English subtitles for clip: File:4-20-12- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.

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It is great to have
you here today.

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As you can tell, I have with
me the Secretary of Education,

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Arne Duncan.

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This week, as I know you know,
President Obama is launching a

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concerted effort to get Congress
to stop the interest rate on

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student loans from
doubling in July.

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Secretary Duncan is here to
talk about that issue with you,

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to take questions on
that issue from you.

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He can also take
questions on other

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issues related to education.

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You know, it's worth noting that
Secretary Duncan oversees the

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implementation of the
President's education agenda,

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his vision for investment in
education and education reform.

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And that latter piece,
the education reform,

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is something that, in a way
that is often unnoticed or

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unmentioned by
folks in Washington,

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has enjoyed broad
bipartisan support.

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This is another issue that
should enjoy broad bipartisan

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support, because you really have
to have a brick in your head not

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to understand that education
is the cornerstone of our

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economic future.

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Without it we cannot compete
and win in the 21st century.

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And with that, I give
you Secretary Duncan.

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Secretary Duncan:
Thank you, Jay.

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And good afternoon.

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Next week, President Obama is
traveling to three states to

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talk about the fact that
interest rates for new

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subsidized student loans are
set to increase on July 1 unless

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Congress acts to
change that law.

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The rates were set
by Congress in 2007,

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and the current interest
rate is 3.4 percent,

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and it will double
without Congress's

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action to 6.8 percent.

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Based on the
average loan amount,

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this will add more than
$1,000 in costs over the

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life of that loan.

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For students who borrow
heavily to go to college,

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it would obviously
cost them even more.

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And we estimate that this
interest rate increase will

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affect more than 7 million
families expected to take out

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new loans this fall.

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At a time when going to college
has never been more important,

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it has also, unfortunately,
never been more expensive.

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Families and students are
struggling to meet these costs,

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and there's no reason why we
should add to their burden.

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And I have to tell you, as I've
traveled throughout the country

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-- and I was just in Iowa and
Wisconsin over the past two days

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with Secretary Vilsack --
not just in disadvantaged

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communities, but more and
more middle-class families are

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starting to think college
might not be for them,

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it's for rich folks.

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There's a real problem with that
when we know going to college is

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the path to the middle class.

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Next week, President Obama will
outline the administration's

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proposal to work with Congress
to keep interest rates down and

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spare working Americans this
added cost, this added burden.

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And all of us share
responsibility for the cost of

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college -- from federal and
state governments to educational

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institutions, students
and their families.

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And because this issue is so
important to our economy and to

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our future, our administration
is doing more than ever before

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to address it and we have
a number of proposals in

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our 2013 budget.

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With the support of Congress,
we have doubled -- doubled --

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Pell Grant funding for
low-income students,

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and nearly tripled tax credits
for middle-class families.

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We've lowered the cap on student
loan payments to 15 percent of

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income, and we're going to lower
it even further to 10 percent

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starting in 2014.

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The President, Vice
President Biden,

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and myself and so many others
have held town halls all across

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the country to talk about
the cost of college.

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We've met with university
presidents, governors,

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state legislators and
members of Congress.

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And next week, the President
will meet with students at the

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University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill,

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the University of
Colorado at Boulder,

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and the University
of Iowa in Iowa City.

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These three universities are
among the nation's educational

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jewels, and we should do
everything possible to ensure

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that they remain affordable.

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And we also know that 2012 marks
the 150th anniversary of the

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Morrill Act, which was signed
into law by President Abraham

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Lincoln and created the
first public universities.

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I think we have an amazing
opportunity to honor Lincoln's

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vision and secure our economic
future by working together to

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ensure that college remains
affordable for all Americans.

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I'll stop there.

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I'm happy to take any
questions you may have.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Mr. Secretary, this afternoon
the White House is going to be

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screening a viewing
of the movie, Bully.

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One piece of legislation that
will protect LGBT students

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against bullying is called the
Student Non-Discrimination Act

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to prohibit harassment and
discrimination against LGBT

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students in school.

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Is the administration prepared
to endorse that legislation at

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this time?

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Secretary Duncan:
Well, we have to continue to
do everything we can to make

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sure that there is zero
tolerance for this.

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And I met with one of the young
women in the movie this morning

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with her father.

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This is very personal for
me and for the President.

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We all have children
who are in school now.

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And whenever children are
going to school scared,

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when it's hard to concentrate
on biology and algebra -- so as

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a country -- hopefully you've
seen an unprecedented level of

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support from our administration
-- first-ever anti-bullying

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summit here in the White House.

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The President has talked about
his own experiences there.

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You've seen many states toughen
laws to try and protect students

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from bullying.

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Until our children are
safe and secure at recess,

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in the morning, after school
-- and it's not just physical

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bullying, it's cyber
bullying, as you know.

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And I'll tell you, some of my
toughest meetings have been with

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parents who have lost their
children who have committed

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suicide due to the impact.

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So we all have to
continue to work together.

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I think this movie is very
tough, it's very hard-hitting,

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but it tells the truth, and
hopefully it will create a

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greater awareness
around the country.

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This cannot be a normal rite
of passage; can't accept it.

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Yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
And on the legislation?

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The Press:
Thank you.

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Is the President going to call
next week for a one-year or

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temporary freeze in
the interest rate,

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or is he going to ask Congress
to pass a permanent --

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Secretary Duncan:
Well, I think we
need to fix it now.

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We have an immediate crisis,
so let's fix it right now.

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But let's think about
the long term as well.

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And again, this has always
enjoyed bipartisan support.

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We have to educate our
way to a better economy.

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We know the jobs of the future
are going to go to those folks

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with some higher education.

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And so to not do this together
just doesn't make sense to me.

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The Press:
So you would support a
short-term -- such as

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a one-time freeze?

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Secretary Duncan:
Well, I think we need
to get the immediate

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issue dealt with now.

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But let's all work together as a
country to work on the long-term

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issue as well.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Mr. Secretary, what do
you say to Republicans

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who call this a
created controversy,

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that this is a deadline
that comes out of Democratic

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legislation, that this is coming
up right before an election and

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that the President is taking
it out on the campaign trail?

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How do you respond
to those criticisms?

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Secretary Duncan:
The facts are very, very simple.

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This passed in 2007 with
broad bipartisan support.

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It was signed by a
Republican President.

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We all understand that if
we want to keep jobs in this

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country -- we're not competing
in our little districts and in

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our states, we're competing
against India and China and

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Singapore and South Korea --
and if we want to keep those

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good jobs here we have to
have an educated workforce.

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And I have lots of data
-- you guys all know this,

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but over the past year if you
have less than a high school

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diploma, there's been a
decrease of about 200,000

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jobs in this country; if
you have some college or

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an associate's degree, an
increase of about 750,000 jobs.

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And if you have a
bachelor's degree or more,

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we've had about 1.4
million new jobs created.

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And we know those trends
are only going to continue.

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So we all have to -- again, this
isn't a Republican or Democratic

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or -- I could care less
about politics and ideology.

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This is about we need
an educated workforce.

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And it's fascinating to me that
in a really tough economic time

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like this, we have
2 million high-wage,

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high-skilled jobs that are
unfilled because we're not

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producing the employees with
the skills that employers

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are looking for.

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I can't tell you how many CEOs
I've met with and the President

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has met with who have said,
we're trying to hire now;

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we're not trying to export
jobs, but you're not producing

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the workers.

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We don't just have a jobs issue
now; we have a skills crisis.

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We have a skills gap.

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We have to close
that skills gap.

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The only way we do that is to
have a lot more young people

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graduate from college and go on
to -- graduate from high school

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and go on to college.

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The Press:
Just to be clear, you're
saying that Republicans

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are wrong to suggest that
this is being brought up

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as a wedge issue?

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Secretary Duncan:
Absolutely.

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This was passed five years
ago in a bipartisan way.

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No reason it shouldn't pass
again in a bipartisan way.

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It was signed by a
Republican governor [sic].

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We have to educate our
way to a better economy.

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That is not a Republican or a
Democrat or any issue -- that's

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just a -- that's just reality.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Mr. Secretary, you said
that it would increase

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the average loan by
$1,000 over its life.

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What is the life
of an average loan?

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Secretary Duncan:
It depends, but the
average is 12 years.

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It varies.

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And so for each year this
doesn't happen it would be

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an additional $1,000.

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So if it doesn't happen
this year, it's $1,000;

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another year, $2,000.

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And again, right now, we know
debt from college exceeds credit

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card debt in this country.

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Something is wrong
with that picture.

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We don't need to
increase that debt.

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We need to keep it where
it is, at a minimum.

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And obviously, we've done so
much to try and make college

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more affordable -- we've
talked about Pell grants,

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Perkins loans increases.

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We're asking for the ability to
double work-study opportunities.

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College has to be affordable for
the middle class and for folks

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aspiring to go to
the middle class.

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And unfortunately, many, many,
many American families -- again,

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all types of neighborhoods,
all types of backgrounds --

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are starting to think
college isn't for them.

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That's a real problem.

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The Press:
Secretary Duncan, you have
a lot of zest at the podium

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about this issue.

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Let me use a term that's
familiar to you -- are you

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going to put some skin in the
game -- going on the Hill,

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you and the President,
talking about this?

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Secretary Duncan:
I'll do whatever it takes.

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And I've been out traveling
the country every single week

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talking about this
for a long time.

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I've done a number of town
halls with the Vice President.

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The President has
been out there.

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He's going to three different
universities next week.

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And this is, again, one where
it just -- I know you guys love

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politics and love all that stuff
-- that's zero of my interest.

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I'm not any good at it,
don't care about it.

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We need a lot more young
people to go to college

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and to graduate.

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That's all this is about.

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00:09:12,033 --> 00:09:14,800
And when families start to think
that they can't afford college,

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00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,199
that is not good for those
families, for those communities,

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00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:18,300
or for our country.

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00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:19,500
The Press:
But are you willing
to go to the Hill --

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00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:22,333
Secretary Duncan:
Of course. Absolutely. Absolutely.

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00:09:22,333 --> 00:09:23,400
Whatever it takes,
we'll keep working it.

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00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:24,066
Yes, ma'am.

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00:09:24,066 --> 00:09:25,967
The Press:
Secretary Duncan, I want
to ask you a question about

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00:09:25,967 --> 00:09:26,900
school safety.

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00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:29,367
Today is the 13th
anniversary of Columbine.

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00:09:29,367 --> 00:09:32,000
The fifth anniversary of
Virginia Tech passed this week.

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00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,867
Obviously a lot of
lessons have been learned,

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00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:38,967
but from your perspective,
what more needs to be done?

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00:09:38,967 --> 00:09:41,066
Secretary Duncan:
It's a great question - they
don't have easy answers.

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00:09:41,066 --> 00:09:43,266
I think we as a nation have
learned a tremendous amount

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00:09:43,266 --> 00:09:45,632
about the warning signs
and about acting very,

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00:09:45,633 --> 00:09:47,734
very quickly when
there is an issue.

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00:09:47,734 --> 00:09:50,066
But I just sort of take it right
back to the bullying issue,

256
00:09:50,066 --> 00:09:53,700
that when we have children or
young adults or high school

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00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,800
students who don't feel
safe, who aren't secure,

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00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:58,766
you can't begin to be as
effective as you need to

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00:09:58,767 --> 00:10:00,433
and concentrate academically.

