W.H.: If GOP Defended the Middle Class as Big Oil, Jobs Numbers Would Be Even Better

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
KNOLLER: "Yesterday, we barely needed an egg timer to listen to the Republican leadership that said the oil deal was doa. Does that mean the administration is standing by the proposal?"
EARNEST: "Absolutely."
KNOLLER: "You are the leadership position?"
EARNEST: "It will be hard to do if they don’t even meet with the budget director because this is included in our budget. If Republicans are scared of that debate, it’s something you’ll have to ask them about. It’s a position we were continue to advocate. It’s in the best interest of our economy. When you consider the need to transition to a low carbon economy of the future and the need to do that in the fiscally responsible way, that’s exactly what we are laying out. We would welcome additional ideas from Republicans. If they say they have a better and more fiscally responsible way to make the investment needed in modernizing our infrastructure, we’re happy to consider their ideas. This is an idea we think is good that we are putting on the table. No, I don’t think anybody was surprised about the fact that the Republican party, Republicans in Congress, are eager to lead to the defense of the oil industry. If only they share that passion for defending the middle class, our job numbers would look better than they already do."