Was the white house aware an indictment was imminent you flew on air force one with the president to philadelphia or criminal Justice Reform . No squl sgl and on the minimum wage, 15 minimum wage im wondering if the white house is willing to support 15 minimum wage. Jordan president obama has made clear eight years since the federal minimum wage increase last passed that action by congress to raise the minimum wage is long overdue. In a previous state of the Union Address we suggested congress raise the minimum wage to 10. 10. More recently we supported legislation by senator congressman scott raising wage to 12 an hour by 2020. Theres a number of proposals pending before congress. We just want them to move on one that we believe that despite this president s leadership in bringing this country out of an economic downturn that we havent seen since the great depression, that despite the longest stretch of private sector job growth in our nations history that wages have not grown fast enough or steep enough. And thats why the president believes that americas workers deserve a raise. I know that different localities, cities and states and even private companies are choosing to take action in light of congresss inaction. Those are moves we support. Its my understanding the current tally is 17 states in the District Of Columbia have all passed minimum wage increases despite congresss recalsitrance, but we believe its up to those localities to provide the best numbers that suit those areas. Thank you. Doug. Back to mullah omar. Theres talks set for this tuesday. Who has the government of afghanistan been negotiating with given hes been dead for two years now . And what would you recommend for this upcoming round of peace talks . Doug, i appreciate you raising that because we do believe the taliban has an opportunity to make genuine peace with the Afghan Government and rebuild their lives in peace in afghanistan. They can accept the government of afghanistan become a Peace Process and ultimately become part of the legitimate system in afghanistan, or they can choose to continue to fighting afghans and destabilizing their own country. So you are right in suggesting that the United States does continue to support an afghanled and afghanowned reconciliation process. Its the surest way to end violence in the region. Changing subjects now to this side deal in the iran Nuclear Agreement. Some of your cabinet members have been taking a beating in the Senate Armed Services committee today on that side deal. Why did the United States not know of this side deal . Why did not the Administration Representatives brief congress on this side deal when they first undertook briefings from members of congress . And why have no members of the Administration Read the side deal . Sure, doug. We should take this as an opportunity to clear this up. There is no side deal. There are no secret deals between the p5 1 and iran separate from the commitments outlined in the joint comprehensive plan of action. This is a deal that prevents iran from obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Everything in our p5 1 partners agreed to is spelled out within that joint comprehensive plan of action announced in sli yen na last week. In terms of congress, we have what we have. We have not only are they on the website, online, but also briefed many times over to congress. As is standard in these agreements theres an arrangement specifically between the iaea and individual states that are confidential documents that the iaea does not release to other states. And they have a number of very understandable and possibly obvious reasons why they dont release documents pertaining to proliferation more widely. But whats important to understand is the iaea, which are the International Communitys Renowned Experts in this area as well as the p5 1, the entire International Community, are absolutely confident in the agreement that was struck between the iaea and iran in their inspections. Can you confirm that this deal allows iran to collect its own soil samples at the facility . I think some of the details in that agreement remain classified and remain sensitive. So im not in a position to discuss them from here. But what i can do is i can assure you that not only is the international inspecting inspectors who we all trust to monitor this, have been assured and assured us that they will have the access they need. But i can also tell you the p5 1 the International Community which has a vested stake in this, are also confident in the arrangement that was struck. Last question. Why did secretary kerry just moments ago and secretary moniz moments ago say they have not read the side deal . They testified to that fact . I think theres a difference between reading the side deal and a specific piece of paper and knowing whats in it. I think weve been very clear that not only are aware of whats in it but were entirely comfortable with it. As are the International Inspectors and the scientists and the experts who had the expertise in this. Thank you mark. How can you say with such assurance a moment ago that theyll be a decision on keystone by the end of the administration . Its my understanding that this is a process that is undergone at the state department department. Again, this is a process that predates this administration. And we believe that if you check in with them for an update, theyll offer where they are in their process. Is there at all the disparity, do you think, between all the years state has been working on keystone and the 60 days youve Given Congress to come to a decision on the