On 2/1/2023, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “If I just could, just because I know it’s important to everyone here and important to the public as well: Can you explain the decision not to offer the public visibility on this meeting? It’s — it’s tradition for the press to be brought in when the President speaks to the Speaker of the House.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Not — look, not all the time. The President has had many conversations — one-on-one conversations — with members of Congress.
I totally understand — I get the question and understand why there is interest in this. But we have done it many times before where we’ve had private one-on-one meetings … And I’ll just add to this: You know, Speaker — Speaker McCarthy is welcome to go to the sticks after the meeting and take your questions. We — we welcome that if that is something that he wishes to do.
Reporter: Setting entitlements aside for a moment, one of the other things Republicans are saying is that there ought to be a reduction in discretionary spending. Is that something the President is in any way open to, or will he put forward a budget on March 9th that increases discretionary spending?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I’m not going to get into — get ahead of the President. Right? As you saw from our memo yesterday, the President is going to have his budget on March 9th. He is calling and asking — right? — the Speaker to put forward his budget as well so the American people can see what it is that they’re thinking about
Reporter: I understand that. And you guys have made that abundantly clear repeatedly. I’m saying: Are you closing — can you close the door on any other alternatives than Congress fulfilling their constitutional obligation?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, what I’m saying is we’ve been very clear about, when we’ve been asked, if there is going to be negotia- — if there’s room for negotiations. We have said this should be done without any conditions. We should — there shouldn’t be a way to go around this to get this done. This is something that Congress should act on.
Reporter: Would the White House be open to an appropriations deal that also takes care of the debt limit? Or would that, in your view, be negotiating on it in some way?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, we said, again, without conditions. This should be done and lifted without conditions. And that would be a way to get around of doing their constitutional duty. So, I’ll just leave it there.
Reporter: Can you help us just clarify what his position then, a little more, is on deficit reduction? Like, you’re saying, “McCarthy, hey, give us your plan.” Is your plan — the President sort of let out dribs and drabs of his views here and there. So, just so I understand correctly: He is opposed to any cuts to Medicare and Social Security, including changes to eligibility? He’s open to other spending reductions over the medium term, including potentially defense?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I want to be very careful here, because what the President has been very clear about is: What is their plan? He wants to see their plan as it relates to the budget, right? So, the President is going to put out his budget on March 9th. You guys will all get to see that. And so we want to see what their plan is.
I’m not going to — to get ahead of that particular piece when it comes to the budget.
Reporter: Right. You’re trying to put the debt ceiling aside, and I hear you. Does he want a fiscal reform deal aside from the — like, does the President want a deal with Republicans on it?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, he wants to see what — what is their — what are they putting forth, what is their idea of dealing with fiscal — right? — fiscal priorities. What does that look like for them?
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Q: no Biden press? A: McCarthy is welcome to take your questions; reduction in discretionary spending?