Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ But from the President's point, he thinks it is very important that we work with our Mexican friends to say that the United States is a nation that has welcomed immigrants, and that we have immigration issues with Mexico, and that those issues should be handled in a way that recognizes humanity, that recognizes safety, that recognizes law, and that focuses on ways to have legal and safe migration into this country. ”

“ And so it remains an issue of volatility in the market, and we remain a nation that is too dependent on foreign supplies of oil. And we remain a nation that has continued to lurch from crisis to crisis, with periods in between of relative calm which were marked by a later crisis. ”

“ Our current tax system is terribly, terribly complicated; makes average, ordinary Americans have to go out and hire accountants just to figure out how to fill out a couple pages. There are even people who file a 1040 who have to hire accountants to fill out the simple 1040 EZ. So we have a very complicated tax system, where lawyers and accountants are able to help people who have wealth get around paying taxes, and average people have to go out and hire accountants and lawyers just to figure out how to pay their bills because the system is too complicated for them to figure. ”

“ But as the history of energy in the United States has shown, these trends don't stay in one direction very long. And America still has an aging infrastructure in terms of the electric grid. It still has an aging infrastructure in terms of the ability to get natural gas from one part of the country to the next. ”

“ But, again, the White House has not yet received anything. Q You would call it amnesty, Ari? MR. FLEISCHER: As I mentioned, it's a possibility of a new temporary worker program. Q Ari, the whole idea of a temporary worker program is that it's temporary, that people come and go for short periods of time, or up to a year, I think, in some of the programs. But it sounds as if one of the options that is being considered now is not a temporary program but, rather, to give people who are here working illegally some sort of permanent legal status. ”

“ The President thinks it's terribly important to reach out to groups, and as he said during the campaign, churches, synagogues, mosques, all Americans from all types of different backgrounds. It is a reflection of the fact that very often these groups are very close to people in their communities and they have a way of getting closer and solving people's problems better than a government, that can sometimes can be a little distant. ”

“ This is a restatement or a signing of something that was talked about just prior to President Bush's departure for the June trip to Europe. If you recall, at that time, there was a meeting between the leaders of Russia and China. We're not the world we used to be, where it's a zero-sum game any more. And if Russia and China find ways to cooperate peacefully, and make the world a more secure and stable place, that's in the United States' interest. ”

“ It's not a decision that's made politically by the President of the United States or any other nation. The President is a sportsman and he recognizes the right of athletes to compete in as non-political an environment as possible. Having said that, this is also an opportunity for China to show the world a modern face, and that will be an important item to watch in China. Q But the United States is not still going back from the violations of human rights and other tortures in China? ”

“ It's another example how the federal government can and will work with California to help get through the energy crisis that they are in the middle of.
And with that, I'm more than happy to take questions.
Q Ari, the President said earlier today that when there is not necessarily a crisis, or people aren't feeling the crunch, that it's harder to get people to think about long-term solutions, when you're talking about energy. Do you -- are you taking the view with this sort of new push to sell the plan that there is, in fact, a crisis? ”

“ Q Ari, on that area, though, the last time a flat tax was put forward in national debate was when Steve Forbes ran on one as part of his presidential campaign, and at the time it was criticized as being disproportionately unfair to the poor, and disproportionately favorable to the wealthy. Is the President ultimately against a progressive tax system? MR. FLEISCHER: You know, the President is, obviously, focused on, number one, creating an environment so the economy can grow as a result of the tax cut. Two, the President would like to create a tax system that is simpler and fairer for people. ”

“ No, amnesty is an automatic granting, as opposed to a formalized process that everybody who comes to the United States, in accordance with the laws, has to go through. It's a very lengthy process and it's very different. Q Ari, how does the President plan to deal with the anti-immigrant backlash that's bound to develop over such a controversial proposal? MR. FLEISCHER: Proudly. The President believes that we're a nation of immigrants. The President, as he said at Ellis Island, said that immigration is not a problem to be solved, it's an opportunity for all Americans and for our country. ”

“ The President's approach is it is the job of serious people in government to focus on comprehensive solutions that get the problem solved once and for all, so America won't once again ask itself, how did we get into the energy predicament we're in. Q Ari, but since Americans aren't paying so much money for gas right now at the pump, is it going to be harder to get Congress to focus on this, since they have such a busy agenda in these last two weeks? ”

“ But, clearly, as a result of if you come with a legal status, then under the laws of the United States, well, of course, you're perfectly within your rights then to apply for citizenship, just like everybody else who had become a citizen of this country. Q Does the White House have a position on whether or not those temporary workers should receive traditional government benefits -- health care? ”

“ It has a ride range of uses, clothing, fuel. Farmers around the world are growing it; China, Canada, importing it. It's illegal here, in the United States, for farmers to grow it. Does the President favor the legalization of industrial hemp? ”

“ Q Is it accurate to say that he is considering among his many options a program that would, in fact, make temporary workers -- give them some sort of permanent legal status that would eventually enable them to become citizens? ”

“ Q Ari, not two months ago the President said, in St. Paul, Minnesota, we are facing the biggest energy crisis since the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s. What happened to the crisis? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the nation still is operating on the margins of error. Any little problem can create a major problem for the country. We still are not out of the woods. California has brought on a couple plants, which is helpful. Conservation has been very helpful. ”

“ They've never resented the immigration. Why do you say that? They've never resented the illegal immigration. It's been a safety valve for Mexico. MR. FLEISCHER: But now Mexico wants to work with the United States on making sure that the border is done in a humane -- Q They never resented it before. MR. FLEISCHER: -- border crossings are done in a humane, legal and safe way. And to work cooperatively across the border is terribly important and it's a welcome event. Q Ari, on Helms-Burton, the President did say he would extend the waiver for six months, but he didn't have a chance to elaborate. ”

“ It increases over time. And this is a long-term business, and charities are able, as a result of a multiplier effect, to take these small deductions and increase their good works and their good deeds with it. It's a good precedent for the future, as well. Q Talking about tax changes, there have been some reports that the President will -- may propose a complete overhaul of the income tax code, maybe even go into a flat tax. ”