English subtitles for clip: File:12-20-11- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,934 --> 00:00:01,934 Mr. Carney: Good afternoon, everyone. 2 00:00:01,934 --> 00:00:02,934 Thanks for being here. 3 00:00:02,934 --> 00:00:10,100 It is my great pleasure to see you today and take your 4 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:15,200 questions, which I will commence with right now. 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:16,900 The Press: What is the President going to do now that 6 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:22,900 the House has rejected the two-month Senate deal? 7 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:30,666 Mr. Carney: What the House did today was refuse to take up the 8 00:00:30,667 --> 00:00:35,834 bipartisan compromise passed by the Senate with 9 00:00:35,834 --> 00:00:38,867 90 percent approval. 10 00:00:38,867 --> 00:00:44,300 More than 80 percent of Republicans voted for it. 11 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:49,400 And I think all of you here are astute enough analysts of 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,867 Washington and Congress to know that the reason they refused to 13 00:00:54,867 --> 00:01:00,099 vote on that bill is because it would have passed. 14 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:06,233 It would have resulted in absolute assurance that 160 15 00:01:06,233 --> 00:01:09,467 million Americans would not have their taxes go up on January 16 00:01:09,467 --> 00:01:12,467 1st, and that is most unfortunate. 17 00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:20,533 It still is available, however, as an option for the House. 18 00:01:20,533 --> 00:01:26,433 They can take up the bipartisan compromise that passed 19 00:01:26,433 --> 00:01:30,533 overwhelmingly in the Senate, the result of a negotiation 20 00:01:30,533 --> 00:01:33,734 between the Republican leader and the Senate Democratic 21 00:01:33,734 --> 00:01:41,199 leader; a negotiation that was the result of a strategy agreed 22 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:47,734 upon by Senator Reid, Senator McConnell and Speaker Boehner; 23 00:01:47,734 --> 00:01:51,833 a result that was deemed by the Speaker of the House to be a 24 00:01:51,834 --> 00:01:55,867 good deal in his conversation with his own colleagues, 25 00:01:55,867 --> 00:01:58,500 House Republicans. 26 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:00,934 We agree with that assessment. 27 00:02:00,934 --> 00:02:03,899 It is absolutely a bipartisan compromise. 28 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:06,900 And it reflects the work that the Senate Democratic leader and 29 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:13,800 Senate Republican leader achieved towards a year-long 30 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,533 solution to extending the payroll tax cut. 31 00:02:17,533 --> 00:02:18,600 They worked very hard on that. 32 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,632 Senator Reid worked very hard on that bipartisan compromise. 33 00:02:22,633 --> 00:02:27,266 They could not quite achieve it in the time allowed and passed a 34 00:02:27,266 --> 00:02:32,966 overwhelmingly bipartisan two-month extension as insurance 35 00:02:32,967 --> 00:02:35,834 to make sure that Americans did not have their taxes go up in 11 36 00:02:35,834 --> 00:02:39,567 days and 10 hours -- 160 million Americans. 37 00:02:39,567 --> 00:02:42,967 That is absolutely what must get done. 38 00:02:42,967 --> 00:02:45,400 And the House still has that option. 39 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,734 So we hope they take it. 40 00:02:46,734 --> 00:02:48,734 The Press: So what is the President going to do? 41 00:02:48,734 --> 00:02:50,233 Is he going to do anything? 42 00:02:50,233 --> 00:02:53,266 Mr. Carney: He will continue to urge the House to do 43 00:02:53,266 --> 00:03:02,632 the responsible thing, not for him, not for Democrats 44 00:03:02,633 --> 00:03:05,500 or Republicans, not for party but for the American people. 45 00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:10,333 Look, everyone is for, now, an extension of the payroll tax cut 46 00:03:10,333 --> 00:03:11,966 for a year. 47 00:03:11,967 --> 00:03:15,667 I would remind you that we are even in this position of trying 48 00:03:15,667 --> 00:03:18,066 to extend the payroll tax cut because the President has been 49 00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:20,867 pushing for it since September. 50 00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:24,533 Everyone is now for it; all leaders of both houses are 51 00:03:24,533 --> 00:03:26,799 committed to extending it for a year. 52 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,400 And we expect absolutely that that will happen. 53 00:03:31,567 --> 00:03:36,767 But as you know, last week and then on Saturday, 54 00:03:36,767 --> 00:03:39,966 after negotiations, bipartisan negotiations between Senator 55 00:03:39,967 --> 00:03:42,033 McConnell and Senator Reid and others, 56 00:03:42,033 --> 00:03:46,733 a decision was made that more work needed to be done to reach 57 00:03:46,734 --> 00:03:48,867 that full-year extension compromise, 58 00:03:48,867 --> 00:03:53,600 and that as an insurance policy against raising taxes on 160 59 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,466 million Americans, this two-month extension of the 60 00:03:57,467 --> 00:03:59,467 payroll tax cut was the right way to go. 61 00:04:01,433 --> 00:04:09,900 A kind of consensus that that approach created is pretty 62 00:04:09,900 --> 00:04:15,266 unprecedented in Washington, and definitely unprecedented in 2011 63 00:04:15,266 --> 00:04:16,433 in Washington. 64 00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:19,000 So we had 90 percent of the United States Senate vote in 65 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,900 favor of something that was a toughly negotiated compromise 66 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:24,633 between Democrats and Republicans. 67 00:04:24,633 --> 00:04:29,500 And I think as you've seen, when you ask what the President will 68 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,266 ask Congress to do or what the President will do, I mean, 69 00:04:32,266 --> 00:04:36,133 he will say that a growing number of Republican senators 70 00:04:36,133 --> 00:04:37,767 are saying. 71 00:04:37,767 --> 00:04:40,133 They're saying, "Please, Speaker Boehner, please, 72 00:04:40,133 --> 00:04:45,467 to our colleagues in the House, support what is absolutely the 73 00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:46,633 right thing to do here. 74 00:04:46,633 --> 00:04:49,767 Do not let taxes go up on 160 million Americans 75 00:04:49,767 --> 00:04:52,133 in just 11 days. 76 00:04:52,133 --> 00:04:54,200 Pass the extension." 77 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,033 The Press: Can he offer -- can the President offer any assurances 78 00:04:57,033 --> 00:04:59,834 to the American people that this will get done 79 00:04:59,834 --> 00:05:04,433 this year, or are his hands tied and it's up to the Speaker and 80 00:05:04,433 --> 00:05:06,300 the House Republicans? 81 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:07,667 Mr. Carney: Well, in order for it to get done, 82 00:05:07,667 --> 00:05:12,500 it has to pass the House. 83 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:14,900 This is one area where his executive authority 84 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:16,566 does not extend. 85 00:05:16,567 --> 00:05:20,200 He cannot order the extension of the payroll tax cut; 86 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,300 Congress has to take action. 87 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:25,800 He has worked very closely with leaders on the Hill to 88 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:26,800 reach this point. 89 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:27,800 And again, I will point out to you, 90 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,600 the President began in September calling for not just an 91 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,900 extension of the payroll tax cut that put $1,000 92 00:05:34,900 --> 00:05:39,400 extra this year in average American families' pockets, 93 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,799 but for an expansion of that -- an expansion for the individual 94 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,867 tax cut and he pushed -- he called for expanding it to 95 00:05:45,867 --> 00:05:48,266 small businesses. 96 00:05:48,266 --> 00:05:50,800 He did not get all that he wanted in this compromise; 97 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:51,800 he didn't get that. 98 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,700 He originally put forward a way to pay for it that asked 99 00:05:55,700 --> 00:06:01,366 Congress to close subsidies and to close -- end corporate 100 00:06:01,367 --> 00:06:04,433 subsidies and loopholes, and to ask the wealthiest Americans to 101 00:06:04,433 --> 00:06:06,433 pay a little bit more. 102 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:07,433 He didn't get that. 103 00:06:07,433 --> 00:06:11,633 He supported the Democratic proposal in the Senate to pay 104 00:06:11,633 --> 00:06:14,799 for the payroll tax cut extension with a surtax on the 105 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,834 300,000 wealthiest millionaires and billionaires in the country 106 00:06:17,834 --> 00:06:20,233 in order to fund a tax cut for 160 million 107 00:06:20,233 --> 00:06:23,033 middle-class Americans. 108 00:06:23,033 --> 00:06:24,033 We didn't get that. 109 00:06:24,033 --> 00:06:28,367 What we got was a compromise, worked out by Senator Reid, 110 00:06:28,367 --> 00:06:32,033 that was good enough for 90 percent of the Senate, 111 00:06:32,033 --> 00:06:35,233 good enough for more than 80 percent of the Republican 112 00:06:35,233 --> 00:06:38,567 members in the Senate, and certainly the right thing to 113 00:06:38,567 --> 00:06:40,400 do for the country. 114 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,566 The Press: And finally, Speaker Boehner wrote to him 115 00:06:43,567 --> 00:06:47,400 asking the President to call on the Senate to appoint conferees. 