English subtitles for clip: File:3-11-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Happy Monday. Good afternoon.

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Thanks for being here for
your White House briefing.

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Spring is here early.

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The Press:
Can we do a briefing outside?

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Mr. Carney:
We'll see.

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I like the idea
in theory, anyway.

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I have no announcements to make.

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You obviously know much of
what's on the President's

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schedule this week, including
his visits to Capitol Hill on

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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
to meet with Senate Democrats on

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Tuesday, House
Republicans on Wednesday,

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Senate Republicans on
Thursday and House Democrats

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also on Thursday.

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While he's there he will want
to discuss a range of priorities

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including, of course,
conversations he's been

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having on budget-related issues,
the need to reduce our deficit

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in a balanced way, but also
immigration reform and the

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progress that's being made on
that subject in a bipartisan

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way, efforts to move forward on
actions to reduce gun violence

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-- also efforts that involve
both Democrats and Republicans.

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Other items that are on his list
of priorities include increasing

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our energy independence, the
need to do something about the

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pace of nominations being
confirmed and considered

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in the Senate -- judicial
nominations, in particular --

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as well as the need for Congress
to take action on cybersecurity.

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With that, I'll go to Jim.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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So since we are on week
two of the charm blitz --

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(laughter)

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-- on Wednesday, as you
mentioned, the President

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is going to the Hill, but he's
also speaking to Organizing for

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Action, which is the group that
grew out of his campaign reelection.

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And I'm wondering whether
there's potentially a mixed

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message there.

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Because last week OFA sent
out an email saying that --

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calling Republicans
obstructionists,

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blaming them for the sequester,
saying if only they had voted

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for closing tax loopholes the
public wouldn't be in this jam.

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So is there a mixed message
there from the President,

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on the one hand appealing to and
speaking to Republicans on the

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issues you just mentioned,
and then going to OFA,

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potentially a partisan --
a more partisan address?

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Mr. Carney:
Organizing for Action, as you
know, Jim, was established to

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promote the President's
public policy agenda.

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It is certainly the President's
position that sequester has been

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implemented because
Republicans made a choice.

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Rather than go along with a
balanced approach to deficit

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reduction, rather than go along
with either a buy-down or the

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deal that has been on the table
since the President tried to

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negotiate it with Speaker
Boehner last year, they said,

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no way, no how, and the choice
they made was to allow sequester

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to be implemented.

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Let's be clear about that.

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And that is not a position that
we'll take a different view on.

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It is also the case
that sequester is here;

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it's being implemented as a
result of the choice made on

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Capitol Hill by Republicans.

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And it is another reason why
we should engage with and move

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forward -- engage with
Republicans and Democrats

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on the Hill and move forward
with at least the potential

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for bipartisan, balanced deficit
reduction that deals with the

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sequester and the larger goal of
more than $4 trillion in deficit

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reduction over a decade.

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That's the nature of the
conversations the President

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has been having with
Republican lawmakers,

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including in his dinner with
Senate Republicans last week,

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including in his lunch with
Chairman Ryan and Congressman

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Van Hollen.

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And I'm sure it will be one of
the topics that he raises in his

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meetings on the Hill this week.

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So I think that as the President
said in his inaugural address,

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we should not believe that
we need to resolve all of our

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differences before we can
move forward on common --

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working together, taking action
together to achieve results for

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the American people;
meeting on common ground,

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putting forward solutions
that represent compromise,

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much as the President has put
forward solutions that represent

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compromise, whether it's
on immigration reform or

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legislation that deals with
gun violence or balancing --

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getting our fiscal house in
order in a way that's balanced

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so that the burden is not
borne solely by seniors and

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middle-class families.

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I think there's a great deal
of consistency in what the

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President has proposed and
what he's been saying for many,

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many months now.

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The Press:
Washington is a
place of optics, too,

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and is it diplomatic
to be thinking of --

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be speaking to a partisan
group on the same day that he's

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speaking to --

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Mr. Carney:
First of all, I think you're
misrepresenting the group.

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As I understand it,
as I've read about it,

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it will not take a
position in elections;

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it's focused on policy issues.

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And the President's
policy agenda,

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which Organizing for Action
has been designed to promote,

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consists of item after item that
have had bipartisan support in

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the past, that should
have bipartisan support

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in the future.

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I mean, there's nothing partisan
about deficit reduction.

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In fact, you might even say
it's more of a priority for

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Republicans than Democrats.

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And yet the President is pushing
for a balanced package that

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would achieve the goal of over
$4 trillion in deficit reduction

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over a decade.

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And that includes a proposal
that produces significant

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savings from entitlement
reform as well as savings

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from tax reform.

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There's nothing partisan
about comprehensive

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immigration reform.

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There's a bipartisan effort
underway in the Senate right

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now -- Democrats and Republicans
pushing forward an effort to

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produce legislation that would
achieve that bipartisan goal.

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In the wake of Newtown, I would
argue that there's nothing

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partisan about common-sense
solutions to reduce gun violence

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in America.

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The victims of gun violence
aren't Democrats or Republicans,

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especially when
they're children.

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And there ought to be
-- and there is --

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a path forward to reduce
gun violence in America,

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much as the President laid
out, that respects our Second

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Amendment rights.

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As you know, nothing the
President has proposed,

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whether it's executive
action or legislative action,

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would take a single
firearm away from a

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single law-abiding citizen.

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The Press:
North Korean state media says
today that Pyongyang has carried

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through with its
threat to cancel the

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60-year-old armistice.

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This seems to go beyond
the typical saber-rattling

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from North Korea.

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Is the President alarmed
by this development?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, we are certainly
concerned by North Korea's

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bellicose rhetoric.

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And the threats that they have
been making follow a pattern

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designed to raise tension
and intimidate others.

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The DPRK will achieve nothing
by threats or provocations,

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which will only further isolate
North Korea and undermine

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international efforts to
ensure peace and stability

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in Northeast Asia.

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We continue to urge the North
Korean leadership to heed

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President Obama's call to choose
the path of peace and come into

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compliance with its
international obligations.

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We have worked in a concerted
way with our international

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partners to put pressure on and
isolate North Korea because of

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its failure to live
up to its obligations.

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As you know, the Security
Council passed a resolution

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with unanimous support just last
week in reaction to actions by

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North Korea.

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And we will continue
that effort.

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The Press:
Jay, as you pointed
out, it's a big week.

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The President is
going to the Hill.

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The Senate and the House are
also expected to produce their

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own budgets.

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Is there some sense that the
sequester ship has left the

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station, left the harbor --

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Mr. Carney:
The sequester ship? Okay.

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The Press:
Yes -- and that these cuts will
go into effect no matter what?

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Or is there still an effort
to mitigate the effect of

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the cuts somehow?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, it's still the
President's position,

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and I believe the position
of Democrats on Capitol Hill,

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that a better alternative would
have been and continues to be a

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piece of legislation that
would postpone or push back

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implementation of the sequester.

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But that choice was made by
Republicans not to embrace

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that alternative, an alternative
that they had embraced at the

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end of 2012.

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So our focus now, as
the President has said,

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is on working with Congress
in regular order on the budget

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process, and through that
process hopefully produce a

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bipartisan agreement
on deficit reduction --

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balanced deficit reduction that
couples entitlement reform with

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tax reform, that achieves the
deficit reduction in both ways

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-- which I would argue, when we
talk about using proceeds from

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tax reform, closing loopholes
and ending exemptions for the

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well-off and well-connected,
we should use those proceeds

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towards the goal of
reducing our deficit,

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not towards funneling
them into tax breaks that

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disproportionately
benefit the wealthy.

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That's the President's position.

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That's embodied in his proposal,
and that's the approach that

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he'll take as we move forward
in these conversations.

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And hopefully we can do that.

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And the broader deficit
reduction achieved -- if

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it's achieved -- would eliminate
the sequester and then some,

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and that would be obviously
good for the entire country.

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The Press:
When does the President plan
to propose his own budget?

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And how does he see that fitting
in with the budgets that are

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being proposed by the
Senate and the House?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't have a
date certain for you

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on the President's budget.

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It's being worked on.

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We are obviously watching
Congress for budget proposals

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that will be put
forward in both houses,

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and we will work with Congress
in these conversations,

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as well as through our budget
proposal to try to achieve the

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very kind of common-sense,
mainstream, bipartisan,

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balanced package of deficit
reduction that could do a lot

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of good for our economy and for
the middle class at a time when,

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as we've seen, there's every
reason to believe that the

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economy is poised
to do well in 2013,

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to grow and to create more jobs,
to build on the 6.35 million

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jobs that have been created in
the private sector over the past

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three years.

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And it is incumbent upon leaders
in Washington to pursue that

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path of bipartisan,
balanced deficit reduction,

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rather than sort of a partisan
path that results in Washington

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inflicting wounds
on the economy,

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instead of taking action to
help the economy and help

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the middle class.

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Jim.

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The Press:
Over the weekend, the Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi said that

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raising the eligibility age for
Medicare does not save money and

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it's not a solution.

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We know that there's been
a charm offensive aimed at

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Republicans in recent weeks.

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Is there one needed
for fellow Democrats?

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Mr. Carney:
The President's position is one
that raising the eligibility age

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on Medicare is not good policy.

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It does not save
money significantly,

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especially in the
first 10 years,

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and it would result primarily in
cost-shifting to seniors who are

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very vulnerable
at age 65 and 66.

