Romney wrestles with how to turn wealth into political asset

 

Mitt Romney is worth as much as a quarter billion dollars. And Democrats are taking every opportunity to remind voters of that fact, and to portray the presumptive Republican nominee as hopelessly out-of-touch with the struggles of everyday Americans.

A nationwide debate on fairness led by President Barack Obama in recent weeks involves a subtext meant to remind voters of Romney’s wealth. It coincides with today’s deadline for Americans to pay their taxes and poses a tricky challenge for the Romney campaign – how to turn that personal economic success into a political virtue while avoiding the perception that the candidate is detached from small-town financial reality.

By demanding that Romney release his tax returns for the past decade, or by pushing for the authorization of the Buffett Rule – the proposal that the wealthiest households pay a minimum 30 percent tax rate – Democrats have fought to define Romney early in his general election battle against the incumbent president.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer said of Romney in a conference call on Monday organized by the Democratic National Committee, “He doesn't want to reveal what his personal income is in any great detail, but it relates to the fact that his plans favor people just like himself, who don’t have to struggle … .”

Romney must figure out a way to battle back against what has become a dog whistle campaign – Democrats and the media have been especially attentive to any cue that reminds voters of Romney’s immense personal wealth. The former Massachusetts governor might push back by turning that argument around, and emphasizing that his proposals would enable others’ success.

Mitt Romney has tapped Beth Myers, a trusted aide and the manager of his 2008 presidential campaign, to head up his search for a running mate. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.

“He's going to have to make an argument that his proposed policies are designed to give people an opportunity to attain the same level of success that he has,” said Steve Schmidt, who headed Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Though the general election race has only begun in earnest, there is evidence to suggest that Romney must dig himself out of an early hole in terms of perception. Thirty-three percent of Americans said in a CNN/ORC poll released Monday that Romney is more in touch with the problems facing the middle class, versus 51 percent who said that of Obama.

Romney has blamed his opponents for essentially demonizing his success, a strategy that he says is divisive in nature.

But the Obama campaign has been aided by moments when Romney has appeared awkward in addressing his personal wealth, from noting his wife’s two Cadillacs, to reports about a car elevator being installed as part of an expansion in one of his homes.

DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse summed it up in Monday’s conference call:  “Car elevators – I don’t see most Americans building car elevators.”

Romney’s efforts to combat that narrative center on his private sector resume, which he argues enable him to better understand the economy.

"I can connect with America's economy because I know it," the former Massachusetts governor told ABC on Monday. "I don't connect with President Obama because he doesn't understand the economy; he doesn't understand what it takes to get jobs for the American people."

Sen. John Cornyn, R- Tx, gives his thoughts on the procedural vote on the Buffett Rule.

The challenge for the Republican candidate lies in whether Romney can personalize some of the macro-level factors like the price of oil, unemployment, or the size of the national debt.

“There's a sense that they have to understand [voters’] everyday lives,” said Luke Frans, the executive director of the Republican-leaning opinion research group Resurgent Republic, of the challenge facing Romney and Obama alike.

“The national debt may be $15 trillion, but what does that mean to you when you have to worry about next month's bills?” he said. “The flip side to that is, do they feel that 36 months at above 8 percent unemployment is real progress?”

What’s more, the candidate’s speech to supporters at a top-dollar fundraiser last weekend suggested that there may be instances in which the wealthiest voters might be asked to contribute more as a result of tax reform in a Romney administration.

He suggested, for instance, that he might eliminate a mortgage deduction for second homes as part of a tax reform package. While Romney has said the elimination of deductions and loopholes – especially for the wealthy – would be used to pay for further cuts in tax rates, his plan involves a miniature version of the soak-the-rich rhetoric that might defuse some of the Obama campaign’s attacks.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, (R-MN) discusses reforming the tax code and reviewing tax plans from both sides of the aisle. Also, a look at the impact of entitlement programs on the federal budget.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a longtime advocate for better Republican efforts to reach the middle class and a surrogate for the former Massachusetts governor, also urged Romney to not shy away from his work at Bain.

“Mitt Romney should embrace the fact that one of his strengths is that he has been successful in the private sector,” Pawlenty said Tuesday on CNBC.

And short of that, Romney might take solace in the idea that a candidate’s personal wealth has seldom been made into a central issue in a presidential campaign.

“There's never been a successful presidential re-election on the basis of, 'Vote to re-elect me because my opponent's wealthy,'” Schmidt said. “The bottom line reality is that if the president had been able to do the things he had promised to do, he wouldn't be running a re-election campaign attacking Mitt Romney's wealth.”

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I would rather have a successful millionaire like Romney who knows how to create wealth and jobs than a person like Obama that has been handed everything in life because he is the bi-racial son of a drug using hippie mother and absent Black father. Obama did not ask for this mind you, but because of this, he feels that everyone is entitled as he was. The problem with this socialistic way of thinking is that sooner or later, you run out of other people's money and the co-dependent lemmings will not be able to fend for themselves.

  • 1 vote
Reply#368 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:48 AM EDT

Romney is right to be talking about job creation considering the unemployment rate, but his record in the private sector is one of job destruction. As Politico detailed, Romney’s company, Bain Capital, was in the business of buying up distressed companies, slashing them to bits, and then selling them off, resulting in lots of job losses:

– In 1992, the firm acquired American Pad & Paper. By 1999, the year Romney left Bain, two American plants were closed, 385 jobs had been cut and the company was $392 million in debt. The next year, Ampad was forced into bankruptcy.

– Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs bought Dade International for about $450 million in 1994. The firm quickly fired or relocated at least 900 workers. Over the next several years, it sunk increasingly into debt and laid off 1,000 workers. In 2002 — after Romney had left Bain — it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

– A 1997 buyout of LIVE Entertainment for $150 million resulted in 40 layoffs, roughly one in four of the company’s 166 workers. The job cuts affected all aspects of the company, from production and acquisition to legal and public relations.

– In 1997, Bain bought a stake in DDI Corp., a maker of electronic circuit boards. Three years later, Bain took the company public and collected a $36 million payout. But by August 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy protection, laying off more than 2,100 workers.

22 percent of the money Bain Capital raised from 1987 to 1995 was invested in five businesses — Stage Stores, American Pad & Paper, GS Indusries, Dade, and Details. These five made Bain $578 million in profit, even as all five eventually went bankrupt.

