Hi all. Today's report features:
• President on the Arizona attack: The President denounces the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others.
• Weekly address: The President explains the new benefits from the tax cut compromise.
• December jobs numbers: The economy added more than 100,000 jobs in December.
• State news: One-year anniversary of earthquake in Haiti.
• Interior news: Conservation in the Everglades.
• West Wing Week: A look at the previous week.
• New WH Chief of Staff The President introduces William Daley.
• First Question & press briefing: Mr. Gibbs on his upcoming departure and other issues.
• Energy news: Benefits of geothermal heating and cooling.
• Weekly address: The President resolves to do all he can to get the economy growing and create jobs, and encourages Republicans to embrace their new responsibility to govern.
• West Wing Week: Looking back at 2010.
From the White House, Jan. 10, 2011:
Today at 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time, President Obama is calling on Americans to observe a moment of silence to honor the innocent victims of the senseless tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, including those still fighting for their lives. It will be a time for Americans to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart.
The President, First Lady and White House staff will observe the moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House. You can watch the live stream at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
• THE PRESIDENT ON THE ARIZONA ATTACK •
White House, Jan. 8, 2011:
President Obama on the Arizona Attack and Rep. Giffords
The President denounces the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others in Tucson, Arizona and expresses his hope and prayers for all of the victims and their families.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 8, 2011:
Remarks by the President on the Shootings in Tucson, Arizona
THE PRESIDENT: As many of you are aware, earlier today a number of people were shot in Tucson, Arizona, including several who were meeting at a supermarket with their congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords. We are still assembling all the facts, but we know that Representative Giffords was one of the victims. She is currently at a hospital in the area, and she is battling for her life.
We also know that at least five people lost their lives in this tragedy. Among them were a federal judge, John Roll, who has served America’s legal system for almost 40 years; and a young girl who was barely nine years old.
I’ve spoken to Arizona governor Jan Brewer and offered the full resources of the federal government. A suspect is currently in custody, but we don’t yet know what provoked this unspeakable act. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway, and at my direction, Director Bob Mueller is en route to Arizona to help coordinate these efforts. I’ve also spoken to the Democratic and Republican leaders in the House.
Gabby Giffords was a friend of mine. She is not only an extraordinary public servant, but she is also somebody who is warm and caring. She is well liked by her colleagues and well liked by her constituents. Her husband, Mark Kelly, is a Navy captain and one of America’s valiant astronauts.
It’s not surprising that today Gabby was doing what she always does -- listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbors. That is the essence of what our democracy is all about. That is why this is more than a tragedy for those involved. It is a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for our entire country.
What Americans do at times of tragedy is to come together and support each other. So at this time I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping all the victims and their families, including Gabby, in our thoughts and prayers. Those who have been injured, we are rooting for them. And I know Gabby is as tough as they come, and I am hopeful that she’s going to pull through.
Obviously our hearts go out to the family members of those who have been slain. We are going to get to the bottom of this, and we’re going to get through this. But in the meantime, I think all of us need to make sure that we’re offering our thoughts and prayers to those concerned.
Thank you.
• WEEKLY ADDRESS •
White House, Jan. 7, 2011:
Weekly Address: Tax Cuts Kicking In
The President touts the new benefits coming from the tax cut compromise for any business large or small, tens of millions of workers and families, and the economy itself.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 8, 2011:
Weekly Address: President Obama Touts Benefits of Tax Cut Package to Take Place in the New Year
Last month, our economy added more than 100,000 private sector jobs and the unemployment rate fell sharply. This follows encouraging economic news from increased auto sales to continued expansion of our manufacturing sector.
Now, we know that these numbers can bounce around from month to month. But the trend is clear. We saw 12 straight months of private sector job growth – the first time that’s been true since 2006. The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year. And each quarter was stronger than the last, which means the pace of hiring is picking up.
Now we’re seeing more optimistic economic forecasts for the year ahead, in part due to the package of tax cuts I signed last month. I fought for that package because, while we are recovering, we plainly still have a lot of work to do. The recession rocked the foundations of our economy, and left a lot of destruction and doubt in its wake.
So, our fundamental mission must be to accelerate hiring and growth, while we do the things we know are necessary to insure America’s leadership in an increasingly competitive world and build an economy that will provide opportunity to any American willing to work for it.
