English subtitles for clip: File:2-28-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,533
Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon.

2
00:00:02,533 --> 00:00:04,000
Happy Friday.

3
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,333
Welcome to the White
House briefing room.

4
00:00:07,333 --> 00:00:10,800
Before I take your
questions I wanted to note

5
00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,100
that President Obama
today will host students,

6
00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:16,667
parents and teachers at
the first-ever

7
00:00:16,667 --> 00:00:19,166
White House Student Film Festival,

8
00:00:19,166 --> 00:00:21,200
an event that will highlight the President's commitment

9
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,734
to bring America's classrooms into the 21st century,

10
00:00:24,734 --> 00:00:27,433
with high-speed Internet and
cutting-edge technology.

11
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,033
In keeping with his pledge
to make 2014 a year

12
00:00:31,033 --> 00:00:34,700
of action, using the power of
his pen and his phone,

13
00:00:34,700 --> 00:00:37,467
the President will announce
$400 million in new

14
00:00:37,467 --> 00:00:40,233
private sector commitments
from Adobe and Prezi

15
00:00:40,233 --> 00:00:42,699
to make free software
available to teachers and

16
00:00:42,700 --> 00:00:45,133
students to help introduce
creative learning

17
00:00:45,133 --> 00:00:47,667
materials to classrooms
all across the country.

18
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,800
Adobe is making available
over $300 million worth

19
00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,266
of free software to teachers
and students, including

20
00:00:55,266 --> 00:00:57,800
Photoshop and Premiere
Elements for creative

21
00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,766
projects; Presenter and
Captivate to amplify

22
00:01:00,767 --> 00:01:03,500
e-learning; EchoSign for
school workflow;

23
00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:06,066
and a range of teacher
training resources.

24
00:01:06,567 --> 00:01:09,366
And Prezi, a software tool
for creating memorable

25
00:01:09,367 --> 00:01:12,300
presentations, is
providing $100 million

26
00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:15,834
in EDU Pro licenses for high
schools

27
00:01:15,834 --> 00:01:18,266
and all educators across America.

28
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,032
These commitments build
on the $750 million

29
00:01:21,033 --> 00:01:23,433
in commitments the President
announced

30
00:01:23,433 --> 00:01:24,934
earlier this month.

31
00:01:24,934 --> 00:01:27,333
By using the power of
his phone, the President

32
00:01:27,333 --> 00:01:29,533
inspired private sector
leaders to pledge

33
00:01:29,533 --> 00:01:33,467
well over $1 billion in value
to America's students

34
00:01:33,467 --> 00:01:34,900
through these private
sector commitments

35
00:01:34,900 --> 00:01:36,600
in the last month alone.

36
00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,232
So we think it's
important to look

37
00:01:39,233 --> 00:01:44,433
at this cumulatively to get
a sense of what this

38
00:01:44,433 --> 00:01:49,300
President can do using his
authority and his office

39
00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:54,166
to bring together outside
groups and businesses

40
00:01:54,166 --> 00:01:56,899
on behalf of an agenda that
expands opportunity and,

41
00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:59,233
in this case, enhances
the education

42
00:01:59,233 --> 00:02:02,133
of American children across
the country.

43
00:02:02,533 --> 00:02:05,500
With that, I go to
the Associated Press.

44
00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:06,567
Darlene.

45
00:02:06,567 --> 00:02:07,567
The Press: Thanks.

46
00:02:07,567 --> 00:02:08,934
On Ukraine, Secretary
Kerry said

47
00:02:08,934 --> 00:02:09,532
today that the U.S.

48
00:02:09,532 --> 00:02:12,367
is watching to see if
Russian activity in Crimea

49
00:02:12,367 --> 00:02:15,166
might be "crossing a line
in any way," but that the

50
00:02:15,166 --> 00:02:18,834
administration would also
be very careful in making

51
00:02:18,834 --> 00:02:20,000
judgments about that.

52
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,066
Can you say what the U.S.

53
00:02:22,066 --> 00:02:23,934
is prepared to do if
Russia does

54
00:02:23,934 --> 00:02:24,734
cross that line?

55
00:02:24,967 --> 00:02:26,667
Mr. Carney: Well, again,
we are watching

56
00:02:26,667 --> 00:02:30,667
to see, as the Secretary said,
whether or not Russia

57
00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:32,767
is doing anything that might
be crossing

58
00:02:32,767 --> 00:02:33,900
the line in any way.

59
00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:36,567
We strongly support
Ukraine's territorial

60
00:02:36,567 --> 00:02:38,767
integrity and sovereignty,
and we expect other

61
00:02:38,767 --> 00:02:41,100
nations to do the same.

62
00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:43,966
Reports of Russian
intervention in Crimea are

63
00:02:43,967 --> 00:02:46,500
of deep concern to the
United States,

64
00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:50,100
and as Secretary Kerry said and
Ambassador Rice has said,

65
00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:52,433
intervention would
be a grave mistake.

66
00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:55,966
These reports are also
inconsistent with Russia's

67
00:02:55,967 --> 00:02:59,266
previous statements to the
United States that Russia

68
00:02:59,266 --> 00:03:01,733
will respect the
territorial integrity

69
00:03:01,734 --> 00:03:03,800
of Ukraine, and they are
inconsistent

70
00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,900
with the obligation Russia
reaffirmed

71
00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:07,734
in the Budapest Memorandum.

72
00:03:07,734 --> 00:03:10,367
We call on Russia to
respect its international

73
00:03:10,367 --> 00:03:12,566
obligations made
under the U.N.

74
00:03:12,567 --> 00:03:16,300
Charter to refrain from
the threat or use of force

75
00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:18,467
against the territorial
integrity or political

76
00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:20,533
independence of any state.

77
00:03:20,533 --> 00:03:23,100
We urge all parties to
avoid steps that could be

78
00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:25,867
misinterpreted or lead to
a miscalculation

79
00:03:25,867 --> 00:03:27,500
at this delicate time.

80
00:03:28,767 --> 00:03:29,767
The Press: So would
the line be military

81
00:03:29,767 --> 00:03:31,600
intervention or some type
of use

82
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:32,733
of force over there?

83
00:03:32,734 --> 00:03:37,066
Mr. Carney: We've made
clear that the United

84
00:03:37,066 --> 00:03:40,367
States supports the
territorial integrity of

85
00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:44,066
Ukraine and the
sovereignty of Ukraine.

86
00:03:44,066 --> 00:03:51,633
And we have made clear to
Russia that we believe

87
00:03:51,633 --> 00:03:56,533
it would be a grave mistake
to intervene in any way.

88
00:03:56,533 --> 00:03:59,666
We've obviously had and
will continue

89
00:03:59,667 --> 00:04:01,033
to have direct communications

90
00:04:01,033 --> 00:04:02,733
with Russian government officials.

91
00:04:02,734 --> 00:04:03,734
The President spoke with

92
00:04:03,734 --> 00:04:05,367
President Putin about Ukraine.

93
00:04:05,367 --> 00:04:07,966
Secretary Kerry had
another conversation with

94
00:04:07,967 --> 00:04:10,200
Foreign Minister Lavrov
earlier today

95
00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,667
about this issue.

96
00:04:11,667 --> 00:04:15,867
And we are conveying very
clearly our views, views

97
00:04:15,867 --> 00:04:21,966
shared by our European
partners and allies, that

98
00:04:21,966 --> 00:04:23,700
Ukraine's territorial
integrity

99
00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:24,700
must be respected.

100
00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,867
The Press: It seems as
though the situation there

101
00:04:27,867 --> 00:04:30,500
may be headed to a place
where

102
00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,200
it's going to get worse before
it gets better.

103
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,332
I mean, what is the level
of concern here that the

104
00:04:34,333 --> 00:04:36,400
situation there will get
worse before

105
00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:36,799
it gets better?

106
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,900
Mr. Carney: Well, we
are concerned about

107
00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:44,332
the situation in Ukraine
at several levels.

108
00:04:44,333 --> 00:04:47,700
We commend the parliament
for the actions that

109
00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:51,834
it has taken to install a
government

110
00:04:51,834 --> 00:04:57,333
and to get to work addressing
the serious economic

111
00:04:57,333 --> 00:04:58,900
situation in Ukraine.

112
00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:02,400
We are going to work with
our partners and allies

113
00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,366
and multilateral
organizations to look

114
00:05:05,367 --> 00:05:09,000
at ways that we can be of
assistance to Ukraine.

115
00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,333
And we have made clear
in our conversations,

116
00:05:13,333 --> 00:05:14,667
including the Vice
President's recent

117
00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:17,799
conversation with the new
Prime Minister of Ukraine,

118
00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,333
both our commitment to
assist Ukraine,

119
00:05:21,333 --> 00:05:27,400
but also our expectation that
Ukraine, as it tries

120
00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,400
to fulfill the aspirations
of its people, that the

121
00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,900
Ukrainian government take
steps to ensure that the

122
00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:35,467
rights of all citizens are
respected, and that,

123
00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:39,433
as planned, early
elections take place.

124
00:05:39,934 --> 00:05:44,734
So we are engaging not
just with other partners

125
00:05:44,734 --> 00:05:46,700
and allies in the region,
not just with the Russian

126
00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:49,567
government, but with
Ukraine and with Ukrainian

127
00:05:49,567 --> 00:05:52,500
leaders themselves on all
the issues that confront

128
00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:54,533
that country at this time.

129
00:05:54,533 --> 00:05:56,400
There's no question that
it's a fluid situation,

130
00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,633
and some of the reports
that I mentioned

131
00:05:58,633 --> 00:06:00,400
are of concern.

132
00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,332
And it would be a grave
mistake to intervene and

133
00:06:03,333 --> 00:06:06,600
to in any way violate the
territorial integrity

134
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,633
of a sovereign state
like Ukraine.

135
00:06:09,633 --> 00:06:10,633
Mark.

136
00:06:11,233 --> 00:06:12,467
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

137
00:06:12,467 --> 00:06:14,032
I'm sure you saw
the reports and the

138
00:06:14,033 --> 00:06:16,934
photographs today of men
in uniform

139
00:06:16,934 --> 00:06:19,900
patrolling airports in Crimea.

140
00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:20,933
Does the United States
know

141
00:06:20,934 --> 00:06:23,066
who these soldiers are?

142
00:06:23,066 --> 00:06:24,066
Are they Russians?

143
00:06:24,066 --> 00:06:27,400
Mr. Carney: I think I
would refer you to what

144
00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,700
I just said about the
reports

145
00:06:29,700 --> 00:06:30,834
of Russian intervention.

146
00:06:30,834 --> 00:06:33,233
Other reports about things
and developments

147
00:06:33,233 --> 00:06:36,734
in Ukraine are matters that
we're looking into,

148
00:06:36,734 --> 00:06:39,032
that we're seeking
clarification on, we're

149
00:06:39,033 --> 00:06:41,834
discussing with Ukrainian
leaders as well as Russian

150
00:06:41,834 --> 00:06:43,200
leaders and others.

151
00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:44,533
So I don't have -- I can't
go through with you each

152
00:06:44,533 --> 00:06:50,500
report and what the
bottom-line truth behind

153
00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:51,367
each report is.

154
00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,467
What I can tell you is
that we're concerned about

155
00:06:53,467 --> 00:06:57,633
reports or suggestions
that there might be

156
00:06:57,633 --> 00:06:59,532
intervention by an outside
state,

157
00:06:59,533 --> 00:07:01,367
and we have conveyed that.

158
00:07:01,367 --> 00:07:03,600
And we would point to
assurances by the Russian

159
00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:04,767
government that they
respect

160
00:07:04,767 --> 00:07:06,500
the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

161
00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:11,967
So this is something that
we are engaging with at

162
00:07:11,967 --> 00:07:14,800
the highest levels
across the region.

