The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 05, 2011

Readout of the President's Meeting with College Presidents

Earlier today, President Obama held a roundtable discussion on making college more affordable for our nation’s students. The President hosted White House senior officials, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and a dozen college presidents and higher education thought leaders from across the country to discuss rising college costs and strategies to reduce these costs while improving quality.  During the meeting, the President conveyed the urgent need to pursue bold and innovative solutions to help more Americans attain a higher education at an affordable price.  In response, attendees shared how they have worked to promote innovation, reduce costs and increase productivity during a time of reduced funding for higher education at the state level.

List of participants:
      
Dr. King Alexander, President, California State University – Long Beach
Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, Chancellor, University of Texas System
Dr. Jared Cohon, President, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President, University of Maryland – Baltimore County
Dr. William “Brit” Kirwan, Chancellor, University System of Maryland
Dr. Robert Mendenhall, President, Western Governor’s University
Dr. Larry Shinn, President, Berea College
Mr. Thomas Snyder, President, Ivy Tech Community College
Dr. Holden Thorp, Chancellor, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor, State University System of New York
Mr. Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO, Lumina Foundation for Education
Ms. Jane Wellman, Executive Director, Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity, and Accountability

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 05, 2011

Statement by the President

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody. 

My number-one priority right now is doing everything that I can, every single day, to create jobs faster and to provide more security for middle-class families and those trying to get into the middle class.  And at this moment, that means making sure that nearly 160 million hardworking Americans don't see an increase in their taxes on January 1st.

A year ago at this time, both parties came together to cut payroll taxes for the typical American family by about $1,000.  But as soon as this year ends, so does that tax cut.  If Congress fails to renew this tax cut before then, that same family will see a tax hike of about $1,000 a year.  There aren’t many folks either in the middle class or those trying to get into the middle class who can afford to give up $1,000 -- not right now.  And that's why Congress must act. 

Although the unemployment rate went down last month, our recovery is still fragile, and the situation in Europe has added to that uncertainty.  And that's why the majority of economists believe it's important to extend the payroll tax cut.  And those same economists would lower their growth estimates for our economy if it doesn’t happen. 

Not only is extending the payroll tax cut important for the economy as a whole, it's obviously important for individual families.  It's important insurance for them against the unexpected.  It will help families pay their bills.  It will spur spending.  It will spur hiring.  And it's the right thing to do.

And that's why in my jobs bill I proposed not only extending the tax cut but expanding it to give a typical working family a tax cut of $1,500 next year.  And it was paid for by asking a little more from millionaires and billionaires -- a few hundred thousand people paying a little bit more could have not only extended the existing payroll tax cut but expanded it.

Last week, virtually every Senate Republican voted against that tax cut.  Now, I know many Republicans have sworn an oath never to raise taxes as long as they live.  How could it be that the only time there's a catch is when it comes to raising taxes on middle-class families?  How can you fight tooth and nail to protect high-end tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, and yet barely lift a finger to prevent taxes going up for 160 million Americans who really need the help?  It doesn’t make sense.

Now, the good news is I think the American people's voices are starting to get through in this town.  I know that last week Speaker Boehner said this tax cut helps the economy because it allows every working American to keep more of their money.  I know that over the weekend Senate Republican leaders said we shouldn’t raise taxes on working people going into next year.

I couldn't agree more.  And I hope that the rest of their Republican colleagues come around and join Democrats to pass these tax cuts and put money back into the pockets of working Americans. 

Now, some Republicans who have pushed back against the idea of extending this payroll tax cut have said that we've got to pay for these tax cuts.  And I'd just point out that they haven't always felt that way.  Over the last decade, they didn’t feel the need to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans -- which is one of the reasons that we face such large deficits.  Indeed, when the Republicans took over the House at the beginning of this year, they explicitly changed the rules to say that tax cuts don't have to be paid for.  So forgive me a little bit of confusion when I hear folks insisting on tax cuts being paid for.

Having said that, we all recognize that we've got to make progress on the deficit, and I'm willing to work with Republicans to extend the payroll tax cut in a responsible way.  What I'm not willing to do is to pay for the extension in a way that actually hurts the economy. 

As Americans are well aware, this summer I signed into law nearly $1 trillion in spending cuts, with another trillion dollars in cuts in the pipeline.  And it would be irresponsible to now make additional deep cuts in areas like education or innovation or our basic safety net that are critical to the economy in order to pay for an extension of the payroll tax cut. We're not going to do that.  Nor are we going to undo the budget agreement that I signed just a few short months ago.

Finally, with millions of Americans still looking for work, it would be a terrible mistake for Congress to go home for the holidays without extending unemployment insurance.  If that happens, then in January they'll be leaving 1.3 million Americans out in the cold.  For a lot of families, this emergency insurance is the last line of defense between hardship and catastrophe.  Taking that money out of the economy now would do extraordinary harm to the economy.

