English subtitles for clip: File:2-22-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:09,930 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 2 00:00:09,934 --> 00:00:12,964 The Press: A few questions on health care, Robert. The 3 00:00:12,967 --> 00:00:18,967 detail about a new rate authority to oversee and shoot down premium increases that are 4 00:00:18,967 --> 00:00:23,137 deemed to be unjustified, unreasonable -- how is that not big government, the feds 5 00:00:23,133 --> 00:00:27,033 getting into the business of regulating and shooting down rate increases? 6 00:00:27,033 --> 00:00:30,063 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Ben, you understand and you've 7 00:00:30,066 --> 00:00:35,896 heard both the President, on numerous occasions, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 8 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:43,070 discuss unjustifiable rate increases by insurance companies that are experiencing profits and 9 00:00:43,066 --> 00:00:49,996 whose rate increases -- proposed rate increases greatly outstrip health care inflation. I 10 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,200 don't think anybody would consider what a state insurance commissioner would do to 11 00:00:54,200 --> 00:01:06,070 be regulating the increases, largely unjustifiable, for health insurance to be an intrusion in 12 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:12,066 their lives, but in fact a help. This is a process that we'll work through with the 13 00:01:12,066 --> 00:01:17,166 Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to ensure that the public has some protection 14 00:01:17,166 --> 00:01:24,566 against this, Ben. I think -- we've certainly seen a lot of the coverage around individuals 15 00:01:24,567 --> 00:01:30,537 that received those letters. We know that this is not the first time, and I doubt it 16 00:01:30,533 --> 00:01:38,063 will be the last time -- unless we get comprehensive reform in place -- that people will see in 17 00:01:38,066 --> 00:01:41,596 the individual market rate increases near 40 percent. 18 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:47,600 The Press: On the bigger picture, about the overall plan, 19 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,570 would the President be willing to accept anything less ambitious than this? In other words, 20 00:01:50,567 --> 00:01:52,467 is this a starting point or is this a minimum? 21 00:01:52,467 --> 00:01:55,037 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think -- well, look, I think this is 22 00:01:55,033 --> 00:02:06,863 a starting point. I think this is what -- a series of ideas that relate to cost, that 23 00:02:06,867 --> 00:02:10,037 relate to insurance reforms, and that relate to coverage that the President would like 24 00:02:10,033 --> 00:02:17,563 to discuss on Thursday. But, Ben, I think it's a starting point in as much -- in as 25 00:02:17,567 --> 00:02:26,167 much as Republicans come to Thursday's meeting with constructive proposals that they're 26 00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:32,366 willing to discuss. I think that's the key to having a successful bipartisan approach 27 00:02:32,367 --> 00:02:41,797 to this legislation, and that is the willingness for both sides to sit down, discuss common 28 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:49,800 approaches to dealing with the skyrocketing costs, to dealing with insurance abuses, and 29 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:55,370 finding a way, as we have said, to take those good ideas and put them into legislation. 30 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:57,167 The Press: So if you get that kind of process the White 31 00:02:57,166 --> 00:02:59,636 House is willing to bend itself -- is willing to accept something less than what was put 32 00:02:59,633 --> 00:03:01,563 forward today? 33 00:03:01,567 --> 00:03:06,167 Mr. Gibbs: Look, obviously the President believes that 34 00:03:06,166 --> 00:03:10,166 we have to do something on cost. The President believes we have to do something about insurance 35 00:03:10,166 --> 00:03:14,736 reforms. The President believes we have to do something about the millions of Americans 36 00:03:14,734 --> 00:03:21,504 that don't have health care coverage. We are tremendously hopeful, which is why the President 37 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:26,800 posted ideas of his on the White House Web site today. We hope Republicans will post 38 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,470 their ideas either on their Web site, or we'd be happy to post them on ours, so that the 39 00:03:31,467 --> 00:03:36,367 American people could come to one location and find out the parameters of what will largely 40 00:03:36,367 --> 00:03:43,997 be discussed on Thursday. But I think what comes out of Thursday will be predicated on 41 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:52,000 a willingness by both sides to sit down and have face-to-face discussions and look for 42 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:57,170 that commonality. I think that's what the American people want Democrats and Republicans 43 00:03:57,166 --> 00:03:58,136 to do in Washington. 44 00:03:58,133 --> 00:04:00,163 The Press: One last one on this. For Americans who are 45 00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:04,166 tuning back into this, process perhaps for the first time in a while, can you explain 46 00:04:04,166 --> 00:04:08,836 how this gets done? You've got Democrats who are still divided over some of the key issues, 47 00:04:08,834 --> 00:04:15,034 about taxes and abortion language and so forth; Republicans are still saying start over. So 48 00:04:15,033 --> 00:04:16,733 how do you take this plan and get it done? 49 00:04:16,734 --> 00:04:19,604 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, the process is going to start 50 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:25,000 -- well, it started today with our posting of ideas. We hope that it continues before 51 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,300 Thursday with Republicans putting out more of their ideas. And then we're going to work 52 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:37,330 this through on Thursday. I don't want to get ahead of a tactical legislative discussion, 53 00:04:37,333 --> 00:04:42,763 ahead of what the legislation might be, understanding that the President is hopeful that this is 54 00:04:42,767 --> 00:04:50,067 a broad discussion where good ideas can be incorporated. Yes, sir. 55 00:04:50,066 --> 00:04:58,636 The Press: Robert, two questions, one on health care 56 00:04:58,633 --> 00:05:01,933 and one on financial reg. Dan said this morning that after Thursday that the proposal that 57 00:05:01,934 --> 00:05:03,864 was put online this morning was designed to overcome a Republican filibuster if one were 58 00:05:03,867 --> 00:05:07,397 to occur. Is that not a sign that you're ready to support reconciliation? 59 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:13,200 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, look -- first of all, reconciliation, 60 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:22,470 as you know, is a legislative vehicle that has been used on a number of occasions over 61 00:05:22,467 --> 00:05:28,897 the past many years. In 2001, the $1.35 trillion tax cut that went through the Senate went 62 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:36,830 through the very same way. The tax cuts in 2003 -- $350 billion -- went through in a 63 00:05:36,834 --> 00:05:42,364 similar way. Again, I don't think the President wants to get ahead of Thursday's meeting. 64 00:05:42,367 --> 00:05:48,697 I think we believe there can and should be a constructive discussion. I do think the 65 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:58,330 President believes there ought to be an up or down vote on health care. 66 00:05:58,333 --> 00:05:58,803 The Press: But just even what you're saying now in terms 67 00:05:58,800 --> 00:05:59,170 of talking about the history of reconciliation sounds like you're paving the way for the 68 00:05:59,166 --> 00:05:59,236 use of that. 69 00:05:59,233 --> 00:06:01,733 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, I just simply do that for anybody 70 00:06:01,734 --> 00:06:10,334 that is hearing this as a word or a legislative vehicle that may not previously understand 71 00:06:10,333 --> 00:06:11,033 its scope and its history. 72 00:06:11,033 --> 00:06:11,163 The Press: But just saying that you -- the President 73 00:06:11,166 --> 00:06:17,396 wants an up or down vote, is that a sign that if that doesn't happen reconciliation is the 74 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:18,030 way to go? 75 00:06:18,033 --> 00:06:21,063 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think what that means is that we have 76 00:06:21,066 --> 00:06:27,336 seen in survey after survey that the American people want Republicans and Democrats to work 77 00:06:27,333 --> 00:06:32,933 together on health care reform. That's our goal for Thursday. I think it's premature 78 00:06:32,934 --> 00:06:36,534 to get ahead of what happens on Friday before Thursday. 79 00:06:36,533 --> 00:06:40,463 The Press: How is that getting ahead after 13 -- how 80 00:06:40,467 --> 00:06:40,797 many months on this? Why can't you say yes or no? 81 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think I answered Jeff's question, 82 00:06:44,567 --> 00:06:45,897 but, Helen, I -- 83 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:47,000 The Press: No, you didn't. 84 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:47,900 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I don't think it's -- 85 00:06:47,900 --> 00:06:50,100 The Press: Is he for reconciliation or not? 86 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:53,570 Mr. Gibbs: The avenue exists if one wants to pursue it. 87 00:06:53,567 --> 00:06:56,567 The Press: Does he want to pursue it? 88 00:06:56,567 --> 00:06:58,467 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I don't think it makes any sense to 89 00:06:58,467 --> 00:07:03,137 get ahead of what happens with the legislation on Friday before discussion on Thursday. 90 00:07:03,133 --> 00:07:05,463 The Press: But it seemed like Dan got -- at least the 91 00:07:05,467 --> 00:07:09,167 signal this morning on the call, without saying -- I mean, he said you haven't decided whether 92 00:07:09,166 --> 00:07:13,136 or not to support it, but the direction seems moving that way with the comments about an 93 00:07:13,133 --> 00:07:14,233 up or down vote. 94 00:07:14,233 --> 00:07:16,563 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I'm not going to get into prejudging 95 00:07:16,567 --> 00:07:19,697 the outcome of Thursday on Monday afternoon. 