The Obama administration has reported that the federal stimulus program is responsible for the creation of 650,000 jobs and that the program is on track to create 3.5 million jobs by the end of two years.
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has spent his 5 year career in the Senate doing everything within his power to obstruct bills that he feels are detrimental to America and health care is no exception.
The large federal deficit could make it difficult for Democrats to gain offices so a bipartisan committee is being created that will be dedicated to shrinking the deficit.
President Barack Obama was successful in cutting back military spending on new weapons systems when he signed a $680 billion military policy bill Wednesday.
The Obama administration has reported that the federal stimulus program is responsible for the creation of 650,000 jobs and that the program is on track to create 3.5 million jobs by the end of two years.
2
Dr. No
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has spent his 5 year career in the Senate doing everything within his power to obstruct bills that he feels are detrimental to America and health care is no exception.
3
New Health Care Legislation
Democrats in the House of Representatives revealed new health care Legislation on Thursday.
4
Deficit Cutting Committee
The large federal deficit could make it difficult for Democrats to gain offices so a bipartisan committee is being created that will be dedicated to shrinking the deficit.
5
Scozzafava Bows Out
Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race for an upstate New York Congressional seat citing a lack of support.
6
New Health Bill Unveiled
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a revamped health care package to the House of Representatives Thursday.
7
Obama Victorious Over Military
President Barack Obama was successful in cutting back military spending on new weapons systems when he signed a $680 billion military policy bill Wednesday.
Aided troubled motor vehicle industry by renewing loans to Chrysler Corporation and General Motors
Arranged the terms of both corporations bankruptcies, helped negotiate sale of Chrysler Corporation, and arranged for the government to temporarily gain 60% equity stake in General Motors during reorganization
Claimed federal stimulus package responsible for roughly 650,000 American jobs
Key fed funds rate which affects borrowing across entire economy hits 40 year low of 2.0 percent.
Dow surpasses symbolic 10000 mark for first time in over a year following 7-month 53% surge
Signed $787 billion economic stimulus package that was 60% government spending and 40% tax cuts
Reportedly plans to use TARP money to create a public-private investment partnership that would purchase troubled assets from banks
If the largest banks fail to raise a government-determined amount of capital in six months, the government will provide the capital by purchasing preferred shares in the banks
Announced a new mortgage relief plan with government financing of reduced monthly rates for some homeowners and easier preconditions for refinancing
Will create a task force to decide whether GM and Chrysler should receive government aid
Proposed to retain employer-based insurance system, but mandate that large and mid-sized employers offer health care or pay into a public plan
Supported mandating that all children, but not all adults, receive health insurance
For adults without employer-based insurance, proposed to create a National Health Insurance Exchange with competition between regulated private plans and a new public plan
Proposed new public plan would have subsidized premiums for people making less than 4 times the poverty level
Supported mandating that all private plans must guarantee eligibility for everyone, and that those with pre-existing conditions should not pay higher rates
Proposed to control costs with information technology, preventive care, and government absorption of some catastrophic insurance costs
Sent budget plan to Congress, which included redistributing $1 trillion from the upper to the lower class in order to give tax cuts to the poor, increase college loans, and revamp the health care system
Proposed making this years $3.5 million estate tax permanent
Eliminated capital gains for new investments in small businesses beginning in 2014
28% limit on itemized deductions, affecting couples who earn more than $250,000
Released a budget plan to cut the deficit from over $1 trillion to about $500 million by 2013
Signed economic stimulus bill containing $301 billion in tax cuts, including a $400 tax cut for any worker making less than $75,000 per year
Will raise revenue by allowing the Bush tax cuts on upper-income earners to expire after 2010, keeping the estate tax at 2009 levels, and increasing IRS pursuit of tax shelters and loopholes
Will cut spending on the war in Iraq and Medicare Advantage payments to insurance companies
Proposed tax cuts for low- and middle- income earners and many other specific groups, including a $500 tax cut for individual workers
Supported income, payroll, and capital gains tax increases for upper-income earners making more than $250K/year, and supported repealing the Bush tax cuts for those upper-income earners
Did not pledge to balance the budget, but planned to eliminate some wasteful spending while increasing spending on healthcare, energy, and the military
Pledged 5-minute tax filing for all taxpayers who do not itemize.
