English subtitles for clip: File:12-11-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest:
Before we get started,
I do have a quick announcement

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that I want to echo
that you may have heard

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a little bit about already.

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Today, the Department of Health
and Human Services reported

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that the number of people who
enrolled in federally run

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marketplaces in November was
more than four times October's

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enrollment -- evidence of
technical improvements that

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were made to healthcare.gov.

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Today, we're also highlighting
the investments made

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by the Affordable
Care Act to expand access

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to high-quality health
care for millions of Americans

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by strengthening
community health centers

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across the country.

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For more than 45 years,
community health centers

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have delivered comprehensive,
high-quality,

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preventative and primary
health care to patients.

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Today, approximately 1,200
health centers operate

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more than 9,000
service delivery sites

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that provide care to more
than 21 million patients

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across the country.

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Health centers are also an
integral source of local

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employment and economic
growth in many communities.

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They employ more than 148,000
workers nationwide and added

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more than 35,000 jobs
over the last four years.

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As community-based
organizations,

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health centers are well
positioned to play a vital role

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in providing health care to
their communities as millions

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more Americans begin gaining
health insurance

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under the Affordable Care Act.

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To help expand the
capacity of health centers

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to provide health care,

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the Affordable Care Act
includes approximately

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$11 billion for efforts
to strengthen and grow

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our community health centers,
including by establishing new

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sites, renovating
existing health centers,

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and hiring more staff.

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This is one of the many ways the
Affordable Care Act is expanding

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access to quality health care
for people across the country.

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So with that important
announcement, Mr. Kuhnhenn,

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I'll let you get started today.

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The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

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A couple of those health numbers
-- although that's I believe

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more than three times
the October total --

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it's still one-third of the 1.2
million that the administration

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originally planned to have
by the end of November.

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And today, Secretary
Sebelius said

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that the backend of the system,

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that part of the system
that pays insurers and assesses

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what the -- figures out what
the tax subsidies will be,

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won't be ready
until mid-January.

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So can the administration
guarantee that anybody who wants

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to have insurance on January
1st will be able to get it?

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Mr. Earnest:
If they sign up
by December 23rd --

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that's the deadline that's been
put in place for individuals

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who would like to be
covered by January 1st --

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that's the deadline
that they have to meet.

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The Press:
And everybody who wants
to sign up by January 23rd --

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or by December
23rd will be able to?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, we certainly,
as you know, Jim,

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have added significant capacity
to the website where we can

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handle much higher traffic
to the website to accommodate

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the interest of people
all across the country.

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There have been some numbers
that have been provided by CMS

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that indicate that the traffic
to the website has spiked

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after reports that it
was functioning smoothly

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for the vast majority of users.

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That's an indication that's
there's strong interest

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all across the country on behalf
of people who are interested

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in getting access to the
affordable health care coverage

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that is now available
through healthcare.gov.

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So the improvements to the
website allow us to accommodate

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more traffic and accommodate
the significant interest

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that's out there.

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And according to the numbers
that you've seen from HHS that

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were released today, there is
a significant increase

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in the number of people who
are actually following through

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and enrolling.

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Now, the numbers
that were released today

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all predate the most
important and most tangible

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of the improvements
to the website.

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So it is reasonable to assume --

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while I can't provide
you specific data --

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that the number of people
who are enrolling in health care

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over the last 10 days since
the improvements to the website

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were implemented, that there
are more people signing up.

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So the trajectory is
moving in the right direction

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and that's something
that we're encouraged by.

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But there also is
this lingering problem,

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that I think that
you're referring to,

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that relates to the
so-called 834 forms,

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which is the information
being accurately conveyed

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from the website
to the individual insurer

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who would be providing
the insurance.

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And there are a range of fixes
that have been put in place

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to iron out the kinks
in that process,

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and they have made tremendous
progress in eliminating

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some of those problems.

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And they also
have in place a system

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for going back and confirming
that individuals who signed up

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very early on in the
first six or eight weeks,

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when they were having the most
problems with the 834 program,

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to confirm essentially
on both sides --

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both with the insurance company
and with the individual --

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that both sides have done
what they need to do

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to ensure that that person
is covered and will be covered

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as of January 1st.

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So we are confident
that we have put in place

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the kind of solutions that
are required to confirm

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that individuals who sign up
and enroll in a health care plan

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by December 23rd will be in
a position to have that coverage

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take effect on January 1st.

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The Press:
On a separate issue,

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reports today that the U.S.
has halted all nonlethal aid

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to Syrian rebels operating
in northern Syria --

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I'm wondering,
is the U.S. losing faith

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in the ability
of rebels to fight

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without Islamic extremist
interference or participation?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, Jim, as you know,

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a significant portion of our
policy towards Syria has been

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dedicated to providing support
to those elements of the

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opposition that are moderate,
that are committed to respecting

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basic human rights, that are
committed to respecting

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the rights of religious
and ethnic minorities

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and even the political
minorities in that country.

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So that has been a focal
point of our efforts,

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particularly when it comes to
the provision of nonlethal aid.

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We have seen the reports that
Islamic Front forces have seized

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the headquarters in question
and warehouses belonging

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to the Supreme Military Council,

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and we're obviously
concerned by those reports.

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We're still gathering facts and
consulting with General Idris

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and the Supreme Military
Council staff

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to inventory the status
of U.S. equipment and supplies

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that have been
provided to the SMC.

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As a result of this
situation, as you pointed out,

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the United States has suspended
all further deliveries

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of nonlethal assistance
into northern Syria.

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At the same time, it's important
for people to understand that

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our humanitarian assistance,
which is distributed through

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international and
nongovernmental organizations

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including the United Nations,

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is not affected
by this suspension.

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The Press:
But is this in effect weakening

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the military
opposition to Assad?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, what we are
interested in doing

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is trying to coordinate with and
lift up the moderate elements

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of the opposition,
and that has been a challenge

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from the very beginning --

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both to identify the moderate
elements of the opposition

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and to provide them
the support that they need

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to try to bring about
the kind of transition

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that reflects the will
of the Syrian people.

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That has been
a challenging proposition

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from the very beginning and that
continues to be challenging.

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The Press:
And last, can you
comment on the reports

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that the sign
language interpreter

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that stood next to the President
yesterday was apparently a fake?

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Mr. Earnest:
I've seen those reports --

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I'd refer you to the
South African government

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about who that person was

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and what their
responsibilities were.

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I think my only reaction
to that is that it's a shame

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that you had a service
that was dedicated

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to honoring the
life and celebrating the legacy

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of one of the great
leaders of the 20th century

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has gotten distracted by this
and a couple of other issues

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that are far less important than
the legacy of Nelson Mandela.

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The Press:
Any security concerns?

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Mr. Earnest:
Not that I'm aware of,

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but I'd encourage you to check
with the Secret Service

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to see if they had any concerns?

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They're ultimately responsible
for the President's security.

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So, all right, Mark, I'm going
to give you the next one,

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but anybody in the back,
I'm looking at you next.

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The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

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The budget deal announced
last night did not include

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an extension of
unemployment insurance,

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emergency unemployment
insurance benefits.

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Could the President sign
a budget deal without those?

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How does he intend to push
forward to get something

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that he has said is
a priority for him?

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Mr. Earnest:
I believe the President's
statement last night

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indicated that he was pleased
with the budget agreement

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that was reached
between Senator Murray

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and Chairman Ryan,

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and that is an indication that
the President would sign

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that agreement if it passes
both the House and the Senate,

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which is what we expect.

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In terms of
unemployment benefits,

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the President feels strongly
that those unemployment benefits

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should be extended.

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There is a very persuasive
humanitarian case, if you will:

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There are 1.3 million
Americans right now

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who stand to lose their
unemployment benefits

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if Congress doesn't
act by December 28th.

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That obviously is
a terrible circumstance.

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It also has significant
consequences for our broader

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economy that some analysts have
found that the extension

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of emergency unemployment
benefits would actually

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provide a significant
boost to our economy,

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or at least a perceptible
boost to our economy,

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in the form of creating
about 240,000 jobs,

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having a positive impact on GDP
on the order of two- or three-

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or four-tenths of a percent.

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So the President will
continue to advocate for this.

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There have been a few previous
occasions where we've come down

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to the wire like this, and
through the President's cajoling

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and advocating we've gotten
some congressional action.

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It remains to be seen if that
will happen in this case,

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but that's certainly something
that we're advocating for.

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And this is something that
we've talked about quite a bit.

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There was a report from the
Council of Economic Advisors

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last week on this.

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The President's weekly address
just this past Saturday

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was on this topic.

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So this is something that the
President believes is a priority

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both for the economy, but also
for the 1.36 million Americans

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who stand to lose their
unemployment benefits

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during the holiday season.

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The Press:
The White House has remained
somewhat in the background

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in these budget talks compared
with previous rounds

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of budget negotiations.

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Is it the White House's sense
that by remaining somewhat in

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the background, you've lowered
the temperature of these talks

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and thus contributed to the
success of getting an agreement?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, in terms
of sort of divining

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all of the different
influences in that process,

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I think I'll leave
that to you guys.

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What I think is important about
this process is that we saw a

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genuine commitment from leaders
in both parties to the regular

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order budget process.

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We saw a lot of lip service
paid to that notion

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in previous years,

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but I think it's just in the
last couple of months

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that we've seen a
commitment on both sides

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to that regular
order budget process.

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That means that you essentially
had the budget leadership

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on the Senate side
and the budget leadership

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on the House side get
together in bipartisan fashion

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and hash through these issues,

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and do it in a way that leads
to a vehicle for genuine

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legislative action that actually
addresses some of the problems.

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All of that was
done in consultation

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00:11:27,934 --> 00:11:29,064
with the White House --

245
00:11:29,066 --> 00:11:31,596
that senior White House
officials were involved

246
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:32,900
in those conversations.

247
00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:35,570
But ultimately this was an
agreement that had to be struck

248
00:11:35,567 --> 00:11:38,467
between the leaders of the House
and the leaders of the Senate.

249
00:11:38,467 --> 00:11:40,597
That's the way
the Founding Fathers

250
00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,100
designed the system to work,

251
00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:45,100
and we're gratified
that they have reached

252
00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:48,270
a bipartisan agreement
that is good for the economy.

253
00:11:48,266 --> 00:11:50,096
I mean, look, you've heard us --

254
00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:53,000
we've spent a lot of time
over the last several years

255
00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,070
talking about budget agreements
and trying to find common ground

256
00:11:56,066 --> 00:11:58,836
and striking
bipartisan compromises.

257
00:11:58,834 --> 00:12:01,804
The way that the President
routinely evaluates

258
00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,170
these kinds of budget
agreements is by taking a look

259
00:12:04,166 --> 00:12:06,436
at the impact that it
would have on our economy.

260
00:12:06,433 --> 00:12:08,663
And there are two important ways
that this budget agreement

261
00:12:08,667 --> 00:12:10,737
has a positive
impact on our economy.

262
00:12:10,734 --> 00:12:16,204
The first is that it does
repeal parts of the sequester.

263
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,300
The sequester was a
significant drag on our economy

264
00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:20,100
over the course
of the last year,

265
00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:22,000
and the President
is pleased that Congress

266
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,030
will be taking away
at least some of that drag.

267
00:12:25,033 --> 00:12:27,403
And it will give us the
opportunity to invest

268
00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:28,730
in the kinds of things
that are so important

269
00:12:28,734 --> 00:12:29,964
to our long-term
economic growth.

270
00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:34,037
Particularly early
childhood education,

271
00:12:34,033 --> 00:12:36,463
Head Start programs stand
to benefit from this.

272
00:12:36,467 --> 00:12:38,337
There's also the possibility
of restoring some funding

273
00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:40,303
to research and development,
which the President thinks

274
00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:41,630
is so critical to our economy.

275
00:12:41,633 --> 00:12:46,003
So taking away some
aspect of the sequester

276
00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,170
is a positive step.

277
00:12:49,166 --> 00:12:50,366
The other thing
that we're seeing --

278
00:12:50,367 --> 00:12:51,997
and this is something
that, again,

279
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,930
that people who have
stood at this podium have

280
00:12:53,934 --> 00:12:57,334
expressed concerns about --
is this propensity that Congress

281
00:12:57,333 --> 00:13:01,003
has had lately to lurch
from one crisis to another.

282
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:06,870
And in this case, Congress is
able to reach what even I would

283
00:13:06,867 --> 00:13:08,667
describe as a modest agreement.

284
00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:09,967
But they were able
to reach that modest,

285
00:13:09,967 --> 00:13:12,897
bipartisan agreement without
the threat of a crisis,

286
00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:14,900
without a threat of default,
without the threat

287
00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:16,200
of a government shutdown,

288
00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:17,830
but by working through
the regular order,

289
00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:19,664
by identifying
some common ground

290
00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:20,897
and striking an agreement.

291
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,000
That is going to be --

292
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,700
that's not just good
for the political process,

293
00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:27,070
and might restore some
faith in the ability

294
00:13:27,066 --> 00:13:28,196
of the United States Congress

295
00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,800
to actually get good
things done on behalf

296
00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,200
of the American people.

297
00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,300
It will also provide some
certainty to the private sector.

298
00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:35,770
This is something that
Republicans have said is really

299
00:13:35,767 --> 00:13:38,967
important for our economy;
the President agrees.

300
00:13:38,967 --> 00:13:42,467
And that is another way in
which our economy will benefit

301
00:13:42,467 --> 00:13:47,737
from what is a modest but
important budget agreement.

302
00:13:47,734 --> 00:13:49,464
The Press:
Jumping to
an international issue,

303
00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:51,237
there's renewed
violence in Ukraine.

304
00:13:51,233 --> 00:13:54,363
In spite of the White
House and U.S. condemnations

305
00:13:54,367 --> 00:13:56,137
of past instances of violence,

306
00:13:56,133 --> 00:13:57,863
the violence seems to continue.

307
00:13:57,867 --> 00:14:01,097
What leverage does the
United States have to try

308
00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:04,070
to calm things down there?

309
00:14:04,066 --> 00:14:05,996
Mr. Earnest:
I do have some prepared
comment on this,

310
00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,730
so I'm going to start with that,
and I'll get to your direct

311
00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,304
question: The United States
was appalled last night

312
00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:13,100
by what happened in Kiev.

313
00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:16,200
The Ukrainian government's
response to peaceful protests

314
00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,900
over the last two weeks has
been completely unacceptable,

315
00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:20,900
and it's difficult to understand
why they have decided to move

316
00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:23,670
against their own people
repeatedly with force rather

317
00:14:23,667 --> 00:14:26,667
than engage in a real
dialogue with the opposition.

318
00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:30,267
The right to peaceful protest
and assembly must be respected.

319
00:14:30,266 --> 00:14:32,596
Violence of the sort that we
have seen on the streets of Kiev

320
00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,930
is impermissible in
a democratic state.

321
00:14:35,934 --> 00:14:38,964
We're also very concerned by
credible reports of security

322
00:14:38,967 --> 00:14:42,367
services raiding the offices
of opposition parties and media

323
00:14:42,367 --> 00:14:44,367
organizations in
the last few days.

324
00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:47,767
Political repression is not the
way to respond to the legitimate

325
00:14:47,767 --> 00:14:50,767
grievances of the
Ukrainian people.