And if you believe that government shouldn’t take money out of people's pockets, I hope members of Congress realize that it's even worse when you take it out of the pockets of people who are unemployed and out there pounding the pavement looking for work.

We are going through what is still an extraordinary time in this country and in this economy.  And I get letters every single day, and I talk to people who say to me:  This unemployment insurance is what allowed me to keep my house before I was able to find another job.  This is what allowed me to still put gas in the tank to take my kids to school. 

We cannot play games with unemployment insurance when we still have an unemployment rate that is way too high.  I've put forward a whole range of ideas for reform of the unemployment insurance system, and I'm happy to work with Republicans on those issues.  But right now, the most important thing is making sure that that gets extended as well.

This isn't just something that I want.  This isn't just a political fight.  Independent economists, some of whom have in the past worked for Republicans, agree that if we don't extend the payroll tax cut and we don't extend unemployment insurance, it will hurt our economy.  The economy won't grow as fast and we won't see hiring improve as quickly.  It will take money out of the pockets of Americans just at a time when they need it.  It will harm businesses that depend on the spending just at the time when the economy is trying to get some traction in this recovery. It will hurt all of us.  And it will be a self-inflicted wound. 

So my message to Congress is this:  Keep your word to the American people and don't raise taxes on them right now.  Now is not the time to slam on the brakes; now is the time to step on the gas.  Now is the time to keep growing the economy, to keep creating jobs, to keep giving working Americans the boost that they need.  Now is the time to make a real difference in the lives of the people who sent us here.  So let's get to work.

Thank you very much.

END
2:17 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
December 05, 2011

Office of the Vice President Announces Staff Changes

Washington, DC – The Office of the Vice President announced today that Courtney O’Donnell, Director of Communications to Second Lady Jill Biden, will leave the White House to move to Berlin, Germany with her family where she plans to work on projects based in Europe. O’Donnell will be succeeded by Melanie Kaye, who most recently worked at a DC-area advertising and communications consulting firm.

Dr. Jill Biden said:  “Since Inauguration Day, Courtney has served as a trusted advisor to me and our entire team.  Her creativity and strategic thinking helped us build campaigns to showcase the strengths of community colleges, support our nation’s military families, fight breast cancer, and draw attention and resources to the issues in the Horn of Africa.   Her expertise, graceful demeanor and tireless work ethic have been invaluable not just to me but to the entire office of the Vice President.  Joe and I are extremely grateful for her tremendous contributions and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

Melanie Kaye comes to the White House from GMMB, where she provided strategic communications counsel on a variety of issues, including public health topics such as cancer, tobacco and obesity, health care reform, workforce and workplace issues, and education, among others. Before that, she served as Press Secretary to former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, both in his office and during his successful 2006 re-election campaign. Melanie also worked as a reporter for several years for publications including The Hill newspaper.  A native of Wisconsin, Kaye received her Bachelors of Arts from St. Norbert College and began work on her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin’s Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 05, 2011

Fact Sheet on the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

“We must come together to prevent, detect, and fight every kind of biological danger – whether it is a pandemic like H1N1, a terrorist threat, or a treatable disease.”

-  President Obama, United Nations General Assembly, September 22, 2011

Today, the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) are meeting in Geneva for the start of the Seventh Review Conference (RevCon) of the Biological Weapons Convention to evaluate the implementation of the treaty and chart a course for the coming years.  To underscore the importance the United States places on the BWC as a critical tool to help counter biological threats, the President has asked Secretary of State Clinton to lead the United States delegation to the RevCon, where she will deliver the opening statement for the United States on December 7th.

Part of a Broader National Strategy

The BWC is a critical venue for advancing objectives set forth in the President’s National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats, which emphasizes the need for multinational collaboration on concrete activities to help counter biological proliferation and bioterrorism.   The three-week BWC Review Conference presents an opportunity for countries to promote real action to improve global response capabilities, reinforce norms against the misuse of biological science, and to help identify and thwart those who would seek to cause harm.
 

Revitalizing International Efforts to Reduce Biological Threats

The United States believes the BWC should be the premier forum for bringing together the security, health, law enforcement, and science communities to raise awareness of evolving biological risks and how to best manage them.  The U.S. believes that revitalized international efforts and a coordinated series of actions can help reduce the threat of biological attacks.

At the RevCon, the United States will seek the endorsement of the BWC States Parties of a work program for the next five years in three broad areas of work that will greatly enhance international efforts to counter biological threats.

