English subtitles for clip: File:3-31-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:03,367 --> 00:00:06,097
Mr. Burton:
So we're just going to go
ahead and just get started.

2
00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:06,870
The Press:
Going to leap right in?

3
00:00:06,867 --> 00:00:07,837
Mr. Burton:
Yes.

4
00:00:07,834 --> 00:00:09,334
The Press:
So can we talk about the
politics of the offshore

5
00:00:09,333 --> 00:00:10,503
drilling announcement?

6
00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:11,470
Mr. Burton:
Sure.

7
00:00:11,467 --> 00:00:16,867
The Press:
Both sides. How can -- can you
guys afford to kind of anger the

8
00:00:16,867 --> 00:00:19,497
environmentalists, sort of
liberal side of your base,

9
00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:23,570
with the pretty expansive
decision on offshore drilling?

10
00:00:23,567 --> 00:00:26,097
And then, on the other side,
how much do you think it can

11
00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:29,800
actually help in bringing
Republicans along on climate change?

12
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,000
Mr. Burton:
Well, it's the President's view
that what we need to do here is

13
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,830
take a comprehensive
approach to energy policy.

14
00:00:34,834 --> 00:00:37,364
And there are people on the
right who support some aspects

15
00:00:37,367 --> 00:00:40,097
of that; there's people on the left who support some aspects of that.

16
00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:42,600
But he didn't go into this
looking at what the political

17
00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,800
coalition was going to
be getting this passed.

18
00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,100
He went into this thinking,
what's the best policy for our

19
00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:50,070
country and how
do we get it done.

20
00:00:50,066 --> 00:00:51,896
It's something that he talked
about on the campaign trail;

21
00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:54,230
it's something that he's talked
about for a very long time.

22
00:00:54,233 --> 00:00:56,833
So I think that for people who
have followed the President,

23
00:00:56,834 --> 00:00:59,934
a lot of this policy isn't
much of a surprise to them.

24
00:00:59,934 --> 00:01:01,064
The Press:
Right, but --

25
00:01:01,066 --> 00:01:03,366
Mr. Burton:
One thing I would
say, though, Jennifer,

26
00:01:03,367 --> 00:01:06,267
is just that I was -- the
President was encouraged this

27
00:01:06,266 --> 00:01:09,566
morning to see Senator
McConnell's spokesperson say

28
00:01:09,567 --> 00:01:12,967
that this was an issue that he
had spoken specifically with

29
00:01:12,967 --> 00:01:15,067
President Obama about.

30
00:01:15,066 --> 00:01:17,136
And so it does look like
there's some support on

31
00:01:17,133 --> 00:01:18,563
both sides of the aisle.

32
00:01:18,567 --> 00:01:21,097
We'll have a rigorous debate
about this and hopefully get

33
00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:22,370
something done.

34
00:01:22,367 --> 00:01:23,597
The Press:
Well, can you talk,
though, specifically

35
00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,130
about environmentalists?

36
00:01:25,133 --> 00:01:28,763
Obviously they're not happy with
the way this decision played out.

37
00:01:28,767 --> 00:01:32,467
So how much can you afford --
understood that it's a decision

38
00:01:32,467 --> 00:01:35,197
he had kind of hinted at,
hinted he was going to make,

39
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,930
but at the same time he
has to deal with the fallout

40
00:01:36,934 --> 00:01:37,934
from that decision.

41
00:01:37,934 --> 00:01:39,934
So how does that
play out for you?

42
00:01:39,934 --> 00:01:40,904
Mr. Burton:
Sure.

43
00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:42,530
Well, we're the
Democratic Party;

44
00:01:42,533 --> 00:01:44,903
we often have disagreements
among our friends.

45
00:01:44,900 --> 00:01:47,600
But the President is going to
continue to talk to folks in the

46
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,570
environmental community, and
people in the Democratic Party,

47
00:01:50,567 --> 00:01:52,097
and people in the
Republican Party,

48
00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:53,900
to make the most amount of
progress that we can make on

49
00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:55,370
this critical issue.

50
00:01:55,367 --> 00:01:58,297
It's important because we need
to decrease our dependence on

51
00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:00,770
foreign oil and we need to
move forward on some of these

52
00:02:00,767 --> 00:02:03,797
investments in order to create
some of the most important jobs

53
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,430
that we can create here
in the 21st century.

54
00:02:06,433 --> 00:02:09,463
The President's view is that the
country that comes out on top --

55
00:02:09,467 --> 00:02:12,337
on investments in renewable
energy and on creating new

56
00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:16,203
technology -- is going to be a
leader in the 21st century and

57
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,430
he's not playing
for second place.

58
00:02:19,433 --> 00:02:23,103
The Press:
So the drilling announced
today -- there was no thought

59
00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,270
about the implications this
might have for advancing

60
00:02:26,266 --> 00:02:28,636
the climate change legislation
that seems to be running into

61
00:02:28,633 --> 00:02:30,263
obstacles in Congress?

62
00:02:30,266 --> 00:02:32,936
Mr. Burton:
Well, I would say that
it's obviously a part of

63
00:02:32,934 --> 00:02:35,804
the climate legislation and
the entire package that the

64
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,730
President is working with
Congress to move forward.

65
00:02:38,734 --> 00:02:42,904
So I would say that this is
mostly about coming through

66
00:02:42,900 --> 00:02:45,530
on a promise that he made to
the American people that he

67
00:02:45,533 --> 00:02:47,863
would have a comprehensive energy plan that would

68
00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:51,567
include some increased domestic
production of energy but also

69
00:02:51,567 --> 00:02:55,567
some big investments
in renewable technology,

70
00:02:55,567 --> 00:02:58,767
as well as finding ways
to promote efficiency and

71
00:02:58,767 --> 00:02:59,697
things like that.

72
00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,030
So all these things
are connected.

73
00:03:02,033 --> 00:03:05,403
The Press:
Well, Robert yesterday
showed sort of acceptance

74
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,970
of a timetable of getting
financial regulatory reform

75
00:03:07,967 --> 00:03:09,767
through Congress onto
the President's desk by

76
00:03:09,767 --> 00:03:11,467
no later than September.

