White House Legislative Affairs director marc short spoke with journalists about the Trump Administrations legislative agenda, which includes tax reform and immigration. This hourlong event was hosted by the Christian Science monitor. My friend, good morning, and dave cook from the Christian Science monitor. Thanks for coming. I guess todays mark shortterm assistance to the president in office of legislative affairs feared this is his first visit with our breakfast club, home to what tbn and calls the mainstream media. Thanks for making time for us in your busy schedule, sir. The virginia native graduated from washington and lee university. He got his start in politics serving as finance their poor Oliver North Senate campaign and went on to become executive director of Young America foundation what his role including stewardship of Ronald Reagans ranch after running the ranch he earned in an ea at the university of virginia, worked in the Homeland Security department and security department, served as senator Kay Bailey Hutchison chief of staff and later was chief of staff of the House Republican conference and event conference chair mike pence. He was later hired by freedom partners with the urbanizations president. The biographical portion of the program, now on to breakfast mechanics. As always, we are in the record here. No live blogging or tweeting of any kind while the breck this is underway to give us time to listen to what our guest says. There is no embargo when the session is over. It will end promptly at 9 00 a. M. To help you curb the relentless self he urged, well email several pictures to all the reporters here as soon as the breakfast and peered its regular attendees know if youd like to ask questions, please do the traditional thing and sending a subtle nonthreatening signal and ill happily call in the time we have available. Given the number of reporters today in the please confine yourself to one question and tell others about a chance. We will start off by asking our guests the opportunity to make opening comments and then moved to questions around the table. Thanks again for doing this. The floor is yours. Thank you for having me. Ill be very brief and get to your questions. Thank you to david and lindsey for your hospitality this morning. I know the Christian Science monitor has been a leader in helping to not just cover the news, but we appreciate you. [inaudible] we appreciate it. Im honored you included me. The Trump Administration has been and remains very focused on jumpstarting the American Economy and allowing the private sector to create jobs. What weve seen already as a threat to make unprecedented steps in cutting unnecessary regulation, and basically getting government out of the way of our economy. The Trump Administration is withdrawn 870 actions today can we work with congress to pass 14 pieces of legislation under the congressional review act. Executive actions and legislation combined to save our economy an estimated 18 million annually. These actions are having a real impact on the last of the American People. Today sent the maturation weve created 1. 2 million jobs, 125,000 of those are manufacturing your. Wages are up, Small Business optimism is out. The dow jones is up 20 since election day in the s p reached another record high. But theres a lot more that we can do to return jobs to american shores and that is why the president is focused on providing tax relief this year. Weve been working with congress to get unified tax relief to the president s desk and since april, the white house has met with 250 members of both parties in congress to discuss tax reform. Soon we will see the unified outline and the committees will get to work on a bill. The big deal to restrict Congress Just like we provide legislative space we need to get this done this calendar year. But as weve all learned from the legislative process is slow and in this new season of bipartisanship, we help Senate Democrat will end their Unprecedented Campaign of obstruction against some of our nominees. In total we spent 385 nominees to the senate. Only 35 of those nominees of data have been confirmed. By contrast, 70 of the of on administration is now confirmed by the same date in obamas presidency. At this point in his administration, president obama had 385 nominees confirmed compared to 133 for this administration. With the emergencies we are facing in texas and in florida, the importance of getting these nominees into their jobs is hard to understand. Blocking these nominees during the National Emergency as dangerous interest on zabul. So we call them democrats to help us fill our department. I will say that im encouraged that last night he spoke with the chief of staff about a path forward and in particular as you know today, a confirmation vote on economic advisers passing and we also believe in recovery at this point, turns to a housing issue in particularly texas, the likely florida as well. Today, our deputy secretary of hud to be confirmed despite three months ago. We do hope that theyll allow for a vote this week and encourage conversations. On top of tax reform, nominations and hurricane relief. We have a save other important for the American People. We Hope Congress will provide a legislative fix to daca. The president is committed to rebuilding americas infrastructure in this congress. We still think americans deserve relief when its spiraling cost of Health Health care insuranced lack of options caused by obamacare. These are just some of our priorities and theres a lot more to be done. Fortunately, what weve seen so far particularly with some of the regulatory reforms is making a difference and we will continue to work with congress to fulfill the promises the president made to the