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White House Gaggle

May 7th, 2008 by Meredith MacKenzie · No Comments

The briefer was White House Press Secretary Dana Perino.

Schedule
The president had his normal briefings. At the time of the gaggle, the president was meeting with the House Republican Conference. At this meeting the topics of the 2008 global war on terror supplemental, the price of gasoline, energy legislation, housing, the Protect America Act and the Colombia Free Trade Agreement were slated to be covered. The president is expected to give a statement on the meeting at 10:10. Today President Bush will sign the Ensuring Access to Student Loans Act. He will be briefed in the afternoon by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer about several USDA programs, specifically those domestic food aid programs such as food stamps, school lunches and WIC. The president will address the Council of the America’s at the State Department. His statement is expected to focus on the Merida Initiative, a program that gives aid and supplies to Mexico and other Central American countries to fight the war on drugs. He is expected to push for the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and call on Cuba to begin a process of democratic reforms. There will be a briefing by Steve Hadley on the president’s trip to the Middle East this afternoon.

Russia
In response to a question about the transition of power between former Russian president Vladimir Putin and the current president Dimitri Medvedev, Perino said that she expects the president to speak to Medvedev soon, but not today. She said that the two men look forward to beginning their relationship as two heads of state and that the G8 may be the first time they meet in person. Perino said that both leaders recognize that it is important to have a good relationship and that the two nations will continue to speak frankly and cooperate especially as it concerns Iran and it’s nuclear program.

Myanmar
Responding to a question about American aid in the wake of deadly cyclones in Myanmar, Perino said that it was her understanding that the U.S. stands ready to help but that no other nation has been allowed access into Myanmar to assist. “There is no substitute for being there on the ground helping directly,” Perino said.

Housing
On the topic of the housing bill being put forth by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) Perino said that the White House feels it goes too far, too fast. The administration would like to see the modernization of the Federal Housing Administration and other reforms included in the bill with out putting too much risk on tax payers.

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