163
00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:16,600
The Press: And when
you talk about those

164
00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,100
assurances of respecting
Ukraine's territorial

165
00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,533
integrity, when the
President spoke directly

166
00:07:21,533 --> 00:07:26,667
with Putin a week ago, did
the Russian President give

167
00:07:26,667 --> 00:07:29,166
assurances that he
would respect Ukraine's

168
00:07:29,166 --> 00:07:30,667
territorial integrity?

169
00:07:31,066 --> 00:07:34,833
Mr. Carney: At the time of
that conversation, as we

170
00:07:34,834 --> 00:07:38,066
read out, the President
and Russian President

171
00:07:38,066 --> 00:07:41,200
Putin agreed that
there needed to be a

172
00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,332
de-escalation of
violence in Ukraine.

173
00:07:44,333 --> 00:07:47,066
And I would point you to
the more detailed

174
00:07:47,066 --> 00:07:48,265
readout that we gave.

175
00:07:48,633 --> 00:07:50,265
As a general matter, in
the communications

176
00:07:50,266 --> 00:07:53,400
that we've had with Russian
government officials,

177
00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,532
including Secretary Kerry
with Foreign Minister

178
00:07:55,533 --> 00:07:58,734
Lavrov, this has been

179
00:07:58,734 --> 00:08:00,667
one of the topics of conversation.

180
00:08:00,667 --> 00:08:06,099
And we have conveyed our
concern about the need

181
00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:08,100
to maintain Ukraine's
territorial integrity,

182
00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:10,867
and have received assurances.

183
00:08:10,867 --> 00:08:12,834
But I don't have a further
characterization

184
00:08:12,834 --> 00:08:13,867
of those conversations.

185
00:08:14,367 --> 00:08:16,033
The Press: On
domestic issue --

186
00:08:16,033 --> 00:08:19,166
the EPA made an announcement
today about protecting

187
00:08:19,166 --> 00:08:20,233
a large fishery in Alaska.

188
00:08:20,233 --> 00:08:25,867
Is that the harbinger of a
number of examples

189
00:08:25,867 --> 00:08:27,400
of the President using his pen
and the phone

190
00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:29,734
to do environmental protection
measures,

191
00:08:29,734 --> 00:08:33,667
possibly with an eye to climate
change issues?

192
00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:38,500
Mr. Carney: Well, the
Bristol Bay assessment's

193
00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:43,166
conclusions about the
significant impacts mining

194
00:08:43,166 --> 00:08:44,834
activities would have
on the area's unique

195
00:08:44,834 --> 00:08:46,766
environment -- its
unparalleled

196
00:08:46,767 --> 00:08:49,900
sockeye salmon fishery and
Native American cultures --

197
00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:53,266
the EPA made a decision to
take this step to protect

198
00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:54,400
this valuable resource.

199
00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:55,632
The White House strongly
supports

200
00:08:55,633 --> 00:08:58,767
that decision by the EPA.

201
00:08:58,767 --> 00:09:00,467
The step is consistent
with the President's

202
00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:02,800
commitment in the State
of the Union

203
00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,733
to protect pristine American
places for future generations.

204
00:09:06,734 --> 00:09:09,233
But I would point you to
the EPA for more questions

205
00:09:09,233 --> 00:09:12,065
about the step that it's
taking today

206
00:09:12,066 --> 00:09:13,066
on this matter.

207
00:09:13,066 --> 00:09:15,066
Jim.

208
00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:18,734
The Press: You were
just talking about

209
00:09:18,734 --> 00:09:21,367
expressions of these
concerns that you have

210
00:09:21,367 --> 00:09:23,367
for potential Russian
involvement in Ukraine.

211
00:09:23,367 --> 00:09:25,699
What options does the
United States have

212
00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:27,700
available should we
reach that point?

213
00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:30,000
Mr. Carney: Well, I'm
not going

214
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,667
to speculate for you, Jim.

215
00:09:31,667 --> 00:09:35,066
What I would tell you is
that this is a matter that

216
00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:37,700
we're very focused on --
the President, Secretary

217
00:09:37,700 --> 00:09:38,700
of State, Ambassador Rice

218
00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:40,967
and others, Secretary Hagel.

219
00:09:40,967 --> 00:09:45,066
And we are engaging with
Ukrainian leaders, with

220
00:09:45,066 --> 00:09:48,033
Russian leaders and with
others in the region

221
00:09:48,033 --> 00:09:54,033
to ensure that Ukraine is
able to move forward

222
00:09:54,033 --> 00:09:55,800
in keeping with the
aspirations of its people,

223
00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,099
that Ukraine's territorial
integrity is respected,

224
00:09:58,100 --> 00:09:59,100
that its sovereignty

225
00:09:59,100 --> 00:10:03,300
is respected by other nations.

226
00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:06,834
So I'm not going to
speculate about what

227
00:10:06,834 --> 00:10:08,467
we might do if something
might happen.

228
00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:10,199
We're going to focus
on the kinds of

229
00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:11,533
communications we're
having right now,

230
00:10:11,533 --> 00:10:14,667
and focus on the international
effort to assist Ukraine.

231
00:10:15,367 --> 00:10:16,800
The Press: And as you
know, Yanukovych has

232
00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,567
accused the United States
of meddling

233
00:10:18,567 --> 00:10:20,934
in Ukraine's affairs,

234
00:10:20,934 --> 00:10:23,800
even
as the U.S. is saying to Russia,

235
00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,500
don't meddle in what's happening in Ukraine.

236
00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:28,734
Does the White House
have a response to what

237
00:10:28,734 --> 00:10:30,166
Mr. Yanukovych is saying?

238
00:10:30,166 --> 00:10:31,200
Mr. Carney: Well, I
would simply say that

239
00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,700
we have made clear that
Mr. Yanukovych lost

240
00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:36,800
legitimacy as the leader
of Ukraine and abdicated

241
00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,599
his responsibilities.

242
00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,300
Not long after signing
an agreement with the

243
00:10:40,300 --> 00:10:44,300
opposition, he fled the
capital of the country

244
00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:47,132
in an orderly fashion, packed
his belongings and left.

245
00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:51,767
And I think it's also
important to note that

246
00:10:51,767 --> 00:10:54,700
the Ukrainian parliament
acting responsibly

247
00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:59,767
to fill that vacuum elected a
new government after

248
00:10:59,767 --> 00:11:02,767
Mr. Yanukovych
fled the scene.

249
00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:05,533
And I think it's also
worth remembering that

250
00:11:05,533 --> 00:11:10,300
security forces under
Mr. Yanukovych's control

251
00:11:10,300 --> 00:11:13,500
used snipers in downtown
Kyiv to kill

252
00:11:13,500 --> 00:11:15,500
dozens of Ukrainians.

253
00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:19,033
I think that goes to
the lost legitimacy.

254
00:11:19,033 --> 00:11:23,066
So again, he abdicated his
responsibilities,

255
00:11:23,066 --> 00:11:28,300
he left and packed up
his belongings.

256
00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:30,099
Until this recent
press conference,

257
00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:34,033
his whereabouts
were not known.

258
00:11:34,033 --> 00:11:39,667
And the Ukrainian
parliament, which includes

259
00:11:39,667 --> 00:11:42,333
members from parties that
represent all of Ukrainian

260
00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:46,733
society, has taken action
through votes

261
00:11:46,734 --> 00:11:49,900
with substantial majorities,
including votes from

262
00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:52,467
members of Mr.
Yanukovych's party,

263
00:11:52,467 --> 00:11:55,667
to fill that vacuum and to
stabilize the situation

264
00:11:55,667 --> 00:11:56,667
in Ukraine and to move
forward with a plan

265
00:11:56,667 --> 00:12:02,133
to have early elections.

266
00:12:02,133 --> 00:12:05,934
And that is all, in our
view, appropriate and

267
00:12:05,934 --> 00:12:08,065
positive amidst a
situation

268
00:12:08,066 --> 00:12:10,033
that's obviously quite fluid.

269
00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,233
The Press: And just
to jump ahead

270
00:12:12,233 --> 00:12:16,800
to the President's remarks this
afternoon, some excerpts

271
00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,400
that have been released
indicate that the

272
00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,433
President is going to
accuse Republicans

273
00:12:21,433 --> 00:12:24,700
of only being focused on
opportunities for a few,

274
00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:26,400
as opposed to
opportunities

275
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,967
for all Americans.

276
00:12:27,967 --> 00:12:29,934
Does the President
really believe that?

277
00:12:29,934 --> 00:12:33,567
And is that a reflection
of what we might see

278
00:12:33,567 --> 00:12:35,433
in the coming months that
there really is just going

279
00:12:35,433 --> 00:12:39,300
to be nothing accomplished
up on Capitol Hill, here

280
00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:41,233
in Washington, maybe
in the White House

281
00:12:41,233 --> 00:12:42,266
and Republican leaders?

282
00:12:42,433 --> 00:12:43,200
Mr. Carney: I think the
frame the President

283
00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,133
has used and he'll use again
is that he is focused

284
00:12:46,133 --> 00:12:52,300
on an agenda that is designed
to expand

285
00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:53,967
opportunity for all.

286
00:12:53,967 --> 00:12:56,667
He talks about
this all the time.

287
00:12:56,667 --> 00:12:59,800
And where he can find a
partner in Congress,

288
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,333
a partner in Republicans to
advance that agenda

289
00:13:03,333 --> 00:13:05,400
on behalf of middle-class
Americans and Americans

290
00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,699
who are striving to get
into the middle class,

291
00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:12,233
he is eager to work
together on that agenda.

292
00:13:12,834 --> 00:13:15,699
It is simply a fact,
if you look at budget

293
00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:17,567
presentations and
policy presentations

294
00:13:17,567 --> 00:13:21,333
by Republicans in general,
that their policies have

295
00:13:21,333 --> 00:13:23,733
-- in contrast to an
agenda that is designed

296
00:13:23,734 --> 00:13:25,967
to expand opportunity for
all -- generally either

297
00:13:25,967 --> 00:13:28,800
protected or expanded
opportunity for the few.

298
00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,300
And that includes
protecting tax loopholes

299
00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:35,065
and benefits for
the wealthiest and

300
00:13:35,066 --> 00:13:36,867
well-connected
in our society.

301
00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:40,233
And it includes, as we've
talked about earlier this

302
00:13:40,233 --> 00:13:43,333
week, the refusal to
entertain closing some

303
00:13:43,333 --> 00:13:48,065
of those loopholes as part of
a compromise approach

304
00:13:48,066 --> 00:13:51,567
to dealing with our medium-
and long-term deficit

305
00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:52,633
and debt challenges.

306
00:13:52,633 --> 00:13:57,767
So, yes, the answer is the
President will talk about

307
00:13:57,767 --> 00:14:02,000
why it's so important for
Democrats to advance an

308
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,500
agenda that's focused on
expanding

309
00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:04,867
opportunity for all.

310
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:09,199
And as he has, and I have
and others have,

311
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,700
it's certainly worth noting
the contrast,

312
00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:17,333
and he will again tonight,
with an agenda that's focused

313
00:14:17,333 --> 00:14:22,367
on protecting the loopholes
and prerogatives

314
00:14:22,367 --> 00:14:25,867
of the wealthiest and
well-connected and, again,

315
00:14:25,867 --> 00:14:27,967
expanding or protecting
opportunity for a few.

316
00:14:28,467 --> 00:14:30,100
The Press: It sounds
like a campaign --

317
00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:31,533
it's a themed speech.

318
00:14:31,533 --> 00:14:33,900
When you say "opportunity
for a few," yesterday you

319
00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:35,934
were saying Chairman
Camp's tax proposal

320
00:14:35,934 --> 00:14:36,934
had some good potential to it.

321
00:14:38,233 --> 00:14:40,699
Mr. Carney: And I
noticed

322
00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:42,500
how Republicans rallied around it.

323
00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:45,000
The Press: The President
met with Speaker Boehner

324
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,000
earlier this week,

325
00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,000
talked about immigration reform.