American People. With that, i look forward to your questions. Thank you. My job is to throw out the ceremonial softball and then will go to john bennett, caitlyn mcneil, mr. Pattaya, john dizzy, dimitri is commissioner bolen, George Condon intern mckelvey. There are people who look at the deal that was done on a fiscal deal that was done last week as a sign that President Trump is the First Independent president to hold that office, and not focused in terms of loyalty on either party. Is that an assessment youd agree with . How does it affect your job is legislative director . I think the president first and foremost, rather than Party Affiliation of what he can do best for the American People and fulfill promises made on the campaign trail. I think the deal he struck last week enabled us to focus on tax reform. The president has made getting jobs back in our economy and number one priority and tax reform is what we think is necessary to get the economy growing again. I confess i find some of the coverage interesting. As i mentioned in my opening remarks, weve been needing bipartisan bubble number for tax reform. The president has thought to get cooperation from democrats and several pieces of legislation, but i confess some of the coverage in our initial few months and i know im painting with a broad rush so forgive me, but some of the commentary was the president is just relying on his face and he cant accomplish a lot if he continues to thrive in space. Blessed is the coverage is and how in the world does the president accomplish anything if he has the leadership of his own Republican Party. Theres an irony that either youll not get anything done because you align your base where be your actually partnering with shimmering posting. So i think the president s focus is really on what he can do for the American People and less worried about what the relationships are in the goingson with mcconnell and schumer. And do you agree that the Senate Majority leader made the New York Times that the deal last week is not a credit all for democrats because of extraordinary measures being employed so that the debt ceiling doesnt happen, wont happen until 2018 . I look at it as a good deal for the American People. They are tired of this function in washington d. C. Many reasons that was why President Trump a select day. Theres a lot of frustration about what washington d. C. Worked and in a matter if we came into september, which i think how in the world we ever get september with the roadblock on continuing resolution, to match the congress has to do. The president clears the deck for effectively. The American People are relief not having conversations about continuing resolution that Government Shutdown were debt ceilings. So i think again it is the best interest in the nation. John bennett from cq rollcall. You mentioned speaker ryan and taxes. Speaker ryan spoke about a corporate rate somewhere around 20 and the president firmly at 15 . Is there any wiggle room on the 15th to bring some kind of deal together for 16 nonnegotiable . The president wants to get corporate rate down to 15 . It doesnt help to negotiate against ourselves and so white ink we should aim for what we think is best and i think we all understand ultimately theres compromise to get to the best deal, we think what is best for the American People as a 15 corporate rate. Its more competitive on the international stage. This isnt just about corporate raise spirits about jobs in our country. We see because of our unfair tax code that Many Companies have decided to leave america and take jobs with us. So we believe that the important to keep jobs here. [inaudible] on daca, wondering if you can outline what the administration would be looking for in congress with something that can restore the funding for the law, other security measures, are you willing to go for more of the scenario where they get actual legal status. I think the white house will be laying out legislative priorities. We would like to see is any part of the daca package within the next couple weeks. But i will say broadly theres several things that we think are important. We think its important to secure our border. We think interior enforcement is critical and we often think we should be moving to a meritbased immigration system. To what extent that can be one package, whether or not thats multiple packages, we dont know. I would ask one thing that has not received enough attention this week on the house floor there will be about on ms13 legislation. We work with house leadership to get that on the calendar. That was previously passed on sanctuary cities. So the house moving forward on several pieces of legislation that we think are critical to our country and we are hopeful the senate will be taking a at some point this fall, too. Just insane from bloomberg. I want to come back to taxes. You met with mark meadows. I am wondering how that conversation went and if you guys were able to Reach Agreement and help being the House Freedom caucus helping your push. You just fall in the earlier question, you want to get the corporate rate down as low as possible. Is that going to mean eliminating expensing which across the board is really essential to the Economic Growth . [inaudible] i think on the expensing front we dont think they should be prioritized, so we are more interested in prioritizing lower rates. Thats more important to get the economy growing. [inaudible] yeah, sure. Sorry, the question was relative to rate in my point was the administration believes its more important to get rates down a multivalue expensing, we want to prioritize getting down. Regarding the conversation with mark meadows on the Freedom Caucus, that has been an ongoing conversation. Theyve partnered well