116 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,900 I assume that he does not intend to do that. 117 00:06:55,967 --> 00:06:57,700 Mr. Carney: As Senator Reid has said -- Senator Reid, 118 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:00,099 Senator McConnell and Speaker Boehner had a conversation about 119 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:03,100 what was the best way to proceed. 120 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:05,567 The best way to proceed was to have Senator McConnell and 121 00:07:05,567 --> 00:07:07,834 Senator Reid negotiate a bipartisan compromise. 122 00:07:07,834 --> 00:07:09,233 They worked very hard to do that. 123 00:07:09,233 --> 00:07:11,934 They worked very hard to reach an agreement on extending the 124 00:07:11,934 --> 00:07:14,266 payroll tax cut for a year. 125 00:07:14,266 --> 00:07:17,800 They were not able to get that done in time to ensure that 126 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,433 taxes wouldn't go up on 160 million Americans, 127 00:07:20,433 --> 00:07:22,500 and so they passed -- they worked out and passed, 128 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:26,500 with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of both Republicans and 129 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:28,700 Democrats, a two-month extension, 130 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:33,967 and committed to return next year and make sure that that 131 00:07:33,967 --> 00:07:37,767 extension was provided for the rest of the year. 132 00:07:37,767 --> 00:07:40,066 That was the right approach. 133 00:07:40,066 --> 00:07:43,400 What is not the right approach is to refuse to allow the House 134 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:48,000 of Representatives to vote on that bipartisan compromise, 135 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:53,000 but instead to pass a rule that calls for an approach to this 136 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,033 that actually moves further away from compromise. 137 00:07:57,033 --> 00:08:00,767 The provision that is voted on in the House today -- that's 138 00:08:00,767 --> 00:08:05,533 been voted on in the House today is actually less bipartisan, 139 00:08:05,533 --> 00:08:13,500 filled with more ideological, extraneous matter than the 140 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:15,767 version that passed the House and that the Senate Republican 141 00:08:15,767 --> 00:08:18,166 leader wouldn't even allow to come to a vote in the Senate 142 00:08:18,166 --> 00:08:21,100 because he knew it wouldn't succeed. 143 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:24,667 So there's no indication by the actions of the House leadership 144 00:08:24,667 --> 00:08:29,066 today that they're moving towards compromise. 145 00:08:29,066 --> 00:08:34,567 The available option here is to vote to pass the bipartisan 146 00:08:34,567 --> 00:08:37,567 compromise reached in the Senate to extend the payroll tax cut 147 00:08:37,567 --> 00:08:41,100 for 160 million working Americans for two more months, 148 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:44,767 and to commit, as the leaders who worked that compromise out 149 00:08:44,767 --> 00:08:47,600 committed, to ensuring, early next year, 150 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,367 that this extension lasts through 2012. 151 00:08:50,367 --> 00:08:53,266 That's the approach the President thinks that Congress 152 00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:58,165 ought to take; that's the approach they ought to take. 153 00:08:58,166 --> 00:08:59,900 Mr. Youngman, welcome to the front row. 154 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:01,699 The Press: Thank you. You seem taller from up here. 155 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:03,834 (laughter) 156 00:09:03,834 --> 00:09:04,599 Mr. Carney: Better looking? 157 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:05,400 The Press: Just taller. 158 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,266 Mr. Carney: Just taller. 159 00:09:06,266 --> 00:09:09,099 (laughter) 160 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:10,266 The Press: Just to put a fine point on this, 161 00:09:10,266 --> 00:09:13,433 the President won't ask Senator Reid to appoint conferees? 162 00:09:13,433 --> 00:09:16,300 Mr. Carney: The President agrees with Senator Reid and 163 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:19,967 with the 89 senators, Republicans and Democrats, 164 00:09:19,967 --> 00:09:22,300 who voted for the bipartisan compromise, 165 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:23,699 that that is the right thing to do. 166 00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:25,000 The House should vote on it. 167 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:30,867 We have a situation where the great preponderance of players 168 00:09:30,867 --> 00:09:35,333 in this unnecessary drama agree on one thing --Democrats and 169 00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:42,867 Republicans -- and a small faction in the House disagrees. 170 00:09:42,867 --> 00:09:46,400 And their disagreement, their willingness to not even hold a 171 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:50,333 vote on this bipartisan compromise, 172 00:09:50,333 --> 00:09:53,967 is essentially a vote to raise taxes. 173 00:09:53,967 --> 00:09:55,967 That's what happens on January 1st. 174 00:09:55,967 --> 00:09:59,400 And that's a -- that will be, to the American people, 175 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,400 everyone who gets a paycheck, it will be a rude awakening on 176 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,766 January 1st when they -- or even before then as the holidays 177 00:10:05,767 --> 00:10:08,066 approaches -- if they think -- they have to figure out how 178 00:10:08,066 --> 00:10:13,300 they're going to make ends meet next year with $1,000 less; 179 00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:17,333 $1,000 more taken out of their weekly -- or, rather, 180 00:10:17,333 --> 00:10:21,800 their yearly earnings because the House of Representatives, 181 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:26,467 the Republicans in the House, refuse to pass something that 182 00:10:26,467 --> 00:10:29,567 got 90 percent of the U.S. Senate, 183 00:10:29,567 --> 00:10:30,967 including their Republican colleagues, 184 00:10:30,967 --> 00:10:35,633 colleagues like Senator Grassley, Senator Collins, 185 00:10:35,633 --> 00:10:37,867 Senator Snowe, Senator Heller, Senator Lugar, 186 00:10:37,867 --> 00:10:39,266 Senator Brown and Senator Wicker, 187 00:10:39,266 --> 00:10:43,300 who all have called on the House to pass this measure. 188 00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:45,467 The Press: So that's a no? The President -- 189 00:10:45,467 --> 00:10:47,633 Mr. Carney: The House ought to pass the bill. 190 00:10:47,633 --> 00:10:49,934 The Press: Just in general terms, does the President believe it's 191 00:10:49,934 --> 00:10:51,567 worth negotiating with Speaker Boehner? 192 00:10:51,567 --> 00:10:53,367 Does he believe that Speaker Boehner is somebody who can 193 00:10:53,367 --> 00:10:58,333 deliver on what he might agree to in negotiations? 194 00:10:58,333 --> 00:11:02,132 Mr. Carney: The issue here isn't negotiating with the Speaker of the House, 195 00:11:02,133 --> 00:11:02,767 because the -- 196 00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:04,166 The Press: That's why I said generally 197 00:11:04,166 --> 00:11:07,300 Mr. Carney: Well, I mean, we're focused on the task at hand right now, 198 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:10,599 and the disagreement here is not between the Speaker and 199 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,000 the President; they both agree that we ought to 200 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,367 extend this payroll tax cut through the end of the year. 201 00:11:14,367 --> 00:11:15,834 But the disagreement, quite clearly, 202 00:11:15,834 --> 00:11:19,500 here is between the leadership in the House, 203 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:22,800 of the House Republicans, and the rest of Congress -- the 204 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,867 Republicans in the Senate, the Democrats in the Senate 205 00:11:24,867 --> 00:11:27,233 and the administration. 206 00:11:27,233 --> 00:11:30,632 And when it comes to what happened this weekend, 207 00:11:30,633 --> 00:11:36,200 what the President is not and should not be is a marriage 208 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:37,734 counselor between Senate Republicans 209 00:11:37,734 --> 00:11:40,367 and House Republicans. 210 00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:42,766 The Press: On Iraq, the political crisis there seems to 211 00:11:42,767 --> 00:11:44,734 be escalating. 212 00:11:44,734 --> 00:11:46,200 Aside from monitoring the situation, 213 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:47,600 is the administration doing anything? 214 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,000 Has Vice President Biden been asked to step in and perhaps 215 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,800 oversee this -- or intervene? 216 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,467 Mr. Carney: You're referring to? 217 00:11:56,467 --> 00:12:00,333 The Press: The -- al-Hashimi, the arrest warrant. 218 00:12:00,333 --> 00:12:05,333 Mr. Carney: As I discussed yesterday, we're obviously concerned about this 219 00:12:05,333 --> 00:12:07,766 and we have -- we are always in conversations 220 00:12:07,767 --> 00:12:12,300 with Iraqi leaders. 221 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:13,934 We closely monitor the reports. 222 00:12:13,934 --> 00:12:18,567 And we urge the Iraqi authorities charged with this 223 00:12:18,567 --> 00:12:21,734 responsibility to conduct their investigations into alleged 224 00:12:21,734 --> 00:12:24,467 terrorist activities in accordance with international 225 00:12:24,467 --> 00:12:26,867 legal norms and full respect for Iraqi law. 226 00:12:28,834 --> 00:12:32,266 As I said, we are talking to all parties to express our concern 227 00:12:32,266 --> 00:12:33,433 regarding these developments. 