English subtitles for clip: File:12-6-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:01,333 --> 00:00:04,834
>> Mr. Carney:
I want to wish you
all a happy Friday,

2
00:00:04,834 --> 00:00:07,600
even though it's raining,
and say that I have a topper.

3
00:00:09,767 --> 00:00:13,233
Today, as part of our daily
messaging effort to highlight

4
00:00:13,233 --> 00:00:16,400
specific benefits of the health
care law that are already

5
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,666
making a big difference
for families and our economy,

6
00:00:19,667 --> 00:00:23,133
the White House and supporters
of reform are focusing on how,

7
00:00:23,133 --> 00:00:25,366
thanks in part to
the Affordable Care Act,

8
00:00:25,367 --> 00:00:30,700
growth in health care costs
is at historically low levels

9
00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:33,833
along multiple dimensions.

10
00:00:33,834 --> 00:00:35,800
According to the most
recent projections,

11
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,065
health care spending grew
at the slowest rate on record

12
00:00:39,066 --> 00:00:40,900
over the last three years.

13
00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:47,132
Real per-person spending grew
at just a 1.3 percent rate.

14
00:00:47,133 --> 00:00:49,567
And this slow growth
was seen in Medicare,

15
00:00:49,567 --> 00:00:52,166
Medicaid and in
private insurance.

16
00:00:52,166 --> 00:00:58,032
Health care price inflation is
at its lowest level in 50 years.

17
00:00:58,033 --> 00:01:00,100
The health care law is
contributing to this progress

18
00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,834
through provisions
that reduce waste, fraud,

19
00:01:02,834 --> 00:01:04,667
and abuse in Medicare.

20
00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:08,633
The law is also reducing costs
and improving quality through

21
00:01:08,633 --> 00:01:11,866
a variety of innovative reforms,
including by providing

22
00:01:11,867 --> 00:01:15,967
incentives to hospitals to
reduce the readmission rates.

23
00:01:15,967 --> 00:01:20,767
In fact, today,
HHS is announcing new data

24
00:01:20,767 --> 00:01:25,100
showing that these incentives
have avoided 130,000

25
00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:28,199
readmissions for people
following a hospital stay

26
00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,700
over the last two years.

27
00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:34,667
High readmission rates, which is
the percentage of patients being

28
00:01:34,667 --> 00:01:36,867
discharged from the hospital
and then having to be

29
00:01:36,867 --> 00:01:40,967
re-hospitalized is costly for
patients, insurance companies,

30
00:01:40,967 --> 00:01:45,800
and if the patient is on
Medicare, to taxpayers too.

31
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,000
It also can be a sign
of low-quality care.

32
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,967
So this new data is another
step in the right direction

33
00:01:51,967 --> 00:01:54,066
for patients and for taxpayers.

34
00:01:54,066 --> 00:01:56,633
Overall, these trends are
encouraging news for families,

35
00:01:56,633 --> 00:01:58,734
businesses, and our economy.

36
00:01:58,734 --> 00:02:00,967
When families spend
less on health care,

37
00:02:00,967 --> 00:02:03,934
they feel more secure
in their own budgets.

38
00:02:03,934 --> 00:02:06,467
When businesses spend
less on health care,

39
00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:08,466
they can hire more workers.

40
00:02:08,467 --> 00:02:11,867
And over the past
45 months, as you know,

41
00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:14,733
businesses here in the United
States have created more than 8

42
00:02:14,734 --> 00:02:19,133
million new jobs --
which is a perfect segue

43
00:02:19,133 --> 00:02:23,533
to something I just
wanted to note.

44
00:02:23,533 --> 00:02:24,966
Today, as you know, of course,

45
00:02:24,967 --> 00:02:28,800
from information that was
released earlier this morning,

46
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,066
is Jobs Day.

47
00:02:30,066 --> 00:02:35,533
And figures on job creation
in November were announced.

48
00:02:35,533 --> 00:02:38,700
And I think it's worth noting,
when you look at this graph,

49
00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:45,266
that not only obviously was
the economy in free fall,

50
00:02:45,266 --> 00:02:51,600
and job loss was terrible
at the end of 2008

51
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,400
and early 2009 when
President Obama took office,

52
00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:01,133
and not only has the trajectory
since then been consistently

53
00:03:01,133 --> 00:03:02,367
in the right direction,

54
00:03:02,367 --> 00:03:07,533
but if you note when we
first began on a monthly basis

55
00:03:07,533 --> 00:03:13,533
positive job creation in
the wake of the Great Recession,

56
00:03:13,533 --> 00:03:16,600
it was right around when the
Affordable Care Act passed.

57
00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,132
Now, this is obviously
not a direct correlation,

58
00:03:21,133 --> 00:03:24,533
but we're moving in
the right direction.

59
00:03:24,533 --> 00:03:28,566
The information I cited in the
beginning about the positive

60
00:03:28,567 --> 00:03:32,667
effects of the Affordable Care
Act on reducing the growth in

61
00:03:32,667 --> 00:03:36,567
health care costs combined with
the steady job creation we've

62
00:03:36,567 --> 00:03:44,000
seen now for so many months
reinforces a number of things

63
00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,333
about the Affordable Care Act
and about the need that the

64
00:03:47,333 --> 00:03:50,734
President spoke of a few days
ago to continue to focus

65
00:03:50,734 --> 00:03:56,233
on those trends, making the
move in the right direction,

66
00:03:56,233 --> 00:03:58,800
and increasing job
growth even further.

67
00:03:58,800 --> 00:03:59,967
With that,
I'll take your questions.

68
00:03:59,967 --> 00:04:01,633
Jim.

69
00:04:01,633 --> 00:04:02,967
>> The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

70
00:04:02,967 --> 00:04:06,033
On the President's
travels to Africa

71
00:04:06,033 --> 00:04:09,500
for Nelson Mandela's services --

72
00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,934
one, I wondered if you could
give us more specific details

73
00:04:11,934 --> 00:04:13,767
on what the timing might be;

74
00:04:13,767 --> 00:04:15,633
as you know,
there's a memorial service,

75
00:04:15,633 --> 00:04:18,966
there's also a funeral;

76
00:04:18,966 --> 00:04:20,599
Mr. Mandela is also
lying in state.

77
00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,500
And will the President
invite other

78
00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:28,433
former U.S. Presidents
to accompany him on this trip?

79
00:04:28,433 --> 00:04:30,533
>> Mr. Carney:
Thank you for those
questions, Jim.

80
00:04:30,533 --> 00:04:33,000
And I should have
noted at the top,

81
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,533
obviously for those of you who
didn't hear the President speak

82
00:04:36,533 --> 00:04:40,066
in the wake of the news of
President Mandela's death,

83
00:04:40,066 --> 00:04:44,000
I would point you
to those remarks.

84
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,166
All I can say at this point
is that President Obama

85
00:04:46,166 --> 00:04:49,567
and the First Lady will
go to South Africa next week

86
00:04:49,567 --> 00:04:52,500
to pay their respects
to the memory of Nelson Mandela

87
00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:56,166
and to participate
in memorial events.

88
00:04:56,166 --> 00:04:59,800
At this point, I don't have more
information for you on logistics

89
00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,967
or the timing of the travel.

90
00:05:01,967 --> 00:05:04,265
That is all being worked out.

91
00:05:04,266 --> 00:05:09,700
And in terms of others who
are going to make that trip,

92
00:05:09,700 --> 00:05:11,633
I would refer you to
them at this time.

93
00:05:11,633 --> 00:05:12,834
We'll have more information.

94
00:05:12,834 --> 00:05:16,133
We hope to have
it fairly quickly,

95
00:05:16,133 --> 00:05:19,000
and when we do we'll be
able to provide it to you.

96
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,667
>> The Press:
But I mean, yes, it's up
to others whether they go,

97
00:05:21,667 --> 00:05:22,866
but would the President
invite them to travel

98
00:05:22,867 --> 00:05:23,867
on Air Force One?

99
00:05:23,867 --> 00:05:24,867
>> Mr. Carney:
Again, at this point,

100
00:05:24,867 --> 00:05:27,367
I just don't want
to get ahead of a process

101
00:05:27,367 --> 00:05:30,567
that's being
worked on as I speak

102
00:05:30,567 --> 00:05:33,033
in terms of the
timing and logistics

103
00:05:33,033 --> 00:05:34,033
for the whole trip.

104
00:05:34,033 --> 00:05:35,033
And when we have
that information,

105
00:05:35,033 --> 00:05:36,734
we'll get it to you right away.

106
00:05:36,734 --> 00:05:39,500
>> The Press:
On the jobs numbers,

107
00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:43,767
you've been there and other
White House officials have told

108
00:05:43,767 --> 00:05:46,600
us that the shutdown and the
sequester were going to have

109
00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,200
dire consequences with job
growth and with economic growth,

110
00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:51,700
and today's numbers obviously

111
00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:54,332
are a welcome
surprise for you guys.

112
00:05:54,333 --> 00:05:57,700
Is some of the austerity
simply just not having

113
00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:01,166
the effect that
you all predicted?

114
00:06:01,166 --> 00:06:04,332
>> Mr. Carney:
I would not look to
what we said about it and

115
00:06:04,333 --> 00:06:07,066
have predicted about it, but to
what outside private economists

116
00:06:07,066 --> 00:06:12,433
have said about the effect of
the sequester on job creation

117
00:06:12,433 --> 00:06:19,066
and of course of the shutdown
on jobs and economic growth.

118
00:06:19,066 --> 00:06:24,066
You're talking about trying
to prove a negative or a

119
00:06:24,066 --> 00:06:27,433
counterfactual, but they
say, those economists,

120
00:06:27,433 --> 00:06:31,233
that absent those impacts,

121
00:06:31,233 --> 00:06:34,433
the picture would be
even better than it is.

122
00:06:34,433 --> 00:06:38,099
And let me just be clear:
No one in this building,

123
00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:41,533
no one who works on these
issues in the administration is

124
00:06:41,533 --> 00:06:46,467
satisfied even with the steady
progress that we've been making

125
00:06:46,467 --> 00:06:48,767
and the positive news today.

126
00:06:48,767 --> 00:06:50,967
It's nowhere near enough
for the President,

127
00:06:50,967 --> 00:06:53,667
as you heard him talk
about just a few days ago.

128
00:06:53,667 --> 00:06:55,700
We need to keep working
on this problem.

129
00:06:55,700 --> 00:06:58,734
Seven percent employment,
just like 7.3 percent --

130
00:06:58,734 --> 00:06:59,900
I mean, unemployment --

131
00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:04,400
just like 7.3 percent
unemployment is far too high.

132
00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:09,467
And we need to keep doing
everything we can

133
00:07:09,467 --> 00:07:16,532
here in Washington to make
sure that we're not inflicting

134
00:07:16,533 --> 00:07:18,600
any wounds on the economy,
not setting it back,

135
00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,633
which is what happened
with the shutdown,

136
00:07:21,633 --> 00:07:26,332
but investing in it and making
the right choices about it

137
00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:28,367
so that we can build
the foundation necessary

138
00:07:28,367 --> 00:07:29,567
for further economic growth,

139
00:07:29,567 --> 00:07:32,000
for further private
sector job creation.

140
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,133
That's what the
President is focused on.

141
00:07:33,133 --> 00:07:35,500
And something that these
numbers don't address

142
00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:38,400
but that the President
talked about the other day

143
00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,066
is of a continuing concern

144
00:07:41,066 --> 00:07:43,332
to him and to so many
around the country,

145
00:07:43,333 --> 00:07:48,200
and that is the growing
inequality and the diminishing

146
00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:55,433
ability for Americans who
are born in the lowest quintile,

147
00:07:55,433 --> 00:08:01,500
the lowest 20 percent, to move
up, move up the economic ladder.

148
00:08:03,834 --> 00:08:08,867
That upward mobility has been
something so elemental to

149
00:08:08,867 --> 00:08:14,200
America's economic experience
and Americans' identity that

150
00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,033
it's something that
merits a great deal

151
00:08:16,033 --> 00:08:17,033
of attention and focus,

152
00:08:17,033 --> 00:08:18,734
as the President
discussed the other day.

153
00:08:18,734 --> 00:08:20,767
>> The Press:
In terms of the
long-term unemployed,

154
00:08:20,767 --> 00:08:23,533
do you still believe --

155
00:08:23,533 --> 00:08:25,934
>> Mr. Carney:
This is a problem.

156
00:08:25,934 --> 00:08:27,633
>> The Press:
Well, and should that --

157
00:08:27,633 --> 00:08:31,400
the CBO estimates $25 billion
is the cost for UI extension.

158
00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,265
Should that be paid for?