As the New York Post’s Josh Koshman wrote, “there’s little question made a fortune from businesses he helped destroy.” Travis Waldron noted today that Romney’s company also boosted its profits — and thus enriched Romney — by abusing offshore tax havens.

By Pat Garofalo

  • 2 votes
Reply#369 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:50 AM EDT

From Wikipedia:
As governor, Romney presided over a series of spending cuts and increases in fees that eliminated an up to $1.5 billion deficit.

  • 1 vote
#369.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:18 AM EDT

Thermon Had romney been in charge the banks that needed to fail would have failed! And this bloated pig of a government would have been streamlined! The man knows buisiness and our government is a failing buisiness. Get it? Or are you relying on the government for your paycheck?

  • 2 votes
#369.2 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:21 AM EDT

Therman gets nothing but liberal talking points

  • 1 vote
#369.3 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:28 AM EDT

One of Mitt Romney’s chief selling points as a presidential candidate is his business background and self-proclaimed ability to create jobs and boost a lagging economy -- a point frequently trotted out on the campaign trail in economically downtrodden swing states such as Ohio.

Yet, Romney’s record from his days as Massachusetts governor paints a different portrait, that of a politician who swept into office with big promises and a Harvard MBA but who failed to create a meaningful number of jobs for his home state and lacked a clear, concrete economic vision.

Economists from Massachusetts also say Romney was never able to solve the structural problems inherent in the state’s economy — issues that now plague the country as a whole and will challenge whoever becomes president in 2013 -- such as the decline in manufacturing and the dearth of employment for less-educated, low-income workers.

“There is nothing in his record as governor that shows he knows how to address economic failures,” says Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. “The thing that’s bothered me most about the Romney campaign is this major distortion of his record.”

When Gov. Romney took office in January 2003, the state was reeling from the rise and fall of the tech bubble in the early 2000s -- a particularly tough blow for Massachusetts, heavy with top-notch biotechnology companies and tech start-ups. These were conditions that Romney inherited, along with an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent. Over the course of Romney’s term, the state’s unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent.

Yet, look closer at the actual number of jobs created over that time period, and a decidedly less positive picture emerges. By 2007, the state had created roughly 45,800 new jobs, according to federal data, and that’s during a period the Romney camp spins as a time of economic recovery. Manufacturing employment in Massachusetts declined by more than 14 percent, according to Sum’s research, and the unemployment rate would have been much higher, local economists say, were it not for the droves of young college graduates and residents who left the state to live in lower-cost areas.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-s-massachusetts-job-record-not-as-great-as-he-wants-you-to-think-20120309

  • 1 vote
#369.4 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:31 AM EDT

Thermon Do you ever think before you speak! Romney was virtually the only Republican politician in one of the most corrupt political machine states in the nation. Remember the last three speakers of the house in Masachussetts have been indighted and found guilty of all charges by the feds. Why the feds? Because the attorney general, who happens to be a democrat named Martha Coakley marches in lock step with her corrupt one party system. Prove me wrong!!!!!!

  • 1 vote
#369.5 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:10 AM EDT
Reply

This is an easy one. Most wealthy Christians, I mean real Christians, look at their wealth, thank God for it, internalize the message Christ gave us, and work to help those less fortunate than themselves. These people are called Democrats. Oops, Romney is a Mormon. Oh well, I guess it isn't that easy for him. In fact lets look at the state of Utah for a better predictor of he will/can do. Oops, again. Sorry, I was just trying to help.

    Reply#370 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:24 AM EDT

    More from the twits and dimwits section

      #370.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:29 AM EDT

      "More from the twits and dimwits section"

      You need a Limbaughtomy.

      • 1 vote
      #370.2 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:01 AM EDT

      Thermon all talking points! no substance!

      • 1 vote
      #370.3 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:11 AM EDT
      Reply

      The problem is that all of Romney's friends are wealthy and will be asking for favors.

      You know, the latest CBS poll, Romney (and no one else) vs Obama was tied. Then I looked up the latest Ras poll, and it also showed them tied. However, the Ras poll showed Ron Paul beating Obama, and the explanation was because Ron Paul cuts into the inds and the dems and gets the anyone but Obama crowd, the crowd Romney has won with the media's help. I would say that is a crock, but then I look at the crowds Ron Paul draws, 5600 in Madison, 7000 or so Califronia, thousands of people everywhere he goes to Romney's hundreds.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#371 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:36 AM EDT

      Romney's "jobs" record is dismal. He outsourced or destroyed far more jobs at Bain than he ever created. The few jobs that were created were sales clerks and pizza delivery boys.

      As Governor, his state ranked 47th in job creation, the few jobs that were created, public sector outpaced private sector 6 to 1.

      Romney is the candidate for the Wall Street hedge fund manager, not the middle class. This is evidenced by the fact that virtually ALL of his super-PAC money comes from Wall Street hedge fund managers.

      What is Romney's economic plan? More tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, and further deregulation of Wall Street.

      When Obama took office, we were losing 750,000 jobs PER MONTH, thanks to those policies. We now have 25 months straight of private sector job growth. The Romney/Bush policies are a proven failure.

      If you believe that Wall Street has YOUR best interests at heart, than by all means vote for Romney.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#372 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:43 AM EDT

      Thermon Thermon Hows the government job going?

      • 1 vote
      #372.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:14 AM EDT

      Its going great! I arrested 15 Republicans yesterday for blatant stupidity.

        #372.2 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:19 AM EDT
        Reply

        A SMALL SAMPLING OF THE MANY LIES OF Willard Mitt Romney

        "100,000 new jobs." Romney has repeatedly claimed that during his tenure at Bain Capital, "net-net, we created over 100,000 jobs." His campaign defends the figure by tallying the current employment totals of some companies Bain aided. That's a stretch in and of itself, but it's also not a net figure. It lacks the balancing context of how many jobs were destroyed by Bain. As the Los Angeles Times reported in December, while Bain helped some companies grow, "Romney and his team also maximized returns by firing workers, seeking government subsidies, and flipping companies quickly for large profits. Sometimes Bain investors gained even when companies slid into bankruptcy."

