English subtitles for clip: File:4-15-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Happy Friday.

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(laughter)

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I have a 1:15 p.m.

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meeting today, so
hopefully, Josh,

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you can help me get
out of here on time.

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The Press: Let's do it.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: All right.

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The Press: We
want to help you.

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Mr. Earnest: Good.

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The Press: We're
here to help.

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Mr. Earnest: And I'm sorry
that Mark is not here

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because I can't tell my
usual joke about how I know

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you're eager to get
started on your weekend,

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so we'll go fast.

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I do want to just do a short
mention of some of the news

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coverage today about the
President's focus on

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eliminating
anticompetitive behavior.

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And we have seen
the administration,

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over the course
of the presidency,

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look for opportunities to
actually promote competition

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in markets because we
understand that competition

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is good for our economy.

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It promotes innovation and
leads to positive results

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for consumers.

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There are a variety of ways
to assess that; in fact,

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this is actually one of
the core principles of the

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Affordable Care Act,
is promoting greater

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competition in the
health care market.

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The President talked today
about how the administration

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is supportive of an effort
to try to promote greater

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competition when it comes
to set-top boxes for television.

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This would also provide
an incentive for greater

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innovation in a way that
could save consumers money.

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So I know that many of you
have taken a look at this

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announcement today and heard
the President talk about

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this a little bit in his
interview with Yahoo!

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that he taped yesterday.

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But I wanted to make sure
that you all understood that

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this is a core priority
of the administration,

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something that we intend
to continue to move in the

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direction of over the course
of the last nine months here

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that the President has
remaining in office.

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So with that, let's
go to the questions.

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The Press: Great,
thanks, Josh.

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Let me start with North
Korea and the failed missile

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launch there.

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We understand from U.S.

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officials that this was a
Musudan rocket which could

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eventually be capable
of hitting U.S.

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facilities that are
located in Asia.

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Is that the case?

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And does the threat that
would be posed to having

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U.S. facilities in range of these rockets

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change the calculus

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at all in terms of the U.S. response?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, we
are aware of reports that

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North Korea conducted a
failed ballistic missile

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test recently.

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The United States will
continue to monitor and

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assess the situation in
close coordination with our

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regional allies
and partners.

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As we've done before, the
United States strongly

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condemns this provocative
act

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by the North Korean government.

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It is in violation of U.N. Security Council

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resolutions that explicitly prohibit

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North Korea's use of
ballistic missile technology.

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The United States is
strongly committed to the

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defense of our allies,
particularly our allies in

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Asia -- that includes the
Republic of Korea and Japan.

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And we're going to continue
to stand with them as they

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face these threats, but also
reiterate our commitment to

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the defense of our allies.

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As it relates to
the threat to U.S.

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interests, we're obviously
keenly aware of that as well.

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I have talked --
unfortunately,

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I've had the occasion to
discuss several times over

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the course of the last three
or four months the steps

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that the United States has
taken to bolster our missile

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defense capabilities
in the region.

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And these are defense
capabilities -- missile

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defense capabilities that
have been shifted to this

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region of the world in
response to this threat.

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And this includes the
deployment of some naval

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assets to the region, as
well as the deployment of

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some assets to Alaska
to ensure that the U.S.

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homeland remains safe.

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The assessment of the
President's military

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commanders is that we do
have the capabilities

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necessary to protect
the United States,

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but we obviously continue to
work with the international

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community to make clear
that North Korea faces the

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prospect of even further
isolation as a result of

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their provocative acts.

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The Press: The head of
Iran's central bank is in

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town, along with a number
of other heads of central banks.

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And he really went
off on the U.S.

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this morning, saying that,
you're not living up to your

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side of the commitment
of the nuclear deal,

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and that if the U.S.

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doesn't take pretty
significant further steps to

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restore Iranian access
to the financial system,

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that this nuclear deal
will just fall apart.

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Are you confident that
at this point the U.S.

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is fully meeting its
commitments under the JCPOA?

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Mr. Earnest: To just answer
your question bluntly, yes.

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The United States is
fulfilling our commitments

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to the JCPOA consistent with
the letter and spirit of

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that agreement.

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You will recall that we only
agreed to do so once we

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could verify -- the
international community

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could verify -- that Iran
had followed through

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on their commitments.

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They have.

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That's good news.

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They reduced their nuclear
stockpile by 98 percent.

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They took thousands
of centrifuges

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out of operation.

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They've taken steps to
essentially make their heavy

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water plutonium reactor
harmless -- or at least

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incapable of producing
nuclear weapons material.

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And the United States -- as
a result, the United States,

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along with the rest of the
international community,

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is committed to living up
to our end of the bargain.

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Just to clarify one
aspect of your question,

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that does not involve giving
Iran access

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to the U.S. financial system.

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That is not part
of the deal.

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It wasn't part of the deal.

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And it's not something
that we are contemplating.

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But there is sanctions
relief that's included in

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the agreement, and we
intend to follow through on

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granting that -- we are
following through on

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granting that sanctions
relief as a result of our

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verification that Iran has
complied with the terms of

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the agreement
that they signed.

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The Press: Going back to
that final part of your

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answer, one of the specific
things that the head of the

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central bank said in an
interview while he was here

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was that Iran expects --
based on their understanding

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of what is part of this
deal -- that the U.S.

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will begin to allow the
U-turn transactions that

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they have sought for
access to the dollar.

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So given what you've just
said and what Secretary Lew

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and others have said, is the
head of the Iranian central

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bank incorrect in his
understanding of what was

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part of this
hard-fought deal?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh,
this is highly technical,

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so I want to try to speak
as bluntly as I can.

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The agreement that's
included in the JCPOA does

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not include giving Iran
access to the U.S.

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financial system or to allow
the execution of so-called

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U-turn transactions.

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And we have ruled out giving
Iran access to either of

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those two options.

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But we are committed to
ensuring that we fulfill our

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end of the JCPOA, and that
involves following through

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with giving Iran the kind of
sanctions relief to which

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they're entitled, as a
result of them following

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through on the steps that
they have taken to roll back

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significant aspects of their
nuclear program and to make

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clear that they will not
acquire a nuclear weapon.

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The Press: And in the
Democratic debate last

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night, Bernie Sanders
repeated his whole thing --

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if he becomes the nominee,
that the President would

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pull the nomination
of Merrick Garland.

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And he specifically said
he's concerned that Chief

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Judge Garland has not shown
that he would be committed

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to overturning the
Citizens United decision.

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Given the amount that we've
heard from the President

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lambasting that decision
over the past number of

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years, how confident is
the White House that Judge

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Garland would pursue that
kind of an approach?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh,
what I can tell you is the

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President has complete
confidence that Chief Judge

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Garland has demonstrated
over his long career on the

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federal bench to fairly
interpreting the law.

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In fact, he understands that
the responsibility of a

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judge is to
interpret the law,

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not advance a
political agenda.

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As we also discussed, the
President did not have a

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specific discussion with
potential nominees about how

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they would rule in
particular cases.

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That raises some questions
about a conflict because

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obviously there are some
cases where the executive

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branch, represented by the
Solicitor General before the

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Supreme Court, advocates
for a particular position.

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Rather, what the President
has chosen to do is to

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consider the jurisprudence
of individual nominees.

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Chief Judge Garland actually
has a longer track record

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than any other Supreme
Court nominee in history.

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He's got more experience
serving from the federal

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bench than any other person
that's ever been nominated

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to the Supreme Court.

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So there is an opportunity
for us to consider his

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approach to the law, and the
President believes that his

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approach to the law is
consistent with what the

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Framers of our
Constitution intended.

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And look, the President is
not the only person who

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feels this way.

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Republicans feel
this way, too.

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Senator Orrin Hatch -- a
conservative, a Republican,

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somebody who has served
on the Senate Judiciary

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Committee for years --
also described

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Chief Judge Garland as a
consensus nominee.

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So I don't know what that
means for how he might rule

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in a hypothetical case at
some point in the future,

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but I do know that the
President has complete

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confidence that Chief Judge
Garland would do what

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Supreme Court justices
are supposed to do,

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which is interpret the
law, not seek to advance

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a political agenda.

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And that's why the President
nominated him

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in the first place.

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That's why we've been
pleased to see Republicans

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indicate, at least in their
private conversations with

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Chief Judge Garland, that
they are impressed with his

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credentials, with
his character,

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and with his
approach to his job.

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We simply believe that
those conversations,

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many of which have now taken
place in private -- which is

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entirely appropriate and
consistent with the process

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that is typically pursued
by the Senate -- we just

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believe that the next
step should also occur,

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which is that members of the
Senate Judiciary Committee

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should give the American
people the opportunity to

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hear directly from Chief
Judge Garland and get a

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better sense of how exactly
he would approach the job of

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the Supreme Court justice
when it comes to offering an

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opinion on issues like
campaign finance reform that

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has significant consequences
for our country

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and our democracy.

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Roberta.

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The Press: Turning to Egypt,
there are huge protests in

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Cairo today with people
calling for the downfall of

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the el-Sisi government --
concerns with human rights

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and the economy and the
transfer of two islands

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to Saudi Arabia.

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So I'm wondering, how
concerned is the

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United States about this unrest?

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Is this something that the
President hopes to discuss

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when he meets with King
Salman and other leaders

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next week?

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And Senator Graham has
called for emergency aid to

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help Egypt become more
stable and bolster the country.

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00:12:35,154 --> 00:12:36,554
Is that something that the
White House is interested

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00:12:36,555 --> 00:12:38,425
in exploring?

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00:12:38,424 --> 00:12:40,324
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen the specifics of

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00:12:40,326 --> 00:12:41,396
Senator Graham's proposal.

252
00:12:41,393 --> 00:12:43,593
I can tell you that the
United States has an

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00:12:43,596 --> 00:12:49,666
important security
relationship with Egypt,

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00:12:49,668 --> 00:12:54,038
or that the importance of
that security relationship

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00:12:54,039 --> 00:12:59,879
has not eclipsed the
concerns that we have with

256
00:12:59,879 --> 00:13:02,079
some of the human rights
policies that have been on

257
00:13:02,081 --> 00:13:05,351
display from the
Egyptian government.

258
00:13:05,351 --> 00:13:09,751
And these are concerns that
relate to the treatment of

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00:13:09,755 --> 00:13:11,725
some political opponents
of the government and,

260
00:13:11,724 --> 00:13:14,024
in some cases, even the
treatment of journalists.

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00:13:14,026 --> 00:13:18,996
We have not papered
over those differences.

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00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:20,998
But at the same time, the
United States does have an

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00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,000
important security
relationship with Egypt.

264
00:13:23,002 --> 00:13:25,202
And we spent a little time
earlier this week talking

265
00:13:25,204 --> 00:13:28,944
about the MFO mission that
the United States strongly

266
00:13:28,941 --> 00:13:31,411
supports on the
Sinai Peninsula.

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00:13:31,410 --> 00:13:36,620
Our support for that ongoing
mission and promoting the

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00:13:36,615 --> 00:13:41,125
treaty between Israel and
Egypt is something that is

269
00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:44,820
critical to our closest ally
in the Middle East, Israel,

270
00:13:44,823 --> 00:13:50,493
but it's also important to
at least eliminating one

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00:13:50,496 --> 00:13:54,496
potential element of
volatility in an already

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chaotic region of the world.

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So U.S. interests in Egypt are significant,

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00:14:01,273 --> 00:14:03,573
and we'll obviously continue
to watch

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00:14:03,576 --> 00:14:05,646
the situation carefully.

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00:14:05,644 --> 00:14:07,814
The Press: Okay, just going
back to North Korea

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00:14:07,813 --> 00:14:10,113
for a second.

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00:14:10,115 --> 00:14:14,785
I'm wondering what you make
of the response from China

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00:14:14,787 --> 00:14:17,427
to this latest failed test.

280
00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:19,663
The Chinese state media
seemed a little pointed

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00:14:19,658 --> 00:14:22,058
in its response.

282
00:14:22,061 --> 00:14:25,161
They called it the latest in
a string of saber-rattling.

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00:14:25,164 --> 00:14:27,364
And I guess I'm wondering
what you make of that and

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00:14:27,366 --> 00:14:28,136
what the U.S.

285
00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:30,833
is expecting from China in
terms of a response to the

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00:14:30,836 --> 00:14:32,276
latest incident.

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00:14:32,271 --> 00:14:34,341
Mr. Earnest: Well, as we
have seen a number of

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00:14:34,340 --> 00:14:37,080
provocative acts from North
Korea over the last few

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00:14:37,076 --> 00:14:40,716
months, we've been pleased
to see the international

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00:14:40,713 --> 00:14:44,253
community continue to stand
with the United States in

291
00:14:44,250 --> 00:14:49,260
insisting that North
Korea put an end to these

292
00:14:49,255 --> 00:14:51,255
provocative actions
and statements.

293
00:14:53,392 --> 00:14:55,862
So we're going to continue
to work closely with the

294
00:14:55,861 --> 00:14:59,701
Chinese government to apply
pressure to North Korea.

295
00:15:02,001 --> 00:15:05,271
We did succeed earlier this
year in imposing sanctions

296
00:15:05,271 --> 00:15:12,481
against North Korea that
will have an impact on

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00:15:12,478 --> 00:15:14,478
certain industries in North
Korea that we know are

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00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,450
critical to financing some
of these military activities

299
00:15:17,449 --> 00:15:21,119
that are inconsistent
with

300
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,660
U.N. Security Council resolutions.

301
00:15:23,656 --> 00:15:27,096
Passing those kinds of
sanctions and forcefully

302
00:15:27,092 --> 00:15:30,632
implementing them would not
have been possible without

303
00:15:30,629 --> 00:15:34,329
the constructive diplomatic
relationship between China

304
00:15:34,333 --> 00:15:35,333
and the United States.

