President Obama's Speech at the House Republican retreat in Baltimore.

Summary

The transcript covers a speech by the President of the United States at a Republican legislative retreat, emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship in addressing national issues. He highlights key areas where Republicans and Democrats have worked together, such as veterans' care, economic recovery, and defense reforms. The President calls for constructive debate and collaboration on critical topics like healthcare, job creation, and reducing the national deficit. He stresses that political gridlock must be avoided for the country’s progress, urging unity for the American people’s benefit.

Takeaways

• 📢 The House session was brief today as Republicans attended an annual retreat, and members will return next Tuesday to discuss legislation.
• 💼 Among the bills being considered next week is the advancement of cybersecurity research and development, as well as addressing the debt ceiling.
• 💰 The federal debt limit has been raised by nearly $2 trillion, increasing the ceiling to $14 trillion.
• 🤝 President emphasizes the importance of bipartisan cooperation and constructive debate to improve domestic policy and national security.
• 🛡️ Despite differences in Washington, the United States remains united in its efforts to defend the country and its interests.
• 🏗️ The President highlighted previous bipartisan efforts, such as support for troops, veteran care, and reforms in defense contracting.
• 🚧 The President discussed efforts to stimulate economic growth, including tax cuts, infrastructure projects, and support for the unemployed through the Recovery Act.
• 📈 The latest GDP numbers show that the U.S. economy grew by nearly 6%, the highest growth since 2003, thanks to government interventions.
• 🏦 Proposals for new small business tax credits and eliminating capital gains taxes for small businesses aim to encourage job creation.
• 💡 The President urged for bipartisan efforts to address issues like closing tax loopholes, reining in the deficit, and improving transparency in earmarks and lobbying.

Q & A

What was the occasion for the Republicans gathering in Baltimore?

The Republicans were attending an annual legislative retreat in Baltimore.

Who was the keynote speaker at the Republican retreat?

The President of the United States was the keynote speaker at the retreat.

What did the President emphasize about the importance of debates and disagreements in his speech?

The President emphasized that having differences of opinion and real debates about domestic and national security policies is essential for a healthy democracy, as it helps refine good ideas and discard bad ones.

What kind of bipartisan efforts did the President highlight in his speech?

The President highlighted bipartisan support for increasing troop levels in Afghanistan, defense contracting reform, veteran health care reforms, credit card bill of rights, unemployment compensation, and assistance to homeowners.

What economic challenges were referenced by the President in his address?

The President referenced the economic challenges posed by the recession, including the loss of 700,000 jobs a month, the near-collapse of the financial system, and the looming threat of a second Great Depression.

What was the reaction to the stimulus package according to the President?

The President expressed disappointment that the stimulus package faced opposition from Republicans, despite the fact that many Americans supported key elements such as tax cuts, infrastructure investment, and assistance to the unemployed.

What did the President propose to support job growth in 2010?

The President proposed a new jobs tax credit for small businesses, offering a $5,000 tax credit for every employee added in 2010 and tax breaks for wage increases.

What fiscal measures did the President mention in his speech?

The President mentioned proposing a three-year freeze on discretionary spending (excluding national security) and a bipartisan fiscal commission to address long-term deficits.

How did the President address the issue of health insurance reform?

The President acknowledged the contentiousness of health insurance reform but argued that the current system was not working for many Americans. He highlighted the need for reform to address issues like coverage for pre-existing conditions and rising premiums.

What did the President say about the political climate and partisanship?

The President lamented that the political game had divided the country, making it harder to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He called for Republicans and Democrats to work together for the greater good.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Recap of Legislative Session and Upcoming Debates

The first paragraph provides an overview of a short session in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans are attending a retreat. It mentions the House returning to session on Tuesday with upcoming legislative work, including bills on cybersecurity research and the debt ceiling. The Senate passed a bill raising the federal debt limit to $14 trillion. The paragraph transitions to a live coverage of the Republican legislative retreat in Baltimore, where the Minority Leader John Boehner introduces the President of the United States, setting the stage for the President's remarks.