77
00:03:11,467 --> 00:03:14,167
What is the timetable you all
are thinking of for climate

78
00:03:14,166 --> 00:03:15,766
change legislation?

79
00:03:15,767 --> 00:03:17,697
Mr. Burton:
I don't have specific
dates for you necessarily,

80
00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:18,900
but this is something
that the President thinks

81
00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:21,770
we need to move forward
on as quickly as possible.

82
00:03:21,767 --> 00:03:24,037
As recently as a couple weeks
ago he had a bipartisan group of

83
00:03:24,033 --> 00:03:27,933
senators into the White House to
talk about some of the proposals

84
00:03:27,934 --> 00:03:30,464
that they have, some ways that
we can come together in order to

85
00:03:30,467 --> 00:03:33,037
make progress on this issue.

86
00:03:33,033 --> 00:03:35,063
And he's going to continue to
work with them in order to make

87
00:03:35,066 --> 00:03:36,596
progress as fast as we can.

88
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,200
The Press:
Does the President believe
that this can be done before

89
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,730
the midterm
elections in November?

90
00:03:41,734 --> 00:03:44,464
Mr. Burton:
His goal is to do this as
fast as he possibly can.

91
00:03:44,467 --> 00:03:46,167
Yunji.

92
00:03:46,166 --> 00:03:48,266
The Press:
I'm curious, what changed?

93
00:03:48,266 --> 00:03:50,596
I mean, the President, again
and again on the campaign trail,

94
00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,970
said that this was -- this
would be insignificant,

95
00:03:52,967 --> 00:03:55,467
that expanding these kind of
leases would not do much in

96
00:03:55,467 --> 00:03:58,067
terms of consumer relief,
short term or long term.

97
00:03:58,066 --> 00:03:59,166
So what's different?

98
00:03:59,166 --> 00:04:01,366
Mr. Burton:
Well, what the President
said was that there's

99
00:04:01,367 --> 00:04:05,037
no silver bullet when it comes
to decreasing our dependence on

100
00:04:05,033 --> 00:04:09,163
foreign oil and having a
comprehensive view on energy.

101
00:04:09,166 --> 00:04:11,236
If you remember the conversation
that was being had,

102
00:04:11,233 --> 00:04:16,263
a lot of people treated offshore
drilling as a panacea to solve

103
00:04:16,266 --> 00:04:18,096
all of our problems as
it related to energy.

104
00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:21,400
But what the President thought
was that it just had to be one

105
00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,500
part of a comprehensive
strategy to dealing with that.

106
00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,630
That's why, over the
course of the presidency,

107
00:04:27,633 --> 00:04:30,103
you've heard him, at the State
of the Union, talk about this,

108
00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:32,570
and in other venues
talk about it.

109
00:04:32,567 --> 00:04:35,967
He's talked about increasing
production of domestic oil.

110
00:04:35,967 --> 00:04:39,897
He's talked about finding ways
to get nuclear energy moving in

111
00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:43,100
this country, clean coal
moving in this country,

112
00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:44,230
and all those different things.

113
00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:45,703
But along with the
increased production,

114
00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:48,570
he's talked about ways to
make vehicles more efficient.

115
00:04:48,567 --> 00:04:50,867
There's new
fuel-efficiency standards,

116
00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:54,697
which is something that was very
hard to get an agreement on but,

117
00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:56,230
bringing all the relevant
parties to the table,

118
00:04:56,233 --> 00:04:57,833
he was able to.

119
00:04:57,834 --> 00:05:01,164
He's done things to make
the federal fleet more fuel

120
00:05:01,166 --> 00:05:08,796
efficient, using hybrid
vehicles, buying plug-in cars,

121
00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,500
to make sure that we're
doing everything we can,

122
00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:13,100
from the federal
government's standpoint,

123
00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:16,030
in order to decrease our
dependence on foreign oil.

124
00:05:16,033 --> 00:05:18,263
So nothing has changed.

125
00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:20,336
What you see here today is
a fulfillment of what the

126
00:05:20,333 --> 00:05:21,703
President said he
was going to do.

127
00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:23,800
The Press:
But the President said
that this was insignificant.

128
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,030
If it's insignificant, then
-- and you have the kind of

129
00:05:26,033 --> 00:05:29,263
political fallout that Jennifer
is talking about potentially

130
00:05:29,266 --> 00:05:31,666
happening, then what
makes this worth it?

131
00:05:31,667 --> 00:05:34,437
Mr. Burton:
What the President said
was that this in and of

132
00:05:34,433 --> 00:05:38,933
itself would not be enough
to get us on a path to energy

133
00:05:38,934 --> 00:05:43,404
independence, and so as
one part of his strategy,

134
00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,870
finding places where you can
reasonably and safely drill

135
00:05:46,867 --> 00:05:50,267
offshore to increase production
is a key part of that.

136
00:05:50,266 --> 00:05:52,366
So -- but it's just
one part of that.

137
00:05:52,367 --> 00:05:54,397
And that's what he said in the
campaign and that's what he's

138
00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:55,670
following through on today.

139
00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:56,597
Dan.

140
00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:01,200
The Press:
Why did the President not go
further in terms of drilling

141
00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,370
off of Alaska where it's believed there are a lot of resources?

142
00:06:05,367 --> 00:06:07,567
Mr. Burton:
Well, what the President
thinks we ought to do is use

143
00:06:07,567 --> 00:06:10,537
the best science available
and the safest methods that

144
00:06:10,533 --> 00:06:15,763
we can in order to
find oil and gas,

145
00:06:15,767 --> 00:06:18,997
and then go and retrieve
it and use it domestically.

146
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,470
So what this proposal represents
is what he and the team of

147
00:06:24,467 --> 00:06:27,697
experts around him think is the
best way to go about that in the

148
00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,830
most responsible and safe way.

149
00:06:29,834 --> 00:06:31,964
The Press:
On health care, what's
going on behind the

150
00:06:31,967 --> 00:06:35,697
scenes in terms of the President
selling to the American people

151
00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:37,600
-- beyond just the trip that
we're seeing this week --

152
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,170
selling to the American people
the short-term and long-term

153
00:06:40,166 --> 00:06:42,696
benefits of this new law?

