White House Gaggle

By Wendy Wang
President’s Schedule
The president meets with the Former Commanding General of Multi-National Security and Transition Command in Iraq. At 10:35 am he travels to the Capitol Hilton Hotel makes remarks to the Associated Builders and Contractors to recognize the positive impact of construction on the economy.

Immigration
The president will announce his support for a new provision in the immigration reform bill that will put $4.4 billion on border security and protection. This money will not be a supplemental appropriation but is being proposed as a mandatory appropriation. Different proposals for funding the program has been deliberated, but the president supports funding with fees and collections from illegal border crossing and other law breaking fines. Citing the 1.2 million successful border apprehensions, White House press secretary, Tony Snow, say fines up to $1,000 per illegal crossing can cover the cost of the $4.4 billion needed for more border protection.

Snow says a secure border is necessary for the success of a temporary worker’s program and a tamper proof identification system as every aspect of the immigration reform bill is interlinked.

In recognition of previous efforts to secure the border, Snow says that it is important to regain the trust of the American people. He says this provision is a way of saying "we’re not interested in talking, but in action."

Iraq
On the most recent bombing of a Shiite holy shrine, Snow recognizes that there are problems with the training of the Iraqi police, involving training. Yet, he says, there are progress in key areas.

Middle East
On the growing violence in the Middle East, Snow says that Hamas is targeting the Palestinian people and that the Palestinian people have suffered from violence for far too long that it is necessary for the violence to cease.