05:01

🗣️ Bipartisanship and the Importance of Dialogue

The second paragraph focuses on the President's address to Republicans, emphasizing the value of bipartisan dialogue. He expresses appreciation for the invitation and acknowledges the need for constructive debate between parties. The President stresses the importance of challenging each other's ideas and avoiding political gridlock. He highlights instances where both parties have worked together, particularly on military and veterans' affairs. Despite these successes, the President also notes disappointing partisan votes on economic measures like tax cuts and the Recovery Act. He urges the need for collaboration to solve the country's pressing problems.

10:03

📈 Economic Recovery and Small Business Support

The third paragraph shifts to economic recovery, where the President discusses positive GDP growth following the recession, attributing the turnaround to government action, including the Recovery Act. He proposes further measures to accelerate job growth, such as a new jobs tax credit for small businesses and eliminating the capital gains tax for small business investments. The President also suggests using bailout money to help community banks lend to small businesses. He calls for bipartisan support on these proposals, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the American people's job security over political interests.

15:04

💼 Deficit Challenges and Political Responsibility

The fourth paragraph covers the fiscal challenges facing the U.S. and the need for a bipartisan approach to reducing the national deficit. The President outlines steps he's taken, such as a three-year freeze on discretionary spending and the creation of a fiscal commission by executive order. He also proposes transparency in congressional earmarks and lobbyist activities. The President touches on healthcare reform, expressing his willingness to include Republican ideas like tort reform and high-risk pools for those with pre-existing conditions. He reiterates the need for cooperation to overcome gridlock and solve major issues facing the country.

20:09

🤝 Closing Remarks and Call for Unity

In the final brief paragraph, the President expresses optimism about the potential for bipartisan cooperation. He acknowledges the deep political divisions in the country but emphasizes that the differences between parties are not as significant as they may seem. The President encourages ongoing dialogue and collective efforts to address the nation’s challenges, hoping the conversation at the retreat will help bridge the divide.

Keywords

💡Bipartisanship

Bipartisanship refers to cooperation between members of different political parties to achieve a common goal. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of both parties working together, particularly in areas like national security, economic recovery, and health reform. He highlights past instances of bipartisan cooperation, such as support for veterans and financial regulation, and stresses the need for continued collaboration to address national challenges.

💡Gridlock

Gridlock describes a situation where there is little to no progress on important legislation or policy due to political stalemate or conflict. The speaker expresses frustration with the ongoing political gridlock in Washington, explaining that it prevents necessary actions from being taken to solve the pressing issues facing the American people. He urges lawmakers to break free from this gridlock in order to work toward meaningful solutions.

💡Recovery Act

The Recovery Act, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was a stimulus package designed to revive the U.S. economy after the 2008 financial crisis. The speaker references the Recovery Act in the context of economic recovery, noting that it provided tax cuts, infrastructure investments, and financial assistance for unemployed workers, which helped reverse the economic decline. He defends the Act, pointing out that while it faced Republican opposition, its individual measures were broadly popular.

💡Small business

Small businesses are emphasized in the video as a critical component of the economy and job creation. The speaker discusses a proposed tax credit for small businesses that would encourage them to hire more employees and increase wages. He also mentions eliminating the capital gains tax on small business investments and using returned bailout money to help community banks support small businesses. The focus on small businesses reflects their role in driving economic recovery and employment growth.

💡Deficit

A deficit occurs when government spending exceeds revenue, leading to increased national debt. The speaker addresses the growing fiscal deficit as a major challenge for the U.S. economy, calling for bipartisan efforts to rein in spending. He proposes measures such as a discretionary spending freeze and the creation of a bipartisan fiscal commission to address long-term deficit concerns. The issue of deficits is central to the discussion of financial responsibility and the nation's future economic health.

