English subtitles for clip: File:12-16-11- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,433 --> 00:00:01,467 Mr. Carney: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 2 00:00:01,467 --> 00:00:03,100 Thank you for being here. 3 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:04,633 Thank you for your patience. 4 00:00:04,633 --> 00:00:10,266 Before I get started, I wanted to read a statement from me on 5 00:00:10,266 --> 00:00:13,834 the President's phone call with Russian President Medvedev. 6 00:00:13,834 --> 00:00:16,600 President Obama spoke with the Russian President today to 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,867 congratulate him on the World Trade Organization's decision to 8 00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:24,266 extend a formal invitation to Russia to join the WTO. 9 00:00:24,266 --> 00:00:26,366 The Presidents -- collect, that's plural -- 10 00:00:26,367 --> 00:00:28,767 the Presidents hailed this achievement as yet another 11 00:00:28,767 --> 00:00:31,666 result of the reset in bilateral relations, 12 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:34,900 which will benefit both the United States and Russia. 13 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:38,132 Russia's membership in the WTO will lower tariffs, 14 00:00:38,133 --> 00:00:40,700 improve access to Russia's services markets, 15 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:43,900 hold the Russian government accountable to a system of rules 16 00:00:43,900 --> 00:00:46,000 governing trade behavior, and provide the means to 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,533 enforce those rules. 18 00:00:47,533 --> 00:00:50,734 Russia's membership in the WTO will generate more export 19 00:00:50,734 --> 00:00:54,367 opportunities for American manufacturers and farmers, 20 00:00:54,367 --> 00:00:57,333 which in turn will support well-paying jobs in the U.S. 21 00:00:57,333 --> 00:01:00,632 President Obama told President Medvedev that the administration 22 00:01:00,633 --> 00:01:03,367 is committed to working with Congress to end the application 23 00:01:03,367 --> 00:01:07,166 of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia in order to ensure 24 00:01:07,166 --> 00:01:10,100 that American firms and American exporters will enjoy the same 25 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:13,032 benefits of Russian WTO membership as their 26 00:01:13,033 --> 00:01:14,767 international competitors. 27 00:01:14,767 --> 00:01:17,399 The two Presidents also discussed the recent elections 28 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,567 and subsequent demonstrations in Russia. 29 00:01:19,567 --> 00:01:21,833 President Obama raised the reports of flaws in the way the 30 00:01:21,834 --> 00:01:25,033 elections were conducted, and welcomed President Medvedev's 31 00:01:25,033 --> 00:01:27,467 commitment to investigate these allegations. 32 00:01:27,467 --> 00:01:30,633 President Obama also noted the peaceful demonstrations held 33 00:01:30,633 --> 00:01:32,767 throughout Russia, and praised how Russian government 34 00:01:32,767 --> 00:01:35,800 authorities enabled the permissive conditions that 35 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,967 allowed those demonstrations to occur peacefully and lawfully. 36 00:01:39,967 --> 00:01:43,433 President Obama noted how this expression of civil society is 37 00:01:43,433 --> 00:01:47,400 consistent with the modernizing Russia that President Medvedev 38 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,500 has sought to foster over the last four years. 39 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:52,633 The two Presidents said they looked forward to meeting next 40 00:01:52,633 --> 00:01:56,333 year -- meeting next, rather, at the Nuclear Security Summit in 41 00:01:56,333 --> 00:02:00,400 Seoul, South Korea, in March 2012. 42 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:01,400 That is my readout. 43 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:02,667 I think we'll get something to you. 44 00:02:02,667 --> 00:02:04,500 The Press: Any calls with Putin? 45 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:06,467 Mr. Carney: This is the only call I have to read out to you, 46 00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:11,000 President to President, if you will. 47 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,200 Also, before I get started, I just want to say that I know you 48 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:21,367 all have a lot of questions about the negotiations happening 49 00:02:21,367 --> 00:02:27,700 now on Capitol Hill to resolve and come to a conclusion on the 50 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:30,899 payroll tax cut extension and unemployment insurance 51 00:02:30,900 --> 00:02:35,233 extension, and I know those -- the questions you're asking are 52 00:02:35,233 --> 00:02:37,100 the same, I'm sure, that the American people, 53 00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:39,066 or at least those Americans who are paying close attention, 54 00:02:39,066 --> 00:02:40,100 are asking. 55 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:42,867 And I appreciate them, but I just want to warn you that I'm 56 00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:44,767 not going to have a lot of details to give to you, 57 00:02:44,767 --> 00:02:50,667 because I don't want to give you a status update on a situation 58 00:02:50,667 --> 00:02:52,533 that obviously is quite fluid. 59 00:02:52,533 --> 00:02:59,700 As you have seen, we take heart in the statements by the leaders 60 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,566 in the Senate from both parties, as well as others on Capitol 61 00:03:02,567 --> 00:03:08,200 Hill, that progress is being made and this will be resolved, 62 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,466 which will mean that the President's priority of ensuring 63 00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:13,600 that Americans do not have their taxes go up on January 1st 64 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,233 will be met. 65 00:03:15,233 --> 00:03:17,433 We look forward to that happening, 66 00:03:17,433 --> 00:03:20,733 and are cautiously optimistic that it will happen. 67 00:03:20,734 --> 00:03:23,233 Having said that, I'm not going to have a lot of details to give 68 00:03:23,233 --> 00:03:24,533 you on the process. 69 00:03:24,533 --> 00:03:25,767 Ben. 70 00:03:25,767 --> 00:03:26,567 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 71 00:03:26,567 --> 00:03:27,600 I'll try -- 72 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,066 Mr. Carney: But you're welcome to ask anyway. 73 00:03:29,066 --> 00:03:29,767 The Press: Thank you. 74 00:03:29,767 --> 00:03:32,367 I'll try a couple -- at least one in particular, I think, 75 00:03:32,367 --> 00:03:34,266 that's very fundamental to this. 76 00:03:34,266 --> 00:03:37,000 The President was direct last week when he was with Prime 77 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,066 Minister Harper when asked about the connection between the 78 00:03:39,066 --> 00:03:40,500 payroll tax and Keystone. 79 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:43,433 He said, "Any effort to try to tie Keystone to the payroll tax 80 00:03:43,433 --> 00:03:44,934 cut, I will reject. 81 00:03:44,934 --> 00:03:46,166 So everyone should be on notice." 82 00:03:46,166 --> 00:03:49,433 The House and Senate Republicans have insisted today that the 83 00:03:49,433 --> 00:03:51,299 Keystone language be attached. 84 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:54,467 So it's a pretty basic point here that if the Keystone 85 00:03:54,467 --> 00:03:57,600 language is attached, would he in fact sign it into law, 86 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,934 or would he reject it, as he said last week? 87 00:03:59,934 --> 00:04:02,400 Mr. Carney: Well, let me say a couple of things about that. 88 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:09,033 First of all, the President made clear that he opposes these 89 00:04:09,033 --> 00:04:14,000 kinds of extraneous issues being inserted into a tax cut bill. 90 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:21,600 I think it's quite clear that an oil pipeline has nothing to do 91 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,667 with the payroll taxes that everyone in this room who gets a 92 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:27,500 paycheck pays every week or two weeks when they get their 93 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:30,000 paycheck, and that every American out there -- 94 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,233 160 million Americans, rather -- pay. 95 00:04:34,233 --> 00:04:37,433 The President's focus is on getting that bill passed to 96 00:04:37,433 --> 00:04:45,734 ensure that Americans don't have their taxes go up in 15 days. 97 00:04:45,734 --> 00:04:49,000 What he was referring to at the time hypothetically had to do, 98 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,433 as I mentioned the other day, with the idea that a bill -- 99 00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:56,099 any kind of provision that would try to force a decision or 100 00:04:56,100 --> 00:04:58,467 mandate a decision -- or approval, rather -- 101 00:04:58,467 --> 00:05:01,233 mandate approval. 102 00:05:01,233 --> 00:05:04,033 I would also note the statement that the State Department put 103 00:05:04,033 --> 00:05:07,834 out pretty clearly the other day in response to the language that 104 00:05:07,834 --> 00:05:11,533 exists currently in the House Republican payroll tax cut 105 00:05:11,533 --> 00:05:17,500 proposal, and what that would mean in terms of 106 00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:22,033 short-circuiting an absolutely necessary process to properly 107 00:05:22,033 --> 00:05:26,200 and carefully review the alternate route or routes in 108 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,967 Nebraska that need to be studied here. 109 00:05:29,967 --> 00:05:34,500 Having said all that, I'm not going to prejudge a final 110 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:38,567 product that does not yet exist. 111 00:05:38,567 --> 00:05:42,100 The Press: Well, but the President wasn't asked specifically about -- 112 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:44,433 or he didn't get into language of, 113 00:05:44,433 --> 00:05:46,533 if it mandates me to do this, that'll be fine, 114 00:05:46,533 --> 00:05:48,600 but if it calls for a provision that the State Department 115 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,767 rejects -- he said, "Any effort to tie the two I'll reject." 