96 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:21,630 The Press: All right. Let me just ask the one financial 97 00:07:21,633 --> 00:07:26,333 reg question. Does the White House -- would the White House consider having a consumer 98 00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:30,163 financial protection agency that is independent but is part of another regulator, or does 99 00:07:30,166 --> 00:07:32,536 it have to be a separate entity? 100 00:07:32,533 --> 00:07:37,533 Mr. Gibbs: Let me check with NEC. Look, I think obviously 101 00:07:37,533 --> 00:07:49,033 the elements of this are -- have to include the independent authority of a CFPA, whether 102 00:07:49,033 --> 00:07:57,303 it's housed in -- whether it's housed someplace I think is one thing, but does that -- does 103 00:07:57,300 --> 00:08:03,130 the office of the CFPA have the independent authority to act without the permission of 104 00:08:03,133 --> 00:08:10,163 wherever that is housed, I think that is what advocates on the consumer side, like Elizabeth 105 00:08:10,166 --> 00:08:16,636 Warren, have discussed as the appropriate authority with which to protect consumers 106 00:08:16,633 --> 00:08:19,203 and what's been envisioned. I will double check with NEC, see if they have any other 107 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:19,300 guidance. Yes, sir. 108 00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:24,130 The Press: Walk us through the best-case scenario, in 109 00:08:24,133 --> 00:08:28,933 your view, of Thursday -- the Republicans come, they have some ideas, you guys have 110 00:08:28,934 --> 00:08:30,964 some ideas, then what? 111 00:08:30,967 --> 00:08:34,967 Mr. Gibbs: Well, hopefully, that -- look, each of these 112 00:08:34,967 --> 00:08:40,497 -- each of what I've talked about, what the President has talked about, in terms of changes 113 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:50,370 in cost, changes in insurance reform, changes in coverage, as well as fiscal impact, all 114 00:08:50,367 --> 00:08:57,567 of these sections will be discussed in detail at the meeting on Thursday. I think envisioning 115 00:08:57,567 --> 00:09:04,467 if there are additional ideas that the Republicans have, that will cut costs for the American 116 00:09:04,467 --> 00:09:09,467 people. If they've got a plan to do that, they discuss it, and the President agrees 117 00:09:09,467 --> 00:09:17,197 that it should be added, that would be -- I think we would hope that out of the process 118 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:23,830 on Thursday, that would be yet another Republican idea incorporated into the legislation that 119 00:09:23,834 --> 00:09:25,734 would be ultimately and later considered by Congress. 120 00:09:25,734 --> 00:09:27,464 The Press: It would be -- you have the Senate bill, you 121 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:32,297 have your list of fixes to it. So it would be added to the list of fixes or changes? 122 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:35,470 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not a parliamentarian, Jake. I don't -- 123 00:09:35,467 --> 00:09:36,497 The Press: You worked in the Senate. 124 00:09:36,500 --> 00:09:38,870 Mr. Gibbs: Which is why I'm now here. 125 00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:40,467 (laughter) 126 00:09:40,467 --> 00:09:48,837 But I don't -- there are certainly people that can do the legislative counsel -- look, 127 00:09:48,834 --> 00:09:57,964 I think suffice to say if we can get, and the President believes we can, get people 128 00:09:57,967 --> 00:10:04,237 in the room to discuss these things to come to a broad agreement, that legislative tactics 129 00:10:04,233 --> 00:10:10,163 is not what is going to hold up good ideas on both sides merged together from becoming law. 130 00:10:10,166 --> 00:10:13,236 The Press: But just in terms of expedience, I mean, the 131 00:10:13,233 --> 00:10:18,503 way that you guys -- theoretically, if nothing happens on Thursday, that is if there is no 132 00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:22,600 kumbaya moment, then you guys send the Senate bill to the House, the House passes it; then 133 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,770 the fix goes through the Senate. 134 00:10:24,767 --> 00:10:28,367 Mr. Gibbs: Jake, you asked me what I envision was going 135 00:10:28,367 --> 00:10:29,337 to happen on Thursday. 136 00:10:29,333 --> 00:10:30,303 The Press: Right. 137 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:31,500 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to -- before the end of your 138 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:36,200 question -- dispense theoretically with nothing happening on Thursday. I think that would 139 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,170 be a prejudgment that I don't think -- 140 00:10:38,166 --> 00:10:40,396 The Press: Fair enough. But if something does happen, 141 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,930 it would be added to the fix, is the idea? 142 00:10:43,934 --> 00:10:46,704 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I'm not a parliamentarian. I could 143 00:10:46,700 --> 00:10:49,670 seek some guidance from Legislative Counsel. 144 00:10:49,667 --> 00:10:51,197 The Press: There's one other thing I wanted to ask about. 145 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,400 You guys have been talking a lot about how premiums are going up at the same time that 146 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,930 insurance company profits are going up -- the President talked about it in his weekly 147 00:10:58,934 --> 00:11:05,204 address, Secretary Sebelius talked about it. Some of the insurance companies that Sebelius 148 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,730 mentioned in her report and the President mentioned in his weekly address are non-profits 149 00:11:09,734 --> 00:11:15,864 -- specifically in Rhode Island, Oregon, and Michigan -- that have been operating at 150 00:11:15,867 --> 00:11:22,697 a loss and are by definition regulated by the state and non-profits. Why are they included 151 00:11:22,700 --> 00:11:27,230 in the same breath as groups like Anthem BlueCross, that are for-profit ventures? 152 00:11:27,233 --> 00:11:29,503 Mr. Gibbs: Let me check with HHS on -- and I would direct 153 00:11:29,500 --> 00:11:39,500 you also to them -- on the report. Obviously, the notion of them in the breadth of making 154 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:48,670 profits doesn't correlate to them because they're nonprofits. I do think it is a demonstration, 155 00:11:48,667 --> 00:11:54,767 though, profit or nonprofit, we see what is happening to the cost of health care greatly 156 00:11:54,767 --> 00:12:02,637 outstripping health care increases as a result of health care inflation -- which health care 157 00:12:02,633 --> 00:12:09,163 inflation has always -- or in many ways over the past 15 or 20 years been greatly ahead 158 00:12:09,166 --> 00:12:16,796 of the average increases in normal cost of living. What we're seeing now -- Anthem Blue 159 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:26,870 Cross and others -- is something on an exponential magnitude of what we had seen in the past, 160 00:12:26,867 --> 00:12:33,497 even in that increase. So I think that's why the President felt strongly about including 161 00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:38,070 the authority for rate review, and I think that's why the American people want -- the 162 00:12:38,066 --> 00:12:42,266 American people want someone to be on their side looking into this. Dan. 163 00:12:42,266 --> 00:12:43,966 The Press: Robert, based on the signals that you're getting 164 00:12:43,967 --> 00:12:49,867 from Republicans, does it appear that they're coming to that meeting willing to work with 165 00:12:49,867 --> 00:12:51,797 the White House, or resist this plan? 166 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,270 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Dan, I think this is largely 167 00:12:54,266 --> 00:13:02,566 -- I have not seen everything that everybody has said. I saw the statement that Congressman 168 00:13:02,567 --> 00:13:16,697 Boehner put out. Again, I think that the product that comes out of Thursday is dependent upon 169 00:13:16,700 --> 00:13:27,970 the Republican willingness to come and discuss health care solutions and be open to ideas 170 00:13:27,967 --> 00:13:34,197 and ensuring that those ideas are passed on to the people in the form of a change in health 171 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:42,530 care reform. I've seen certainly comments where folks have said, we should go just to 172 00:13:42,533 --> 00:13:49,333 tell everybody why this is a bad idea. Well, that's great. And I hope -- I just hope that 173 00:13:49,333 --> 00:13:54,133 the second page of the talking points that those guys -- that any individual would bring 174 00:13:54,133 --> 00:14:00,463 on that would be to list what you would do. We do know this, that health care, as we've 175 00:14:00,467 --> 00:14:05,267 talked about, the price is skyrocketing; small businesses are dropping their coverage; some 176 00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:09,866 of them are going out of business; it's crippling families' budgets. We know what it's doing 177 00:14:09,867 --> 00:14:19,297 to the federal government's budgets. Simply saying no, simply discussing why we oppose 178 00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:26,400 -- why some people oppose one idea without bringing to that table a series and set of 179 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:33,430 solutions that will help the problem is not fulfilling a role in representative democracy 180 00:14:33,433 --> 00:14:34,763 that's intended through their representation. 181 00:14:34,767 --> 00:14:39,737 The Press: I've got a question on Iran. Has there been 182 00:14:39,734 --> 00:14:46,364 any sign at all that China might be more willing to embrace sanctions in light of the IAEA report? 