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1 00:00:09,900 --> 00:00:13,700 Mr. Gibbs: Two quick announcements before we take your questions here. 2 00:00:13,700 --> 00:00:16,730 The President and First Lady will welcome President Sarkozy 3 00:00:16,734 --> 00:00:20,134 of France to the White House on Tuesday, March 30th, 4 00:00:20,133 --> 00:00:21,433 for a meeting and a private dinner. 5 00:00:21,433 --> 00:00:25,663 France is an invaluable partner and ally of the United States in 6 00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:27,337 our shared efforts to promote peace, 7 00:00:27,333 --> 00:00:29,803 security and prosperity around the world. 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,630 And the French and the American people share deep cultural 9 00:00:31,633 --> 00:00:33,433 and historic ties. 10 00:00:33,433 --> 00:00:35,503 The President looks forward to consulting with President 11 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:38,770 Sarkozy on a broad range of strategic issues of mutual 12 00:00:38,767 --> 00:00:43,067 concern, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran, 13 00:00:43,066 --> 00:00:47,296 Middle East peace efforts, European security cooperation, 14 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:51,700 and sustaining global economy recovery. 15 00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:56,470 Secondly, today the President announced the administration's 16 00:00:56,467 --> 00:00:59,637 strong support for repealing the antitrust exemption currently 17 00:00:59,633 --> 00:01:02,533 enjoyed by health insurers. 18 00:01:02,533 --> 00:01:05,363 At its core, health reform is all about ensuring that American 19 00:01:05,367 --> 00:01:07,467 families and businesses have more choices, 20 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:10,897 benefit from more competition, and have greater control over 21 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:13,100 their own health care. 22 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:16,430 Repealing this exemption is an important part of that effort. 23 00:01:16,433 --> 00:01:19,103 Today there are no rules outlawing bid rigging, 24 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:22,430 price fixing, and other insurance company practices that 25 00:01:22,433 --> 00:01:26,033 will drive up health care costs, and often drive up their own 26 00:01:26,033 --> 00:01:27,533 profits as well. 27 00:01:27,533 --> 00:01:31,363 That was transmitted to Congress in a statement of administration 28 00:01:31,367 --> 00:01:37,037 policy as the House considers that legislation over the next 29 00:01:37,033 --> 00:01:38,363 couple of days. 30 00:01:38,367 --> 00:01:40,067 Yes, ma'am. 31 00:01:40,066 --> 00:01:42,266 The Press: Robert, a lot of members of your own party on the 32 00:01:42,266 --> 00:01:45,466 Hill are wondering how aggressive the President is 33 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,997 going to get in selling this latest, 34 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,770 last-ditch effort at comprehensive reform. 35 00:01:52,767 --> 00:01:57,537 So what are his plans? 36 00:01:57,533 --> 00:01:58,633 Is he going to talk to the public? 37 00:01:58,633 --> 00:01:59,933 Are we going to hear him talking frequently about the need 38 00:01:59,934 --> 00:02:00,704 to do this? 39 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:03,430 What's the sort of rollout campaign for his plan? 40 00:02:03,433 --> 00:02:07,163 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I'm not going to get too far ahead of 41 00:02:07,166 --> 00:02:09,336 the next thing that's on the calendar, and 42 00:02:09,333 --> 00:02:12,563 that's the importance of - important events 43 00:02:12,567 --> 00:02:14,067 of Thursday in -- 44 00:02:14,066 --> 00:02:15,536 The Press: Democrats are saying that this kind of an effort 45 00:02:15,533 --> 00:02:17,403 would be just as important as sitting down around the table. 46 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,800 You also have to sell it to a public that's skeptical and to 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,670 Democrats on the Hill who are skeptical. 48 00:02:22,667 --> 00:02:24,967 Mr. Gibbs: Well, but I think before we get there the 49 00:02:24,967 --> 00:02:29,997 President has wanted to and will sit down with Democrats and 50 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,470 Republicans to discuss their ideas, 51 00:02:33,467 --> 00:02:40,097 to go through the plans that had been put forward and to find 52 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:43,130 agreement where that's possible. 53 00:02:43,133 --> 00:02:45,603 I think that's the next step, and I don't think the President 54 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,330 wants to get too far ahead on that process. 55 00:02:47,333 --> 00:02:49,633 The Press: But how are they -- I don't see how they have to be 56 00:02:49,633 --> 00:02:52,063 separate from one another. 57 00:02:52,066 --> 00:02:54,366 Why do you have to separate one out from the other? 58 00:02:54,367 --> 00:02:58,237 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not discussing whether or not they're separate. 59 00:02:58,233 --> 00:03:01,603 The President is not focused on Friday. 60 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,370 The President ultimately is focused on Thursday. 61 00:03:04,367 --> 00:03:05,837 The Press: But Democrats are saying he needs to be focused on 62 00:03:05,834 --> 00:03:07,964 Friday if there's any chance of this thing succeeding. 63 00:03:07,967 --> 00:03:11,297 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we have been focused on getting health 64 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:12,330 care reform this far. 65 00:03:12,333 --> 00:03:13,403 We're focused on getting it done. 66 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:19,130 And we look forward to what we hope is a robust exchange of 67 00:03:19,133 --> 00:03:21,333 ideas on Thursday. 68 00:03:21,333 --> 00:03:23,063 The President -- 69 00:03:23,066 --> 00:03:24,736 The Press: I hate to drag this out even further, 70 00:03:24,734 --> 00:03:26,604 but it sounds like what you're -- it sounds like you're not 71 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:27,830 willing to say that he's going to make an aggressive 72 00:03:27,834 --> 00:03:29,004 sales effort -- 73 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,730 Mr. Gibbs: You want to take this in a different direction. 74 00:03:32,734 --> 00:03:34,934 The President is focused -- the President is focused 75 00:03:34,934 --> 00:03:36,434 on Thursday. Yes. 76 00:03:36,433 --> 00:03:37,533 The Press: Shifting gears a little bit, 77 00:03:37,533 --> 00:03:40,363 can you talk about where things stand with the Volcker rule? 78 00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:42,537 It's being watered down by lawmakers. 79 00:03:42,533 --> 00:03:45,833 Treasury put out a statement today talking about wanting 80 00:03:45,834 --> 00:03:48,804 limits for banks on proprietary trading. 81 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,670 The President's original announcement was an outright 82 00:03:51,667 --> 00:03:53,367 ban, and that's what Chairman Volcker supports. 83 00:03:53,367 --> 00:03:54,297 Are you softening your position? 84 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:55,400 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely not. 85 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,300 The administration remains as committed today to what was 86 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:02,230 outlined that day with Chairman Volcker and members 87 00:04:02,233 --> 00:04:04,103 of the economic team. 88 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:06,900 We're as committed to that now as we were on that day. 89 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:11,070 This was a proposal that was developed by -- at the 90 00:04:11,066 --> 00:04:15,736 President's behest with Chairman Volcker, 91 00:04:15,734 --> 00:04:19,164 with Secretary Geithner and with Director Summers, 92 00:04:19,166 --> 00:04:21,666 and outlined and announced by the President with all 93 00:04:21,667 --> 00:04:23,937 three at his side. 94 00:04:23,934 --> 00:04:26,364 We have -- we're not walking away from and we're not watering 95 00:04:26,367 --> 00:04:29,337 down that proposal one bit. 96 00:04:29,333 --> 00:04:31,763 The Press: But are you signaling that you'd be willing to accept 97 00:04:31,767 --> 00:04:34,097 less than what the President initially -- 98 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:36,430 Mr. Gibbs: We're as committed towhat the President outlined that day. 99 00:04:36,433 --> 00:04:41,403 We're as committed to that now as we were on that day. 100 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:42,670 We're not walking away from what the President outlined 101 00:04:42,667 --> 00:04:44,597 on the Volcker rule. 102 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,030 The Press: You've taken a pretty strong stand on 103 00:04:46,033 --> 00:04:47,063 the consumer agency. 104 00:04:47,066 --> 00:04:49,336 Do you feel as strongly about the Volcker rule as that? 105 00:04:49,333 --> 00:04:50,163 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. 106 00:04:50,166 --> 00:04:51,796 Absolutely. 107 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:52,770 The Press: Just one other question. 108 00:04:52,767 --> 00:04:54,567 Can you talk about tonight's dinner with the 109 00:04:54,567 --> 00:04:56,337 business leaders? 110 00:04:56,333 --> 00:04:58,263 What does the President want to talk to them about? 111 00:04:58,266 --> 00:05:01,096 And what is he going to talk about tomorrow? 112 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:03,070 You mentioned the international tax provisions, 113 00:05:03,066 --> 00:05:04,336 but what other topics -- 114 00:05:04,333 --> 00:05:06,263 Mr. Gibbs: I was asked that yesterday. 115 00:05:06,266 --> 00:05:09,536 Look, I think the President will outline a vision for a more 116 00:05:09,533 --> 00:05:11,463 competitive America. 117 00:05:11,467 --> 00:05:14,697 The President looks forward to sitting down with executive 118 00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:18,730 community members from the Business Roundtable this evening 119 00:05:18,734 --> 00:05:23,264 and having a free-flowing conversation about their ideas 120 00:05:23,266 --> 00:05:25,536 -- we'll have -- I think we've put out some of those names, 121 00:05:25,533 --> 00:05:27,533 we'll put out the remainder of those names at the beginning of 122 00:05:27,533 --> 00:05:32,533 the dinner -- to discuss where the interests of workers, 123 00:05:32,533 --> 00:05:36,263 business and government intersect in creating a new 124 00:05:36,266 --> 00:05:42,066 foundation for ensuring incentives for continued hiring; 125 00:05:42,066 --> 00:05:47,366 to talk about the need to export more of our goods overseas and 126 00:05:47,367 --> 00:05:51,437 open up markets; to discuss the steps that we've taken to 127 00:05:51,433 --> 00:05:55,833 stabilize the economy and the financial system; 128 00:05:55,834 --> 00:05:59,204 and discuss what his vision is moving forward. 129 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,770 So I think that will all be what he outlines tomorrow 130 00:06:03,767 --> 00:06:04,967 at the speech. 131 00:06:04,967 --> 00:06:05,597 Yes, sir. 132 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,370 The Press: Can you tell us a little bit more about this 133 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:08,767 statement of administration policy regarding the 134 00:06:08,767 --> 00:06:11,167 antitrust exemption? 