46:36,397 considering the numbers that we're expecting, 1126 00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:40,770 that the fact that that process might take 10 or 15 days I don't 1127 00:46:40,767 --> 00:46:44,997 think is an inordinate period of time for you to wait and be able 1128 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:47,400 to evaluate what kind of progress we've made, 1129 00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:50,670 and to evaluate the success of the program. 1130 00:46:50,667 --> 00:46:52,067 Ari. 1131 00:46:52,066 --> 00:46:54,296 The Press: I have to confess I was not confused about Podesta 1132 00:46:54,300 --> 00:46:57,000 recusing himself from Keystone until you described 1133 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:58,600 the reasons for it. 1134 00:46:58,600 --> 00:46:59,930 [laughter] 1135 00:46:59,934 --> 00:47:02,334 So you say he asked to recuse, but not exactly recused himself, 1136 00:47:02,333 --> 00:47:03,333 because it's -- 1137 00:47:03,333 --> 00:47:04,333 Mr. Earnest: Well, let's not say "recuse." 1138 00:47:04,333 --> 00:47:05,933 That he said that he wouldn't work on it. 1139 00:47:05,934 --> 00:47:06,934 But go ahead. 1140 00:47:06,934 --> 00:47:08,064 The Press: Okay. 1141 00:47:08,066 --> 00:47:08,936 Because it's at State, not at the White House --- 1142 00:47:08,934 --> 00:47:10,364 which sort of raises the question, 1143 00:47:10,367 --> 00:47:11,567 then why doesn't he recuse -- 1144 00:47:11,567 --> 00:47:13,867 excuse himself from everything that's handled 1145 00:47:13,867 --> 00:47:15,297 at every agency outside the White House -- 1146 00:47:15,300 --> 00:47:17,000 but fine, at the end of the process 1147 00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:18,600 you say it's going to come to the White House, 1148 00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:20,700 and he doesn't want to insert himself at the end 1149 00:47:20,700 --> 00:47:23,100 of the process, but it hasn't come to the White House yet, 1150 00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:26,330 so everybody at the White House would be uncertain of themselves 1151 00:47:26,333 --> 00:47:27,333 at the end of the process. 1152 00:47:27,333 --> 00:47:28,803 So that doesn't really make sense. 1153 00:47:28,800 --> 00:47:32,130 So I'm just trying to understand the reasons. 1154 00:47:32,133 --> 00:47:33,503 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 1155 00:47:33,500 --> 00:47:36,530 I'm going to take one more run at trying to explain it to you. 1156 00:47:36,533 --> 00:47:38,303 Put simply, this is a process that is run 1157 00:47:38,300 --> 00:47:39,500 by the State Department right now. 1158 00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:41,530 Certainly, White House officials are aware of 1159 00:47:41,533 --> 00:47:43,303 where we are in that process. 1160 00:47:43,300 --> 00:47:46,200 They have been consulting with people at the State Department 1161 00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:47,300 about that process. 1162 00:47:47,300 --> 00:47:49,670 But ultimately, that is a process that is run 1163 00:47:49,667 --> 00:47:50,967 by the State Department. 1164 00:47:50,967 --> 00:47:53,267 The President has indicated how strongly he -- 1165 00:47:53,266 --> 00:47:56,166 has indicated his interest in this program, 1166 00:47:56,166 --> 00:47:57,666 in the way that it's -- 1167 00:47:57,667 --> 00:48:00,637 or this determination in the way that it's resolved. 1168 00:48:00,633 --> 00:48:02,333 So the White House is in the loop 1169 00:48:02,333 --> 00:48:04,703 as this process moves forward. 1170 00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:06,170 What Mr. Podesta has simply said 1171 00:48:06,166 --> 00:48:08,296 is that he has very well-known views on this topic. 1172 00:48:08,300 --> 00:48:09,900 They've been publicly expressed. 1173 00:48:09,900 --> 00:48:11,800 Those views were publicly expressed before he started 1174 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:13,170 working for the President. 1175 00:48:13,166 --> 00:48:18,266 And so it is his view that it is better if his well-known views 1176 00:48:18,266 --> 00:48:21,796 are not injected at the very end of that process. 1177 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:24,770 So he has said to Mr. McDonough 1178 00:48:24,767 --> 00:48:26,637 that he would prefer not to work on that process 1179 00:48:26,633 --> 00:48:28,063 and to state so publicly, 1180 00:48:28,066 --> 00:48:29,536 and Mr. McDonough agreed that 1181 00:48:29,533 --> 00:48:30,963 that was the best course of action. 1182 00:48:30,967 --> 00:48:32,567 The Press: But that still leaves the original question unanswered 1183 00:48:32,567 --> 00:48:35,767 of why, given the wide range of things he's expressed views on, 1184 00:48:35,767 --> 00:48:40,367 he would ask not to be involved in only this one. 1185 00:48:40,367 --> 00:48:43,967 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I guess because this is a view that is -- 1186 00:48:43,967 --> 00:48:46,597 these are views that have been strongly expressed 1187 00:48:46,600 --> 00:48:49,170 and have gotten a lot of attention. 