within minutes conference as you know they were very supportive with our efforts on repeal and replace, so that is not an unusual occurrence. I talked to him this morning before coming here. We value that partnership. I think that dave laid out a pretty fair case, which says in order to get tax reform done, we will have to pass the budget first and fair position is that we want to know what is in the tax reform package before we vote on the budget. I think their viewpoints are understood and i think they look at details before the budget bill comes. John plan for new jerseys starledger. On the Tax Foundation and the statelevel taxes that two half make less than 200,000 a year. So how can you describe the middleclass taxes and nobody making 200,000 the year for less get the estate tax rate. What you describe is a healthy middleclass family to eliminate the estate tax and the state and local tax exemption. Many of the most wealthy in our country are the ones that think taking advantage of the deductions more than anybody else and i think by making the tax code simpler and fairer, people will see we are looking to get rid of the deductions and make it easier to comply with a fairly difficult tax policy america has right now. Additionally, we would be lowered individual rate on income. We do want to prioritize middle income tax relief and despite the analysis that you cite, i think what weve seen in the analysis that weve done is those particularly in the states suffer from highest tax burden in state local taxes and, you know, that is a deduction that is probably better doublets at the state level than the federal level. [inaudible] thank you. I want to continue on the theme of donald trump as independent president. Theres been a lot of speculation over whether he is making the Republican Party or perhaps within the party. Im just curious im not and what kind of impact the president might have here. I dont think that the president is fomenting a schism within the party. In many cases he looks at the special election so far in again the president supported all for it. In many cases hes helping build the party and get the party grounded, so i think that he has been an asset in helping us to strengthen the party. But again, i think the president looks at the American People. Hes not looking to up benefits which Political Party more. You want to do a followup, carl . Mr. Dossier from the post at the end of the table. Thank you. I guess is the administration committed to making sure the corporate rate is excited to scored some partnerships, et cetera. If so, is the white house prepared to explain how much the president could benefit from that change . I think we are committed to extending it to Small Businesses and i think that the detail for that would be coming forward and im going to ask on the second question about the president s benefit thats actually been a conversation discussed throughout the campaign. I think youll be happy to share his actions. Heidi philip from usa today. Laying out the per doritys priorities on daca, does this have to be part of what other compromises reached . I think that we are most interested in getting Border Security and the president has made a commitment to the American People that he wants he believes it he believes that its imports to that equation for security. Whether or not that is part of a daca equation or whether thats another legislative vehicle either one of set ourselves into a construct that makes reaching a conclusion impossible. The president is also interest it as you said in solving daca and that this is an Issue Congress has failed on. What you saw from the department of justice was an explanation that the order that obama was given was unlawful and not supported. Hes asked congress to fix it and i think we look forward to providing some guidelines in seeing how they work through the process and put together a solution they think works. Dizzy from news max. Thank you. One of the things that has come up recently. The president said that he was fully committed to maintaining entitlements inside this over and over. The chairman of the Republican Study Committee as well as congressman schweikert who participated in a recent tax reform conference said the only way to achieve tax reform is to put medicare and medicaid on the table for reform. The president s Campaign Statement notwithstanding are entitled on the table and tax reform. I think the president remains committed to keeping the promise he made to American People are not cutting medicare and social security. They think as you know, john, the repeal and replace legislation was a thinker best opportunity for real entitlement reform and medicaid and that was something the president supported and unfortunately, despite campaigning on that is 2010, republicans when given the opportunity were not willing to follow through on that. I think the president has been willing to make necessary cut into that program to make sure is sustainable for the future. The broader issue of the additional entitlement are concerns about balancing the budget. The president put forward a very fiscally responsible balanced in 10 years without making cut as you know it will be voted on in congress. He looks to continue to keep his promise to the American People. Will go next to demetrius from the financial times. Ive taken 250 meetings with numbers of congress. [inaudible] qwerty think there might be room to work with democrats . Scherrer. And to be clear on your wants, 250 members, 250 individual needs, but there were 250 members. I think that the feedback weve received from Many Democrats is an interest and they recognize the corporate rates are too high. They recognize the Corporate Tax is unfair. They recognize its causing companies