135 00:06:11,166 --> 00:06:12,866 Why specifically now? 136 00:06:12,867 --> 00:06:16,067 How long has the President been planning on coming out 137 00:06:16,066 --> 00:06:16,736 in favor of this? 138 00:06:16,734 --> 00:06:20,704 He's been hinting about it for quite some time. 139 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:26,870 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the House is considering in their legislative 140 00:06:26,867 --> 00:06:30,097 vehicle -- this legislation goes to the Rules Committee today; 141 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:33,370 as my understanding, goes to the floor either tomorrow 142 00:06:33,367 --> 00:06:36,067 or the day after that. 143 00:06:36,066 --> 00:06:39,566 We typically weigh in at this part -- point in the process 144 00:06:39,567 --> 00:06:41,697 with a statement of administration policy. 145 00:06:41,700 --> 00:06:45,870 It's been evaluated by a number of departments throughout 146 00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:53,497 government, and believe that this -- removing this exemption 147 00:06:53,500 --> 00:07:01,630 will allow appropriate enforcement and examination of 148 00:07:01,633 --> 00:07:05,433 potential policies that might prove uncompetitive, 149 00:07:05,433 --> 00:07:12,963 might stifle competition, and we think this better promotes 150 00:07:12,967 --> 00:07:15,497 affordability and innovation through greater choice and less 151 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:16,700 market concentration. 152 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:17,930 The Press: I think it was either a few weeks ago or a few months 153 00:07:17,934 --> 00:07:21,204 ago the President said, I think in one of the weekly addresses, 154 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,470 that it was time for Congress to consider repealing the 155 00:07:25,467 --> 00:07:26,737 antitrust exemption. 156 00:07:26,734 --> 00:07:32,164 Do you have evidence that there is any, as you put it, 157 00:07:32,166 --> 00:07:32,966 bid rigging or price fixing? 158 00:07:32,967 --> 00:07:34,937 Is that why he came out more solidly in favor of this? 159 00:07:34,934 --> 00:07:35,804 Mr. Gibbs: We do know this, Jake, 160 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:43,230 that the AMA studied the market concentration of health insurers 161 00:07:43,233 --> 00:07:44,303 and found that 94 percent of the U. S. 162 00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:48,170 health insurance markets were highly concentrated, 163 00:07:48,166 --> 00:07:52,896 meaning one or only a few health insurers offering policies in, 164 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:57,070 as I said, almost all the markets in the country. 165 00:07:57,066 --> 00:08:03,596 This allows DOJ and FTC the ability to look into, 166 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,000 in complement with state insurance regulations, 167 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,800 to ensure competitiveness. 168 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:10,530 The Press: Okay. 169 00:08:10,533 --> 00:08:13,233 And about Thursday's summit, it doesn't really seem like it's 170 00:08:13,233 --> 00:08:16,763 shaping up right now to seem all that bipartisan on Thursday. 171 00:08:16,767 --> 00:08:19,337 You have Republicans saying it's going to be a 172 00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:21,703 Democratic infomercial. 173 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:24,370 The fact that the President posted his plan on whitehouse. 174 00:08:24,367 --> 00:08:29,137 gov is indicative of a lack of sincerity on his part, they say, 175 00:08:29,133 --> 00:08:33,333 because he's -- and then, for your guy's part, 176 00:08:33,333 --> 00:08:38,133 the bill that you've posted is not just a bill the President 177 00:08:38,133 --> 00:08:41,833 supports; it's also a vehicle to get this through Congress 178 00:08:41,834 --> 00:08:43,304 without any Republican support. 179 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:47,000 Mr. Gibbs: Again, Jake, the bill is a starting point for what 180 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,870 Congress had spent many months considering. 181 00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:53,037 What we get out of Thursday will be, as I said yesterday, 182 00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:55,903 based on the willingness of those participating to come in 183 00:08:55,900 --> 00:08:58,400 with an open mind and discuss the ideas and the 184 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,300 plans that they have. 185 00:09:00,300 --> 00:09:03,570 Was it disappointing that Senate Republicans appear to have 186 00:09:03,567 --> 00:09:08,297 decided not to post their plan on the Internet for discussion, 187 00:09:08,300 --> 00:09:11,770 or for Republicans to come with a more consensus plan? 188 00:09:11,767 --> 00:09:13,667 Sure, that's disappointing. 189 00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:21,067 I hope that doesn't wipe away their willingness to actively 190 00:09:21,066 --> 00:09:24,566 discuss the ideas that they have to cut costs for those that are 191 00:09:24,567 --> 00:09:28,937 drowning -- small businesses and families -- government budgets, 192 00:09:28,934 --> 00:09:32,534 and those that are being discriminated against 193 00:09:32,533 --> 00:09:36,063 by the practices of insurance companies. 194 00:09:36,066 --> 00:09:37,666 The Press: But doesn't the fact that you've posted it in the 195 00:09:37,667 --> 00:09:40,597 form that you've posted it, which is not just a list of 196 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,170 principles or a statement of legislation - 197 00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:43,996 Mr. Gibbs: Well -- 198 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,670 The Press: -- but, I mean, look, we all know that -- 199 00:09:45,667 --> 00:09:47,797 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. In fairness -- 200 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,400 The Press: -- for reconciliation if it comes to that. 201 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,330 Mr. Gibbs: Jake, in fairness, I can assume if we would have 202 00:09:52,333 --> 00:09:54,733 simply posted principles they would have said, 203 00:09:54,734 --> 00:09:56,404 why isn't there more information? 204 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:04,270 Look, semantics aside, the President looks forward to 205 00:10:04,266 --> 00:10:10,096 discussing actively for several hours with members of his 206 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:13,500 administration, Democrats and Republicans, 207 00:10:13,500 --> 00:10:15,230 their ideas for health care reform. 208 00:10:15,233 --> 00:10:19,333 I think -- again, I can't stress enough, I think the product, 209 00:10:19,333 --> 00:10:24,533 the output of six hours of discussion will be based on 210 00:10:24,533 --> 00:10:27,763 every participant's willingness to come and have an honest and 211 00:10:27,767 --> 00:10:30,797 frank discussion. 212 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,630 I don't think it does any good if somebody says, 213 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,763 we're not going there to offer our ideas, 214 00:10:35,767 --> 00:10:40,637 we're just going there to help people understand how bad the 215 00:10:40,633 --> 00:10:42,233 other guys' ideas are. 216 00:10:42,233 --> 00:10:44,103 That's not what the American people are looking for. 217 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:47,600 They're looking for Democrats and Republicans who are willing 218 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,830 to sit around a table and work together to provide solutions to 219 00:10:50,834 --> 00:10:54,664 problems like health care, the rising cost of health care. 220 00:10:54,667 --> 00:10:57,967 That's what the President sees as his hope for what 221 00:10:57,967 --> 00:10:59,297 happens on Thursday. 222 00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:00,500 The Press: One last thing, I'm sorry. 223 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:04,570 Congressman Jeff Sestak last week said that the White House 224 00:11:04,567 --> 00:11:08,467 offered him a high ranking job in the administration to not 225 00:11:08,467 --> 00:11:10,867 run against Arlen Specter. 226 00:11:10,867 --> 00:11:12,367 Do you guys have any comment on that? 227 00:11:12,367 --> 00:11:15,197 Mr. Gibbs: I was traveling for a couple of days, as you know. 228 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,300 I have seen some stuff that he said, but I 229 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:20,130 have not looked into this. 230 00:11:20,133 --> 00:11:20,333 Jake. 231 00:11:20,333 --> 00:11:23,333 The Press: Just to follow on Jake's question, 232 00:11:23,333 --> 00:11:28,203 is the White House optimistic that on Friday health care will 233 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,000 be in a different place than it is right now, 234 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:30,930 that something will actually -- 235 00:11:30,934 --> 00:11:33,304 Mr. Gibbs: Hopefully Thursday afternoon. 236 00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:40,130 Again, I think the President wants to sit down and discuss 237 00:11:40,133 --> 00:11:44,433 ways to move forward, ideas of common interest. 238 00:11:44,433 --> 00:11:46,963 The Press: -- from Republicans are you confident, 239 00:11:46,967 --> 00:11:48,437 are you optimistic that this -- 240 00:11:48,433 --> 00:11:51,603 Mr. Gibbs: I am, because, look, I think this is -- you always 241 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,630 have a little bit of pre-game chatter. 242 00:11:54,633 --> 00:11:59,163 I think the -- again, the willingness of individuals and 243 00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:05,766 groups to discuss these ideas I think will change when the -- I 244 00:12:05,767 --> 00:12:08,237 think the American people want to see that two parties can sit 245 00:12:08,233 --> 00:12:15,233 around a table and coherently discuss solutions to the 246 00:12:15,233 --> 00:12:17,003 problems that the American people face. 247 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,770 I think that's what the American people want to see as well. 248 00:12:19,767 --> 00:12:20,567 The Press: One other question. 249 00:12:20,567 --> 00:12:25,067 Yesterday after the jobs bill, the Republicans supporting the 250 00:12:25,066 --> 00:12:27,736 jobs bill, did the President directly reach out to them, 251 00:12:27,734 --> 00:12:29,204 thank them for -- 252 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,930 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know that the President made any calls. 253 00:12:30,934 --> 00:12:33,364 Obviously you saw our statement. 254 00:12:33,367 --> 00:12:41,097 Look, I think this is a good example and a good lead-in to 255 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:49,730 Thursday, and that is there's a willingness for members to put 256 00:12:49,734 --> 00:12:56,034 aside partisan games and to move ahead with what we know is 257 00:12:56,033 --> 00:12:59,463 important for the American people and for the growth and 258 00:12:59,467 --> 00:13:02,297 the stabilization of our economy. 