154
00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:45,830
Mr. Burton:
Well, as the President said
when we were going through this

155
00:06:45,834 --> 00:06:49,034
process to get health
care passed into law,

156
00:06:49,033 --> 00:06:51,603
he was going to spend some
time going out talking to the

157
00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,030
American people specifically
about the short-term and the

158
00:06:54,033 --> 00:06:56,763
long-term benefits that they
were going to get out of it.

159
00:06:56,767 --> 00:06:57,867
And that's what you see.

160
00:06:57,867 --> 00:07:00,397
Tomorrow the President will be
in Maine where he'll be talking

161
00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,070
about some of the benefits that
small businesses will get in the

162
00:07:03,066 --> 00:07:06,366
short term and the long term
as it relates to health care.

163
00:07:06,367 --> 00:07:09,337
So you'll see the President
travel and talk about it.

164
00:07:09,333 --> 00:07:12,663
You'll see members of the
administration talking about it.

165
00:07:12,667 --> 00:07:14,967
And we're going to continue to
make sure the American people

166
00:07:14,967 --> 00:07:20,837
know exactly what's in this bill for them and when it comes into effect.

167
00:07:20,834 --> 00:07:25,104
The Press:
Bill, I want to revisit a health care issue from yesterday.

168
00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:30,170
Regarding the write-downs
for big companies like AT&T,

169
00:07:30,166 --> 00:07:34,736
Caterpillar, I'm unclear -- is
it the White House's position

170
00:07:34,734 --> 00:07:37,334
that these write-downs
are purely political;

171
00:07:37,333 --> 00:07:41,733
that they could have been
done in a more gradual way?

172
00:07:41,734 --> 00:07:45,434
Or is it the position that,
yes, their hands are tied by

173
00:07:45,433 --> 00:07:49,063
accounting rules and they had to
take these write-downs immediately?

174
00:07:49,066 --> 00:07:50,236
Mr. Burton:
Well, I'm not going to
make a statement on the

175
00:07:50,233 --> 00:07:53,733
motivations of people announcing
what 30-year projections are

176
00:07:53,734 --> 00:07:56,764
saying about the impact
that health care reform

177
00:07:56,767 --> 00:07:57,867
will have on their business.

178
00:07:57,867 --> 00:08:01,737
But it's the White House's view
that all the benefits in health

179
00:08:01,734 --> 00:08:05,264
care reform will have a much
greater positive impact on those

180
00:08:05,266 --> 00:08:08,896
businesses than the loss
of a double subsidy will

181
00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:10,470
to their business.

182
00:08:10,467 --> 00:08:13,937
The Press:
You seem to be scoffing at
a breakdown over 30 years.

183
00:08:13,934 --> 00:08:15,634
Is that true that
you're saying this --

184
00:08:15,633 --> 00:08:17,503
Mr. Burton:
No, I'm not scoffing at it.
I'm just pointing it out.

185
00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:21,070
The Press:
Okay, and secondly --
it sounded like scoffing.

186
00:08:21,066 --> 00:08:24,296
Secondly, I sent you a
high-priority email yesterday --

187
00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:26,630
I'm sure you saw it -- but I
was questioning the reading

188
00:08:26,633 --> 00:08:29,233
habits of Mr. Gibbs.

189
00:08:29,233 --> 00:08:35,033
Has Mr. Gibbs actually read all
the reports he cited yesterday

190
00:08:35,033 --> 00:08:40,033
to justify -- to claim that
there will a bending of the cost

191
00:08:40,033 --> 00:08:42,233
curve in the health care bill?

192
00:08:42,233 --> 00:08:44,633
Mr. Burton:
I assume that he has, because he's a really fast reader and

193
00:08:44,633 --> 00:08:46,503
he's been very
interested in the subject.

194
00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:50,030
But the good news for you
is that I'm just doing this

195
00:08:50,033 --> 00:08:55,633
part-time, and you'll have your
chance to ask him directly. Bill.

196
00:08:55,633 --> 00:08:58,233
The Press:
Does the President believe
that his proposal today

197
00:08:58,233 --> 00:09:01,263
will make it easier to raise the
cap and trade bill and actually

198
00:09:01,266 --> 00:09:03,536
get it debated in the Senate?

199
00:09:03,533 --> 00:09:05,603
Mr. Burton:
Well, the President's view is that what he did today is an

200
00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,800
important part of
moving it forward.

201
00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,700
And so the President has been --

202
00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,400
The Press:
But I'm asking
about the politics.

203
00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:14,430
Mr. Burton:
I understand that.

204
00:09:14,433 --> 00:09:16,763
And I know that here in
Washington -- I haven't been

205
00:09:16,767 --> 00:09:18,867
here that long, but I know that
everything is viewed through a

206
00:09:18,867 --> 00:09:22,067
lens of who does this
help, who does this hurt,

207
00:09:22,066 --> 00:09:23,296
who's up, who's down.

208
00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:25,330
The President's view is that
this is the best policy,

209
00:09:25,333 --> 00:09:28,133
and that working with members of
the Senate on both sides -- the

210
00:09:28,133 --> 00:09:31,333
Republicans and the Democrats --
this is policy -- that there are

211
00:09:31,333 --> 00:09:34,263
things that people of both
political persuasions can agree

212
00:09:34,266 --> 00:09:36,196
to and we can move
forward on it.

213
00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:37,800
The Press:
Presumably you've also
been here long enough to

214
00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,000
know that that's the way
they think inside, too.

215
00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,530
Mr. Burton:
Well, I wouldn't go that far.

216
00:09:42,533 --> 00:09:45,963
Having talked to the folks who I
work with here in the West Wing

217
00:09:45,967 --> 00:09:50,567
all day today, I know that there
is a real belief that what we've

218
00:09:50,567 --> 00:09:53,367
proposed today doesn't just
follow through on what the

219
00:09:53,367 --> 00:09:56,067
President promised on the
campaign trail for the sake of

220
00:09:56,066 --> 00:09:57,536
following through on it.