to leave our shores. And though, i think there is opportunity to partner there. I think typically they have expressed a willingness as well to lower individual rate on the lower income, middle income. I think they are reluctant to lower rates on higher income. I think it is well that theyve also expressed the desire in some cases to mary tax reform with infrastructure. I think thats a conversation with them to continue to have in their conference. I dont have much to add to that. Just commentary weve received. Will just give you a little time check here. We are going to go to share a go to scherrer bolan, George Condon, tara mckelvey, brian bennett, todd gilman and im also conscience conscious of the fact we have it on the tables in the back and feeling guilty. Cheryl bolden from bloomberg cma. Does the administration have any new initiatives plan to cut more regulation this winter or next year and also, do you support some departments regulatory accountability . Forgive me, but i am not familiar. On the first question, you think the administration will continue to review legislation. Im sorry comer im sorry, review regulations. In many cases there are reviews underway. But yes, i would anticipate we will continue to look at ways to roll back what we felt was an undue Regulatory Burden and much of our conversations when the administration came into office. [inaudible] not any to announce this morning. [inaudible] real clear politics. The president treated over the implications for the tax reform an tax reform and a bite to speed things up. I want to ask you a question related to his impression as you said congress is slow and he would like to move faster. Can you describe what he means by the hurricane in his remarks. Im not sure what he means like speeding it up. Secondly, you were describing a sequence here but the Freedom Caucus once. They want to take a tax reform. He said theres going to be an outline. Can you help us understand in the presidency with the timeliness and are you saying the president is going to tell the committee, here is what i want before they actually begin to draft anything in the committee themselves . It sounds like he is going to stick to his position and tell them to drop something from that. Is that wrong . Well, i think the president has laid out on the campaign a tax reform package that helps him get elected. Hes so consistent in pushing the same principles. He recognizes the process will likely alter that. But we have been working with speaker ryan, leader mcconnell , chairman hatch, chairman brady to reach consensus on that. I think the president at this right now is her window to get this done. And so yes, we will be seen in a matter of days, not weeks the administration pushing out more details on what we needed tax reform. [inaudible] this summer has been about what . Hes making sure that theres a few issues between the senate and house, the white House Resolution and we are pretty much close to finalizing this point. I think there is reference on the mechanics of getting through the month of september. The white house will do it now and get that laid out sooner. George condon of the national journal. You said at the beginning that everybody understands how slow the legislative process is. I am not sure that is true in some of your colleagues on the white house staff. You have to go to back to jimmy carter to find a stat that fewer people that would pass the bill. You, rick and steve were the only ones on the original staff they did that. How much of that led to the frustration that clearly the president feels and how much has that made part of your job getting across to your colleagues and the president how the process works . George, i guess when i say to everyone, i mentioned my view is everyone here in this audience understands the congress. I think the president s frustration is born out of what hes articulated several times. Republicans have promised since 2010 that when given the opportunity to repeal and replace obamacare and i think the frustration was that was something promised in an expeditious fashion, not just that we would get it done, but we would get it done very quickly. There have been some commentary about the president s expectations, the leadership in the expectation of repeating before the easter recess. So when they give us that expectation, the president is naturally frustrated not only with this timeline but though we didnt get it done. If the frustration we believe the American People are suffering under obamacare that we continue to see rates skyrocket. We continue to see the counties be completely bare of offering any insurance in the private exchange market. Theres obviously a couple in particular were in arizona have gone up 100 xt . The state of alaska 200 . I imagine the president is frustrated that they would get it done, that didnt happen. So i think that is a natural reaction in right now back to alexas question time is anxious to say now we are moving on tax reform. How quickly can we get this done . Next teacher mentality from bbc. Talk to your former employees about coke others in the relationship with the administration how it changed over time in the emissary between the two. My role is to help enhance the president s goals in his school on capitol hill. I think my sense is that it is very independent as you know and theyll expect their disagreement when they have disagreements, but i think right now they are very supportive of helping make sure we have tax reform. They are very supportive of the admin position the administration laid out, not just a simplification and getting rid of the deductions that i think the government chooses. I think they are very interested in making sure individual rates are low boring corporate