I’m absolutely confident we will get there. I am confident, first and foremost, because of you; because of the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs and business owners; the tenacity of our workers; and the determination of the American people. This is what has made our economy the envy of the world. But we have to do everything we can to help our businesses and workers win in this new economy.
Yesterday, I visited the Thompson Creek Window Company, a small business in Maryland. Over the past year, sales there have grown by 55% thanks, in part, to an energy tax credit we created. And this year, they’re also planning to take advantage of a new tax incentive for businesses. For one year, any business, large or small, can write off the full cost of most of their capital investments. This will make it more affordable for businesses like Thompson Creek to expand and hire.
So, if you’re a business owner, I’d encourage you to take advantage of this temporary provision. It will save you money today and help you grow your business tomorrow.
This incentive is part of the economic package I signed into law last month – a package that also includes a payroll tax cut that will mean $1,000 more this year for a typical family. In fact, 155 million workers will see larger paychecks this month as a result of this tax cut.
Twelve million families will benefit from a $1,000 child tax credit and an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Eight million students and families will continue to benefit from a $2,500 tuition tax credit to make college more affordable.
And millions of entrepreneurs in big cities and small towns across the country will benefit not only from the business expensing plan I mentioned, but from additional tax cuts that will spur research and development.
Independent experts have concluded that, taken together, this package of tax cuts will significantly accelerate the pace of our economic recovery, spurring additional jobs and growth.
And that is our mission. That should be the focus, day in and day out, of our work in Washington in the coming months, as we wrestle with a challenging budget and long-term deficits. And I’m determined to work with everyone, Republicans and Democrats, to achieve that goal. What we can’t do is refight the battles of the past two years that distract us from the hard work of moving our economy forward. What we can’t do is engage in the kinds of symbolic battles that so often consume Washington while the rest of America waits for us to solve problems.
The tax cuts and other progress we made in December were a much-needed departure from that pattern. Let’s build on that admirable example and do our part, here in Washington, so the doers, builders, and innovators in America can do their best in 2011 and beyond. Thanks everyone, and have a nice weekend.
• DECEMBER JOBS NUMBERS •
White House, Jan. 7, 2011:
President Obama on December Jobs Numbers
President Obama reports that the economy added more than 100,000 jobs in December and announces that Gene Sperling has been named the Director of the National Economic Council during a visit to Thompson Creek Manufacturing in Landover, MD.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 7, 2011:
Remarks by the President on the December Jobs Report and Economic Personnel Announcements
THE PRESIDENT: ....It is wonderful to be here at Thompson Creek, and I want to thank Rick (Wuest, the CEO and owner of Thompson Creek Manufacturing) for showing me how you manufacture more efficient windows at this factory. This is, as he explained to me, a family business. Rick was just 13 when his father Fred opened the company. And back then, his family lived above the store, and Rick started out sweeping the floors. Three decades later, Thompson Creek has expanded. It’s already outgrown this new 80,000 square-foot facility that it moved into just three years ago. And I’ll bet sometimes Rick still feels like he’s living at the plant. (Laughter.) That’s what happens when you’re in charge.
But building this business has been an extraordinary accomplishment for the Wuest family. And it speaks not only to him -- it also speaks to all the employees here today, the hardworking men and women who make this company work. And it speaks to the promise of America. It’s the idea that if you’ve got a dream and you’re willing to work hard, then you can succeed.
That promise is at the heart of who we are as a people, and it’s at the heart of our economic might. It’s what helps give an entrepreneur the courage to start a business, or a company the confidence to expand. It’s what leads to new products and new ideas, and technologies that have not only made us the world’s largest economy, but also the most innovative economy in the world. Making it possible for businesses to succeed is how we ensure that our economy succeeds and all our people succeed. It’s how we create jobs.
And that’s what’s guided my administration for the past two years. Government can’t guarantee Thompson Creek or any business will be successful, but government can knock down barriers like a lack of affordable credit or high costs for investment or high costs for hiring -- we can do something about that. Government can remove obstacles in your path.
And that’s why we cut taxes for small businesses over the last two years. For example, with a tax break for hiring unemployed workers, Thompson Creek was able to grow its workforce from 200 employees to nearly 300 employees in just one year. And it took advantage of the tax credits that we put into place. We also passed a tax credit for products like energy-saving windows, and that led to a 55-percent boost in the sales at this firm.