228 00:12:33,433 --> 00:12:36,066 We continue to urge all sides to work to resolve differences 229 00:12:36,066 --> 00:12:39,967 peacefully, through dialogue and in a manner that is consistent 230 00:12:39,967 --> 00:12:42,400 with the international standards of rule of law, 231 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,567 transparency and the democratic political process. 232 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,132 Ambassador James Jeffrey, as well as other U.S. 233 00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:53,333 -- senior U.S. officials, have been in frequent contact with 234 00:12:53,333 --> 00:12:56,766 Iraqi leaders on this matter and will continue to do so. 235 00:12:56,767 --> 00:12:58,667 The Press: Is Vice President Biden one of those officials? 236 00:12:58,667 --> 00:13:02,433 Mr. Carney: I don't have any conversations involving the Vice President to 237 00:13:02,433 --> 00:13:03,400 report out to you. 238 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,900 You correctly identify the fact that the Vice President is very 239 00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:09,100 engaged in Iraq as a rule, but I don't have any specific 240 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:12,500 conversations of his to report out. 241 00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:14,900 Let me move it around. 242 00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:15,834 Yes, ma'am. 243 00:13:15,834 --> 00:13:22,666 The Press: Any comment about result of Egyptian elections? 244 00:13:22,667 --> 00:13:23,867 Mr. Carney: I'm sorry, I didn't hear -- quite hear -- 245 00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:24,967 I know it's about Egypt -- 246 00:13:24,967 --> 00:13:29,333 The Press: Do you have any comment result of the Egyptian elections? 247 00:13:29,333 --> 00:13:44,632 Mr. Carney: Hold on one second, let me -- I can comment generally about what 248 00:13:44,633 --> 00:13:49,200 we've seen in Egypt of late in the last few days and say that 249 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,900 we remain deeply concerned about the violence in Egypt. 250 00:13:53,934 --> 00:13:56,433 We again reiterate the need for Egyptian security forces 251 00:13:56,433 --> 00:13:59,165 to respect and protect the universal rights of all 252 00:13:59,166 --> 00:14:01,133 Egyptians, including the rights to peaceful free 253 00:14:01,133 --> 00:14:04,400 expression and assembly. 254 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,667 Egyptian authorities should also hold accountable those, 255 00:14:06,667 --> 00:14:09,767 including the security forces, who violate these standards. 256 00:14:12,033 --> 00:14:16,233 As Secretary Clinton said yesterday, the promise, 257 00:14:16,233 --> 00:14:18,632 the beauty of the revolutionary aspirations that everyone 258 00:14:18,633 --> 00:14:23,166 watched unfold in Tahrir Square, the restraint of the security 259 00:14:23,166 --> 00:14:25,934 forces and how they responded, all of that was very promising 260 00:14:25,934 --> 00:14:27,766 and it was held up by the Egyptian people as what a 261 00:14:27,767 --> 00:14:28,900 new Egypt would look like. 262 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:32,266 We continue to support a timely, inclusive and credible 263 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:39,567 transition to full democracy that lives up to this promise. 264 00:14:39,567 --> 00:14:40,500 Yes. 265 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:42,033 The Press: Thank you, Jay. Two questions. 266 00:14:42,033 --> 00:14:45,834 First one is, Japan announced they will buy the F-35 fighter 267 00:14:45,834 --> 00:14:47,367 jet from the U.S. 268 00:14:47,367 --> 00:14:49,065 What's the reaction from the White House? 269 00:14:49,066 --> 00:14:50,200 Mr. Carney: I don't have a reaction on that. 270 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,100 I would refer you to I guess the Defense Department. 271 00:14:54,100 --> 00:14:56,233 The Press: And also, we noticed that the President has 272 00:14:56,233 --> 00:15:01,367 already reached out to President Lee and Prime Minister Noda, 273 00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:05,533 and is there any plan for him to reach out to Chinese leader 274 00:15:05,533 --> 00:15:06,867 or Russian leader? 275 00:15:06,867 --> 00:15:12,266 And what kind of role that U.S. expect China to play after the 276 00:15:12,266 --> 00:15:14,300 -- Kim Jong-il's death? 277 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:16,800 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't have any additional phone calls 278 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,300 to read out on this matter involving the President. 279 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:23,733 We are reaching out to all of our allies and partners in the 280 00:15:23,734 --> 00:15:28,000 region, as I mentioned yesterday, 281 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,367 and will continue to do so. 282 00:15:31,367 --> 00:15:34,199 We work with all our allies and partners on this issue, 283 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,567 and will continue to. 284 00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:44,734 And we will -- or I will simply add to what I said yesterday, 285 00:15:44,734 --> 00:15:47,433 that we hope that the North -- new North Korean leadership will 286 00:15:47,433 --> 00:15:50,467 take the steps necessary to support peace, 287 00:15:50,467 --> 00:15:53,567 prosperity and a better future for the North Korean people, 288 00:15:53,567 --> 00:15:59,567 including through acting on its commitments to denuclearization. 289 00:15:59,567 --> 00:16:02,467 Moving back. 290 00:16:02,467 --> 00:16:03,766 Norah. 291 00:16:03,767 --> 00:16:07,400 The Press: First on the payroll tax cut. 292 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,900 Speaker Boehner has said that they will adjourn at the end 293 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:14,667 of the day; there are no plans for the Senate to return. 294 00:16:14,667 --> 00:16:17,033 Will the President stay in Washington while 295 00:16:17,033 --> 00:16:20,533 Congress is away? 296 00:16:20,533 --> 00:16:28,900 Mr. Carney: The President is here and is very focused on the need for 297 00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:31,433 Congress to take the appropriate action to make sure 298 00:16:31,433 --> 00:16:34,165 that Americans don't have their taxes go up on January 1st. 299 00:16:34,166 --> 00:16:40,133 He believes that the absolutely right course of action here is 300 00:16:40,133 --> 00:16:45,200 for the House to take up the Senate bill that has already 301 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:50,967 garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate, 302 00:16:50,967 --> 00:16:54,667 and to pass that bill so that Americans don't have their 303 00:16:54,667 --> 00:16:57,900 taxes go up. 304 00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:02,867 While you know what Speaker Boehner said, 305 00:17:02,867 --> 00:17:06,966 the fact is it remains an option for the House to do that. 306 00:17:06,967 --> 00:17:14,200 And I think it is the result of avoidance, if you will, 307 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:19,567 that the House resulted to sort of parliamentary machinations to 308 00:17:19,567 --> 00:17:24,800 avoid actually voting on a measure that got such sweeping 309 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,666 bipartisan support in the Senate -- because, 310 00:17:26,666 --> 00:17:29,766 I think it's safe to say, they were worried -- they, 311 00:17:29,767 --> 00:17:32,100 the Republican leadership -- that it would actually pass and 312 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:35,233 Americans' taxes wouldn't go up. 313 00:17:35,233 --> 00:17:38,399 Which is just mighty unfortunate, 314 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,967 because this is not a game. 315 00:17:41,967 --> 00:17:45,300 For people who are struggling to make ends meet, 316 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:48,966 $1,000 is a big deal. 317 00:17:48,967 --> 00:17:58,033 And it is absolutely essential that the House reconsider its 318 00:17:58,033 --> 00:18:04,132 approach to this, accept that leaders in both parties of both 319 00:18:04,133 --> 00:18:07,400 houses and that the President of the United States are all 320 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,100 committed to a full-year extension. 321 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:12,033 The President has been hammering on this issue since September, 322 00:18:12,033 --> 00:18:13,734 as you know. 323 00:18:13,734 --> 00:18:22,066 And what the Senate leadership, both Republican and Democrat, 324 00:18:22,066 --> 00:18:27,834 decided is that they didn't have enough time to finish a one-year 325 00:18:27,834 --> 00:18:31,800 extension, so they decided that what was absolutely essential is 326 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,500 that Americans don't have their taxes go up in just 11 days. 327 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:40,600 So they passed, by a vote of 89 to 10, 328 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,033 a bipartisan compromise to extend the payroll tax cut 329 00:18:43,033 --> 00:18:44,833 for two months. 330 00:18:44,834 --> 00:18:47,166 The House ought to follow suit. 331 00:18:47,166 --> 00:18:48,700 The Press: That is correct that the President has been 332 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:50,400 hammering about this since September, 333 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,700 but it looks like the President is going to be left standing at 334 00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:54,734 the altar on this one. 335 00:18:54,734 --> 00:18:59,600 Mr. Carney: But here's the problem with that approach to this, 336 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,500 or the premise behind that question, 337 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:06,033 is that somehow this has to do with the President 338 00:19:06,033 --> 00:19:08,533 winning or losing. 