326
00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:50,300
Mr. Carney: Look, Jim,
obviously the President is

327
00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,065
doing --the President,
like all Republican

328
00:14:54,066 --> 00:14:55,700
leaders, including those
running for office

329
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:58,767
themselves, is engaging in
political events and he's

330
00:14:58,767 --> 00:15:00,633
speaking to the DNC.

331
00:15:00,633 --> 00:15:04,633
And he will be supportive
in many ways of Democrats

332
00:15:04,633 --> 00:15:06,233
either running for
reelection or running for

333
00:15:06,233 --> 00:15:08,165
office in this cycle.

334
00:15:09,166 --> 00:15:11,767
In the meantime, he is
principally focused on

335
00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:14,867
advancing an agenda that
expands opportunity for

336
00:15:14,867 --> 00:15:19,099
all, that rewards hard
work and responsibility.

337
00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,900
That's what you saw in
the actions he announced

338
00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:24,467
yesterday at the "My
Brother's Keeper" event.

339
00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:26,533
That's what he's focused
on today

340
00:15:26,533 --> 00:15:29,133
in the White House Student
Film Festival.

341
00:15:29,133 --> 00:15:31,233
That's what he's focused
-- was focused

342
00:15:31,233 --> 00:15:33,800
on in St. Paul when he talked
about making the

343
00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,333
investments necessary to
create jobs now and build

344
00:15:37,333 --> 00:15:39,367
our infrastructure in the
future, and as part

345
00:15:39,367 --> 00:15:44,599
of an approach that would
improve the tax code,

346
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,700
the corporate tax code,
but use those revenues

347
00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:51,567
generated by that
to invest

348
00:15:51,567 --> 00:15:52,567
in our infrastructure.

349
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:55,567
So the President is moving
forward on an agenda,

350
00:15:55,567 --> 00:15:57,367
and he looks forward to
finding cooperative

351
00:15:57,367 --> 00:15:58,367
and helpful partners

352
00:15:58,367 --> 00:15:59,766
in Congress among Republicans.

353
00:15:59,767 --> 00:16:01,533
And we've seen
some of that.

354
00:16:01,533 --> 00:16:04,233
We have seen Republicans
of late step away from the

355
00:16:04,233 --> 00:16:07,367
brink, step away from a
tactic and a strategy

356
00:16:07,367 --> 00:16:11,500
and approach that did harm
to our economy through

357
00:16:11,500 --> 00:16:16,900
shutdowns and threatened
defaults, and instead come

358
00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:18,266
together through the
budget agreement,

359
00:16:18,266 --> 00:16:20,800
come together through the
omnibus funding agreement,

360
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:25,934
come together through the
decision to allow the

361
00:16:25,934 --> 00:16:28,233
United States to pay the
bills that Congress racked

362
00:16:28,233 --> 00:16:29,233
up.

363
00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:30,599
And these are positive
developments and we look

364
00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:35,333
forward to cooperating in
other areas if Republicans

365
00:16:35,333 --> 00:16:39,266
are willing and ready to
find compromises on behalf

366
00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:40,266
of the American people.

367
00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:41,733
In the meantime, the
President is absolutely

368
00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:43,633
going to continue to use
his executive authority

369
00:16:43,633 --> 00:16:45,100
to advance an agenda that
expands

370
00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:46,734
opportunity for all.

371
00:16:46,734 --> 00:16:49,400
Roger.

372
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,400
The Press:
Back to Ukraine.

373
00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,433
Ukraine has made a request
to the IMF for about

374
00:16:55,433 --> 00:16:58,734
$15 billion to stabilize the
country and so forth.

375
00:16:58,734 --> 00:17:00,467
Can you give us a little
update

376
00:17:00,467 --> 00:17:03,133
on where people are on that, where the U.S.

377
00:17:03,133 --> 00:17:04,433
is on negotiating that?

378
00:17:04,767 --> 00:17:07,033
Mr. Carney: Well, I can
tell you that we welcome

379
00:17:07,032 --> 00:17:09,233
the news that the IMF will
send a team

380
00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:10,599
to Ukraine in the coming days.

381
00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:14,233
And for our part, we are
considering a range

382
00:17:14,233 --> 00:17:17,133
of options, including loan
guarantees,

383
00:17:17,133 --> 00:17:18,700
to support Ukraine economically.

384
00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:21,133
The next step is for the
new government to resume

385
00:17:21,133 --> 00:17:22,600
talks with the IMF.

386
00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:25,032
And as the government
engages the IMF,

387
00:17:25,032 --> 00:17:28,132
we will also begin taking steps,
in coordination with

388
00:17:28,133 --> 00:17:30,333
multilateral and bilateral
partners

389
00:17:30,333 --> 00:17:32,767
and the new government, which
could complement,

390
00:17:32,767 --> 00:17:34,767
as I mentioned earlier, an IMF package.

391
00:17:35,166 --> 00:17:40,265
So I don't have a specific
reaction to the beginning

392
00:17:40,266 --> 00:17:42,033
of negotiations and
discussions between the

393
00:17:42,033 --> 00:17:44,300
Ukrainian government and
the IMF except that

394
00:17:44,300 --> 00:17:46,533
we support efforts to assist
Ukraine

395
00:17:46,533 --> 00:17:53,332
as it enacts reforms
and stabilizes its economy.

396
00:17:53,333 --> 00:17:56,967
And we will be considering
a range of options

397
00:17:56,967 --> 00:18:01,100
available to the United
States to act in support

398
00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:04,199
in a complementary way
of any IMF assistance.

399
00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,233
The Press: Ukraine has
had previous IMF loans.

400
00:18:07,233 --> 00:18:11,233
Back in 2008, there was
some trouble --

401
00:18:11,233 --> 00:18:13,399
they balked at some of the
conditions of the loan.

402
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,266
Does that cloud the
talks this time around?

403
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:18,667
Mr. Carney: I would have
to refer you

404
00:18:18,667 --> 00:18:21,265
to the State Department and
Treasury and the IMF.

405
00:18:21,266 --> 00:18:24,066
I don't have the history,
the back history on that.

406
00:18:24,066 --> 00:18:26,333
Jared.

407
00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:27,400
The Press: Thank you.

408
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,433
In regards to Crimea, or
in regards to Russia and

409
00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:32,333
Ukraine, what would
be intervening?

410
00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:34,834
How would you define
intervention, I guess?

411
00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:37,332
Mr. Carney: Well, there
have been some reports

412
00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:40,400
that suggest intervention,
and we're concerned about

413
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,066
those and we're
seeking clarification.

414
00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:46,000
We're watching closely to
see, as Secretary Kerry

415
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,033
said, whether Russia might
be "crossing the line

416
00:18:49,033 --> 00:18:52,065
in any way," the intervention
line, if you will.

417
00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:58,600
So I'm not going to
speculate or frame

418
00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:03,466
it beyond the reports and
the concern

419
00:19:03,467 --> 00:19:05,033
that we're expressing.

420
00:19:05,033 --> 00:19:07,966
It's very clear what our
position is, which is that

421
00:19:07,967 --> 00:19:09,967
Ukrainian territorial
integrity needs

422
00:19:09,967 --> 00:19:12,934
to be respected, Ukrainian
sovereignty needs

423
00:19:12,934 --> 00:19:14,433
to be respected, and it would
be a grave

424
00:19:14,433 --> 00:19:16,066
mistake to intervene.

425
00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:21,567
So it is our view
that maintaining the

426
00:19:21,567 --> 00:19:24,633
independence and
territorial integrity of

427
00:19:24,633 --> 00:19:28,633
Ukraine is in the interest
of the Ukrainian people

428
00:19:28,633 --> 00:19:31,400
and the interest of
nations

429
00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,967
in the region, including Russia.

430
00:19:33,967 --> 00:19:38,400
And we are going to work
with all partners to

431
00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,233
assist the Ukrainian
government as it steps

432
00:19:40,233 --> 00:19:42,734
forward to deal with its
economic challenges,

433
00:19:42,734 --> 00:19:45,800
and to move forward towards
early elections that would

434
00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,200
provide another future
government in Ukraine

435
00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,867
that reflects the will of all
the Ukrainian people,

436
00:19:53,867 --> 00:19:55,700
that respects the rights of
all the Ukrainian

437
00:19:55,700 --> 00:19:57,800
people, including minorities.

438
00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,500
And we're going to
continue to watch the

439
00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:02,133
situation very closely
when it comes

440
00:20:02,133 --> 00:20:04,567
to matters of potential intervention.

441
00:20:04,934 --> 00:20:06,000
The Press: How do you
get to the answer

442
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,166
of whether Russia was
behind the seizures?

443
00:20:09,166 --> 00:20:10,867
Are you guys asking the
Russians,

444
00:20:10,867 --> 00:20:11,966
hey, was this you?

445
00:20:11,967 --> 00:20:13,066
I mean, you may not
have an answer to that.

446
00:20:13,233 --> 00:20:13,934
Mr. Carney: Well, I'm
not going to get into the

447
00:20:13,934 --> 00:20:16,233
ways that we monitor or
all the conversations that

448
00:20:16,233 --> 00:20:20,000
we have around situations
like this, except to say

449
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:21,266
that we're watching
it very closely.

450
00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:23,300
The Press: And would
this be crossing the line

451
00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:24,533
if it ended up being
Russians

452
00:20:24,533 --> 00:20:26,233
or Russian security forces?

453
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,934
Mr. Carney: Again, I'm
not going to get into

454
00:20:28,934 --> 00:20:31,934
the individual reports and
what our assessment is

455
00:20:31,934 --> 00:20:32,966
about what happened.

456
00:20:32,967 --> 00:20:34,567
And I think there's been
a lot of, even in the

457
00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:37,500
reports themselves,
contradictory information

458
00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:40,800
about some of the events,
including the ones that

459
00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:41,800
have been raised here.

460
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:47,767
So I'm not in a position
to evaluate each report

461
00:20:47,767 --> 00:20:49,433
and evaluate who is
responsible and what

462
00:20:49,433 --> 00:20:50,433
actually happened.

463
00:20:50,433 --> 00:20:54,533
We obviously as a
government, and working

464
00:20:54,533 --> 00:20:58,433
with partners and allies,
and communicating directly

465
00:20:58,433 --> 00:21:00,600
with Ukrainian leaders, as
well as Russians leaders

466
00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,199
and others, finding as
much -- getting as much

467
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,133
information as we can
about these reports.

468
00:21:06,367 --> 00:21:07,767
The Press: Do you know
how long it will

469
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:08,533
take to try and get an
answer behind the --

470
00:21:08,533 --> 00:21:09,166
Mr. Carney: I don't
have anything more

471
00:21:09,166 --> 00:21:09,667
for you on it.

472
00:21:09,667 --> 00:21:12,300
Peter.

473
00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:14,033
The Press: Jay, does
the President believe that

474
00:21:14,033 --> 00:21:17,800
the Russians are being
aggressive vis-à-vis

475
00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,500
Crimea and Ukraine?

476
00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:21,300
Without using the word
"intervention,"

477
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:22,033
are they being aggressive?

478
00:21:22,033 --> 00:21:23,166
Mr. Carney: So
it's a different word.

479
00:21:23,166 --> 00:21:25,500
I think that we are
concerned about reports

480
00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:29,533
of Russian intervention
or Russian aggression.

481
00:21:29,533 --> 00:21:30,533
So I would --

482
00:21:30,533 --> 00:21:31,533
The Press: So who
would check intervention

483
00:21:31,533 --> 00:21:34,132
or aggression if it
took place,

484
00:21:34,133 --> 00:21:35,133
the U.S. unilaterally?

485
00:21:35,133 --> 00:21:36,133
NATO allies?

486
00:21:36,133 --> 00:21:37,133
Who do we rely on to check
that if they --

487
00:21:37,133 --> 00:21:40,133
if we do believe they
crossed that line?