💡Health insurance reform

Health insurance reform refers to efforts to improve the U.S. healthcare system, particularly by expanding coverage and controlling costs. The speaker advocates for reform, arguing that the current system fails millions of Americans who struggle to obtain or afford insurance, particularly those with pre-existing conditions. He acknowledges the contentious nature of the debate but calls for bipartisan solutions, such as allowing insurance to be sold across state lines and creating pools for small businesses to buy coverage.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment is a major theme in the video, with the speaker discussing the severe job losses during the economic recession and the need to accelerate job growth. He mentions several initiatives to help unemployed Americans, including extending unemployment benefits and creating jobs through investments in infrastructure and small businesses. The speaker acknowledges that while the economy is recovering, job growth has lagged, and he emphasizes the need for further action to support those out of work.

💡National security

National security refers to the protection of a nation's citizens, economy, and institutions from external threats. The speaker highlights areas of bipartisan agreement on national security issues, such as the war in Afghanistan, the fight against al-Qaeda, and support for the U.S. military. He underscores that despite political differences, both parties have worked together to ensure the safety of the country, and he calls for continued unity in this critical area.

💡Tax cuts

Tax cuts are a recurring topic in the video, particularly in the context of stimulating economic growth and providing relief to middle-class Americans. The speaker defends the tax cuts included in the Recovery Act, which were aimed at helping individuals and businesses during the recession. He also proposes new tax cuts for small businesses, including a jobs tax credit and eliminating the capital gains tax on small business investments, as part of his plan to spur job creation.

💡Veterans

Veterans, or former members of the military, are mentioned in the video as a group that has received bipartisan support from lawmakers. The speaker references the passage of significant veterans' health care reforms and the largest increase in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs in over 30 years. This highlights the shared commitment across party lines to improving the care and support for those who have served in the armed forces.

Highlights

Republicans attending an annual retreat, with the President addressing them and taking questions.

The House is not in session on Monday but resumes legislative work on Tuesday at 2:00 PM Eastern.

The House will consider bills related to cybersecurity research and development.

The Senate passed a bill raising the federal debt limit by nearly two trillion dollars.

The President emphasizes the importance of debate and disagreement for refining good ideas in a democracy.

The American people want job security and cooperation in Washington rather than gridlock and partisanship.

Both parties have supported sending more troops to Afghanistan to counter al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

The President calls for bipartisan cooperation on major issues, including veteran healthcare reforms.

The American economy is growing at its fastest rate since 2003, recovering from a 6% shrinkage in the previous year.

The President proposes a new jobs tax credit for small businesses, offering up to $5,000 per new employee.

He urges both parties to close tax loopholes that reward companies for moving jobs overseas.

The President supports a three-year freeze on discretionary spending, excluding national security.

A bipartisan fiscal commission will be established to address the growing national debt and deficits.

The President reiterates the need for health insurance reform to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Bipartisan solutions, including high-risk pools and insurance sales across state lines, are included in health reform proposals.

Transcripts

short session in the House today

Republicans attending an annual retreat

will take you there momentarily the

house not in session Monday

members returned Tuesday at 12:30

Eastern from morning hour and then

legislative work beginning Tuesday at

2:00 Eastern among the bills to be

considered next week

advancing research and development of

cyber cyber security also the debt

ceiling passed by the Senate this week

raising the federal debt limit by nearly

two trillion dollars to 14 trillion live

house coverage next week here on c-span

and that will take you live to Baltimore

to that Republican legislative retreat

the Minority Leader John Boehner there

the president's there will speak and

take questions from the members as well

live here on c-span gentlemen the

president of the United States

[Applause]