305
00:15:35,334 --> 00:15:37,334
So we certainly value
that relationship,

306
00:15:37,336 --> 00:15:39,306
and it has significant
consequences

307
00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:41,305
for U.S. national security.

308
00:15:41,307 --> 00:15:43,307
China and the United States
are going to continue to

309
00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:45,379
work with the rest of the
international community in a

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00:15:45,377 --> 00:15:48,317
way that has important
security benefits for our

311
00:15:48,314 --> 00:15:51,084
allies in South
Korea and Japan.

312
00:15:51,083 --> 00:15:53,083
And we're going to continue
to apply that pressure,

313
00:15:53,085 --> 00:15:55,525
and we're going to continue
to work with China to make

314
00:15:55,521 --> 00:16:00,791
sure that the North Koreans
understand that going down

315
00:16:00,793 --> 00:16:07,303
the path of repeated
provocations is not in the

316
00:16:07,299 --> 00:16:11,499
best interest of the region
or the citizens

317
00:16:11,503 --> 00:16:13,443
of their country.

318
00:16:13,439 --> 00:16:14,039
Michelle.

319
00:16:14,039 --> 00:16:15,279
The Press: The problem with
North Korea and its behavior

320
00:16:15,274 --> 00:16:17,474
has always been
what sanctions,

321
00:16:17,476 --> 00:16:19,516
what action can you take
that would actually

322
00:16:19,511 --> 00:16:20,481
change behaviors.

323
00:16:20,479 --> 00:16:22,819
So with these unprecedented
sanctions being passed,

324
00:16:22,815 --> 00:16:24,815
obviously that hasn't
changed the behavior yet.

325
00:16:24,817 --> 00:16:27,917
So what do you see as the
best bet moving forward for

326
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,250
that behavior to
actually change?

327
00:16:29,254 --> 00:16:32,224
Is there something more that
China is going to have to do?

328
00:16:32,224 --> 00:16:33,994
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
at this point it's too early

329
00:16:33,992 --> 00:16:37,192
to assess the complete
impact of the sanctions that

330
00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:39,396
were only put in place I
believe a month or so ago.

331
00:16:39,398 --> 00:16:44,468
But I would acknowledge that
the premise of your question

332
00:16:44,470 --> 00:16:46,610
is not insignificant,
which is,

333
00:16:46,605 --> 00:16:54,385
it's not clear exactly what
will succeed in compelling

334
00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:58,380
the North Korean government
to pursue a different approach.

335
00:16:58,384 --> 00:17:03,624
And the good news is that we
know that there's no country

336
00:17:03,622 --> 00:17:06,022
that has more influence over
the North Korean government

337
00:17:06,024 --> 00:17:07,894
than China.

338
00:17:07,893 --> 00:17:10,193
And China fully shares
the concerns that

339
00:17:10,195 --> 00:17:11,635
we have expressed.

340
00:17:11,630 --> 00:17:14,530
So we're going to
continue to rely on that

341
00:17:14,533 --> 00:17:16,973
relationship, but we're also
going to continue to lead

342
00:17:16,969 --> 00:17:19,539
the international community
in this response.

343
00:17:19,538 --> 00:17:23,178
And we do so because of the
significant consequences for

344
00:17:23,175 --> 00:17:26,215
U.S. national security, but we
also do so because of our

345
00:17:26,211 --> 00:17:33,891
concerns about increasing
destabilization in Asia.

346
00:17:33,886 --> 00:17:36,086
And that is what these kinds
of provocative acts do,

347
00:17:36,088 --> 00:17:38,128
they only destabilize
the situation,

348
00:17:38,123 --> 00:17:40,563
and that's not good for our
allies in Japan

349
00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:41,559
and South Korea.

350
00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,800
And so that's why this
continues to be a priority

351
00:17:43,796 --> 00:17:45,796
and one that we're going
to continue to address.

352
00:17:45,798 --> 00:17:47,798
The Press: It was pretty
surprising yesterday to hear

353
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,040
Susan Rice put numbers
on ISIS's activity.

354
00:17:50,035 --> 00:17:52,335
And she said in the last
year and a half there have

355
00:17:52,337 --> 00:17:56,707
been about 150 attacks
that ISIS has attempted,

356
00:17:56,708 --> 00:17:59,508
all of these outside
of Syria and Iraq.

357
00:17:59,511 --> 00:18:03,611
So that's one every
couple of days.

358
00:18:03,615 --> 00:18:05,785
Where have most
of these been?

359
00:18:05,784 --> 00:18:07,784
Can you shed a little more
light

360
00:18:07,786 --> 00:18:09,056
on those attempted attacks?

361
00:18:09,054 --> 00:18:13,094
And also, every day we talk
about how the coalition is

362
00:18:13,091 --> 00:18:15,591
pounding ISIS, that
they're losing territory,

363
00:18:15,594 --> 00:18:18,294
they're having trouble
gaining more territory.

364
00:18:18,297 --> 00:18:20,437
But when you see
numbers like this,

365
00:18:20,432 --> 00:18:23,232
do you expect that pace
of attempted attacks

366
00:18:23,235 --> 00:18:24,235
to continue?

367
00:18:24,236 --> 00:18:27,836
And that shows that after a
year and a half of pounding

368
00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,580
ISIS, the desire to attack
doesn't seem to have

369
00:18:31,577 --> 00:18:35,847
diminished at all outside
of Iraq and Syria.

370
00:18:35,848 --> 00:18:41,188
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have specific information to

371
00:18:41,186 --> 00:18:43,526
provide in addition to those
numbers that you heard from

372
00:18:43,522 --> 00:18:44,962
the National
Security Advisor.

373
00:18:44,957 --> 00:18:47,957
What I can tell you is there
are a couple things that we

374
00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:48,960
know about ISIL.

375
00:18:48,961 --> 00:18:52,931
The first is, we know that
they have attempted to

376
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:57,601
establish a safe haven in
Syria because that is the

377
00:18:57,603 --> 00:19:04,673
best way for them to try to
plan and export their brand

378
00:19:04,676 --> 00:19:07,316
of hatred and extremism
around the globe.

379
00:19:07,312 --> 00:19:12,182
That's why the President has
always made a priority of

380
00:19:12,184 --> 00:19:16,484
increasing the pressure
against ISIL leaders in Iraq

381
00:19:16,488 --> 00:19:17,488
and in Syria.

382
00:19:17,489 --> 00:19:22,929
And the most high-profile
of the attacks that we have

383
00:19:22,928 --> 00:19:25,668
seen outside of Iraq and in
Syria have been

384
00:19:25,664 --> 00:19:26,764
in Western Europe.

385
00:19:26,765 --> 00:19:32,005
And there's been extensive
reporting about the likely

386
00:19:32,004 --> 00:19:38,344
ties between the plotters
in Western Europe and the

387
00:19:38,343 --> 00:19:41,583
leading ISIL figures
in Iraq and in Syria.

388
00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:44,820
So that's why it's important
for us to continue to ramp

389
00:19:44,816 --> 00:19:47,386
up the pressure in
Iraq and in Syria.

390
00:19:47,386 --> 00:19:49,656
You've heard me talk about
this in different contexts.

391
00:19:49,655 --> 00:19:51,655
If the leaders of that
organization are feeling

392
00:19:51,657 --> 00:19:53,997
intense pressure to protect
their own safety and

393
00:19:53,992 --> 00:19:56,332
security, that's less time
and attention that they're

394
00:19:56,328 --> 00:19:59,528
devoting to their
external activities.

395
00:19:59,531 --> 00:20:05,541
That being said, I think a
potential consequence of

396
00:20:08,273 --> 00:20:12,843
increasing pressure on ISIL
in Iraq and in Syria is that

397
00:20:12,844 --> 00:20:18,584
they will become more
focused on activities

398
00:20:18,584 --> 00:20:22,584
outside of that region, even
if their capacity to carry

399
00:20:22,588 --> 00:20:24,628
them out is diminished.

400
00:20:24,623 --> 00:20:26,263
That's why we
remain vigilant.

401
00:20:26,258 --> 00:20:28,258
And that's why, even as
we're ramping up the

402
00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:33,070
pressure in Iraq and in
Syria -- and Ambassador Rice

403
00:20:33,065 --> 00:20:35,065
documented some of the
progress that we've made

404
00:20:35,067 --> 00:20:37,067
there, too -- that's why,
even though we've made

405
00:20:37,069 --> 00:20:39,209
important progress, and even
though we do expect that

406
00:20:39,204 --> 00:20:46,174
that will have some impact
-- positive impact in

407
00:20:46,178 --> 00:20:48,718
diminishing their capacity
to carry out external

408
00:20:48,714 --> 00:20:51,884
attacks -- we're going to
continue to be vigilant

409
00:20:51,883 --> 00:20:54,523
about protecting and
countering those external

410
00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:57,089
attacks, because as they
face more pressure in Iraq

411
00:20:57,089 --> 00:21:01,129
and in Syria, they're going
to be more desperate to

412
00:21:01,126 --> 00:21:02,896
undertake operations
in other places.

413
00:21:02,894 --> 00:21:04,764
The Press: So what you're
saying is you expect to see

414
00:21:04,763 --> 00:21:08,063
even more of these
as the pressure --

415
00:21:08,066 --> 00:21:09,466
Mr. Earnest: I think what
I'm trying to say is that's

416
00:21:09,468 --> 00:21:13,168
why I think that while those
numbers are an illustration

417
00:21:13,171 --> 00:21:16,411
of the threat that ISIL
poses outside of Iraq and in

418
00:21:16,408 --> 00:21:20,908
Syria, they're not a good
way to measure

419
00:21:20,912 --> 00:21:24,012
how dangerous ISIL is.

420
00:21:24,016 --> 00:21:26,016
Because even as they face
more pressure and even as

421
00:21:26,018 --> 00:21:28,758
their capabilities
are diminished,

422
00:21:30,822 --> 00:21:34,392
they're still going to seek
to carry out external plots

423
00:21:34,393 --> 00:21:36,663
-- in fact, because they're
under so much pressure

424
00:21:36,662 --> 00:21:38,262
in Syria and Iraq.

425
00:21:38,263 --> 00:21:41,363
And so that's the
complicated dynamic that exists.

426
00:21:41,366 --> 00:21:43,366
And it explains the strategy
that we have pursued,

427
00:21:43,368 --> 00:21:45,238
which is to continue to ramp
up the pressure in Iraq and

428
00:21:45,237 --> 00:21:49,477
in Syria, and to continue to
seek to enhance our ability

429
00:21:49,474 --> 00:21:51,174
to work with our partners in
the region and around the

430
00:21:51,176 --> 00:21:53,376
world to counter their
activities outside

431
00:21:53,378 --> 00:21:54,448
of that region.

432
00:21:54,446 --> 00:21:55,046
The Press: Okay.

433
00:21:55,047 --> 00:21:56,477
Just quickly, did the
President watch the

434
00:21:56,481 --> 00:21:57,921
Democratic debate
last night?

435
00:21:57,916 --> 00:22:00,016
Mr. Earnest: I have not
spoken to the President

436
00:22:00,018 --> 00:22:00,788
about the debate
this morning,

437
00:22:00,786 --> 00:22:02,086
but I do not anticipate
that he watched it.

438
00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:03,557
The Press: Did you watch
the debate last night?

439
00:22:03,555 --> 00:22:04,895
Mr. Earnest: I
saw parts of it,

440
00:22:04,890 --> 00:22:06,490
but I certainly did
not watch all of it.

441
00:22:06,491 --> 00:22:08,291
The Press: Does the White
House feel that Hillary Clinton

442
00:22:08,293 --> 00:22:10,763
should turn over the
transcripts of her speeches

443
00:22:10,762 --> 00:22:13,832
that she gave
to Wall Street?

444
00:22:13,832 --> 00:22:14,932
Mr. Earnest: I can
confidently tell you that

445
00:22:14,933 --> 00:22:17,933
the White House does not
have an opinion on this.

446
00:22:17,936 --> 00:22:19,076
The Press: I mean, you're
always talking about

447
00:22:19,071 --> 00:22:22,071
transparency and how
important it is.

448
00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:25,074
And she, being the leading
candidate to be the next

449
00:22:25,077 --> 00:22:27,747
President right now on
the Democratic side --

450
00:22:27,746 --> 00:22:29,146
Mr. Earnest: I certainly do
believe in transparency,

451
00:22:29,147 --> 00:22:33,047
and I certainly do believe
that when it comes to the

452
00:22:33,051 --> 00:22:34,791
government of the United
States of America that is

453
00:22:34,786 --> 00:22:37,826
funded by taxpayers, that
public servants do have a

454
00:22:37,823 --> 00:22:41,223
responsibility to be
transparent about their

455
00:22:41,226 --> 00:22:42,796
official government
activities.

456
00:22:42,794 --> 00:22:47,864
But obviously, none of that
is an accurate description

457
00:22:47,866 --> 00:22:54,276
of the situation that was at
the crux of a disagreement

458
00:22:54,272 --> 00:22:55,272
in the debate last night.

459
00:22:55,273 --> 00:22:59,983
So I'll let Secretary
Clinton and Senator Sanders

460
00:22:59,978 --> 00:23:01,418
explain their
respective positions.

461
00:23:01,413 --> 00:23:03,413
The Press: So you don't
feel either way whether she

462
00:23:03,415 --> 00:23:05,155
should release them or not?

463
00:23:05,150 --> 00:23:08,720
Mr. Earnest: I don't feel
the need to weigh in on it.

464
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,460
Again, they can both have
that argument and explain

465
00:23:11,456 --> 00:23:14,396
their positions, and the
voters will decide who they

466
00:23:14,392 --> 00:23:16,732
believe is making the
more effective argument.

467
00:23:16,728 --> 00:23:17,798
Mary.

468
00:23:17,796 --> 00:23:19,466
The Press: Back
on Zika funding.