116 00:05:51,767 --> 00:05:53,100 Mr. Carney: No, I understand. 117 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:55,567 The Press: So I was just trying to get clear that people want to know 118 00:05:55,567 --> 00:05:58,734 if the tax cut extension will be approved or not, 119 00:05:58,734 --> 00:06:00,967 would he sign it into law, or does it depend on what 120 00:06:00,967 --> 00:06:02,767 it looks like? 121 00:06:02,767 --> 00:06:05,300 Mr. Carney: Again, I'm not going to get ahead of the process. 122 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:10,533 Let's see where it ends and let's hope it ends with Congress 123 00:06:10,533 --> 00:06:13,300 not leaving town, going on a month-long vacation, 124 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:17,000 having decided that it's okay for 160 million Americans to get 125 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,900 a tax hike on January 1st. 126 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:23,433 The President's priority is ensuring that Americans do not 127 00:06:23,433 --> 00:06:25,233 get that tax hike. 128 00:06:25,233 --> 00:06:30,333 This money is vital -- this tax cut is vital to every American 129 00:06:30,333 --> 00:06:32,400 family that's trying to make ends meet. 130 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,299 It's vital to the economy. 131 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:37,033 As countless economists, independent economists have 132 00:06:37,033 --> 00:06:40,633 said, the payroll tax cut as well as the unemployment 133 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:44,900 insurance are provisions that are some of the most effective 134 00:06:44,900 --> 00:06:50,000 provisions when it comes to giving momentum to economic 135 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,834 growth and adding jobs. 136 00:06:51,834 --> 00:06:53,467 So that's his focus. 137 00:06:53,467 --> 00:06:55,967 The Press: You said -- but in that you said, "we'll see where it ends." 138 00:06:55,967 --> 00:06:58,166 Just so I'm clear, that sounds pretty different than a 139 00:06:58,166 --> 00:06:59,633 veto threat, yes? 140 00:06:59,633 --> 00:07:03,000 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I would point you to what the President said. 141 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,900 I would point you to what the State Department said about the 142 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:07,933 specific language that was later put forward in the House 143 00:07:07,934 --> 00:07:10,700 Republican proposal. 144 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:16,033 What absolutely is the case is that this is pure politics, 145 00:07:16,033 --> 00:07:18,133 as we've seen from statements by Republicans who -- 146 00:07:18,133 --> 00:07:20,400 one who said something like, Well, I don't really -- 147 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,233 essentially implying he didn't really know much about what it 148 00:07:22,233 --> 00:07:25,400 was for, but if the President is against it, he's for it. 149 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:26,000 Right? 150 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,700 And, I mean, there's really a hard argument to make here that 151 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:33,200 a pipeline has anything to do with whether or not middle-class 152 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,700 Americans get a tax cut next year. 153 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:36,700 So it's extraneous. 154 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:37,734 The Press: (inaudible) 155 00:07:37,734 --> 00:07:38,467 Mr. Carney: I'm sorry. 156 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:39,467 I'm answering Ben here. 157 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:45,667 But the -- again, let's -- it is not appropriate for me at this 158 00:07:45,667 --> 00:07:50,933 point to negotiate from the podium to say that this specific 159 00:07:50,934 --> 00:07:55,533 provision or this language is unacceptable, 160 00:07:55,533 --> 00:07:59,667 but this language is okay because the folks who are 161 00:07:59,667 --> 00:08:03,900 working that out have enough on their shoulders as it is. 162 00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:04,799 The Press: Very last one. 163 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,834 You were also clear yesterday the White House would not accept 164 00:08:07,834 --> 00:08:11,900 a promise from the House GOP about passing the omnibus, 165 00:08:11,900 --> 00:08:13,599 leaving town and then coming back. 166 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:15,633 You've said that was unacceptable. 167 00:08:15,633 --> 00:08:17,633 It seems like that's exactly what's happening. 168 00:08:17,633 --> 00:08:19,400 Mr. Carney: Well, let me just be clear. 169 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:25,066 There are different ways of looking at this in terms of what 170 00:08:25,066 --> 00:08:28,933 a deal would look like. 171 00:08:28,934 --> 00:08:32,567 There's a guarantee and there's a promise. 172 00:08:32,567 --> 00:08:34,332 And again, without getting into specifics, 173 00:08:34,332 --> 00:08:41,199 the President insists that there be an absolute assurance that 174 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,300 Congress will not let Americans experience a tax cut -- 175 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:48,934 a tax hike, rather, on January 1st, 176 00:08:48,934 --> 00:08:56,567 so that is why members are working hard right now to try to 177 00:08:56,567 --> 00:09:00,834 fashion an acceptable compromise. 178 00:09:00,834 --> 00:09:03,967 And we're engaged in that process, 179 00:09:03,967 --> 00:09:08,467 and we hope that it bears fruit because it's essential that 180 00:09:08,467 --> 00:09:09,800 Americans don't have that tax hike. 181 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,766 It would be awkward, I think, for members of Congress to have 182 00:09:13,767 --> 00:09:23,233 to go home and explain on vacation why folks who are out 183 00:09:23,233 --> 00:09:31,300 there struggling to pay the rent or the mortgage or tuition, 184 00:09:31,300 --> 00:09:34,967 car payment that they're going to see more taken out of their 185 00:09:34,967 --> 00:09:37,400 paycheck come January 1st because Congress couldn't get 186 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,733 its act together on this thing that Republicans and Democrats, 187 00:09:41,734 --> 00:09:43,800 at least now, support. 188 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,900 Now, let's look at where we began here. 189 00:09:46,900 --> 00:09:50,967 The payroll tax cut extension is being debated now as it has been 190 00:09:50,967 --> 00:09:53,699 for several months because the President put it on the table. 191 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,834 He made it a central plank of his American Jobs Act. 192 00:09:56,834 --> 00:09:59,400 Earlier in this process, Republican after Republican cast 193 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,033 doubt on whether Republicans even supported giving tax cuts 194 00:10:02,033 --> 00:10:04,066 to the middle class. 195 00:10:04,066 --> 00:10:06,500 They pooh-poohed the suggestion that it helps the economy, 196 00:10:06,500 --> 00:10:09,834 I guess deciding that they knew better than economists who are 197 00:10:09,834 --> 00:10:14,599 independent and who know very well that there are few better 198 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:20,166 ways to help the economy than a payroll tax cut or 199 00:10:20,166 --> 00:10:21,166 unemployment insurance. 200 00:10:21,166 --> 00:10:25,000 So they've changed their tune. 201 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,900 That is a welcome metamorphosis. 202 00:10:29,900 --> 00:10:35,699 And hopefully it will result in Americans getting that tax 203 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:36,767 cut next year. 204 00:10:36,767 --> 00:10:38,133 The Press: So you think if they leave, they will come back? 205 00:10:38,133 --> 00:10:38,867 You believe that? 206 00:10:38,867 --> 00:10:42,065 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't want to -- that's up to the leaders on the Hill 207 00:10:42,066 --> 00:10:44,033 to work out. 208 00:10:44,033 --> 00:10:45,033 Yes, Matt. 209 00:10:45,033 --> 00:10:48,166 The Press: If I could try again on the pipeline, the Keystone pipeline. 210 00:10:48,166 --> 00:10:49,667 Mr. Carney: You heard -- you did hear the beginning, right? 211 00:10:49,667 --> 00:10:50,433 The Press: I did hear -- 212 00:10:50,433 --> 00:10:51,333 Mr. Carney: Yes, okay. 213 00:10:51,333 --> 00:10:54,834 The Press: It sounds like you're saying that you would not rule out the 214 00:10:54,834 --> 00:10:58,367 President signing a bill for an extension of the payroll tax 215 00:10:58,367 --> 00:11:01,733 break that would include language related to the 216 00:11:01,734 --> 00:11:03,567 Keystone project? 217 00:11:03,567 --> 00:11:04,300 Is that correct? 218 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:05,165 You're not ruling that out? 219 00:11:05,166 --> 00:11:10,600 Mr. Carney: I'm not here to go beyond anything we've said with regard 220 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:14,266 to this matter already, which is the President's statement, 221 00:11:14,266 --> 00:11:18,165 the assessment by the State Department of the specific 222 00:11:18,166 --> 00:11:20,900 language in the House Republican bill, 223 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:24,266 and I think the point I made yesterday or the day before 224 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:26,500 about the company that's requesting the permit, 225 00:11:26,500 --> 00:11:28,734 noting that they haven't even identified an alternate route 226 00:11:28,734 --> 00:11:33,867 yet so the whole 60-day thing is pretty specious. 227 00:11:33,867 --> 00:11:38,132 Having said that, there is a process at work -- 228 00:11:38,133 --> 00:11:42,400 I'm not going to analyze what language would be acceptable and 229 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:43,533 what wouldn't. 230 00:11:43,533 --> 00:11:45,767 I will let the process run its course. 231 00:11:45,767 --> 00:11:47,266 The Press: But there is the possibility of some diluted -- 232 00:11:47,266 --> 00:11:48,900 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't have another answer for you. 233 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:51,400 The Press: There's the possibility of some diluted language on Keystone 234 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,433 that might pass muster for the administration? 