    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 14, 2007]
    [Pages 1544-1546]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 14, 2007

        The President. Good morning. I just finished meeting with members of
    my Cabinet. I am proud of this team. I appreciate their service to the
    country. We discussed the priorities that we're working on to meet the
    needs of the American people. We're talking about the business that
    remains on Capitol Hill.
        I want to thank the Senate and congratulate the Senate for passing a
    good energy bill, and now the House must act. Congress also must move
    quickly to pass legislation to protect middle class families from the
    burden of the Alternative Minimum Tax, without raising taxes. And
    Congress must pass legislation to ensure our intelligence professionals
    can continue to effectively monitor terrorist communications.
        And Congress must move forward with spending legislation to fund the
    day-to-day operations of the Federal Government so

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    that the Cabinet Departments can provide essential services for the
    American people.
        Because Congress did not pass any spending bills by the end of the
    fiscal year--with the exception of one--many essential services are now
    being funded under what's called a continuing resolution. This is a bill
    that keeps the Federal Government running on a temporary basis while
    lawmakers work out their differences.
        In recent days, lawmakers have made some important progress in
    working out such differences. I'm pleased to hear that they are close to
    reaching agreement on a budget. There are a lot of details left to be
    worked out, and I hope they will pass a bill that is fiscally
    responsible and does not raise taxes. I also understand that Congress
    may provide a downpayment on the war funding I requested, without
    artificial timetables for withdrawal.
        These are encouraging signs. Unfortunately, Members of Congress have
    not been able to complete their work by today, when the current
    continuing resolution expires. So last night Congress passed another
    continuing resolution that will fund the Government for one more week,
    and I just signed the resolution.
        I hope Congress will use the additional time productively. I urge
    them to pass a clean spending package that meets the reasonable spending
    levels I have put forward, without gimmicks, without policy riders that
    could not be enacted in the ordinary legislative process, and with much-
    needed funding for our troops in combat.
        It would be disappointing if Members of Congress did not finish
    their work by the holidays. But if they don't, they should not carry the
    unfinished business of 2007 into the new year. Instead, they should pass
    a 1-year continuing resolution that does not include wasteful spending
    or higher taxes. And they must ensure that our troops on the frontlines
    have the funds and resources they need to prevail.
        I'll take a couple of questions. Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated
    Press].

    Major League Baseball

        Q. Mr. President, on the Mitchell report, sir, do you think that the
    baseball players actually mentioned in the report should be punished?
        The President. A couple of reactions to the Mitchell report, as you know, I'm a baseball fan. I love the
    sport; I love the game. Like many fans, I've been troubled by the
    steroid allegations. I think it's best that all of us not jump to any
    conclusions on individual player's name, but we can jump to this
    conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game, and players and the
    owners must take the Mitchell report seriously. I'm confident they will.
        And my hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era
    of baseball behind us. You know, I--in the State of the Union a couple
    of years ago, I addressed the issue of steroids, and the reason I did so
    is because I understand the impact that professional athletes can have
    on our Nation's youth. And I just urge our--those in the public
    spotlight, particularly athletes, to understand that when they violate
    their bodies, they're sending a terrible signal to America's young.
        Toby [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters].

    North Korea

        Q. Mr. President, what was Kim Jong Il's message to you in response
    to your letter to him? And what was--what is your response to him?
        The President. Well, first, I'm--you know, I got his attention with
    a letter, and he can get my attention by fully
    disclosing his programs, including any plutonium he may have processed
    and converted that into whatever he's used it for. We just need to know.
        As well, he can get our attention by fully
    disclosing his proliferation activities. We have laid out a way forward.
    And I say ``we'': There's four other countries that have joined us;
    we've got what's called the six-party talks. And the five of us agree
    that there's a way forward for the--Kim

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    Jong Il, and an important step is a full declaration of programs,
    materials that may have been developed to create weapons, as well as the
    proliferation activities of the regime.
        Thank you very much.
        Q. Oh, don't stop now.
        The President. I had a--well, I've got freezing Cabinet members out
    here. [Laughter] They're whispering; you can't hear their whispers.
    [Laughter] I can just feel their vibe saying: ``I'm envious. They're all
    wearing these expensive coats, and here we are.'' [Laughter]
        I hope you enjoyed the holiday bash as much as I did. I noticed some
    of the silverware is missing. [Laughter] We'll be taking a full
    inventory. [Laughter] Happy holidays.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:32 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman Kim Jong Il of North
    Korea. He also referred to H.J. Res. 69, which was assigned Public Law
    No. 110-137. A reporter referred to former Sen. George J. Mitchell,
    author of a report to the commissioner of baseball on the use of illegal
    performance-enhancing substances in Major League Baseball.