183 00:14:46,367 --> 00:14:48,697 Mr. Gibbs: I can check with NSC. I have not heard anything 184 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:57,230 specifically on China. Look, I do believe, Dan, that one of the -- the IAEA report represents 185 00:14:57,233 --> 00:15:14,203 one of the clearest denunciations of what the Iranians have been working on. It is a clear -- 186 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:20,270 it is clear and concise in the ways in which the Iranian government has taken steps to 187 00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:30,966 conceal over many years what it's done. And I think this continues the nations of the 188 00:15:30,967 --> 00:15:36,397 P5-plus-1 and members of the IAEA and quite frankly the greater international community 189 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:44,370 in collectively bringing forward the notion that Iran continues to thumb its nose at its 190 00:15:44,367 --> 00:15:49,537 international obligations. The President has been clear, leaders in the IAEA and the P5-plus-1, 191 00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:57,303 our allies have been clear, that without a change in behavior the Iranian government 192 00:15:57,300 --> 00:16:02,630 faces necessary consequences. We're working on that. We've been -- we've worked quite 193 00:16:02,633 --> 00:16:09,433 closely with the Chinese on the strongest sanctions that have ever gone through the 194 00:16:09,433 --> 00:16:16,403 Security Council in resolution 1847 [sic] dealing with North Korea.* So we believe strongly 195 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:22,670 and I think the Chinese believe that an arms race either in the Middle East or an international 196 00:16:22,667 --> 00:16:33,237 arms race is in no way in their interests, particularly -- we certainly know that -- 197 00:16:33,233 --> 00:16:38,963 for what drives the Chinese economy, energy is a big part of it. An arms race in the Middle 198 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,330 The Press: Who would the race be with? And why are you 199 00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:52,603 so hopeful about the summit coming up? 200 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:59,530 Mr. Gibbs: Helen, I think that, first and foremost, this 201 00:16:59,533 --> 00:17:04,803 is what a number -- we've heard a number of people say: "We'd like to go through the President's 202 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,870 plan with the President. We'd like to bring forward our ideas." We're happy to host the 203 00:17:08,867 --> 00:17:11,367 venue -- a venue for that to happen. 204 00:17:11,367 --> 00:17:13,837 The Press: The President has never taken a strong stand 205 00:17:13,834 --> 00:17:19,734 on most things and I think he doesn't come across that way. That's why you've lost so 206 00:17:19,734 --> 00:17:20,734 much time. 207 00:17:20,734 --> 00:17:25,204 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Helen, the President never believed 208 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:31,030 that any of this would be easy, or that any of this would be fast. This has been an issue 209 00:17:31,033 --> 00:17:36,863 that many Presidents for many decades have worked on. 210 00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:37,097 The Press: But he never should have left it to Congress to -- 211 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:42,670 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, the founders included a legislative 212 00:17:42,667 --> 00:17:45,937 branch for a reason, and we have to -- 213 00:17:45,934 --> 00:17:46,164 The Press: They also expect the President to have leadership and -- 214 00:17:46,166 --> 00:17:51,096 Mr. Gibbs: Helen, I don't think anybody would -- we would 215 00:17:51,100 --> 00:17:55,900 not be at the point where we are were it not for the continued leadership of the President 216 00:17:55,900 --> 00:18:03,070 asking that members of Congress work to get this done. Chip. 217 00:18:03,066 --> 00:18:04,636 The Press: Following up on her question, how hopeful 218 00:18:04,633 --> 00:18:11,003 is -- and what are the chances, do you think, that a bill similar to the proposal the President 219 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,500 put out today will be passed and signed into law? 220 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:16,730 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President continues 221 00:18:16,734 --> 00:18:20,564 to be quite hopeful that we will get this done. Again -- 222 00:18:20,567 --> 00:18:22,437 The Press: What are the chances? I mean, is it likely? 223 00:18:22,433 --> 00:18:24,063 Do you think it's likely that it will be? 224 00:18:24,066 --> 00:18:26,366 Mr. Gibbs: I do think it's likely that we'll get health 225 00:18:26,367 --> 00:18:32,167 care reform done this year because I think that the price of failure for everybody involved 226 00:18:32,166 --> 00:18:37,696 is far greater than anything else. But I'll say this, Chip, I think -- again, I want to 227 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:44,770 stress that the effectiveness of Thursday will be predicated upon the willingness of 228 00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:51,467 those involved, Democrat and Republican, President and Republican member of Congress, to look 229 00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:59,397 at, fairly evaluate the ideas that each bring to that table, and if there's commonality, 230 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:06,770 figure out a way to get that into the proposal. Now, if there -- again, as I said today, if 231 00:19:06,767 --> 00:19:10,897 you read in the paper that somebody says, "All I'm coming to do is to make sure that 232 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:16,300 the American people know that what the President has proposed is a bad idea" -- well, again, 233 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:23,200 you're elected to Congress or you're elected to the presidency to propose new ideas and 234 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:30,300 solutions for the problems that everyday Americans face every day. That's what we hope -- that's 235 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:36,500 the constructive notion that we hope participants will bring to Thursday's event. 236 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:41,470 The Press: Aren't the insurance companies sabotaging it? 237 00:19:41,467 --> 00:19:46,167 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think we've all, Helen, been struck by -- 238 00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:47,266 The Press: Raising prices beyond the pale? 239 00:19:47,266 --> 00:19:49,736 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I'll tell you what is amazing to read 240 00:19:49,734 --> 00:19:57,264 is when -- is when you take an insurance company that raises their rates 39 percent, like we 241 00:19:57,266 --> 00:20:01,536 saw in California, they're called out for raising their rates. They say they're raising 242 00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:06,533 their rates because we don't have health care reform. And then you figure out who has been 243 00:20:06,533 --> 00:20:13,863 pushing most against and funding the ads against health care, and you realize behind curtain 244 00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:20,097 number one are the same people that just jacked up rates. I think that demonstrates probably 245 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:25,370 as illustratively as anything why health care reform can't wait. 246 00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:26,797 The Press: If you talk to people on Capitol Hill, they 247 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:31,200 say if it's likely that a bill similar to this is going to pass then it's likely that 248 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,870 it's going to have to be done by reconciliation. So, I mean, to get something like this through, 249 00:20:35,867 --> 00:20:37,467 you've got to do reconciliation. 250 00:20:37,467 --> 00:20:39,767 Mr. Gibbs: But again, Chip, if what the President wanted 251 00:20:39,767 --> 00:20:46,437 to do was simply not listen and take that through the process, we would be having a 252 00:20:46,433 --> 00:20:50,033 discussion about the process, not about the event on Thursday. The President wants to 253 00:20:50,033 --> 00:20:57,033 hear people bring their ideas about how this will change costs, how this will increase coverage -- 254 00:20:57,033 --> 00:20:58,503 The Press: We've already heard what they're going to 255 00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:02,300 do. I mean, as you mentioned, Boehner says this cripples the credibility of the summit. 256 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:06,300 McConnell yesterday characterized putting out a proposal like this as "ramming" 257 00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:10,270 it down their throats. Don't you already know -- isn't it already clear this is going to 258 00:21:10,266 --> 00:21:13,136 be political theater with each side digging in their heels? 259 00:21:13,133 --> 00:21:17,133 Mr. Gibbs: I can only hope that Mitch McConnell and John 260 00:21:17,133 --> 00:21:22,063 Boehner and all the other Republican participants who say they're serious about dealing with 261 00:21:22,066 --> 00:21:27,966 issues like health care reform, that are -- want to be serious about dealing with the 262 00:21:27,967 --> 00:21:33,067 issues that the American people have. They've pushed back greatly on this notion that they're 263 00:21:33,066 --> 00:21:37,566 the "party of no." If they're not the "party of no," Thursday is a perfect venue 264 00:21:37,567 --> 00:21:40,637 to be the "party of yes." 265 00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:43,063 The Press: One other thing, the administration has gone 266 00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:47,496 to great lengths to make clear that jobs and the economy are job number one this year. 267 00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:52,200 But once you get back into health care all that's going to be just overwhelmed by health care. 268 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:53,230 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Chip, I -- 269 00:21:53,233 --> 00:21:55,033 The Press: It's going to -- as far as the American people 270 00:21:55,033 --> 00:21:57,863 are concerned, Health care is going to be priority number one; once it gets out there, that is. 271 00:21:57,867 --> 00:22:02,397 Mr. Gibbs: You know, I've got to tell you, Chip, I think 272 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:07,930 the American people believe -- I certainly -- I know people in this building believe 273 00:22:07,934 --> 00:22:15,134 that Washington can and should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time; that we 274 00:22:15,133 --> 00:22:21,103 face -- look, if you just list the problems that we face -- getting the economy moving 275 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:26,870 again; wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; health care; job -- I mentioned jobs -- education 276 00:22:26,867 --> 00:22:33,937 -- the American people want to believe, because they have to deal with multiple problems at 277 00:22:33,934 --> 00:22:40,664 one time, that Washington can and should be able to address multiple problems. The only 278 00:22:40,667 --> 00:22:45,237 way we're actually going to be able to do that is if we set aside the talking points, 279 00:22:45,233 --> 00:22:50,633 get in a room, roll up our sleeves, and try to make progress. If all we do -- 280 00:22:50,633 --> 00:22:53,133 The Press: -- talking points on the Democratic side on Thursday? 