326
00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:54,637
Vice President Biden urged
President Yanukovych in a Monday

327
00:14:54,633 --> 00:14:57,533
phone call to avoid violence
and immediately take steps to

328
00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:59,203
deescalate the situation.

329
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,700
He's clearly not done that.

330
00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,530
This is President Yanukovych's
moment to meet the aspirations

331
00:15:03,533 --> 00:15:05,863
of the Ukrainian people
or disappoint them.

332
00:15:05,867 --> 00:15:08,797
It is past time for the
leadership in Ukraine to listen

333
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,770
to the voices of its people and
to restore a path to European

334
00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:15,097
integration and economic health.

335
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,330
It is fair to say that the lines
of communication between this

336
00:15:17,333 --> 00:15:18,603
administration
and the leadership

337
00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,700
in Ukraine remain open.

338
00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:26,000
And I think the sentiments that
I have just read to you also

339
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,900
reflect broadly the opinions
of the international community.

340
00:15:32,266 --> 00:15:34,396
And there is a pretty
clear choice it's facing,

341
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,430
the Ukrainian
government right now.

342
00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:40,163
And we're hopeful that they will
choose a path that reflects the

343
00:15:40,166 --> 00:15:43,066
will of the Ukrainian people
and reflects an opportunity for

344
00:15:43,066 --> 00:15:49,066
reconciliation, and to restore
some civility and peacefulness

345
00:15:51,533 --> 00:15:53,533
to that dispute and hopefully
find a way to resolve that

346
00:15:53,533 --> 00:15:56,033
dispute peacefully.

347
00:15:56,033 --> 00:15:59,703
The Press:
If I can just follow
up on one thing

348
00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:01,800
that I asked about earlier.

349
00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,270
Speaker Boehner has apparently
said today that he has not seen

350
00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:10,336
an acceptable plan from the
White House to extend long-term

351
00:16:10,333 --> 00:16:11,333
unemployment insurance.

352
00:16:11,333 --> 00:16:13,203
Can you respond to that?

353
00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,630
Has the President
made a proposal?

354
00:16:15,633 --> 00:16:18,463
If not, why not?

355
00:16:18,467 --> 00:16:21,137
Mr. Earnest:
A specific or detailed
proposal in this case

356
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:22,503
probably isn't required.

357
00:16:22,500 --> 00:16:25,200
We're talking about extending a
program that has been in place

358
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,600
for several years now.

359
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,730
It was originally
signed into law

360
00:16:28,734 --> 00:16:31,264
by President
George W. Bush in 2008.

361
00:16:31,266 --> 00:16:33,766
It's been extended
at least a couple of times

362
00:16:33,767 --> 00:16:36,997
in the last few years.

363
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,800
So we're simply seeking
to see that program extended

364
00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,870
in the same way that it has been
in the past by this Congress.

365
00:16:43,867 --> 00:16:46,867
As I pointed out earlier,
there are important consequences

366
00:16:46,867 --> 00:16:49,897
for 1.3 million Americans who
are at risk of losing their

367
00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:51,630
unemployment benefits
in just a couple of weeks.

368
00:16:51,633 --> 00:16:53,733
And there are important
consequences from our economy

369
00:16:53,734 --> 00:16:55,734
that would benefit from the
extension of this program.

370
00:16:55,734 --> 00:16:57,704
So that's what we're hopeful
that Congress will do.

371
00:16:57,700 --> 00:16:59,500
Let's go to the back
here a little bit.

372
00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:00,830
Jared.

373
00:17:00,834 --> 00:17:03,404
The Press: Josh, we're
expecting the next --

374
00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,400
I know we just got
the most recent numbers,

375
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,130
but the next numbers
middle of January.

376
00:17:08,133 --> 00:17:12,503
Will we get any report
about the population of people

377
00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:14,030
who have signed up --

378
00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:17,963
who have gotten in under
the December 23rd deadline,

379
00:17:17,967 --> 00:17:19,897
since obviously that
population will be transmitted

380
00:17:19,900 --> 00:17:21,570
to the insurers?

381
00:17:21,567 --> 00:17:23,237
Mr. Earnest:
And you're asking?

382
00:17:23,233 --> 00:17:26,003
The Press:
Will we get that information
around Christmas?

383
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,030
Mr. Earnest:
What kind of information?

384
00:17:28,033 --> 00:17:29,733
The Press:
The population of people
who have signed up

385
00:17:29,734 --> 00:17:33,704
in advance of December 23rd
for January 1 benefits.

386
00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:35,030
Mr. Earnest: Right.

387
00:17:35,033 --> 00:17:37,503
And so you're asking if we'll
have a list before January 1st

388
00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:39,330
of the people who have
signed up by December 23rd?

389
00:17:39,333 --> 00:17:41,803
The Press:
Or January 15th
or January 11th.

390
00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,870
Mr. Earnest:
I would not anticipate
additional enrollment

391
00:17:43,867 --> 00:17:46,267
numbers until the
middle of January,

392
00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,366
which has been our custom
these last couple of months.

393
00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:49,997
So that's when
I would anticipate

394
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,030
you'd get that additional data.

395
00:17:52,033 --> 00:17:54,503
The Press:
And on the sign
language question,

396
00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:57,330
I know that you said that --

397
00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:00,233
referred it to
the South African government.

398
00:18:00,233 --> 00:18:03,063
But if the President
had been translated

399
00:18:03,066 --> 00:18:04,696
into another
language incorrectly,

400
00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:06,330
another audible
language incorrectly,

401
00:18:06,333 --> 00:18:09,563
wouldn't that have been
a breach of protocol?

402
00:18:09,567 --> 00:18:12,837
Would we have not
seen a different reaction

403
00:18:12,834 --> 00:18:15,904
from the White House?

404
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:17,230
Mr. Earnest:
That's a hypothetical.

405
00:18:17,233 --> 00:18:19,733
It's difficult to
evaluate for two reasons.

406
00:18:19,734 --> 00:18:23,934
One is maybe he was translated
incorrectly in some other

407
00:18:23,934 --> 00:18:26,334
language in his speech yesterday
and we don't know about it.

408
00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:29,703
That possibility does exist.

409
00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:32,870
Secondly, it's not clear
to me that this person

410
00:18:32,867 --> 00:18:34,837
mistranslated
the President at all.

411
00:18:34,834 --> 00:18:38,304
I think the point is, is that he
apparently was not translating

412
00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:40,400
him into anything,
but was enjoying the opportunity

413
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,470
to be on the stage.

414
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:44,637
So it makes it difficult
to answer your question.

415
00:18:44,633 --> 00:18:45,633
[laughter]

416
00:18:45,633 --> 00:18:46,633
And it's why I've
referred the question

417
00:18:46,633 --> 00:18:48,263
to the South African government.

418
00:18:48,266 --> 00:18:53,136
But, again, at the same time,
this was an historic event

419
00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:55,763
in which the President delivered
some very powerful remarks

420
00:18:55,767 --> 00:18:58,267
about the personal impact
that President Mandela had

421
00:18:58,266 --> 00:19:02,196
on his own life and his own
commitment to public service.

422
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:03,800
He talked pretty
eloquently, I think,

423
00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,570
about the impact that President
Mandela had on democratic

424
00:19:07,567 --> 00:19:11,937
movements all across the globe,
and it would be a shame if a

425
00:19:11,934 --> 00:19:15,964
distraction about an individual
who's on stage in any way

426
00:19:15,967 --> 00:19:19,137
detracted from the importance of
that event and the importance

427
00:19:19,133 --> 00:19:20,433
of President Mandela's legacy.

428
00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:21,703
Alexis.

429
00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:23,600
The Press:
Hey, Josh, I have two questions.

430
00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,100
Let me follow up first on
the question of the budget.

431
00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:30,270
If the President signs,
as he indicated he'd like to,

432
00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:33,136
the Murray-Ryan deal, does that
become the President's template

433
00:19:33,133 --> 00:19:35,063
for his budget
submission in February?

434
00:19:35,066 --> 00:19:40,466
What does he do with that in his
own budget for the coming cycle?

435
00:19:40,467 --> 00:19:43,967
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I don't want to get
ahead of the budget process.

436
00:19:43,967 --> 00:19:47,167
As you would expect, this is
something that involves a lot of

437
00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:52,666
planning and a lot of technical
expertise to design a budget

438
00:19:52,667 --> 00:19:54,937
submission that reflects the
President's policy priorities.

439
00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:57,364
So I wouldn't want to get
ahead of this process.

440
00:19:57,367 --> 00:19:59,467
But suffice it to say the
President is pleased that we've

441
00:19:59,467 --> 00:20:02,797
been able to find some common
ground as it relates to this

442
00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:07,330
interim budget agreement that
sets some parameters for what

443
00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:09,463
the budget will look
like in Fiscal Year 2014

444
00:20:09,467 --> 00:20:11,467
and Fiscal Year 2015,

445
00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:14,397
and therefore provide
some stability and certainty

446
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:15,600
for the private sector.

447
00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,570
The Press:
Just to follow up
on that one question,

448
00:20:17,567 --> 00:20:20,597
would we expect the President
to take that forward and say,

449
00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,900
I'm signing this but I'd still
like to get rid of sequestration

450
00:20:23,900 --> 00:20:25,830
over a 10-year period?

451
00:20:25,834 --> 00:20:27,504
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I'm confident
that our budget

452
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:29,970
proposal will include some of
the President's own ideas

453
00:20:29,967 --> 00:20:32,997
about the investments that
are so critical for us to make

454
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,200
to strengthen our economy,
to expand economic opportunity

455
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:36,470
for the middle class.

456
00:20:36,467 --> 00:20:39,597
Those ideas will be reflected
in the President's budget.

457
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,370
The Press:
Okay, second question -- can
you clarify why Mr. Podesta,

458
00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:45,097
who is coming in as
a counselor next year,

459
00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:49,230
would feel the need to recuse
himself, as been reported in AP,

460
00:20:49,233 --> 00:20:52,833
on Keystone when all of us
in this room know that John,

461
00:20:52,834 --> 00:20:59,004
as being so linked with CAP, has
many very known public views

462
00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,870
on many, many policies?

463
00:21:00,867 --> 00:21:02,037
Mr. Earnest:
He does.

464
00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:03,233
I'm glad you asked this
question because I do want

465
00:21:03,233 --> 00:21:05,263
to take advantage of this
opportunity to clarify something

466
00:21:05,266 --> 00:21:07,096
that leaked out late overnight.

467
00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,000
The word "recuse" here
is not the right word, right?

468
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,430
There's no suggestion of some
sort of conflict of interest,

469
00:21:13,433 --> 00:21:15,203
financial or otherwise,

470
00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,970
as it relates to
Mr. Podesta's opinions,

471
00:21:18,967 --> 00:21:20,867
views and positions
on the Keystone pipeline.

472
00:21:20,867 --> 00:21:22,797
So "recuse" is not
the right word.

473
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,570
What is true is that Mr. Podesta
approached Denis McDonough,

474
00:21:26,567 --> 00:21:28,937
the Chief of Staff,
and suggested to him

475
00:21:28,934 --> 00:21:33,604
that Mr. Podesta shouldn't work
on the policy-making process

476
00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:35,630
related to the
Keystone pipeline.

477
00:21:35,633 --> 00:21:36,903
And the reason for that --

478
00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:38,270
there are a couple
of reasons for that.

479
00:21:38,266 --> 00:21:39,666
The first is this
is a policy process

480
00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:40,937
that looks at the
State Department right now,

481
00:21:40,934 --> 00:21:42,304
not at the White House,

482
00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:43,870
and Mr. Podesta is coming
to work at the White House,

483
00:21:43,867 --> 00:21:45,167
not the State Department.

484
00:21:45,166 --> 00:21:47,736
The second thing
is this a policy process

485
00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:50,204
that's been in place
for several years now,

486
00:21:53,233 --> 00:21:57,963
and having him enter
that process at the very end

487
00:21:57,967 --> 00:22:03,567
or near the very end doesn't
seem to be the best way

488
00:22:03,567 --> 00:22:05,697
to carry out that
process and to move it

489
00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:06,800
across the finish line.

490
00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:12,000
The third thing --
and this is important, too,

491
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,600
and it relates to the
subject of your question --

492
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:15,730
his views on this
are well known.

493
00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:19,604
But there are people who
have been working on this

494
00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,330
for a number of years
and who are looking at this

495
00:22:21,333 --> 00:22:23,033
from a variety of perspectives,

496
00:22:23,033 --> 00:22:25,903
and want to make sure
that this policy outcome

497
00:22:25,900 --> 00:22:29,270
reflects the President's
views and can approach it

498
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:31,336
in an impartial way.

499
00:22:31,333 --> 00:22:33,563
The comments and views that
Mr. Podesta has expressed

500
00:22:33,567 --> 00:22:35,867
have been done
without the benefit of --

501
00:22:35,867 --> 00:22:39,337
or without the reality
of him working directly

502
00:22:39,333 --> 00:22:40,763
for the President
of the United States.

503
00:22:40,767 --> 00:22:42,897
So in this case,
he felt it was most appropriate

504
00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:47,400
to basically send a signal early
on that this is not something

505
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,330
that would be part
of his portfolio.

506
00:22:49,333 --> 00:22:52,363
He communicated that
desire to Mr. McDonough,

507
00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:53,937
and Denis agreed with him.

508
00:22:53,934 --> 00:22:56,134
The Press:
If the natural follow-up
then is just to say,

509
00:22:56,133 --> 00:22:59,463
is there any other
policy terrain or topic

510
00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:05,130
that the President's
incoming counselor would feel

511
00:23:05,133 --> 00:23:06,263
or express to the President
or the Chief of Staff

512
00:23:06,266 --> 00:23:08,696
that he should not
or does not want to work on?

513
00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:10,470
Mr. Earnest:
Not that I'm aware of right now.

514
00:23:10,467 --> 00:23:12,367
Kristen.

515
00:23:12,367 --> 00:23:13,467
The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

516
00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:15,867
The health care law
succeeding sort of depends

517
00:23:15,867 --> 00:23:18,367
on about 2.6, 2.7 million
young, healthy people signing up

518
00:23:18,367 --> 00:23:19,367
by April 1st.

519
00:23:19,367 --> 00:23:20,637
Do you have those figures --

520
00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:23,903
how many of those people
have signed up to date?

521
00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:25,400
Mr. Earnest:
That is also a question --

522
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:26,930
you and Alexis
must be coordinating,

523
00:23:26,934 --> 00:23:30,634
because this
is the second question in a row

524
00:23:30,633 --> 00:23:35,133
that I'm pleased to have the
opportunity to talk about --

525
00:23:35,133 --> 00:23:38,163
because it is important
for people to understand

526
00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:39,436
that as they evaluate
the Affordable Care Act,

527
00:23:39,433 --> 00:23:41,503
that measuring the success
of that program cannot simply

528
00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:44,970
be done based on the number
of people who have signed up.

529
00:23:44,967 --> 00:23:48,137
It would be nice if the
world worked in that simple

530
00:23:48,133 --> 00:23:49,203
of a fashion.

531
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,830
It simply doesn't.

532
00:23:50,834 --> 00:23:55,404
I understand the desire for
people to want to try to reduce

533
00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:00,370
the metric to a simple
number related to people

534
00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:02,367
who have enrolled
in health care.

