Hi, all. Today's report features:
President's Remarks on Shooting of U.S. Service Members: "I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place and in working with German authorities to ensure that all of the perpetrators are brought to justice."
National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal: President Obama makes the presentations in a ceremony at the White House.
President's Statement on Bhatti Assassination: The President condemns the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti.
The First Lady: On NEA's Read Across America Day, First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan read "Green Eggs and Ham" to students at the Library of Congress; Mrs. Obama's remarks at “Let's Move” Healthier U.S. School Challenge Program conference call.
2011 Commencement Challenge: Singer Nick Jonas urges high schools to apply for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge.
Investing in Auto Communities: Labor Secretary Solis talks about the Administration's role in the reviving auto industry.
White House Press Briefing: Mr. Carney is joined by the President, who makes a statement on the shooting of U.S. service members in Germany, and OMB Deputy Director Jeff Zients, who talks about the Accountable Government Initiative that will raise billions of dollars by selling unused federal property.
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS ON SHOOTING OF U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS
White House, March 2, 2011:
President Obama on the Tragic Events In Germany
Office of the Press Secretary, March 2, 2011:
Remarks by the President on Shooting of American Service Members in Germany
THE PRESIDENT: I want to take a brief moment just to say a few words about a tragic event that took place earlier today in Frankfurt, Germany.
I'm saddened and I am outraged by this attack that took the lives of two Americans and wounded two others. I think the American people are united in expressing our gratitude for the service of those who were lost. Michelle and I have their family and their friends in our thoughts and prayers and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.
I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place and in working with German authorities to ensure that all of the perpetrators are brought to justice.
We don't have all the information yet, and you will be fully briefed as we get more information. But this is a stark reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that our men and women in uniform are making all around the world to keep us safe, and the dangers that they face all around the globe.
So I think it’s fair to say that on behalf of the American people we want to extend our deepest condolences to these families. And we will give you further updates as we get more information about it.
Q: Anything on Libya?
Q: Will you take a question on Libya, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: I will have a chance to take some questions tomorrow. President Calderón from Mexico will be here, and so I'll give you guys a chance to ask a couple of questions on some of these other pressing topics. All right? Thank you.
NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS AND NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL
White House, March 2, 2011:
The 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Ceremony
President Obama awards the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal in a ceremony at the White House.
Office of the Press Secretary, March 2, 2011:
Remarks by the President Awarding the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everyone. Please -- please, have a seat. Thank you. Well, hello, everybody. It is wonderful to have all of you here.
I want to make mention of some folks in particular that have helped us to celebrate the arts and the humanities for many years. First of all, if I’m not mistaken, our Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, a great champion of the arts, is here. There she is. (Applause.) Thank you, Nancy.
The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman, is here. Where’s Rocco? There he is. (Applause.) The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Jim Leach, is here. (Applause.) The two most powerful people in the White House -- Jill Biden and Michelle Obama -- are here. (Laughter and applause.)
And two recipients who were unable to be here, but who we love, I want to make sure to acknowledge: Meryl Streep and Harper Lee could not be here today, but they will be receiving their awards as well. So please give them a round of applause. (Applause.)
I was just told by my wife that I went off program because originally we were supposed to get everybody seated and I was supposed to then come in and make my formal remarks. And I bulled my way through to go ahead and see the honorees before they came out here to sit down because these are extraordinary people. One of the great joys of being President is getting a chance to pay tribute to the artists and authors, the poets and performers, who have touched our hearts and opened our minds -- or, in the case of Quincy Jones and James Taylor, set the mood. (Laughter.)
One of the people that we honor today, Joyce Carol Oates, has said, “Ours is the nation, so rare in human history, of self-determination; a theoretical experiment in newness, exploration, discovery.” That's what we do.
And for more than two centuries, this experiment has been conducted by revolutionaries and pioneers; by immigrants who braved hardship and inventors who tested new ideas; soldiers who fought for our freedom, and ordinary citizens who marched for their rights.
But we are here today because these men and women were not alone in these struggles. With them were the stories that sparked their imaginations; the poetry and the music that inspired their causes; the works of art and literature that spoke to their condition, and affirmed their desire for something more.
And I speak personally here because there are people here whose books or poetry or works of history shaped me. I've got these thumb-worn editions of these works of art and these old records where they were still vinyl, Sonny -- (laughter) -- before they went digital that helped inspire me or get me through a tough day or take risks that I might not otherwise have taken. And I think what's true for me is true for everyone here and true for our country.
The fact is that works of art, literature, works of history, they speak to our condition and they affirm our desire for something more and something better.
It was the writings of Thomas Paine that General Washington ordered his men to read before crossing the Delaware. It was spirituals sung by slaves around a campfire that helped to keep hope alive. We can think of the protest songs that tell the story of the civil rights movement, the photographs from the Great Depression that showed how folks were suffering but also how they were striving.
Time and again, the tools of change, and of progress, of revolution, of ferment -- they’re not just pickaxes and hammers and screens and software, but they’ve also been brushes and pens and cameras and guitars.
And the arts and the humanities help us through the hard times and they remind us of what make the good times worthwhile. After all, the goal doesn’t always have to be so lofty. Sometimes, we just need a break, a chance to laugh or escape from the moment.
So all of the individuals that we honor today are part of this tradition. We can point to their performances -- on stage or on film -- that we carry with us forever because we’ve been so moved. We can think of the novels that have chronicled the American experience -- from the streets of Newark to the courts of Alabama. How many young people have come to see the senseless cruelty of racism -- and the importance of standing up for what’s right -- through the eyes of a girl named Scout? How many young people have learned to think by reading the exploits of Portnoy and his complaints? (Laughter.)
We also remember the art that challenged our assumptions; the scholarship that brought us closer to the events of our history; the poetry that we loved -- or at least the poetry that we might recite to a girlfriend to seem deep. (Laughter.) Of course, we still hum the great songs by the musicians in this room -- songs that in many cases have been the soundtrack of our lives over decades.
And that’s why I’m so proud to have this opportunity to celebrate the contributions that all of you have made to our country. It’s why we have to remember that our strength as a people runs deeper than our military might; it runs deeper than our GDP -- it’s also about our values and our ideals that each generation is called to uphold, and that each artist helps us better understand.