259 00:13:02,300 --> 00:13:07,570 My sense is that this will pass fairly overwhelmingly either 260 00:13:07,567 --> 00:13:09,567 later today or tomorrow. 261 00:13:09,567 --> 00:13:15,267 And I think that's an important step on the road to each party 262 00:13:15,266 --> 00:13:19,136 working together on solutions for the American people. 263 00:13:19,133 --> 00:13:20,903 Chip. 264 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,900 The Press: On the health care, supporters of the public option 265 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:25,700 are making another push in preparation for Thursday's 266 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,270 meeting to try to get it back on the agenda. 267 00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:30,536 By not including it in the President's proposal, 268 00:13:30,533 --> 00:13:33,303 is the President saying as far as he's concerned it's dead? 269 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:39,300 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think that we have seen obviously -- 270 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:42,800 and I talked about this some yesterday -- that there are some 271 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:48,070 that are supportive of this. 272 00:13:48,066 --> 00:13:52,236 There isn't enough political support in a majority 273 00:13:52,233 --> 00:13:55,403 to get this through. 274 00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:00,330 The President wanted to find -- took the Senate bill as a base, 275 00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:08,263 and looks forward to discussing consensus ideas on Thursday. 276 00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:13,096 The Press: A question that I -- on Wall Street bonuses. 277 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:15,730 The New York State Comptroller just released its 278 00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:17,464 report for 2009. 279 00:14:17,467 --> 00:14:21,467 It says pay was up 17 percent over 2008. 280 00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:26,897 The average taxable bonus on Wall Street rose to $123,850, 281 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:29,770 and pay was probably even higher than that because it didn't 282 00:14:29,767 --> 00:14:32,367 include deferred compensation or stock options. 283 00:14:32,367 --> 00:14:36,967 First of all, any comment from the administration that has at 284 00:14:36,967 --> 00:14:39,197 least talked a lot and done some hard work to try to get these 285 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,870 bonuses to go down instead of up? 286 00:14:41,867 --> 00:14:45,497 And secondly, is the White House satisfied with regulators in 287 00:14:45,500 --> 00:14:47,930 Congress and what they're doing to curb these bonuses? 288 00:14:47,934 --> 00:14:51,934 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Chip, obviously you've heard the President on a 289 00:14:51,934 --> 00:14:56,404 number of occasions voice his frustration and outright shock 290 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:02,830 at the pay practices of Wall Street at a time in which the 291 00:15:02,834 --> 00:15:08,434 American people were rushing directly to their financial aid 292 00:15:08,433 --> 00:15:14,403 to prevent a further collapse of the economy. 293 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:24,200 The President in the Recovery Act appointed Ken Feinberg to 294 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,230 review the bonus and compensation structure of firms 295 00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:30,203 that had received extraordinary governmental assistance, 296 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,100 and he's pleased with the efforts that Ken has 297 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:35,730 made thus far. 298 00:15:35,734 --> 00:15:41,834 We pushed for in the House a provision providing shareholders 299 00:15:41,834 --> 00:15:45,564 with a say on executive pay that did pass the House and is 300 00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:47,267 certainly pending in the Senate. 301 00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:52,366 And the President has long advocated that in lieu of cash, 302 00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:57,737 any bonus that is given ought to be given in long-term stock that 303 00:15:57,734 --> 00:16:01,164 does not, again, reward short-term risk taking, 304 00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:03,736 but rewards long-term success. 305 00:16:03,734 --> 00:16:06,334 We've seen some progress on that front. 306 00:16:06,333 --> 00:16:09,503 But, Chip, I think it's safe to say that the President remains 307 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:14,770 frustrated and believes that the compensation practices of Wall 308 00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:17,567 Street have a long way to go. 309 00:16:17,567 --> 00:16:19,437 The Press: And despite all his efforts it seems that they just 310 00:16:19,433 --> 00:16:21,033 kind of shrug off the criticism. 311 00:16:21,033 --> 00:16:23,263 I mean, isn't there something beyond frustration? 312 00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:24,866 Isn't there more he can do here? 313 00:16:24,867 --> 00:16:28,997 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, look, we have instituted important rules 314 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,370 for the firms that directly received extraordinary 315 00:16:32,367 --> 00:16:35,997 assistance to keep them afloat. 316 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:43,930 I think the American people are equally outraged and shocked by 317 00:16:43,934 --> 00:16:51,904 what appears to be a carelessness about the way the 318 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:57,600 people of this country -- a carelessness about the way the 319 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,330 people of this country loaned Wall Street money to ensure it 320 00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:09,103 didn't collapse, all while Wall Street appears not to hear the 321 00:17:09,100 --> 00:17:14,200 outrage and the frustration each day on the pay practices that 322 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,830 we've seen thus far. 323 00:17:17,834 --> 00:17:19,434 The Press: Robert, the CBO says it doesn't have enough 324 00:17:19,433 --> 00:17:22,533 information on this new health care plan to score it. 325 00:17:22,533 --> 00:17:24,333 Are you going to provide that info so it's scored 326 00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:25,303 before tomorrow? 327 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:27,470 Mr. Gibbs: The plan wasn't put up in order to score it 328 00:17:27,467 --> 00:17:29,567 before tomorrow, no. 329 00:17:29,567 --> 00:17:32,567 The Press: I thought you guys wanted the -- what is going on? 330 00:17:32,567 --> 00:17:33,467 Yesterday -- 331 00:17:33,467 --> 00:17:36,497 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we -- 332 00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:37,300 The Press: -- do you still want to have the CBO there? 333 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:38,930 Mr. Gibbs: There were folks that mentioned that might be 334 00:17:38,934 --> 00:17:41,534 uncomfortable for -- congressional leaders that 335 00:17:41,533 --> 00:17:43,563 mentioned that might be uncomfortable for CBO based on 336 00:17:43,567 --> 00:17:48,467 executive and congressional -- I think we'll have access to OMB. 337 00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:51,497 Suffice to say we have a rough sense of -- 338 00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:52,670 The Press: -- said don't bring the CBO? 339 00:17:52,667 --> 00:17:54,397 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get into that. 340 00:17:54,400 --> 00:18:02,330 The proposal that the President put online, again, 341 00:18:02,333 --> 00:18:03,563 is a starting point. 342 00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:07,037 This wasn't something that we ever believed would be a 343 00:18:07,033 --> 00:18:09,103 proposal that would be fully scored. 344 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:13,430 Our hope is that we can add some ideas for a broader-consensus 345 00:18:13,433 --> 00:18:15,103 legislation that could go to CBO. 346 00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:16,970 The Press: Do you plan on getting it fully scored? 347 00:18:16,967 --> 00:18:18,537 Do you guys plan on asking the Congressional Budget Office 348 00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:19,603 to do that? 349 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:20,370 Mr. Gibbs: Not before Thursday. 350 00:18:20,367 --> 00:18:21,497 The Press: No, but after Thursday, 351 00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:23,030 what you come up with -- because it's never going to be a full 352 00:18:23,033 --> 00:18:25,463 bill, I understand that, because you still have the Senate bill 353 00:18:25,467 --> 00:18:26,997 on one hand and the fixes on the other hand. 354 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,430 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get past where we're going on Thursday. 355 00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:33,363 The Press: Yesterday on the job's bill, 356 00:18:33,367 --> 00:18:35,897 you guys had endorsed one bill, then it got yanked and Reid put 357 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:38,600 out this very -- this smaller $15 billion bill. 358 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,600 Do you expect to see the Senate do a series of these now? 359 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,130 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we said that then. 360 00:18:43,133 --> 00:18:45,503 We said that -- I mean, for instance, we've -- 361 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:46,970 The Press: What do you guys want to see the Senate tackle next? 362 00:18:46,967 --> 00:18:49,637 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think what you'll see -- what I know has to 363 00:18:49,633 --> 00:18:51,163 happen by the end of the month, obviously, 364 00:18:51,166 --> 00:18:54,196 is an extension of long-term unemployment benefits and an 365 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,230 extension of health care and COBRA benefits that many would 366 00:18:58,233 --> 00:19:00,563 see expire at the end of the month. 367 00:19:00,567 --> 00:19:05,097 Obviously, there are additional tax ideas, 368 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:09,430 and the President outlined a series of small business ideas 369 00:19:09,433 --> 00:19:11,033 that he hopes that the Senate will take up. 370 00:19:11,033 --> 00:19:14,063 The Press: There's one in this -- 371 00:19:14,066 --> 00:19:16,736 Mr. Gibbs: Look, we said then and it's certainly true now that 372 00:19:16,734 --> 00:19:20,764 legislation making its way through the Senate will -- this 373 00:19:20,767 --> 00:19:23,737 legislation that they're now considering will not be the 374 00:19:23,734 --> 00:19:27,534 first -- oh, I'm sorry, is the first but won't be the last 375 00:19:27,533 --> 00:19:30,833 proposal that the Senate will likely take up. 376 00:19:30,834 --> 00:19:32,334 The Press: Do you think this is turning out to be a better way 377 00:19:32,333 --> 00:19:34,503 to get through -- things through the Senate, these small chunks? 