Rick was telling me that when that tax credit got into place, the marketing arm of Thompson Creek got busy. (Laughter.) And that's the right -- that exactly what we intended. That's exactly what we wanted to see, is explaining to the American people you can save money on your energy bill, this is a smart thing to do, take advantage of it.
So incentives like these are helping companies across America. And the jobs numbers released this morning reflect that growth. The economy added more than 100,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate fell sharply.
Now, we know these numbers can bounce around from month to month. But the trend is clear. We saw 12 straight months of private sector job growth. That's the first time that’s been true since 2006. The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year. And each quarter was stronger than the previous quarter, which means that the pace of hiring is beginning to pick up. We’re also seeing more optimistic economic forecasts for the year ahead, in part due to the package of tax cuts I signed last month, including a payroll tax cut for workers and a series of tax cuts to encourage investment and innovation and hiring.
And I fought for that package because, even though our economy is recovering, we’ve still got a lot to do. This was a brutal recession that we went through, the worst in our lifetimes. It left a lot of destruction in its wake. More than 8 million jobs were lost. So even though we’ve created 1.3 million jobs and we saved a whole lot of jobs, you’ve still got a whole bunch of folks who are out there looking, still struggling. We've got a big hole that we’re digging ourselves out of.
And so our mission has to be to accelerate hiring and to accelerate growth. And that depends on making our economy more competitive so that we’re fostering new jobs in new industries, and training workers to fill them. It depends on keeping up the fight for every job and every business and every opportunity to spur growth. And so standing with me here today are men and women who will help America fulfill this mission. Let me just introduce each of them.
We’re joined, first of all, by Gene Sperling, who I have appointed Director of the National Economic Council....
Now, one of the reasons I’ve selected Gene is he’s done this before. This is his second tour of duty heading up the NEC, and in his tenure in the Clinton administration during the late ‘90s, he helped formulate the policies that contributed to turning deficits to surpluses and a time of prosperity and progress for American families in a sustained way....
.... I’m pleased to elevate Jason Furman to be principal deputy at the National Economic Council....
Over the past two years, I’ve relied on Jason’s advice and expertise on a range of economic issues, from helping design the emergency steps we took to prevent our economy from sinking into a second depression, to most recently working with Gene and the economic team to pass the tax cut compromise. And I’m confident that he will continue to do terrific work in this greater capacity.
We’re also joined by somebody I’ve come to rely on as an advisor and a friend since my first days as a presidential candidate. Heather Higginbottom is currently the deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council where she’s been the point person on education as we’ve pursued some of the most innovative and important reforms in decades. I’m proud to nominate Heather to now serve as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
And she understands the relationship between numbers on a ledger and the lives of real people. As we make cuts that are necessary to rein in the deficit, I want to make sure I’ve got Heather there so that we’re meeting our fundamental obligations to our people and to our economy as well....
And, finally, I’m nominating Katharine Abraham to the Council of Economic Advisers. Go ahead. (Applause.) Katharine brings a wealth of experience as an economist, as a commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics during the Clinton administration. I am confident that she is going to provide the kind of unbiased, unvarnished advice that will help us craft the best policies to strengthen this economy in the years to come.
Now, part of our mission -- part of this team’s mission -- in the months ahead will be to maximize the steps we’ve taken to spur the economy. And one of the most important is allowing businesses to immediately deduct the entire cost of certain investments like the new equipment that I was taking a look at. This is a policy I fought for over the past two years. We were able to pass it finally as part of the tax cut compromise. It is going to make a real difference for our economy....
So I want to urge all businesses with capital needs to take advantage of this temporary expensing provision, because we expect it to lower the average cost of investment by more than 75 percent for companies like Thompson Creek. It is a powerful new incentive for businesses. It is a great opportunity for companies to grow and add jobs. Now is the time to act.
Companies who are listening out there: If you are planning or thinking about making investments sometime in the future, make those investments now and you’re going to save money. And that will help us grow the economy. It will help you grow your business.
Overall, the decline in the unemployment rate is positive news, but it only underscores the importance of us not letting up on our efforts. So I’m looking forward to working with Heather and Gene and Katharine and Jason and everybody at the White House. We have one focus, and that is making sure that we are duplicating the success of places like Thompson Creek all across the country. We want businesses to grow. We want this economy to grow. And we want to put people back to work.
And I want to promise everybody at Thompson Creek and across the country: We will not rest until we have fully recovered from this recession and we have reached that brighter day.
Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)
• STATE NEWS •
Department of State, Jan. 7, 2011:
Press Briefing on Haiti
Counselor Cheryl Mills and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah brief the press on the upcoming one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., January 7, 2010.
Department of State, Jan. 7, 2011:
Briefing on the One-Year Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti
Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, and Cheryl Mills, Counselor
Ms. Mills:... I think one of the reasons why Haiti is such an enduring power is that it has really the ability to transcend even in the face of an extraordinarily challenging framework. If you think about where Haiti started even before the earthquake, that you had a country where 80 percent of the people were living on less than $2 a day, the unemployment rate was in excess of 70 percent, and 50 percent of the young people – children – were not in school, and less than 12 percent had access to electricity; you started in a fundamentally very challenged place. And yet, Haiti has always captivated – certainly in our country – the imagination and also the community and the natural relations that are built through the diaspora of how to think about the connections that would be necessary to actually help Haiti be the Haiti it seeks for its future.
When we think about what the earthquake did in terms of the toll that it took not only of human lives of more 200,000 people and injuring 300,000, but also on the terms of what it means to strike at the heart of a capital in terms of losing your – so many public servants and also losing the facilities that actually – they actually get up and work in each day. It also created a loss of an opportunity for people to even gather in their normal place – their homes, right? Because so many people almost – certainly in excess of a million and a half of them, lost their homes. We began at a very, almost unimaginable place.
Raj will be able to speak to you and certainly answer questions about the success that I think the leadership of USAID was able to provide in our rescue and relief effort with respect to how we were a partner to Haiti in its most trying hour of need and what was actually accomplished in that space.
I want to focus on the fact that today we still have a lot of other challenges that still are there for a moment, and then, obviously, answer a lot of questions. And that is we still have about a million people in tents; that’s certainly better than 1.6 million people in tents, but we still have a million people in tents. We still have about 9 million cubic meters of rubble that needs to be removed; certainly better that we’ve removed somewhere between a million and a half and two million, but it’s not all the rubble that needs to be moved. And there can be no rebuilding without the removal of significant amounts of rubble.
There has always – there is also the need for – the enduring need for jobs, because the unemployment rate still is what it is. And so to the extent the international community, multilateral donors, and others are going to be good partners, we also have to be partners in how we go about doing the thing we find hard in the United States, and that’s how you grow jobs and how in Haiti you provide for economic growth....
Administrator Shah: .... Over the long term, as Cheryl points out, the success of this overall recovery and reconstruction effort will depend on both the deep partnership with the government and people and institutions of Haiti and our collective will and commitment to see the effort through. And in that spirit, we’ve taken a number of steps to try to put in place the innovations in how we work to make sure that we’re really capturing the opportunities of the moment to build back better, even in a very difficult environment.
I’ll just share two examples. One is we have invested, together with private foundations, in efforts to bring mobile banking and mobile financial transactions to the people of Haiti. And we’re seeing some real progress in that area, which we’ll be able to talk more about in the next few days.
Second is, as we’ve been pursuing some of the reconstruction efforts, especially on housing in terms of diagnosing and repairing homes that were partially damaged during the earthquake, we’ve put in place many of the principles of our procurement reform efforts, which are really geared towards supporting local institutions and local companies to develop improved construction standards and to be part of the reconstruction effort, thereby creating some of the jobs that Cheryl referenced and also creating a more vibrant local economy that’s capable of sustaining and seeing through the overall reconstruction and recovery effort.
So while we have examples that keep us incredibly hopeful, we also know the road forward will be challenging. And we remain committed to the principles we outlined at the beginning of this response – that we will be good partners with the people and Government of Haiti, that we will prioritize efforts to build local capacity and local institutions, and that we will continue to focus on this effort over the long term because we know that that’s the most appropriate embodiment of the relationship we have with the people of Haiti....
• INTERIOR NEWS •
Department of the Interior, Jan. 7, 2011:
"Ask Interior" Featuring Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
In this edition of "Ask Interior" Secretary Salazar takes two questions sent in via email on the Everglades and the Cobell settlement.
Department of the Interior, Jan. 7, 2011:
Salazar Announces Initiative to Conserve Working Lands and Wildlife Habitat in the Everglades Headwaters
Process Marks New Approach to Land Conservation; Proposal Includes New Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with private landowners, conservation groups and federal, tribal, state and local agencies to develop a new national wildlife refuge and conservation area to preserve the community’s ranching heritage and conserve the headwaters and fish and wildlife of the Everglades.
