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1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,800 Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:02,802 --> 00:00:05,302 Nice to see you all. 3 00:00:05,305 --> 00:00:07,905 I don't see too many faces that toured Asia 4 00:00:07,907 --> 00:00:08,977 with me last week. 5 00:00:08,975 --> 00:00:10,045 (laughter) 6 00:00:10,043 --> 00:00:10,873 The Press: You're still sleepy. 7 00:00:10,877 --> 00:00:12,717 Mr. Earnest: So, I see Jerome is here. 8 00:00:12,712 --> 00:00:14,912 At least Jerome was able to make it. 9 00:00:14,914 --> 00:00:15,854 The Press: How's the jetlag? 10 00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:16,979 Mr. Earnest: We're still fighting it off, Steve, 11 00:00:16,983 --> 00:00:18,653 to be honest with you. 12 00:00:18,651 --> 00:00:20,951 But we're hanging tough against it. 13 00:00:20,954 --> 00:00:22,424 It's nice to see you all. 14 00:00:22,422 --> 00:00:24,222 I don't have any announcements at the top, 15 00:00:24,224 --> 00:00:25,194 so we'll go straight to questions. 16 00:00:25,191 --> 00:00:26,561 Nancy, do you want to get us started? 17 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:27,859 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 18 00:00:27,861 --> 00:00:30,131 Can you talk a little bit about this 19 00:00:30,130 --> 00:00:34,430 review on hostages taken overseas? 20 00:00:34,434 --> 00:00:35,164 Mr. Earnest: I can. 21 00:00:35,168 --> 00:00:41,178 This is something that the President ordered back over 22 00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:43,914 the summer, that given sort of the extraordinary 23 00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:46,180 nature of some of the hostage-takings that 24 00:00:46,179 --> 00:00:48,749 we've seen this year, the President felt it was 25 00:00:48,748 --> 00:00:51,888 warranted to direct the relevant departments 26 00:00:51,885 --> 00:00:54,325 and agencies who have traditionally been involved 27 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,390 in assisting families as they try to recover 28 00:00:57,390 --> 00:00:59,830 the safe return of their family members. 29 00:00:59,826 --> 00:01:01,826 So this is something that the Department of Defense, 30 00:01:01,828 --> 00:01:03,828 State, the FBI and the intelligence community 31 00:01:03,830 --> 00:01:06,670 have been reviewing. 32 00:01:06,666 --> 00:01:08,636 The one thing that I do want to make 33 00:01:08,635 --> 00:01:10,635 clear, though, is this review does not include 34 00:01:10,637 --> 00:01:13,137 a reconsideration of a longstanding policy 35 00:01:13,139 --> 00:01:15,139 of the United States government that 36 00:01:15,141 --> 00:01:17,141 ransoms should not be paid to terrorist 37 00:01:17,143 --> 00:01:19,743 organizations that are holding hostages. 38 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:21,746 But this is obviously an issue that the President 39 00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:23,188 takes very seriously. 40 00:01:23,183 --> 00:01:26,553 We have long said and we continue to take the view that 41 00:01:26,553 --> 00:01:29,323 significant resources have in the past been 42 00:01:29,322 --> 00:01:32,222 dedicated to trying to ensure the safe return 43 00:01:32,225 --> 00:01:34,225 of American citizens who are being 44 00:01:34,227 --> 00:01:35,227 held hostage overseas. 45 00:01:35,228 --> 00:01:38,268 And there was an incident earlier this summer where the 46 00:01:38,264 --> 00:01:43,874 President did order a rather remarkable military effort, 47 00:01:43,870 --> 00:01:46,940 principally military effort, to recover some 48 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:48,940 American citizens who were being held 49 00:01:48,942 --> 00:01:49,942 hostage in Syria. 50 00:01:49,943 --> 00:01:53,213 That was a mission that was successfully executed, 51 00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:55,613 but it did not successfully result 52 00:01:55,615 --> 00:01:57,955 in the safe return of the hostages. 53 00:01:57,951 --> 00:02:00,651 But this is a review that's ongoing among the relevant 54 00:02:00,653 --> 00:02:02,323 agencies that are principally responsible 55 00:02:02,322 --> 00:02:04,192 for working on this issue. 56 00:02:04,190 --> 00:02:06,360 The Press: So if it's a comprehensive review why 57 00:02:06,359 --> 00:02:10,399 would the paying of a ransom not be included in that? 58 00:02:10,396 --> 00:02:14,396 And even if you're not doing -- on the question 59 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,740 of the U.S. policy on that, are you looking 60 00:02:16,736 --> 00:02:19,976 at the policy of how family members who 61 00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:24,113 might want to pay ransom are treated, 62 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:27,810 whether they're possibly subject to prosecution? 63 00:02:27,814 --> 00:02:28,514 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'd refer you 64 00:02:28,515 --> 00:02:29,985 to the Department of Justice for how 65 00:02:29,983 --> 00:02:33,623 the law is specifically applied in those matters. 66 00:02:33,620 --> 00:02:37,220 The reason that we're not reviewing the policy as it 67 00:02:37,223 --> 00:02:41,223 relates to not paying ransom is that our views on this 68 00:02:41,227 --> 00:02:43,727 are clear, and the President continues to believe, 69 00:02:43,730 --> 00:02:45,930 as previous Presidents have concluded, 70 00:02:45,932 --> 00:02:47,932 that it's not in the best interests 71 00:02:47,934 --> 00:02:50,134 of American citizens to pay ransoms to any 72 00:02:50,136 --> 00:02:52,136 organization, let alone a terrorist organization, 73 00:02:52,138 --> 00:02:54,138 that is holding an American hostage. 74 00:02:54,140 --> 00:02:56,140 And the reason for that is simple: We don't want 75 00:02:56,142 --> 00:02:58,142 to put other American citizens at even greater 76 00:02:58,144 --> 00:03:00,744 risk when they're around the globe, and that 77 00:03:00,747 --> 00:03:03,787 knowing that terrorist organizations can extract 78 00:03:03,783 --> 00:03:05,423 a ransom from the United States if they take 79 00:03:05,418 --> 00:03:07,518 a hostage only puts American citizens 80 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,160 at greater risk. 81 00:03:09,155 --> 00:03:10,055 The Press: And do you have a timeline 82 00:03:10,056 --> 00:03:13,056 for when this might be wrapped up? 83 00:03:13,059 --> 00:03:13,989 Mr. Earnest: I don't have a sense of when 84 00:03:13,993 --> 00:03:15,563 this review would be concluded. 85 00:03:15,562 --> 00:03:17,032 But when it has been, I'm sure we'll let 86 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:18,700 you know about it. 87 00:03:18,698 --> 00:03:19,498 The Press: The other question I had was 88 00:03:19,499 --> 00:03:21,639 about immigration. 89 00:03:21,634 --> 00:03:24,004 Any sense of when the President would 90 00:03:24,003 --> 00:03:25,343 make his announcement? 91 00:03:25,338 --> 00:03:26,368 There's some talk on the Hill that 92 00:03:26,372 --> 00:03:28,072 it might be this week. 93 00:03:28,074 --> 00:03:28,904 Mr. Earnest: There is a lot of speculation 94 00:03:28,908 --> 00:03:31,348 both on the Hill and across town about this. 95 00:03:31,344 --> 00:03:32,474 I don't have any additional updates 96 00:03:32,478 --> 00:03:34,818 as it relates to timing. 97 00:03:34,814 --> 00:03:37,054 I mentioned in a briefing that we conducted 98 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:40,650 in Burma last week, of all places, that the President 99 00:03:40,653 --> 00:03:45,663 was nearing a final decision on the executive actions 100 00:03:45,658 --> 00:03:46,828 that he would take to fix our broken 101 00:03:46,826 --> 00:03:48,526 immigration system, but I don't have 102 00:03:48,528 --> 00:03:50,028 an update beyond that. 103 00:03:50,029 --> 00:03:50,759 The Press: Thanks. 104 00:03:50,763 --> 00:03:51,263 Mr. Earnest: Steve. 105 00:03:51,264 --> 00:03:52,234 The Press: Josh, has he received 106 00:03:52,231 --> 00:03:55,001 the DHS recommendations on this? 107 00:03:55,001 --> 00:03:56,601 Mr. Earnest: Steve, as I mentioned -- last week, 108 00:03:56,603 --> 00:03:57,903 we did talk about the fact that the President 109 00:03:57,904 --> 00:03:59,704 was nearing a final decision, and beyond 110 00:03:59,706 --> 00:04:01,346 that, I just don't have an update. 111 00:04:01,341 --> 00:04:05,011 The Press: Any meetings today about this? 112 00:04:05,011 --> 00:04:07,311 Mr. Earnest: I don't have any meetings to tell you about. 113 00:04:07,313 --> 00:04:09,753 The President was obviously pretty busy over the course 114 00:04:09,749 --> 00:04:11,889 of the Asia trip; did not have the opportunity 115 00:04:11,884 --> 00:04:14,384 to spend much, if any, time on this issue, but did 116 00:04:14,387 --> 00:04:16,687 plan to work on it when he got back. 117 00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:18,729 So I don't know if there are any meetings that are 118 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:20,725 on the books, but I know that's something that -- 119 00:04:20,727 --> 00:04:22,727 this is something that's on his agenda this week. 120 00:04:22,729 --> 00:04:24,729 The Press: And what about this Republican strategy 121 00:04:24,731 --> 00:04:26,731 we're hearing about that they would try to sort 122 00:04:26,733 --> 00:04:28,733 of cut off funding for various aspects 123 00:04:28,735 --> 00:04:29,805 of carrying out the order? 124 00:04:29,802 --> 00:04:32,402 Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that there's been some talk about 125 00:04:32,405 --> 00:04:36,145 this, but I haven't seen any specific proposals. 126 00:04:36,142 --> 00:04:40,712 Obviously this is not something that we would 127 00:04:40,713 --> 00:04:42,213 view very favorably. 128 00:04:42,215 --> 00:04:44,115 The Press: And are you hoping that by going ahead 129 00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:46,717 and acting that it will somehow spur the House 130 00:04:46,719 --> 00:04:50,119 into some legislative action in the near term? 131 00:04:50,123 --> 00:04:51,593 Or what's the strategy? 132 00:04:51,591 --> 00:04:52,661 Mr. Earnest: Well, that possibility 133 00:04:52,659 --> 00:04:54,899 certainly does exist. 134 00:04:54,894 --> 00:04:58,164 I've said this before that there is a trump card 135 00:04:58,164 --> 00:05:01,364 that Republicans hold right now, and that 136 00:05:01,367 --> 00:05:03,837 is the President has indicated that 137 00:05:03,836 --> 00:05:06,206 if the House of Representatives does pass 138 00:05:06,205 --> 00:05:08,705 the Senate bill that already passed in bipartisan fashion 139 00:05:08,708 --> 00:05:11,108 more than a year ago that the President would not 140 00:05:11,110 --> 00:05:13,250 actually follow through with his intent 141 00:05:13,246 --> 00:05:15,246 to use his executive authority to fix 142 00:05:15,248 --> 00:05:16,518 our broken immigration system. 143 00:05:16,516 --> 00:05:18,486 The reason for that is simply that the legislation that's 144 00:05:18,484 --> 00:05:20,824 already passed through the Senate would do more to fix 145 00:05:20,820 --> 00:05:23,260 the broken immigration system than the President 146 00:05:23,256 --> 00:05:25,496 is able to given the confines of the law. 147 00:05:25,491 --> 00:05:28,831 So Republicans can certainly prevent the President from 148 00:05:28,828 --> 00:05:32,328 taking this executive action if they pass the Senate bill. 149 00:05:32,331 --> 00:05:35,731 And I will say that if the President does take action 150 00:05:35,735 --> 00:05:38,905 sooner than that and House Republicans decide before 151 00:05:38,905 --> 00:05:41,175 the end of the year, before this Congress adjourns, 152 00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:43,174 that they do want to take up the Senate bill, 153 00:05:43,176 --> 00:05:44,546 the President has indicated that he would 154 00:05:44,544 --> 00:05:48,144 happily throw away any executive actions that 155 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:52,187 he did enact in favor of bipartisan legislation 156 00:05:52,185 --> 00:05:54,425 that would have significant benefits for our economy 157 00:05:54,420 --> 00:05:56,560 in terms of economic growth and job creation, 158 00:05:56,556 --> 00:05:59,026 would reduce the deficit, would strengthen border security. 