378 00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:35,500 Or just -- 379 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:44,070 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think it is encouraging that you had 380 00:19:44,066 --> 00:19:45,966 bipartisan support yesterday for moving these ideas 381 00:19:45,967 --> 00:19:49,137 forward for debate. 382 00:19:49,133 --> 00:19:53,263 My prediction is that you will have -- this is something that 383 00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:59,396 despite the threat of -- the threat of filibuster and the 384 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:06,670 need to end that threat, my guess is you'll have pretty 385 00:20:06,667 --> 00:20:07,997 broad bipartisan support. 386 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:14,070 What that means is -- again, I think there's -- I think the 387 00:20:14,066 --> 00:20:17,696 American people want to see us end the game play. 388 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:21,730 I'll let each individual member decide how they want to respond 389 00:20:21,734 --> 00:20:23,834 to a constituent who says, why did you oppose moving forward 390 00:20:23,834 --> 00:20:29,234 with it on Monday and support it on Wednesday or Thursday? 391 00:20:29,233 --> 00:20:33,263 Look, again, I think there are -- many of these -- there will 392 00:20:33,266 --> 00:20:35,996 be several avenues which to take up ideas in the Senate. 393 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,400 I think it's important that we get them done quickly. 394 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,070 The Press: Very quick clarification on the Republican health care. 395 00:20:41,066 --> 00:20:43,666 Do you guys not -- the House Republicans yesterday responded 396 00:20:43,667 --> 00:20:45,567 to your comment saying that they didn't have a health care plan 397 00:20:45,567 --> 00:20:47,567 saying, hey, no, we have a health care plan. 398 00:20:47,567 --> 00:20:50,537 Mr. Gibbs: What I was talking about was a consensus -- were 399 00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:52,633 consensus ideas -- was a consensus set of -- 400 00:20:52,633 --> 00:20:54,833 The Press: So you don't believe the House Republican plan is 401 00:20:54,834 --> 00:20:55,764 the consensus Republican plan? 402 00:20:55,767 --> 00:21:00,797 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't know if -- I will assume, in lieu of Mitch 403 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,800 McConnell posting a plan, 404 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,170 that Mitch McConnell is quite pleased with Congressman 405 00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:08,566 Boehner's plan. 406 00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:13,767 I think we'll assume that the plan that the House Republicans 407 00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:18,767 have speaks for the Senate Republicans in lieu of the 408 00:21:18,767 --> 00:21:22,397 Senate Republicans themselves posting their ideas. 409 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,200 Yes, sir. 410 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,000 The Press: What do you make of the characterizations of 411 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,570 Thursday as "last best hope, " "last ditch" on 412 00:21:29,567 --> 00:21:30,737 health care reform? 413 00:21:30,734 --> 00:21:38,364 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think it is -- I think this is an important 414 00:21:38,367 --> 00:21:43,937 avenue for each party to get together and seek consensus. 415 00:21:43,934 --> 00:21:48,164 I think it's easier to fire away at each other when you're not in 416 00:21:48,166 --> 00:21:50,736 the same room and you're not having to sit down and 417 00:21:50,734 --> 00:21:51,634 talk to each other. 418 00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:54,433 So I think this provides an important avenue for us, 419 00:21:54,433 --> 00:22:00,503 for members of Congress, and, quite frankly, 420 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:03,770 for the American people to see us work together, 421 00:22:03,767 --> 00:22:05,097 and I think that's what the President hopes to 422 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:06,670 see on Thursday. 423 00:22:06,667 --> 00:22:08,137 The Press: Is it the last avenue? 424 00:22:08,133 --> 00:22:10,463 Mr. Gibbs: I hope not. 425 00:22:10,467 --> 00:22:12,937 The Press: And what can you tell us about the negotiations -- or 426 00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:16,664 are there negotiations -- on format, on table size, 427 00:22:16,667 --> 00:22:19,097 on cameras? 428 00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:20,670 Who's making the calls on this? 429 00:22:20,667 --> 00:22:26,397 It almost sounds like a G8 summit negotiation with 430 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,030 sherpas or something. 431 00:22:28,033 --> 00:22:31,963 Mr. Gibbs: No, I have -- you know, 432 00:22:31,967 --> 00:22:35,637 I can't imagine that we couldn't find a few tables to put 433 00:22:35,633 --> 00:22:40,203 together and somebody can write out some rudimentary name cards 434 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,000 and we can all find places to sit. 435 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,700 Look, I mean, I -- you know -- 436 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:46,900 The Press: That's not the House being -- 437 00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:48,700 Mr. Gibbs: Is it beingcharacterized as something far more 438 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:49,700 complex than that? 439 00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:50,400 The Press: Oh, yes. 440 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,030 The Press: Seems like it. 441 00:22:51,033 --> 00:22:52,703 Mr. Gibbs: How so? 442 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:55,870 The Press: Well, the shape of the table has changed -- 443 00:22:55,867 --> 00:22:59,067 Mr. Gibbs: Let me tell you, if the biggest thing that we debate 444 00:22:59,066 --> 00:23:00,466 on Thursday is the shape of the table, 445 00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:04,597 then I could understand the utter disgust and contempt that 446 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,700 the American people might have. 447 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,270 The Press: Chalkboard or PowerPoint? 448 00:23:12,266 --> 00:23:14,396 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think that the American people will see 449 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,870 that we can get past discussing -- I don't know who's discussing 450 00:23:16,867 --> 00:23:19,867 the size and the shape of the table. 451 00:23:19,867 --> 00:23:22,967 I think that is somewhat immaterial to the solutions that 452 00:23:22,967 --> 00:23:25,567 will be discussed. 453 00:23:25,567 --> 00:23:28,567 The President is not -- the President is interested in 454 00:23:28,567 --> 00:23:31,067 having a balanced conversation and hearing from 455 00:23:31,066 --> 00:23:36,096 Republicans and Democrats. 456 00:23:36,100 --> 00:23:38,300 I don't know what the shape of the table was in Baltimore. 457 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,900 That seemed to be a process that worked quite well for -- 458 00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:43,600 The Press: I don't think there was a table. 459 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,070 Mr. Gibbs: There wasn't a table. 460 00:23:45,066 --> 00:23:47,096 Maybe we'll just -- you know, maybe those little desks they 461 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:49,470 give you in like elementary school that would otherwise be 462 00:23:49,467 --> 00:23:51,097 uncomfortable and hard to fit into might be the 463 00:23:51,100 --> 00:23:52,830 best way forward. 464 00:23:52,834 --> 00:23:54,904 The Press: Is there going to be a lunch break? 465 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:55,570 (laughter). 466 00:23:55,567 --> 00:23:56,237 The Press: Maybe no desks, no chairs? 467 00:23:56,233 --> 00:23:57,333 The Press: Recess? 468 00:23:57,333 --> 00:23:59,863 Mr. Gibbs: You know, just sitting on the floor and 469 00:23:59,867 --> 00:24:00,997 figuring it all out. 470 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,870 The Press: Crisscross, apple sauce? 471 00:24:02,867 --> 00:24:05,137 The Press: Robert, can the White House point to any evidence for 472 00:24:05,133 --> 00:24:08,433 its optimism that this ball -- health care ball is going to get 473 00:24:08,433 --> 00:24:10,503 moved by the end of Thursday? 474 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:11,730 And what would that be? 475 00:24:11,734 --> 00:24:13,434 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I can't prejudge what 476 00:24:13,433 --> 00:24:15,803 happens on Thursday. 477 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:22,070 I take any member that wants to come and have an honest 478 00:24:22,066 --> 00:24:24,236 discussion -- you take them at their word that that's 479 00:24:24,233 --> 00:24:27,133 what they want to do. 480 00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:31,003 We'll get a chance to see the motivations behind any 481 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:36,630 participation on Thursday. 482 00:24:36,633 --> 00:24:39,833 I sent this out Thursday. 483 00:24:39,834 --> 00:24:43,304 I think many of you all saw that the Republican ideas that are 484 00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:46,170 included in the President's proposal -- the President is 485 00:24:46,166 --> 00:24:50,896 open to discussion on issues relating to cost and insurance 486 00:24:50,900 --> 00:24:55,100 reforms to how we save money for the federal government as it 487 00:24:55,100 --> 00:24:59,230 relates to our deficit, and to improving -- to coverage. 488 00:24:59,233 --> 00:25:03,503 So those are roughly -- to get back to some of the formatting 489 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:06,200 questions, there will be discussions on each of the four 490 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,300 of those things as the President -- or as the administration 491 00:25:09,300 --> 00:25:16,270 outlined in their letter to Congress that I think we'll 492 00:25:16,266 --> 00:25:18,436 spend a good amount of time discussing. 493 00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:23,033 And, again, the President is looking forward to hearing from 494 00:25:23,033 --> 00:25:26,663 members and having an honest discussion. 495 00:25:26,667 --> 00:25:29,197 The Press: Does the President buy into the conventional wisdom 496 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,970 that with each passing day, as the midterm elections come 497 00:25:32,967 --> 00:25:36,897 around, doing some heavy lifting like this health care 498 00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:38,970 legislation becomes harder? 