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00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:02,633
And so creating a climate
that is free of violence,

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00:10:02,633 --> 00:10:05,533
free of fear, where young people
can concentrate on what's going

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00:10:05,533 --> 00:10:07,400
on in class is
desperately important.

263
00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,600
So I think there's
been a lot of progress.

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00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,300
We've actually seen a
reduction in violence,

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00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:12,666
which has been very encouraging.

266
00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:15,166
But one incident is obviously
one incident way too many.

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00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:17,500
And I come at this more as
a parent than anything else.

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00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,200
I have a 10-year-old daughter
and an 8-year-old son,

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00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,967
and I don't want them or anyone
else's children having to worry

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00:10:22,967 --> 00:10:24,433
about this going
to school each day.

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00:10:24,433 --> 00:10:26,700
The Press:
Can you also speak, aside
from the bullying aspect,

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00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:29,633
the mental health aspect
-- because, for instance,

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00:10:29,633 --> 00:10:31,600
in both of those shootings,
that may have played a bigger

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00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,033
role than bullying
or an atmosphere of

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00:10:35,033 --> 00:10:36,467
violence -- identifying --

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00:10:36,467 --> 00:10:38,834
Secretary Duncan:
I think that's correct.

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00:10:38,834 --> 00:10:42,900
And universities,
peers, fellow students,

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00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:46,100
when we're seeing something that
doesn't feel right or doesn't

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00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:49,166
look right, raising those alarms
early and letting folks know

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00:10:49,166 --> 00:10:52,500
that this is a student or a
young person or a young adult

281
00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:55,100
with some issues that are
worrying -- we have to have

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00:10:55,100 --> 00:10:56,100
those conversations.

283
00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:59,900
And so often in these situations
-- not always, but so often,

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00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:01,766
there's some signs, there's
some indications that this

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00:11:01,767 --> 00:11:03,200
person isn't stable.

286
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,533
And I think we have to take
those -- unfortunately,

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00:11:05,533 --> 00:11:07,300
we have to take those
very, very seriously.

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00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:09,766
It's not something we
can sort of blow through.

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00:11:09,767 --> 00:11:14,467
The Press:
Mr. Secretary, Congressman
Kline's office just issued a

290
00:11:14,467 --> 00:11:16,967
statement as you were
coming to the podium,

291
00:11:16,967 --> 00:11:21,033
basically saying that no one
has offered a serious proposal,

292
00:11:21,033 --> 00:11:25,667
meaningful proposal to pay
for this $6 billion stopgap.

293
00:11:25,667 --> 00:11:28,533
What do you see as the way
to pay for this so that we

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00:11:28,533 --> 00:11:30,300
are not borrowing more
money, adding to --

295
00:11:30,300 --> 00:11:33,065
Secretary Duncan:
The President's budget contained
a number of proposals to pay for

296
00:11:33,066 --> 00:11:34,700
it -- again, something we
want to work very closely

297
00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:35,967
with Congress to do.

298
00:11:35,967 --> 00:11:37,033
And we need to pay for it.

299
00:11:37,033 --> 00:11:38,033
We're committed
to paying for it.

300
00:11:38,033 --> 00:11:40,567
Lots of ideas out there -- the
President will talk more about

301
00:11:40,567 --> 00:11:42,934
them next week -- but absolutely
want to work with Congress.

302
00:11:42,934 --> 00:11:44,834
I have tremendous respect
for Chairman Kline.

303
00:11:44,834 --> 00:11:46,834
We've had a very, very
good working relationship.

304
00:11:46,834 --> 00:11:49,165
And again, this is the right
thing to do for the country and

305
00:11:49,166 --> 00:11:52,066
for his families in Minnesota.

306
00:11:52,066 --> 00:11:57,166
The Press:
Mr. Secretary, how would
you go about balancing the

307
00:11:57,166 --> 00:12:01,000
reality of the cost of college
with the concerns up there that

308
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:05,033
allowing more access to more
credit would create possibly

309
00:12:05,033 --> 00:12:07,967
a student loan bubble down
the road and actually increase

310
00:12:07,967 --> 00:12:09,500
college tuition?

311
00:12:09,500 --> 00:12:12,000
Secretary Duncan:
So again, I think the most
important thing we can do is

312
00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,767
to have young people go
to college and graduate.

313
00:12:14,767 --> 00:12:16,700
And that's the best
investment we can make.

314
00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:20,100
And when that debt is manageable
-- obviously if you have no debt

315
00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:21,433
that's maybe the best
situation, but this is

316
00:12:21,433 --> 00:12:22,567
not bad debt to have.

317
00:12:22,567 --> 00:12:23,967
In fact, it's very
good debt to have.

318
00:12:23,967 --> 00:12:26,967
And we have all kinds of data
not just around jobs but around

319
00:12:26,967 --> 00:12:30,400
how much your earning potential
throughout your lifetime goes up

320
00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,834
from high school graduate
to two-years degree to

321
00:12:32,834 --> 00:12:33,834
four-year degree.

322
00:12:33,834 --> 00:12:36,099
So this is the best long-term
investment we can make.

323
00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:38,600
But we are worried about
debt going higher and higher.

324
00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,900
And so when we have an
opportunity to work together

325
00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:44,300
in a bipartisan way to prevent
that escalation of debt,

326
00:12:44,300 --> 00:12:45,400
this is the right thing to do.

327
00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:46,834
I expect folks will
step up and do that.

328
00:12:46,834 --> 00:12:49,032
The Press:
Do you think there is a
correlation between more

329
00:12:49,033 --> 00:12:52,133
access to student loans and
the rise in cost of tuition?

330
00:12:52,133 --> 00:12:52,600
Secretary Duncan:
I don't.

331
00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,000
We've looked at it really
closely -- actually more

332
00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,133
on the Pell Grant side.

333
00:12:55,133 --> 00:12:56,100
The data is very interesting.

334
00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:58,500
People say when you increase
Pell grants, tuition goes up.

335
00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,500
If you look over 30 years,
over those 30 years,

336
00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:04,300
19 of those years
Pell grants went up;

337
00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:07,666
10 of those years
Pell grants went down;

338
00:13:07,667 --> 00:13:09,800
one year it was stable --
and all 30 of those years

339
00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:10,733
tuition went up.

340
00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:12,500
So I don't think there's
a correlation there.

341
00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:14,867
But we are challenging -- this
is about shared responsibility.

342
00:13:14,867 --> 00:13:17,800
As you know, we're challenging
states to continue to invest.

343
00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,532
We're trying to lead by example
-- huge increases in Pell

344
00:13:20,533 --> 00:13:23,166
Grants, the biggest since
the GI Bill; Perkins loans,

345
00:13:23,166 --> 00:13:25,900
double work-study, make
the ALTC permanent.

346
00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:27,199
But states have to invest.

347
00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,767
We can't do this by ourselves.

348
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:31,633
And universities have to keep
down their tuition and also

349
00:13:31,633 --> 00:13:33,333
build cultures
around completion.

350
00:13:33,333 --> 00:13:35,567
We're trying to do a lot to
provide greater transparency

351
00:13:35,567 --> 00:13:38,967
and score cards so families can
make good choices about which

352
00:13:38,967 --> 00:13:41,500
university is going to provide
a great education but also be

353
00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:42,700
at a reasonable cost.

354
00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:45,200
I think that transparency,
that shared responsibility

355
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,133
is hugely important.

356
00:13:46,133 --> 00:13:48,300
The Press:
Mr. Secretary, thank you, sir.

357
00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:53,632
As far as President Obama and
his initiative is concerned,

358
00:13:53,633 --> 00:13:58,667
some education -- a delegation
from India is in town and they

359
00:13:58,667 --> 00:14:01,900
are talking about they're
opening up 100 or more

360
00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:04,400
community colleges in India.

361
00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,132
So a high-level delegation
is coming for a conference

362
00:14:08,133 --> 00:14:10,400
in June in Washington, D.C.

363
00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,367
So where do we stand on
this initiative sir?

364
00:14:12,367 --> 00:14:14,433
Secretary Duncan:
I've met repeatedly
with my counterpart,

365
00:14:14,433 --> 00:14:15,934
the education
minister from India.

366
00:14:15,934 --> 00:14:17,433
He's a remarkable man.

367
00:14:17,433 --> 00:14:20,033
And we think we have challenges
here -- you're trying to go to

368
00:14:20,033 --> 00:14:22,000
school at an
amazingly rapid rate.

369
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,400
I've said repeatedly, whatever
we can do to be helpful we want

370
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,132
to do that.

371
00:14:25,133 --> 00:14:27,133
My Under Secretary,
Martha Kanter,

372
00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:29,100
is a former community
college president.

373
00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:31,000
It's the first time anyone
of that stature in our

374
00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,900
administration -- any
administration -- has

375
00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:34,766
had that community
college background.

376
00:14:34,767 --> 00:14:37,433
And so whatever we can do to
partner with the leaders from

377
00:14:37,433 --> 00:14:39,000
India, we want to do that.

378
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,667
It's a very, very
ambitious goal,

379
00:14:40,667 --> 00:14:43,266
and we want to see
them achieve that.

380
00:14:43,266 --> 00:14:47,433
The Press:
Just to follow, once India
was a house of knowledge and

381
00:14:47,433 --> 00:14:51,600
(inaudible) and today, India
also has hundreds of thousands

382
00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,600
of colleges and universities
and schools and so forth.

383
00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:59,333
So how U.S. can help Indian
students and India can help --

384
00:14:59,333 --> 00:15:00,766
Secretary Duncan:
We're all in this together.

385
00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:03,800
This is why I really believe
a rising tide lifts all boats,

386
00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,165
and the more we have an educated
workforce here in America,

387
00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:08,367
the more we have an
educated workforce in India,

388
00:15:08,367 --> 00:15:10,567
the more we have that next
generation of both employees

389
00:15:10,567 --> 00:15:13,300
and consumers, that's
great for the world.

390
00:15:13,300 --> 00:15:14,834
And so we want to
partner together.

391
00:15:14,834 --> 00:15:17,333
We have, I think, still
the best system of higher

392
00:15:17,333 --> 00:15:18,500
education in the world.

393
00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:20,467
We have amazing, amazing
community colleges.

394
00:15:20,467 --> 00:15:24,500
I was at three over the past two
days in India -- not in India --

395
00:15:24,500 --> 00:15:26,934
in Wisconsin and Iowa.

396
00:15:26,934 --> 00:15:29,065
And whatever best
practices we can share,

397
00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:30,867
whatever we can do to help
India as they go on this very

398
00:15:30,867 --> 00:15:34,599
ambitious growth pattern, growth
trajectory, we want to do that.

399
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,967
The Press:
Mr. Secretary, what's
so special about these

400
00:15:36,967 --> 00:15:38,900
three universities that the
President is going to visit

401
00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:40,433
besides the states they're in?

402
00:15:40,433 --> 00:15:42,533
Do they have a higher
rate of students using

403
00:15:42,533 --> 00:15:43,233
loans or something?

404
00:15:43,233 --> 00:15:44,666
Secretary Duncan:
Well, these are big
flagship universities.