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That's the President's position.

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We've talked about that in
recent weeks and months.

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But it is also his position
that we can take other measures

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within the framework
of entitlement reform,

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measures that are represented
in his proposal to the Speaker

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of the House, measures that are
tough choices for Democrats to

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go along with, tough
choices for the President,

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but he believes they
are better policy.

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They are more effective
in the stated goal,

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which is to reduce the
cost of health care,

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and by reducing the
cost of health care,

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reducing the burden on our
long-term fiscal situation.

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So I don't think there's
anything inconsistent with what

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Leader Pelosi said and what
the President's position is.

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The Press:
So no wooing of Democrats
will be necessary?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not sure
what that means.

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The President has
worked with Democrats,

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00:12:43,533 --> 00:12:45,600
and I think I just made the
point that his proposal consists

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00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,433
of very tough choices
for Democrats.

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00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:52,165
If we take as both fact and
conventional wisdom that in

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00:12:52,166 --> 00:12:56,200
Washington it's a more difficult
choice for Republicans to go

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00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,367
along with revenue, and
Democrats to go along with

246
00:12:58,367 --> 00:13:01,867
entitlement savings, the
President has put forward

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00:13:01,867 --> 00:13:06,533
proposals with Democratic
support that include significant

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00:13:06,533 --> 00:13:08,834
entitlement savings -- building
on the entitlement savings he's

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00:13:08,834 --> 00:13:10,233
already signed into law.

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00:13:10,233 --> 00:13:14,333
Republicans, we're hoping, will
also make tough choices on their

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00:13:14,333 --> 00:13:19,567
parts, and that would include
allowing tax reform to produce

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00:13:19,567 --> 00:13:21,300
revenue towards
deficit reduction.

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00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:25,065
If we do that, together, we can
really do something good for the

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00:13:25,066 --> 00:13:27,533
economy and something good
for the American middle class.

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00:13:27,533 --> 00:13:31,367
The Press:
And getting back to OFA, why
not do more to decouple the

256
00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:33,599
President from this
new organization?

257
00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,033
Some of the people who represent
that organization still have

258
00:13:37,033 --> 00:13:39,734
email addresses that end
with barackobama.com.

259
00:13:39,734 --> 00:13:43,467
And what about the appearance
that the President will be,

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00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:47,633
at times, meeting behind
closed doors with donors?

261
00:13:47,633 --> 00:13:49,834
They may not get individual
meetings with the President,

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00:13:49,834 --> 00:13:51,032
but they will be getting --

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00:13:51,033 --> 00:13:52,033
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not sure about that.

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00:13:52,033 --> 00:13:57,633
The organization was established
specifically to promote

265
00:13:57,633 --> 00:14:01,400
President Obama's policy agenda,
so I don't think there's any

266
00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,934
question about the link between
the President's policy proposals

267
00:14:04,934 --> 00:14:08,967
on the economy and the
middle class and education,

268
00:14:08,967 --> 00:14:12,766
on climate change and
immigration reform,

269
00:14:12,767 --> 00:14:15,300
and this organization.

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00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:17,099
But it is a separate
organization.

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00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,000
It is voluntarily -- as I
understand it, reading the

272
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:26,300
news reports -- disclosing
its donors in an effort to

273
00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:27,867
be transparent.

274
00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:31,733
And as the President does with
numerous organizations that

275
00:14:31,734 --> 00:14:36,667
support his policy agenda or
the political agenda of the

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00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:38,867
Democratic Party, which is
not the goal of this specific

277
00:14:38,867 --> 00:14:43,467
organization, he will meet
periodically with OFA.

278
00:14:43,467 --> 00:14:45,000
The Press:
But isn't that kind of squishy?

279
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,834
The organization is him.

280
00:14:46,834 --> 00:14:49,532
Mr. Carney:
No, the organization -- look,
there are organizations all

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00:14:49,533 --> 00:14:52,400
over Washington and around
the country that support

282
00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,033
policy agendas and policy areas.

283
00:14:56,033 --> 00:14:58,200
That's what this
organization does.

284
00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,834
And I would refer you to
them for more details on

285
00:14:59,834 --> 00:15:00,900
their efforts.

286
00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,367
They are not, as I
understand it, again,

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00:15:03,367 --> 00:15:08,333
based on news reports, engaged
in political campaigning --

288
00:15:08,333 --> 00:15:11,632
winning elections or helping
candidates win elections.

289
00:15:11,633 --> 00:15:14,133
They're focused on
the policy proposals.

290
00:15:14,133 --> 00:15:17,767
The President speaks to the
DCCC and the DNC and the DSCC.

291
00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:19,834
He'll speak to other
outside organizations

292
00:15:19,834 --> 00:15:22,000
that have policy agendas.

293
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,300
And that's entirely appropriate.

294
00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:27,834
And the President is
pursuing a policy agenda,

295
00:15:27,834 --> 00:15:32,400
as I noted earlier, that
is inherently bipartisan,

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00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:38,533
that is embraced by a majority
of the American people both in

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00:15:38,533 --> 00:15:42,066
general, as we saw in the
election, and in the specifics.

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00:15:42,066 --> 00:15:45,567
And the President obviously
believes that engaging the

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00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:49,400
American people in our policy
debates is very important.

300
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,867
That's what the
election was all about.

301
00:15:52,867 --> 00:15:54,967
And he believes that when the
American people are engaged in

302
00:15:54,967 --> 00:15:59,333
these debates, the outcomes of
the debates are better for the

303
00:15:59,333 --> 00:16:02,834
American economy and
for the middle class.

304
00:16:02,834 --> 00:16:03,733
Mary.

305
00:16:03,734 --> 00:16:06,133
The Press:
Jay, over the weekend, Afghan
President Hamid Karzai said the

306
00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:08,800
U.S. is encouraging violence in
conjunction with the Taliban to

307
00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,266
prolong the U.S.
presence in Afghanistan.

308
00:16:11,266 --> 00:16:13,233
He said the Taliban were
killing Afghan civilians

309
00:16:13,233 --> 00:16:14,766
"in service to America."

310
00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:16,934
What was the President's
reaction to hearing this?

311
00:16:16,934 --> 00:16:20,600
Mr. Carney:
I think Secretary Hagel and
General Dunford spoke to this

312
00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,467
yesterday and made clear that
any suggestion the United States

313
00:16:23,467 --> 00:16:27,600
is colluding with the Taliban
is categorically false.

314
00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,834
Secretary Hagel addressed
these questions directly with

315
00:16:29,834 --> 00:16:31,934
President Karzai
in their meeting.

316
00:16:31,934 --> 00:16:36,533
The United States has spent
enormous blood and treasure for

317
00:16:36,533 --> 00:16:39,834
the past 12 years supporting the
Afghan people and ensuring --

318
00:16:39,834 --> 00:16:41,666
in the effort to ensure
stability and security

319
00:16:41,667 --> 00:16:42,667
in that country.

320
00:16:42,667 --> 00:16:45,300
The last thing we would do is
support any kind of violence,

321
00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:48,165
particularly involving
innocent civilians.

322
00:16:48,166 --> 00:16:50,633
The Press:
Do Karzai's comments and this
kind of mounting tension harm

323
00:16:50,633 --> 00:16:53,333
or impact U.S.
plans to withdraw?

324
00:16:53,333 --> 00:16:58,600
Mr. Carney:
The President has a policy
that has been embraced by NATO,

325
00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:04,133
by our allies in the coalition,
and we are pursuing that policy.

326
00:17:04,133 --> 00:17:06,667
That includes we've drawn down
the surge forces and we're

327
00:17:06,666 --> 00:17:12,733
winding down our troop presence
in Afghanistan as we build up

328
00:17:12,733 --> 00:17:16,833
Afghan security forces and
turn over security lead to

329
00:17:16,834 --> 00:17:18,000
Afghan security forces.

330
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,367
And that progress continues.

331
00:17:20,367 --> 00:17:24,332
There is no question that there
have been a number of difficult

332
00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:27,800
security incidents, and there
have been comments by President

333
00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,834
Karzai with which
we've disagreed.

334
00:17:29,834 --> 00:17:33,200
But our policy has not changed.

335
00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:37,834
And what's important to remember
is we went into Afghanistan

336
00:17:37,834 --> 00:17:39,767
because we were attacked
from Afghanistan.

337
00:17:39,767 --> 00:17:42,433
We went into Afghanistan -- and
the President made sure that we

338
00:17:42,433 --> 00:17:46,033
refocused on this goal when
he reviewed Afghan policy

339
00:17:46,033 --> 00:17:49,233
upon becoming President --
in order to go after those

340
00:17:49,233 --> 00:17:51,466
who attacked the United
States, go after those who

341
00:17:51,467 --> 00:17:54,867
killed Americans, to go
after al Qaeda central,

342
00:17:54,867 --> 00:17:57,300
which had taken
haven in Afghanistan.

343
00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:59,834
And that remains the principal
objective of our mission in

344
00:17:59,834 --> 00:18:02,567
Afghanistan: to defeat --
to disrupt, dismantle and

345
00:18:02,567 --> 00:18:06,233
ultimately defeat al Qaeda
in the Afghanistan region;

346
00:18:06,233 --> 00:18:10,033
to, in service of that
goal, build up --

347
00:18:10,033 --> 00:18:13,833
train and build up Afghan
security forces so they can take

348
00:18:13,834 --> 00:18:19,200
over security for their country;
and to provide the space

349
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,000
necessary for the Afghan
government to increase stability

350
00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,600
in that country and to allow
us to continue to go after

351
00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,265
al Qaeda, which is, again,
our primary objective.