159 00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:01,025 There are a whole range of things that are included in 160 00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:04,597 this common-sense, bipartisan Senate bill that would 161 00:06:04,597 --> 00:06:06,597 be good for the economy and good for the country. 162 00:06:06,599 --> 00:06:09,999 I think that's why we had 14 Republicans join with almost 163 00:06:10,002 --> 00:06:13,202 every Democrat in the Senate to support this legislation. 164 00:06:13,206 --> 00:06:15,176 There's a lot of common sense in there. 165 00:06:15,174 --> 00:06:17,174 Unfortunately, we haven't seen the House Republicans 166 00:06:17,176 --> 00:06:19,176 be persuaded by that common sense to actually 167 00:06:19,178 --> 00:06:20,548 take it up. 168 00:06:20,546 --> 00:06:21,546 Michelle. 169 00:06:21,547 --> 00:06:23,547 The Press: Just to clarify what you said 170 00:06:23,549 --> 00:06:25,549 on -- Steve asked if he's received 171 00:06:25,551 --> 00:06:26,551 the recommendations. 172 00:06:26,552 --> 00:06:28,892 You're not saying whether this is in the review stage 173 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:30,888 at this point, or whether he's still waiting 174 00:06:30,890 --> 00:06:31,990 for the full recommendations? 175 00:06:31,991 --> 00:06:33,291 Mr. Earnest: That's right, I don't have any update 176 00:06:33,292 --> 00:06:34,832 beyond what I said last week, which is that 177 00:06:34,827 --> 00:06:37,067 the President is nearing a final decision on this. 178 00:06:37,063 --> 00:06:37,433 The Press: Okay. 179 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:38,930 So why don't you want to say whether he's 180 00:06:38,931 --> 00:06:40,671 received those recommendations or not? 181 00:06:40,666 --> 00:06:41,466 I'm just curious. 182 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:42,967 Mr. Earnest: Only because I don't want 183 00:06:42,969 --> 00:06:47,979 to be in a position of doing sort of the regular 184 00:06:47,974 --> 00:06:49,974 daily or even hourly play-by-play of all this. 185 00:06:49,976 --> 00:06:51,976 The President has indicated that he's going to act before 186 00:06:51,978 --> 00:06:54,548 the end of the year, and that timeline hasn't changed. 187 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:54,777 The Press: Okay. 188 00:06:54,781 --> 00:06:57,421 And meantime, this rhetoric has been building out 189 00:06:57,416 --> 00:07:01,156 there, with now threats of everything from impeachment, 190 00:07:01,154 --> 00:07:03,924 lawsuits, and now shutting down the government. 191 00:07:03,923 --> 00:07:07,763 Does the White House have a response to that kind 192 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,330 of pretty fierce rhetoric at times? 193 00:07:10,329 --> 00:07:11,369 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's certainly not unprecedented 194 00:07:11,364 --> 00:07:13,904 rhetoric from Republicans, unfortunately, that even 195 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:15,900 with a common-sense piece of legislation that 196 00:07:15,902 --> 00:07:18,402 has bipartisan support Republicans have been 197 00:07:18,404 --> 00:07:22,044 vociferously critical of that bill -- 198 00:07:22,041 --> 00:07:25,781 for reasons that I'm not entirely clear on. 199 00:07:25,778 --> 00:07:28,818 The question that the President has before him 200 00:07:28,815 --> 00:07:30,785 is a pretty simple one, which is, given that 201 00:07:30,783 --> 00:07:33,053 Congress, and in this case House Republicans, 202 00:07:33,052 --> 00:07:35,552 have refused to act on legislation that would 203 00:07:35,555 --> 00:07:37,725 be good for the economy, good for the deficit, 204 00:07:37,723 --> 00:07:40,563 good for border security, and given 205 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:41,830 that the Speaker of the House convened 206 00:07:41,828 --> 00:07:43,458 a news conference shortly after the elections 207 00:07:43,462 --> 00:07:45,662 in which he refused to commit to even take 208 00:07:45,665 --> 00:07:48,035 up this legislation again, the question before 209 00:07:48,034 --> 00:07:49,064 the President of the United States 210 00:07:49,068 --> 00:07:51,608 is, is he going to use his authority to actually 211 00:07:51,604 --> 00:07:53,404 do something good for the country, that would 212 00:07:53,406 --> 00:07:55,146 be helpful when it comes to our border security 213 00:07:55,141 --> 00:07:57,341 in terms of strengthening our border security. 214 00:07:57,343 --> 00:07:58,913 Is he going to take steps that would be good 215 00:07:58,911 --> 00:08:01,051 for the economy? 216 00:08:01,047 --> 00:08:02,747 And the answer to that question is, yes, 217 00:08:02,748 --> 00:08:05,718 the President is determined to take the kinds of steps 218 00:08:05,718 --> 00:08:07,718 that are in the best interests of the country. 219 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:08,720 He would prefer for Congress 220 00:08:08,721 --> 00:08:10,721 to actually fulfill their responsibilities 221 00:08:10,723 --> 00:08:11,723 in this regard. 222 00:08:11,724 --> 00:08:13,724 And that's why the President has indicated 223 00:08:13,726 --> 00:08:15,726 that if Congress does pass this legislation 224 00:08:15,728 --> 00:08:18,428 the President is happy to have common-sense, 225 00:08:18,431 --> 00:08:20,431 comprehensive bipartisan legislation 226 00:08:20,433 --> 00:08:22,773 that supersedes his executive action. 227 00:08:22,768 --> 00:08:24,768 But if they don't, the President is not going 228 00:08:24,770 --> 00:08:26,440 to use that as an excuse to not act himself. 229 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:28,409 The Press: The suspense is killing everyone. 230 00:08:28,407 --> 00:08:29,377 (laughter) 231 00:08:29,375 --> 00:08:32,745 But will the President veto 232 00:08:32,745 --> 00:08:35,015 the Keystone bill? 233 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:36,884 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has been 234 00:08:36,883 --> 00:08:39,523 very clear about what our views are as it relates 235 00:08:39,518 --> 00:08:41,758 to the Keystone bill. 236 00:08:41,754 --> 00:08:45,354 Consistent with past practice, the State Department has 237 00:08:45,358 --> 00:08:49,298 a method of reviewing these kinds of projects that 238 00:08:49,295 --> 00:08:54,005 span our international borders, and that means 239 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,000 that the State Department 240 00:08:55,001 --> 00:08:57,141 can conduct a review that includes a wide range of 241 00:08:57,136 --> 00:09:00,676 considerations, including, at the President's direction, 242 00:09:00,673 --> 00:09:02,673 the consideration about whether or not this 243 00:09:02,675 --> 00:09:04,945 particular project would substantially contribute 244 00:09:04,944 --> 00:09:08,044 to carbon pollution and the impacts of climate change. 245 00:09:08,047 --> 00:09:10,047 So there is a process that's underway that 246 00:09:10,049 --> 00:09:14,489 is currently going through its regular course. 247 00:09:14,487 --> 00:09:19,157 This is complicated at least a little by ongoing court 248 00:09:19,158 --> 00:09:23,768 proceedings in the state of Nebraska as it relates 249 00:09:23,763 --> 00:09:26,133 to the route of the pipeline in Nebraska. 250 00:09:26,132 --> 00:09:28,732 But there is a process underway, and the President 251 00:09:28,734 --> 00:09:31,434 is confident that that process will carefully evaluate 252 00:09:31,437 --> 00:09:34,137 the consequences of this specific proposal 253 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:36,140 and that that's the proper way for 254 00:09:36,142 --> 00:09:38,142 a decision like this to be made. 255 00:09:38,144 --> 00:09:39,144 The Press: So that's a yes? 256 00:09:39,145 --> 00:09:42,315 Mr. Earnest: It is an answer to the President's 257 00:09:42,315 --> 00:09:46,055 view that the State Department is the proper 258 00:09:46,052 --> 00:09:49,752 venue for reaching this determination. 259 00:09:49,755 --> 00:09:50,755 Justin. 260 00:09:50,756 --> 00:09:53,596 The Press: I just wanted to go back to something 261 00:09:53,592 --> 00:09:56,032 you said first about the possibility that 262 00:09:56,028 --> 00:09:57,168 Republicans would attach something 263 00:09:57,163 --> 00:10:01,103 to a spending bill that would defund whatever 264 00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:03,370 the President's executive actions on immigration were. 265 00:10:03,369 --> 00:10:04,939 You said that's not something that you would 266 00:10:04,937 --> 00:10:07,307 view very favorably. 267 00:10:07,306 --> 00:10:10,676 Is that in the same way you'd not view the Keystone pipeline 268 00:10:10,676 --> 00:10:14,476 legislation favorably, on a scale of veto or not veto? 269 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,620 (laughter) 270 00:10:16,615 --> 00:10:18,385 I'm just trying to understand what 271 00:10:18,384 --> 00:10:19,254 you mean by that. 272 00:10:19,251 --> 00:10:22,051 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's hard to render a particularly 273 00:10:22,054 --> 00:10:25,554 definitive judgment on those kinds of proposals 274 00:10:25,558 --> 00:10:27,798 because they haven't been put forward yet. 275 00:10:27,793 --> 00:10:30,133 But I think as a general matter as it relates 276 00:10:30,129 --> 00:10:32,899 to the immigration reform decision that rests 277 00:10:32,898 --> 00:10:36,868 on the President's desk, that the President is confident 278 00:10:36,869 --> 00:10:39,809 that whatever action he will take will be within 279 00:10:39,805 --> 00:10:41,175 the confines of the law. 280 00:10:41,173 --> 00:10:44,573 So he'll be taking a lawful action that is not inconsistent 281 00:10:44,577 --> 00:10:46,947 with executive actions that previous Presidents, 282 00:10:46,946 --> 00:10:48,646 including Republican Presidents, have taken 283 00:10:48,647 --> 00:10:51,987 on this specific issue of immigration reform. 284 00:10:51,984 --> 00:10:54,584 So I think that's why, in our view, 285 00:10:54,587 --> 00:10:58,757 we would consider it to be unwarranted for Republicans 286 00:10:58,758 --> 00:11:02,658 in Congress to try to undo that executive action 287 00:11:02,661 --> 00:11:05,501 using the budget process. 288 00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:08,738 The Press: On the timing issue that's come up a few times, 289 00:11:08,734 --> 00:11:11,304 will you concede that part of your calculation 290 00:11:11,303 --> 00:11:13,773 is kind of the political consideration of if you 291 00:11:13,773 --> 00:11:15,673 bring this out before a spending bill is brought 292 00:11:15,674 --> 00:11:19,374 up it would give Republicans an opportunity, 293 00:11:19,378 --> 00:11:21,278 through the budget process 294 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,320 that has to happen by December 11th? 295 00:11:23,315 --> 00:11:25,055 Mr. Earnest: Well, I mean, I guess the question you're 296 00:11:25,051 --> 00:11:26,991 asking is, what about the legislative strategy, right, 297 00:11:26,986 --> 00:11:29,786 about whether the President should make this decision 298 00:11:29,789 --> 00:11:34,389 before Congress has acted on either a CR or an omnibus, 299 00:11:34,393 --> 00:11:37,363 with the thinking being that if the President waits until 300 00:11:37,363 --> 00:11:40,063 after they pass the CR or the omnibus that Republicans 301 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:42,466 are less likely to attach some kind of rider that 302 00:11:42,468 --> 00:11:44,468 would defund any of the President's actions. 