1188 00:48:49,166 --> 00:48:50,866 And there's no doubt that he's expressed his views 1189 00:48:50,867 --> 00:48:53,197 on a range of other things, too. 1190 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:56,570 Many of those things are, frankly, 1191 00:48:56,567 --> 00:48:58,667 less controversial and have become -- 1192 00:48:58,667 --> 00:48:59,867 aren't as much of a lightning rod 1193 00:48:59,867 --> 00:49:01,637 as this particular issue has become. 1194 00:49:01,633 --> 00:49:03,103 The Press: Can I also ask you about Podesta? 1195 00:49:03,100 --> 00:49:04,470 This administration for a long time 1196 00:49:04,467 --> 00:49:06,397 has been criticized as too insular. 1197 00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:07,700 The President was asked about it 1198 00:49:07,700 --> 00:49:09,930 in his last lengthy news conference. 1199 00:49:09,934 --> 00:49:13,434 Does bringing in Podesta in some way acknowledge that insularity 1200 00:49:13,433 --> 00:49:15,433 was in fact a problem? 1201 00:49:17,367 --> 00:49:18,897 Mr. Earnest: I think that might be reading too much 1202 00:49:18,900 --> 00:49:23,730 into one man's hiring. 1203 00:49:23,734 --> 00:49:26,234 I think the reason that I can state definitively 1204 00:49:26,233 --> 00:49:29,463 that the reason that Mr. Podesta was hired was because 1205 00:49:29,467 --> 00:49:34,367 the President has confidence in him as a political professional, 1206 00:49:34,367 --> 00:49:36,937 somebody who has been through 1207 00:49:36,934 --> 00:49:38,364 some very difficult political fights, 1208 00:49:38,367 --> 00:49:41,567 but also somebody who knows a lot about moving policy 1209 00:49:41,567 --> 00:49:46,067 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Podesta is somebody who, 1210 00:49:46,066 --> 00:49:51,566 as is known from his outspoken views on some issues, 1211 00:49:51,567 --> 00:49:53,397 shares the President's worldview and shares the President's 1212 00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:57,370 priorities on a range of issues, including trying to address this 1213 00:49:57,367 --> 00:50:00,097 question of economic mobility and economic inequality 1214 00:50:00,100 --> 00:50:01,630 in this country. 1215 00:50:01,633 --> 00:50:04,203 So he is somebody who shares the President's worldview 1216 00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:05,930 and is looking forward to rolling up his sleeves 1217 00:50:05,934 --> 00:50:08,104 and working with the President to try to make progress 1218 00:50:08,100 --> 00:50:10,400 on some of these issues. 1219 00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:14,670 The last thing is that Mr. Podesta has very strong 1220 00:50:14,667 --> 00:50:16,467 relationships with people on Capitol Hill, 1221 00:50:16,467 --> 00:50:17,897 Democrats and Republicans. 1222 00:50:17,900 --> 00:50:19,000 He's got strong relationships 1223 00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:20,630 with many of you in the news media. 1224 00:50:20,633 --> 00:50:23,563 He's got strong relationships with other influential people 1225 00:50:23,567 --> 00:50:24,797 in Washington, D.C. 1226 00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:27,430 And so could he contribute to trying to make sure 1227 00:50:27,433 --> 00:50:30,833 that outside opinions are reflected in the White House's 1228 00:50:30,834 --> 00:50:32,134 internal decision-making process? 1229 00:50:32,133 --> 00:50:35,103 Yes, I think that he can play a role in doing exactly that. 1230 00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:39,600 And maybe that does address some of the concerns 1231 00:50:39,600 --> 00:50:40,600 that some have expressed 1232 00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:42,130 about insularity at the White House, 1233 00:50:42,133 --> 00:50:45,103 but I can tell you that the responsibility that Mr. Podesta 1234 00:50:45,100 --> 00:50:47,200 will wield at the White House is much greater than that. 1235 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:48,530 Jon. 1236 00:50:48,533 --> 00:50:50,933 The Press: Josh, I wasn't even going to ask about Keystone, 1237 00:50:50,934 --> 00:50:54,104 but what's taking so long for this decision? 1238 00:50:54,100 --> 00:50:56,100 Mr. Earnest: Well, I mean -- 1239 00:50:56,100 --> 00:50:58,700 The Press: I mean, this has been going on for years. 1240 00:50:58,700 --> 00:51:01,070 Why are we still -- 1241 00:51:01,066 --> 00:51:02,396 Mr. Earnest: It has. 1242 00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:03,730 Well, there have been a couple of times where the process got 1243 00:51:03,734 --> 00:51:06,004 upended because of concerns that were raised by the Republican 1244 00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:09,270 governor of Nebraska and the route that had been proposed. 1245 00:51:09,266 --> 00:51:11,196 The Press: Yes, that's ancient history, too. 1246 00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:13,370 Mr. Earnest: Well, but you said it's going on for years, 1247 00:51:13,367 --> 00:51:16,037 and that's one of the things that slowed down the process. 1248 00:51:16,033 --> 00:51:18,433 So I think that demonstrates the commitment of the administration 1249 00:51:18,433 --> 00:51:19,803 to get this right. 1250 00:51:19,800 --> 00:51:22,070 It demonstrates that there are people in both parties who have 1251 00:51:22,066 --> 00:51:24,166 a range of views on this topic. 