thank you movement

thank you thank you John for the

gracious introduction to Mike and Eric

thank you for hosting me thank you to

all of you for receiving me it is

wonderful to be here I want to also

acknowledge mark strand president of the

Congressional Institute to all the

family members who are here and who have

to put up with us who are in elective

office each and every day thank you

because I know that's tough I very much

am appreciative of not only the tone of

your introduction John but also the

invitation that you extend it to me you

know what they say keep your friends

close but visit the Republican caucus

every few months part of the reason I

accepted your invitation to come here

was because I wanted to speak with all

of you and not just to all of you so I'm

looking forward to taking your questions

and having a real conversation a few

moments and I hope that the conversation

we begin here doesn't end here that we

can continue our dialogue in the days

ahead it's important to me that we do so

it's important to you I think that we do

so but most importantly it's important

to the American people that we do so I

said this before but I'm a big believer

not just in the value of a loyal office

position but in its necessity having

differences of opinion having a real

debate about matters of domestic policy

and national security that's not

something that's only good for our

country it's absolutely essential it's

only through the process of disagreement

and debate that bad ideas get tossed out

good ideas get refined and made better

that kind of vigorous back and forth

that imperfect but well-founded process

messy as it often is is at the heart of

our democracy it's what makes us the

greatest nation in the world so yes I

want you to challenge my ideas and I

guarantee you that after reading this I

may challenge a few of yours

I want you to stand up for your beliefs

and knowing this caucus I have no doubt

that you will I want us to have a

constructive debate the only thing I

don't want and here I am listening the

American people and I think they don't

want even is for Washington to continue

being so Washington like I know folks

when we're in in town they're spent a

lot of time reading the polls and

looking at focus groups and interpreting

which party has the upper hand in

November and in 2012 and so on and so on

and so on that's their obsession and I'm

not a pundit I'm just a president so

take it for what it's worth but I don't

believe that the American people want us

to focus on our job security they want

us to focus on their job security

[Applause]

I don't think they want more gridlock I

don't think they want more partisanship

I don't think they want more obstruction

they didn't send us to Washington to

fight each other in some sort of

political steel cage match to see who

comes out of life that's not what they

want they sent us to Washington to work

together to get things done and to solve

the problems that they're grappling with

every single day and I think your

constituents would want to know that

despite the fact it doesn't get a lot of

attention you and I have actually worked

together on a number of occasions there

have been times where we've acted in a

bipartisan fashion and I want to thank

you

and your Democratic colleagues for

reaching across the aisle there has been

for example broad support for putting in

the troops necessary in Afghanistan to

deny al Qaeda safe haven to break the

Taliban's momentum and to train Afghan

security forces there's been broad

support for disrupting dismantling and

defeating al Qaeda and I know that we're

all united in our admiration of our

troops

[Applause]

so it may be useful for the

international audience right now to

understand and certainly for our enemies

to have no doubt whatever divisions and

differences may exist in Washington the

United States of America stands as one

to defend our country

[Applause]

[Applause]