469
00:23:19,464 --> 00:23:22,104
Despite the answers that
you've already provided to

470
00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:23,940
some of the
Republicans' questions,

471
00:23:23,935 --> 00:23:26,675
we seem to be at a bit
of a standstill here.

472
00:23:26,671 --> 00:23:27,771
Chairman Rogers says --

473
00:23:27,773 --> 00:23:28,573
Mr. Earnest: Dangerously so.

474
00:23:28,573 --> 00:23:29,843
The Press: -- this
simply is not enough.

475
00:23:29,841 --> 00:23:32,511
He says he needs more
specifics, and until then,

476
00:23:32,511 --> 00:23:33,981
they can't take
any further action.

477
00:23:33,979 --> 00:23:36,349
Will you provide them
with any more details?

478
00:23:36,348 --> 00:23:40,148
Mr. Earnest: Well, I have
indicated from the beginning

479
00:23:40,152 --> 00:23:44,392
a desire to engage in a
conversation with members of

480
00:23:44,389 --> 00:23:50,899
Congress to take the steps
that are necessary now to

481
00:23:50,896 --> 00:23:53,396
protect the American people
from the Zika virus.

482
00:23:53,398 --> 00:23:55,968
And this is not a
new position for the

483
00:23:55,967 --> 00:23:57,967
administration; this is
actually a position that

484
00:23:57,969 --> 00:24:04,239
we've held since February
when the President initially

485
00:24:04,242 --> 00:24:08,912
asked for the additional
funding to fight Zika.

486
00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:11,484
Since that time, there have
been a number of senior

487
00:24:11,483 --> 00:24:14,453
administration officials who
have gone to Capitol Hill to

488
00:24:14,452 --> 00:24:18,222
testify before committees
on camera, under oath,

489
00:24:18,223 --> 00:24:20,723
answering questions from
members of Congress,

490
00:24:20,725 --> 00:24:23,795
including the Appropriations
Committee repeatedly,

491
00:24:23,795 --> 00:24:27,395
people like
Secretary Burwell.

492
00:24:27,399 --> 00:24:29,869
She's obviously the
Secretary of the Department

493
00:24:29,868 --> 00:24:31,268
of Health and
Human Services.

494
00:24:31,269 --> 00:24:34,809
She has testified before
Congress on a number of

495
00:24:34,806 --> 00:24:37,746
occasions, including
March 15th.

496
00:24:37,742 --> 00:24:41,342
She testified also
on February 25th.

497
00:24:41,346 --> 00:24:44,216
And she testified before
both the House and the

498
00:24:44,216 --> 00:24:48,956
Senate -- once on March
24th and March 25th.

499
00:24:48,954 --> 00:24:51,494
And I can tell you
that Tony Fauci,

500
00:24:51,489 --> 00:24:54,729
the Director of the National
Institutes of Health,

501
00:24:54,726 --> 00:24:58,226
testified before Congress
repeatedly to discuss

502
00:24:58,230 --> 00:24:59,230
this issue.

503
00:24:59,231 --> 00:25:02,071
In fact, there are 48
hearings over the course of

504
00:25:02,067 --> 00:25:05,607
this year where the
Zika virus has come up.

505
00:25:07,706 --> 00:25:11,446
So there has been not just a
willingness on the part of

506
00:25:11,443 --> 00:25:15,113
the administration to engage
in this conversation,

507
00:25:15,113 --> 00:25:17,113
you've seen senior
administration officials

508
00:25:17,115 --> 00:25:19,885
actually go up to Congress
and make themselves

509
00:25:19,885 --> 00:25:22,555
available to answer
questions on camera,

510
00:25:22,554 --> 00:25:26,494
under oath,
about this issue.

511
00:25:26,491 --> 00:25:31,401
The Republican explanation
for not acting on Zika is

512
00:25:31,396 --> 00:25:33,396
that they didn't
do their homework.

513
00:25:33,398 --> 00:25:35,468
They've had ample
opportunity to collect

514
00:25:35,467 --> 00:25:37,467
information, to ask
questions of senior

515
00:25:37,469 --> 00:25:41,339
administration officials,
to read letters,

516
00:25:41,339 --> 00:25:43,339
to read the legislative
proposal that was put

517
00:25:43,341 --> 00:25:45,311
forward by the
administration.

518
00:25:45,310 --> 00:25:47,310
But Republicans
haven't done it.

519
00:25:47,312 --> 00:25:48,382
I don't understand
really why.

520
00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:53,950
I don't know if it's that
they are concerned about the

521
00:25:53,952 --> 00:25:56,452
reaction from the extreme
right-wing base of their

522
00:25:56,454 --> 00:25:59,194
party about additional
government funding.

523
00:25:59,190 --> 00:26:01,790
I don't know if it's the
need that Republicans for

524
00:26:01,793 --> 00:26:04,463
some reason feel to
reflexively oppose

525
00:26:04,462 --> 00:26:07,432
everything that President
Obama suggests.

526
00:26:07,432 --> 00:26:11,002
What I do know is that the
Republican approach thus far

527
00:26:11,002 --> 00:26:13,302
to not take any action to
provide the funding that our

528
00:26:13,305 --> 00:26:20,245
public health experts say
is necessary is bad for the

529
00:26:20,245 --> 00:26:22,045
country, and it's dangerous.

530
00:26:22,047 --> 00:26:24,047
The Press: So when
Republicans, for instance,

531
00:26:24,049 --> 00:26:26,619
say that the details they're
still looking for -- one of

532
00:26:26,618 --> 00:26:28,918
them is the exact dollar
amount that they need right

533
00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,460
now in this fiscal year --
you say that they already

534
00:26:32,457 --> 00:26:34,997
had an opportunity to get
those kinds of answers?

535
00:26:34,993 --> 00:26:39,803
Mr. Earnest: Well, Secretary
Burwell has testified on a

536
00:26:39,798 --> 00:26:42,438
number of occasions about
the President's budget.

537
00:26:42,434 --> 00:26:44,174
She testified before the
House Appropriations

538
00:26:44,169 --> 00:26:48,569
Committee on February
25th about the budget.

539
00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:49,973
There certainly was an
opportunity for Republicans

540
00:26:49,975 --> 00:26:51,605
to ask her there.

541
00:26:51,609 --> 00:26:52,879
Why didn't they?

542
00:26:52,877 --> 00:26:54,577
Were they not
prepared to do so?

543
00:26:54,579 --> 00:26:56,619
Did they not think
of it at the time?

544
00:26:56,614 --> 00:27:00,214
I guess it would be
worth asking them.

545
00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:01,688
She testified before the
Committee on education

546
00:27:01,686 --> 00:27:03,226
and the workforce.

547
00:27:03,221 --> 00:27:04,761
Somebody presumably could
have asked her there.

548
00:27:04,756 --> 00:27:06,226
That was a more
recent hearing.

549
00:27:06,224 --> 00:27:08,524
That occurred on March 15th.

550
00:27:08,526 --> 00:27:12,996
I think what is more likely
happening is that we are

551
00:27:12,998 --> 00:27:17,098
seeing Republicans change
their explanation

552
00:27:17,102 --> 00:27:19,002
for their inaction.

553
00:27:19,004 --> 00:27:23,244
They are grasping in
the dark for an excuse.

554
00:27:23,241 --> 00:27:25,141
Several weeks ago, you
heard Speaker Ryan say,

555
00:27:25,143 --> 00:27:28,843
"There's plenty of money in
the pipeline right now that

556
00:27:28,847 --> 00:27:30,387
can go to Zika."

557
00:27:30,382 --> 00:27:32,652
That was the explanation
from Speaker Ryan

558
00:27:32,650 --> 00:27:33,920
a few weeks ago.

559
00:27:33,918 --> 00:27:37,488
Earlier this week, he said
-- Speaker Ryan said that

560
00:27:37,489 --> 00:27:41,259
funding for Zika should go
through the normal process.

561
00:27:41,259 --> 00:27:43,399
Considering that today is
the deadline for the House

562
00:27:43,395 --> 00:27:45,395
to pass a budget, and
they're not going to meet

563
00:27:45,397 --> 00:27:49,037
that deadline, I'm not sure
that pursuing the normal

564
00:27:49,034 --> 00:27:51,334
process for an
emergency like this,

565
00:27:51,336 --> 00:27:55,376
given Congress's inept
ability to handle the

566
00:27:55,373 --> 00:27:58,943
budget, is a
particularly good idea.

567
00:27:58,943 --> 00:28:04,383
So that's why I think it's a
little curious after weeks

568
00:28:04,382 --> 00:28:06,382
of saying there's plenty
of money in the pipeline,

569
00:28:06,384 --> 00:28:08,784
or there's plenty of
time for us to act,

570
00:28:08,787 --> 00:28:10,787
that Republicans are now
somehow saying that they

571
00:28:10,789 --> 00:28:12,389
don't have enough
information.

572
00:28:12,390 --> 00:28:14,790
I don't think that really
passes the smell test.

573
00:28:14,793 --> 00:28:15,723
The Press: And given the
fact that it's obviously

574
00:28:15,727 --> 00:28:19,297
getting warmer by the day,
are you confident that this

575
00:28:19,297 --> 00:28:21,337
fight is going to get the
funding that it needs?

576
00:28:21,332 --> 00:28:23,332
Mr. Earnest: Well, our
success to do -- well,

577
00:28:26,204 --> 00:28:29,644
let me say it this way, our
public health professionals

578
00:28:29,641 --> 00:28:32,141
stood at this podium on
Monday -- it seems like a

579
00:28:32,143 --> 00:28:35,083
while ago -- they stood
at this podium on Monday,

580
00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:37,080
and they said that they
don't have what they need

581
00:28:37,082 --> 00:28:39,782
right now, that they're not
doing everything that we

582
00:28:39,784 --> 00:28:42,984
should be doing right now to
protect the American people

583
00:28:42,987 --> 00:28:43,987
from the Zika virus.

584
00:28:43,988 --> 00:28:45,988
There is a lot
that can be done.

585
00:28:45,990 --> 00:28:47,590
It requires reprogramming
funds

586
00:28:47,592 --> 00:28:49,932
from other core priorities.

587
00:28:49,928 --> 00:28:55,338
It required trying to
extract loose change from

588
00:28:55,333 --> 00:28:57,603
the proverbial couch.

589
00:28:57,602 --> 00:29:01,342
But there is important work
that's being done at the

590
00:29:01,339 --> 00:29:03,339
National Institutes of
Health and the Centers for

591
00:29:03,341 --> 00:29:05,711
Disease Control to try
to fight this disease,

592
00:29:05,710 --> 00:29:07,210
and to try to
fight the virus,

593
00:29:07,212 --> 00:29:10,182
and to try to protect
the American people.

594
00:29:10,181 --> 00:29:12,181
But we're not doing
everything that

595
00:29:12,183 --> 00:29:13,183
we should be doing.

596
00:29:13,184 --> 00:29:15,184
We're certainly not doing
everything that we could be

597
00:29:15,186 --> 00:29:17,186
doing if Congress would
fulfill its basic

598
00:29:17,188 --> 00:29:19,188
responsibility to ensure
that these public health

599
00:29:19,190 --> 00:29:21,230
professionals have the
resources that they need to

600
00:29:21,226 --> 00:29:23,226
protect the American people.

601
00:29:23,228 --> 00:29:29,538
This is separate from the
kind of basic funding that

602
00:29:29,534 --> 00:29:32,374
we need to ensure that state
and local governments can

603
00:29:32,370 --> 00:29:33,540
respond to the
situation, too.

604
00:29:33,538 --> 00:29:35,538
After all, they're the ones
that are going to be

605
00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:36,540
on the front lines.

606
00:29:36,541 --> 00:29:39,941
We know that additional
funding would help local

607
00:29:39,944 --> 00:29:43,814
governments fight the
mosquito population.

608
00:29:43,815 --> 00:29:46,085
One of the things that we
have heard that they're

609
00:29:46,084 --> 00:29:48,024
interested in doing -- and
this is something that the

610
00:29:48,019 --> 00:29:53,589
CDC discussed with state and
local officials in Atlanta a

611
00:29:53,591 --> 00:29:58,801
couple of weeks ago -- is
that when there is someone

612
00:29:58,796 --> 00:30:03,206
who has tested positive
for the Zika virus,

613
00:30:03,201 --> 00:30:05,601
one of the things that it
would make sense to do is to

614
00:30:05,603 --> 00:30:08,303
go around that person's
house in that neighborhood

615
00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:10,806
and try to kill all the
mosquitos that are living

616
00:30:10,808 --> 00:30:12,808
there, to prevent that
person from being bitten by

617
00:30:12,810 --> 00:30:15,010
a mosquito and transmitting
the virus to someone else.

618
00:30:15,013 --> 00:30:19,313
But that's going to require
a local government response

619
00:30:19,317 --> 00:30:24,057
that's very nimble and that
has enough capacity to be

620
00:30:24,055 --> 00:30:26,295
able to dedicate a couple
of people to go a couple of

621
00:30:26,291 --> 00:30:29,731
hours and spray
around one house.

622
00:30:29,727 --> 00:30:30,927
That requires resources.

623
00:30:30,929 --> 00:30:34,469
That, of course, is not the
kind mosquito eradication

624
00:30:34,465 --> 00:30:36,905
plan that's in
place right now.

625
00:30:36,901 --> 00:30:39,671
So if we're going to be
able to make those kinds of

626
00:30:39,671 --> 00:30:42,471
smart, strategic, and
tactical decisions to fight

627
00:30:42,473 --> 00:30:45,343
this virus, we're going to
need additional funding.

628
00:30:45,343 --> 00:30:48,883
And that funding is not
going to be available until

629
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,380
somebody -- until
Republicans in Congress

630
00:30:52,383 --> 00:30:54,853
begin to recognize that this
is a basic responsibility

631
00:30:54,852 --> 00:30:58,722
that they have and that the
safety and security and

632
00:30:58,723 --> 00:31:04,093
wellbeing of the American
people depends upon them

633
00:31:04,095 --> 00:31:06,065
doing their jobs.

