For Immediate Release Office of the
Press Secretary October 18, 2002
Press Gaggle by Ari Fleischer Aboard Air
Force One En route Springfield, Missouri
9:30 A.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good morning. All right. The
President began his day with an intelligence briefing before
he left the White House. He also signed into law the continuing
resolution funding the government through November 24th -- I want to
return to that topic in -- through November 22nd, I want to return
to that topic in a second.
The President will campaign today on behalf
of Jim Talent's race for the Senate, and Dan Clemens race for the
State Senate, which is an important race in Missouri, which could
determine control of the State Senate. He will speak in Springfield.
And in his speech, both in Springfield and in Minnesota I
anticipate that you will hear a new element to the President's
remarks, where he is now going to start to bring home the message on
a state-by-state specific basis about what tax relief has meant to
the people of Missouri, of Minnesota. Specifically, he'll talk about
how much money has been saved by families in Missouri, in Minnesota,
as a result of the child tax credit, as a result of the income tax
cut, as the result of the death tax relief, marriage penalty relief,
child credit relief. So it's a way of bringing home to people in the
states what tax relief means to them.
The President will leave Missouri, where he will then head to
Rochester, Minnesota, where he will campaign on behalf of Norm
Coleman, as well as Tim Pawlenty, candidate for governor.
Before I take your questions, I want to just advise you about a
couple things. One, the President this morning signed
the continuing resolution into law. For the first time in
probably a decade, Congress has left town before an election without
going on a spending spree using taxpayer's money. Typically, when
Congress leaves, they pay an exit fee, where spending is increased
above and beyond what the Congressional budget authorized, and the
taxpayers are always the victims.
This year, the chain was broken. There's a new sheriff in town,
and he's dedicated to fiscal discipline. And Congress for the first
time in a decade has listened to the new sheriff.
Also -- and on that we have a fact sheet we can distribute that
shows the spending patterns of recent years compared to this year.
We'll get that for you, but Claire Buchan has it.
The President today will also tape a message for the people of
Australia, to note the tragedy that took place in the terrorist
attack in Bali. It will be a message of sympathy and solidarity with
the people of Australia. We'll distribute to you the remarks that
the President will make.
And, finally, in the radio address that you will get tonight, it
will be a news-making radio address. The radio address
is going to focus on pension protections for Americans. The
President is going to focus and take action on the domestic economy.
The President will talk about the importance of strengthening the
retirement security of America's workers. More than 40 million
Americans saved for their retirement through 401(k) accounts. These
are an integral part part of how the American people plan for their
future.
The President will announce action that is going to be taking
place on Monday, by his administration, to protect people's
pensions. And so through the regular rule making process of the
federal government, action will be taken. The action will be
announced on Monday by the Department of Labor. The President will
get into the specifics of it tonight in his radio address. So I want
to highlight that for you.
Q The State Senator that he's campaigning for is Dan Clemens. Can
you spell "Dan" and "Clemens"?
MR. FLEISCHER: Dan, d-a-n, as in Dan Bartlett, but it's not Dan
Bartlett, it's Dan Clemens, but it's as if Dan Bartlett --
Q C-l-e-m-m-o-n-s?
MR. FLEISCHER: C-l-e-m-e-n-s. It's Dan as in Dan Bartlett, it's
Clemens, as in Roger Clemens -- not to be confused with Roger
Bartlett.
Q Are you guys close to a deal on the U.N.,
and will we see the U.S. resolution soon?
MR. FLEISCHER: The talks with the United Nations and our allies
are going well. The talks are ongoing. There's more work to do. But
talks are going well.
Q Are we going to see the proposal soon, though? I mean, by next
week, do you think?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to make any predictions as far as
the day. The U.N. is always hard to predict. It remains a diplomatic
effort. There remain discussions that are taking place -- and
they're important discussions. There's no telling what their final
outcome will be. We are hopeful the outcome will be a good one.
Q Do you have any evidence that shows that Pakistan provided
intelligence regarding nuclear -- making a nuclear
weapon to North Korea?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to comment specifically about that
report. But let me give you this information to be helpful. Since
September 11th, we've developed a very different relationship with
many of the countries on whom North Korea traditionally relies for
technology, economic and diplomatic support. These countries want
good and improved relations with the United States, and they have no
interest in a nuclearized North Korea.
We also have close allies to whom North Korea is turning in
desperation for economic health. These nations also want a good
relationship with the United States. They, too, don't have an
interest in a nuclearized peninsula. We have alliances that we will
work with, through, to talk about these issues and about how to deal
with any threats to the region. North Korea depends on outside help
to sustain its collapsing economic system and to feed its people.
North Korea has an interest to make certain that the regional
neighbors don't view North Korean actions with alarm.
So taken together, we have an opportunity to begin to address
this problem with an international coalition and we're going to work
with our allies and friends and partners on it.