281 00:22:53,133 --> 00:22:55,463 Mr. Gibbs: This goes for Democrats and Republicans. What 282 00:22:55,467 --> 00:23:02,197 I've said up here today, Chip, isn't just about the Republican Party. Democrats and 283 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,870 the President have to be -- and I know on behalf of the President, that he's willing 284 00:23:06,867 --> 00:23:13,537 to listen to these ideas. I think that that's the only way we're going to make progress 285 00:23:13,533 --> 00:23:18,063 on this. And people will get to judge for themselves the willingness for everybody to 286 00:23:18,066 --> 00:23:19,266 be part of that progress. Chuck. 287 00:23:19,266 --> 00:23:19,836 The Press: I know you're bringing the Congressional Budget 288 00:23:19,834 --> 00:23:22,034 Office folks to the summit to sort of be able to -- 289 00:23:22,033 --> 00:23:27,633 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if they're coming, to be honest 290 00:23:27,633 --> 00:23:32,263 with you. I know they were invited; I don't know whether or not -- I don't know whether 291 00:23:32,266 --> 00:23:40,666 or not they're going to be in the room for the event. We will have OMB there. I think 292 00:23:40,667 --> 00:23:46,937 it is safe to say -- you may have a longer question, but whatever happens is going to 293 00:23:46,934 --> 00:23:53,664 have to ultimately be costed out by CBO, understanding that because of the number of estimates that 294 00:23:53,667 --> 00:23:57,837 they've made throughout this process we have fairly good guidance on what things cost. 295 00:23:57,834 --> 00:23:59,504 The Press: Well, I was just going to say, what is the 296 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:03,770 cost of this new bill, which you guys described in this call as the Senate bill with some 297 00:24:03,767 --> 00:24:07,497 important changes? So it's the Senate bill, we know how much that costs -- but with these 298 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:11,630 changes, are you going to get the Congressional Budget Office to give a final estimate, or 299 00:24:11,633 --> 00:24:13,003 do you guys come up with your own? 300 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:14,300 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, again, I think it would be premature 301 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:16,170 to go through that process prior to Thursday. 302 00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:17,696 The Press: Well, cost is an important part of this, though. 303 00:24:17,700 --> 00:24:19,870 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely, it's an important part of it. 304 00:24:19,867 --> 00:24:24,597 I think we'll have estimates on different sections that -- for the discussion. And again, 305 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:29,200 I think that CBO has costed out a number of differences -- 306 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:30,300 The Press: Have you sent any of this specifically to 307 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:31,970 CBO now, or today or no? 308 00:24:31,967 --> 00:24:34,237 Mr. Gibbs: I can check with Nancy-Ann to see if -- I 309 00:24:34,233 --> 00:24:37,803 doubt that that paper has gone to CBO, per se. 310 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,300 The Press: Now, you've called this -- you said it's 311 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:45,030 a starting point, you said it's a posting of ideas. Can we -- is this the President's 312 00:24:45,033 --> 00:24:50,333 health care plan? Is this fair to say what was put out today -- now, I mean, I know we've 313 00:24:50,333 --> 00:24:55,163 been through semantics before, you guys had your principles and the Senate -- this is 314 00:24:55,166 --> 00:24:55,796 now the President's health care bill? 315 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,230 Mr. Gibbs: This is what the President is bringing to 316 00:24:58,233 --> 00:25:09,803 Thursday. This is a product, though, of months of work in committees on the House and Senate 317 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:16,870 side. It incorporates Democratic and Republican ideas and it's a starting point for those 318 00:25:16,867 --> 00:25:27,237 discussions. Again, I think -- we're hopeful that these will be -- these ideas will be 319 00:25:27,233 --> 00:25:28,963 added to by the good ideas Republicans will bring. 320 00:25:28,967 --> 00:25:29,397 The Press: Wouldn't it have been odd if the Republicans 321 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:30,070 -- they've been spending -- they spent six months saying this was a bad bill, the Senate 322 00:25:30,066 --> 00:25:37,136 bill and the House bill, and this is what you're bringing to the table. Wouldn't it 323 00:25:37,133 --> 00:25:44,903 have been odd if they didn't criticize it? I mean, they don't believe this is a good 324 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:48,500 bill, so if this is the -- you see, I mean, that's sort of where they're coming from. 325 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,800 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, but, Chuck, this isn't a -- I don't 326 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:57,500 think the President believed that on Thursday they weren't going to criticize the efforts 327 00:25:57,500 --> 00:26:02,400 that he's been working on for six months. But that's not determinative -- that's not 328 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:08,800 going to be what determines the outcome of the meeting. There are six hours for Republicans 329 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:13,730 to discuss with the President sitting there in the room what their ideas are, why they 330 00:26:13,734 --> 00:26:21,664 believe that an idea that they propose is a better policy idea than he has. They can 331 00:26:21,667 --> 00:26:28,467 discuss both the merits of and the facts of those proposals. If there's commonality we 332 00:26:28,467 --> 00:26:38,067 can -- we'll agree to those things. But I think your question actually is in many ways 333 00:26:38,066 --> 00:26:43,696 exactly what will determine the outcome of Thursday. If the outcome of Thursday is -- 334 00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:48,800 or if the setup for Thursday is simply walking in there and saying, I don't support what 335 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:57,500 you've done, and there's nothing else to that, then I think the American people will be disheartened 336 00:26:57,500 --> 00:27:02,130 that Democrats and Republicans even sitting in the same room discussing the same subject 337 00:27:02,133 --> 00:27:07,863 are incapable of even having a discussion about what alternative ideas there are. I 338 00:27:07,867 --> 00:27:15,137 think that's what's most important to this process, is the ability not just to discuss 339 00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:23,263 one person's ideas, but to discuss a range of concepts. And I -- Republicans have wanted 340 00:27:23,266 --> 00:27:28,936 this, Chuck, for months. They've wanted to get in the same room with the President, walk 341 00:27:28,934 --> 00:27:35,064 through his ideas and talk about why their ideas are better. That's going to happen Thursday at 10:00 a.m. 342 00:27:35,066 --> 00:27:37,236 The Press: This new idea for the health insurance rate 343 00:27:37,233 --> 00:27:42,803 commission, I guess my confusion is, is this a commission that would sort of be -- serve 344 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,730 as a guide to the other states, to the 50 states that do the actual regulating? Or is 345 00:27:47,734 --> 00:27:51,764 this supposed to be a regulatory agency with -- 346 00:27:51,767 --> 00:27:55,637 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no. This is a -- the Secretary in 347 00:27:55,633 --> 00:28:03,733 conjunction with states will develop a review process for unreasonable premium increases. 348 00:28:03,734 --> 00:28:06,604 The Press: So the states are still going to be the regulators? 349 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:07,870 The federal government is -- 350 00:28:07,867 --> 00:28:09,267 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously they're still going to have -- 351 00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:10,596 The Press: -- acting as a guidance counselor of sorts? 352 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,530 Mr. Gibbs: They're going to still have a big role in 353 00:28:12,533 --> 00:28:17,663 this. Obviously there are state insurance commissioners that have some ability to change 354 00:28:17,667 --> 00:28:25,367 these. Not everybody does. But these can -- these will be looked at and evaluated in 355 00:28:25,367 --> 00:28:30,667 conjunction with the states, and then steps and measures can be taken. Because again, 356 00:28:30,667 --> 00:28:35,397 Chuck, I think that -- I mean, we've even seen it now with Anthem, that proposed the 357 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:44,100 39 percent increase, that they've even put that increase on hold. I think they understand 358 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:44,800 that this was not a -- 359 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,030 The Press: No, I understand, but is this supposed to 360 00:28:46,033 --> 00:28:47,403 be a new federal regulatory agency? 361 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:47,770 Mr. Gibbs: It's not a new federal agency. There's no 362 00:28:47,767 --> 00:28:52,097 new bureaucracy. This will be done out of the Secretary's office in Health and Human Services. 363 00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:53,000 The Press: Out of HHS? 364 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:54,730 Mr. Gibbs: And we'll get -- I'll get Reid to walk you 365 00:28:54,734 --> 00:28:55,504 through some more -- 366 00:28:55,500 --> 00:28:57,370 The Press: Okay, because that -- it's just a little confusing 367 00:28:57,367 --> 00:28:58,537 if this is a new agency. 