405
00:15:44,667 --> 00:15:46,800
And again, it's not just
the private four-years,

406
00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,367
it's the public four-years that
folks are really having concerns

407
00:15:50,367 --> 00:15:51,599
about paying for.

408
00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:52,800
The Press:
There are a lot of universities.

409
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:53,699
Why these three?

410
00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:57,266
Secretary Duncan:
Again, these are big, major
flagship universities with

411
00:15:57,266 --> 00:15:59,800
large student populations,
and these are the kinds of

412
00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,900
families -- middle-class
families that are having

413
00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:03,867
a hard time paying for this.

414
00:16:03,867 --> 00:16:06,433
And what we want is more and
more young people going on to

415
00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:08,567
these type of universities
not feeling that college

416
00:16:08,567 --> 00:16:09,633
isn't for them.

417
00:16:09,633 --> 00:16:14,400
I'll tell you, yesterday in Iowa
I talked to a high school senior

418
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,733
who happens to be a twin --
talked to her -- her brother

419
00:16:16,734 --> 00:16:17,734
wasn't there.

420
00:16:17,734 --> 00:16:19,567
But she said her family is
thinking they're going to

421
00:16:19,567 --> 00:16:21,834
have choose which one of them
should go to college next year.

422
00:16:21,834 --> 00:16:24,900
It's a really deep conversation
and no family should have to

423
00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:26,766
choose this child or that child.

424
00:16:26,767 --> 00:16:29,433
Another young person is one of
four in their family -- they're

425
00:16:29,433 --> 00:16:32,033
trying to figure out does
the older one not go,

426
00:16:32,033 --> 00:16:33,367
or does the younger one not go.

427
00:16:33,367 --> 00:16:35,433
These are the very real
conversations -- this is a

428
00:16:35,433 --> 00:16:38,500
high school student, East High
School in Madison, Wisconsin.

429
00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:41,033
These are the very real
conversations that families

430
00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:42,033
are having.

431
00:16:42,033 --> 00:16:43,567
They should not have to
have those conversations.

432
00:16:43,567 --> 00:16:45,900
You shouldn't have to sacrifice
one twin for the other.

433
00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:48,533
You shouldn't have to
sacrifice your eldest-born

434
00:16:48,533 --> 00:16:50,500
for you fourth-born or
whatever it might be.

435
00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:54,066
This has to be an affordable
opportunity for hardworking

436
00:16:54,066 --> 00:16:56,500
Americans, and we need to
make sure it stays that way.

437
00:16:56,500 --> 00:16:57,433
Yes, sir.

438
00:16:57,433 --> 00:17:00,133
The Press:
You said there are a lot of
ideas the President has and

439
00:17:00,133 --> 00:17:02,667
that the Hill has, Congress
has for paying for it,

440
00:17:02,667 --> 00:17:04,133
but do you guys have
a preferred option?

441
00:17:04,133 --> 00:17:06,467
When you go to the Hill what are
you going to bring to the table?

442
00:17:06,467 --> 00:17:07,200
Secretary Duncan:
We're open-minded.

443
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,100
Again, there's a number of ideas
that the President proposed in

444
00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:09,934
his budget.

445
00:17:09,934 --> 00:17:12,367
And we want to work hand-in-hand
with Congress and we're not set

446
00:17:12,367 --> 00:17:14,000
in one idea.

447
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,300
We absolutely want
to pay for it.

448
00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:19,300
But again, the cost of inaction
is I think unacceptably high.

449
00:17:19,300 --> 00:17:21,767
This is one where we have
to get our act together.

450
00:17:21,767 --> 00:17:23,467
Congress is struggling these
days -- there's no question

451
00:17:23,467 --> 00:17:24,467
about that.

452
00:17:24,467 --> 00:17:26,467
And if there is going to be
one issue that folks can unite

453
00:17:26,467 --> 00:17:30,300
behind, I can't think of a
better one than around education

454
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:31,700
and educating our way
to a better economy.

455
00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,767
So for all the past bitterness
or fighting or whatever it might

456
00:17:34,767 --> 00:17:36,934
be, why not come together
and do that right thing

457
00:17:36,934 --> 00:17:37,300
for the country?

458
00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:38,867
And I think this is a great
opportunity for folks on both

459
00:17:38,867 --> 00:17:40,300
sides to do that.

460
00:17:40,300 --> 00:17:42,100
The Press:
And then, have you already
started -- sorry -- have you

461
00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:44,100
already started I guess
before this announcement

462
00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:47,065
today going to the Hill and
talking with lawmakers?

463
00:17:47,066 --> 00:17:48,200
Secretary Duncan:
We've talked to
many, many lawmakers.

464
00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,433
I've testified two or
three times over the past

465
00:17:50,433 --> 00:17:51,133
couple of weeks.

466
00:17:51,133 --> 00:17:52,333
I'm testifying again next week.

467
00:17:52,333 --> 00:17:54,066
And this has been at the heart
of what we're talking about.

468
00:17:54,066 --> 00:17:56,333
And again, I think people see
both the opportunity to do the

469
00:17:56,333 --> 00:17:59,667
right thing and the
huge cost of inaction.

470
00:17:59,667 --> 00:18:01,033
The Press:
You're talking about
everything from the family side,

471
00:18:01,033 --> 00:18:02,399
paying whatever
the colleges ask.

472
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,967
What are you doing to rein in
the dramatic rise in tuition?

473
00:18:04,967 --> 00:18:06,467
Secretary Duncan:
So a couple of thoughts there.

474
00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:08,467
One big thing is we have
proposed in the President's

475
00:18:08,467 --> 00:18:12,166
budget a billion-dollar Race
to the Top for Higher Education

476
00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:13,767
that we have put
money behind, again,

477
00:18:13,767 --> 00:18:17,600
not just in those states that
continue to invest and in those

478
00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,699
institutions, those colleges
-- it would do two things:

479
00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:23,000
keep their cost down,
and also create a culture

480
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,066
around college completion.

481
00:18:24,066 --> 00:18:25,700
It can't just be around
access; it's got to be

482
00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:26,734
around completion.

483
00:18:26,734 --> 00:18:29,766
The other big piece I think has
been the lack of transparency.

484
00:18:29,767 --> 00:18:31,667
I think young people and
families are making these very

485
00:18:31,667 --> 00:18:34,367
complicated decisions, which
have been very hard to figure

486
00:18:34,367 --> 00:18:36,934
out what this university's
financial aid package is

487
00:18:36,934 --> 00:18:38,300
versus this university's.

488
00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:40,700
So we're working to create
much greater transparency.

489
00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:42,033
Young people want
a great education,

490
00:18:42,033 --> 00:18:44,332
but they want value for
their money as well.

491
00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:46,633
So we'll put strong
incentives out there,

492
00:18:46,633 --> 00:18:48,967
also move some resources
potentially more towards

493
00:18:48,967 --> 00:18:51,233
those universities who are doing
things right and away from those

494
00:18:51,233 --> 00:18:52,233
that aren't.

495
00:18:52,233 --> 00:18:53,934
And again, we have the best
system of higher education

496
00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:54,934
in the world.

497
00:18:54,934 --> 00:18:57,367
We have 6,000 options --
two-year, four-year, public,

498
00:18:57,367 --> 00:18:59,567
private, big, small,
whatever it might be.

499
00:18:59,567 --> 00:19:04,000
We want young people to make
the right choice for them.

500
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,033
Thank you.

501
00:19:05,033 --> 00:19:05,699
Mr. Carney:
Thank you, Secretary Duncan.

502
00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:07,333
Thank you all for
your questions.

503
00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:20,667
Separate from the presentation
that Secretary Duncan just gave,

504
00:19:20,667 --> 00:19:23,399
I do not have anything
else to begin with,

505
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,400
so I'll go straight to
questions from Julie,

506
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:26,834
the Associated Press.

507
00:19:26,834 --> 00:19:27,400
The Press:
Thank you.

508
00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,266
I just wanted to follow up on
Secretary Clinton's remarks

509
00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:32,000
yesterday at the "Friends
of Syria" meeting,

510
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,600
which were happening
during the briefing.

511
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,399
She essentially called
for tougher U.N. Security

512
00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,000
Council action on Syria, but
also acknowledged the likelihood

513
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,433
that anything put forward
to the Security Council

514
00:19:43,433 --> 00:19:44,667
would be vetoed.

515
00:19:44,667 --> 00:19:48,233
So I'm wondering if there's a
concern in the administration

516
00:19:48,233 --> 00:19:52,100
that continuing to focus
on Security Council action,

517
00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:57,265
which seems likely to be vetoed,
is wasting time as the rebels

518
00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:59,433
seem to be losing
strength in this area.

519
00:19:59,433 --> 00:20:00,934
Mr. Carney:
Well, a couple things.

520
00:20:00,934 --> 00:20:04,734
We remain horrified by
the reports of significant

521
00:20:04,734 --> 00:20:09,265
violations of the ceasefire
by the Assad regime.

522
00:20:09,266 --> 00:20:13,867
Yet again, this regime has
failed to keep its word,

523
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:18,133
has failed to, thus far, live
up to the obligations it made

524
00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:22,633
to honor the Annan plan.

525
00:20:22,633 --> 00:20:26,767
Secondly, we are in consultation
with Security Council members

526
00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:29,600
about next steps.

527
00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,567
It is absolutely true, and we
bemoaned the fact at the time,

528
00:20:33,567 --> 00:20:36,967
that an earlier resolution at
the Security Council was vetoed

529
00:20:36,967 --> 00:20:39,333
by the Russians and the Chinese.

530
00:20:39,333 --> 00:20:41,233
And we made clear our
displeasure over that,

531
00:20:41,233 --> 00:20:45,966
and we made clear our feeling
that -- and a feeling that was

532
00:20:45,967 --> 00:20:50,500
broadly shared around the world
-- that it was an historic

533
00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:57,266
mistake to side with the Assad
regime, a regime that was,

534
00:20:57,266 --> 00:21:02,800
at the time and to this day,
brutally killing its own people.

535
00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:08,934
I think in the interim, the
Assad regime's behavior has

536
00:21:08,934 --> 00:21:11,899
become all the more clear.

537
00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,100
I don't want to get ahead of
anything the Security Council

538
00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:17,800
might do, the conversations and
deliberations that will take

539
00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,700
place there, but it is worth
noting that we did have unified

540
00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:26,667
support around the Annan plan
and we do have that support on

541
00:21:26,667 --> 00:21:28,300
the Security Council.

542
00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:34,567
And I think there is greater
acknowledgment around the globe

543
00:21:34,567 --> 00:21:37,934
as well as within the United
Nations and the Security Council

544
00:21:37,934 --> 00:21:42,466
of the appalling
behavior by the regime.

545
00:21:42,467 --> 00:21:45,166
The Press:
Do you think that that
increases the likelihood

546
00:21:45,166 --> 00:21:46,533
that a tougher --

547
00:21:46,533 --> 00:21:48,367
Mr. Carney:
I wouldn't want to speculate
about what next steps might

548
00:21:48,367 --> 00:21:49,966
look like.

549
00:21:49,967 --> 00:21:52,266
We obviously remain
supportive of the Annan plan.

550
00:21:52,266 --> 00:21:55,433
We remain supportive of
the steps that are being

551
00:21:55,433 --> 00:21:57,934
taken with monitors.

