White House Gaggle

By Lovisa Frost
White House Gaggle
October 24, 2007
Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings at 8 am. At 9.30 am, he will participate in a teleconference with Senior Administration Officials on the California wildfires. At 10 am, the President meets with his Cabinet at the White House. This afternoon, the President makes remarks on Cuba policy at the State Department.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.30 pm today.

Perino also made a statement ahead the vote in the Senate to confirm judicial nominee Judge Leslie Southwick to sit on the US Court of Appeals for the 5th circuit. "Today’s vote is a critical opportunity to eliminate what is clearly a judicial emergency and strengthen to the court’s ability to deliver justice to the residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas."

Wildfires in California

When asked if the Administration is doing anything differently in terms of response to the wildfires, Perino responded, that "there is increased communication that is one of the lessons that was learned, [since Katrina] between federal local and state government. " In addition, they are making sure that evacuations are done quickly and safely.

The President issued an emergency declaration immediately, and then the disaster declaration comes later, often because it takes a while for the states to figure out how much they need.

CDC report

Perino was asked about the testimony on the Hill yesterday, where the Dr. Gerberding with Center for Disease Control, discussed climate change, and why the testimony was watered down before being presented. Perino said that all testimonies go through an interagency review process and this time, the Office of Science and Technology Policy also looked at the draft. Perino said that the White House had spoken with Dr. Gerberding’s spokesperson said that was able to say everything that she wanted to say. Perino stated: "It wasn’t watered down in terms of science, it was not watered down in the concerns that climate rises on public health".