Archive for February 23rd, 2009
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Counterattack in family planning battle
Publicly funded family planning prevents nearly 2 million unintended pregnancies and more than 800,000 abortions in the U.S. each year, according to research intended to counter objections to expanding the program. -
Health care costs to top $8,000 per person
A new government report on medical costs paints a stark picture for President Barack Obama, who is expected to call for a health care overhaul in a speech Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress.
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The President Addresses Joint Session of Congress
President Obama lays out his comprehensive approach to addressing both the economic and fiscal crises facing the nation, and stresses the need to end the era of profound irresponsibility that has brought us to where we are today. Given on February 24, 2009, this was his first address to a joint session of Congress. (This video is public domain)
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House Democrats propose $410B spending bill (AP)
AP – House Democrats unveiled a $410 billion spending bill on Monday to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year, setting up the second political struggle over federal funds in less than a month with Republicans.
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Obama pledges to cut nation’s deficit in half
President Barack Obama pledged Monday to cut the nation’s $1.3 trillion deficit in half by the end of his first term.
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Former Wash. governor may head Commerce
A senior administration official says President Barack Obama’s likely pick to head up the Commerce Department is former Washington Gov. Gary Locke. -
Obama says U.S. helicopter project costs “gone amok” (Reuters)
Reuters – President Barack Obama vowed on Monday to crack down on costly military programs, citing a project to build a new presidential helicopter fleet as an example of the procurement process “gone amok.”
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Former governor Locke likely commerce nominee (Reuters)
Reuters – Former Washington state Governor Gary Locke is President Barack Obama’s “likely nominee” for U.S. commerce secretary, an administration official said on Monday.
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Utah Senate takes up anti-gay remarks
The Utah Senate stopped working for about two hours Monday as Republicans privately met to discuss a lawmaker’s recent comments that gay people don’t have morals.
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McCain questions Obama about helicopter at summit (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama never had a helicopter, which he says might explain why he’s perfectly happy with the current White House fleet and doesn’t need a more costly one. At the conclusion of a fiscal summit Monday, Obama faced questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including his former presidential rival, Sen. John McCain.