235 00:11:53,433 --> 00:11:55,300 Mr. Carney: I don't have any other answer to give you. 236 00:11:55,300 --> 00:12:00,199 The Press: Now that the House has put the budget -- 237 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,934 the spending bill on the way to full congressional passage, 238 00:12:03,934 --> 00:12:08,632 can you give a sense of how soon you might expect the payroll tax 239 00:12:08,633 --> 00:12:10,100 break issue would be resolved? 240 00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:11,433 Mr. Carney: Well, as soon as possible. 241 00:12:11,433 --> 00:12:12,066 I don't have -- 242 00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:12,900 The Press: Today? 243 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:14,433 Through the weekend? 244 00:12:14,433 --> 00:12:17,567 Mr. Carney: I think as I said earlier, it's just -- 245 00:12:17,567 --> 00:12:23,266 these things are very fluid, and I think for as long as I've been 246 00:12:23,266 --> 00:12:27,699 doing it in this job and observing in Washington that the 247 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:31,700 last days and hours of a congressional session are very 248 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:34,934 hard to predict, and they tend to -- 249 00:12:34,934 --> 00:12:37,632 issues tend to be resolved at the last minute. 250 00:12:37,633 --> 00:12:41,900 So beyond that, I wouldn't get specific in my predictions about 251 00:12:41,900 --> 00:12:44,300 how this will play out. 252 00:12:44,300 --> 00:12:46,733 But it's important that it get done. 253 00:12:46,734 --> 00:12:50,700 It is essential that it get done because if it doesn't, 254 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:56,433 as I've said before, Congress will be testing the proposition 255 00:12:56,433 --> 00:12:59,300 of whether or not they can go below 9% in public approval and 256 00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:03,467 whether or not they can go above 45 or 50% in the judgment of the 257 00:13:03,467 --> 00:13:08,199 American people that it's the worst Congress in history. 258 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:09,567 Cheryl. 259 00:13:09,567 --> 00:13:11,567 The Press: Just looking at the omnibus bill, 260 00:13:11,567 --> 00:13:14,967 were your concerns all addressed satisfactorily? 261 00:13:14,967 --> 00:13:18,600 And will the President sign that? 262 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,066 Mr. Carney: This is a pretty fluid situation. 263 00:13:21,066 --> 00:13:24,066 I'm not going to get into specifics. 264 00:13:24,066 --> 00:13:27,333 We obviously had some issues, as I've mentioned. 265 00:13:27,333 --> 00:13:33,567 And those issues have been and are being addressed. 266 00:13:33,567 --> 00:13:41,033 What I can say is that we are heartened by the tone that we've 267 00:13:41,033 --> 00:13:45,567 heard up on the Hill and the cooperation that we've seen on 268 00:13:45,567 --> 00:13:52,467 both sides and a -- the stated goal here being that both the 269 00:13:52,467 --> 00:13:55,800 spending bill, as well as the payroll tax cut and UI 270 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,666 extension, will get done and done in a way that doesn't harm 271 00:13:59,667 --> 00:14:03,133 the economy, that doesn't stick it to the middle class, 272 00:14:03,133 --> 00:14:07,433 but done in a way that's acceptable to this President. 273 00:14:07,433 --> 00:14:10,300 We're still midstream here in this process, 274 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:13,666 so I'm not going to offer any detailed assessments of 275 00:14:13,667 --> 00:14:16,100 the product. 276 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:16,934 Jake. 277 00:14:16,934 --> 00:14:20,733 The Press: The deal on the omnibus takes away funding from the Department 278 00:14:20,734 --> 00:14:25,934 of Energy for the provision that would essentially eliminate -- 279 00:14:25,934 --> 00:14:29,533 effectively ban old, incandescent light bulbs. 280 00:14:29,533 --> 00:14:32,266 Senator Barbara Boxer has called this a poison pill. 281 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:34,699 I'm wondering, first of all, if you share her concern. 282 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:37,367 I understand you're not going to draw any lines because it's a 283 00:14:37,367 --> 00:14:38,367 fluid situation. 284 00:14:38,367 --> 00:14:40,699 But do you share her concern? 285 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:44,667 And since the President has talked so much in the past about 286 00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:48,967 the new light bulbs, how significant a step backwards is 287 00:14:48,967 --> 00:14:51,500 this from the perspective of the White House? 288 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:53,166 Mr. Carney: Well, it's certainly not something that we've supported, 289 00:14:53,166 --> 00:14:57,467 this removal of this provision. 290 00:14:57,467 --> 00:15:01,667 But I would point out that it was something that was put into 291 00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:06,133 the law by the previous administration. 292 00:15:06,133 --> 00:15:07,734 But beyond that I'm not going to, again, 293 00:15:07,734 --> 00:15:11,200 get into specifics about what provisions are 294 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:12,200 acceptable or not. 295 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,834 The Press: Do you not even have an opinion? 296 00:15:14,834 --> 00:15:18,065 Mr. Carney: Well, no, I -- we don't support that. 297 00:15:18,066 --> 00:15:19,667 The Press: That's not an opinion. 298 00:15:19,667 --> 00:15:20,667 That's -- I mean, the President -- 299 00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:21,500 Mr. Carney: That's a statement of fact. 300 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:22,500 Yes, we -- we think it's a -- 301 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:23,500 The Press: But the President has expressed concern -- 302 00:15:23,500 --> 00:15:27,533 Mr. Carney: We think it's a bad thing to do, but I'm not going to make a 303 00:15:27,533 --> 00:15:31,567 statement about -- again, I'm not going to go through 304 00:15:31,567 --> 00:15:35,500 individual provisions of the omnibus or the payroll tax cut 305 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:38,967 deal such as it is and say this is a deal-breaker and 306 00:15:38,967 --> 00:15:39,967 this isn't. 307 00:15:39,967 --> 00:15:42,300 The Press: I'm not asking for that. 308 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:45,300 How significant a step backwards would this be for energy 309 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,467 efficiency considering the President has talked about 310 00:15:47,467 --> 00:15:49,500 this at length? 311 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:53,200 Mr. Carney: Well, I would -- for that assessment I would refer you to 312 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,400 the Department of Energy. 313 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:55,567 The Press: The President has talked about this issue. 314 00:15:55,567 --> 00:15:58,667 Mr. Carney: Well, I know he has, but I don't have an assessment of the impact 315 00:15:58,667 --> 00:16:02,000 it would have on energy efficiency. 316 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:02,667 Dan. 317 00:16:02,667 --> 00:16:03,467 The Press: Thank you. 318 00:16:03,467 --> 00:16:04,367 Mr. Carney: Sorry. 319 00:16:04,367 --> 00:16:05,367 Jake, did you have another one? 320 00:16:05,367 --> 00:16:06,367 The Press: No. 321 00:16:06,367 --> 00:16:08,934 The Press: In the phone conversation the President had with President 322 00:16:08,934 --> 00:16:12,632 Medvedev, did they discuss at all some of the recent rhetoric 323 00:16:12,633 --> 00:16:16,500 by the Russian President on the missile defense system 324 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,233 in Europe? 325 00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:20,367 Mr. Carney: Not that I'm aware of. 326 00:16:20,367 --> 00:16:24,433 The readout I gave you, which was pretty, I think, thorough, 327 00:16:24,433 --> 00:16:28,233 covered all the topics that I'm aware of that they discussed. 328 00:16:28,233 --> 00:16:31,233 The Press: Also, on the same day that the President was speaking to a 329 00:16:31,233 --> 00:16:35,333 Jewish organization -- I'm sure you saw this ad that was put out 330 00:16:35,333 --> 00:16:39,500 in several national newspapers from the Emergency Committee for 331 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:41,767 Israel -- and it raises the question, 332 00:16:41,767 --> 00:16:44,834 why does the Obama administration treat Israel like 333 00:16:44,834 --> 00:16:47,967 a punching bag? 334 00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:49,967 Is the Obama administration treating Israel like a 335 00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:50,800 punching bag? 336 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,165 Mr. Carney: Do you think the -- 337 00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:53,533 The Press: I'm just asking you the question. 338 00:16:53,533 --> 00:16:56,367 Mr. Carney: I would refer you to the President's pretty extensive 339 00:16:56,367 --> 00:17:01,900 remarks just a short while ago on this administration's 340 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:05,367 absolute, resolute, unshakable commitment to Israel's security; 341 00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:09,767 its unprecedented support for Israel's security, 342 00:17:09,767 --> 00:17:11,767 through a variety of means. 343 00:17:11,767 --> 00:17:18,467 And that assessment is not just one that we've made, 344 00:17:18,467 --> 00:17:21,500 but one that Prime Minister Netanyahu has made and others in 345 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:27,433 the current Israeli government, as well as others who are 346 00:17:27,433 --> 00:17:30,834 considered respectable voices within Israel. 347 00:17:30,834 --> 00:17:35,967 So I would simply reiterate that this President's commitment to 348 00:17:35,967 --> 00:17:40,800 Israel's security is unshakable. 349 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,233 And that's this administration's policy, 350 00:17:43,233 --> 00:17:45,500 and it has been demonstrated I think amply by the steps that 351 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:49,934 we've taken in the last nearly three years in regard to 352 00:17:49,934 --> 00:17:51,332 Israel's security. 