552
00:21:57,934 --> 00:22:01,567
But we are also clear-eyed about
the failure of the Assad regime

553
00:22:01,567 --> 00:22:06,934
to live up to its obligations
so far, and we will, of course,

554
00:22:06,934 --> 00:22:09,700
engage with the Security
Council and, broadly,

555
00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:12,200
with members of the
"Friends of Syria" on

556
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,200
next steps as necessary.

557
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,967
The Press:
Is the administration's
position still that Assad's

558
00:22:16,967 --> 00:22:18,734
demise is inevitable?

559
00:22:18,734 --> 00:22:22,466
Or are you considering options
that would take into account

560
00:22:22,467 --> 00:22:25,867
Assad staying in power?

561
00:22:25,867 --> 00:22:30,200
Mr. Carney:
We still believe
that Assad's tenure,

562
00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,867
if you will, will
come to an end.

563
00:22:33,867 --> 00:22:37,399
It is obviously difficult
to put a timeframe on that,

564
00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:38,467
an end date on that.

565
00:22:38,467 --> 00:22:43,467
But he has utterly lost
credibility with his own people,

566
00:22:43,467 --> 00:22:48,867
credibility with the nations
and people of the region,

567
00:22:48,867 --> 00:22:53,200
credibility with the
nations of the world,

568
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,166
credibility with
international organizations

569
00:22:55,166 --> 00:22:58,633
and regional organizations.

570
00:22:58,633 --> 00:23:04,967
His capacity to unflinchingly
unleash brutality against his

571
00:23:04,967 --> 00:23:10,867
own people in order to sustain
his own rule has certainly

572
00:23:10,867 --> 00:23:18,433
prolonged his stay in power,
but it will not last forever.

573
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:21,066
Yes, Matt.

574
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:23,600
The Press:
Is any consideration being
given to naming a special

575
00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,300
outside counsel for the
Secret Service scandal,

576
00:23:26,300 --> 00:23:30,600
or is that an option
that's being ruled out?

577
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,332
Mr. Carney:
That is the first
I've heard that raised.

578
00:23:33,333 --> 00:23:37,100
I know of no consideration
of that nature.

579
00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,433
The Press:
Now that a couple of the
names of a couple of the

580
00:23:39,433 --> 00:23:41,834
supervisor agents
have come to light,

581
00:23:41,834 --> 00:23:44,000
can you say at least whether --
does the President personally

582
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,967
know either of those agents?

583
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:49,934
Mr. Carney:
I am not aware that he does.

584
00:23:49,934 --> 00:23:51,834
I don't know that he doesn't.

585
00:23:51,834 --> 00:23:53,200
I'm not even familiar
with the names,

586
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,400
although I understand some
names have been published.

587
00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,934
The President has spoken
about this, as you know,

588
00:23:59,934 --> 00:24:03,867
when he was asked in
Colombia on Sunday.

589
00:24:03,867 --> 00:24:12,433
He wants the investigation that
the Secret Service is leading to

590
00:24:12,433 --> 00:24:17,834
come to completion.

591
00:24:17,834 --> 00:24:22,233
Once that completion is reached,
if the result is that the

592
00:24:22,233 --> 00:24:25,066
allegations that have been
broadly reported turn out to be

593
00:24:25,066 --> 00:24:31,333
true, he will be angry about it,
as he made clear in Colombia.

594
00:24:31,333 --> 00:24:36,166
The reason for that is
that, as he said then,

595
00:24:36,166 --> 00:24:44,133
every member of the United
States government who travels

596
00:24:44,133 --> 00:24:47,867
to a foreign country on a
presidential trip or a trip

597
00:24:47,867 --> 00:24:51,700
by a Cabinet member or the Vice
President is representing his or

598
00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:55,467
her country and every
American in this country,

599
00:24:55,467 --> 00:25:01,834
and therefore should conduct
themselves appropriately

600
00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:02,834
at all times.

601
00:25:02,834 --> 00:25:06,567
But as I said yesterday
and I've said previously,

602
00:25:06,567 --> 00:25:10,700
the President does not want to,
and I certainly don't want to,

603
00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:13,767
get ahead of the conclusions
of the investigation,

604
00:25:13,767 --> 00:25:19,300
make broader judgments while the
investigation is still underway.

605
00:25:19,300 --> 00:25:20,233
Jake.

606
00:25:20,233 --> 00:25:22,633
The Press:
The director at Secret Service,
in a meeting with congressional

607
00:25:22,633 --> 00:25:28,066
investigators, voiced concern
that these prostitutes were in

608
00:25:28,066 --> 00:25:32,300
a room or rooms
that had confidential,

609
00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:34,800
secure -- security information.

610
00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,966
I'm wondering, have steps been
taken to make sure that if they

611
00:25:37,967 --> 00:25:41,100
were, travel plans or whatever
may have been on those computers

612
00:25:41,100 --> 00:25:43,699
or papers were no
longer relevant?

613
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:46,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'll say two things:
One, I am certainly not privy

614
00:25:46,367 --> 00:25:49,500
to conversations the director
of the Secret Service may have

615
00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:52,333
had with members of Congress,
or the conversations that those

616
00:25:52,333 --> 00:25:55,367
members might have had with
you about their conversations

617
00:25:55,367 --> 00:25:56,700
with the director.

618
00:25:56,700 --> 00:26:00,433
I would say that the
investigation is ongoing.

619
00:26:00,433 --> 00:26:07,734
Specifics like that are not
things that I'm in a position

620
00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:10,800
to answer questions
on at this time.

621
00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:15,166
And matters of security in
general, presidential security,

622
00:26:15,166 --> 00:26:17,000
are handled by the Secret
Service and are generally

623
00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,133
not things that we discuss
for reasons of security.

624
00:26:21,133 --> 00:26:23,734
But I understand the question
and I understand at least

625
00:26:23,734 --> 00:26:27,533
hypothetically what a concern
like that would be and why it

626
00:26:27,533 --> 00:26:28,533
might exist.

627
00:26:28,533 --> 00:26:32,100
But I would ask you to patiently
wait for the conclusions of the

628
00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:35,567
investigation before either
the Secret Service or the

629
00:26:35,567 --> 00:26:37,567
White House addresses
those kinds of questions.

630
00:26:37,567 --> 00:26:41,266
The Press:
Jay, as I'm sure you know,
it's been reported I think

631
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:44,300
by The Washington
Post, to begin with,

632
00:26:44,300 --> 00:26:47,667
that one of the agents
in question or one of

633
00:26:47,667 --> 00:26:51,199
the officials from the Secret
Service in question had on his

634
00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:56,633
public Facebook page a picture
of him with Governor Palin,

635
00:26:56,633 --> 00:27:00,300
with an inappropriate remark
about checking her out.

636
00:27:00,300 --> 00:27:04,233
This was before the incident
this picture had been posted.

637
00:27:04,233 --> 00:27:06,734
Does that cause the President
or anybody in the White House

638
00:27:06,734 --> 00:27:10,199
to question whether or not
Director Sullivan's oversight

639
00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,300
was sufficient?

640
00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:16,734
It would seem that that would
not be professional either and

641
00:27:16,734 --> 00:27:21,233
it would cause -- it might cause
somebody to question whether or

642
00:27:21,233 --> 00:27:26,466
not Sullivan was engaging in
enough oversight and setting

643
00:27:26,467 --> 00:27:28,467
the right tone when it
came to the behavior of

644
00:27:28,467 --> 00:27:30,700
his agents and officers.

645
00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:32,166
Mr. Carney:
Well, I did see the
report that you mentioned.

646
00:27:32,166 --> 00:27:35,399
But that represents the entirety
of my knowledge about it.

647
00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,667
I have not had any conversations
with the President or others

648
00:27:38,667 --> 00:27:42,867
here about that specific report
that I assume happened even

649
00:27:42,867 --> 00:27:49,667
prior to President
Obama taking office.

650
00:27:49,667 --> 00:27:57,699
Stepping back, the broader
question of behavior or culture

651
00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:03,266
of the institution I think is
something that I'm not prepared

652
00:28:03,266 --> 00:28:06,066
to address at this time while
this investigation into this

653
00:28:06,066 --> 00:28:09,066
specific matter and in this
case, this specific person,

654
00:28:09,066 --> 00:28:10,767
is ongoing.

655
00:28:10,767 --> 00:28:13,700
Again, once the
investigation is concluded,

656
00:28:13,700 --> 00:28:17,033
I'm sure that the Secret Service
will have more to say about it,

657
00:28:17,033 --> 00:28:19,699
and we may as well.

658
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:21,734
The Press:
Would information like
that cause the President,

659
00:28:21,734 --> 00:28:25,632
in any way, to question whether
his confidence in Director

660
00:28:25,633 --> 00:28:28,133
Sullivan may be misplaced?

661
00:28:28,133 --> 00:28:30,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I haven't
had a conversation with

662
00:28:30,367 --> 00:28:35,667
the President about this
specific Facebook entry

663
00:28:35,667 --> 00:28:40,166
or even this agent
that you referenced.

664
00:28:40,166 --> 00:28:46,265
The two things I would say is
that the Secret Service has

665
00:28:46,266 --> 00:28:49,567
stated quite clearly, and
the President believes,

666
00:28:49,567 --> 00:28:56,233
that his security and the
overall security of the trip

667
00:28:56,233 --> 00:28:58,233
was never compromised in Colombia.

668
00:28:58,233 --> 00:29:02,233
He has great faith
in, broadly speaking,

669
00:29:02,233 --> 00:29:06,000
the Secret Service men and women
who protect him and his family,

670
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:11,333
protect the Vice President and
members of the traveling staff,

671
00:29:11,333 --> 00:29:13,767
protect the grounds here.

672
00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,834
Right now we want to wait
for the conclusion of the

673
00:29:18,834 --> 00:29:23,600
investigation into this specific
incident before we look more

674
00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,332
broadly at -- if that's
necessary -- more broadly

675
00:29:26,333 --> 00:29:29,266
at some of the issues of
culture or security.

676
00:29:29,266 --> 00:29:30,834
But the President does,
as I've said before,

677
00:29:30,834 --> 00:29:33,066
have faith in the
Secret Service,

678
00:29:33,066 --> 00:29:37,934
and high regard for the agency
and the job that they do

679
00:29:37,934 --> 00:29:42,133
protecting him, his family,
protecting his predecessors.

680
00:29:42,133 --> 00:29:45,767
It is an enormously difficult
job, as you can imagine.

681
00:29:45,767 --> 00:29:49,834
It involves putting your
life on the line regularly,

682
00:29:49,834 --> 00:29:55,400
being willing to sacrifice
yourself for the sake not just

683
00:29:55,400 --> 00:30:00,133
of an individual but for the
trauma that any kind of harm

684
00:30:00,133 --> 00:30:02,700
that might come to a President
would cause a nation.

685
00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:03,867
That's a huge responsibility.

686
00:30:03,867 --> 00:30:08,966
And this incident, while it is
obviously under investigation

687
00:30:08,967 --> 00:30:11,400
and the allegations that are
out there are very concerning,

688
00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:15,500
it is also important not to
forget what the job that the men

689
00:30:15,500 --> 00:30:17,734
and women of the Secret Service
do on a regular basis for

690
00:30:17,734 --> 00:30:18,966
Presidents of both parties.