535
00:24:02,367 --> 00:24:05,667
But that will not determine
the success or failure

536
00:24:05,667 --> 00:24:08,337
of the Affordable Care Act and
the exchanges that are set up --

537
00:24:08,333 --> 00:24:10,633
the marketplaces that
are set up under the rubric

538
00:24:10,633 --> 00:24:11,963
of the Affordable Care Act.

539
00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:19,397
What we need is the
right mix of individuals

540
00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,000
in these individual exchanges.

541
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,570
My point is, you can't
evaluate the success or failure

542
00:24:25,567 --> 00:24:28,867
of the Affordable Care Act based
solely on the number of people

543
00:24:28,867 --> 00:24:30,897
who sign up
all across the country.

544
00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:34,870
What you should do to evaluate
the success of the program

545
00:24:34,867 --> 00:24:38,737
is to consider the mix
of people who have signed up

546
00:24:38,734 --> 00:24:42,364
in each of the
individual marketplaces.

547
00:24:42,367 --> 00:24:45,367
That is a task that's hard
to reduce down to one number.

548
00:24:45,367 --> 00:24:49,267
But that is the
best way for you and others

549
00:24:49,266 --> 00:24:51,096
to evaluate the overall
success of the program.

550
00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:55,570
What our goal is, is to sign
up as many people as possible,

551
00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:58,637
to give as many people all
across the country as possible

552
00:24:58,633 --> 00:25:01,303
the opportunity to
go onto the website,

553
00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:03,130
to work with a navigator
in their community,

554
00:25:03,133 --> 00:25:06,033
to call the 1-800 number,
and to find out what options

555
00:25:06,033 --> 00:25:07,303
are available to them.

556
00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:08,230
And many people are going to
find out that they're going

557
00:25:08,233 --> 00:25:09,603
to qualify for tax credits.

558
00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,970
Some of them will qualify
for expanded Medicaid coverage.

559
00:25:12,967 --> 00:25:15,437
But there are a lot of ways in
which individuals will find out

560
00:25:15,433 --> 00:25:17,003
that they're going to benefit
from the Affordable Care Act,

561
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,200
and we want as many people
as possible to do exactly that.

562
00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,570
The Press:
All right.

563
00:25:20,567 --> 00:25:21,867
And I understand that you don't
want to give specific numbers.

564
00:25:21,867 --> 00:25:25,467
But HHS last night said they're
on track to have 7 million

565
00:25:25,467 --> 00:25:27,167
people sign up by April 1st.

566
00:25:27,166 --> 00:25:29,696
And a lot of industry insiders
have questioned that and have

567
00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:32,200
said the pace really needs
to pick up if you're going

568
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,000
to get that many people.

569
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,130
Mr. Earnest:
It does.

570
00:25:35,133 --> 00:25:36,733
The Press:
Not dealing with
the 7 million figure,

571
00:25:36,734 --> 00:25:38,304
does the pace need to pick up?

572
00:25:38,300 --> 00:25:40,800
And can you guarantee that
you're going to get the right

573
00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,270
mix and the right number
in the end by April 1st?

574
00:25:43,266 --> 00:25:44,936
Mr. Earnest:
What we have said
about the website since

575
00:25:44,934 --> 00:25:48,064
before the website was even
rolled out was that there would

576
00:25:48,066 --> 00:25:51,036
not be a linear relationship
between the number of days

577
00:25:51,033 --> 00:25:53,863
that have gone by since the
website opened for business

578
00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:55,797
and the number of people
who would sign up;

579
00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,430
that we anticipated that
there would be some spikes

580
00:25:59,433 --> 00:26:00,803
in this process.

581
00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:02,930
We anticipated, for example,
that there would be a spike

582
00:26:02,934 --> 00:26:05,964
shortly before the
deadline in which people --

583
00:26:05,967 --> 00:26:09,537
that people needed to meet in
order to get insurance coverage

584
00:26:09,533 --> 00:26:10,933
by January 1st.

585
00:26:10,934 --> 00:26:13,534
That deadline has been moved
to December 23rd to give more

586
00:26:13,533 --> 00:26:15,403
people the opportunity
to sign up.

587
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,030
And we do anticipate
that there will be a spike

588
00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:18,903
in advance of December 23rd.

589
00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:21,270
For all we know, there is
a spike going on right now.

590
00:26:21,266 --> 00:26:23,136
And that's because of --

591
00:26:23,133 --> 00:26:25,763
that's simply
ascribable to nothing

592
00:26:25,767 --> 00:26:27,037
other than human nature,

593
00:26:27,033 --> 00:26:29,463
that we have -- that
we're compelled to take action

594
00:26:29,467 --> 00:26:30,797
when we get close to a deadline.

595
00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,430
So I would anticipate that we'll
see another spike in mid-March

596
00:26:33,433 --> 00:26:36,663
before the deadline for the
open enrollment period expires.

597
00:26:36,667 --> 00:26:38,097
So we've always anticipated

598
00:26:38,100 --> 00:26:40,970
that there will be
spikes in this process,

599
00:26:40,967 --> 00:26:44,537
that there would be more
traffic and a greater rate

600
00:26:44,533 --> 00:26:47,033
of enrollment at certain
periods than others.

601
00:26:47,033 --> 00:26:50,063
So that's why it's
difficult to assess exactly

602
00:26:50,066 --> 00:26:52,036
what we're on pace for.

603
00:26:52,033 --> 00:26:53,863
What I can tell you, though --
let me just say one last thing,

604
00:26:53,867 --> 00:26:55,367
which is because
of the improvements

605
00:26:55,367 --> 00:26:56,597
we've made to the website,

606
00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,430
we now have the bandwidth
to accommodate about 800,000

607
00:27:00,433 --> 00:27:02,603
or a million people
a day to visit the website.

608
00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,830
And that means that there should
be ample opportunity for people

609
00:27:04,834 --> 00:27:06,764
who are interested
in this program

610
00:27:06,767 --> 00:27:07,797
to go check it out
for themselves.

611
00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,100
The Press:
And just to be clear,

612
00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:11,500
these figures that you've
put out today are the number

613
00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:13,270
of people who have signed
up, not actually enrolled?

614
00:27:13,266 --> 00:27:16,266
In other words, not necessarily
sent in their checks

615
00:27:16,266 --> 00:27:19,266
and finished with
the entire process?

616
00:27:19,266 --> 00:27:21,596
Mr. Earnest:
My understanding is
that they actually provided

617
00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,930
two different numbers
along these lines --

618
00:27:23,934 --> 00:27:24,934
didn't they?

619
00:27:24,934 --> 00:27:26,934
Let me take a look here.

620
00:27:29,867 --> 00:27:31,497
I think they did put
out enrollment numbers.

621
00:27:31,500 --> 00:27:36,330
They said that 365,000 people
through November had enrolled.

622
00:27:36,333 --> 00:27:38,703
The Press:
Have actually sent in
their checks, finished?

623
00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:40,070
Okay.

624
00:27:40,066 --> 00:27:41,396
Mr. Earnest:
Well, that they have enrolled,

625
00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:42,400
that they have committed --

626
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:43,730
that they have signed
up for a proposal.

627
00:27:43,734 --> 00:27:46,734
I think the payment option is
something that is responsible

628
00:27:46,734 --> 00:27:50,264
for the individual insurance
companies to execute.

629
00:27:50,266 --> 00:27:52,836
But in terms of the enrollment,
that they have made a commitment

630
00:27:52,834 --> 00:27:55,034
and that they have selected
a plan that they like

631
00:27:55,033 --> 00:27:58,033
and would allow them
to get coverage by January 1st

632
00:27:58,033 --> 00:28:03,663
if they've done it obviously
in October or November.

633
00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:09,266
The Press:
And can I just get
you to respond --

634
00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:10,566
or does the President
have any response

635
00:28:10,567 --> 00:28:11,567
to these latest poll numbers,

636
00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:12,567
which show his lowest --

637
00:28:12,567 --> 00:28:13,567
or his highest
disapproval ratings ever?

638
00:28:13,567 --> 00:28:15,137
Does he feel like
it's time for a reset?

639
00:28:15,133 --> 00:28:16,933
Is that part of the reason
for bringing in Podesta?

640
00:28:16,934 --> 00:28:18,404
How does he view those?

641
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:19,500
Mr. Earnest:
No, to be honest with you,

642
00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:20,970
we don't spend
a lot of time looking

643
00:28:20,967 --> 00:28:22,197
at these individual
poll numbers.

644
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,870
You've heard us say that both
when the numbers are good

645
00:28:23,867 --> 00:28:26,197
and when the numbers aren't
as good, as was suggested

646
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:27,670
by at least one poll today.

647
00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:29,837
I know there's another poll that
suggested something different.

648
00:28:29,834 --> 00:28:32,334
But the fact of the matter
is what we've been looking at,

649
00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:34,233
and I think what I would
encourage you to consider,

650
00:28:34,233 --> 00:28:37,363
is that while your
poll was in the field,

651
00:28:37,367 --> 00:28:38,497
there were some
important priorities

652
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:40,230
that we made progress on.

653
00:28:40,233 --> 00:28:44,363
Mel Watt got confirmed to
be the director of the FHFA.

654
00:28:44,367 --> 00:28:45,837
Patricia Millett got confirmed

655
00:28:45,834 --> 00:28:49,864
to the D.C. Circuit Court
of Appeals -- right?

656
00:28:49,867 --> 00:28:52,797
The Volcker Rule got
voted on and approved,

657
00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:56,330
and is now being implemented --
something that six months ago

658
00:28:56,333 --> 00:28:58,363
you guys thought
I was crazy if I had suggested

659
00:28:58,367 --> 00:28:59,767
the Volcker Rule would
be done by the end of the year.

660
00:28:59,767 --> 00:29:02,037
We even got a budget agreement
through the Congress.

661
00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:03,703
So these are
the kinds of priorities

662
00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:05,070
that we're focused on.

663
00:29:05,066 --> 00:29:06,536
And all these things happened
just yesterday at the same time

664
00:29:06,533 --> 00:29:07,933
that you were announcing
the results of your poll.

665
00:29:07,934 --> 00:29:10,404
So that's what we're focused on.

666
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:11,400
The Press:
Fair enough.

667
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,700
But the poll shows
that his signature piece

668
00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:14,070
of legislation is
health care law.

669
00:29:14,066 --> 00:29:17,536
It's part of the key reason
that these numbers are so low.

670
00:29:17,533 --> 00:29:18,733
Mr. Earnest:
I mean, the truth is, Kristen,

671
00:29:18,734 --> 00:29:20,904
you could say that any
time over the last three years

672
00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:22,600
when it comes to these polls.

673
00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,270
The President has made clear
that the President has pursued

674
00:29:24,266 --> 00:29:27,866
the difficult topic of health
care reform not because it would

675
00:29:27,867 --> 00:29:30,437
burnish his poll numbers, but
because he thought it was the

676
00:29:30,433 --> 00:29:33,063
right thing for the country;
that it would expand affordable,

677
00:29:33,066 --> 00:29:35,896
quality health care to millions
of Americans who currently don't

678
00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:38,170
have it; and it would also
do really good things for our

679
00:29:38,166 --> 00:29:40,366
economy in terms of expanding
economic opportunity

680
00:29:40,367 --> 00:29:41,697
and creating jobs.

681
00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:43,770
So that's the reason that we've
pursued health care reform,

682
00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:47,467
and that's the reason that we're
working so doggedly to implement

683
00:29:47,467 --> 00:29:49,837
it in a way that will maximize
the benefits for people all

684
00:29:49,834 --> 00:29:52,164
across the country in
spite of the poll numbers.

685
00:29:52,166 --> 00:29:54,166
Viqueira.

686
00:29:56,467 --> 00:29:57,967
The Press:
Thank you.

687
00:29:57,967 --> 00:29:59,667
Two questions --
both foreign and domestic.

688
00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:02,097
First, Kathleen Sebelius today
announced that she has asked the

689
00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:04,800
IG over at HHS to investigate
what happened with the website.

690
00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,700
I mean, presumably, the IG,
who is after all supposed to be

691
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,900
independent of what Kathleen
Sebelius wants or doesn't want,

692
00:30:09,900 --> 00:30:11,370
is going to do that himself.

693
00:30:11,367 --> 00:30:12,367
Is that adequate?

694
00:30:12,367 --> 00:30:13,367
Is that enough?

695
00:30:13,367 --> 00:30:14,367
Should there be more?

696
00:30:14,367 --> 00:30:15,367
Should heads roll?

697
00:30:15,367 --> 00:30:16,667
Should there be
further investigation?

698
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:18,837
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I think that
there were -- the reason

699
00:30:18,834 --> 00:30:20,534
I'm looking at my notebook is
because there were a couple of

700
00:30:20,533 --> 00:30:21,633
other things that she announced.

701
00:30:21,633 --> 00:30:22,963
She did ask the Inspector
General to take a look

702
00:30:22,967 --> 00:30:26,797
at the process related to the
development of healthcare.gov

703
00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,970
and to examine the mistakes that
occurred and to offer up

704
00:30:30,967 --> 00:30:33,197
some solutions and
some suggestions for how

705
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,130
to improve that
process moving forward.

706
00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:38,063
There are a couple of other
steps that she announced today.

707
00:30:38,066 --> 00:30:41,336
She also announced that she had
directed the CMS Administrator,

708
00:30:41,333 --> 00:30:44,903
Marilyn Tavenner, to create a
new position and appoint a CMS

709
00:30:44,900 --> 00:30:48,270
chief risk officer, who will
focus on mitigating risk across

710
00:30:48,266 --> 00:30:52,836
CMS's programs, to basically
evaluate the ongoing progress

711
00:30:52,834 --> 00:30:56,664
or lack thereof of CMS programs,
and to try to intervene

712
00:30:56,667 --> 00:31:00,467
before they result
in significant problems

713
00:31:00,467 --> 00:31:02,197
like the rollout of the website.

714
00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:06,830
She also announced a new
training regime that would

715
00:31:06,834 --> 00:31:13,304
update and expand the training
process to give CMS employees

716
00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:16,430
more information about best
practices for contractor

717
00:31:16,433 --> 00:31:18,933
and procurement management
rules and procedures.

718
00:31:18,934 --> 00:31:22,104
So there are a number of things
that the Secretary announced

719
00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:28,670
today that would address some of
the problems that were exposed

720
00:31:28,667 --> 00:31:31,197
by the healthcare.gov
website rollout.

721
00:31:35,467 --> 00:31:37,237
And I would anticipate
that if there are other ideas

722
00:31:37,233 --> 00:31:39,903
that she has about what we can
do to strengthen the process,

723
00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:41,730
the internal
processes over at HHS,

724
00:31:41,734 --> 00:31:43,264
that she'll propose those, too.

725
00:31:43,266 --> 00:31:46,636
I wouldn't anticipate
that this is the --

726
00:31:46,633 --> 00:31:50,103
The Press:
Do you anticipate more
actions to be taken?

727
00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:51,900
Mr. Earnest:
I would leave open
that possibility.

728
00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:53,570
I don't know of anything else
that's planned right now,

729
00:31:53,567 --> 00:31:55,967
but I certainly would leave
open that possibility.

730
00:31:55,967 --> 00:31:56,967
The Press:
All right.

731
00:31:56,967 --> 00:31:58,197
And back on Syria,
just to follow up,

732
00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,700
nonlethal aid -- I mean,
a lot was made about lethal aid

733
00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:03,830
finally being sent after
the chemical attack.