353 00:17:51,333 --> 00:17:54,066 The Press: Why, then, do you think there is still this skepticism, 354 00:17:54,066 --> 00:17:55,834 and something like this, where -- 355 00:17:55,834 --> 00:17:59,400 Mr. Carney: Well, I -- again, I confess that I haven't seen that. 356 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,700 I don't know who put it out. 357 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:06,467 But the idea that somebody out there doesn't agree with 358 00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:10,367 everything this President does is not a new one, 359 00:18:10,367 --> 00:18:12,166 on a host of issues. 360 00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:14,667 It's true for every President. 361 00:18:14,667 --> 00:18:16,699 So I'm not going to -- I don't -- 362 00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,500 the fact that I disagree with the opinion expressed there 363 00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:23,967 doesn't change the fact that folks might have an opinion that 364 00:18:23,967 --> 00:18:25,767 differs from mine or the President's, 365 00:18:25,767 --> 00:18:28,000 and it doesn't change the fact that they have the right to 366 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,000 express it. 367 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,867 What I know is what this President's record is, 368 00:18:31,867 --> 00:18:34,367 and it is exceptionally strong. 369 00:18:34,367 --> 00:18:35,500 Mike. 370 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:36,800 The Press: Yes. 371 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:38,399 The First Lady is going to be leaving in a few hours 372 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,033 for Hawaii. 373 00:18:40,033 --> 00:18:42,466 Obviously she isn't able to go with the President. 374 00:18:42,467 --> 00:18:45,600 But I wanted to ask, isn't it quite an extravagance -- 375 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:49,233 four people to go in two jets to Hawaii -- 376 00:18:49,233 --> 00:18:50,867 particularly given the state of the economy, 377 00:18:50,867 --> 00:18:54,200 the state of the budget, and also given the directive that 378 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,300 was just put out about limiting air travel by 379 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:00,265 the administration? 380 00:19:00,266 --> 00:19:00,900 Mr. Carney: Two things, Mike. 381 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:03,233 First of all, I think you ought to check your sourcing on that. 382 00:19:03,233 --> 00:19:06,867 I think the original story was an interesting one. 383 00:19:06,867 --> 00:19:08,533 But the First Lady and their daughters -- 384 00:19:08,533 --> 00:19:09,833 The Press: -- another story, but -- 385 00:19:09,834 --> 00:19:11,734 Mr. Carney: The First Lady and their daughters will be traveling 386 00:19:11,734 --> 00:19:15,800 today, as originally planned, for their annual holiday trip to 387 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,399 visit their family in the President's home state 388 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:18,834 of Hawaii. 389 00:19:18,834 --> 00:19:20,567 As previous First Ladies have done, 390 00:19:20,567 --> 00:19:23,200 they will travel on a military aircraft. 391 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,066 The Press: But, I mean, couldn't they wait, everybody go on one -- 392 00:19:26,066 --> 00:19:27,834 so there's one jet instead of two. 393 00:19:27,834 --> 00:19:28,734 Mr. Carney: Well, I think it was that -- 394 00:19:28,734 --> 00:19:31,533 The Press: I mean, Air Force One is $185,000 an hour to operate, 395 00:19:31,533 --> 00:19:33,734 and that's a long flight. 396 00:19:33,734 --> 00:19:36,000 Mr. Carney: Again, as previous First Ladies have done, 397 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,600 they will travel on a military aircraft. 398 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:39,699 As previous First Ladies have done, 399 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:42,200 they will travel separate from the President on a -- 400 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,667 and that has been a practice in previous administrations. 401 00:19:45,667 --> 00:19:48,600 As you know, the President has made clear for a long time now 402 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:53,466 that he will stay to ensure that Congress gets its work done. 403 00:19:53,467 --> 00:19:55,300 The Press: Is he not leaving tomorrow? 404 00:19:55,300 --> 00:19:57,233 Mr. Carney: Well, let's see what happens in Congress. 405 00:19:57,233 --> 00:19:58,332 The Press: The Senate is going to be in session. 406 00:19:58,333 --> 00:20:02,433 Mr. Carney: I don't have a scheduling announcement to make, 407 00:20:02,433 --> 00:20:04,867 but I think you're effectively putting two and two 408 00:20:04,867 --> 00:20:06,966 together there. 409 00:20:06,967 --> 00:20:08,166 (laughter) 410 00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:09,700 I didn't mean that at all as a -- 411 00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:12,467 but I think it stands to reason that if -- 412 00:20:12,467 --> 00:20:14,200 The Press: I'm available for work on the budget team. 413 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,300 (laughter) 414 00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:23,966 Mr. Carney: If the -- the President is remaining in Washington to 415 00:20:23,967 --> 00:20:26,367 ensure that the American people -- 416 00:20:26,367 --> 00:20:29,466 160 million Americans don't have their taxes raised on 417 00:20:29,467 --> 00:20:30,467 January 1st. 418 00:20:30,467 --> 00:20:34,233 So, Norah. 419 00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:36,200 The Press: If I could try one more time on Keystone -- 420 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:37,333 Mr. Carney: Certainly. 421 00:20:37,333 --> 00:20:42,333 The Press: -- given what Ben has already outlined and the Republicans' 422 00:20:42,333 --> 00:20:46,367 insistence on the Hill -- is there a compromise here? 423 00:20:46,367 --> 00:20:50,567 Mr. Carney: Well, they say there is, and we hope there is. 424 00:20:50,567 --> 00:20:57,367 In the holiday spirit, I'm going to cautiously assess that there 425 00:20:57,367 --> 00:21:02,899 is a compromise available here. 426 00:21:02,900 --> 00:21:03,767 One obvious -- 427 00:21:03,767 --> 00:21:04,900 The Press: If language on Keystone is -- 428 00:21:04,900 --> 00:21:12,233 Mr. Carney: One obvious avenue here, if the desire is to give 160 million 429 00:21:12,233 --> 00:21:17,300 middle-class Americans a tax cut and not to play politics, 430 00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:22,367 then you just craft a bill that focuses on the tax cut. 431 00:21:22,367 --> 00:21:25,600 The Press: Or at least an accelerated timeline on Keystone? 432 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,766 Mr. Carney: Well, again, that has nothing to do with the tax cut. 433 00:21:27,767 --> 00:21:30,200 I'm just saying, if what's really -- 434 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,667 what folks are concerned about most on the Hill is that 435 00:21:33,667 --> 00:21:38,233 middle-class Americans who are struggling every day to make 436 00:21:38,233 --> 00:21:42,066 ends meet don't see their taxes go up on January 1st because of 437 00:21:42,066 --> 00:21:46,166 congressional inaction, then they should just move a payroll 438 00:21:46,166 --> 00:21:50,300 tax cut bill that everybody can agree on. 439 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:52,500 Now, we're hoping that's what's going to happen. 440 00:21:52,500 --> 00:21:55,266 Unfortunately, politics has clearly infected this process. 441 00:21:55,266 --> 00:22:00,567 As I noted, the fervor that used to animate Republicans when it 442 00:22:00,567 --> 00:22:04,767 came to tax cuts was absent in this process. 443 00:22:04,767 --> 00:22:08,667 Although it was present when it came to defending the tax 444 00:22:08,667 --> 00:22:11,800 benefits and tax rates of millionaires and billionaires, 445 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,834 it was absent when it came to middle-class folks and those 446 00:22:15,834 --> 00:22:19,133 struggling to get into the middle class. 447 00:22:19,133 --> 00:22:21,333 There's been a little more interest lately expressed by 448 00:22:21,333 --> 00:22:24,333 Republicans in extending the payroll tax cut, 449 00:22:24,333 --> 00:22:26,800 and increasingly, day by day, a commitment to do that. 450 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:27,934 That is a good thing. 451 00:22:27,934 --> 00:22:30,367 That is a sign that the debate has moved in the 452 00:22:30,367 --> 00:22:32,567 right direction. 453 00:22:32,567 --> 00:22:35,433 That politics is still a part of this, I concede. 454 00:22:35,433 --> 00:22:37,500 Hopefully, we will reach a compromise that everybody 455 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:38,700 can live with. 456 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:41,300 The Press: And you talked about politics being injected -- 457 00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:45,834 I spoke with a senior Democratic leader in Congress, 458 00:22:45,834 --> 00:22:52,266 who said that the White House and Senator Reid had engaged in 459 00:22:52,266 --> 00:22:58,867 politics by injecting the idea of a shutdown on the omnibus 460 00:22:58,867 --> 00:23:01,433 bill was ultimately a distraction from what this 461 00:23:01,433 --> 00:23:03,800 Democratic member said was a winning argument on the 462 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,233 payroll tax cut. 463 00:23:05,233 --> 00:23:08,233 Is there a regret here in the White House that that -- 464 00:23:08,233 --> 00:23:11,767 Mr. Carney: This Democratic member said that anonymously, I guess? 465 00:23:11,767 --> 00:23:12,667 I'm just asking. 466 00:23:12,667 --> 00:23:13,899 I wasn't -- you're not just saying that for -- 467 00:23:13,900 --> 00:23:16,166 The Press: They would say it anonymously, sure, yes, 468 00:23:16,166 --> 00:23:18,399 they wouldn't want to publicly criticize the President. 469 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,367 Mr. Carney: The President's approach through this process has been focused on 470 00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:26,300 the -- what he believes is the absolute necessity of extending 471 00:23:26,300 --> 00:23:27,934 the payroll tax cut. 472 00:23:27,934 --> 00:23:31,567 And that's been his policy focus. 473 00:23:31,567 --> 00:23:35,200 It's been his strategic focus. 474 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:41,467 Everything he's done has been designed to ensure or to make 475 00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:45,467 more likely that Congress will actually do the thing it should 476 00:23:45,467 --> 00:23:47,667 do here, which is help the American people. 