Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ I think the Department of Energy has announced a couple different programs that would affect conservation and affect efficiency. And in the report that you will see coming out soon, there will be passages in there dealing with efficiency. Efficiency is also a blessing. Efficiency has been a way the American people can enjoy their standard of living, their standard of life, while using less resources. ”

“ And in the case of energy, that's a focus on how to conserve energy, conserve fuel, develop more resources, have better infrastructures so that electricity can move across transmission grids and natural gas can move across pipelines in a manner that gets the market to the market, in a manner that lowers costs on a full-time basis for the consumer. ”

“ But one of the biggest differences, though, that sets this era apart from the '70s is the American economy's dependence on electricity. In the new Internet-e-economy, electricity to power up people's PCs on their desks and their laptops, which they take everywhere they go, is a very different measure of use than it was in the 1970s. ”

“ Q In the political context of this argument, then, when this report comes out on the 17th and the President is proposing tax incentives for oil companies that will build new refineries; tax incentives to help people build infrastructure, like pipelines; tax incentives for all sorts of new development and putting the government on record of favoring new development -- politically, aren't you worried that your not-so-friendly people on Capitol Hill are going to sit up and say, where's the tax incentive for the guy who is paying $2 a gallon or more? ”

“ There's a growing chorus now of not just environmental activists, but also scientists within the government who say that, in fact, conservation and renewable energies could do a lot more to cut demand than is being given credit for or even being given a try. ”

“ He's very concerned about the impact that it's having on Americans, particularly, lower income Americans, who need their vehicles to drive to get to work and to enjoy their family lives. And that's one of the reasons the President is pushing so strongly for a comprehensive energy policy, and also for a tax cut, so he can get money into the hands of people who are being hit by rising gas prices. During the campaign last year there was much made about the possibility of repealing the federal gas tax, or limiting the federal gas tax. ”

“ What we need to do is make certain that we're able to get those resources in an efficient way, in a way that also emphasizes protecting the environment and conservation, into the hands of consumers so they can make the choices that they want to make as they live their lives day to day. Q So Americans should go on consuming as much more energy than any other citizens in any other countries of the world, as long as they want? ”

“ Q Is one of the problems with this, and the entire energy field, American lifestyles? Does the President believe that, given the amount of energy Americans consume per capita, how much it exceeds any other citizen in any other country in the world, does the President believe we need to correct our lifestyles to address the energy problem? MR. FLEISCHER: That's a big no. The President believes that it's an American way of life, and that it should be the goal of policy makers to protect the American way of life. The American way of life is a blessed one. ”

“ Does he not see the need for a short-term fix in conjunction with his long-term energy policy? MR. FLEISCHER: The singular reason that gas prices are rising is because of a problem with refinery utilization in this country. Our refineries are running full-bore. It's not just that we have a problem with supply; it's more a problem that no new refineries have been built in the United States in the last 25 years. You can cut taxes retroactively and get money in the hands of low-income consumers who have been hit by the rising price of gasoline. You can't retroactively build a refinery ”

“ I think everybody in this country owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who every morning wake up and don't know if they're coming home from work. And they're very different from many other people, and our whole nation owes the law enforcement community a debt of gratitude. ”

“ As I just indicated, to the degree that the President supports the efforts of the government of Macedonia to fight the extremists who have brought the violence to the region, the President has made clear to President Trajkovski who, himself, said that he is dedicated to making certain that we can protect the civilians. ”

“ I'm reminded when I was in college, for example, we used to take notes on pads and use pens. Now you see all the PCs in people's rooms and laptops that students bring to class and plug in. We are a very different economy and that ability to power that economy is the strength of America. ”

“ Q Since the President strongly supports the death penalty for many who do not want to die or who might be innocent, will he also support death for those who, being terminally ill, yearn to die and ask for a physician's help in death, just as they do a physician's help in birth? ”

“ MR. FLEISCHER: The President believes that we need to welcome and create a culture that respects life in this country. Q How can he be in favor of showing how much we disapprove of killing, by killing? ”