159
00:08:33,265 --> 00:08:34,599
Or is the White House position

160
00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,033
that it's an
emergency issue and --

161
00:08:36,033 --> 00:08:38,200
>> Mr. Carney:
We've had a plan
put forward on this

162
00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:39,467
and I would refer
you to that plan.

163
00:08:39,467 --> 00:08:42,299
The President made clear the
other day, and I will again,

164
00:08:42,299 --> 00:08:44,065
that we believe Congress
ought to act on this.

165
00:08:44,066 --> 00:08:47,467
Congress has in the past,
in a bipartisan way.

166
00:08:47,467 --> 00:08:50,233
I noted the 7 percent
unemployment rate,

167
00:08:50,233 --> 00:08:53,632
which has ticked down from 7.3
percent, which is good news,

168
00:08:53,633 --> 00:08:57,600
but it is still far too high and
it is still significantly higher

169
00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,367
than the 5.6 percent
unemployment rate,

170
00:09:00,367 --> 00:09:02,099
which compelled
President George W.

171
00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:06,800
Bush to sign an extension of
unemployment benefits

172
00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,199
when he was in office.

173
00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,500
And on the long-term unemployed,
I think that the news we have

174
00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:17,800
today reinforces that we need
to address this problem

175
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,666
and to extend those unemployment
insurance benefits to those

176
00:09:21,667 --> 00:09:26,100
individuals, because this
is a persistent problem.

177
00:09:26,100 --> 00:09:29,533
As I noted, when President
Bush signed the law extending

178
00:09:29,533 --> 00:09:33,500
unemployment insurance
benefits, the average person

179
00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:36,000
was unemployed for a period
of I believe 17 weeks,

180
00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,367
and now it's 36 weeks.

181
00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:40,900
And what we saw today is
that for that portion of the

182
00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:43,433
unemployed, even though the
overall number of unemployed

183
00:09:43,433 --> 00:09:48,333
Americans fell in November, the
number of long-term unemployed

184
00:09:48,333 --> 00:09:49,699
stayed pretty steady.

185
00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,834
And that is more evidence that
we need to address this problem

186
00:09:52,834 --> 00:09:58,433
and that it would be terrible
to tell more than a million

187
00:09:58,433 --> 00:10:02,934
families across the country just
a few days after Christmas

188
00:10:02,934 --> 00:10:04,967
that they're out of benefits.

189
00:10:04,967 --> 00:10:08,165
So we hope that Congress
will, as it has in the past,

190
00:10:08,166 --> 00:10:10,166
address this challenge.

191
00:10:10,166 --> 00:10:11,533
>> The Press:
Without offsets?

192
00:10:11,533 --> 00:10:13,467
>> Mr. Carney:
Again, I would just
point you to our plan.

193
00:10:13,467 --> 00:10:14,734
Roberta.

194
00:10:14,734 --> 00:10:17,734
>> The Press:
We're a week away
now from the deadline

195
00:10:17,734 --> 00:10:22,867
for lawmakers to come
to a budget deal.

196
00:10:22,867 --> 00:10:24,300
How close does the
White House feel lawmakers

197
00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:25,632
are getting to that?

198
00:10:25,633 --> 00:10:28,266
And is the White House insisting
that part of that deal include

199
00:10:28,266 --> 00:10:32,433
something on extending UI?

200
00:10:32,433 --> 00:10:34,300
>> Mr. Carney:
I'll start with
the second part first.

201
00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:38,300
We, as the President said,
believe Congress should

202
00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:40,132
extend unemployment insurance.

203
00:10:40,133 --> 00:10:44,400
The vehicle that they use to do
that is less important

204
00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:45,600
than the fact that they do it.

205
00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,200
So I'm not going
to negotiate from the podium

206
00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,567
about how that gets done.

207
00:10:49,567 --> 00:10:57,233
And on the ongoing discussions
and negotiations in Congress on

208
00:10:57,233 --> 00:10:59,099
the issue of a budget agreement,
I would simply say

209
00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:03,700
that we hope and expect
that they can reach one.

210
00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:08,200
But I don't want to characterize
the progress in any way except

211
00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:14,166
to say that any sense that there
is a return to an ability for

212
00:11:16,533 --> 00:11:21,200
each side to come together and
to reach a compromise on budget

213
00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,300
matters would be welcome.

214
00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:27,032
And that is certainly what we've
talked a lot about and we talked

215
00:11:27,033 --> 00:11:29,400
a lot about this over
the course of the year --

216
00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,632
a return to regular order.

217
00:11:32,633 --> 00:11:38,834
But I don't want to prejudge any
work that's being done or make

218
00:11:38,834 --> 00:11:42,199
any predictions about how
successful they will be,

219
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,367
except to say that we
obviously hope they will be.

220
00:11:46,367 --> 00:11:48,967
>> The Press:
How's the White House
involved in this,

221
00:11:48,967 --> 00:11:51,233
if at all?

222
00:11:51,233 --> 00:11:53,467
>> Mr. Carney:
We are regularly
involved in discussions

223
00:11:53,467 --> 00:11:56,967
with those on Capitol Hill
who are engaged in this process.

224
00:11:56,967 --> 00:11:58,834
But this is something,
as we've talked about before,

225
00:11:58,834 --> 00:12:02,300
that needs to be worked out
by the relevant committees

226
00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:06,500
and the relevant leaders
in those chambers who need

227
00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:08,834
to reach a compromise
so that we can move forward,

228
00:12:08,834 --> 00:12:11,300
avoid another
government shutdown,

229
00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:14,367
address some of the
self-inflicted wounds

230
00:12:14,367 --> 00:12:17,266
that have occurred
over the past,

231
00:12:17,266 --> 00:12:19,900
including the indiscriminate,

232
00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:22,632
across-the-board cuts that
the sequester imposed

233
00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:24,633
that both Democrats
and Republicans

234
00:12:24,633 --> 00:12:27,066
have noted as a problem.

235
00:12:27,066 --> 00:12:30,800
So we're engaged.

236
00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,367
We provide information.

237
00:12:32,367 --> 00:12:38,165
We consult regularly with
those working on this process.

238
00:12:38,166 --> 00:12:41,100
But this is something that
Congress needs to achieve.

239
00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:44,133
>> The Press:
We're also about a week
away from the anniversary

240
00:12:44,133 --> 00:12:49,467
of the shooting at Newtown, and
I was wondering if the President

241
00:12:49,467 --> 00:12:53,000
is going to be doing
anything next week

242
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,433
to talk about that
issue, gun violence?

243
00:12:57,433 --> 00:13:02,367
>> Mr. Carney:
That day for him and
I think for all of us

244
00:13:02,367 --> 00:13:05,233
will stick in our
memories forever.

245
00:13:05,233 --> 00:13:08,834
In terms of what
he or we will be doing

246
00:13:08,834 --> 00:13:10,032
around that anniversary,

247
00:13:10,033 --> 00:13:13,967
I don't have any information
to provide today.

248
00:13:13,967 --> 00:13:16,900
But it certainly will
be a somber occasion.

249
00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:18,600
I want to do what
I did the other day,

250
00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,133
just because I realized for
going on three years now,

251
00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:22,567
because of my habit of --

252
00:13:22,567 --> 00:13:24,133
maybe because this
is my better side,

253
00:13:24,133 --> 00:13:25,367
that I start over here --

254
00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:30,367
that I've been getting to
the right a little late here,

255
00:13:30,367 --> 00:13:32,099
and I'm all about
getting to the right.

256
00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:33,100
[laughter]

257
00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:34,100
Peter.

258
00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:35,100
>> The Press: Okay.

259
00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:36,100
So we'll start on the --

260
00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:37,100
>> Mr. Carney:
And then I'll do Jim.

261
00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:38,667
I'm going to do -- okay.

262
00:13:38,667 --> 00:13:39,900
>> The Press:
Just a couple of things to
go through some of the busy work

263
00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:41,433
in terms of
Nelson Mandela's passing.

264
00:13:41,433 --> 00:13:43,766
Can you tell us
the last time the President

265
00:13:43,767 --> 00:13:45,333
did have contact
with Nelson Mandela?

266
00:13:45,333 --> 00:13:47,699
We know they spoke occasionally
with letters and calls.

267
00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:50,967
When was the last time they
actually spoke or communicated?

268
00:13:50,967 --> 00:13:52,000
>> Mr. Carney:
I think we're looking at this.

269
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:53,266
I don't have a specific date.

270
00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:59,266
I believe it might have
been 2010 or 2011, by phone.

271
00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:04,333
I know that Nelson Mandela
called the President when he won

272
00:14:04,333 --> 00:14:09,199
the presidency in 2008, and
I know they spoke by phone

273
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,700
on several occasions after that.

274
00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:15,000
But I'll have to get,
and I'm sure we have,

275
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,300
the last occasion
on which they spoke.

276
00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:20,333
You probably also
know that the First Lady

277
00:14:20,333 --> 00:14:25,132
and the Obamas' daughters
traveled to South Africa

278
00:14:25,133 --> 00:14:26,934
and met with Nelson Mandela.

279
00:14:26,934 --> 00:14:29,500
I believe that was in 2011.

280
00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,734
But on the President's
last conversation,

281
00:14:31,734 --> 00:14:33,367
we'll have to get that
information to you.

282
00:14:33,367 --> 00:14:34,467
>> The Press:
And then it's still
a work in progress

283
00:14:34,467 --> 00:14:36,233
in terms of plans for
your South Africa trip.

284
00:14:36,233 --> 00:14:37,967
Are there any plans in the
works to go to the South African

285
00:14:37,967 --> 00:14:40,567
Embassy here where there's
a statue that honors

286
00:14:40,567 --> 00:14:44,734
Nelson Mandela and some --

287
00:14:44,734 --> 00:14:47,734
>> Mr. Carney:
I don't have any
scheduling updates

288
00:14:47,734 --> 00:14:50,700
involving the President
of that nature to provide.

289
00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:53,500
And I want to forewarn you
that because of the logistics

290
00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:54,600
that are still being worked on,

291
00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,967
I will not have a week
ahead to give to you

292
00:14:56,967 --> 00:14:58,066
at the end of this briefing.

293
00:14:58,066 --> 00:15:00,200
But we'll get one to you
when it's all prepared.

294
00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,233
I did myself drive
by that yesterday,

295
00:15:03,233 --> 00:15:06,967
and the number of people
obviously had already gathered

296
00:15:06,967 --> 00:15:08,100
as well as the media.

297
00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:11,033
And it's --
that statue just went up.

298
00:15:11,033 --> 00:15:13,967
It's pretty great to have
it here in Washington.

299
00:15:13,967 --> 00:15:16,066
>> The Press:
Digressing to a couple
other separate topics.

300
00:15:16,066 --> 00:15:18,100
On the Affordable Care Act,
the Government Accountability

301
00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:21,467
Institute,
the GAI analysis shows

302
00:15:21,467 --> 00:15:23,867
that between
July of 2010 and November,

303
00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:25,699
the end of November
of this year,

304
00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:28,100
the President's public schedule
was released showing that there

305
00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:31,700
were zero one-on-one meetings
with Health and Human Services

306
00:15:31,700 --> 00:15:36,467
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius,
though there were 277 other

307
00:15:36,467 --> 00:15:39,800
one-on-one meetings with
other members of his Cabinet.

308
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,666
That draws some questions
about the President's leadership

309
00:15:42,667 --> 00:15:44,233
skills as the chief executive.

310
00:15:44,233 --> 00:15:48,032
And I'm curious what
the White House response --

311
00:15:48,033 --> 00:15:50,600
>> Mr. Carney:
Peter, I wish you
had called me beforehand

312
00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,166
because I'm in a very
charitable mood today,

313
00:15:53,166 --> 00:15:55,266
so I won't go
too strong on this.

314
00:15:55,266 --> 00:15:57,599
But that report --
not the report you cited --

315
00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:02,600
but the published report
that was written by an advocate

316
00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,400
is based on a
ridiculously false premise.

317
00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:09,733
As those of you who remember
stories about WAVES records

318
00:16:09,734 --> 00:16:13,100
that supposedly indicated
that Hillary Clinton,

319
00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:16,467
then-Secretary of State,
met surprisingly infrequently

320
00:16:16,467 --> 00:16:18,233
with the President,

321
00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:20,032
showed that,
with a little digging --

322
00:16:20,033 --> 00:16:21,333
which most of you know --

323
00:16:21,333 --> 00:16:24,533
Cabinet Secretaries
don't regularly get entered

324
00:16:24,533 --> 00:16:26,633
into the visitors logs
because they come frequently.

325
00:16:26,633 --> 00:16:29,333
And Kathleen Sebelius
comes frequently,

326
00:16:29,333 --> 00:16:31,967
and she meets frequently
with the President.

327
00:16:31,967 --> 00:16:34,867
I will refer
you to the Department

328
00:16:34,867 --> 00:16:36,967
for more information
and more detail.