477 00:23:47,667 --> 00:23:54,600 So he certainly -- we make no apology for that approach. 478 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,166 We think it's the right approach. 479 00:23:56,166 --> 00:24:03,600 We think that the American people if, come New Year's Day, 480 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,500 they wake up not just with -- some of them -- 481 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:09,767 a hangover but with the realization that they have a tax 482 00:24:09,767 --> 00:24:15,266 hike on the horizon, then they'll want to know what the 483 00:24:15,266 --> 00:24:19,767 heck Congress was up to and why it didn't get this simple 484 00:24:19,767 --> 00:24:22,266 business done. 485 00:24:22,266 --> 00:24:25,400 But again, let me go back to the start, 486 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:26,400 which is to say that we are -- 487 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:27,633 The Press: Do you think people are going to -- 488 00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:28,467 (laughter) 489 00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:32,000 Mr. Carney: -- we are hopeful, and we take as encouraging some of the 490 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,000 indications from the Hill that there is an effort underway -- 491 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,100 well, we know there's an effort underway, 492 00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:38,265 and we take as encouraging the assessments by some on the Hill 493 00:24:38,266 --> 00:24:39,467 that this can get done. 494 00:24:39,467 --> 00:24:40,734 We certainly hope it will. 495 00:24:40,734 --> 00:24:43,332 The Press: And then finally, can I just ask you about some of the attacks 496 00:24:43,333 --> 00:24:45,734 that were leveled at the President last night in a 497 00:24:45,734 --> 00:24:53,934 Republican debate, specifically Mitt Romney who said that he has 498 00:24:53,934 --> 00:24:57,567 the experience running business and learned from their successes 499 00:24:57,567 --> 00:24:59,967 and failures, and "I'll have credibility on the economy when 500 00:24:59,967 --> 00:25:01,667 he doesn't"? 501 00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:04,000 He said, "We have a President, someone who doesn't understand 502 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:05,800 how the economy works." 503 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:12,767 Mr. Carney: Well, all I know is that the President's record is what it 504 00:25:12,767 --> 00:25:16,734 is, and that the folks who are contending for the opportunity 505 00:25:16,734 --> 00:25:23,000 to run against him all espouse a policy philosophy when it comes 506 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:28,266 to economics that is virtually identical to the policy 507 00:25:28,266 --> 00:25:32,300 philosophy that got us into this mess. 508 00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:36,300 So we look forward to that debate, 509 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:39,033 and that includes all the leading and not leading 510 00:25:39,033 --> 00:25:42,867 contenders in terms of the proposals that they've put 511 00:25:42,867 --> 00:25:46,399 forward, the positions that they've taken are -- 512 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:51,967 they echo perfectly the positions and proposals that 513 00:25:51,967 --> 00:25:58,033 were unfortunately adopted that led to the worst economic crisis 514 00:25:58,033 --> 00:25:59,033 anyone of us has seen. 515 00:25:59,033 --> 00:26:01,300 I don't think there are any folks old enough here to have 516 00:26:01,300 --> 00:26:02,433 lived through the Great Depression, 517 00:26:02,433 --> 00:26:04,100 so this is the worst we've seen. 518 00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:11,100 And hopefully, it's the worst we'll ever see because this 519 00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:12,233 President is going to get reelected, 520 00:26:12,233 --> 00:26:16,233 and he's going to continue to pursue policies that build up 521 00:26:16,233 --> 00:26:17,934 the middle class, that grow the economy, 522 00:26:17,934 --> 00:26:20,266 and that build the economic foundation that is essential for 523 00:26:20,266 --> 00:26:24,033 this country to win the 21st century. 524 00:26:24,033 --> 00:26:26,699 The Press: Following on Norah's question about Democrats, 525 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:28,767 there are some on the record not being that harsh, 526 00:26:28,767 --> 00:26:30,934 but Senator Begich of Alaska, for example, 527 00:26:30,934 --> 00:26:33,934 saying I think it was today that he thinks the President is wrong 528 00:26:33,934 --> 00:26:36,133 on Keystone and that -- in his words -- 529 00:26:36,133 --> 00:26:39,533 "It doesn't make sense to delay the decision." 530 00:26:39,533 --> 00:26:42,699 I think Mark Smith will back up my math here that if you have -- 531 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:44,567 I think there are eight Senate Democrats -- 532 00:26:44,567 --> 00:26:48,000 Landrieu, others, who if you add that up with 48 Senate 533 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,200 Republicans about, are pretty close to 60 to break a 534 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:55,033 filibuster in terms of a bipartisan group in the Senate 535 00:26:55,033 --> 00:26:57,265 that are saying you should move forward on the pipeline. 536 00:26:57,266 --> 00:26:59,633 So unlike other issues where Republicans have picked off, 537 00:26:59,633 --> 00:27:02,033 say, one Democrat, and you guys have said, well, 538 00:27:02,033 --> 00:27:04,265 it's really not a bipartisan effort, 539 00:27:04,266 --> 00:27:07,066 it does seem like it's fairly bipartisan, doesn't it, 540 00:27:07,066 --> 00:27:09,800 when you have about eight Senate Democrats saying move forward? 541 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,133 So how does the President approach this when he has a 542 00:27:12,133 --> 00:27:15,767 significant number of his fellow Democrats saying move forward? 543 00:27:15,767 --> 00:27:17,133 Mr. Carney: I appreciate the question, Ed. 544 00:27:17,133 --> 00:27:21,500 The President hasn't stated a position on whether or not the 545 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:26,066 Keystone pipeline should be granted a permit or not -- 546 00:27:26,066 --> 00:27:28,166 I messed up my English -- whether or not the Keystone 547 00:27:28,166 --> 00:27:30,867 permit should be granted. 548 00:27:30,867 --> 00:27:35,867 What he has said is that there are criteria that must 549 00:27:35,867 --> 00:27:37,500 be considered. 550 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:43,900 The process is run by the State Department in accordance with a 551 00:27:43,900 --> 00:27:47,633 long -- decades-long tradition, appropriately, 552 00:27:47,633 --> 00:27:50,767 because of the international nature of the project. 553 00:27:50,767 --> 00:27:54,200 Because of the opposition in part of Republicans and the 554 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,233 Republican governor in Nebraska, there was a decision made in 555 00:27:57,233 --> 00:28:01,433 that review process to look for an alternate route, 556 00:28:01,433 --> 00:28:06,767 and that has necessarily expanded the duration of the 557 00:28:06,767 --> 00:28:10,166 process, the review process, because you can't approve 558 00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:13,367 something before you have something to review, 559 00:28:13,367 --> 00:28:16,433 as I understand it, not being a scientist. 560 00:28:16,433 --> 00:28:19,433 But I think that's a pretty reasonable approach to take. 561 00:28:19,433 --> 00:28:22,400 So the President simply -- this is a process run by the 562 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:23,834 State Department. 563 00:28:23,834 --> 00:28:26,133 Because of the concerns, the legitimate concerns about the 564 00:28:26,133 --> 00:28:32,767 aquifer in Nebraska, there is now a process which will lead to 565 00:28:32,767 --> 00:28:36,200 the designation of an alternate route or alternate routes. 566 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:38,800 That process needs -- that needs to be reviewed because public 567 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,367 health has to be taken into consideration. 568 00:28:40,367 --> 00:28:44,567 All the other impacts that this kind of thing can have need to 569 00:28:44,567 --> 00:28:46,400 be taken into consideration, and that's why, 570 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,500 as I understand it -- and I refer you to the State 571 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:52,300 Department -- the duration of that process was identified. 572 00:28:52,300 --> 00:28:59,533 Now, again, the President is not making a judgment on whether the 573 00:28:59,533 --> 00:29:02,233 permit should or should not be granted once that process 574 00:29:02,233 --> 00:29:05,734 is completed. 575 00:29:05,734 --> 00:29:07,367 That process is housed in the State Department. 576 00:29:07,367 --> 00:29:09,133 The State Department, if that process is allowed to take 577 00:29:09,133 --> 00:29:11,867 place, will make its recommendation once that 578 00:29:11,867 --> 00:29:13,500 review is done. 579 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:19,600 But what it shouldn't be is short-circuited because folks 580 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,533 think it ought to be, because that's just not how it should 581 00:29:22,533 --> 00:29:25,199 work because this is the kind of thing, 582 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:26,567 and it's not unprecedented, that has -- 583 00:29:26,567 --> 00:29:31,000 there are a lot of factors here, a lot of impacts in terms of 584 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,633 jobs and energy security, the environment and public health 585 00:29:34,633 --> 00:29:36,100 that have to be considered and weighed. 586 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:39,367 And that's what that review process is all about. 587 00:29:39,367 --> 00:29:41,133 The Press: And a Republican senator, Orrin Hatch -- 588 00:29:41,133 --> 00:29:42,667 please don't shoot the messenger -- 589 00:29:42,667 --> 00:29:45,199 but he today called -- he said, "The real is issue is the 590 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,100 President is a scaredy cat." 591 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:50,000 And it was his words, not mine. 592 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:50,900 Mr. Carney: No, I understand. 