President Obama!
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realbrown1
Annoy a liberal today. Hit them with facts.
What's so loaded about those questions?
Since you made that accusation.
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John Boehner Wants to Sue President Obama for Being Presidenthttp://aattp.org/john-boehner-wants-to-sue-president-obama-for-being-president/
Boehner and other wingnuts feel that President Obama is using executive powers to sidestep the legislative process to perform such atrocious actions as adjust the minimum wage for federal employees and employees of federal contractors, ease student loan debt, and prevent discrimination against the LGBT community.
While Republicans tout his 180 issuances of executive orders as proof of corruption, they ignore that George W. Bush issued nearly 300 during his Presidency. Ronald Reagan issued 381 executive orders. In fact, so far, President Obama has issued fewer executive orders than any President since the Carter administration, with the exception of George H.W. Bush.
“President Obama issues an executive order, on average, about every 11 days. President George W. Bush issued them every 10 days. President Reagan issued about one a week. President Carter issued more than one every five days,” John Hudak, a Brookings fellow in governance studies, explained.
Boehner and other wingnuts feel that President Obama is using executive powers to sidestep the legislative process to perform such atrocious actions as adjust the minimum wage for federal employees and employees of federal contractors, ease student loan debt, and prevent discrimination against the LGBT community.
While Republicans tout his 180 issuances of executive orders as proof of corruption, they ignore that George W. Bush issued nearly 300 during his Presidency. Ronald Reagan issued 381 executive orders. In fact, so far, President Obama has issued fewer executive orders than any President since the Carter administration, with the exception of George H.W. Bush.
“President Obama issues an executive order, on average, about every 11 days. President George W. Bush issued them every 10 days. President Reagan issued about one a week. President Carter issued more than one every five days,” John Hudak, a Brookings fellow in governance studies, explained.
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A LONG List Of President Obama’s Accomplishments (With Citations)
What follows is a PARTIAL list of Obama’s accomplishments so far. Unlike many such lists, there is a link to a citation supporting every single one.
Legislative Prowess.
Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%.
Fiscal Responsibility.
Within days after taking office, Obama signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse.
Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money.
On his first full day, he froze White House salaries.
He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.
He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Actto stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system.
Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression.
Obama pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package,” despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act.
In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%.
Obama completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs.
He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan.
Obama oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years.
He oversaw a bailout of General Motors that saved at least 1.4 million jobs, and put pressure on the company to change its practices, resulting in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world.
Obama also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency.
He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown.
Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.
He increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect.
Obama signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market.
Through the Worker, Home Ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, Obama and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.
He initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
Obama created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.)
He played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.
Obama took steps to improve minority access to capital.
He created a $60 billion bank to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges.
He implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Obama saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost.
Obama dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby moving forward to cut ties between energy companies and the government.
He provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.
He used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan.
Obama crafted an Executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection.
Obama ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money.
He pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression.
Dodd-Frank also included the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Obama made it so that banks could no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests.
He supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation.
Obama wholly endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes.
He made a deal with Swiss banks that permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders.
He established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.
Obama oversaw and then signed the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.
What follows is a PARTIAL list of Obama’s accomplishments so far. Unlike many such lists, there is a link to a citation supporting every single one.
Legislative Prowess.
Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%.
Fiscal Responsibility.
Within days after taking office, Obama signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse.
Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money.
On his first full day, he froze White House salaries.
He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.
He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Actto stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system.
Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression.
Obama pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package,” despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act.
In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%.
Obama completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs.
He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan.
Obama oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years.
He oversaw a bailout of General Motors that saved at least 1.4 million jobs, and put pressure on the company to change its practices, resulting in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world.
Obama also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency.
He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown.
Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.
He increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect.
Obama signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market.
Through the Worker, Home Ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, Obama and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.
He initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
Obama created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.)
He played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.
Obama took steps to improve minority access to capital.
He created a $60 billion bank to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges.
He implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Obama saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost.
Obama dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby moving forward to cut ties between energy companies and the government.
He provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.
He used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan.
Obama crafted an Executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection.
Obama ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money.
He pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression.
Dodd-Frank also included the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Obama made it so that banks could no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests.
He supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation.
Obama wholly endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes.
He made a deal with Swiss banks that permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders.
He established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.
Obama oversaw and then signed the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.
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Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination.
Obama advocated for and signed theMatthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
He pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.
Obama appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
Helped Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act.
He extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Obama has appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history.
He issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other.
He established a White House Council on Women and Girls
He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.
Obama wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families.
He expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
Under Obama’s watch, National Labor Relations Board has issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011.
Fighting Poverty.
Obama provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps).
He signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs.
Improved Foreign Relations and American Status Abroad.
Obama visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office.
As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.
He did much to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the planet.
He re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues.
Closed a number of secret detention facilities.
Obama improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys.
He pushed for military to emphasize development of foreign language skills.
Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.
He refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program.
He worked to make donations to Haiti tax-deductible in 2009.
He established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia.
He established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them.
He ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and a smattering of Democrats) who prevented him from following through.
Obama ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual.
He ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.
He released the Bush torture memos.
On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them.
Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program.
Ended the Iraq War.
He authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates.
Obama advocated for and signed theMatthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
He pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.
Obama appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
Helped Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act.
He extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Obama has appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history.
He issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other.
He established a White House Council on Women and Girls
He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.
Obama wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families.
He expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
Under Obama’s watch, National Labor Relations Board has issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011.
Fighting Poverty.
Obama provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps).
He signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs.
Improved Foreign Relations and American Status Abroad.
Obama visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office.
As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.
He did much to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the planet.
He re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues.
Closed a number of secret detention facilities.
Obama improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys.
He pushed for military to emphasize development of foreign language skills.
Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.
He refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program.
He worked to make donations to Haiti tax-deductible in 2009.
He established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia.
He established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them.
He ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and a smattering of Democrats) who prevented him from following through.
Obama ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual.
He ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.
He released the Bush torture memos.
On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them.
Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program.
Ended the Iraq War.
He authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates.
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Better Approach to “Defense.”
Obama created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat.
He authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010.
He restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush.
He signed and pushed to ratification a new SALT Treaty.
Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will last until at least 2021.
Through the Defense Authorization Act, he reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq.
He developed the first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
He returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops.
Fulfilled campaign promise and ended our involvement in Iraq, and will complete full troop withdrawal before Christmas 2011.
He took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world.
He negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India.
He took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple a despotic government and determine their own fate.
Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Respect
He made sure that families of fallen soldiers could be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB, by providing funding for it. He also ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers.
He funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services.
He provided the troops with better body armor.
Created the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care.
He put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one).
He supported and signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans.
He ushered through the largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs for improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.
He created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs.
He oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals.
Obama created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat.
He authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010.
He restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush.
He signed and pushed to ratification a new SALT Treaty.
Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will last until at least 2021.
Through the Defense Authorization Act, he reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq.
He developed the first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
He returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops.
Fulfilled campaign promise and ended our involvement in Iraq, and will complete full troop withdrawal before Christmas 2011.
He took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world.
He negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India.
He took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple a despotic government and determine their own fate.
Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Respect
He made sure that families of fallen soldiers could be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB, by providing funding for it. He also ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers.
He funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services.
He provided the troops with better body armor.
Created the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care.
He put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one).
He supported and signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans.
He ushered through the largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs for improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.
He created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs.
He oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals.
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Education.
He has repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process.
Completely reformed the student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. This includes a major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide , as well as an expansion in school construction.
Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start.
Signed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0
He oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low-income students to go to college.
He passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds.
Greater Transparency and Better Government.
He signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch.
He signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years. He also put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House.
He held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public.
The Obama White House became the first to stream every White House event, live.
He established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.
He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history.
He crafted an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. This will provide the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
He improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent in the processing of FOIA requests.
National Safety and Security.
He’s restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully.
Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast.
Has repeatedly beefed up border security
Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
He has repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process.
Completely reformed the student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. This includes a major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide , as well as an expansion in school construction.
Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start.
Signed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0
He oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low-income students to go to college.
He passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds.
Greater Transparency and Better Government.
He signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch.
He signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years. He also put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House.
He held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public.
The Obama White House became the first to stream every White House event, live.
He established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.
He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history.
He crafted an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. This will provide the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
He improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent in the processing of FOIA requests.
National Safety and Security.
He’s restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully.
Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast.
Has repeatedly beefed up border security
Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
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Science, Technology and Health Care.
He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects.
He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs.
He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
He expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.
His EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics.
Conducted a cyberspace policy review.
Provided financial support for private sector space programs.
He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use.
He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs.
He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs.
He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price.
Two weeks after taking office, he signed theChildren’s Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million.
He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months.
Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26.
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance.
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care.
Provisions in Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Last year’s increase was 4%. Compare that to the average 12% annual inflation rate during the previous 40 years.
Strengthening the Middle Class and Families
Obama worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families.
He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families.
Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they’ve been since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years.
He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times.
He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects.
He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs.
He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
He expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.
His EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics.
Conducted a cyberspace policy review.
Provided financial support for private sector space programs.
He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use.
He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs.
He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs.
He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price.
Two weeks after taking office, he signed theChildren’s Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million.
He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months.
Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26.
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance.
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care.
Provisions in Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Last year’s increase was 4%. Compare that to the average 12% annual inflation rate during the previous 40 years.
Strengthening the Middle Class and Families
Obama worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families.
He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families.
Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they’ve been since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years.
He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times.
728ups
All Trash No Trailer
Environment and Energy.
He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards.
He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade.
He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies.
His EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history.
He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances.
He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers.
Obama bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions.
His EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant.
He doubled federal spending on clean energy research.
He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars.
He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
Obama reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush-era stance that climate change was a “hoax.”
He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption.
Following Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic.
Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars.
Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy
Obama oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
He also actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills.
He initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Through Obama’s EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.