1252 00:51:24,166 --> 00:51:27,396 And what the State Department is doing is they're reaching 1253 00:51:27,400 --> 00:51:30,200 a determination of national interest. 1254 00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:31,200 The Press: Is this a pocket veto? 1255 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:32,800 Is this basically like run out the clock? 1256 00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:34,100 Mr. Earnest: That's not something that should be taken lightly. 1257 00:51:34,100 --> 00:51:35,630 It certainly isn't taken lightly by the President 1258 00:51:35,633 --> 00:51:36,803 or his administration. 1259 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:39,300 The Press: So you're not running out the clock? 1260 00:51:39,300 --> 00:51:41,930 Because if you delay and then you don't make a decision, 1261 00:51:41,934 --> 00:51:44,104 it doesn't get built, you know? 1262 00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:46,970 Mr. Earnest: That's not how I'd characterize the ongoing policy process. 1263 00:51:46,967 --> 00:51:49,137 The Press: What I wanted ask about was the famous handshake 1264 00:51:49,133 --> 00:51:50,403 with Raul Castro. 1265 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:52,270 And I'm wondering -- we all saw the President exchanged 1266 00:51:52,266 --> 00:51:53,266 some words with Castro. 1267 00:51:53,266 --> 00:51:54,996 I'm wondering what those words were, 1268 00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:58,900 and did the name Alan Gross, the American political prisoner 1269 00:51:58,900 --> 00:52:01,930 being held in Cuba, come up? 1270 00:52:01,934 --> 00:52:03,134 Mr. Earnest: It's my understanding -- 1271 00:52:03,133 --> 00:52:04,433 I obviously wasn't there. 1272 00:52:04,433 --> 00:52:07,063 That's why I'm not sleep deprived today. 1273 00:52:07,066 --> 00:52:08,936 It's my understanding, based on people who did talk 1274 00:52:08,934 --> 00:52:10,704 to the President after his speech, 1275 00:52:10,700 --> 00:52:12,070 that they didn't have a robust, 1276 00:52:12,066 --> 00:52:13,666 substantive conversation about policies, 1277 00:52:13,667 --> 00:52:15,097 but rather exchanged some pleasantries 1278 00:52:15,100 --> 00:52:17,530 as the President was making his way to the podium. 1279 00:52:17,533 --> 00:52:20,503 So there was not an opportunity for the President to chronicle 1280 00:52:20,500 --> 00:52:22,830 his many concerns about human rights abuses 1281 00:52:22,834 --> 00:52:24,634 on the island of Cuba. 1282 00:52:24,633 --> 00:52:27,963 The President did not have the opportunity to say to him 1283 00:52:27,967 --> 00:52:30,097 directly something that he said many times, 1284 00:52:30,100 --> 00:52:31,970 which is that Alan Gross should be released. 1285 00:52:31,967 --> 00:52:37,867 So they did not have an opportunity to have 1286 00:52:37,867 --> 00:52:40,267 a robust exchange of ideas. 1287 00:52:40,266 --> 00:52:42,966 Rather, they had an opportunity to exchange pleasantries. 1288 00:52:42,967 --> 00:52:44,537 The Press: So you said the President has said many times 1289 00:52:44,533 --> 00:52:45,763 that Alan Gross should be released? 1290 00:52:45,767 --> 00:52:46,897 Mr. Earnest: He's said it before. 1291 00:52:46,900 --> 00:52:49,200 Maybe it's not many times, but he has said before 1292 00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:50,430 that Alan Gross should be released. 1293 00:52:50,433 --> 00:52:52,033 I think we put out a statement from the President just 1294 00:52:52,033 --> 00:52:53,603 a couple of days ago on this topic. 1295 00:52:53,600 --> 00:52:58,100 The Press: And what -- so I understand he's there, he passed -- 1296 00:52:58,100 --> 00:53:01,130 I know this was not a prearranged handshake. 1297 00:53:01,133 --> 00:53:05,633 But obviously, you knew that Castro was going to be up there 1298 00:53:05,633 --> 00:53:06,633 on that stage. 1299 00:53:06,633 --> 00:53:08,063 Mr. Earnest: That's correct. 1300 00:53:08,066 --> 00:53:09,936 The Press: Was it discussed beforehand what to do when the two 1301 00:53:09,934 --> 00:53:11,264 would inevitably come face to face? 1302 00:53:11,266 --> 00:53:12,296 Mr. Earnest: Not to my knowledge. 1303 00:53:12,300 --> 00:53:13,800 Not to my knowledge. 1304 00:53:13,800 --> 00:53:16,130 The Press: And can you -- you've seen some of the criticism. 1305 00:53:16,133 --> 00:53:22,133 John McCain actually compared this to Neville Chamberlain 1306 00:53:30,367 --> 00:53:31,367 shaking hands with Hitler. 1307 00:53:31,367 --> 00:53:32,567 What's your response to all that criticism, 1308 00:53:32,567 --> 00:53:33,867 that people say that the President shouldn't have given 1309 00:53:33,867 --> 00:53:34,767 Castro the opportunity to have a handshake with the leader 1310 00:53:34,767 --> 00:53:35,797 of the United States? 1311 00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:37,170 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, first of all, 1312 00:53:37,166 --> 00:53:38,166 the President shook hands with everybody who was on the stage, 1313 00:53:38,166 --> 00:53:39,366 and Mr. Castro was one of those individuals 1314 00:53:39,367 --> 00:53:40,367 who was on the stage. 