734
00:32:03,834 --> 00:32:07,404
Why is this moratorium
only on nonlethal aid?

735
00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,200
What about lethal aid?

736
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,130
Mr. Earnest:
Well, for questions about that
I think I'd actually refer you

737
00:32:11,133 --> 00:32:12,833
to my colleagues at
the national security staff.

738
00:32:12,834 --> 00:32:15,464
I don't have details about any
changes to other assistance

739
00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:18,537
that might have been provided
by the administration.

740
00:32:18,533 --> 00:32:20,133
Ed.

741
00:32:20,133 --> 00:32:21,903
The Press:
Josh, on that question
that Mike was asking

742
00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:24,670
about accountability
with Secretary Sebelius --

743
00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:27,367
on the Podesta hire,
you've obviously added him,

744
00:32:27,367 --> 00:32:28,997
you've added
Phil Schiliro as well,

745
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:30,130
a familiar face around here.

746
00:32:30,133 --> 00:32:32,533
But is the President planning
to subtract anyone

747
00:32:32,533 --> 00:32:34,033
from the equation?

748
00:32:34,033 --> 00:32:35,563
Mr. Earnest:
I don't have any personnel
announcements at this point.

749
00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:36,567
The Press:
So you don't -- I mean,

750
00:32:36,567 --> 00:32:38,967
I realize you don't have
them at this moment,

751
00:32:38,967 --> 00:32:41,537
but you don't expect --
as the end of the year comes,

752
00:32:41,533 --> 00:32:43,133
you don't expect there
will be any changes?

753
00:32:43,133 --> 00:32:45,903
Mr. Earnest:
I think it is -- having covered
us for the last five years,

754
00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:47,230
Ed, you're aware that
the end of the year

755
00:32:47,233 --> 00:32:50,133
is a traditional time for
people to make some decisions

756
00:32:50,133 --> 00:32:52,063
about their own personal
lives and to make decisions

757
00:32:52,066 --> 00:32:54,566
to leave the administration
and pursue other opportunities.

758
00:32:54,567 --> 00:32:56,797
That also means that people
from the outside are brought

759
00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,130
into the White House
during that period.

760
00:32:58,133 --> 00:33:00,903
And I would anticipate that
something like that is probably

761
00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:02,770
going to happen again
around the end of this year

762
00:33:02,767 --> 00:33:03,937
and the beginning of next,

763
00:33:03,934 --> 00:33:08,864
but that is not a --
that is neither a commendation

764
00:33:08,867 --> 00:33:10,337
or a condemnation of
their performance

765
00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:12,533
at the White House
at this point.

766
00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:13,863
The Press:
On Kristen's question
about polls --

767
00:33:13,867 --> 00:33:15,637
I'm glad you referenced
that you don't look

768
00:33:15,633 --> 00:33:17,003
at any individual polls,

769
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,170
because I checked the gaggle on
November 25th and you said the

770
00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:20,966
same about a
poll that day that said

771
00:33:20,967 --> 00:33:22,597
that 53 percent of the public --

772
00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:23,600
I think it was a CNN poll --

773
00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:24,930
thought the President
was not trustworthy.

774
00:33:24,934 --> 00:33:27,304
And you said you don't
follow the ups and downs,

775
00:33:27,300 --> 00:33:29,400
but you're looking at
"the broader trends."

776
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,270
So since November 25th, there's
been a fair number of polls

777
00:33:32,266 --> 00:33:35,036
that suggest a trend that
the President's honesty,

778
00:33:35,033 --> 00:33:36,403
trustworthiness
has taken a hit --

779
00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:37,770
in a whole range of polls.

780
00:33:37,767 --> 00:33:40,137
Will you at least acknowledge
that the health care issue

781
00:33:40,133 --> 00:33:43,163
has damaged the
President's credibility?

782
00:33:43,166 --> 00:33:46,166
Mr. Earnest:
I don't think I agree
with that conclusion.

783
00:33:46,166 --> 00:33:49,566
I recognize that there may
be some polling evidence

784
00:33:49,567 --> 00:33:50,797
to indicate that,

785
00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:52,430
but just looking at
polls I don't think gives you

786
00:33:52,433 --> 00:33:54,733
a very good read about what
the President's priorities are.

787
00:33:54,734 --> 00:33:56,734
And I don't think it
gives you a very good --

788
00:33:56,734 --> 00:33:57,734
The Press:
We're talking about
the public's mood --

789
00:33:57,734 --> 00:33:58,734
not his priorities --

790
00:33:58,734 --> 00:34:00,064
but what the
public thinks about.

791
00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:02,736
The NBC/Wall Street Journal
poll says a lot of people --

792
00:34:02,734 --> 00:34:04,164
I think it was 75 percent --

793
00:34:04,166 --> 00:34:05,596
think the economy
is either going to be as good

794
00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:06,900
or better next year.

795
00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:08,270
That's good for the President.

796
00:34:08,266 --> 00:34:10,396
And yet, they're not
giving him credit for that

797
00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:11,400
and saying that --

798
00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,770
his disapproval has
reached a new high.

799
00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:17,037
Not about his priorities,
but the public's mood seems

800
00:34:17,033 --> 00:34:18,433
to be very sour on him.

801
00:34:18,433 --> 00:34:19,633
Mr. Earnest:
Sure, I understand.

802
00:34:19,633 --> 00:34:22,103
Look, I think it is perfectly
legitimate for your news

803
00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:24,800
organization and others to
consider all of the public data

804
00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,170
out there and
to draw assessments

805
00:34:26,166 --> 00:34:27,896
about what the public mood is.

806
00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:30,630
I think that is a perfectly
legitimate enterprise.

807
00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:31,903
I think I'm just making
the case to you that

808
00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:33,130
that's not what
we're focused on,

809
00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:34,463
that there are a
variety of other policy

810
00:34:34,467 --> 00:34:36,837
priorities that the President
believes is more important

811
00:34:36,834 --> 00:34:39,664
than trying to figure out
within a particular statistical

812
00:34:39,667 --> 00:34:43,237
confidence interval what
his polling numbers are.

813
00:34:43,233 --> 00:34:47,963
So what we're focused on
right now is the President's

814
00:34:47,967 --> 00:34:51,467
core priorities related to
expanding economic opportunity

815
00:34:51,467 --> 00:34:52,467
for the middle class.

816
00:34:52,467 --> 00:34:53,897
And if we can
make progress by extending

817
00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:54,900
emergency unemployment benefits,

818
00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:56,570
if we can raise
the minimum wage,

819
00:34:56,567 --> 00:34:59,767
if we can put in place policies
that will ensure that every

820
00:34:59,767 --> 00:35:02,497
child in America has access
to a quality early childhood

821
00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:04,900
education program, that those
are the kinds of things

822
00:35:04,900 --> 00:35:07,030
that are going to
have a material difference

823
00:35:07,033 --> 00:35:08,163
on our economy.

824
00:35:08,166 --> 00:35:10,236
And if we can make progress
on those priorities,

825
00:35:10,233 --> 00:35:13,703
the poll numbers are going
to take care of themselves.

826
00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:14,830
The Press:
Two other quick things.

827
00:35:14,834 --> 00:35:17,404
On the website, at the
top, in responding to Jim,

828
00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,600
you were saying that if anyone
signs up by December 23rd,

829
00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,430
they will be "in a
position to get insurance."

830
00:35:23,433 --> 00:35:26,763
But his question was,
are you guaranteeing

831
00:35:26,767 --> 00:35:27,867
that they will get it --

832
00:35:27,867 --> 00:35:29,067
not that they'll be in
a position to get it --

833
00:35:29,066 --> 00:35:30,496
but if you sign up
by December 23rd,

834
00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:33,930
are you guaranteeing you'll
have insurance on January 1?

835
00:35:33,934 --> 00:35:35,504
Mr. Earnest:
That is the deadline
that we have established

836
00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:37,000
for individuals --

837
00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,830
that if people who
sign up on December 23rd,

838
00:35:39,834 --> 00:35:40,834
that that's what
they need you to do

839
00:35:40,834 --> 00:35:42,904
in order to qualify
for insurance coverage

840
00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:44,200
by January 1st.

841
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,070
We have individuals who are --

842
00:35:46,066 --> 00:35:47,696
we have
a team of experts, actually,

843
00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:48,800
more than just individuals,

844
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,900
these are experts who
are in place to make sure

845
00:35:50,900 --> 00:35:55,270
that the proper linkages
are connected between

846
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:57,936
the insurance companies and the
individuals who are enrolled.

847
00:35:57,934 --> 00:35:59,564
The Press:
But you can't guarantee them.

848
00:35:59,567 --> 00:36:02,897
People are trying,
but you can't guarantee them.

849
00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:04,970
Mr. Earnest:
We are confident
that by December 23rd

850
00:36:04,967 --> 00:36:06,767
we'll have ironed
out these problems.

851
00:36:06,767 --> 00:36:09,697
And Mr. Zients himself
has said that we are confident

852
00:36:09,700 --> 00:36:15,600
that past and future 834
issues will be resolved.

853
00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:19,070
The Press:
Very last thing on
the budget today --

854
00:36:19,066 --> 00:36:20,066
you said the President
is pleased with it;

855
00:36:20,066 --> 00:36:21,196
he put out on a
statement to that effect.

856
00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:22,300
Paul Ryan, though,
is touting the fact that he says

857
00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:23,430
that it sets a new precedent.

858
00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:25,433
It's all spending cuts
for the deficit reduction,

859
00:36:25,433 --> 00:36:26,533
no tax increases.

860
00:36:26,533 --> 00:36:28,733
The President ran
in the last campaign,

861
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:30,704
as you know better than anyone,
on saying there has to be

862
00:36:30,700 --> 00:36:33,000
a balanced approach --
that's his guiding principle.

863
00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,000
He won the election and said
that's how we're going to do it.

864
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,100
Paul Ryan says now
there's a new deal --

865
00:36:38,100 --> 00:36:40,200
it's spending cuts,
no tax increases.

866
00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:44,130
So does that suggest his guiding
principle is no longer valid?

867
00:36:44,133 --> 00:36:45,133
Mr. Earnest:
It does not.

868
00:36:45,133 --> 00:36:47,203
The President continues to be -

869
00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,370
The Press:
Well then why didn't he get it?

870
00:36:49,367 --> 00:36:50,797
Mr. Earnest:
Well, let me answer
your first question,

871
00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:52,300
then I'll get to
your second one.

872
00:36:52,300 --> 00:36:54,370
The President is committed
to a balanced approach,

873
00:36:54,367 --> 00:36:56,537
and that is something that
he'll continue to advocate for.

874
00:36:56,533 --> 00:36:59,133
This deal actually does
reflect a balanced approach.

875
00:36:59,133 --> 00:37:01,263
The President is committed to
making sure that we're not in

876
00:37:01,266 --> 00:37:03,636
a position where we're asking
middle-class families or

877
00:37:03,633 --> 00:37:06,703
Medicare beneficiaries or people
who rely on Social Security

878
00:37:06,700 --> 00:37:11,770
income to pay the bills -- we're
not going to ask those people

879
00:37:11,767 --> 00:37:14,167
to make sacrifices if we're
not also going to ask the oil

880
00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:15,696
and gas companies
to make sacrifices,

881
00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:18,830
or for hedge fund managers
to make sacrifices.

882
00:37:18,834 --> 00:37:21,364
So the President will continue
to pursue a balanced approach

883
00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:22,737
to deal with our
deficit challenges.

884
00:37:22,734 --> 00:37:25,504
But what's also important as the
President considers these kinds

885
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:28,400
of budget agreements is he wants
to make sure that the priorities

886
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,600
that are included in these
budgets reflect what should

887
00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,530
be our core priority, which is
expanding economic opportunity

888
00:37:34,533 --> 00:37:36,463
for the middle class,
and that is something that --

889
00:37:36,467 --> 00:37:39,297
again, this is a modest budget
agreement but it does reflect

890
00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:40,870
those priorities.

891
00:37:40,867 --> 00:37:43,437
Moving forward, the President
will continue to make the case

892
00:37:43,433 --> 00:37:44,933
for budget agreements
that are focused

893
00:37:44,934 --> 00:37:46,304
on middle-class priorities.

894
00:37:46,300 --> 00:37:50,330
The President will also continue
to make the case for tax reform

895
00:37:50,333 --> 00:37:52,533
that reflects
middle-class priorities,

896
00:37:52,533 --> 00:37:56,533
and that is something
that we should be able

897
00:37:56,533 --> 00:37:58,033
to find common ground on.

898
00:37:58,033 --> 00:38:00,803
And if this is a precedent
for finding common ground

899
00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,570
with Republicans,
where we're going to --

900
00:38:02,567 --> 00:38:04,237
to go to your second question --

901
00:38:04,233 --> 00:38:05,733
where we're actually going
to compromise on something,

902
00:38:05,734 --> 00:38:06,934
where neither side is
going to get everything

903
00:38:06,934 --> 00:38:08,804
that they want but
both sides are going to be able

904
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:09,930
to point to something
that they think

905
00:38:09,934 --> 00:38:12,004
is positive about the deal,

906
00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:13,800
then I hope that
it is a precedent.

907
00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,300
Jared.

908
00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:16,800
The Press:
Thank you very much.

909
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:18,700
Following up on
Alexis's questions,

910
00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:21,730
why would Mr. Podesta
feel a need to,

911
00:38:21,734 --> 00:38:25,504
I guess, remove himself if
he knows already, I assume,

912
00:38:25,500 --> 00:38:28,170
that the process at
the State Department,

913
00:38:28,166 --> 00:38:30,796
it just doesn't square?

914
00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,270
Mr. Earnest:
Well, this is -- well,
because he doesn't work

915
00:38:33,266 --> 00:38:34,266
at the State Department,

916
00:38:34,266 --> 00:38:35,496
I guess is the
first thing, right?

917
00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:38,230
So this is a process
that lives there.

918
00:38:38,233 --> 00:38:40,433
At some point,
there will be some --

919
00:38:40,433 --> 00:38:42,403
The Press:
But why would he
need to remove himself

920
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:43,630
if he is coming here?

921
00:38:43,633 --> 00:38:45,603
That's what I'm confused about.

922
00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:46,600
Mr. Earnest: Right.

923
00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:47,600
Because the process
will eventually shift

924
00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:48,730
to the White House,

925
00:38:48,734 --> 00:38:50,264
that there will be some
White House involvement

926
00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:51,596
in that process.

927
00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:53,330
The President has talked about
that pretty extensively already.

928
00:38:53,333 --> 00:38:56,563
And he felt like it was --
that it was in the best interest

929
00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:59,037
of that policy-making process
to not insert himself

930
00:38:59,033 --> 00:39:01,063
and his well-known views at
the very end of that process.

931
00:39:01,066 --> 00:39:02,496
The Press:
But he has no -- you said --

932
00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:04,670
no financial or other
conflicts of interest

933
00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:07,067
besides his previous
stated stance --

934
00:39:07,066 --> 00:39:08,696
Mr. Earnest:
Not that I'm aware of --

935
00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:10,030
not that I'm aware of.

936
00:39:10,033 --> 00:39:13,003
But suffice it to say that
Mr. Podesta like everybody else

937
00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,900
who works here will meet
the most stringent ethics

938
00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:17,600
requirements in history
that the President put in place

939
00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:18,830
in his first day in office.