Hearing no --
Q You were speaking of the continuing resolution as
something of a victory. Now, earlier you were saying how it
was a disastrous situation that they weren't passing the spending
bills. Is that a difference there?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't remember anybody saying it was disastrous
that they weren't spending -- passing the spending bills --
Q You were calling on them to pass them --
MR. FLEISCHER: -- compared to previous congresses they weren't
getting their work done, which is a fact. They haven't passed the
appropriation bills --
Q -- the result?
MR. FLEISCHER: Here's where it stands. It is a clear break from
the recent pattern. It's notable. It is a change in how Washington
has done its business. For years, particularly in the '90s, Congress
would leave town under great pressure from the President to break
the budget and spend more money. Congress would call paying an exit
fee in order to get out of town. And Congress would violate its own
budget and bid up spending, taking money from the taxpayers on all
kinds of government programs, in return for being able to leave
town.
Since President Bush insisted on fiscal discipline, Congress so
far has not busted the budget. That's the --
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm getting there. The good news is, typically the
most pressure to spend comes before an election. Because of the
President's leadership on fiscal discipline, Congress resisted the
urge to spend more taxpayer money before the election. That's the
good news.
The bad news is, we're not out of the woods yet. Congress is
going to return for an unusual lame duck session, and there's no
telling how that will turn out. But the trend has been broken. The
greatest pressure comes immediately before an election. And it's
worth noting. The President campaigned on changing the tone in
Washington and changing Washington's big spending ways is an
important way to change the tone.
And the numbers are dramatic. The average amount of spending the
Congress has done, above and beyond what they promised in their own
budget for the last decade is $29 billion a year. This year, they
held the line prior to the election. And the taxpayers are the
beneficiaries. The only reason it has happened is because President
Bush put his foot down and said, Congress you need to exercise
fiscal discipline.
You make a valid point: we are not out of the woods yet. A lame
duck is looming, let's see what happens. But there's good news so
far.
Q But, essentially, the numbers are low also because they've only
done two appropriations bills?
MR. FLEISCHER: Absolutely. Yes. But the continuing resolutions
were clean. And in the past Congress jammed through those
appropriation bills knowing they could get more money attached to
them. One of the reasons they didn't jam them through is because the
President was protecting the taxpayers. And that's why it's an
unfinished story -- there's no doubt about it. But the trend has
been the Congress busts its own budget prior to the election. That
trend is broken.
Q Also when you talk about Bush put his foot down and there's a
new sheriff in town and they're listening to the sheriff, there are
several other issues on which they, you know, completely blew him
off. He asked for terrorism insurance, you know, two Fridays ago. He
asked for a defense appropriations bill, you know, first and
foremost. They thumbed his nose at him.
So how can you claim that, you know, he's put his foot down and
Congress has followed along, when there are all these other failures
at which they said, take a hike, we're going to do what we want to
do?
MR. FLEISCHER: My remarks were directed at the appropriation
process. I had began it by saying the President signed a C.R. this
morning and the issue is domestic spending. Of course, there are
other issues where the Congress has not done everything the
President asked. But it is a verifiable fact that, on the
appropriations, where taxpayers' dollars are spent, the trend has
been broken, the spending streak has been snapped prior to an
election.
Now, on defense appropriations, they passed it and the President
will sign it. He's looking forward to signing it. The President said
it's important for Congress to pass defense appropriations first,
Congress listened to the President. I believe the same is true on
military construction. I'll have to verify that.
So they did listen to the President on the appropriations
process. Terrorism insurance, we're still working it. We'll see if
we are able to, even now as Congress is in somewhat of a stage of
adjournment, subject to the call of the Chair, whether terrorism
insurance can cross the finish line. That remains an open question
even this morning.
Now there are other issues, homeland security, where, of course,
there still remain differences between the President and the
Congress. No one is saying that the Congress has agreed to
everything the President has asked for, they haven't. But you have
to measure change where change occurs. And on spending, change has
occurred.
Q Back on North Korea, were the countries
that provided assistance I realize you're not naming them that
provided assistance to North Korea, do they risk being cut off from
U.S. assistance?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, yes, since September 11th, many things that
people may have done years before September 11th or some time before
September 11th, have changed. September 11th changed the world and
it changed many nations' behaviors along with it. And don't read
that to be any type of acknowledgment of what may or may not be
true. But September 11th did change the world.
Q So are you willing to sort of forgive and forget, given that
things are different now?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't think that's a fair way to describe
things. The United States is committed to anti-proliferation and
we're going to work hard to make that the case in all regions of the
world.
Q Are you offering any more particulars on the radio address? Is
that all we're going to hear today?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, because this gaggle is on the record and it's
immediately usable. So I cannot get into the substance of what the
President will announce. But I do want to bring reporters' attention
to the fact it will be a newsworthy radio address.
Q And now Carnahan supported the tax cut, I
think, right?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't recall.