"The Everglades rural working ranch landscapes are an important piece of our nation’s history and economy, and this initiative would work to ensure that they remain vital for our future," Secretary Salazar said. "The partnerships being formed would protect and improve water quality north of Lake Okeechobee, restore wetlands, and connect existing conservation lands and important wildlife corridors to support the greater Everglades restoration effort."
The Service, along with its partners, is conducting a preliminary study to establish a new National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area of approximately 150,000 acres of important environmental and cultural landscapes in the Kissimmee River Valley south of Orlando. The proposed area includes 50,000 acres for potential purchase, and an additional 100,000 acres that could be protected through conservation easements and cooperative agreements, keeping the land in private ownership. The Service will only work with willing sellers to purchase land rights.
"This is an important first step aimed at preserving and protecting thousands of acres vital to the Everglades," said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who joined Secretary Salazar in today’s announcement. "Projects like this will ensure future generations will be able to benefit from and enjoy the River of Grass."
Salazar also announced that, as part of the ongoing community dialogue, the public will be invited to participate in a series of workshops on the proposal in January and February.
"This initiative will be rooted in partnership with the local communities from start to finish, and I look forward to hearing from those who value these landscapes for everything from recreation, to ranching, to seeking solitude" Salazar said. "This proposal should stand as a model for our 21st century approach to land conservation that is science-based, partner-driven, and takes into account working landscapes and entire ecosystems."
"We have been working with various easement programs since 1990," said Cary Lightsey of the Lightsey Cattle Company. "They all have been win-win situations and we have never looked back. It makes us feel good that we are providing green space and wildlife habitat for future generations. I appreciate this proposal. I don't see my grandchildren coming back and questioning why we preserved the landscape."
In addition to improving water quality, the proposed conservation area and refuge would protect important habitat for 88 federal and state listed species, including the Florida panther, Florida black bear, whooping crane, Everglade snail kite and the Eastern indigo snake. It will also link to approximately 690,000 acres of partner-conserved lands.
More than a dozen partners are working together through the Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative on the proposed refuge and conservation area including the following organizations: Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services; Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Florida Division of State Lands; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Osceola County Parks Division; South Florida Water Management District; National Wildlife Refuge Association; The Nature Conservancy; U.S. Air Force - Avon Park Air Force Range; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service. Their efforts are part of a larger conservation effort across south-central Florida.
A final plan for the Everglades Headwaters proposal is expected by the end of this year. Learn more by visiting www.fws.gov/southeast/greatereverglades.
Department of the Interior, Jan. 5, 2011:
ARRA Funds Help Save Everglades Habitat
The National Park Service has been awarded $7 million dollars of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds for the Cape Sable Dam Project, replacing dams on man-made canals in the southern portion of the park adjacent to Florida bay. This will keep saltwater out and preserve habitats and the species that depend on them.
• WEST WING WEEK •
White House, Jan. 6, 2011:
West Wing Week: 1/07/11 or "Resolutions"
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the first family returns to Washington, the President signs over 30 bills into law, and West Wing staff share their New Year's resolutions.
• NEW WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF •
White House, Jan. 6, 2011:
President Obama Names William Daley New Chief of Staff
The President introduces William Daley as the new White House Chief of Staff. Daley is a lawyer and business executive and served as Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton. January 6, 2011.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 6, 2011:
Remarks by the President Announcing William M. Daley as White House Chief of Staff
THE PRESIDENT: Please have a seat, everybody. Happy New Year. Last October, when my former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel departed to pursue other opportunities in Chicago, I asked Pete Rouse, one of my most trusted aides, to step into the breach and lead us through a very difficult time. And I also asked Pete to help us think about how the White House should be structured and run over the next two years.
Thanks in no small part to his efforts, a period that everybody thought would be one of retrenchment turned out to be one of great progress for our country. And Pete’s leadership is all the more remarkable when you consider that when I first met him and asked him to lead my Senate staff, he told me in that gruff voice of his that his strong inclination was to leave government. (Laughter and applause.) The reason everybody is applauding is because they’ve heard him say that every day -- (laughter) -- they’ve heard him say that every day for the last six years. And yet, each time I’ve asked him to accept one more assignment, he’s saddled up and he’s taken the job. And it’s fair to say that I would not be where I am today without his extraordinary counsel.
