Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ The President believes the best way to help small business is to recognize that so many small businesses pay taxes at the rate of individual income taxpayers. So for many small businesses, their top rate is 40 percent, and then they have to pay payroll taxes, which can push them close to 50 percent of a tax rate. And the way the President believes we can help small business the most is to provide tax relief, so they're paying at a rate no where near as high. ”

“ The President thinks that we are all in this together, business, labor, consumer, and that's his approach. And his approach is a cooperative one on how to bring people together. And that's why, as you heard the President himself say repeatedly, in regard to his tax plan, that the businesses who are trying to tack on special business tax cuts, he believes that this tax cut should be for the people, and he is not supporting that this year. ”

“ And he has repeatedly stressed his confidence in the long-term growth of the economy, while also understanding and emphasizing with the concerns of people right now who are suffering in today's weak and weakening economy. ”

“ As far as the labor agreements that the President entered into with the executive orders he announced, that's to ensure neutrality in government contracting, for example. The President does not think that the federal government should tilt toward or against organized labor. He believes that the government position should be neutrality, and that's what he's done, and that's what he'll continue to do. Q Ari, on ergonomics, what is the time frame or time table as far as getting something out of the Labor Department? ”

“ Q Ari, one of the things the Fed said today in cutting interest rates was concern about the global economy slowing down. How big a concern is that here at the White House, particularly when the tax package that the President has presented is also being presented as a stimulus package, to help the economy? ”

“ Today he referred to it as a stimulus plan, because he does think it will help create growth in America. Growth in America has historically driven growth around the world.
Q The President did use the word stimulus package today, but as now crafted by the House, his tax plan would put about $5.6 billion into the economy this year, a pretty modest amount. To make it a real stimulus package, as the Senate deals with this, and the President said he's open to suggestions, how much money does he think should be frontloaded in the tax cut? ”

“ He will appoint people who are the best qualified in the country, regardless of their party. He wants to appoint people who will strictly interpret the Constitution, not write new laws from the bench. ”

“ Q And my follow up is, the Zionist Organization of America pointed out in a full-page ad this morning the despite Palestinian murders of 16 American citizens in Israel in the past eight years, $100 million a year in taxpayers' money is given every year to Yasser Arafat's preventative security forces, who include five of these murders of Americans. ”

“ Is there some give on this now because you're not sure the Senate and the House are going to be able to hit that mark? MR. FLEISCHER: The President continues to believe that the Congress should pass the proposal that he has advocated, which is a $1.6-trillion tax cut. Q But in terms of the amount, I mean, he's now open to a slightly different amount on the tax cut? Is it clear to him that Congress is not going to be able to hit $1.6 trillion on the money? MR. FLEISCHER: No. The President continues to believe $1.6 trillion is the right number. Q A two-part question, Ari. ”