303 00:11:46,705 --> 00:11:48,345 I think the fact is you could probably argue 304 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:50,340 this both ways. 305 00:11:50,342 --> 00:11:53,312 Republicans, as they should be, are well aware of the 306 00:11:53,312 --> 00:11:56,112 President's intent to act before the end of the year. 307 00:11:56,115 --> 00:11:59,485 And my sense is that even if the President doesn't 308 00:11:59,485 --> 00:12:03,355 announce anything until late in December that 309 00:12:03,355 --> 00:12:05,855 will not prevent Republicans from 310 00:12:05,858 --> 00:12:09,628 preemptively trying to attach to the CR 311 00:12:09,628 --> 00:12:14,968 or an omnibus bill a proposal to make 312 00:12:14,967 --> 00:12:17,307 the implementation of that executive action harder. 313 00:12:17,303 --> 00:12:21,773 So there are a variety of views on this topic, 314 00:12:21,774 --> 00:12:25,844 and while I guess I would concede, 315 00:12:25,845 --> 00:12:27,845 based on the long explanation I've given, 316 00:12:27,847 --> 00:12:29,847 that this is something that's been discussed 317 00:12:29,849 --> 00:12:34,219 at the White House, that I'm not sure -- that given 318 00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:35,990 you could argue it either way, I don't think 319 00:12:35,988 --> 00:12:38,728 that this strategic decision that 320 00:12:38,724 --> 00:12:41,794 you've raised here will determine the outcome at all. 321 00:12:41,794 --> 00:12:42,724 The Press: Last one. 322 00:12:42,728 --> 00:12:45,768 Do you expect the Keystone bill to pass today? 323 00:12:45,764 --> 00:12:48,634 Mr. Earnest: I'm not nearly as keen an observer 324 00:12:48,634 --> 00:12:51,204 of the legislative process as all of you. 325 00:12:51,203 --> 00:12:54,943 I know that some supporters of the proposal say that 326 00:12:54,940 --> 00:12:57,380 they have the votes necessary to pass the bill. 327 00:12:57,376 --> 00:13:00,076 But they'll put the bill on the floor tonight, 328 00:13:00,079 --> 00:13:01,649 and I guess we'll all find out. 329 00:13:01,647 --> 00:13:02,717 Cheryl. 330 00:13:02,715 --> 00:13:04,515 The Press: I'm going to try. 331 00:13:04,517 --> 00:13:06,557 (laughter) 332 00:13:06,552 --> 00:13:07,682 Mr. Earnest: There will be a lot of that today. 333 00:13:07,686 --> 00:13:09,086 The Press: Senator McConnell has asked for 334 00:13:09,088 --> 00:13:12,128 a formal statement of administration policy 335 00:13:12,124 --> 00:13:14,364 to find out what the administration's 336 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,460 position is, whether he'd veto the bill or not, 337 00:13:16,462 --> 00:13:17,592 heading into that vote. 338 00:13:17,596 --> 00:13:20,566 Do you plan on sending a statement 339 00:13:20,566 --> 00:13:23,936 of administration policy on the Keystone bill today? 340 00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:25,606 Mr. Earnest: I have not heard any discussion 341 00:13:25,604 --> 00:13:26,604 of doing that. 342 00:13:26,605 --> 00:13:28,575 But if our decision on that changes, 343 00:13:28,574 --> 00:13:31,144 we'll make sure that all of you get it. 344 00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:32,143 Laura. 345 00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:34,144 The Press: What's the White House reaction 346 00:13:34,146 --> 00:13:36,186 regarding the attack in Israel today? 347 00:13:36,182 --> 00:13:38,352 And does the President plan to speak with 348 00:13:38,350 --> 00:13:40,050 Prime Minister Netanyahu? 349 00:13:40,052 --> 00:13:42,352 Mr. Earnest: Well, Laura, I don't have any 350 00:13:42,354 --> 00:13:45,424 phone calls to preview for you here. 351 00:13:45,424 --> 00:13:47,424 You've seen that the White House has put out 352 00:13:47,426 --> 00:13:48,796 a written statement from the President, 353 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:51,464 and I believe he had the opportunity to address 354 00:13:51,463 --> 00:13:54,063 this senseless act of violence at the beginning 355 00:13:54,066 --> 00:13:56,136 of a meeting that he convened earlier today. 356 00:13:56,135 --> 00:14:02,145 So we obviously are deeply concerned about the -- 357 00:14:05,644 --> 00:14:08,244 specifically about this terrorist act. 358 00:14:08,247 --> 00:14:12,387 We're talking about attackers senselessly and brutally 359 00:14:12,384 --> 00:14:14,384 killing innocent worshipers at a synagogue. 360 00:14:17,523 --> 00:14:20,023 Those who were killed include three American citizens. 361 00:14:22,261 --> 00:14:24,831 The fact is there can be no justification for 362 00:14:24,830 --> 00:14:28,830 an attack like this against innocent civilians. 363 00:14:28,834 --> 00:14:31,204 And the thoughts and prayers of the American people 364 00:14:31,203 --> 00:14:33,543 are with the victims and families of those who were 365 00:14:33,539 --> 00:14:35,539 killed and injured in this horrific attack, 366 00:14:35,541 --> 00:14:37,581 and in other recent violence. 367 00:14:37,576 --> 00:14:39,576 At this sensitive moment in Jerusalem, 368 00:14:39,578 --> 00:14:42,218 it is all the more important for Israeli and Palestinian 369 00:14:42,214 --> 00:14:44,714 leaders and ordinary citizens to work cooperatively 370 00:14:44,717 --> 00:14:47,487 together to lower tensions, reject violence, 371 00:14:47,486 --> 00:14:50,826 and seek a path forward toward peace. 372 00:14:50,823 --> 00:14:51,823 Angela. 373 00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:54,224 The Press: There's been a growing chorus of business 374 00:14:54,226 --> 00:14:57,796 leaders asking the White House to step in on the brewing 375 00:14:57,796 --> 00:14:59,866 West Coast port strike -- right now a slowdown, 376 00:14:59,865 --> 00:15:02,405 but threatening a strike out there right as the holiday 377 00:15:02,401 --> 00:15:06,171 season approaches and shipping volume is high. 378 00:15:06,171 --> 00:15:09,511 Is that something that the President is considering? 379 00:15:09,508 --> 00:15:11,748 Is it being discussed at various levels? 380 00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:14,384 Obviously President Bush did step in, in 2002, 381 00:15:14,380 --> 00:15:15,850 in a similar situation. 382 00:15:15,848 --> 00:15:18,018 Mr. Earnest: Angela, to be honest with you, 383 00:15:18,017 --> 00:15:19,917 I don't know if there have been discussions about 384 00:15:19,918 --> 00:15:21,388 this at the White House. 385 00:15:21,387 --> 00:15:22,587 There are none that I'm aware of, 386 00:15:22,588 --> 00:15:25,088 but we can certainly look into that for you. 387 00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:27,460 The Press: Is there a threshold at which 388 00:15:27,459 --> 00:15:30,699 the White House would intervene? 389 00:15:30,696 --> 00:15:31,726 Mr. Earnest: Well, presumably, that's one 390 00:15:31,730 --> 00:15:32,970 of the things that would be discussed if discussions 391 00:15:32,965 --> 00:15:34,095 like that were ongoing. 392 00:15:34,099 --> 00:15:35,469 And I just don't know the answer to that. 393 00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:37,067 We'll have to look into that for you. 394 00:15:37,069 --> 00:15:38,469 Jon. 395 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:42,110 The Press: Going back to the immigration executive order 396 00:15:42,107 --> 00:15:44,607 that's coming, does the President still stand 397 00:15:44,610 --> 00:15:47,780 by what he said last year when he said, "I am not 398 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:49,780 the emperor of the United States. 399 00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:52,052 My job is to execute laws that are passed." 400 00:15:52,051 --> 00:15:53,121 Is that still operative? 401 00:15:53,118 --> 00:15:54,358 Mr. Earnest: Absolutely. 402 00:15:54,353 --> 00:15:55,323 The Press: Not a king, either. 403 00:15:55,321 --> 00:15:56,751 Mr. Earnest: That's right. 404 00:15:56,755 --> 00:15:58,955 The Press: Because he was asked very specifically 405 00:15:58,957 --> 00:16:01,357 about the idea of expanding the deferred action 406 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:04,260 executive order for the DREAMers to their parents. 407 00:16:04,263 --> 00:16:09,203 And he said, September 17th of last year, to Telemundo, 408 00:16:09,201 --> 00:16:12,071 very clearly, "if we start broadening that, 409 00:16:12,071 --> 00:16:14,941 then essentially I would be ignoring the law in a way 410 00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:17,380 that would make it very difficult to defend legally, 411 00:16:17,376 --> 00:16:19,946 so that is not an option." 412 00:16:19,945 --> 00:16:23,285 Is that still operative, when the President said specifically 413 00:16:23,282 --> 00:16:26,882 that expanding the DACA executive order is not 414 00:16:26,885 --> 00:16:28,885 an option because it would be ignoring the law. 415 00:16:28,887 --> 00:16:29,887 Does he still believe that? 416 00:16:29,888 --> 00:16:31,288 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, I don't want to get 417 00:16:31,290 --> 00:16:33,790 ahead of any sort of announcements that 418 00:16:33,792 --> 00:16:35,332 the President may make before the end of the year 419 00:16:35,327 --> 00:16:37,827 about executive actions that he may take to fix our 420 00:16:37,830 --> 00:16:39,430 broken immigration system. 421 00:16:39,431 --> 00:16:43,701 Since this interview aired, the President did direct 422 00:16:43,702 --> 00:16:45,772 the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security 423 00:16:45,771 --> 00:16:48,741 to conduct a review of the law to determine what, if any, 424 00:16:48,741 --> 00:16:52,441 authority he could use to try to fix some of the problems 425 00:16:52,444 --> 00:16:56,414 that House Republicans have refused to address. 426 00:16:56,415 --> 00:16:59,385 So this is something that has been under consideration for 427 00:16:59,385 --> 00:17:01,625 some time by the Attorney General of the United States 428 00:17:01,620 --> 00:17:03,990 and by the Secretary of Homeland Security. 429 00:17:07,659 --> 00:17:08,659 The Press: So just to be clear, so you're saying that 430 00:17:08,660 --> 00:17:11,560 this is no longer operative because we've had a review. 431 00:17:11,563 --> 00:17:15,733 So when the President said that expanding DACA to apply 432 00:17:15,734 --> 00:17:18,574 to the parents of the DREAMers, for instance, 433 00:17:18,570 --> 00:17:22,170 would be broadening and essentially ignoring the law 434 00:17:22,174 --> 00:17:24,244 in a way that would be difficult to defend legally, 435 00:17:24,243 --> 00:17:26,613 that it's not an option -- that that statement 436 00:17:26,612 --> 00:17:27,612 is no longer operative? 437 00:17:27,613 --> 00:17:29,953 Mr. Earnest: What I'm saying is we'll have an opportunity 438 00:17:29,948 --> 00:17:33,318 to evaluate the actions that the President has chosen 439 00:17:33,318 --> 00:17:35,318 to take after he's announced them. 440 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,320 The Press: I'm not asking about the options. 441 00:17:37,322 --> 00:17:40,162 I'm just saying, does the President still stand by what 442 00:17:40,159 --> 00:17:42,299 he said in that interview in September of last year? 443 00:17:42,294 --> 00:17:45,394 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, obviously there are 444 00:17:45,397 --> 00:17:45,897 some things -- 445 00:17:45,898 --> 00:17:47,068 The Press: Sounds like a no. 446 00:17:47,065 --> 00:17:49,335 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's not. 447 00:17:49,334 --> 00:17:51,304 Obviously there have been some things that 448 00:17:51,303 --> 00:17:52,303 have changed, right? 449 00:17:52,304 --> 00:17:54,304 We have been in a situation where the President 450 00:17:54,306 --> 00:17:56,306 has ordered a broader, in-depth review 451 00:17:56,308 --> 00:17:58,308 of the existing law to determine what sort 452 00:17:58,310 --> 00:18:00,350 of executive authority does rest with 453 00:18:00,345 --> 00:18:03,215 the presidency to determine what kinds of steps 454 00:18:03,215 --> 00:18:04,755 he could take on his own. 455 00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:06,750 The other thing that we've seen is we've seen 456 00:18:06,752 --> 00:18:09,252 House Republicans refuse to act even on common-sense 457 00:18:09,254 --> 00:18:11,594 legislation that would fix so many of the problems 458 00:18:11,590 --> 00:18:13,890 of our broken immigration system in a way that 459 00:18:13,892 --> 00:18:16,432 would strengthen border security, reduce the deficit, 460 00:18:16,428 --> 00:18:17,568 and be good for the economy. 