940
00:39:18,834 --> 00:39:19,834
The Press:
Thank you.

941
00:39:19,834 --> 00:39:20,934
And then one other question.

942
00:39:20,934 --> 00:39:23,134
I know that last week in
his interview with MSNBC,

943
00:39:23,133 --> 00:39:25,403
the President spoke pretty
glowingly of Pope Francis,

944
00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:27,970
and today he was named
Person of the Year.

945
00:39:27,967 --> 00:39:30,497
Have they spoken
at all recently?

946
00:39:30,500 --> 00:39:32,500
Mr. Earnest:
I don't believe that
they have, actually.

947
00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:34,770
I think the President
said in that interview

948
00:39:34,767 --> 00:39:38,197
that he had not had the
chance to speak to him yet.

949
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,730
But I think I'll let the
President's words stand.

950
00:39:40,734 --> 00:39:43,304
The President spoke eloquently
about what an important figure

951
00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:46,130
and what a really important
message Pope Francis has sent

952
00:39:46,133 --> 00:39:50,133
to the world in just the six or
eight months that he has held

953
00:39:50,133 --> 00:39:52,103
that important position
in the Catholic Church.

954
00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:53,100
Major.

955
00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:55,000
The Press:
Couldn't you also argue,

956
00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,600
countering
Paul Ryan's assessment,

957
00:39:57,600 --> 00:39:59,930
that the new precedent
is the Budget Control Act

958
00:39:59,934 --> 00:40:02,404
has been rewritten,
at least for two years,

959
00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,030
and that the sequestration
numbers have changed and there's

960
00:40:05,033 --> 00:40:06,763
going to be more spending
than there was under

961
00:40:06,767 --> 00:40:09,097
the past agreement
that was also bipartisan

962
00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:13,170
and also signed
by the President?

963
00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:23,430
Mr. Earnest:
You guys are interested
in drawing precedents here.

964
00:40:23,433 --> 00:40:24,533
I'm actually interested in
looking at the impact

965
00:40:24,533 --> 00:40:25,463
that this budget deal will
have on our economy,

966
00:40:25,467 --> 00:40:26,497
and that's how
the President made --

967
00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:27,730
The Press:
That's the latest deal, though.

968
00:40:27,734 --> 00:40:28,434
You don't disagree with
anything I just said, do you?

969
00:40:28,433 --> 00:40:29,663
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I --

970
00:40:29,667 --> 00:40:30,567
The Press:
I'm not asking you
to rub his nose in it.

971
00:40:30,567 --> 00:40:31,297
I'm just saying,
isn't that the fact?

972
00:40:31,300 --> 00:40:32,300
Mr. Earnest:
[laughter]

973
00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:33,300
I'm not suggesting that I would.

974
00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:34,430
What I'm --

975
00:40:34,433 --> 00:40:35,363
The Press:
Why don't you
answer the question?

976
00:40:35,367 --> 00:40:36,597
Mr. Earnest:
What I'm suggesting is,

977
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:37,700
is that what we have reached
is a compromise agreement.

978
00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:38,830
The President certainly
did not get everything

979
00:40:38,834 --> 00:40:39,764
that he would like to see
in this budget agreement,

980
00:40:39,767 --> 00:40:40,567
and Mr. Ryan,
I think as he has said

981
00:40:40,567 --> 00:40:41,537
a couple of times publicly now,

982
00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:42,903
didn't get everything
that he wanted.

983
00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:45,330
But what they were able to do
was put aside those differences

984
00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:48,133
and focus on some common ground
and strike an agreement

985
00:40:48,133 --> 00:40:49,633
that is in the best
interests of our economy,

986
00:40:49,633 --> 00:40:51,463
and that's something that
the President is pleased about.

987
00:40:51,467 --> 00:40:54,197
And again, if putting
aside partisan differences,

988
00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:57,900
focusing on common ground and
demonstrating a willingness

989
00:40:57,900 --> 00:41:01,100
to reach a compromise,
if that's precedent-setting,

990
00:41:01,100 --> 00:41:02,370
we're all for it.

991
00:41:02,367 --> 00:41:04,637
The Press:
Then let's go down
that road a little bit.

992
00:41:04,633 --> 00:41:10,833
Because if the precedent is to
use one year or very short-term

993
00:41:10,834 --> 00:41:15,304
fees and other minor-league
revenue increases,

994
00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:19,130
and adjust spending upward, this
seems to be not a small step

995
00:41:19,133 --> 00:41:21,563
toward a grand bargain,
but a complete step

996
00:41:21,567 --> 00:41:22,897
in the opposite direction.

997
00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:25,130
Because none of the structural
things are dealt with because

998
00:41:25,133 --> 00:41:28,863
the politics was obviously too
difficult for both sides

999
00:41:28,867 --> 00:41:31,297
to even discuss,
let alone draft.

1000
00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:32,700
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I don't agree
with all of that at all.

1001
00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:34,470
A couple of things.

1002
00:41:34,467 --> 00:41:37,167
One is, I'm not comparing this
to a grand bargain at all.

1003
00:41:37,166 --> 00:41:38,836
The first time anybody in this
room has said "grand bargain"

1004
00:41:38,834 --> 00:41:39,834
is when you did.

1005
00:41:39,834 --> 00:41:41,034
I didn't say that.

1006
00:41:41,033 --> 00:41:42,803
The Press:
No, I'm not suggesting you did.

1007
00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:43,970
Mr. Earnest:
Okay, okay.

1008
00:41:43,967 --> 00:41:45,097
The Press:
But that's been
the sort of overhang

1009
00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:47,100
for all these confrontations
for quite some time.

1010
00:41:47,100 --> 00:41:48,400
Mr. Earnest:
It has, it has.

1011
00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:49,530
And the President's proposal for
that grand bargain continues

1012
00:41:49,533 --> 00:41:50,863
to sit on the table for --

1013
00:41:50,867 --> 00:41:52,467
continues to sit
on the table right now.

1014
00:41:52,467 --> 00:41:54,767
That is an option that is
available and that has been.

1015
00:41:54,767 --> 00:41:56,737
I think we're coming up
on the year anniversary

1016
00:41:56,734 --> 00:41:59,534
of that initial proposal.

1017
00:41:59,533 --> 00:42:02,133
It was codified in the
President's budget as well.

1018
00:42:02,133 --> 00:42:04,933
But what we're focused
on right now is trying

1019
00:42:04,934 --> 00:42:07,704
to strike budget agreements
that reflect the best interests

1020
00:42:07,700 --> 00:42:08,800
of our economy.

1021
00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,670
It is our view that
a so-called grand bargain,

1022
00:42:11,667 --> 00:42:13,537
based on the outlines that
the President has put forward,

1023
00:42:13,533 --> 00:42:15,763
would actually do really
good things for our economy.

1024
00:42:15,767 --> 00:42:17,737
A more modest agreement,
like the one that was reached

1025
00:42:17,734 --> 00:42:20,034
just yesterday, would also do
helpful things for our economy,

1026
00:42:20,033 --> 00:42:21,933
and that's why the
President is pleased --

1027
00:42:21,934 --> 00:42:23,164
The Press:
Or less harm.

1028
00:42:23,166 --> 00:42:25,536
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I'm a glass
half-full kind of guy,

1029
00:42:25,533 --> 00:42:26,533
Major.

1030
00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:27,833
The Press: Okay.

1031
00:42:27,834 --> 00:42:29,864
Why didn't you demand also a
resolution for the same period

1032
00:42:29,867 --> 00:42:32,467
of time, or at least
another period of time,

1033
00:42:32,467 --> 00:42:34,997
on the debt ceiling?

1034
00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:37,900
Mr. Earnest:
Well, the fact of
the matter is Senator

1035
00:42:37,900 --> 00:42:40,900
McConnell has been pretty
outspoken ever since the end of

1036
00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:43,730
the government shutdown
back in October that we're not

1037
00:42:43,734 --> 00:42:45,334
going to be in a position,
that Republicans are not

1038
00:42:45,333 --> 00:42:48,003
going to be part of holding
the economy hostage

1039
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,130
and not going to be
part of threatening default.

1040
00:42:50,133 --> 00:42:55,233
And we at the
White House are confident

1041
00:42:55,233 --> 00:42:57,163
that Senator McConnell is right.

1042
00:42:57,166 --> 00:42:58,636
The Press:
So you think you
can deal with that?

1043
00:42:58,633 --> 00:43:00,303
That's not an issue anymore?

1044
00:43:00,300 --> 00:43:01,470
Mr. Earnest:
Well, it's the responsibility
of the Congress to deal with it,

1045
00:43:01,467 --> 00:43:03,497
and we're confident that
they will without any drama.

1046
00:43:03,500 --> 00:43:04,630
The Press:
All right.

1047
00:43:04,633 --> 00:43:05,863
Let me just put two things
together that you said

1048
00:43:05,867 --> 00:43:09,597
about December 23rd,
January 1st coverage,

1049
00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,400
and what Secretary
Sebelius testified to.

1050
00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,970
Because I think there's
a fundamental disconnect there.

1051
00:43:14,967 --> 00:43:18,297
She says the backend
of the website --

1052
00:43:18,300 --> 00:43:21,570
which is the part through
which insurers are paid

1053
00:43:21,567 --> 00:43:24,537
and guaranteed payment
is confirmed --

1054
00:43:24,533 --> 00:43:27,163
won't be done
until mid-January.

1055
00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:32,136
How can you so assertively
predict with confidence that

1056
00:43:32,133 --> 00:43:35,863
those who sign up on December
23rd will have actionable

1057
00:43:35,867 --> 00:43:37,437
coverage on January 1st?

1058
00:43:37,433 --> 00:43:40,563
Because they have to --
as every customer does,

1059
00:43:40,567 --> 00:43:42,167
has to go through
the backend system.

1060
00:43:42,166 --> 00:43:44,396
I mean, are you literally
going to have people sort of

1061
00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:47,700
monitoring everyone
who falls into that category

1062
00:43:47,700 --> 00:43:50,330
of December 23rd
and January 1st coverage?

1063
00:43:50,333 --> 00:43:52,303
Because if you don't,
I don't see how they don't slip

1064
00:43:52,300 --> 00:43:53,470
through the cracks.

1065
00:43:53,467 --> 00:43:54,537
Mr. Earnest:
Let me unpack
a couple of things.

1066
00:43:54,533 --> 00:43:56,163
Because I was getting
ready for this briefing,

1067
00:43:56,166 --> 00:43:58,366
I wasn't able to watch every
minute of her testimony.

1068
00:43:58,367 --> 00:44:03,567
My understanding, though, about
those references to some aspects

1069
00:44:03,567 --> 00:44:06,567
of the backend needing to be
fixed or still need to be built,

1070
00:44:06,567 --> 00:44:10,137
that relates to several
other processes related

1071
00:44:10,133 --> 00:44:11,333
to health care --

1072
00:44:11,333 --> 00:44:14,333
not necessarily to
this one 834 issue.

1073
00:44:14,333 --> 00:44:17,103
So that's the first thing.

1074
00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:20,300
But the second thing is that
the problems that we've had

1075
00:44:20,300 --> 00:44:28,000
with that program were
much worse very early on.

1076
00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:33,800
So in October and November,
we saw that the 834s were not

1077
00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,470
functioning and not being
transmitted with a lot

1078
00:44:36,467 --> 00:44:39,637
of accuracy, that there were
concerns about information being

1079
00:44:39,633 --> 00:44:42,633
left off the forms, that there
were duplicates being sent.

1080
00:44:42,633 --> 00:44:45,663
Because of some of the
technological fixes that have

1081
00:44:45,667 --> 00:44:48,937
been implemented over the
course of the month of November,

1082
00:44:48,934 --> 00:44:51,534
a lot of those problems --
I guess I should say this:

1083
00:44:51,533 --> 00:44:55,203
The rate of those problems
has dropped significantly.

1084
00:44:55,200 --> 00:45:00,700
So now, at the same time, there
also were many fewer people

1085
00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:02,400
who are enrolling in health
care because of the problems

1086
00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:03,670
related the website.

1087
00:45:03,667 --> 00:45:07,437
So the universe
of people who are --

1088
00:45:07,433 --> 00:45:08,963
who could
potentially be affected

1089
00:45:08,967 --> 00:45:12,937
by some of the 834 problems
is relatively small.

1090
00:45:12,934 --> 00:45:15,204
And we have a team
of experts who is working

1091
00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:17,030
both through
technological fixes,

1092
00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:19,033
but also through
some elbow grease,

1093
00:45:19,033 --> 00:45:22,063
going through and confirming
that that information

1094
00:45:22,066 --> 00:45:24,736
has been conveyed
accurately and completely,

1095
00:45:24,734 --> 00:45:28,734
and to confirm that they will
be signed up for health care

1096
00:45:28,734 --> 00:45:31,934
and eligible to get
covered on January 1st.

1097
00:45:31,934 --> 00:45:33,264
The Press:
Back to Jared's first question.

1098
00:45:33,266 --> 00:45:37,736
It seems amazing to me
that you will not and HHS

1099
00:45:37,734 --> 00:45:40,534
will not commit to as thorough
as possible a discussion

1100
00:45:40,533 --> 00:45:44,363
of these numbers on January
1st or very soon thereafter.

1101
00:45:44,367 --> 00:45:48,967
Because that is your very first
actual acid test of numbers

1102
00:45:48,967 --> 00:45:52,137
and people who sought
coverage and obtained it.

1103
00:45:52,133 --> 00:45:55,433
And is the entire country and
those consumers themselves going

1104
00:45:55,433 --> 00:45:57,463
to have to wait until the
middle of January to find out

1105
00:45:57,467 --> 00:45:58,797
if it all worked?

1106
00:45:58,800 --> 00:45:59,970
Mr. Earnest:
Well, those consumers
individually will know

1107
00:45:59,967 --> 00:46:01,297
whether or not they're
signed up because they'll --

1108
00:46:01,300 --> 00:46:02,630
The Press:
Then why not tell us?

1109
00:46:02,633 --> 00:46:05,363
Because then you'll
know, as well.

1110
00:46:05,367 --> 00:46:06,597
Mr. Earnest:
-- have signed
up by December 3rd.

1111
00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:07,970
We will tell you
as soon as we can,

1112
00:46:07,967 --> 00:46:09,667
and I think waiting a
couple of weeks to make sure

1113
00:46:09,667 --> 00:46:10,667
that we've scrubbed the numbers

1114
00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:12,767
and got that
information accurate,

1115
00:46:12,767 --> 00:46:15,237
that we have ensured that there
are no duplicates involved.

1116
00:46:15,233 --> 00:46:16,463
We're also compiling information

1117
00:46:16,467 --> 00:46:19,067
from 14 different
state-run exchanges.

1118
00:46:19,066 --> 00:46:20,796
We're also compiling
information that didn't

1119
00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:22,270
just go through the website,

1120
00:46:22,266 --> 00:46:25,666
but also went through
either in-person signups

1121
00:46:25,667 --> 00:46:26,837
or through the call centers.

1122
00:46:26,834 --> 00:46:28,804
There are a variety of ways
that people can sign up.

