West Wing Report: June 18, 2010

"I think most of the skeptics have come around to the point that all the talk about the Recovery Act being dead on arrival and how it was going to be this great boondoggle and all the fraud and abuse that was going to occur and it wasn’t going to have much impact -- well, the fact is, the Recovery Act is working." - Vice-President Biden

Good morning, I’m Paul Brandus – and this is West Wing Report for the Capitol News Connection. Vice-President Biden had a slide show yesterday with lots of numbers to make his case that the $787 billion stimulus plan is working.

It’s true that the economy has grown for three quarters in a row now. The White House says you can thank the stimulus for that – and also for saving or creating around 2.5 million jobs.

But if that’s the case, then why is unemployment still close to 10%? The administration claimed it would top out at around 8%.

BIDEN: “…because every other major econometric model predicted the same thing, that we thought that unemployment wouldn’t go much above 8 percent. My point in my statement was this recession was so much deeper, so much more profound than anyone - most people thought it was.”

Meantime, more storm clouds on the horizon – at the state level. Even after two years of budget cuts and tax hikes, the states are looking at a total budget gap of $127 billion. Governors and Mayors have warned Biden what’s coming next:

BIDEN: “I have spoken to well over 140 mayors and county execs. I do this once a week for a couple hours -- an hour each with them. And privately every single one of them have thanked me for the Act. But one of the things they’ve all said -- every one of them -- you think my situation is bad in 2010, Mr. Vice President, it’s worse in 2011.”

And that means:

BIDEN: "So that’s why a lot of folks ask why do we think we need to continue to have some counter-cyclical help for the states and localities -- because essential services, teachers, cops, firefighters, they’re going to be laying an awful lot of those folks off.”

Just one reason, Biden argues – why the stimulus is so essential – and why, he says, it’ll continue.

From the White House press room -- I’m Paul Brandus -- West Wing Report – for the Capitol News Connection.

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The Schedule

In the morning, the President will travel to Columbus, Ohio. The departure from the South Lawn and the arrival at Port Columbus International Airport are open press.

In Columbus, the President will meet with workers and deliver remarks at the site of the 10,000th Recovery Act road project to get underway - the first of many significant Recovery Act milestones coming this summer. The road improvement project in downtown Columbus is expected to create over 300 construction jobs and will contribute to the broader economic development effort underway in the area around Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The President’s remarks are open press.

In the afternoon, the President will return to Washington, D.C. The departure from Port Columbus International Airport and the arrival on the South Lawn are open press.

Later, the President will meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: The Hill
Radio: FOX

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: AFP
Radio: CBS


EDT

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Columbus, Ohio
Port Columbus International Airport
Open Press

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT tours Recovery Act Highway Project site
East Livingston Avenue & Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
Travel Pool Coverage

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the economy
East Livingston Avenue & Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
Open Press

12:55PM THE PRESIDENT departs Columbus, Ohio en route Washington, DC
Port Columbus International Airport
Open Press

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press


Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One.

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Today in Presidential History

...On this day in 1798, President Adams passes the Naturalization Act, the first of four pieces of legislation known together as the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were aimed at foreign nationals living in the U.S.

Adams’s Alien and Sedition Acts give more authority to the federal government, to deal with “suspicious persons,” especially foreign nationals who immigrated to the U.S.

The Naturalization Act said aliens had to live in the U.S. for 14 years before applying for citizenship; an earlier law had required only five years of residence.

Political opposition to the Alien & Sedition Acts helped undermine the Adams administration, helping Thomas Jefferson to win the presidency in 1800.

...On this day in 1812: The day after Congress voted to declare war against Great Britain, President Madison signs the declaration into law--and the War of 1812 began.

The war of 1812 began after a British economic blockade of France, the induction of American seaman into the British Royal Navy against their will, and the British support of hostile Indian tribes along the Great Lakes.

During the war of 1812, the British burned the White House and Capitol, in response to U.S. troops burning British buildings in Canada.

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Presidential Quote

"As to the Presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it." - Martin van Buren

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