593 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:54,300 The Press: And he's suggesting that -- again, it's been said before -- 594 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,332 you're trying to kick this past the election. 595 00:29:57,333 --> 00:30:02,633 Mr. Carney: Well, I would simply note to the senator that one of the most 596 00:30:02,633 --> 00:30:05,767 prominent voices expressing concern about the original 597 00:30:05,767 --> 00:30:11,166 proposed route was the Republican governor of Nebraska. 598 00:30:11,166 --> 00:30:15,433 His concerns were valid, as were the concerns of others, again, 599 00:30:15,433 --> 00:30:17,300 based on the assessment by the State Department, 600 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:21,166 which is why the process was expanded, 601 00:30:21,166 --> 00:30:23,899 or the duration of the process was expanded. 602 00:30:23,900 --> 00:30:27,533 So that's how it's supposed to work. 603 00:30:27,533 --> 00:30:28,233 The Press: Last thing. 604 00:30:28,233 --> 00:30:29,332 Quick follow-up on the First Lady. 605 00:30:29,333 --> 00:30:32,233 She had a Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" event today and a 606 00:30:32,233 --> 00:30:35,734 20-year-old Marine asked her to be his date at the Marine Corps 607 00:30:35,734 --> 00:30:36,734 Ball next year. 608 00:30:36,734 --> 00:30:37,734 And he claims -- 609 00:30:37,734 --> 00:30:38,466 Mr. Carney: Is that right? 610 00:30:38,467 --> 00:30:40,133 The Press: -- that she said she would love to do it, 611 00:30:40,133 --> 00:30:41,467 but had to check with her husband. 612 00:30:41,467 --> 00:30:42,200 Has the President -- 613 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,066 (laughter) 614 00:30:45,066 --> 00:30:46,600 Mr. Carney: Hey, if the President is watching this, 615 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,166 this might be the first he's heard of it. 616 00:30:48,166 --> 00:30:48,899 But -- 617 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:49,567 The Press: I apologize. 618 00:30:49,567 --> 00:30:50,400 I didn't mean to cause -- 619 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:51,667 (laughter) 620 00:30:51,667 --> 00:30:52,367 The Press: The President watches -- 621 00:30:52,367 --> 00:30:53,133 The Press: You can shoot the messenger. 622 00:30:53,133 --> 00:30:54,333 (laughter) 623 00:30:54,333 --> 00:30:54,934 Mr. Carney: Oh, you didn't know? 624 00:30:54,934 --> 00:30:55,800 He always watches. 625 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:57,000 (laughter) 626 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,200 The Press: Is that under review at this point? 627 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,767 Mr. Carney: I don't know. 628 00:31:02,767 --> 00:31:09,133 But I think it's a -- the First Lady's commitment to military 629 00:31:09,133 --> 00:31:10,934 families is very strong indeed. 630 00:31:10,934 --> 00:31:15,367 So I'm sure she was flattered by the invitation. 631 00:31:15,367 --> 00:31:16,399 Let me move around. 632 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:17,433 Yes. 633 00:31:17,433 --> 00:31:22,467 The Press: Senator Ron Wyden has said that critics of his new bill, 634 00:31:22,467 --> 00:31:25,300 the Wyden-Ryan plan, hadn't read the bill, 635 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:28,767 and that seniors will still be able to stay on Medicare, 636 00:31:28,767 --> 00:31:31,934 and that it's just injecting some competition for private 637 00:31:31,934 --> 00:31:32,867 insurance companies. 638 00:31:32,867 --> 00:31:34,767 So what is your reaction to that? 639 00:31:34,767 --> 00:31:38,567 Does the President really understand the plan, 640 00:31:38,567 --> 00:31:39,667 the proposal? 641 00:31:39,667 --> 00:31:44,632 And what's wrong with competition for Medicare? 642 00:31:44,633 --> 00:31:46,767 Mr. Carney: We've read the bill. 643 00:31:46,767 --> 00:31:48,967 And you saw what I said yesterday and heard what I said 644 00:31:48,967 --> 00:31:54,533 yesterday, and our assessment of it. 645 00:31:54,533 --> 00:31:57,734 We are for strengthening Medicare. 646 00:31:57,734 --> 00:32:00,466 The proposals the President has put forward, 647 00:32:00,467 --> 00:32:04,200 both through the Affordable Care Act and the proposals he's put 648 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:10,533 forward this year in his budget and his long-term deficit and 649 00:32:10,533 --> 00:32:14,699 debt reduction plan include savings in Medicare that are 650 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:19,800 designed to strengthen Medicare so it is there for seniors in 651 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,433 the future. 652 00:32:22,433 --> 00:32:24,967 And we are always open to ideas -- 653 00:32:24,967 --> 00:32:27,400 to new ideas, to different ideas, 654 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,900 ideas that we haven't come up with but other smart people 655 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:33,367 have, that strengthen Medicare. 656 00:32:33,367 --> 00:32:38,399 What we don't think is the right approach are ideas that weaken 657 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,767 Medicare; that create an uneven playing field, if you will, 658 00:32:42,767 --> 00:32:46,033 that in our analysis of this proposal -- 659 00:32:46,033 --> 00:32:49,600 which was in a brochure form of about eight pages, 660 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,867 so it was pretty easy to read, pretty quick reading -- 661 00:32:52,867 --> 00:32:59,066 would not strengthen the program but would weaken it, 662 00:32:59,066 --> 00:33:01,734 would weaken Medicare unnecessarily. 663 00:33:01,734 --> 00:33:04,033 And that's why we took the position we took. 664 00:33:04,033 --> 00:33:07,100 Not because we're against ideas that don't originate in the 665 00:33:07,100 --> 00:33:11,766 White House, but because we are focused on those ideas that will 666 00:33:11,767 --> 00:33:14,467 strengthen Medicare, which has been an enormously successful 667 00:33:14,467 --> 00:33:19,734 program that has aided millions and millions of seniors since it 668 00:33:19,734 --> 00:33:22,600 was created, and needs to be there for seniors in the future. 669 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,166 That's the foundation of our approach. 670 00:33:26,166 --> 00:33:29,633 The Press: Is there any plan to work with Wyden on developing some kind 671 00:33:29,633 --> 00:33:30,967 of compromise? 672 00:33:30,967 --> 00:33:37,800 Mr. Carney: Well, look, we will work with folks in Congress next year and 673 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:44,000 the years after who have ideas that can strengthen not just 674 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,000 that program but others. 675 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,700 I don't know of any plans right now that -- 676 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:50,400 we're kind of focused on this endgame for the end of the year 677 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:51,467 right now, these other issues. 678 00:33:51,467 --> 00:33:57,000 But again, we're open to ideas that we think can strengthen 679 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,467 Medicare, but we don't need to do the kind of radical surgery 680 00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:03,567 on the program that essentially ends it as we know it, 681 00:34:03,567 --> 00:34:07,834 and that makes it prohibitively expensive for millions of 682 00:34:07,834 --> 00:34:12,600 seniors who then have no choice but to go into plans that don't 683 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,000 offer them the kind of services that they need. 684 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:22,800 So that's -- the focus here is on strengthening Medicare. 685 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:23,967 Kate. 686 00:34:23,967 --> 00:34:26,633 The Press: Is there anything other than getting the payroll tax cut 687 00:34:26,632 --> 00:34:30,065 through that the White House is pushing for as strongly as 688 00:34:30,065 --> 00:34:34,232 Republicans are pushing for Keystone to be in it? 689 00:34:34,233 --> 00:34:38,734 Mr. Carney: Unemployment insurance extension. 690 00:34:38,734 --> 00:34:41,799 I mean, there are various -- this gets into acronyms and that 691 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,133 kind of stuff, but there are things that need to be done, 692 00:34:44,132 --> 00:34:46,065 whether they're a part of the payroll tax cut bill or not. 693 00:34:46,065 --> 00:34:49,000 But the "doc fix," as you know, needs to be done. 694 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,766 But what's essential, we believe, 695 00:34:51,766 --> 00:34:53,533 as part of the payroll tax cut, is the unemployment 696 00:34:53,533 --> 00:34:54,500 insurance extension. 697 00:34:54,500 --> 00:34:57,233 And folks have talked about SGR being part of it, 698 00:34:57,233 --> 00:34:58,233 and other things. 699 00:34:58,233 --> 00:35:00,834 But those are things that have to get done before the end 700 00:35:00,834 --> 00:35:03,066 of the year. 701 00:35:03,066 --> 00:35:03,700 But that's it. 702 00:35:03,700 --> 00:35:09,366 I mean, the President's priority is not letting Congress leave 703 00:35:09,367 --> 00:35:11,667 town having ensured that Americans will have their taxes 704 00:35:11,667 --> 00:35:14,200 go up in 15 days. 705 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,100 So we're very hopeful that members of Congress of both 706 00:35:17,100 --> 00:35:21,633 parties, both houses, will prevent that from happening. 707 00:35:21,633 --> 00:35:24,633 The Press: But because it's a negotiation, what are you willing to 708 00:35:24,633 --> 00:35:25,767 negotiate on? 709 00:35:25,767 --> 00:35:29,834 Mr. Carney: Well, look, we have been very willing, 710 00:35:29,834 --> 00:35:30,966 as we've said from the beginning, 711 00:35:30,967 --> 00:35:33,367 to negotiate on pay-fors that are acceptable. 712 00:35:33,367 --> 00:35:36,000 We've been very willing to negotiate on a 713 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:37,233 variety of things. 714 00:35:37,233 --> 00:35:42,834 I would simply say, why is there horse-trading here if 715 00:35:42,834 --> 00:35:45,433 Republicans are actually for giving middle-class Americans 716 00:35:45,433 --> 00:35:48,300 a tax cut? 717 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:51,967 They're not doing the President a favor by giving middle-class 718 00:35:51,967 --> 00:35:54,367 Americans a tax cut. 719 00:35:54,367 --> 00:35:58,834 And by being so lukewarm, and in some cases opposing middle-class 720 00:35:58,834 --> 00:36:02,899 tax cut, they're not doing the American people a favor. 