rates are lower. We look forward to partnering with them on that particular issue, but therell be plenty of issues we dont partner with them and go separate ways. Carlos with the dallas morning news. The president has had a bipartisan basis on the tax reform. We all know that the main work is being done by six people from the two committees in the two leaders from the administration. Is there any thought of broadening to move into bringing in congressman neil, senator wyden, ranking democrat on the committee . And as part of that, are you still planning, hopeful of getting a budget resolution, which we still havent gotten of doing this to republicans, recognizing the last time the tax reform was done in congress, it took two years for the president in both parties involved . I think the president has been clear his preference is to get tax reform done on a bipartisan basis. Its why his first two trips to give national speeches in north dakota has been well reported. Heidi heitkamp joined us on that trip and may have been reporting on tonight dinner specifically a tax reform conversation in bipartisan fashion as well as secretary mnuchin and kerry column. We are hopeful we will get partnership there. If you want reconciliation of better cooperation. Im not sure the thread enables us to find a pathway forward, but i hope people will see the benefit. The real outreach, the fact is there are ranking members were wouldve been brought brought in from both parties. I think theres been a conscious effort to make sure before the markup process begins that we are in the same page with their leadership, carl. I think theres a full recognition the markup process will go through and so i think there is plenty of opportunity for us to work with ranking members on the ways and means in the finance committee. Next to brian bennett, todd gilman kameny at the cook, danny lansky and teddy davis. I have a question about the kind of relationships between the president Going Forward into 2018. His salary be considered himself into a possible primary challenge for jeff flake into alabama for the candidate he endorsed. I wonder if you can say now that he will support every republican incumbent in 2018 or will he involve himself in the primary process . I dont know if the president has a commitment to avoid primary processes. I think each one will play out by itself. You know, as far as the relationships with members and with leadership, think the president maintains a strong relationship with Mitch Mcconnell and speaker ryan right now and i think despite some of the news of the last week, he also is a Good Relationship with Chuck Schumer nancy pelosi. He would argue the Obama Administration somewhat failed to have those relationships across the aisle and it probably hurt them from the things they were trying to do an hurt the country are not getting more done. You will see the president continue to not look at it as what i need to do to stay in the good graces of Mitch Mcconnell or paul ryan. Hes a look at and say with the best interest of the American People and of the same focus. You are saying there is no fallout at all but the deal was made that affected the relationship between the republicans . I think there is a lot of coverage about the fact that Republican Leadership was not supportive of that deal, but at the same time, the president was on the phone with speaker ryan and Mitch Mcconnell within 24 hours he dinner speaker brian the next night. I think the relationship remains strong. The president campaigned on a unique platform of economic nationalism and trade protections and a lot of members of the House Republican caucus that have been on their platform and have campaigned that way in the past. But there is something the white house is doing to structurally change the position when it comes to trade protectionism and economic nationalism. No, there is not. I think of the conference is made up is really the decision for the the Conference Venue is what leadership position. I think we view it is actually the diversity of opinion inside the republican conference is the benefit. There are many factions within the Republican Party does sometimes make it more for us legislatively. I can certainly see a lot of viewpoints, but sometimes having those competing viewpoints can be healthy to us the party or monolithic. Will go next to todd gilman at the morning news. In terms of the factions of the Republican Party, i am wondering about longterm funding for recovery from the storms and how the pushback against the rather large price tag that this will entail. I mean, there were some people in the Republican Party who want to see budget offset. How much of an impediment is that going to be . I think that the vote last week is a good indicator of 300 some to 90. I i think certainly they will think certainly there will be some in the Republican Party to ask for offset. I would imagine how large the numbers get will be a growing number. The president committed to making really and that will be the driving factor and we will end up getting through congress with the support needed for the dems of the flood. You know that the texas delegation better than anybody else here and i know there were some members of the delegations who opposed it. But by and large, numbers were pretty conservative in their voting record were supportive of that age and i imagine they will be florida as well. Unrelated question daca follow it. Can you clarify if the president is open to citizenship for these dreamers . At this point im not going to stay down now. Well wait and see how the process plays out twoway deal can be made. [inaudible] you talked about our reach of the and tax reform. I am curious to hear your thoughts on what the outreach has been