        Indeed, the Wall Street Journal looked closely at Bain's record under Romney and found that 22 percent "either filed for bankruptcy or closed their doors by the end of the eighth year after Bain first invested, sometimes with substantial job losses." Which is not really terribly surprising: Bain's raison d'etre is not job creation but wealth creation for its investors. As Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler noted in an article Monday calling Romney's "100,000 jobs" figure "untenable," Romney and Bain "never could have raised money from investors if the prospectus seeking $1-million investments from the super wealthy had said it would focus on creating jobs."

        As a corollary, when Romney's record has been criticized, he has dismissed criticisms as an attempt to "put free enterprise on trial." It's not an attack on free enterprise. It's an attack on Romney's strained attempt to spin his successful record of wealth-creation into one of job-creation. It's also a recognition that while a net good, the free market has its destructive side—and it's a fair question to ask, whether voters consider experience in that sort of vulture capitalism as a good qualification for the presidency. Do they want government to be run more like that kind of business?

        [See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]

        Obama's jobs record. By Romney's own logic (touting jobs created but ignoring jobs lost), his attacks on President Obama's economic record are nonsensical. He told Time that Obama "has not created any new jobs," and he told Fox News last week that Obama has "lost" 2 million jobs as president. This is indeed a net figure, but also a misleading one. When Obama took office, the economy was shedding jobs at a rate of nearly 1 million jobs per month, losing roughly 3 million during the first four months of 2009. But presidential policies don't take effect as soon as the incoming chief takes his oath. Once Obama's policies started to take effect, the trend turned. The country had added 3.2 million private sector jobs over the course of 22 straight months of private sector growth. By Romney's definition, the president has created more than 3 million jobs—not enough, but also not none.

        [Read the U.S. News debate: Will Mitt Romney Be the GOP Presidential Nominee?]

        In fact the biggest drag on job growth is the 600,000 public sector jobs that have disappeared under the auspices of budget austerity. As my colleague Danielle Kurtzleben reported in September, "government jobs are being shed by the tens of thousands almost every month, hindering an already weak recovery."

        "Entitlement society." Romney has argued that Obama "is replacing our merit-based, opportunity society with an entitlement society," where "everyone is handed the same rewards, regardless of education, effort, and willingness to take risk." As New York's Jonathan Chait has observed, "This accusation is approximately as accurate as claiming that the Republican Party wants to pass laws forbidding poor people from making more money." The idea that President Obama (or any Democrat) advocates for equality of outcomes simply lacks a basis in fact.

        [See a collection of political cartoons on the budget and deficit.]

        It's an important fabrication, because it marks a turning point in Romney's attacks on Obama. Previously the president was characterized as ineffectual, but not a socialist. Forced to battle to win the GOP primaries, Romney has adopted the Tea Party's extremist rhetoric. It won't play with swing voters, even delivered in his polished drone.

        Defense cuts. In an October speech on national security, Romney promised to "reverse President Obama's massive defense cuts." One problem: Pentagon spending has gone up under Obama, from $594 billion in 2008 to $666 billion. The 2011 request was for $739 billion. As Rick Perry would say, "Oops."

        [Read the U.S. News debate: Are Cuts to the Defense Budget Necessary?]

        No apologies. Romney has said that Obama "went around the world and apologized for America." This is part of the conservative, dog-whistle meme that Obama is un-American (and possibly even a foreigner!). While the notion of an international apology tour is a staple of the conservative case against Obama, it is also fictitious. The Washington Post's fact-checker concluded that "the claim that Obama repeatedly has apologized for the United States is not borne out by the facts, especially if his full quotes are viewed in context." Don't hold your breath waiting for an apology from Romney on this one.

        "Mitt." It's a small one, but might be my favorite. During a debate in November, when moderator Wolf Blitzer introduced himself by saying that "Wolf" is really his first name, Romney greeted the audience by saying, "I'm Mitt Romney, and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name." In fact, Willard is his first name. It's a lie notable for being so mundane: Why would someone fudge their name? It's almost as if he can't control himself.

          Reply#373 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:15 AM EDT

          You did not properly cite you sources.

          Here is your argument: Obama is a failure so if I can post that Romney was a bigger failure, then Obama wins. The problem there is that Obama will still be a failure and if the ship is going down, we all go down. Now if you were logical, you would at least give yourself a chance and see what the next guy can do. I doubt it because you will not allow yourself to be cutoff from the gravy train.

            #373.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:09 PM EDT
            Reply

            For a small sample of distortion from a small mind look at the post above! Thermon What has Mr Obama accomplished? Along with his Goldman Sachs Laden administration and his transparency?

              Reply#374 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:21 AM EDT

              1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
              2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
              3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
              4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
              5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
              6 Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
              7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family
              8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
              9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
              10. Limits on lobbyist’s access to the White House
              11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
              12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
              13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
              14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
              15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
              16. New federal funding for science and research labs
              17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
              18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
              19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
              20. New funds for school construction
              21 The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
              22. US Auto industry rescue plan
              23. Housing rescue plan
              24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
              25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
              26. US financial and banking rescue plan
              27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
              28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with theGeneva Convention standards
              29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
              30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
              31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
              32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
              33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
              34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
              35. Successful release of US captain held bySomali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
              36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
              37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
              38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
              39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
              40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
              41. Signed national service legislation; expandednational youth service program
              42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
              43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
              44. Expanding vaccination programs
              45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
              46. Closed offshore tax safe havens
              47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
              48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
              49.. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
              50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
              51. Lower drug costs for seniors
              52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
              53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
              54. Improved housing for military personnel
              55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
              56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
              57 Increasing student loans
              58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
              59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
              60. Established a new cyber security office
              61. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
              62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
              63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
              64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
              65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
              66. Improving benefits for veterans
              67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
              68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
              69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
              70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
              71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
              72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
              73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
              74. Making more loans available to small businesses
              75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
              76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
              77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
              78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
              79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
              80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
              81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
              82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
              83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
              84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
              85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
              86. Held first Seder in White House
              87. Attempting to reform the nation’s healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured
              88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
              89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
              90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform

              Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office.

              Did I mention he passed health care reform ?

              There are policies that many of us disagree with or wish he would improve or facilitate more quickly, but come on, this is a pretty sweet list.

