Obama weighing executive actions on housing, gays and other issues

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

President Obama is considering a series of new executive actions aimed at working around a recalcitrant Congress, including policies that could allow struggling homeowners to refinance their mortgages, provide new protections for gays and lesbians, make buildings more energy-efficient and toughen regulations for coal-fired power plants, according to people outside the White House involved in discussions on the issues.

One of the first orders is expected this week, when the Obama administration will call for the creation of new standards on what critical private-sector companies should do to protect their computer systems from hackers.

The moves underscore Obama’s increasingly aggressive use of executive authority, including 23 administrative actions on gun violence last month and previous orders that delayed deportations of young illegal immigrants and will lower student loan payments.

These and other potential actions suggest that Obama is likely to rely heavily on executive powers to set domestic policy in his second term. One White House official said that while the president does not see the actions as substitutes for more substantial legislation, he also wants to move forward on top priorities.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-weighing-executive-actions-on-housing-gays-and-other-issues/2013/02/10/e966cc06-7065-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_singlePage.html

[meeshrox]

1. K&R!

[babylonsister]

2. Good! Recommend. Even if it's shot down, this will point out

the recalcitrant Congress to anyone who's not already aware of what's going on.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. "Obama’s increasingly aggressive use of executive authority"

yet to date, he's used this tool the least of any of the modern Presidents (his predecessor having issued over 800 signing statements and 291 E.O.s alone) so the characterization is ridiculous.



http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/obama-executive-orders-guns.html

[obama2terms]

4. Yay!

I am especially thrilled about the announcement about the e.o.s for gays and lesbians. Of course we don't know what they are yet, but after what the Pres. said in his inaugural address I wondered if he was actually going to follow through on that one. He's done a lot for LGBT people, but now that he has a 2nd term there's so much more he can (hopefully) do.

[uriel1972]

5. It would be good to see protections applied for LGBT people

I will credit him for the things he's done, it will be interesting to see if the talk is followed by concrete action.

[Socal31]

8. Not just "good." Imperative.

Failing to push real legislation by issuing weak EOs that could be un-done in 4 years is just a way to be able to say he did something.

As much as the RW Jesus freaks like to pretend Obama is a Kenyan Muslim, he receives a lot of pressure from his religious Xtian connections to dance around REAL equal rights for Americans.

I personally believe he is counting on the SCOTUS to uphold the 9th Circuit's ruling on Prop 8, and find DOMA unconstitutional as well. The arguments are back to back this Spring.

Big year for American rights. What the SCOTUS does or does not do in 2-4 days where decisions are finalized, will be much more than Congress or any EO can do until at least after mid-terms.

Fingers crossed.

[uriel1972]

9. I am the master of understatement...

/sigh I am just not convinced that the President will go the "Whole Hog" and disappointed in that regard. However anything is better than nothing, I guess. I don't have high expectations.

[obama2terms]

10. Yep

I really hope so

[Tx4obama]

6. Kick! n/t

[apocalypsehow]

7. Good.