to conservatives. Ive talked to several house members and also conservative groups in the last few days whove always been skeptical of treasury secretary mnuchin and gary cohn because they largely deal with democrats. That coupled with the deal the president cut on the debt ceiling as people a little bit weary of tax reform. What kind of outreach are you doing that makes them feel like tax reform is going to go in a way that will make them feel comfortable . Angst, nancy. One thing that unites members of the liberal side, conservative side as theyre not given enough attention no matter what. So i think, yes, if we focus simply on republicans and i think the criticism is while you are not been bipartisan enough. If you are bipartisan, as though you are alienating your Republican Base. That comes with the territory, but i dont think we are ignoring the conservative base of the party that propelled the president into his election or the conservative base in congress to spend most loyal and supportive. As i mentioned to you all before, we met with Freedom Caucus chairman mark meadows in jim jordan just last week with secretary mnuchin and kerry and myself to talk through the Tax Reform ActTax Reform Act talk to mark just this morning before coming over here. So i think were pretty well in touch with the caucus and making sure we continue to work with them closely. Obviously its a question for them in a lot of ways, too, but i dont think there is a worry that we are leaving them behind. [inaudible] thank you so much. We are going to ask about the u. N. Meetings next week. Talk about what kind of the most pressing matters are but we hope to accomplish. Also, any chance to meet with venezuelan president , Nicolas Maduro and has either side reached out for a possible meeting be open to it . Im sorry we are no help whatsoever to you. I have enough with the 535 members of Congress Angry about the u. N. Delegation i am thankful for. I dont know that the plan we can get back to you on that later. Washtington examiner. Back in the cheap seats. Upper deck, bv. Two things. What is the relationship with schumer . Does it make a lot of phone calls, a lot of things as simple as chocolate. Secondly, going through campaign for luther strange, does he continue to endorse him . The president continues to stand by that endorsement. Regarding the relationship with others, i dont know if i need to say this a different way that im not getting through, but i think the president says im going to do with them the best interest of the American People and sometimes that may be in party with lussier schumer. I dont think its bad if they have a positive relationship with them. The last administration did not have relationships across the aisle and so i think the president has spoken to nancy pelosi, have spoken to Chuck Schumer on occasion. But i dont know that there is like a roadmap that says this is how we are going to navigate that relationship. It is more about what at the time, what can he get done that will benefit the American People. Annie linsky from the boston globe. [inaudible] we talked all about how we change things and how his stylistic friend from Reince Priebus and if its changed any all 50s then chief of staff. I feel we are very privileged to have a chance to work for an American Hero like john kelly. I think steve has done a terrific job in providing structure to the white house in ways that i think empower staff to do their jobs more effectively. And they think we are very excited to have him inside the building and they think hes been a great asset to many of us. I dont know what else to offer you other than not. The structure is provided has been obviously something that weve needed insider building, but also something more than the drama of covering the white house, it enables people to do their jobs more effect delay. [inaudible] we had been in the building [inaudible] i guess he views his role as you said to help to serve the staff and the president. What they mean by that is he is not in this to draw attention to himself. He is to make sure people get their jobs done and if not they will be held accountable. I think thats the way should be run. Hey, market or to follow up and Steve Bennetts interview with 60 minutes. That took a long time to get it asked. [laughter] are you in president agree or disagree with steve banon, that paul ryan dont want it to be implemented. I think paul ryan, Mitch Mcconnell has been terrific allies with the tax reform package. I think they have been terrific allies as ive mentioned on regulatory reform. I dont know anybody who could have done that better than Mitch Mcconnell did. He was helping us to say, okay, here is a piece of legislation that we can target to begin the rollback Regulatory Burden. So i would disagree with steve. I think the leaders have been strong partners to advance their economic agenda. Will go to ken thomas. There was a lot of interest around labor day with the use those trade agreement with south korea. As the president strongly considering pulling out of what kind of pushback on the wrist he from foreign state numbers representing the Auto Industry . Is there a lot of concern that if the u. S. Pulled out of that agreement that it would hurt certain sect errs . The president has aided many times his displeasure with the trade deal and believe they could be more strongly negotiated in ways that benefit the american worker. We certainly, when there is press coverage, no doubt some of the constituencies from the midwest reached out to the white house to express their concern. I also think the president is going through a review process im not and i dont have any news to make one way or the other on the policy right now. But i dont expect any sort of announcement