              Updated: H/T Newmericans

              Here is the updated list of what I judge to be Obama’s most significant accomplishments in the less than 2 years since he was elected as President of the United States: As you read through this list, I ask you to weigh the totality of these achievements listed below against those accomplishments of Obama’s presidential predecessors, Democrats and Republicans, and then, after considering this, make your determination of whether you think he has done a good job.

              1. Appointing two Supreme Court Justices: When people consider their presidential voting decision, most don’t consider that amongst the most important and enduring presidential responsibilities is the president’s ability to appoint supreme court justices. This is arguably a president’s biggest opportunity to influence his country, because Supreme Court justices sit until they retire or pass away, so the impact of his decision generally will last many decades beyond his years as president. Obama has been fortunate enough to have two Supreme Court Justices retire in his first few years in office and he has managed to secure both of his nominations through wise selection and political skill. He has added two Democrats, replacing two moderate Democrats in the process. If a Republican has won the presidency instead, we would now be looking at an unbalanced Supreme Court with six conservatives and only three liberal judges – a balance that would have been in place for many many decades. In the appointment process, Obama also introduced needed diversity to the bench with two more women on the court, bringing the count to a record three women sitting, while also introducing the nation’s first Hispanic to the Supreme Court with his choice of Sotomayor.

              2. Passing Universal Healthcare: Obama accomplished what no prior Democrat could in expanding coverage to 32 million more Americans while simultaneously reducing the deficit by an estimated $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years. It delivers on every provision of the Patient Bill of Rights that Bill Clinton unsuccessfully tried to get passed, including making it illegal to deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and capping out of pocket expenses when people get sick (so people don’t go in to bankruptcy after getting ill). It helps shift our medical system’s focus to preventative care by covering the cost of early warning tests so our doctors find diseases before they are too advanced - avoiding larger medical expenses down the road and requires the largest and richest American companies to provides insurance for all their employees. It attempts to lower health care costs by forcing all Americans to have medical insurance and pay their fair share so the system is more efficient – similar to how all Americans need to have car insurance – while providing tax credits to help the poor and small businesses afford this coverage. It increases competition by creating marketplace exchanges to make it easier for small businesses and those without insurance to shop and compare plans. It funds co-ops who can offer competitive insurance plans and provide further competition for insurance companies. It allows insurance companies to offer plans across state borders further increasing the supply of competitive plans. It provides funding, infrastructure, and support to automate, digitize, and unify the country’s outdated medical information system reducing system-wide costs, improving care, and increasing productivity. Perhaps most importantly, it sets up an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify and root out medical system waste, fraud, and abuse and includes many pieces of reform that will reduce the most wasteful medical system practices.

              3. Financial industry reform: The most sweeping financial industry reform legislation since the Great Depression, this legislation tries to correct those industry issues that helped create the current recession we are still digging outselves out of. It provides a system to allow the government to break apart large financial institutions that threaten the economy, creates a council of federal regulators to coordinate the detection of risks to the financial system, subjects a wider range of financial companies to government oversight, creates a Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to help protect citizens from unscrupulous practices, and reins in banks’ ability to trade in risky financial instruments such as credit derivatives.

              4. Preventing a 2nd Great Depression: While preventing a depression is not sexy and certainly is reactive, history may say that this is still one of his most important accomplishment to date. The vast majority of economists and experts say that the nation had a high chance of slipping in to a Depression had this stimulus not passed along with the innovative actions of the Fed. Obama has worked with Bernanke and the Fed, put a team of some of the best economic minds around him, helped save America’s 3 major car manufacturers from going out of business, passed the largest economic Stimulus Bill in the nation’s history, and executed other legislative changes to keep liquidity flowing in our economy, save jobs that would have otherwise been lost, and fund areas of our economy that are strategic and important for our long term economic competitiveness including health care, education, green energy, science, and infrastructure.

              Of course, critics will say that the economy today is still sputtering, holds some risk of sliding back in to a recession, and that a real recovery will take many years. These are all true statements and Obama has not moved us from a possible Depression to a fast growing economy – but this is a completely unrealistic, almost childish, expectation given the severity of the financial crisis, our current debt, and other economic realities that we have to deal with. Could he have done more or done it differently? Certainly. I would have loved to see Obama do more, faster to invest in small businesses, help them get loans, and help them become more competitive with the large corporations that increasingly dominate our economy. But today we are not in a horrible depression and things are stable and this alone is a tremendous accomplishment.

              5. Bringing the war in Iraq to an end: Obama has reduced troops from a peak of 170,000 down to 50,000, with the remaining troops focused on training and recruiting Iraqi forces, rather than participating in combat. With this news, Obama delivered on a campaign promise he made while bringing to an end a misguided, expensive, and costly war which served no clear purpose. He also ensured that, in the process of wrapping up efforts in the region, he did so responsibly. Iraq is not in utter chaos as it once was at the peak of the insurgency and it stands a chance of having a reasonable future and being a reasonably stable Democratic state in the Middle East.

              6. Passed legislation to curb greenhouse gases and improve the environment: Obama implemented new regulations on power plants, factories, and oil refineries to limit greenhouse gas emissions and curb global warming, required energy producing plants to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources, allowed states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards, increased, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 for cars and trucks, funded investment in clean energy technologies through a combination of spending and tax breaks, signed an omnibus public lands bill, which allows for 2 million more acres to be declared wilderness, and issued a Presidential Memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators, which, over the next three decades, will save twice the amount of energy produced by all the coal-fired power plants in America in any given year.

              7. Nuclear non-proliferation agreement: Obama met with 47 presidents in a 3 day nuclear summit to lower the nuclear weapons count with a treaty signed between US and Russia, putting the world back on a path to reducing nuclear warheads.

              8. Repairing Our Image Abroad: After 8 years of damage to our country’s image, Obama has helped repair badly damaged relationships with foreign powers across the world from Russia to Europe and reached out to the Arab world. This is necessary and critical in order for the most influential countries to work together to fight challenges such as Global Warming and Nuclear expansion. It also helps to fight terrorist recruiting by helping change America’s negative image. It is increasingly important for the US to engage with other countries as fast-growing nations like Brazil, China, and India join the traditional powerhouses and as America adjusts to a world with more diverse and influential players in the political equation.

              9. Lifted Bush restrictions on embryonic stem cell research: Obama provided federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research, helping make it easier for scientists to find cures for our most dangerous diseases.