1123
00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:31,370
So compiling all that
information, scrubbing it,

1124
00:46:31,367 --> 00:46:34,867
deduping it, making sure that
that information is accurate,

1125
00:46:34,867 --> 00:46:36,397
considering the numbers
that we're expecting,

1126
00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:40,770
that the fact that that process
might take 10 or 15 days I don't

1127
00:46:40,767 --> 00:46:44,997
think is an inordinate period of
time for you to wait and be able

1128
00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:47,400
to evaluate what kind
of progress we've made,

1129
00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:50,670
and to evaluate the
success of the program.

1130
00:46:50,667 --> 00:46:52,067
Ari.

1131
00:46:52,066 --> 00:46:54,296
The Press:
I have to confess I was
not confused about Podesta

1132
00:46:54,300 --> 00:46:57,000
recusing himself from Keystone
until you described

1133
00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:58,600
the reasons for it.

1134
00:46:58,600 --> 00:46:59,930
[laughter]

1135
00:46:59,934 --> 00:47:02,334
So you say he asked to recuse,
but not exactly recused himself,

1136
00:47:02,333 --> 00:47:03,333
because it's --

1137
00:47:03,333 --> 00:47:04,333
Mr. Earnest:
Well, let's not say "recuse."

1138
00:47:04,333 --> 00:47:05,933
That he said that he
wouldn't work on it.

1139
00:47:05,934 --> 00:47:06,934
But go ahead.

1140
00:47:06,934 --> 00:47:08,064
The Press: Okay.

1141
00:47:08,066 --> 00:47:08,936
Because it's at State,
not at the White House ---

1142
00:47:08,934 --> 00:47:10,364
which sort of
raises the question,

1143
00:47:10,367 --> 00:47:11,567
then why doesn't he recuse --

1144
00:47:11,567 --> 00:47:13,867
excuse himself from
everything that's handled

1145
00:47:13,867 --> 00:47:15,297
at every agency outside
the White House --

1146
00:47:15,300 --> 00:47:17,000
but fine,
at the end of the process

1147
00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:18,600
you say it's going to
come to the White House,

1148
00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:20,700
and he doesn't want to insert
himself at the end

1149
00:47:20,700 --> 00:47:23,100
of the process, but it hasn't
come to the White House yet,

1150
00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:26,330
so everybody at the White House
would be uncertain of themselves

1151
00:47:26,333 --> 00:47:27,333
at the end of the process.

1152
00:47:27,333 --> 00:47:28,803
So that doesn't
really make sense.

1153
00:47:28,800 --> 00:47:32,130
So I'm just trying to
understand the reasons.

1154
00:47:32,133 --> 00:47:33,503
Mr. Earnest: Sure.

1155
00:47:33,500 --> 00:47:36,530
I'm going to take one more run
at trying to explain it to you.

1156
00:47:36,533 --> 00:47:38,303
Put simply, this
is a process that is run

1157
00:47:38,300 --> 00:47:39,500
by the State
Department right now.

1158
00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:41,530
Certainly, White House
officials are aware of

1159
00:47:41,533 --> 00:47:43,303
where we are in that process.

1160
00:47:43,300 --> 00:47:46,200
They have been consulting with
people at the State Department

1161
00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:47,300
about that process.

1162
00:47:47,300 --> 00:47:49,670
But ultimately,
that is a process that is run

1163
00:47:49,667 --> 00:47:50,967
by the State Department.

1164
00:47:50,967 --> 00:47:53,267
The President has
indicated how strongly he --

1165
00:47:53,266 --> 00:47:56,166
has indicated
his interest in this program,

1166
00:47:56,166 --> 00:47:57,666
in the way that it's --

1167
00:47:57,667 --> 00:48:00,637
or this determination in
the way that it's resolved.

1168
00:48:00,633 --> 00:48:02,333
So the White House
is in the loop

1169
00:48:02,333 --> 00:48:04,703
as this process moves forward.

1170
00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:06,170
What Mr. Podesta has simply said

1171
00:48:06,166 --> 00:48:08,296
is that he has very
well-known views on this topic.

1172
00:48:08,300 --> 00:48:09,900
They've been publicly expressed.

1173
00:48:09,900 --> 00:48:11,800
Those views were publicly
expressed before he started

1174
00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:13,170
working for the President.

1175
00:48:13,166 --> 00:48:18,266
And so it is his view that it is
better if his well-known views

1176
00:48:18,266 --> 00:48:21,796
are not injected at the
very end of that process.

1177
00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:24,770
So he has said to Mr. McDonough

1178
00:48:24,767 --> 00:48:26,637
that he would prefer not
to work on that process

1179
00:48:26,633 --> 00:48:28,063
and to state so publicly,

1180
00:48:28,066 --> 00:48:29,536
and Mr. McDonough agreed that

1181
00:48:29,533 --> 00:48:30,963
that was the
best course of action.

1182
00:48:30,967 --> 00:48:32,567
The Press:
But that still leaves the
original question unanswered

1183
00:48:32,567 --> 00:48:35,767
of why, given the wide range of
things he's expressed views on,

1184
00:48:35,767 --> 00:48:40,367
he would ask not to be
involved in only this one.

1185
00:48:40,367 --> 00:48:43,967
Mr. Earnest:
Yes, I guess because
this is a view that is --

1186
00:48:43,967 --> 00:48:46,597
these are views that have
been strongly expressed

1187
00:48:46,600 --> 00:48:49,170
and have gotten
a lot of attention.

1188
00:48:49,166 --> 00:48:50,866
And there's no doubt
that he's expressed his views

1189
00:48:50,867 --> 00:48:53,197
on a range of other things, too.

1190
00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:56,570
Many of those
things are, frankly,

1191
00:48:56,567 --> 00:48:58,667
less controversial
and have become --

1192
00:48:58,667 --> 00:48:59,867
aren't as much
of a lightning rod

1193
00:48:59,867 --> 00:49:01,637
as this particular
issue has become.

1194
00:49:01,633 --> 00:49:03,103
The Press:
Can I also ask
you about Podesta?

1195
00:49:03,100 --> 00:49:04,470
This administration
for a long time

1196
00:49:04,467 --> 00:49:06,397
has been criticized
as too insular.

1197
00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:07,700
The President
was asked about it

1198
00:49:07,700 --> 00:49:09,930
in his last lengthy
news conference.

1199
00:49:09,934 --> 00:49:13,434
Does bringing in Podesta in some
way acknowledge that insularity

1200
00:49:13,433 --> 00:49:15,433
was in fact a problem?

1201
00:49:17,367 --> 00:49:18,897
Mr. Earnest:
I think that might
be reading too much

1202
00:49:18,900 --> 00:49:23,730
into one man's hiring.

1203
00:49:23,734 --> 00:49:26,234
I think the reason that
I can state definitively

1204
00:49:26,233 --> 00:49:29,463
that the reason that Mr.
Podesta was hired was because

1205
00:49:29,467 --> 00:49:34,367
the President has confidence in
him as a political professional,

1206
00:49:34,367 --> 00:49:36,937
somebody who has been through

1207
00:49:36,934 --> 00:49:38,364
some very difficult
political fights,

1208
00:49:38,367 --> 00:49:41,567
but also somebody who knows
a lot about moving policy

1209
00:49:41,567 --> 00:49:46,067
in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Podesta is somebody who,

1210
00:49:46,066 --> 00:49:51,566
as is known from his outspoken
views on some issues,

1211
00:49:51,567 --> 00:49:53,397
shares the President's worldview
and shares the President's

1212
00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:57,370
priorities on a range of issues,
including trying to address this

1213
00:49:57,367 --> 00:50:00,097
question of economic mobility
and economic inequality

1214
00:50:00,100 --> 00:50:01,630
in this country.

1215
00:50:01,633 --> 00:50:04,203
So he is somebody who shares
the President's worldview

1216
00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:05,930
and is looking forward
to rolling up his sleeves

1217
00:50:05,934 --> 00:50:08,104
and working with the President
to try to make progress

1218
00:50:08,100 --> 00:50:10,400
on some of these issues.

1219
00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:14,670
The last thing is that
Mr. Podesta has very strong

1220
00:50:14,667 --> 00:50:16,467
relationships with
people on Capitol Hill,

1221
00:50:16,467 --> 00:50:17,897
Democrats and Republicans.

1222
00:50:17,900 --> 00:50:19,000
He's got strong relationships

1223
00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:20,630
with many of you
in the news media.

1224
00:50:20,633 --> 00:50:23,563
He's got strong relationships
with other influential people

1225
00:50:23,567 --> 00:50:24,797
in Washington, D.C.

1226
00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:27,430
And so could he contribute
to trying to make sure

1227
00:50:27,433 --> 00:50:30,833
that outside opinions are
reflected in the White House's

1228
00:50:30,834 --> 00:50:32,134
internal
decision-making process?

1229
00:50:32,133 --> 00:50:35,103
Yes, I think that he can play
a role in doing exactly that.

1230
00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:39,600
And maybe that does address
some of the concerns

1231
00:50:39,600 --> 00:50:40,600
that some have expressed

1232
00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:42,130
about insularity
at the White House,

1233
00:50:42,133 --> 00:50:45,103
but I can tell you that the
responsibility that Mr. Podesta

1234
00:50:45,100 --> 00:50:47,200
will wield at the White House
is much greater than that.

1235
00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:48,530
Jon.

1236
00:50:48,533 --> 00:50:50,933
The Press:
Josh, I wasn't even going
to ask about Keystone,

1237
00:50:50,934 --> 00:50:54,104
but what's taking so
long for this decision?

1238
00:50:54,100 --> 00:50:56,100
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I mean --

1239
00:50:56,100 --> 00:50:58,700
The Press:
I mean, this has been
going on for years.

1240
00:50:58,700 --> 00:51:01,070
Why are we still --

1241
00:51:01,066 --> 00:51:02,396
Mr. Earnest:
It has.

1242
00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:03,730
Well, there have been a couple
of times where the process got

1243
00:51:03,734 --> 00:51:06,004
upended because of concerns that
were raised by the Republican

1244
00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:09,270
governor of Nebraska and the
route that had been proposed.

1245
00:51:09,266 --> 00:51:11,196
The Press:
Yes, that's ancient
history, too.

1246
00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:13,370
Mr. Earnest:
Well, but you said
it's going on for years,

1247
00:51:13,367 --> 00:51:16,037
and that's one of the things
that slowed down the process.

1248
00:51:16,033 --> 00:51:18,433
So I think that demonstrates the
commitment of the administration

1249
00:51:18,433 --> 00:51:19,803
to get this right.

1250
00:51:19,800 --> 00:51:22,070
It demonstrates that there are
people in both parties who have

1251
00:51:22,066 --> 00:51:24,166
a range of views on this topic.

1252
00:51:24,166 --> 00:51:27,396
And what the State Department
is doing is they're reaching

1253
00:51:27,400 --> 00:51:30,200
a determination of
national interest.

1254
00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:31,200
The Press:
Is this a pocket veto?

1255
00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:32,800
Is this basically like
run out the clock?

1256
00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:34,100
Mr. Earnest:
That's not something that
should be taken lightly.

1257
00:51:34,100 --> 00:51:35,630
It certainly isn't taken
lightly by the President

1258
00:51:35,633 --> 00:51:36,803
or his administration.

1259
00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:39,300
The Press:
So you're not running
out the clock?

1260
00:51:39,300 --> 00:51:41,930
Because if you delay and then
you don't make a decision,

1261
00:51:41,934 --> 00:51:44,104
it doesn't get built, you know?

1262
00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:46,970
Mr. Earnest:
That's not how I'd characterize
the ongoing policy process.

1263
00:51:46,967 --> 00:51:49,137
The Press:
What I wanted ask about
was the famous handshake

1264
00:51:49,133 --> 00:51:50,403
with Raul Castro.

1265
00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:52,270
And I'm wondering -- we all
saw the President exchanged

1266
00:51:52,266 --> 00:51:53,266
some words with Castro.

1267
00:51:53,266 --> 00:51:54,996
I'm wondering what
those words were,

1268
00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:58,900
and did the name Alan Gross,
the American political prisoner

1269
00:51:58,900 --> 00:52:01,930
being held in Cuba, come up?

1270
00:52:01,934 --> 00:52:03,134
Mr. Earnest:
It's my understanding --

1271
00:52:03,133 --> 00:52:04,433
I obviously wasn't there.

1272
00:52:04,433 --> 00:52:07,063
That's why I'm not
sleep deprived today.

1273
00:52:07,066 --> 00:52:08,936
It's my understanding,
based on people who did talk

1274
00:52:08,934 --> 00:52:10,704
to the President
after his speech,

1275
00:52:10,700 --> 00:52:12,070
that they didn't have a robust,

1276
00:52:12,066 --> 00:52:13,666
substantive conversation
about policies,

1277
00:52:13,667 --> 00:52:15,097
but rather exchanged
some pleasantries

1278
00:52:15,100 --> 00:52:17,530
as the President was making
his way to the podium.

1279
00:52:17,533 --> 00:52:20,503
So there was not an opportunity
for the President to chronicle

1280
00:52:20,500 --> 00:52:22,830
his many concerns
about human rights abuses

1281
00:52:22,834 --> 00:52:24,634
on the island of Cuba.

1282
00:52:24,633 --> 00:52:27,963
The President did not have
the opportunity to say to him

1283
00:52:27,967 --> 00:52:30,097
directly something that
he said many times,

1284
00:52:30,100 --> 00:52:31,970
which is that Alan Gross
should be released.

1285
00:52:31,967 --> 00:52:37,867
So they did not have
an opportunity to have

1286
00:52:37,867 --> 00:52:40,267
a robust exchange of ideas.

1287
00:52:40,266 --> 00:52:42,966
Rather, they had an opportunity
to exchange pleasantries.

1288
00:52:42,967 --> 00:52:44,537
The Press:
So you said the President
has said many times

1289
00:52:44,533 --> 00:52:45,763
that Alan Gross
should be released?

1290
00:52:45,767 --> 00:52:46,897
Mr. Earnest:
He's said it before.

1291
00:52:46,900 --> 00:52:49,200
Maybe it's not many times,
but he has said before

1292
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:50,430
that Alan Gross
should be released.

1293
00:52:50,433 --> 00:52:52,033
I think we put out a statement
from the President just

1294
00:52:52,033 --> 00:52:53,603
a couple of days
ago on this topic.

1295
00:52:53,600 --> 00:52:58,100
The Press:
And what -- so I understand
he's there, he passed --

1296
00:52:58,100 --> 00:53:01,130
I know this was not
a prearranged handshake.

1297
00:53:01,133 --> 00:53:05,633
But obviously, you knew that
Castro was going to be up there

1298
00:53:05,633 --> 00:53:06,633
on that stage.

1299
00:53:06,633 --> 00:53:08,063
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

1300
00:53:08,066 --> 00:53:09,936
The Press:
Was it discussed beforehand
what to do when the two

1301
00:53:09,934 --> 00:53:11,264
would inevitably
come face to face?

1302
00:53:11,266 --> 00:53:12,296
Mr. Earnest:
Not to my knowledge.

1303
00:53:12,300 --> 00:53:13,800
Not to my knowledge.

1304
00:53:13,800 --> 00:53:16,130
The Press:
And can you -- you've
seen some of the criticism.

1305
00:53:16,133 --> 00:53:22,133
John McCain actually compared
this to Neville Chamberlain

1306
00:53:30,367 --> 00:53:31,367
shaking hands with Hitler.