488
00:21:40,133 --> 00:21:42,767
Mr. Carney: We evaluate
this, monitor this, engage

489
00:21:42,767 --> 00:21:45,667
in diplomatic discussions
about this in a variety of

490
00:21:45,667 --> 00:21:48,300
ways -- both as the United
States

491
00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:51,300
in partnership with our allies
in the region,

492
00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:53,000
and
in direct communications with

493
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,834
the Ukrainian government and

494
00:21:54,834 --> 00:21:56,133
Russian government officials.

495
00:21:56,133 --> 00:21:57,367
The Press: Can you
give us an update on the

496
00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:59,567
President's consultations
with NATO allies

497
00:21:59,567 --> 00:22:01,066
on the issue of Ukraine?

498
00:22:01,467 --> 00:22:02,800
Mr. Carney: I don't
have any Presidential

499
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:04,200
conversations to
update you on.

500
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,100
I noted the Secretary of
State

501
00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:08,632
and the conversation he had
with Foreign Minister Lavrov.

502
00:22:08,633 --> 00:22:11,400
I note that Vice President
Biden had a conversation

503
00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:12,433
with the new Prime
Minister,

504
00:22:12,433 --> 00:22:14,667
which I think we read out, of Ukraine.

505
00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:17,132
And obviously there are
communications happening

506
00:22:17,133 --> 00:22:21,266
in real-time regarding
this very fluid situation.

507
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,467
The Press: Following
up on a couple other

508
00:22:23,467 --> 00:22:25,266
topics we've done -- that
we may get to --

509
00:22:25,266 --> 00:22:27,233
one is, for the President's
speech today,

510
00:22:27,233 --> 00:22:28,399
which
White House aides have indicated

511
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,166
is a pretty major speech in terms of laying out the

512
00:22:30,166 --> 00:22:32,000
sort of framework for decisions Americans will

513
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,033
make coming up at the end
of this year, why at 5:00 p.m.

514
00:22:35,033 --> 00:22:38,265
on a Friday when document
dumps normally take place?

515
00:22:38,266 --> 00:22:39,266
Why deliver it then?

516
00:22:39,266 --> 00:22:40,266
(laughter)

517
00:22:40,266 --> 00:22:41,266
Mr. Carney: I think
that's when

518
00:22:41,266 --> 00:22:44,300
he is speaking to the DNC,

519
00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:48,300
which is the Democratic National Committee.

520
00:22:48,300 --> 00:22:55,367
And we trust in our
friends in the independent

521
00:22:55,367 --> 00:22:56,966
media to report the news.

522
00:22:56,967 --> 00:22:59,100
So, hopefully, they'll
follow the news

523
00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:00,132
on a Friday and a Saturday.

524
00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:01,433
The Press: Okay,
fair enough -- fine.

525
00:23:01,433 --> 00:23:02,433
Can I ask you quickly

526
00:23:02,433 --> 00:23:03,767
about healthcare.gov right now?

527
00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:05,266
Who is in charge of
the implementation

528
00:23:05,266 --> 00:23:06,934
of healthcare.gov right now?

529
00:23:06,934 --> 00:23:09,133
I know Jeffrey Zients is
now working here

530
00:23:09,133 --> 00:23:10,200
as he begins his new
responsibilities.

531
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,000
So who is presently
in charge?

532
00:23:12,467 --> 00:23:13,900
Mr. Carney: Well, as
you know, we actually

533
00:23:13,900 --> 00:23:15,600
announced it; we announced
a successor

534
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,667
to Jeff Zients, and obviously
that operation

535
00:23:19,667 --> 00:23:21,166
is still run out of CMS.

536
00:23:21,166 --> 00:23:25,133
But it is still very much
-- and we talked about

537
00:23:25,133 --> 00:23:30,967
it at the time, when this was
an hourly, not even to say

538
00:23:30,967 --> 00:23:36,667
a daily story, we knew
once improvements were

539
00:23:36,667 --> 00:23:39,166
made and the website was
functioning effectively

540
00:23:39,166 --> 00:23:41,066
for the vast majority of
Americans who were trying

541
00:23:41,066 --> 00:23:44,233
to use it, that there
would be some diminution

542
00:23:44,233 --> 00:23:47,433
of interest in it, but our
efforts and the team's

543
00:23:47,433 --> 00:23:50,200
efforts would not subside
because

544
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,233
the work was so important.

545
00:23:51,233 --> 00:23:53,800
And the need to ensure
that the website was

546
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,399
continually improved and
functioning effectively

547
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,834
through the entire open
enrollment period

548
00:23:58,834 --> 00:24:00,967
would be there, and that
is the case.

549
00:24:00,967 --> 00:24:07,200
And as you know, we're now
on the eve of the final

550
00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:08,567
month in the six-month
process,

551
00:24:08,567 --> 00:24:11,400
and there's a lot of work
that still needs to be done,

552
00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,467
and making sure that everybody
gets out there who can use the

553
00:24:15,467 --> 00:24:20,333
information about the
options available

554
00:24:20,333 --> 00:24:22,700
to them is getting that
information is part of

555
00:24:22,700 --> 00:24:24,967
what we're working to do.

556
00:24:24,967 --> 00:24:26,567
But another part of that
is making sure that the

557
00:24:26,567 --> 00:24:28,033
website is functioning
effectively.

558
00:24:28,033 --> 00:24:29,699
And given that the website
now, according to the

559
00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:31,700
White House, appears to be
functioning certainly much

560
00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:34,900
better than it was
back in October --

561
00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:35,900
Mr. Carney: I don't
think

562
00:24:35,900 --> 00:24:36,900
it's a subject of doubt.

563
00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:37,867
I mean, you said,

564
00:24:37,867 --> 00:24:38,867
"according to the White House."

565
00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:39,600
You guys, as you regularly
did when

566
00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:39,966
it was having problems --

567
00:24:39,967 --> 00:24:40,467
The Press:
Fai enough.

568
00:24:40,467 --> 00:24:41,000
Here, let me ask
the question.

569
00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:41,834
Mr. Carney: -- tested
the hypothesis,

570
00:24:41,834 --> 00:24:43,033
"is it functioning
effectively" --

571
00:24:43,033 --> 00:24:45,132
The Press: Rather than
waste time with semantics,

572
00:24:45,133 --> 00:24:46,533
what I'm trying to say is
the website is functioning

573
00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:47,399
much better right now.

574
00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:48,600
Fine, we stipulate that.

575
00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,433
I want to know why then,
if the people

576
00:24:50,433 --> 00:24:52,400
who are responsible for that,
these high-tech wizards

577
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,900
who made the fixes are the
ones who are due

578
00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:57,133
for a lot of the credit, why the
President never met with

579
00:24:57,133 --> 00:25:00,100
them following the fixes
that ultimately put this --

580
00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:01,166
Mr. Carney: I don't
read

581
00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:02,433
out every meeting the President has.

582
00:25:02,433 --> 00:25:03,433
What I can tell
you is that --

583
00:25:03,667 --> 00:25:04,934
The Press: Did
he meet with them?

584
00:25:05,133 --> 00:25:07,300
Mr. Carney: -- the
President appreciates all

585
00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:10,466
the efforts of the entire
team that has been

586
00:25:10,467 --> 00:25:14,800
involved in fixing the
problems at healthcare.gov

587
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:15,899
and in the general effort

588
00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:17,367
to implement the
Affordable Care Act,

589
00:25:17,367 --> 00:25:18,399
which continues to this day.

590
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,667
This effort is not over,
and it won't even be over

591
00:25:22,667 --> 00:25:23,667
after March 31st.

592
00:25:23,667 --> 00:25:25,233
Obviously, that's the
open enrollment period.

593
00:25:25,233 --> 00:25:28,200
But there's a lot of work
that will remain

594
00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,200
to be done, and that
work will continue.

595
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:31,400
The Press: So we don't
read them all out,

596
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,266
but did he meet with them at
some point, though?

597
00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:34,633
Mr. Carney: I don't
have any information

598
00:25:34,633 --> 00:25:35,700
on the President's schedule.

599
00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:37,500
The Press: Who is
responsible

600
00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:40,133
for the problems that not
only the federal government

601
00:25:40,133 --> 00:25:43,867
had with its own website, but
the state of Maryland,

602
00:25:43,867 --> 00:25:46,033
other states are having
with their websites,

603
00:25:46,033 --> 00:25:48,433
which are funded by the
federal government?

604
00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:50,633
Mr. Carney: Well, I
would refer you

605
00:25:50,633 --> 00:25:53,266
to CMS for general questions
like that.

606
00:25:53,266 --> 00:25:56,700
I can tell you that when
it comes to some states

607
00:25:56,700 --> 00:25:59,266
that have had problems
with their websites and

608
00:25:59,266 --> 00:26:01,800
their marketplaces, CMS
issued guidance that

609
00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,399
allows state residents
who are unable to sign

610
00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,400
up because of technical
problems on those state

611
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,033
websites to get federal
tax credits if they bought

612
00:26:10,033 --> 00:26:12,265
private insurance outside
of the new online

613
00:26:12,266 --> 00:26:13,266
insurance exchanges.

614
00:26:13,266 --> 00:26:15,133
In other words, the
subsidies available

615
00:26:15,133 --> 00:26:18,000
because of the Affordable
Care Act remain available

616
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:19,266
no matter how you
get your insurance.

617
00:26:19,266 --> 00:26:22,333
And we're making sure CMS
is working closely with

618
00:26:22,333 --> 00:26:24,266
states to support their efforts

619
00:26:24,266 --> 00:26:25,934
to successfully implement their
marketplace.

620
00:26:25,934 --> 00:26:28,000
And that includes making
sure that those who are

621
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,266
eligible for subsidies
are able to receive them.

622
00:26:31,834 --> 00:26:32,834
The Press: The
criticism of that is that

623
00:26:32,834 --> 00:26:35,000
it sounds like yet
another waiver.

624
00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,734
But I'm talking about
money that appears

625
00:26:36,734 --> 00:26:37,734
to have been wasted.

626
00:26:37,734 --> 00:26:39,132
Mr. Carney: I'm
not sure I see that.

627
00:26:39,133 --> 00:26:41,033
But we'll posit that.

628
00:26:41,033 --> 00:26:42,033
Go ahead.

629
00:26:42,033 --> 00:26:43,033
The Press: I'm talking
about money that appears

630
00:26:43,033 --> 00:26:44,065
to have been wasted.

631
00:26:44,066 --> 00:26:48,467
Maryland's website has
already cost twice

632
00:26:48,467 --> 00:26:52,500
what was expected and needs
more presumably federal

633
00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:55,767
money or an advance
on federal money.

634
00:26:55,767 --> 00:26:57,734
Where is the
accountability here?

635
00:26:57,734 --> 00:27:00,466
Mr. Carney: Well, I
would ask you to check

636
00:27:00,467 --> 00:27:02,233
with CMS in terms of the
interaction between

637
00:27:02,233 --> 00:27:04,567
CMS and individual
state websites.

638
00:27:04,567 --> 00:27:06,367
What I can tell you is
when it comes to making

639
00:27:06,367 --> 00:27:07,367
sure that every American
who has purchased

640
00:27:07,367 --> 00:27:11,533
insurance under the
Affordable Care Act

641
00:27:11,533 --> 00:27:19,100
is able to get the benefits
that are provided within

642
00:27:19,100 --> 00:27:22,065
the law, that CMS is
working with the states

643
00:27:22,066 --> 00:27:23,400
to make sure that happens in
those states

644
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:24,400
where they've had problems.

645
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,567
I would also note that
many states have

646
00:27:28,667 --> 00:27:32,500
run very effective exchanges
and websites.

647
00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:35,266
And, as I think was
announced a couple of

648
00:27:35,266 --> 00:27:39,467
weeks ago or last week,
California hit its target,

649
00:27:39,467 --> 00:27:42,300
its March 31st target in
the middle of February

650
00:27:42,300 --> 00:27:43,300
in terms of enrollees.