              10. Reversed George W. Bush’s ban on federal funding to foreign organizations that allow abortions.

              11. Implemented education reforms: Made higher college more accessible and affordable through significant increases in scholarships and funding, funded early learning programs, and, most importantly, through an innovative program called Race to the Top, spurred reforms in state and local district K-12 education by providing states with incentives to make positive changes to their education systems. Race to the Top prompted 48 states to adopt common standards for K-12. Some notable changes prompted by the program include Illinois lifting a cap on the number of charter schools it allows, Massachusetts making it easier for students in low-performing schools to switch to charters, and West Virginia proposing a merit pay system that includes student achievement in its compensation calculations.

              12. Tobacco regulation. On June 22, 2009, Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which, for the first time, gave the U.S. Food & Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of tobacco.

              Whereas my last assessment, made 8 months ago, on what Obama had done in office was subdued (”has not blown anyone over by his administrative record to date. His most significant accomplishment, while a job well done, was primarily a reaction to the economic environment handed to him while his other accomplishments are relatively tactical.”), my conclusion today is completely different. The list of his accomplishments are staggering for any US president – particularly when you compare him against our more recent US presidents. Try to come up with a list of positive accomplishments by Clinton or both Bush presidents over their entire tenures and you won’t be able to count them on one hand. Meanwhile, in less than 2 years, Obama has done what most had said was politically impossible and absolutely essential for us to maintain a competitive economy in the future (Universal health care), tackled highly challenging and comprehensive economic reforms (Financial industry reform), and stabilized a very troubling economy.

              After all of these achievements, it will be interesting to see what else Obama can get done over the next few years of his first term. Even if he did not achieve anymore legislative accomplishments during the remainder of his tenure, Obama will have had one of the most productive terms of any president in the history of our country.

              Update:

              Obama signs technology access bill for disabled

              Read about it here

              Update:

              President Obama signs Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

              Read about it here

              Update:

              President Obama Signs Tax Cut Bill Into Law

              Read about it here:

              Update:

              President Obama Signs DADT Repeal Act

              Read about it here

              Update:

              President Obama Signs 9/11 Health Bill

              http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/01/02/obama.9.11.bill/

              Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama signed the 9/11 health bill into law in Hawaii on Sunday, White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

              Update:

              President Obama signs historic food safety law

              http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2011/01/president_obama_signs_historic.html

              With the flick of a pen, President Obama signs a bill today that paves the way for the first major overhaul of the food safety system in the United States in nearly a century.

              The bill, passed by Congress late last year, gives the Food and Drug Administration new authority to recall tainted food and step-up inspections of food processing facilities.

              It exempts farms and producers making $500,000 or year or less but will require larger manufacturers to enact food safety plans and includes measures to increase the safety of food imports, which account for one-sixth of the nation’s food supply.

              Update:

              http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/04/statement-press-secretary

              On Tuesday, January 04, 2011, the President signed into law:

              H.R. 81, the “Shark Conservation Act of 2010 and International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act,” which generally prohibits the removal of shark fins at sea and amends certain laws related to international fisheries;

              H.R. 628, which establishes a pilot program regarding the adjudication cases where patent or plant variety protection issues are to be decided;

              H.R. 1107, which restates and reorganizes the public contract laws of the United States in Title 41, United Sates Code;

              H.R. 1746, the “Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2010,” which authorizes appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program for FYs 2011-2013;

              H.R. 2142, the “GPRA Modernization Act of 2010,” which amends the Government Performance and Results Act to establish a Federal government performance plan;

              H.R. 2751, the “FDA Food Safety Modernization Act,” which modernizes the food safety system to better prevent food-borne illness and better respond to outbreaks;

              H.R. 4445, the “Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Clarification Act,” which repeals a restriction on the treatment of certain lands held in trust for Indian Pueblos in New Mexico;

              H.R. 4602, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Emil Bolas Post Office;

              H.R. 4748, the “Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010,” which requires the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop a Northern Boarder Counternarcotics Strategy;

              H.R. 4973, the “National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010,” which reauthorizes and amends authorities relating to volunteer programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges;

              H.R. 5116, the “America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (America COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010,” which reauthorizes various programs intended to strengthen research and education in the United States related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;

              H.R. 5133, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill and Lance Corporal Michael A. Schwarz Post Office Building;

              H.R. 5470, which excludes specified external power supplies from certain energy efficiency standards required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act;

              H.R. 5605, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the George C. Marshall Post Office;

              H.R. 5606, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the James M. “Jimmy” Stewart Post Office Building;

              H.R. 5655, which designates the Little River Branch facility of the United States Postal Service as the Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Post Office;

              H.R. 5809, the “Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010,” which modifies and reauthorizes through FY 2016 the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Program;

              H.R. 5877, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building;

              H.R. 5901, which authorizes the U.S. Tax Court to appoint employees under a personnel management system that includes the merit system principles and prohibitions on personnel practices;

              H.R. 6392, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building;

              H.R. 6400, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Earl Wilson, Jr. Post Office;

              H.R. 6412, the “Access to Criminal History Records for State Sentencing Commissions Act of 2010,” which requires the Department of Justice to exchange records and information with State sentencing commissions;

              H.R. 6510, which directs the General Services Administration to convey to the Military Museum of Texas the parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, on which the museum is located;

              H.R. 6533, the “Local Community Radio Act of 2010,” which modifies current restrictions on low-power FM radio stations;

              S. 118, the “Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2010,” which amends financing and project operation requirements for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s program to allow for increased housing opportunities for low-income seniors;

              S. 841, the “Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010,” regarding pedestrian safety related to motor vehicles;

              S. 1481, the “Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010,” which amends financing and project operation requirements for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s program for low income individuals with disabilities;

              S. 3036, the “National Alzheimer’s Project Act,” which establishes a National Alzheimer’s Project within the Department of Health and Human Services and an advisory council on Alzheimer’s research, care, and services;

              S. 3243, the “Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010,” which requires the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that all applicants for law enforcement positions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) receive polygraph examinations;

              S. 3447, the “Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010,” which amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and other educational assistance programs for veterans;

              S. 3481, which clarifies the Federal Government’s responsibility to pay reasonable service charges to a State or local government to address stormwater pollution from Federal properties;

              S. 3592, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins Post Office Building;

              S. 3874, the “Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act,” which modifies the Safe Drinking Water Act definition of “lead free” with regard to pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures;

              S. 3903, which authorizes 99-year leases on land held in trust for the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in the State of New Mexico; and

              S. 4036, which amends authorities of the National Credit Union Administration.

              Update:

              President Obama Signs START Treaty

              Read more here

              President Obama signed the START nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia this morning.