339 00:19:08,533 --> 00:19:10,265 This is not a game; it's not politics. 340 00:19:10,266 --> 00:19:12,800 It's Americans' livelihoods; it's their paychecks; 341 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,800 it's 1,000 bucks, on average. 342 00:19:16,967 --> 00:19:20,166 And I think the nature of your question correctly identifies 343 00:19:20,166 --> 00:19:24,466 the irony that were it not for the fact that President Obama 344 00:19:24,467 --> 00:19:28,667 supports this payroll tax cut, I suspect it would pass 345 00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:32,100 overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives. 346 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:36,734 After all, Republicans, in the early days of 2009 when we were 347 00:19:36,734 --> 00:19:41,066 in an economic freefall and people were proposing different 348 00:19:41,066 --> 00:19:46,667 ideas for how we should approach our economic problems and how we 349 00:19:46,667 --> 00:19:49,033 should get the economy growing instead of shrinking, 350 00:19:49,033 --> 00:19:53,000 many Republicans came out in support of a payroll tax cut. 351 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,967 Some of them came out and supported a two-month payroll 352 00:19:55,967 --> 00:19:56,967 tax holiday. 353 00:19:56,967 --> 00:19:59,266 The Press: Will you reiterate that the President plans to stay 354 00:19:59,266 --> 00:20:04,300 in Washington until the payroll tax cut is passed? 355 00:20:04,300 --> 00:20:06,966 Mr. Carney: The President intends to stay and work with 356 00:20:06,967 --> 00:20:11,200 Congress to ensure that Americans don't have their 357 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:12,433 taxes go up. 358 00:20:12,433 --> 00:20:18,066 But let's be clear about where the power to make 359 00:20:18,066 --> 00:20:20,033 that happen resides. 360 00:20:22,066 --> 00:20:24,767 The President supports this bipartisan compromise. 361 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:27,233 Senate Democrats support this bipartisan compromise. 362 00:20:27,233 --> 00:20:29,200 Senate Republicans overwhelmingly support 363 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,333 this bipartisan compromise. 364 00:20:31,333 --> 00:20:34,667 At least a handful if not more already on the record House 365 00:20:34,667 --> 00:20:36,734 Republicans support this bipartisan compromise. 366 00:20:36,734 --> 00:20:39,833 I suspect that many, many more do. 367 00:20:39,834 --> 00:20:45,400 The holdout here -- the holdouts are very much in the minority. 368 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,600 The House ought to vote to make sure Americans don't have their 369 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:49,399 taxes go up. 370 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,000 The Press: And just a quick question on Iraq. 371 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,333 Now that American forces are out of Iraq -- this was brought up 372 00:20:54,333 --> 00:20:57,100 yesterday -- the Vice President, al-Hashimi, has been arrested. 373 00:20:57,100 --> 00:21:00,500 Does the U.S. want to be involved now at all in 374 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:03,767 limiting sectarian tensions, or is Iraq, 375 00:21:03,767 --> 00:21:06,834 as the President said at Fort Bragg, 376 00:21:06,834 --> 00:21:08,800 in the hands of the Iraqi people? 377 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,233 Mr. Carney: Well, Iraq is a sovereign nation. 378 00:21:12,233 --> 00:21:17,600 And it is very much in the hands of Iraqi leaders as well as the 379 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:22,466 Iraqi people the future of that country. 380 00:21:22,467 --> 00:21:29,133 We will absolutely continue to engage directly with Iraq in a 381 00:21:29,133 --> 00:21:32,200 very robust relationship that involves diplomatic, 382 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:39,867 educational, economic and other ties -- including security ties 383 00:21:39,867 --> 00:21:49,233 -- to help Iraq as it further develops as a democratic nation. 384 00:21:49,233 --> 00:21:52,600 So, as I mentioned earlier in response to a question about 385 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:58,065 this, we are speaking with Iraqi leaders from all sides about 386 00:21:58,066 --> 00:22:03,433 this specific matter, and would be anyway on the variety of 387 00:22:03,433 --> 00:22:05,166 other challenges that they face. 388 00:22:05,166 --> 00:22:09,399 Because we have very strong relationships and are very 389 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:15,533 committed to helping Iraq build on the remarkable progress that, 390 00:22:15,533 --> 00:22:19,667 thanks to our efforts, the efforts of our troops as well as 391 00:22:19,667 --> 00:22:23,533 our civilians, and of course the remarkable efforts of the Iraqi 392 00:22:23,533 --> 00:22:30,065 people and their leaders towards creating a stable and prosperous 393 00:22:30,066 --> 00:22:31,567 and democratic country. 394 00:22:31,567 --> 00:22:41,767 So we have tried throughout this period that marks the end of the 395 00:22:41,767 --> 00:22:45,900 Iraq war to make clear that the end of the war does not mean an 396 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:48,233 end to our relationship with Iraq. 397 00:22:48,233 --> 00:22:52,000 We want a strong and vibrant relationship with Iraq, 398 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,867 and we will continue to work with Iraqi leaders and Iraqi 399 00:22:56,867 --> 00:23:00,533 institutions to develop that relationship. 400 00:23:00,533 --> 00:23:01,300 Dan. 401 00:23:01,300 --> 00:23:01,934 The Press: Thank you. 402 00:23:01,934 --> 00:23:03,633 In response to one of Sam's questions, 403 00:23:03,633 --> 00:23:06,333 you said that the President shouldn't have to play the 404 00:23:06,333 --> 00:23:08,000 role of marriage counselor. 405 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,734 Why shouldn't the President play that role -- or any other kind 406 00:23:11,734 --> 00:23:13,800 of counselor -- in order to get this deal done, 407 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,200 and to protect middle-class Americans, 408 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,500 as you've been saying and others as well? 409 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:20,834 Mr. Carney: Well, it's a good question, Dan. 410 00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:24,700 The President's approach has been focused on -- and his 411 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:30,033 strategy has been focused on getting this very important 412 00:23:30,033 --> 00:23:32,466 piece of business done for the American people. 413 00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:34,400 He put it on the table in September as part of the 414 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,000 American Jobs Act. 415 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,033 He called for not just an extension of the payroll tax 416 00:23:39,033 --> 00:23:44,367 cut but an expansion, so that if his proposal had passed, 417 00:23:44,367 --> 00:23:48,966 if he got his way in entirety, Americans wouldn't just have 418 00:23:48,967 --> 00:23:51,467 $1,000 extra next year, they would have had on 419 00:23:51,467 --> 00:23:53,800 average $1,550 extra. 420 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,899 If he had gotten his way in his proposal entirely, 421 00:23:56,900 --> 00:24:01,400 small businesses would have had a payroll tax cut. 422 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:02,700 So then he worked with Senate leadership on an alternative 423 00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:04,767 way to pay for that measure, and he has worked with Senate 424 00:24:04,767 --> 00:24:15,934 leadership on the efforts to reach a bipartisan compromise 425 00:24:15,934 --> 00:24:19,934 on a year-long extension as well as on the two-month insurance 426 00:24:19,934 --> 00:24:23,500 policy that Senators Reid and McConnell worked out, 427 00:24:23,500 --> 00:24:27,834 and worked out -- I mean, let's just be clear -- with the full 428 00:24:27,834 --> 00:24:30,266 knowledge of the House leadership. 429 00:24:30,266 --> 00:24:34,934 And it is -- again, you'd have to be a rube about how 430 00:24:34,934 --> 00:24:38,300 Washington works to believe that the Senate leaders of both 431 00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:40,734 parties would have worked out a compromise on this issue that 432 00:24:40,734 --> 00:24:49,632 resulted in a vote of 89 to 10 without careful communication 433 00:24:49,633 --> 00:24:51,867 with House leadership. 434 00:24:51,867 --> 00:25:00,100 So we are at this point where a bipartisan 435 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:03,166 compromise and solution exists precisely because 436 00:25:03,166 --> 00:25:04,800 of the President's leadership. 437 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:16,033 And my point in my admittedly glib comment was that the issue 438 00:25:16,033 --> 00:25:19,600 here isn't about what the President can work out with 439 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,399 the Speaker of the House, because the issue is that 440 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,834 an overwhelming majority in Congress of Republicans and 441 00:25:25,834 --> 00:25:30,433 Democrats want one thing, which is to make sure that Americans 442 00:25:30,433 --> 00:25:32,867 don't have their taxes go up on January 1st, 443 00:25:32,867 --> 00:25:36,367 and for political reasons or ideological reasons -- or 444 00:25:36,367 --> 00:25:41,600 reasons that we've yet to fathom -- the House Republican 445 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,934 leadership wants something else. 446 00:25:44,934 --> 00:25:47,100 And I think that is -- as we've increasingly seen, 447 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:53,065 as we've heard from Republican senators and others, 448 00:25:53,066 --> 00:25:55,900 puts the House Republican leadership at odds with the 449 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:59,233 interests of Republicans generally. 