1307
00:53:31,367 --> 00:53:32,567
What's your response
to all that criticism,

1308
00:53:32,567 --> 00:53:33,867
that people say that the
President shouldn't have given

1309
00:53:33,867 --> 00:53:34,767
Castro the opportunity to have
a handshake with the leader

1310
00:53:34,767 --> 00:53:35,797
of the United States?

1311
00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:37,170
Mr. Earnest:
Well, again, first of all,

1312
00:53:37,166 --> 00:53:38,166
the President shook hands with
everybody who was on the stage,

1313
00:53:38,166 --> 00:53:39,366
and Mr. Castro was
one of those individuals

1314
00:53:39,367 --> 00:53:40,367
who was on the stage.

1315
00:53:40,367 --> 00:53:41,367
The second thing
I'd point out is,

1316
00:53:41,367 --> 00:53:44,037
I think even in
the few number of times

1317
00:53:44,033 --> 00:53:45,203
that I've stood at this podium,

1318
00:53:45,200 --> 00:53:47,400
I've been asked about other
people who have tried

1319
00:53:47,400 --> 00:53:52,130
to draw connections between
recent political events

1320
00:53:52,133 --> 00:53:54,703
and the terrible
reign of Adolph Hitler.

1321
00:53:54,700 --> 00:54:00,400
That is a dangerous and usually
unwise thing to do in public.

1322
00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:02,870
The third thing I guess I would
say is that there used to be

1323
00:54:02,867 --> 00:54:05,297
a pretty important
principle that originated

1324
00:54:05,300 --> 00:54:06,300
in the Republican Party,

1325
00:54:06,300 --> 00:54:07,970
I believe, that partisan
politics should stop

1326
00:54:07,967 --> 00:54:09,437
at the water's edge.

1327
00:54:09,433 --> 00:54:12,163
And it's unfortunate that we
did see a number of Republicans

1328
00:54:12,166 --> 00:54:15,036
yesterday who criticized the
President for a handshake

1329
00:54:15,033 --> 00:54:17,133
at Nelson Mandela's funeral.

1330
00:54:17,133 --> 00:54:22,703
That is I think an important
progression in a number

1331
00:54:22,700 --> 00:54:24,570
of politicians' views
on that topic.

1332
00:54:24,567 --> 00:54:27,737
The Press:
Is there anybody that
the President would not --

1333
00:54:27,734 --> 00:54:29,304
is there any world
leader the President

1334
00:54:29,300 --> 00:54:30,530
would not shake hands with?

1335
00:54:30,533 --> 00:54:34,003
If Assad had been on that stage,

1336
00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:35,230
Kim Jong-un had
been on that stage --

1337
00:54:35,233 --> 00:54:36,233
I mean, is there --

1338
00:54:36,233 --> 00:54:37,503
I'm trying to
gauge the principle.

1339
00:54:37,500 --> 00:54:40,470
He shook hands with
everybody on the stage.

1340
00:54:40,467 --> 00:54:42,197
I mean, is there
anybody he wouldn't?

1341
00:54:42,200 --> 00:54:43,630
Mr. Earnest:
That's a difficult
hypothetical to entertain,

1342
00:54:43,633 --> 00:54:46,463
and I decline to
do it at this point.

1343
00:54:46,467 --> 00:54:47,467
Brianna.

1344
00:54:47,467 --> 00:54:48,567
The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

1345
00:54:48,567 --> 00:54:53,897
To follow on Kristen's
question about a reset --

1346
00:54:53,900 --> 00:54:56,170
and I know you say you
don't want to dwell on polls --

1347
00:54:56,166 --> 00:54:58,896
but it's hard to ignore the fact
that almost an alarming number

1348
00:54:58,900 --> 00:55:01,370
of Americans have lost
confidence in President Obama

1349
00:55:01,367 --> 00:55:02,597
and his signature achievement.

1350
00:55:02,600 --> 00:55:06,570
So in light of that, on a reset,
is this addition --

1351
00:55:06,567 --> 00:55:09,097
we're seeing the additions
of John Podesta, Phil Schiliro,

1352
00:55:09,100 --> 00:55:12,070
presumably some other
folks who are in the works.

1353
00:55:12,066 --> 00:55:14,396
Should that be seen as a reset?

1354
00:55:14,400 --> 00:55:18,730
And does the President
think that he needs a reset?

1355
00:55:18,734 --> 00:55:20,334
Mr. Earnest:
Well, there's a
lot in that question,

1356
00:55:20,333 --> 00:55:21,703
so let me try to do
them one at a time.

1357
00:55:21,700 --> 00:55:24,300
The first is, the headline from
the New York Times in their poll

1358
00:55:24,300 --> 00:55:27,570
today was that Obama sees a
rebound in his approval rating.

1359
00:55:27,567 --> 00:55:29,597
So I recognize that there's
a lot of polling data out there,

1360
00:55:29,600 --> 00:55:32,330
but it's not reaching any
uniformed conclusions

1361
00:55:32,333 --> 00:55:33,633
as far as I can tell.

1362
00:55:33,633 --> 00:55:36,703
The second thing, in terms
of the need for a reset,

1363
00:55:36,700 --> 00:55:41,770
as you described --
I think the President has --

1364
00:55:41,767 --> 00:55:43,167
well, let me go
back to something I said earlier

1365
00:55:43,166 --> 00:55:45,866
before I talk
about the President.

1366
00:55:45,867 --> 00:55:47,667
You've covered us closely
over the last several years

1367
00:55:47,667 --> 00:55:50,367
and you recognize that typically
at the end of the calendar year

1368
00:55:50,367 --> 00:55:51,537
people are making
their own decisions

1369
00:55:51,533 --> 00:55:54,063
about whether they can
continue to government service

1370
00:55:54,066 --> 00:55:56,336
if they want to pursue
other opportunities that might

1371
00:55:56,333 --> 00:55:57,833
afford them the opportunity
to spend some more time

1372
00:55:57,834 --> 00:55:58,834
with their family.

1373
00:55:58,834 --> 00:56:01,364
So that is part of
a natural transition

1374
00:56:01,367 --> 00:56:03,897
that you see on an annual
basis at the White House,

1375
00:56:03,900 --> 00:56:07,570
and I would anticipate
that you'd see some more of that

1376
00:56:07,567 --> 00:56:10,167
this year, too.

1377
00:56:10,166 --> 00:56:12,696
Many of those people will be
people that did not work on --

1378
00:56:12,700 --> 00:56:16,330
were not involved in
coding healthcare.gov.

1379
00:56:16,333 --> 00:56:20,403
But in terms of the President,
the President is very pleased

1380
00:56:20,400 --> 00:56:24,300
with the performance
of members of his senior team

1381
00:56:24,300 --> 00:56:26,470
at the White House
who have been working hard

1382
00:56:26,467 --> 00:56:28,267
to advance his agenda.

1383
00:56:28,266 --> 00:56:31,866
And he is also excited about the
prospect of bringing on somebody

1384
00:56:31,867 --> 00:56:35,067
like Mr. Podesta who would bring
a fresh perspective and a fresh

1385
00:56:35,066 --> 00:56:36,966
set of eyes to some of the
challenges that we've been

1386
00:56:36,967 --> 00:56:38,667
dealing with here for
the last several years.

1387
00:56:38,667 --> 00:56:41,897
So that's why Mr. Podesta is a
welcome addition to the team,

1388
00:56:41,900 --> 00:56:47,300
and it's why this President is
looking forward to all of us

1389
00:56:47,300 --> 00:56:50,470
hopefully getting a little
time off for the holidays,

1390
00:56:50,467 --> 00:56:54,497
but coming back at the beginning
of next year hopefully a little

1391
00:56:54,500 --> 00:56:56,630
bit more rested with
his sleeves rolled up,

1392
00:56:56,633 --> 00:57:00,403
ready to pursue an agenda that
is focused on expanding economic

1393
00:57:00,400 --> 00:57:01,930
opportunity for
the middle class.

1394
00:57:01,934 --> 00:57:04,434
And that will be an
opportunity that the President

1395
00:57:04,433 --> 00:57:06,203
looks forward to.

1396
00:57:06,200 --> 00:57:07,630
The Press:
On unemployment benefits,

1397
00:57:07,633 --> 00:57:10,563
Republicans are demanding
an offset to the cost of them.

1398
00:57:10,567 --> 00:57:12,897
It doesn't sound like
you were proposing one.

1399
00:57:12,900 --> 00:57:14,930
So I'm wondering if,
come January 1st,

1400
00:57:14,934 --> 00:57:18,434
when you have over a million
Americans who are set to lose

1401
00:57:18,433 --> 00:57:21,033
their unemployment benefits,
if the President will have felt

1402
00:57:21,033 --> 00:57:23,403
that he did enough,
having just talked

1403
00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:24,970
about the need to extend them,

1404
00:57:24,967 --> 00:57:27,567
albeit a lot,
instead of looking to try

1405
00:57:27,567 --> 00:57:31,097
to find some middle
ground with Republicans.

1406
00:57:31,100 --> 00:57:34,330
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I guess I would
point out that extending

1407
00:57:34,333 --> 00:57:36,333
emergency unemployment
benefits is something

1408
00:57:36,333 --> 00:57:39,833
that had previously been
a location of common ground,

1409
00:57:39,834 --> 00:57:41,164
if you will.

1410
00:57:41,166 --> 00:57:43,036
This was a program that was
originally signed into law

1411
00:57:43,033 --> 00:57:45,063
in 2008 by
President George W. Bush.

1412
00:57:45,066 --> 00:57:46,666
It is something that
had passed the Congress

1413
00:57:46,667 --> 00:57:48,797
with bipartisan support.

1414
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:50,670
When it was passed
and signed into law

1415
00:57:50,667 --> 00:57:51,667
by a Republican President,

1416
00:57:51,667 --> 00:57:53,397
it did not include
specific offsets.

1417
00:57:53,400 --> 00:57:55,570
There are a couple times over
the last couple of years

1418
00:57:55,567 --> 00:57:56,567
in which emergency unemployment
benefits had been extended

1419
00:57:56,567 --> 00:57:57,767
through the Congress.

1420
00:57:57,767 --> 00:57:59,097
The Press:
But you just said
you're not interested

1421
00:57:59,100 --> 00:58:00,630
in looking at precedents.

1422
00:58:00,633 --> 00:58:01,633
Mr. Earnest:
Let me finish this.

1423
00:58:01,633 --> 00:58:03,133
This is important.

1424
00:58:03,133 --> 00:58:05,963
The Press:
So if you're looking at the
reality that is right now --

1425
00:58:05,967 --> 00:58:07,037
Mr. Earnest:
I will leave it to you,

1426
00:58:07,033 --> 00:58:09,863
as I did to Major,
to draw questions

1427
00:58:09,867 --> 00:58:11,367
of precedent in this case.

1428
00:58:11,367 --> 00:58:13,097
What I am suggesting
is that when this bill

1429
00:58:13,100 --> 00:58:15,530
was signed into law
it did not include offsets.

1430
00:58:15,533 --> 00:58:18,333
When it was renewed
-- or extended,

1431
00:58:18,333 --> 00:58:20,363
the last couple of times,

1432
00:58:20,367 --> 00:58:23,637
which I think happened
in 2010 and 2012,

1433
00:58:23,633 --> 00:58:26,163
both times it was --
that extension was approved

1434
00:58:26,166 --> 00:58:29,136
with bipartisan support
and neither time did

1435
00:58:29,133 --> 00:58:31,703
that extension include
specific offsets.

1436
00:58:31,700 --> 00:58:34,770
So if Republicans want
to have a conversation

1437
00:58:34,767 --> 00:58:36,367
about doing
something differently

1438
00:58:36,367 --> 00:58:39,367
than what we've done
before and offsetting

1439
00:58:39,367 --> 00:58:41,567
the cost of what
everybody acknowledges

1440
00:58:41,567 --> 00:58:43,337
is an emergency program --

1441
00:58:43,333 --> 00:58:45,703
it certainly is an emergency
for the 1.3 million Americans

1442
00:58:45,700 --> 00:58:47,300
who stand to lose their
unemployment benefits

1443
00:58:47,300 --> 00:58:48,630
at the end of the year --

1444
00:58:48,633 --> 00:58:50,233
then we'll have
that conversation.

1445
00:58:50,233 --> 00:58:53,203
But it's also important for you
and your viewers to understand

1446
00:58:53,200 --> 00:58:55,200
that when this bill was signed
into law and when it was

1447
00:58:55,200 --> 00:58:57,570
extended with bipartisan
support through the Congress,

1448
00:58:57,567 --> 00:58:59,237
offsets were not
part of the equation.

1449
00:58:59,233 --> 00:59:00,363
The Press:
But that's the demand now.

1450
00:59:00,367 --> 00:59:01,367
And you said --

1451
00:59:01,367 --> 00:59:02,667
Mr. Earnest:
That's not what I said.

1452
00:59:02,667 --> 00:59:06,167
I actually -- I said a lot,
so I'll give you a pass on that.

1453
00:59:06,166 --> 00:59:08,536
What I also said is that if
that's what Republicans

1454
00:59:08,533 --> 00:59:10,863
are going to insist
on this time, we are willing

1455
00:59:10,867 --> 00:59:13,567
to have a conversation
with them about that.

1456
00:59:13,567 --> 00:59:15,667
But that is not what they
have insisted on in the past.

1457
00:59:15,667 --> 00:59:16,667
And I just think
that's important

1458
00:59:16,667 --> 00:59:18,097
for people to understand.

1459
00:59:18,100 --> 00:59:19,470
Scott.

1460
00:59:19,467 --> 00:59:20,667
The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

1461
00:59:20,667 --> 00:59:24,397
Is it still the administration's
position that the Afghan

1462
00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:28,570
security agreement has to be
signed by the end of the year?

1463
00:59:28,567 --> 00:59:31,037
Mr. Earnest:
What we have said
about this, Scott,

1464
00:59:31,033 --> 00:59:34,863
is that in order for the United
States and our allies to plan

1465
00:59:34,867 --> 00:59:38,667
for the post-2014 military
presence, if there is one,

1466
00:59:38,667 --> 00:59:41,837
we need to start that
planning process soon.

1467
00:59:41,834 --> 00:59:44,664
There is an agreement on the
table that was hammered out

1468
00:59:44,667 --> 00:59:47,437
through a series of painstaking
negotiations over the course

1469
00:59:47,433 --> 00:59:51,133
of this year between Afghan
leaders and allied leaders.

1470
00:59:51,133 --> 00:59:54,563
We believe that that text
reflects the best interests

1471
00:59:54,567 --> 00:59:58,837
of both the Afghan people as
well as the American people.

1472
00:59:58,834 --> 01:00:00,934
It also reflects the best
interests of our allies,

1473
01:00:00,934 --> 01:00:03,934
who are also involved
in trying to provide --

1474
01:00:03,934 --> 01:00:05,734
to assist the Afghan people,

1475
01:00:05,734 --> 01:00:07,634
provide security
for their country.

1476
01:00:07,633 --> 01:00:09,463
So we have the text of an
agreement that reflects

1477
01:00:09,467 --> 01:00:11,167
the best interests
of both sides.