221
00:09:57,533 --> 00:10:02,963
It also would put our country
on a new track towards more

222
00:10:02,967 --> 00:10:06,597
domestic production of energy,
towards more renewable energy

223
00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,370
use, and towards creating
jobs of the future.

224
00:10:09,367 --> 00:10:11,797
The Press:
If you're willing to set
deadlines for other legislation,

225
00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,130
will you set a deadline for
getting cap and trade passed?

226
00:10:15,133 --> 00:10:16,503
Mr. Burton:
I don't have a
deadline for you today.

227
00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:18,500
I just know the President
wants to move forward on

228
00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:20,200
this as fast as possible. Savannah.

229
00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,530
The Press:
Given that you guys haven't considered the politics at

230
00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:27,463
all with this, is it possible
there was a strategic blunder

231
00:10:27,467 --> 00:10:30,697
here by conceding so much
-- doing offshore drilling,

232
00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:34,400
you've announced new grants
for nuclear reactors -- without

233
00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,670
getting any concessions
from Republicans?

234
00:10:36,667 --> 00:10:38,167
You didn't have any Republicans standing up there with the

235
00:10:38,166 --> 00:10:39,366
President today.

236
00:10:39,367 --> 00:10:42,537
Is it possible that you've kind
of given away the store without

237
00:10:42,533 --> 00:10:44,803
any guarantees that you'll
get Republican support in

238
00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,100
exchange for that?

239
00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:49,730
Mr. Burton:
Well, I'd start by saying that
actually Senator McConnell's

240
00:10:49,734 --> 00:10:51,634
spokesperson's statement
was very encouraging,

241
00:10:51,633 --> 00:10:54,133
that this was an issue that he
had brought up specifically with

242
00:10:54,133 --> 00:10:56,903
the President and that we
believe that we'll be able

243
00:10:56,900 --> 00:10:59,370
to work with Republicans on.

244
00:10:59,367 --> 00:11:04,237
But also, like I said, this --
none of this should have been

245
00:11:04,233 --> 00:11:05,833
a surprise to anybody.

246
00:11:05,834 --> 00:11:07,604
We've been talking about all
these different elements for a

247
00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:11,470
very long time and the President
is following through on promises

248
00:11:11,467 --> 00:11:14,497
that he made to have a
comprehensive energy strategy.

249
00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:16,170
So in terms of the
politics of this,

250
00:11:16,166 --> 00:11:20,066
we think that there are good
things in this package that

251
00:11:20,066 --> 00:11:23,136
appeal to people of all
political persuasions and that

252
00:11:23,133 --> 00:11:24,733
in the short term,
not the long term,

253
00:11:24,734 --> 00:11:26,604
we're going to be able to move forward and pass some of this

254
00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:27,700
into law.

255
00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:29,370
The Press:
Well, McConnell -- in his statement, which I just read,

256
00:11:29,367 --> 00:11:31,237
actually, since
you mentioned that,

257
00:11:31,233 --> 00:11:34,003
kind of frames it
as a small step.

258
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,630
All the Republican statements
say -- have kind of a lukewarm

259
00:11:36,633 --> 00:11:38,903
response to it.

260
00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:42,500
Will the President get involved
as closely as he was by the end

261
00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:43,570
of health care?

262
00:11:43,567 --> 00:11:45,497
Did he learn something from the
health care debate that he plans

263
00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:47,830
to use in this debate?

264
00:11:47,834 --> 00:11:49,764
Mr. Burton:
Well, I would say for
starters I don't think there

265
00:11:49,767 --> 00:11:51,897
is anybody who anticipated that
the President would roll out an

266
00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:55,500
energy plan and people on
the Republican side would be

267
00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:57,870
cheerleading it right
from the get-go.

268
00:11:57,867 --> 00:11:59,837
But if you saw what happened
over the course of the health

269
00:11:59,834 --> 00:12:02,634
care debate, where you had
senators saying that this would

270
00:12:02,633 --> 00:12:06,063
be the President's Waterloo,
stop this at all costs,

271
00:12:06,066 --> 00:12:09,296
this is the way that we can halt
the agenda of the President,

272
00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:14,400
I think even lukewarm statements
are a step in the right direction.

273
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:15,470
Mark.

274
00:12:15,467 --> 00:12:18,437
The Press:
Bill, to what extent is
the administration joining

275
00:12:18,433 --> 00:12:24,033
the chorus of those who
chant, "drill, baby, drill"?

276
00:12:24,033 --> 00:12:27,533
Mr. Burton:
Well, I would say that
this comprehensive approach

277
00:12:27,533 --> 00:12:31,833
is a lot less "drill, baby,
drill" and more "drill where

278
00:12:31,834 --> 00:12:35,964
it's responsible,
promote efficiency,

279
00:12:35,967 --> 00:12:39,167
invest in clean energy, and
create jobs of the future."

280
00:12:39,166 --> 00:12:41,296
I know that doesn't fit on
a t-shirt quite as well,

281
00:12:41,300 --> 00:12:43,770
but that's a lot more about what
President Obama thinks is the

282
00:12:43,767 --> 00:12:45,637
right direction
for this country.

283
00:12:45,633 --> 00:12:51,103
The Press:
And is it the plan to
expand oil and gas leases

284
00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:53,730
throughout the Atlantic Ocean?

285
00:12:53,734 --> 00:12:59,904
I read a figure of 160 million
acres of ocean would be

286
00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:02,800
available for new
oil and gas drilling.

287
00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,400
Mr. Burton:
I don't know the
specifics on the acreage.

288
00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,770
I think there's actually a call
happening right now that some of

289
00:13:06,767 --> 00:13:08,737
your colleagues are on where
they're going through some of

290
00:13:08,734 --> 00:13:11,564
those particulars. Roger.

291
00:13:11,567 --> 00:13:13,797
The Press:
Bill, the -- looking
ahead to Friday,

292
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,830
the jobs report comes
out, as you know,

293
00:13:15,834 --> 00:13:18,464
and the President is going
to be down in North Carolina.