450 00:25:59,233 --> 00:26:05,300 And that's a conflict that they need to resolve on behalf of the 451 00:26:05,300 --> 00:26:06,300 American people. 452 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:08,667 I mean, again, going back to I think somebody else's question, 453 00:26:08,667 --> 00:26:10,667 this is not about President Obama. 454 00:26:15,433 --> 00:26:18,400 I mean, we are in this ironic situation where we're now 455 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,567 arguing over whether or not the Republican House 456 00:26:22,567 --> 00:26:26,300 of Representatives is going to allow a tax cut for most 457 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:30,133 Americans in spite of the fact the President supports it, 458 00:26:30,133 --> 00:26:32,133 who happens to be a Democrat. 459 00:26:32,133 --> 00:26:38,333 That kind of turns conventional wisdom on its head about the 460 00:26:38,333 --> 00:26:40,834 priorities of the different parties -- and that's because, 461 00:26:40,834 --> 00:26:44,233 in part, this President's priority is the American economy 462 00:26:44,233 --> 00:26:46,233 and the need to create jobs. 463 00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:50,000 Put aside all the political posturing, 464 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,967 and who's up and who's down, and who wins and who's to blame; 465 00:26:53,967 --> 00:26:57,467 the President wants this because he thinks it's vitally important 466 00:26:57,467 --> 00:26:59,433 to the economy. 467 00:26:59,433 --> 00:27:06,200 We have had some good news lately with the economy. 468 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,633 We have a lot of work to do, but there are some 469 00:27:09,633 --> 00:27:12,266 signs of improvement. 470 00:27:12,266 --> 00:27:15,333 And what outside economists have said is that if we do not extend 471 00:27:15,333 --> 00:27:19,633 the payroll tax cut, that could have a very negative effect on 472 00:27:19,633 --> 00:27:21,867 an economy that is just beginning to show some 473 00:27:21,867 --> 00:27:23,133 positive signs. 474 00:27:23,133 --> 00:27:28,900 So the President wants this not as a political victory, 475 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:33,266 but because his number-one priority is growing the economy 476 00:27:33,266 --> 00:27:38,333 and creating -- or helping the economy create more jobs so that 477 00:27:38,333 --> 00:27:44,333 fewer Americans are looking for work and more Americans are 478 00:27:46,934 --> 00:27:52,332 employed and have the means to ensure that they can pay their 479 00:27:52,333 --> 00:27:55,200 bills and send their kids to school. 480 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:55,800 The Press: And one other question. 481 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,600 I know you often don't like to talk about polls, 482 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,500 but CNN has a new poll that came out and it shows that 483 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:05,300 the President's numbers are much better than they were just last 484 00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:07,834 month: his approval rating, 49 percent now 485 00:28:07,834 --> 00:28:10,500 compared to 44 percent in November; disapproval, 486 00:28:10,500 --> 00:28:14,166 48 percent now compared to 54 percent in November. 487 00:28:14,166 --> 00:28:15,399 Any comment on that? 488 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,100 What do you attribute that to? 489 00:28:19,100 --> 00:28:24,332 Mr. Carney: I will simply say that polls go up and down. 490 00:28:24,333 --> 00:28:27,033 We live in a very challenging political environment, 491 00:28:27,033 --> 00:28:29,867 and more importantly, in a continuingly challenging 492 00:28:29,867 --> 00:28:31,934 economic environment. 493 00:28:31,934 --> 00:28:35,200 This President is focused on the challenging 494 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,066 economic environment. 495 00:28:37,066 --> 00:28:39,800 And admittedly, in focusing on that, 496 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,399 he has to contend with the challenging 497 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,767 political environment. 498 00:28:42,767 --> 00:28:53,233 But right now, he is committed to working with Congress and 499 00:28:53,233 --> 00:28:55,700 doing the things he can do outside of Congress to grow the 500 00:28:55,700 --> 00:28:59,166 economy and help it create jobs. 501 00:28:59,166 --> 00:29:06,500 And I think that in these last several months, 502 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:11,100 that focus has been pretty clear. 503 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:16,166 And he's going to continue that focus. 504 00:29:16,166 --> 00:29:21,667 And the impact that has on polls remains to be seen, 505 00:29:21,667 --> 00:29:26,533 but the -- but it is his primary focus as President. 506 00:29:26,533 --> 00:29:27,833 Ed. 507 00:29:27,834 --> 00:29:29,600 The Press: Jay, I just want to put a finer point then -- are you 508 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:31,399 saying there's a scenario that's possible, 509 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,400 on December 25th, where the President wakes up and "It's 510 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,967 a Wonderful Life" is on, and he puts on his Christmas sweater in 511 00:29:37,967 --> 00:29:39,533 the White House, and he's all alone and his family 512 00:29:39,533 --> 00:29:40,065 is in Hawaii? 513 00:29:40,066 --> 00:29:41,133 Mr. Carney: And he and John Boehner -- (laughter) -- 514 00:29:41,133 --> 00:29:45,633 The Press: He invites John Boehner over and -- is it possible that he spends 515 00:29:45,633 --> 00:29:49,166 Christmas alone at the White House? 516 00:29:49,166 --> 00:29:50,000 Mr. Carney: I think it would be -- 517 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,033 (laughter) 518 00:29:53,033 --> 00:29:53,966 -- will you be available if -- 519 00:29:53,967 --> 00:29:55,166 (laughter) 520 00:29:55,166 --> 00:29:56,934 The Press: I have an opening, yes. 521 00:29:56,934 --> 00:30:00,033 (laughter) 522 00:30:00,033 --> 00:30:01,867 You just give us 20 minutes, we'll do an interview. 523 00:30:01,867 --> 00:30:03,700 Mr. Carney: When he hears this this is going to change his opinion about -- 524 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:07,433 (laughter) 525 00:30:07,433 --> 00:30:10,433 The Press: He'll go to Hawaii. 526 00:30:10,433 --> 00:30:14,100 Mr. Carney: Look, I'm reluctant to say where he's going to be on 527 00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:18,332 which day because I don't want to make this about him. 528 00:30:18,333 --> 00:30:21,567 And also, it is a very fluid situation. 529 00:30:21,567 --> 00:30:24,233 Today, the House -- or overnight, 530 00:30:24,233 --> 00:30:29,000 the House abruptly avoided voting on the available Senate 531 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:35,667 bipartisan compromise to engage in some political theater, 532 00:30:35,667 --> 00:30:38,166 and then -- but what remains true is, 533 00:30:38,166 --> 00:30:41,533 although they have done that, is that available bipartisan 534 00:30:41,533 --> 00:30:45,500 compromise is still there, or is still available. 535 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:48,967 So it's hard to know what tomorrow is going to look like, 536 00:30:48,967 --> 00:30:50,400 what the next day is going to look like, 537 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,266 as this saga continues. 538 00:30:53,266 --> 00:30:56,400 What the President will continue to articulate is his firm belief 539 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:01,900 that, A, he and every leader in Congress is committed to 540 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:05,166 extending the payroll tax cut for a year; B, 541 00:31:05,166 --> 00:31:12,833 that we need to make sure, as an insurance policy against taxes 542 00:31:12,834 --> 00:31:15,567 going up in 11 days on 160 million Americans, 543 00:31:15,567 --> 00:31:18,834 that we pass the bipartisan compromise that extends the 544 00:31:18,834 --> 00:31:20,400 payroll tax cut for two months. 545 00:31:22,233 --> 00:31:25,166 Beyond that my crystal ball is very cloudy, 546 00:31:25,166 --> 00:31:27,367 so I can't really tell you. 547 00:31:27,367 --> 00:31:29,633 I'm sure -- I mean, I know the President wants to see his 548 00:31:29,633 --> 00:31:30,767 daughters and his wife. 549 00:31:30,767 --> 00:31:37,233 But right now, we're focused on urging Congress to do the right 550 00:31:37,233 --> 00:31:38,934 thing -- urging the House of Representatives, 551 00:31:38,934 --> 00:31:40,667 the Republicans in the House of Representatives, 552 00:31:40,667 --> 00:31:42,466 the leadership of the Republicans in the House 553 00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:44,233 of Representatives to do the right thing. 554 00:31:44,233 --> 00:31:45,000 The Press: Two other quick things. 555 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:49,266 One, do you dismiss the concerns that have been raised -- putting 556 00:31:49,266 --> 00:31:51,900 aside all the other issues that are out there -- dismiss the 557 00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:55,300 concerns by some payroll experts who say that just practically 558 00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:56,934 speaking, not politically speaking, 559 00:31:56,934 --> 00:31:59,200 it is going to be difficult, confusing, 560 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,000 hard, to implement a two-month extension -- putting aside 561 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,133 any politics. 562 00:32:03,133 --> 00:32:03,834 Mr. Carney: Sure. 563 00:32:03,834 --> 00:32:04,800 The Press: Do you agree at all? 564 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,100 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't dismiss it. 565 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:11,667 I understand that when Congress waits until the last minute to 566 00:32:11,667 --> 00:32:14,033 do something like this, as it did last year, 567 00:32:14,033 --> 00:32:15,934 it creates some challenges and complications. 