499 00:25:38,967 --> 00:25:42,637 Mr. Gibbs: Look, obviously I think when we get later into the 500 00:25:42,633 --> 00:25:44,563 summer that's probably likely the case. 501 00:25:44,567 --> 00:25:48,737 But I think we understand that there's a number of things that 502 00:25:48,734 --> 00:25:51,304 we have on our plate that are going to have to get done before 503 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:55,470 -- and what the President wants to see get done before those 504 00:25:55,467 --> 00:26:01,737 elections in November, including not just health care but 505 00:26:01,734 --> 00:26:08,134 continued effort on jobs and employment, financial reform, 506 00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:10,063 and other important things that have to get done between 507 00:26:10,066 --> 00:26:11,036 now and November. 508 00:26:11,033 --> 00:26:16,033 The Press: So no deadline for congressional -- and on the 509 00:26:16,033 --> 00:26:21,603 antitrust exemption, does the President think that that can be 510 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:25,400 a stand-alone action that takes care of some of the health 511 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,630 insurance problems, or does it have to be a part of 512 00:26:28,633 --> 00:26:29,433 the larger package? 513 00:26:29,433 --> 00:26:31,903 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think this certainly complements what 514 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:35,600 -- this will ultimately complement health care reform in 515 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:39,430 ensuring the changes that you make in the market -- that the 516 00:26:39,433 --> 00:26:44,603 ability to look into potential anti-competitive practices, 517 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:49,100 that that's not, quite frankly, illegal to do. 518 00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:56,330 This is not in lieu of something to make broader changes in the 519 00:26:56,333 --> 00:26:58,003 insurance market. 520 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,270 This is a complementary step along the way. 521 00:27:02,266 --> 00:27:03,566 The Press: Finally, as I understand it, 522 00:27:03,567 --> 00:27:07,537 the participants are going to have lunch on site on Thursday. 523 00:27:07,533 --> 00:27:08,503 Does the President -- 524 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:09,970 Mr. Gibbs: I have no idea what they're going to eat. 525 00:27:09,967 --> 00:27:10,967 (laughter). 526 00:27:10,967 --> 00:27:11,797 The Press: -- planning to join them? 527 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:12,400 The Press: Something healthy. 528 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:13,170 A box lunch? 529 00:27:13,166 --> 00:27:14,196 Is it going to be in a bag? 530 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:15,670 Mr. Gibbs: I think there was some discussion of a box lunch. 531 00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:17,537 The Press: Will the President participate? 532 00:27:17,533 --> 00:27:21,833 Mr. Gibbs: I will check on that. 533 00:27:21,834 --> 00:27:23,004 The Press: Yes, is he staying the whole time or is he dipping 534 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:23,900 in and dipping out? 535 00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:24,530 Mr. Gibbs: He'll be there. 536 00:27:24,533 --> 00:27:25,003 The Press: The whole time? 537 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:26,200 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 538 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:26,870 The Press: Okay. 539 00:27:26,867 --> 00:27:29,767 The Press: Robert, I'd like to give you a chance to respond to 540 00:27:29,767 --> 00:27:30,967 a couple things that House Republicans said today. 541 00:27:30,967 --> 00:27:32,767 First, Eric Cantor, quoting him directly, 542 00:27:32,767 --> 00:27:35,137 "They say the definition of insanity is continuing to do the 543 00:27:35,133 --> 00:27:38,203 same thing and expect a different result. 544 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:39,530 And the President clearly seems to be trying to prove 545 00:27:39,533 --> 00:27:41,533 that that is true. 546 00:27:41,533 --> 00:27:42,333 " That's Eric Cantor. 547 00:27:42,333 --> 00:27:46,203 John Boehner, regarding the President: "He has basically 548 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,030 crippled the summit that's expected on Thursday by coming 549 00:27:49,033 --> 00:27:52,703 in with a rerun of the same failed bill that couldn't pass 550 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:54,470 the House or the Senate. 551 00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:55,367 " Could you respond to those two -- 552 00:27:55,367 --> 00:27:58,567 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the bill passed -- one bill actually did pass 553 00:27:58,567 --> 00:28:00,837 the House and one bill actually did pass the Senate. 554 00:28:00,834 --> 00:28:04,134 This is a -- in many ways a consensus plan 555 00:28:04,133 --> 00:28:06,403 around those ideas. 556 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,700 Look, again, as I likened a minute ago, 557 00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:16,370 you can put your -- tape your quotes up on the locker room 558 00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,167 wall and put on your -- 559 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,736 The Press: It's locker room material? 560 00:28:19,734 --> 00:28:21,534 Mr. Gibbs: I think it is. 561 00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:24,303 I think it's -- you hit my shoulder pads, I'll hit yours, 562 00:28:24,300 --> 00:28:28,800 and we'll go running off through the tunnel. 563 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:30,630 The Press: But that's on the same team, though, Robert. 564 00:28:30,633 --> 00:28:31,563 Mr. Gibbs: I know. 565 00:28:31,567 --> 00:28:33,267 They're all going to -- 566 00:28:33,266 --> 00:28:34,296 The Press: Among themselves? 567 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:35,570 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, that's the -- 568 00:28:35,567 --> 00:28:36,067 The Press: Oh, I see. 569 00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:37,666 Mr. Gibbs: I lost you on the football analogy, didn't I? 570 00:28:37,667 --> 00:28:38,997 (laughter). 571 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,100 It was very clear up here, Major, it just apparently didn't get -- 572 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:43,470 The Press: He's mourning LT. 573 00:28:43,467 --> 00:28:45,597 (laughter). 574 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:47,600 Mr. Gibbs: So I read. 575 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:54,830 But, again, look, we can play games about the President's proposal -- 576 00:28:54,834 --> 00:28:57,304 The Press: So they're just trying to hype themselves up in anticipation? 577 00:28:57,300 --> 00:28:59,130 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think -- if the President hadn't put 578 00:28:59,133 --> 00:29:02,263 anything on there, wouldn't you guess, Major, 579 00:29:02,266 --> 00:29:04,496 that we would hear, well, is the President not bringing any 580 00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:06,070 ideas to the summit? 581 00:29:06,066 --> 00:29:09,066 I mean, are we not going to -- do we not have a document with 582 00:29:09,066 --> 00:29:11,596 which we're working on to start this proposal? 583 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,370 Of course you would have. 584 00:29:14,367 --> 00:29:15,897 The Press: Are you saying that no matter what you did, 585 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:16,670 Republicans will criticize? 586 00:29:16,667 --> 00:29:19,867 Mr. Gibbs: I mean, it is hard to say -- I will say this, 587 00:29:19,867 --> 00:29:23,597 it is hard to take into -- it is hard to listen to, on one hand, 588 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,800 "I can't believe they're prejudging the outcome of this 589 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,400 by laying out a plan, " and then in the next breath saying, 590 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,930 "the plan doesn't have enough detail to be scored by the CBO. 591 00:29:32,934 --> 00:29:35,764 " How do you rationalize -- I don't know how they 592 00:29:35,767 --> 00:29:36,297 rationalize it. 593 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:38,400 It's probably taped up somewhere in the locker room. 594 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,530 The Press: It's irrational. 595 00:29:39,533 --> 00:29:42,563 Mr. Gibbs: It appears to be. 596 00:29:42,567 --> 00:29:44,367 The Press: When the President came here about a week and a 597 00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:47,637 half ago, he said that what shouldn't happen is this 598 00:29:47,633 --> 00:29:50,203 shouldn't all go back to the congressional committees for 599 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,600 rewrites, the health care legislation. 600 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,570 So what I'm curious about is, let's just say for the sake of 601 00:29:55,567 --> 00:29:58,237 argument something miraculous happens Thursday and you get 602 00:29:58,233 --> 00:30:00,863 something that's akin to a deal. 603 00:30:00,867 --> 00:30:01,397 Who writes it? 604 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,030 I mean, does it go back to committee? 605 00:30:03,033 --> 00:30:04,833 Do you go straight to the House floor, the Senate floor? 606 00:30:04,834 --> 00:30:07,804 I mean, these kinds of things are not insignificant to 607 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,030 achieving a health care result. 608 00:30:09,033 --> 00:30:10,963 Mr. Gibbs: No, they're not insignificant, but I'll be honest with you, 609 00:30:10,967 --> 00:30:15,967 Major, leaving the table and the lunch structure aside, I 610 00:30:15,967 --> 00:30:19,237 think if we come out of there with an agreement on some ideas -- 611 00:30:19,233 --> 00:30:20,833 The Press: Which you would probably concede would 612 00:30:20,834 --> 00:30:21,564 be near miraculous. 613 00:30:21,567 --> 00:30:22,467 Mr. Gibbs: Not necessarily. 614 00:30:22,467 --> 00:30:25,097 Again, I don't want to prejudge the outcome based on people's 615 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:27,370 willingness to come in there with an open mind. 616 00:30:27,367 --> 00:30:30,297 But I don't think the largest impediment to getting something 617 00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:36,200 done is, is does the Legislative Counsel for the Ways and Means 618 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:42,300 Committee write down our final ideas or do we send it to larger 619 00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,900 -- I think those are -- well, again, 620 00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:47,800 once we get past the size of the table, 621 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,230 I think we can come to -- I think we can come to an 622 00:30:51,233 --> 00:30:53,403 agreement and an understanding of that. 623 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,830 I think what we lack right now appears to be, 624 00:30:56,834 --> 00:30:58,734 based on some of the quotes that you just read me, 625 00:30:58,734 --> 00:31:02,104 is a willingness to come and discuss these issues. 626 00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:03,430 The Press: Let me give you a chance to answer a question on 627 00:31:03,433 --> 00:31:04,863 the minds of some progressives. 