368 00:28:58,533 --> 00:29:00,363 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, ma'am. 369 00:29:00,367 --> 00:29:01,867 The Press: Robert, my question is on the meeting this 370 00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:06,897 week with the Business Roundtable. And first of all I'd like to know what members of the 371 00:29:06,900 --> 00:29:11,070 administration will be present at the meeting with the President? And also, does he -- 372 00:29:11,066 --> 00:29:12,436 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have that with me, but I can certainly 373 00:29:12,433 --> 00:29:13,533 try to find out. 374 00:29:13,533 --> 00:29:15,333 The Press: Okay, thanks. And does he have a specific 375 00:29:15,333 --> 00:29:20,963 proposal for them, particularly on taxation of overseas earnings? Multinationals in this 376 00:29:20,967 --> 00:29:25,937 group have been very vocal in their opposition to a rollback of deferral tax breaks. 377 00:29:25,934 --> 00:29:28,164 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, the President included in his 378 00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:39,166 budget the notion that if -- of rolling back the tax break that allows people to enjoy 379 00:29:39,166 --> 00:29:48,036 the benefits of moving jobs overseas. That's likely going to be an area that -- I'm sure 380 00:29:48,033 --> 00:29:54,333 there are those that will make their strong case for why they think there should be a 381 00:29:54,333 --> 00:30:00,363 tax benefit to that. I think the President will make a case, has made a case, and it 382 00:30:00,367 --> 00:30:07,867 is in his budget a proposal that does not allow them to do that. 383 00:30:07,867 --> 00:30:12,167 The Press: So it sounds like the message he'll be delivering 384 00:30:12,166 --> 00:30:12,966 on that front is a sort of, you know, we're doing this, and there's no -- 385 00:30:12,967 --> 00:30:15,667 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, the President has long felt a 386 00:30:15,667 --> 00:30:24,767 fundamental unfairness in rewarding companies that are moving jobs overseas. I don't think 387 00:30:24,767 --> 00:30:29,967 that's the only thing that will be discussed. Like any relationship -- 388 00:30:29,967 --> 00:30:31,267 The Press: What else will be -- 389 00:30:31,266 --> 00:30:32,996 Mr. Gibbs: Well, as we get closer to that, we'll get 390 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:38,100 a chance to go through what the President will say. I think, as in any good relationship, 391 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,070 you're not going to agree on everything. Mark. 392 00:30:41,066 --> 00:30:43,336 The Press: Robert, does the President regard his plan 393 00:30:43,333 --> 00:30:46,263 today as a compromise plan? 394 00:30:46,266 --> 00:30:50,496 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I think it's a compromise between what 395 00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:56,130 you have -- what you saw come out of the processes in both the House and the Senate, yes. 396 00:30:56,133 --> 00:30:59,003 The Press: Well, those are plans that Republicans nearly 397 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:05,300 universally opposed. Can you point to something in this plan today that you think Republicans 398 00:31:05,300 --> 00:31:07,070 might like? 399 00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:10,396 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it's always been in -- there's always 400 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:15,200 been concepts in the plan to allow people to purchase insurance across state lines. 401 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:20,930 That's what you hear most of all from their proposals -- Senate McCain in the campaign 402 00:31:20,934 --> 00:31:33,204 had a proposal to add those dependents onto your parents' health care up to a certain 403 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:41,870 age to allow for what is a gap in the uninsured based on when someone leaves the dependency 404 00:31:41,867 --> 00:31:50,037 of their parents and gets a job that provides health care. There are -- I don't know in 405 00:31:50,033 --> 00:31:56,533 this legislation -- or in this compendium of stuff, but legislation went through the 406 00:31:56,533 --> 00:32:02,003 process on the Hill, contained amendments, over 160 Republican amendments. But again, 407 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:02,470 Mark, this is a -- 408 00:32:02,467 --> 00:32:05,897 The Press: And they still voted against it. 409 00:32:05,900 --> 00:32:08,030 Mr. Gibbs: And inexplicably all those ideas weren't good 410 00:32:08,033 --> 00:32:14,663 enough. I will say this, Mark: This is a starting point. This can be added to by the ideas that 411 00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:16,867 Republicans bring on Thursday. 412 00:32:16,867 --> 00:32:20,767 The Press: But it sounds like your starting point is 413 00:32:20,767 --> 00:32:28,467 on the hundredth floor of a building and they wanted to start from scratch at the ground 414 00:32:27,333 --> 00:32:30,903 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if I can reconcile the analogy. 415 00:32:28,467 --> 00:32:31,797 floor. How do you reconcile that? 416 00:32:30,900 --> 00:32:31,970 (laughter) 417 00:32:31,967 --> 00:32:39,297 But I will say this, we -- health care is not -- this isn't a subject that we started 418 00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:48,870 discussing at the federal level upon the election of the 44th President of the United States 419 00:32:48,867 --> 00:32:53,937 of America. We know there are people up on Capitol Hill that have been working on health 420 00:32:53,934 --> 00:33:01,004 care on the Republican side for several decades. Understand that the starting point of what 421 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:07,970 the President has put forward is a proposal that was endorsed by, and mirrors quite a 422 00:33:07,967 --> 00:33:15,667 bit, a proposal put out by Bob Dole and Howard Baker along with Tom Daschle. Again, two of 423 00:33:15,667 --> 00:33:24,597 the three of those individuals just happen to be Republicans. The notion of -- the notion 424 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:32,500 of starting over after decades and decades of discussing this problem is not -- is not 425 00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:34,470 what the American people want. Yes, sir. 426 00:33:34,467 --> 00:33:37,537 The Press: Robert, in the health proposal today there 427 00:33:37,533 --> 00:33:44,433 is a new tax on unearned income. So I'm wondering, would retirement income be exempt from the 428 00:33:44,433 --> 00:33:47,103 Medicare tax -- 429 00:33:47,100 --> 00:33:52,100 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get -- let me get Reid and Nancy-Ann 430 00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:55,470 to walk you through some of the specifics of that. Yes. 431 00:33:55,467 --> 00:33:57,837 The Press: Also on health care, the governors have complained 432 00:33:57,834 --> 00:34:00,064 that they're not at the table. Are they -- is there an invitation for them to be there 433 00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:00,896 Thursday, or a representative for them? 434 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:07,900 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously they've got representatives. 435 00:34:07,900 --> 00:34:09,330 The Press: Thursday? 436 00:34:09,333 --> 00:34:13,703 Mr. Gibbs: Well, members of Congress represent the interest 437 00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:15,900 of both their districts and their larger state. 438 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:17,700 The Press: They have specifically asked that the NGA 439 00:34:17,700 --> 00:34:18,200 be there -- 440 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:20,900 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if the NGA will be in the room. 441 00:34:20,900 --> 00:34:27,670 Obviously, I can't imagine that if a governor from X state didn't have a concern -- that 442 00:34:27,667 --> 00:34:36,497 had a concern that it can be birthed by any number of people attending the meeting on 443 00:34:36,500 --> 00:34:40,900 either side. 444 00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:44,670 The Press: One other question, on the schedule is a private 445 00:34:44,667 --> 00:34:44,897 meeting with the governor of California. Is he going to be appealing for federal help 446 00:34:44,900 --> 00:34:44,970 to help pull that state's -- 447 00:34:44,967 --> 00:34:45,667 Mr. Gibbs: If I'm not mistaken, I think that meeting 448 00:34:45,667 --> 00:34:52,367 is either going on now, or happened before I came out here. We will get a readout on 449 00:34:52,367 --> 00:34:56,867 what the President talked about in that meeting. And I'm sure that Governor Schwarzenegger 450 00:34:56,867 --> 00:35:02,637 will discuss what he brought up with the President. Wendell. 451 00:35:02,633 --> 00:35:04,303 The Press: Republicans are saying that the proposal that 452 00:35:04,300 --> 00:35:09,600 the government have more authority to deal with excessive rate increases suggests a lack 453 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:15,370 of confidence in the overall reform's ability to bring down the costs of health care. What 454 00:35:15,367 --> 00:35:16,767 do you say to that? 455 00:35:16,767 --> 00:35:19,467 Mr. Gibbs: Look, understand that our proposal, there's 456 00:35:19,467 --> 00:35:30,797 a time in which exchanges will be set up. And there's a time in which we want to ensure 457 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:39,070 that rate increases aren't slipped through as a part of the gap between when a bill is 458 00:35:39,066 --> 00:35:49,796 signed into law and when those exchanges are up and regulating price increases. Again, 459 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:57,230 the insurance company that proposed increasing by 39 percent said their proposal to increase 460 00:35:57,233 --> 00:36:07,363 was because we lacked health care reform. So I don't -- it's hard to -- it would be 461 00:36:07,367 --> 00:36:14,397 hard to reconcile the notion that having health care reform didn't have confidence in doing 462 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:20,570 this since they said the lack of health care reform is what caused -- purportedly caused 463 00:36:20,567 --> 00:36:21,867 such a sharp increase. 464 00:36:21,867 --> 00:36:25,437 The Press: No provision that I see here to accommodate 465 00:36:25,433 --> 00:36:29,263 the Republicans call for medical malpractice reform. 