Robert Gibbs

“ So I think we're anxious and eager to implement the plan that the President has called for, ensure that the money is given out in a transparent and accountable way, and that it creates and saves the jobs that we believe it will before we go any further on an additional stimulus bill.
Obviously the President has spoken many times about the need for many other things to happen in this economy. Obviously we're working on a financial stability plan to increase lending to small businesses and families. The home foreclosure aspect is something the President will detail tomorrow. ”

“ Well, again, without getting into proposal details which we'll have for you guys tomorrow, obviously, as the President spoke about throughout the campaign, bailing out speculators or those that were trying to game the system is not what this plan is going to try to do. Instead it's to stem the rising tide of foreclosures, as well as people that are at risk for foreclosure based on the fact that their housing value has dropped as a result of this economy.
Ten thousand people face foreclosure every day in this country. ”

“ We are going to work with Congress to ensure that what the President proposed and what is now law works to share the goal of ensuring that pay isn't excessive for CEOs and, at the same time, make sure it doesn't dissuade particularly smaller community banks from taking the lending capital that is so important to stabilize the system and ensure that credit flows to businesses and families. ”

“ Well, I think the President, in an interview today with CBC, talked about the notion that we value Canada as a trading partner, we value it as a partner in meeting our energy needs, and that we -- he hopes to start a relationship to continue that strong partnership. ”

“ I think the steps that we're going to take today in signing this bill, in moving forward the very important provisions on medical technology that will sharply reduce paperwork that doctors have to produce, will speed up a system that otherwise is notoriously slow, and save people money in the process, is a great down payment on the type of reform that the President talked about throughout the campaign, and represents one of the biggest steps forward in reforming our health care system that this country has seen in quite some time. ”

“ That administration, as you all know, has started a 60-day review of our policy in the region, headed by Bruce Riedel. The situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating for quite some time. And in order to stem that, the President has ordered the additional troops. That does not prejudge the outcome of the review process, but allows us instead to -- allows us instead to meet an urgent need for more troops in a deteriorating security situation in advance of the traditional Taliban offensives in the spring, and also leading up to ensuring secure elections later in the year. ”

“ I think there will be -- I mean, I think you'd have a hard time talking about our economy without talking about our commitments around the world, the health of our force structure, and obviously what is going on in both Iraq and Afghanistan. ”

“ Some of the funding, obviously, in this bill will come through tax cuts, which can get into people's pockets quite quickly. Some will come through existing programs like unemployment insurance, which will happen also quite quickly -- extended benefits. Some of the business tax cuts in the bill are retroactive to the first of the year. So I would assume that some businesses will begin quickly operating under the notion that those -- that they have the ability to go back at least several weeks on those. ”

“ Robert, what are the prospects for another economic stimulus package following this one? I mean, have you guys ruled out that you would do something of this -- another step of this significance?
GIBBS: I don't -- I think we believe that the steps contained in this piece of legislation that the President will sign in a few hours will be the beginning of getting our economy back on track. ”

“ So I think there's -- different parts of the bill are funded through different mechanisms, in terms of whether they're existing programs. Obviously I think state legislatures will understand that increased Medicaid funding is coming; increased funding for education to prevent the layoff of teachers or more cops funding to ensure that police officers don't get laid off. There was an example the President made mention of today. ”

“ How many people do you expect to help?
GIBBS: Let me -- that I can probably get you a number on a little bit later.
[REPORTER] : Can you also talk about the Canada trip on Thursday? Will the President be looking to reopen NAFTA negotiations? ”