628 00:31:04,867 --> 00:31:06,867 If you are open to the idea of reconciliation, 629 00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:09,097 why not put public option in it and go all the way? 630 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:15,470 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, the President simply believes that 631 00:31:15,467 --> 00:31:17,667 we ought to have an up or down vote on health care. 632 00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:20,137 Again, I'm not going to get into the structure of how 633 00:31:20,133 --> 00:31:20,963 things would look. 634 00:31:20,967 --> 00:31:24,837 The President is focused on what he hopes will be a productive 635 00:31:24,834 --> 00:31:26,504 conversation on Thursday. 636 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:27,700 The Press: I want to follow up on Jake's question, 637 00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:31,370 because on Friday, unnamed officials of this building did 638 00:31:31,367 --> 00:31:35,167 vociferously deny Representative Sestak's assessment that he had 639 00:31:35,166 --> 00:31:35,966 been offered a job. 640 00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:38,437 And I just want to say, when you said, "I haven't looked at this, 641 00:31:38,433 --> 00:31:39,563 " I want to make sure you're not contradicting that denial. 642 00:31:39,567 --> 00:31:41,397 Mr. Gibbs: I just -- because I was on the road and dealing with 643 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:46,530 different things on the road, I've not had a chance 644 00:31:46,533 --> 00:31:48,163 to delve into this. 645 00:31:48,166 --> 00:31:49,436 The Press: Would there be anything inappropriate about a 646 00:31:49,433 --> 00:31:50,763 discussion like that? 647 00:31:50,767 --> 00:31:55,097 Mr. Gibbs: Let me have somebody look into -- like I said, 648 00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,570 I was on the road and I don't really have a whole lot of 649 00:31:57,567 --> 00:32:01,667 knowledge on this. 650 00:32:01,667 --> 00:32:04,597 Yes. 651 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,630 The Press: Can I ask on the -- not to prolong the table/boxed 652 00:32:06,633 --> 00:32:08,563 lunch questions, but the President will be out on 653 00:32:08,567 --> 00:32:11,197 national television for hours and hours and hours. 654 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:12,800 Usually, when a President goes out that long, 655 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,670 there is some sort of preparation for that. 656 00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:18,767 Is there any kind of rehearsal or discussion or briefing 657 00:32:18,767 --> 00:32:20,237 or any kind of practice? 658 00:32:20,233 --> 00:32:24,803 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, he and Nancy-Ann have gone through 659 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:25,730 ideas and proposals. 660 00:32:25,734 --> 00:32:35,564 He's gotten a longer memo on what ideas are out there and -- 661 00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:41,967 in hopes of, again, finding some common agreement on this. 662 00:32:41,967 --> 00:32:46,897 The Press: But would you do any kind of mock session in which 663 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:49,730 somebody would say, "Sir, somebody might ask you -- what 664 00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:51,034 would you respond? " 665 00:32:51,033 --> 00:32:55,303 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to say that. 666 00:32:55,300 --> 00:32:58,500 (laughter). 667 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,830 I don't know of any structure like that. 668 00:33:00,834 --> 00:33:01,964 The Press: Whatever it was, please say it. 669 00:33:01,967 --> 00:33:02,767 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 670 00:33:02,767 --> 00:33:03,167 (laughter). 671 00:33:03,166 --> 00:33:03,996 Yes, ma'am. 672 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,100 The Press: I have a question just to -- 673 00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:06,130 The Press: Wait, I'm sorry, I'm sorry -- 674 00:33:06,133 --> 00:33:07,063 The Press: Oh, sorry, go ahead. 675 00:33:07,066 --> 00:33:07,736 The Press: One last one, sorry. 676 00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:09,234 On the President's exemption part, 677 00:33:09,233 --> 00:33:12,433 a lot of Democrats would like that to be in the bill you 678 00:33:12,433 --> 00:33:13,403 posted yesterday, and yet it's not. 679 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,600 Why support it separately and not as part of it? 680 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:20,670 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, this was going through a House process. 681 00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:25,097 We had certainly known for I don't know how long, 682 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,500 but we've known that this was going to Rules Committee today. 683 00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:30,870 Typically the administration weighs in with a statement 684 00:33:30,867 --> 00:33:33,667 on administration policy at this point. 685 00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:34,437 The Press: -- propose it yesterday? 686 00:33:34,433 --> 00:33:37,003 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, I mean, I think it's -- I think there's a belief 687 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:44,000 that we can get a bipartisan majority that can support 688 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:49,200 ensuring that type of competition without putting 689 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:50,500 it into legislation. 690 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:51,070 Mara. 691 00:33:51,066 --> 00:33:53,736 The Press: Robert, just to follow up on Jennifer's 692 00:33:53,734 --> 00:33:58,504 question, when you first got your plan the leadership in 693 00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:00,070 Congress was fairly non-committal. 694 00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:02,266 They said they wanted to take a look at it and discuss it with 695 00:34:02,266 --> 00:34:02,766 their members. 696 00:34:02,767 --> 00:34:04,137 Now it's been more than 48 hours. 697 00:34:04,133 --> 00:34:04,733 What in the -- 698 00:34:04,734 --> 00:34:05,434 Mr. Gibbs: Well, not 48. 699 00:34:05,433 --> 00:34:06,203 The Press: I'm sorry, 24. 700 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:07,970 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 701 00:34:07,967 --> 00:34:09,797 The Press: What indication do you have that at least in the 702 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:13,470 House of Representatives there is support for -- majority 703 00:34:13,467 --> 00:34:15,467 support for this? 704 00:34:15,467 --> 00:34:22,197 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I don't want to get ahead of announcing for them 705 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,870 where all of their members are. 706 00:34:24,867 --> 00:34:27,097 I know they're -- as I understand it, 707 00:34:27,100 --> 00:34:31,730 they're going to have a caucus today to discuss some of these 708 00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:35,434 ideas, and they also met last night, and -- 709 00:34:35,433 --> 00:34:38,363 The Press: You haven't gotten any feedback in the -- 710 00:34:38,367 --> 00:34:39,997 The Press: Look, I got to tell you, 711 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,970 I thought the statements yesterday by a number of 712 00:34:42,967 --> 00:34:46,497 members were indeed quite positive. 713 00:34:46,500 --> 00:34:47,430 The Press: Do you think this could pass the 714 00:34:47,433 --> 00:34:48,333 House of Representatives? 715 00:34:48,333 --> 00:34:53,033 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not a vote counter on Capitol Hill, 716 00:34:53,033 --> 00:34:59,063 but I do believe that this represents among Democratic 717 00:34:59,066 --> 00:35:03,436 ideas a good starting point based on where the Senate was, 718 00:35:03,433 --> 00:35:07,263 with some tweaks in that legislation. 719 00:35:07,266 --> 00:35:11,066 Again, this is a starting point for our discussions on Thursday 720 00:35:11,066 --> 00:35:15,636 that we hope will be fruitful. 721 00:35:15,633 --> 00:35:17,533 The Press: But doesn't it go to Congress after that? 722 00:35:17,533 --> 00:35:19,903 I mean, don't you want them to do something with it, 723 00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:21,570 even if there's not some kind of bipartisan miracle? 724 00:35:21,567 --> 00:35:22,497 I mean, you're -- 725 00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:29,130 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I know it's only Tuesday and I'm focused on 726 00:35:29,133 --> 00:35:33,033 Thursday and we want to look beyond Thursday. 727 00:35:33,033 --> 00:35:35,403 I'm focused on Thursday; I know that's where the 728 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:38,430 President is focused on. 729 00:35:38,433 --> 00:35:44,363 Our intention is to have an honest discussion and hopefully 730 00:35:44,367 --> 00:35:50,667 find continued support for ideas on both sides of the aisle. 731 00:35:50,667 --> 00:35:52,237 The Press: I'm just talking about your side of the aisle. 732 00:35:52,233 --> 00:35:53,033 Mr. Gibbs: I understand. 733 00:35:53,033 --> 00:35:55,003 I know there's -- again, there's a willingness to want to get 734 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,700 well ahead of the process. 735 00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:02,470 The President is focused on Thursday. 736 00:36:02,467 --> 00:36:05,997 As I said earlier, the bill wasn't sent to CBO to get scored 737 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,800 because our hope is that we're going to add ideas from both 738 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,570 sides of the aisle that have common support. 739 00:36:13,567 --> 00:36:17,897 I think there are overlaps if people come with a willingness 740 00:36:17,900 --> 00:36:22,070 to make progress on an issue. 741 00:36:22,066 --> 00:36:23,466 The Press: Let me try another way. 742 00:36:23,467 --> 00:36:24,397 (laughter). 743 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,670 Have you had conversations with Democrats since you 744 00:36:26,667 --> 00:36:29,097 put this thing online? 745 00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:31,130 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, we've briefed Congress. 746 00:36:31,133 --> 00:36:33,063 The Press: What's been the response? 747 00:36:33,066 --> 00:36:34,466 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I don't -- Mara, 748 00:36:34,467 --> 00:36:36,697 you guys are normally quite good at getting quotes from them. 749 00:36:36,700 --> 00:36:40,930 I've seen many positive quotes on this. 750 00:36:40,934 --> 00:36:46,904 Again, our focus is not on what happens Friday, next week, 751 00:36:46,900 --> 00:36:48,570 two weeks from now or what have you. 752 00:36:48,567 --> 00:36:53,097 Our focus is on a starting point -- 753 00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:54,130 The Press: It has to be, Robert -- 754 00:36:54,133 --> 00:36:54,963 Mr. Gibbs: But it's not. 755 00:36:54,967 --> 00:36:56,397 The Press: The White House does not sit still and wait for 756 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:57,470 Friday to come before -- 757 00:36:57,467 --> 00:36:59,837 Mr. Gibbs: We're focused on Thursday. 758 00:36:59,834 --> 00:37:00,704 We're focused on -- 759 00:37:00,700 --> 00:37:01,630 The Press: But that doesn't make any sense. 