691
00:30:18,967 --> 00:30:20,533
The Press:
One last question, Jay.

692
00:30:20,533 --> 00:30:23,100
Yesterday when Ann asked you
whether the White House was

693
00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:26,899
confident that nobody who was
employed by the White House was

694
00:30:26,900 --> 00:30:28,934
engaged in any
similar activities,

695
00:30:28,934 --> 00:30:30,867
you said something along the
lines of you weren't aware of

696
00:30:30,867 --> 00:30:31,567
any evidence.

697
00:30:31,567 --> 00:30:34,300
Has anybody in the White House
looked into whether any of the

698
00:30:34,300 --> 00:30:38,533
traveling staff or the advance
staff or anyone at all had

699
00:30:38,533 --> 00:30:40,667
anything to do with any of this?

700
00:30:40,667 --> 00:30:41,966
Mr. Carney:
Well, when I got that
question yesterday,

701
00:30:41,967 --> 00:30:44,600
it was the first time I had
heard anything like that.

702
00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:50,332
I have no reason to believe -- I
do not know otherwise that this

703
00:30:50,333 --> 00:30:53,233
did not involve anything
but the agents and the

704
00:30:53,233 --> 00:30:54,633
military personnel.

705
00:30:54,633 --> 00:30:57,000
We are in regular conversation
with -- senior members of the

706
00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,266
White House staff are in
conversation with the Secret

707
00:31:00,266 --> 00:31:04,400
Service, getting briefed on the
progress of their investigation.

708
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,600
I really don't have anything
more for you on that.

709
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:07,833
The Press:
But that's the Secret
Service investigation

710
00:31:07,834 --> 00:31:08,900
of the Secret Service.

711
00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:12,100
I'm wondering if anybody in the
White House has just made sure

712
00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:14,667
that none of this was
done by anybody employed

713
00:31:14,667 --> 00:31:15,500
by the White House.

714
00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:16,700
Mr. Carney:
Not that I'm aware of.

715
00:31:16,700 --> 00:31:21,467
I am not -- my answer is the
same as it was yesterday.

716
00:31:21,467 --> 00:31:22,166
Bill.

717
00:31:22,166 --> 00:31:24,600
The Press:
Some Republicans, including
Senator Sessions and Governor

718
00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,132
Palin, have begun to
suggest that this incident,

719
00:31:27,133 --> 00:31:30,800
coming on the heels of the
report about the GSA party

720
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:36,767
in Las Vegas and the breakdown
of command in Afghanistan where

721
00:31:36,767 --> 00:31:42,734
soldiers were displaying severed
limbs, suggests, in their words,

722
00:31:42,734 --> 00:31:44,833
a "breakdown in --"

723
00:31:44,834 --> 00:31:46,000
Mr. Carney:
In whose words?

724
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,233
The Press:
Senator Sessions
and Governor Palin,

725
00:31:48,233 --> 00:31:50,567
among others -- a
"breakdown in --"

726
00:31:50,567 --> 00:31:52,800
Mr. Carney:
In case you didn't hear
that, that was Senator

727
00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:53,899
Sessions and Governor Palin.

728
00:31:53,900 --> 00:31:54,867
(laughter)

729
00:31:54,867 --> 00:31:57,667
The Press:
-- "in White House oversight
of the federal agencies."

730
00:31:57,667 --> 00:31:59,699
What's your response?

731
00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:03,600
Mr. Carney:
We've been at war in
Afghanistan for 10 years.

732
00:32:05,567 --> 00:32:10,867
We were at war in Iraq for
nearly nine, I believe.

733
00:32:10,867 --> 00:32:15,433
Incidents that have been of
great concern have happened

734
00:32:15,433 --> 00:32:18,533
in those war zones
on, unfortunately,

735
00:32:18,533 --> 00:32:21,433
numerous occasions over the
numbers of years that our

736
00:32:21,433 --> 00:32:23,133
forces have been at war there.

737
00:32:23,133 --> 00:32:27,934
The incident that you
referred to is terrible.

738
00:32:27,934 --> 00:32:32,200
It does not represent
the standards of the U.S.

739
00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:37,200
military or the conduct with
which the overwhelming majority

740
00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:42,500
of American men and women in
Afghanistan, and before that,

741
00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:46,266
in Iraq, conduct themselves.

742
00:32:46,266 --> 00:32:50,734
Any assertion by those
politicians that you mentioned

743
00:32:50,734 --> 00:32:55,800
should be -- of the nature that
you mentioned should be valued

744
00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,567
at the cost that
you paid for it.

745
00:32:58,567 --> 00:33:02,667
It is preposterous to
politicize the Secret Service,

746
00:33:02,667 --> 00:33:08,166
to politicize the behavior of
the terrible conduct of some

747
00:33:08,166 --> 00:33:10,767
soldiers in Afghanistan
in a war that's been going

748
00:33:10,767 --> 00:33:11,800
on for 10 years.

749
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:13,667
The Press:
What they're doing is
trying to criticize the

750
00:33:13,667 --> 00:33:14,833
President's leadership.

751
00:33:14,834 --> 00:33:17,533
Mr. Carney:
What they're doing is
trying to turn these

752
00:33:17,533 --> 00:33:22,300
incidents -- one that's still
under investigation -- into

753
00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:23,166
political advantage.

754
00:33:23,166 --> 00:33:25,000
And obviously you
recognize that;

755
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,266
everyone here recognizes that.

756
00:33:26,266 --> 00:33:32,000
I think on the face of it it's
a ridiculous assertion that

757
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:40,166
trivializes both the very
serious nature of that endeavor

758
00:33:40,166 --> 00:33:43,066
that our military has
engaged in in Afghanistan,

759
00:33:43,066 --> 00:33:45,533
and the very serious nature
both of the work that the

760
00:33:45,533 --> 00:33:47,966
Secret Service does, the
apolitical nature of the

761
00:33:47,967 --> 00:33:56,266
institution, and the seriousness
of the investigation underway

762
00:33:56,266 --> 00:33:58,467
with regard to the Secret
Service and the military and

763
00:33:58,467 --> 00:34:01,667
the incident in Colombia.

764
00:34:01,667 --> 00:34:03,065
Charles.

765
00:34:03,066 --> 00:34:06,000
The Press:
Just to follow quickly
on Jake's question about

766
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,166
the White House advance staff.

767
00:34:08,166 --> 00:34:11,500
Is there no process -- I
mean, there's not a concern

768
00:34:11,500 --> 00:34:12,433
of saying, hey --

769
00:34:12,433 --> 00:34:13,367
Mr. Carney:
Here's what I'm going to do --

770
00:34:13,367 --> 00:34:14,734
The Press:
-- no, I mean, I can tell you
what our own news organization --

771
00:34:14,734 --> 00:34:16,333
Mr. Carney:
-- what I'm not going to
do is answer questions about

772
00:34:16,333 --> 00:34:18,266
random rumors that --

773
00:34:18,266 --> 00:34:18,967
The Press:
It's not just about rumors.

774
00:34:18,967 --> 00:34:22,433
Has there been some sort of
just double-checking to make

775
00:34:22,433 --> 00:34:24,600
sure White House advance
staff weren't involved

776
00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:25,500
in this business?

777
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:29,500
Mr. Carney:
We are -- from the beginning,
from the moment that this was

778
00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:32,333
made public and an
investigation was launched,

779
00:34:32,333 --> 00:34:35,233
we have been in regular
touch with the Secret

780
00:34:35,233 --> 00:34:39,133
Service and obviously with the
Pentagon about this incident.

781
00:34:39,132 --> 00:34:45,799
And I'm sure the discussion and
the briefing covers a variety of

782
00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,033
subjects, a variety of
both facts and rumors.

783
00:34:49,033 --> 00:34:50,967
What I'm not going to
do, as I said yesterday,

784
00:34:50,967 --> 00:34:55,000
is give a play-by-play or
speculate about every rumor

785
00:34:55,000 --> 00:35:01,600
that you may have heard from
either anonymous sources or

786
00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:03,266
just the Internet.

787
00:35:03,266 --> 00:35:05,800
So I just don't have
anything more for you

788
00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:07,934
on the investigation itself.

789
00:35:07,934 --> 00:35:11,400
The Press:
But it could be sort of
an internal investigation,

790
00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:13,600
if you will, and you don't
know it or you're not sharing?

791
00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:17,000
Mr. Carney:
I have no reason,
as I said yesterday,

792
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,133
to believe that there
is a need for that.

793
00:35:19,133 --> 00:35:24,466
I just -- I'm not going to talk
speculatively about where this

794
00:35:24,467 --> 00:35:26,033
investigation is going.

795
00:35:26,033 --> 00:35:28,200
The Press:
We know that Mark Sullivan
has been briefing any member

796
00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:30,433
of Congress that
has asked for one.

797
00:35:30,433 --> 00:35:32,166
Who's he briefing here
at the White House?

798
00:35:32,166 --> 00:35:34,667
When you say senior
officials, can you elaborate?

799
00:35:34,667 --> 00:35:36,333
Mr. Carney:
He has had conversations
with the, I believe,

800
00:35:36,333 --> 00:35:38,233
the Chief of Staff, with
Deputy Chief of Staff,

801
00:35:38,233 --> 00:35:40,000
and maybe others.

802
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,033
And there's obviously been --

803
00:35:41,033 --> 00:35:41,799
The Press:
Has the President asked --

804
00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:44,033
Mr. Carney:
-- communications with --
let me finish this part.

805
00:35:44,033 --> 00:35:47,133
There may be communications at
other -- with other individuals,

806
00:35:47,133 --> 00:35:48,366
with other members of
the Secret Service.

807
00:35:48,367 --> 00:35:51,000
In fact, I'm sure there are
-- not just with the director.

808
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:57,166
And they are -- it is a regular
conversation so that the White

809
00:35:57,166 --> 00:36:02,834
House can be kept abreast of the
investigation and steps that are

810
00:36:02,834 --> 00:36:04,165
being taken.

811
00:36:04,166 --> 00:36:07,934
The President has not
had a conversation with

812
00:36:07,934 --> 00:36:08,834
Director Sullivan.

813
00:36:08,834 --> 00:36:10,734
I wouldn't rule
out that he will.

814
00:36:10,734 --> 00:36:14,567
I'm sure he will be briefed at
some point by the Director about

815
00:36:14,567 --> 00:36:18,667
the investigation and where
it stands and what we know

816
00:36:18,667 --> 00:36:21,033
about what happened.

817
00:36:21,033 --> 00:36:23,165
The Press:
And the three universities
that were picked next week,

818
00:36:23,166 --> 00:36:27,567
can you explain the criteria
of why the universities --

819
00:36:27,567 --> 00:36:28,266
Mr. Carney:
I would just point you to --

820
00:36:28,266 --> 00:36:30,100
The Press:
-- North Carolina, Colorado
and Iowa were picked?

821
00:36:30,100 --> 00:36:34,400
Mr. Carney:
I would just point you to
what the Secretary said.

822
00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:36,500
And I guess we can go back to
the conversation -- how many --

823
00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:38,767
you would know probably quicker
than anybody else in this room,

824
00:36:38,767 --> 00:36:41,600
what was the margin
in Iowa in 2008?