329
00:16:36,967 --> 00:16:42,967
But she's here a lot and
meets with the President

330
00:16:42,967 --> 00:16:47,300
with regularity.

331
00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:53,032
And with the exception
of when you look

332
00:16:53,033 --> 00:16:56,500
at public calendars and things,

333
00:16:56,500 --> 00:16:58,967
there are standing meetings
for the secretaries of Defense,

334
00:16:58,967 --> 00:17:02,266
State and Treasury
that this President has

335
00:17:02,266 --> 00:17:04,599
that are regular things,

336
00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:06,599
but he meets with other
Cabinet secretaries

337
00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:11,632
in one-on-ones and
small groups all the time.

338
00:17:11,633 --> 00:17:16,567
And I would note that those
calendars may never show

339
00:17:16,567 --> 00:17:18,266
a meeting I've had
with the President --

340
00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:19,800
I had two yesterday.

341
00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,399
So that's how it works.

342
00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,233
>> The Press:
And I have one final
question then on the topic

343
00:17:24,233 --> 00:17:25,767
that we started with,
which is Nelson Mandela.

344
00:17:25,767 --> 00:17:28,900
And I guess the question a lot
of people will be thinking about

345
00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:31,800
when we consider the
life of Nelson Mandela

346
00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,233
and the challenges that exist
in our own country is,

347
00:17:34,233 --> 00:17:37,567
what lessons Washington
can learn from the example

348
00:17:37,567 --> 00:17:38,567
of Nelson Mandela?

349
00:17:38,567 --> 00:17:39,567
I'm curious.

350
00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:40,567
Because I know
you've had conversations

351
00:17:40,567 --> 00:17:41,767
within the White House,

352
00:17:41,767 --> 00:17:45,867
and what you think the
message that we can learn is.

353
00:17:45,867 --> 00:17:48,734
>> Mr. Carney: Well, I think
the President put it very well

354
00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:52,600
yesterday and in remarks he
made when he was in South Africa

355
00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,265
earlier this year about the
remarkable example that Nelson

356
00:17:56,266 --> 00:18:02,300
Mandela set when he was released
from prison and made clear

357
00:18:05,567 --> 00:18:09,567
that he would embrace those who
jailed him and that he would

358
00:18:09,567 --> 00:18:15,533
seek to help build a South
Africa that judged every person

359
00:18:18,433 --> 00:18:23,467
by his or her character and
not by his or her skin color.

360
00:18:23,467 --> 00:18:30,200
And I think that sort of
spirit of reconciliation,

361
00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:35,567
as the President said yesterday,
is one that should imbue the

362
00:18:35,567 --> 00:18:40,066
work that all of us do here --
at a professional level and,

363
00:18:40,066 --> 00:18:43,233
as the President said,
on a personal level.

364
00:18:43,233 --> 00:18:48,800
But I cite the President
here because he said it best.

365
00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,567
Jim.

366
00:18:50,567 --> 00:18:53,734
>> The Press:
Picking up on Peter's
question about Nelson Mandela,

367
00:18:53,734 --> 00:18:58,667
it just sort of struck me
that the President talked

368
00:18:58,667 --> 00:19:02,567
about this great impact
that he had on his life,

369
00:19:02,567 --> 00:19:04,433
but he only met
with Nelson Mandela

370
00:19:04,433 --> 00:19:06,533
one time face-to-face.

371
00:19:06,533 --> 00:19:10,065
I was just curious,
for people who are wondering,

372
00:19:10,066 --> 00:19:13,166
if you could provide more
details about Nelson Mandela's

373
00:19:13,166 --> 00:19:14,466
influence on the
President's life.

374
00:19:14,467 --> 00:19:17,333
Have you had a chance
to talk to him about this?

375
00:19:17,333 --> 00:19:19,667
I know he made some comments
about this yesterday.

376
00:19:19,667 --> 00:19:21,265
People might just be wondering.

377
00:19:21,266 --> 00:19:23,233
They only met one time,
but yet he had a big impact.

378
00:19:23,233 --> 00:19:26,533
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, I think that Nelson
Mandela had a profound impact

379
00:19:26,533 --> 00:19:28,966
on millions and millions
of people around the world,

380
00:19:28,967 --> 00:19:32,300
and beginning with the
citizens of South Africa --

381
00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:36,433
millions and millions of people
who have never met him --

382
00:19:36,433 --> 00:19:37,934
who never met him.

383
00:19:37,934 --> 00:19:40,800
And the President, as senator,

384
00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,433
had the good
fortune to meet him.

385
00:19:43,433 --> 00:19:46,066
But I don't think
that's the reason

386
00:19:46,066 --> 00:19:48,367
why he had an influence
on Barack Obama.

387
00:19:48,367 --> 00:19:52,399
That influence extends,
as he said yesterday,

388
00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,700
well back in time.

389
00:19:56,700 --> 00:20:00,667
And I know those of us who
were in college in the '80s

390
00:20:00,667 --> 00:20:07,332
remember the
debates and protests

391
00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:09,533
that were happening
on college campuses

392
00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:14,667
over divestment in South
Africa because of apartheid.

393
00:20:14,667 --> 00:20:16,332
I think that's what the
President was referencing

394
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:17,400
in his own experience.

395
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,433
I know I had a similar
experience in college

396
00:20:21,433 --> 00:20:22,667
during that time.

397
00:20:22,667 --> 00:20:28,132
And it was a profoundly
important issue internationally.

398
00:20:28,133 --> 00:20:34,000
And the amazing transformation
that happened from that period

399
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,667
to his release,
and then not much time later,

400
00:20:38,667 --> 00:20:42,934
just a few years, to his
election as President was part

401
00:20:42,934 --> 00:20:48,633
of an era of historic change
around the world that I think

402
00:20:48,633 --> 00:20:51,700
will be remembered as such
for a long, long time.

403
00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:55,300
So I know that's the --

404
00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:57,533
the President has
spoken a lot about this,

405
00:20:57,533 --> 00:20:58,899
not just last night,
so I would point you

406
00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:00,333
to what he has said in the past.

407
00:21:00,333 --> 00:21:08,233
But it's a remarkable thing,
and you guys all in broadcast

408
00:21:08,233 --> 00:21:11,867
and in print have been doing
a terrific job of celebrating

409
00:21:11,867 --> 00:21:19,100
his life and noting how
unique he is in world history.

410
00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:22,667
I mean, there is just -- there
is no debate around the world

411
00:21:22,667 --> 00:21:25,667
about the fundamental
goodness of this man.

412
00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:30,233
It wasn't always that
way, but it is today.

413
00:21:30,233 --> 00:21:32,966
>> The Press:
And we're getting
really close to --

414
00:21:32,967 --> 00:21:34,533
Roberta was
talking about dates --

415
00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:35,567
but to December 23rd,

416
00:21:35,567 --> 00:21:37,667
when people have to
sign up for insurance

417
00:21:37,667 --> 00:21:40,265
to have coverage starting
on the first of the year.

418
00:21:40,266 --> 00:21:43,633
January 1st, which is a date
when a lot of people are just

419
00:21:43,633 --> 00:21:47,500
going to be focused on, well,
is the system actually working

420
00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:51,900
the way it should be working --
any concerns at all about

421
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:55,266
these dates that are coming up?

422
00:21:55,266 --> 00:21:57,233
>> Mr. Carney:
We're extremely focused on it,

423
00:21:57,233 --> 00:22:01,600
and especially the teams
at CMS and the tech teams

424
00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,734
that Jeff Zients
is working with --

425
00:22:05,734 --> 00:22:07,600
because, as I noted earlier,

426
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,734
that even though we met the goal
that we set with the website

427
00:22:11,734 --> 00:22:12,934
for the end of November,

428
00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:16,433
we're still engaged in a lot
of work and we still have

429
00:22:16,433 --> 00:22:19,233
a lot of work to do to
make sure that we continue

430
00:22:19,233 --> 00:22:22,300
to address whatever
problems remain with the website

431
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:25,834
so that it is functioning
as effectively as it can

432
00:22:25,834 --> 00:22:28,900
for the millions of
Americans who want to use it,

433
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:30,767
and that we're doing all
the other things that we talked

434
00:22:30,767 --> 00:22:37,233
about to improve this period of
implementation and enrollment.

435
00:22:37,233 --> 00:22:39,867
That includes what CMS is doing
to reach out to everyone

436
00:22:39,867 --> 00:22:42,633
who has chosen a plan to
make sure they're communicating

437
00:22:42,633 --> 00:22:46,400
with their issuer and
know that they need to,

438
00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:50,967
if they enrolled for insurance
to kick in on January 1st,

439
00:22:50,967 --> 00:22:53,800
that they obviously need to
meet whatever premium deadline

440
00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,332
is set by their issuer.

441
00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:57,333
They're making
sure that everyone

442
00:22:57,333 --> 00:23:02,133
who enrolled is enrolled,

443
00:23:02,133 --> 00:23:04,333
in fact, and addressing
the challenges

444
00:23:04,333 --> 00:23:08,467
that were particularly keen in
the beginning of this process --

445
00:23:08,467 --> 00:23:11,367
on the backend, the 834 forms.

446
00:23:11,367 --> 00:23:12,834
This process is still going on,

447
00:23:12,834 --> 00:23:15,300
and we're obviously encouraged

448
00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:17,265
by the progress
that's been made.

449
00:23:17,266 --> 00:23:20,100
But there continues to
be a lot of work to do,

450
00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:24,199
and the work is not about --
somebody I spoke to today,

451
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,533
a reporter, was sort of asking
about corners being turned

452
00:23:27,533 --> 00:23:32,166
and things and what that
means for the President.

453
00:23:32,166 --> 00:23:33,399
It's what it means
for the people

454
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,100
who are trying to get insurance.

455
00:23:35,100 --> 00:23:37,065
And what is remarkable --

456
00:23:37,066 --> 00:23:39,400
>> The Press:
Do you feel like you're
turning a corner?

457
00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,734
>> Mr. Carney:
I'm saying I feel like
we're making progress.

458
00:23:41,734 --> 00:23:43,433
>> The Press:
Are you seeing the corner?

459
00:23:43,433 --> 00:23:44,667
>> Mr. Carney:
I think we're making progress,

460
00:23:44,667 --> 00:23:51,033
but we're not there yet and
we're not going to suggest

461
00:23:51,033 --> 00:23:52,233
that we're there yet,

462
00:23:52,233 --> 00:23:57,265
because this is about
making sure that the millions

463
00:23:57,266 --> 00:23:59,834
of Americans who have
persistently showed

464
00:23:59,834 --> 00:24:04,800
that they want what
the exchanges offer are rewarded

465
00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:09,033
with an experience that
allows them to shop and select

466
00:24:09,033 --> 00:24:13,033
the coverage that they
think suits their lives best

467
00:24:13,033 --> 00:24:14,199
and their pocketbooks best.

468
00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,934
So that's the work
we're undertaking,

469
00:24:16,934 --> 00:24:21,233
and that's what the President
is focused on and everyone else.

470
00:24:21,233 --> 00:24:23,433
Last one, Jim.

471
00:24:23,433 --> 00:24:26,367
>> The Press:
Can I get one more
question in there?

472
00:24:26,367 --> 00:24:29,667
The President was asked by
Chris Matthews about choosing

473
00:24:29,667 --> 00:24:32,966
between the Vice President
and former Secretary of State

474
00:24:32,967 --> 00:24:34,033
Hillary Clinton.

475
00:24:34,033 --> 00:24:36,466
Is the President just
going to stay out of it?

476
00:24:36,467 --> 00:24:39,533
Is he just going to stay
to the sidelines here?

477
00:24:39,533 --> 00:24:41,033
>> Mr. Carney:
Jim, it's 2013.

478
00:24:41,033 --> 00:24:43,466
And what I can say is that --

479
00:24:43,467 --> 00:24:44,467
>> The Press:
We can't help ourselves.

480
00:24:44,467 --> 00:24:45,467
>> Mr. Carney:
I know, I know.

481
00:24:45,467 --> 00:24:47,133
I couldn't either
when I was a reporter.

482
00:24:47,133 --> 00:24:51,033
But the fact of the
matter is the President --

483
00:24:51,033 --> 00:24:52,132
I'm echoing the President here,

484
00:24:52,133 --> 00:24:54,700
that the President
is enormously grateful

485
00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:58,767
for the service of Hillary
Clinton as his exceptional

486
00:24:58,767 --> 00:25:02,500
Secretary of State
in the first term,

487
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:07,867
and is ever grateful for
the extraordinary service

488
00:25:07,867 --> 00:25:09,966
that Joe Biden provides
as Vice President

489
00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:11,567
that we've seen just this week

490
00:25:11,567 --> 00:25:13,567
on his very important
foreign trip.