760 00:37:01,633 --> 00:37:03,103 Don't you want to pass a bill? 761 00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:05,300 Mr. Gibbs: And that's why we're doing this on Thursday. 762 00:37:05,300 --> 00:37:07,270 The Press: I mean, if this is an urgent need for the American 763 00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:09,266 public to address all sorts of things -- economic, 764 00:37:09,266 --> 00:37:11,896 regulatory and everything else, all the things you have said a 765 00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:15,400 hundred times if not more from this podium -- how could you not 766 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:16,570 be thinking past Thursday? 767 00:37:16,567 --> 00:37:18,367 Mr. Gibbs: Major, I'm not going to prejudge the outcome of 768 00:37:18,367 --> 00:37:20,897 Thursday by telling you what's going to happen Friday based on 769 00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:24,070 an outcome of Thursday that I don't know about, 770 00:37:24,066 --> 00:37:27,036 based on the fact that I think the willingness -- or the 771 00:37:27,033 --> 00:37:30,363 product that ultimately comes out of 4:00 o'clock on Thursday 772 00:37:30,367 --> 00:37:33,197 will be based on people's willingness to come with 773 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:34,370 an open mindset. 774 00:37:34,367 --> 00:37:36,937 That's what the President -- 775 00:37:36,934 --> 00:37:38,434 The Press: -- not to say you don't have contingency plans? 776 00:37:38,433 --> 00:37:40,103 Mr. Gibbs: I'm focused on Thursday; 777 00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:41,630 the White House is focused on Thursday; 778 00:37:41,633 --> 00:37:43,903 the President is focused on Thursday. 779 00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:46,870 As luck would have it, you all probably have a chance to ask me 780 00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:49,467 questions on Friday, and we can get to Friday. 781 00:37:49,467 --> 00:37:53,537 The Press: But Leg Affairs might be focused on a different day. 782 00:37:53,533 --> 00:37:55,803 The Press: Is there a plan A, plan B, plan C, possibly? 783 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:56,770 Mr. Gibbs: We're focused on Thursday. 784 00:37:56,767 --> 00:37:58,797 The Press: Is there a plan A, plan B, plan C, possibly? 785 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:00,970 The Press: What if nothing comes out of Thursday that -- 786 00:38:00,967 --> 00:38:02,597 Mr. Gibbs: Then you could ask me that on Friday. 787 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:07,470 The Press: All evidence out there points to them showing up 788 00:38:07,467 --> 00:38:09,297 and not wanting to make this deal. 789 00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:12,830 But is it not naĂŻve to think that -- if your overall goal -- 790 00:38:12,834 --> 00:38:14,034 Mr. Gibbs: No. 791 00:38:14,033 --> 00:38:15,303 The Press: -- but it just seems naĂŻve to think -- 792 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:17,000 Mr. Gibbs: Can I just say this? 793 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,270 I don't know -- I get one question that says, 794 00:38:20,266 --> 00:38:22,266 I can't believe by putting out a plan you've completely prejudged 795 00:38:22,266 --> 00:38:24,036 and corrupted and polluted the process of what's going to 796 00:38:24,033 --> 00:38:25,163 happen on Thursday. 797 00:38:25,166 --> 00:38:27,836 So if I then start describing what's going to happen on 798 00:38:27,834 --> 00:38:30,704 Friday, based on what may happen on Thursday, 799 00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:33,570 aren't you going to certainly -- aren't certainly people going to 800 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:35,397 come back and say you've already prejudged the outcome of 801 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:37,700 Thursday by discussing what's going to happen on Friday? 802 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:39,200 The Press: Robert, we're not asking you about Friday. 803 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,530 We're asking you if you feel confident that you will have 804 00:38:41,533 --> 00:38:44,033 Democratic support for this plan today or tomorrow? 805 00:38:44,033 --> 00:38:47,563 Mr. Gibbs: We have discussed this plan with Democrats. 806 00:38:47,567 --> 00:38:51,267 I know that they're evaluating parts of the legislation. 807 00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:54,436 The Press: But you said -- there was a bill that passed the House 808 00:38:54,433 --> 00:38:56,003 and a bill that passed the Senate, 809 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,270 but if I understood your answer to Mara correctly -- 810 00:38:57,266 --> 00:38:58,596 Mr. Gibbs: No, I said that -- apparently I said that to 811 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,030 Congressman Boehner, who didn't think that happened. 812 00:39:01,033 --> 00:39:03,163 The Press: But if I understand your answer to Mara, 813 00:39:03,166 --> 00:39:05,796 you can't say now if this proposal of the President could 814 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:09,330 even pass the House, which is the first step to getting a bill -- 815 00:39:09,333 --> 00:39:11,033 Mr. Gibbs: No, I said I wasn't a vote counter and I don't have -- 816 00:39:11,033 --> 00:39:15,063 The Press: Do you have some confidence it could pass the House? 817 00:39:15,066 --> 00:39:17,066 Mr. Gibbs: I have confidence that, 818 00:39:17,066 --> 00:39:19,936 based on the quotes that I've seen, 819 00:39:19,934 --> 00:39:23,164 this has been received warmly by Democrats on Capitol Hill. 820 00:39:23,166 --> 00:39:26,866 The Press: -- 39 Democrats who voted no for the House health 821 00:39:26,867 --> 00:39:29,537 care bill back in November indicated that they'd vote yes 822 00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:30,903 the next go-round? 823 00:39:30,900 --> 00:39:32,700 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know the answer to that question. 824 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:36,430 One of you ask a question. 825 00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:38,463 The Press: Okay. 826 00:39:38,467 --> 00:39:40,797 I'll go first. 827 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:43,970 This is health care-related, but going back to August, 828 00:39:43,967 --> 00:39:46,697 just clarifying some Sunday talk show chatter -- 829 00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:49,170 Mr. Gibbs: I guess -- yes. 830 00:39:49,166 --> 00:39:51,196 I don't know what the resistance is to talking about now. 831 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:52,230 (laughter). 832 00:39:52,233 --> 00:39:52,533 Go ahead. 833 00:39:52,533 --> 00:39:55,833 The Press: You said that the -- "the President's clear 834 00:39:55,834 --> 00:39:57,564 commitment is not to raise taxes on those making less 835 00:39:57,567 --> 00:40:00,067 than $250,000 a year. 836 00:40:00,066 --> 00:40:03,696 " The President's proposal out yesterday actually would raise 837 00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:07,870 the Medicare payroll or hospital insurance tax on households 838 00:40:07,867 --> 00:40:09,737 making less than $250,000. 839 00:40:09,734 --> 00:40:11,204 Wouldn't that -- 840 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:12,630 Mr. Gibbs: I'd have to look through the proposal. 841 00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:14,963 I'm not sure that's correct. 842 00:40:14,967 --> 00:40:16,167 The Press: Thank you, Robert. 843 00:40:16,166 --> 00:40:18,036 Excuse me. 844 00:40:18,033 --> 00:40:22,163 This morning Governor Daniels of Indiana was asked about 845 00:40:22,166 --> 00:40:27,096 reconciliation which comes up with regulatory here, 846 00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:32,870 and he said that when the tax cuts were passed in the previous 847 00:40:32,867 --> 00:40:35,467 administration, where he served as OMB director, 848 00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:40,167 it was meant to be applied only to taxes and budget matters, 849 00:40:40,166 --> 00:40:45,766 but never to matters such as revolutionary changes in policy 850 00:40:45,767 --> 00:40:49,397 that would affect 16 percent of the government -- or 16 percent 851 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:50,500 of the economy. 852 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:53,630 Mr. Gibbs: How much does -- $1. 35 trillion 853 00:40:53,633 --> 00:41:00,303 worth of tax cuts in 2001, $350 billion in tax cuts in 2003 -- 854 00:41:00,300 --> 00:41:02,600 for $1. 65 trillion in tax 855 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,830 cuts over two votes, 856 00:41:05,834 --> 00:41:10,364 is what measure of -- that's a price tag that exceeds what the 857 00:41:10,367 --> 00:41:12,637 President is talking about. 858 00:41:12,633 --> 00:41:14,763 And differently than that, the proposal that the President has 859 00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,267 is indeed paid for. 860 00:41:16,266 --> 00:41:16,996 The Press: But -- 861 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:18,000 Mr. Gibbs: I knew there was a "but" in there. 862 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:22,970 I just had to get my broader -- 863 00:41:22,967 --> 00:41:23,637 The Press: Right. 864 00:41:23,633 --> 00:41:26,263 It did deal with tax and budget matters, which under -- 865 00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:28,036 Mr. Gibbs: Again, there -- 866 00:41:28,033 --> 00:41:29,363 The Press: -- which was with reconciliation -- 867 00:41:29,367 --> 00:41:32,697 Mr. Gibbs: Welfare was another example of something that had 868 00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:35,230 passed based on reconciliation. 869 00:41:35,233 --> 00:41:38,403 I can certainly get a list of, I think many of you can get a list 870 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:43,300 of, ideas that have gone through the process of that that up 871 00:41:43,300 --> 00:41:47,800 until recently didn't seem to be abnormal. 872 00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:52,330 The Press: After you gave 13 questions to one reporter, 873 00:41:52,333 --> 00:41:53,103 I just have -- 874 00:41:53,100 --> 00:41:54,170 Mr. Gibbs: Who asked 13 questions? 875 00:41:54,166 --> 00:41:55,796 The Press: -- one two-parter. 876 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,130 Mr. Gibbs: One two-parter. 877 00:41:58,133 --> 00:41:59,363 (laughter). 878 00:41:59,367 --> 00:41:59,637 I like your new packaging, Lester. 879 00:41:59,633 --> 00:42:00,463 Who asked 13 questions, though? 880 00:42:00,467 --> 00:42:01,337 The Press: FOX. 881 00:42:01,333 --> 00:42:03,803 (laughter). 882 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:05,970 Mr. Gibbs: Wow, that's wkward, isn't it? 883 00:42:05,967 --> 00:42:06,737 The Press: -- even sk your question. 884 00:42:06,734 --> 00:42:08,364 (laughter). 885 00:42:08,367 --> 00:42:08,937 Mr. Gibbs: All right, all right, easy. 886 00:42:08,934 --> 00:42:13,234 This locker room talk is getting a little out of hand, isn't it? 887 00:42:13,233 --> 00:42:14,233 The Press: You started it. 888 00:42:14,233 --> 00:42:14,963 Mr. Gibbs: I know, I did. 889 00:42:14,967 --> 00:42:16,897 I'll come over there, Connie. 