And it’s also about the capacity of the arts and the humanities to connect us to one another. In a nation as big as ours, as diverse as ours, as full as debate and consternation as it sometimes is, what the people we honor here today remind us of is that kernel of ourselves that connects to everyone else and allows us to get out of ourselves, to see through somebody else’s eyes, to step in their shoes. And what more vital ingredient is there for our democracy than that?
In 1962, in the last months of his life, the poet Robert Frost was dispatched by President Kennedy to visit the Soviet Union. And it was a gesture of goodwill. Frost traveled and gave readings, filling venues all across Russia. What he really wanted to do, though, was have a chance to talk to Khrushchev. Frost was a poet, but he was also a pretty tough guy.
It wasn’t until the end of his trip that the meeting was arranged. And when they met, even though Frost was frail and sick, he decided he had to speak his mind to the Soviet leader. And Frost stood up and he said, “A great nation makes great poetry.” And then he told Khrushchev that he should reunite East and West Berlin.
A great nation should make great poetry. Like so many artists and musicians and writers and poets before him -- and so many that came after him -- Robert Frost wasn’t afraid to say his piece or speak truth to power. He wasn’t afraid to tell what was on his mind. He wasn’t held back by convention or what was considered normal or acceptable.
And that is an incredible power, an incredible resource. And we’re seeing that power all across the world today. That’s what challenges us. That’s what pushes us to be better, to be more faithful to the sense of humanity that so often can be lost in the experiences of our daily lives.
Pissarro once said, “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places.” That is the blessing of those that we honor here today, and we are blessed that they are able to share what they see and what they hear.
So now it is my privilege to present these medals to our recipients in both the arts and the humanities. (Applause.)
MILITARY AIDE: The 2010 National Medal of Arts recipients:
Robert Brustein. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Robert Brustein for his contributions to the American theatre as a critic, producer, playwright, and educator. As the founder of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Theatre and Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, and as the former theatre critic for The New Republic since 1959, Mr. Brustein has been a leading force in the develop of theatre and theatre artists in the United States. (Applause.)
Van Cliburn. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Van Cliburn for his contributions as one of the greatest pianists in the history of music, and as a persuasive ambassador for American culture. Since his historic 1958 victory at the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Mr. Cliburn has reached across political frontiers with the universal message of beautiful music. (Applause.)
Mark di Suvero. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Mark di Suvero for his achievements as one of the most prominent American artists to emerge from the Abstract Expressionist era. Exhibited throughout the world, Mr. di Suvero’s exemplary sculptures depict a strong political and social vision, demonstrating the power of the arts to improve our world. (Applause.)
Donald Hall. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Donald Hall for his extensive contributions to American poetry. Through an illustrious career and as a Poet Laureate of the United States from 2006 to 2007, Mr. Hall’s work has inspired Americans and enhanced the role of poetry in our national life. (Applause.)
Accepting for Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Ella Baff. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival for contributions to the development of dance in the United States. As America’s longest running international dance festival, thousands of people of all ages from across the United States and the world have Jacob’s Pillow to thank for opening their horizons to dance. (Applause.)
Quincy Jones. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Quincy Jones for his extraordinary contributions to American music as a musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. As a master inventor of musical hybrids, he has mixed pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies, and television. (Applause.)
Sonny Rollins. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to Sonny Rollins for his contributions to American jazz music. Widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-bebop era, Mr. Rollins’ melodic sensibilities, playing style, and solos have delighted audiences and influenced generations of musicians for over 50 years. (Applause.)
James Taylor. (Applause.) The 2010 National Medal of Arts to James Taylor for his remarkable contributions to American music. His distinctive voice and masterful guitar playing are among the most recognized in popular music and his expansive catalogue of songs has had a profound influence on songwriters and music lovers from all walks of life. (Applause.)
The 2010 National Humanities Medal recipients, accepting for Daniel Aaron, Anna Mundow Aaron. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Daniel Aaron for his contributions to American literature and culture. As the founding president of the Library of America, he has helped preserve our nation’s heritage by publishing America’s most significant writing. (Applause.)
Bernard Bailyn. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Bernard Bailyn for illuminating our nation’s early history and pioneering the field of Atlantic history. Dr. Bailyn’s two Pulitzer Prize-winning works, The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution and Voyagers to the West, have opened minds to the story of our country’s earliest days. (Applause.)
Accepting for Jacques Barzun, Marguerite Barzun. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Jacques Barzun for his distinguished career as a scholar, educator, and public intellectual. One of the leaders in the field of cultural history, Dr. Barzun’s decades of teaching and dozens of books have engaged countless readers across our nation. (Applause.)
Wendell E. Berry. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Wendell E. Berry for his achievements as a poet, novelist, farmer, and conservationist. The author of more than 40 books, Mr. Berry has spent his career exploring our relationship with the land and community. (Applause.)
Roberto González Echevarría. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Roberto González Echevarría for his contributions to Spanish and Latin American literacy -- literary criticism. His path-breaking Myth and Archive: a Theory of Latin American Narrative is among the widely cited scholarly works in Hispanic literature. (Applause.)
Stanley Nider Katz. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Stanley Nider Katz for a career devoted to fostering public support for the humanities. As president of the American Council of Learned Societies for more than a decade, he’s expanded the organization’s programs and helped forge ties among our libraries, museums and foundations. (Applause.)
Joyce Carol Oates. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Joyce Carol Oates for her contributions to American letters. The author of more than 50 novels, as well as short stories, poetry and nonfiction, Ms. Oates has been honored with the National Book Award and the PEN/Malamud Award for excellence in the art of short story. (Applause.)
Arnold Rampersad. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Arnold Rampersad for his work as a biographer and literary critic. His award-winning books have profiled W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Jackie Robinson and Ralph Ellison, and he has edited critical editions of the works of Richard Wright and Langston Hughes. (Applause.)
Philip Roth. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Phillip Roth for his contributions to American letters. Mr. Roth is the author of 24 novels, including Portnoy’s Complaint and American Pastoral, which won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize, and his criticism has appeared in our leading literary journals. (Applause.)