Pete didn’t volunteer to serve as interim Chief of Staff. He made it clear that that was not his preference. But he accepted the responsibility, and as he oversaw our strategy during the lame duck session of Congress, he also was working to develop a structure and a plan for the next two years that I believe will serve the White House, and more importantly the American people, very well. One of those assignments was providing me recommendations for candidates to serve as Chief of Staff moving forward.
As part of that process, today I am proud to announce the appointment of an experienced public servant, a devoted patriot, my friend, fellow Chicagoan Bill Daley, to serve as my Chief of Staff. (Applause.)
Few Americans can boast the breadth of experience that Bill brings to this job. He served as a member of President Clinton’s Cabinet as Commerce Secretary. He took on several other important duties over the years on behalf of our country. He’s led major corporations. He possesses a deep understanding of how jobs are created and how to grow our economy. And needless to say, Bill also has a smidgen of awareness of how our system of government and politics works. You might say it is a genetic trait. (Laughter.)
But most of all, I know Bill to be somebody who cares deeply about this country, believes in its promise and considers no calling higher and more important than serving the American people. He will bring his tremendous experience, his strong values and forward-looking vision to this White House. I’m convinced that he’ll help us in our mission of growing our economy and moving America forward. And I very much look forward to working with Bill in the years to come.
Before I ask Bill to say a few words, I should also confess that I have prevailed once again on Pete’s sense of duty -- or sense of guilt, I’m not sure which -- and I’m grateful that he has agreed to one more tour of duty as my counselor for the next two years. (Applause.)
As you might have noticed, people like Pete. (Laughter.) He is a unique and indispensable asset to me and to this administration. I cannot imagine life here without him, and I told him so. And I’m delighted that we’re able to keep him a little bit longer.
I’ll be making further announcements in the days and weeks ahead, and I am absolutely confident that we will have a great team that’s equal to America’s task in the years to come. But with that, what I’d like to do is to introduce my new Chief of Staff, Bill Daley. (Applause.)
MR. DALEY: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President. You have honored me and my family by giving me an opportunity to serve you and to serve our nation.
Fifty years ago this month I visited the White House with my parents and my brothers and sisters to visit a young President who went on to show great strength, leadership and vision in the face of enormous challenges in those times.
You, Mr. President, are proving your strength, your leadership, your vision during a most difficult time for our nation and for the world. You have also shown through your example that public service is an honorable calling, and I am pleased to answer your call.
I look forward to working with the wonderful staff which you have assembled, and I know my job will be made easier by the great work and direction of Pete Rouse, the direction and great work he has provided over these past couple of months, and the President talked about the enormous successes under Pete’s watch.
Pete, too, has dedicated his life to public service and to our nation, and I’m grateful for his efforts, and I am proud to call him my colleague. I assure you, Mr. President, as they have done in the last two years, that this team will not let you down, nor the nation.
Thank you very much for this extreme honor. (Applause.)
• FIRST QUESTION & PRESS BRIEFING •
First Question with Robert Gibbs - January 5, 2011
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs takes first questions before his press briefing from the online audience on his departure from the White House and the future of Twitter and social media in the Obama Administration.
1/5/11: White House Press Briefing
White House Press Briefings are conducted most weekdays from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 5, 2011:
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 1/5/20
On the impact of his leaving the WH Press Secretary postion.
MR. GIBBS: I will say this. One of the things you learn very quickly as you walk into this building each day, you’re struck by the sense that -- of the history of this place, and you realize that whatever your length of service here, it is temporary in the long and wonderful history of our country. And I think it does an administration good -- and I think it will do this administration good -- to have people like David Plouffe and others come into an administration who haven’t been here, who have been able to watch a little bit from the outside.
We all admit there’s -- you have to admit there’s a bubble in here, to some degree. So I think having new voices and having fresh voices, some of those voices that are coming back from having taken a couple of years off, are an important part of this process. I think they will serve the President well, even as people like David Axelrod and I go outside of the building and have a chance to talk to the President and people here with a slightly different perspective of not driving in here each morning.
So I think it’s unique. I think it’s -- but the truth is you walk around here and you see the history and such, and I'd just reiterate again, you realize that for however long you’re here, it’s temporary. But what endures is our government. What endures is the great experiment of democracy that’s proved to be such a wonderful thing for the world.