466 00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:33,236 Mr. Gibbs: Well, first and foremost, the President and 467 00:36:33,233 --> 00:36:38,633 the Secretary of Health and Human Services use the authority -- regulatory authority 468 00:36:38,633 --> 00:36:47,933 that had existed for years to set up demonstration projects in states regarding medical malpractice. 469 00:36:47,934 --> 00:36:53,234 And look, Wendell, I think it's an area which will probably be addressed in the very first 470 00:36:53,233 --> 00:37:02,333 section of what's discussed on Thursday, and I think the President is anxious to discuss it. 471 00:37:02,333 --> 00:37:04,763 The Press: The President expects Republicans to bring 472 00:37:04,767 --> 00:37:13,137 that to the table on Thursday. 473 00:37:13,133 --> 00:37:17,263 Mr. Gibbs: I have read that, yes. 474 00:37:17,266 --> 00:37:18,266 The Press: And does he have an open mind about it? 475 00:37:18,266 --> 00:37:18,466 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. 476 00:37:18,467 --> 00:37:18,697 The Press: On another issue, on Friday Rashad Hussain 477 00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:24,000 said, "I made statements to the panel" -- in '04 the White House has defended his appearance 478 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:30,730 at -- "that I now recognize were ill-conceived, not well-formulated," this in reference to 479 00:37:30,734 --> 00:37:40,064 a man convicted of supporting -- or raising money for a terrorist organization. Were you 480 00:37:40,066 --> 00:37:47,296 misled? Do you maintain confidence in this man the President wants to be his delegate 481 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:49,000 to the Islamic conference? 482 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,370 Mr. Gibbs: We continue to have confidence. The statement 483 00:37:52,367 --> 00:37:58,167 says that the judicial process has concluded and that he has full faith in the outcome 484 00:37:58,166 --> 00:38:06,496 of that judicial process. This is an individual that has written extensively on why you have 485 00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:12,470 -- why some have used religious devices like the Quran to justify this, and why that is 486 00:38:12,467 --> 00:38:19,067 absolutely wrong, and has garnered support from both the left and the right. So we continue 487 00:38:19,066 --> 00:38:20,066 to obviously have confidence. Anne. 488 00:38:20,066 --> 00:38:22,896 The Press: When you say that med-mal is going to be discussed 489 00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:27,630 in the first section on Thursday, is there a structure in place that you can tell us about? 490 00:38:27,633 --> 00:38:30,263 Mr. Gibbs: Well, if I'm not mistaken -- and I don't have 491 00:38:30,266 --> 00:38:34,536 it in front of me -- but I think one of the first sections will be a discussion on cost, 492 00:38:34,533 --> 00:38:42,103 and I presume that's where discussions on medical malpractice, as it relates to cost, 493 00:38:42,100 --> 00:38:43,330 will be discussed. 494 00:38:43,333 --> 00:38:44,933 The Press: And how soon after Thursday are you going 495 00:38:44,934 --> 00:38:48,304 to know whether it succeeded? I mean, are you going to know on Friday if there are House 496 00:38:48,300 --> 00:38:51,870 votes to actually pass this in some form, or is it -- 497 00:38:51,867 --> 00:38:53,967 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know whether there's -- I don't know 498 00:38:53,967 --> 00:38:56,897 whether -- look, I think we'll be able to evaluate to some degree on Thursday whether 499 00:38:56,900 --> 00:39:03,630 there's been a discussion first and foremost that included bringing more ideas to the table. 500 00:39:03,633 --> 00:39:11,433 And I think you'll have a chance to see agreement on -- hopefully agreement on some of those ideas. 501 00:39:11,433 --> 00:39:12,863 The Press: And will this be the last opportunity for 502 00:39:12,867 --> 00:39:15,697 Republicans to bring new ideas? I mean, is this it? 503 00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:20,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well, this has -- I assume you're factoring 504 00:39:20,166 --> 00:39:30,696 into that the committee process that included 160 Republican amendments as part of this 505 00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:39,170 process. Republicans have been involved in every stage of this. Peter. You're good? Yes, sir. 506 00:39:39,166 --> 00:39:45,296 The Press: Thank you, Robert. In the past week, John 507 00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:51,130 Brennan, your counterterrorism expert, has been under fire for remarks he made in an 508 00:39:51,133 --> 00:39:56,633 interview in which he likened the criminal release in the United States and the U.S. 509 00:39:56,633 --> 00:40:03,833 penal system to that of the detainees in the war on terror returned to the battlefield, 510 00:40:03,834 --> 00:40:09,004 saying 20 percent is not that bad. Senator Graham and Senator Bond criticized this and 511 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,570 said he should be fired. What's his status right now? 512 00:40:12,567 --> 00:40:16,397 Mr. Gibbs: He was here at work early on behalf to the 513 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:25,700 American people keeping them safe and secure. Let's understand for a second that -- I don't 514 00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:33,870 know what Senator Graham or Senator Bond said in 2005 when Secretary of State Condoleezza 515 00:40:33,867 --> 00:40:43,197 Rice made an analogy that if you compared the recidivism rate of detainees at Guantanamo 516 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:53,030 with the U.S. penal system, the detainee rate is less for -- the recidivism rate is less 517 00:40:53,033 --> 00:40:58,563 for Guantanamo detainees. I know in your reporting that the next thing you'll talk about is the 518 00:40:58,567 --> 00:41:07,797 fact that John said that any recidivism is too much. And it is why we have taken the 519 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:15,800 time to evaluate those that remain at Guantanamo, to ensure that those that are transferred 520 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:22,700 or -- that those that are transferred either through a court order or by other means, that 521 00:41:22,700 --> 00:41:36,430 there is a plan in place for their -- for the safety and security of those around them. Yes, ma'am. 522 00:41:36,433 --> 00:41:42,503 The Press: Robert, of the Republican health care points 523 00:41:42,500 --> 00:41:43,030 that they have put out on the Internet, has the President read those? Any Republican points, 524 00:41:43,033 --> 00:41:43,233 things that the President could accept? 525 00:41:43,233 --> 00:41:46,133 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think up on our Web site is a list 526 00:41:46,133 --> 00:41:53,403 of Republican ideas. I know the President has gotten from folks here a list of -- a 527 00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:59,070 compilation of Republican ideas in the past. I'd be happy to print for the President -- 528 00:41:59,066 --> 00:42:05,736 if Republicans have posted the ideas that they're going to bring to the meeting on Thursday, 529 00:42:05,734 --> 00:42:10,604 I'd be more than happy to print that document and I'd walk it into the Oval Office this afternoon. 530 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:11,500 The Press: They haven't done that yet? 531 00:42:11,500 --> 00:42:16,130 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't -- I don't know if they've posted 532 00:42:16,133 --> 00:42:18,663 -- I don't know if what they've -- again, we'd be happy to host the posting. 533 00:42:18,667 --> 00:42:18,797 The Press: And so far the White House hasn't seen anything 534 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:24,100 out of all those Republican ideas that you think you might embrace? 535 00:42:24,100 --> 00:42:26,600 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry, what? 536 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:31,070 The Press: You haven't seen anything in anything the 537 00:42:31,066 --> 00:42:34,866 Republicans have put forward that you think you might embrace? 538 00:42:34,867 --> 00:42:37,137 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, I think that's a good point to be 539 00:42:37,133 --> 00:42:43,003 left for Thursday. I don't -- again, there are ideas that Republicans have proposed, 540 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:51,630 including the sale of insurance across state lines. Now, I will admit that we have added 541 00:42:51,633 --> 00:43:01,703 into our legislation a minimum set of standards to ensure that somebody that's seeking a policy 542 00:43:01,700 --> 00:43:10,270 isn't fooled by a policy that may sound too good to be true and in fact becomes too good 543 00:43:10,266 --> 00:43:17,296 to be true. So there's a minimum set of insurance standards that would apply to that sale. But 544 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:22,070 there are Republican ideas already and I think the President looks forward to hearing and 545 00:43:22,066 --> 00:43:22,796 discussing more. Mara. 546 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:25,270 The Press: Robert, one of the things the President has 547 00:43:25,266 --> 00:43:28,936 done is he's laid down these predicates for the meeting, saying, I'm willing to listen 548 00:43:28,934 --> 00:43:33,304 to any ideas so long as they -- and then he ticks off his goals -- expands coverage, reduces 549 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:38,400 costs, et cetera. The Republicans don't share his goal of expanding coverage to 30 million 550 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:46,070 or universal. Is he coming into this meeting with an open mind on bedrock issues like that? 551 00:43:46,066 --> 00:43:51,366 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the President has an open mind and is 552 00:43:51,367 --> 00:43:54,437 happy to hear proposals and ideas. 553 00:43:54,433 --> 00:43:57,163 The Press: Even if they don't meet his long-stated goals? 