Gordon Wood. (Applause.) The 2010 National Humanities Medal to Gordon Wood for scholarship that provides insight into the founding of our nation and the drafting of the United States Constitution. Dr. Wood is author and editor of 18 books, including The Radicalism of the American Revolution, for which he earned a Pulitzer Prize. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is entirely appropriate for all of us to stand and give a warm congratulations to the recipients of these awards. (Applause.) Not the recipients -- you don't have to stand. (Applause.)
Well, congratulations to all the recipients. We’re going to take some quick pictures with them, and then usually we have a party around here. (Laughter.) Our Marine Band is very good and the food is pretty good around here too. So enjoy yourselves and thanks again for helping us to celebrate these extraordinary men and women of letters and the arts. Thank you.
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT ON BHATTI ASSASSINATION
Office of the Press Secretary, March 2, 2011:
Statement by the President on the Assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti
I am deeply saddened by the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti today in Islamabad, and condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific act of violence. We offer our profound condolences to his family, loved ones and all who knew and worked with him. Minister Bhatti fought for and sacrificed his life for the universal values that Pakistanis, Americans and people around the world hold dear – the right to speak one’s mind, to practice one’s religion as one chooses, and to be free from discrimination based on one’s background or beliefs. He was clear-eyed about the risks of speaking out, and, despite innumerable death threats, he insisted he had a duty to his fellow Pakistanis to defend equal rights and tolerance from those who preach division, hate, and violence. He most courageously challenged the blasphemy laws of Pakistan under which individuals have been prosecuted for speaking their minds or practicing their own faiths. Those who committed this crime should be brought to justice, and those who share Mr. Bhatti’s vision of tolerance and religious freedom must be able to live free from fear. Minister Bhatti will be missed by all who knew him, and the United States will continue to stand with those who are dedicated to his vision of tolerance and dignity for all human beings.
THE FIRST LADY
White House, March 2, 2011:
The First Lady & Secretary Duncan Read To Students
First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan read the Dr. Seuss classic "Green Eggs and Ham" to students at the Library of Congress.
National Education Association, March 2, 2011:
Happy Read Across America Day!
First Lady Michelle Obama Leads the Nation in Reading
The First Lady and NEA President Dennis Van Roekel welcome a star-studded lineup of readers and 400 local schoolchildren to the Library of Congress today for the national kickoff of NEA's Read Across America. Who's grabbed a hat to read with the Cat? Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Jessica Alba, Superbowl champion Donald Driver, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi and chefs Carla Hall and Mike Isabella, designer Camila Alves and actors Bridget Moynahan, Jeffrey Ray Valdez, and Mehcad Brooks, along with journalists Norah O'Donnell and Luke Russert.
U.S. Tennis Association Atlanta, March 2, 2011:
Let's Move with Michelle Obama
Office of the First Lady, March 2, 2011:
Remarks By The First Lady At “Let's Move” Healthier U.S. School Challenge Program Conference Call
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, Melody. Thank you so much for that kind introduction, but more importantly thank you for all of your outstanding work. We love you so much. You’re working so hard for this administration, for the East Wing, for the entire White House, for the country. She is amazing.
I also want to thank Secretary Duncan as well as Secretary Vilsack for their leadership and their passionate commitment to the health and well being of our young people. They have been tremendous partners to me on these efforts. We would not be where we are today without their leadership.
And I also want to thank Becke Bounds for joining us on the call today and for the difference that she’s making for so many young people down in Mississippi where we got a chance to visit a few months ago.
And finally, I want to thank all of you on this call –- education leaders from all across the country –- for everything that you’ve done to make this first year of “Let’s Move” such a tremendous success.
More than just about anyone else, all of you on this call know what’s at stake here. You know the impact that nutrition and exercise have on our kids’ academic performance. You know from firsthand experience that our kids need time to run around and play before they can settle down and concentrate. You know that they need something other than chips and candy before they can focus on math and reading.
And you know that the nutrition education that you provide in your schools is often the only guidance they get on making healthy decisions about what they eat.
The reality is that our schools are on the frontlines of our efforts to fight childhood obesity. And every day, with the decisions that you all make, you’re shaping our children’s habits and preferences, and affecting the choices they’ll make for the rest of their lives.
That’s why many of you have been leading by example. So many of you are revamping your schools’ physical education curricula. You’ve been raising standards for the food that you serve in your lunchrooms. You’re partnering with community groups that care about our kids. You’re expanding best practices throughout your school systems.
And I know that in these times that all this isn’t easy, especially given the budget challenges that many of us are -- that you all are facing, shrinking budgets and limited resources. And I know that right now a lot of school districts are struggling just to provide the basics.
And that's why one of our missions of "Let's Move" is to do everything that we can to give folks like all of you the support you need to do your jobs.
And that starts by helping more schools participate in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge. That’s one of the main reasons we wanted to host this call today, get you all together, because we want to highlight the tools. We want to highlight the technical assistance that's available to leaders like all of you who want to get your schools involved in this program.
As you all know, this challenge is a great way for schools to create healthier environments for kids. It sets concrete goals for more nutritious school food. It creates goals for regular physical activity and for sound nutrition education to help kids make better choices. Schools that complete this challenge can earn monetary rewards. Let me repeat that: Schools that complete this challenge can earn monetary rewards. And we’ll also be inviting representatives from every award-winning school to a very special reception at the White House.
And right now, we’re working to double the number of schools in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge. And with your help -- and we can’t do this without you -- I am hoping that we won’t just meet this goal, but that we will exceed it. That's right. We’re trying to exceed the goal of doubling the number of US Healthier Schools, because ultimately, we want every school in this country to be a HealthierUS School. We want every child in the country to have what they need to learn and to grow and to achieve their dreams. And that's why we work with the nation’s largest school food providers, and they’ve committed to providing better foods in the schools -- more fruits and vegetables and whole grains in their meals, and less sugar, fat and salt.
We’ve also started Chefs Move to Schools, where we’re bringing local chefs into schools to help create healthier menus and to support all of your nutrition education efforts. And through Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, that’s another effort where we’re helping to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables into those lunchrooms through salad bars.