634
00:31:06,064 --> 00:31:07,064
Justin.

635
00:31:07,065 --> 00:31:09,505
The Press: Would the White
House be willing to accept

636
00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:11,840
the version of the Puerto
Rico legislation that

637
00:31:11,836 --> 00:31:15,206
reduced Puerto
Rico's minimum wage?

638
00:31:15,206 --> 00:31:16,706
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I guess, Justin,

639
00:31:16,708 --> 00:31:18,848
I'd be hard-pressed to hear
a Republican explain how

640
00:31:18,843 --> 00:31:21,413
exactly that's going to
improve the financial

641
00:31:21,412 --> 00:31:23,812
standing of the Puerto
Rico government.

642
00:31:23,815 --> 00:31:30,325
That sounds much more to me
like Republicans engaging in

643
00:31:30,321 --> 00:31:32,491
a tactic that we've
seen from them before,

644
00:31:32,490 --> 00:31:35,160
which is hoping that they
can score an unrelated,

645
00:31:35,159 --> 00:31:39,669
ideological victory by
holding something else hostage.

646
00:31:39,664 --> 00:31:44,634
In this case, it's the
liquidity

647
00:31:44,636 --> 00:31:46,676
of the Puerto Rican government.

648
00:31:46,671 --> 00:31:52,541
So there is no reason that
we should let a longstanding

649
00:31:52,543 --> 00:31:56,083
political argument about the
minimum wage have an impact

650
00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,480
on the ability of the Puerto
Rican government

651
00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:01,684
to pay its bills.

652
00:32:01,686 --> 00:32:05,226
So just to be clear --
because there does seem to

653
00:32:05,223 --> 00:32:10,193
be some misinformation
that's being spread about

654
00:32:10,194 --> 00:32:13,964
this -- this is
not a bailout.

655
00:32:13,965 --> 00:32:16,335
I've said many times the
administration does not

656
00:32:16,334 --> 00:32:18,334
support a bailout
of Puerto Rico.

657
00:32:18,336 --> 00:32:19,336
We don't.

658
00:32:19,337 --> 00:32:20,337
We haven't.

659
00:32:20,338 --> 00:32:23,278
We have never,
and we don't now.

660
00:32:23,274 --> 00:32:29,344
The irony is, is that
refusing to give the Puerto

661
00:32:29,347 --> 00:32:35,287
Rican government authority
to address their financial

662
00:32:35,286 --> 00:32:38,926
challenges right now only
make a future bailout of

663
00:32:38,923 --> 00:32:41,623
Puerto Rico more likely.

664
00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:47,596
So if we actually are
focused on trying to prevent

665
00:32:47,598 --> 00:32:50,238
a bailout from
being necessary,

666
00:32:50,234 --> 00:32:53,134
then Congress needs to
continue to act in a

667
00:32:53,137 --> 00:32:56,177
bipartisan fashion to find a
solution that will just give

668
00:32:56,174 --> 00:33:00,744
Puerto Rico the kind of debt
restructuring authority that

669
00:33:00,745 --> 00:33:02,585
cities across
the country have.

670
00:33:02,580 --> 00:33:05,250
And that by using that
authority in a way that does

671
00:33:05,249 --> 00:33:07,249
have some oversight to make
sure that they're pursuing

672
00:33:07,251 --> 00:33:11,921
reforms, that's the best way
to ensure -- to restore the

673
00:33:11,923 --> 00:33:14,393
financial situation on the
island of Puerto Rico and

674
00:33:14,392 --> 00:33:15,732
make sure that U.S.

675
00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:18,797
taxpayers are not placed on
the hook

676
00:33:18,796 --> 00:33:20,896
of ever bailing them out.

677
00:33:20,898 --> 00:33:22,968
The Press: So is that a no?

678
00:33:22,967 --> 00:33:25,267
Mr. Earnest: I think
it is a -- well, yes,

679
00:33:25,269 --> 00:33:28,939
it's a no because it has
nothing to do with --

680
00:33:28,940 --> 00:33:30,610
The Press: We'll, get you
to your meeting on time.

681
00:33:30,608 --> 00:33:34,548
(laughter)

682
00:33:34,545 --> 00:33:36,815
Have you guys been in
contact with bondholders

683
00:33:36,814 --> 00:33:37,814
on this issue?

684
00:33:37,815 --> 00:33:39,615
I know you kind of mentioned
them as part of the

685
00:33:39,617 --> 00:33:42,517
undergraduate political
science class earlier

686
00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:43,250
this week.

687
00:33:43,254 --> 00:33:46,624
And so I'm wondering if --
you obviously have been in

688
00:33:46,624 --> 00:33:49,094
touch with Congress, and the
Treasury Department has even

689
00:33:49,093 --> 00:33:51,163
talking to bondholders --
but has the Treasury been

690
00:33:51,162 --> 00:33:52,962
talking to bondholders?

691
00:33:52,964 --> 00:33:53,934
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
aware of any specific

692
00:33:53,931 --> 00:33:55,201
conversations that occurred.

693
00:33:55,199 --> 00:33:59,139
But I do know that when
faced with public policy

694
00:33:59,137 --> 00:34:02,607
questions, it's not uncommon
for the administration to be

695
00:34:02,607 --> 00:34:05,047
in touch with stakeholders
on a variety of sides.

696
00:34:05,042 --> 00:34:08,112
So I wouldn't rule out that
a meeting with bondholders

697
00:34:08,112 --> 00:34:09,682
has occurred at some point.

698
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:12,350
But I'm not aware of
any specific meetings.

699
00:34:12,350 --> 00:34:15,290
The Press: Leader Pelosi
said yesterday that she

700
00:34:15,286 --> 00:34:17,756
doesn't think that this
legislation -- especially

701
00:34:17,755 --> 00:34:21,425
after the markup got kind of
scrapped or pushed back --

702
00:34:21,426 --> 00:34:24,496
has a chance of
passing by May 1st.

703
00:34:24,495 --> 00:34:30,405
May 2nd, I guess, is when
the $422 million payment is due.

704
00:34:30,401 --> 00:34:31,871
Do you agree with that
assessment that you don't

705
00:34:31,869 --> 00:34:33,539
expect this legislation to
now pass by the

706
00:34:33,538 --> 00:34:34,738
end of the month?

707
00:34:34,739 --> 00:34:38,339
And if so, what are the
ramifications that you see

708
00:34:38,342 --> 00:34:39,512
for Puerto Rico?

709
00:34:39,510 --> 00:34:40,750
Mr. Earnest: Well, Leader
Pelosi is certainly in a

710
00:34:40,745 --> 00:34:44,315
better position to assess
the likelihood of the timely

711
00:34:44,315 --> 00:34:46,455
passage of this
legislation than I am.

712
00:34:46,451 --> 00:34:48,451
I haven't heard
that assessment,

713
00:34:48,453 --> 00:34:51,953
but I don't -- again, I
don't have the standing or

714
00:34:51,956 --> 00:34:54,056
the knowledge to disagree
with her assessment.

715
00:34:56,627 --> 00:34:58,627
I think this is why the
administration has been

716
00:34:58,629 --> 00:35:00,769
focused, since last
year, you'll recall,

717
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:04,205
in trying to get Congress to
act to avoid a cliffhanger

718
00:35:04,202 --> 00:35:06,202
like the one that
you're describing.

719
00:35:06,204 --> 00:35:08,204
I don't know what
consequences this will have

720
00:35:08,206 --> 00:35:12,706
for Puerto Rico's ability to
make that payment on time.

721
00:35:12,710 --> 00:35:15,810
But obviously it's a good
illustration of why we're

722
00:35:15,813 --> 00:35:16,983
concerned about
this situation.

723
00:35:16,981 --> 00:35:20,851
The Press: And last one was
kind of the debate last night.

724
00:35:20,852 --> 00:35:23,652
You've talked a lot about
how the tone of the

725
00:35:23,654 --> 00:35:27,094
Democratic race and debate
has been heightened relative

726
00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:28,161
to the Republican one.

727
00:35:28,159 --> 00:35:30,929
But last night we saw kind
of some real scrapping

728
00:35:30,928 --> 00:35:32,968
between the Democratic
candidates.

729
00:35:32,964 --> 00:35:35,904
I'm wondering if that bled
into a territory where it

730
00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,500
raised any concern
within the White House,

731
00:35:38,503 --> 00:35:41,473
or if there were any plans
to maybe ask the candidates

732
00:35:41,472 --> 00:35:45,542
to cool things down to sort
of maintain

733
00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:47,113
that perceived difference?

734
00:35:47,111 --> 00:35:49,211
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any plan to begin to

735
00:35:49,213 --> 00:35:51,413
communicate with the
candidates about the

736
00:35:51,415 --> 00:35:54,155
strategy that they've
chosen to pursue.

737
00:35:54,151 --> 00:35:55,291
I still feel
confident -- well,

738
00:35:55,286 --> 00:35:57,286
I didn't watch every minute
of the debate -- I do still

739
00:35:57,288 --> 00:36:01,388
feel confident in saying
that the tone and tenor and

740
00:36:01,392 --> 00:36:05,792
focus on policy in the
Democratic debate has

741
00:36:05,796 --> 00:36:08,666
positioned the Democratic
Party to do well in the

742
00:36:08,666 --> 00:36:11,936
general election,
particularly because we've

743
00:36:11,936 --> 00:36:15,206
seen a Democratic race
that's been focused on a

744
00:36:15,206 --> 00:36:19,246
whole lot of things other
than substantive policy issues.

745
00:36:21,379 --> 00:36:23,849
So I'm not aware of any
conversations like that

746
00:36:23,848 --> 00:36:24,748
that are contemplated.

747
00:36:24,749 --> 00:36:27,889
I do continue to believe,
and I know the President

748
00:36:27,885 --> 00:36:31,155
continues to believe,
that a robust debate in a

749
00:36:31,155 --> 00:36:34,695
Democratic primary is not
necessarily a bad thing.

750
00:36:34,692 --> 00:36:37,662
It certainly is a way for
Democratic voters across the

751
00:36:37,662 --> 00:36:39,662
country to become more
engaged in the debate,

752
00:36:39,664 --> 00:36:42,104
and that will pay dividends
in the general election.

753
00:36:42,099 --> 00:36:44,239
It certainly did in 2008,
when we had a primary that

754
00:36:44,235 --> 00:36:45,935
lasted longer than expected.

755
00:36:45,937 --> 00:36:47,937
And there certainly is a
potential that that would

756
00:36:47,939 --> 00:36:49,539
happen again in 2016.

757
00:36:49,540 --> 00:36:50,540
Ron.

758
00:36:50,541 --> 00:36:52,541
The Press: On the
Clinton speeches issue,

759
00:36:52,543 --> 00:36:55,383
you won't take a position
about whether she should

760
00:36:55,379 --> 00:37:00,049
disclose these transcripts.

761
00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:02,321
Is there concern at the
White House that this issue

762
00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,420
could hurt her in
a general election?

763
00:37:04,422 --> 00:37:08,492
The charge essentially is
hypocrisy of her making

764
00:37:08,492 --> 00:37:10,492
these speeches, being
paid a lot of money,

765
00:37:10,494 --> 00:37:13,164
but yet at the same time
claiming that she is an

766
00:37:13,164 --> 00:37:17,064
agent of change and that
she is against some of the

767
00:37:17,068 --> 00:37:19,068
practices on Wall Street,
and so on and so forth.

768
00:37:19,070 --> 00:37:21,840
Mr. Earnest: I think the
short answer

769
00:37:21,839 --> 00:37:24,509
to your question is no.

770
00:37:24,508 --> 00:37:30,078
But obviously, it's possible
that this is an issue that

771
00:37:30,081 --> 00:37:32,651
could come up for some
discussion

772
00:37:32,650 --> 00:37:34,650
in the general election.

773
00:37:34,652 --> 00:37:37,552
But again, right now,
there's a Democratic primary

774
00:37:37,555 --> 00:37:38,655
that's going on.

775
00:37:38,656 --> 00:37:41,826
And it's not clear exactly
who the party's nominee is

776
00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:43,126
going to be.

777
00:37:43,127 --> 00:37:45,497
Obviously,
Secretary Clinton,

778
00:37:45,496 --> 00:37:48,236
based on her success
in amassing delegates,

779
00:37:48,232 --> 00:37:49,702
has the lead.

780
00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:53,840
But this process has
not yet been resolved.

781
00:37:53,838 --> 00:37:56,138
The Press: And just in terms
of the administration's

782
00:37:56,140 --> 00:37:59,110
position on former
employees, if you will,

783
00:37:59,110 --> 00:38:01,780
leaving and going
out and making money,

784
00:38:01,779 --> 00:38:06,549
is there anything about what
the Secretary has done that

785
00:38:06,550 --> 00:38:07,890
concerns the administration
on this issue?

786
00:38:07,885 --> 00:38:10,985
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any concerns

787
00:38:10,988 --> 00:38:11,988
that have been raised.

788
00:38:11,989 --> 00:38:14,789
I know that there were a set
of policies that were put in

789
00:38:14,792 --> 00:38:16,792
place on the President's
first or second day in

790
00:38:16,794 --> 00:38:21,294
office that did limit
the activities of former

791
00:38:21,298 --> 00:38:23,298
administration officials.

792
00:38:23,300 --> 00:38:26,040
That mostly related to
former administration

793
00:38:26,037 --> 00:38:28,037
officials who might be
interested in coming back

794
00:38:28,039 --> 00:38:30,039
and lobbying their
former colleagues.

795
00:38:30,041 --> 00:38:32,041
We can certainly get you
some more details around

796
00:38:32,043 --> 00:38:35,243
that, because the kinds of
restrictions to close that

797
00:38:35,246 --> 00:38:38,486
revolving door that
President Obama put in place

798
00:38:38,482 --> 00:38:39,552
were the toughest
in history.