491
00:25:13,567 --> 00:25:21,467
The President feels lucky to
have had Hillary Clinton

492
00:25:21,467 --> 00:25:23,233
on his team and to have
Joe Biden on his team,

493
00:25:23,233 --> 00:25:24,399
and that's what he's focused on.

494
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,100
I'm going to do
a little in the back, Jon,

495
00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:28,734
and then I'll get you next.

496
00:25:28,734 --> 00:25:30,367
Voice of America.

497
00:25:30,367 --> 00:25:31,433
>> The Press:
Thank you.

498
00:25:31,433 --> 00:25:32,834
Ambassador Rice had a
very heartfelt statement

499
00:25:32,834 --> 00:25:34,166
about Nelson Mandela,

500
00:25:34,166 --> 00:25:36,966
and she also had this
major address of human rights

501
00:25:36,967 --> 00:25:39,000
the other day,
which got some attention.

502
00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,467
Did she consult --
how closely did she consult

503
00:25:42,467 --> 00:25:44,233
with the President
on that speech?

504
00:25:44,233 --> 00:25:45,500
>> Mr. Carney:
On that speech itself?

505
00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,834
Oh, I know he was aware
of it, and they meet every day.

506
00:25:47,834 --> 00:25:49,967
I don't know how much
they talked about it.

507
00:25:49,967 --> 00:25:55,967
But I know she felt
strongly about the speech,

508
00:25:58,533 --> 00:26:04,966
and encourage everyone here
who hasn't seen it to read it.

509
00:26:04,967 --> 00:26:09,367
But as you would expect, because
she's the National Security

510
00:26:09,367 --> 00:26:12,133
Advisor to the President, they
spent a lot of time together.

511
00:26:12,133 --> 00:26:15,000
So I'm sure they discussed it.

512
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,066
>> The Press:
Can I ask you about
one aspect of that?

513
00:26:17,066 --> 00:26:19,834
On Iran, she said, "As we test
the potential for a diplomatic

514
00:26:19,834 --> 00:26:21,700
resolution on the nuclear issue,
another key test

515
00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:24,166
is whether we begin to see
progress on human rights."

516
00:26:24,166 --> 00:26:27,233
So are human rights -- people
who assume that human rights

517
00:26:27,233 --> 00:26:30,033
will be a separate
track completely --

518
00:26:30,033 --> 00:26:32,332
has human rights issues
been raised at all,

519
00:26:32,333 --> 00:26:34,600
or will they be raised
over the six-month period

520
00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,399
between now and --

521
00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:41,133
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, I think we raised
the issue of human rights

522
00:26:41,133 --> 00:26:42,967
with regards to Iran
and other countries,

523
00:26:42,967 --> 00:26:47,100
where we have profound issues
with their poor track record

524
00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:49,265
on human rights.

525
00:26:49,266 --> 00:26:51,467
And we will always do that
and consistently do that.

526
00:26:51,467 --> 00:26:55,200
I think what Ambassador
Rice was referencing

527
00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,033
is that the progress
we've seen out of Tehran,

528
00:26:59,033 --> 00:27:03,734
in terms of their
willingness to proceed

529
00:27:03,734 --> 00:27:07,632
with negotiations and to
engage with the P5-plus-1

530
00:27:07,633 --> 00:27:10,000
and to reach the agreement,
the preliminary agreement

531
00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,967
that they reached, is important.

532
00:27:13,967 --> 00:27:17,500
It is all based on actions,
as far as we're concerned,

533
00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:23,900
and that's why it's so important
that compliance is upheld,

534
00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:26,967
and all the verification
measures are there

535
00:27:26,967 --> 00:27:28,300
to ensure that.

536
00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:29,466
And that will be true all the
way through to the completion,

537
00:27:29,467 --> 00:27:35,300
if there is one,
of a comprehensive agreement.

538
00:27:35,300 --> 00:27:40,100
But if that's achieved,
that will be a good thing

539
00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:42,466
for the world
and we think for Iran,

540
00:27:42,467 --> 00:27:44,500
but there are
obviously other issues.

541
00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:48,767
I think the people of Iran
very much demonstrated

542
00:27:48,767 --> 00:27:51,033
in the election and
have demonstrated since

543
00:27:51,033 --> 00:27:55,433
that they want improved
relations with the world,

544
00:27:55,433 --> 00:27:56,533
that the isolation,

545
00:27:56,533 --> 00:27:58,667
their pursuit of
a nuclear weapons program

546
00:27:58,667 --> 00:28:03,433
has brought onto them
has been unwelcome.

547
00:28:03,433 --> 00:28:06,066
But there's more
to it than that.

548
00:28:06,066 --> 00:28:07,567
So I think that's what
she was talking about.

549
00:28:07,567 --> 00:28:09,467
Jon.

550
00:28:09,467 --> 00:28:11,734
>> The Press:
On that one meeting
that the President had

551
00:28:11,734 --> 00:28:12,734
with Nelson Mandela,

552
00:28:12,734 --> 00:28:14,500
have you ever talked
to him about it?

553
00:28:14,500 --> 00:28:16,767
Have you ever heard him
reflect on that meeting?

554
00:28:16,767 --> 00:28:17,834
>> Mr. Carney:
I have.

555
00:28:17,834 --> 00:28:19,567
>> The Press:
And what -- is there anything --

556
00:28:19,567 --> 00:28:20,900
>> The Press:
I would let him discuss it.

557
00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:23,934
But I think if you -- I can't
remember if you were with us,

558
00:28:23,934 --> 00:28:29,166
but if you look
at the occasions that he spoke

559
00:28:29,166 --> 00:28:32,233
about Nelson Mandela
when we were in South Africa,

560
00:28:32,233 --> 00:28:36,000
I think it reflects his feelings

561
00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,200
about the example
Nelson Mandela set,

562
00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:47,233
and how remarkable his
life is, how unique he was.

563
00:28:47,233 --> 00:28:50,433
So I wouldn't --
I would just point

564
00:28:50,433 --> 00:28:51,433
to what the President said,

565
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:54,633
because there's a pretty
long public record

566
00:28:54,633 --> 00:28:56,533
of comments about it.

567
00:28:56,533 --> 00:28:59,300
>> The Press:
And then just a follow-up
on the question of meetings.

568
00:28:59,300 --> 00:29:01,332
So you've referred us to HHS.

569
00:29:01,333 --> 00:29:03,533
Will HHS be able to
tell us how many times --

570
00:29:03,533 --> 00:29:04,533
>> Mr. Carney:
I don't know.

571
00:29:04,533 --> 00:29:05,867
Again, because --

572
00:29:05,867 --> 00:29:09,300
>> The Press:
Because they tend to
refer us back to here.

573
00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:11,399
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, no, I think
on this case --

574
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,734
>> The Press:
They'll be prepared.

575
00:29:12,734 --> 00:29:13,734
>> Mr. Carney:
-- they'll have
information for you.

576
00:29:13,734 --> 00:29:15,500
The point I'm trying
to make here is --

577
00:29:15,500 --> 00:29:17,266
as I was making to
a reporter earlier --

578
00:29:17,266 --> 00:29:23,033
is that there's obviously
a lot of folks out there

579
00:29:23,033 --> 00:29:26,433
who have been rightly
critical of healthcare.gov,

580
00:29:26,433 --> 00:29:32,033
and in general, opponents of
Obamacare and the whole effort

581
00:29:32,033 --> 00:29:38,399
who have made arguments,
and that's fine.

582
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,166
This one is just based
on bad information.

583
00:29:42,166 --> 00:29:44,500
That's the only
point I was making.

584
00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:47,567
>> The Press:
And I just wanted to make
sure we can get the correct --

585
00:29:47,567 --> 00:29:49,467
>> Mr. Carney:
I don't have all the
figures in front of me,

586
00:29:49,467 --> 00:29:53,100
but if you think about the
Cabinet and the importance of,

587
00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:55,065
in this presidency,
in particular,

588
00:29:55,066 --> 00:29:57,867
health care matters
and health care reform,

589
00:29:57,867 --> 00:30:00,633
it's safe to say that
Kathleen Sebelius has been

590
00:30:00,633 --> 00:30:05,400
one of the more frequent
visitors to an attendance

591
00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:06,400
of meetings with the President.

592
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:10,033
So I don't have the figures,
but if you --

593
00:30:10,033 --> 00:30:14,433
there's the Secretaries
of Defense, State, and Treasury,

594
00:30:14,433 --> 00:30:18,433
as well as Department of
Homeland Security, to be sure.

595
00:30:18,433 --> 00:30:21,533
And they all have spent a
significant amount of time

596
00:30:21,533 --> 00:30:24,667
with the President and
met with him on the issues

597
00:30:24,667 --> 00:30:26,632
that they oversee.

598
00:30:26,633 --> 00:30:30,166
But because of the preeminence
of health care and health care

599
00:30:30,166 --> 00:30:32,966
reform in this administration,
first-term and second,

600
00:30:32,967 --> 00:30:34,567
it's safe to say that
Secretary Sebelius spent

601
00:30:34,567 --> 00:30:36,633
a lot of time here.

602
00:30:36,633 --> 00:30:39,400
>> The Press:
So could you just
explain, though, how does --

603
00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,734
because you mentioned
that on the schedule

604
00:30:42,734 --> 00:30:44,833
we see that
the standing meetings

605
00:30:44,834 --> 00:30:46,734
with Secretaries of Defense,

606
00:30:46,734 --> 00:30:49,966
State, Treasury, and the
other meetings don't show up

607
00:30:49,967 --> 00:30:50,967
on the schedule.

608
00:30:50,967 --> 00:30:52,400
How do you determine
what you decide you're

609
00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:57,500
going to publicly notice,
and what you're not going to?

610
00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:01,300
>> Mr. Carney:
I think we endeavor
to put as much as we know

611
00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:04,265
in advance, and as much as
we can on the public schedule

612
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:05,767
that we release the day before.

613
00:31:05,767 --> 00:31:09,800
We talk often about meetings
that have happened that either

614
00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:11,133
are thrown on
in the last minute.

615
00:31:11,133 --> 00:31:13,467
I mean, when I mentioned that
I was in to see the President

616
00:31:13,467 --> 00:31:16,700
a couple of times yesterday,
they're not things that I knew

617
00:31:16,700 --> 00:31:18,467
I was going to be seeing
him on the day before.

618
00:31:18,467 --> 00:31:22,834
So I think it's a lot --
it's probably kind of

619
00:31:22,834 --> 00:31:24,900
like your lives, that,
even though he's President,

620
00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:27,166
it's pretty fluid, and --

621
00:31:27,166 --> 00:31:29,633
maybe not like
your lives, but --

622
00:31:29,633 --> 00:31:30,667
[laughter]

623
00:31:30,667 --> 00:31:31,600
>> The Press:
Ours is a little different.

624
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:32,800
>> Mr. Carney:
But also, obviously,

625
00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:36,466
there are some meetings that
he has that are private,

626
00:31:36,467 --> 00:31:41,100
and we don't put them
on the public schedule

627
00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:43,100
for a variety of reasons.

628
00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:46,033
But I think especially those
numbers that Peter was citing

629
00:31:46,033 --> 00:31:49,233
are based -- a lot of them are
based on those standing

630
00:31:49,233 --> 00:31:52,600
weekly meetings, like the
Vice President's standing lunch,

631
00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,766
weekly lunch, that are
imprinted on there,

632
00:31:55,767 --> 00:31:58,533
and those numbers show up.

633
00:31:58,533 --> 00:31:59,899
Major.

634
00:31:59,900 --> 00:32:01,233
>> The Press:
I know the details are
still coming together,

635
00:32:01,233 --> 00:32:04,000
but is it anticipated and has
the President been invited

636
00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,900
to deliver remarks or
a eulogy for Nelson Mandela?

637
00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:10,166
>> Mr. Carney:
I just don't have any
more details for you on that

638
00:32:10,166 --> 00:32:12,667
question or any
of the other logistics

639
00:32:12,667 --> 00:32:18,265
around the visit the President
and First Lady will be making.

640
00:32:18,266 --> 00:32:20,967
>> The Press:
By that, you're not trying to
imply he might not give remarks?

641
00:32:20,967 --> 00:32:23,934
>> Mr. Carney:
I'm not trying to
imply anything on this.

642
00:32:23,934 --> 00:32:25,133
[laughter]

643
00:32:25,133 --> 00:32:27,767
No, honestly, because
this is, for obvious reasons,

644
00:32:27,767 --> 00:32:30,633
still being worked on.

645
00:32:30,633 --> 00:32:33,200
And I promise you we'll get
that information to you.

646
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,367
I know obviously for a lot of
you and your organizations when

647
00:32:36,367 --> 00:32:39,700
it comes to coverage, is the
sooner the better in terms

648
00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:41,800
of information and we'll
get it as soon as we can.

