Hastert Calls Bush People Liars

I don't see anyone mentioning this, but in an interview with a reporter yesterday, Dennis Hastert said he wouldn't deal with the President's people anymore because he can't get straight numbers from them. He now deals only with the President.

This isn't surprising following the Diary which mentioned that the White House threatened to fire their own guys if they revealed to congress the true cost of the Medicare bill.

Here is the text of what Hastert said:

In (one of) our favorite exchanges from the Speaker's pen and pad briefing yesterday:

Q: You met with the administration yesterday. Did they say they would support the target number?

Speaker Hastert: We need to go forward, we need to go to conference with the Senate, and then if they want to be involved in that conference, they certainly will be able to be involved in it.

Q: But did they say they would sign?

Hastert: They didn't make a commitment.

Q: Did they say they would veto it?

Hastert: They didn't say they would veto it.

Q: Is that with the President or with the people?

Hastert: That is with the President. I don't deal with his people anymore.

/

Q: Sir, what did you mean by that last comment: That was with the President; I don't deal with his people anymore?

Hastert: Well, we weren't getting straight numbers from his people, and they changed their mind in the middle of the process. So we are going to do what we feel we need to do.

Q: Just on this issue or on --

Hastert: On this issue.

Q: Or in general?

Hastert: On this issue.

Q: Sir --

Q: What kind of numbers were you getting from them?

Hastert: Different numbers.

Q: Different from?

Hastert: Where they added up.

From ABC's The Note