294
00:13:18,467 --> 00:13:22,467
The analysts so far seem to
suggest that this will be

295
00:13:22,467 --> 00:13:24,767
showing job creation
for the second time

296
00:13:24,767 --> 00:13:26,637
since the recession started.

297
00:13:26,633 --> 00:13:31,163
Does that suggest that the White
House will stop now on offering

298
00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:34,566
any more jobs plans, or are you
going to kind of lay back and

299
00:13:34,567 --> 00:13:40,167
let things take hold
and see where it goes?

300
00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:42,536
Mr. Burton:
Well, unless the jobs report
comes back and says that

301
00:13:42,533 --> 00:13:45,733
we've created 8.5 million
jobs in this last month,

302
00:13:45,734 --> 00:13:47,834
the President is going to treat
this jobs report the same way

303
00:13:47,834 --> 00:13:50,264
he's created all the -- he's
treated all the rest of them,

304
00:13:50,266 --> 00:13:53,096
which is to say that we've
got a lot more work to do.

305
00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:56,200
And there's analysts across
the spectrum who have different

306
00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,870
views of what the jobs
report is going to say,

307
00:13:59,867 --> 00:14:03,037
and I know there's different
factors that will play into

308
00:14:03,033 --> 00:14:04,603
this specific one.

309
00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,130
Last month there was
the huge snowstorm,

310
00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:09,063
and this month we might see some
of the reverse effects of that.

311
00:14:09,066 --> 00:14:11,096
I've seen reports that
the Census Bureau has

312
00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:12,300
hired thousands of folks.

313
00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:14,670
So there's a lot of different
factors that we'll see in this

314
00:14:14,667 --> 00:14:15,937
jobs report.

315
00:14:15,934 --> 00:14:18,434
But the President is committed
to putting the American people

316
00:14:18,433 --> 00:14:20,963
back to work and keeping
this economy on track.

317
00:14:20,967 --> 00:14:24,937
And the jobs report that comes
out on Friday is just going to

318
00:14:24,934 --> 00:14:29,134
be one set of data, but it's not
necessarily going to mean the

319
00:14:29,133 --> 00:14:31,863
President is going to change
course when it comes to doing

320
00:14:31,867 --> 00:14:35,867
everything that he can to move
through some of the ideas that

321
00:14:35,867 --> 00:14:38,097
he's put forth on
helping small businesses,

322
00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:41,770
helping big businesses, helping
everybody who's hiring that he

323
00:14:41,767 --> 00:14:45,897
can to create an environment
where people can create jobs.

324
00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:47,800
The Press:
So you're leaving the
door open for another jobs

325
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,100
creation package at
some point, if needed?

326
00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:52,630
Mr. Burton:
Well, keep in mind that
some of the things that the

327
00:14:52,633 --> 00:14:58,333
President has talked about even
as recently as December have not

328
00:14:58,333 --> 00:15:00,333
come to a vote,
haven't been passed,

329
00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:02,563
and so some of his jobs
ideas are still out there,

330
00:15:02,567 --> 00:15:07,237
including some of the things to
-- since this is energy day --

331
00:15:07,233 --> 00:15:10,833
but to make homes more efficient
and give people credits to

332
00:15:10,834 --> 00:15:13,704
retrofit their own houses
and that sort of thing.

333
00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:16,630
So the President is still very
much focused on creating jobs.

334
00:15:16,633 --> 00:15:17,903
The Press:
One just minor
housekeeping question.

335
00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:21,470
Will the First Family's tax
returns be released either

336
00:15:21,467 --> 00:15:24,067
Friday or over the weekend?

337
00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:27,236
Mr. Burton:
I don't know the timing on that, but they're generally released

338
00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:31,403
and they'll be out
sooner than you think.

339
00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,830
I don't have a
date for you. Lester.

340
00:15:35,834 --> 00:15:37,434
The Press:
Thank you very much.

341
00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:43,263
And thank you for your
very crisp answers.

342
00:15:43,266 --> 00:15:47,396
Does the President believe that
the Holy Father has been fairly

343
00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,030
treated by The New York Times
and The Washington Post?

344
00:15:51,033 --> 00:15:52,863
Mr. Burton:
That's not something
I've spoken to him about.

345
00:15:52,867 --> 00:15:54,337
I'll see what I can find out.

346
00:15:54,333 --> 00:15:55,603
The Press:
You will? Good.

347
00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:56,830
(laughter)

348
00:15:56,834 --> 00:16:01,464
Why does the President believe
that it is fair to bar all

349
00:16:01,467 --> 00:16:05,167
private-school children
from the Easter Egg Roll,

350
00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:09,896
including scholarship
students at Sidwell Friends?

351
00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:12,970
Mr. Burton:
I'm not familiar with
the Easter Egg Roll policy,

352
00:16:12,967 --> 00:16:14,437
but I would direct you to --

353
00:16:14,433 --> 00:16:15,433
The Press:
But it's been announced.

354
00:16:15,433 --> 00:16:17,503
You must be aware
of the announcement.

355
00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:20,330
Mr. Burton:
Like I said, I'm not fully
familiar with the Easter

356
00:16:20,333 --> 00:16:22,063
Egg Roll policy.

357
00:16:22,066 --> 00:16:23,396
I appreciate the question.

358
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,000
But you should direct
it to the East --

359
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,170
The Press:
You'll get me an answer then?

360
00:16:26,166 --> 00:16:27,336
Mr. Burton:
No, I would direct you to
the East Wing where they

361
00:16:27,333 --> 00:16:28,733
know a little more about it. April.

362
00:16:28,734 --> 00:16:33,804
The Press:
Yes, today is March 31st, the deadline for the Black Farmers

363
00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,230
$1.25 [billion] congressional approval for its settlement.

364
00:16:38,233 --> 00:16:41,233
Robert was supposed to come back
with information about if the

365
00:16:41,233 --> 00:16:43,903
President supported an extension
-- because we understand that

366
00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:48,000
CBC members as well as the Black
Farmers were looking for an extension.

367
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,130
Do you have any information
about the President supports

368
00:16:51,133 --> 00:16:55,203
an extension to this deadline
after 15 years of their wait?