              Despite the great attention the president has devoted to this treaty — and the vast coverage of the treaty negotiations by the media — the White House refused to allow reporters or TV cameras in the room. Still photographers were the only representatives of the free press permitted to record the historic moment.

              Update:

              May 1st, 2011 11:30pm:

              Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

              WFAA

              WASHINGTON — Al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden is dead and the United States has his body, a person familiar with the developments says. CNN and other news organizations are reporting the same information.

              President Barack Obama was expected to make that announcement from the White House late Sunday night.

              The person spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak ahead of the president.

              CNN reports that bin Laden’s body was recovered from a mansion outside Islamabad, Pakistan.

              Update:

              President Barack Obama signs the certification stating the statutory requirements for repeal of DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) have been met, in the Oval Office, July 22, 2011. Pictured, from left, are: Brian Bond, Deputy Director of Public Liaison; Kathleen Hartnett, Associate Counsel to the President; Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen; and Vice President Joe Biden. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) July 22, 2011.

              Today, President Obama signed a certification ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for good beginning September 20, 2011. The President signed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” into law last December.

              Update:October 20th, 2011

              President Obama on the death of Muammar Qaddafi

              Update:

              October 21, 2011

              BREAKING NEWS: President Obama to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq

              Reuters – President Barack Obama said on Friday the United States will fulfill its pledge to pull troops out of Iraq by the end of the year.

              “As promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,” Obama told reporters.

              He spoke after a video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and said the two were in full agreement about how to move forward.

              Update:

              WhiteHouse.gov

              United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
              Signed: Friday, October 21, 2011

              United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
              Signed: Friday, October 21, 2011

              United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
              Signed: Friday, October 21, 2011

              Update:

              October 31, 2011

              whitehouse.gov

              We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Takes Action to Reduce Prescription Drug Shortages, Fight Price Gouging

              President Issues Executive Order, Backs Legislation to Require Drug Companies to Report Shortages

              President Obama today will sign an Executive Order directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action to help further prevent and reduce prescription drug shortages, protect consumers and prevent price gouging. The President’s order directs FDA to broaden reporting of potential shortages of certain prescription drugs and to further expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent or respond to shortages. Under the President’s order, FDA will also work with to the Department of Justice, which will examine whether potential shortages have led to illegal price gouging or stockpiling of life-saving medications.

              In addition to signing the Executive Order, the White House announced the President’s support for bipartisan legislation (H.R. 2245 and S. 296) that will build on today’s actions to strengthen the FDA’s ability to prevent prescription drug shortages.

              Update:
              NOVEMBER 1, 2011

              WASHINGON – NOVEMBER 1: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after signing a proclamation to designate Ft. Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, a National Monument, as (L to R) U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Hampton, Virgina Mayor Molly Ward, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, U.S Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Lacy Ward, Jr. , Director, Robert Russa Moton Museum, Farmville, Virgina, watch in the Oval Office of the White House on November 1, 2011 in Washington, DC. The fort was used in 1619 by Dutch settlers to bring slaves to the colonies and used in the Civil war as a refuge for escaped slaves.

              Update:

              November 21, 2011

              New York Times

              President Obama Signs a Bill Offering Tax Credits to Business that Hire Veterans

              President Obama has signed 473 bills of legislation since becoming President

              Update:

              December 14th 2011

              President Obama Speaks To Troops Returning Home From Iraq At Fort Bragg

              Update:

              December 18th 2011

              Iraq War: Last US Troops Leave Country

              Huffington Post

              KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait — The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border to neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered, with troubling questions lingering over whether the Arab nation will remain a steadfast U.S. ally.

              Kuwaiti and U.S. soldiers close the border gate after the last vehicle crossed into Kuwait during the US miltary’s withdrawal from Iraq December 18, 2011. The last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq on Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 American and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.

              Obama Campaign Promise – October 27, 2007

              Update:Update:

              WhiteHouse.gov

              Signed on December 19, 2011
              Fort Pulaski National Monument Lease Authorization Act.

              Signed on December 20, 2011
              Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011

              Signed on December 20, 2011
              Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011

              December 23 2011

              President Obama: Extending Payroll Tax Cut Is a “Boost We Need Right Now”

              President Obama today signed into law a two month extension of the payroll tax cut, which means that 160 million American workers will not see their paychecks shrink starting Jan 1, 2012. The President thanked Congress for ending the stalemate and urged them to keep working to reach an agreement that extends this tax cut as well as unemployment insurance through all of 2012, saying it is the right thing to do for American families and for the economy, and called it “a boost that we very much need right now.”

              The extension came after tens of thousands of working Americans turned to the internet to let politicians in Washington know just how much they were relying on that tax break, which amounts to about $40 per paycheck for a family making $50,000 a year, and the President acknowledged just how valuable their contributions had been to the conversation happening in the Capital:

              Update:

              WhiteHouse.gov

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              Semipostal to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act of 2011

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Omnibus)

              Signed on December 23, 2011
              Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act

                #374.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:29 AM EDT

                President Barack Obama pauses after signing H.R. 3765 – “Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011,” in the Oval Office, Dec. 23, 2011.

                Update:

                December 23 2011

                President Obama: Extending Payroll Tax Cut Is a “Boost We Need Right Now”

                President Obama today signed into law a two month extension of the payroll tax cut, which means that 160 million American workers will not see their paychecks shrink starting Jan 1, 2012. The President thanked Congress for ending the stalemate and urged them to keep working to reach an agreement that extends this tax cut as well as unemployment insurance through all of 2012, saying it is the right thing to do for American families and for the economy, and called it “a boost that we very much need right now.”

                Update:

                December 31 2011

                BREAKING: Obama Signs Defense Authorization Bill

                Think Progress

                The National Journal reports:

                President Obama signed on Saturday the defense authorization bill, formally ending weeks of heated debate in Congress and intense lobbying by the administration to strip controversial provisions requiring the transfer of some terror suspects to military custody.