799
00:38:39,550 --> 00:38:45,990
But I don't think that those
regulations would apply to

800
00:38:45,990 --> 00:38:48,160
the situation that
Secretary Clinton faced.

801
00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:50,159
The Press: Something else in
the news -- there's a lot of

802
00:38:50,161 --> 00:38:52,801
attention focused on a case
in Atlanta involving a boy

803
00:38:52,797 --> 00:38:57,237
who's being paddled at an
elementary school

804
00:38:57,234 --> 00:38:58,774
outside of Atlanta.

805
00:38:58,769 --> 00:38:59,569
Are you familiar with that?

806
00:38:59,570 --> 00:39:00,400
Mr. Earnest: I've seen a
little bit of the coverage

807
00:39:00,404 --> 00:39:01,844
but I've not looked
at the details.

808
00:39:01,839 --> 00:39:05,679
The Press: Aside from the
details of that situation,

809
00:39:05,676 --> 00:39:07,976
what is the President's view
generally about corporal

810
00:39:07,978 --> 00:39:10,048
punishment in schools?

811
00:39:10,047 --> 00:39:10,747
Mr. Earnest: I
have to admit,

812
00:39:10,748 --> 00:39:11,778
I have not heard the
President express

813
00:39:11,782 --> 00:39:12,682
an opinion on this.

814
00:39:12,683 --> 00:39:14,053
We can take a look and see
if the President has weighed

815
00:39:14,051 --> 00:39:17,721
in on it in the past.

816
00:39:17,722 --> 00:39:21,322
But I think it is certainly
understandable that an issue

817
00:39:21,325 --> 00:39:22,525
like this would get
a lot of attention,

818
00:39:22,526 --> 00:39:24,766
but I'm not sure that the
President has weighed in on it.

819
00:39:24,762 --> 00:39:26,862
The Press: And just lastly,
one other thing

820
00:39:26,864 --> 00:39:29,034
about last night as well.

821
00:39:29,033 --> 00:39:31,903
Hillary Clinton said -- and
I believe Senator Sanders

822
00:39:31,902 --> 00:39:34,302
said as well -- that they
support the idea of safe

823
00:39:34,305 --> 00:39:41,575
havens in Turkey in the
Syrian war theater.

824
00:39:41,579 --> 00:39:43,649
And I know the President has
said he doesn't think that

825
00:39:43,647 --> 00:39:45,917
that's a way to go.

826
00:39:45,916 --> 00:39:49,656
But he's going there, he's
talking to Angela Merkel,

827
00:39:49,653 --> 00:39:51,753
the Chancellor of Germany,
who also, I believe,

828
00:39:51,756 --> 00:39:53,526
supports this notion.

829
00:39:53,524 --> 00:39:56,164
And I'm wondering if this
might be a time to rethink

830
00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,660
that because,
as you've said,

831
00:39:58,662 --> 00:40:01,762
you've taken back so much
territory from ISIS,

832
00:40:01,766 --> 00:40:04,906
there is a cessation of
hostilities in place that's

833
00:40:04,902 --> 00:40:07,342
somewhat fragile, that one
of the big objectives now is

834
00:40:07,338 --> 00:40:10,338
to get more humanitarian
aid into that environment.

835
00:40:10,341 --> 00:40:12,581
So why not look at
something like that,

836
00:40:12,576 --> 00:40:15,246
that people like former
Secretary Clinton and

837
00:40:15,246 --> 00:40:17,346
Chancellor Merkel, who, I
believe the President both

838
00:40:17,348 --> 00:40:19,988
has a lot of respect
for, support?

839
00:40:19,984 --> 00:40:22,684
Why not take a look at
something like that now?

840
00:40:22,686 --> 00:40:24,626
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
say this -- let me answer

841
00:40:24,622 --> 00:40:25,722
that question a couple
different ways.

842
00:40:25,723 --> 00:40:29,593
The first is that the United
States has worked hard with

843
00:40:29,593 --> 00:40:31,563
the United Nations and the
rest of the international

844
00:40:31,562 --> 00:40:37,102
community to try to impose
a Cessation of Hostilities.

845
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:39,601
And this is a Cessation of
Hostilities that went into

846
00:40:39,603 --> 00:40:41,503
effect two months ago now.

847
00:40:41,505 --> 00:40:47,345
It has proved to be more
durable than I think most

848
00:40:47,344 --> 00:40:50,584
administration officials
expected, that's for sure.

849
00:40:50,581 --> 00:40:52,651
And having that Cessation
of Hostilities in place has

850
00:40:52,650 --> 00:40:57,560
reduced the violence and
has allowed humanitarian

851
00:40:57,555 --> 00:41:01,055
organizations to do more of
their important work in some

852
00:41:01,058 --> 00:41:03,058
communities that have been
desperate for it

853
00:41:03,060 --> 00:41:04,090
for a while now.

854
00:41:04,094 --> 00:41:08,264
So we have made important
progress in that regard.

855
00:41:08,265 --> 00:41:13,105
The President's longstanding
opposition to this concept

856
00:41:13,103 --> 00:41:18,213
of a so-called "safe zone"
in Syria is predicated on

857
00:41:18,209 --> 00:41:22,209
the idea that while
it sounds good,

858
00:41:22,213 --> 00:41:26,283
it's much more complicated
in practice to implement it.

859
00:41:26,283 --> 00:41:29,353
It raises all sorts of
questions about who exactly

860
00:41:29,353 --> 00:41:32,123
would ensure the safety
of the safe zone.

861
00:41:32,122 --> 00:41:34,892
That presumably would
require the deployment of

862
00:41:34,892 --> 00:41:37,692
thousands of military
personnel in order to not

863
00:41:37,695 --> 00:41:40,735
just guard the perimeter,
but also to screen the

864
00:41:40,731 --> 00:41:43,671
individuals and equipment
and vehicles that are

865
00:41:43,667 --> 00:41:45,667
entering the safe zone.

866
00:41:47,004 --> 00:41:51,044
And it also would require
the deployment of security

867
00:41:51,041 --> 00:41:54,811
personnel inside the safe
zone to ensure the security

868
00:41:54,812 --> 00:41:57,552
of all those who are there.

869
00:41:57,548 --> 00:42:00,988
That, in essence, would
require the kind of

870
00:42:00,985 --> 00:42:04,285
commitment of ground forces
that the President does not

871
00:42:04,288 --> 00:42:06,428
believe is consistent with
our

872
00:42:06,423 --> 00:42:09,323
national security interests.

873
00:42:09,326 --> 00:42:12,396
And some people have
referred to this as a no-fly

874
00:42:12,396 --> 00:42:19,006
zone, and the reason that
that's misleading is we know

875
00:42:19,003 --> 00:42:21,073
that ISIL isn't carrying
out attacks from the air.

876
00:42:21,071 --> 00:42:23,471
So it's not the no-fly zone
that we're concerned about.

877
00:42:23,474 --> 00:42:26,774
It's unclear exactly how
much safety and security

878
00:42:26,777 --> 00:42:29,147
that would bring anybody,
because the situation on the

879
00:42:29,146 --> 00:42:33,316
ground is where the
security is so unstable.

880
00:42:33,317 --> 00:42:38,557
And trying to secure and
patrol and, in some cases,

881
00:42:38,555 --> 00:42:40,925
be in the position of
repelling attacks over such

882
00:42:40,925 --> 00:42:45,065
a large territorial area
would not be consistent with

883
00:42:45,062 --> 00:42:46,802
our national
security interests.

884
00:42:46,797 --> 00:42:49,337
The Press: I guess the
concern is that now would be

885
00:42:49,333 --> 00:42:51,873
a time, some would argue,
for a very bold

886
00:42:51,869 --> 00:42:53,409
humanitarian gesture.

887
00:42:53,404 --> 00:42:56,544
And clearly, the U.S. military can sort that out,

888
00:42:56,540 --> 00:42:58,940
the logistics of doing it,

889
00:42:58,943 --> 00:43:02,943
and there may be coalition
partners who are willing to

890
00:43:02,947 --> 00:43:04,987
-- I don't know the troop
numbers -- but I think it's

891
00:43:04,982 --> 00:43:07,722
the concept that given
what's happened in Syria and

892
00:43:07,718 --> 00:43:12,058
the horrific humanitarian
disaster that it is,

893
00:43:12,056 --> 00:43:14,596
why not now when there
seems to be a window,

894
00:43:14,591 --> 00:43:15,961
or seems to be
some progress?

895
00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:17,830
I mean, I thought it terms
of humanitarian aid,

896
00:43:17,828 --> 00:43:21,468
I thought your view was that
not enough is getting in.

897
00:43:21,465 --> 00:43:23,765
There's some progress, but
I thought the view of the

898
00:43:23,767 --> 00:43:25,767
administration was that
there still needs to be more

899
00:43:25,769 --> 00:43:27,669
done on that front.

900
00:43:27,671 --> 00:43:28,771
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
certainly is more that can

901
00:43:28,772 --> 00:43:29,812
and should be done
on that front.

902
00:43:29,807 --> 00:43:33,177
But more humanitarian
assistance has been provided

903
00:43:33,177 --> 00:43:35,477
over the last couple of
months than was provided

904
00:43:35,479 --> 00:43:38,649
previously because of the
successful implementation

905
00:43:38,649 --> 00:43:40,649
of the Cessation
of Hostilities.

906
00:43:40,651 --> 00:43:42,651
The implementation of that
cessation has not been

907
00:43:42,653 --> 00:43:43,653
perfect by any stretch.

908
00:43:43,654 --> 00:43:47,054
We have seen violations, but
it has proved to be more

909
00:43:47,057 --> 00:43:49,057
durable than was
previously expected.

910
00:43:49,059 --> 00:43:51,899
And that has given
humanitarian aid

911
00:43:51,895 --> 00:43:54,495
organizations greater
freedom to provide

912
00:43:54,498 --> 00:43:56,498
much-needed relief to
populations that have been

913
00:43:56,500 --> 00:43:58,540
caught in the crossfire
for quite some time.

914
00:43:58,535 --> 00:44:00,775
So that is the strategy
that we have been pursuing.

915
00:44:00,771 --> 00:44:04,941
That also is a strategy that
will move us more closely in

916
00:44:04,942 --> 00:44:07,982
the direction of our
goal, which is ultimately

917
00:44:07,978 --> 00:44:13,448
resolving the political
chaos inside of Syria.

918
00:44:13,450 --> 00:44:15,420
By reaching a Cessation
of Hostilities,

919
00:44:15,419 --> 00:44:17,789
we can not just provide
some humanitarian relief,

920
00:44:17,788 --> 00:44:21,458
but we can also give
political opponents of the

921
00:44:21,458 --> 00:44:25,928
regime confidence that they
can begin to engage in the

922
00:44:25,929 --> 00:44:28,669
proximity talks hosted by
the United Nations to bring

923
00:44:28,665 --> 00:44:31,335
about a political
solution inside of Syria.

924
00:44:31,335 --> 00:44:34,305
And that is ultimately
going to solve our problem.

925
00:44:34,304 --> 00:44:37,644
The creation of a safe zone
doesn't move us in the

926
00:44:37,641 --> 00:44:41,411
direction of any of that,
and in fact, actually,

927
00:44:41,412 --> 00:44:44,912
could move us in a direction
of starting

928
00:44:44,915 --> 00:44:46,855
to partition Syria.

929
00:44:46,850 --> 00:44:51,560
And the United States and
others who have been focused

930
00:44:51,555 --> 00:44:54,595
on the situation in Syria
have made it a goal to try

931
00:44:54,591 --> 00:44:59,261
to preserve the current
shape of that nation,

932
00:44:59,263 --> 00:45:03,233
even as they endure so
much turmoil right now.

933
00:45:03,233 --> 00:45:03,733
Kevin.

934
00:45:03,734 --> 00:45:04,404
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

935
00:45:04,401 --> 00:45:08,401
The President said about
this set-top box issue that

936
00:45:08,405 --> 00:45:12,305
he wanted to lend greater
lift to the push to get more

937
00:45:12,309 --> 00:45:14,579
federal agencies to
explore areas

938
00:45:14,578 --> 00:45:16,478
of possible competition.

939
00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:19,080
Sixty days seems like
a pretty tight window.

940
00:45:19,083 --> 00:45:21,753
Has he issued a similar
challenge to other federal

941
00:45:21,752 --> 00:45:22,752
agencies previously?

942
00:45:22,753 --> 00:45:24,753
Mr. Earnest: Off
the top of my head,

943
00:45:24,755 --> 00:45:26,755
I can't think of one that
had a specific 60-day

944
00:45:26,757 --> 00:45:28,757
timeframe, but we can take
a look at that for you.

945
00:45:28,759 --> 00:45:33,699
And obviously the goal here
is that in some cases it

946
00:45:33,697 --> 00:45:37,767
might be pretty obvious to
agencies that this kind of

947
00:45:37,768 --> 00:45:40,208
anti-competitive
behavior is going on.

948
00:45:40,204 --> 00:45:42,204
And I think the President
wanted to make clear that

949
00:45:42,206 --> 00:45:44,976
it's a priority to find
a way to address it.

950
00:45:44,975 --> 00:45:48,645
And the consequences for
doing so are significant.

951
00:45:48,645 --> 00:45:52,085
By trying to promote greater
competition in the market,

952
00:45:52,082 --> 00:45:55,782
we can do things that
have obvious benefits

953
00:45:55,786 --> 00:45:56,786
for consumers.

954
00:45:56,787 --> 00:45:58,157
When it comes to
set-top boxes,

955
00:45:58,155 --> 00:46:01,595
people are spending hundreds
of dollars a year to

956
00:46:01,592 --> 00:46:05,562
essentially rent a box that
cost less than that to make

957
00:46:05,562 --> 00:46:06,762
in the first place.

