>> on the -- on that, the clinton economic team, the obama economic team, we respect them both, so we do not comment on whether we supported or not. and we think that is a hallmark of our system. we, as an economic team, often talk to the federal reserve and to the chairman about policy issues. i meet with him once a month. tim geithner meet with him more often than that. he does come in and we have small meetings with him on the president. i think what we try to do is make sure we are using their expertise, make sure we are consulting with them on issues like housing, make sure that the chairman has a chance to speak to the president to tell him his views. but on the other hand, always make sure that we keep the line clear that they are independent and that we are not seeking to influence them in any way. >> what about the so-called belen chinese tariffs? with the president veto that bill or signing it becomes in its current form? -- or sign it if it comes in its current form? >> i think we share the aspiration of that bill to try to create a more level playing field between us and c

>> on the -- on that, the clinton economic team, the obama economic team, we respect them both, so weo not comment on whether we supported or not. and we think that is a hallmark of our system. we, as an economic team, often talk to the federal reserve and to the chairman about policy issues. i meet with him once a month. tim geithner meet with him more often than that. he does come in and we have small meetings with him on the president. i think what we try to do is make sure we are using their expertise, make sure we are consulting with them on issues like housing, make sure that the chairman has a chance to speak to the president to tell him his views. but on the other hand, always make sure that we keep the line clear that they are independent and that we are not seeking to influence them in any way. >> what about the so-called belen chinese tariffs? with the president veto that bill or signing it becomes in its current form? -- or sign it if it comes in its current form? >> i think we share the aspiration of that bill to try to create a more level playing field between us and chi

>> on the -- on that, the clinton economic team, the obama economic team, we respect them both, so we do not comment on whether we supported or not. and we think that is a hallmark of our system. we, as an economic team, often talk to the federal reserve and to the chairman about policy issues. i meet with him once a month. tim geithner meet with him more often than that. he does come in and we have small meetings with him on the president. i think what we try to do is make sure we are using their expertise, make sure we are consulting with them on issues like housing, make sure that the chairman has a chance to speak to the president to tell him his views. but on the other hand, always make sure that we keep the line clear that they are independent and that we are not seeking to influence them in any way. >> what about the so-called belen chinese tariffs? with the president veto that bill or signing it becomes in its current form? -- or sign it if it comes in its current form? >> i think we share the aspiration of that bill to try to create a more level playing field between us and c

>> on the -- on that, the clinton economic team, the obama economic team, we respect them both, so we do not comment on whether we supported or not. and we think that is a hallmark of our system. we, as an economic team, often talk to the federal reserve and to the chairman about policy issues. i meet with him once a month. tim geithner meet with him more often than that. he does come in and we have small meetings with him on the president. i think what we try to do is make sure we are using their expertise, make sure we are consulting with them on issues like housing, make sure that the chairman has a chance to speak to the president to tell him his views. but on the other hand, always make sure that we keep the line clear that they are independent and that we are not seeking to influence them in any way. >> what about the so-called belen chinese tariffs? with the president veto that bill or signing it becomes in its current form? -- or sign it if it comes in its current form? >> i think we share the aspiration of that bill to try to create a more level playing field between us and c

clinton's economic team. it was an extraordinary experience for all of us, to be able to work under president clinton's leadership, to do so much good for theican people. and that was an opportunity, mr. president, which i will always be grateful. thank you very much. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage the honorable john podesta, the honorable laura tyson, the honorable bruce reed, the honorable thurgood marshall, jr., the honorable marcher goggles, and the honorable alan blinder. [applause] >> good afternoon. i think my mic is working. it is. and bob did a tremendous job of setting the table, but several of us were down in little rock a couple weeks ago to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the announcement of governor clinton's campaign for the presidency. and i read this speech going down there, and it was eerily relevant to today. and i just wanted to add a bit to what bob said ntu a sense of what president clinton was come into when he came into office. the country was facing what within the biggest budget deficits in history, may be facing small by comparison to today, the economy was weak, unemployment was

clinton said, i created this, this is wonderful. [laughter] and so we were really surprised and you know my belief is that most of the members of the economic team strongly supported it. they got it, and like every white house there is a small cabal of people that surround the president that he trusts and works with and i believe it was the chicago guys, the political team that convinced him that it would be smarter for him to wait and let paul ryan go first and he would be the essential kind again. we then expected in his state of the union when he did the stimulus that would be a great time to say not only we are going to do this to get the economy moving forward but we have to do it within a context of long-term fiscal reform and responsibility, and he didn't. we then were sure was going to be in the state of the union and get your member in the in the state of the union he talked about the real need for this country to invest in education and infrastructure and high value-added research to be able to compete in a knowledge-based global economy. he left off the park, we have to do it in a fiscally responsible way. we live in a world of limite

clinton was like, this is wonderful. all my idea. and so we were really surprised. and you know, my belief is that most of the members of the economic team strongly supported it, they got it. and like every white house there's a small cabal of people that surround the president that he trusts and works with, and i believe it was those chicago guys, the political team, that convinced him that it would be smarter for him to wait and let paul ryan go first and then he'd look like the sensible guy in the game. we then expected before the state of the union that when he did the stimulus, that that would be a great time to say, not only, look, we're going to do this to get the economy moving forward but we have to do it for the context of long-term fiscal reform and responsibility. and he didn't. so we then were sure it was going to be in the state of the union. again if you remember the state of the union, he talked about the real need for this country to invest in education and infrastructure and high val added research to be able to compete in a knowledge based global economy. he's right about that. but he left off the part where we have to