352
00:18:30,266 --> 00:18:31,567
The Press:
Can we follow up on that?

353
00:18:31,567 --> 00:18:33,433
Mr. Carney:
Let me get through
the first row here.

354
00:18:33,433 --> 00:18:34,133
John.

355
00:18:34,133 --> 00:18:35,000
The Press:
A couple of things.

356
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,667
I was just taken aback by
your answer to the question

357
00:18:37,667 --> 00:18:39,367
about Organizing for Action.

358
00:18:39,367 --> 00:18:40,734
You're saying --

359
00:18:40,734 --> 00:18:41,466
Mr. Carney:
You were taken aback?

360
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:44,133
The Press:
-- it's no different than --
that the President sees this

361
00:18:44,133 --> 00:18:47,133
group as no different than
the DSCC or any other group

362
00:18:47,133 --> 00:18:47,633
you speak to?

363
00:18:47,633 --> 00:18:48,133
Mr. Carney:
I said it's --

364
00:18:48,133 --> 00:18:48,867
The Press:
I mean, this is a group --

365
00:18:48,867 --> 00:18:49,533
Mr. Carney:
I didn't say that.

366
00:18:49,533 --> 00:18:50,265
I said it's similar.

367
00:18:50,266 --> 00:18:51,166
The Press:
-- that's planning on
coordinating with the

368
00:18:51,166 --> 00:18:52,100
White House, is it not?

369
00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:53,934
Mr. Carney:
Well, OFA, again --

370
00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:55,466
The Press:
Was legally set up so
it could do that, right?

371
00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:57,100
Mr. Carney:
-- was set up to promote
the President's public

372
00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:58,567
policy agenda.

373
00:18:58,567 --> 00:19:00,066
And therefore, as
anyone would expect,

374
00:19:00,066 --> 00:19:02,400
the President would likely meet
with their representatives to

375
00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,433
discuss his agenda.

376
00:19:04,433 --> 00:19:05,900
Any notion, as
we've talked about,

377
00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:09,233
that there's a price set for a
meeting with the President is

378
00:19:09,233 --> 00:19:11,899
absurd and wrong.

379
00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:14,700
I mean, the comparison here
is that the President goes

380
00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:18,033
and speaks about his policy
agenda to a variety of groups

381
00:19:18,033 --> 00:19:22,033
that support that agenda,
including the DNC or the DSCC

382
00:19:22,033 --> 00:19:31,199
or the DCCC, including other
organizations that have policy

383
00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:32,266
ideas that are --

384
00:19:32,266 --> 00:19:33,700
The Press:
This group is going to spend
money on his behalf to promote

385
00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:34,266
his agenda.

386
00:19:34,266 --> 00:19:36,266
Mr. Carney:
No, this group is
promoting a policy agenda.

387
00:19:36,266 --> 00:19:40,000
It is not trying to elect
him, obviously, since he's --

388
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,800
The Press:
No, no, no, but they're spending
money to promote the agenda.

389
00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,934
Mr. Carney:
Sure. As organizations
do all over town and all

390
00:19:43,934 --> 00:19:44,800
over the country.

391
00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,899
They spend money to
promote policy ideas.

392
00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:48,200
The Press:
But on his behalf, coordinating
with the White House.

393
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:49,533
Mr. Carney:
No, on the American
people's behalf.

394
00:19:49,533 --> 00:19:52,466
The President believes that the
agenda that he's putting forward

395
00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:56,033
obviously is one that would
benefit the middle class and

396
00:19:56,033 --> 00:19:57,699
benefit the country.

397
00:19:57,700 --> 00:20:01,533
The idea that an organization is
out there promoting immigration

398
00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:04,632
reform -- we heard from a lot of
Republicans this weekend about

399
00:20:04,633 --> 00:20:07,100
their support for comprehensive
immigration reform,

400
00:20:07,100 --> 00:20:08,766
much as the President
supports comprehensive

401
00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:09,767
immigration reform.

402
00:20:09,767 --> 00:20:13,867
Would you argue then that this
organization is inappropriately

403
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:15,934
somehow supporting their agenda?

404
00:20:15,934 --> 00:20:20,033
I think that there really is
an issue here that's about

405
00:20:20,033 --> 00:20:22,332
the President's agenda, the
President's policy proposals.

406
00:20:22,333 --> 00:20:23,867
The President is out there
pushing for his agenda.

407
00:20:23,867 --> 00:20:27,367
And he obviously believes that
an organization like this is

408
00:20:27,367 --> 00:20:31,133
both helpful and appropriate in
engaging the American people,

409
00:20:31,133 --> 00:20:36,066
engaging those Americans who
support this agenda in a way

410
00:20:36,066 --> 00:20:37,433
that helps move the
process forward.

411
00:20:37,433 --> 00:20:40,333
The Press:
And he isn't concerned that it's
basically increasing the amount

412
00:20:40,333 --> 00:20:44,633
of money that is spent on
the politics of Washington?

413
00:20:44,633 --> 00:20:47,233
I mean, it does increase the
amount of money that gets poured

414
00:20:47,233 --> 00:20:48,000
into this.

415
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,467
Mr. Carney:
Ordinary Americans who
contribute to these

416
00:20:50,467 --> 00:20:53,433
organizations to help push
policy proposals that benefit

417
00:20:53,433 --> 00:20:59,367
ordinary Americans should have
and need a voice in Washington.

418
00:20:59,367 --> 00:21:04,734
There's no question that
there are corporate and other

419
00:21:04,734 --> 00:21:06,966
interests that are amply
represented in the policy

420
00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:07,967
debate in Washington.

421
00:21:07,967 --> 00:21:11,633
So a grassroots organization
like this is appropriately

422
00:21:11,633 --> 00:21:14,166
engaged in this and
should have a voice.

423
00:21:14,166 --> 00:21:16,200
The Press:
Has the President given up
on campaign finance reform?

424
00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,233
Mr. Carney:
No. I mean, one thing that he's
adamant about, because of --

425
00:21:20,233 --> 00:21:23,800
in the wake of the unfortunate
Citizens United decision,

426
00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,600
is that at the very least,
Republicans ought to go

427
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,533
along with disclosure.

428
00:21:27,533 --> 00:21:30,300
At the very least, let's pass
legislation, the Disclose Act,

429
00:21:30,300 --> 00:21:34,533
that would create the kind of
transparency that Americans

430
00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:38,300
deserve when it comes to
financial contributions

431
00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:39,834
to political campaigns.

432
00:21:39,834 --> 00:21:41,066
The Press:
Is this high on
his priority list?

433
00:21:41,066 --> 00:21:42,133
Mr. Carney:
It remains a priority.

434
00:21:42,133 --> 00:21:43,433
The Press:
Let me ask you a
question on the budget.

435
00:21:46,133 --> 00:21:48,033
This is sort of a weird
time in the Senate --

436
00:21:48,033 --> 00:21:49,734
Democrats are going to put out
their budget before you guys put

437
00:21:49,734 --> 00:21:50,667
out yours.

438
00:21:50,667 --> 00:21:53,833
Are you coordinating with
the Senate Democrats?

439
00:21:53,834 --> 00:21:59,133
Did they ask for White House
input on that budget, one?

440
00:21:59,133 --> 00:22:03,667
And two, is a balanced budget
the goal of the President?

441
00:22:03,667 --> 00:22:06,433
Mr. Carney:
We are engaging with Senate
Democrats, with House Democrats,

442
00:22:06,433 --> 00:22:08,900
with Senate Republicans and
House Republicans, as you know,

443
00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:12,400
on budget issues as well as on
the broader agenda that we've

444
00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:13,400
been talking about --

445
00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,233
The Press:
But now that they're
drawing up their budget --

446
00:22:16,233 --> 00:22:19,567
Mr. Carney:
I'm sure there are conversations
going on, on that process.

447
00:22:19,567 --> 00:22:21,967
We are engaged in
our own process.

448
00:22:21,967 --> 00:22:24,567
And the President had lunch
with Chairman Ryan last week,

449
00:22:24,567 --> 00:22:27,000
and I know they talked
about his budget,

450
00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,467
which I believe is going
to be released very soon.

451
00:22:31,467 --> 00:22:36,066
The broader effort
underway here is to try to,

452
00:22:36,066 --> 00:22:42,600
through the budget process,
achieve a compromise that allows

453
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:46,632
for both entitlement reform
and tax reform that produce

454
00:22:46,633 --> 00:22:51,300
the savings necessary to
achieve that $4 trillion-plus

455
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:52,966
target over 10 years
of deficit reduction,

456
00:22:52,967 --> 00:22:58,233
to put our economy on a
fiscally sustainable path.

457
00:22:58,233 --> 00:23:01,533
And that is the President's
goal: deficit reduction large

458
00:23:01,533 --> 00:23:04,667
enough to put our economy on
a fiscally sustainable path so

459
00:23:04,667 --> 00:23:11,632
that the ratio of debt to GDP
is below 3% for a period of time

460
00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:16,166
that would allow, concurrently,
through investments and other

461
00:23:16,166 --> 00:23:19,667
policy decisions, allow
the economy to grow,

462
00:23:19,667 --> 00:23:21,065
to become more
energy independent,

463
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:25,000
for the middle class
to strengthen and grow.