651
00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:45,966
So that one's working
pretty well, I guess.

652
00:27:45,967 --> 00:27:46,967
The Press: That's my
point,

653
00:27:46,967 --> 00:27:49,967
is that it's all costing more
than it was expected to cost.

654
00:27:50,667 --> 00:27:52,367
Mr. Carney: You're
saying that, but I don't

655
00:27:52,367 --> 00:27:53,834
have any details in front
of me about that, Wendell.

656
00:27:53,834 --> 00:27:54,800
But I would
refer you to CMS.

657
00:27:55,133 --> 00:27:57,100
The Press: So,
Jay, back to Ukraine.

658
00:27:57,100 --> 00:28:01,500
It seems that you're
suggesting,

659
00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:05,200
when you refer to reports, deep
concern for reports of Russian

660
00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,166
intervention, you're not
just talking about news

661
00:28:07,166 --> 00:28:10,399
reports that we -- the
United States government

662
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,200
through its other means
has credible reports that

663
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,233
the Russians have engaged
in some kind of activity.

664
00:28:17,467 --> 00:28:20,233
Mr. Carney: Jon, I'm
referring at this briefing

665
00:28:20,233 --> 00:28:22,834
to news reports, because
there have been a variety

666
00:28:22,834 --> 00:28:24,100
of reports, some of them
conflicting,

667
00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:25,367
some of them inconclusive about --

668
00:28:26,066 --> 00:28:27,066
The Press: But you
also mentioned

669
00:28:27,066 --> 00:28:28,066
the U.S. government

670
00:28:28,066 --> 00:28:29,066
and our ability to --

671
00:28:29,066 --> 00:28:31,400
Mr. Carney: Well, I was
asked how we verify those

672
00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:37,200
reports or test -- or find
out what has actually

673
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,133
happened in these
individual circumstances.

674
00:28:39,133 --> 00:28:41,867
There have been a lot of
reports about activity

675
00:28:41,867 --> 00:28:47,033
involving military
personnel

676
00:28:47,033 --> 00:28:48,533
or apparently military personnel.

677
00:28:48,533 --> 00:28:51,567
So I'm sort of referring
to those reports

678
00:28:51,567 --> 00:28:55,066
and to our concern about them,
and to the fact that we're

679
00:28:55,066 --> 00:28:59,000
watching very closely to
see if Russia is acting

680
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,934
in any way that would cross
the line when

681
00:29:00,934 --> 00:29:03,166
it comes to intervention in the
affairs

682
00:29:03,166 --> 00:29:04,166
of a sovereign state.

683
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,600
The Press: Can you
explain what our national

684
00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:08,132
interest is in the
territorial

685
00:29:08,133 --> 00:29:09,400
integrity of Ukraine?

686
00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,066
I mean, take a region like
Crimea, which was part of

687
00:29:13,066 --> 00:29:19,900
Russia until 1950, and
then of course many years

688
00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:21,333
part of Ukraine but
under the Soviet Union.

689
00:29:21,333 --> 00:29:24,300
Why is it in the American
national interest that

690
00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:29,033
Ukraine remain exactly
as its borders are now?

691
00:29:29,033 --> 00:29:30,367
I'm just asking --

692
00:29:30,367 --> 00:29:33,500
Mr. Carney: Because as
a general principle

693
00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:34,734
we support the territorial

694
00:29:34,734 --> 00:29:36,300
integrity of states recognized

695
00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:37,200
under the U.N. Charter.

696
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:42,166
And we call on Russia to
respect its international

697
00:29:42,166 --> 00:29:43,265
obligations under

698
00:29:43,266 --> 00:29:46,433
the U.N. Charter to refrain from
the threat or use of force

699
00:29:46,433 --> 00:29:48,467
against the territorial
integrity or political

700
00:29:48,467 --> 00:29:49,567
independence of any state.

701
00:29:49,567 --> 00:29:53,900
We're referring to general
principles here that guide

702
00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:56,367
the conduct of nations

703
00:29:56,367 --> 00:29:57,433
in the international community.

704
00:29:57,433 --> 00:30:03,567
So maintaining or
recognizing Ukraine's

705
00:30:03,567 --> 00:30:05,734
territorial integrity,
recognizing its

706
00:30:05,734 --> 00:30:08,966
sovereignty is something
that nations

707
00:30:08,967 --> 00:30:11,700
have done, including Russia.

708
00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:15,166
Russia is party to
agreements that recognize,

709
00:30:15,166 --> 00:30:19,833
including the Budapest
Memorandum from I think

710
00:30:19,834 --> 00:30:22,767
the mid-1990s, that
recognize Ukraine's

711
00:30:22,767 --> 00:30:24,700
independence and
territorial integrity.

712
00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:28,633
And we call on nations to
uphold their obligations

713
00:30:28,633 --> 00:30:29,767
under those agreements
and under

714
00:30:29,767 --> 00:30:30,767
the U.N. charter.

715
00:30:30,767 --> 00:30:32,200
The Press: When you
talk about an intervention

716
00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,000
line, which I assume is
something like a red line,

717
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,166
it does raise the question
of, well, then what?

718
00:30:39,166 --> 00:30:43,166
I mean, how much of --
how important

719
00:30:43,166 --> 00:30:44,966
a national interest is this?

720
00:30:44,967 --> 00:30:46,333
What are we
going to do if --

721
00:30:46,734 --> 00:30:48,166
Mr. Carney: Again, Jon,
I'm not going to speculate

722
00:30:48,166 --> 00:30:50,600
about what happens
if this happens.

723
00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:52,399
What I'm going to focus on
and what we're focused

724
00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,967
on is what is happening and
what we can do to assist

725
00:30:56,967 --> 00:31:01,533
the Ukrainian people as
they deal with the current

726
00:31:01,533 --> 00:31:03,166
circumstances that the
country is in,

727
00:31:03,166 --> 00:31:06,600
both economically and
politically, and to call

728
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,833
on nations to respect
Ukraine's territorial

729
00:31:08,834 --> 00:31:12,200
integrity, to respect
Ukraine's independence,

730
00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,066
to respect the right of the
Ukrainian people to decide

731
00:31:15,066 --> 00:31:18,567
for themselves whether
they want to, for example,

732
00:31:18,567 --> 00:31:20,500
integrate further with
Europe; and to respect the

733
00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:26,500
fact that Ukraine has and
will always have deep,

734
00:31:28,734 --> 00:31:30,667
historical and cultural
ties to Russia,

735
00:31:30,667 --> 00:31:33,433
for example; and to integrate
further with Europe

736
00:31:33,433 --> 00:31:38,066
and to maintain those deep ties
that are both achievable

737
00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:39,066
and should be achievable.

738
00:31:39,066 --> 00:31:40,400
They're not contradictory.

739
00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:45,800
And Ukraine's
responsibility to respect

740
00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,500
the freedoms and liberties
and civil rights of all of

741
00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:53,300
its citizens is a part of
the bargain, if you will.

742
00:31:53,300 --> 00:31:56,133
So we are making all
those points

743
00:31:56,133 --> 00:31:58,467
in this circumstance.

744
00:31:58,500 --> 00:32:00,700
And in the meantime, when
it comes to what-ifs,

745
00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:04,433
we're focused on making
clear our views about the

746
00:32:04,433 --> 00:32:07,800
responsibilities of other
states not to intervene,

747
00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,367
and our concern about any
reports that suggest

748
00:32:10,367 --> 00:32:11,367
there might have intervention.

749
00:32:12,266 --> 00:32:13,166
The Press: Should U.S. taxpayers

750
00:32:13,166 --> 00:32:13,966
be prepared to
support

751
00:32:13,967 --> 00:32:15,834
transition in Ukraine?

752
00:32:15,834 --> 00:32:16,834
I understand there's
support from the IMF.

753
00:32:16,834 --> 00:32:18,967
Should we be prepared
with an aid package?

754
00:32:19,133 --> 00:32:20,200
Mr. Carney: Again,
we're considerating our --

755
00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,133
I'm sorry, considerating.

756
00:32:22,133 --> 00:32:22,800
Did I say that?

757
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:23,734
(laughter)

758
00:32:23,734 --> 00:32:26,934
It's Friday
-- just made up a word.

759
00:32:26,934 --> 00:32:28,800
But we are considering
our options.

760
00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:29,200
The Press: It's good.

761
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:30,000
Mr. Carney:
It's pretty good.

762
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:31,333
I kind of sounded
legit, right?

763
00:32:31,333 --> 00:32:33,000
We're considering
all of our options.

764
00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,233
We haven't made
determinations about ways

765
00:32:35,233 --> 00:32:36,800
that we can assist
either unilaterally

766
00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:38,567
or bilaterally to complement

767
00:32:38,567 --> 00:32:43,200
an IMF program of assistance.

768
00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,533
We're encouraged by the
fact that IMF officials

769
00:32:47,533 --> 00:32:48,667
will be traveling to
Ukraine

770
00:32:48,667 --> 00:32:51,000
and that those conversations
will take place.

771
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:52,667
We think that's important.

772
00:32:52,667 --> 00:32:54,433
But at this point, we
haven't made any decisions

773
00:32:54,433 --> 00:32:56,333
about additional
assistance that

774
00:32:56,333 --> 00:32:57,567
the United States might provide.

775
00:32:57,834 --> 00:32:58,934
The Press: And then a
quick political question.

776
00:32:58,934 --> 00:33:02,633
Harry Reid, of course, is
the top-ranked Democrat

777
00:33:02,633 --> 00:33:06,300
in Congress; took to the
Senate floor to denounce

778
00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:08,667
the Koch brothers for --
accusing them

779
00:33:08,667 --> 00:33:11,533
of trying to buy America.

780
00:33:11,533 --> 00:33:15,533
And he said they are
about "as un-American"

781
00:33:15,533 --> 00:33:18,000
as anybody -- "as anyone
I can imagine."

782
00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:22,834
What does the President
make of the top Democratic

783
00:33:22,834 --> 00:33:24,967
leader basically talking
about un-American

784
00:33:24,967 --> 00:33:26,467
activities on
the Senate floor?

785
00:33:26,467 --> 00:33:28,200
Mr. Carney: I didn't
see that report and I

786
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:29,600
haven't talked to the
President about it,

787
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,500
so I don't really
have a response.

788
00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:34,133
The Press: Does the
President consider the

789
00:33:34,133 --> 00:33:34,867
Koch brothers un-American?

790
00:33:34,867 --> 00:33:36,133
Mr. Carney: I haven't
talked

791
00:33:36,133 --> 00:33:37,800
to him about the Koch brothers.

792
00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:43,966
I think that in general
-- because of the context

793
00:33:43,967 --> 00:33:47,300
here, we have seen again
and again efforts

794
00:33:47,300 --> 00:33:50,867
to highlight individuals who
have had problems with the

795
00:33:50,867 --> 00:33:53,265
Affordable Care Act, and
again and again reporters

796
00:33:53,266 --> 00:33:58,333
have discovered that, in
fact, the circumstances

797
00:33:58,333 --> 00:34:00,600
are not as they're being
presented by either

798
00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:02,399
outside groups
or Republicans.

799
00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,400
And I think
that's important.

800
00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:06,734
And the work that's being
done by reporters is

801
00:34:06,734 --> 00:34:10,199
important in making sure
the whole story is told.