it's that same spirit of bipartisanship

that made it possible for me to sign a

defense contracting reform bill that was

co-sponsored by Senator McCain and

members of Congress here today we've

stood together on behalf of our nation's

veterans together we passed the largest

increase in the VA zbor than 30 years

and supported essential veteran's health

care reforms to provide better access

and medical care for those who serve in

uniform some of you also joined

Democrats and supporting a credit card

bill of rights and in extending

unemployment compensation to Americans

who are out of work

some of you joined us in stopping

tobacco companies from targeting kids

expanding opportunities for young people

to serve our country and helping

responsible homeowners stay in their

homes so we have a track record of

working together it is possible but as

John you mentioned on some very big

things we've seen party line votes that

I'm just going to be honest we're

disappointing let's start with our

efforts to jumpstart the economy last

winter when we were losing 700,000 jobs

a month our financial system teetered on

the brink of collapse and the threat of

a second Great Depression loomed large

I didn't understand them and I still

don't understand why we got opposition

in this caucus for almost 300 billion

dollars in badly needed tax cuts for the

American people or COBRA coverage to

help Americans who've lost jobs in this

recession to keep the health insurance

that they desperately needed or

opposition to putting Americans to work

laying broadband and rebuilding roads

and bridges and breaking ground on new

construction projects there was an

interesting headline in in CNN today

Americans disapprove of stimulus but

like every policy in it and there was a

poll that showed that if you broke it

down into its component parts 80%

approved of the tax cuts 80% approved to

the infrastructure 80% approved of the

assistance to the unemployed well that's

what

the Recovery Act was and I and let's

face it some of you have been at the

ribbon cuttings for some of these

important projects in your communities

now I understand some of you had some

philosophical differences perhaps on

just the concept of government spending

but as I recall opposition was declared

before we had a chance to actually meet

and exchange ideas and I saw that as a

missed opportunity now I am happy to

report this morning that we saw another

sign that our economy is moving in the

right direction

the latest GDP numbers show that our

economy is growing by almost 6% that's

the most since 2003 to put that in

perspective this time last year we

weren't seeing positive job growth we

were seeing the economy shrink by about

6 percent so you've seen a 12 percent

reversal during the course of this year

this turnaround is the biggest in nearly

three decades and it didn't happen myaxx

it happened as economists conservative

and liberal will attest because of some

of the steps that we took and by the way

you mentioned a website out here John if

you want to look at what's going on in

the Recovery Act you can look on

recovery.gov a website by the way that

was Eric Cantor's idea now here's the

point these are serious times and what's

required by all of us Democrats and

Republicans is to do what's right for

our country even if it's not always

what's best for our politics I know it

may be heresy to say this but there are

things more important than good poll

numbers and on this no one can accuse me

of not living by my principles a middle

class is back on its feet an economy

that lifts everybody up an America

that's ascendant in the world that's

more important than winning an election

our future shouldn't be shaped by what's

best for our politics our politics

should be shaped by what's best for our

future

but no matter what's happened in the

past the important thing for all of us

is to move forward together we have some

issues right in front of us on which I

believe we should agree because as

successful as we've been in spurring new

economic growth everybody understands

that job growth has been lagging some of

that's predictable every economist will

say jobs are a lagging indicator but

that's no consolation for the folks who

are out there suffering right now and

since seven million Americans have lost

their jobs in this recession we've got

to do everything we can to accelerate so

today in line with what I stated at the

State of the Union I've proposed a new

jobs tax credit for small business and

here's how it would work employers would

get a tax credit of up to five thousand

dollars for every employee they add in

2010 they'd get a tax break for

increases in wages as well so if you

raise wages for employees making under a

hundred thousand dollars we refund part

of your payroll tax for every dollar you

increase those wages faster than

inflation is a simple concept it's easy

to understand it would cut taxes for

more than 1 million small businesses so

I hope you join me let's get this done I

want to eliminate the capital gains tax

for small business investment and take

some of the bailout money The Wall

Street banks have returned and use it to

help community banks start lending to

small businesses again so join me I am

confident that we can do this together

for the American people and there's

nothing in that proposal that runs

contrary to the ideological

predispositions of this caucus the

question is what's going to keep us from

getting this done I've proposed a modest

fee on the nation's largest banks and

financial institutions to fully recover

for taxpayers money that they provided

to the financial sector when it was

teetering on the brink of collapse and

it's designed to discourage them from

taking reckless risks in the future if

you listen to the American people John

they'll tell you they want

money bank let's do this together

Republicans and Democrats I've proposed

that we close tax loopholes that reward

companies for shipping American jobs

overseas and instead give companies

greater incentive to create jobs right

here at home right right here at home

surely that's something that we can do