1315 00:53:40,367 --> 00:53:41,367 The second thing I'd point out is, 1316 00:53:41,367 --> 00:53:44,037 I think even in the few number of times 1317 00:53:44,033 --> 00:53:45,203 that I've stood at this podium, 1318 00:53:45,200 --> 00:53:47,400 I've been asked about other people who have tried 1319 00:53:47,400 --> 00:53:52,130 to draw connections between recent political events 1320 00:53:52,133 --> 00:53:54,703 and the terrible reign of Adolph Hitler. 1321 00:53:54,700 --> 00:54:00,400 That is a dangerous and usually unwise thing to do in public. 1322 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:02,870 The third thing I guess I would say is that there used to be 1323 00:54:02,867 --> 00:54:05,297 a pretty important principle that originated 1324 00:54:05,300 --> 00:54:06,300 in the Republican Party, 1325 00:54:06,300 --> 00:54:07,970 I believe, that partisan politics should stop 1326 00:54:07,967 --> 00:54:09,437 at the water's edge. 1327 00:54:09,433 --> 00:54:12,163 And it's unfortunate that we did see a number of Republicans 1328 00:54:12,166 --> 00:54:15,036 yesterday who criticized the President for a handshake 1329 00:54:15,033 --> 00:54:17,133 at Nelson Mandela's funeral. 1330 00:54:17,133 --> 00:54:22,703 That is I think an important progression in a number 1331 00:54:22,700 --> 00:54:24,570 of politicians' views on that topic. 1332 00:54:24,567 --> 00:54:27,737 The Press: Is there anybody that the President would not -- 1333 00:54:27,734 --> 00:54:29,304 is there any world leader the President 1334 00:54:29,300 --> 00:54:30,530 would not shake hands with? 1335 00:54:30,533 --> 00:54:34,003 If Assad had been on that stage, 1336 00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:35,230 Kim Jong-un had been on that stage -- 1337 00:54:35,233 --> 00:54:36,233 I mean, is there -- 1338 00:54:36,233 --> 00:54:37,503 I'm trying to gauge the principle. 1339 00:54:37,500 --> 00:54:40,470 He shook hands with everybody on the stage. 1340 00:54:40,467 --> 00:54:42,197 I mean, is there anybody he wouldn't? 1341 00:54:42,200 --> 00:54:43,630 Mr. Earnest: That's a difficult hypothetical to entertain, 1342 00:54:43,633 --> 00:54:46,463 and I decline to do it at this point. 1343 00:54:46,467 --> 00:54:47,467 Brianna. 1344 00:54:47,467 --> 00:54:48,567 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1345 00:54:48,567 --> 00:54:53,897 To follow on Kristen's question about a reset -- 1346 00:54:53,900 --> 00:54:56,170 and I know you say you don't want to dwell on polls -- 1347 00:54:56,166 --> 00:54:58,896 but it's hard to ignore the fact that almost an alarming number 1348 00:54:58,900 --> 00:55:01,370 of Americans have lost confidence in President Obama 1349 00:55:01,367 --> 00:55:02,597 and his signature achievement. 1350 00:55:02,600 --> 00:55:06,570 So in light of that, on a reset, is this addition -- 1351 00:55:06,567 --> 00:55:09,097 we're seeing the additions of John Podesta, Phil Schiliro, 1352 00:55:09,100 --> 00:55:12,070 presumably some other folks who are in the works. 1353 00:55:12,066 --> 00:55:14,396 Should that be seen as a reset? 1354 00:55:14,400 --> 00:55:18,730 And does the President think that he needs a reset? 1355 00:55:18,734 --> 00:55:20,334 Mr. Earnest: Well, there's a lot in that question, 1356 00:55:20,333 --> 00:55:21,703 so let me try to do them one at a time. 1357 00:55:21,700 --> 00:55:24,300 The first is, the headline from the New York Times in their poll 1358 00:55:24,300 --> 00:55:27,570 today was that Obama sees a rebound in his approval rating. 1359 00:55:27,567 --> 00:55:29,597 So I recognize that there's a lot of polling data out there, 1360 00:55:29,600 --> 00:55:32,330 but it's not reaching any uniformed conclusions 1361 00:55:32,333 --> 00:55:33,633 as far as I can tell. 1362 00:55:33,633 --> 00:55:36,703 The second thing, in terms of the need for a reset, 1363 00:55:36,700 --> 00:55:41,770 as you described -- I think the President has -- 1364 00:55:41,767 --> 00:55:43,167 well, let me go back to something I said earlier 1365 00:55:43,166 --> 00:55:45,866 before I talk about the President. 1366 00:55:45,867 --> 00:55:47,667 You've covered us closely over the last several years 1367 00:55:47,667 --> 00:55:50,367 and you recognize that typically at the end of the calendar year 1368 00:55:50,367 --> 00:55:51,537 people are making their own decisions 1369 00:55:51,533 --> 00:55:54,063 about whether they can continue to government service 1370 00:55:54,066 --> 00:55:56,336 if they want to pursue other opportunities that might 1371 00:55:56,333 --> 00:55:57,833 afford them the opportunity to spend some more time 1372 00:55:57,834 --> 00:55:58,834 with their family. 1373 00:55:58,834 --> 00:56:01,364 So that is part of a natural transition 1374 00:56:01,367 --> 00:56:03,897 that you see on an annual basis at the White House, 1375 00:56:03,900 --> 00:56:07,570 and I would anticipate that you'd see some more of that 1376 00:56:07,567 --> 00:56:10,167 this year, too. 1377 00:56:10,166 --> 00:56:12,696 Many of those people will be people that did not work on -- 1378 00:56:12,700 --> 00:56:16,330 were not involved in coding healthcare.gov. 1379 00:56:16,333 --> 00:56:20,403 But in terms of the President, the President is very pleased 1380 00:56:20,400 --> 00:56:24,300 with the performance of members of his senior team 1381 00:56:24,300 --> 00:56:26,470 at the White House who have been working hard 1382 00:56:26,467 --> 00:56:28,267 to advance his agenda. 