both sides have policy
differences, and you respect these policy differences. How can
you reconcile them without violating your own principles?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, that's the essence of what Congress tries to
do every year. It's not unusual for there to be policy differences.
What's unusual is for those policy differences to not be bridged, at
a time when hundreds of thousands of Americans are unemployed, and
the economy needs a stimulus to get it going again. Our economy is
in recession.
And that's why -- I say it again -- the President simply cannot
imagine that the Senate would leave town, and go on recess, while
leaving the economy in recession. It's too important to the
unemployed workers of this country, and to the economic strength of
our country, that an agreement be reached. And that's why the
President has called on Senate leaders and the congressional leaders
to get their job done.
Q But if they fail to reach agreement on a broader stimulus
package, will the President at least request extension of
unemployment for 13 weeks?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I'm not going to engage in hypothetical
guesses. The Senate has a job to do. The President wants to help the
Senate to get it done this week.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
MR. FLEISCHER: Thank you.
END 1:10 P.M. EST