                “I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists,” Obama said in a statement accompanying his signature.

                The AP has more from the signing statement: “My administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens. Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a nation.”

                Update:

                President Barack Obama prepares to sign legislation in the Oval Office, Jan. 3, 2012. Staff Secretary Rajesh De is pictured at left.

                WhiteHouse.gov

                January 03, 2012

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office, Staten Island, New York

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Insured Depository Institution Failures

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of The Armed Forces Act

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                M.D. Anderson Plaza, Jackson, Tennessee

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Redacting in Judges Financial Disclosure Reports

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2011

                Signed on January 03, 2012
                Sergeant Matthew J. Fenton Post Office, Little Ferry, New Jersey

                Update:

                January 31, 2012

                Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2012

                WhiteHouse.gov

                Update:

                February 01, 2012

                SOAR Technical Corrections Act

                WhiteHouse.gov

                Update:

                February 10th, 2012

                Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012

                Gabrielle Giffords’ anti-drug legislation signed into law.

                CNN

                Washington (CNN) — Gabrielle Giffords’ final piece of legislation is now law.

                President Barack Obama signed the bill in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday with the former Arizona congresswoman and her husband, Mark Kelly, looking on.

                The the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 closes a loophole that treated the use of ultralight aircraft to help with drug smuggling different from the use of other aircraft. Now, their use can bring a long jail sentence and stiff fines.

                Update:

                February 14th 2012

                H.R. 658 – FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

                February 14th 2012

                H.R. 588 – Redesignate the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge as the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

                Update:

                February 22, 2012

                Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012

                Update:

                February 27th 2012

                Providing the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood Protection

                Update:

                March 08, 2012

                Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011

                Update:

                March 13th 2012

                Application of Countervailing Duty Provisions to Nonmarket Economy Countries

                Update:

                March 14th 2012

                St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act

                March 14th 2012

                James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse, Anchorage, Alaska

                Update:

                March 30, 2012

                Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012

                Update:

                April 02 2012

                HALE Scouts Ac

                April 02 2012

                United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act

                Update:

                April 04 2012

                Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012

                UPI.com

                WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) — U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law Wednesday legislation that bans insider trading by Congress.

                The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 prohibits members of Congress, executive branch employees, federal judges and judicial employees from using “non-public information derived from their official positions for personal profit,” the White House said.

                The new law also requires that financial forms of certain federal employees be made available to the public electronically.

                Update:

                April 05 2012

                Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act

                  #374.2 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

                  Thermen, how dare you state facts.The one thing that the Republicans can't and never will understand are facts. The party of gloom and doom will never forgive you for that. They are more into if you can't dazzle them with brilliance,baffle them with bulls%&#. While they stumble and blunder their way from one day to the next.

                    #374.3 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

                    there are too many laws in this country...thanks for nothing obama.....laws like these are for people who are dependent on government to run their little lives.....ROMNEY!

                      #374.4 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:40 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Where all Things Began

                      In the beginning there was social justice throughout the land. Food was plentiful, there for the picking. Man lived in harmony with Nature having no fear or worries. Even the wild beasts were friendly. Climate changed as always without someone blaming Man. Clothing was optional since God placed them in a temperate earthy paradise and they knew no sin. Eve was in a utopia. There was no worry about wardrobe, shopping, cooking or housework. Dishes were not yet invented.

                      God told Adam and Eve to eat of all the fruit except that from the “Tree Of the knowledge of good and evil” in the center of the Garden. If you eat that fruit, you will be doomed to die. The downfall of the godly utopia began when Eve encountered a Progressive Snake in the grass. (It should have been hanging from a tree.)These creatures are to be avoided at all cost. The snake came to the woman and said “Really?” he asked. None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn’t eat any of it? Of course we may eat it, the woman told him. It’s only the fruit from the center of the garden that we mustn’t eat it or even touch it, or we will die.

                      That’s a lie!” the serpent hissed. “You’ll not die” The talking snake convinced Eve to disobey God, eat of the forbidden fruit and give some to Adam. Eve believed the first lie that there are no absolute truths.

                      The serpent is with us, as from the beginning.

                      “If my daughters make a mistake, I don’t want them to be burdened with a baby”(BO) The serpent hissed “YESSSS

                      “America is not a Christian Nation” (BO) YESSSS

                      “Yeah, I am a Christian, but, there are many paths to God”(BO) YESSSS

                      “No, No, No, not God Bless America, God___— America”(JW) YESSSS

                      “Never been proud of my country,” until we took over! (MO) YESSSS

                      “Reparations would not go far enough” (BO) YESSSS

                        Reply#375 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:14 AM EDT

                        Nazarite,

                        Same shtick...different day.

                          #375.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:35 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          MITT ROMNEY FLIP-FLOPS

                          'I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.'

                          'There's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.'

                          ---

                          'It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam.'

                          'I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there.'

                          ---

                          'I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.'

                          'Ronald Reagan is... my hero.'

                          ---

                          'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.'

                          'I did not see it with my own eyes.'

                          ---

                          'Roe v. Wade has gone too far.'

                          'I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.'

                          ---

                          'I will work and fight for stem cell research.'

                          'In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.'

                          ---

                          'I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.'

                          'I never really called myself pro-choice.'

                          ---

                          'I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.'

                          'I'm not a big game hunter... I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will.'

                          ---

                          'I like mandates. The mandates work.'

                          'I think it's unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.'

                          ---

                          'This is a completely airtight kennel mounted on the top of our car.'

                          'They're not happy that my dog loves fresh air.'

                            Reply#376 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:16 AM EDT

                            Mr. Romney, and I respect his financial successes, is not Presidential material because he is a businessman. I never hire a charismatic plumber to do my taxes, and a businessman is not a statesman. Romney's positions about foreign affairs are all echoes of the Bush administration. He criticizes and never offers alternatives to the economic crisis, or is even says what he would do differently. He's a door-to-door salesman offering some vague hope because he is not liberal, and things have not gotten better fast enough for any of us. The Founding Fathers were liberals, radical liberals, but we forget where we came from very quickly when it's convenient and the GOP football coaches declare "Time out!"

                              Reply#377 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:24 AM EDT

                              Romney wrestles with how to turn wealth into political asset WITHOUT actually giving any to underprivileged American voters.................