461 00:18:17,563 --> 00:18:19,233 The Press: They had already refused to act at this point. 462 00:18:19,231 --> 00:18:21,231 Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess it's fair to say they've 463 00:18:21,233 --> 00:18:23,233 been refusing to act for quite some time. 464 00:18:23,235 --> 00:18:25,235 At that point, it had only been a few months 465 00:18:25,237 --> 00:18:27,237 that they'd been refusing to act. 466 00:18:27,239 --> 00:18:29,239 Now it's been almost a year and a half. 467 00:18:29,241 --> 00:18:31,241 The Press: But why are you not using -- to switch back 468 00:18:31,243 --> 00:18:34,243 to Keystone -- why are you not using the word "veto"? 469 00:18:34,246 --> 00:18:36,286 Why are you not saying -- previously when this issue had 470 00:18:36,281 --> 00:18:39,551 come up, you said -- you issued a statement of administration 471 00:18:39,551 --> 00:18:42,251 policy that the President's advisor would 472 00:18:42,254 --> 00:18:44,194 recommend a veto. 473 00:18:44,189 --> 00:18:46,189 It seems substantively what you're saying 474 00:18:46,191 --> 00:18:48,831 is it hasn't changed, but you're not saying it again. 475 00:18:48,827 --> 00:18:50,667 Is there a reason you're leaving options open 476 00:18:50,662 --> 00:18:52,062 to not veto it? 477 00:18:52,064 --> 00:18:53,804 Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess -- I don't want to leave 478 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:54,729 you that impression. 479 00:18:54,733 --> 00:18:57,233 It certainly is a piece of legislation that the President 480 00:18:57,236 --> 00:19:00,176 doesn't support because the President believes that this 481 00:19:00,172 --> 00:19:02,942 is something that should be determined through 482 00:19:02,941 --> 00:19:06,681 the State Department and the regular process that 483 00:19:06,678 --> 00:19:09,578 is in place to evaluate projects like this. 484 00:19:09,581 --> 00:19:11,381 But again, I'm not in a position to issue 485 00:19:11,383 --> 00:19:13,823 veto threats from here, but as you rightly point 486 00:19:13,819 --> 00:19:15,819 out, there are similar pieces of legislation 487 00:19:15,821 --> 00:19:17,921 that have been introduced in this Congress where 488 00:19:17,923 --> 00:19:19,923 the President's senior advisors have 489 00:19:19,925 --> 00:19:20,625 recommended a veto. 490 00:19:20,626 --> 00:19:20,926 The Press: Okay. 491 00:19:20,926 --> 00:19:22,026 And just one other subject. 492 00:19:22,027 --> 00:19:25,767 The videos of Jonathan Gruber have now become kind of -- 493 00:19:25,764 --> 00:19:26,904 almost a hit series -- I guess there's like 494 00:19:26,899 --> 00:19:29,269 seven of them out now. 495 00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:31,908 They're talking about the stupidity 496 00:19:31,904 --> 00:19:35,804 of the American voter, of the ways that -- the process 497 00:19:35,807 --> 00:19:39,577 of passing the health care law, the ways in which 498 00:19:39,578 --> 00:19:42,848 people were duped as to what was actually going on. 499 00:19:42,848 --> 00:19:44,948 I'm wondering what your reaction to this -- 500 00:19:44,950 --> 00:19:47,090 obviously he was a very important figure 501 00:19:47,085 --> 00:19:49,785 in the crafting of the health care law, 502 00:19:49,788 --> 00:19:52,188 so what is your view of what he's had to say? 503 00:19:52,190 --> 00:19:54,360 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the President, 504 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,929 when he answered a question on this at the news conference 505 00:19:56,929 --> 00:19:59,029 in Brisbane over the weekend, was pretty clear about 506 00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:00,671 the fact that the sentiments that were expressed 507 00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:03,036 by Dr. Gruber are not sentiments that the President 508 00:20:03,035 --> 00:20:06,435 agrees with, and frankly, don't actually reflect 509 00:20:06,438 --> 00:20:09,278 what actually happened in the process of passing 510 00:20:09,274 --> 00:20:11,444 and implementing this law. 511 00:20:11,443 --> 00:20:15,013 The fact of the matter is I do think that people 512 00:20:15,013 --> 00:20:17,513 are understandably pretty tired of relitigating 513 00:20:17,516 --> 00:20:20,486 all the political fights from 2009 and 2010 514 00:20:20,485 --> 00:20:22,485 as it relates to the Affordable Care Act. 515 00:20:22,487 --> 00:20:24,927 And there are some Republicans, however, 516 00:20:24,923 --> 00:20:27,263 who do seek to sort of fan the flames of those 517 00:20:27,259 --> 00:20:29,259 old political arguments because they think 518 00:20:29,261 --> 00:20:31,261 it is politically advantageous for them 519 00:20:31,263 --> 00:20:33,063 to do so. 520 00:20:33,065 --> 00:20:35,065 My suspicion is that they do so because 521 00:20:35,067 --> 00:20:37,737 it's easier to talk about six and eight-year-old 522 00:20:37,736 --> 00:20:41,706 videos than it is to talk about how smoothly 523 00:20:41,707 --> 00:20:44,147 the opening of the second open enrollment period 524 00:20:44,142 --> 00:20:46,612 has gone so far, or to talk about the millions of people 525 00:20:46,612 --> 00:20:48,612 that have gotten health care as a result 526 00:20:48,614 --> 00:20:50,614 of the Affordable Care Act, or to talk about 527 00:20:50,616 --> 00:20:52,786 how the growth in health care costs 528 00:20:52,784 --> 00:20:56,384 is the lowest in recorded history, 529 00:20:56,388 --> 00:20:58,388 again, in the aftermath of the passing 530 00:20:58,390 --> 00:20:59,390 of the Affordable Care Act. 531 00:20:59,391 --> 00:21:02,161 The Affordable Care Act guarantees a bunch of patient 532 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,600 protections, including that people can't be discriminated 533 00:21:05,597 --> 00:21:07,997 against because they have a preexisting condition. 534 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,000 All that stuff is pretty inconvenient for 535 00:21:10,002 --> 00:21:12,002 people who oppose the law to talk about. 536 00:21:12,004 --> 00:21:14,004 So it's easier for them to talk about these 537 00:21:14,006 --> 00:21:14,976 kinds of videos. 538 00:21:14,973 --> 00:21:16,973 And they're certainly welcome to do that. 539 00:21:16,975 --> 00:21:18,975 I don't think that there's a particularly large audience 540 00:21:18,977 --> 00:21:20,977 of the American people that's eager 541 00:21:20,979 --> 00:21:21,979 to have this discussion. 542 00:21:21,980 --> 00:21:23,980 The Press: But you would acknowledge he was 543 00:21:23,982 --> 00:21:25,982 an important figure in the crafting of this law. 544 00:21:25,984 --> 00:21:27,984 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the President acknowledged 545 00:21:27,986 --> 00:21:29,986 in the news conference that he did over the weekend 546 00:21:29,988 --> 00:21:33,828 when I believe Ed asked about this that 547 00:21:33,825 --> 00:21:37,225 Mr. Gruber was an advisor. 548 00:21:37,229 --> 00:21:39,299 The Press: Would he welcome more government contracts? 549 00:21:39,297 --> 00:21:41,767 He's made more than $2 million from 550 00:21:41,767 --> 00:21:44,767 the federal government, $400,000 specifically 551 00:21:44,770 --> 00:21:48,240 regarding the health care law, and of course, 552 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,840 a lot more money from the states as well. 553 00:21:49,841 --> 00:21:52,481 Is he now kind of persona non grata, 554 00:21:52,477 --> 00:21:56,117 no more government contracts for Jonathan Gruber? 555 00:21:56,114 --> 00:21:58,314 Mr. Earnest: Well, I assume that those kinds 556 00:21:58,316 --> 00:22:04,026 of decisions are made on a -- based on merit. 557 00:22:05,457 --> 00:22:08,457 But certainly the comments that he has now famously 558 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:11,830 expressed are not views that are shared by anybody 559 00:22:11,830 --> 00:22:13,030 at the White House. 560 00:22:13,031 --> 00:22:14,271 The Press: Can I follow that, Josh? 561 00:22:14,266 --> 00:22:15,536 Mr. Earnest: I'll come right back to you, Wendell. 562 00:22:15,534 --> 00:22:16,404 April. 563 00:22:16,401 --> 00:22:17,541 The Press: Josh, I have several subjects, 564 00:22:17,536 --> 00:22:18,366 different subjects. 565 00:22:18,370 --> 00:22:20,540 I want to ask you first about something 566 00:22:20,539 --> 00:22:22,739 the President said about Ebola. 567 00:22:22,741 --> 00:22:24,381 He said, we're not out of the woods yet. 568 00:22:24,376 --> 00:22:26,616 Is it an assumption that you're hoping for the best, 569 00:22:26,611 --> 00:22:29,981 but expanding possibly another case scenario that you 570 00:22:29,981 --> 00:22:32,421 may have Ebola coming into this country, or that 571 00:22:32,417 --> 00:22:36,587 someone could contract it from someone with Ebola? 572 00:22:36,588 --> 00:22:38,188 Mr. Earnest: Well, April, I think the reason that 573 00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:39,590 the President said that we're not out of the woods 574 00:22:39,591 --> 00:22:43,391 yet is that we continue to see Ebola cases being 575 00:22:43,395 --> 00:22:46,695 reported in West Africa and there is new concern 576 00:22:46,698 --> 00:22:49,038 about the nation of Mali, about the potential 577 00:22:49,034 --> 00:22:51,704 spread of the disease in that country. 578 00:22:51,703 --> 00:22:54,703 We've been pretty candid about the fact that the risk 579 00:22:54,706 --> 00:22:57,146 of a widespread Ebola outbreak in the United States 580 00:22:57,142 --> 00:23:00,042 remains exceedingly low, but that that risk 581 00:23:00,045 --> 00:23:04,785 to the American people is not eliminated until 582 00:23:04,783 --> 00:23:06,783 this disease has been stopped in its tracks 583 00:23:06,785 --> 00:23:07,785 in West Africa. 584 00:23:07,786 --> 00:23:09,786 And so that's why you're seeing the significant 585 00:23:09,788 --> 00:23:11,788 commitment of resources from the federal government 586 00:23:11,790 --> 00:23:13,790 to try to stop this outbreak in West Africa. 587 00:23:13,792 --> 00:23:15,792 And that's why the administration has asked 588 00:23:15,794 --> 00:23:19,834 Congress to pass some additional funding to increase 589 00:23:19,831 --> 00:23:23,931 readiness in this country to respond to Ebola patients 590 00:23:23,935 --> 00:23:25,935 if there should be others that materialize in this 591 00:23:25,937 --> 00:23:28,577 country, but also, and just as importantly, 592 00:23:28,573 --> 00:23:30,573 and in some ways even more importantly, 593 00:23:30,575 --> 00:23:32,575 to make sure that we're mobilizing the necessary 594 00:23:32,577 --> 00:23:34,577 resources to stop this outbreak in West Africa. 595 00:23:34,579 --> 00:23:37,679 The Press: On my second subject, is this White House 596 00:23:37,682 --> 00:23:40,752 gearing up for a major fight come January? 597 00:23:42,788 --> 00:23:44,088 Mr. Earnest: About anything specific? 598 00:23:44,089 --> 00:23:45,559 (laughter) 599 00:23:45,557 --> 00:23:48,327 The Press: January, both Houses are red, 600 00:23:48,326 --> 00:23:50,166 and this is a very blue White House. 601 00:23:50,162 --> 00:23:53,902 Are you gearing up for a big fight? 602 00:23:53,899 --> 00:23:54,629 Mr. Earnest: I guess I don't really understand 603 00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:55,763 the question. 604 00:23:55,767 --> 00:23:56,597 The Press: Okay. 605 00:23:56,601 --> 00:23:58,471 Well, you've got a Congress that doesn't like 606 00:23:58,470 --> 00:24:03,040 health care reform that this President put through. 607 00:24:03,041 --> 00:24:04,941 Mr. Earnest: That's been true for four years, right? 608 00:24:04,943 --> 00:24:06,483 The Press: They are now in control and looking 609 00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:08,778 at doing things to change it. 610 00:24:08,780 --> 00:24:11,120 Immigration reform -- the President is talking 611 00:24:11,116 --> 00:24:13,286 about pushing immigration reform through now, 612 00:24:13,285 --> 00:24:14,885 and in January when they're here they're 613 00:24:14,886 --> 00:24:15,716 going to push back. 614 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,690 Are you concerned about a big fight? 