He strengthened the Endangered Species Act.
His EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year.
Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans.
Obama increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10%
He announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards.
He announced the development of a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025
Other Stuff.
Obama has expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA.
He oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations.
Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices.
He appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president.
He eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and he rescinded the global gag rule.
Obama loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference.
His FDA banned the use of antibiotics in livestock production.
Obama ushered through and signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program.
He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards.
He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade.
He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies.
His EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history.
He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances.
He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers.
Obama bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions.
His EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant.
He doubled federal spending on clean energy research.
He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars.
He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
Obama reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush-era stance that climate change was a “hoax.”
He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption.
Following Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic.
Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars.
Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy
Obama oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
He also actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills.
He initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Through Obama’s EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.
He strengthened the Endangered Species Act.
His EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year.
Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans.
Obama increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10%
He announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards.
He announced the development of a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025
Other Stuff.
Obama has expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA.
He oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations.
Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices.
He appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president.
He eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and he rescinded the global gag rule.
Obama loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference.
His FDA banned the use of antibiotics in livestock production.
Obama ushered through and signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program.
moreluck
golden ticket member
Via College Insurrection
Another university has fallen victim to Obamacare.
This time, it is its students who will suffer most.
University of South Carolina’s board of trustees has hiked tuition for the upcoming school year to help shoulder new health care and Obamacare implementation costs, expenses they say the public university can’t afford.
The increase of 3.2 percent – about $342 per student – will pay for state-mandated employee pay raises, health and retirement benefits, and Affordable Care Act implementation, campus leaders say.
Implementing Obamacare is estimated to cost the state’s flagship university up to $4.5 million.
Another university has fallen victim to Obamacare.
This time, it is its students who will suffer most.
University of South Carolina’s board of trustees has hiked tuition for the upcoming school year to help shoulder new health care and Obamacare implementation costs, expenses they say the public university can’t afford.
The increase of 3.2 percent – about $342 per student – will pay for state-mandated employee pay raises, health and retirement benefits, and Affordable Care Act implementation, campus leaders say.
Implementing Obamacare is estimated to cost the state’s flagship university up to $4.5 million.
realbrown1
Annoy a liberal today. Hit them with facts.
Wow. Interesting facts there.
Too bad DriveInDriveOut disagrees with facts.
realbrown1
Annoy a liberal today. Hit them with facts.
This is from the link that oldngray posted.
For all those too lazy to click on the link.
For all those too lazy to click on the link.
- First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner.
- First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in.
- First President to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States.
- First President to violate the War Powers Act.
- First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
- First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.
- First President to spend a trillion dollars on “shovel-ready” jobs when there was no such thing as “shovel-ready” jobs.
- First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
- First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.
- First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S., including those with criminal convictions.
- First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.
- First President to tell a CEO of a major corporation (Chrysler) to resign.
- First President to terminate America’s ability to put a man in space.
- First President to cancel the National Day of Prayer and to say that America is no longer a Christian nation.
- First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.
- First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.
- First President to threaten insurance companies if they publicly spoke out on the reasons for their rate increases.
- First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory.
- First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
- First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.
- First President to actively try to bankrupt an American industry (coal).
- First President to fire an inspector general of AmeriCorps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.
- First President to appoint 45 czars to replace elected officials in his office.
- First President to surround himself with radical left wing anarchists.
- First President to golf more than 150 separate times in his five years in office.
- First President to hide his birth, medical, educational and travel records.
- First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.
- First President to go on multiple “global apology tours” and concurrent “insult our friends” tours.
- First President to go on over 17 lavish vacations, in addition to date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends paid for by the taxpayers.
- First President to have personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.
- First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense.
- First President to fly in a personal trainer from Chicago at least once a week at taxpayer expense.
- First President to repeat the Holy Quran and tell us the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth
- First President to side with a foreign nation over one of the American 50 states (Mexico vs Arizona).
- First President to tell the military men and women that they should pay for their own private insurance because they “volunteered to go to war and knew the consequences.”
- Then he was the First President to tell the members of the military that THEY were UNPATRIOTIC for balking at the last suggestion. (Thank God he didn’t get away with THIS one.)
realbrown1
Annoy a liberal today. Hit them with facts.
I know I am right everytime the liberals put that "OLD" symbol under my posts because they have no good responses to post.
moreluck
golden ticket member
That particular one just marks all stuff 'old'...whether he reads it or not. I had 24 alerts overnight.....they were all "old" and all from him. He has no comeback in words, so he just marks everything that isn't liberal as 'old'.....brilliant!!!
DriveInDriveOut
Inordinately Right
I disagree with the headline of the article you clearly didn't read.
Here is the headline:
U. South Carolina Increases Tuition To Pay For Employees' Obamacare
Here is a section of the article:
The increase of 3.2 percent – about $342 per student – will pay for state-mandated employee pay raises, health and retirement benefits, and Affordable Care Act implementation, campus leaders say.
Notice anything missing from the headline?
College tuition has been going up every year for years, luckily we can just blame Obamacare now.
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