1383 00:56:28,266 --> 00:56:31,866 And he is also excited about the prospect of bringing on somebody 1384 00:56:31,867 --> 00:56:35,067 like Mr. Podesta who would bring a fresh perspective and a fresh 1385 00:56:35,066 --> 00:56:36,966 set of eyes to some of the challenges that we've been 1386 00:56:36,967 --> 00:56:38,667 dealing with here for the last several years. 1387 00:56:38,667 --> 00:56:41,897 So that's why Mr. Podesta is a welcome addition to the team, 1388 00:56:41,900 --> 00:56:47,300 and it's why this President is looking forward to all of us 1389 00:56:47,300 --> 00:56:50,470 hopefully getting a little time off for the holidays, 1390 00:56:50,467 --> 00:56:54,497 but coming back at the beginning of next year hopefully a little 1391 00:56:54,500 --> 00:56:56,630 bit more rested with his sleeves rolled up, 1392 00:56:56,633 --> 00:57:00,403 ready to pursue an agenda that is focused on expanding economic 1393 00:57:00,400 --> 00:57:01,930 opportunity for the middle class. 1394 00:57:01,934 --> 00:57:04,434 And that will be an opportunity that the President 1395 00:57:04,433 --> 00:57:06,203 looks forward to. 1396 00:57:06,200 --> 00:57:07,630 The Press: On unemployment benefits, 1397 00:57:07,633 --> 00:57:10,563 Republicans are demanding an offset to the cost of them. 1398 00:57:10,567 --> 00:57:12,897 It doesn't sound like you were proposing one. 1399 00:57:12,900 --> 00:57:14,930 So I'm wondering if, come January 1st, 1400 00:57:14,934 --> 00:57:18,434 when you have over a million Americans who are set to lose 1401 00:57:18,433 --> 00:57:21,033 their unemployment benefits, if the President will have felt 1402 00:57:21,033 --> 00:57:23,403 that he did enough, having just talked 1403 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:24,970 about the need to extend them, 1404 00:57:24,967 --> 00:57:27,567 albeit a lot, instead of looking to try 1405 00:57:27,567 --> 00:57:31,097 to find some middle ground with Republicans. 1406 00:57:31,100 --> 00:57:34,330 Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess I would point out that extending 1407 00:57:34,333 --> 00:57:36,333 emergency unemployment benefits is something 1408 00:57:36,333 --> 00:57:39,833 that had previously been a location of common ground, 1409 00:57:39,834 --> 00:57:41,164 if you will. 1410 00:57:41,166 --> 00:57:43,036 This was a program that was originally signed into law 1411 00:57:43,033 --> 00:57:45,063 in 2008 by President George W. Bush. 1412 00:57:45,066 --> 00:57:46,666 It is something that had passed the Congress 1413 00:57:46,667 --> 00:57:48,797 with bipartisan support. 1414 00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:50,670 When it was passed and signed into law 1415 00:57:50,667 --> 00:57:51,667 by a Republican President, 1416 00:57:51,667 --> 00:57:53,397 it did not include specific offsets. 1417 00:57:53,400 --> 00:57:55,570 There are a couple times over the last couple of years 1418 00:57:55,567 --> 00:57:56,567 in which emergency unemployment benefits had been extended 1419 00:57:56,567 --> 00:57:57,767 through the Congress. 1420 00:57:57,767 --> 00:57:59,097 The Press: But you just said you're not interested 1421 00:57:59,100 --> 00:58:00,630 in looking at precedents. 1422 00:58:00,633 --> 00:58:01,633 Mr. Earnest: Let me finish this. 1423 00:58:01,633 --> 00:58:03,133 This is important. 1424 00:58:03,133 --> 00:58:05,963 The Press: So if you're looking at the reality that is right now -- 1425 00:58:05,967 --> 00:58:07,037 Mr. Earnest: I will leave it to you, 1426 00:58:07,033 --> 00:58:09,863 as I did to Major, to draw questions 1427 00:58:09,867 --> 00:58:11,367 of precedent in this case. 1428 00:58:11,367 --> 00:58:13,097 What I am suggesting is that when this bill 1429 00:58:13,100 --> 00:58:15,530 was signed into law it did not include offsets. 1430 00:58:15,533 --> 00:58:18,333 When it was renewed -- or extended, 1431 00:58:18,333 --> 00:58:20,363 the last couple of times, 1432 00:58:20,367 --> 00:58:23,637 which I think happened in 2010 and 2012, 1433 00:58:23,633 --> 00:58:26,163 both times it was -- that extension was approved 1434 00:58:26,166 --> 00:58:29,136 with bipartisan support and neither time did 1435 00:58:29,133 --> 00:58:31,703 that extension include specific offsets. 1436 00:58:31,700 --> 00:58:34,770 So if Republicans want to have a conversation 1437 00:58:34,767 --> 00:58:36,367 about doing something differently 1438 00:58:36,367 --> 00:58:39,367 than what we've done before and offsetting 1439 00:58:39,367 --> 00:58:41,567 the cost of what everybody acknowledges 1440 00:58:41,567 --> 00:58:43,337 is an emergency program -- 1441 00:58:43,333 --> 00:58:45,703 it certainly is an emergency for the 1.3 million Americans 1442 00:58:45,700 --> 00:58:47,300 who stand to lose their unemployment benefits 1443 00:58:47,300 --> 00:58:48,630 at the end of the year -- 1444 00:58:48,633 --> 00:58:50,233 then we'll have that conversation. 1445 00:58:50,233 --> 00:58:53,203 But it's also important for you and your viewers to understand 1446 00:58:53,200 --> 00:58:55,200 that when this bill was signed into law and when it was 1447 00:58:55,200 --> 00:58:57,570 extended with bipartisan support through the Congress, 1448 00:58:57,567 --> 00:58:59,237 offsets were not part of the equation. 