                                Reply#378 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

                                Funny that MSNBC boasts about the money Obama raises and then puts Romney down for his.

                                Campaigns and elections are all about money, so someone who has a lot of it already has assets. That's kind of a no-brainer.

                                And having lots of success and wealth means that a person knows what they are doing in the economy. What bigger asset is there? Nice try, MSNBC.

                                  Reply#379 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:23 AM EDT

                                  Mit could go out and give people money to vote for him. There are a lot people who are in enough hardship that they might sell their souls for a meal.

                                    Reply#380 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

                                    Mitt and the rest of the GOP will drive this country over cliff- its inevitable. The GOP basically feels that empowering the rich will produce jobs and wealth for all of us. Same basic premise that Coolidge and Hoover had in the 1920s.

                                    Massive change is ahead- and it will because not by Obama- but by the GOPs inability to reform a system that has produced so much inequity. Romney winning this year could be a blessing in disguise. It will expose the sheer shallowness of the last 32 years of GOP blunders.

                                      Reply#381 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

                                      The media and the left wrestles with how to turn success and facts into a negative....Isnt that a better headline???

                                        Reply#382 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:16 PM EDT

                                        In Romoney's case - you can't make a wealthy elitist appeal to the majority of people, neither one can relate to the other's way of life.

                                        Mitt can't learn "poor", he can't learn "scared" about our future and he definitely can't relate to living paycheck to paycheck. He is wealthy, has always been wealthy and will always be wealthy - he cannot possibly understand the plight of the 99%.

                                        Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and many previous Presidents (not counting both Bush's) grew up poor to middle class and only in their adult lives did they accumulate wealth. They remember what living was like when they were poorer. Romoney has no point of reference (other than contemplating selling some stock when a struggling newlywed).

                                          Reply#383 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

                                          "I don't connect with President Obama because he doesn't understand the economy; he doesn't understand what it takes to get jobs for the American people." -- and he can't get his cars to the second floor of the garage heh heh heh!

                                            Reply#384 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:59 PM EDT

                                            He can give his minion retardican voters free rides on his car elevator. That should ensure he gets their votes. The minions come pretty dumb and cheap.

                                              Reply#385 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:05 PM EDT

                                              If Mr. Obama were concerned about the wealth gap he would support a tax on wealth rather than higher taxes on income. A net “wealth” tax of 4.9% could replace all current federal tax revenue but the left leaning well-to-do only want to talk about raising the “income” tax rate – (so they will never pay their fair share). Mr. Romney pays 15%, Mr. Obama pays 19% but my middle class neighbors pay about 28% when you consider a 14% payroll tax (that does not apply to most of the Obama or Romney income). Some wealthy individuals may be sincere in their concern about the working class tax burden but I believe they are flocking in support of the Buffet Tax just to avoid the obvious need for a tax on net wealth. Only a tax on personal wealth can permit workers to reduce their unfair burden and jump start the economy. The workers will pay more taxes as they get wealthy.

                                              Better tax reform for both individuals and business can be described in one sentence. Tax individual and corporate income at a flat 8% rate (with no deductions, credits or loopholes), tax individual net wealth at 2% (excluding $15,000 cash and retirement funds) and impose a 4% Value Added Sales Tax (VAT) on business.

                                              The 2-4-8 Tax Blend has the lowest rates and will produce about $500 billion more than current federal revenue with no need for payroll, estate, and capital gains taxes or deferral of foreign income.

                                              Under the 2-4-8 Tax Blend Mr. Obama would pay $5,000 more in taxes and Mr. Romney would pay $2,446,000 more. If adopted, congress would be free to focus on better spending, a balanced budget and how best to help the states.

                                              Eugene Patrick Devany, JD, MPA
                                              www.TaxNetWealth.com
                                              home of the 2-4-8 Tax Blend

                                                Reply#386 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:31 PM EDT

                                                Some believe that "...Romney is more in touch with the problems facing the middle class ..."

                                                Please. Obama is of the middle class; Romney is not.

                                                  Reply#387 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:39 PM EDT

                                                  most americans have no problem with their fellow citizens become wealthy and successful......most americans believe in the opportunities to better one's predicament......the only people who have a problem with the wealthy are those who are resentful and jealous of those who succeed.....obama is a liar, a distorter, and a divider who has really nothing to run on....therefore he stokes resentment, jealousy, and envy.....he is an ass of a president....ROMNEY IN NOVEMBER!

                                                    Reply#388 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:43 PM EDT

                                                    So what did Mittsy lie about today?

                                                      Reply#389 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:53 PM EDT

                                                      Too bad the liberals have to criticize success in this country. That is what the USA is about. Anybody can be a success. Now, people are supposed to be ashamed of it. I do not care how much money anybody has. It is no one's business how much other people are worth. Who cares? Liberals care. Their class warfare is all they have left. Make everyone jealous and mad. Romney is a businessman, Obama is not. Simple enough.

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      Reply#390 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:55 PM EDT

                                                      This deserves a repost:

                                                      Thermen Merman

                                                      MITT ROMNEY FLIP-FLOPS

                                                      'I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.'

                                                      'There's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam.'

                                                      'I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.'

                                                      'Ronald Reagan is... my hero.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.'

                                                      'I did not see it with my own eyes.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'Roe v. Wade has gone too far.'

                                                      'I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I will work and fight for stem cell research.'

                                                      'In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.'

                                                      'I never really called myself pro-choice.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.'

                                                      'I'm not a big game hunter... I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'I like mandates. The mandates work.'

                                                      'I think it's unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.'

                                                      ---

                                                      'This is a completely airtight kennel mounted on the top of our car.'

                                                      'They're not happy that my dog loves fresh air.'

                                                      No problem, he can make stuff up as he goes / NOT TO BE TRUSTED

                                                      • 4 votes
                                                      Reply#391 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:04 PM EDT

                                                      The difference between Mitt and a statue of him is the statue never changes positions.

                                                      • 3 votes
                                                      #391.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:50 PM EDT
                                                      Reply

                                                      Mitt Romney is worth as much as a quarter billion dollars.

                                                      From what he has disclosed his net worth is estimated to be somewhere around $270mil and that does not include any of the money that he off shored in tax havens.

                                                      • 2 votes
                                                      Reply#392 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:07 PM EDT
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