568 00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:19,767 But as I said yesterday, the President is committed to asking 569 00:32:19,767 --> 00:32:24,633 his administration to work with American businesses to overcome 570 00:32:24,633 --> 00:32:27,200 whatever complications this might cause. 571 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,567 He would rather do that, rather make that request 572 00:32:29,567 --> 00:32:32,800 of his administration, than ask Americans to spend the holidays 573 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:34,466 worrying about how they're going to deal 574 00:32:34,467 --> 00:32:36,066 with $1,000 less next year. 575 00:32:36,066 --> 00:32:39,100 The Press: Okay. And I hope this doesn't affect my Christmas Day invitation, 576 00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:42,766 but if you feel like John Boehner and the House 577 00:32:42,767 --> 00:32:45,066 Republicans now are blocking the payroll tax cut extension -- and 578 00:32:45,066 --> 00:32:47,000 many times at this podium you've said that the Republicans are 579 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:51,000 out to stop him, practically at every turn -- how is it then the 580 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,200 President was able to tell CBS news that basically his 581 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,600 accomplishments in three years are only beaten by three other 582 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,199 Presidents in American history? 583 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,367 Mr. Carney: Well, he was talking about legislative accomplishments. 584 00:33:01,367 --> 00:33:04,332 And I think it's fair to say that a significant 585 00:33:04,333 --> 00:33:05,567 portion of his -- 586 00:33:05,567 --> 00:33:08,800 The President: Hello, everybody. Sorry to interrupt. 587 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:09,667 Mr. Carney: All yours, sir. 588 00:33:09,667 --> 00:33:10,265 The President: Thank you. 589 00:33:15,233 --> 00:33:17,966 Good afternoon, everybody. 590 00:33:17,967 --> 00:33:20,967 It is no secret that there hasn't been an abundance of 591 00:33:20,967 --> 00:33:24,333 partisanship in Washington this year. 592 00:33:24,333 --> 00:33:28,467 And that's why what happened on Saturday was such a big deal. 593 00:33:28,467 --> 00:33:32,166 Nearly the entire Senate -- including almost all of the 594 00:33:32,166 --> 00:33:38,767 Republicans -- voted to prevent 160 million working Americans 595 00:33:38,767 --> 00:33:42,133 from receiving a tax increase on January 1st. 596 00:33:42,133 --> 00:33:45,700 Nearly the entire Senate voted to make sure that nearly 2.5 597 00:33:45,700 --> 00:33:49,100 million Americans who are out there looking for a job don't 598 00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:51,367 lose their unemployment insurance in the first 599 00:33:51,367 --> 00:33:53,667 two months of next year. 600 00:33:53,667 --> 00:33:57,934 And just about everybody -- Democrats and Republicans -- 601 00:33:57,934 --> 00:34:00,966 committed to making sure that early next year we find a way to 602 00:34:00,967 --> 00:34:04,367 extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through 603 00:34:04,367 --> 00:34:07,300 the end of 2012. 604 00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:11,199 But now, even though Republicans and Democrats in the Senate were 605 00:34:11,199 --> 00:34:14,100 willing to compromise for the good of the country, 606 00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:18,199 a faction of Republicans in the House are refusing to even vote 607 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:21,833 on the Senate bill -- a bill that cuts taxes for 608 00:34:21,833 --> 00:34:24,966 160 million Americans. 609 00:34:24,967 --> 00:34:27,133 And because of their refusal to cooperate, 610 00:34:27,132 --> 00:34:32,433 all those Americans could face a tax hike in just 11 days, 611 00:34:32,433 --> 00:34:35,533 and millions of Americans who are out there looking for work 612 00:34:35,533 --> 00:34:40,667 could find their unemployment insurance expired. 613 00:34:40,667 --> 00:34:45,165 Now, let's be clear: Right now, the bipartisan compromise that 614 00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:49,667 was reached on Saturday is the only viable way to prevent a tax 615 00:34:49,667 --> 00:34:53,033 hike on January 1st. 616 00:34:53,033 --> 00:34:55,065 It's the only one. 617 00:34:55,065 --> 00:34:59,200 All of the leaders in Congress -- Democrats and Republicans -- 618 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:02,466 say they are committed to making sure we extend the payroll tax 619 00:35:02,467 --> 00:35:06,133 cut and unemployment insurance for the entire year. 620 00:35:06,133 --> 00:35:08,000 And by the way, this is something I called 621 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,300 for months ago. 622 00:35:10,300 --> 00:35:12,867 The issue is, is that the Republican and Democratic 623 00:35:12,867 --> 00:35:17,033 leaders of the Senate worked on a one-year deal, 624 00:35:17,033 --> 00:35:20,433 made good progress, but determined that they needed 625 00:35:20,433 --> 00:35:23,233 more time to reach an agreement. 626 00:35:23,233 --> 00:35:26,767 And that's why they passed an insurance policy -- to make sure 627 00:35:26,767 --> 00:35:30,700 that taxes don't go up on January 1st. 628 00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:34,734 In fact, the House Republicans say they don't dispute the need 629 00:35:34,734 --> 00:35:36,734 for a payroll tax cut. 630 00:35:38,233 --> 00:35:40,033 What they're really trying to do, 631 00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:44,000 what they're holding out for, is to wring concessions from 632 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,867 Democrats on issues that have nothing to do with the payroll 633 00:35:47,867 --> 00:35:54,633 tax cut -- issues where the parties fundamentally disagree. 634 00:35:54,633 --> 00:35:58,200 So a one-year deal is not the issue; 635 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,133 we can and we will come to that agreement, 636 00:36:01,133 --> 00:36:04,866 as long as it's focused on the payroll tax cut and unemployment 637 00:36:04,867 --> 00:36:10,033 insurance and not focused on extraneous issues. 638 00:36:10,033 --> 00:36:14,299 The issue right now is this: The clock is ticking; 639 00:36:14,300 --> 00:36:15,934 time is running out. 640 00:36:15,934 --> 00:36:20,433 And if the House Republicans refuse to vote for the Senate 641 00:36:20,433 --> 00:36:24,100 bill, or even allow it to come up for a vote, 642 00:36:24,100 --> 00:36:27,333 taxes will go up in 11 days. 643 00:36:27,333 --> 00:36:30,467 I saw today that one of the House Republicans referred to 644 00:36:30,467 --> 00:36:34,834 what they're doing as, "high-stakes poker." 645 00:36:34,834 --> 00:36:38,866 He's right about the stakes, but this is not poker, 646 00:36:38,867 --> 00:36:44,100 this is not a game -- this shouldn't be politics as usual. 647 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:47,033 Right now, the recovery is fragile, 648 00:36:47,033 --> 00:36:49,500 but it is moving in the right direction. 649 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:51,533 Our failure to do this could have effects not 650 00:36:51,533 --> 00:36:55,133 just on families but on the economy as a whole. 651 00:36:55,133 --> 00:36:56,667 It's not a game for the average family, 652 00:36:56,667 --> 00:36:59,500 who doesn't have an extra 1,000 bucks to lose. 653 00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:03,367 It's not a game for somebody who's out there looking for work 654 00:37:03,367 --> 00:37:07,200 right now, and might lose his house if unemployment insurance 655 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,399 doesn't come through. 656 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:12,633 It's not a game for the millions of Americans who will take a hit 657 00:37:12,633 --> 00:37:16,466 when the entire economy grows more slowly because these 658 00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:18,467 proposals aren't extended. 659 00:37:20,433 --> 00:37:23,367 I just got back from a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base, 660 00:37:23,367 --> 00:37:26,500 where we received the flag and the colors that our troops 661 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:30,533 fought under in Iraq, and I met with some of the last men and 662 00:37:30,533 --> 00:37:32,200 women to return home from that war. 663 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:36,500 And these Americans, and all Americans who serve, 664 00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:41,166 are the embodiment of courage and selflessness and patriotism, 665 00:37:41,166 --> 00:37:44,867 and when they fight together, and sometimes die together, 666 00:37:44,867 --> 00:37:47,467 they don't know and they certainly don't care who's a 667 00:37:47,467 --> 00:37:50,033 Democrat and who's a Republican and how somebody is doing in the 668 00:37:50,033 --> 00:37:54,400 polls and how this might play in the spin room. 669 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,834 They work as a team, and they do their job. 670 00:37:57,834 --> 00:38:02,299 And they do it for something bigger than themselves. 671 00:38:02,300 --> 00:38:04,433 The people in this town need to learn something from them. 672 00:38:06,567 --> 00:38:08,934 We have more important things to worry about than 673 00:38:08,934 --> 00:38:11,166 politics right now. 674 00:38:11,166 --> 00:38:15,767 We have more important things to worry about than saving face, 675 00:38:15,767 --> 00:38:18,399 or figuring out internal caucus politics. 676 00:38:20,767 --> 00:38:23,866 We have people who are counting on us to make their lives just a 677 00:38:23,867 --> 00:38:28,567 little bit easier, to build an economy where hard work pays off 678 00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:31,633 and responsibility is rewarded. 679 00:38:31,633 --> 00:38:36,066 And we owe it to them to come together right now and do the 680 00:38:36,066 --> 00:38:38,500 right thing. 