554 00:43:57,166 --> 00:44:00,536 Mr. Gibbs: Understand, Mara, I don't -- I've been asked 555 00:44:00,533 --> 00:44:05,003 a number of times, would the President just sign anything, be able to call it reform, 556 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:10,730 and then run around saying we did reform? I don't think -- we've got, depending on which 557 00:44:10,734 --> 00:44:17,004 figure you use, 35-36 million people in this country that don't have access to affordable 558 00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:24,870 health care insurance. The President has I think important and strong views on ensuring 559 00:44:24,867 --> 00:44:32,837 that that number, the number that we cover, is as high as it can be, because understanding 560 00:44:32,834 --> 00:44:41,064 -- we hear a lot about the cost of health care. Well, it costs us in higher premiums 561 00:44:41,066 --> 00:44:45,496 each and every time somebody without health insurance gets in a car accident, gets sick, 562 00:44:45,500 --> 00:44:52,900 and has to go to the emergency room for treatment. You've heard Governor Schwarzenegger talk 563 00:44:52,900 --> 00:44:59,030 about this a lot because in the largest state that happens because of the large number of uninsured. 564 00:44:59,033 --> 00:45:02,163 The Press: Just a couple of technical questions. On reconciliation, 565 00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:06,366 is there any -- when you mentioned things that have been passed using reconciliation 566 00:45:06,367 --> 00:45:09,297 in the past, is there any reason you left welfare reform off the list? 567 00:45:09,300 --> 00:45:14,530 Mr. Gibbs: No, I just -- I think there's an expansive 568 00:45:14,533 --> 00:45:23,503 list that goes back many years. The point I was making was simply that I think if you 569 00:45:23,500 --> 00:45:33,100 listen to some talk about it now, you would -- it makes it seem as if it's a once-in-a-lifetime 570 00:45:33,100 --> 00:45:39,770 occurrence; that I assume if you matched up what people say about that and some of their 571 00:45:39,767 --> 00:45:41,667 votes on that, it might appear different. 572 00:45:41,667 --> 00:45:44,237 The Press: And on reconciliation, is it your understanding 573 00:45:44,233 --> 00:45:49,163 that the authority to use the reconciliation process is indefinite or does it run out at 574 00:45:49,166 --> 00:45:50,466 a certain point this year? 575 00:45:50,467 --> 00:45:52,997 Mr. Gibbs: I would check with -- let me check. 576 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:54,400 The Press: And I just have one other -- 577 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:56,830 Mr. Gibbs: I pled lack of parliamentary understanding 578 00:45:56,834 --> 00:45:57,704 earlier on. 579 00:45:57,700 --> 00:45:59,630 The Press: And one other quick thing about CBO, just 580 00:45:59,633 --> 00:46:06,063 to follow up on Chuck's question. The President has often said when he's talked about specific 581 00:46:06,066 --> 00:46:09,566 Republican proposals that the CBO has scored them in a certain way where they don't cover 582 00:46:09,567 --> 00:46:13,797 very many people or they don't add up to the deficit reduction. And that -- and he's really 583 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:19,730 looked to the CBO to provide credibility for these proposals. Why wouldn't you submit this 584 00:46:19,734 --> 00:46:23,764 in advance so that you can come on Thursday and say what exactly it's been scored as? 585 00:46:23,767 --> 00:46:25,567 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, Mara, understanding the base 586 00:46:25,567 --> 00:46:31,137 for the proposal that the President put online today is the Senate bill. That obviously has 587 00:46:31,133 --> 00:46:36,403 gone through -- that has gone through so many machinations at the CBO -- 588 00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:39,230 The Press: Then that should be easy for them to give 589 00:46:39,233 --> 00:46:40,563 you a little update by Thursday. 590 00:46:40,567 --> 00:46:43,667 Mr. Gibbs: Well, and I think because of the amount of 591 00:46:43,667 --> 00:46:48,397 scoring that we've done, you can come to a pretty good estimate on that prior to doing 592 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:58,130 that. Again, I don't -- Mara, I don't think what we lack for Thursday is a CBO score on 593 00:46:58,133 --> 00:46:59,233 the President's starting point. 594 00:46:59,233 --> 00:47:00,863 The Press: Well, they're going to come in and say that 595 00:47:00,867 --> 00:47:04,097 it doesn't actually do the things he says it does. 596 00:47:04,100 --> 00:47:07,800 Mr. Gibbs: I understand that, but, again, the number 597 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:14,100 -- so many of these proposals have been evaluated by the Congressional Budget Office. It's not 598 00:47:14,100 --> 00:47:23,600 as if this is something out of newly whole cloth. These are things that have been discussed, 599 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:33,400 evaluated, and judgment rendered on, on, quite frankly, both sides of the aisle. Yes, ma'am. 600 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:35,670 The Press: Robert, the White House bill eliminates the 601 00:47:35,667 --> 00:47:40,137 special Medicaid treatment for Nebraska, but it appears to leave in the funds that were 602 00:47:40,133 --> 00:47:44,033 secured by Senator Landrieu for Louisiana, as well as the special Medicare Advantage 603 00:47:44,033 --> 00:47:48,463 treatment that was obtained by Senator Nelson of Florida. So I'm just wondering, how did 604 00:47:48,467 --> 00:47:52,467 the White House decide with these carve-outs which to do away with, which to include? 605 00:47:52,467 --> 00:47:54,767 Mr. Gibbs: Let me check on the latter one. On the former 606 00:47:54,767 --> 00:48:05,167 one, this is an FMAP proposal that governs any state with which the President has declared 607 00:48:05,166 --> 00:48:13,036 a major disaster. So it's not a carve-out for; in fact, it covers -- potentially covers 608 00:48:13,033 --> 00:48:18,503 any state with which, as I said a minute ago, the President has declared how that health 609 00:48:18,500 --> 00:48:21,270 care relates to a major disaster. Yes, sir. 610 00:48:21,266 --> 00:48:24,566 The Press: Thanks, Robert. A couple questions, first, 611 00:48:24,567 --> 00:48:29,567 the President's proposal did include the individual mandate. And many Republicans -- Orrin Hatch 612 00:48:29,567 --> 00:48:34,837 and others -- have said that that's not constitutional. Will the White House have any sort of legal 613 00:48:34,834 --> 00:48:37,964 analysis explaining why that is constitutional? 614 00:48:37,967 --> 00:48:40,497 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know the answer to that. I have not 615 00:48:40,500 --> 00:48:48,670 heard anybody discuss the constitutionality of that. I don't pretend to be a lawyer, but 616 00:48:48,667 --> 00:48:53,667 this is a concept that has been around for quite some time. 617 00:48:53,667 --> 00:48:55,937 The Press: All right. Secondly, this is non-health care 618 00:48:55,934 --> 00:49:01,264 related. But John Boehner, speaking earlier this month about the Faith-Based Council member 619 00:49:01,266 --> 00:49:05,636 Harry Knox, said -- I'm quoting him -- "We can't have in the White House an anti-Catholic 620 00:49:05,633 --> 00:49:14,263 bigot, and that's what this gentleman appears to be." He was referring to Mr. Knox's comment 621 00:49:14,266 --> 00:49:15,266 that the Pope had -- 622 00:49:15,266 --> 00:49:19,666 Mr. Gibbs: I don't -- not surprisingly, I do not have 623 00:49:19,667 --> 00:49:25,267 anything on that. I'd be happy to have one of these guys take a look at it. Steve. 624 00:49:25,266 --> 00:49:27,166 The Press: Robert, I wanted to clarify, you talked earlier 625 00:49:27,166 --> 00:49:30,896 about the regulation of the insurance rates being set up to stop -- I think you said to 626 00:49:30,900 --> 00:49:33,900 stop insurance companies from racing through rate increases before these exchanges are 627 00:49:33,900 --> 00:49:38,000 set up. Will this rate authority be temporary, then? Will it sunset when the exchanges start? 628 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:41,600 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get Reid and Nancy-Ann to give you 629 00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:48,400 -- to walk you guys through some of that. Look, I think our strong belief is that it 630 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:54,630 would be redundant authority at -- after which we get health care reform implemented. David. 631 00:49:54,633 --> 00:49:59,103 The Press: Two questions. On health care, on the excise 632 00:49:59,100 --> 00:50:04,270 tax, House Democrats still are very opposed to this. Nancy Pelosi, a few weeks ago, said 633 00:50:04,266 --> 00:50:08,996 there was absolutely no support for it, even if -- even if the Senate form was tweaked. 634 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:15,000 So have you spoken to House Democrats about the particulars in the President's proposal 635 00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:16,230 on that front? 636 00:50:16,233 --> 00:50:20,563 Mr. Gibbs: Well, David, I think they were briefed on 637 00:50:20,567 --> 00:50:27,597 Capitol Hill after we had a briefing call this morning. I know that they're -- I've 638 00:50:27,600 --> 00:50:31,900 seen the Speaker say that they're going to discuss some of the outlines of what the President 639 00:50:31,900 --> 00:50:35,100 has put up on the Internet this afternoon and this evening. 640 00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:40,600 The Press: Now, back to the stimulus. Last week, many 641 00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:46,100 Republicans put out statements that the stimulus has created absolutely no new jobs, as you 642 00:50:46,100 --> 00:50:50,600 know. Over the weekend, Governor Schwarzenegger said that it created 120,000 or so in his 643 00:50:50,600 --> 00:50:56,700 own state. And just a few moments ago, Governor Crist, said it had led to the creation or 644 00:50:56,700 --> 00:51:01,770 maintenance of 87,000 jobs in Florida. All that said, do you believe that Republicans 645 00:51:01,767 --> 00:51:06,797 here in Washington are purposefully lying about the stimulus? 646 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:07,700 Mr. Gibbs: I don't actually believe that they believe 647 00:51:07,700 --> 00:51:14,630 their own statements. I mean, again, I used the example last week of Eric Cantor said 648 00:51:14,633 --> 00:51:21,803 -- Eric Cantor said that it has created no jobs, but when it came time to apply for high-speed 649 00:51:21,800 --> 00:51:29,930 rail funds, he said it would create jobs. Now, speaking of reconciliation, I don't have 650 00:51:29,934 --> 00:51:34,834 the slightest idea how one reconciles what one says in Washington and what one says in 651 00:51:34,834 --> 00:51:46,004 their district when they seem to be in such contradiction. Whether it's Governor Schwarzenegger, 652 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:55,200 whether it's Governor Crist, whether it's Mark Zandi, who was the chief economic advisor 653 00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:58,170 to John McCain's presidential campaign -- 654 00:51:58,166 --> 00:52:00,096 The Press: Not the chief -- 655 00:52:00,100 --> 00:52:01,700 Mr. Gibbs: Well, right. 