Delivers speech to AIPAC in which he dissolves all fears of being pro-Palestinian and fully embraces Israel
Charles Freeman forced to withdraw his nomination to run for the National Intelligence Council due to opposition from pro-Israel lobbyists
On eve of address to Muslim world in Cairo, young Israelis are videotaped in the streets of Jerusalem speaking about the President in vile racist tones
According to a report by the US State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence Iran will not be able to produce enough highly enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon until 2013
Obama has not listed immigration reform among his top domestic priorities, and has not yet taken any actions to push immigration reform
Remains rhetorically committed to a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants here now
His Homeland Security Secretary, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, will oversee policy toward illegal immigration
Napolitano has been skeptical about the effectiveness of a border fence, and instead supports increasing Border Patrol personnel and improving technology
Wanted to create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants here now who meet certain conditions
Supported increased border security, including some fencing
Had mixed feelings about guest worker programs, previously supported a compromise including such a program but said he preferred giving immigrants labor protections
Supported increasing penalties on employers hiring illegal immigrants
Opposed increasing job-based immigration at the expense of family reunification
Passed bill which curbs the output of greenhouse emissions and puts tariffs on imports from countries who do not follow suit
Bill utilizes “cap and trade” system
Proposed energy bill which will add $9 trillion to energy costs by 2050
Official budget claims that proposed energy tax would add upward of $646 billion over the first 8 years
Named energy as one of three areas "critical to our economic future" for which he will propose large increased spending, and pledges to address energy this year
Proposed a budget that would allot billions toward renewables and energy efficiency in both research and implementation
The budget would also make coal and oil more expensive by increasing taxes on oil companies and creating a "cap and trade" system for carbon emissions
The budget would invest in clean coal research and biomass research, but says little about expanding nuclear energy
Signed economic stimulus package containing incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency
Named education as one of three areas "critical to our economic future" for which he will propose large increased spending
Proposed grant money to states that develop high-quality early childhood education programs
Supports merit pay for teachers that perform well
Called on states to eliminate caps on the number of charter schools they allow
Index Pell Grant money to inflation, replace subsidized private tuition lending with direct government lending
Economic stimulus bill contained $100 billion of education spending, including funds for state aid, tuition tax credits, Pell Grants, and low-income schools
Has said that he would still like to renegotiate NAFTA to include labor and environmental standards, but has not made this a top priority
Economic stimulus law contains a "Buy American" provision for stimulus funds, but Pres. Obama says it will be enforced in a manner "consistent with international trade obligations."
Plans to overhaul financial market regulations to address systemic risk, increase consumer and investor protection, and eliminate gaps in the regulatory structure
Supports increased capital requirements on institutions that are "too big to fail" and expanded oversight of hedge funds, money market funds, and derivatives markets
Signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which expands the period during which women can file claims of pay discrimination
Has reiterated his support for the Employee Free Choice Act, but said that he will focus on economic recovery first
Has focused on the general economic downturn rather than the concentrated poverty existing prior to the crisis
Economic stimulus package includes billions in increased funding for Medicaid, food stamps, repairs for public housing, energy-efficiency upgrades for low-income homes, and welfare
Retaining the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but has not yet banned federal funding for religious groups that discriminate in hiring
Signed omnibus budget bill containing $7 billion in earmarks, but announced earmark reform guidelines for next year's budget
Those guidelines included online listing of all earmark requests in advance and subjecting private company earmarks to competitive bidding
Instituted new ethics rules that prevent former staffers from lobbying the administration and make current lobbyists wait two years before working for the White House
Has faced criticism for waiving these restrictions for certain nominees
Says new Budget Director Peter Orszag will develop new guidelines for government contracts to strengthen oversight and cut costs
Aided troubled motor vehicle industry by renewing loans to Chrysler Corporation and General Motors
Arranged the terms of both corporations bankruptcies, helped negotiate sale of Chrysler Corporation, and arranged for the government to temporarily gain 60% equity stake in General Motors during reorganization
Claimed federal stimulus package responsible for roughly 650,000 American jobs
Key fed funds rate which affects borrowing across entire economy hits 40 year low of 2.0 percent.