  • First, the United States is asking States Parties to establish an effort to develop constructive ways to strengthen implementation of the BWC and build confidence that all members are living up to their obligations.  The dual-use nature of biological work simply makes it too easy to conceal prohibited activities – so the United States has proposed efforts to promulgate legislative and regulatory frameworks, safety and security measures, outreach to stakeholders, improved annual reporting, and options for addressing compliance concerns.
  • Second, the United States is proposing that the RevCon create a working group that will be tasked with taking concrete actions to make the BWC a more robust forum for building global capacities for preventing, detecting, and combating disease outbreaks, regardless of whether they are natural, deliberate or accidental.  We need to be prepared, both nationally and internationally, to deal with a biological attack should one occur.  The United States seeks to capitalize on synergies between security and public health communities – and to do so through the sort of international cooperation called for in the BWC.
  • Third, the United States is asking States Parties to establish a mechanism for assessing developments in science and technology to better understand their potential benefits to the BWC as well as their potential misuse by terrorists or others.  It is important for BWC States Parties to have a structured dialogue with the international scientific community on emerging technologies in order to better address the potential for their misuse.

In order to meet these goals, the United States will propose that the BWC RevCon establish a vigorous work program for the next five years that focuses on the common needs and interests of all States Parties in combating biological threats.  Pursuing this robust program will help the international community produce concrete results, thereby enabling successful annual Meetings of States Parties and a robust Eighth BWC Review Conference in 2016.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 04, 2011

White House Releases New Report on the Importance of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director

NEC Report Details Real Consequences for Consumers if Congress Fails to Confirm Cordray as CFPB Director

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House released a report from the National Economic Council called Improving Americans’ Financial Security: The Importance of a CFPB Director.  The report is embargoed for 8:00 pm ET Sunday. 

A link to the full report can be found HERE.

The President signed into law the strongest consumer protections in history in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which created a single agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to serve as a watchdog for American consumers with the responsibility of protecting and educating Americans who use financial products.

This week, the United States Senate will vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Cordray has spent his career fighting for middle class families and finding solutions that help consumers, and he has seen bipartisan support from people around the country.  However, some Senate Republicans have vowed to block his nomination without raising question about his qualifications or background – and their opposition puts consumers at risk.

As the White House makes the aggressive case to the American people this week about why Senate Republicans must act to confirm Cordray, this report lays out the ways that the CFPB cannot exercise its full authorities to make good on the consumer protection goals in the law unless a director is in place.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 04, 2011

Readout of President Obama's Call to Pakistani President Zardari

Earlier today the President placed a phone call to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to personally express his condolences on the tragic loss of twenty-four Pakistani soldiers this past week along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The President made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to a full investigation.  The two Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations, and they agreed to stay in close touch.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 03, 2011

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Extending and Expanding the Payroll Tax Cut

WASHINGTON — In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that although the United States has created private sector jobs for the past 21 months in a row, that is not enough for struggling Americans. We must continue growing the economy by passing the payroll tax cut, which will give the middle class a tax cut of $1,500 and provide small businesses more money to hire workers by cutting their payroll taxes in half. The President urges all Americans to tell Congress not to raise taxes during the holidays and act in the best interests of middle class families and pass the tax cuts now.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
December 3, 2011

This week, we learned that our economy added another 140,000 private sector jobs in November. Despite some strong headwinds this year, America’s economy has now created private sector jobs for the past 21 months in a row – almost three million new jobs in all, more than half a million of them in the past four months alone.

We need to keep this growth going and strengthen it. That’s why we’ve been fighting to pass a series of jobs bills through Congress – bills that independent economists say will create more jobs and grow the economy even faster. Because now is the time to step on the gas, not slam on the brakes.

Unfortunately, too many Republicans in Congress don’t seem to share that same sense of urgency. Over the last few months, they’ve said “no” to most of these jobs bills. “No” to putting teachers and firefighters back to work. “No” to putting construction workers back on the job. And this week, they actually said “no” to cutting taxes for middle-class families.

You see, last year, both parties came together to cut payroll taxes for the typical middle-class family by about $1,000. But that tax cut is set to expire at the end of this month. If that happens, that same family will see its taxes go up by $1,000. We can’t let that happen. In fact, I think we should cut taxes on working families and small business owners even more.

And we’re going to keep pushing Congress to make this happen. They shouldn’t go home for the holidays until they get this done. And if you agree with me, I could use your help.

We’ve set up a simple tax cut calculator on WhiteHouse.gov so that you can see exactly what the stakes are for your family. Try it out. Then let your members of Congress know where you stand.

Tell them not to vote to raise taxes on working Americans during the holidays. Tell them to put country before party. Put money back in the pockets of working Americans. Pass these tax cuts.