958
00:46:06,763 --> 00:46:09,063
And the only reason that
they have to rent that box

959
00:46:09,066 --> 00:46:11,066
from their cable provider
is because that's what the

960
00:46:11,068 --> 00:46:13,608
cable provider requires in
order to get the signal.

961
00:46:13,604 --> 00:46:16,174
So if we can
standardize the signal,

962
00:46:16,173 --> 00:46:18,313
allow other companies
to provide the box,

963
00:46:18,308 --> 00:46:20,908
it then means that cable
companies

964
00:46:20,911 --> 00:46:22,751
are just providing the service.

965
00:46:22,746 --> 00:46:24,446
That could cut costs.

966
00:46:24,448 --> 00:46:26,688
That could also
enhance innovation.

967
00:46:26,683 --> 00:46:31,353
Those set-top boxes are
occasionally clunky and have

968
00:46:31,355 --> 00:46:33,355
to be replaced in
their own right anyway.

969
00:46:33,357 --> 00:46:38,327
So it probably is an area of
technology where innovation

970
00:46:38,328 --> 00:46:41,098
would be good for consumers,
to say nothing of the

971
00:46:41,098 --> 00:46:43,538
broader impact it could have
on the economy if you can

972
00:46:43,534 --> 00:46:45,634
give other companies the
opportunity to develop

973
00:46:45,636 --> 00:46:47,836
products that would allow
them to compete

974
00:46:47,838 --> 00:46:50,138
with the big cable providers.

975
00:46:50,140 --> 00:46:51,380
The Press: So then what
would you say to the

976
00:46:51,375 --> 00:46:53,545
industry critics who suggest
it could actually drive up

977
00:46:53,544 --> 00:46:56,444
costs in the short
run on consumers?

978
00:46:56,446 --> 00:46:58,116
What's wrong with
their thought on that?

979
00:46:58,115 --> 00:47:00,385
Are they being disingenuous
when they make that suggestion?

980
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:01,584
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
heard the justification

981
00:47:01,585 --> 00:47:03,125
for that claim.

982
00:47:03,120 --> 00:47:07,260
But again, it already is
prohibitively expensive for

983
00:47:07,257 --> 00:47:08,727
many consumers, based on
the way that

984
00:47:08,725 --> 00:47:09,725
it's currently structured.

985
00:47:09,726 --> 00:47:11,266
Again, over the
course of the year,

986
00:47:11,261 --> 00:47:13,561
you can often pay more
to rent that box than it

987
00:47:13,564 --> 00:47:17,534
actually costs to build that
box in the first place.

988
00:47:17,534 --> 00:47:20,404
So, yes, it's a pretty
inefficient process,

989
00:47:20,404 --> 00:47:24,974
and it's one that allows
cable companies to stifle

990
00:47:24,975 --> 00:47:29,015
innovation and collect
significant sums of money.

991
00:47:29,012 --> 00:47:31,052
This is a place where
innovation and competition

992
00:47:31,048 --> 00:47:33,748
can be good for the broader
economy and good for

993
00:47:33,750 --> 00:47:34,590
individual consumers.

994
00:47:34,585 --> 00:47:37,985
It certainly is a way for
us to be more fair when it

995
00:47:37,988 --> 00:47:40,328
comes to cable customers who
are looking for a good deal.

996
00:47:40,324 --> 00:47:41,994
The Press: What about the
concern that this is another

997
00:47:41,992 --> 00:47:45,792
example of more government
reach-in in an area where it

998
00:47:45,796 --> 00:47:47,836
shouldn't reach in?

999
00:47:47,831 --> 00:47:49,601
Mr. Earnest: Again, I think
this is an example of the

1000
00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:52,200
government saying, we're
not going to let you have a

1001
00:47:52,202 --> 00:47:53,502
specific benefit anymore.

1002
00:47:53,503 --> 00:47:55,473
Now, this is an independent
decision that's made by the

1003
00:47:55,472 --> 00:47:58,472
FCC, so they'll ultimately
have to decide.

1004
00:47:58,475 --> 00:48:01,575
But ultimately, I
think this is about --

1005
00:48:01,578 --> 00:48:03,518
The Press: Will the FTC also
be involved in that, too?

1006
00:48:03,513 --> 00:48:04,583
Mr. Earnest: My
understanding is this is an

1007
00:48:04,581 --> 00:48:07,451
FCC decision and
not an FTC one.

1008
00:48:07,451 --> 00:48:11,491
But the FTC obviously does
have a regulatory role that

1009
00:48:11,488 --> 00:48:15,488
in some cases does have
to deal with combatting

1010
00:48:15,492 --> 00:48:17,532
anticompetitive behavior
in a way that's good for

1011
00:48:17,527 --> 00:48:19,227
innovation and
good for consumers.

1012
00:48:19,229 --> 00:48:21,599
But in this case, it's
the FCC that's involved.

1013
00:48:21,598 --> 00:48:26,968
But look, the question here
is whether or not we're

1014
00:48:26,970 --> 00:48:29,710
going to do more to empower
customers

1015
00:48:29,706 --> 00:48:31,806
and give them a choice.

1016
00:48:31,808 --> 00:48:36,018
And when given a choice,
there is obvious potential

1017
00:48:36,013 --> 00:48:38,883
that they could save money
and get better service.

1018
00:48:38,882 --> 00:48:44,192
So this I think, on the
scale of policy questions to

1019
00:48:44,187 --> 00:48:47,957
be made by the government,
this one seems like

1020
00:48:47,958 --> 00:48:49,828
a rather easy one.

1021
00:48:49,826 --> 00:48:50,826
Gregory.

1022
00:48:50,827 --> 00:48:52,827
The Press: Following up
on that, on Wednesday,

1023
00:48:52,829 --> 00:48:54,829
the National Association
of Broadcasters filed a

1024
00:48:54,831 --> 00:48:59,471
petition with the FCC asking
for permission to broadcast

1025
00:48:59,469 --> 00:49:01,709
next-generation TV signals
that would allow them to do

1026
00:49:01,705 --> 00:49:06,745
things like interactive
things, mobile TV, 4K video.

1027
00:49:06,743 --> 00:49:08,983
Would you envision the White
House would weigh in on that

1028
00:49:08,979 --> 00:49:09,979
proposal as well?

1029
00:49:09,980 --> 00:49:12,580
And if not, what's the
difference between the one

1030
00:49:12,582 --> 00:49:15,482
disruptive technology that
you do support and the other

1031
00:49:15,485 --> 00:49:17,685
disruptive technology
that you don't?

1032
00:49:17,688 --> 00:49:18,318
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
haven't seen

1033
00:49:18,322 --> 00:49:20,492
their specific proposal.

1034
00:49:20,490 --> 00:49:22,560
I don't know at this point
whether or not we'd weigh

1035
00:49:22,559 --> 00:49:23,559
in on it.

1036
00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:24,630
Obviously, it's something
that will be carefully

1037
00:49:24,628 --> 00:49:26,628
considered by the FCC.

1038
00:49:26,630 --> 00:49:28,630
But at this point, I'm not
aware of a plan to weigh on

1039
00:49:28,632 --> 00:49:29,632
that specific proposal.

1040
00:49:29,633 --> 00:49:31,733
The Press: Michael Powell,
the former Chairman of the

1041
00:49:31,735 --> 00:49:33,435
Federal Communications
Commission,

1042
00:49:33,437 --> 00:49:37,237
said that this decision was
political on the part

1043
00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:38,040
of the White House.

1044
00:49:38,041 --> 00:49:40,881
And he points out that the
companies that would benefit

1045
00:49:40,877 --> 00:49:44,817
the most from the set-box
rule are companies

1046
00:49:44,815 --> 00:49:48,115
like Google, Amazon, Netflix.

1047
00:49:48,118 --> 00:49:51,018
Those are all companies that
have participated in these

1048
00:49:51,021 --> 00:49:54,161
private sector commitments
on various initiatives the

1049
00:49:54,157 --> 00:49:56,157
White House has with the
President's

1050
00:49:56,159 --> 00:49:57,499
pen-and-phone strategy.

1051
00:49:57,494 --> 00:50:00,664
Care to comment on whether
this is a political favor

1052
00:50:00,664 --> 00:50:01,464
to those companies?

1053
00:50:01,465 --> 00:50:02,765
Mr. Earnest: I think the
thing that I would simply

1054
00:50:02,766 --> 00:50:03,636
observe -- and this is
something that Mr. Powell

1055
00:50:03,633 --> 00:50:05,473
obviously knows -- the
people who stand to benefit

1056
00:50:05,469 --> 00:50:08,969
the most are consumers,
millions of them across the

1057
00:50:08,972 --> 00:50:11,942
country who right now are
being charged an unfair

1058
00:50:11,942 --> 00:50:13,842
price for their
cable service.

1059
00:50:13,844 --> 00:50:16,044
That is what's driving the
President -- that's what's

1060
00:50:16,046 --> 00:50:18,086
driving the decision of
the administration and the

1061
00:50:18,081 --> 00:50:21,151
President to state
an opinion on this.

1062
00:50:21,151 --> 00:50:27,021
But of course this decision
will be made by the FCC,

1063
00:50:27,023 --> 00:50:34,133
and they will do so without
weighing what other policy

1064
00:50:34,131 --> 00:50:37,331
areas the potentially
affected companies

1065
00:50:37,334 --> 00:50:38,334
have been involved in.

1066
00:50:38,335 --> 00:50:40,535
The Press: And then Kevin
asked about the 60-day

1067
00:50:40,537 --> 00:50:43,237
deadline for the
executive order today.

1068
00:50:43,240 --> 00:50:45,740
In January, the President
issued a presidential

1069
00:50:45,742 --> 00:50:48,612
memorandum on smart gun
technology that had a 90-day

1070
00:50:48,612 --> 00:50:51,452
deadline for departments to
get back to the White House

1071
00:50:51,448 --> 00:50:54,148
on what they could do on
smart gun technology.

1072
00:50:54,151 --> 00:50:55,791
It's been two weeks
since that deadline.

1073
00:50:55,786 --> 00:50:57,386
Has the President
received that report?

1074
00:50:57,387 --> 00:50:58,827
And why hasn't
it been released?

1075
00:50:58,822 --> 00:50:59,552
Mr. Earnest: I haven't been
briefed

1076
00:50:59,556 --> 00:51:01,226
on that particular executive order.

1077
00:51:01,224 --> 00:51:02,364
We can certainly
look into it.

1078
00:51:02,359 --> 00:51:04,459
I would be surprised, given
the priority that the

1079
00:51:04,461 --> 00:51:06,861
administration has placed
on that executive order,

1080
00:51:06,863 --> 00:51:09,763
if any agencies were late.

1081
00:51:09,766 --> 00:51:11,536
But we'll take a look, and
if there's information we

1082
00:51:11,535 --> 00:51:13,675
can provide to you
on it, we will.

1083
00:51:13,670 --> 00:51:14,440
Bill.

1084
00:51:14,438 --> 00:51:16,738
The Press: There is a report
said to be from reliable

1085
00:51:16,740 --> 00:51:20,110
sources that next week
Secretary Lew plans to

1086
00:51:20,110 --> 00:51:23,480
announce that he will leave
Hamilton on the $10 bill,

1087
00:51:23,480 --> 00:51:27,950
put some women on the back,
and leave Jackson on the $20.

1088
00:51:27,951 --> 00:51:29,151
Have you heard?

1089
00:51:29,152 --> 00:51:30,992
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
know that there's been

1090
00:51:30,987 --> 00:51:32,857
substantial reporting
around this.

1091
00:51:32,856 --> 00:51:36,326
I don't have any secrets
to reveal from here.

1092
00:51:36,326 --> 00:51:37,526
What I can tell
you is that --

1093
00:51:37,527 --> 00:51:39,027
The Press: Does this
sound reasonable?

1094
00:51:39,029 --> 00:51:44,299
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the reasonableness of a

1095
00:51:44,301 --> 00:51:46,241
proposal like the one you
described is probably in the

1096
00:51:46,236 --> 00:51:47,976
eye of the beholder.

1097
00:51:47,971 --> 00:51:50,571
I think what I would say
is that Secretary Lew has

1098
00:51:50,574 --> 00:51:53,644
demonstrated a seriousness
of purpose in taking a look

1099
00:51:53,643 --> 00:51:59,053
at what the next
generation of U.S.

1100
00:51:59,049 --> 00:52:00,049
currency would look like.

1101
00:52:00,050 --> 00:52:05,360
Obviously, there are updates
that are made to our

1102
00:52:05,355 --> 00:52:08,255
currency based on
security requirements.

1103
00:52:08,258 --> 00:52:11,028
And the question that he has
considered is when those

1104
00:52:11,027 --> 00:52:16,037
security updates
are required,

1105
00:52:16,032 --> 00:52:18,072
should we make some changes
to our currency to make sure

1106
00:52:18,068 --> 00:52:21,408
that it better
reflects the country,

1107
00:52:21,404 --> 00:52:23,374
and certainly the role
that women have played in

1108
00:52:23,373 --> 00:52:25,373
contributing to the
development of our country.

1109
00:52:25,375 --> 00:52:31,385
And he has indicated that
that look will result in

1110
00:52:34,818 --> 00:52:37,058
changes being made
not just to the $10,

1111
00:52:37,053 --> 00:52:40,123
but to the $5 and the $20.

1112
00:52:40,123 --> 00:52:42,493
But beyond that, we'll have
to wait for an announcement

1113
00:52:42,492 --> 00:52:43,322
from the Treasury
Department.

1114
00:52:43,326 --> 00:52:43,926
The Press: So
what do you think,

1115
00:52:43,927 --> 00:52:46,997
women on the currency
would make it more secure?

1116
00:52:46,997 --> 00:52:49,397
Mr. Earnest: No, what I'm
saying is that -- I guess

1117
00:52:49,399 --> 00:52:52,139
that's possible, but
that's not the decision.