Q I'm just wondering how that how that will work with sort of
rolling out the the advantages of the tax cut today? So that is that
being done in the context of the Talent campaign or
MR. FLEISCHER: -- going to state the economic facts, and that is
that the tax cut has benefitted the people of all 50 states and
he'll have specific information for the people of Missouri and
Minnesota.
Q Is the threat alert status going to stay the same
today?
MR. FLEISCHER: We look at it every day and if there's a change,
we'll let you know.
Q Do you anticipate a change today?
MR. FLEISCHER: Dick, I can't go beyond that. It's always looked
at and if there's anything there, I'll let you know. If there's
anything there, you'll be advised.
Q If you have something to announce, will you announce it?
MR. FLEISCHER: If we have something to announce, we will announce
it. Anything else?
Q Do you have any numbers for how much we're going to be raising
here at these two fundraisers?
MR. FLEISCHER: They're not fundraisers.
Q Are we done with fundraisers? Will there be any others?
MR. FLEISCHER: Right now it looks like we have one more party
fundraiser, but clearly that phase is, if not over, almost over. One
party fundraiser remains. And now it's really, get out the vote,
support the candidates.
Q Is the President pleased with his fundraising success, record
breaking --
MR. FLEISCHER: The President is pleased by the amount of support
the American people have shown for the candidates, his agenda that
he supports, yes.
Q Ari, have you been following the Doonsbury strip this week?
MR. FLEISCHER: I like to look at each of my days beginning with a
cartoon, indeed. I have. I am a strong supporter of increased per
diems worldwide for all working people. (Laughter.)
Q Thanks a lot.
MR. FLEISCHER: Are we done? It's hilarious. (Laughter.)
Q Can you give us some background on the --
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me --
Q In addition to his pension proposal that's already in --
MR. FLEISCHER: What I want to -- I'm going to walk through a little more detail on the radio address to help
people, but understanding the information, on a substantive level,
will not come out until tonight, in its usual embargoed farm.
Q Is this on or off the record?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is on the record.
Earlier this year the President made five proposals to help
protect retirement savings for America's workers. The Congress took
action on two. It has failed to take action on three. The President
urges the Congress to finish its work, so people can have fully
protected pensions. But the government is moving forward, and will
take action on the areas where Congress has already passed laws. We
want to move forward aggressively, to be helpful and to protect
people's pensions.
Also, the President will use his administrative authorities to
take action on the domestic front. And you will hear that in the
radio address tonight.
Q I don't understand.
MR. FLEISCHER: The domestic agenda is always important. The
President will act on it. This involves rule making, I said.
Q So he's acting on the two that they've passed, as you say?
MR. FLEISCHER: -- I said it earlier. This involves the Department
of Labor and its rule making authority on Monday.
Q On the two that Congress has already acted on, you said.
MR. FLEISCHER: Correct.
Q Why not do something on the three that they haven't?
MR. FLEISCHER: Laws have to be passed in order for action to be
taken. Congress must act. Congress' failure to act -- and in this
case, the House acted, the Senate did not. The Senate has failed to
move on the domestic agenda.
Q Can you help us out with which two Congress has acted on or
which three they haven't, those of us that don't remember what his
pension security --
MR. FLEISCHER: That will be part of the radio address tonight.
Q Why is rule making such a -- why is that news making? You have
to make rules anyway to implement the law. So --
MR. FLEISCHER: Because without the rules, the pensions aren't
protected. Congressional action alone doesn't protect a pension, but
congressional action gives authority to the executive branch to take
the steps necessary to protect people's pensions.
Q So it's standard operating procedure that you then go make
rules, it's just you're going to make also news at the same time by
--
MR. FLEISCHER: Rule making is essential to getting the job done.
Thanks, everybody.
* * * * *
MR. DECKARD: All right. This afternoon the
President will head to Camp David, where he will spend the
rest of the weekend. Monday morning the President will sign the
Sudan Peace Act in the Roosevelt Room.
Q Sorry?
MR. DECKARD: Monday morning the President will sign the Sudan
Peace Act in the Roosevelt Room. That afternoon the President will
meet with the NATO Secretary General in the Oval Office.
Tuesday the President will travel to Downingtown, Pennsylvania
and Bangor, B-a-n-g-o-r, Maine, where he will make remarks at
welcome rallies before returning to Washington, D.C.
Wednesday the President will participate in a roundtable and make
remarks on child exploitation at the White House. Thursday the
President will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, Columbia, South
Carolina, and Auburn, Alabama, to make remarks at welcome rallies,
before heading to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Q Can you do that one again?
MR. DECKARD: Yes, ma'am. Thursday, the President will travel to
Charlotte, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina and Auburn,
Alabama, to make remarks at welcome rallies before heading to his
ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Friday, the President and Mrs. Bush will host the President of
China and Mrs. Wang at Prairie Chapel Ranch. The two Presidents will
have a private meeting, and then their wives will join them for a
social lunch.
Saturday morning the President will depart for Los Cabos, Mexico,
for the 10th APEC leaders meeting.
Q Well said.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END 9:53 A.M. EDT
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