721 00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:04,000 This needs to get done. 722 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,533 And it's the kind of thing that has traditionally had bipartisan 723 00:36:06,533 --> 00:36:10,266 support; it's traditionally had strong Republican support. 724 00:36:10,266 --> 00:36:14,400 And we hope that, because of that and because of the, 725 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,166 I think, unwelcome response that members of Congress would get if 726 00:36:17,166 --> 00:36:21,100 they don't get this done, that they'll figure out a way 727 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:21,967 to do it. 728 00:36:21,967 --> 00:36:22,967 The Press: On another issue. 729 00:36:22,967 --> 00:36:25,934 Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham and John McCain, 730 00:36:25,934 --> 00:36:28,734 just sent out a release saying that the release of this 731 00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:34,767 Lebanese terrorist, Ali Mussa Daqduq, to the Iraqi government, 732 00:36:34,767 --> 00:36:38,066 "sends exactly the wrong message to our allies and enemies in 733 00:36:38,066 --> 00:36:39,000 the region." 734 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:40,967 Do you have any response to that? 735 00:36:40,967 --> 00:36:46,567 Mr. Carney: I do. 736 00:36:46,567 --> 00:36:49,867 Because of the President's concerns about the crimes of 737 00:36:49,867 --> 00:36:52,900 Daqduq, Mr. Daqduq, that he is alleged to have committed, 738 00:36:52,900 --> 00:36:57,433 we worked a wide range of options consistent with U.S. 739 00:36:57,433 --> 00:37:00,266 and Iraqi law to effect Daqduq's transfer to a U.S. 740 00:37:00,266 --> 00:37:01,567 military commission. 741 00:37:01,567 --> 00:37:04,467 We did so because we felt that was the fastest possible way to 742 00:37:04,467 --> 00:37:05,967 bring him to justice. 743 00:37:05,967 --> 00:37:08,900 We are continuing to discuss this with the Iraqis, and, 744 00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:13,300 as of this morning, he has been transferred to Iraqi custody, 745 00:37:13,300 --> 00:37:14,433 as you note. 746 00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:16,700 We take this case extremely seriously, 747 00:37:16,700 --> 00:37:19,633 and for that reason have sought and received assurances that he 748 00:37:19,633 --> 00:37:21,799 will be tried for his crimes. 749 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,200 We have worked this at the highest levels of the U.S. and 750 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,466 Iraqi governments, and we continue to discuss with the 751 00:37:26,467 --> 00:37:30,734 Iraqis the best way to ensure that he faces justice. 752 00:37:30,734 --> 00:37:31,667 Glenn. 753 00:37:31,667 --> 00:37:33,100 Oh, I'm sorry, Kristen, I owe you one. 754 00:37:33,100 --> 00:37:34,100 Then Glenn. 755 00:37:34,100 --> 00:37:35,100 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 756 00:37:35,100 --> 00:37:36,232 Just following up on that. 757 00:37:36,233 --> 00:37:39,567 Your last sentence, "we continue to discuss with Iraqis the best 758 00:37:39,567 --> 00:37:42,633 way to ensure that he," Daqduq, "faces justice" -- 759 00:37:42,633 --> 00:37:45,399 can you go into a little bit more detail about what some of 760 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:47,934 those ways are, and how confident the administration is 761 00:37:47,934 --> 00:37:52,800 that he will in fact face justice? 762 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:54,300 Mr. Carney: Not really, to be honest with you. 763 00:37:54,300 --> 00:37:56,834 I can tell you that those conversations are continuing; 764 00:37:56,834 --> 00:38:05,799 that we are -- we obviously have our -- 765 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:07,767 we're dealing here with a sovereign Iraq, 766 00:38:07,767 --> 00:38:13,500 and we have our -- the handling of this case has been in 767 00:38:13,500 --> 00:38:16,633 accordance with both U.S. and Iraqi law. 768 00:38:16,633 --> 00:38:18,899 And we are continuing to discuss the matter, 769 00:38:18,900 --> 00:38:21,633 and we have received assurances, as I said, 770 00:38:21,633 --> 00:38:24,799 that he will be tried for his crimes. 771 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,834 The Press: One of the big concerns that's been raised is that he could 772 00:38:27,834 --> 00:38:30,734 potentially be handed over to Iran. 773 00:38:30,734 --> 00:38:32,633 How concerned is the administration that that 774 00:38:32,633 --> 00:38:33,600 might happen? 775 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:35,433 Mr. Carney: Well, again, we've been assured at the highest levels that he 776 00:38:35,433 --> 00:38:38,100 will be tried for his crimes. 777 00:38:38,100 --> 00:38:39,967 The Press: And some of the family members -- at least one -- 778 00:38:39,967 --> 00:38:42,633 was quoted in The New York Times as saying this decision is 779 00:38:42,633 --> 00:38:45,232 basically synonymous with letting him go free, 780 00:38:45,233 --> 00:38:48,633 because so many former people in this similar situation 781 00:38:48,633 --> 00:38:49,567 have gone free. 782 00:38:49,567 --> 00:38:51,300 What would you say to those family members? 783 00:38:51,300 --> 00:38:53,467 What's the administration's message to them? 784 00:38:53,467 --> 00:38:55,700 Mr. Carney: Well, that we take this matter extremely seriously, 785 00:38:55,700 --> 00:39:00,533 which is why we have worked on it at all levels, 786 00:39:00,533 --> 00:39:03,567 including the highest levels, and why we are continuing to 787 00:39:03,567 --> 00:39:07,333 work on it in accordance with both U.S. and Iraqi law, 788 00:39:07,333 --> 00:39:09,500 and why we sought and received the assurances that we 789 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:11,033 have received. 790 00:39:11,033 --> 00:39:12,333 We take it very seriously. 791 00:39:12,333 --> 00:39:17,767 We understand those concerns, and we'll continue to have these 792 00:39:17,767 --> 00:39:21,500 discussions and work this issue. 793 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,300 The Press: And one more about the payroll tax cut. 794 00:39:23,300 --> 00:39:26,767 One of the ideas that had been discussed earlier today was a 795 00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:29,000 possible short-term extension. 796 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,233 Is that something that the President would agree to, 797 00:39:31,233 --> 00:39:33,867 a stopgap measure? 798 00:39:33,867 --> 00:39:35,567 Mr. Carney: Well, I appreciate the question. 799 00:39:35,567 --> 00:39:39,567 I don't want to get into negotiating from here. 800 00:39:39,567 --> 00:39:42,266 The President's priority is that Americans don't have their taxes 801 00:39:42,266 --> 00:39:43,500 go up on January 1st. 802 00:39:43,500 --> 00:39:50,166 Our preference, obviously, is for a proposal to mirror what 803 00:39:50,166 --> 00:39:52,867 the President put forward back in September in the American 804 00:39:52,867 --> 00:39:56,367 Jobs Act, which is for a full-year extension of the 805 00:39:56,367 --> 00:39:59,233 payroll tax cut, and in the case of his proposal, 806 00:39:59,233 --> 00:40:01,934 an extension and expansion. 807 00:40:01,934 --> 00:40:05,633 At the minimum, we need an extension here so that Americans 808 00:40:05,633 --> 00:40:09,966 get that $1,000, on average, tax cut in 2012 rather than have the 809 00:40:09,967 --> 00:40:14,767 $1,000, on average, tax hike. 810 00:40:14,767 --> 00:40:17,165 Glenn, I think I owe you -- and then Alexis. 811 00:40:17,166 --> 00:40:19,934 The Press: Two questions: one Keystone, one payroll tax. 812 00:40:19,934 --> 00:40:23,500 The President's former National Security Advisor, Jim Jones, 813 00:40:23,500 --> 00:40:27,700 today did a call sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute 814 00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:32,500 in which he said that he thought the -- 815 00:40:32,500 --> 00:40:38,500 delaying the Keystone would "be a threat to" -- sort of -- 816 00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:41,433 "national economic security," and would constitute a 817 00:40:41,433 --> 00:40:43,300 "significant setback." 818 00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:45,166 Do you agree with that assessment? 819 00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:47,900 And were you guys surprised that the former National Security 820 00:40:47,900 --> 00:40:48,800 Advisor would -- 821 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:49,867 Mr. Carney: I hadn't heard of that report, Glenn. 822 00:40:49,867 --> 00:40:53,266 I mean, our position on this is clear. 823 00:40:53,266 --> 00:40:58,667 The route was changed because of concern expressed by a variety 824 00:40:58,667 --> 00:41:01,734 of folks, including the Republican governor of Nebraska, 825 00:41:01,734 --> 00:41:04,232 that then required the State Department, 826 00:41:04,233 --> 00:41:09,266 which runs this process, to begin a new review to look for 827 00:41:09,266 --> 00:41:11,500 alternate routes. 828 00:41:11,500 --> 00:41:13,100 That needs to take place. 829 00:41:13,100 --> 00:41:19,467 It would be wrong to do it otherwise because of the 830 00:41:19,467 --> 00:41:22,834 important issues at stake here, including public health, 831 00:41:22,834 --> 00:41:25,433 the environment, the economy, economic security, 832 00:41:25,433 --> 00:41:27,300 energy security. 833 00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:29,800 I would point out, as you've heard me say before, 834 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:34,934 that the President's approach on energy security is 835 00:41:34,934 --> 00:41:35,967 very broad-based. 836 00:41:35,967 --> 00:41:37,367 It's an all-of-the-above approach. 837 00:41:37,367 --> 00:41:43,900 That's why he's expanded drilling and the search for 838 00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:44,900 oil and gas. 839 00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:47,233 That's why he has pursued aggressively clean energy 840 00:41:47,233 --> 00:41:52,967 technology -- and, I would say, expanding that and making sure 841 00:41:52,967 --> 00:41:56,467 it happens in a responsible and safe way in the wake of the 842 00:41:56,467 --> 00:41:59,767 Gulf oil spill. 843 00:41:59,767 --> 00:42:04,899 But as regards Keystone, there's a process here that's important 844 00:42:04,900 --> 00:42:07,934 for something of this nature and magnitude, 845 00:42:07,934 --> 00:42:10,400 and that process has to run its course. 