649
00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,767
>> The Press:
In the New Republic this
morning there's a posting

650
00:32:45,767 --> 00:32:51,734
that says the error rate
for 834 processing is now down

651
00:32:51,734 --> 00:32:55,066
to 10 percent -- this is the
kind of the topic we brought

652
00:32:55,066 --> 00:32:56,266
and discussed yesterday.

653
00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:58,367
I wonder if you can tell me
if that is a verifiable

654
00:32:58,367 --> 00:33:01,500
or verified-internally statistic
that you are confident

655
00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:05,533
in discussing or amplifying, and
if that's the beginning

656
00:33:05,533 --> 00:33:11,233
of a greater, if not floodtide,
at least larger data set on this

657
00:33:11,233 --> 00:33:16,133
834 question that we can expect,
if not today in the coming days.

658
00:33:16,133 --> 00:33:18,867
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, the data sets
would be coming from CMS,

659
00:33:18,867 --> 00:33:21,633
and I know they're working
on this issue broadly.

660
00:33:21,633 --> 00:33:24,700
All I can say what
I know with confidence --

661
00:33:24,700 --> 00:33:27,700
and I try to deliver this
information from here,

662
00:33:30,333 --> 00:33:32,100
only that information
that I know with confidence

663
00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:34,500
and that I've
checked out myself --

664
00:33:34,500 --> 00:33:38,333
that we are confident
that the error rate,

665
00:33:38,333 --> 00:33:40,700
which is a
complicated thing,

666
00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:43,133
but that the overall number
of errors and problems

667
00:33:43,133 --> 00:33:47,400
with the backend of the
system and the 834 forms

668
00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,533
has
been decreasing significantly

669
00:33:49,533 --> 00:33:52,332
since the
October 1st launch date,

670
00:33:52,333 --> 00:33:56,100
and significantly over
the course of November.

671
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:58,132
As I mentioned
earlier this week,

672
00:33:58,133 --> 00:34:02,467
one of the major fixes that went
in over the weekend prior

673
00:34:02,467 --> 00:34:06,834
to the change in the
calendar to December was one

674
00:34:06,834 --> 00:34:09,633
that addressed some
of these backend issues.

675
00:34:09,632 --> 00:34:11,567
But I don't have a percentage
figure to put on it.

676
00:34:11,567 --> 00:34:14,433
I think that the only thing from
that report that I can confirm

677
00:34:14,433 --> 00:34:19,500
is that we do know that
it's better now than it was.

678
00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:21,867
We do know that there are still
issues we need to work on,

679
00:34:21,867 --> 00:34:26,133
which is why CMS has stood
up a regular meeting of experts

680
00:34:26,132 --> 00:34:31,966
with issuers to address these
specific problems on the

681
00:34:31,967 --> 00:34:37,433
backend, because it's very
important that we make sure

682
00:34:37,433 --> 00:34:41,400
that every 834 is accurate,
both past and present,

683
00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:42,867
and we're going to do that.

684
00:34:42,867 --> 00:34:45,233
>> The Press:
And I want to follow
up on Steve Collinson's

685
00:34:45,233 --> 00:34:47,367
question from yesterday,
because you mentioned

686
00:34:47,367 --> 00:34:49,033
the Vice President's
trip to Asia.

687
00:34:49,033 --> 00:34:51,266
There is a sense
in those dissecting

688
00:34:51,266 --> 00:34:53,100
not only
the Vice President's words,

689
00:34:53,100 --> 00:34:54,699
Secretary Hagel's
words and others,

690
00:34:54,699 --> 00:34:58,000
that though the United States
formally rejects the ADIZ,

691
00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,100
that there is nothing it can
do about it and may, in fact,

692
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:05,232
be accommodating
itself to its reality,

693
00:35:05,233 --> 00:35:07,300
even though it objects to it.

694
00:35:07,300 --> 00:35:10,667
Is that a fair characterization?

695
00:35:10,667 --> 00:35:12,266
>> Mr. Carney:
I tried to be
as clear as I could,

696
00:35:12,266 --> 00:35:15,700
and I would point you to the
Vice President's remarks today

697
00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:17,767
about this matter.

698
00:35:17,767 --> 00:35:23,533
We, the United States, do not
recognize and do not accept the

699
00:35:23,533 --> 00:35:30,000
newly announced East China Sea
Air Defense Identification Zone.

700
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,333
And it will not change --

701
00:35:31,333 --> 00:35:32,867
will not change --

702
00:35:32,867 --> 00:35:34,300
how the United States conducts

703
00:35:34,300 --> 00:35:36,600
military operations
in the region.

704
00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,933
It does not have
any practical effect

705
00:35:38,934 --> 00:35:41,266
on U.S. government operations.

706
00:35:41,266 --> 00:35:44,200
We have been very clear
about our view on this,

707
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,767
and have been clear not just
in our public pronouncements

708
00:35:46,767 --> 00:35:50,700
but in the --
as the Vice President said --

709
00:35:50,700 --> 00:35:53,600
in his meetings
with Chinese leaders.

710
00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:59,066
So the broader point
I think we're trying

711
00:35:59,066 --> 00:36:07,066
to make to the Chinese is that
this is not how major powers

712
00:36:07,066 --> 00:36:11,533
conduct themselves and
that there is enormous danger

713
00:36:11,533 --> 00:36:13,533
in these kinds
of provocative actions

714
00:36:13,533 --> 00:36:16,299
in a region of the world that --

715
00:36:16,300 --> 00:36:17,300
>> The Press:
Picking up on that,

716
00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:19,000
it sounds as if the U.S. posture

717
00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:23,633
is to say to China, don't
do anything like this again

718
00:36:23,633 --> 00:36:25,767
that could create any
confusion, misunderstanding,

719
00:36:25,767 --> 00:36:29,966
or lead to a confrontation;
and that though it doesn't want

720
00:36:29,967 --> 00:36:32,567
to accommodate itself to it,
it may in fact have to.

721
00:36:32,567 --> 00:36:34,700
>> Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure where
you're seeing that.

722
00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:37,033
Obviously,
China made an announcement.

723
00:36:37,033 --> 00:36:40,866
It is for China
to not implement it,

724
00:36:40,867 --> 00:36:42,133
which is what they're calling --

725
00:36:42,133 --> 00:36:43,133
we're calling on them to do.

726
00:36:43,133 --> 00:36:44,966
We don't recognize it,
we don't accept it.

727
00:36:44,967 --> 00:36:47,700
So an announcement
is an announcement.

728
00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:53,066
And the fact of the matter is,
we've been very clear

729
00:36:53,066 --> 00:36:58,600
about our view of it and
how we will react to it.

730
00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:05,266
And our broader concern about
the tension in the region

731
00:37:05,266 --> 00:37:08,834
and how these kinds
of provocative actions

732
00:37:08,834 --> 00:37:13,100
could lead to miscalculation
and to further tension

733
00:37:13,100 --> 00:37:14,433
in the region,

734
00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:17,633
which is not in the interest
of any of the nations involved.

735
00:37:17,633 --> 00:37:18,933
Ed.

736
00:37:18,934 --> 00:37:21,633
>> The Press:
On health care,
I wanted to ask a couple.

737
00:37:21,633 --> 00:37:24,033
You said yesterday and again
today that in order to make sure

738
00:37:24,033 --> 00:37:26,667
people who have tried to sign
up actually get their insurance

739
00:37:26,667 --> 00:37:29,100
starting on January 1st,
that the administration

740
00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:32,834
is endeavoring to contact
these people in some way

741
00:37:32,834 --> 00:37:35,200
to get their paperwork in order.

742
00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:37,834
Wouldn't that suggest you have
some sort of enrollment figures?

743
00:37:37,834 --> 00:37:40,399
If you're contacting people,
you know that they enrolled.

744
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,266
So what are the enrollment
figures for November?

745
00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:45,133
We haven't heard those yet.

746
00:37:45,133 --> 00:37:47,799
>> Mr. Carney:
My understanding is,
as was the case for October,

747
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,166
that those numbers are
being verified, scrubbed,

748
00:37:52,166 --> 00:37:53,300
data is being checked.

749
00:37:53,300 --> 00:37:56,300
There's a lot to come in
from states, and that HHS,

750
00:37:56,300 --> 00:37:59,333
CMS will provide those figures
in the middle of the month,

751
00:37:59,333 --> 00:38:03,266
which I think is next week,
consistent with the need

752
00:38:03,266 --> 00:38:08,000
to make sure that those
numbers are tight.

753
00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:15,100
Obviously, we know October, and
they can see who's pressed some

754
00:38:15,100 --> 00:38:18,165
buttons and reach out to them,
and maybe they find out that

755
00:38:18,166 --> 00:38:20,066
this was part of the process --
you find out that maybe there

756
00:38:20,066 --> 00:38:22,734
was an error or
duplication in that effort.

757
00:38:22,734 --> 00:38:25,433
So in the release of numbers,
we're going to be very

758
00:38:25,433 --> 00:38:28,333
consistent, which is to make
sure they're as accurate as

759
00:38:28,333 --> 00:38:29,767
possible before we release them.

760
00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:33,533
And that requires some time,
especially in a circumstance

761
00:38:33,533 --> 00:38:37,866
like this where you
have the federal site,

762
00:38:37,867 --> 00:38:41,133
which is administering the
marketplaces on the number of

763
00:38:41,133 --> 00:38:43,834
states that it is, and then you
have the individual states that

764
00:38:43,834 --> 00:38:45,834
are running their own
marketplaces and providing data.

765
00:38:45,834 --> 00:38:48,066
So that's all being combined.

766
00:38:48,066 --> 00:38:53,033
And we'll get it to you
when it's ready, HHS will.

767
00:38:53,033 --> 00:38:54,767
The broader thing that we've
been talking about -- I mean,

768
00:38:54,767 --> 00:38:59,332
I'm not -- I haven't disputed or
confirmed any numbers out there

769
00:38:59,333 --> 00:39:01,834
because we're waiting for
the hard, verified data.

770
00:39:01,834 --> 00:39:06,600
I think that the reports
that we've seen reflect

771
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:09,633
what we believe based on the
early information that we have,

772
00:39:09,633 --> 00:39:13,966
which is that the system is
working much more effectively;

773
00:39:13,967 --> 00:39:16,633
that many more people are
successfully enrolling,

774
00:39:16,633 --> 00:39:18,734
getting from beginning
to end in the process;

775
00:39:18,734 --> 00:39:24,033
that the number
of problems with the site

776
00:39:24,033 --> 00:39:26,567
has been reduced significantly,

777
00:39:26,567 --> 00:39:29,300
and that includes the
frontend and the backend,

778
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,033
but that we continue
to work on it.

779
00:39:31,033 --> 00:39:33,567
And these teams
are working hard --

780
00:39:33,567 --> 00:39:36,867
as hard this week as
they were in previous weeks.

781
00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:42,700
>> The Press:
Republican Darrel Issa
has been releasing documents

782
00:39:42,700 --> 00:39:43,700
for weeks now.

783
00:39:43,700 --> 00:39:44,700
He's got
more today that he says suggest

784
00:39:44,700 --> 00:39:45,834
that the small
business exchange --

785
00:39:45,834 --> 00:39:47,966
that the administration
knew as early as August

786
00:39:47,967 --> 00:39:50,700
that the small business
exchange would not be ready

787
00:39:50,700 --> 00:39:51,933
by October 1st.

788
00:39:51,934 --> 00:39:53,033
I think there were --

789
00:39:53,033 --> 00:39:54,467
it was indicated that
there might be problems

790
00:39:54,467 --> 00:39:55,600
with it in September,

791
00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:57,667
but it was not until
late November that you said

792
00:39:57,667 --> 00:40:00,100
we're going to
have to delay that

793
00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:01,100
small business exchange.

794
00:40:01,100 --> 00:40:02,500
Was there any intent to --

795
00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:05,066
>> Mr. Carney:
I think it was
September that they --

796
00:40:05,066 --> 00:40:06,500
>> The Press:
But that you knew in August

797
00:40:06,500 --> 00:40:08,433
that there were
problems and that --

798
00:40:08,433 --> 00:40:10,066
their charge is that --

799
00:40:10,066 --> 00:40:11,734
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, what I'm confident in is
that there are dribs and drabs

800
00:40:11,734 --> 00:40:14,033
of information that come
out that partially reflect

801
00:40:16,266 --> 00:40:18,166
what's happening
at CMS and HHS.

802
00:40:18,166 --> 00:40:22,734
I don't have any specific
information on this latest

803
00:40:22,734 --> 00:40:23,900
release of information.

804
00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:30,500
But anything that reinforces
the fact that the site

805
00:40:30,500 --> 00:40:35,400
had problems in October
is probably something

806
00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:36,767
we'll agree with.

