whitehouse blog
Weekly Address: Time for Action on Financial Reform for the Economy
As a key committee in the Senate takes up reforming the ways of Wall Street, the President lays down a marker: “I urge those in the Senate who support these reforms to remain strong, to resist the pressure from those who would preserve the status quo, to stand up for their constituents and our country. And I promise to use every tool at my disposal to see these reforms enacted: to ensure that the bill I sign into law reflects not the special interests of Wall Street, but the best interests of the American people.”
President Obama’s Nowruz Message
In this video, President Obama sends an important message to those celebrating the Persian holiday of Nowruz, and in particular to the people and government of Iran. While recognizing our continuing differences with the Iranian government, the President outlines his commitment to a more just and hopeful future for all Iranians. To everyone celebrating Nowruz around the world, may you have a peaceful and prosperous new year.
This video is also available with Arabic subtitles. Full transcript available in English, Persian (PDF), and Arabic (PDF).
Local Papers Across the Country Weigh in for Reform
As the fight to put American families and small businesses in control of their health care hits the home stretch, local papers across the country are speaking out for the communities they serve and urging Congress to get health reform done. Here’s just a sample of what editorials are saying in advance of the vote:
Fort Collins Coloradoan (Editorial) “Markey making right choice to vote for reform”:
There’s no denying the health-care reform bill to be considered by Congress in coming days is far from perfect and has been crafted in a flawed process. However, continuing with the current health-care system marred by uncontrolled costs and countless uninsured Americans is not an option. That’s why we believe Rep. Betsy Markey is making the right decision to support the …
Working the Phones
Since Monday, the President has held 64 meetings or phone calls with Members of Congress on health insurance reform. Here’s one:
President Barack Obama talks to a Member of Congress while en route to George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., to deliver remarks on health insurance reform, March 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
“I Still Believe We Can Do What’s Right”
This morning, speaking before thousands at the Patriot Center in Virginia, the President was perhaps even more passionate about finishing the job on health reform than any time in this year-long debate. It’s probably best to let him speak for himself, so read the full transcript for yourself or a few excerpts below:
Setting the stage:
THE PRESIDENT: A few miles from here, Congress is in the final stages of a fateful debate about the future of health insurance in America. (Applause.) It’s a debate that’s raged not just for the past year but for the past century. One thing when you’re in the White House, you’ve …
Where Will You Be Tomorrow at 12:00?
I know where I’ll be and it will not be watching March madness like most of the country. I’ll be in front of my computer logged onto the Paralympic website, watching the United States Paralympic hockey team play for the gold medal. Anyone who knows me knows that I have never been a hockey fan. But that all changed during my visit to Vancouver for the Paralympic Winter Games where I was part of the Presidential delegation. Now, I can’t tell you I’ll be watching the Chicago Blackhawks or the Washington Capitals in the future, but the Paralympic hockey game I watched got me, well, like our President is fond of saying, all fired up and ready to go!
Our visit to Vancouver was an …
Why We Can’t Wait
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32,000,000 — that’s the number of Americans who will get health insurance under the President’s plan. [Source: Congressional Budget Office]
That’s also a little more than the populations of Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and Arizona — COMBINED. [Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
Over the course of our ‘Health Reform by the Numbers’ online series, we’ve highlighted many of the problems of our broken health care system to raise awareness about why we just can’t wait any longer for reform:
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For the last number …
Putting Americans Back to Work: Another Step Forward
This morning, President Obama signed into effect the HIRE Act, a jobs bill that provides small businesses with incentives to spur hiring and help put Americans back to work. Saying that "while this jobs bill is absolutely necessary, it’s by no means enough," the President pledged that this was just one step amongst many. The bill is The HIRE Act will:
Provide tax cuts for businesses that hire someone who has been out of work for at least 2 months
Help businesses to invest in their future by permitting them to write off investments in equipment this year
Encourage job creation by expanding investments in schools and clean energy projects
Maintain …
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