Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ The President wants to make sure that five and 10 years from now, the United States is not in a position where somebody says, what do we need to do short-term, because he, this year, will have taken the long-term actions necessary to prevent future problems. ”

“ If anybody wants to have a trigger, it's government spending. He believes tax relief needs to be permanent and should be permanent. Tax relief is, in many ways, a trigger on spending because you won't be able to spend the money if the government doesn't have it. ”

“ Does the White House have any indication why they're finally taking action now, if they are, when they've been pressed for action for ages? MR. FLEISCHER: No. As I indicated, these events are developing as we speak, and so I'm going to be hesitant to talk about events that are literally developing during the course of this press briefing. Q Ari, on the Middle East, thinking about Mubarak's visit on Monday. Some of the criticisms about the way Clinton handled the whole peace negotiations at Camp David was that he didn't talk closely enough before, during and after with other Arab leaders. ”

“ MR. FLEISCHER: This summer is the date, the target date. Q Ari, what do you know about reports that Milosevic is about to be arrested? MR. FLEISCHER: We have noted those reports. The White House is monitoring events in the area and will continue to do so. That's where we stand right now. Q I'm sorry, was that Iraq? What was the question? MR. FLEISCHER: Milosevic. Q Do you know whether the reports are true? MR. FLEISCHER: Do not have any firm indications yet. It's developing. Q What has the United States government said to the government of Serbia about arresting Milosevic? ”

“ The White House already has bleachers that have been used for previous events on the South Lawn. They remain in storage, they'll be brought out for this. The South Lawn has been home to many event over recent years. President Clinton used it to have a carnival on the South Lawn. There is, of course, the picnic for reporters on the South Lawn, which will be similarly followed by tee-ball on the South Lawn. Q Will they carve out base bands so it will look like a diamond? Or it will be like a -- MR. FLEISCHER: No, they'll be running on the grass. They'll be running on the grass. ”

“ It won't be opened up to everybody, but it's going to be opened up to their immediate families. And the President is doing this because he thinks it's going to be a wonderful event locally for the tee-ball teams in the region and, as I indicated earlier, for part of the national pastime at a young age. Q An outreach to inner-city kids, by any chance? MR. FLEISCHER: The President does anticipate inviting and welcoming to the South Lawn children from disadvantaged areas and bringing them to that beautiful lawn to play tee-ball. ”

“ The President does not discuss whether -- who should be investigated. That's a matter for others to decide in the judicial process. Q Does he hope they will? MR. FLEISCHER: And I don't even know if this case rises to that. Q Ari, does the President, as a supporter of the death penalty, have a position on whether the United States should waive the death penalty in the case of the killer of Dr. ”