656 00:52:01,700 --> 00:52:02,970 The Press: Doug Holtz was. 657 00:52:02,967 --> 00:52:05,097 The Press: And he is a Democrat, Zandi is, so -- 658 00:52:05,100 --> 00:52:09,100 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't -- I hope you're not saying 659 00:52:09,100 --> 00:52:18,570 that party affiliation would change the economic analysis that one goes through. Democrat or 660 00:52:18,567 --> 00:52:24,097 Republican, he was an advisor to the McCain campaign and has said jobs were created and 661 00:52:24,100 --> 00:52:32,530 economic growth has happened. You watch Republicans continue to sort of trip over themselves to 662 00:52:32,533 --> 00:52:38,903 both put out a statement for -- on why this hasn't worked, at the same time hoping desperately 663 00:52:38,900 --> 00:52:44,730 that someone will read their letter for money to come to their district so it will add to 664 00:52:44,734 --> 00:52:47,504 what's working already there as part of the Recovery Act. 665 00:52:47,500 --> 00:52:51,770 The Press: But if they're playing that sort of game on 666 00:52:51,767 --> 00:52:53,767 the stimulus, how can you expect to make any progress with them on health care reform? 667 00:52:53,767 --> 00:52:55,397 Mr. Gibbs: Because the President will be in the room, 668 00:52:55,400 --> 00:53:04,430 and I think if somebody makes -- were to make an argument as out of the blue as that, I 669 00:53:04,433 --> 00:53:13,103 think there's somebody there who would have an alternative viewpoint on that. April. 670 00:53:13,100 --> 00:53:18,330 The Press: Robert, two questions. Governor Paterson was 671 00:53:18,333 --> 00:53:24,703 outside and he said that he's going to be involved in conversations today on the expected 672 00:53:24,700 --> 00:53:28,830 KSM trial. Could you talk to me about what this conversation is (inaudible), who is it 673 00:53:28,834 --> 00:53:31,834 with, and what his conversations have been with the President and Eric Holder? 674 00:53:31,834 --> 00:53:34,864 Mr. Gibbs: I did not see his statement out there. I will 675 00:53:34,867 --> 00:53:46,197 have NSC check and see if -- who they're having discussions with. My sense is there are -- 676 00:53:46,200 --> 00:53:51,330 well, without prejudging what he might say, obviously we have heard from the police chief 677 00:53:51,333 --> 00:53:57,933 and the mayor and the like of both security and logistical concerns for a trial there. 678 00:53:57,934 --> 00:54:08,804 Those are being looked at and evaluated. Obviously there is money in the budget for trials. So 679 00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:15,830 I assume that he's coming to express monetary reservations relating to that, and I'll certainly 680 00:54:15,834 --> 00:54:17,134 see what those are. 681 00:54:17,133 --> 00:54:18,533 The Press: As the President has his hand involved in 682 00:54:18,533 --> 00:54:22,463 this, has he reached out to Governor Paterson personally to talk about this? 683 00:54:22,467 --> 00:54:25,937 Mr. Gibbs: They may have -- I don't know if they talked 684 00:54:25,934 --> 00:54:31,404 about it last night. My guess is no. I was -- I don't know whether that happened last night. 685 00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:34,330 The Press: Okay. And then on black farmers, there's a 686 00:54:34,333 --> 00:54:39,563 concern that this March 31st deadline will not happen. And they're saying that the only 687 00:54:39,567 --> 00:54:45,097 way that these black farmers will get this $1.25 billion that they're due for this long 688 00:54:45,100 --> 00:54:50,970 settlement is that if the President steps in and stands by it as well as other Democrats 689 00:54:50,967 --> 00:54:57,497 on the Hill. Is the President expected and will he step in and say, "I support these 690 00:54:57,500 --> 00:55:01,370 farmers" and push it through before the March 31st deadline? 691 00:55:01,367 --> 00:55:03,197 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think you all saw the statement the 692 00:55:03,200 --> 00:55:09,930 President put out at the end of the week based on the proposed settlement. You could see 693 00:55:09,934 --> 00:55:16,004 the President supports that settlement. I have not seen the deadline concerns, but we'll 694 00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:18,100 ask Ag or others to address that. 695 00:55:18,100 --> 00:55:20,200 The Press: Yes, the President has put out a statement, 696 00:55:20,200 --> 00:55:26,100 and so have many others, but there is a concern with the political climate right now and with 697 00:55:26,100 --> 00:55:26,800 deficits that this is going to go another term, possibly to another President if this 698 00:55:26,800 --> 00:55:34,070 President does not put his self into this and help push it through before -- 699 00:55:34,066 --> 00:55:37,896 Mr. Gibbs: Once again, let me talk with him specifically. 700 00:55:37,900 --> 00:55:45,370 My sense is that the President has put out a fairly strong statement in support of this. Sam. 701 00:55:45,367 --> 00:55:47,467 The Press: I'm sorry if this has already been addressed, 702 00:55:47,467 --> 00:55:52,097 but can you explain why in this detailed health care proposal the President and his team did 703 00:55:52,100 --> 00:55:53,500 not include a public option? 704 00:55:53,500 --> 00:55:56,000 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think it has been asked; I think it 705 00:55:56,000 --> 00:56:04,700 might have been asked this morning. Sam, the President has put forward a proposal that 706 00:56:04,700 --> 00:56:11,730 is based on the Senate plan with some, as you all have heard in here, some modifications 707 00:56:11,734 --> 00:56:21,264 to that, and as the best way forward into something that can ultimately wind its way 708 00:56:21,266 --> 00:56:22,136 through Congress. 709 00:56:22,133 --> 00:56:23,933 The Press: So what do you think of the 20 or so senators 710 00:56:23,934 --> 00:56:30,134 who have now signed a letter asking for this to be passed through reconciliation? Is that 711 00:56:30,133 --> 00:56:30,433 a waste of -- 712 00:56:30,433 --> 00:56:32,233 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think they've asked for a vote on 713 00:56:32,233 --> 00:56:39,363 the floor of the Senate and that's certainly up to those who manage those amendments and 714 00:56:39,367 --> 00:56:40,767 to Leader Reid. 715 00:56:40,767 --> 00:56:44,137 The Press: I have a question on Haiti and then one on 716 00:56:44,133 --> 00:56:46,833 health care reform. There are ships carrying heavy equipment and aid that are being held 717 00:56:46,834 --> 00:56:51,934 at the ports of Port-au-Prince and Saint-Marc and they can't unload because people are demanding 718 00:56:51,934 --> 00:56:54,564 payoffs. What is the U.S. doing to monitor the situation? And once the airports are turned 719 00:56:54,567 --> 00:57:01,697 over back to the Haitians, what will you do to monitor the situation there? 720 00:57:01,700 --> 00:57:07,870 Mr. Gibbs: Let me have NSC -- I'm not familiar with that 721 00:57:07,867 --> 00:57:13,697 transaction, but we will have NSC look into that for you. 722 00:57:13,700 --> 00:57:14,370 The Press: And on preexisting conditions, for a while 723 00:57:14,367 --> 00:57:17,237 you were talking about preexisting conditions just being for children. Have you gone back 724 00:57:17,233 --> 00:57:19,733 to preexisting conditions being for everybody, for adults, too, now? 725 00:57:19,734 --> 00:57:23,464 Mr. Gibbs: Well, preexisting -- barring an insurance 726 00:57:23,467 --> 00:57:31,467 company from discriminating on behalf or on the basis of a preexisting condition -- when 727 00:57:31,467 --> 00:57:38,367 the bill was immediately signed into law, that protection would go in immediately for 728 00:57:38,367 --> 00:57:49,267 those children. What then is -- for the greater population, that phases in after the signing 729 00:57:49,266 --> 00:57:56,436 of the bill. So we have supported then and continue to support now doing away with insurance 730 00:57:56,433 --> 00:57:59,733 companies being able to discriminate on the basis of any preexisting condition. 731 00:57:59,734 --> 00:58:02,204 The Press: But for adults it won't kick in immediately. 732 00:58:02,200 --> 00:58:02,470 Mr. Gibbs: It won't kick in immediately, right. 733 00:58:02,467 --> 00:58:05,397 The Press: Senator Lieberman is now planning to introduce 734 00:58:05,400 --> 00:58:16,870 a "don't ask, don't tell" repeal bill next week. Would the President like to see Congress 735 00:58:16,867 --> 00:58:17,067 pass repeal this year? 736 00:58:17,066 --> 00:58:19,536 Mr. Gibbs: Look, as you know, the President is strongly 737 00:58:19,533 --> 00:58:31,133 in support of this, working with Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen. There is a process 738 00:58:31,133 --> 00:58:40,163 that's underway. You saw in Admiral Mullen the first joint chair to openly -- active 739 00:58:40,166 --> 00:58:47,996 joint chair to openly call for its repeal. We have stated throughout this process that 740 00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:55,070 the only durable way for this to happen is through legislation. We think that Senator 741 00:58:55,066 --> 00:59:03,766 Lieberman's proposal is obviously an important step in that legislation. And I would point 742 00:59:03,767 --> 00:59:11,537 out that you heard from commanders in the field over the weekend on news shows as well 743 00:59:11,533 --> 00:59:18,563 as former Chairman Powell also come out strongly in support of repealing "don't ask, don't tell." 744 00:59:18,567 --> 00:59:21,367 The Press: A lot of people fear that if it doesn't happen 745 00:59:21,367 --> 00:59:26,797 this year that it very well may not happen throughout the entire first term, not just 746 00:59:26,800 --> 00:59:27,570 in the second one. 747 00:59:27,567 --> 00:59:28,167 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think the President shares that because 748 00:59:28,166 --> 00:59:32,866 I believe, and I think you all have seen this throughout, obviously there has been a lot 749 00:59:32,867 --> 00:59:40,937 of public polling on this done since the President's proposal and since Secretary Gates and Admiral 750 00:59:40,934 --> 00:59:49,304 Mullen testified on Capitol Hill about this. There is strong bipartisan support for its 751 00:59:49,300 --> 00:59:58,030 repeal among the American people. The President obviously shares that, as do important members 752 00:59:58,033 --> 01:00:02,433 of the military. And we think it will become law. Thank you, all.