464
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,133
I think this is one
of the things that --

465
00:23:26,133 --> 00:23:29,300
because I suppose that your
question gets at this --

466
00:23:29,300 --> 00:23:31,433
is that the President has always
believed that deficit reduction

467
00:23:31,433 --> 00:23:34,600
is not a goal unto itself.

468
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,567
The whole purpose of deficit
reduction should be part of

469
00:23:37,567 --> 00:23:42,533
an overall policy objective
of strengthening the economy,

470
00:23:42,533 --> 00:23:47,265
having it grow faster, having it
create more and better jobs for

471
00:23:47,266 --> 00:23:48,266
the middle class.

472
00:23:48,266 --> 00:23:49,266
And that's the
President's objective.

473
00:23:49,266 --> 00:23:51,133
And that's why he has always,
throughout these budget debates

474
00:23:51,133 --> 00:23:52,867
and going back to when
he first took office,

475
00:23:52,867 --> 00:23:56,433
made sure that the proposals
he's put forward keep the

476
00:23:56,433 --> 00:23:59,066
number-one objective in mind,
which is economic growth and

477
00:23:59,066 --> 00:24:02,166
job creation, not deficit
reduction solely for the

478
00:24:02,166 --> 00:24:03,399
purpose of reducing the deficit.

479
00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,266
The Press:
Is there going to be a goal
-- obviously Paul Ryan has

480
00:24:06,266 --> 00:24:07,100
got a 10-year target.

481
00:24:07,100 --> 00:24:10,667
Is the President going to have
a target, whether it's 10 years,

482
00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:11,966
15, 20, whatever --

483
00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:13,467
Mr. Carney:
The President will have a
target for deficit reduction

484
00:24:13,467 --> 00:24:15,433
over 10 years, as he has
consistently in his budget --

485
00:24:15,433 --> 00:24:18,467
The Press:
But not a target for a
balanced budget by x?

486
00:24:18,467 --> 00:24:20,100
Mr. Carney:
Well, the President has
put forward a budget,

487
00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:23,600
but I think that we tend to talk
in 10-year windows here when we

488
00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:25,699
do budget proposals,
both in Congress and

489
00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:26,900
with the administration.

490
00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:30,333
And it will do -- the
President's budget will

491
00:24:30,333 --> 00:24:34,967
achieve what it has in the
past, which is through sensible,

492
00:24:34,967 --> 00:24:40,467
balanced deficit reduction,
bring our deficit and debt

493
00:24:40,467 --> 00:24:44,166
into a place where we are on
a fiscally sustainable path,

494
00:24:44,166 --> 00:24:50,100
where the ratio of debt to GDP is below 3%; and to do that in

495
00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:52,632
a way that also allows us to
invest in our economy so that

496
00:24:52,633 --> 00:24:55,567
we're building infrastructure
for the future and we're

497
00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:56,867
increasing our energy
independence, and making

498
00:24:56,867 --> 00:25:00,332
sure that our kids are being
educated so we can compete

499
00:25:00,333 --> 00:25:02,567
25 years from now
and not just today.

500
00:25:02,567 --> 00:25:06,266
The Press:
Just a quick -- 10-year window
means you guys are not --

501
00:25:06,266 --> 00:25:08,367
you won't have a balanced budget
target in a 10-year window?

502
00:25:08,367 --> 00:25:09,433
Fair enough?

503
00:25:09,433 --> 00:25:11,233
Mr. Carney:
Again, I'm not going to tell
you what his budget says.

504
00:25:11,233 --> 00:25:12,300
The Press:
You brought up the
window, so that's why --

505
00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:14,767
Mr. Carney:
Right, but I would look to
the President's past budget

506
00:25:14,767 --> 00:25:17,266
proposals, the President's
offer to John Boehner,

507
00:25:17,266 --> 00:25:21,433
the Speaker of the House,
for what his target has been,

508
00:25:21,433 --> 00:25:24,433
which is consistent with
bipartisan panels that have

509
00:25:24,433 --> 00:25:26,467
looked at these issues.

510
00:25:26,467 --> 00:25:31,066
Because, again, it should not
be deficit reduction for deficit

511
00:25:31,066 --> 00:25:34,066
reduction's sake; the goal here
should be economic growth and

512
00:25:34,066 --> 00:25:35,066
job creation.

513
00:25:35,066 --> 00:25:37,300
The Press:
So, again, what's the point of
the President's budget other

514
00:25:37,300 --> 00:25:39,500
than the fact that he's
required by law to submit

515
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:40,533
it in early February?

516
00:25:40,533 --> 00:25:45,000
If he's not leading, what's
the point of the budget except

517
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,567
perhaps to negotiate the
differences between the

518
00:25:47,567 --> 00:25:48,800
House and Senate?

519
00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:49,633
Mr. Carney:
Well, I challenge
virtually every premise

520
00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:50,500
of your question, Bill.

521
00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:52,333
First of all, the President
is the only one, right now,

522
00:25:52,333 --> 00:25:55,000
with an offer on the table and
available online that has been

523
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,500
there for months, much
to the surprise of --

524
00:25:57,500 --> 00:25:59,066
The Press:
He was supposed to have
a budget in February.

525
00:25:59,066 --> 00:26:02,533
Mr. Carney:
Well, Bill, he has had a budget
that represents the same goals

526
00:26:02,533 --> 00:26:05,699
that were represented in his
offer to Speaker Boehner,

527
00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:08,900
the same kind of balanced
deficit reduction that also

528
00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:12,734
has within it investments in our
economy that allow our economy

529
00:26:12,734 --> 00:26:16,033
to grow and create jobs and
to expand the middle class.

530
00:26:16,033 --> 00:26:17,233
The Press:
Yeah, but it's not the
budget he was supposed

531
00:26:17,233 --> 00:26:18,600
to present in February.

532
00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:19,699
Mr. Carney:
Bill, I don't know what
your question is here.

533
00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:20,533
The President's --

534
00:26:20,533 --> 00:26:22,265
The Press:
What's the point of the budget?

535
00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:24,467
Mr. Carney:
The point of the budget is the
President will outline, again,

536
00:26:24,467 --> 00:26:27,767
through the budget
process, his priorities,

537
00:26:27,767 --> 00:26:29,633
economic priorities
and policy priorities,

538
00:26:29,633 --> 00:26:33,867
both in deficit reduction
and in economic growth and

539
00:26:33,867 --> 00:26:35,133
job creation.

540
00:26:35,133 --> 00:26:40,333
And his budget will contribute
to the process of regular order

541
00:26:40,333 --> 00:26:45,700
that we hope will
produce bipartisan,

542
00:26:45,700 --> 00:26:48,967
balanced deficit reduction, the
kind that the American people

543
00:26:48,967 --> 00:26:53,033
overwhelmingly support --
deficit reduction that all

544
00:26:53,033 --> 00:26:59,065
the data available shows
would include both savings

545
00:26:59,066 --> 00:27:03,100
from entitlement reform and
savings from tax reform,

546
00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:07,899
so that senior citizens
aren't asked to bear this

547
00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:12,033
deficit reduction on their own,
and middle-class families and

548
00:27:12,033 --> 00:27:14,100
families who have kids with
disabilities, that they're

549
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:19,367
not stuck with the bill alone;
that it asks the well-off and

550
00:27:19,367 --> 00:27:22,200
well-connected, through
the tax reform process,

551
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:28,867
to give up special loopholes,
to give up deductions that only

552
00:27:28,867 --> 00:27:32,700
they enjoy in the name of
both deficit reduction

553
00:27:32,700 --> 00:27:33,700
and economic growth.

554
00:27:33,700 --> 00:27:36,400
The Press:
So with House and Senate budgets
out there before the White House

555
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,200
budget comes out,
it's like a benchmark

556
00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:39,633
for negotiations, mainly?

557
00:27:39,633 --> 00:27:41,367
Mr. Carney:
Bill, how long have you
been covering Washington?

558
00:27:41,367 --> 00:27:41,966
The Press:
A long time.

559
00:27:41,967 --> 00:27:43,567
Mr. Carney:
Has there ever been a
presidential budget that

560
00:27:43,567 --> 00:27:45,367
was enacted word
for word into law?

561
00:27:45,367 --> 00:27:45,934
The Press:
No.

562
00:27:45,934 --> 00:27:50,633
Mr. Carney:
Okay, there is a process in
Washington of negotiation where

563
00:27:50,633 --> 00:27:51,934
the President's ideas --

564
00:27:51,934 --> 00:27:52,734
The Press:
But they had them in time --

565
00:27:52,734 --> 00:27:53,433
The Press:
Never had anything like this --

566
00:27:53,433 --> 00:27:54,400
Mr. Carney:
Well, I disagree with that.