802
00:34:10,833 --> 00:34:13,000
We saw that with the
rebuttal

803
00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:14,500
to the State of the Union
address, when somebody

804
00:34:14,500 --> 00:34:18,000
who was highlighted as having
problems with the

805
00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,400
Affordable Care Act, when
reporters dug into that

806
00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,900
they found the
circumstances to be

807
00:34:22,900 --> 00:34:25,767
different from what had
been presented, and also

808
00:34:25,766 --> 00:34:27,533
the fact that the
congresswoman's office

809
00:34:27,533 --> 00:34:30,266
hadn't even -- if you
represent a constituency

810
00:34:30,266 --> 00:34:32,867
in Congress and there's
been a law that's been

811
00:34:32,867 --> 00:34:35,734
passed, that's been upheld
by the Supreme Court,

812
00:34:35,734 --> 00:34:37,533
that's being implemented
that provides benefits

813
00:34:37,533 --> 00:34:40,299
to your constituents, whether
you agree with the law

814
00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:42,333
or not, you would think you
would be assisting your

815
00:34:42,333 --> 00:34:44,667
constituents in getting

816
00:34:44,667 --> 00:34:45,900
the benefits available to them.

817
00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:47,533
The Press: But I'm
trying to get to this

818
00:34:47,533 --> 00:34:48,766
highly charged language
of calling political

819
00:34:48,766 --> 00:34:49,399
opponents un-American --

820
00:34:49,632 --> 00:34:50,466
Mr. Carney: Again,
I haven't seen --

821
00:34:50,734 --> 00:34:52,600
The Press: Forget
what Reid said.

822
00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:53,799
Does the White House
endorse that

823
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,533
kind of language aimed at
political opponents?

824
00:34:55,533 --> 00:34:55,734
Mr. Carney: I'm not
going

825
00:34:55,734 --> 00:34:58,933
to talk about a hypothetical.

826
00:34:58,934 --> 00:34:59,967
I haven't seen the report.

827
00:34:59,967 --> 00:35:03,867
What I can say is
certainly some of the

828
00:35:03,867 --> 00:35:08,433
assertions that have been
made in general about the

829
00:35:08,433 --> 00:35:11,000
Affordable Care Act have
been proven

830
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:12,433
to be wrong by your colleagues.

831
00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:15,000
The Press: So are
you suggesting it's

832
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,000
un-American to make
assertions

833
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:17,300
that are proved wrong?

834
00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:18,700
That's clearly the
language

835
00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:20,000
that you just said.

836
00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:20,767
He asked you --

837
00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:22,333
Mr. Carney: No, Neil,
you're misrepresenting

838
00:35:22,333 --> 00:35:24,000
entirely what I said, so
why don't

839
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:24,667
you stick to that.

840
00:35:25,567 --> 00:35:26,500
The Press: No -- he
said it's something

841
00:35:26,500 --> 00:35:27,834
un-American, and you say,
no,

842
00:35:27,834 --> 00:35:28,734
I'm not answering that, but there is this.

843
00:35:28,734 --> 00:35:31,266
So is there a suggestion
-- are you making any

844
00:35:31,266 --> 00:35:33,433
suggestion whatsoever
that to disagree

845
00:35:33,433 --> 00:35:34,934
with the administration and
be wrong

846
00:35:34,934 --> 00:35:36,433
is somehow un-American?

847
00:35:36,433 --> 00:35:37,934
Mr. Carney:
No, I'm not.

848
00:35:37,934 --> 00:35:40,033
Yes, Major.

849
00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:41,834
The Press: I'm want to
ask you about something

850
00:35:41,834 --> 00:35:44,066
that the Office of the
Actuary of CMS put out

851
00:35:44,066 --> 00:35:45,600
last Friday about the
effect

852
00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,000
of the Affordable
Care Act on small businesses.

853
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,200
They put on a report -
and I'll quote from it

854
00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:53,433
directly -- using the
community ratings

855
00:35:53,433 --> 00:35:56,033
provision requiring a
higher level of quality

856
00:35:56,033 --> 00:35:59,400
of health care for small
businesses that don't

857
00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,533
provide it and didn't
provide it before.

858
00:36:01,533 --> 00:36:03,366
Directly from their
report: "We are estimating

859
00:36:03,367 --> 00:36:06,133
that 65 percent of the
small firms are expected

860
00:36:06,133 --> 00:36:09,466
to experience increases in
their premium rates while

861
00:36:09,467 --> 00:36:11,767
the remaining 35 percent
are anticipated

862
00:36:11,767 --> 00:36:13,165
to have rate reductions."

863
00:36:13,166 --> 00:36:15,800
It goes on to say, "This
results in roughly 11

864
00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,767
million individuals whose
premiums are estimated

865
00:36:17,767 --> 00:36:20,466
to be higher as a result
of the ACA

866
00:36:20,467 --> 00:36:21,867
and about 6 million individuals

867
00:36:21,867 --> 00:36:25,300
who are estimated to have lower premiums."

868
00:36:25,300 --> 00:36:27,400
Does this mean that for
a certain segment

869
00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:29,266
of Americans, as identified
by the Office of the

870
00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:32,200
Actuary, they're going to
be paying more for the

871
00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,033
health care that they had
before,

872
00:36:34,033 --> 00:36:37,333
and that in some respects does
not align with the President's

873
00:36:37,333 --> 00:36:39,867
overall commitment that
the ACA would deliver

874
00:36:39,867 --> 00:36:41,166
lower health care costs?

875
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:43,834
Mr. Carney: Well, first
of all, I think -- and I

876
00:36:43,834 --> 00:36:46,567
answered questions about
this earlier in the week

877
00:36:46,567 --> 00:36:48,600
-- that analysis looked
at the impact of only one

878
00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,133
provision of the ACA; it
did not look at the impact

879
00:36:51,133 --> 00:36:54,000
of subsidies and other
provisions within the ACA.

880
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,000
The reports states the
premiums are anticipated

881
00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,700
to stay same in average,
and it finds that before

882
00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:01,066
the Affordable Care Act,
65 percent of these firms

883
00:37:01,066 --> 00:37:04,133
were paying below average
and 35 percent were paying

884
00:37:04,133 --> 00:37:06,466
above average because
insurers were allowed

885
00:37:06,467 --> 00:37:08,867
to discriminate against small
employers who had

886
00:37:08,867 --> 00:37:10,633
an employee with a serious
illness

887
00:37:10,633 --> 00:37:11,799
or more women than men.

888
00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:13,300
In other words,
discriminate against

889
00:37:13,300 --> 00:37:16,266
an employer because they
felt that women

890
00:37:16,266 --> 00:37:18,300
could be charged double, for
example, than men.

891
00:37:18,300 --> 00:37:20,500
They can't do that
anymore, which I think is

892
00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:22,400
the appropriate thing,
because now everyone

893
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:23,400
will be in the same pool.

894
00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:25,200
And that kind of
discrimination

895
00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,933
is no longer allowed under the
Affordable Care Act.

896
00:37:27,934 --> 00:37:30,200
So when you look at the
law as a whole, several

897
00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:32,533
studies have found that
the ACA will help make

898
00:37:32,533 --> 00:37:34,667
coverage more affordable
for people

899
00:37:34,667 --> 00:37:36,467
who get their health insurance
through their job.

900
00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:41,399
So we talked about this
earlier in the week, but

901
00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,734
it doesn't take into
account all these other

902
00:37:43,734 --> 00:37:45,266
provisions within the
Affordable Care Act that

903
00:37:45,266 --> 00:37:48,233
actually lowers costs;
tax credits for small

904
00:37:48,233 --> 00:37:50,734
businesses; the medical
loss ratio provision,

905
00:37:50,734 --> 00:37:53,100
which requires insurers to
spend at least 80 percent

906
00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:54,866
of their premiums on
health care and not

907
00:37:54,867 --> 00:37:57,700
overhead, or
administrative costs

908
00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:01,399
or CEO salaries; rate review,
which requires insurers

909
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:04,900
to publicly justify premium
increases of 10 percent

910
00:38:04,900 --> 00:38:08,700
of more; the additional
purchasing power that

911
00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:10,033
businesses get, small
businesses,

912
00:38:10,033 --> 00:38:11,700
through the marketplace, because
they're allowed

913
00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:13,899
to band together and get the
same leverage

914
00:38:13,900 --> 00:38:14,934
as small businesses.

915
00:38:14,934 --> 00:38:17,700
And then, the ACA has
brought more competition

916
00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:18,399
between issuers.

917
00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,500
The ACA increases
transparency and levels

918
00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:23,934
the playing field among
insurers so that employers

919
00:38:23,934 --> 00:38:25,734
and individuals can have
clear information

920
00:38:25,734 --> 00:38:27,299
on the products being offered.

921
00:38:27,300 --> 00:38:29,200
That means issuers have
to compete on price and

922
00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:32,799
quality, which in turn
drives premiums down.

923
00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:33,834
But as a general matter --

924
00:38:33,834 --> 00:38:35,000
The Press: -- your
argument

925
00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,300
is that this phenomenon will not occur?

926
00:38:36,533 --> 00:38:37,600
Mr. Carney: -- they took
one provision

927
00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:39,000
of the Affordable Care Act,
and looked at it --

928
00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:40,500
The Press: As they
said, they were asked

929
00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:41,433
to look at three provisions;

930
00:38:41,433 --> 00:38:42,900
two were not relevant and one was.

931
00:38:43,066 --> 00:38:43,834
Mr. Carney: Two were
not relevant and one was,

932
00:38:43,834 --> 00:38:45,966
so they looked at that one
provision, ruling out all

933
00:38:45,967 --> 00:38:48,300
the other provisions that
actually mitigate the

934
00:38:48,300 --> 00:38:51,266
effect that they
reported on.

935
00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:52,734
And they took that one
provision and said, what

936
00:38:52,734 --> 00:38:55,299
effect does that
provision have.

937
00:38:55,300 --> 00:38:59,500
And if you then don't
isolate that out and look

938
00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:02,300
at the overall impact, as
other outside analysts

939
00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:07,000
have done, you see that
the ACA will help make

940
00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,467
coverage more affordable
for Americans.

941
00:39:09,900 --> 00:39:11,600
The Press: I know you
are rooted to the talking

942
00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:12,667
points presented on
Ukraine,

943
00:39:12,667 --> 00:39:15,299
but I want to try one more time on this.

944
00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:18,400
You often tell us to
evaluate not just words

945
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,800
but actions of
governments, of this

946
00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,600
administration, of
political opponents.

947
00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,866
There have been a lot of
words exchanged between

948
00:39:25,867 --> 00:39:27,900
the Secretary of State and
Lavrov all this week, and

949
00:39:27,900 --> 00:39:28,867
there were words exchanged
between the President

950
00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:29,734
and Vladimir Putin last week.

951
00:39:29,734 --> 00:39:32,266
In the main, would you say
the actions

952
00:39:32,266 --> 00:39:37,066
on the ground in Ukraine
had been consistent with Russian

953
00:39:37,066 --> 00:39:38,966
cooperation and consistent
with

954
00:39:38,967 --> 00:39:41,800
the words expressed in this
administration or not?

955
00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,800
Mr. Carney: Well, Major,
again, you're --

956
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:49,500
we've had very blunt and direct
conversations with our

957
00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:51,900
Russian counterparts on
this matter, and we've had

958
00:39:51,900 --> 00:39:55,834
a lot of conversations
with other counterparts

959
00:39:55,834 --> 00:39:57,200
across the region,
including --

960
00:39:57,767 --> 00:39:59,232
The Press: If you look
at Secretary Kerry's words

961
00:39:59,233 --> 00:40:01,433
today, he appears to be
frustrated;

962
00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:04,000
that what we're communicating is
not getting through,

963
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:07,834
and there is more concern of
things being misinterpreted and

964
00:40:07,834 --> 00:40:10,200
actions being taken that
could be misconstrued

965
00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:12,633
and that could turn this into
a much more volatile

966
00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:13,834
situation than
it already is.

967
00:40:13,834 --> 00:40:15,466
Mr. Carney: Well, the
second part

968
00:40:15,467 --> 00:40:16,667
is definitely true.

969
00:40:16,667 --> 00:40:20,500
We are concerned about
actions that might be

970
00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:24,033
taken that could be
misunderstood and that

971
00:40:24,033 --> 00:40:28,967
could lead to very
problematic consequences.

