Robert Gibbs

“ Third, as you know, there's a major investment in this plan in infrastructure. The Senate bill alone contains about $123 billion, again, that will create jobs not just immediately, but lay the foundation for more job growth in the future. Whether it's that new energy economy, whether we are building roads or bridges, or fixing waterways, or investing in long-delayed flood control projects, or creating 21st century classrooms in our schools, this plan makes those necessary and often ignored investments. ”

“ Many of them will tell you it's a blend of spending that will create jobs immediately, spending that will ensure investments for long-term economic growth, as well as some mix of tax cuts to put money back in the pockets of middle-class families and small business owners, and that a correct blend of that will get the economy moving again. ”

“ Michael Steele said that one should also consider in a stimulus package suspending or abolishing outright the capital gains tax for two years to free up the private sector. Is that something that's ever been discussed in any of the meetings on the stimulus package?
GIBBS: Not that I know of. I think you've seen -- I think we know where business investment is right now, and I think you know where the capital gains tax rate is now as it -- relating to where it was several years ago. And I would I guess posit that the economy isn't altogether markedly more healthy. ”

“ One, on Tom Daschle, is the President at all concerned that the continuing problem of members of your Cabinet, or aspiring members of your Cabinet, to pay their taxes according to the law will undercut either the President's rhetoric on an era or responsibility, or the fact that your health plan and your tax plans going forward are likely going to be asking American -- some Americans to pay more in taxes? ”

“ We're putting money back in people's pockets that need it the most and who are likely -- not simply because of their declining income, but their increasing bills -- they will spend that money and get the economy moving again. ”

“ I think that's one of the reasons why Governor Douglas was here, and Governor Douglas has a different perspective on a stimulus and a recovery plan than some people on Capitol Hill. He doesn't have the luxury of running up a $1.2 trillion debt every year, and going home. He is accountable for public safety and health care in a way unlike many people are. I think that's why he walked in here today and was happy to support the President's plan to ensure that we have a recovery plan that saves or creates 3 to 4 million jobs. ”

“ They've seen the unemployment rate go from 3.9 percent one year ago to 6.4 percent last month. We'll get new economic and unemployment numbers, as you well know, on Friday.
But the President understands, and I think Congress does, too, that the American people are hurting and are in need of some help. Each and every day we hear and the American people hear the stats, the government statistics that underscore the challenges that we face as a people and that we face as a country. ”

“ So taken as a whole, this proposal will invest in America today by creating jobs, but it will pave the way for sustained economic growth through long-term investments that America and families all across the country so desperately need. ”

“ You've got a piece of legislation that creates jobs. You know, we can -- and certainly there's going to be -- the process will go forward. This bill will go to the Senate. There will be amendments that will -- that may change this or that. We've already seen the -- probably the biggest amendment in either House so far was authored by a Republican to add tax cuts to the proposal. So I think the notion that somehow people -- Republicans aren't involved in this process is about $70 billion off. ”

“ Next, this bill also puts needed money back into consumers' pockets, the consumers that need it the most -- middle class families that have seen their wages decline far longer than what the economists say this recession -- for the length of this recession. ”

“ I think the first message he have -- will have for them is thanking them for their speedy work on getting this process -- this important process for the American people started. The House and the Senate thus far have -- the House has moved forward on an economic recovery plan. We've got a fair pay piece of legislation that's made it through both chambers and landed on the President's desk, that he signed. We anticipate, with some work this week, that additional legislation covering 4 to 5 million more children that currently lack health care will be up for the President's signature. ”

“ The President, again, is not insensitive to -- at all -- to the reports that are out there, but believes that both Secretary Geithner and Secretary-designate Daschle are the right people for very important jobs, and he does not believe that that will undercut their ability to move forward on a agenda that makes sense for the American people. ”

“ Nobody is perfect. It was a serious mistake, one that he caught and remedied. We think he is still the best person to do health care reform and shepherd that very complicated process through Congress to achieve savings and cut costs for the American people. ”

“ I think it's safe to assume that if the President's package, which addresses the need to ensure that public safety isn't threatened in a recession, and money specifically for police officers -- my sense is that Columbus, Ohio is probably going to get some of that money. ”

“ I think his members want infrastructure spending, and this bill contains $123 billion in infrastructure spending. His members want tax cuts, and the bill contains more than a third of the money involved is in tax cuts. I think that the proposal that we have is a strong one, and it will create the jobs necessary to get Americans back to work.
April.
[REPORTER] : Two questions. One, there's a group of Democrats that desperately wants to meet with the President, members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Are they on the President's agenda? ”