807
00:40:36,767 --> 00:40:38,165
>> The Press:
And it was mentioned
in the MSNBC interview --

808
00:40:38,166 --> 00:40:40,600
the President was asked about
holding Cabinet secretaries and

809
00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:44,033
the Cabinet accountable, and
is this a reflection of his

810
00:40:44,033 --> 00:40:46,633
personal management style,
and he said it's actually

811
00:40:46,633 --> 00:40:49,299
about these big government
agencies that are outdated,

812
00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:51,400
they need to be fixed.

813
00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,834
>> Mr. Carney:
I think he was talking
about procurement issues

814
00:40:53,834 --> 00:40:56,433
and IT issues, which he
has talked about from here.

815
00:40:56,433 --> 00:40:59,600
>> The Press:
But he said that these agencies
are not designed properly.

816
00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:01,567
My question is,
is he passing the buck?

817
00:41:01,567 --> 00:41:04,567
Is there not any changes
that need to be made

818
00:41:04,567 --> 00:41:05,700
at the White House?

819
00:41:05,700 --> 00:41:07,100
>> Mr. Carney:
No, no, no, no, no.

820
00:41:07,100 --> 00:41:09,433
He has stood before
you, and believe me,

821
00:41:09,433 --> 00:41:11,200
there are people
who think he has --

822
00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:13,332
>> The Press:
But he hasn't talked about
changes at the White House.

823
00:41:13,333 --> 00:41:14,767
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, are you asking me --

824
00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,567
>> The Press:
Are there going to be
changes at the White House

825
00:41:16,567 --> 00:41:17,900
-- management, structure?

826
00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:18,900
>> Mr. Carney:
I have no personnel
announcements to make.

827
00:41:18,900 --> 00:41:20,100
What I can say is
that a lot of reporting

828
00:41:20,100 --> 00:41:21,400
around this has been inaccurate.

829
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:22,400
>> The Press:
Well, what's that?

830
00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:23,667
>> Mr. Carney:
Here is what I can tell you.

831
00:41:23,667 --> 00:41:25,400
The
President believes very
strongly that we ought

832
00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:28,633
to be functioning
effectively at all levels

833
00:41:28,633 --> 00:41:31,165
of the government on
behalf of the taxpayers.

834
00:41:31,166 --> 00:41:33,200
And he has put forward --

835
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,100
in fact, Jeff Zients
helped run that process --

836
00:41:35,100 --> 00:41:39,433
put forward a pretty significant
streamlining of some of our

837
00:41:39,433 --> 00:41:43,200
government agencies
in a very sensible proposal

838
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:46,265
that he certainly hopes
Congress would act on.

839
00:41:46,266 --> 00:41:48,533
Now, that has to do with
agencies not related

840
00:41:48,533 --> 00:41:52,299
to the Affordable Care
Act implementation.

841
00:41:52,300 --> 00:41:55,567
But I think the broader
view that it reflects

842
00:41:55,567 --> 00:41:59,533
is that the President thinks
we ought to bring up to date

843
00:41:59,533 --> 00:42:03,700
the functionality of
all of our activities here,

844
00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:10,232
and make it better, faster, more
efficient and more responsive

845
00:42:10,233 --> 00:42:12,900
to the consumer --
and in this case,

846
00:42:12,900 --> 00:42:14,834
the consumer is
obviously the taxpayer.

847
00:42:14,834 --> 00:42:16,000
>> The Press:
Last one.

848
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:17,066
This interview was conducted
at American University

849
00:42:17,066 --> 00:42:18,200
with students in the
audience; the day before,

850
00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:19,667
the President went
to a youth summit.

851
00:42:19,667 --> 00:42:22,366
Harvard University put out a
poll this week that got widely

852
00:42:22,367 --> 00:42:25,934
cited about young people seeming
to be disillusioned with

853
00:42:25,934 --> 00:42:28,367
the health care law,
maybe disillusioned with

854
00:42:28,367 --> 00:42:29,800
the President's leadership.

855
00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:32,200
My question is, is he concerned
by going to the youth summit,

856
00:42:32,200 --> 00:42:33,200
engaging these students?

857
00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:34,767
I know he's done
it before, but this week,

858
00:42:34,767 --> 00:42:39,066
as you unveil this PR campaign
on the health care law,

859
00:42:39,066 --> 00:42:41,633
how concerned is this White
House that the President's base,

860
00:42:41,633 --> 00:42:45,500
particularly young people who
supported him big time in '08

861
00:42:45,500 --> 00:42:48,533
and 2012, are abandoning
him on health care?

862
00:42:48,533 --> 00:42:49,734
>> Mr. Carney:
I'd say a couple of things.

863
00:42:49,734 --> 00:42:56,366
The outreach to young Americans
regarding enrollment

864
00:42:56,367 --> 00:42:59,367
and implementation
of Obamacare has to do

865
00:42:59,367 --> 00:43:05,100
with a longstanding
observation and a plan around it

866
00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:08,200
that we need
young people to enroll.

867
00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:14,200
And that is true
regardless of polling data

868
00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:17,299
on the Affordable Care Act.

869
00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:18,834
It was always going to be true,
and it's always going

870
00:43:18,834 --> 00:43:20,633
to be important,
and it was always the case,

871
00:43:20,633 --> 00:43:22,165
as I think we've discussed
here in this room,

872
00:43:22,166 --> 00:43:26,033
that young people in particular
were more likely to wait until

873
00:43:26,033 --> 00:43:29,667
later stages in the
enrollment process to enroll.

874
00:43:29,667 --> 00:43:34,500
And so this effort is part of a
broader effort that is and will

875
00:43:34,500 --> 00:43:38,133
be undertaken to make sure
that young Americans around the

876
00:43:38,133 --> 00:43:42,600
country understand the
advantages of having insurance

877
00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:46,366
and the need to have it and all
the options available to them.

878
00:43:46,367 --> 00:43:50,567
The poll you cite, I think
I'll leave it to folks

879
00:43:50,567 --> 00:43:55,367
on the political side
who have looked at that.

880
00:43:55,367 --> 00:43:58,333
There are some -- it's
in pretty stark disagreement

881
00:43:58,333 --> 00:43:59,567
with a
whole series of other polls

882
00:43:59,567 --> 00:44:01,800
by organizations
represented here,

883
00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:07,467
particularly on youth and
the Affordable Care Act.

884
00:44:07,467 --> 00:44:08,633
There are good
polls and bad polls.

885
00:44:08,633 --> 00:44:09,966
It's not worth --

886
00:44:09,967 --> 00:44:11,200
>> The Press:
There's no fear that
he's losing his base?

887
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:12,399
>> Mr. Carney:
Look, it's not about
fear or whatever.

888
00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:14,700
There is no question that
the problems we've had with

889
00:44:14,700 --> 00:44:21,133
implementation of the Affordable
Care Act have created obstacles

890
00:44:21,133 --> 00:44:23,299
in the way of our efforts here.

891
00:44:23,300 --> 00:44:26,066
I think a poll today --
something I saw today said that

892
00:44:26,066 --> 00:44:30,667
basically the percentage of
Americans who want to repeal

893
00:44:30,667 --> 00:44:32,433
the Affordable Care
Act has not changed at all

894
00:44:32,433 --> 00:44:33,567
in the last couple of months,

895
00:44:33,567 --> 00:44:38,600
and I think that speaks
to the kind of entrenched

896
00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,900
political nature
of this debate

897
00:44:42,900 --> 00:44:44,767
over the past several years.

898
00:44:44,767 --> 00:44:49,232
So it has always been in our
view the case that you have

899
00:44:49,233 --> 00:44:54,333
to set aside those issues,
those political issues,

900
00:44:54,333 --> 00:44:58,300
and focus on delivering
the benefits of the law.

901
00:44:58,300 --> 00:44:59,934
And we've been
talking about that.

902
00:44:59,934 --> 00:45:06,467
I talked about the improvements
in health care costs,

903
00:45:06,467 --> 00:45:08,867
the reduction in the growth
of health care costs that we've

904
00:45:08,867 --> 00:45:10,533
seen since the Affordable
Care Act was passed.

905
00:45:10,533 --> 00:45:13,033
That's a sort
of macro deliverable

906
00:45:13,033 --> 00:45:14,299
from the Affordable Care Act.

907
00:45:14,300 --> 00:45:17,533
But we talked about preexisting
conditions and the fact

908
00:45:17,533 --> 00:45:19,799
that the Affordable Care Act,
beginning January 1st,

909
00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:22,166
ensures that no one with
a preexisting condition

910
00:45:22,166 --> 00:45:23,400
can be denied insurance.

911
00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:26,633
And already for a long time now

912
00:45:26,633 --> 00:45:27,734
because of the
Affordable Care Act,

913
00:45:27,734 --> 00:45:31,133
children with preexisting
conditions have not --

914
00:45:31,133 --> 00:45:34,734
cannot be denied, have not
been able to be denied coverage.

915
00:45:34,734 --> 00:45:38,133
So we're focused on
delivering the benefits.

916
00:45:38,133 --> 00:45:44,066
We know from similar data that
breaks down what people say

917
00:45:44,066 --> 00:45:46,232
they like and want
in health care reform

918
00:45:46,233 --> 00:45:49,900
that the benefits
are broadly supported.

919
00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:55,333
And we've seen, because of the
remarkable resilience and grit

920
00:45:55,333 --> 00:45:57,200
of the American people,

921
00:45:57,200 --> 00:45:58,866
even when they're
trying to get insurance,

922
00:45:58,867 --> 00:46:03,834
that even when we,
because of the troubles we've

923
00:46:03,834 --> 00:46:08,066
caused with the healthcare.gov
site that it was entirely

924
00:46:08,066 --> 00:46:11,966
incumbent upon us to fix,
that they're still there

925
00:46:11,967 --> 00:46:18,266
demonstrating in high volume the
fact that they believe that this

926
00:46:18,266 --> 00:46:22,367
is something they need and want
and want to know more about.

927
00:46:22,367 --> 00:46:23,934
So that's why we're
focused on delivering

928
00:46:23,934 --> 00:46:24,967
those benefits to them.

929
00:46:24,967 --> 00:46:30,400
We'll see down
the road how people view

930
00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:31,400
the Affordable Care Act

931
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:33,834
and the benefits
that it provides.

932
00:46:33,834 --> 00:46:35,165
Right now, we're going to just

933
00:46:35,166 --> 00:46:37,367
get about the business
of delivering.

934
00:46:37,367 --> 00:46:38,867
Dow Jones.

935
00:46:38,867 --> 00:46:40,166
>> The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

936
00:46:40,166 --> 00:46:43,000
I know you have said and the
President has said he wants to

937
00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:44,066
extend unemployment insurance.

938
00:46:44,066 --> 00:46:46,332
Do you have ideas about
how to pay for that?

939
00:46:46,333 --> 00:46:49,200
I know that Jason Furman told
Reuters in an interview today

940
00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:52,700
that the White House has
ideas for paying for it.

941
00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:55,100
>> Mr. Carney:
I think we've
put forward a plan.

942
00:46:55,100 --> 00:46:59,200
I mean, this is something that
we're not new to the game on.

943
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:03,700
And I would just point --
I don't have the details of it.

944
00:47:03,700 --> 00:47:07,066
I know that we're looking to
Congress to do what it has

945
00:47:07,066 --> 00:47:10,500
in the past, which is sit down

946
00:47:10,500 --> 00:47:12,200
and figure out a
way to get this done

947
00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:15,232
because of the
need not to throw --

948
00:47:15,233 --> 00:47:21,000
the imperative of not depriving
or withholding benefits

949
00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:24,734
to over a million families
right after Christmas, A;

950
00:47:24,734 --> 00:47:29,567
B, because of the
economic impact, positive impact

951
00:47:29,567 --> 00:47:31,967
that supplying these
benefits would provide.

952
00:47:31,967 --> 00:47:39,266
So I can take the question and
point you to Jason and others

953
00:47:39,266 --> 00:47:40,800
who have more detail on it.

954
00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:42,133
Zack.

955
00:47:42,133 --> 00:47:43,133
>> The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

956
00:47:43,133 --> 00:47:44,299
Two questions.

957
00:47:44,300 --> 00:47:47,266
First of all, earlier you
observed that job creation

958
00:47:47,266 --> 00:47:49,433
started around the
passage of the ACA.

959
00:47:49,433 --> 00:47:51,066
Are you suggesting any
relationship there?

960
00:47:51,066 --> 00:47:53,633
Or if not, why mention it?

961
00:47:53,633 --> 00:47:57,299
>> Mr. Carney:
As I said, I'm not suggesting
a direct correlation.

962
00:47:57,300 --> 00:47:59,333
>> The Press:
So why mention it?