soon that would change our policy there. [inaudible] yeah, they are interlinked. There is no doubt. And i think thats certainly a conversation that the nsc engage with the president to talk about that. All the way in the back to jeff mason from orators. Mark, theres been a lot of coverage of kerry cohns relationship with the president after charlottesville. Hes obviously a big player tax reform. Can you walk us through what hes doing on tax reform, how he fulfills that role with congress and the white house and then more broadly on sort of the relationships in the white house. Teacher and ivanka help you with things on the hill or are they more focused on other issues . Well, not really going to talk about relationships inside the white house tsrs partnership on the hill, in many cases the way we look at it from a legislative affairs perspective of each of these engagements with the help only helps us. But the caveat obviously of the court made it, but assuming thats coordinated, it is project for them to it didnt interest that they are part of the president s agenda. With kerry, we all serve at the pleasure of the president in right of jerry is first and foremost on our point for a tax reform. He was meeting with speaker ryan last night. He will be part of a big six meeting again on capitol hill today and gary is essential to us right now in our effort to provide tax relief to the American People. Hi, wednesday senator tim scott will be meeting with the president on issues of race and you might recall that after charlottesville, senator scott was on television and talking about the president s comments undermining his moral authority on the subject and apparently what he wants to talk about what the president is sharing them of his own personal stories and also policy points like black colleges and poverty. So my question for you is do you see the president changing or modifying either his tone on this subject to deal with the overall moral authoritys questions on the issue of race and do you see him dealing specifically with policy points . Some of the things senator scott wants to talk to him about. You may know more than i do estimate skin senator scott planner for the meeting. The president has condemned the violence in charlottesville and i think he was clear and outspoken on that. Regarding senator scott, senator scott asked for an opportunity to share some of his personal information as you say and the president is happy to do that and im sure we will all learn from a conversation and that is a good thing as no way for me to prejudge right now. Jim shooter from cnn. The president is of course extending to afghanistan, Broad Authority to set troop levels. The military presence in serious and iraq certainly doesnt look like conditions they will be stable enough to allow u. S. Troops to leave anytime soon. They might be there for a very extended period of time. For a candidate who often during the campaign criticized u. S. Military deployments abroad, does he intend to seek a new authorization from congress for u. S. Military operations . The u. S. Thats a big signals on this. At times it looks like weve got enough, but a briefing senators on the hill, they would like to authorization. The president believes the authorized use of military force will position our needs right now. We are not looking to change it in the administration has a letter to congress stating that for both secretary tell us and secretary tillerson last week. We would be happy to get you a picture of that. We came out of the 2001 and a euro not simply that provides us the flexibility we need to execute our foreign policy. Opposition with his own criticism of extended deployments abroad and how does he, in his mind, justify a post9 11 authorization against al qaeda for battles against isis on the ground in syria, even at times regime backed forces. How does he rectify that with his past positions . Is a very fair question but the president laid that out specifically when he talked about what changed when he walked into the oval office and how his position on this in particular and make sure that there was not continued unrest in ways that created a threat to the American People. His policy is one to try to protect american citizens from attack. So i think he laid out his viewpoints in that speech very clearly to the American People and as far as the authorized use of military force, we believe whats currently on the books provides the flexibility. From the washington times. Will quickly, on the border wall, are you saying that the president will not insist are not necessarily insist on matters part is a daca fix in section 702, a letter came up from the security folks yesterday saying that they want to see a bill without removing the sunset provision. Will the president stand by that . Is that something needs willing to insist on the 702 has to be made permanent for what you all a 7 to . I believe we are still working through a position on 702. I think you i think it should be coming forward in the next couple days. I know its going through an internal review process at the moment. I dont want to get ahead of that. On the other question, i am cautious of having the president backed off the border wall. Thats not the position im anywhere trying to convey. The president is committed to sticking by his commitment that a physical structure is what is needed to help protect the American People. Whether or not that is specifically part of a daca package are different legislative package, im not going to prejudge here today. But committed to making sure that wall is built. Anyone who has one otherwise . 