We’re working to promote the President’s Active Lifestyle Award, which recognizes kids who exercise for 60 minutes a day, five days a week for six consecutive weeks. This is a great tool to challenge kids, to get them engaged, to get them moving. Kids always respond to an award. And you can also learn more about the President’s Lifestyle Award by going to presidentschallenge.org. Let me repeat that again. You can learn more about the President’s Active Lifestyle Award by going to presidentschallenge.org.
And finally, we’ve worked very hard -- we’re very proud that we worked with Congress to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. And we will continue to find other ways to support schools as this law is implemented. But we’re very excited that Congress has moved on this issue. It’s going to provide much needed help and support to the schools.
But as far as we’ve come, you all know we still have a long way to go. And that’s where all of you come in. We need more leaders like you to be involved in these programs. The truth is that you all are some of the most important decision-makers in our kids’ lives. And we need more of your ideas, quite frankly. We need your energy. We need your hard work. We need you to keep us focused and moving in the right direction, because we’re not going to stop working on this issue -- I know I’m not -- until we’ve solved this problem of childhood obesity once and for all. And this is something that we can do. This is an issue that we can solve working together. So we’re not going to stop until we know that our schools and our educators have everything they need to give our kids the healthy futures they deserve.
So I am looking forward to working with more of your schools. I’m hoping that through this call this will energize you all to go back into your district to work with the schools that you all have connections with and to get some of the focus on this technical support. We want to get these numbers up. We want to see all these schools joining us here in Washington to celebrate our increased numbers.
So I want to thank you all in advance for the work that you’re going to do. I want to thank you for the work that you’ve done to get us to this point. I visited so many schools around the country, and it is always a joy to see the light in children’s eyes when they’re eating right and they’re exercising. There is truly a difference in the energy in schools that are stepping up to this challenge. And it’s thanks to so many of you that we’re seeing more of these schools.
So, with that, I will stop and we will continue this conversation. But, again, thank you for all your efforts.
2011 COMMENCEMENT CHALLENGE
Nick Jonas on The Commencement Challenge
Musician Nick Jonas visits the White House and takes a moment to talk about the 2011 Commencement Challenge.
White House Blog, March 2, 2011:
Nick Jonas Wants Your School to Apply for the Commencement Challenge
Posted by Katelyn Sabochik
Last week, Nick Jonas took a short break from rehearsing for “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House” to encourage high schools to apply for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge....
Applications for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge will close next Friday, March 11, so don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Public high schools across the country are invited to submit an application and tell us how they are preparing students for college and a career. At the end of competition, the winning school will get to have President Obama deliver its commencement address.
Applying for the Commencement Challenge is easy! The application requires three essays and some information about student achievement that should be readily accessible. The deadline for the competition is March 11 at 11:59 EST. For more information and to get started today, visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement.
INVESTING IN AUTO COMMUNITIES
White House Blog, March 2, 2011:
Going Further with America's Auto Industry
Posted by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
Cars have always been a part of my life. I was raised with two brothers who loved cars and when we were kids, my sisters and I would hear the buzz about the coolest “this” and the fastest “that.” With all the car talk, one would think I would have become an engineer. Two of my sisters did and we joke it's how we got our “drive.”
By far though, my father played the most important role in my familiarity with cars. He taught me how to drive. He insisted that I learn with a stick shift. He told me that it would make me more independent – that it would take me further.
I thought about him when I visited Michigan’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant (where they are building the new Chevy Volt) and the Jeep Supplier Park plant in Toledo, Ohio recently. Both facilities have and continue to be a big beat to the hearts of their communities. And both are a testament to the success of the Obama Administration’s investments in auto communities across the country.
But while we’ve come a long way in the last two years – we too can go further.
These facilities represent what can be done when the interests of business and the well-being of hard working people are combined for a common good. Early on, this administration took immediate action on behalf of the auto community by providing necessary aid to GM and Chrysler, helping the two industry giants eliminate debts and get back to business. President Obama also created the White House Council on Automotive Communities – which I co-chair – to provide attention directly to workers and communities affected by dislocation in the auto industry.
The fact is this administration is addressing the needs of the auto industry from all levels: from the Department of Transportation’s “cash for clunkers” program, to the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loans, to my department’s investment of nearly $170 million to benefit thousands of auto-impacted workers and communities with training and education for next generation jobs.
We are beginning to see the fruits of this labor. Since auto companies have gotten back on their feet, the industry has added more than 63,000 jobs. And just recently, the Detroit “big three” reported that auto sales rose last year for the first time since the recession – a piece of much needed good news and something that has executives optimistic about the year ahead.
During my visits to Detroit and Toledo, I also had the opportunity to see two values that I care deeply about put into practice. After my visit to the Volt plant, I visited Flour Construction’s Heavy Oil Upgrader Project. I was impressed with the culture of safety there, evidenced not just by talking to the plant managers, but from the comments and enthusiasm of the workers. The next day, in Toledo, after driving a new Jeep off the assembly line, I dropped by the Willard and Kelsey Solar Group, a state-of-the-art facility that is making clean and green energy technology.
I came away from my two-day visit more optimistic than ever. Because I saw firsthand what I’ve believed for a very long time: When America builds, America goes further.
P.S. I should add that while in Toledo, I also had to stop at the famed Tony Packo’s restaurant. I’ve signed many things in my life. This was the first time I was asked to sign a hot dog bun!
WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING
White House, March 2, 2011:
White House Press Briefing: President Obama On Shooting in Germany
The President condemns the shooting of U.S. soldiers in Frankfurt, Germany and says that the perpetrators will be brought to justice in an appearance during the White House press briefing.
White House, March 2, 2011:
Office of the Press Secretary, March 2, 2011:
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Federal Chief Performance Officer and the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget Jeff Zients, 3/2/2011
MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Before we get started on taking your questions on other subjects, I have with me today Jeff Zients, the Federal Chief Performance Officer, as many of you know, and the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. He is here today to brief you on our legislative proposal to change the way we manage federal properties so that we can save taxpayers billions of dollars. Jeff will give a short presentation on this proposal and then he is here to take your questions on it.