681 00:38:38,500 --> 00:38:40,500 That's what the Senate did. 682 00:38:42,900 --> 00:38:45,100 Democrats and Republicans in the Senate said, 683 00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:49,299 we're going to put our fights on other issues aside and go 684 00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:55,567 ahead and do what's right on something we all agree to. 685 00:38:55,567 --> 00:38:56,567 Let's go ahead and do it. 686 00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:58,700 We'll have time later for the politics; 687 00:38:58,700 --> 00:39:03,232 we'll have time later to have fights around a whole bunch of 688 00:39:03,233 --> 00:39:04,300 other issues. 689 00:39:04,300 --> 00:39:07,200 Right now, though, we know this is good for the economy -- and 690 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:11,767 they went ahead and did the right thing. 691 00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:16,834 I need the Speaker and House Republicans to do the same: 692 00:39:16,834 --> 00:39:23,366 Put politics aside, put aside issues where there 693 00:39:23,367 --> 00:39:27,266 are fundamental disagreements, and come together on something 694 00:39:27,266 --> 00:39:28,266 we agree on. 695 00:39:28,266 --> 00:39:31,967 And let's not play brinksmanship. 696 00:39:31,967 --> 00:39:38,567 The American people are weary of it; they're tired of it. 697 00:39:38,567 --> 00:39:41,400 They expect better. 698 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:43,967 I'm calling on the Speaker and the House Republican leadership 699 00:39:43,967 --> 00:39:47,467 to bring up the Senate bill for a vote. 700 00:39:47,467 --> 00:39:49,300 Give the American people the assurance they need in this 701 00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:50,867 holiday season. 702 00:39:50,867 --> 00:39:51,633 Thank you. 703 00:39:51,633 --> 00:39:55,866 (cross talk) 704 00:40:07,266 --> 00:40:10,200 Mr. Carney: Yes, sorry, I'll just take a couple more because -- 705 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:11,767 (laughter) 706 00:40:11,767 --> 00:40:15,265 -- I think -- you'll never know. 707 00:40:15,266 --> 00:40:18,767 The Press: So is he going to deliver that message now in phone calls? 708 00:40:18,767 --> 00:40:19,399 Mr. Carney: I think he just did. 709 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:20,667 (laughter) 710 00:40:20,667 --> 00:40:21,333 The Press: This was it? 711 00:40:21,333 --> 00:40:24,667 Is he calling Boehner, or is this the way he's going 712 00:40:24,667 --> 00:40:27,133 to do it? 713 00:40:27,133 --> 00:40:28,667 Mr. Carney: I think I've answered the question about whether or 714 00:40:28,667 --> 00:40:35,734 not this is an issue of that kind of negotiation. 715 00:40:35,734 --> 00:40:39,467 It is simply a call by the President for the House of 716 00:40:39,467 --> 00:40:41,934 Representatives, the leadership of the Republican Party in the 717 00:40:41,934 --> 00:40:45,433 House of Representatives, to follow the example of the 718 00:40:45,433 --> 00:40:48,967 Senate, and to act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 719 00:40:48,967 --> 00:40:52,367 fashion to ensure that Americans' taxes don't 720 00:40:52,367 --> 00:40:53,200 go up on January 1st. 721 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:54,834 The Press: Is this a stalemate? Jay, is this a stalemate? 722 00:40:54,834 --> 00:41:00,567 Mr. Carney: I'm not going to -- you guys get to write the flowery prose. 723 00:41:00,567 --> 00:41:02,200 I don't get to do that anymore. 724 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:03,299 Kristen, sorry. 725 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:05,100 The Press: Jay, thanks. 726 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:09,133 House Republicans have said that their main issue with the bill 727 00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:12,200 is that it only extends the payroll tax cut for two months. 728 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:14,433 Given that, as the President just said, ultimately, 729 00:41:14,433 --> 00:41:16,000 he does want to see a one-year extension, 730 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:18,633 can you just explain what the problem is with renegotiating 731 00:41:18,633 --> 00:41:20,600 this deal? 732 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:22,866 Mr. Carney: Well, I'll point you back to both what the 733 00:41:22,867 --> 00:41:24,767 President said and I said, which is that, 734 00:41:28,266 --> 00:41:32,100 as part of an approach that was agreed upon by the Speaker of 735 00:41:32,100 --> 00:41:34,433 the House, the Senate Republican leader, 736 00:41:34,433 --> 00:41:38,066 the Senate Democratic leader worked very hard on a bipartisan 737 00:41:38,066 --> 00:41:41,133 compromise to extend the payroll tax cut for a year. 738 00:41:41,133 --> 00:41:43,567 They made great progress but they were not able to get it 739 00:41:43,567 --> 00:41:47,433 done in time, and they believe that what was of the utmost 740 00:41:47,433 --> 00:41:51,867 importance was that they reach a compromise to extend the payroll 741 00:41:51,867 --> 00:41:55,967 tax cut for two months to ensure that Americans did not have 742 00:41:55,967 --> 00:41:57,767 their taxes go up on January 1st. 743 00:41:57,767 --> 00:42:03,834 But they committed to come back and finish the work that would 744 00:42:03,834 --> 00:42:05,433 lead to a year-long extension. 745 00:42:05,433 --> 00:42:07,667 That is absolutely the President's approach. 746 00:42:07,667 --> 00:42:10,567 I mean, it is simply a fallacy to suggest that this is about 747 00:42:10,567 --> 00:42:12,600 one year versus two months. 748 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:14,232 Everybody is for one year. 749 00:42:14,233 --> 00:42:18,600 In fact -- and I won't bore you with reading all the quotations 750 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:20,933 that exist -- this President has been pushing for a one-year 751 00:42:20,934 --> 00:42:23,767 extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut for months, 752 00:42:23,767 --> 00:42:26,033 initially against great Republican resistance to 753 00:42:26,033 --> 00:42:27,900 even that idea. 754 00:42:27,900 --> 00:42:32,867 So his commitment to doing this for a year I think is 755 00:42:32,867 --> 00:42:35,633 beyond doubt. 756 00:42:35,633 --> 00:42:40,700 What concerns him is that if the House does not take action on 757 00:42:40,700 --> 00:42:48,265 the Senate compromise, taxes go up on 160 million Americans. 758 00:42:48,266 --> 00:42:56,033 The avenue out of this problem that the House leadership 759 00:42:56,033 --> 00:43:01,000 created is obvious and clear to everyone: Vote 760 00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:03,000 on the Senate bill. 761 00:43:04,433 --> 00:43:09,166 It didn't pass 51-49; the Vice President didn't come out -- 762 00:43:09,166 --> 00:43:10,900 have to come in and break a tie. 763 00:43:10,900 --> 00:43:12,900 It passed 89-10. 764 00:43:14,900 --> 00:43:16,734 That's huge. 765 00:43:16,734 --> 00:43:19,165 They don't get much bigger than that on things that 766 00:43:19,166 --> 00:43:21,266 aren't post offices. 767 00:43:21,266 --> 00:43:24,000 So that's the right way to go. 768 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:26,066 The Press: Nancy Pelosi was quoted as saying, 769 00:43:26,066 --> 00:43:28,899 "It is just the extreme tea party element of the Republicans 770 00:43:28,900 --> 00:43:31,400 in the House of Representatives who are standing in the way of a 771 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:33,433 tax cut for 160 million Americans." 772 00:43:33,433 --> 00:43:35,934 Does the administration agree that the tea party 773 00:43:35,934 --> 00:43:37,033 is behind this? 774 00:43:37,033 --> 00:43:38,567 What do you think is at work here? 775 00:43:38,567 --> 00:43:41,133 Mr. Carney: I think, as I've said, and I can say again, 776 00:43:41,133 --> 00:43:45,433 is that what is clear is that, based on an abundance of 777 00:43:45,433 --> 00:43:50,834 reporting, is that the Speaker believed that this was a good 778 00:43:50,834 --> 00:43:57,533 deal; that he thought House Republicans ought to support it. 779 00:43:57,533 --> 00:44:01,933 And then he changed his position because of the strong opposition 780 00:44:01,934 --> 00:44:06,767 of some segment or element of his conference. 781 00:44:06,767 --> 00:44:10,399 Now, you're a better student of Republican Party politics 782 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:11,400 probably than I am now. 783 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:15,066 But certainly some folks would use that label. 784 00:44:15,066 --> 00:44:16,433 To me it's irrelevant. 785 00:44:16,433 --> 00:44:22,467 It's simply that a small faction of one party in one house is 786 00:44:22,467 --> 00:44:26,667 blocking a compromise that has been agreed to overwhelmingly by 787 00:44:26,667 --> 00:44:28,100 everyone else of both parties. 788 00:44:28,100 --> 00:44:33,799 So, look, the fact of the matter is, 789 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:39,367 if taxes don't get -- if the extension doesn't happen and 790 00:44:39,367 --> 00:44:43,433 taxes go up, people aren't going to remember -- the American 791 00:44:43,433 --> 00:44:46,133 people aren't going to remember who won, who saved face, 792 00:44:46,133 --> 00:44:49,700 who won the political battle in the middle of December; 793 00:44:49,700 --> 00:44:51,799 they're going to just remember their taxes went up. 794 00:44:51,800 --> 00:44:56,367 And they're going to be rightfully angry about it. 795 00:44:56,367 --> 00:45:03,567 So it is for that reason that the House should act, 796 00:45:03,567 --> 00:45:08,000 and not worry about whether or not they've extracted the 797 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:12,400 political concessions that would somehow make giving a tax cut to 798 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:15,200 160 million Americans palatable. 799 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:20,332 That used to be what it meant to be a Republican. 800 00:45:20,333 --> 00:45:21,133 Bill. 801 00:45:21,133 --> 00:45:21,933 And then Jackie. 802 00:45:21,934 --> 00:45:24,700 The Press: Jay, isn't there just one flaw to this equation, 803 00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:27,533 which is, if you went to Dulles right now you'd probably meet 804 00:45:27,533 --> 00:45:30,600 half the Republican members of Congress already running 805 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:31,433 out of town. 806 00:45:31,433 --> 00:45:35,033 So in effect, the Senate has gone and the House has gone, 807 00:45:35,033 --> 00:45:36,433 except for the conferees. 