Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz — En Route Los Angeles, California
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Aboard Air Force One
With that, I will take your questions.
Q We'll start with
In other words, the question of who specifically fired the missile is for the investigation to determine so that the victims' families can gain closure. But the fact that we don't know that yet does not absolve
Q Will the U.S. be releasing more evidence about this in the days to come and do you have a timeline for that?
Q There are reports that there are additional sanctions on
Q Any sense on the -- when the timeline for additional U.S. sanctions on
Q And on the
Q Eric, on the border. The Speaker today sent the President a letter indicating some frustration over lack of guidance from the
We want to work with Democrats and Republicans to make sure those changes are done the right way. But first and foremost, we need the resources -- in the form of judges, prosecutors, asylum officers -- to deal with the problems. If Republicans are as serious and sincere about solving the problem as they claim to be, we're counting on them to act quickly and be part of the solution.
Q Eric, the President is talking a lot about the economy on this trip and -- to donors -- and again tomorrow. And I'm wondering if you feel like some of the world crises are drowning -- is having an effect on that message, whether or not it's hard for the President to get the economic message across.
On Tuesday, not even 24 hours ago -- even though it feels like a month -- the President and Vice President announced new efforts to make sure our federal training programs are delivering the skills workers need for good jobs. So I do stipulate there's a lot going on right now, but even as you've heard the President speak over the last few days, he's focused on creating jobs and expanding middle-class opportunity. I think you'll hear more about that tomorrow, as well.
Q Eric, can you speak to the decision to keep the information about the super PAC events the President has done so limited? I know that the events are run by the House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC and it's their call, but there is information that you guys could release -- even about the attendance, how many people are there, who they are, how much money they're paying to be there. And was there an effort made to get the President's remarks open at all to the press?
Without a doubt, I think we've done more to achieve the President's commitment to transparency than any other previous administration -- that includes, by the way, opening up fundraising events at private homes to the print pool, people like yourself. So we feel good that you were able to cover events today and yesterday on this trip. That's a change that we implemented to give reporters more access than they've had before, and that's a change we feel good about.
Q Why not provide more information about simple things about the events like the cost to get in -- that was a question about the Senate Majority PAC event last night.
Q And just one more on this. Sorry, Jim. The President was reluctant to do events like the ones that he has done at these super PACs, even during his reelection campaign. Can you explain the decision of why it's okay now to do those events when two years ago that was not what he was doing?
But in terms of the events on these trips like the ones you're mentioning, I think as you and many others have reported, the President is committed to helping Democrats do well in these midterm elections. We've outlined the case of why we think it's important for the country that Democratic candidates and this President want to grow the economy by helping expand the middle class. The other side wants to help the few at the top and we think that's not a sound vision for a viable, growing economy.
Q And you don't think it undercuts the principles that you outlined that the President has for him to be doing these events now when he wasn't doing them two years ago?
Q It just seems, Eric, that the President, one of his objections to the super PACs to begin with was their secretive nature, and isn't he just fostering that by participating in them and not providing any sunshine into them?
Q Can we go back to
Q -- whether there is -- the intel community said yesterday that there was suggestions that the Russians are still continuing to help the rebels, the separatists. Is the
Q Do you expect the President will reach out to Putin again over the next couple of days this week?
Q Would he like to speak to Putin?
Q Sorry, you guys made clear at the beginning of this trip that if it were necessary for him to return, he could. Can you just give us an update on what he has done about this crisis and whether you guys have noted any reasons to go back to
That's why, since departing
Q Can you describe how the presidential daily briefing went for him today? Was it a SVTC? Was it in person? Who was participating?
Q The President has some downtime when he gets to L.A. and has sort of an early night tonight. Could you give us any sense of what he's doing when they get there?
Q The background to that question is one time when he came to L.A., he went out for dinner with Katzenberg and we didn't find out about it until the next day. So we'll be very eager to find out about it today if he has plans tonight.
Q And in that event, he didn't leave the hotel and that's why we weren't told about it beforehand.
Q Back to the border, on your response, does that mean that the President first wants
Q Can you give us any updates on Secretary Kerry's approach in the
Our bottom line is, as Secretary Kerry has articulated both in public and in private, that no country can live with rockets raining down on it by terrorists or having terrorist tunnels underground to facilitate the killing or kidnapping of its citizens.
Q Do you sense that he's close to helping broker a cease-fire?
Q Has the President been in touch with Secretary Kerry?
Q Can you comment on the GAO report on abuse of health subsidies, what the
As you know, Jim, the marketplace has several safeguards in place to verify consumer data. People submit information under penalty of perjury and tax credits are paid directly to insurance companies, not even to enrollees.
Q Is there anything in your packet of notes that we didn't ask you about that you want to -- (laughter) --
END
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