On fiscal responsibility and the China state visit .
Q: I've got a couple questions, one domestic and one international. The incoming Republican budget chief of the House, Paul Ryan, is saying that he will demand spending concessions from the administration in exchange for an agreement -- a willingness to lift the national debt ceiling. Would the administration be willing to consider such --
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, Matt, I think we’re going to have to have a discussion -- we are going to have a discussion about steps that are going to be taken to get our fiscal house in order. We made some extraordinary decisions over the past several years, some in this administration, some in the previous administration, to deal with the financial calamity, to deal with the tremendous downturn in our economy and the job loss that it’s wrought.
But we are not here -- I think it’s important to understand we’re not here because of a series of decisions that just got made in the last six months. We’re dealing with a series of decisions that date back quite a long time, that the bills have continually come due for and we’re going to have to address them.
What the exact specifics of those look like, obviously that’s part of the process that we’re going to go through.
But I hope that everybody approaches not just the exercise of fiscal responsibility and fiscal restraint seriously, but I think it’s important, as you heard Chairman Goolsbee say this weekend, it’s important to approach the upcoming vote, as you mentioned, on the debt limit, in a way that’s responsible and in a way that doesn’t threaten the full faith and credit of our government.
Q: The President obviously has President Hu’s upcoming visit on his mind. He stopped in at a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister at the White House yesterday. How hard is the President willing to push President Hu on China’s currency issue and on human rights when they meet?
MR. GIBBS: I think those two issues that you mentioned will be on the agenda and will be tremendously important. Those are issues that came up yesterday in the meeting, as you said, that the President stopped by. China plays an enormously important role in our global economy and China has to take steps to rebalance its currency, and the President will continue to make that point when President Hu is here, as he did with the Foreign Minister.
And I would say this. I would say that -- understand that human rights, the global economy, and currency are certainly on the list. I won’t go through all the topics, but of course the situation in North Korea I anticipate will also take up some amount of that time.
Q: But the President has been accused of soft-pedaling human rights when it comes to China. Is he going to be maintaining that --
MR. GIBBS: I have -- he has -- I think if you speak directly to the President of China about your concerns about their record on human rights, I don’t think that’s soft-pedaling.
On the GOP threat to repeal health care reform.
Q: I know you do. Health care reform is going to be under assault, obviously, in the coming weeks and months. How active is the President going to be in -- is he going to let this happen on Capitol Hill? Or is he going to get out there -- are there any plans in the works for a major speech from the President defending health care reform? And are you reluctant to turn it into a political football like it was a year ago?
MR. GIBBS: No, because I think what’s important, Chip, is to understand that -- and you’ve seen this acknowledged, I think, by many proponents of repeal -- that this is symbolic. They understand that this is not going to land on the President’s desk. It’s not likely to pass the Senate, that this is a bit of huff and puff. This town does that great --
Q: But they can cut off funding and have a significant effect on it.
MR. GIBBS: And those are important, but I think it’s important, though, to take just a step back and understand beyond the symbolism what this means. What this means is going back to a health care system where insurance companies are in charge and call the shots; where a child that is sick with a preexisting condition doesn’t have to get coverage in the greatest, strongest, most powerful country on the planet; where seniors don't get help with their prescription drug costs.
Q: Will the President make a major speech making these arguments?
MR. GIBBS: I think the President’s position on it is fairly well known. I don't anticipate that -- I think as the debate continues and as the implementation continues -- which I think is the most important part of all this -- as the implementation continues, you’ll hear the President discuss this.
It’s not -- obviously the President is focused very much on the economy and on the job situation right now. He’s remarkably proud of the accomplishment of health care. We have now the tougher task of implementing and to ensure that what I talked about a second ago -- a family not having to worry about losing their insurance or having their insurance coverage capped by the decisions made by an insurance company; fear of skyrocketing premiums with no accountability; as I said, fear of discrimination on preexisting conditions. I don’t think that the American people want to go back to a health care system where those safety nets are in doubt, and that’s what the law is....
There’s -- it is interesting and unique to see when one pays attention to and when one ignores the Congressional Budget Office. The Congressional Budget Office, which -- how much is this, what’s the price tag on this, how’s it being paid for were questions that we answered a lot of during the debate, and were asked a lot of us during the debate by those who opposed what we were trying to do.