615 00:24:18,690 --> 00:24:19,930 Mr. Earnest: April, I think the President has 616 00:24:19,925 --> 00:24:22,265 been pretty clear about what he believes he can 617 00:24:22,260 --> 00:24:27,000 do with the next Congress, and that is specifically 618 00:24:26,998 --> 00:24:28,468 that we should be able to find some areas 619 00:24:28,466 --> 00:24:30,806 of common ground where we can make progress 620 00:24:30,802 --> 00:24:32,102 for the American people. 621 00:24:32,103 --> 00:24:33,543 That said, we're going to have plenty 622 00:24:33,538 --> 00:24:35,478 of disagreements over probably lots of things. 623 00:24:35,473 --> 00:24:40,183 And I think the key here is to recognize that we don't want 624 00:24:40,178 --> 00:24:43,518 to be in a position where we prevent those disagreements, 625 00:24:43,515 --> 00:24:47,185 some of them significant, from allowing us to identify 626 00:24:47,185 --> 00:24:48,885 some common ground and make progress for 627 00:24:48,887 --> 00:24:50,527 the American people using that common ground. 628 00:24:50,522 --> 00:24:57,062 So whether it is tax reform, or even making it easier for 629 00:24:57,062 --> 00:25:00,502 American goods and services to be sold overseas, 630 00:25:00,498 --> 00:25:01,898 there may be an opportunity for Democrats 631 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:03,130 and Republicans to work together. 632 00:25:03,134 --> 00:25:04,734 And we'd welcome those opportunities. 633 00:25:04,736 --> 00:25:06,406 The Press: Well, since you're looking for common ground, 634 00:25:06,404 --> 00:25:09,544 Congresswoman Marsha Fudge said that you should have talked 635 00:25:09,541 --> 00:25:14,611 to Harry Reid to put on the schedule to have Ms. Lynch, 636 00:25:14,613 --> 00:25:17,213 Loretta Lynch, have a confirmation hearings before 637 00:25:17,215 --> 00:25:22,085 January because nothing will go through come January. 638 00:25:22,087 --> 00:25:22,957 That's what she said. 639 00:25:22,954 --> 00:25:24,654 What do you say to people like that? 640 00:25:24,656 --> 00:25:29,466 Mr. Earnest: Well, all I would say is that Ms. Lynch 641 00:25:29,461 --> 00:25:32,561 is an exceedingly highly qualified nominee. 642 00:25:32,564 --> 00:25:35,234 She is somebody with a stellar legal track record 643 00:25:35,233 --> 00:25:39,473 and somebody who deserves prompt and bipartisan 644 00:25:39,471 --> 00:25:41,641 confirmation in the United States Senate. 645 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,440 We've seen some early indications from 646 00:25:43,441 --> 00:25:46,281 Republicans that they are going to give 647 00:25:46,278 --> 00:25:48,118 her a fair and prompt hearing. 648 00:25:48,113 --> 00:25:50,253 We would expect nothing less. 649 00:25:50,248 --> 00:25:52,648 And the President is confident that 650 00:25:52,651 --> 00:25:55,891 she'll get the bipartisan confirmation 651 00:25:55,887 --> 00:25:57,287 that she deserves. 652 00:25:57,289 --> 00:25:58,959 The Press: And lastly, on Ferguson. 653 00:25:58,957 --> 00:26:01,657 Has this administration or this President -- does he know 654 00:26:01,660 --> 00:26:06,800 anything about the potentials of a verdict on this -- 655 00:26:06,798 --> 00:26:10,768 or the possible indictment or not indictment on this 656 00:26:10,769 --> 00:26:15,609 officer who shot and killed Michael Brown? 657 00:26:15,607 --> 00:26:18,407 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's been pretty broadly, 658 00:26:18,410 --> 00:26:21,850 widely reported that there are ongoing grand jury 659 00:26:21,846 --> 00:26:27,016 proceedings in Ferguson related to this specific case, 660 00:26:27,018 --> 00:26:29,358 but nobody at the White House has any special knowledge 661 00:26:29,354 --> 00:26:30,384 of those proceedings. 662 00:26:30,388 --> 00:26:32,488 The Press: Is there a concern then from this White House that 663 00:26:32,490 --> 00:26:35,330 the National Guard is getting called up and there's a presence 664 00:26:35,327 --> 00:26:40,167 there to quell potential violence in that town if the 665 00:26:40,165 --> 00:26:42,935 verdict does come out that he is found not guilty? 666 00:26:42,934 --> 00:26:44,804 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President did have 667 00:26:44,803 --> 00:26:46,903 the opportunity to speak on the telephone with 668 00:26:46,905 --> 00:26:50,045 Governor Jay Nixon from the state of Missouri -- 669 00:26:50,041 --> 00:26:50,811 The Press: When was this? 670 00:26:50,809 --> 00:26:52,849 Mr. Earnest: I believe it was November 7th. 671 00:26:52,844 --> 00:26:53,944 We put out a readout of that call, 672 00:26:53,945 --> 00:26:57,315 so I can send that to you after the briefing. 673 00:26:57,315 --> 00:27:00,455 The President spent some time talking about work that 674 00:27:00,452 --> 00:27:04,222 the Governor has been focused on in terms of ensuring 675 00:27:04,222 --> 00:27:08,362 that the community is -- or that steps are taken 676 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:12,700 to protect the community if necessary. 677 00:27:12,697 --> 00:27:14,697 And that does include, in this case, 678 00:27:14,699 --> 00:27:17,139 the mobilization of some National Guard units. 679 00:27:19,571 --> 00:27:22,341 The President has also been in touch with civil rights leaders 680 00:27:22,340 --> 00:27:24,340 over the last few weeks to talk to them about the 681 00:27:24,342 --> 00:27:26,342 important work that they're doing in communities across 682 00:27:26,344 --> 00:27:32,814 the country to try to prevent any other violence 683 00:27:32,817 --> 00:27:38,427 associated with this particular circumstance. 684 00:27:38,423 --> 00:27:38,993 That said, I think the President is pretty mindful 685 00:27:38,990 --> 00:27:44,060 of the advice from Mr. Brown's parents, who urged 686 00:27:44,062 --> 00:27:47,232 people to pay tribute to their son's memory 687 00:27:47,232 --> 00:27:49,232 by expressing their views peacefully. 688 00:27:49,234 --> 00:27:51,234 The President is mindful of that and hopes 689 00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:52,606 other people will be, too. 690 00:27:52,604 --> 00:27:55,644 The Press: The verdict has not come out -- or we don't know 691 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,410 if they're nearing a decision or if they're 692 00:27:57,409 --> 00:27:59,309 going to go up to the last day of the window. 693 00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:02,310 Do you think it might be overkill right now to put the 694 00:28:02,313 --> 00:28:04,683 National Guard troops out until a verdict comes out? 695 00:28:04,682 --> 00:28:07,322 Because right now they're there and the people are just 696 00:28:07,318 --> 00:28:11,488 using their rights to speak out about what they feel. 697 00:28:11,489 --> 00:28:12,629 Mr. Earnest: Again, for any sort 698 00:28:12,624 --> 00:28:14,264 of tactical decisions about where and when 699 00:28:14,259 --> 00:28:17,699 to deploy National Guard personnel, 700 00:28:17,695 --> 00:28:20,265 I'd refer you to the Governor's office. 701 00:28:20,265 --> 00:28:22,235 Obviously they're making those decisions. 702 00:28:22,233 --> 00:28:23,233 The White House isn't. 703 00:28:23,234 --> 00:28:24,234 Wendell. 704 00:28:24,235 --> 00:28:26,235 The Press: Back on Jonathan Gruber. 705 00:28:26,237 --> 00:28:28,237 In Brisbane, the President really downplayed his 706 00:28:28,239 --> 00:28:31,709 significance, I think, and you say that his views are not 707 00:28:31,709 --> 00:28:33,579 shared -- his views about the voters are not shared 708 00:28:33,578 --> 00:28:34,378 at the White House. 709 00:28:34,379 --> 00:28:38,279 But Steve Ratner of MSNBC, the President's former car czar, 710 00:28:38,283 --> 00:28:42,853 says Gruber was "the man" on Obamacare when he was here. 711 00:28:42,854 --> 00:28:44,454 Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure the car czar 712 00:28:44,456 --> 00:28:46,856 would have a lot of insight into this. 713 00:28:46,858 --> 00:28:47,588 The Press: He was here. 714 00:28:47,592 --> 00:28:48,292 Mr. Earnest: Yes. 715 00:28:48,293 --> 00:28:48,823 So was I. 716 00:28:48,827 --> 00:28:50,057 (laughter) 717 00:28:50,061 --> 00:28:50,491 The Press: Okay. 718 00:28:50,495 --> 00:28:51,865 Mr. Earnest: So was the President. 719 00:28:51,863 --> 00:28:54,203 And Mr. Gruber was an advisor, as the President 720 00:28:54,199 --> 00:28:55,199 himself said. 721 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,900 The Press: He was the czar. 722 00:28:56,901 --> 00:28:58,401 Mr. Earnest: You mean he outranks me? 723 00:28:58,403 --> 00:28:59,773 (laughter) 724 00:28:59,771 --> 00:29:00,571 That could be. 725 00:29:00,572 --> 00:29:01,702 That could be. 726 00:29:01,706 --> 00:29:03,276 The Press: Are you downplaying his significance 727 00:29:03,274 --> 00:29:05,714 in crafting the Affordable Care Act? 728 00:29:05,710 --> 00:29:09,750 Mr. Earnest: He obviously is somebody who knows 729 00:29:09,747 --> 00:29:12,517 his profession as it relates to being 730 00:29:12,517 --> 00:29:14,157 a health care economist very well. 731 00:29:14,152 --> 00:29:15,922 He's somebody who has offered advice to Democrats 732 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,960 and Republicans as they've implemented health care policy. 733 00:29:19,958 --> 00:29:22,458 Dr. Gruber was obviously involved with 734 00:29:22,460 --> 00:29:25,600 then-Governor Romney's efforts to implement 735 00:29:25,597 --> 00:29:28,197 health care reform in the state of Massachusetts. 736 00:29:28,199 --> 00:29:32,099 That principally is why he was involved with this effort 737 00:29:32,103 --> 00:29:35,073 because so many aspects of the Affordable Care Act borrowed 738 00:29:35,073 --> 00:29:37,573 from the successes of that law as well. 739 00:29:37,575 --> 00:29:41,745 So he certainly is somebody who is well-versed 740 00:29:41,746 --> 00:29:45,986 in understanding how economics will have 741 00:29:45,984 --> 00:29:48,024 an impact on health care policy. 742 00:29:48,019 --> 00:29:50,589 But I think it's pretty evident from these videos that 743 00:29:50,588 --> 00:29:53,358 he doesn't have nearly as much insight as it relates 744 00:29:53,358 --> 00:29:56,958 to politics or communications or legislative strategy. 745 00:29:56,961 --> 00:30:00,461 The Press: Republicans say his comments show a lack 746 00:30:00,465 --> 00:30:03,705 of transparency in selling the Affordable Care Act -- 747 00:30:03,701 --> 00:30:07,341 for example, not calling a tax a tax. 748 00:30:07,338 --> 00:30:12,878 And they say that they're going to, based on that, 749 00:30:12,877 --> 00:30:17,587 challenge the President's veracity in selling Obamacare. 750 00:30:17,582 --> 00:30:19,982 How much of a political problem is Gruber now? 751 00:30:19,984 --> 00:30:22,324 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think I would quibble 752 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,090 with that critique for a couple of reasons. 753 00:30:25,089 --> 00:30:27,089 When the Affordable Care Act was something that 754 00:30:27,091 --> 00:30:29,191 was debated over the course of 14 months, 755 00:30:29,194 --> 00:30:31,794 there were 79 bipartisan hearings that were 756 00:30:31,796 --> 00:30:35,696 convened in the House of Representatives. 757 00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:38,100 There were about a hundred hours of hearings 758 00:30:38,102 --> 00:30:40,102 on health care reform in the House including 759 00:30:40,104 --> 00:30:43,674 from 181 witnesses from both sides of the aisle. 760 00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:46,515 Over in the Senate, there were 53 additional hearings 761 00:30:46,511 --> 00:30:47,881 on this matter. 762 00:30:47,879 --> 00:30:48,709 The Press: I'll stipulate that. 763 00:30:48,713 --> 00:30:49,013 Mr. Earnest: Right. 