963
00:47:59,333 --> 00:48:01,066
>> Mr. Carney:
Because there is an
argument out there --

964
00:48:01,066 --> 00:48:05,165
and I'm, again,
in a charitable mood today,

965
00:48:05,166 --> 00:48:07,400
so I'm not going to spend
a lot of time on it --

966
00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:09,200
but there is an argument
out there that the ACA

967
00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:10,332
is a job killer,

968
00:48:10,333 --> 00:48:16,533
and the data would
suggest otherwise.

969
00:48:16,533 --> 00:48:19,533
I'm not saying it's
creating these jobs,

970
00:48:19,533 --> 00:48:21,100
but there's been an
argument out there that the ACA

971
00:48:21,100 --> 00:48:25,100
is going to drive people
into part-time employment.

972
00:48:25,100 --> 00:48:26,366
But the data --
you've got to --

973
00:48:26,367 --> 00:48:27,600
it's one thing
to make an argument.

974
00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:28,900
You've got to back
it up with some data.

975
00:48:28,900 --> 00:48:30,767
And the data suggests
the opposite,

976
00:48:30,767 --> 00:48:33,133
or suggests that
that is not true,

977
00:48:33,133 --> 00:48:36,399
because there's
been very positive --

978
00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:40,300
the trend is very positive when
it comes to increasing full-time

979
00:48:40,300 --> 00:48:42,467
employment versus
part-time employment.

980
00:48:42,467 --> 00:48:43,934
In fact, the recovery
from this recession,

981
00:48:43,934 --> 00:48:46,166
the percentage of people
going into full-time jobs

982
00:48:46,166 --> 00:48:48,934
rather than part-time jobs
is actually better than average.

983
00:48:48,934 --> 00:48:51,266
So again, I'm not saying

984
00:48:51,266 --> 00:48:52,500
that's because of
the Affordable Care Act,

985
00:48:52,500 --> 00:48:54,000
but I'm saying
that the arguments

986
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:55,266
that the Affordable Care Act

987
00:48:55,266 --> 00:48:58,333
is causing these
problems don't hold up

988
00:48:58,333 --> 00:48:59,834
when you look at that data.

989
00:48:59,834 --> 00:49:01,500
>> The Press:
And my second question is,

990
00:49:01,500 --> 00:49:05,800
in March and in September, when
we faced continuing resolution

991
00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:07,934
and government
shutdown questions,

992
00:49:07,934 --> 00:49:09,567
the White House
set a standard of,

993
00:49:09,567 --> 00:49:13,233
if negotiations to find
something better fail,

994
00:49:13,233 --> 00:49:14,800
we won't ever
advocate a shutdown,

995
00:49:14,800 --> 00:49:18,100
we will let current
law take place.

996
00:49:18,100 --> 00:49:21,400
Is that the position
going forward?

997
00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:23,800
>> Mr. Carney:
We believe that
it's a good time

998
00:49:23,800 --> 00:49:25,967
not to predict failure.

999
00:49:25,967 --> 00:49:30,767
So we think that Congress ought
to do what it's been doing,

1000
00:49:30,767 --> 00:49:35,600
which is working collaboratively
to reach a compromise

1001
00:49:35,600 --> 00:49:37,600
and a budget arrangement.

1002
00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:43,700
So we certainly oppose
a shutdown, and I think --

1003
00:49:43,700 --> 00:49:46,600
I'm certain that
our view of what happened

1004
00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:51,033
in September and October has not
changed and will always apply,

1005
00:49:51,033 --> 00:49:58,066
which is that the harm done by
a shutdown is wholly unnecessary

1006
00:49:58,066 --> 00:50:02,767
and was a decision made for
pretty expressively political

1007
00:50:02,767 --> 00:50:06,433
reasons back in September
and October by Republicans

1008
00:50:06,433 --> 00:50:10,066
that turned out to be very
bad for the economy.

1009
00:50:10,066 --> 00:50:12,332
Jared.

1010
00:50:12,333 --> 00:50:15,100
>> The Press:
For the jobs numbers
that are out today,

1011
00:50:15,100 --> 00:50:18,066
the President,
even just a couple days ago,

1012
00:50:18,066 --> 00:50:20,299
in the economic
speech at THEARC,

1013
00:50:20,300 --> 00:50:23,700
we're not seeing new policy
initiatives being pushed out

1014
00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:25,165
by the White House.

1015
00:50:25,166 --> 00:50:29,467
So is the President comfortable
with the decrease

1016
00:50:29,467 --> 00:50:31,233
in unemployment as it has been?

1017
00:50:31,233 --> 00:50:32,667
>> Mr. Carney:
Not at all.

1018
00:50:32,667 --> 00:50:34,266
>> The Press:
Or does he want to whittle
it down sooner or faster

1019
00:50:34,266 --> 00:50:35,266
or at a greater pace?

1020
00:50:35,266 --> 00:50:36,934
And what's he doing
to achieve that?

1021
00:50:36,934 --> 00:50:38,266
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, I appreciate the question,

1022
00:50:38,266 --> 00:50:40,367
and I would point you
to what the President said

1023
00:50:40,367 --> 00:50:41,934
the other day.

1024
00:50:41,934 --> 00:50:44,133
We need to invest
in our infrastructure.

1025
00:50:44,133 --> 00:50:47,000
Republicans used to support
that with Democrats.

1026
00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:48,133
We needed to get that done.

1027
00:50:48,133 --> 00:50:53,667
We need to -- when
the President has put forward

1028
00:50:53,667 --> 00:50:56,433
an idea of doing that,

1029
00:50:56,433 --> 00:50:59,667
and also lowering our corporate
tax rate and eliminating

1030
00:50:59,667 --> 00:51:03,266
loopholes in a way that
would be a better bargain

1031
00:51:03,266 --> 00:51:05,200
for jobs in this country.

1032
00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:08,567
We need to invest
in universal pre-K.

1033
00:51:08,567 --> 00:51:12,633
We need to continue to do the
things that the President

1034
00:51:12,633 --> 00:51:18,734
has put forward to attract
jobs to America from overseas

1035
00:51:18,734 --> 00:51:23,033
and to bring home jobs
from American companies

1036
00:51:23,033 --> 00:51:24,232
that are located overseas,

1037
00:51:24,233 --> 00:51:26,100
bring them home,
to build on those trends.

1038
00:51:26,100 --> 00:51:28,232
We need to continue to build on
the trends, the positive trends,

1039
00:51:28,233 --> 00:51:34,467
we've seen in the manufacturing
sector in this country,

1040
00:51:34,467 --> 00:51:39,533
represented by the automobile
companies but also by a host

1041
00:51:39,533 --> 00:51:43,033
of other positive signs and
developments in manufacturing.

1042
00:51:43,033 --> 00:51:46,533
So, no, the President
is not the least bit satisfied

1043
00:51:46,533 --> 00:51:48,667
or complacent with where we are.

1044
00:51:48,667 --> 00:51:51,066
That's why he really believes
that we ought to have

1045
00:51:51,066 --> 00:51:57,265
a spirited conversation
about what are we going to do

1046
00:51:57,266 --> 00:51:58,767
to reduce inequality,

1047
00:51:58,767 --> 00:52:00,399
what are we going
to do to increase

1048
00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:02,266
the number of jobs overall,

1049
00:52:02,266 --> 00:52:05,333
but in particular the
number of jobs that pay

1050
00:52:05,333 --> 00:52:09,200
a middle-class wage and provide
middle-class security

1051
00:52:09,200 --> 00:52:10,567
to families across the country.

1052
00:52:10,567 --> 00:52:16,667
And he said in that
speech that he believes

1053
00:52:16,667 --> 00:52:21,299
that we can get some
of this done with Congress.

1054
00:52:21,300 --> 00:52:25,333
And where Congress
refuses to move,

1055
00:52:25,333 --> 00:52:29,000
he will take action
that he can on his own,

1056
00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:32,633
because this is his
fundamental preoccupation.

1057
00:52:32,633 --> 00:52:34,366
>> The Press:
Is he waiting until
the State of the Union

1058
00:52:34,367 --> 00:52:36,734
or some other future
date to roll out

1059
00:52:36,734 --> 00:52:38,433
a specific legislative package?

1060
00:52:38,433 --> 00:52:40,734
I just feel
like Congress is --

1061
00:52:40,734 --> 00:52:44,433
>> Mr. Carney:
Jared, I promise not to bore you

1062
00:52:44,433 --> 00:52:46,367
with the numerous
legislative proposals

1063
00:52:46,367 --> 00:52:47,734
that are already out there,

1064
00:52:47,734 --> 00:52:49,333
reflected in his
budget and elsewhere,

1065
00:52:49,333 --> 00:52:51,767
that would grow jobs now
and create the foundation

1066
00:52:51,767 --> 00:52:54,399
for further job growth
in the future.

1067
00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:57,500
He noted that in his speech,
that he has a number

1068
00:52:57,500 --> 00:53:03,033
of proposals that he
will again focus on --

1069
00:53:03,033 --> 00:53:05,033
because, as I was noting,

1070
00:53:05,033 --> 00:53:08,900
a lot of them are of
the nature that in the past

1071
00:53:08,900 --> 00:53:12,233
have enjoyed bipartisan support
and should in the future.

1072
00:53:12,233 --> 00:53:16,100
And he looks forward to --
he calls on everyone in Congress

1073
00:53:16,100 --> 00:53:19,533
of both parties
to put forward ideas.

1074
00:53:19,533 --> 00:53:21,567
If they have ideas that
they think are better,

1075
00:53:21,567 --> 00:53:23,900
that they disagree with
the President's approach

1076
00:53:23,900 --> 00:53:26,600
to narrowing the gap
that we've seen,

1077
00:53:26,600 --> 00:53:31,467
the growing gap when
it comes to inequality,

1078
00:53:31,467 --> 00:53:36,133
or increasing upward
mobility, he's all ears,

1079
00:53:36,133 --> 00:53:41,399
and looks forward to
having that conversation.

1080
00:53:41,400 --> 00:53:42,400
Zack.

1081
00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:45,066
I mean, sorry,
Isaac, and then --

1082
00:53:45,066 --> 00:53:47,700
>> The Press:
Has the President given
any new consideration --

1083
00:53:47,700 --> 00:53:49,567
>> Mr. Carney:
I called on Zack already.

1084
00:53:49,567 --> 00:53:51,000
>> The Press:
It's all right.

1085
00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:53,367
>> Mr. Carney:
You guys kind of look
alike, do you know that?

1086
00:53:53,367 --> 00:53:54,367
[laughter]

1087
00:53:54,367 --> 00:53:55,567
>> The Press:
Thanks.

1088
00:53:55,567 --> 00:53:57,867
>> The Press:
He went to the
same high school --

1089
00:53:57,867 --> 00:53:58,867
>> Mr. Carney:
Really?

1090
00:53:58,867 --> 00:54:00,300
>> The Press: Yes.

1091
00:54:00,300 --> 00:54:01,467
Has the President given any new
consideration to the executive

1092
00:54:01,467 --> 00:54:03,133
order proposed to
raise the minimum wage

1093
00:54:03,133 --> 00:54:04,533
on federal contractors?

1094
00:54:04,533 --> 00:54:05,533
>> Mr. Carney:
We strongly believe --

1095
00:54:05,533 --> 00:54:07,165
and I neglected to
mention this, Jared,

1096
00:54:07,166 --> 00:54:09,066
and this gives me
the opportunity --

1097
00:54:09,066 --> 00:54:12,165
that Congress ought to act
on the longstanding precedent of

1098
00:54:12,166 --> 00:54:15,100
bipartisan cooperation when it
comes to raising the minimum

1099
00:54:15,100 --> 00:54:19,866
wage, because that will have
an immediate positive impact

1100
00:54:19,867 --> 00:54:23,967
on the lives of millions of
Americans and on our economy.

1101
00:54:23,967 --> 00:54:26,000
And as the President
noted the other day,

1102
00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:31,834
the counterarguments upon
scrutiny don't hold up,

1103
00:54:31,834 --> 00:54:36,000
as studies show about
raising the minimum wage.

1104
00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:37,767
So we ought to do that
as soon as possible.

1105
00:54:37,767 --> 00:54:39,633
So he thinks there
is the opportunity,

1106
00:54:39,633 --> 00:54:42,165
given the history here, given
the interest that has been

1107
00:54:42,166 --> 00:54:45,533
expressed by some Republicans
in getting this done to do it,

1108
00:54:45,533 --> 00:54:48,299
and to demonstrate
to the American people

1109
00:54:48,300 --> 00:54:51,667
that we here in Washington
can take action.

1110
00:54:51,667 --> 00:54:54,200
Remember, the studies out there
show it doesn't have an adverse

1111
00:54:54,200 --> 00:54:56,834
impact on businesses or
job creation or growth --

1112
00:54:56,834 --> 00:54:57,866
quite the contrary.