369
00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,100
Mr. Burton:
I checked in with Leg Affairs after you asked that question

370
00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:00,400
yesterday, and they told me that
they are in fact working with

371
00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,100
Congress with some urgency to
get this done as fast as possible.

372
00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:05,570
I don't have any
specific timing for you,

373
00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:07,837
but this is something
that they're working to

374
00:17:07,834 --> 00:17:10,664
make progress on to make
sure that we get this done.

375
00:17:10,667 --> 00:17:11,937
The Press:
So it's not going
to happen today,

376
00:17:11,934 --> 00:17:14,464
but you mean that they could
possibly use the extension --

377
00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:16,767
I mean, because today is the
deadline and they're not there --

378
00:17:16,767 --> 00:17:21,467
Mr. Burton:
Well, not knowing the
particulars of the specific

379
00:17:21,467 --> 00:17:24,067
settlement, I'm letting you
know that the legislative team

380
00:17:24,066 --> 00:17:26,396
is working to get this
done as fast as possible.

381
00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:27,770
The Press:
Well, let me ask you this
as well -- since they have

382
00:17:27,767 --> 00:17:30,567
been waiting for 15 years
in this Pickford case,

383
00:17:30,567 --> 00:17:33,137
the Black Farmers want to know
if they can meet with the

384
00:17:33,133 --> 00:17:37,233
President, especially after he
announced it in his 2011 budget

385
00:17:37,233 --> 00:17:40,163
and put out a paper saying
he strongly supports it.

386
00:17:40,166 --> 00:17:42,436
And they wanted to know if they
could sit down and talk to the

387
00:17:42,433 --> 00:17:45,863
President to push more
so this administration to

388
00:17:45,867 --> 00:17:50,237
make it happen, since
they've waited 15 years.

389
00:17:50,233 --> 00:17:53,863
Mr. Burton:
I don't know if there's
a meeting in the works.

390
00:17:53,867 --> 00:17:56,567
I can certainly check on it, but I don't know if that's in the works.

391
00:17:56,567 --> 00:17:59,067
The Press:
Is this administration open
to meeting with them at least?

392
00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:02,336
Mr. Burton:
I haven't spoken to anybody
on that, so I don't know. Bill.

393
00:18:02,333 --> 00:18:06,203
The Press:
Bill, you said a couple
times already today that

394
00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,200
the President's policy is to
drill where it's responsible.

395
00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:13,000
So far I've only
heard about Virginia.

396
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,970
Can you give us an idea of other
places where the administration

397
00:18:15,967 --> 00:18:18,297
believes it's
responsible to drill?

398
00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:19,800
Mr. Burton:
Well, some of the other
areas that were talked

399
00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,470
about in the reports today are
up on the northern coast of

400
00:18:23,467 --> 00:18:30,097
Alaska, down in the Gulf
region -- areas like that.

401
00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:33,630
The Press:
Are there any plans for drilling
off the coast of California?

402
00:18:33,633 --> 00:18:35,403
Mr. Burton:
That is not a part of this.

403
00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,000
The Press:
Out of consideration?

404
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,700
Mr. Burton:
I can't speak to the entire
rest of this administration,

405
00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:42,130
but I can tell you that
it's not a part of the

406
00:18:42,133 --> 00:18:44,033
President's energy plan.

407
00:18:44,033 --> 00:18:46,003
The Press:
I'm sorry if this has
already been mentioned,

408
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,500
but to what extent was this
discussed with Democratic

409
00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:52,270
leaders on the Hill before
it was rolled out today?

410
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:56,466
Mr. Burton:
We speak with Democratic leaders
on the Hill every day and --

411
00:18:56,467 --> 00:18:57,937
The Press:
They were well
aware this was coming?

412
00:18:57,934 --> 00:19:02,904
I mean, have you taken the
temperature of Democrats on the Hill?

413
00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:04,230
Mr. Burton:
I assume that that has happened.

414
00:19:04,233 --> 00:19:06,033
We talk to Democratic
leaders every day.

415
00:19:06,033 --> 00:19:09,363
It wasn't a secret that our
energy policy was coming out.

416
00:19:09,367 --> 00:19:11,037
Folks got a heads-up
that it was happening.

417
00:19:11,033 --> 00:19:14,103
And obviously the President has
a very close relationship with

418
00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:17,430
Speaker Pelosi and Leader
Reid and it's, of course,

419
00:19:17,433 --> 00:19:21,503
one of the things that they do
talk about from time to time. Ann.

420
00:19:21,500 --> 00:19:24,070
The Press:
On the West Coast of Florida, when you're talking about the

421
00:19:24,066 --> 00:19:25,796
eastern part of the
Gulf of Mexico --

422
00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,500
he says that he would -- if
the ban were to be lifted,

423
00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:31,170
he'd like to see more
exploration there.

424
00:19:31,166 --> 00:19:35,636
Will the President ask
Congress to lift the ban?

425
00:19:35,633 --> 00:19:41,603
Mr. Burton:
Well, every place has specific
regulations that they have to

426
00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,000
deal with in order to move leases, to actually put in the rigs.

427
00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,400
There's the exploratory phase
that they have to go through.

428
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,630
So -- what's your specific
question about the Eastern Gulf?

429
00:19:52,633 --> 00:19:55,403
The Press:
The statement you all put
out says that in the Eastern

430
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,300
Gulf, which remains under a
congressional moratorium -- right?

431
00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:01,630
But if it were to be lifted,
he thinks there should be more

432
00:20:01,633 --> 00:20:04,263
drilling closer to the
western coast of Florida.

433
00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:06,536
Mr. Burton:
Well, I don't want to get
into water that's too deep

434
00:20:06,533 --> 00:20:09,363
for me when we're talking
about the Gulf of Mexico.

435
00:20:09,367 --> 00:20:10,767
(laughter)

436
00:20:10,767 --> 00:20:13,497
But I would encourage you to
ask the folks at Interior.