764 00:30:49,013 --> 00:30:51,353 So I guess -- but the suggestion by some that 765 00:30:51,349 --> 00:30:53,919 this was something that had not been carefully worked 766 00:30:53,918 --> 00:30:55,918 through or was not transparent -- I assume 767 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:57,660 that all these hearings were open. 768 00:30:57,655 --> 00:30:59,825 So I guess it's why I just wanted to raise this because 769 00:30:59,824 --> 00:31:02,894 I do think it significantly undermines the charge that 770 00:31:02,894 --> 00:31:05,934 there wasn't a lot of transparency as it relates 771 00:31:05,930 --> 00:31:08,200 to the debate around the health care law. 772 00:31:08,199 --> 00:31:09,839 It was debated in -- I'm just going to do 773 00:31:09,834 --> 00:31:10,834 the math here off the top of my head -- 774 00:31:10,835 --> 00:31:13,705 132 different congressional hearings. 775 00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:15,375 The Press: But when you've got one of the principal authors 776 00:31:15,373 --> 00:31:17,673 saying, look, you can't call a tax a tax because 777 00:31:17,675 --> 00:31:21,615 politically it won't go through, that's a problem. 778 00:31:21,613 --> 00:31:24,783 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, it wasn't his responsibility 779 00:31:24,782 --> 00:31:27,222 to figure out how to get this bill through. 780 00:31:27,218 --> 00:31:30,888 We have people who were responsible for making 781 00:31:30,888 --> 00:31:33,088 those kinds of legislative decisions at the White House. 782 00:31:33,091 --> 00:31:38,831 His expertise was focused on the economics of health care. 783 00:31:38,830 --> 00:31:40,670 This was expertise that he lent to Governor Romney's 784 00:31:40,665 --> 00:31:42,235 administration in Massachusetts as they 785 00:31:42,233 --> 00:31:44,673 worked on health care reform there. 786 00:31:44,669 --> 00:31:47,309 And that was the role that he played here. 787 00:31:47,305 --> 00:31:51,705 It also, I think, is why it's pretty clear that the views that 788 00:31:51,709 --> 00:31:54,379 he's articulated don't reflect what actually happened when 789 00:31:54,379 --> 00:31:57,879 it comes to the passing or implementation of this law. 790 00:31:57,882 --> 00:31:58,882 Chris. 791 00:31:58,883 --> 00:32:00,453 The Press: Let me ask you a few more questions about 792 00:32:00,451 --> 00:32:04,051 the review of the hostages and the policy here. 793 00:32:04,055 --> 00:32:06,495 And I want to start with -- I know that there's been a lot 794 00:32:06,491 --> 00:32:10,731 of talk about how much people who actually do pay ransom, 795 00:32:10,728 --> 00:32:12,998 particularly European countries, whether directly 796 00:32:12,997 --> 00:32:15,267 or more likely through a third party or through 797 00:32:15,266 --> 00:32:18,536 a company actually do pay ransoms. 798 00:32:18,536 --> 00:32:20,406 How concerning is that? 799 00:32:20,405 --> 00:32:22,505 And where is the effort on putting pressure 800 00:32:22,507 --> 00:32:24,747 on governments not to pay ransoms? 801 00:32:24,742 --> 00:32:26,742 Mr. Earnest: Well, we've made the views of this 802 00:32:26,744 --> 00:32:28,744 country very clear. 803 00:32:30,348 --> 00:32:33,688 And again, the reasons for that are that paying ransoms 804 00:32:33,685 --> 00:32:35,725 or making it clear to other organizations that we're 805 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,590 willing to pay ransoms only puts American citizens 806 00:32:38,589 --> 00:32:40,229 at greater risk. 807 00:32:40,224 --> 00:32:42,194 And that's something that obviously the President 808 00:32:42,193 --> 00:32:44,193 and his team are very focused on, 809 00:32:44,195 --> 00:32:46,195 is trying to protect American citizens. 810 00:32:46,197 --> 00:32:49,637 The other thing that we know, based on our insight into the 811 00:32:49,634 --> 00:32:53,634 way that ISIL works is that they rely on these sort of ransom 812 00:32:53,638 --> 00:32:57,178 payments as a very important source of their financing. 813 00:32:57,175 --> 00:32:59,545 So shutting off that source of financing 814 00:32:59,544 --> 00:33:02,284 is an important part of our strategy 815 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:04,280 for defeating them. 816 00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:10,084 So that's why -- and again, this isn't a new policy. 817 00:33:10,088 --> 00:33:13,358 This is actually a policy that predates this President. 818 00:33:13,358 --> 00:33:16,028 The Press: But is there any progress on putting pressure -- 819 00:33:16,027 --> 00:33:18,767 on having any success in getting other countries, 820 00:33:18,763 --> 00:33:20,763 other organizations to back off on that? 821 00:33:20,765 --> 00:33:23,135 Mr. Earnest: Well, we've certainly impressed upon 822 00:33:23,134 --> 00:33:26,274 other countries and other organizations the wisdom 823 00:33:26,270 --> 00:33:27,310 of this view. 824 00:33:27,305 --> 00:33:29,275 But ultimately, they're going to make that 825 00:33:29,273 --> 00:33:30,273 decision for themselves. 826 00:33:30,274 --> 00:33:35,184 The Press: Also, at the time, James Foley's parents were 827 00:33:35,179 --> 00:33:37,179 very critical of the relationship -- we've talked 828 00:33:37,181 --> 00:33:39,351 about it here, you've talked about it from the podium. 829 00:33:39,350 --> 00:33:43,090 Have there been any changes since that time 830 00:33:43,087 --> 00:33:45,087 in the way this administration deals 831 00:33:45,089 --> 00:33:46,589 with the families of people who are being 832 00:33:46,591 --> 00:33:49,161 held hostage, and is that also part of this review? 833 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:51,900 Mr. Earnest: That's part of the review. 834 00:33:51,896 --> 00:33:54,366 The Press: But no changes at this point? 835 00:33:54,365 --> 00:33:56,135 Mr. Earnest: Not that I'm aware of. 836 00:33:56,134 --> 00:33:58,774 But again, once this review is completed, 837 00:33:58,770 --> 00:34:00,770 I'm sure we'll have more that we can say about this. 838 00:34:00,772 --> 00:34:03,342 The Press: And just a quick question on immigration, 839 00:34:03,341 --> 00:34:07,711 because today -- well, actually, on a number 840 00:34:07,712 --> 00:34:09,412 of occasions, the President has talked about 841 00:34:09,414 --> 00:34:11,784 that he's tired of waiting, including at that 842 00:34:11,783 --> 00:34:16,753 post-press conference he suggested that. 843 00:34:16,754 --> 00:34:21,394 You've also said here today that this isn't going 844 00:34:21,392 --> 00:34:22,762 to make a difference in terms of the budget, 845 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,330 that the Republicans will go ahead anyway, 846 00:34:25,329 --> 00:34:28,129 you think they're going to do some sort of attachment. 847 00:34:28,132 --> 00:34:28,962 And Harry Reid -- 848 00:34:28,966 --> 00:34:30,036 Mr. Earnest: I think the point I was making 849 00:34:30,034 --> 00:34:31,804 is just I think you can argue it both ways. 850 00:34:31,803 --> 00:34:32,133 The Press: Yes. 851 00:34:32,136 --> 00:34:33,706 Mr. Earnest: So which is why a decision about that 852 00:34:33,704 --> 00:34:35,874 doesn't necessarily determine the outcome. 853 00:34:35,873 --> 00:34:36,843 The Press: Well, Harry Reid said today, 854 00:34:36,841 --> 00:34:40,411 "I think it should be done now." 855 00:34:40,411 --> 00:34:43,311 Is there any real reason for the President to wait 856 00:34:43,314 --> 00:34:44,854 beyond this week? 857 00:34:44,849 --> 00:34:47,449 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think Justin floated sort 858 00:34:47,452 --> 00:34:49,452 of the reason that you might consider doing that. 859 00:34:52,023 --> 00:34:55,393 I don't have any updates in terms of the timing. 860 00:34:55,393 --> 00:34:57,393 The President has been waiting a long time -- 861 00:34:57,395 --> 00:34:59,365 more importantly, the American people have been 862 00:34:59,363 --> 00:35:01,433 waiting a long time -- for congressional Republicans 863 00:35:01,432 --> 00:35:03,872 to stop blocking a common-sense proposal that 864 00:35:03,868 --> 00:35:06,268 would actually do a lot to solve so many aspects 865 00:35:06,270 --> 00:35:08,270 of our broken immigration system in a way that 866 00:35:08,272 --> 00:35:10,272 would be good for the economy, would be good 867 00:35:10,274 --> 00:35:12,274 for the deficit, and would strengthen our 868 00:35:12,276 --> 00:35:13,276 security at the border. 869 00:35:13,277 --> 00:35:15,277 So there are some steps that the President can take 870 00:35:15,279 --> 00:35:17,849 using his own authority that he's going to pursue 871 00:35:17,849 --> 00:35:21,689 to try to mitigate some of those concerns. 872 00:35:21,686 --> 00:35:24,786 But the fact is the President is not going to be able 873 00:35:24,789 --> 00:35:27,789 to do as much as this legislation would do. 874 00:35:27,792 --> 00:35:31,062 And that's why, even after the President does take action 875 00:35:31,062 --> 00:35:33,232 before the end of this year, he's going to continue 876 00:35:33,231 --> 00:35:36,031 to press Congress to take the kinds of steps that 877 00:35:36,033 --> 00:35:38,573 he believes are necessary. 878 00:35:38,569 --> 00:35:40,809 The President pointed this out in the news conference that 879 00:35:40,805 --> 00:35:44,145 he did in Brisbane last week -- or over the weekend, 880 00:35:44,141 --> 00:35:47,111 I guess -- that it's not just the President who believes 881 00:35:47,111 --> 00:35:49,911 that the common-sense, bipartisan proposal 882 00:35:49,914 --> 00:35:52,114 in the Senate would be good for the country. 883 00:35:52,116 --> 00:35:54,056 The business community, the labor community, 884 00:35:54,051 --> 00:35:56,651 the evangelical community, even law enforcement believes 885 00:35:56,654 --> 00:35:58,894 that that legislation would be in the best interests 886 00:35:58,890 --> 00:35:59,890 of the country. 887 00:35:59,891 --> 00:36:02,431 I think it makes it very difficult for Republicans 888 00:36:02,426 --> 00:36:05,426 to explain why they continue to block this proposal, 889 00:36:05,429 --> 00:36:07,129 because the other thing we know about this bill 890 00:36:07,131 --> 00:36:09,931 is that if House Republicans were just to allow it 891 00:36:09,934 --> 00:36:12,034 to come up for a vote that it would surely pass the 892 00:36:12,036 --> 00:36:14,836 House of Representatives also in bipartisan fashion. 893 00:36:14,839 --> 00:36:20,009 So, again, we'll have plenty of opportunity to evaluate 894 00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:22,011 whatever steps the President takes, and we can 895 00:36:22,013 --> 00:36:24,553 sort of at that point have a discussion about 896 00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:27,519 the wisdom of the actual timing that he chooses. 897 00:36:27,518 --> 00:36:30,288 But at this point, I think the case is pretty clear for 898 00:36:30,288 --> 00:36:34,088 why the President should act, and eventually, 899 00:36:34,091 --> 00:36:36,291 sometime relatively soon, I think we'll have 900 00:36:36,294 --> 00:36:39,434 the opportunity to have a discussion about what 901 00:36:39,430 --> 00:36:42,800 steps the President has actually taken. 902 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,000 Lesley. 903 00:36:44,001 --> 00:36:44,431 The Press: Thanks. 904 00:36:44,435 --> 00:36:47,305 To go back to Keystone, the Times had a -- mentioned 905 00:36:47,305 --> 00:36:50,475 in a story today that the President's thinking 906 00:36:50,474 --> 00:36:55,014 was to veto now and go for some sort 907 00:36:55,012 --> 00:36:56,612 of a trade maybe,or something after 908 00:36:56,614 --> 00:36:58,554 the State Department review comes out. 909 00:36:58,549 --> 00:37:01,149 Can you speak a little bit to his -- is that his thinking, 910 00:37:01,152 --> 00:37:06,592 to wait on Keystone and use it for some sort of -- 911 00:37:07,692 --> 00:37:09,792 Mr. Earnest: Well, that presupposes that it's going 912 00:37:09,794 --> 00:37:11,164 to pass in the Senate. 913 00:37:11,162 --> 00:37:14,032 So I think we'll probably wait and see what happens 914 00:37:14,031 --> 00:37:16,001 in the Senate and see whether or not this comes 915 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,700 to the President's desk before we sort of make 916 00:37:18,703 --> 00:37:20,373 decisions about the next steps. 