1118
00:52:52,135 --> 00:52:55,935
The decision is that
every 10 years or so,

1119
00:52:55,939 --> 00:52:58,939
there are updates that are
made to the features of our

1120
00:52:58,942 --> 00:53:03,782
currency to counter
counterfeiters.

1121
00:53:03,780 --> 00:53:08,080
And so that often involves
the redesign of the

1122
00:53:08,084 --> 00:53:12,824
currency, and Secretary Lew
has suggested that in the

1123
00:53:12,822 --> 00:53:16,322
context of that redesign,
that ensuring that our

1124
00:53:16,326 --> 00:53:19,496
currency better reflects
the country could be a

1125
00:53:19,496 --> 00:53:21,436
worthwhile thing.

1126
00:53:21,431 --> 00:53:24,771
But for the details of
what that could look like,

1127
00:53:24,768 --> 00:53:25,868
we'll have to wait for
an announcement from the

1128
00:53:25,869 --> 00:53:29,209
Treasury Department.

1129
00:53:29,205 --> 00:53:30,305
Fred.

1130
00:53:30,307 --> 00:53:32,177
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1131
00:53:32,175 --> 00:53:37,415
First of all, on the
executive action -- or

1132
00:53:37,414 --> 00:53:40,614
executive orders going
forward looking at

1133
00:53:40,617 --> 00:53:46,487
competition, first of all,
why now in terms

1134
00:53:46,489 --> 00:53:47,489
of looking at this?

1135
00:53:47,490 --> 00:53:50,790
I mean, whatever
report comes back,

1136
00:53:50,794 --> 00:53:53,794
do you think that the
President's successor will

1137
00:53:53,797 --> 00:53:56,837
take all those
recommendations and

1138
00:53:56,833 --> 00:53:58,133
implement those?

1139
00:53:58,134 --> 00:54:00,204
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think I
would say two things about that.

1140
00:54:00,203 --> 00:54:02,673
I think the first is, the
President is hopeful that in

1141
00:54:02,672 --> 00:54:08,242
the next 60 days, agencies
may surface ideas that we

1142
00:54:08,244 --> 00:54:10,244
could act on
relatively quickly,

1143
00:54:10,246 --> 00:54:12,416
including before the end
of the administration.

1144
00:54:12,415 --> 00:54:15,415
I don't want to prejudge
exactly what agencies will

1145
00:54:15,418 --> 00:54:18,158
turn up when they
conduct this review,

1146
00:54:18,154 --> 00:54:22,794
but if it's possible to make
changes in short order that

1147
00:54:22,792 --> 00:54:25,092
would better promote
competition,

1148
00:54:25,095 --> 00:54:27,095
we certainly would be
supportive of moving forward

1149
00:54:27,097 --> 00:54:29,067
with those.

1150
00:54:29,065 --> 00:54:31,235
If there are proposals that
are put forward that would

1151
00:54:31,234 --> 00:54:34,734
take longer to implement,
we certainly will.

1152
00:54:34,738 --> 00:54:36,738
In some cases, it's possible
for us to initiate the

1153
00:54:36,740 --> 00:54:40,940
process now and let the
President's successor decide

1154
00:54:40,944 --> 00:54:43,884
on how to implement it.

1155
00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:50,850
In other cases, we may
just use them to pass on

1156
00:54:50,854 --> 00:54:54,054
recommendations of obvious
steps that the next

1157
00:54:54,057 --> 00:54:56,727
administration could take to
promote better competition

1158
00:54:56,726 --> 00:54:59,926
in a way that will provide
more of an incentive for

1159
00:54:59,929 --> 00:55:02,869
innovation and obvious
benefits to our broader

1160
00:55:02,866 --> 00:55:04,536
economy and to consumers.

1161
00:55:04,534 --> 00:55:07,074
The Press: And would you
anticipate the findings are

1162
00:55:07,070 --> 00:55:09,640
going to lean towards
more regulation

1163
00:55:09,639 --> 00:55:11,479
or less regulation?

1164
00:55:11,474 --> 00:55:13,944
Or is it going to be
sort of a combination?

1165
00:55:13,943 --> 00:55:15,913
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the question here is less

1166
00:55:15,912 --> 00:55:19,012
about more regulation
versus less regulation,

1167
00:55:19,015 --> 00:55:23,485
and more about what can we
do to provide the market

1168
00:55:23,486 --> 00:55:28,196
with an incentive to pursue
more competition and more

1169
00:55:28,191 --> 00:55:31,191
innovation and more
savings for consumers,

1170
00:55:31,194 --> 00:55:33,964
and more economic growth
and economic expansion?

1171
00:55:33,963 --> 00:55:36,863
That's the direction
that we're headed in.

1172
00:55:36,866 --> 00:55:40,106
And I think typically that
does mean, in some cases,

1173
00:55:40,103 --> 00:55:42,973
responsible decisions about
reducing regulations.

1174
00:55:42,972 --> 00:55:45,712
It's not always the
case, but it often is.

1175
00:55:45,709 --> 00:55:48,649
But again, I don't want
to prejudge what the

1176
00:55:48,645 --> 00:55:51,445
conclusions of the
agency review might be.

1177
00:55:51,448 --> 00:55:55,718
The Press: And I want to
talk about the story that

1178
00:55:55,719 --> 00:56:01,459
came up on Fox News just.

1179
00:56:01,458 --> 00:56:04,758
There are Marine officials
who have said that the

1180
00:56:04,761 --> 00:56:07,031
aviation corps is being
stretched to a breaking

1181
00:56:07,030 --> 00:56:10,100
point because of budget
cuts, sequestration,

1182
00:56:10,100 --> 00:56:14,200
and so forth, over
the last five years.

1183
00:56:14,204 --> 00:56:20,874
Is this a concern in terms
of having enough planes that

1184
00:56:20,877 --> 00:56:24,017
are ready to prepare
to go to battle?

1185
00:56:24,013 --> 00:56:27,283
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can't
speak -- I can't provide an

1186
00:56:27,283 --> 00:56:33,153
update for you in terms of
the current condition of the

1187
00:56:33,156 --> 00:56:34,856
air wing of the
Marine Corps.

1188
00:56:34,858 --> 00:56:36,898
I can tell you in general
that we've been quite

1189
00:56:36,893 --> 00:56:40,393
concerned about the approach
that Congress has taken to

1190
00:56:40,396 --> 00:56:42,366
funding our defense
priorities.

1191
00:56:42,365 --> 00:56:44,405
There has been a willingness
on the part of Republicans

1192
00:56:44,400 --> 00:56:46,940
to champion the sequester
that has had a negative

1193
00:56:46,936 --> 00:56:52,676
impact on our ability to
fund core defense programs.

1194
00:56:52,675 --> 00:56:56,015
We have been concerned that
too many Republicans have

1195
00:56:56,012 --> 00:56:59,012
been tempted to use
something like OCO funding

1196
00:56:59,015 --> 00:57:01,015
to try to make up for
those differences.

1197
00:57:01,017 --> 00:57:03,617
When you're talking about
ensuring the long-term

1198
00:57:03,620 --> 00:57:08,090
strength of the aircraft
that are used by the United

1199
00:57:08,091 --> 00:57:10,391
States Marines, that
requires a sustained

1200
00:57:10,393 --> 00:57:13,293
investment and can't be
funded on a six-month

1201
00:57:13,296 --> 00:57:15,236
or 12-month basis.

1202
00:57:15,231 --> 00:57:18,831
And that's why OCO funding
is not an acceptable

1203
00:57:18,835 --> 00:57:22,275
replacement for
draconian, unwise,

1204
00:57:22,272 --> 00:57:26,912
sequester-motivated spending
cuts that Republicans have

1205
00:57:26,910 --> 00:57:29,010
in some cases championed.

1206
00:57:29,012 --> 00:57:34,152
So the other thing that we
have often been concerned

1207
00:57:34,150 --> 00:57:37,720
about is there are
legitimate places where

1208
00:57:37,720 --> 00:57:41,930
defense spending can be
cut from programs that the

1209
00:57:41,925 --> 00:57:44,095
military has concluded that
they don't need or are not

1210
00:57:44,093 --> 00:57:45,663
particularly effective.

1211
00:57:45,662 --> 00:57:50,102
And using those resources to
increase our investment in

1212
00:57:50,099 --> 00:57:53,969
those areas that we know are
particularly effective is

1213
00:57:53,970 --> 00:57:55,470
smart budgeting.

1214
00:57:55,471 --> 00:57:58,611
Those are the kinds of
budgetary decisions that

1215
00:57:58,608 --> 00:58:00,948
middle-class families make
around the kitchen table

1216
00:58:00,944 --> 00:58:04,044
every day, or at
least every month.

1217
00:58:04,047 --> 00:58:07,747
And it's unfortunate that
too many Republicans have

1218
00:58:07,750 --> 00:58:10,090
blocked those kinds
of common-sense

1219
00:58:10,086 --> 00:58:13,086
defense-spending reforms
that would have obvious

1220
00:58:13,089 --> 00:58:17,289
benefits for the readiness
of our military.

1221
00:58:17,293 --> 00:58:20,093
The Press: And last
question -- yesterday,

1222
00:58:20,096 --> 00:58:22,896
you talked about being
undefeated in the WTO

1223
00:58:22,899 --> 00:58:24,769
against China.

1224
00:58:24,767 --> 00:58:28,767
I know you love
Trump questions.

1225
00:58:28,771 --> 00:58:32,511
I mean, his constant
campaign meme has been "U.S.

1226
00:58:32,508 --> 00:58:36,108
always loses to China;
China always wins."

1227
00:58:36,112 --> 00:58:38,352
Do you think that
blunts his point,

1228
00:58:38,348 --> 00:58:41,318
or absolutely
refutes his point?

1229
00:58:41,317 --> 00:58:43,617
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll let
you guys try to figure out

1230
00:58:43,620 --> 00:58:45,390
exactly what his point is.

1231
00:58:45,388 --> 00:58:48,788
It's not always
immediately obvious.

1232
00:58:48,791 --> 00:58:52,361
I think what is true is that
this administration's record

1233
00:58:52,362 --> 00:58:55,302
of fighting for American
businesses and American

1234
00:58:55,298 --> 00:59:01,008
workers at the WTO is
incredibly strong.

1235
00:59:01,004 --> 00:59:05,444
And that's not just true
when you take a look at the

1236
00:59:05,441 --> 00:59:07,911
number of cases that the
United States has brought

1237
00:59:07,911 --> 00:59:11,411
against China at the WTO,
it's true when looking at

1238
00:59:11,414 --> 00:59:12,654
the results of those cases.

1239
00:59:12,649 --> 00:59:15,489
All of the cases that have
been decided are cases that

1240
00:59:15,485 --> 00:59:17,485
were decided in favor
of the United States.

1241
00:59:17,487 --> 00:59:20,657
And it is an indication that
the United States can be

1242
00:59:20,657 --> 00:59:23,427
effective and is effective
in defending

1243
00:59:23,426 --> 00:59:25,226
American businesses.

1244
00:59:25,228 --> 00:59:28,398
That's why the President has
made a strong case that what

1245
00:59:28,398 --> 00:59:31,068
we should do is actually
look for additional markets

1246
00:59:31,067 --> 00:59:33,067
where we can level
the playing field,

1247
00:59:33,069 --> 00:59:35,069
where we can fight
unfair competition,

1248
00:59:35,071 --> 00:59:37,841
where we can force other
countries to raise their

1249
00:59:37,840 --> 00:59:39,840
labor standards, to raise
their environmental

1250
00:59:39,842 --> 00:59:43,842
standards, and to raise
their human rights standards

1251
00:59:43,846 --> 00:59:47,016
and give more American
companies more access to

1252
00:59:47,016 --> 00:59:48,086
their markets.

1253
00:59:48,084 --> 00:59:51,354
In some cases we're talking
about countries that have

1254
00:59:51,354 --> 00:59:53,354
dynamic economies,
they're growing quickly,

1255
00:59:53,356 --> 00:59:57,396
and they would benefit
from American products.

1256
00:59:57,393 --> 01:00:00,593
And they have a large number
of customers who are hungry

1257
01:00:00,596 --> 01:00:02,166
for American products.

1258
01:00:02,165 --> 01:00:06,305
Why wouldn't we look for
opportunities to provide

1259
01:00:06,302 --> 01:00:09,202
that access to American
businesses in a way that we

1260
01:00:09,205 --> 01:00:11,175
know will be good for
workers and good for our

1261
01:00:11,174 --> 01:00:15,074
economy, particularly if we
have demonstrated an ability

1262
01:00:15,078 --> 01:00:18,418
to protect those American
businesses and those

1263
01:00:18,414 --> 01:00:21,654
American companies from the
unfair practices that are

1264
01:00:21,651 --> 01:00:22,951
used by other countries?

1265
01:00:22,952 --> 01:00:26,952
So this is a lot
about common sense.

1266
01:00:26,956 --> 01:00:33,766
And the facts of this case
and the facts of this policy

1267
01:00:33,763 --> 01:00:38,063
debate are often rather
inconvenient to the most

1268
01:00:38,067 --> 01:00:42,477
vociferous critics
of this policy.

1269
01:00:42,472 --> 01:00:44,472
And I'm not just referring
to presidential candidates.

1270
01:00:44,474 --> 01:00:46,514
I'm also referring to
individual members of

1271
01:00:46,509 --> 01:00:49,249
Congress in both parties.

1272
01:00:49,245 --> 01:00:50,345
Victoria, I'll give
you the last one,

1273
01:00:50,346 --> 01:00:51,946
then we'll do
the week ahead.

1274
01:00:51,948 --> 01:00:53,648
The Press: I understand that
your position is that the

1275
01:00:53,649 --> 01:00:56,389
Republicans are posturing
over the details that they

1276
01:00:56,386 --> 01:00:59,526
want with regard
to Zika funding.