972
00:40:28,967 --> 00:40:33,867
And that's why we're
calling on all parties

973
00:40:33,867 --> 00:40:37,166
to be cautious in how they
deal with this situation,

974
00:40:37,166 --> 00:40:38,433
and we're making clear
our views

975
00:40:38,433 --> 00:40:41,834
that Ukrainian territorial
integrity has to be respected.

976
00:40:42,734 --> 00:40:47,266
So when it comes to
reports about potential

977
00:40:47,266 --> 00:40:49,000
intervention, we're
concerned about them,

978
00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:50,734
and we're making clear that
intervention

979
00:40:50,734 --> 00:40:52,133
would be a grave mistake.

980
00:40:52,133 --> 00:40:54,500
And we're watching very
closely,

981
00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:57,000
as Secretary Kerry said, to see whether

982
00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,100
or not Russia is crossing the line.

983
00:41:00,100 --> 00:41:03,467
But this is certainly a
challenging situation

984
00:41:03,467 --> 00:41:05,667
and one that we're
watching closely.

985
00:41:05,667 --> 00:41:06,667
Jared.

986
00:41:07,967 --> 00:41:10,300
The Press: This
wasn't asked yesterday.

987
00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:13,934
What, if any, reaction
does the President have to

988
00:41:13,934 --> 00:41:18,467
the veto by Governor
Brewer of SB1062?

989
00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,366
Mr. Carney: As I've noted,
we don't weigh

990
00:41:22,367 --> 00:41:24,767
in as a rule on every piece
of legislation under

991
00:41:24,767 --> 00:41:27,332
consideration, but the
President does believe

992
00:41:27,333 --> 00:41:29,133
that Governor Brewer did
the right thing

993
00:41:29,133 --> 00:41:30,899
by vetoing this bill.

994
00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:34,165
The Press: And you
mentioned the President's

995
00:41:34,166 --> 00:41:38,066
travel to Texas in April.

996
00:41:38,066 --> 00:41:40,066
Has the President -- I
know you won't

997
00:41:40,066 --> 00:41:42,834
read out the future travel
schedule, so has the

998
00:41:42,834 --> 00:41:46,399
President expressed any
enthusiasm or desire to

999
00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:47,867
visit another Presidential
library,

1000
00:41:47,867 --> 00:41:50,000
the George
W. Bush Presidential Library,

1001
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,433
which will be focusing an exhibit of his artwork

1002
00:41:54,433 --> 00:41:55,433
starting in April?

1003
00:41:55,433 --> 00:41:58,266
Mr. Carney: Well, as you
know, President Obama

1004
00:41:58,266 --> 00:42:01,367
was there for the opening
of the George W. Bush

1005
00:42:01,367 --> 00:42:03,600
Presidential library,
an event he enjoyed very

1006
00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:07,533
much, which included
a private tour of the

1007
00:42:07,533 --> 00:42:10,567
library, conducted by

1008
00:42:10,567 --> 00:42:14,133
President George
W. Bush and included, obviously,

1009
00:42:14,133 --> 00:42:16,500
former President George H. W. Bush

1010
00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:18,333
and former President
Clinton,

1011
00:42:18,333 --> 00:42:19,433
former President Carter.

1012
00:42:19,433 --> 00:42:21,667
It was a terrific event,
and the President

1013
00:42:21,667 --> 00:42:23,299
enjoyed it very much, he
spoke at that event.

1014
00:42:23,300 --> 00:42:25,266
And then, as you know,
President George W. Bush

1015
00:42:25,266 --> 00:42:27,533
and former First Lady
Laura Bush joined the

1016
00:42:27,533 --> 00:42:29,799
President on Air Force
One,

1017
00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:37,600
and the President
very much enjoyed being able

1018
00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:40,366
to see some of the art that
President Bush has worked on.

1019
00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:42,567
The Press: But he's
gotten a soupçon of the

1020
00:42:42,567 --> 00:42:43,633
art; he hasn't
seen the full --

1021
00:42:43,834 --> 00:42:44,834
Mr. Carney:
I'm sorry, what?

1022
00:42:44,834 --> 00:42:45,033
(laughter)

1023
00:42:45,033 --> 00:42:46,033
The Press: -- the
full exhibit of the --

1024
00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:46,667
Mr. Carney: Merci.

1025
00:42:46,667 --> 00:42:49,734
(laughter)

1026
00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:52,900
The Press: Is he at
all desirous

1027
00:42:52,900 --> 00:42:55,200
to see the full exhibit once
it's on display?

1028
00:42:55,200 --> 00:43:00,133
Mr. Carney: Well, I
don't have any travel

1029
00:43:00,133 --> 00:43:00,933
announcements to make.

1030
00:43:00,934 --> 00:43:07,734
I mean, I'm a layperson;
I'm not an art expert.

1031
00:43:07,967 --> 00:43:11,700
But I'm pretty impressed
by the former

1032
00:43:11,700 --> 00:43:16,533
President's work, and I think
it's fascinating.

1033
00:43:16,533 --> 00:43:21,000
And if there is -- I
didn't know he was making

1034
00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:22,967
an exhibit out of it at
the library, but I think

1035
00:43:22,967 --> 00:43:26,700
that would only add value
and interest

1036
00:43:26,700 --> 00:43:28,866
to visiting the library.

1037
00:43:28,867 --> 00:43:31,066
Chris.

1038
00:43:31,066 --> 00:43:32,834
The Press: Given the
national outcry over that

1039
00:43:32,834 --> 00:43:34,866
bill, including from
business leaders, both

1040
00:43:34,867 --> 00:43:37,266
Republican senators from
Arizona, Mitt Romney,

1041
00:43:37,266 --> 00:43:39,100
Newt Gingrich, does the
President see a window

1042
00:43:39,100 --> 00:43:40,633
of opportunity to make
a statement against

1043
00:43:40,633 --> 00:43:42,500
discrimination by signing
an executive

1044
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:43,800
order protecting LGBT workers?

1045
00:43:44,834 --> 00:43:47,667
Mr. Carney: I don't
have any update

1046
00:43:47,667 --> 00:43:48,667
on that matter.

1047
00:43:48,667 --> 00:43:53,667
We, of course, hope very
much that further action

1048
00:43:53,667 --> 00:43:56,000
will be taken in Congress
on the Employment

1049
00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:00,433
Non-Discrimination Act, a
bill that if it became law

1050
00:44:00,433 --> 00:44:03,233
would be far more
comprehensive

1051
00:44:03,233 --> 00:44:04,800
in its effect.

1052
00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:06,967
But as a general matter --
and I said this when asked

1053
00:44:06,967 --> 00:44:11,166
about the Arizona bill
last week --

1054
00:44:11,166 --> 00:44:14,300
that the President believes that
all Americans regardless

1055
00:44:14,300 --> 00:44:16,667
of sexual orientation or
gender identity should

1056
00:44:16,667 --> 00:44:18,232
be treated fairly and
equally,

1057
00:44:18,233 --> 00:44:19,633
with dignity and respect.

1058
00:44:20,734 --> 00:44:24,433
And it was gratifying to
see Americans from all

1059
00:44:24,433 --> 00:44:26,667
walks of life, including
business leaders,

1060
00:44:26,667 --> 00:44:29,066
faith leaders regardless of
party speak

1061
00:44:29,066 --> 00:44:30,066
out against this measure.

1062
00:44:30,066 --> 00:44:32,200
And it's further evidence
that the American people

1063
00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:33,799
fundamentally
believe in equality.

1064
00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,000
And it's time to get on
the right side of history.

1065
00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:39,433
I mean, I've mentioned
before,

1066
00:44:39,433 --> 00:44:45,133
and I think we all note with
pride and amazement the progress

1067
00:44:45,133 --> 00:44:48,533
that this country has made
on these issues

1068
00:44:48,533 --> 00:44:49,767
in recent years.

1069
00:44:49,767 --> 00:44:53,966
And I think this veto
reflects on that progress

1070
00:44:53,967 --> 00:44:56,233
and on the sentiment of
the American people.

1071
00:44:56,834 --> 00:44:58,433
The Press: But if you
agree that this veto

1072
00:44:58,433 --> 00:45:04,567
is a symbol of that progress,
isn't an executive order

1073
00:45:04,567 --> 00:45:06,900
a more immediate step to
take advantage of this

1074
00:45:06,900 --> 00:45:10,533
opportunity, as opposed to
encouraging Congress

1075
00:45:10,533 --> 00:45:11,467
to take action, which would
take a longer

1076
00:45:11,467 --> 00:45:12,000
amount of time?

1077
00:45:12,467 --> 00:45:13,533
Mr. Carney: Well,
again, I don't have any

1078
00:45:13,533 --> 00:45:16,133
new information to provide
to you

1079
00:45:16,133 --> 00:45:18,633
on a hypothetical executive order.

1080
00:45:18,633 --> 00:45:20,700
What I can tell you is we
do support legislation

1081
00:45:20,700 --> 00:45:27,399
that would enshrine in law
the non-discrimination

1082
00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:28,867
approach the President
believes is the right

1083
00:45:28,867 --> 00:45:29,867
approach for the country.

1084
00:45:29,867 --> 00:45:30,867
Victoria.

1085
00:45:31,767 --> 00:45:34,332
The Press: You said
that it would be a grave

1086
00:45:34,333 --> 00:45:37,700
mistake for Russia to
cross the line with regard

1087
00:45:37,700 --> 00:45:40,600
to intervention in Crimea.

1088
00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:43,633
Is there a reality, a
political reality that

1089
00:45:43,633 --> 00:45:47,299
there would not be a
political consequence for

1090
00:45:47,300 --> 00:45:52,200
Russia to cross that line,
given their size and their

1091
00:45:52,200 --> 00:45:53,633
significance as a country?

1092
00:45:53,900 --> 00:45:57,000
Mr. Carney: Victoria,
that's another way of

1093
00:45:57,000 --> 00:46:02,033
asking me what would or
wouldn't happen if that

1094
00:46:02,033 --> 00:46:04,165
grave mistake
were committed.

1095
00:46:04,166 --> 00:46:08,133
And I think I'm not going
to speculate except to

1096
00:46:08,133 --> 00:46:11,834
point to our concern, to
point to our strongly held

1097
00:46:11,834 --> 00:46:15,399
view that it would be a
grave mistake to intervene

1098
00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:17,767
and to point to the fact
that we would not be alone

1099
00:46:17,767 --> 00:46:18,767
in holding that view.

1100
00:46:20,633 --> 00:46:23,066
But beyond that, I'm not
going to speculate about

1101
00:46:23,066 --> 00:46:27,799
what might happen if
actions were taken that

1102
00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:28,800
cross that line.

1103
00:46:29,100 --> 00:46:30,100
The Press: There's
supposed to be a U.N.

1104
00:46:30,100 --> 00:46:33,266
Security Council
meeting on Ukraine.

1105
00:46:33,266 --> 00:46:34,834
Given that Russia
is on the U.N.

1106
00:46:34,834 --> 00:46:37,799
Security Council, do you
hold out any hope for any

1107
00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:38,900
kind of resolution
condemning

1108
00:46:38,900 --> 00:46:39,900
what's going on?

1109
00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:41,767
Mr. Carney: Well, I'm
not aware of what specific

1110
00:46:41,767 --> 00:46:43,133
action, if any,

1111
00:46:43,133 --> 00:46:45,100
the Security Council is contemplating.

1112
00:46:45,100 --> 00:46:48,033
I would refer you to our
representation at the

1113
00:46:48,033 --> 00:46:51,165
United Nations for
Ambassador Power's

1114
00:46:51,166 --> 00:46:52,166
view on that action.

1115
00:46:52,166 --> 00:46:53,166
Anybody else?

1116
00:46:53,166 --> 00:46:54,166
Fred?

1117
00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:56,633
The Press:
Yes thanks, Jay.

