Excerpts from the Press Gaggle by Ari Fleischer, April 28, 2003 (Full Transcript)

QUESTION: On tax cuts, the Chairman of the Finance Committee said yesterday he might be able to get it up to $425 billion or $450 billion, but that that would require offsets or spending cuts. Would the President back offsets which amount to tax increases by another name in order to get it up to that kind of range?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, first of all, we're pleased to see a willingness from the various parties on the Hill to come together so that the economy can grow and jobs get created. We will continue to work with the Congress on the exact details of it.

You know, the President's budget, for example, had some $11 million over 10 years in areas that raised revenues. So I think it really comes down to the nature of the specific proposal. And we'll work with Congress to see what they come up with.

QUESTION: Would he support including in any tax package the expanded business depreciation proposal that's being talked about if it came at the cost of scaling back, in particular, the dividend tax exclusion?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President continues to support, and will fight for, a 100 percent dividend exclusion, not scaled back.

QUESTION: I've got to clarify. I need to ask, the President still wants to see the full dividend exclusion. That's what you said?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President continues to support and will fight for a 100 percent dividend exclusion.

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