1113
00:54:57,867 --> 00:55:02,667
And it doesn't cost
the taxpayer to do it.

1114
00:55:02,667 --> 00:55:04,734
So we ought to do it.

1115
00:55:04,734 --> 00:55:06,900
>> The Press:
But progressives in Congress
say that he should lead

1116
00:55:06,900 --> 00:55:09,400
by example on the federal
contractors in raising

1117
00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:12,133
the minimum wage there,
doing something that he can do

1118
00:55:12,133 --> 00:55:15,700
on his own, and not waiting
for Congress to act.

1119
00:55:15,700 --> 00:55:17,633
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, I think I've
said, broadly speaking,

1120
00:55:17,633 --> 00:55:20,100
not addressing this, that the
President is always looking

1121
00:55:20,100 --> 00:55:22,567
for ways to move the
ball forward where Congress

1122
00:55:22,567 --> 00:55:24,100
won't work with him to do that.

1123
00:55:24,100 --> 00:55:26,667
But he believes this is an
opportunity for Congress to work

1124
00:55:26,667 --> 00:55:30,734
with him in concert towards
a goal that will help

1125
00:55:30,734 --> 00:55:32,633
millions of Americans
and help the economy.

1126
00:55:32,633 --> 00:55:34,232
>> The Press:
So he won't sign it before --

1127
00:55:34,233 --> 00:55:36,934
>> Mr. Carney:
I'm not going to speculate
about a hypothetical like that.

1128
00:55:36,934 --> 00:55:38,700
I think his focus,
as he said the other day,

1129
00:55:38,700 --> 00:55:40,734
is on Congress taking action.

1130
00:55:40,734 --> 00:55:42,033
Yes, sir.

1131
00:55:42,033 --> 00:55:43,200
>> The Press:
Jay, just to follow
up on something else

1132
00:55:43,200 --> 00:55:46,066
the President said on that,
I guess you call it,

1133
00:55:46,066 --> 00:55:47,066
TV talk show yesterday.

1134
00:55:47,066 --> 00:55:48,133
[laughter]

1135
00:55:48,133 --> 00:55:50,466
He said he was going
to be proposing some --

1136
00:55:50,467 --> 00:55:51,934
>> Mr. Carney:
It's not like
a newfangled thing.

1137
00:55:51,934 --> 00:55:53,233
[laughter]

1138
00:55:53,233 --> 00:55:54,867
>> The Press:
I don't know exactly
what that show was.

1139
00:55:54,867 --> 00:55:57,333
I watched it, but I couldn't
quite figure it out.

1140
00:55:57,333 --> 00:55:59,533
But he said he was
going to be proposing

1141
00:55:59,533 --> 00:56:00,967
some self-restraint on the NSA.

1142
00:56:00,967 --> 00:56:03,533
Where does that process stand?

1143
00:56:03,533 --> 00:56:04,667
>> Mr. Carney:
It's underway.

1144
00:56:04,667 --> 00:56:10,933
And the President is
continuing to review ideas.

1145
00:56:10,934 --> 00:56:13,333
And I think
it's important that he noted

1146
00:56:13,333 --> 00:56:19,233
an important point yesterday --

1147
00:56:19,233 --> 00:56:21,066
it's not well said --
but he made an important point

1148
00:56:21,066 --> 00:56:24,933
yesterday that I know he
believes deeply that the work

1149
00:56:24,934 --> 00:56:29,367
done by NSA and others
in our intelligence agencies

1150
00:56:29,367 --> 00:56:33,266
is vital to keeping America
and Americans safe,

1151
00:56:33,266 --> 00:56:36,000
as well as keeping
our allies safe,

1152
00:56:36,000 --> 00:56:37,300
and we can't lose sight of that.

1153
00:56:37,300 --> 00:56:42,633
But I think the President said
in those comments yesterday

1154
00:56:42,633 --> 00:56:44,834
things that reflected and echoed
what he said in the past

1155
00:56:44,834 --> 00:56:49,767
about things that we can do
and reforms that we can make

1156
00:56:49,767 --> 00:56:55,533
that are wise, without
forgetting the fundamental

1157
00:56:55,533 --> 00:56:59,165
mission that is undertaken
by our intelligence community

1158
00:56:59,166 --> 00:57:03,333
is designed to and does make
Americans and America safer.

1159
00:57:03,333 --> 00:57:05,400
>> The Press:
We understand he's going
to get a report next week

1160
00:57:05,400 --> 00:57:09,000
from the advisory group
that he named about the NSA.

1161
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:11,333
Is that sort of
the pivot point on --

1162
00:57:11,333 --> 00:57:14,066
>> Mr. Carney:
I just don't have any
scheduling announcements

1163
00:57:14,066 --> 00:57:16,500
on that issue to provide today.

1164
00:57:16,500 --> 00:57:20,033
But he's actively
engaged in this process.

1165
00:57:20,033 --> 00:57:21,266
Cheryl.

1166
00:57:21,266 --> 00:57:22,734
>> The Press:
Since we're talking
about legislative

1167
00:57:22,734 --> 00:57:25,066
agenda, after the shutdown
there were three things

1168
00:57:25,066 --> 00:57:26,667
that the President
said he wanted to see --

1169
00:57:26,667 --> 00:57:27,700
immigration reform,

1170
00:57:27,700 --> 00:57:29,332
a farm bill and a budget.

1171
00:57:29,333 --> 00:57:31,934
And the House is about to leave.

1172
00:57:31,934 --> 00:57:34,467
Is there any sort of
timetable on those,

1173
00:57:34,467 --> 00:57:37,133
or is there any
way to get those,

1174
00:57:37,133 --> 00:57:39,899
or is it just
an ongoing process?

1175
00:57:39,900 --> 00:57:46,100
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, we talked about budget
negotiations that are underway.

1176
00:57:46,100 --> 00:57:52,066
And when it comes to
the farm bill and the effort

1177
00:57:52,066 --> 00:57:53,866
to pass comprehensive
immigration reform,

1178
00:57:53,867 --> 00:57:56,200
the President still believes
that Congress can act

1179
00:57:56,200 --> 00:57:57,767
and should act as
soon as possible,

1180
00:57:57,767 --> 00:58:02,366
and could act right away --

1181
00:58:02,367 --> 00:58:04,300
the House could --
when it comes to these issues.

1182
00:58:04,300 --> 00:58:05,834
So on the farm bill --

1183
00:58:05,834 --> 00:58:08,100
>> The Press:
They could, but
they're not with us.

1184
00:58:08,100 --> 00:58:11,100
>> Mr. Carney:
Well, that's a shame
if that's the case.

1185
00:58:11,100 --> 00:58:14,232
They're not gone yet, and they
ought to do something between

1186
00:58:14,233 --> 00:58:18,033
now and their departure that
could signal to the American

1187
00:58:18,033 --> 00:58:22,533
people that, in the
case of the farm bill,

1188
00:58:22,533 --> 00:58:27,933
that we have all the necessary
elements of that important

1189
00:58:27,934 --> 00:58:31,300
legislation taken care of on
behalf of our agricultural

1190
00:58:31,300 --> 00:58:36,100
sector as well as on behalf of
Americans who depend on food

1191
00:58:36,100 --> 00:58:38,333
and nutrition assistance.

1192
00:58:38,333 --> 00:58:40,734
And when it comes to
comprehensive immigration

1193
00:58:40,734 --> 00:58:42,967
reform, as I've said
in the past and conservatives

1194
00:58:42,967 --> 00:58:44,166
have said in the past,

1195
00:58:44,166 --> 00:58:49,500
there are many things about
comprehensive immigration

1196
00:58:49,500 --> 00:58:53,934
reform that conservatives
could take to the hustings

1197
00:58:53,934 --> 00:58:55,300
and make a strong case for,

1198
00:58:55,300 --> 00:58:56,900
including strong
economic growth;

1199
00:58:56,900 --> 00:59:00,500
including bringing people out
of the shadows and making sure

1200
00:59:00,500 --> 00:59:05,500
that they get to the back of the
line in the process to become

1201
00:59:05,500 --> 00:59:08,567
citizens and that they're
paying all their taxes;

1202
00:59:08,567 --> 00:59:11,400
including holding businesses
accountable so that everybody

1203
00:59:11,400 --> 00:59:14,667
plays by the same set of rules;
including and making further

1204
00:59:14,667 --> 00:59:16,500
improvements to our
border security;

1205
00:59:16,500 --> 00:59:19,000
including making necessary
reforms to our legal immigration

1206
00:59:19,000 --> 00:59:22,467
system so that our high-tech
industries in particular

1207
00:59:22,467 --> 00:59:28,367
can take advantage of the talent
that we see in American

1208
00:59:28,367 --> 00:59:32,233
universities with foreign
students who want to stay here,

1209
00:59:32,233 --> 00:59:35,266
want to start businesses,
want to go work for startups.

1210
00:59:35,266 --> 00:59:39,200
So there's a lot to like in
comprehensive immigration reform

1211
00:59:39,200 --> 00:59:43,232
and a lot that Republicans
and conservatives could like.

1212
00:59:43,233 --> 00:59:44,700
And a lot of
Republicans support it.

1213
00:59:44,700 --> 00:59:45,799
Let's not lose sight of that.

1214
00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:49,367
It passed the Senate with
a bipartisan majority,

1215
00:59:49,367 --> 00:59:50,533
a strong one.

1216
00:59:50,533 --> 00:59:55,366
It has support from across
the political spectrum --

1217
00:59:55,367 --> 01:00:00,633
law enforcement, evangelicals,
business, labor.

1218
01:00:00,633 --> 01:00:06,332
It has support from very,
very senior Republican lawmakers

1219
01:00:06,333 --> 01:00:11,867
and a former
President and governors.

1220
01:00:11,867 --> 01:00:17,367
So there's a real opportunity
here for getting something

1221
01:00:17,367 --> 01:00:22,900
significant done for our economy
and our future that could be

1222
01:00:22,900 --> 01:00:26,400
heralded as a bipartisan
success story.

1223
01:00:28,433 --> 01:00:29,767
Ann, I'll give you the last one.

1224
01:00:29,767 --> 01:00:30,767
>> The Press:
Thank you very much.

1225
01:00:30,767 --> 01:00:31,933
Back on the NSA.

1226
01:00:31,934 --> 01:00:33,333
When the President volunteered
the phrase yesterday

1227
01:00:33,333 --> 01:00:36,967
that he will recommend
"self-restraint" on the NSA,

1228
01:00:36,967 --> 01:00:41,033
does that indicate that even if
he hasn't gotten this report yet

1229
01:00:41,033 --> 01:00:44,799
that he believes the NSA's
overall surveillance program is

1230
01:00:44,800 --> 01:00:48,066
important enough that he doesn't
think it needs to be reined

1231
01:00:48,066 --> 01:00:52,533
in to the extent that many of
those who worry about --

1232
01:00:52,533 --> 01:00:54,900
>> Mr. Carney:
Is this like a dissection
of different verbs?

1233
01:00:54,900 --> 01:00:57,300
I think what he
said is pretty clear

1234
01:00:57,300 --> 01:00:59,667
and I think it
reflects his belief --

1235
01:00:59,667 --> 01:01:02,133
as I was saying
earlier to Peter --

1236
01:01:02,133 --> 01:01:06,200
that there are steps that we can
and should take to make sure,

1237
01:01:06,200 --> 01:01:08,899
as he has said
in the past, that we're not --

1238
01:01:08,900 --> 01:01:11,900
that we are doing
everything we need to do

1239
01:01:11,900 --> 01:01:13,033
and collecting
all the information

1240
01:01:13,033 --> 01:01:15,567
that we need to collect --

1241
01:01:15,567 --> 01:01:18,000
because we should collect
it for our safety and security

1242
01:01:18,000 --> 01:01:20,967
and because we
should and can do it

1243
01:01:20,967 --> 01:01:23,066
within the confines of the law,

1244
01:01:23,066 --> 01:01:27,265
but that we're not doing
it just because we can.

1245
01:01:27,266 --> 01:01:32,867
And that's the sort of umbrella
under which these reviews have

1246
01:01:32,867 --> 01:01:37,767
been taking place and how
he is evaluating the options

1247
01:01:37,767 --> 01:01:40,567
available to him when
it comes to the changes

1248
01:01:40,567 --> 01:01:42,500
that are going to be made.

1249
01:01:42,500 --> 01:01:43,467
Thanks, all.

1250
01:01:43,467 --> 01:01:44,667
Have a great weekend.

1251
01:01:44,667 --> 01:01:47,933
I will -- we'll get you a
week ahead as soon as we can

1252
01:01:47,934 --> 01:01:50,700
and more information about
next week as soon as we can.

1253
01:01:50,700 --> 01:01:52,700
Take care.