567
00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:56,533
But the President's ideas
are introduced and ideas of

568
00:27:56,533 --> 00:27:59,265
Democrats and Republicans
are introduced,

569
00:27:59,266 --> 00:28:02,667
and hopefully there is an
approach taken by leaders and

570
00:28:02,667 --> 00:28:06,766
rank-and-file members on Capitol
Hill that embraces the idea of

571
00:28:06,767 --> 00:28:11,667
cooperation and compromise, that
rejects the idea of absolutist

572
00:28:11,667 --> 00:28:14,300
positions that only serve
the ideological and partisan

573
00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:17,567
interests of a small minority
of people in the country,

574
00:28:17,567 --> 00:28:23,266
as well as on Capitol Hill, and
that the result is a product

575
00:28:23,266 --> 00:28:27,667
that both reduces the deficit,
invests in our economy,

576
00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:32,100
helps it grow and create jobs,
that doesn't ask any segment

577
00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:36,899
of society to bear the burden
alone for deficit reduction.

578
00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:38,600
I mean, that's the process
here and that's the goal.

579
00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,500
That's why the President has
been having these conversations.

580
00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:41,800
The Press:
Only time will tell.

581
00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:42,633
Mr. Carney:
Ed.

582
00:28:42,633 --> 00:28:45,333
The Press:
On OFA, do you plan on
letting the press pool

583
00:28:45,333 --> 00:28:48,100
in and let cameras show
what the President says

584
00:28:48,100 --> 00:28:49,132
in this speech on Wednesday?

585
00:28:49,133 --> 00:28:50,333
Mr. Carney:
I'm sure there
will be press access.

586
00:28:50,333 --> 00:28:51,433
We're working that out now.

587
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:54,934
The Press:
Okay. And in terms of the
Taliban, before I believe

588
00:28:54,934 --> 00:28:57,332
you said that the comments
by President Karzai are

589
00:28:57,333 --> 00:28:58,800
"categorically false."

590
00:28:58,800 --> 00:28:59,332
Mr. Carney:
Correct.

591
00:28:59,333 --> 00:29:01,767
The Press:
Isn't there something even
stronger you can say beyond

592
00:29:01,767 --> 00:29:02,800
that just they're false?

593
00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:04,734
I mean, just in terms of
after 12 years of U.S.

594
00:29:04,734 --> 00:29:08,500
sacrifice, the man is now saying
that within the Taliban they are

595
00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,867
abusing our people.

596
00:29:09,867 --> 00:29:10,934
Aren't the Americans actually --

597
00:29:10,934 --> 00:29:14,300
Mr. Carney:
And that's categorically
false, and nobody believes it.

598
00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:20,000
And our men and women,
for going on 12 years,

599
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,233
have sacrificed enormously
on behalf of Afghanistan,

600
00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:27,466
and they've sacrificed
enormously in the effort to

601
00:29:27,467 --> 00:29:31,200
achieve our goals, which have
been to disrupt, dismantle,

602
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:36,834
and defeat al Qaeda; and in
service of that goal to build up

603
00:29:36,834 --> 00:29:39,900
Afghan security forces so that
they can be responsible for that

604
00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:43,433
country's security, and to help
stabilize the situation for the

605
00:29:43,433 --> 00:29:48,333
Afghan government so that they
can be responsible for their

606
00:29:48,333 --> 00:29:49,333
own governance.

607
00:29:49,333 --> 00:29:52,333
And that has come at
enormous sacrifice.

608
00:29:52,333 --> 00:29:56,367
And as you know, Ed, when this
President came into office,

609
00:29:56,367 --> 00:29:58,667
our policy in
Afghanistan was adrift.

610
00:30:00,934 --> 00:30:04,767
And this President made clear in
that campaign in 2008 and after

611
00:30:04,767 --> 00:30:07,567
he took office that he
would fix that problem,

612
00:30:07,567 --> 00:30:11,834
that he would refocus our
efforts in Afghanistan and

613
00:30:11,834 --> 00:30:14,367
make clear what our objectives
were and what they were not.

614
00:30:14,367 --> 00:30:20,100
And that has resulted in
both the surge in forces,

615
00:30:20,100 --> 00:30:22,000
the withdrawal of
those surge forces,

616
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:26,000
and the now paced withdrawal
of our forces as we turn over

617
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,333
security to Afghan
security forces.

618
00:30:27,333 --> 00:30:29,633
The Press:
And finally on that, on
the substance of the paced

619
00:30:29,633 --> 00:30:33,000
withdrawal -- I think
Mary tried to get at this.

620
00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,100
General Mattis last week
testified on Capitol Hill

621
00:30:35,100 --> 00:30:38,632
that his recommendation for
the President is 13,600 U.S.

622
00:30:38,633 --> 00:30:41,633
forces beyond 2014
when that ends.

623
00:30:41,633 --> 00:30:44,266
Where is the President
in deciding all of this?

624
00:30:44,266 --> 00:30:47,467
And how does it impact it when
your so-called partner on the

625
00:30:47,467 --> 00:30:50,266
ground, Karzai, is saying
these awful things?

626
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:52,333
That's got to impact these
negotiations, doesn't it?

627
00:30:52,333 --> 00:30:57,100
Mr. Carney:
Well, we deal with,
in these negotiations,

628
00:30:57,100 --> 00:31:02,533
with the Afghan government,
and the President will review

629
00:31:02,533 --> 00:31:05,466
the options for post-2014.

630
00:31:05,467 --> 00:31:10,333
What is a fact is that we will
draw down our forces and end

631
00:31:10,333 --> 00:31:13,033
this war as the
President promised.

632
00:31:13,033 --> 00:31:16,567
Future security agreements
are subject to negotiation,

633
00:31:16,567 --> 00:31:20,700
and the President
will work on that.

634
00:31:20,700 --> 00:31:21,900
Mara and then April.

635
00:31:21,900 --> 00:31:23,800
The Press:
I have an OFA question
and a budget question.

636
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:28,600
On OFA, how does the President
or you judge their success so

637
00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,632
far in advocating
for his agenda?

638
00:31:30,633 --> 00:31:32,000
They failed to head
off the sequester,

639
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,834
and I know that gun
background checks,

640
00:31:33,834 --> 00:31:35,433
which is another thing
they've focused on,

641
00:31:35,433 --> 00:31:38,767
is encountering a lot of
obstacles in the Senate.

642
00:31:38,767 --> 00:31:41,967
Mr. Carney:
Nobody said that any of the
issues that the President has

643
00:31:41,967 --> 00:31:44,000
taken up are easy.

644
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,033
If they were -- if comprehensive
immigration reform or reducing

645
00:31:47,033 --> 00:31:50,533
gun violence in America were
easy, they would have been done.

646
00:31:50,533 --> 00:31:54,600
And there's no question that
Republicans made a definitive

647
00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:57,000
choice, basically reversing a
position from last year when the

648
00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,433
worst possible thing in
the world would be the

649
00:31:59,433 --> 00:32:03,000
implementation of the sequester
to a position where various

650
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,266
members were calling it a "home
run" or a "victory for the tea

651
00:32:05,266 --> 00:32:07,867
party" to have the
sequester take effect.

652
00:32:07,867 --> 00:32:11,633
But the President is not
deterred in the pursuit of

653
00:32:11,633 --> 00:32:13,166
the broader agenda.

654
00:32:13,166 --> 00:32:14,166
The Press:
No, I don't think he is.

655
00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:15,300
I'm just asking
you how can you --

656
00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,466
do you see any signs that
what OFA is trying to do

657
00:32:18,467 --> 00:32:19,233
for him is working?

658
00:32:19,233 --> 00:32:21,633
Mr. Carney:
Well, first of all, I would
point your questions about

659
00:32:21,633 --> 00:32:25,767
OFA's success to OFA.

660
00:32:25,767 --> 00:32:27,500
The President is
focused on his agenda,

661
00:32:27,500 --> 00:32:32,667
and there is progress on
comprehensive immigration

662
00:32:32,667 --> 00:32:34,033
reform, bipartisan progress.

663
00:32:34,033 --> 00:32:37,899
There is progress on legislation
to help reduce gun violence,

664
00:32:37,900 --> 00:32:40,667
and we are moving on the
executive actions that were part

665
00:32:40,667 --> 00:32:44,600
of the President's comprehensive
proposal to reduce gun violence.

666
00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,766
We are working and having
conversations with members

667
00:32:47,767 --> 00:32:51,433
of both parties on Capitol Hill
in the effort to see if we can

668
00:32:51,433 --> 00:32:56,300
find common ground on balanced
deficit reduction to deal not

669
00:32:56,300 --> 00:32:58,600
just with the sequester,
but the broader goal.

670
00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:00,899
We are moving forward on
a whole host of areas.

671
00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:02,700
The President will be
talking about cybersecurity.

672
00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:07,734
He will talk about the need to
do something about the broken

673
00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:11,766
process on Capitol Hill in
the Senate with confirmation

674
00:33:11,767 --> 00:33:13,200
of judges.

675
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,934
And it's a broad agenda,
and the President is focused

676
00:33:15,934 --> 00:33:17,066
on all of it.

677
00:33:17,066 --> 00:33:21,000
The Press:
On the budget, can we assume
that the entitlement reform

678
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,233
ideas that are in the offer that
you always say is still on the

679
00:33:24,233 --> 00:33:27,600
table will be in his budget --
superlative CPI and the means

680
00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:28,500
testing of Medicare?

681
00:33:28,500 --> 00:33:31,266
Mr. Carney:
Mara, the way you phrase that
question makes me think that

682
00:33:31,266 --> 00:33:34,567
you're still working on a
typewriter or something.

683
00:33:34,567 --> 00:33:35,834
It's available online.