437
00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:16,270
The Press:
Bill, how about -- for years, some of the arguments that

438
00:20:16,266 --> 00:20:19,736
opponents of drilling
used is that, first of all,

439
00:20:19,734 --> 00:20:22,004
as the President said
when he was a candidate,

440
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,230
it doesn't come up with a single gallon of gas in the short term,

441
00:20:25,233 --> 00:20:31,033
it's way long off; and,
number two, that the -- well,

442
00:20:31,033 --> 00:20:32,403
answer just that part.

443
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,900
When he pounded the lectern
back in 2008 and said,

444
00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:38,930
I won't do it because it won't
come up with anything immediate

445
00:20:38,934 --> 00:20:41,264
-- what flipped him on that?

446
00:20:41,266 --> 00:20:43,036
Mr. Burton:
Well, the President's
view -- and I was saying

447
00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:46,333
this earlier -- is that this
is not a silver bullet to

448
00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:48,103
the answer to the energy
question that we have.

449
00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:49,200
The Press:
But what changed?

450
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,900
Mr. Burton:
But it's one part.
It's one part.

451
00:20:50,900 --> 00:20:53,500
And this is something that he has said over the course of the campaign.

452
00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:56,330
So people who voted for him,
people who covered him,

453
00:20:56,333 --> 00:20:58,603
people who were watching this
election knew that if you pulled

454
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:02,630
the lever for Barack
Obama in November of 2008,

455
00:21:02,633 --> 00:21:04,333
what you were going to
get was a President who,

456
00:21:04,333 --> 00:21:06,533
as part of a comprehensive
energy strategy,

457
00:21:06,533 --> 00:21:10,403
was going to support some
drilling where it made sense,

458
00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,830
was going to promote efficiency,
was going to invest in renewables.

459
00:21:13,834 --> 00:21:15,904
But he was going to take
a comprehensive view,

460
00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:18,930
and not just take the short view
that drilling was the answer to

461
00:21:18,934 --> 00:21:20,064
all of our answers.

462
00:21:20,066 --> 00:21:22,236
The Press:
And the other aspect of
that is the complaint against

463
00:21:22,233 --> 00:21:24,833
it was that the drilling --
there are a lot of leases out

464
00:21:24,834 --> 00:21:28,204
there sitting there
untouched for years.

465
00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,800
How many leases, and what kind
of exploration could go forward

466
00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,170
that the private companies
just aren't doing?

467
00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:36,636
Mr. Burton:
I actually, Ann, have
to say, regret this --

468
00:21:36,633 --> 00:21:39,833
I have the specific
numbers for you.

469
00:21:39,834 --> 00:21:41,804
They're sitting
upstairs on my desk.

470
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,030
The Press:
Well, I'll be up to see you.

471
00:21:43,033 --> 00:21:44,163
(laughter)

472
00:21:44,166 --> 00:21:45,536
Mr. Burton:
But I will make sure that
I get you those numbers --

473
00:21:45,533 --> 00:21:48,003
and anybody else who is
interested in them. Glen.

474
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,970
The Press:
Bill, in the
run-up to Copenhagen,

475
00:21:49,967 --> 00:21:53,237
the administration took its
share of criticism from

476
00:21:53,233 --> 00:21:54,963
conservative groups who
said that you were sort

477
00:21:54,967 --> 00:21:56,837
of in the pocket of the
environmental community.

478
00:21:56,834 --> 00:21:59,634
What do you think this says
about the President's attitude

479
00:21:59,633 --> 00:22:02,233
towards environmentalists and
his willingness to stand up for

480
00:22:02,233 --> 00:22:05,463
them even if they
don't agree with him?

481
00:22:05,467 --> 00:22:07,997
Mr. Burton:
Well, I -- Glen, I
was saying this earlier,

482
00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,800
but I just -- I don't see it in
that political lens necessarily.

483
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:12,730
If the President had done
something today that he hadn't

484
00:22:12,734 --> 00:22:14,434
promised that he
was going to do,

485
00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:19,763
that we hadn't telegraphed from
the campaign through the State

486
00:22:19,767 --> 00:22:22,297
of the Union of this year,
through all the different things

487
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:26,000
that we've said about energy,
then I would say that maybe we

488
00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,670
could have a conversation
about what this means for

489
00:22:28,667 --> 00:22:30,167
standing up to whomever.

490
00:22:30,166 --> 00:22:31,896
But this is something the
President said he was going to

491
00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:33,900
do, and I think that
for the most part,

492
00:22:33,900 --> 00:22:36,970
people oughtn't feel
surprised about it.

493
00:22:36,967 --> 00:22:38,367
The Press:
Just to follow up on what
Sam was asking about the

494
00:22:38,367 --> 00:22:39,697
contact with the Hill.

495
00:22:39,700 --> 00:22:43,400
If you sort of look at this
map, it is -- it appears to be

496
00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,100
carefully crafted and tailored.

497
00:22:46,100 --> 00:22:48,130
You have some drilling on
the north short of Alaska;

498
00:22:48,133 --> 00:22:49,863
you have more
restrictions on the south.

499
00:22:49,867 --> 00:22:52,597
You also have the drilling
off the coast of Virginia.

500
00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,830
To what extent did you discuss
the creation of this map with

501
00:22:56,834 --> 00:23:00,604
Senator Warner in Virginia,
Senator Landrieu in Louisiana?

502
00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,970
Was there a back-and-forth
prior to this?

503
00:23:02,967 --> 00:23:04,997
Mr. Burton:
On the actual process for
figuring out the places

504
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,370
where it made most sense to
explore new places to drill I

505
00:23:08,367 --> 00:23:11,737
would direct you to the
Department of Interior. Peter.

506
00:23:11,734 --> 00:23:14,434
The Press:
Can I ask about -- yesterday
in the President's statement on

507
00:23:14,433 --> 00:23:17,833
Iran with President Sarkozy,
he says weeks, not months,

508
00:23:17,834 --> 00:23:19,664
on a sanction resolution.

509
00:23:19,667 --> 00:23:22,267
Can you give us any more
understanding of why he's saying

510
00:23:22,266 --> 00:23:25,766
that, or what makes him think he
can get it on that time frame?