If you could reserve your questions on other issues so that he can address this particular one, and then we can let him go. I will remain and take your questions on other issues.
With that, I will give you Jeff Zients.
MR. ZIENTS: Thanks, Jay. And thank you all for being here. Good afternoon. As the President said in the State of the Union, we can't win the future with a government of the past. We're here today to talk about a major reform initiative that will modernize how the government manages its real estate. We will cut through red tape and sell property the federal government no longer needs, returning at least $15 billion in taxpayer dollars. Before I give you the specifics on the proposal, let me put it into context. From the beginning of the administration we've been executing on President Obama’s mandate to transform how government works and deliver a government that's smarter, more effective, and more efficient. This is our Accountable Government Initiative.
Over the past two years, the Accountable Government Initiative has saved taxpayer dollars by cutting waste and increasing the efficiency of government operations. For example, we have curbed uncontrolled growth in contract spending. Last year we actually decreased contract spending by $15 billion. This is the first year-over-year decrease in contracting in 13 years.
Likewise, we've saved billions of dollars by improving how government buys and utilizes information technology. We've scaled back and terminated poorly performing IT projects. We've also deployed state-of-the-art fraud detection tools to crack down on waste. Last year alone we avoided $4 billion in improper payments.
To build on these results, the President’s 2012 budget proposed more than 200 program terminations and other reductions. In total, this will save $33 billion. We are targeting areas where programs are duplicative, outdated, or simply ineffective. For example, the budget consolidates 38 K-12 education programs into 11 new programs that use competition and performance to allocate the funds. The budget also calls for reduction, a 40 percent reduction, in the more than 2,000 data centers maintained by federal agencies.
These kinds of measure are necessary and important.
Yesterday, the GAO issued a report highlighting opportunities for the government to save money with specific recommendations for eliminating duplication and increasing efficiencies. We’re on the same page with GAO. There’s a tremendous overlap between GAO’s recommendations and what we’re doing -- things like reducing improper payments, reforming contracting, saving money on information technology, and consolidating and eliminating programs.
The President recently took another important step in streamlining government. At his direction, I’m leading an effort to take a hard look at how federal programs and functions are organized and to make recommendations at how we might reorganize to improve our global competitiveness.
With that background, let me return to real estate. The federal government is far and away the largest property owner in the country -- 1.2 million individual properties. These properties cost over $20 billion a year to operate and maintain. The government doesn’t need all these properties. In fact, 14,000 of these properties have already been designated by agencies as excess. You can see them here on this map.
There are unneeded properties throughout the country, from downtown city centers to suburban shopping districts to rural locations. When you go property by property, you see the properties range from empty warehouses to underutilized office buildings.
Let’s take a look at a couple of examples: Brooklyn, New York. This is a million-square-foot warehouse and a parking lot on six acres in Brooklyn, New York. It’s been sitting empty for the past 10 years, costing the federal government hundreds of thousands of dollars in upkeep. We expect to sell it in the next few months, using an electronic auction to get the highest return for taxpayers.
Fort Worth, Texas -- five buildings on 75 acres. The National Archives has been using it for record storage for the last 25 years. But the buildings had been increasingly underutilized, and today all five are sitting vacant. We expect to sell this property and return millions of dollars to taxpayers.
There are a lot more properties like these around the country, and we should be selling them as soon as possible. There are also properties that have little or no market value, things like surplus supply sheds and outdated FAA towers. We need to get rid of these properties, too, so we can stop wasting taxpayer dollars on maintenance and upkeep.
So why does the federal government continue to own and pay for properties it just doesn’t need? Three main reasons. First: red tape. There are over 20 requirements to sell or get rid of a federal property, each with its own rules, guidelines and bureaucratic processes. It’s all well intentioned and, in some cases, it probably makes sense. But it doesn’t make sense to use the same procedure when you’re selling a small warehouse and when you’re selling a downtown office building.
Second reason: financial barriers. Ironically, agencies often don’t have the money they need to sell a property. They can’t cover the short-term costs, things like moving expenses and transaction costs. This often prevents agencies from capturing the obvious ongoing savings from getting rid of a property they no longer need.
Third reason: political interests. While local politicians and leaders love to reside over ribbon-cutting ceremonies, getting rid of property can be a much less rewarding experience. Not surprisingly, these same leaders are hard-pressed to support the elimination of federal properties in their local areas. Too often these political interests slow down or sometimes, in some cases, completely stop the effort to get rid of unnecessary property.
So red tape, financial barriers, political interests -- that’s why the government owns thousands of properties it doesn’t need and is wasting taxpayer dollars.
Beyond clearing out this backlog of properties the government doesn’t need, there are opportunities to make the federal government’s real estate footprint smaller. Companies in the private sector have made significant changes in how they manage their real estate portfolios, using strategies like telework and co-location, and leveraging the Internet and other technologies. For the most part, government agencies haven’t kept up and still manage their real estate portfolios the way they did in the pre-Internet era.
Last year, the President ordered agency leaders to take aggressive action to reduce their real estate footprint and save money. Agencies are making good progress. The legislative proposal we’re talking about today will significantly expand these efforts. The President’s proposal to Congress will establish an independent board of experts that will expedite disposal of unneeded properties and identify opportunities to consolidate agency offices. The board will present to Congress recommendations on bundles of properties to be voted on in an up or down manner.
This is a proven approach. DOD’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission -- known as BRAC -- proves that having an independent board of experts can push through political gridlock and help government realize savings for taxpayers. The proposed civilian property realignment board will do the same thing and will save at least $15 billion.
We look forward to working with Congress to make this common-sense reform a reality. The proposed civilian property realignment board will finally bring 21st century management practices to federal real estate and will change the way Washington works by cutting red tape, getting rid of waste, and saving billions of dollars.
Questions?
Q: Thank you. You said that 14,000 properties have already been designated by agencies. Can you explain why the board is necessary if they’ve already been -- these properties have already been identified --
MR. ZIENTS: Identification is just the first step in the process. As I mentioned, there’s red tape -- the 20 procedures that agencies have to work through; the lack of financial capabilities to actually sell properties; and then those political obstacles. So the identification is a good first step, but it’s just the first step. And the board will expedite actually getting rid of these properties.