1449 00:58:59,233 --> 00:59:00,363 The Press: But that's the demand now. 1450 00:59:00,367 --> 00:59:01,367 And you said -- 1451 00:59:01,367 --> 00:59:02,667 Mr. Earnest: That's not what I said. 1452 00:59:02,667 --> 00:59:06,167 I actually -- I said a lot, so I'll give you a pass on that. 1453 00:59:06,166 --> 00:59:08,536 What I also said is that if that's what Republicans 1454 00:59:08,533 --> 00:59:10,863 are going to insist on this time, we are willing 1455 00:59:10,867 --> 00:59:13,567 to have a conversation with them about that. 1456 00:59:13,567 --> 00:59:15,667 But that is not what they have insisted on in the past. 1457 00:59:15,667 --> 00:59:16,667 And I just think that's important 1458 00:59:16,667 --> 00:59:18,097 for people to understand. 1459 00:59:18,100 --> 00:59:19,470 Scott. 1460 00:59:19,467 --> 00:59:20,667 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1461 00:59:20,667 --> 00:59:24,397 Is it still the administration's position that the Afghan 1462 00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:28,570 security agreement has to be signed by the end of the year? 1463 00:59:28,567 --> 00:59:31,037 Mr. Earnest: What we have said about this, Scott, 1464 00:59:31,033 --> 00:59:34,863 is that in order for the United States and our allies to plan 1465 00:59:34,867 --> 00:59:38,667 for the post-2014 military presence, if there is one, 1466 00:59:38,667 --> 00:59:41,837 we need to start that planning process soon. 1467 00:59:41,834 --> 00:59:44,664 There is an agreement on the table that was hammered out 1468 00:59:44,667 --> 00:59:47,437 through a series of painstaking negotiations over the course 1469 00:59:47,433 --> 00:59:51,133 of this year between Afghan leaders and allied leaders. 1470 00:59:51,133 --> 00:59:54,563 We believe that that text reflects the best interests 1471 00:59:54,567 --> 00:59:58,837 of both the Afghan people as well as the American people. 1472 00:59:58,834 --> 01:00:00,934 It also reflects the best interests of our allies, 1473 01:00:00,934 --> 01:00:03,934 who are also involved in trying to provide -- 1474 01:00:03,934 --> 01:00:05,734 to assist the Afghan people, 1475 01:00:05,734 --> 01:00:07,634 provide security for their country. 1476 01:00:07,633 --> 01:00:09,463 So we have the text of an agreement that reflects 1477 01:00:09,467 --> 01:00:11,167 the best interests of both sides. 1478 01:00:11,166 --> 01:00:16,096 We also have an agreement that the loya jirga has endorsed, 1479 01:00:16,100 --> 01:00:20,930 and that that leadership council in Afghanistan has also urged 1480 01:00:20,934 --> 01:00:23,164 President Karzai to sign this document 1481 01:00:23,166 --> 01:00:24,366 sooner rather than later -- 1482 01:00:24,367 --> 01:00:26,567 not because that would be a favor to us, 1483 01:00:26,567 --> 01:00:28,067 but precisely because it's in the best interest 1484 01:00:28,066 --> 01:00:30,036 of the Afghan people for that to happen. 1485 01:00:30,033 --> 01:00:32,533 So it is our view that that is a document that should 1486 01:00:32,533 --> 01:00:34,803 be signed as soon as possible, 1487 01:00:34,800 --> 01:00:37,930 and that at the very least it should be signed 1488 01:00:37,934 --> 01:00:40,534 by the end of this year in order for us to start 1489 01:00:40,533 --> 01:00:42,403 going through the important planning process. 1490 01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:45,770 Now, if you're asking me, does that mean that if they sign it 1491 01:00:45,767 --> 01:00:48,037 on January 10th, that's going to be a huge problem -- 1492 01:00:48,033 --> 01:00:49,033 probably not. 1493 01:00:49,033 --> 01:00:50,203 What will be a significant problem is 1494 01:00:50,200 --> 01:00:53,230 if there is not quick action taken to get this signed. 1495 01:00:53,233 --> 01:00:55,233 Roger. 1496 01:00:55,233 --> 01:00:59,763 The Press: A couple of follow-ups on the jobless benefits again. 1497 01:00:59,767 --> 01:01:01,537 If there isn't any action this year, 1498 01:01:01,533 --> 01:01:04,603 would the President propose something next year, 1499 01:01:04,600 --> 01:01:07,000 early next year and make it retroactive? 1500 01:01:09,567 --> 01:01:11,037 Mr. Earnest: I think I would say it simply this way: 1501 01:01:11,033 --> 01:01:12,203 There is no reason they shouldn't be able 1502 01:01:12,200 --> 01:01:13,330 to get it done this year. 1503 01:01:13,333 --> 01:01:15,103 This is something that they got done with strong 1504 01:01:15,100 --> 01:01:16,370 bipartisan support in the past. 1505 01:01:16,367 --> 01:01:18,097 A couple of times they've extended this program. 1506 01:01:18,100 --> 01:01:20,330 It was originally signed into law by President Bush. 1507 01:01:20,333 --> 01:01:24,563 I know there is strong Democratic support for extending 1508 01:01:24,567 --> 01:01:25,937 emergency unemployment benefits. 1509 01:01:25,934 --> 01:01:28,504 And presumably, there should be, as there has been in the past, 1510 01:01:28,500 --> 01:01:30,100 strong Republican support for it too -- again, 1511 01:01:30,100 --> 01:01:33,170 not just because it would meet the needs of 1.3 million 1512 01:01:33,166 --> 01:01:35,066 Americans who stand to lose their unemployment benefits at 1513 01:01:35,066 --> 01:01:37,196 the end of the year, but also because of the tangible impact 1514 01:01:37,200 --> 01:01:38,670 it would have on our economy. 