1478
01:00:11,166 --> 01:00:16,096
We also have an agreement that
the loya jirga has endorsed,

1479
01:00:16,100 --> 01:00:20,930
and that that leadership council
in Afghanistan has also urged

1480
01:00:20,934 --> 01:00:23,164
President Karzai
to sign this document

1481
01:00:23,166 --> 01:00:24,366
sooner rather than later --

1482
01:00:24,367 --> 01:00:26,567
not because that
would be a favor to us,

1483
01:00:26,567 --> 01:00:28,067
but precisely because
it's in the best interest

1484
01:00:28,066 --> 01:00:30,036
of the Afghan people
for that to happen.

1485
01:00:30,033 --> 01:00:32,533
So it is our view that that
is a document that should

1486
01:00:32,533 --> 01:00:34,803
be signed as soon as possible,

1487
01:00:34,800 --> 01:00:37,930
and that at the very
least it should be signed

1488
01:00:37,934 --> 01:00:40,534
by the end of this year
in order for us to start

1489
01:00:40,533 --> 01:00:42,403
going through the
important planning process.

1490
01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:45,770
Now, if you're asking me, does
that mean that if they sign it

1491
01:00:45,767 --> 01:00:48,037
on January 10th, that's
going to be a huge problem --

1492
01:00:48,033 --> 01:00:49,033
probably not.

1493
01:00:49,033 --> 01:00:50,203
What will be
a significant problem is

1494
01:00:50,200 --> 01:00:53,230
if there is not quick
action taken to get this signed.

1495
01:00:53,233 --> 01:00:55,233
Roger.

1496
01:00:55,233 --> 01:00:59,763
The Press:
A couple of follow-ups on
the jobless benefits again.

1497
01:00:59,767 --> 01:01:01,537
If there isn't any
action this year,

1498
01:01:01,533 --> 01:01:04,603
would the President propose
something next year,

1499
01:01:04,600 --> 01:01:07,000
early next year and
make it retroactive?

1500
01:01:09,567 --> 01:01:11,037
Mr. Earnest:
I think I would
say it simply this way:

1501
01:01:11,033 --> 01:01:12,203
There is no reason
they shouldn't be able

1502
01:01:12,200 --> 01:01:13,330
to get it done this year.

1503
01:01:13,333 --> 01:01:15,103
This is something that they
got done with strong

1504
01:01:15,100 --> 01:01:16,370
bipartisan support in the past.

1505
01:01:16,367 --> 01:01:18,097
A couple of times they've
extended this program.

1506
01:01:18,100 --> 01:01:20,330
It was originally signed
into law by President Bush.

1507
01:01:20,333 --> 01:01:24,563
I know there is strong
Democratic support for extending

1508
01:01:24,567 --> 01:01:25,937
emergency unemployment benefits.

1509
01:01:25,934 --> 01:01:28,504
And presumably, there should be,
as there has been in the past,

1510
01:01:28,500 --> 01:01:30,100
strong Republican support
for it too -- again,

1511
01:01:30,100 --> 01:01:33,170
not just because it would
meet the needs of 1.3 million

1512
01:01:33,166 --> 01:01:35,066
Americans who stand to lose
their unemployment benefits at

1513
01:01:35,066 --> 01:01:37,196
the end of the year, but also
because of the tangible impact

1514
01:01:37,200 --> 01:01:38,670
it would have on our economy.

1515
01:01:38,667 --> 01:01:41,097
The Press: You mentioned that
the President would continue

1516
01:01:41,100 --> 01:01:42,100
to advocate for it.

1517
01:01:42,100 --> 01:01:43,130
Mr. Earnest: Sure.

1518
01:01:43,133 --> 01:01:44,833
The Press:
How is he going to do that?

1519
01:01:44,834 --> 01:01:46,564
You got three days.

1520
01:01:46,567 --> 01:01:48,297
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I think
I'm advocating for it

1521
01:01:48,300 --> 01:01:49,300
in his name right now.

1522
01:01:49,300 --> 01:01:51,470
You saw the President deliver --

1523
01:01:51,467 --> 01:01:52,997
The Press:
There's a difference
between just speaking

1524
01:01:53,000 --> 01:01:55,570
about it as opposed to
picking up the phone

1525
01:01:55,567 --> 01:01:56,997
and calling people --

1526
01:01:57,000 --> 01:01:59,030
Mr. Earnest:
Sure, there have been
senior White House officials

1527
01:01:59,033 --> 01:02:02,103
here as recently as
today who have been in touch

1528
01:02:02,100 --> 01:02:03,300
with members of Congress

1529
01:02:03,300 --> 01:02:04,730
about this exact issue.

1530
01:02:04,734 --> 01:02:06,634
The President and
his team are engaged

1531
01:02:06,633 --> 01:02:08,003
because this is a priority.

1532
01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:10,130
Again, this is an opportunity
for us to do something not just

1533
01:02:10,133 --> 01:02:11,663
to meet the needs of people
who are standing to lose their

1534
01:02:11,667 --> 01:02:14,037
unemployment benefits
around the holidays,

1535
01:02:14,033 --> 01:02:15,763
but also an opportunity for us
to do something important for

1536
01:02:15,767 --> 01:02:17,797
the economy, that extending
unemployment benefits could

1537
01:02:17,800 --> 01:02:20,200
create 240,000 jobs.

1538
01:02:20,200 --> 01:02:21,470
That seems like
a win-win and something

1539
01:02:21,467 --> 01:02:22,537
that Congress should act on.

1540
01:02:22,533 --> 01:02:23,803
The Press:
Okay, just to clarify,

1541
01:02:23,800 --> 01:02:25,730
the legislation that
the President supports

1542
01:02:25,734 --> 01:02:27,634
is the Levin bill in the House,

1543
01:02:27,633 --> 01:02:28,933
that's a one-year extension,

1544
01:02:28,934 --> 01:02:32,564
and the CBO estimates about
$26 billion, is that correct?

1545
01:02:32,567 --> 01:02:34,037
Mr. Earnest:
To be honest with you,

1546
01:02:34,033 --> 01:02:36,363
I don't know about specific
pieces of legislation,

1547
01:02:36,367 --> 01:02:39,267
so we'll have to get
back to you on that.

1548
01:02:39,266 --> 01:02:43,936
Suffice it to say we think it's
important for the benefits

1549
01:02:43,934 --> 01:02:45,864
to not run out on December 28th.

1550
01:02:45,867 --> 01:02:49,397
April, I'm going to
give you the last one.

1551
01:02:49,400 --> 01:02:52,030
The Press:
I have two questions,
really fast.

1552
01:02:52,033 --> 01:02:53,203
Mr. Earnest:
Okay, the last two.

1553
01:02:53,200 --> 01:02:54,370
[laughter]

1554
01:02:54,367 --> 01:02:56,137
The Press:
As you talk about poll numbers,

1555
01:02:56,133 --> 01:02:59,333
what polls is the White House
paying attention to more so?

1556
01:02:59,333 --> 01:03:00,563
Internal polls,
Democratic polls?

1557
01:03:00,567 --> 01:03:03,337
I mean, since you're talking
about the varied results

1558
01:03:03,333 --> 01:03:04,903
from various polls.

1559
01:03:04,900 --> 01:03:06,570
Mr. Earnest:
Well, we read the
newspaper at the White House,

1560
01:03:06,567 --> 01:03:08,097
and we occasionally
watch a little television,

1561
01:03:08,100 --> 01:03:11,900
so we certainly are aware
of the reporting on polls

1562
01:03:11,900 --> 01:03:13,030
that are conducted.

1563
01:03:13,033 --> 01:03:17,833
But I got to tell you,
in terms of the priorities

1564
01:03:17,834 --> 01:03:19,504
of the White House,

1565
01:03:19,500 --> 01:03:22,100
following the progress
of polls is not very high.

1566
01:03:22,100 --> 01:03:25,830
What's much higher is tracking
the progress of legislation that

1567
01:03:25,834 --> 01:03:29,034
would expand early childhood
education to every single child

1568
01:03:29,033 --> 01:03:35,663
in America -- legislation that
would increase the minimum wage.

1569
01:03:35,667 --> 01:03:38,097
It was notable in
one of the polls --

1570
01:03:38,100 --> 01:03:40,800
Kristen, I believe it was
your poll -- that indicated that

1571
01:03:40,800 --> 01:03:46,830
about 50 percent of Republicans,
including 50 percent

1572
01:03:46,834 --> 01:03:48,504
of individuals
who identify themselves

1573
01:03:48,500 --> 01:03:50,630
as members of the tea party,

1574
01:03:50,633 --> 01:03:54,303
support increasing the
minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

1575
01:03:54,300 --> 01:03:56,300
That is a notable
finding from the polls.

1576
01:03:56,300 --> 01:03:58,470
So, see, we do read
the newspaper about polls.

1577
01:03:58,467 --> 01:04:01,237
And in some cases, and
particularly in this case,

1578
01:04:03,767 --> 01:04:07,467
it identifies
some clear areas

1579
01:04:07,467 --> 01:04:09,237
for cooperation
and common ground --

1580
01:04:09,233 --> 01:04:10,433
that we could do
something really important

1581
01:04:10,433 --> 01:04:11,563
for our economy,

1582
01:04:11,567 --> 01:04:15,737
that we could do something
to address the problem

1583
01:04:15,734 --> 01:04:19,064
of decreasing economic
mobility in this country

1584
01:04:19,066 --> 01:04:20,366
by increasing the minimum wage.

1585
01:04:20,367 --> 01:04:22,997
That's something that close
to a majority of Republicans

1586
01:04:23,000 --> 01:04:24,070
and tea partiers support.

1587
01:04:24,066 --> 01:04:26,036
So maybe that's something
that we can work on.

1588
01:04:26,033 --> 01:04:28,133
Those are the kinds of
things that we're focused on,

1589
01:04:28,133 --> 01:04:29,363
and those are the kinds
of policy priorities

1590
01:04:29,367 --> 01:04:30,537
that we're tracking.

1591
01:04:30,533 --> 01:04:33,933
And frankly, they attract
a whole lot more attention

1592
01:04:33,934 --> 01:04:36,764
here at the White House than
individual poll numbers.

1593
01:04:36,767 --> 01:04:39,667
The Press:
And last question, since
you're talking about

1594
01:04:39,667 --> 01:04:42,967
the successes right
now of the website --

1595
01:04:42,967 --> 01:04:45,867
there were clear problems
at the beginning.

1596
01:04:45,867 --> 01:04:49,997
And understanding that the
website did not meet a level

1597
01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:54,130
of expectation here, did the IT
contractors meet the contracted

1598
01:04:54,133 --> 01:04:57,833
requirements early
on for the website?

1599
01:04:57,834 --> 01:05:00,064
Mr. Earnest:
Well, it's pretty
clear that there were

1600
01:05:00,066 --> 01:05:03,036
some failures in that process.

1601
01:05:03,033 --> 01:05:05,603
I can't stand up here and give
you an appraisal of what exactly

1602
01:05:05,600 --> 01:05:08,170
went wrong with the design
and implementation

1603
01:05:08,166 --> 01:05:09,396
of healthcare.gov.

1604
01:05:09,400 --> 01:05:11,870
Fortunately, we have the
Inspector General at HHS

1605
01:05:11,867 --> 01:05:13,637
who is working on that topic.

1606
01:05:13,633 --> 01:05:15,333
The President stood at this
podium about a month ago

1607
01:05:15,333 --> 01:05:18,003
and indicated that he had some
unanswered questions about this

1608
01:05:18,000 --> 01:05:20,730
process that he was determined
to get an answer to.

1609
01:05:20,734 --> 01:05:22,604
The Press:
But the question I'm asking is,

1610
01:05:22,600 --> 01:05:26,070
did the IT contractors deliver
what they were asked to do?

1611
01:05:26,066 --> 01:05:27,636
Even though there were problems,

1612
01:05:27,633 --> 01:05:29,933
did they deliver
on their contract?

1613
01:05:29,934 --> 01:05:32,004
Mr. Earnest:
That is a legitimate question.

1614
01:05:32,000 --> 01:05:34,370
It's a question I do
not know the answer to.

1615
01:05:34,367 --> 01:05:37,137
I suspect that it is part of the
inquiry that will be conducted

1616
01:05:37,133 --> 01:05:39,233
by the Inspector General at HHS.

1617
01:05:39,233 --> 01:05:41,463
I would encourage you
to ask him to confirm

1618
01:05:41,467 --> 01:05:43,197
whether or not that's the case.

1619
01:05:43,200 --> 01:05:46,670
But I would anticipate that it's
among the kinds of questions

1620
01:05:46,667 --> 01:05:49,537
that people will be asking as
they consider what went wrong.

1621
01:05:49,533 --> 01:05:52,133
What we're focused on right now
is what we can do to make this

1622
01:05:52,133 --> 01:05:55,063
right: to make sure that we can
expand access and give people

1623
01:05:55,066 --> 01:05:57,696
opportunity to sign up before
this December 23rd deadline;

1624
01:05:57,700 --> 01:06:00,230
to make sure that our website
is functioning smoothly;

1625
01:06:00,233 --> 01:06:03,433
to make sure that information
that is submitted to the website

1626
01:06:03,433 --> 01:06:06,033
is accurately conveyed to
the insurance company so that

1627
01:06:06,033 --> 01:06:09,803
people's insurance coverage
does kick in by January 1st.

1628
01:06:09,800 --> 01:06:14,270
And we want to make sure that
we have an ongoing effort

1629
01:06:14,266 --> 01:06:17,836
to educate the American public
about what kind of opportunities

1630
01:06:17,834 --> 01:06:19,504
are available to them
through healthcare.gov --

1631
01:06:19,500 --> 01:06:20,500
that there are a
lot of people out there

1632
01:06:20,500 --> 01:06:21,730
that don't have
insurance right now,

1633
01:06:21,734 --> 01:06:23,904
that if they go and visit
the website they will find out

1634
01:06:23,900 --> 01:06:27,070
that they can purchase quality,
affordable health insurance,

1635
01:06:27,066 --> 01:06:30,166
in many cases they
qualify for tax credits.

1636
01:06:30,166 --> 01:06:32,936
And getting that word out
is also an important priority.

1637
01:06:32,934 --> 01:06:34,234
That's what we're
focused on right now.

1638
01:06:34,233 --> 01:06:36,403
But you raise
a legitimate question,

1639
01:06:36,400 --> 01:06:39,330
but it's one that
I can't answer right now.

1640
01:06:39,333 --> 01:06:40,063
Thanks, everybody.

1641
01:06:40,066 --> 01:06:41,396
Have a good Wednesday.

1642
01:06:41,400 --> 01:06:42,730
The Press:
Does the President have
anything on his schedule

1643
01:06:42,734 --> 01:06:44,104
the rest of the week?

1644
01:06:44,100 --> 01:06:45,600
Mr. Earnest:
Nothing that I have
to talk about right now,

1645
01:06:45,600 --> 01:06:48,730
but as we get some more
details, we'll let you know.

1646
01:06:48,734 --> 01:06:50,664
Thanks, guys.

1647
01:06:50,667 --> 01:06:52,497
The Press:
Press conference before
the end of the year?

1648
01:06:52,500 --> 01:06:53,470
Mr. Earnest:
We'll see.

1649
01:06:53,467 --> 01:06:55,437
Stay tuned.

1650
01:06:55,433 --> 01:06:56,933
Thanks, everybody.