846 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,633 And this is not about making a judgment about whether, 847 00:42:13,633 --> 00:42:18,200 in the end, a permit should be approved or denied; 848 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,133 it's about making sure that the process is thorough so that the 849 00:42:21,133 --> 00:42:24,133 decision, when it is made, is made based on all the best 850 00:42:24,133 --> 00:42:25,133 information available. 851 00:42:25,133 --> 00:42:27,633 Alexis -- and then Chris, I'm sorry. 852 00:42:27,633 --> 00:42:28,633 Yes, sorry. 853 00:42:28,633 --> 00:42:31,066 The Press: A quick follow-up on the payroll tax. 854 00:42:31,066 --> 00:42:33,165 You guys were talking very passionately and very 855 00:42:33,166 --> 00:42:36,000 consistently over the past month about the need for tax equity, 856 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,400 and the need to make the wealthy pay their fair share. 857 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:41,000 It seems like that conversation has really stopped in the last 858 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:41,867 48 hours. 859 00:42:41,867 --> 00:42:43,066 You guys are talking about a deal -- 860 00:42:43,066 --> 00:42:43,834 Mr. Carney: Well, we certainly -- 861 00:42:43,834 --> 00:42:47,200 The Press: Why should the American people believe that you folks are 862 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:48,200 really committed to that? 863 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:51,000 And what would be the path forward to seeing that tax 864 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:55,567 equity if not this particular process over the payroll? 865 00:42:55,567 --> 00:42:57,900 Mr. Carney: Well, I was discussing this yesterday, I believe. 866 00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:03,834 The fact is the President's position is clear from the 867 00:43:03,834 --> 00:43:05,734 American Jobs Act; it has been clear since he's been a 868 00:43:05,734 --> 00:43:11,433 candidate; it is clear today, and it will be the same after 869 00:43:11,433 --> 00:43:15,133 today and throughout his presidency. 870 00:43:15,133 --> 00:43:18,966 With regards to the payroll tax cut measure and the other 871 00:43:18,967 --> 00:43:23,033 elements of the American Jobs Act that Republicans blocked, 872 00:43:23,033 --> 00:43:25,500 yes, we have a situation where Republicans made it clear that 873 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:28,467 rather than put 400,000 teachers back in the classroom, 874 00:43:28,467 --> 00:43:31,600 rather than fund infrastructure and put construction workers 875 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:36,200 back to work, rather than give 1.6 million 876 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:41,299 Americans a tax cut, they protected the -- 877 00:43:41,300 --> 00:43:44,834 in the case of the broader American Jobs Act, 878 00:43:44,834 --> 00:43:47,600 the loopholes and benefits and tax prerogatives of the 879 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:50,400 wealthiest Americans. 880 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,133 In the case of the Senate Democratic versions here, 881 00:43:52,133 --> 00:43:58,866 they refuse to give a tax cut to 160 million Americans because 882 00:43:58,867 --> 00:44:01,567 they wouldn't ask 300,000 millionaires and billionaires to 883 00:44:01,567 --> 00:44:03,934 pay a little bit more. 884 00:44:03,934 --> 00:44:06,600 We won't stop talking about that. 885 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:08,866 It's a matter of simple balance and fairness. 886 00:44:08,867 --> 00:44:14,533 It is also the case that we have to get this payroll tax cut done 887 00:44:14,533 --> 00:44:17,567 or else middle-class Americans, working Americans, 888 00:44:17,567 --> 00:44:21,333 are going to have a tax hike on January 1st, 889 00:44:21,333 --> 00:44:25,433 at a time when we're trying to continue to recover from the 890 00:44:25,433 --> 00:44:30,066 worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. 891 00:44:30,066 --> 00:44:35,200 So we're hopeful that that will get done. 892 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:40,433 It doesn't change the President's overall position on 893 00:44:40,433 --> 00:44:44,400 the balanced approach we need to take in our economic policy, 894 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,533 whether it's with regards to measures that are designed to 895 00:44:48,533 --> 00:44:50,600 help the economy grow and create jobs, 896 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:53,567 or measures that reduce the deficit and debt. 897 00:44:53,567 --> 00:44:58,667 Everybody should be in this together. 898 00:44:58,667 --> 00:45:04,533 The burden should not be borne by seniors or folks with 899 00:45:04,533 --> 00:45:08,633 disabilities or the folks who can bear it least. 900 00:45:08,633 --> 00:45:11,500 The Press: When you start talking about spending bills early next year, 901 00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:15,400 are you going to make -- granted that the payroll tax cut is tied 902 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:18,233 to this now -- but when it isn't, early next year, 903 00:45:18,233 --> 00:45:20,400 when you're presumably dealing with other spending measures, 904 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:26,300 are you guys planning to make increasing taxes on the top end 905 00:45:26,300 --> 00:45:27,867 a precondition to some of those discussions? 906 00:45:27,867 --> 00:45:29,066 Can you give us a sense as to where -- 907 00:45:29,066 --> 00:45:30,866 Mr. Carney: First of all, I'm not aware of any spending measures that will 908 00:45:30,867 --> 00:45:32,233 be coming up in January, right? 909 00:45:32,233 --> 00:45:37,166 I mean, if the spending -- if the omnibus is completed. 910 00:45:37,166 --> 00:45:40,867 I mean, I think that the broader debate here will 911 00:45:40,867 --> 00:45:42,633 certainly continue. 912 00:45:42,633 --> 00:45:44,633 That I can guarantee. 913 00:45:44,633 --> 00:45:45,366 Alexis. 914 00:45:45,367 --> 00:45:47,200 The Press: Jay, let me follow on what Glenn was asking you. 915 00:45:47,200 --> 00:45:48,533 This has been an interesting year -- 916 00:45:48,533 --> 00:45:50,834 this is a reflective question -- this has been an interesting 917 00:45:50,834 --> 00:45:52,600 year of divided government for the President. 918 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,533 He has expressed many times over the year his frustration in 919 00:45:55,533 --> 00:45:57,400 dealing with what you just called "the worst Congress 920 00:45:57,400 --> 00:45:58,433 in history." 921 00:45:58,433 --> 00:46:01,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm just saying that's what many, many Americans -- 922 00:46:01,700 --> 00:46:03,866 more than 40% -- are calling it. 923 00:46:03,867 --> 00:46:06,433 I'm hopeful that they're going to change and not be the worst. 924 00:46:06,433 --> 00:46:09,567 The Press: So before -- as the year limps to a close, 925 00:46:09,567 --> 00:46:13,000 this year of divided government, I'm interested in asking -- 926 00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:14,967 the President has tried various techniques this year. 927 00:46:14,967 --> 00:46:17,600 What would he say he learned about dealing with divided 928 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:18,767 government this year? 929 00:46:18,767 --> 00:46:21,767 And what might he say worked that he wants to carry into 930 00:46:21,767 --> 00:46:24,165 the next year? 931 00:46:24,166 --> 00:46:28,166 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm sure that you'll have an opportunity -- 932 00:46:28,166 --> 00:46:30,133 you and the press will have an opportunity to ask him that 933 00:46:30,133 --> 00:46:33,667 question at some point. 934 00:46:33,667 --> 00:46:38,200 So without being too specific, I'd say that he has and will 935 00:46:38,200 --> 00:46:44,265 continue to try all approaches that he thinks have a chance of 936 00:46:44,266 --> 00:46:46,533 succeeding when it comes to implementing the economic 937 00:46:46,533 --> 00:46:49,333 policies and other policies that will benefit the 938 00:46:49,333 --> 00:46:51,033 American people. 939 00:46:51,033 --> 00:46:53,567 The economy and jobs is his principal focus, 940 00:46:53,567 --> 00:46:56,367 but that holds true for other areas, too. 941 00:46:56,367 --> 00:46:59,433 He's not wedded to a strategy here. 942 00:46:59,433 --> 00:47:03,100 He's wedded to getting results that help the American people. 943 00:47:03,100 --> 00:47:06,667 He is committed, in the case of the current debate, 944 00:47:06,667 --> 00:47:10,033 to getting a payroll tax cut done so that Americans don't 945 00:47:10,033 --> 00:47:12,299 have their taxes go up. 946 00:47:12,300 --> 00:47:16,567 But if it does get done, our work will not be done. 947 00:47:16,567 --> 00:47:23,467 There will still not be the kind of economy that we need to build 948 00:47:23,467 --> 00:47:26,233 in this country, that economic growth will not be fast enough, 949 00:47:26,233 --> 00:47:27,667 unemployment will still be too high. 950 00:47:27,667 --> 00:47:32,933 So he will continue to push proposals that grow the economy, 951 00:47:32,934 --> 00:47:38,200 that help it create jobs, and he will continue to push proposals 952 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,899 that are balanced that deal with our deficits and debt. 953 00:47:42,900 --> 00:47:47,133 And the means by which he does that working with a divided 954 00:47:47,133 --> 00:47:49,633 government, working with a divided Congress, 955 00:47:49,633 --> 00:47:51,100 are less important than results. 956 00:47:51,100 --> 00:48:00,700 And so he's agnostic on that, I believe, 957 00:48:00,700 --> 00:48:06,033 because the focus is helping Americans deal with their 958 00:48:06,033 --> 00:48:08,866 everyday problems: their bills and their jobs and their 959 00:48:08,867 --> 00:48:12,800 economic security, their health care. 960 00:48:12,800 --> 00:48:13,900 That's what he's focused on. 961 00:48:13,900 --> 00:48:14,533 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 962 00:48:14,533 --> 00:48:15,333 Mr. Carney: Thanks. 963 00:48:15,333 --> 00:48:17,000 The Press: Any chance for a week ahead, Jay? 964 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:18,400 Mr. Carney: Is today Friday? 965 00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:20,233 The Press: Yes. 966 00:48:20,233 --> 00:48:24,133 Mr. Carney: No, I haven't got one because we're hopeful that at some point 967 00:48:24,133 --> 00:48:26,100 we'll get done and you all will get out of here. 968 00:48:26,100 --> 00:48:26,933 Take care.