1118
00:46:56,633 --> 00:46:57,866
Two questions.

1119
00:46:57,867 --> 00:47:01,233
One, on -- there was a
poll published this week

1120
00:47:01,233 --> 00:47:03,233
by the Chronicle for
Higher Education

1121
00:47:03,233 --> 00:47:08,767
that said only 11 percent of
business leaders believe

1122
00:47:08,767 --> 00:47:11,100
that college students,
college graduates are

1123
00:47:11,100 --> 00:47:13,533
prepared to take on jobs.

1124
00:47:13,533 --> 00:47:17,333
The President has talked
about making more students

1125
00:47:17,333 --> 00:47:18,200
college- and career-ready.

1126
00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:20,799
Does he think that
colleges are making

1127
00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:21,734
students career-ready?

1128
00:47:21,734 --> 00:47:22,834
That's the first question.

1129
00:47:23,433 --> 00:47:25,500
Mr. Carney: Well, I
don't know

1130
00:47:25,500 --> 00:47:26,867
if he's seen that report.

1131
00:47:26,867 --> 00:47:29,767
But I can tell you that he
and Secretary Duncan are

1132
00:47:29,767 --> 00:47:33,500
very focused on the need
to have opportunities

1133
00:47:33,500 --> 00:47:35,400
available to young
Americans

1134
00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:38,633
so that they are getting the education they

1135
00:47:38,633 --> 00:47:43,466
need to fill the jobs and the
good-paying jobs of the future.

1136
00:47:43,467 --> 00:47:48,467
And that is reflected in
the jobs-driven training

1137
00:47:48,467 --> 00:47:51,834
that the Vice President
-- the effort on the

1138
00:47:51,834 --> 00:47:53,834
President's behalf that
the Vice President is

1139
00:47:53,834 --> 00:47:58,500
overseeing, and that we
had a very big meeting

1140
00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:01,600
about with leaders of
many, many universities

1141
00:48:01,600 --> 00:48:02,967
and colleges not
that long ago.

1142
00:48:03,533 --> 00:48:08,100
So I think, again, not
knowing the details of the

1143
00:48:08,100 --> 00:48:13,667
poll, I think it reflects
a challenge that we face

1144
00:48:13,667 --> 00:48:18,100
as a nation, which is to
make sure that we are

1145
00:48:18,100 --> 00:48:20,734
harnessing the great
potential of our people,

1146
00:48:20,734 --> 00:48:23,400
as well as those who come
and study here in our

1147
00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:25,266
excellent universities and
colleges,

1148
00:48:25,266 --> 00:48:28,400
and that we're also providing
opportunities through

1149
00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:30,100
community colleges
and other educational

1150
00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:34,967
institutions that ensure
that we're getting --

1151
00:48:34,967 --> 00:48:36,500
our people are getting the
training they need

1152
00:48:36,500 --> 00:48:39,233
for the jobs -- the job
opportunities

1153
00:48:39,233 --> 00:48:40,233
that are there.

1154
00:48:40,467 --> 00:48:42,066
So this is a
broader challenge.

1155
00:48:42,066 --> 00:48:43,533
I know Secretary Duncan
has done a lot of work

1156
00:48:43,533 --> 00:48:46,700
on this subject, but it
does reflect one of the

1157
00:48:46,700 --> 00:48:50,799
concerns we have about
improving our education

1158
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:53,934
system so that young
Americans are getting

1159
00:48:53,934 --> 00:48:56,633
the education and skills they
need to fill

1160
00:48:56,633 --> 00:48:57,633
the jobs of tomorrow.

1161
00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,967
The Press: Also, more
than 100,000 people

1162
00:49:00,967 --> 00:49:04,834
made public comment on the
proposed IRS regulations

1163
00:49:04,834 --> 00:49:06,366
for 501(c)(4) groups.

1164
00:49:06,367 --> 00:49:08,600
A lot of those
were negative.

1165
00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:12,200
Some former FEC
commissioners weighed in

1166
00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:15,966
on this, thought that
this was an area the IRS

1167
00:49:15,967 --> 00:49:17,433
shouldn't really get into.

1168
00:49:17,433 --> 00:49:20,433
What is the -- has the
White House really come

1169
00:49:20,433 --> 00:49:23,667
out on these IRS
proposals for 501(c)(4)?

1170
00:49:24,967 --> 00:49:26,967
Mr. Carney: Well, as
you probably remember,

1171
00:49:26,967 --> 00:49:34,133
one of the recommendations by
the inspector general was

1172
00:49:34,133 --> 00:49:36,767
"recommend to IRS chief
counsel and the Department

1173
00:49:36,767 --> 00:49:38,133
of the Treasury the
guidance"

1174
00:49:38,133 --> 00:49:41,000
on how to measure the "primary
activity" of 501(c)(4)

1175
00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:44,867
social welfare
organizations be included

1176
00:49:44,867 --> 00:49:47,367
for consideration in the
Department of the Treasury

1177
00:49:47,367 --> 00:49:49,000
priority guidance plan.

1178
00:49:49,367 --> 00:49:52,967
So that's obviously
a mouthful.

1179
00:49:52,967 --> 00:49:56,767
But the fact is that this
action was recommended by

1180
00:49:56,767 --> 00:50:01,033
the independent inspector
general who had already

1181
00:50:01,033 --> 00:50:04,366
looked into some of the
matters that caused

1182
00:50:04,367 --> 00:50:06,467
all the concern that we saw
last year on these issues.

1183
00:50:06,467 --> 00:50:11,734
So I don't have much
more to say on that.

1184
00:50:11,734 --> 00:50:13,900
I would refer you to the
Treasury Department.

1185
00:50:13,900 --> 00:50:16,266
But I can tell you that
beginning in 2010 Treasury

1186
00:50:16,266 --> 00:50:18,500
and the IRS received
requests from members of

1187
00:50:18,500 --> 00:50:20,433
Congress to consider
engaging in the rulemaking

1188
00:50:20,433 --> 00:50:22,333
to clarify the rules
regarding these

1189
00:50:22,333 --> 00:50:24,200
organizations, and as the
Treasury Department has

1190
00:50:24,200 --> 00:50:27,133
said, the rule change does
not restrict any form

1191
00:50:27,133 --> 00:50:28,734
of political speech.

1192
00:50:28,734 --> 00:50:31,200
These regulations do not
favor any individual

1193
00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:32,834
or political party or group.

1194
00:50:32,834 --> 00:50:35,100
The regulation applies
to all organizations

1195
00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:37,299
regardless of
political affiliation.

1196
00:50:37,300 --> 00:50:39,433
But I'm sure IRS would
have, or Treasury would

1197
00:50:39,433 --> 00:50:40,767
have more for you on that.

1198
00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:43,767
The Press: Some of the
opponents of this believe

1199
00:50:43,767 --> 00:50:46,100
it sort of might codify
what we've seen

1200
00:50:46,100 --> 00:50:49,700
in 2012, 2010, and they don't --

1201
00:50:51,266 --> 00:50:51,967
Mr. Carney: Yes, I
would point you

1202
00:50:51,967 --> 00:50:58,066
to the fact that the inspector
general recommended the

1203
00:50:58,066 --> 00:51:00,299
approach that we're
talking about here and

1204
00:51:00,300 --> 00:51:01,633
to the statement I just made,

1205
00:51:01,633 --> 00:51:03,332
which reflects what Treasury has
said about it.

1206
00:51:03,333 --> 00:51:04,567
Thanks, everybody.

1207
00:51:04,567 --> 00:51:05,433
The Press: Week ahead.

1208
00:51:05,433 --> 00:51:11,900
Mr. Carney: Oh, yes.

1209
00:51:11,900 --> 00:51:13,300
Here's what we have:

1210
00:51:13,300 --> 00:51:16,266
On Monday, President Obama
will host Israeli Prime

1211
00:51:16,266 --> 00:51:18,767
Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu

1212
00:51:18,767 --> 00:51:19,799
at the White House.

1213
00:51:19,800 --> 00:51:21,700
The President looks
forward to discussing with

1214
00:51:21,700 --> 00:51:23,567
the Prime Minister
progress in

1215
00:51:23,567 --> 00:51:26,533
Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations, developments

1216
00:51:26,533 --> 00:51:29,834
in Iran, and other
regional priorities.

1217
00:51:29,834 --> 00:51:32,265
Prime Minister Netanyahu's
visit is a demonstration

1218
00:51:32,266 --> 00:51:34,333
of the deep and enduring
bonds between

1219
00:51:34,333 --> 00:51:37,333
the United States and Israel,
and our close consultations

1220
00:51:37,333 --> 00:51:38,900
on a range of security issues.

1221
00:51:38,900 --> 00:51:39,967
The Press:
New conference?

1222
00:51:39,967 --> 00:51:43,100
Mr. Carney: I
don't have specifics.

1223
00:51:43,100 --> 00:51:45,299
I think they're going to
make statements,

1224
00:51:45,300 --> 00:51:47,800
but I don't have anything
more for you on that.

1225
00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:48,867
The Press: Do
you have a time?

1226
00:51:48,867 --> 00:51:49,467
Mr. Carney: I don't
have anything

1227
00:51:49,467 --> 00:51:50,500
more for you on it.

1228
00:51:50,500 --> 00:51:51,600
The Press: You
don't have a time?

1229
00:51:51,600 --> 00:51:52,600
Mr. Carney: I don't.

1230
00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:53,600
This is just a
week ahead, guys.

1231
00:51:53,600 --> 00:51:54,600
We'll give the
daily schedule.

1232
00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:55,600
(laughter)

1233
00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:56,600
The Press: It's Friday
and we're

1234
00:51:56,600 --> 00:51:57,600
talking about Monday.

1235
00:51:57,600 --> 00:51:58,600
Mr. Carney: Right.

1236
00:51:58,600 --> 00:51:59,600
I know two days
in between.

1237
00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:00,667
I know you don't want to
work on Saturday orSunday,

1238
00:52:00,667 --> 00:52:01,667
but you can probably
open an email.

1239
00:52:01,667 --> 00:52:02,667
(laughter)

1240
00:52:02,667 --> 00:52:07,400
On Tuesday, the President
will hold an event --

1241
00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:09,867
isn't it great when I
get -- on Tuesday,

1242
00:52:09,867 --> 00:52:12,567
the President will hold an
event on the FY2015 budget

1243
00:52:12,567 --> 00:52:15,533
and our plan to expand
opportunity for all,

1244
00:52:15,533 --> 00:52:18,900
Jim, here in Washington, D.C.
In the evening, the

1245
00:52:18,900 --> 00:52:21,200
President will attend
a DSCC event

1246
00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:23,265
in the Washington, D.C. area.

1247
00:52:23,266 --> 00:52:25,300
On Wednesday, the
President will travel

1248
00:52:25,300 --> 00:52:26,900
to the Hartford, Connecticut
area

1249
00:52:26,900 --> 00:52:28,800
for an event on the minimum wage.

1250
00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:31,000
Following this, he will
travel to Boston

1251
00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:32,867
for two DNC events.

1252
00:52:32,867 --> 00:52:35,333
On Thursday, the President
will hold an event on the

1253
00:52:35,333 --> 00:52:37,567
economy and health care
here in Washington.

1254
00:52:37,567 --> 00:52:40,000
On Friday, the President
and the First Lady will

1255
00:52:40,000 --> 00:52:43,166
travel to the Miami area
for an event on expanding

1256
00:52:43,166 --> 00:52:45,433
opportunity for
the middle class.

1257
00:52:45,433 --> 00:52:46,700
And that is
your week ahead.

1258
00:52:46,700 --> 00:52:49,265
I hope you all have
a terrific weekend.

1259
00:52:49,266 --> 00:52:50,367
I think you're going to
have to bundle

1260
00:52:50,367 --> 00:52:51,767
up, unlike last weekend.

1261
00:52:51,767 --> 00:52:52,767
Thanks.