1515 01:01:38,667 --> 01:01:41,097 The Press: You mentioned that the President would continue 1516 01:01:41,100 --> 01:01:42,100 to advocate for it. 1517 01:01:42,100 --> 01:01:43,130 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 1518 01:01:43,133 --> 01:01:44,833 The Press: How is he going to do that? 1519 01:01:44,834 --> 01:01:46,564 You got three days. 1520 01:01:46,567 --> 01:01:48,297 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think I'm advocating for it 1521 01:01:48,300 --> 01:01:49,300 in his name right now. 1522 01:01:49,300 --> 01:01:51,470 You saw the President deliver -- 1523 01:01:51,467 --> 01:01:52,997 The Press: There's a difference between just speaking 1524 01:01:53,000 --> 01:01:55,570 about it as opposed to picking up the phone 1525 01:01:55,567 --> 01:01:56,997 and calling people -- 1526 01:01:57,000 --> 01:01:59,030 Mr. Earnest: Sure, there have been senior White House officials 1527 01:01:59,033 --> 01:02:02,103 here as recently as today who have been in touch 1528 01:02:02,100 --> 01:02:03,300 with members of Congress 1529 01:02:03,300 --> 01:02:04,730 about this exact issue. 1530 01:02:04,734 --> 01:02:06,634 The President and his team are engaged 1531 01:02:06,633 --> 01:02:08,003 because this is a priority. 1532 01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:10,130 Again, this is an opportunity for us to do something not just 1533 01:02:10,133 --> 01:02:11,663 to meet the needs of people who are standing to lose their 1534 01:02:11,667 --> 01:02:14,037 unemployment benefits around the holidays, 1535 01:02:14,033 --> 01:02:15,763 but also an opportunity for us to do something important for 1536 01:02:15,767 --> 01:02:17,797 the economy, that extending unemployment benefits could 1537 01:02:17,800 --> 01:02:20,200 create 240,000 jobs. 1538 01:02:20,200 --> 01:02:21,470 That seems like a win-win and something 1539 01:02:21,467 --> 01:02:22,537 that Congress should act on. 1540 01:02:22,533 --> 01:02:23,803 The Press: Okay, just to clarify, 1541 01:02:23,800 --> 01:02:25,730 the legislation that the President supports 1542 01:02:25,734 --> 01:02:27,634 is the Levin bill in the House, 1543 01:02:27,633 --> 01:02:28,933 that's a one-year extension, 1544 01:02:28,934 --> 01:02:32,564 and the CBO estimates about $26 billion, is that correct? 1545 01:02:32,567 --> 01:02:34,037 Mr. Earnest: To be honest with you, 1546 01:02:34,033 --> 01:02:36,363 I don't know about specific pieces of legislation, 1547 01:02:36,367 --> 01:02:39,267 so we'll have to get back to you on that. 1548 01:02:39,266 --> 01:02:43,936 Suffice it to say we think it's important for the benefits 1549 01:02:43,934 --> 01:02:45,864 to not run out on December 28th. 1550 01:02:45,867 --> 01:02:49,397 April, I'm going to give you the last one. 1551 01:02:49,400 --> 01:02:52,030 The Press: I have two questions, really fast. 1552 01:02:52,033 --> 01:02:53,203 Mr. Earnest: Okay, the last two. 1553 01:02:53,200 --> 01:02:54,370 [laughter] 1554 01:02:54,367 --> 01:02:56,137 The Press: As you talk about poll numbers, 1555 01:02:56,133 --> 01:02:59,333 what polls is the White House paying attention to more so? 1556 01:02:59,333 --> 01:03:00,563 Internal polls, Democratic polls? 1557 01:03:00,567 --> 01:03:03,337 I mean, since you're talking about the varied results 1558 01:03:03,333 --> 01:03:04,903 from various polls. 1559 01:03:04,900 --> 01:03:06,570 Mr. Earnest: Well, we read the newspaper at the White House, 1560 01:03:06,567 --> 01:03:08,097 and we occasionally watch a little television, 1561 01:03:08,100 --> 01:03:11,900 so we certainly are aware of the reporting on polls 1562 01:03:11,900 --> 01:03:13,030 that are conducted. 1563 01:03:13,033 --> 01:03:17,833 But I got to tell you, in terms of the priorities 1564 01:03:17,834 --> 01:03:19,504 of the White House, 1565 01:03:19,500 --> 01:03:22,100 following the progress of polls is not very high. 1566 01:03:22,100 --> 01:03:25,830 What's much higher is tracking the progress of legislation that 1567 01:03:25,834 --> 01:03:29,034 would expand early childhood education to every single child 1568 01:03:29,033 --> 01:03:35,663 in America -- legislation that would increase the minimum wage. 1569 01:03:35,667 --> 01:03:38,097 It was notable in one of the polls -- 1570 01:03:38,100 --> 01:03:40,800 Kristen, I believe it was your poll -- that indicated that 1571 01:03:40,800 --> 01:03:46,830 about 50 percent of Republicans, including 50 percent 1572 01:03:46,834 --> 01:03:48,504 of individuals who identify themselves 1573 01:03:48,500 --> 01:03:50,630 as members of the tea party, 1574 01:03:50,633 --> 01:03:54,303 support increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. 1575 01:03:54,300 --> 01:03:56,300 That is a notable finding from the polls. 1576 01:03:56,300 --> 01:03:58,470 So, see, we do read the newspaper about polls. 1577 01:03:58,467 --> 01:04:01,237 And in some cases, and particularly in this case, 1578 01:04:03,767 --> 01:04:07,467 it identifies some clear areas 1579 01:04:07,467 --> 01:04:09,237 for cooperation and common ground -- 1580 01:04:09,233 --> 01:04:10,433 that we could do something really important 1581 01:04:10,433 --> 01:04:11,563 for our economy, 1582 01:04:11,567 --> 01:04:15,737 that we could do something to address the problem 1583 01:04:15,734 --> 01:04:19,064 of decreasing economic mobility in this country 1584 01:04:19,066 --> 01:04:20,366 by increasing the minimum wage. 1585 01:04:20,367 --> 01:04:22,997 That's something that close to a majority of Republicans 1586 01:04:23,000 --> 01:04:24,070 and tea partiers support. 