Dow surpasses symbolic 10000 mark for first time in over a year following 7-month 53% surge
Signed $787 billion economic stimulus package that was 60% government spending and 40% tax cuts
Reportedly plans to use TARP money to create a public-private investment partnership that would purchase troubled assets from banks
If the largest banks fail to raise a government-determined amount of capital in six months, the government will provide the capital by purchasing preferred shares in the banks
Announced a new mortgage relief plan with government financing of reduced monthly rates for some homeowners and easier preconditions for refinancing
Will create a task force to decide whether GM and Chrysler should receive government aid
Bills drawn up by Democrats all run the same line of making more people eligible for Medicaid, offering subsidies to help those with moderate-income purchase insurance, and forbid insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions
Democrats heatedly divided over whether or not to include a public option, a government insurance plan designed to compete with existing agencies’ policies in the exchange market
$894 billion house plan would merge a health and finance committee bill to include a public option while avoiding increasing the deficit and giving states the ability to opt-out
Democrats disagree on precisely how coverage should be expanded and made more affordable
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) supports the Obama plan, but would add a mandate that all adults receive coverage once there are "affordable" options for all
Some liberals such as Ted Kennedy support extending Medicare to everyone, but will likely support an Obama or Baucus plan as a compromise
Some moderate Democrats support the Wyden-Bennett plan to end the employer-based system and mandate private insurance for all
Support expanding affordable insurance coverage, but disagree on how it should be done
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) generally supports President Obama's approach, but would add a mandate that all adults receive coverage once there are "affordable" options for all
Some liberals such as Ted Kennedy support extending Medicare to everyone, but will likely support an Obama or Baucus plan as a compromise
Some moderate Democrats support the Wyden-Bennett plan to end the employer-based system and mandate private insurance for all
Sent budget plan to Congress, which included redistributing $1 trillion from the upper to the lower class in order to give tax cuts to the poor, increase college loans, and revamp the health care system
Proposed making this years $3.5 million estate tax permanent
Eliminated capital gains for new investments in small businesses beginning in 2014
28% limit on itemized deductions, affecting couples who earn more than $250,000
Released a budget plan to cut the deficit from over $1 trillion to about $500 million by 2013
Signed economic stimulus bill containing $301 billion in tax cuts, including a $400 tax cut for any worker making less than $75,000 per year
Will raise revenue by allowing the Bush tax cuts on upper-income earners to expire after 2010, keeping the estate tax at 2009 levels, and increasing IRS pursuit of tax shelters and loopholes
Will cut spending on the war in Iraq and Medicare Advantage payments to insurance companies
Supported Pres. Obama's plan to include lower- and middle-class tax cuts in the economic stimulus bill
House leaders want to increase income taxes on the wealthiest earners soon, but Senate leaders may want to wait
Some supported Pres. Bush's initial plan for large tax cuts, but nearly all opposed his second round of tax cuts in 2003
Most oppose repealing the estate tax, though many want to apply it only to the wealthiest estates
Most now support budgets with high federal spending, though a group of "Blue Dog Democrats" expresses concern about the federal budget and entitlement issues
Most support allowing the intelligence agencies to use harsher interrogation techniques than military can
Nearly all supported the FISA compromise that expanded legal methods of wiretapping and gave retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with past warrantless wiretapping
Most support Pres. Obama's plan to deploy 17,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan
Delivers speech to AIPAC in which he dissolves all fears of being pro-Palestinian and fully embraces Israel
Charles Freeman forced to withdraw his nomination to run for the National Intelligence Council due to opposition from pro-Israel lobbyists
On eve of address to Muslim world in Cairo, young Israelis are videotaped in the streets of Jerusalem speaking about the President in vile racist tones
According to a report by the US State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence Iran will not be able to produce enough highly enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon until 2013
Obama has not listed immigration reform among his top domestic priorities, and has not yet taken any actions to push immigration reform
Remains rhetorically committed to a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants here now
His Homeland Security Secretary, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, will oversee policy toward illegal immigration
Napolitano has been skeptical about the effectiveness of a border fence, and instead supports increasing Border Patrol personnel and improving technology
Most oppose creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants here now and call this proposal "amnesty"