Iran Nuclear Deal . No. Why not . Because for us those are entirely separate and unrelatedish chiouunrelated ish issues. That was a clock they started. The keystone decision is under review at the state department. And its my understanding is it had nothing to do with senator corkers legislation, which dictated the architecture of how theyre going to have oversight over the iran deal. Is the president at all impatient with how long its taking . I havent heard that. Can you ask him . I will try. April. Im sure you saw back there in the conference about the Police Officers and the university of cincinnati hes indicted essentially for losing his temper allegedly against the suspect. Does this administration feel there needs to be more training of Police Officers in this country as it seems that there is somewhat that same type of threat when we see some of these instances, is there an effort from the Justice Department working with Loretta Lynch . I know there was a News Conference going on back in ohio just as we were coming out. So i didnt have a chance to watch it. And obviously its a local case under local investigation and prosecution. So id refer you to them for details. In terms of this issue at large which i think you are referencing, as you know the president did stand up a task force on 21st century policing, come out with a host of very serious intangible recommendations that Law Enforcement across this country has been studying and have taken to heart. I dont have an update for you on departments that have implemented those recommendations, but i know that it is a fulsome list which we can get you. And i do know that training is a big part of that. The president believes that in order to restore trust between certain Law Enforcement agencies around this country and the communities they serve, a gap in some places has been widening that one of the steps that local Law Enforcement can take is to increase their training. Last question. There seems to be a serious effort to draft Vice President biden to run for president of the United States. Has the president encouraged or talked to Vice President biden about possibilities . I have not spoken to the president about his private conversations with the Vice President. As you know the president has said the best political decision hes ever made in his career has been to ask joe biden to run for his Vice President. He could not be more impressed and appreciative of the Vice President s service than he is. Thats an endorsement. Im going to ask one more question. You said that was your last one. Well, im sorry. I changed my mind. Okay. Just checking. Okay. Has there been any talk around the white house hearing particularly from next door that he could possibly throw his hat in . I havent heard anything about those discussions if theyre happening or not. Thank you. Bill. Reports there was. [ inaudible ] against United Airlines, which information similar to what was taken, files regarding passenger lists and possibly more could have been taken. Do you have any information . I dont bill. I know that the United Airlines has put out a statement. We are certainly aware of their reports about their cyber intrusion, but id refer you to united for comment on their specific situation. The fact of the intrusion . What was the question again . Can you confirm the fact of the intrusion . Ive seen those reports but im going to refer you to united for comment. Is that what youre saying. Were going to refer you to united to address any circumstances around their the government must know something and doesnt want to talk. Bill, dont be so cynical. Moi . I think again, were going to let United Airlines which presumably has very able Public Relations folks field those questions. Thank you. Jc. The United States and turkey sign a deal over a former air base led for the u. S. Led Coalition Fighting the islamic state. The turkish minister mentioned this. Wednesday also marked heaviest air strikes by turkey against the pkk after the president already ruled out any Peace Process. Any comments on that from the white house . Jc, i think as you saw two weeks ago now when this was first announced that weve been clear that the United States and turkey have held ongoing consultations about ways we can further our joint counter isil efforts to respond to common threats. As you know trickyurkey is a valuable partner in the coalition to defeat isil. And we are appreciative of the commitment the turkish government has made to further and deepen our cooperation broadly in the counter isil fight. Thats going to include support for the train and equip, intelligence sharing and operational coordination. And like you mentioned as part of this turkey is granted clearance for the deployment of manned and Unmanned Aircraft from the u. S. And other Coalition Members participating in air operations in their air base. How does this play in with the unfortunate circumstance of the bombings of the pkk individuals . The kurdish who are supposedly supporting our efforts . Youre right. As we spoke in realtime that we do condemn the pkks attack. As we have said they are a foreign terrorist organization. And we have said that we respect turkeys right to defend itself. So we believe that overall we call for a deescalation and we call for a return to the peaceful solution process. Thank you. David. On the irs. Two House Republican lawmakers on monday called on the president to fire john koskonin. Any reports from the white house . Yes. As weve said commissioner koskonin has a steadfast commitment to Public Service during difficult times. His decades