1587 01:04:24,066 --> 01:04:26,036 So maybe that's something that we can work on. 1588 01:04:26,033 --> 01:04:28,133 Those are the kinds of things that we're focused on, 1589 01:04:28,133 --> 01:04:29,363 and those are the kinds of policy priorities 1590 01:04:29,367 --> 01:04:30,537 that we're tracking. 1591 01:04:30,533 --> 01:04:33,933 And frankly, they attract a whole lot more attention 1592 01:04:33,934 --> 01:04:36,764 here at the White House than individual poll numbers. 1593 01:04:36,767 --> 01:04:39,667 The Press: And last question, since you're talking about 1594 01:04:39,667 --> 01:04:42,967 the successes right now of the website -- 1595 01:04:42,967 --> 01:04:45,867 there were clear problems at the beginning. 1596 01:04:45,867 --> 01:04:49,997 And understanding that the website did not meet a level 1597 01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:54,130 of expectation here, did the IT contractors meet the contracted 1598 01:04:54,133 --> 01:04:57,833 requirements early on for the website? 1599 01:04:57,834 --> 01:05:00,064 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's pretty clear that there were 1600 01:05:00,066 --> 01:05:03,036 some failures in that process. 1601 01:05:03,033 --> 01:05:05,603 I can't stand up here and give you an appraisal of what exactly 1602 01:05:05,600 --> 01:05:08,170 went wrong with the design and implementation 1603 01:05:08,166 --> 01:05:09,396 of healthcare.gov. 1604 01:05:09,400 --> 01:05:11,870 Fortunately, we have the Inspector General at HHS 1605 01:05:11,867 --> 01:05:13,637 who is working on that topic. 1606 01:05:13,633 --> 01:05:15,333 The President stood at this podium about a month ago 1607 01:05:15,333 --> 01:05:18,003 and indicated that he had some unanswered questions about this 1608 01:05:18,000 --> 01:05:20,730 process that he was determined to get an answer to. 1609 01:05:20,734 --> 01:05:22,604 The Press: But the question I'm asking is, 1610 01:05:22,600 --> 01:05:26,070 did the IT contractors deliver what they were asked to do? 1611 01:05:26,066 --> 01:05:27,636 Even though there were problems, 1612 01:05:27,633 --> 01:05:29,933 did they deliver on their contract? 1613 01:05:29,934 --> 01:05:32,004 Mr. Earnest: That is a legitimate question. 1614 01:05:32,000 --> 01:05:34,370 It's a question I do not know the answer to. 1615 01:05:34,367 --> 01:05:37,137 I suspect that it is part of the inquiry that will be conducted 1616 01:05:37,133 --> 01:05:39,233 by the Inspector General at HHS. 1617 01:05:39,233 --> 01:05:41,463 I would encourage you to ask him to confirm 1618 01:05:41,467 --> 01:05:43,197 whether or not that's the case. 1619 01:05:43,200 --> 01:05:46,670 But I would anticipate that it's among the kinds of questions 1620 01:05:46,667 --> 01:05:49,537 that people will be asking as they consider what went wrong. 1621 01:05:49,533 --> 01:05:52,133 What we're focused on right now is what we can do to make this 1622 01:05:52,133 --> 01:05:55,063 right: to make sure that we can expand access and give people 1623 01:05:55,066 --> 01:05:57,696 opportunity to sign up before this December 23rd deadline; 1624 01:05:57,700 --> 01:06:00,230 to make sure that our website is functioning smoothly; 1625 01:06:00,233 --> 01:06:03,433 to make sure that information that is submitted to the website 1626 01:06:03,433 --> 01:06:06,033 is accurately conveyed to the insurance company so that 1627 01:06:06,033 --> 01:06:09,803 people's insurance coverage does kick in by January 1st. 1628 01:06:09,800 --> 01:06:14,270 And we want to make sure that we have an ongoing effort 1629 01:06:14,266 --> 01:06:17,836 to educate the American public about what kind of opportunities 1630 01:06:17,834 --> 01:06:19,504 are available to them through healthcare.gov -- 1631 01:06:19,500 --> 01:06:20,500 that there are a lot of people out there 1632 01:06:20,500 --> 01:06:21,730 that don't have insurance right now, 1633 01:06:21,734 --> 01:06:23,904 that if they go and visit the website they will find out 1634 01:06:23,900 --> 01:06:27,070 that they can purchase quality, affordable health insurance, 1635 01:06:27,066 --> 01:06:30,166 in many cases they qualify for tax credits. 1636 01:06:30,166 --> 01:06:32,936 And getting that word out is also an important priority. 1637 01:06:32,934 --> 01:06:34,234 That's what we're focused on right now. 1638 01:06:34,233 --> 01:06:36,403 But you raise a legitimate question, 1639 01:06:36,400 --> 01:06:39,330 but it's one that I can't answer right now. 1640 01:06:39,333 --> 01:06:40,063 Thanks, everybody. 1641 01:06:40,066 --> 01:06:41,396 Have a good Wednesday. 1642 01:06:41,400 --> 01:06:42,730 The Press: Does the President have anything on his schedule 1643 01:06:42,734 --> 01:06:44,104 the rest of the week? 1644 01:06:44,100 --> 01:06:45,600 Mr. Earnest: Nothing that I have to talk about right now, 1645 01:06:45,600 --> 01:06:48,730 but as we get some more details, we'll let you know. 1646 01:06:48,734 --> 01:06:50,664 Thanks, guys. 1647 01:06:50,667 --> 01:06:52,497 The Press: Press conference before the end of the year? 1648 01:06:52,500 --> 01:06:53,470 Mr. Earnest: We'll see. 1649 01:06:53,467 --> 01:06:55,437 Stay tuned. 1650 01:06:55,433 --> 01:06:56,933 Thanks, everybody.