825
00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:42,700
The Press:
It was a large margin, sure.

826
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:43,567
Mr. Carney:
Substantial, right?

827
00:36:43,567 --> 00:36:44,200
The Press:
And you're behind now --

828
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,866
Mr. Carney:
So any state - actually, not
the one I saw most recently.

829
00:36:46,867 --> 00:36:48,000
But any state --

830
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:49,066
The Press:
But you're not following --

831
00:36:49,066 --> 00:36:50,600
Mr. Carney:
Any state by which
we won by that margin,

832
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,232
should we not travel there?

833
00:36:53,233 --> 00:36:56,166
The Press:
I guess what I'd ask is not
the University of Texas --

834
00:36:56,166 --> 00:36:57,066
Mr. Carney:
Great universities,

835
00:36:57,066 --> 00:37:03,200
great parts of the country.

836
00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:04,500
Also, as you know, Chuck --

837
00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:05,166
The Press:
Well, I mean --

838
00:37:05,166 --> 00:37:05,734
Mr. Carney:
Let me just finish.

839
00:37:05,734 --> 00:37:07,500
As you know, Chuck, there are
a lot of things that go into

840
00:37:07,500 --> 00:37:08,500
decisions about travel.

841
00:37:08,500 --> 00:37:11,734
It is obviously easier to travel
only half the country than the

842
00:37:11,734 --> 00:37:14,266
entire length of the country.

843
00:37:14,266 --> 00:37:16,033
I would point out,
as I did yesterday,

844
00:37:16,033 --> 00:37:20,299
that the President was recently
delivering remarks in Oklahoma,

845
00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:23,367
and while hope springs eternal,
I am not prepared at this moment

846
00:37:23,367 --> 00:37:24,734
to call that a
battleground state.

847
00:37:24,734 --> 00:37:28,165
He gave a major speech late
last year -- I misspoke,

848
00:37:28,166 --> 00:37:32,000
I said Nebraska yesterday --
it was Kansas, as you know.

849
00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,100
Again, in either case, although
Nebraska apparently -- there was

850
00:37:35,100 --> 00:37:39,700
the Omaha bifurcation in
2008 -- generally not viewed

851
00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:40,866
as up for grabs.

852
00:37:40,867 --> 00:37:42,633
The Press:
Where the First Lady is
traveling next week --

853
00:37:42,633 --> 00:37:44,567
Mr. Carney:
Generally not perceived
to be up for grabs.

854
00:37:44,567 --> 00:37:46,066
But Kansas -- are
you giving us Kansas?

855
00:37:46,066 --> 00:37:46,633
The Press:
No.

856
00:37:46,633 --> 00:37:48,332
Mr. Carney:
Is it in your battleground list?

857
00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:49,867
(laughter)

858
00:37:49,867 --> 00:37:53,133
The Press:
No, but in all seriousness,
all of his travel next week

859
00:37:53,133 --> 00:37:54,133
is to three battleground states.

860
00:37:54,133 --> 00:37:55,600
They're all official visits.

861
00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:59,667
You say -- it feeds the
cynicism that this is all

862
00:37:59,667 --> 00:38:03,299
sort of one entity here.

863
00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:06,200
Is it -- do you -- I
mean, would -- Jay Carney

864
00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:07,567
the journalist would be
asking the same questions.

865
00:38:07,567 --> 00:38:16,500
Mr. Carney:
The issue that this concerns
the President's trip next week,

866
00:38:16,500 --> 00:38:18,633
education, is --
as Secretary Duncan,

867
00:38:18,633 --> 00:38:22,232
who made clear he does not
give a rip about politics,

868
00:38:22,233 --> 00:38:24,734
does not believe that education
should be a political or

869
00:38:24,734 --> 00:38:29,433
partisan issue, and largely
unnoted by NBC and other major

870
00:38:29,433 --> 00:38:31,500
outlets represented
in this room,

871
00:38:31,500 --> 00:38:34,767
has not by and large been
a partisan issue in this

872
00:38:34,767 --> 00:38:37,700
administration -- is what the
President is going to be talking

873
00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:42,165
about, and the unbelievably
important reality that on July

874
00:38:42,166 --> 00:38:45,266
1st, rates for student
loans are going to double

875
00:38:45,266 --> 00:38:46,667
if we don't take action.

876
00:38:46,667 --> 00:38:50,033
That is a policy issue that will
matter greatly to the students

877
00:38:50,033 --> 00:38:54,033
of the very large universities
the President will be visiting.

878
00:38:54,033 --> 00:39:01,834
To suggest -- again, it is
simply not something we accept

879
00:39:01,834 --> 00:39:05,466
that the President should not
be able to travel all around the

880
00:39:05,467 --> 00:39:10,867
country, should not be able to
travel to talk about his agenda

881
00:39:10,867 --> 00:39:13,266
with the American people
that he represents.

882
00:39:13,266 --> 00:39:19,400
And if you took seriously all
the maps that show states that

883
00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,533
are battleground states, and
therefore would be somehow

884
00:39:22,533 --> 00:39:26,100
inappropriate for a incumbent
President to visit in a

885
00:39:26,100 --> 00:39:29,133
reelection year, he would be
severely restricting his ability

886
00:39:29,133 --> 00:39:30,299
to go to great big
parts of the --

887
00:39:30,300 --> 00:39:31,200
The Press:
But he keeps going
back to the same places.

888
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:32,332
Knoller can tell you.

889
00:39:32,333 --> 00:39:33,467
Mr. Carney:
-- big parts of the country.

890
00:39:33,467 --> 00:39:37,467
So I'm just going to give
you guys this answer because

891
00:39:37,467 --> 00:39:40,433
it's a fact.

892
00:39:40,433 --> 00:39:42,233
And I would point -- Jake
and I were talking about this

893
00:39:42,233 --> 00:39:44,533
yesterday -- when this
story first came out,

894
00:39:44,533 --> 00:39:46,967
the Wall Street Journal ran
this great graphic about how

895
00:39:46,967 --> 00:39:50,667
President Obama had traveled to
more battleground states at this

896
00:39:50,667 --> 00:39:56,165
stage in the reelection
cycle than his predecessor.

897
00:39:56,166 --> 00:40:00,900
But what they left out was that
they did not consider in 2004

898
00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:04,000
Virginia to be a
battleground state.

899
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:05,333
It was solid Republican.

900
00:40:05,333 --> 00:40:08,000
But they did consider it for
President Obama because he won

901
00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:10,667
it against all
expectations, right?

902
00:40:10,667 --> 00:40:12,533
And as you know, Chuck, you've
been around long enough,

903
00:40:12,533 --> 00:40:14,400
every President goes to Virginia
all the time because it's an

904
00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:16,900
easy way to get out of
Washington and get beyond

905
00:40:16,900 --> 00:40:19,000
the Beltway and get
out into the country.

906
00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:24,100
So there's a lot of ways
to make a lot more out of

907
00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:24,700
this than there is --

908
00:40:24,700 --> 00:40:25,899
The Press:
I mean, does that mean he
has no campaign events in

909
00:40:25,900 --> 00:40:27,934
North Carolina, Colorado
or Iowa next week?

910
00:40:27,934 --> 00:40:31,533
Mr. Carney:
I don't have the full schedule,
but these are official events

911
00:40:31,533 --> 00:40:35,533
where he's going to talk
about the student loan issues.

912
00:40:35,533 --> 00:40:38,933
The Press:
Jay, a different
subject, if I may.

913
00:40:38,934 --> 00:40:42,600
The first is --

914
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:45,433
Mr. Carney:
You sure you don't want to
talk about that some more?

915
00:40:45,433 --> 00:40:47,033
The Press:
-- the election in
France this weekend.

916
00:40:47,033 --> 00:40:48,967
I was wondering if the White
House was closely monitoring

917
00:40:48,967 --> 00:40:50,500
this election.

918
00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:54,100
And are you confident on
the stability of the working

919
00:40:54,100 --> 00:40:57,433
relationship with Paris,
whoever ends up winning?

920
00:40:57,433 --> 00:41:01,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, we're certainly
monitoring it in the

921
00:41:01,266 --> 00:41:04,100
sense that we follow the
news, and France is a great,

922
00:41:04,100 --> 00:41:08,866
great ally of the United States
and will continue to be so.

923
00:41:08,867 --> 00:41:09,667
The Press:
May I follow up?

924
00:41:09,667 --> 00:41:10,333
Mr. Carney:
Certainly.

925
00:41:10,333 --> 00:41:12,533
The Press:
What does the President
hope will be achieved --

926
00:41:12,533 --> 00:41:14,033
Mr. Carney:
Does SkyNews take
issue with that?

927
00:41:14,033 --> 00:41:16,400
The U.S. -- the relationship
between the U.S. and France?

928
00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:17,900
(laughter)

929
00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:19,800
The Press:
We're happy you
opened this up, Jay.

930
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:20,400
Mr. Carney:
Okay.

931
00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:22,834
The Press:
We have 90 million
subscribers worldwide

932
00:41:22,834 --> 00:41:26,033
that are very interested in what goes
on in this White House, especially.

933
00:41:26,033 --> 00:41:26,667
Mr. Carney:
Okay, sure.

934
00:41:26,667 --> 00:41:29,799
The Press:
And one of the questions
I have from SkyNews is,

935
00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:33,100
what does the President hope
will be achieved in solving the

936
00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:37,533
eurozone crisis as the IMF-World
Bank meetings come to an end

937
00:41:37,533 --> 00:41:39,366
here in Washington this weekend?

938
00:41:39,367 --> 00:41:43,000
Mr. Carney:
Well, they're obviously
looking at the eurozone

939
00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:44,734
crisis at the IMF.

940
00:41:44,734 --> 00:41:48,366
The measures that European
governments are taking with

941
00:41:48,367 --> 00:41:52,367
regard to the eurozone crisis
obviously extend beyond the IMF.

942
00:41:52,367 --> 00:41:57,033
The IMF has an important role
to play, as we've always said.

943
00:41:57,033 --> 00:41:59,000
It is an adjunct role, it
is not a principal role.

944
00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:04,033
European governments and banks
are taking the lead in that.

945
00:42:04,033 --> 00:42:08,000
U.S. contributions to the
IMF will not be raised and

946
00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:11,667
will remain where they are.

947
00:42:11,667 --> 00:42:13,633
But the IMF does have an
important role to play.

948
00:42:13,633 --> 00:42:15,834
And the Europeans have taken
some important steps -- very

949
00:42:15,834 --> 00:42:20,165
important steps -- in terms
of building a firewall,

950
00:42:20,166 --> 00:42:24,700
actions the ECB has
taken, reforms undertaken

951
00:42:24,700 --> 00:42:28,366
in Greece and Italy.

952
00:42:28,367 --> 00:42:29,600
But there's more to be done.

953
00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:36,500
And we are always available
and extremely engaged with our

954
00:42:36,500 --> 00:42:38,734
European allies on this
issue -- Secretary Geithner,

955
00:42:38,734 --> 00:42:43,500
in particular, Lael Brainard,
also at the Treasury Department,

956
00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:47,934
and others -- very engaged with
our European allies in providing

957
00:42:47,934 --> 00:42:56,200
whatever counsel we can
to help them deal with

958
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:57,966
this significant challenge.