Q: So what is the timeline that we're looking at before you can start realizing some of these savings? And secondly, so you’ve identified these properties -- is the hunt continuing to find additional properties as well?
MR. ZIENTS: Good question. As you saw the two examples, we're doing this right now. So even though we have the red tape and the other challenges, we're plowing forward and selling properties. Those two properties both will be sold in the next few months.
There are another 55,000 properties, beyond the 14,000, that have already been identified as excess, meaning that -- or, sorry, underutilized, as opposed to excess -- meaning there’s potential to consolidate those or sell those as well. So there are tens of thousands of properties that have already been identified. Agencies, working with the board, will continue to identify properties and, most importantly, sell them or consolidate them in rational ways.
I just had a quick one. Do you need congressional approval for any of this?
MR. ZIENTS: Yes....
So this is a proposal that the President is making to Congress and we're hoping that Congress will pass this legislation quickly so we can start implementing on the board....For the board....
The board enables us to cut through the red tape, to cut through the political obstacles, and sell the properties much more quickly and save money much more rapidly. While we're waiting for Congress to pass the legislation we're continuing to sell properties and consolidate our real estate.
Q: Are there any efforts underway to prevent the government from buying any new buildings? Is there any freeze on buying new properties?
MR. ZIENTS: The folks at GSA are very carefully looking at any requests for additional space to see if there’s a way to either not renew a lease or certainly not to build a new building. So the case has to be very compelling and it has to be made in the context of the inventory that we already have.
Q: With your oversight -- with OMB’s oversight?
MR. ZIENTS: OMB works very closely with GSA.
Q: Isn't this a bad time in the economy to be selling buildings?
MR. ZIENTS: You know, the amount of property that we have and that we’ll be disposing of is significant in terms of $15 billion, potential, across three years. At the same time, I don't think this really moves the needle in any individual market. And furthermore, I don't think we’re market timers, and we need to get rid of this real estate, stop paying for unnecessary upkeep, and bring the money back to the taxpayers.
Q: How do you make sure you get the best price?
MR. ZIENTS: I mentioned one of the properties is being sold through an electronic auction the same way you might sell something on eBay. That's been found to create a very efficient market and maximize dollars.
Q: You may have just answered -- the $15 billion is over three years?
MR. ZIENTS: Yes.
Q: And does that include both the profits from -- expected profits from the sale as well as the savings?
MR. ZIENTS: Yes, exactly. That $15 billion would be made up of money that we get from sales, avoided upkeep and other maintenance, and other savings by consolidating the footprint. Energy savings are significant, too.
Q: I hate to be the cynic, but isn’t this a typical government response to streamlining government, creating another government agency?
MR. ZIENTS: There's no agency here.... the whole purpose of the board here is to streamline the process. So the same way BRAC has worked to create an up or down vote and tens of billions of dollars of savings, we envision this process breaking through political barriers and red tape and actually streamlining the process....
It’s a very painful, slow process and oftentimes is actually blocked by political considerations. So this is a way to streamline that process and hopefully have very quick, rapid savings.
Q: Any way we’ll be able to see a full list of the 14,000 properties besides the two examples --
MR. ZIENTS: We’re going to make that public across the next month or so.
Q: You mentioned briefly that you’re also working on a plan to reorganize the government. When is that proposal going to be ready?
MR. ZIENTS: We are at work now and across the next couple of weeks we’ll have an update on that process.
Q: Thanks. I haven’t done my homework on this, but you said that a lot of times local officials oppose closing these buildings. Do you expect that you’ll have trouble in Congress because local folks will lobby against this? Or do you think this is something Congress will do for you?
MR. ZIENTS: I think by bundling the properties and going above the local interests, we’ll have a much better success rate on getting these properties to market....
Q: .... the House government reform committee has oversight over public buildings. Have you reached out to Chairman Darrell Issa on this so far about the legislative proposal?
MR. ZIENTS: This proposal is actually in the President’s fiscal ’12 budget, which went up a few weeks ago and we are now starting to work with the Hill to get bipartisan support. I think there is -- this is a bipartisan issue. Everybody agrees that we shouldn’t have real estate that we don’t have the need for and that we can save energy and return taxpayer dollars. So we anticipate working closely with both Democrats and Republicans to get this legislation done quickly.
Q: And that includes Chairman Issa?
MR. ZIENTS: Sure.
(The President enters.)
MR. CARNEY: -- an honored guest.
THE PRESIDENT: Jeff is doing outstanding work and I hope you guys were taking extensive notes. (Laughter.)
I want to take a brief moment just to say a few words about a tragic event that took place earlier today in Frankfurt, Germany. I’m saddened and I am outraged by this attack that took the lives of two Americans and wounded two others. I think the American people are united in expressing our gratitude for the service of those who were lost. Michelle and I have their family and their friends in our thoughts and prayers, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.
I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place. And I’m working with German authorities to ensure that all of the perpetrators are brought to justice. And we don’t have all the information yet and you’ll be fully briefed as we get more information. But this is a stark reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that our men and women in uniform are making all around the world to keep us safe, and the dangers that they face all around the globe.
So I think it’s fair to say that on behalf of the American people we want to extend our deepest condolences to these families. And we will give you further updates as we get more information about it.
Okay, thanks.
Q: Anything on Libya?
Q: A question on Libya, sir?
Q: Fear of terrorism, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: I will have a chance to take some questions tomorrow. President Calderón from Mexico will be here, and so I’ll give you guys a chance to ask a couple of questions on some of these other pressing topics.
All right? Thank you.
(The President departs.)
MR. CARNEY: Well, you have your lead. (Laughter.) Does anyone have any more questions for Jeff?
Q: Is this something that you’re going to be seeking to fold into whatever budget agreement you have on the continuing resolution or budget for the remainder of the year, part of the administration’s idea of where the cost savings should come from?....
MR. CARNEY: On that stuff, I’ll take that. But if you have anything specifically for Jeff....