917 00:37:20,371 --> 00:37:21,471 The Press: But Congress is already thinking about 918 00:37:21,472 --> 00:37:23,372 the next steps. 919 00:37:23,374 --> 00:37:24,304 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I think that's probably 920 00:37:24,308 --> 00:37:25,548 fair to say. 921 00:37:25,543 --> 00:37:26,643 The Press: Could you elaborate a little 922 00:37:26,644 --> 00:37:27,314 bit on whether -- 923 00:37:27,311 --> 00:37:28,181 Mr. Earnest: Not at this point. 924 00:37:28,179 --> 00:37:30,119 Maybe sometime soon as we advance further 925 00:37:30,114 --> 00:37:31,814 in the process. 926 00:37:31,816 --> 00:37:33,956 Mr. Plante. 927 00:37:35,152 --> 00:37:38,622 The Press: What would be the advantage to waiting? 928 00:37:38,623 --> 00:37:40,563 If the President is so determined to do this, 929 00:37:40,558 --> 00:37:42,358 why doesn't he just do it this week? 930 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:43,830 Mr. Earnest: Well, maybe he will. 931 00:37:43,828 --> 00:37:44,558 Who knows? 932 00:37:44,562 --> 00:37:46,062 (laughter) 933 00:37:46,063 --> 00:37:46,963 The Press: But you didn't really answer 934 00:37:46,964 --> 00:37:47,934 Chris's question. 935 00:37:47,932 --> 00:37:49,402 Why would he wait? 936 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,000 Mr. Earnest: Well, maybe he won't. 937 00:37:51,002 --> 00:37:52,072 The Press: Who knows? 938 00:37:52,069 --> 00:37:53,069 Mr. Earnest: Who knows? 939 00:37:53,070 --> 00:37:53,540 The Press: What could the strategy -- 940 00:37:53,537 --> 00:37:54,337 The Press: Could be. 941 00:37:54,338 --> 00:37:56,578 Mr. Earnest: I don't know -- I'll let you 942 00:37:56,574 --> 00:37:58,814 guys sort of weigh the pros and cons here. 943 00:37:58,809 --> 00:37:59,809 When the President has made a decision, 944 00:37:59,810 --> 00:38:01,610 we will definitely let you -- we'll make sure you're 945 00:38:01,612 --> 00:38:03,652 among the first to know. 946 00:38:05,216 --> 00:38:05,946 The Press: Right. 947 00:38:05,950 --> 00:38:07,080 (laughter) 948 00:38:07,084 --> 00:38:07,984 Mr. Earnest: An we'll have a chance to sort 949 00:38:07,985 --> 00:38:10,555 of walk through at that point what the President has 950 00:38:10,554 --> 00:38:13,894 decided, and why he decided to take the action he took, 951 00:38:13,891 --> 00:38:15,031 and at what timing. 952 00:38:15,026 --> 00:38:17,196 The Press: And perhaps you'll also explain how he could 953 00:38:17,194 --> 00:38:19,794 walk back his comments that he made, which Jonathan 954 00:38:19,797 --> 00:38:24,937 referred to, in September of 2013, about the limits 955 00:38:24,935 --> 00:38:26,105 of his legal powers. 956 00:38:26,103 --> 00:38:27,703 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what we'll be confidently 957 00:38:27,705 --> 00:38:29,745 able to do is to explain to you what legal authority 958 00:38:29,740 --> 00:38:31,880 the President is using to take these actions. 959 00:38:31,876 --> 00:38:33,146 That's exactly right. 960 00:38:33,144 --> 00:38:34,474 All right, J.C. 961 00:38:34,478 --> 00:38:36,978 The Press: Josh, in light of the deteriorating situation 962 00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:40,621 in Syria, especially the latest attacks by ISIL, 963 00:38:40,618 --> 00:38:45,318 has the President discussed this since Brisbane 964 00:38:45,322 --> 00:38:48,922 with U.S. allies? 965 00:38:48,926 --> 00:38:52,096 And are they willing to put together some sort 966 00:38:52,096 --> 00:38:55,396 of concerted effort to deal with President Assad, 967 00:38:55,399 --> 00:38:58,769 who is actually giving them safe haven? 968 00:38:58,769 --> 00:39:02,809 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have any additional phone calls 969 00:39:02,807 --> 00:39:04,777 to world leaders to read out at this point. 970 00:39:04,775 --> 00:39:06,275 I don't know of any calls the President has made. 971 00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:07,677 The Press: Was it discussed at G20? 972 00:39:07,678 --> 00:39:09,318 Mr. Earnest: Well, it was. 973 00:39:09,313 --> 00:39:11,913 There was an effort to talk about the threat that 974 00:39:11,916 --> 00:39:15,486 ISIL poses to the broader international order here. 975 00:39:15,486 --> 00:39:19,456 And the President does remain very concerned about these 976 00:39:19,457 --> 00:39:24,097 reckless acts of violence that we see there. 977 00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:26,095 And obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with the Kassig 978 00:39:26,097 --> 00:39:28,097 family today, who is mourning the loss of their son. 979 00:39:31,135 --> 00:39:33,305 And the President has worked very hard to build a broader 980 00:39:33,304 --> 00:39:37,044 international coalition to take the fight to ISIL. 981 00:39:37,041 --> 00:39:39,041 We're very pleased with the kind of international 982 00:39:39,043 --> 00:39:42,243 cooperation that we've gotten in this endeavor, 983 00:39:42,246 --> 00:39:46,346 and it's precisely because of the threat that ISIL poses 984 00:39:46,350 --> 00:39:48,350 to the broader international community if they 985 00:39:48,352 --> 00:39:50,652 can establish a safe haven inside of Syria. 986 00:39:50,654 --> 00:39:52,924 And you're right, it's the failed leadership of the Assad 987 00:39:52,923 --> 00:39:56,893 regime that has created a power vacuum that has allowed 988 00:39:56,894 --> 00:40:00,164 extremist organizations like ISIL to try to gain a foothold 989 00:40:00,164 --> 00:40:02,764 and try to establish a safe haven in that area 990 00:40:02,767 --> 00:40:03,767 of the world. 991 00:40:03,768 --> 00:40:05,768 And that's why you've seen such a strong reaction 992 00:40:05,770 --> 00:40:07,770 from the United States and members of our 993 00:40:07,772 --> 00:40:11,272 international coalition to go after ISIL and to prevent 994 00:40:11,275 --> 00:40:13,245 that safe haven from being established. 995 00:40:13,244 --> 00:40:16,284 The Press: Has this raised Assad's profile at all with 996 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:19,050 this administration in terms of what needs to be done? 997 00:40:19,049 --> 00:40:20,149 Mr. Earnest: Well, we've been saying for some time, 998 00:40:20,151 --> 00:40:23,991 J.C., that Assad has lost the legitimacy 999 00:40:23,988 --> 00:40:25,558 to lead that country. 1000 00:40:25,556 --> 00:40:28,226 And that's not based on a particularly unique 1001 00:40:28,225 --> 00:40:30,365 conclusion that the United States has drawn. 1002 00:40:30,361 --> 00:40:32,901 That's based on what I think is pretty clear evidence 1003 00:40:32,897 --> 00:40:36,097 that the people of Syria don't support him being in power. 1004 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:37,100 And that's not a coincidence. 1005 00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:39,301 This is somebody who has perpetrated terrible acts 1006 00:40:39,303 --> 00:40:42,043 of violence using his nation's military against 1007 00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:43,639 the nation's citizens. 1008 00:40:43,641 --> 00:40:46,581 There's no place for world leaders like that, 1009 00:40:46,577 --> 00:40:48,617 and that's why this administration and this 1010 00:40:48,612 --> 00:40:52,252 President believes that he's lost the legitimacy to lead. 1011 00:40:52,249 --> 00:40:53,249 Peter. 1012 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:54,390 The Press: Josh, can we circle back a little bit 1013 00:40:54,385 --> 00:40:55,485 to Jon's question? 1014 00:40:55,486 --> 00:40:56,186 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 1015 00:40:56,187 --> 00:40:57,987 The Press: You said the circumstances have changed. 1016 00:40:57,988 --> 00:40:59,788 The President hadn't waited as long then 1017 00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:01,590 as he's waited now for Republicans to act 1018 00:41:01,592 --> 00:41:02,762 in the House and so forth. 1019 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:04,300 And I can see why that might affect his 1020 00:41:04,295 --> 00:41:06,995 policy choices or his strategic calculation. 1021 00:41:06,997 --> 00:41:10,197 I don't see how that changes that law he is referring 1022 00:41:10,201 --> 00:41:12,471 to in September of 2013. 1023 00:41:12,469 --> 00:41:14,309 So the question is Does he have a different view 1024 00:41:14,305 --> 00:41:16,545 today of what the legal authority was? 1025 00:41:16,540 --> 00:41:17,980 Has he been educated? 1026 00:41:17,975 --> 00:41:21,345 Has he amended his view of what the law is, 1027 00:41:21,345 --> 00:41:23,445 not what the calculation is in Congress? 1028 00:41:23,447 --> 00:41:24,947 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me go back to the first part 1029 00:41:24,949 --> 00:41:25,779 of your question first. 1030 00:41:25,783 --> 00:41:27,983 Then I'll get to the second, which is -- 1031 00:41:27,985 --> 00:41:30,325 and I probably could have been clearer when I was 1032 00:41:30,321 --> 00:41:32,291 answering Jon's question on this, which is, 1033 00:41:32,289 --> 00:41:34,729 it's not just that the President 1034 00:41:34,725 --> 00:41:36,725 and the country have been waiting a long time 1035 00:41:36,727 --> 00:41:39,727 for House Republicans to act -- we have. 1036 00:41:39,730 --> 00:41:45,140 But it's also now Republicans have indicated that they're 1037 00:41:45,135 --> 00:41:47,105 not going to be able to pass -- or not willing to bring 1038 00:41:47,104 --> 00:41:49,704 that bill up for a vote in the House of Representatives, 1039 00:41:49,707 --> 00:41:52,277 and not willing to commit to bringing 1040 00:41:52,276 --> 00:41:54,616 it up in the next session of Congress. 1041 00:41:54,612 --> 00:41:57,712 So it's no longer a situation where at that point, 1042 00:41:57,715 --> 00:41:59,715 House Republicans were saying, well, 1043 00:41:59,717 --> 00:42:01,717 this is something that we may get around to. 1044 00:42:01,719 --> 00:42:03,719 Now House Republicans are being pretty clear about 1045 00:42:03,721 --> 00:42:05,721 the fact that they're not ever going to get around to it. 1046 00:42:05,723 --> 00:42:07,993 And that's what has caused the President -- or prompted 1047 00:42:07,992 --> 00:42:10,992 the President to consider some alternatives. 1048 00:42:10,995 --> 00:42:13,165 And this goes to the second part of your question. 1049 00:42:13,163 --> 00:42:16,803 And what the President has done since the interview 1050 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,740 is to ask for a detailed, in-depth, professional 1051 00:42:19,737 --> 00:42:22,907 review of what kind of authority can be wielded 1052 00:42:22,907 --> 00:42:25,477 by the President of the United States -- any President 1053 00:42:25,476 --> 00:42:27,546 -- to address some of these problems that 1054 00:42:27,544 --> 00:42:29,944 Congress is unwilling to confront. 1055 00:42:29,947 --> 00:42:32,117 And there's a pretty well-established pattern 1056 00:42:32,116 --> 00:42:37,626 of Presidents in both parties taking steps 1057 00:42:37,621 --> 00:42:40,391 to reform the broken immigration system. 1058 00:42:40,391 --> 00:42:41,691 I had a list here before. 1059 00:42:41,692 --> 00:42:45,662 Even somebody like President George H.W. 1060 00:42:45,663 --> 00:42:52,203 Bush took steps to expand the Family Fairness Program 1061 00:42:52,202 --> 00:42:54,642 to cover more than 1.5 million unauthorized 1062 00:42:54,638 --> 00:42:56,138 spouses and children. 1063 00:42:56,140 --> 00:42:59,410 This represented 40 percent of the undocumented population 1064 00:42:59,410 --> 00:43:01,880 of roughly 3.5 million undocumented immigrants 1065 00:43:01,879 --> 00:43:03,519 in the country at that time. 1066 00:43:03,514 --> 00:43:06,514 So that's just one example -- President Reagan took a couple 1067 00:43:06,517 --> 00:43:09,387 of steps -- that were also significant in terms of using 1068 00:43:09,386 --> 00:43:13,896 their executive authority to take actions related 1069 00:43:13,891 --> 00:43:15,891 to our immigration system that would have 1070 00:43:15,893 --> 00:43:17,763 a substantial impact on a large number of people. 