1277
01:00:59,522 --> 01:01:01,392
But why don't you just call
their bluff

1278
01:01:01,391 --> 01:01:03,591
and provide the details?

1279
01:01:03,593 --> 01:01:09,033
Obviously, the officials at
the CDC and everywhere else

1280
01:01:09,032 --> 01:01:12,232
know exactly what it
is that they need.

1281
01:01:12,235 --> 01:01:14,735
Why don't they just go ahead
and provide those details?

1282
01:01:14,737 --> 01:01:15,977
Mr. Earnest: I
guess, Victoria,

1283
01:01:15,972 --> 01:01:18,912
the case that I'm making
to you is that we have.

1284
01:01:18,908 --> 01:01:19,838
We provided --

1285
01:01:19,842 --> 01:01:20,942
The Press: Again.

1286
01:01:20,943 --> 01:01:22,243
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I'll give it to you.

1287
01:01:22,245 --> 01:01:24,085
Do you want to pass
it off to them?

1288
01:01:24,080 --> 01:01:26,520
It's right here,
dated February 22nd,

1289
01:01:26,516 --> 01:01:29,356
legislative language,
specific text.

1290
01:01:29,352 --> 01:01:31,152
There have also been
a number of hearings,

1291
01:01:31,154 --> 01:01:33,654
48 of them in which the
Zika virus has come up.

1292
01:01:33,656 --> 01:01:35,726
These are hearings,
including testimony before

1293
01:01:35,725 --> 01:01:38,025
the House Appropriations
Committee.

1294
01:01:38,027 --> 01:01:40,867
This includes
testimony by Dr. Fauci,

1295
01:01:40,863 --> 01:01:42,703
it includes testimony by
the Secretary of Health and

1296
01:01:42,698 --> 01:01:45,038
Human Services,
Sylvia Burwell.

1297
01:01:45,034 --> 01:01:47,534
So there is ample
information that's been shared.

1298
01:01:47,537 --> 01:01:51,137
Many of you received a
letter that the Director of

1299
01:01:51,140 --> 01:01:53,980
the OMB, Shaun Donovan, sent
up to Congress a couple

1300
01:01:53,976 --> 01:01:55,116
of weeks ago.

1301
01:01:55,111 --> 01:01:56,451
There is extensive
information

1302
01:01:56,446 --> 01:01:58,446
that's been provided.

1303
01:01:58,448 --> 01:02:00,348
The Press: Are you
unwilling to send it again?

1304
01:02:00,349 --> 01:02:00,879
Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry?

1305
01:02:00,883 --> 01:02:02,753
The Press: Are you unwilling
to provide it again?

1306
01:02:02,752 --> 01:02:05,322
Mr. Earnest: If necessary,
we're happy to resend as

1307
01:02:05,321 --> 01:02:08,761
many letters as Republicans
claim got lost in the mail.

1308
01:02:08,758 --> 01:02:10,328
The Press: Because I've
already killed mosquitos in

1309
01:02:10,326 --> 01:02:12,026
my Maryland apartment.

1310
01:02:12,028 --> 01:02:12,658
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

1311
01:02:12,662 --> 01:02:13,232
(laughter)

1312
01:02:13,229 --> 01:02:13,959
The Press: They're here.

1313
01:02:13,963 --> 01:02:14,693
Mr. Earnest: Yes, they are.

1314
01:02:14,697 --> 01:02:21,207
And it is a risk that we are
aware of and one that we

1315
01:02:21,204 --> 01:02:23,904
have a unique opportunity
to try to get in front of.

1316
01:02:23,906 --> 01:02:25,906
There are a lot of
preparations that we can

1317
01:02:25,908 --> 01:02:30,078
make before the biggest
threat arrives.

1318
01:02:30,079 --> 01:02:33,349
We know that there is a
specific species of mosquito

1319
01:02:33,349 --> 01:02:35,089
that carries this virus.

1320
01:02:35,084 --> 01:02:37,384
That's the one that we're
most acutely concerned about.

1321
01:02:37,386 --> 01:02:43,856
We know that that an
expansion of diagnostic

1322
01:02:43,860 --> 01:02:47,160
testing would serve the
American people well.

1323
01:02:47,163 --> 01:02:51,403
Right now, that testing has
to be limited because our

1324
01:02:51,400 --> 01:02:54,940
capacity is rather limited,
to say nothing of how we

1325
01:02:54,937 --> 01:02:57,937
could turbocharge the
development of a vaccine

1326
01:02:57,940 --> 01:03:01,210
that, while it probably
couldn't be ready to protect

1327
01:03:01,210 --> 01:03:06,120
people this year, certainly
could be in place to start

1328
01:03:06,115 --> 01:03:08,115
protecting people next year.

1329
01:03:08,117 --> 01:03:10,887
Those are the kinds of basic
actions

1330
01:03:10,887 --> 01:03:12,487
that we'd like to undertake.

1331
01:03:12,488 --> 01:03:17,398
But yet, we cannot do as
much as we possibly can in

1332
01:03:17,393 --> 01:03:21,093
pursuit of those goals until
Congress actually provides

1333
01:03:21,097 --> 01:03:23,197
the necessary funding.

1334
01:03:23,199 --> 01:03:24,799
The Press: Josh,
quick question.

1335
01:03:24,800 --> 01:03:27,100
This regards to your week
ahead -- I don't think you

1336
01:03:27,103 --> 01:03:28,743
may get to this in
your week ahead.

1337
01:03:28,738 --> 01:03:30,068
On Monday, a major case
is coming

1338
01:03:30,072 --> 01:03:31,542
before the U.S. Supreme Court.

1339
01:03:31,541 --> 01:03:33,581
It's U.S. v. Texas.

1340
01:03:33,576 --> 01:03:36,616
What confidence do you have
that the administration will

1341
01:03:36,612 --> 01:03:39,752
prevail at the Supreme
Court-level when you haven't

1342
01:03:39,749 --> 01:03:42,649
prevailed at both the
district court-level and the

1343
01:03:42,652 --> 01:03:44,122
appellate court-level?

1344
01:03:44,120 --> 01:03:46,190
Mr. Earnest: Well, I am not
going to be in a position to

1345
01:03:46,189 --> 01:03:47,459
predict outcomes.

1346
01:03:47,456 --> 01:03:51,566
But I do feel confident in
saying that we've got a lot

1347
01:03:51,561 --> 01:03:54,161
of confidence in the
strength of our argument

1348
01:03:54,163 --> 01:03:56,163
that we'll make before
the Supreme Court.

1349
01:03:56,165 --> 01:03:58,605
It is quite clear that the
executive authority that

1350
01:03:58,601 --> 01:04:02,141
President Obama exercised is
entirely consistent with the

1351
01:04:02,138 --> 01:04:04,338
executive authority that
President Reagan and

1352
01:04:04,340 --> 01:04:05,740
President George H.W. Bush

1353
01:04:05,741 --> 01:04:09,981
exercised in carrying
out and enforcing our

1354
01:04:09,979 --> 01:04:11,449
immigration policy.

1355
01:04:11,447 --> 01:04:13,817
It also happens to
make common sense.

1356
01:04:13,816 --> 01:04:16,416
We've got limited
enforcement resources.

1357
01:04:16,419 --> 01:04:18,559
We should target those
resources at the most

1358
01:04:18,554 --> 01:04:20,354
dangerous people.

1359
01:04:20,356 --> 01:04:23,656
And that is exactly what
our policy recommends.

1360
01:04:23,659 --> 01:04:28,829
And there are significant
economic and fiscal benefits

1361
01:04:28,831 --> 01:04:31,271
to pursuing this policy.

1362
01:04:31,267 --> 01:04:34,967
And we're hopeful that the
power of these arguments

1363
01:04:34,971 --> 01:04:37,341
will prevail, but we'll see.

1364
01:04:37,340 --> 01:04:38,540
The Press: Does it make it
more difficult with just

1365
01:04:38,541 --> 01:04:41,911
eight justices on the U.S. Supreme Court hearing that case?

1366
01:04:41,911 --> 01:04:43,911
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
it does mean that the

1367
01:04:43,913 --> 01:04:48,153
Supreme Court is not going
to function in the way that

1368
01:04:48,150 --> 01:04:51,150
-- with the full
complement of justices.

1369
01:04:51,153 --> 01:04:54,193
It's President Reagan who
talked about how

1370
01:04:54,190 --> 01:04:55,760
that was a bad idea.

1371
01:04:55,758 --> 01:04:57,658
We certainly agree
with that sentiment.

1372
01:04:57,660 --> 01:04:59,660
Let me do the week ahead,
and I'll let you go,

1373
01:04:59,662 --> 01:05:01,662
and I'll get back
to my meeting here.

1374
01:05:01,664 --> 01:05:03,664
On Monday, the President
will be here at White House.

1375
01:05:03,666 --> 01:05:05,636
I do not anticipate that
he'll have much of a public

1376
01:05:05,635 --> 01:05:06,865
schedule that day.

1377
01:05:06,869 --> 01:05:08,669
On Tuesday afternoon, the
President will depart

1378
01:05:08,671 --> 01:05:11,771
Washington, D.C., en
route Ramstein, Germany,

1379
01:05:11,774 --> 01:05:16,044
where he will refuel on his
way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

1380
01:05:16,045 --> 01:05:18,915
On Wednesday, the President
will arrive in Riyadh.

1381
01:05:18,914 --> 01:05:20,914
In the afternoon, the
President will meet with

1382
01:05:20,916 --> 01:05:23,816
King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

1383
01:05:23,819 --> 01:05:25,519
The President will spend
the night in Riyadh.

1384
01:05:25,521 --> 01:05:27,521
On Thursday, the President
will meet with leaders and

1385
01:05:27,523 --> 01:05:28,523
delegations from the

1386
01:05:28,524 --> 01:05:31,764
Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

1387
01:05:31,761 --> 01:05:33,761
For those of you
scoring along at home,

1388
01:05:33,763 --> 01:05:36,003
that's Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,

1389
01:05:35,998 --> 01:05:38,168
and the United
Arab Emirates.

1390
01:05:38,167 --> 01:05:40,167
In the afternoon, the
President will depart Riyadh

1391
01:05:40,169 --> 01:05:44,269
and travel to London where
he will remain overnight.

1392
01:05:44,273 --> 01:05:46,943
On Friday, the President
I know is eagerly looking

1393
01:05:46,942 --> 01:05:49,312
forward to having lunch with
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth

1394
01:05:49,312 --> 01:05:53,112
II of the United Kingdom
at Windsor Castle.

1395
01:05:53,115 --> 01:05:55,115
Next week is obviously the
Queen's 90th birthday.

1396
01:05:55,117 --> 01:05:57,387
So the President was looking
forward to the opportunity

1397
01:05:57,386 --> 01:05:59,526
to wish her a happy
birthday then.

1398
01:05:59,522 --> 01:06:01,522
In the afternoon, the
President will have a

1399
01:06:01,524 --> 01:06:03,524
bilateral meeting with Prime
Minister David Cameron of

1400
01:06:03,526 --> 01:06:04,526
the United Kingdom.

1401
01:06:04,527 --> 01:06:06,727
Afterward, the President
and Prime Minister will

1402
01:06:06,729 --> 01:06:08,929
participate in a
news conference.

1403
01:06:08,931 --> 01:06:10,971
The President will spend
Friday night in London.

1404
01:06:10,966 --> 01:06:13,236
On Saturday, the President
will participate in a town

1405
01:06:13,235 --> 01:06:16,575
hall discussion with
British youth at the Royal

1406
01:06:16,572 --> 01:06:17,972
Horticultural Halls.

1407
01:06:17,973 --> 01:06:22,513
That should be an
interesting venue.

1408
01:06:22,511 --> 01:06:24,511
The President will spend
Saturday night in London,

1409
01:06:24,513 --> 01:06:25,513
as well.

1410
01:06:25,514 --> 01:06:28,054
On Sunday, the President
will debate London and head

1411
01:06:28,050 --> 01:06:29,790
to Hannover, Germany.

1412
01:06:29,785 --> 01:06:31,785
In Hannover, the President
will have a bilateral

1413
01:06:31,787 --> 01:06:33,287
meeting with
Chancellor Merkel.

1414
01:06:33,289 --> 01:06:35,529
Afterward, the President and
Chancellor Merkel will host

1415
01:06:35,524 --> 01:06:36,724
a news conference.

1416
01:06:36,726 --> 01:06:38,726
On Sunday evening, the
President will deliver

1417
01:06:38,728 --> 01:06:41,168
remarks at the Hannover
Messe Trade Fair

1418
01:06:41,163 --> 01:06:42,833
opening ceremony.

1419
01:06:42,832 --> 01:06:45,572
Later in the evening, the
President will host a dinner

1420
01:06:45,568 --> 01:06:48,268
with Chancellor Merkel and
business leaders from both

1421
01:06:48,270 --> 01:06:51,310
the United States and
Germany who are attending

1422
01:06:51,307 --> 01:06:52,677
the Hannover Messe.

1423
01:06:52,675 --> 01:06:55,215
The President will spend
Sunday night in Hannover.

1424
01:06:55,211 --> 01:06:57,711
The President does have
a schedule in Germany on

1425
01:06:57,713 --> 01:07:01,453
Monday, but will depart
Germany on Monday afternoon

1426
01:07:01,450 --> 01:07:03,450
and head back to
the United States,

1427
01:07:03,452 --> 01:07:08,222
arriving here Monday
evening East Coast time.

1428
01:07:08,224 --> 01:07:09,524
All right, with that, I hope
you guys all have

1429
01:07:09,525 --> 01:07:10,095
a good weekend.

1430
01:07:10,092 --> 01:07:11,492
Enjoy the beautiful
spring weather,

1431
01:07:11,494 --> 01:07:13,434
and we'll see you on Monday.