Q: Just a quick one. Commercial real estate brokers say that one thing sort of hindering deals now is lack of financing. As you put all this inventory on the market, will the government assist in financing and helping people kind of grease these deals?
MR. ZIENTS: I don’t believe we’ll be providing financing. But again, while $15 billion of real estate is a lot of money to return to taxpayers, it’s not a significant amount of money in the context of the overall commercial real estate market.
Q: What’s to prevent Congress from blocking an entire bundle over opposition to one or two properties within that bundle? Is that any concern that --
MR. ZIENTS: This all has to be done in a fast period of time. It’s 45 days from when the board submits via OMB its recommendation, so the time is limited. If the Congress doesn’t act, then the board’s recommendations are considered done. So the bundle I think is proven in BRAC to be a process -- a process of an up or down vote -- that is an effective process.
Q: So if Congress doesn’t act, that consideration goes away?
MR. ZIENTS: Within 45 days, then it’s considered done....
Q: The two properties that you showed us, and you said you have many more -- is that putting people out and unemployed?
MR. ZIENTS: No, both those buildings are vacant....
Those are vacant buildings. And one of them has been vacant for over 10 years.
Q: Oh, I see.
Q: What about the underutilized? Do you have any estimates on --
MR. ZIENTS: When we have under-utilized space we’ll consolidate offices across the federal government. Too often in the federal government we think bureau or program or agency as opposed to the federal government, so if we have space in one agency, let’s combine that with space in another agency and save you the rental expense or be able to sell the building....
There would be no job losses, in that what we’re doing here is consolidating space, the same way it’s happened in the private sector. Companies that employ lots of people actually have less space now than they had when they employed fewer people because they’re using telework and hoteling and just doing a more efficient job of using their space. Maintaining real estate is very expensive.
MR. CARNEY: Okay, one more.
Q: Do you have properties overseas for sale?
MR. ZIENTS: Yes, in the inventory that we’ve describe we have identified overseas properties. In fact, of the 14,000, a couple thousand of those are overseas....
MR. CARNEY: So I will take questions on -- I can continue talking about the billions of dollars we will save from the sale of under-utilized or unused federal properties, or I can take questions on other issues, if you like.
Let me start. Yes, Matt.
Q: Moving on to something different, first one on Libya, and another on spending bills. Now that Qaddafi is stepping up air strikes in the eastern part of the country, is the U.S. and its allies, are they getting any closer to a decision on whether to establish a no-fly zone? The African Union -- sorry, the Arab League has said that it, in coordination with the African Union, could impose a no-fly zone. Would the U.S. support that as an option?
MR. CARNEY: Well, Matt, I would say what we’ve been saying, which is that the no-fly zone is an option that is being actively considered -- as are other options. We have acted very rapidly to implement an unprecedented series of sanctions at the unilateral level and the multilateral level. We are also, as part of the -- or related to the effort -- or rather, the move by the United Nations to refer what's happening in Libya to the ICC, we are closely using all of our resources to monitor what is happening in Libya to make sure that perpetrators of human rights abuses and atrocities against peaceful civilians are held accountable for their actions. Going forward, other options remain on the table.
And I don't have a response to the specific idea that you mentioned, except that we continue to examine the possibility of a no-fly zone, as we do other options.
Q: The President welcomed the stopgap spending bill, and he said that he wants an agreement that would cut spending and reduce deficits without damaging economic growth. Where does the administration see the potential for common ground that he is urging? And are there any specific cuts that the administration would be willing to contemplate?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I appreciate your question. I think that what's important to remember as we start this new process that the President referenced in his statement, that we have demonstrated, the President has demonstrated his seriousness about reducing spending and his desire to find common ground.
If you take the approximately $100 billion in cuts that H.R. 1, the House proposal for the full fiscal year -- or the remainder of the fiscal year, we have come almost halfway already. We have met them halfway, which in many ways is a perfect definition of an attempt to compromise, when you combine the cuts that existed plus the $4 billion we agreed to in the CR that passed the Senate today -- and the $4 billion I think I mentioned yesterday that we have already identified as additional cuts that we could support.
We can do more and we will look to these negotiations to find the common ground that we believe exists. And we expect that those who are participating in the negotiations in Congress will also demonstrate a willingness to find common ground by, again, moving towards the middle.
Yes, Jake.
Q: The oil prices and how they’ve been skyrocketing up -- what is the administration’s response to Bernanke’s comments yesterday about concern that if they stay up there it could significantly damage the economy?....
MR. CARNEY: We, as you know, are closely monitoring the situation. We are -- the President is extremely aware of the impact that a spike in oil prices can have on gasoline prices and therefore on the wallets and pocketbooks of average Americans, and we are monitoring that closely. I have talked about the fact that we remain confident that the global system has the capacity to deal with major disruptions in oil supply. And we are obviously discussing -- having conversations with international organizations, the IEA, as well as oil-producing states about options related to that capacity.
In terms of who’s in charge of this issue, clearly, our NEC director, Gene Sperling, focuses on this very closely. So does the Treasury Secretary and others. It’s something that, again, we are monitoring very closely.
Q: Can you just explain what some of those options might be?....
MR. CARNEY: Well, there are a variety of possibilities and options that are available to -- not just at the national level, the level of the Unites States, but globally -- to deal with disruptions in oil supplies. I’m not going to get into an analysis of the individual options that are being looked at, except to say that we are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating the options that we have.
Q: One last question. The governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, recently -- I think it was today even -- said that he thinks that this administration wants prices to go up because it will discourage energy consumption. And he pointed to a quote from your Secretary of Energy in which he talked about -- I realize this is before he was the Secretary of Energy -- but Steven Chu in 2008, I believe, talked about how the United States needed to have Europe-like gas prices. Is there anything to that? Is there anything to the administration thinking that it is a long-term good for the administration -- I mean, for the country if prices are high?
MR. CARNEY: Jake, you made the point that that statement was made by Secretary Chu before this administration was ever in office.
Q: It still represents his philosophy.
MR. CARNEY: And -- no, in fact, if you look at some of his testimony, I believe he’s addressed this and renounced the notion that you put forward that somehow what Governor Barbour said is accurate.
