Here’s the pool report from a Wall Street Journal reporter who covered the public portions of President Obama’s (POTUS) lunch meeting in Washington this afternoon with 23 newly elected governors including Dannel Malloy:
“POTUS gave welcoming, bipartisan remarks to newly elected governors assembled for lunch at Blair House, including a pitch for renewed unemployment benefits.
Your pooler was in place at Blair House and unable to simultaneously be on Pennsylvania Avenue to witness his walk across the street. But according to the very reliable Darlene Superville of the AP, the president walked across the street with VPOTUS and Valerie Jarrett a few minutes after 1p.m. and offered a wave but no words to the supplementary street-crossing pool.
In the Garden Room of Blair House, your pooler caught a brief glimpse of a briefing book for new governors that included a section on the economy and appeared to have sections with information about various federal agencies.
The newly elected governors were seated at nine round tables in the Garden Room. It was impossible to tell exactly how many of the people there were governors-elect, so refer to the guidance distributed by the White House for attendance. Each table sat six or seven people and each appeared to include a Cabinet secretary. Secretaries and other top administration officials at tables included (in order of pool spotting with a few added by a WH aide with the list) Tom Vilsack, Hilda Solis, Shaun Donovan, Lisa Jackson, Ray LaHood, Ken Salazar, Arne Duncan, Janet Napolitano, Gary Locke, Austan Goolsbee, Karen Mills, Gil Kerlikowske and Patrick Corvington.
The group stood as VPOTUS was introduced a few minutes after 1pm. Biden began by congratulating the newly elected governors. He joked that he always ran for Senate but never had courage to run for governor because voters know where you live and “you really had to get things done. In the Senate we had a nice time.” He talked about challenges facing governors, spoke about his ongoing conversations with governors regarding the Recovery Act. He promised that no matter what issue or problem they can always ask him for help.
“Pick up the phone and call me personally. I guarantee you I will have you answer within 24 hours” or he will call and let you know when an answer will be forthcoming.
“This is a partnership whether you like it or not.” He said he likes it.
“When we don’t agree, we don’t agree. When we agree, we agree.”
He then spoke of the importance of a robust economy and jobs and his travels through many states.
He said he can think of no time in American history when the American people, when given an “even chance,” have ever, ever, ever let the country down.
He then introduced the president, who received a standing ovation.
Obama congratulated the assembled and spoke of the other illustrious visitors who have been to Blair House.
He said state and local government is where the “rubber hits the road” and that governors see the impact of decisions made in Washington and in state capitals.
“We have just had a very vigorously contested election but the election’s over and now I think it’s time for all of us to make sure we are working together.”
He said there were Republicans and Democrats here, but regarding Democrats “not as many as I’d expected.” Then said all are prouder to be Americans.
He talked about the recent bipartisan meeting and said, “I’m actually optimistic that before the end of the year that we will have come to some agreements.”
Top issue is making sure taxes don’t go up for middle class families.
Also important to extend unemployment insurance, saying it affects local economies and is important to people of both parties. He said he hopes and expects bipartisan support for extending benefits. He said 2 million people are affected as of today.
He talked about areas of bipartisan interest including education (“I’ve been willing to go after long-held dogmas in my party,” he added), and clean energy, specifically making sure new technology is made in the U.S.
On government spending: “It’s going to be very important that we work hard on issues of spending. Washington is going to be in a very tough budget circumstance. We’ve got to get control of spending.”
He said that he wants to hear from governors on programs that are working and also those they don’t think are working.
“Contrary to the mythology, I would love to eliminate programs that don’t work,” he said.
He added that there will be times, though, when national standards are important. But he said that “for the most part” the administration will embrace experimentation on the part of states.
He repeated Biden’s point about calling him for help and said they could also call Jarrett and others. “One thing I would urge is don’t wait until you’re really mad at something to call us. We prefer not to read about it in the press.”
He said that if the administration disagrees with a governor, they will explain why. “It’s not going to be based on ideology, It’s not going to be based on partisanship.”
He said that people are frustrated by the economy. He said the American people don’t expect politicians to put their principles aside. “But that at a certain point we also concern ourselves with governing and delivering for them.”
He said governors already steer in that direction.
He closed by saying he looks forward to seeing them again at what has been an annual dinner where they can get dressed up and he can meet the spouses.
He then paused to let the pool depart, saying he would let the assembled say what they really think after reporters were out of the room.
Now awaiting his walk back across the street.”
Laura Meckler
The Wall Street Journal
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