White House Gaggle

By Gregory Gorman
September 8, 2005

President’s Schedule

The President has his usual briefings and his daily hurricane briefing this morning. At 9:35 am, the President will have a meeting on the delivery of benefits to those that have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Later this morning, the President will meet with Republican members of Congress to talk about the hurricane relief effort. This afternoon, the President will meet with his Ambassador to Iraq and with the Secretary of Defense. Press Secretary Scott McClellan continued to remind the press corps that the President’s schedule is being kept very flexible due to Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina

McClellan said that he would not speculate on the final death toll from Hurricane Katrina or flooding in New Orleans. He commented that it would be, "a very ugly situation when the flood waters recede". The administration is calling Katrina one of the largest and worst natural disasters in the history of the United States and considers the relief effort for those affected by the hurricane as its highest priority. According to McClellan, the President will not be satisfied with the government’s effort to help victims of the hurricane until both the immediate needs of people have been met and there is a strategy in place to address long-term needs.

Vice President’s Visit to Gulf Coast

When asked if the Vice President’s visit to the area affected by Hurricane Katrina should be characterized as a bureaucratic slashing mission, McClellan said that he will be looking at many things during his trip to the Gulf Coast. McClellan said the President has also asked the Vice President to make his own assessment of the relief effort while he tours the area. McClellan then suggested that this should not be viewed as the Vice President’s only trip to the region.

Gas Prices

McClellan admitted that gas prices have been affected by the temporary disruption in the production process due to Hurricane Katrina. He said the administration is working to lower the price of gas and that it continues to move forward on comprehensive energy legislation that addresses the reasons for gas becoming so expensive. McClellan said the President thinks that gas prices "are still too high".