684
00:33:35,834 --> 00:33:36,767
The proposal is there.

685
00:33:36,767 --> 00:33:38,734
It's not just that I say
they're on the table.

686
00:33:38,734 --> 00:33:40,833
They're on the table, all right?

687
00:33:40,834 --> 00:33:41,767
The Press:
Okay. But they'll
be in the budget?

688
00:33:41,767 --> 00:33:43,667
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I'm not
going to predict the budget,

689
00:33:43,667 --> 00:33:45,233
but that is the offer, okay?

690
00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:46,899
The Press:
Right, but I'm asking
will that be in the budget.

691
00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:47,934
That's a fair question.

692
00:33:47,934 --> 00:33:49,166
Mr. Carney:
Again, you're asking me to
tell you what's in the budget.

693
00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:52,667
I would be -- I would
wait for you for the --

694
00:33:52,667 --> 00:33:53,800
I would wait for the
budget to come out.

695
00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:55,300
But it is the
President's position,

696
00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:57,533
it is the President's offer --
if John Boehner, the Speaker of

697
00:33:57,533 --> 00:34:00,199
the House, wanted to
take that offer today,

698
00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,367
the President would
take him up on it.

699
00:34:02,367 --> 00:34:03,300
The Press:
Well, it seems like
it would be --

700
00:34:03,300 --> 00:34:04,867
obviously then it
would be in the budget.

701
00:34:04,867 --> 00:34:09,800
Mr. Carney:
Again, Mara, I will allow
the budget to be presented.

702
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:10,400
The Press:
Okay.

703
00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,900
Mr. Carney:
It is the President's position
that in pursuit of balanced

704
00:34:12,900 --> 00:34:16,133
deficit reduction that includes
both entitlement reforms and

705
00:34:16,132 --> 00:34:19,366
revenues from tax reform, that
the offer he made to Speaker

706
00:34:19,367 --> 00:34:22,333
Boehner remains on the table,
and that if the Speaker of the

707
00:34:22,333 --> 00:34:26,100
House were to change his
position and go back to

708
00:34:26,100 --> 00:34:27,967
the position he held
just a few months ago,

709
00:34:27,967 --> 00:34:30,700
which is that tax reform could
generate significant revenues

710
00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:33,500
towards deficit reduction -- at
the time, he claimed he could

711
00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:36,132
produce a trillion dollars in
revenues in deficit reduction

712
00:34:36,132 --> 00:34:39,799
through tax reform --
then we would be well

713
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:43,433
on our way, potentially, to
reaching a bipartisan agreement.

714
00:34:43,433 --> 00:34:45,400
And that offer is on the table.

715
00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:49,500
The Press:
White House officials often
say that Republicans never come

716
00:34:49,500 --> 00:34:51,833
forward and say what they
want to do with Medicare.

717
00:34:51,833 --> 00:34:54,833
Now that we understand the Ryan
budget is going to include the

718
00:34:54,833 --> 00:34:57,299
same premium support plan
that he's had in the past,

719
00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:01,700
do you feel that -- do you take
that as the Republican position,

720
00:35:01,700 --> 00:35:03,033
proposal for Medicare?

721
00:35:03,033 --> 00:35:03,767
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say two things.

722
00:35:03,767 --> 00:35:08,500
One, this debate was had over
the previous year and a half,

723
00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:10,900
and I think the American people
were categorically opposed to

724
00:35:10,900 --> 00:35:14,533
the approach that says that
we should voucherize Medicare,

725
00:35:14,533 --> 00:35:18,299
shift costs over to
senior citizens to the

726
00:35:18,300 --> 00:35:22,533
tune of $5,000 or $6,000
a year extra per senior.

727
00:35:22,533 --> 00:35:24,567
That's just not an approach that
the American people support.

728
00:35:24,567 --> 00:35:26,166
It's certainly not an approach
the President supports.

729
00:35:26,166 --> 00:35:31,233
However, there are measures we
can take in entitlement reform,

730
00:35:31,233 --> 00:35:35,633
including dealing with Medicare,
that are sensible policy that

731
00:35:35,633 --> 00:35:40,066
don't unduly burden seniors,
that strengthen the program

732
00:35:40,066 --> 00:35:41,433
and produce savings.

733
00:35:41,433 --> 00:35:45,133
And the President includes those
in his proposal that is on the

734
00:35:45,133 --> 00:35:48,133
table with Speaker
of the House Boehner.

735
00:35:48,133 --> 00:35:53,700
The fact of the matter is, let's
wait and see what the budget

736
00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:55,567
proposals are from Capitol Hill.

737
00:35:55,567 --> 00:36:01,700
But there is -- if you look at
the broad picture here when it

738
00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:06,066
comes to this, both sides
-- the President certainly,

739
00:36:06,066 --> 00:36:09,332
and Democrats -- say that we
need to do some entitlement

740
00:36:09,333 --> 00:36:10,533
reform, produce some savings.

741
00:36:10,533 --> 00:36:13,033
I mean, that is in the
President's proposal.

742
00:36:13,033 --> 00:36:15,900
Both sides say that we should
reform our tax code and close

743
00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:19,867
loopholes, and cap
deductions and simplify.

744
00:36:19,867 --> 00:36:23,867
The fact is, as has been noted,
the President has put forward

745
00:36:23,867 --> 00:36:26,133
a proposal that includes some
tough choices when it comes to

746
00:36:26,133 --> 00:36:27,734
entitlement reforms.

747
00:36:27,734 --> 00:36:30,200
Some Republicans
have recognized that.

748
00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,133
And the Speaker, just
a few months ago,

749
00:36:33,133 --> 00:36:36,000
said that we could cap
deductions and close loopholes

750
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,533
for the well-off and
well-connected and produce

751
00:36:37,533 --> 00:36:40,266
a trillion dollars over 10
years in deficit reduction.

752
00:36:40,266 --> 00:36:43,633
The President's proposal
asks for less than that,

753
00:36:43,633 --> 00:36:44,633
as a matter of fact.

754
00:36:44,633 --> 00:36:46,633
And so there is a potential
here, it seems to me,

755
00:36:46,633 --> 00:36:48,500
when you look at these broad
areas of entitlement reform

756
00:36:48,500 --> 00:36:51,633
and tax reform, for
discussion, debate,

757
00:36:51,633 --> 00:36:53,332
and hopefully compromise.

758
00:36:53,333 --> 00:36:57,700
Now, we're not overly --
well, let me just say this:

759
00:36:57,700 --> 00:36:59,399
We're not naïve about
the obstacles that remain,

760
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,133
and I think lawmakers of both
parties have said so and I've

761
00:37:02,133 --> 00:37:03,466
said so and the President.

762
00:37:03,467 --> 00:37:05,734
This is challenging stuff.

763
00:37:05,734 --> 00:37:07,200
There are real disagreements.

764
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:12,066
But there is ground here for
discussion and negotiation.

765
00:37:12,066 --> 00:37:12,567
Connie.

766
00:37:12,567 --> 00:37:13,700
The Press:
Jay, you called on me next.

767
00:37:13,700 --> 00:37:15,066
Mr. Carney:
April, then Connie. Sorry.

768
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:17,899
The Press:
On guns and Medicare cuts.

769
00:37:17,900 --> 00:37:20,200
Two Fridays ago,
in Massachusetts,

770
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,033
Attorney General Eric Holder
told a crowd that he and the

771
00:37:23,033 --> 00:37:26,633
President share similarly one
of the worst days in office.

772
00:37:26,633 --> 00:37:29,100
He said -- speaking of the
aftermath that he viewed at

773
00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:33,000
Sandy Hook, Holder said there
was blood on the floor and some

774
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,600
on the walls when he visited.

775
00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,266
He said the carpet was
picked up in certain places,

776
00:37:37,266 --> 00:37:40,100
and he said he realized that
was where the bullets had gone.

777
00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:43,299
Does the President share that
view that it was one of the

778
00:37:43,300 --> 00:37:44,567
worst days in his office?

779
00:37:44,567 --> 00:37:47,367
And will the President take that
message on the Hill when he's

780
00:37:47,367 --> 00:37:51,367
talking about gun
control this week?

781
00:37:51,367 --> 00:37:57,934
Mr. Carney:
The President has said that the
day of Newtown was perhaps the

782
00:37:57,934 --> 00:38:00,567
worst day of his presidency.

783
00:38:00,567 --> 00:38:02,900
And I think those of you
who saw him that day,

784
00:38:02,900 --> 00:38:05,967
when he came out here, those
of you who saw him speak in

785
00:38:05,967 --> 00:38:09,333
Newtown, felt that.

786
00:38:09,333 --> 00:38:13,734
And I think he felt that as a
father as well as as President.

787
00:38:13,734 --> 00:38:20,799
I know that he places great
importance on the need to move

788
00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:26,200
forward with common-sense
actions that can help reduce

789
00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,866
gun violence, and I'm sure
he will address that.

790
00:38:28,867 --> 00:38:31,367
I know he will address that
when he's on Capitol Hill.

791
00:38:31,367 --> 00:38:34,467
The Press:
Did the President see
what Eric Holder described?

792
00:38:34,467 --> 00:38:37,767
Mr. Carney:
No, we did not visit the school.

793
00:38:37,767 --> 00:38:42,000
The Press:
Okay. Now, on Medicare cuts,
is there any way to put a

794
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:43,133
safety net in place?