This President, this administration, is keenly aware of the impact of high gasoline prices on average Americans, especially in a still recovering economy. And we are monitoring gas prices, and we are also, as you have seen over the past two-plus years, very focused on the need precisely to develop other energy sources so that we are not as dependent on foreign oil as we have been in the past. That is right for economic reasons and right for national security reasons.
So beyond that, I would just say that those comments were clearly made in the context of 2012 presidential politics, so you have to take them, I think, understanding that.
Q: .... Are we actively considering an attack on Libya?
MR. CARNEY: We are actively considering a variety of options. We have not ruled any options out. We selected a number of very tough options that include the sanctions I mentioned earlier, and the actions we’ve taken in concert with out international partners. Other options remain on the table. The fact that the no-fly zone idea is complex does not mean it’s not on the table. So there is not a contradiction between what Secretary Clinton said and Secretary Gates said....
I think that what we have said is that we are actively considering it. We as an administration are actively considering options. We, with our international partners, are actively considering other options in -- with regards with to how we deal with the situation in Libya, and we will continue to do so....
Q: Jay, there are reports that one of those options is formally cutting diplomatic ties to Libya. Is that something that’s being considered?
MR. CARNEY: Without getting into specifics, we have not removed any option from the table.
Q: Jay, as dangerous as the situation is in Libya, some people believe the situation in Yemen is even more so. Today you had the powerful cleric al-Zindani say that he wants to see the country ....
MR. CARNEY: Chip, I would say that the demonstrations we’ve seen in Yemen have largely reflected the same kind of demands by the people of that country for more political participation, and they have not -- I will say that they have been about the legitimate demands for political and economic change in that country.
We have urged President Saleh to address the concerns of his people, and we have noted I believe that he has taken some significant steps in doing that. Beyond that, I don't have comment on the particular --
Q: What about al-Zindani’s claim today -- or his demand today that it become an Islamic state? Aren’t we moving into a new phase in Yemen where it’s not just about freedom?
MR. CARNEY: Well, the fact that one -- again, Chip, that one man has called for the kind of change that he is calling for is not necessarily reflective of the change that Yemenis more broadly are demanding. And obviously, there are a lot of voices out there. But what has been true by and large in these demonstrations in a variety of countries in the region is that they have been broad-based and secular and focused on the kind of democratic reforms that we support.
Q: Can I ask you just one question on the budget? Today, the President said that those budget negotiations will be led by Vice President Biden. But on Capitol Hill, John Boehner was asked again and again, will you commit to sitting down with Vice President Biden, and he would not do it. He said that, I’m waiting for the Senate to come up with a proposal here. Is it your understanding that he’s refusing to sit down with the Vice President until the Democrats have a proposal?
MR. CARNEY: Well, all I will say is that the President made clear that he has called on Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress to begin meeting as soon as possible with the Vice President, the Chief of Staff -- his Chief of Staff, and the Budget Director -- his Budget Director. So that call is out there. We believe and hope that a meeting -- an initial meeting will take place very soon, and I have no further information on precisely when that will happen, but we believe it will take place soon....
Q: Jay, Senator Reid talked about the President using the bully pulpit to talk about spending in terms of this year, the way forward this year. Do we expect the President to actually weigh in on this? Or is he allowing the Vice President to be his point man on this?
MR. CARNEY: Well, Mike, I would simply say that standing here at this podium yesterday, I announced the President had called Speaker Boehner. His engagement was evident in that and it’s been evident in the way that he has spoken with and had his senior staff and Cabinet Secretaries speak with members in Congress, leaders in Congress, to move this process along and to find the common ground that we think exists so that we can cut spending in a responsible and reasonable way that reduces the deficit, compels the federal government to live within its means, even as we continue to invest in the critical areas that allow us to out-innovate, out-build and out-educate the rest of the world and grow our economy and create jobs.
So will he address this again in the future publicly? I’m sure he will. But I don't have an announcement on when that will be.
Q: If the Republicans say, we’ve offered our plan, is a veto threat still out there on what the Republicans have offered?
MR. CARNEY: The President’s statement of administration policy regarding H.R. 1 stands. We cannot accept a proposal that does harm to our capacity to grow the economy and create jobs -- precisely the things that we and leaders of both parties in Congress say that we need to do -- nor can we accept a proposal that potentially undermines our national security.
So there is room for compromise. As I said at the top of these questions, we have already demonstrated, the President has already demonstrated his seriousness about spending cuts. We have -- if you combined the different proposals we have put out there that are on the table and the $4 billion that I mentioned yesterday that we have identified in additional cuts, we have met them halfway already.
So we look forward to negotiations on a long-term deal, through the end of the fiscal year, so that we can do the country’s business efficiently and effectively -- because it is no way to run a business or a government to examine -- to wonder every two weeks if we're going to be able to keep in operation the following week.
So the President very much looks forward to these negotiations beginning to take place towards a long-term deal and he believes that common ground can be found.
Q: Real quick, on the negotiations, is that just on the CR, or will they include things like this property proposal, taxes, anything -- other things?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I believe that Jeff Zients said that the proposal was part of the 2012 budget proposal. But beyond that, I would simply say that the focus of these negotiations -- the President has called on Democratic and Republican leaders to meet with his Vice President, his Chief of Staff, and his Budget Director to address specifically the issue of finding common ground so that we can pass funding for the government with substantial spending cuts that bring us through the end of this fiscal year.
That, of course, does not preclude that when these leaders get together in a room that other topics won't come up. But the focus of the negotiations obviously has to be on the CR.
I'll take one more. Yes, sir, in the back.
Q: In Pakistan a federal minister was shot down today. And in view of the Salman Taseer case, can you give us an assessment of what the President thinks about the situation in Pakistan? And are you receiving cooperation from Pakistan --
MR. CARNEY: In answer to the last part of your question, yes, we continue to work with the Pakistani government to deal with the issue of terrorism and insurgents. But the President feels very strongly that the assassination is a terrible thing and this minister represented the kind of values that we think are vital -- the belief in free speech and freedom of religion. And we express our condolences to his family and our great regret at that tragedy.
Thank you very much.