We’re all in this together. The more Americans succeed, the more America succeeds. And if we remember that and do what it takes to keep this economy growing and opportunity rising, then I’m confident that we’ll come out of this stronger than before.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 02, 2011

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Mark A. Robbins – Member, Merit Systems Protection Board
  • Tony Hammond –  Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Mark A. Robbins, Nominee for Member, Merit Systems Protection Board
Mark A. Robbins is currently the General Counsel of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In that capacity, Mr. Robbins works to certify elections systems and maintain information on the best practices of conducting elections. He previously served as a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the State Department in Babil Province, Iraq.  Mr. Robbins also served as Executive Director of the White House Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board between 2006 and 2008 and as General Counsel of the Office of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2006.  He worked in private practice as a litigation attorney in Los Angeles, California between 1988 and 2000, and in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel from 1984 to 1988.  Mr. Robbins holds a B.A. and J.D. from George Washington University.

Tony Hammond, Nominee for Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission
Tony Hammond served on the Postal Regulatory Commission and its predecessor agency, the Postal Rate Commission, from August 2002 to October 2011.  During that time, he was elected to two separate terms as Vice Chairman of the Commissions.  Previously, Mr. Hammond was owner and managing member of T. Hammond Company, LLC, a private consulting firm.  In addition, he was Senior Vice President of the direct marketing firm FL&S, and Senior Consultant to Forbes 2000, Inc.  Mr. Hammond served for ten years on the staff of then-Southwest Missouri Congressman Gene Taylor, the ranking member of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee.  Mr. Hammond received a B.S. from Missouri State University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 02, 2011

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

  • Pauline Maier – Member, Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

The President also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key administration posts:

  • Joan W. Harris – Member, Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
  • Dallas L. Salisbury - Member, Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

President Obama said, “The extraordinary dedication these men and women bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people.  I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post:

Pauline Maier, Nominee for Member, Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
Pauline Maier is the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of American History at MIT.  Dr. Maier’s publications include From Resistance to Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1765-1776; The Old Revolutionaries: Political Lives in the Age of Samuel Adams; and The American People: A History, a textbook for junior-high-school students.  Additionally, she authored American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, which was on the New York Times Book Review editors "Choice" list of the best eleven books of 1997 and a finalist in General Nonfiction for the National Book Critics' Circle Award.  Dr. Maier’s most recent book, Ratification: the People Debate the Constitution, 1788-1789, was on the Wall Street Journal's list of the ten best books of 2011 and won several prizes including the George Washington Book Prize and the American Historical Association's Littleton Griswold Prize.  In 1998, she received MIT's Killian Award, given annually to one senior faculty member for outstanding achievement.  Dr. Maier received her B.A. from Radcliffe College and her Ph.D. from Harvard University.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Joan W. Harris, Appointee for Member, Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
Joan W. Harris is the President of The Irving Harris Foundation.  She currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Symphony and the Juilliard School.  Ms. Harris has previously served as President, Director and Trustee of fourteen different Chicago, statewide and national cultural organizations, including the President’s Commission for the National Endowment for the Arts, as Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs for the City of Chicago, and as President of the Chicago Opera Theater and the Illinois Arts Alliance.  She is a Past Chair of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Aspen Music Festival and School.  Ms. Harris received a B.A. from Smith College.

Dallas L. Salisbury, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Dallas L. Salisbury is President and CEO of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), which he joined as chief staff executive at its founding in 1978.  During his time at EBRI, Mr. Salisbury has been involved in the creation of the American Savings Education Council, the National Academy of Human Resources, and the public financial education campaign, Choose to Save.  Mr. Salisbury is a member of several Boards of Directors and advisory boards, including the Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Advisory Committee, the Board of Advisors to the Comptroller General of the United States, and the Board of Directors of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.  Prior to joining EBRI, Mr. Salisbury held positions with the Washington State Legislature, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.  Mr. Salisbury previously served on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation from 1991 to 1994, having been appointed by President George H. W. Bush.  He holds a B.A. in Finance from the University of Washington and an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
December 02, 2011

Statement by NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Russian Government Harassment of Golos

The Obama administration is concerned with today’s decision by a Moscow court regarding the election monitoring NGO Golos, as well as what appears to be a pattern of harassment directed against this organization. We have communicated our concerns to the Russian government in Moscow and to the Russian Embassy in Washington.

Golos is a well-known and well-regarded Russian independent election monitoring organization that has operated in Russia for over a decade. The data Golos publishes is from Russian observers and Russian citizens around the country. International and domestic observation is a normal part of the democratic process and allowing observers to conduct their work unfettered is critical to electoral transparency. As a participating State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Russia has agreed that foreign and domestic election observers can enhance the electoral process.

We are proud of our support of Golos, which is intended to strengthen democratic institutions and processes – not influence elections – and we believe that citizens everywhere should have a right to report concerns about their electoral processes. The United States has supported and will continue to support those citizens and non-governmental organizations working for free and fair elections in Russia, as we do globally.