959
00:42:57,967 --> 00:42:58,834
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

960
00:42:58,834 --> 00:43:00,100
Mr. Carney:
Wendell.

961
00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:03,133
The Press:
What does the GSA spending
abuses say about the Vice

962
00:43:03,133 --> 00:43:06,866
President's effort to
crack down on waste in

963
00:43:06,867 --> 00:43:08,400
government spending?

964
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:09,967
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would say
two things, Wendell.

965
00:43:09,967 --> 00:43:11,066
I appreciate the question.

966
00:43:11,066 --> 00:43:14,633
First, with regards to
conference spending in

967
00:43:14,633 --> 00:43:21,667
particular, which is the matter
of concern with the GSA that so

968
00:43:21,667 --> 00:43:24,700
outraged the President and led
to the actions that have taken

969
00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:27,366
place there -- first of
all, in September of 2011,

970
00:43:27,367 --> 00:43:29,767
the President's Office of
Management and Budget directed

971
00:43:29,767 --> 00:43:33,165
all agency heads to conduct a
thorough review of how they are

972
00:43:33,166 --> 00:43:35,767
spending taxpayer
dollars on conferences.

973
00:43:35,767 --> 00:43:37,834
Pending that review,
conference-related activities

974
00:43:37,834 --> 00:43:41,500
and expenses were not permitted
to go forward without signoff by

975
00:43:41,500 --> 00:43:44,500
the deputy secretary or an
equivalent chief operating

976
00:43:44,500 --> 00:43:45,767
officer for each agency.

977
00:43:45,767 --> 00:43:49,567
Each agency has established
tough internal control and has

978
00:43:49,567 --> 00:43:51,500
certified those controls
are now in place.

979
00:43:51,500 --> 00:43:54,700
Federal agencies have identified
and are currently executing on

980
00:43:54,700 --> 00:43:57,533
plans to achieve traveling
conference cost savings that

981
00:43:57,533 --> 00:44:01,567
total nearly $1.2 billion as
a result of the President's

982
00:44:01,567 --> 00:44:03,000
executive order.

983
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,867
To date, they have achieved over
$280 million in reduced costs in

984
00:44:06,867 --> 00:44:09,600
the first quarter
of fiscal year 2012,

985
00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:14,000
compared to the same period
of time in fiscal year 2010.

986
00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:17,633
Broadly, the administration's
efforts to streamline federal

987
00:44:17,633 --> 00:44:20,265
spending on conferences is a
part of the President's broader

988
00:44:20,266 --> 00:44:22,400
campaign to cut waste
initiative, which is led,

989
00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:24,734
as you noted, by
the Vice President,

990
00:44:24,734 --> 00:44:26,633
and which has already
reduced costs by tens

991
00:44:26,633 --> 00:44:29,466
of billions of dollars by
eliminating inefficient or

992
00:44:29,467 --> 00:44:30,467
unnecessary spending.

993
00:44:30,467 --> 00:44:34,867
We've worked to cut excess real
estate costs by $1.5 billion;

994
00:44:34,867 --> 00:44:38,700
realized over $1.4 billion in
cost reductions by slashing

995
00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:42,200
spending in administrative
areas such as travel,

996
00:44:42,200 --> 00:44:46,567
fleet and printing; avoided
$4 billion in costs by turning

997
00:44:46,567 --> 00:44:49,367
around, downsizing, or
eliminating IT projects

998
00:44:49,367 --> 00:44:51,433
that were over budget
or behind schedule;

999
00:44:51,433 --> 00:44:54,066
saved millions in production
costs by halting the minting of

1000
00:44:54,066 --> 00:44:57,200
dollar coins that are not needed
-- and I'm sorry if you're a

1001
00:44:57,200 --> 00:45:01,933
collector -- prevented $20
billion in improper payments,

1002
00:45:01,934 --> 00:45:04,700
and put an end to skyrocketing
contracting costs,

1003
00:45:04,700 --> 00:45:06,567
exceeding the President's
goal to reduce contract

1004
00:45:06,567 --> 00:45:09,500
spending by $40 billion.

1005
00:45:09,500 --> 00:45:14,033
I'm so glad you asked, because
the record is quite impressive.

1006
00:45:14,033 --> 00:45:15,200
The Press:
You were looking for that one.

1007
00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:18,899
On another matter, there's
another bit of legislation

1008
00:45:18,900 --> 00:45:21,900
tied to the Keystone pipeline.

1009
00:45:21,900 --> 00:45:22,533
The President --

1010
00:45:22,533 --> 00:45:24,500
Mr. Carney:
You mean the Keystone
pipeline is yet again

1011
00:45:24,500 --> 00:45:27,467
tied in a non-germane way to
another piece of legislation?

1012
00:45:27,467 --> 00:45:28,033
Yes.

1013
00:45:28,033 --> 00:45:29,033
The Press:
If that's the way you
want to look at it.

1014
00:45:29,033 --> 00:45:30,866
Is there a veto
threat out that --

1015
00:45:30,867 --> 00:45:32,900
Mr. Carney:
I think there's no
other way to look at it.

1016
00:45:32,900 --> 00:45:36,200
Look, we -- I don't know
if we have a SAP -- we do.

1017
00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:37,567
Yes, we do.

1018
00:45:37,567 --> 00:45:41,967
But let's be clear.

1019
00:45:41,967 --> 00:45:44,800
What Congress is asking --
in this highly politicized,

1020
00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:48,300
highly partisan way, attaching
a provision on the Keystone

1021
00:45:48,300 --> 00:45:50,767
pipeline to a piece of
legislation that has nothing

1022
00:45:50,767 --> 00:45:53,933
to do with it, is basically
asking -- and the American

1023
00:45:53,934 --> 00:45:55,033
people should be aware of this.

1024
00:45:55,033 --> 00:45:58,200
The United States Congress
-- very important body,

1025
00:45:58,200 --> 00:46:02,533
takes American security and
sovereignty very seriously --

1026
00:46:02,533 --> 00:46:09,633
or should -- is saying that
we will, in advance, blind,

1027
00:46:09,633 --> 00:46:14,066
approve a pipeline, a proposal
for which does not exist -- but

1028
00:46:14,066 --> 00:46:16,100
we'll approve it anyway -- a
foreign pipeline built by a

1029
00:46:16,100 --> 00:46:18,567
foreign company emanating
from foreign territory to

1030
00:46:18,567 --> 00:46:20,233
cross U.S. borders.

1031
00:46:20,233 --> 00:46:21,900
Now, we love the Canadians.

1032
00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:23,867
They are very close allies.

1033
00:46:23,867 --> 00:46:27,667
But there is a process
in place for a reason,

1034
00:46:27,667 --> 00:46:31,900
that is run through the State
Department that requires this

1035
00:46:31,900 --> 00:46:35,500
kind of project, because it
crosses U.S. border with a

1036
00:46:35,500 --> 00:46:38,133
foreign country, to be
reviewed and approved by

1037
00:46:38,133 --> 00:46:40,533
the State Department in
a very deliberate way.

1038
00:46:40,533 --> 00:46:45,299
When this company -- if this
company and when this company

1039
00:46:45,300 --> 00:46:51,266
submits a new route, a new
proposal for the route of this

1040
00:46:51,266 --> 00:46:56,834
pipeline, it will absolutely be
given unbiased and appropriate

1041
00:46:56,834 --> 00:47:00,299
consideration in the proper way,
in the way that it's been done

1042
00:47:00,300 --> 00:47:03,400
for decades under
administrations of both parties,

1043
00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:07,300
and decided in the manner
that it is always meant

1044
00:47:07,300 --> 00:47:08,300
to be decided.

1045
00:47:08,300 --> 00:47:14,033
And partisan efforts to attach
it to something and basically

1046
00:47:14,033 --> 00:47:16,834
to say to the American
people it doesn't matter,

1047
00:47:16,834 --> 00:47:18,200
even though it's coming
from a foreign country,

1048
00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:19,700
even though it's built by
a foreign company and it's

1049
00:47:19,700 --> 00:47:23,500
crossing our borders, let's
approve it in advance -- that's

1050
00:47:23,500 --> 00:47:25,000
unacceptable to this President.

1051
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,633
And I would remind you that
we are only in this situation

1052
00:47:27,633 --> 00:47:31,366
because the Congress did
this once before already.

1053
00:47:31,367 --> 00:47:34,700
And we only had concerns
originally and delayed the

1054
00:47:34,700 --> 00:47:39,433
process because, or at least in
part because of concerns raised

1055
00:47:39,433 --> 00:47:42,367
about the original pipeline
route by the governor of

1056
00:47:42,367 --> 00:47:46,467
Nebraska, who is a member of
the very same party as those who

1057
00:47:46,467 --> 00:47:49,367
support this noxious amendment.

1058
00:47:49,367 --> 00:47:50,467
Brianna.

1059
00:47:50,467 --> 00:47:54,767
The Press:
On Keystone, by obviously
keeping his options open

1060
00:47:54,767 --> 00:47:57,933
on whether he
ultimately will okay --

1061
00:47:57,934 --> 00:48:00,467
Mr. Carney:
He cannot okay and the State
Department cannot okay --

1062
00:48:00,467 --> 00:48:01,533
The Press:
I understand. In terms of --

1063
00:48:01,533 --> 00:48:02,734
Mr. Carney:
-- a pipeline proposal
that does not exist.

1064
00:48:02,734 --> 00:48:03,333
The Press:
Understood.

1065
00:48:03,333 --> 00:48:05,700
Mr. Carney:
It would be
preemptively sacrificing

1066
00:48:05,700 --> 00:48:06,567
American sovereignty.

1067
00:48:06,567 --> 00:48:08,000
The Press:
Okay. But in terms -- sure.

1068
00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:08,834
Mr. Carney:
Sure.

1069
00:48:08,834 --> 00:48:12,433
The Press:
He hasn't indicated any
willingness aside from you

1070
00:48:12,433 --> 00:48:14,400
can't okay a permit -- I'm not
talking about the permit, I'm --

1071
00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:14,867
Mr. Carney:
That doesn't exist.

1072
00:48:14,867 --> 00:48:16,967
The Press:
-- talking about rhetoric.

1073
00:48:16,967 --> 00:48:21,700
He's upset a number of
groups from big oil to

1074
00:48:21,700 --> 00:48:24,165
environmentalists,
parts of labor,

1075
00:48:24,166 --> 00:48:27,100
Democrats on both sides
of the issue, Canada.

1076
00:48:27,100 --> 00:48:28,799
Mr. Carney:
Are you making my case
about why he's just doing

1077
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:29,734
the right thing?

1078
00:48:29,734 --> 00:48:34,299
The Press:
But it seems like the only
folks who are happy with it

1079
00:48:34,300 --> 00:48:35,867
are Republicans because
they can keep pounding

1080
00:48:35,867 --> 00:48:36,700
him on the issue.

1081
00:48:36,700 --> 00:48:40,232
Has it been a detriment
to President Obama --

1082
00:48:40,233 --> 00:48:41,166
Mr. Carney:
Well, I will leave it --

1083
00:48:41,166 --> 00:48:41,900
The Press:
-- this issue?