808 00:45:36,433 --> 00:45:37,266 So there's -- 809 00:45:37,266 --> 00:45:43,033 Mr. Carney: We call on the Speaker to do what is necessary 810 00:45:43,033 --> 00:45:45,834 to have the House vote on this bipartisan compromise. 811 00:45:45,834 --> 00:45:48,767 The Press: Bring them back to town, is what you're saying? 812 00:45:48,767 --> 00:45:52,165 Mr. Carney: If he feels that the last act of the Republicans in 813 00:45:52,166 --> 00:45:56,533 the House in the year of 2011 is a vote to raise taxes on 814 00:45:56,533 --> 00:45:58,900 Americans, that's what he wants it to be, 815 00:45:58,900 --> 00:46:00,734 he could take that approach; it's the wrong approach 816 00:46:00,734 --> 00:46:02,500 for the country. 817 00:46:02,500 --> 00:46:05,800 And again, going back to my answer, 818 00:46:05,800 --> 00:46:08,567 this is not about political winners or losers. 819 00:46:08,567 --> 00:46:13,367 It's about average folks, their paychecks, 820 00:46:13,367 --> 00:46:20,000 and the fact that it's so unnecessary to make Americans 821 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:22,333 worry about whether or not their taxes are going up as they're 822 00:46:22,333 --> 00:46:23,734 spending the holidays with their families. 823 00:46:23,734 --> 00:46:27,667 Because there's an overwhelming bipartisan consensus that that 824 00:46:27,667 --> 00:46:30,734 should not happen, and there has been a bill passed out of the 825 00:46:30,734 --> 00:46:34,700 Senate -- 89-10 -- that would prevent it from happening. 826 00:46:34,700 --> 00:46:40,734 And but for the objection of a small fraction of one house and 827 00:46:40,734 --> 00:46:43,933 its leadership, it would have happened and the President would 828 00:46:43,934 --> 00:46:45,467 have signed it into law. 829 00:46:45,467 --> 00:46:46,800 The Press: Can I follow on that? 830 00:46:46,800 --> 00:46:49,200 Mr. Carney: Jackie. And then Alexis. 831 00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:51,100 The Press: Speaker Boehner's just named eight Republicans 832 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:52,667 for a conference committee. 833 00:46:52,667 --> 00:46:56,165 Harry Reid has said he won't do anything until the House votes 834 00:46:56,166 --> 00:46:57,367 for the short-term bill. 835 00:46:57,367 --> 00:47:01,934 Is Harry Reid calling the shots here now as we go forward? 836 00:47:01,934 --> 00:47:04,000 Mr. Carney: Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, 837 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:07,900 worked very hard with the Senate Republican leader to fashion a 838 00:47:07,900 --> 00:47:17,033 bipartisan compromise in the Senate that is exactly what 839 00:47:17,033 --> 00:47:19,400 I just described it as -- a bipartisan compromise. 840 00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:22,333 It does not contain -- it is not the bill that the President put 841 00:47:22,333 --> 00:47:25,467 forward; it is not the bill that Senate Democrats put forward. 842 00:47:25,467 --> 00:47:28,834 It is the product of a compromise between Democrats 843 00:47:28,834 --> 00:47:32,466 and Republicans in the Senate, both in terms of the extent of 844 00:47:32,467 --> 00:47:36,367 the tax reduction -- the President wanted more -- and 845 00:47:36,367 --> 00:47:39,033 in the way that it's paid for. 846 00:47:39,033 --> 00:47:43,100 And it even -- as providing the political scalp that some 847 00:47:43,100 --> 00:47:45,200 thought was necessary in the Republican Party -- it has 848 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:51,200 within it some extraneous, ideological measures. 849 00:47:54,133 --> 00:47:56,433 That is available to the House. 850 00:47:56,433 --> 00:47:58,700 The House has not even voted on it; 851 00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:00,667 they have not disposed of it. 852 00:48:00,667 --> 00:48:05,933 It remains as an option for the House to take action. 853 00:48:05,934 --> 00:48:08,266 Senator Reid, Senator McConnell worked very hard to try to get 854 00:48:08,266 --> 00:48:12,000 that one-year extension done before the end of the year. 855 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:17,500 It was their judgment -- their bipartisan judgment -- echoed 856 00:48:17,500 --> 00:48:23,934 by the 89-10 vote that their two-month extension received 857 00:48:23,934 --> 00:48:28,967 -- that it was not possible to reach final agreement on the 858 00:48:28,967 --> 00:48:36,266 one-year extension in time, and that they did not want to risk 859 00:48:36,266 --> 00:48:40,867 American tax -- American -- middle-class Americans and 860 00:48:40,867 --> 00:48:44,367 workers having their taxes go up on January 1st as a result 861 00:48:44,367 --> 00:48:46,300 of the need to spend a little more time reaching 862 00:48:46,300 --> 00:48:48,400 the full-year agreement. 863 00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,100 That's the right approach. 864 00:48:50,100 --> 00:48:54,533 But what is not in doubt is that the President, Senator Reid, 865 00:48:54,533 --> 00:48:58,033 Senator McConnell and the Speaker of the House all agree 866 00:48:58,033 --> 00:49:04,633 -- and Leader Pelosi -- all agree that we should extend 867 00:49:04,633 --> 00:49:08,700 the payroll tax cut for the entire year. 868 00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:11,734 And this President is committed, the leaders are all committed to 869 00:49:11,734 --> 00:49:13,200 working to make that happen. 870 00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:17,966 But what this political brinksmanship has created is the 871 00:49:17,967 --> 00:49:24,033 possibility that taxes will go up on January 1st because House 872 00:49:24,033 --> 00:49:30,165 Republicans refuse to even vote on a bill that received 873 00:49:30,166 --> 00:49:32,367 overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate. 874 00:49:32,367 --> 00:49:35,367 The Press: But is he completely supportive of Senator 875 00:49:35,367 --> 00:49:38,533 Reid's stance that the Senate will not come back, 876 00:49:38,533 --> 00:49:40,567 will not even consider coming back, 877 00:49:40,567 --> 00:49:42,967 unless the House first votes on the short-term -- 878 00:49:42,967 --> 00:49:46,533 Mr. Carney: I have this rare -- Jackie, I have this rare luxury of being 879 00:49:46,533 --> 00:49:48,767 able to say -- but you heard exactly what the President 880 00:49:48,767 --> 00:49:51,399 thinks moments ago from this podium. 881 00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:55,667 And he could not have been clearer about what he thinks 882 00:49:55,667 --> 00:49:58,600 Congress needs to do, what the House Republicans need to do. 883 00:49:58,600 --> 00:50:00,467 He spelled it out very clearly. 884 00:50:00,467 --> 00:50:01,567 The Press: Thank you. 885 00:50:01,567 --> 00:50:03,533 Mr. Carney: Alexis, then I'll go. 886 00:50:03,533 --> 00:50:04,232 The Press: Jay, two quick questions. 887 00:50:04,233 --> 00:50:07,233 First, can you catch us up on what's going on with the omnibus 888 00:50:07,233 --> 00:50:10,033 spending bill, the President's disposition to finish that off? 889 00:50:10,033 --> 00:50:12,834 And the second question is, the President had some traction this 890 00:50:12,834 --> 00:50:15,433 fall with going to the American people and saying, 891 00:50:15,433 --> 00:50:18,867 "Pass this bill," and sending them a message he wanted them to 892 00:50:18,867 --> 00:50:20,166 pressure Congress. 893 00:50:20,166 --> 00:50:22,400 The President just gave a message to Congress, 894 00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:25,233 but is there a role to play for the electorate right now 895 00:50:25,233 --> 00:50:26,867 in these 11 days? 896 00:50:26,867 --> 00:50:30,300 Mr. Carney: Well, look, starting with your second question, 897 00:50:30,300 --> 00:50:34,433 I think that the more that Americans become aware of 898 00:50:34,433 --> 00:50:42,333 the fact that this particular impasse in Washington will 899 00:50:42,333 --> 00:50:44,500 directly result, if not resolved, 900 00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:51,734 in their taxes going up substantially, 901 00:50:51,734 --> 00:50:54,799 they will probably let their members of Congress know how 902 00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:57,333 unhappy they are about that. 903 00:50:57,333 --> 00:51:04,367 The Senate, in the spirit of working on the nation's problems 904 00:51:04,367 --> 00:51:09,500 and putting aside politics, reached a bipartisan agreement 905 00:51:09,500 --> 00:51:12,400 that would prevent that from happening; 906 00:51:12,400 --> 00:51:15,734 that would relieve members of the House, 907 00:51:15,734 --> 00:51:19,033 including House Republicans, of having to explain to their 908 00:51:19,033 --> 00:51:24,500 constituents on January 1st or 2nd or 3rd why it is that their 909 00:51:24,500 --> 00:51:27,233 failure to act has resulted in a tax hike 910 00:51:27,233 --> 00:51:29,633 for 160 million Americans. 911 00:51:29,633 --> 00:51:35,734 On the first part, there's a whole process that involves 912 00:51:35,734 --> 00:51:38,567 producing a bill like the size of the omnibus. 913 00:51:38,567 --> 00:51:40,100 I think it hasn't arrived here yet. 914 00:51:40,100 --> 00:51:41,834 When it does the President will sign it. 915 00:51:41,834 --> 00:51:43,000 The Press: And I have one follow-up. 916 00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:44,734 Mr. Carney: Okay. Connie, then I got to go. 917 00:51:44,734 --> 00:51:46,533 The Press: I just wondered why you don't just take a few days off, 918 00:51:46,533 --> 00:51:47,767 have a cooling-off period? 919 00:51:47,767 --> 00:51:49,000 You've got 11 days. 920 00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:52,000 Just declare a recess so people can make their plans. 921 00:51:52,000 --> 00:52:00,367 Mr. Carney: Well, again, this is -- there is a very easy solution here: 922 00:52:00,367 --> 00:52:04,066 Pass the Senate bill that received 90 percent support 923 00:52:04,066 --> 00:52:05,165 -- Republicans and Democrats. 924 00:52:05,166 --> 00:52:06,300 Thanks.