of experience around public and private institutions continue to make him the right person to lead this agency. If we look back at how cooperative the irs has been with the multiple investigations which have spanned multiple years now, i think its worth noting that theyve testified in over 25 congressional hearings, provided more than 50 employees for interviews and produced more than 1 million pages of documents documents. You mentioned two House Republicans who tried to make news to this. I call to your attention the response from congressman cummings who pointed out that the independent Inspector General himself who concluded in a report to the Oversight Committee just last month noted that theres no evidence to substantiate the very claims that republicans just yesterday were making. White house involvement or any intentional destruction of evidence. So command that report to your attention. Bob francesca. Whatever. George, jerry. Ill take it. Call me whatever you want. Welcome back. How was your trip . Thank you. Appreciate that. I want to go back to iran. With democrats and members of congress as extensive about the iran deal do you know if the president has talked to senator schumer personally about the deal . I dont have specific conversations to read out. The president has spoken with specific members of congress both in the house and in the senate. Both democrats and republicans. And both skeptics and supporters. The president believes that on the merits that this is an argument that our case is one that is worth making. I dont have specific conversations to read out to you. But i do know senator schumer as a member of the leadership in the senate is someone whose support we like. Will congresswoman debbie wasz wassemanschultz be there . I dont have that information. Is it troubling to the white house that both of those very high profile democratic members who also happen to be Jewish Americans as well have not come out in support of the deal . I know its only been two weeks, but the deal as the white house has said is very close to what the political framework was. So theyve known it was going to be in it for quite some time now. As you pointed out, its only been two weeks. As others have pointed out we have a whole 60 days for congress to look over this so were going to continue to make the case to the two members youve identified, but were going to make the case to everyone we can. Sheryl. Thanks. Following meeting tonight, congress is going to leave without having started any budget negotiations or addressing sequester, what is the president s message on budget Going Forward . Youve heard it from josh as well its unfortunate. This economic recovery weve seen is one supported if we lift restrictions bless you, gardner. Is that not allowed anymore . We dont have manners here . Sheryl, thats our approach. If you had eyes in the walls tonight in the east room, you would see the president making a similar case. I asked for that. Is there any particular tactic or strategy to try to kick start these negotiations . Well i can tell you that white house officials and officials at the relevant agencies like the office of management and budget have been in touch with leaders urging them to roll up sleeves and make progress on this. Weve been disappointed thus far with their inaction. John. Thank you, eric. Three brief questions for you. First, congressman mike kelly of pennsylvania has taken a different tact from other republicans. Rather than going and embrace the defunding of planned parenthood, he has written the commissioner of the irs and asked for an audit of some of the controversial reports that have been coming out. Is this something the administration would be positive about . An irs audit of planned parenthood to clear the air of controversy . I havent heard that any of the videos or any of the issues surrounding planned parenthood have anything to do with the irs. So im not sure. Im sure the commissioner of the irs will evaluate that request as he does all the others. But i havent seen anything to suggest that audit is necessary. The other question is does the administration while certainly the agreement between greece and its partners believe it is sustainable even though the International Monetary fund has raised questions . Or do they think that this specter of greek exit from the euro would reappear down the line . Thats a good question. I think as you note we do support the agreement that was reached between greek greece and european leaders. Its my understanding that they continue to make progress on implementing that deal. So i dont have any updates for you on that. And i certainly am not going to second guess that deal right here today. Finally, and ive been dying to know this for a while. The president made miss harper lee a member of the council of arts in his first term. Does he plan to set a watch . I have not spoken to the president about his reading list, as you know. Usually theres a few weeks in august where he gets a chance to read some books. So we can see if thats on the list for this year. Will you get back to me on that . I will try. Chris. Thank you. Boy scouts of america this week lifted its policy prohibiting openly gay people from serving as leaders. The president publicly has called for the organization to lift its ban on openly gay people. How was he made aware of the news . Did he have any reaction to that . I dont know how the president received the news, but as you point out under the leadership of bob gates, the boy scouts of america did take a big step forward monday regardless of who they love a