1084
00:48:41,900 --> 00:48:42,700
Has this been a detriment?

1085
00:48:42,700 --> 00:48:46,232
Mr. Carney:
I will leave it to
commentators, reporters

1086
00:48:46,233 --> 00:48:49,800
and others, historians,
eventually, to decide that.

1087
00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:57,467
What I know is that at the time
that the delay was announced

1088
00:48:57,467 --> 00:48:59,734
because of the need to
find an alternate route,

1089
00:48:59,734 --> 00:49:03,767
it was done because there
were great concerns about

1090
00:49:03,767 --> 00:49:07,133
the proposed route and
the aquifer in Nebraska.

1091
00:49:07,133 --> 00:49:08,232
The Press:
Which have been assuaged.

1092
00:49:08,233 --> 00:49:09,100
Mr. Carney:
Not at the time.

1093
00:49:09,100 --> 00:49:10,500
The Press:
-- a route now.

1094
00:49:10,500 --> 00:49:12,734
Mr. Carney:
There is no -- what route?

1095
00:49:12,734 --> 00:49:15,600
The Press:
The route that was submitted
to Nebraska yesterday,

1096
00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:16,633
it goes around the aquifer.

1097
00:49:16,633 --> 00:49:17,966
Mr. Carney:
Oh, well, but you just
said -- I'm sorry,

1098
00:49:17,967 --> 00:49:19,000
where has it been submitted?

1099
00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:19,800
The Press:
Yes, like you said yesterday.

1100
00:49:19,800 --> 00:49:20,533
Mr. Carney:
Nebraska.

1101
00:49:20,533 --> 00:49:21,767
Not to the U.S. State
Department, which is

1102
00:49:21,767 --> 00:49:22,767
where it has to be reviewed.

1103
00:49:22,767 --> 00:49:24,165
And maybe that will be
submitted very soon.

1104
00:49:24,166 --> 00:49:28,333
And once it is, a process
will begin in accordance with

1105
00:49:28,333 --> 00:49:31,767
existing precedent --
decades of precedent,

1106
00:49:31,767 --> 00:49:34,033
for administrations of both
parties -- and it will be

1107
00:49:34,033 --> 00:49:34,933
reviewed appropriately.

1108
00:49:34,934 --> 00:49:42,600
But the route was changed for
no small -- how do I say --

1109
00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:44,700
I'm getting tired here -- but
in large part because the

1110
00:49:44,700 --> 00:49:48,299
Republican governor of Nebraska
asked it to be changed,

1111
00:49:48,300 --> 00:49:51,066
or asked it not to go through
the aquifer there and threaten

1112
00:49:51,066 --> 00:49:53,500
potentially the water
supply of that state.

1113
00:49:53,500 --> 00:49:57,100
So does it hurt us politically?

1114
00:49:57,100 --> 00:49:59,433
I just don't know.

1115
00:49:59,433 --> 00:50:04,100
I'm not a keen enough
analyst to assess that.

1116
00:50:04,100 --> 00:50:07,467
What I do know is this is the
kind of thing that has to be

1117
00:50:07,467 --> 00:50:09,433
judged on its merits.

1118
00:50:09,433 --> 00:50:11,066
As the President said
in Cushing, Oklahoma,

1119
00:50:11,066 --> 00:50:17,966
the company is absolutely
welcome to submit a new pipeline

1120
00:50:17,967 --> 00:50:22,100
proposal and the process
will begin again.

1121
00:50:22,100 --> 00:50:26,767
The Press:
On Syria, it seems the Annan
plan right now isn't working

1122
00:50:26,767 --> 00:50:31,000
in terms of a ceasefire
or pulling back troops.

1123
00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:33,100
There are some reports that
you're working on a plan B.

1124
00:50:33,100 --> 00:50:35,600
There are some reports
there is no plan B.

1125
00:50:35,600 --> 00:50:39,033
So which is it?

1126
00:50:39,033 --> 00:50:43,165
Mr. Carney:
As I said earlier when I
was asked about Syria and

1127
00:50:43,166 --> 00:50:46,867
the Secretary of
State's remarks,

1128
00:50:46,867 --> 00:50:50,967
we are very concerned about
the blatant failure of the

1129
00:50:50,967 --> 00:50:54,600
Assad regime to fulfill its
obligations under the Annan

1130
00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:57,700
plan, the fact that the
ceasefire is clearly not

1131
00:50:57,700 --> 00:51:01,133
holding, is far from complete.

1132
00:51:01,133 --> 00:51:07,232
And we will -- if
it does not succeed,

1133
00:51:07,233 --> 00:51:10,033
if there is not a change in
behavior by the Assad regime,

1134
00:51:10,033 --> 00:51:12,834
if the ceasefire does not take
place and the other points of

1135
00:51:12,834 --> 00:51:16,433
the plan are not fulfilled,
we will obviously continue to

1136
00:51:16,433 --> 00:51:21,200
consult with our allies and
partners as well as other

1137
00:51:21,200 --> 00:51:26,000
members of the U.N. Security
Council about next steps.

1138
00:51:26,000 --> 00:51:28,233
The Press:
So there is no plan B?

1139
00:51:28,233 --> 00:51:30,133
Mr. Carney:
Well, no, I didn't say --

1140
00:51:30,133 --> 00:51:31,332
The Press:
You will continue to consult --

1141
00:51:31,333 --> 00:51:33,266
Mr. Carney:
We're continuing to consult
and I'm sure that there --

1142
00:51:33,266 --> 00:51:35,567
The Press:
You will continue to consult
for next steps sounds like then

1143
00:51:35,567 --> 00:51:38,400
there will be a plan B, which
would mean there isn't a plan B

1144
00:51:38,400 --> 00:51:39,433
right at this moment.

1145
00:51:39,433 --> 00:51:42,200
Mr. Carney:
It means that there is
no need to announce --

1146
00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:48,533
we are not prepared to announce
an additional step or a new step

1147
00:51:48,533 --> 00:51:52,967
to be taken either by the United
States, by "Friends of Syria,"

1148
00:51:52,967 --> 00:51:55,633
or the United Nations
Security Council at this time.

1149
00:51:55,633 --> 00:51:59,100
But you can be sure that we
are discussing next steps

1150
00:51:59,100 --> 00:52:03,433
and options with our
allies and partners.

1151
00:52:03,433 --> 00:52:04,467
Last one. Margaret.

1152
00:52:04,467 --> 00:52:06,967
The Press:
Have you got a chance
to see the latest from

1153
00:52:06,967 --> 00:52:10,900
the Congressional
Budget Office --

1154
00:52:10,900 --> 00:52:15,433
Mr. Carney:
I usually wait patiently for the
latest, but I haven't seen it.

1155
00:52:15,433 --> 00:52:16,834
The Press:
I want to ask you about it,
but I haven't had a chance

1156
00:52:16,834 --> 00:52:17,799
to read the whole thing myself.

1157
00:52:17,800 --> 00:52:18,867
As we've been sitting here --

1158
00:52:18,867 --> 00:52:20,333
Mr. Carney:
This question is going
nowhere, Margaret.

1159
00:52:20,333 --> 00:52:21,100
(laughter)

1160
00:52:21,100 --> 00:52:22,333
The Press:
Well, what it's saying --

1161
00:52:22,333 --> 00:52:23,066
Mr. Carney:
I haven't seen it.

1162
00:52:23,066 --> 00:52:23,700
You haven't seen it.

1163
00:52:23,700 --> 00:52:25,399
(laughter)

1164
00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:27,367
The Press:
Well, what it's saying
is that the President's

1165
00:52:27,367 --> 00:52:31,967
proposed budget would reduce
economic output by some

1166
00:52:31,967 --> 00:52:34,133
percentage and the
Speaker's office is

1167
00:52:34,133 --> 00:52:35,200
reacting to it and saying --

1168
00:52:35,200 --> 00:52:38,232
Mr. Carney:
I haven't seen it.

1169
00:52:38,233 --> 00:52:41,133
I have not heard this.

1170
00:52:41,133 --> 00:52:42,799
The Press:
Do you expect you'd make
any reaction later today?

1171
00:52:42,800 --> 00:52:44,867
Mr. Carney:
Let me see what it is
you're referring to.

1172
00:52:44,867 --> 00:52:45,700
I'll check my inbox.

1173
00:52:45,700 --> 00:52:46,466
Thanks, guys.

1174
00:52:46,467 --> 00:52:47,266
The Press:
The week ahead?

1175
00:52:47,266 --> 00:52:48,433
Mr. Carney:
Oh, bless you.

1176
00:52:48,433 --> 00:52:51,300
(laughter)

1177
00:52:51,300 --> 00:52:55,233
The schedule for the week of
April 23rd, 2012 -- on Monday,

1178
00:52:55,233 --> 00:52:57,867
at a time when Americans are
engaging in Holocaust Days of

1179
00:52:57,867 --> 00:53:01,133
Remembrance, President Obama
will deliver remarks at the

1180
00:53:01,133 --> 00:53:04,466
United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington,

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00:53:04,467 --> 00:53:07,133
D.C. The President will
also tour the museum with,

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00:53:07,133 --> 00:53:12,133
and be introduced by Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate and Holocaust

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00:53:12,133 --> 00:53:14,366
survivor Elie Wiesel.

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00:53:14,367 --> 00:53:17,467
On Tuesday morning, the
President will honor the 2012

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00:53:17,467 --> 00:53:21,166
National Teacher of the Year and
finalists at the White House,

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00:53:21,166 --> 00:53:23,400
thanking them for their hard
work and dedication each and

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00:53:23,400 --> 00:53:25,967
every day in the classroom.

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00:53:25,967 --> 00:53:27,500
On Tuesday afternoon
and Wednesday,

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00:53:27,500 --> 00:53:29,800
the President will travel
to North Carolina, Colorado,

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00:53:29,800 --> 00:53:33,000
and Iowa, to launch an effort to
get Congress to prevent interest

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00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:36,333
rates on student loans
from doubling in July.

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00:53:36,333 --> 00:53:39,567
On Tuesday, the President will
visit the University of North

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00:53:39,567 --> 00:53:42,033
Carolina at Chapel Hill
and the University of

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00:53:42,033 --> 00:53:43,900
Colorado at Boulder.

1195
00:53:43,900 --> 00:53:47,333
Also on Tuesday, the President
will host an on-the-record

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00:53:47,333 --> 00:53:50,233
conference call with college and
university student journalists.

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00:53:50,233 --> 00:53:53,700
On Wednesday, the President will
visit the University of Iowa.

1198
00:53:53,700 --> 00:53:56,600
At the event, he will speak with
students about the critical need

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00:53:56,600 --> 00:53:58,000
for Congress to act.

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00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:00,333
On Thursday, the President
will attend meetings at the

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00:54:00,333 --> 00:54:01,333
White House.

1202
00:54:01,333 --> 00:54:03,867
And on Friday, the President
and First Lady will meet with

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00:54:03,867 --> 00:54:07,867
troops, veterans, and military
families at Fort Stewart in

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00:54:07,867 --> 00:54:09,834
Hinesville, Georgia.

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00:54:09,834 --> 00:54:10,899
Thank you all very much.

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00:54:10,900 --> 00:54:11,700
I hope you have a great weekend.