511
00:23:25,767 --> 00:23:29,337
What's happening in terms of the
discussions about -- with the

512
00:23:29,333 --> 00:23:30,833
Chinese at this point or --

513
00:23:30,834 --> 00:23:32,534
Mr. Burton:
Well, for starters, as
the President expressed

514
00:23:32,533 --> 00:23:36,533
yesterday, there's a real sense
of urgency as it relates to

515
00:23:36,533 --> 00:23:39,863
working to apply
pressure to Iran.

516
00:23:39,867 --> 00:23:44,467
And there are some very intense
conversations happening at the

517
00:23:44,467 --> 00:23:46,697
United Nations right now
that we're able to make

518
00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:48,370
some real progress on.

519
00:23:48,367 --> 00:23:51,667
And the President feels like
we have more support in the

520
00:23:51,667 --> 00:23:54,437
international community for
sanctions than we've ever had

521
00:23:54,433 --> 00:23:58,733
before and he feels very
confident that this spring we

522
00:23:58,734 --> 00:24:01,634
will be able to move forward with an agreement of those nations.

523
00:24:01,633 --> 00:24:04,133
The Press:
How important is it to
get a sanctions resolution,

524
00:24:04,133 --> 00:24:06,203
even if it doesn't include
everything that he originally

525
00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,430
might have wanted it to have?

526
00:24:08,433 --> 00:24:11,763
Mr. Burton:
Well, the President obviously
-- the United States is not

527
00:24:11,767 --> 00:24:14,837
the only country who is
dealing with this issue.

528
00:24:14,834 --> 00:24:18,004
And so we have to work with some
of our foreign partners to apply

529
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,800
as much pressure as we can.

530
00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,130
You brought up the Chinese.

531
00:24:21,133 --> 00:24:24,103
The Chinese know that it's not
in their interest to have a

532
00:24:24,100 --> 00:24:25,930
nuclear arms race
in the Middle East,

533
00:24:25,934 --> 00:24:28,534
and we're confident that we're
going to be able to work with

534
00:24:28,533 --> 00:24:33,503
them to move forward on
meaningful pressure on Iran.

535
00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:37,470
So I would say that the
President takes the long view.

536
00:24:37,467 --> 00:24:39,137
He wants to apply as
much pressure as we can,

537
00:24:39,133 --> 00:24:42,103
and he's confident we're
going to be able to do that.

538
00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:47,100
The Press:
Thanks, Bill. As you know, gas
prices have been on the rise

539
00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:48,870
over the past few months.

540
00:24:48,867 --> 00:24:53,437
I've seen $4 a gallon
here in Washington, D.C.

541
00:24:53,433 --> 00:24:58,003
To what extent does the White House believe that the proposal

542
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,900
the President announced today will bring down the cost of

543
00:25:00,900 --> 00:25:04,570
gasoline for motorists
across the country?

544
00:25:04,567 --> 00:25:06,637
Mr. Burton:
I don't know about the
immediate impact because

545
00:25:06,633 --> 00:25:10,833
of course all these different
things that we're doing have

546
00:25:10,834 --> 00:25:12,834
to go through different phases, right?

547
00:25:12,834 --> 00:25:16,134
You've got some places where you
can start drilling a lot more

548
00:25:16,133 --> 00:25:17,533
soon than in other places.

549
00:25:17,533 --> 00:25:22,333
And so the length of time that
it takes for the oil to get out

550
00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:25,163
of the ground and into the supply is going to take a little while.

551
00:25:25,166 --> 00:25:28,266
So I don't know that
-- I'm not a speculator,

552
00:25:28,266 --> 00:25:31,136
so I don't know exactly what's
going to happen on the price of

553
00:25:31,133 --> 00:25:32,803
a barrel of oil today.

554
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,430
But I can tell you that over the
long term this is going to save

555
00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:38,463
the American people money, it's
going to decrease our dependence

556
00:25:38,467 --> 00:25:41,497
on foreign oil, and it's going
to allow them to know that our

557
00:25:41,500 --> 00:25:43,370
energy future is secure.

558
00:25:43,367 --> 00:25:46,067
The Press:
So long term then -- you
say you don't know about the

559
00:25:46,066 --> 00:25:48,266
immediate impact it
may have -- long term,

560
00:25:48,266 --> 00:25:51,696
you think that the price of
gasoline for motorists across

561
00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:54,500
the country will come down as
a result of the proposal the

562
00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:56,030
President announced today?

563
00:25:56,033 --> 00:25:58,433
Mr. Burton:
I think that as a result of
the proposal the President

564
00:25:58,433 --> 00:26:01,003
announced today, our country
will have a lot more energy

565
00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,270
security and a lot less
dependence on foreign oil.

566
00:26:04,266 --> 00:26:06,196
But in terms of the ups
and downs of the market,

567
00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,870
I'm not going to get into that.

568
00:26:07,867 --> 00:26:10,337
The Press:
Did that enter into the
calculus of the White House

569
00:26:10,333 --> 00:26:13,833
in making this decision that
perhaps this would bring down

570
00:26:13,834 --> 00:26:17,304
the cost of gasoline
for motorists?

571
00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:19,730
Mr. Burton:
Well, obviously as
we get into the summer,

572
00:26:19,734 --> 00:26:21,434
gas prices go up.

573
00:26:21,433 --> 00:26:25,933
And at a time when the economy
is not doing very well,

574
00:26:25,934 --> 00:26:29,434
that can have a real pinch on
families who are unemployed,

575
00:26:29,433 --> 00:26:31,233
or families who
are underemployed,

576
00:26:31,233 --> 00:26:34,003
or families who are feeling
the pinch from all sorts of

577
00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,900
different aspects of the economy
-- rising tuition costs,

578
00:26:37,900 --> 00:26:40,170
rising utility costs,
and things like that.

579
00:26:40,166 --> 00:26:43,636
And so the President does want
to do things that make energy

580
00:26:43,633 --> 00:26:46,403
more affordable for
the American people.

581
00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,770
But I would say that this
comprehensive approach is the

582
00:26:50,767 --> 00:26:55,067
best way to do that for the long
term for -- as it relates to

583
00:26:55,066 --> 00:26:57,296
energy and as it
relates to our economy.

584
00:26:57,300 --> 00:26:58,430
Thank you.