together Republicans and Democrats we

know that we've got a major fiscal

challenge in reining in deficits that

have been growing for a decade and

threaten our future that's why I've

proposed a three-year freeze in

discretionary spending other than what

we need for national security that's

something we should do together that's

consistent with a lot of the talk both

in Democratic caucuses and Republican

caucuses

we can't blink when it's time to

actually do the job at this point we

know that the budget surpluses of the

90s occurred in part because of the pave

as you go along which said that well you

should pay as you go and live within our

means just like families do every day

twenty four of you voted for that and I

appreciate it and we're able to pass it

in the Senate yesterday but the idea of

a bipartisan fiscal commission to

confront the deficits in the long term

died in the Senate the other day so I'm

going to establish such a commission by

executive order and I hope that you

participate fully and genuinely in that

effort because if we're going to

actually deal with our deficit and debt

everybody here knows that we're going to

have to do it together Republican and

Democrat no single party is going to

make the tough choices involved on its

own it's going to require all of us

doing what's right for the American

people and as I said in the State of the

Union speech there's not just a deficit

dollars in Washington there's a deficit

of trust so I hope you'll support my

proposal to make all congressional

earmarks public before they come to a

vote and let's require lobbyists who

exercise such influence to publicly

disclose all their contacts on behalf of

their clients

they are contacts with my administration

or contacts with Congress let's do the

people's business in the bright light of

day together Republicans and Democrats I

know how bitter and contentious the

issue of health insurance reform has

become and I will eat early look at the

ideas and better solutions on the health

care front if anyone here truly believes

our health insurance system is working

well for people I respect your right to

say so but I just don't agree and

neither would millions of Americans with

pre-existing conditions who can't get

coverage today or find out that they

lose their insurance just as they're

getting seriously ill that's exactly

when you need insurance and for too many

people they're not getting it I don't

think a war systems working when small

businesses are gouged and 15,000

Americans are losing coverage every

single day when premiums have doubled

and out-of-pocket costs have exploded

and they're poised to do so ago do so

again I mean to be fair the status quo

is working for the insurance industry

but it's not working for the American

people it's not working for our federal

budget it needs to change this is a big

problem and all of us are called on to

solve it and that's why from the start I

sought out and supported ideas from the

Republicans I even talked about an issue

that has been a holy grail for a lot of

you which was tort reform and said that

I'd be willing to work together as part

of a comprehensive package to deal with

I just didn't get a lot of nibbles

creating a high-risk pool for uninsured

folks with pre-existing conditions that

wasn't my idea was Senator McCain's and

I supported it and it got incorporated

into our approach allowing insurance

companies to sell coverage across state

lines to add choice in competition and

bring down costs for businesses and

consumers that's an idea that some of

you I suspect included in this better

solution so that's an idea that was

incorporated into our package

I supportive provided that we do it

hand-in-hand with broader reforms that

protect benefits and protect patients

and protect the American people a number

of you have suggested creating pools

where self-employed and small businesses

could buy insurance that was a good idea

I embraced it some of you supported

efforts to provide insurance to children

let kids remain covered on their

parent's insurance until they're 25 or

26 I supported that that's part of our

package I supported a number of other

ideas from incentivizing wellness to

creating an affordable catastrophic

insurance option for young people that

came from Republicans like Mike Enzi and

Olympia Snowe in the Senate and I'm sure

from some of you as well so when you say

I ought to be willing to accept

Republican ideas on health care let's be

clear I have bipartisanship not for its

own sake but to solve problems that's

what our constituents the American

people need from us right now all of us

then have a choice to make we have to

choose whether we're going to be

politicians first there partners for

progress whether we're going to put

success at the polls ahead of the

lasting success we can achieve together

for America just think about it for a

while we don't have to put it up for a

vote today let me close by saying this I

was not elected by Democrats or

Republicans but by the American people

that's especially true because the

fastest-growing group of Americans are

independents that should tell us both

something I'm ready and eager to work

with anyone who is willing to proceed in

the spirit of goodwill but understand if

we can't break free from partisan

gridlock if we can't move past a

politics of know if resistant supplants

constructive debate I still have to meet

my responsibilities as president I've

got to act for the greater good because

that too is a commitment that I have

made and that's that too is what the

American people sent me to Washington to

do so I am optimistic I know many of you

individually

and the irony I think of our political

climate right now is that compared to

other countries the differences between

the two major parties on most issues is

not as big as its representative but

we've gotten caught up in the political

game in a way that's just not healthy

it's dividing our country in ways that

are preventing us from meeting the

challenges of the 21st century I'm

hopeful that the conversation we have

today

can help reverse that so thank you very

much thank you

[Applause]

the