795
00:38:43,133 --> 00:38:45,700
Is the White House talking about
a safety net so that doctors can

796
00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:48,500
receive their Medicare payments
and efforts to maintain a

797
00:38:48,500 --> 00:38:51,066
certain level, a certain
standard of quality care

798
00:38:51,066 --> 00:38:52,466
for those Medicare recipients?

799
00:38:52,467 --> 00:38:54,066
Because there's this
concern out there --

800
00:38:54,066 --> 00:38:55,466
Mr. Carney:
Are you talking about
the SGR fix thing?

801
00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,667
The doctors fix?

802
00:38:57,667 --> 00:38:58,100
The Press:
Yes.

803
00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:00,200
Mr. Carney:
I mean, that's something
that's addressed annually.

804
00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,799
Whether that -- how they
deal with that in the --

805
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,367
everybody deals with that
in the budget process --

806
00:39:05,367 --> 00:39:06,433
The Press:
But there's a concern --

807
00:39:06,433 --> 00:39:07,967
Mr. Carney:
-- I think we'll have to leave
that to the budget process.

808
00:39:07,967 --> 00:39:08,867
The Press:
You do?

809
00:39:08,867 --> 00:39:09,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, I mean, yes, I think.

810
00:39:09,834 --> 00:39:12,734
But the so-called doc fix is
something that's addressed

811
00:39:12,734 --> 00:39:15,667
almost annually of late.

812
00:39:15,667 --> 00:39:17,734
The Press:
But there is concern out there
right now that doctors are not

813
00:39:17,734 --> 00:39:21,000
going to get their payments
because of these cuts in these

814
00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:21,934
entitlement programs.

815
00:39:21,934 --> 00:39:23,033
And if they don't --

816
00:39:23,033 --> 00:39:23,700
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not sure.

817
00:39:23,700 --> 00:39:25,232
You have to be specific about
which cuts you're talking about.

818
00:39:25,233 --> 00:39:25,834
The President --

819
00:39:25,834 --> 00:39:26,533
The Press:
Medicare.

820
00:39:26,533 --> 00:39:28,967
The doctors -- the
payments to the doctors.

821
00:39:28,967 --> 00:39:32,266
And there is a concern amongst
doctors and those analysts who

822
00:39:32,266 --> 00:39:34,200
are looking at this process --

823
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:35,232
Mr. Carney:
I think I'll have to
take your question,

824
00:39:35,233 --> 00:39:38,166
because I think it depends on
whether you're talking about the

825
00:39:38,166 --> 00:39:41,767
annual thing known
as the doc fix,

826
00:39:41,767 --> 00:39:45,600
or the cuts proposed
by Republicans,

827
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:47,533
or the reforms proposed
by the President.

828
00:39:47,533 --> 00:39:49,100
It just depends on what
you're talking about.

829
00:39:49,100 --> 00:39:51,667
The Press:
Well, this time that you're
allowing those entitlements

830
00:39:51,667 --> 00:39:53,400
to be on the table --
this is what we're hearing,

831
00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:57,800
that the White House is
allowing these possibilities

832
00:39:57,800 --> 00:39:59,100
for these cuts to --

833
00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:01,433
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'll have to --
again, I need more specifics.

834
00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:01,934
Connie.

835
00:40:01,934 --> 00:40:02,500
The Press:
Thank you.

836
00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:05,000
On Afghanistan -- where's the
passion, where's the anger?

837
00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,433
Two more Americans were killed.

838
00:40:06,433 --> 00:40:09,200
Karzai's comments
are more strident.

839
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,265
Is there any evidence that the
Afghans really want us there to

840
00:40:12,266 --> 00:40:13,233
continue training?

841
00:40:13,233 --> 00:40:15,233
Is there any possibility
the U.S. will pull out --

842
00:40:15,233 --> 00:40:17,333
Mr. Carney:
Connie, you know the
President's policy.

843
00:40:17,333 --> 00:40:19,400
He is winding down this
war and he is withdrawing

844
00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:20,600
American troops.

845
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:25,799
Our objective was refined to
make it very clear under the

846
00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,033
President's policies that
we are in Afghanistan --

847
00:40:28,033 --> 00:40:31,200
we went to Afghanistan and
we are there now because of

848
00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:35,165
al Qaeda, because al Qaeda took
up safe haven in Afghanistan and

849
00:40:35,166 --> 00:40:37,767
attacked the United
States from Afghanistan.

850
00:40:37,767 --> 00:40:40,834
And that effort continues,
and there has been significant

851
00:40:40,834 --> 00:40:45,366
progress in decimating al
Qaeda central in Afghanistan.

852
00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:48,667
We are winding down that war,
as the President promised.

853
00:40:48,667 --> 00:40:51,866
We are withdrawing U.S. forces,
as the President promised.

854
00:40:51,867 --> 00:40:56,400
We are training Afghan security
forces precisely because that

855
00:40:56,400 --> 00:41:00,600
enables Afghan security forces
to take security lead over from

856
00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:01,600
U.S. forces.

857
00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,133
And we have made significant
progress towards that goal.

858
00:41:04,133 --> 00:41:10,066
The purpose of the policy,
in addition to disrupting,

859
00:41:10,066 --> 00:41:11,899
dismantling, and ultimately
defeating al Qaeda,

860
00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:16,667
is to allow for the stability of
Afghanistan and enough strength

861
00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:19,433
in Afghan security forces to
prevent Afghanistan from again

862
00:41:19,433 --> 00:41:24,567
becoming a safe haven for al
Qaeda in the way that it was

863
00:41:24,567 --> 00:41:26,266
prior to the 9/11 attacks.

864
00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:27,767
The Press:
Do the Afghans
still want us there?

865
00:41:27,767 --> 00:41:29,633
And what sort of talks
has the U.S. had with

866
00:41:29,633 --> 00:41:30,700
the Taliban leadership?

867
00:41:30,700 --> 00:41:37,000
Mr. Carney:
Look, we support Afghan-led
reconciliation discussions.

868
00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,800
There are no current -- I'm
not going to get into details,

869
00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:43,533
but the focus right
now is on Afghan-led

870
00:41:43,533 --> 00:41:45,967
reconciliation negotiations.

871
00:41:45,967 --> 00:41:46,667
Victoria.

872
00:41:46,667 --> 00:41:51,000
The Press:
The transfer of Bagram prison to
the Afghans fell apart over the

873
00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:55,033
weekend when apparently
President Karzai balked at

874
00:41:55,033 --> 00:41:58,066
some of the details
of the transfer.

875
00:41:58,066 --> 00:42:01,433
Do you believe that those
details can be worked out

876
00:42:01,433 --> 00:42:03,500
for the transfer to
take place this week?

877
00:42:03,500 --> 00:42:05,900
Mr. Carney:
We continue to work out the
details on the transfer of the

878
00:42:05,900 --> 00:42:09,867
detention facility in Parwan,
which is the facility you're

879
00:42:09,867 --> 00:42:12,300
referencing, and making
that transfer to the

880
00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:13,300
Afghan government.

881
00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:16,367
We remain committed to the full
transfer of the facility and to

882
00:42:16,367 --> 00:42:19,667
all Afghan detainees to the
government of Afghanistan.

883
00:42:19,667 --> 00:42:22,667
We respect Afghan sovereignty
and intend to proceed with the

884
00:42:22,667 --> 00:42:25,366
transfer once we have
reached full agreement.

885
00:42:25,367 --> 00:42:27,834
The Press:
Are you concerned that the
Afghan government is going

886
00:42:27,834 --> 00:42:31,633
to release Afghan prisoners
who might harm Americans?

887
00:42:31,633 --> 00:42:33,567
Mr. Carney:
Again, we are working on
this issue with the Afghan

888
00:42:33,567 --> 00:42:38,900
government, and we will work
out those details and make

889
00:42:38,900 --> 00:42:42,333
the transfer of the
facility to the Afghans.

890
00:42:42,333 --> 00:42:43,000
George.

891
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,767
The Press:
In your answer to Jim, you
outlined the agenda for the

892
00:42:45,767 --> 00:42:47,966
meetings coming up with
the members of Congress.

893
00:42:47,967 --> 00:42:50,700
What does the President get
out of meetings like this?

894
00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:58,232
Mr. Carney:
I think he hopes to make clear
to members of the Republican

895
00:42:58,233 --> 00:43:02,133
conferences and the Democratic
caucuses what his policy

896
00:43:02,133 --> 00:43:10,100
positions are, his priorities,
and his willingness to work with

897
00:43:10,100 --> 00:43:15,799
lawmakers of both parties to
achieve these, essentially,

898
00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:20,333
bipartisan or nonpartisan
objectives: balanced deficit

899
00:43:20,333 --> 00:43:23,000
reduction that strengthens our
economy and helps it create

900
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,400
jobs; comprehensive immigration
reform that strengthens our

901
00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:29,400
economy and that has had
traditionally the support

902
00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:34,667
of Republicans and Democrats;
sensible action to reduce gun

903
00:43:34,667 --> 00:43:43,165
violence -- action that respects
our Second Amendment rights but

904
00:43:43,166 --> 00:43:46,300
deals with a scourge that is
taking too many lives in our

905
00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:52,166
country; action to enhance
our energy independence;

906
00:43:52,166 --> 00:43:55,300
action that he has in the past
and he will in the future,

907
00:43:55,300 --> 00:43:58,000
that the President has called on
Congress to take with regards to

908
00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:00,533
our cybersecurity.