890 00:42:16,900 --> 00:42:18,870 The Press: The nonpartisan, nonprofit Judicial Watch has 891 00:42:18,867 --> 00:42:23,097 named Nevada's Republican Senator John Ensign as one of 892 00:42:23,100 --> 00:42:28,770 Washington's 10 most corrupt politicians for 2009. 893 00:42:28,767 --> 00:42:31,537 Does the White House agree with that? 894 00:42:31,533 --> 00:42:33,003 Mr. Gibbs: I have not seen Judicial Watch's list. 895 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:35,100 The Press: They also named the President as one of these. 896 00:42:35,100 --> 00:42:38,030 I presume you don't agree with that. 897 00:42:38,033 --> 00:42:41,803 Mr. Gibbs: I have no basis for which they would come up with 898 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,530 something like that. 899 00:42:43,533 --> 00:42:48,233 I have not seen their 2009 report. 900 00:42:48,233 --> 00:42:49,933 April, and then Connie. 901 00:42:49,934 --> 00:42:53,334 The Press: Robert, one on the public option. 902 00:42:53,333 --> 00:42:55,403 You say that it's not in this, but are there any components of 903 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,330 the public option that will be taken and transplanted into this 904 00:42:58,333 --> 00:43:02,563 proposal that the President has for Thursday? 905 00:43:02,567 --> 00:43:07,537 Mr. Gibbs: Again, this is a debate that was largely ended 906 00:43:07,533 --> 00:43:12,033 with the notion that it's not going to make it through the 907 00:43:12,033 --> 00:43:13,603 legislative process. 908 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:17,500 The proposal that the President put online was where he believed 909 00:43:17,500 --> 00:43:24,270 was a good starting point at the end of the debate that had been 910 00:43:24,266 --> 00:43:26,766 had on Capitol Hill. 911 00:43:26,767 --> 00:43:32,767 We think that the way exchanges are structured and other 912 00:43:32,767 --> 00:43:36,467 components of the legislation will increase the amount of 913 00:43:36,467 --> 00:43:40,497 choice and competition that people have in picking 914 00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:42,600 health insurance. 915 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:45,770 The Press: Also on another question, 916 00:43:45,767 --> 00:43:49,637 Democrats concerned about the fact that this administration -- 917 00:43:49,633 --> 00:43:52,233 they are just not listening to what constituents have to say, 918 00:43:52,233 --> 00:43:54,963 and also amongst ranks. 919 00:43:54,967 --> 00:43:58,767 You have people like Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania, 920 00:43:58,767 --> 00:44:01,797 you also have Doug Wilder, former governor of Virginia, 921 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:03,730 former mayor of Richmond. 922 00:44:03,734 --> 00:44:06,634 What are your thoughts about the issues of listening, 923 00:44:06,633 --> 00:44:09,633 about the fact that people are saying, in your own party, 924 00:44:09,633 --> 00:44:12,133 that this administration is just not listening? 925 00:44:12,133 --> 00:44:13,133 Mr. Gibbs: In what way? 926 00:44:13,133 --> 00:44:16,863 The Press: On strategic -- on strategic avenues to include how 927 00:44:16,867 --> 00:44:20,667 to campaign for the upcoming election, midterms, 928 00:44:20,667 --> 00:44:24,537 as well as just the top echelon here, 929 00:44:24,533 --> 00:44:28,003 some of the reasons why things -- including Massachusetts -- 930 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:31,030 were lost; this administration is just not listening to people 931 00:44:31,033 --> 00:44:35,933 on the ground, to fellow Democrats about what to do next. 932 00:44:35,934 --> 00:44:41,904 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I'm sure people's advice on the November 933 00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:45,270 elections -- there will certainly be plenty of time to 934 00:44:45,266 --> 00:44:47,766 listen to anybody's advice on the November elections, 935 00:44:47,767 --> 00:44:52,467 since we're only comfortably in mid-February. 936 00:44:52,467 --> 00:44:56,637 The President's focus isn't on the elections in November; 937 00:44:56,633 --> 00:45:00,663 it's on getting this economy started again, 938 00:45:00,667 --> 00:45:03,437 on passing comprehensive health care reform, 939 00:45:03,433 --> 00:45:08,063 on prosecuting a war in Iraq and a war in Afghanistan. 940 00:45:08,066 --> 00:45:09,796 The Press: Do you think this administration has a good track 941 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:11,670 record on listening to its own party? 942 00:45:11,667 --> 00:45:14,497 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. 943 00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:16,730 But I also know that the President has a good track 944 00:45:16,734 --> 00:45:22,304 record on making decisions that he believes are in the best 945 00:45:22,300 --> 00:45:23,430 interest of the country. 946 00:45:23,433 --> 00:45:30,233 Again, I think if you look back at some of the decisions that 947 00:45:30,233 --> 00:45:35,303 were made in terms of continuing support for helping banks that 948 00:45:35,300 --> 00:45:38,700 might collapse, or helping auto companies that were near 949 00:45:38,700 --> 00:45:43,570 bankruptcy, I don't imagine that there were majorities of 950 00:45:43,567 --> 00:45:45,797 Democrats or Republicans that might have thought that was a 951 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:49,900 good idea or something that they readily supported. 952 00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:53,000 But understanding that without taking some extraordinary steps 953 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:56,800 to deal with that, we would have had tens of thousands of more 954 00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:59,430 people unemployed in the case of auto companies; 955 00:45:59,433 --> 00:46:02,733 we'd have -- we wouldn't have a domestic auto industry except 956 00:46:02,734 --> 00:46:09,134 for one company; and it's likely that had we seen additional bank 957 00:46:09,133 --> 00:46:13,833 failures, we would have seen what many have called a Great 958 00:46:13,834 --> 00:46:18,364 Recession become a Great Depression. 959 00:46:18,367 --> 00:46:22,067 Governing a country isn't always about making the easiest, 960 00:46:22,066 --> 00:46:25,396 most popular decisions. 961 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:28,030 Governor Rendell talked about the selling of the stimulus. 962 00:46:28,033 --> 00:46:34,433 The stimulus plan was about ensuring that we got the type of 963 00:46:34,433 --> 00:46:38,933 support that the economy needed into the economy as 964 00:46:38,934 --> 00:46:40,834 quickly as possible. 965 00:46:40,834 --> 00:46:44,234 I don't have any doubt that the polling on the stimulus might be 966 00:46:44,233 --> 00:46:47,303 different if instead of doing it in three weeks and getting the 967 00:46:47,300 --> 00:46:50,300 money quickly into the economy so that we could see people put 968 00:46:50,300 --> 00:46:54,070 back to work and see economic growth happen faster -- I have 969 00:46:54,066 --> 00:46:56,696 no doubt that we could have taken eight months, 970 00:46:56,700 --> 00:47:01,700 fueled up Air Force One, flown hither and yon and broken out 971 00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:07,970 each component part to where it was 80 percent and ultimately 972 00:47:07,967 --> 00:47:09,697 gotten Congress to pass that. 973 00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:12,700 The problem with that is I don't think the President believed 974 00:47:12,700 --> 00:47:16,370 that when we were losing close to 800,000 jobs in a month, 975 00:47:16,367 --> 00:47:18,997 that his biggest job was PR. 976 00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:20,900 I think it was getting the economy moving again. 977 00:47:20,900 --> 00:47:26,170 We've seen as a result of that increased economic growth for 978 00:47:26,166 --> 00:47:29,136 the first time in a year, and now we've seen it for two 979 00:47:29,133 --> 00:47:30,633 consecutive quarters. 980 00:47:30,633 --> 00:47:35,003 We can't have job growth before we have economic growth. 981 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,970 So we've laid a foundation, particularly in the investments 982 00:47:37,967 --> 00:47:41,197 that have been made, for creating the jobs of the future. 983 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:42,630 The Press: But PR is part of it, don't you think? 984 00:47:42,633 --> 00:47:43,903 Especially serving your own party. 985 00:47:43,900 --> 00:47:46,730 Mr. Gibbs: I don't -- trust me, as somebody who's somebody who's 986 00:47:46,734 --> 00:47:49,734 somewhat intimately involved in the PR part of the operation, 987 00:47:49,734 --> 00:47:52,804 it's not the first and foremost thing that gets this President 988 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:54,170 up in the morning. 989 00:47:54,166 --> 00:47:57,096 What gets him up is taking the steps that are necessary 990 00:47:57,100 --> 00:48:00,200 to fix this economy. 991 00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:02,470 Obviously explaining to the American people what we're doing 992 00:48:02,467 --> 00:48:05,997 is important and I don't want to give that short shrift. 993 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,170 But at the same time, if it's explaining to the American 994 00:48:09,166 --> 00:48:14,496 people what's -- explaining to them what's going on, as I said, 995 00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:18,770 is important, but so, too, in the case of getting this economy 996 00:48:18,767 --> 00:48:22,497 stabilized and moving again, it was important to get that done 997 00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:23,470 and get that done quickly. 998 00:48:23,467 --> 00:48:24,367 The Press: On Iran -- 999 00:48:24,367 --> 00:48:25,067 Mr. Gibbs: Connie. 1000 00:48:25,066 --> 00:48:25,866 I'll take one more. 1001 00:48:25,867 --> 00:48:27,697 The Press: It's becoming more precarious every day with Iran. 1002 00:48:27,700 --> 00:48:30,930 Does the United States have a deadline for the 1003 00:48:30,934 --> 00:48:31,964 sanctions proposed? 1004 00:48:31,967 --> 00:48:33,237 And would the U.S. 1005 00:48:33,233 --> 00:48:36,103 impose a unilateral boycott or embargo of Iran? 1006 00:48:36,100 --> 00:48:39,530 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the Treasury Department outlined additional 1007 00:48:39,533 --> 00:48:45,063 sanctions on the IRGC a few weeks ago. 1008 00:48:45,066 --> 00:48:49,936 It is clear that the continuing announcements and pronouncements 1009 00:48:49,934 --> 00:48:54,564 that are made in Iran demonstrate that they have no 1010 00:48:54,567 --> 00:48:57,797 interest in building international confidence that 1011 00:48:57,800 --> 00:49:01,600 their nuclear program is for peaceful means. 1012 00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:03,630 Continuing to take those steps and shirk their 1013 00:49:03,633 --> 00:49:07,603 responsibilities, the President and our allies have said will 1014 00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:09,400 lead to consequences. 1015 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:12,070 That is a process that's ongoing. 1016 00:49:12,066 --> 00:49:17,236 I think you've seen comments by -- you've certainly seen 1017 00:49:17,233 --> 00:49:22,333 comments by us, you've seen comments by the Russians and 1018 00:49:22,333 --> 00:49:28,533 others about the fact that time and patience is running out. 1019 00:49:28,533 --> 00:49:29,463 Thanks, guys.