Repealing health care reform adds $140 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. So they’ve got to cut not just the $100 billion they’re talking about, but now I assume they’re going to pay for that, too. That doesn’t count the trillion dollars over the 10 years after that.
So we’re happy to talk about the expense of this. Let’s also be clear in talking about the expense of what happens if you repeal it -- not just for families with children that are sick, not just for families that worry that their coverage might have been capped, or, God forbid, an insurance company is making your medical decisions, but also what it means for our deficit and our debt.
• ENERGY NEWS •
Department of Energy, Jan. 4, 2011:
Energy 101: Geothermal Heat Pumps
An energy-efficient heating and cooling alternative, the geothermal heat pump system moves heat from the ground to a building (or from a building to the ground) through a series of flexible pipe "loops" containing water. This edition of Energy 101 explores the benefits Geothermal and the science behind how it all comes together.
Department of Energy, Jan. 4, 2011:
Energy 101: Geothermal Heat Pumps
Posted by John Schueler, a New Media Specialist with the Office of Public Affairs
During this time of year, many homeowners are searching for ways to reduce steep heating costs. One of the options they should consider during the course of their search is a geothermal heat pump, an increasingly popular energy technology that can help decrease energy costs while reducing their carbon footprint.
The way it works is simple. The geothermal heat pump system moves heat from the ground, which has a fairly consistent temperature year-round, to a building (or from a building to the ground) through a series of flexible pipe "loops" containing water. In the winter, heat from the relatively warmer ground goes through the heat exchanger into the building. In the summer, hot air from the building is pulled through the heat exchanger into the relatively cooler ground. Heat pump systems are so efficient that they have proven that they can lower energy bills by up to 70% over traditional types of heating systems.
To learn more about geothermal heat pumps and if they’re right for your home or business, visit the Geothermal Technologies Program.
White House, Jan 1, 2011:
Weekly Address: The New Year
The President resolves to do all he can to get the economy growing and create jobs, and encourages Republicans to embrace their new responsibility to govern.
• WEEKLY ADDRESS •
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 1, 2011:
Weekly Address: Democrats and Republicans Have Shared Responsibility to Move America Forward
Hello, everybody. As we close the books on one year and begin another, I wanted to take a moment today to wish you a very Happy New Year and talk a little bit about the year that lies ahead.
At the start of 2011, we’re still just emerging from a once-in-a-lifetime recession that’s taken a terrible toll on millions of families. We all have friends and neighbors trying to get their lives back on track.
We are, however, riding a few months of economic news that suggests our recovery is gaining traction. And our most important task now is to keep that recovery going. As President, that’s my commitment to you: to do everything I can to make sure our economy is growing, creating jobs, and strengthening our middle class. That’s my resolution for the coming year.
Still, even as we work to boost our economy in the short-term, it’s time to make some serious decisions about how to keep our economy strong, growing, and competitive in the long run. We have to look ahead – not just to this year, but to the next 10 years, and the next 20 years. Where will new innovations come from? How will we attract the companies of tomorrow to set up shop and create jobs in our communities? What will it take to get those jobs? What will it take to out-compete other countries around the world? What will it take to see the American Dream come true for our children and grandchildren?
Our parents and grandparents asked themselves those questions. And because they had the courage to answer them, we’ve had the good fortune to grow up in the greatest nation on Earth.
Now it’s our turn to think about the future. In a few days, a new Congress will form, with one house controlled by Democrats, and one house controlled by Republicans – who now have a shared responsibility to move this country forward. And here’s what I want you to know: I’m willing to work with anyone of either party who’s got a good idea and the commitment to see it through. And we should all expect you to hold us accountable for our progress or our failure to deliver.
As I’ve said since I first ran for this office, solving our challenges won’t be quick or easy. We have come through a difficult decade; one of new threats and new trials we didn’t expect when it began. But a new year and a new decade stretch out before us. And if we just remember what America is capable of, and live up to that legacy, then I’m confident that we are poised for a period of progress – one in which our economy is growing, our standing in the world is rising, and we do what it takes to make sure America remains in the 21st century what it was in the 20th: the greatest country in the world.
Thanks for listening. And Happy New Year.
• WEST WING WEEK •
White House, Dec. 31, 2010:
West Wing Week: "Mailbag Day, New Year's Edition"
In this special edition of West Wing Week, look back over the last year, watch the President sign a law getting those loud TV ads under control, and find out the answers to a couple of burning questions from the mailbag.