1071 00:43:17,761 --> 00:43:18,661 The Press: The question then is, did 1072 00:43:18,662 --> 00:43:20,302 the President -- President Obama -- not know about 1073 00:43:20,297 --> 00:43:22,067 those examples a year ago when he said he didn't 1074 00:43:22,066 --> 00:43:23,066 have that authority? 1075 00:43:23,067 --> 00:43:24,767 Has he been educated in a way that has changed 1076 00:43:24,768 --> 00:43:27,238 the understanding of what that law is? 1077 00:43:27,237 --> 00:43:28,207 Mr. Earnest: I don't know whether or not 1078 00:43:28,205 --> 00:43:30,105 he was aware of these specific examples. 1079 00:43:30,107 --> 00:43:34,277 What I can tell you is that the President has directed 1080 00:43:34,278 --> 00:43:38,988 his team to conduct the review of the law, 1081 00:43:38,983 --> 00:43:42,553 and what they have attempted to do is to try to determine 1082 00:43:42,553 --> 00:43:45,593 what exactly can the President do within the confines 1083 00:43:45,589 --> 00:43:47,589 of the law to try to address some of these problems. 1084 00:43:47,591 --> 00:43:53,101 The Press: Would you agree that his comments from a year ago 1085 00:43:53,097 --> 00:43:57,337 lend themselves to the critics who say he is expanding 1086 00:43:57,334 --> 00:44:00,074 what his definition of the law really is, given that 1087 00:44:00,070 --> 00:44:04,510 a year ago he seemed to suggest the opposite? 1088 00:44:04,508 --> 00:44:07,108 Mr. Earnest: Well, what the President and his team are 1089 00:44:07,111 --> 00:44:10,381 focused on is trying to figure out what exactly the law says 1090 00:44:10,381 --> 00:44:13,181 and what that means for the President's ability to wield 1091 00:44:13,183 --> 00:44:15,353 some authority here to try to solve problems, 1092 00:44:15,352 --> 00:44:17,392 that ultimately is what this goes back to, 1093 00:44:17,388 --> 00:44:20,228 is what capacity does the President have within the 1094 00:44:20,224 --> 00:44:22,364 confines of the law to address some of these problems 1095 00:44:22,359 --> 00:44:24,959 that Republicans in Congress just won't address. 1096 00:44:24,962 --> 00:44:25,962 The Press: He seemed pretty certain about what the law 1097 00:44:25,963 --> 00:44:27,603 was when he was talking with immigration activists 1098 00:44:27,598 --> 00:44:28,828 in the interview. 1099 00:44:28,832 --> 00:44:31,432 Mr. Earnest: Well, in a lot of these interviews that 1100 00:44:31,435 --> 00:44:33,435 the President has done, the President was repeatedly 1101 00:44:33,437 --> 00:44:36,607 challenged to end all deportations. 1102 00:44:36,607 --> 00:44:39,747 And that is what most often prompted 1103 00:44:39,743 --> 00:44:42,643 the President to say that "I'm not a king. 1104 00:44:42,646 --> 00:44:44,086 I'm not an emperor. 1105 00:44:44,081 --> 00:44:47,721 I do have to enforce these laws." 1106 00:44:47,718 --> 00:44:50,588 The question is to what extent, using his authority, 1107 00:44:50,587 --> 00:44:52,127 can he have an impact on those laws? 1108 00:44:52,122 --> 00:44:53,922 And the fact is it's not within his authority 1109 00:44:53,924 --> 00:44:55,694 to end all deportations. 1110 00:44:55,692 --> 00:44:56,592 The Press: Well, those weren't the only times 1111 00:44:56,593 --> 00:44:57,693 he was saying that, though. 1112 00:44:57,694 --> 00:44:58,794 He was also asked very specifically, 1113 00:44:58,796 --> 00:44:59,866 can you expand -- 1114 00:44:59,863 --> 00:45:00,533 Mr. Earnest: I know. 1115 00:45:00,531 --> 00:45:01,031 I know. 1116 00:45:01,031 --> 00:45:01,531 I know. 1117 00:45:01,532 --> 00:45:02,532 The Press: -- which is now what he's talking about doing. 1118 00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:03,003 Mr. Earnest: Right. 1119 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,140 But you made a reference to a large number of cases in which 1120 00:45:05,135 --> 00:45:07,005 the President has said I'm not an emperor, I'm not a king, 1121 00:45:07,004 --> 00:45:07,904 and I can't change the law. 1122 00:45:07,905 --> 00:45:09,505 In the vast majority of situations, 1123 00:45:09,506 --> 00:45:11,746 the President was talking -- was responding to those who 1124 00:45:11,742 --> 00:45:14,612 suggested that he could stop all deportations. 1125 00:45:14,611 --> 00:45:19,951 And that's the context in which the President most 1126 00:45:19,950 --> 00:45:21,490 often delivered this answer. 1127 00:45:21,485 --> 00:45:22,155 The Press: Not always. 1128 00:45:22,152 --> 00:45:23,322 Mr. Earnest: No, not always. 1129 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:24,490 The Press: So I asked about the ones he -- 1130 00:45:24,488 --> 00:45:26,258 Mr. Earnest: And that's what Jon pointed out, 1131 00:45:26,256 --> 00:45:28,056 is that there were other situations 1132 00:45:28,058 --> 00:45:29,198 in which he was asked specifically 1133 00:45:29,193 --> 00:45:31,633 about the deferred action program. 1134 00:45:31,628 --> 00:45:33,228 In this case, the President has ordered 1135 00:45:33,230 --> 00:45:38,100 a review to determine what exactly is contained 1136 00:45:38,102 --> 00:45:39,472 within the law that would allow him 1137 00:45:39,470 --> 00:45:43,440 to take some steps that would address some 1138 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:44,810 of the problems that exist. 1139 00:45:44,808 --> 00:45:45,438 The Press: Last question. 1140 00:45:45,442 --> 00:45:47,042 Is it fair to say that he ordered this review because 1141 00:45:47,044 --> 00:45:48,984 he was no longer certain that his statements 1142 00:45:48,979 --> 00:45:50,479 in the past were correct? 1143 00:45:50,481 --> 00:45:52,651 Mr. Earnest: I think he ordered this review because 1144 00:45:52,649 --> 00:45:54,649 he wanted to basically find out what authority 1145 00:45:54,651 --> 00:45:59,921 he did have and to ensure that we were sort 1146 00:45:59,923 --> 00:46:02,793 of leaving no stone unturned in examining 1147 00:46:02,793 --> 00:46:03,793 what sort of authority 1148 00:46:03,794 --> 00:46:05,294 the President of the United States could wield 1149 00:46:05,295 --> 00:46:07,795 to try to address some of these problems 1150 00:46:07,798 --> 00:46:11,538 that Congress has been unwilling to confront. 1151 00:46:11,535 --> 00:46:12,605 The Press: Josh, can I just follow up? 1152 00:46:12,603 --> 00:46:13,403 Mr. Earnest: Okay, go ahead. 1153 00:46:13,403 --> 00:46:16,443 The Press: In the past, the President seemed to be 1154 00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:18,040 explaining, as you say, to those people who were calling 1155 00:46:18,041 --> 00:46:19,981 for him to take these actions that he's not a king, 1156 00:46:19,977 --> 00:46:21,147 that he's not an emperor. 1157 00:46:21,145 --> 00:46:23,545 Is the President at all concerned about the message 1158 00:46:23,547 --> 00:46:25,617 that it does send, particularly to young people 1159 00:46:25,616 --> 00:46:27,686 who are calling for him to take these steps, that, 1160 00:46:27,684 --> 00:46:31,754 in fact, he does have some powers that 1161 00:46:31,755 --> 00:46:33,355 the general understanding is that 1162 00:46:33,357 --> 00:46:34,357 he doesn't have? 1163 00:46:34,358 --> 00:46:36,858 Is there concern about the message it sends 1164 00:46:36,860 --> 00:46:37,860 even overseas? 1165 00:46:37,861 --> 00:46:39,901 Mr. Earnest: No, because I remain confident, 1166 00:46:39,897 --> 00:46:42,797 and the President remains confident, 1167 00:46:42,799 --> 00:46:44,839 that whatever he announces will be entirely consistent 1168 00:46:44,835 --> 00:46:45,865 with what the law is. 1169 00:46:45,869 --> 00:46:48,069 The Press: What about the response from the Hill, 1170 00:46:48,071 --> 00:46:50,711 though -- I mean, the Republicans here in Congress 1171 00:46:50,707 --> 00:46:52,147 who are suggesting that the President 1172 00:46:52,142 --> 00:46:53,482 is acting unlawfully? 1173 00:46:53,477 --> 00:46:55,777 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, once the President has made 1174 00:46:55,779 --> 00:46:58,219 a decision and it's a decision that's been announced, 1175 00:46:58,215 --> 00:47:01,115 we'll all -- Republicans and Democrats and even some 1176 00:47:01,118 --> 00:47:03,658 reporters -- all have the opportunity to evaluate whether 1177 00:47:03,654 --> 00:47:05,894 or not those actions are consistent with the law. 1178 00:47:05,889 --> 00:47:07,929 I'm confident we'll have a very strong case to make 1179 00:47:07,925 --> 00:47:10,825 about how those actions are consistent with the law, 1180 00:47:10,827 --> 00:47:12,797 as currently described. 1181 00:47:12,796 --> 00:47:15,636 But I don't know if Republicans will find 1182 00:47:15,632 --> 00:47:17,172 that entirely convincing. 1183 00:47:17,167 --> 00:47:21,307 Given their pretty staunch opposition to immigration reform 1184 00:47:21,305 --> 00:47:23,905 in general, I'm confident they'll look for any excuse 1185 00:47:23,907 --> 00:47:27,177 they can come up with to try to explain why they're 1186 00:47:27,177 --> 00:47:28,917 against these actions. 1187 00:47:28,912 --> 00:47:30,912 I think we'll have a strong case to make that what 1188 00:47:30,914 --> 00:47:35,114 the President has done will be good for the economy, 1189 00:47:35,118 --> 00:47:37,118 will be good for the country, will be good 1190 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:38,120 for border security. 1191 00:47:38,121 --> 00:47:42,261 But what we also know is that it won't be as substantial 1192 00:47:42,259 --> 00:47:47,269 as what Congress could do if House Republicans stopped 1193 00:47:47,264 --> 00:47:49,004 blocking a common-sense piece of legislation 1194 00:47:48,999 --> 00:47:50,439 that passed through the Senate and allowed 1195 00:47:50,434 --> 00:47:52,234 it to come up for a vote in the House. 1196 00:47:52,236 --> 00:47:53,166 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1197 00:47:53,170 --> 00:47:54,570 The Press: Follow on that? 1198 00:47:54,571 --> 00:47:56,141 Mr. Earnest: Go ahead, Kathleen. 1199 00:47:56,139 --> 00:47:57,279 The Press: As part of explaining 1200 00:47:57,274 --> 00:47:58,044 the legal justification, will 1201 00:47:58,041 --> 00:48:01,141 the White House release the AG's legal opinion 1202 00:48:01,144 --> 00:48:02,944 on this later then? 1203 00:48:02,946 --> 00:48:05,116 Mr. Earnest: We will have some material that we can release 1204 00:48:05,115 --> 00:48:09,415 to you related to the legal foundation of some 1205 00:48:09,419 --> 00:48:11,959 of these decisions, but we'll get to that when 1206 00:48:11,955 --> 00:48:14,225 we have some announcements to make. 1207 00:48:14,224 --> 00:48:16,964 Jared, I'll give you the last one. 1208 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:18,960 The Press: Josh, a week and a half ago, before the trip, 1209 00:48:18,962 --> 00:48:21,902 you came out and, in an answer to Darlene's question, 1210 00:48:21,898 --> 00:48:24,238 you said that you didn't have an answer, 1211 00:48:24,234 --> 00:48:26,534 the President didn't have a decision on Loretta Lynch. 1212 00:48:26,536 --> 00:48:29,606 Like six hours later, a statement -- a paper statement 1213 00:48:29,606 --> 00:48:31,606 under your name came out. 1214 00:48:31,608 --> 00:48:33,648 Did you know when you were answering 1215 00:48:33,644 --> 00:48:35,644 the Associated Press's question that you were 1216 00:48:35,646 --> 00:48:37,616 going to be issuing that statement later in the day? 1217 00:48:37,614 --> 00:48:39,914 Mr. Earnest: I did not because a decision hadn't been made. 1218 00:48:39,916 --> 00:48:43,386 But given the extensive reports that had sort 1219 00:48:43,387 --> 00:48:45,757 of pushed this issue, a decision was 1220 00:48:45,756 --> 00:48:46,826 sort of forced. 1221 00:48:46,823 --> 00:48:49,363 And in reaction to that, a decision was made. 1222 00:48:49,359 --> 00:48:51,659 The Press: So it was reporting and not any other 1223 00:48:51,662 --> 00:48:53,662 consideration about legislation or anything else 1224 00:48:53,664 --> 00:48:57,504 that forced the hand of the White House at that point? 1225 00:48:57,501 --> 00:48:58,831 Mr. Earnest: That's correct. 1226 00:48:58,835 --> 00:48:59,705 All right, thanks, guys. 1227 00:48:59,703 --> 00:49:00,433 Have a good afternoon.