27 questions. Yes, maam. Something i didnt hear it all is how exactly do you plan to pass tax reform. Could you walk us through that . I understand the administration thinks it could use reconciliation, but if thats an option you would have to get democrats in the president seems to be having a couple Democratic Senators over this evening, so could you kind of walk me through how you plan to get the tax reform passed . Francesca chambers of the daily news. Its a great question. We would love to have enough a partisan support to get 60 votes that ensures Permanent Fund tax reform. Bus fire, what i think we face is unfortunately resistance to that because they think in many cases rather than looking after American People, many people in the other party are trying to deny victories to the administration. Getting to 60 votes will be a challenge. It is one we would like to see happen, but it can be a challenge. We differ in many cases the process to those leaders we have in their guidance has been the reconciliation will be the most likely path forward. The reason that we are having engagement is because even if we go the reconciliation process, we still believe it will be better if its done on a bipartisan basis. We have also learned this fall this summer that keeping 50 of 52 republican is not something reliable. And so, despite promises of commitments that they make to voters since 2010, we dont feel like we can assume they can get tax reform done strictly on a bipartisan basis. Its wise for us not just a policy is, to try and reach out and earn the support of democrats as well. As you note, in 1986 when reagan passed it was done on a bipartisan basis. The vehicle, whether its a 60vote threshold or reconciliation threshold, we want to earn democrats supported the tax reform package. We will go next. Can you talk about the importance of this Road Campaign on terms of tax reform and was that a recognition perhaps the white house didnt handle health care correctly and now you are learning from your mistakes and they go into the public to advocate. I think the president is our best salesman and hes our best spokesman, so yes its good to have them out on the road making the case of the American People as to why we need tax reform now. Lessons learned from health care, what i would say is just a reminder that gap, ive articulated that one of the things that we could learn from the last battle was in many cases we did not get all of our allies on board with the path forward and so therefore of Republican Base was splintered and some of the reform packages were attacked early on as obamacare light. I will say and it sounds like a copout to some of you, but i will say that process began the first couple days in january we are not at risk in the month and didnt have our team on the field. We do believe that was the process that we have a lot of our conservative allies attacking the house package before we were even in office. It is one of the reasons we spent a lot of time about what we are doing this summer. We were engaged from earlier questions about prosperity to heritage to other Organizations Club for growth and groping haitian downtown and heres our plan for tax reform. Here is our timeline. You will help us make this possible. So yes, that is a Lesson Learned no doubt. Weve got about five minutes left. To ask questions. Mr. Dante from Huffington Post and mr. Bennett from roll call. The president and then you your self have asked about Republicans Health care. I think the president actually was we did promise himself, not just people in congress that he was going to repeal and replace the very first speech. So how much is it to him as well as congress . I think you are reagan a lot more in my comments that i really intended. The president has said all along that he is ready and willing to sign repeal and replace when republicans complete that process. I also think that weve not had any questions about senator graham and senator cassidys effort to be announced tomorrow about progress they are making to keep that alive so that we can complete the effort before the september 30 window closes. I think that is not to say that we are republicans, too. That is kind of a stretch. [inaudible] the president continues to save the effort to repeal and replace obamacare. That is the vehicle that will hopefully get more attention in the coming days. [inaudible] im not familiar with any public comment. The deal about the replacement [inaudible] the president stated he preferred repeal and replace, that he was recognizing that if it was too difficult we should at least do the repeal part. When you need to make a decision on tax reform if youre going to try this on reconciliation. You need to do that work and make sure conservative allies are with you. When does that decision have to be made . The budget will be sometime in october. I think that is roughly the timeline and we hope we will find that to get budget resolutions with reconciliation and passed in both chambers the one at thank you for one of our biggest breakfast. Thank you for setting it up. Thank you all. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] what can be kept. Revenue neutral means real tax reform getting rid of the reduction and you think you can have that despite the history of these kind of things. Within a year, within months of the if the president wants this as fast as h he canned this he , is he willing to buy a letdown we need to get a territorial system and that requires the statute thats how you get the dollars. But then you think it is going to go this year. We want to get it done this year. What do you think that means and are there deals like that in the future . I view it as a oneoff. That he can decide in the moment. Can you describe your expressions is there any worry that it will get in the way of tax reform . Go because it would have to get in the way of