The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in DC this summer. Health care reform is already a hot topic, and as legislation moves through Congress, Americans across the nation have questions about how costs will be brought under control to make quality affordable health care accessible to everyone.
That’s why the White House is taking another step to connect with people outside of Washington and answer some of the most common questions you have. In the coming days, we’re going to focus on your questions about health care, with President Obama and some of his top health care advisors providing answers.
On Wednesday, the President will hold another online town hall to answer more of your questions. This online town hall will be a little different than the last one. This time around, we are engaging online networks outside of WhiteHouse.gov, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
I’d like to take a quick break from the Dad posts to bring you a message from President Obama. In this weekly address, the President explains his plan to address one of the major causes of the current economic crisis — the breakdown of oversight leading to widespread abuses in the financial world. The new Consumer Financial Protection Agency will have the sole job of looking out for the financial interests of ordinary Americans by banning unfair practices and enforcing the rules. This is a cornerstone in America’s new economic foundation.
The President has long noted that skyrocketing health care costs will be disastrous in terms of our long term national debt unless we pass real reform. In this Weekly Address, the President also explains how he will cover the upfront costs of reform by eliminating over-payments from Medicaid and Medicare and driving down costs contributing to government’s health care expenditures across the board.
The President makes clear that as Congress works through health care reform legislation, it must include fundamental changes that lower costs, ensure Americans have choices, and establish access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. “But what we can’t welcome,” the President says, “is reform that just invests more money in the status quo – reform that throws good money after bad habits.”
The President discusses the breadth and depth of experience held by his nominee for the Supreme Court. In the course of a life that began in a housing project in the South Bronx and brought her to the pinnacle of her profession, Judge Sonia Sotomayor accumulated more experience on the federal bench than any incoming Supreme Court Justice in the past 100 years, touching nearly every aspect of our legal system.
On this Memorial Day weekend, President Obama calls on the American people to join him in paying tribute to America’s veterans, servicemen and women – particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice – and their families.
This week the President discusses breakthroughs on two issues where stakeholders from all sides, who once opposed each other, are coming together for real reform. On health care and energy, solutions would provide key pillars for a new foundation for the country.
I know I’m a day late, but a brotha was busy. If you want all the stats and opinions about President Obama’s first 100 days, check out CNN. They’re good at that kind of stuff and know how to get the facts. In my opinion, he’s done an amazing job and has pushed through legislation that will impact Americans for years to come. Whether you agree or disagree about his policies, you have to admit this is a man on a mission. Presient Obama seems genuine in his vision for America and is willing to put in the hard work to make the lives of all Americans better.
Check out the Presidential Flickr slideshow showing pictures of the first 100 days. I would love to have Pete Souza’s job! The photos are amazing and showcase the First Family that America (and the world) has grown to love.
Due to a crazy work schedule, I missed last week’s address. But you can watch the video here.
This week the President reiterates a theme that has been a hallmark of his career, namely that “old habits and stale thinking” will simply not help us solve the new and immense problems our country faces. Listing off several specific changes he intends to bring, he describes his guiding principle: “To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.”
Okay, I was up late last night working and happened to be watching the Colbert Report. This clip had me ROFL because it made so much sense. The original intent of the non-partisan TEA parties were to protest the excessive spending of both political parties. But it seems the Republicans took the cause on their own shoulders to remind everyone they are the party of lower taxes.
My question is, how many people who attended were really there to protest government spending? Government spending has been out of control for the past seven years, so why is everyone in a tizzy about it now? I’ve been saying for a long time, that future generations are going to have to pay for the choices made buy our government. You can only keep taxes low for a while. They have to go up at some point. Don’t they? You can’t fight the war on terror, fix the economy, fix the health care crisis and improve education without spending a little cash.