909
00:44:00,533 --> 00:44:04,165
And he will also, I'm sure, talk
about the need to do something

910
00:44:04,166 --> 00:44:07,300
about the problems that we've
been seeing in the Senate with

911
00:44:07,300 --> 00:44:09,767
Republicans when it comes to
confirming the President's

912
00:44:09,767 --> 00:44:11,100
judicial nominations.

913
00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:13,232
The Press:
But if you have a meeting like
the one with Chairman Ryan where

914
00:44:13,233 --> 00:44:17,367
they just repeat
their disagreements,

915
00:44:17,367 --> 00:44:19,467
does that move the
process along at all?

916
00:44:19,467 --> 00:44:23,600
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think both what we
said about that lunch and

917
00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:26,366
what Chairman Ryan said
was more than that, George.

918
00:44:26,367 --> 00:44:29,700
I think that it was a
constructive meeting and that

919
00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:32,834
certainly the President, and I
don't want to put words in his

920
00:44:32,834 --> 00:44:36,165
mouth, but I believe over the
weekend the Chairman said that

921
00:44:36,166 --> 00:44:39,734
he thought there was room for
further discussion and possible

922
00:44:39,734 --> 00:44:41,900
compromise on these issues.

923
00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:43,667
So that's what the
President believes.

924
00:44:43,667 --> 00:44:47,200
He thinks it's important to have
these conversations because the

925
00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:51,066
American people have made pretty
clear what they want Washington

926
00:44:51,066 --> 00:44:54,399
to do and what they think
is the right approach.

927
00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:58,600
So the President has been
engaged in conversations with

928
00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:02,533
lawmakers of both parties,
seeking out lawmakers who

929
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:05,734
support balanced
deficit reduction,

930
00:45:05,734 --> 00:45:10,400
who support the idea of
compromise and moving forward on

931
00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:13,900
fiscal and budget issues as well
as on all these other issues,

932
00:45:13,900 --> 00:45:18,533
which remain high priorities.

933
00:45:18,533 --> 00:45:20,567
The Press:
There are reports circulating
that the United States is

934
00:45:20,567 --> 00:45:22,834
training Syrian
rebels in Jordan.

935
00:45:22,834 --> 00:45:24,332
Any truth to that?

936
00:45:24,333 --> 00:45:26,633
Mr. Carney:
I haven't seen those reports.

937
00:45:26,633 --> 00:45:28,133
They're news to me.

938
00:45:28,133 --> 00:45:28,899
Cheryl.

939
00:45:28,900 --> 00:45:31,867
The Press:
Any update on when either
Commerce Secretary or Labor

940
00:45:31,867 --> 00:45:33,333
Secretary might be announced?

941
00:45:33,333 --> 00:45:34,300
Will that be this week?

942
00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:36,266
Mr. Carney:
I have no personnel
announcements to make.

943
00:45:36,266 --> 00:45:37,000
Chris.

944
00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:38,734
The Press:
Jay, in recent weeks, the
administration has taken

945
00:45:38,734 --> 00:45:41,900
executive action on behalf
of the LGBT community.

946
00:45:41,900 --> 00:45:44,066
Last month the Pentagon started
the process for recommending

947
00:45:44,066 --> 00:45:45,834
certain partner
benefits for gay troops.

948
00:45:45,834 --> 00:45:47,567
And a couple weeks ago the
Justice Department filed a

949
00:45:47,567 --> 00:45:49,100
brief in the Prop 8 case.

950
00:45:49,100 --> 00:45:51,200
One action that remains
outstanding is that executive

951
00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:53,033
order for federal
contractors prohibiting

952
00:45:53,033 --> 00:45:56,100
anti-LGBT workplace
discrimination.

953
00:45:56,100 --> 00:45:57,734
If you're going to do these
other two executive actions,

954
00:45:57,734 --> 00:45:59,799
why not do the
executive order as well?

955
00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:02,200
Mr. Carney:
Well, I mean, I think filing a
brief is an entirely different

956
00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:04,200
piece of business, Chris.

957
00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:06,567
But I think, as you know, the
President has long supported an

958
00:46:06,567 --> 00:46:09,300
inclusive Employment
Non-Discrimination Act,

959
00:46:09,300 --> 00:46:11,533
and his administration will
continue to work to build

960
00:46:11,533 --> 00:46:13,333
support for it.

961
00:46:13,333 --> 00:46:15,300
We welcome Chairman Harkin's
announcement that he will hold

962
00:46:15,300 --> 00:46:18,467
a vote on ENDA this year.

963
00:46:18,467 --> 00:46:21,867
I have no updates for you
on an executive order.

964
00:46:21,867 --> 00:46:23,266
The Press:
Well, speaking about the
Employment Non-Discrimination

965
00:46:23,266 --> 00:46:25,233
Act, when the President goes to
Capitol Hill this week to talk

966
00:46:25,233 --> 00:46:27,033
to lawmakers about
his priorities,

967
00:46:27,033 --> 00:46:29,366
will he enumerate the --
will he mention the Employment

968
00:46:29,367 --> 00:46:30,800
Non-Discrimination Act as one
of the things he wants passed?

969
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, I know that he'll talk
about some of the issues that I

970
00:46:32,500 --> 00:46:35,266
laid out, maybe not all of them,
and I'm sure there will be other

971
00:46:35,266 --> 00:46:36,200
topics that he'll raise.

972
00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:38,232
But I don't have a
specific agenda for him.

973
00:46:38,233 --> 00:46:38,934
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

974
00:46:38,934 --> 00:46:40,800
Mr. Carney:
Ann, last one.

975
00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:41,533
The Press:
Thank you.

976
00:46:41,533 --> 00:46:43,333
To put a fine point
on what George asked,

977
00:46:43,333 --> 00:46:46,133
when the President goes to talk
with both the Republicans in the

978
00:46:46,133 --> 00:46:48,866
Senate and the House, he
doesn't have the new budget

979
00:46:48,867 --> 00:46:50,066
to present yet.

980
00:46:50,066 --> 00:46:55,100
Will he be presenting new
aspects of the programs and

981
00:46:55,100 --> 00:46:57,133
the policies he's
already got out there,

982
00:46:57,133 --> 00:46:59,799
new areas where he thinks
there can be common ground?

983
00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,433
Or is this a chance to
repeat what they know is

984
00:47:02,433 --> 00:47:03,500
already on the record?

985
00:47:03,500 --> 00:47:07,533
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I think you're
mistaking the meetings for a

986
00:47:07,533 --> 00:47:08,433
budget negotiation.

987
00:47:08,433 --> 00:47:12,633
He's meeting with I guess
potentially 535 lawmakers,

988
00:47:12,633 --> 00:47:16,933
so I wouldn't expect that
they're going to trade paper

989
00:47:16,934 --> 00:47:19,000
on numbers.

990
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:20,033
There are few vacancies, John?

991
00:47:20,033 --> 00:47:20,567
The Press:
(indiscernible)

992
00:47:20,567 --> 00:47:21,800
Mr. Carney:
Which districts and
what do they look like?

993
00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:22,667
(laughter)

994
00:47:22,667 --> 00:47:24,100
The Press:
(indiscernible)

995
00:47:24,100 --> 00:47:26,900
Mr. Carney:
Okay. So the --

996
00:47:26,900 --> 00:47:29,066
First of all, the President is
the only one with a proposal out

997
00:47:29,066 --> 00:47:33,399
there right now that is balanced
and achieves the kind of deficit

998
00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,533
reduction that gets our fiscal
house in order over 10 years.

999
00:47:36,533 --> 00:47:43,467
And he, I think, as I've said --
he looks forward to making clear

1000
00:47:43,467 --> 00:47:48,700
what his policy positions are,
to making clear his sincerity

1001
00:47:48,700 --> 00:47:51,133
when it comes to his belief
that we need to take action

1002
00:47:51,133 --> 00:47:55,399
on our deficit, but to do
it in a balanced way that

1003
00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:57,567
enhances rather than
harms economic growth,

1004
00:47:57,567 --> 00:48:00,934
that strengthens rather than
weaken the middle class.

1005
00:48:00,934 --> 00:48:02,934
But he also wants to talk
about these other issues.

1006
00:48:02,934 --> 00:48:07,667
I mean, amidst all the talk
about partisan stalemating and

1007
00:48:07,667 --> 00:48:10,633
gridlock, it is a simple fact
that there is activity right now

1008
00:48:10,633 --> 00:48:16,066
in Washington that represents
bipartisan compromise --

1009
00:48:16,066 --> 00:48:17,533
efforts towards
immigration reform,

1010
00:48:17,533 --> 00:48:19,366
discussions on
reducing gun violence.

1011
00:48:19,367 --> 00:48:25,433
This is important, and they
reflect areas that the President

1012
00:48:25,433 --> 00:48:27,066
believes should be priorities.

1013
00:48:27,066 --> 00:48:29,500
They're priorities
for his agenda,

1014
00:48:29,500 --> 00:48:32,000
and he will discuss
a number of issues,

1015
00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:33,767
not just the budget
and fiscal issues.

1016
00:48:33,767 --> 00:48:34,600
Thanks very much.