But some major Republicans, including Pres. Bush and Sen. McCain, have supported immigration reform bills with a path to citizenship
All agree that "border security" is necessary, and most support building a fence along the southern border
Split on a guest worker program; supporters argue that it will be good for the economy but opponents say the guest workers will end up staying in the U.S. permanently
Most Democrats, including their leaders, support creating a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants here now who meet certain conditions
But a group of Democrats from more conservative states calls this "amnesty" and has opposed immigration reform bills with this provision
Most agree that "border security" is necessary, but only about half supported building a fence along the southern border
Split on a guest worker program; opponents argue that it will create a group of second-class citizens and supporters say that it is an improvement over the current illegal immigration status quo
Passed bill which curbs the output of greenhouse emissions and puts tariffs on imports from countries who do not follow suit
Bill utilizes “cap and trade” system
Proposed energy bill which will add $9 trillion to energy costs by 2050
Official budget claims that proposed energy tax would add upward of $646 billion over the first 8 years
Named energy as one of three areas "critical to our economic future" for which he will propose large increased spending, and pledges to address energy this year
Proposed a budget that would allot billions toward renewables and energy efficiency in both research and implementation
The budget would also make coal and oil more expensive by increasing taxes on oil companies and creating a "cap and trade" system for carbon emissions
The budget would invest in clean coal research and biomass research, but says little about expanding nuclear energy
Signed economic stimulus package containing incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency
Named education as one of three areas "critical to our economic future" for which he will propose large increased spending
Proposed grant money to states that develop high-quality early childhood education programs
Supports merit pay for teachers that perform well
Called on states to eliminate caps on the number of charter schools they allow
Index Pell Grant money to inflation, replace subsidized private tuition lending with direct government lending
Economic stimulus bill contained $100 billion of education spending, including funds for state aid, tuition tax credits, Pell Grants, and low-income schools
Has said that he would still like to renegotiate NAFTA to include labor and environmental standards, but has not made this a top priority
Economic stimulus law contains a "Buy American" provision for stimulus funds, but Pres. Obama says it will be enforced in a manner "consistent with international trade obligations."
Most oppose expanding free trade, and most voted against CAFTA
Democratic leaders have not brought trade agreements with Colombia or South Korea to a vote
However, about half of Congressional Democrats did support a recent free trade agreement with Peru, saying the agreement included appropriate labor and environmental standards
Nearly all supported retaining a "Buy American" provision for stimulus projects, but enforcing it "in a manner consistent with international trade obligations"
Plans to overhaul financial market regulations to address systemic risk, increase consumer and investor protection, and eliminate gaps in the regulatory structure
Supports increased capital requirements on institutions that are "too big to fail" and expanded oversight of hedge funds, money market funds, and derivatives markets
Signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which expands the period during which women can file claims of pay discrimination
Has reiterated his support for the Employee Free Choice Act, but said that he will focus on economic recovery first
Have not yet taken a position on the Obama administration's plans for financial market regulatory reform
Most voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and opposed expanding the period during which women can file claims of pay discrimination
Nearly every Republican opposes the Employee Free Choice Act that would allow union organizing through signature collection rather than a secret ballot
They argue that EFCA would would take away workers' rights to a secret ballot in forming a union
Has focused on the general economic downturn rather than the concentrated poverty existing prior to the crisis
Economic stimulus package includes billions in increased funding for Medicaid, food stamps, repairs for public housing, energy-efficiency upgrades for low-income homes, and welfare
Retaining the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but has not yet banned federal funding for religious groups that discriminate in hiring
Signed omnibus budget bill containing $7 billion in earmarks, but announced earmark reform guidelines for next year's budget
Those guidelines included online listing of all earmark requests in advance and subjecting private company earmarks to competitive bidding
Instituted new ethics rules that prevent former staffers from lobbying the administration and make current lobbyists wait two years before working for the White House
Has faced criticism for waiving these restrictions for certain nominees
Says new Budget Director Peter Orszag will develop new guidelines for government contracts to strengthen oversight and cut costs
