Reply #80: That purposefully vague statement is not proof of what you're saying; it's polite persuasion.

[ClarkUSA]

There was plenty in HCR that were ideas from Democrats like Bernie Sanders, so much so that not one Republican voted for it.

<<Reagan gets idolized these days (as does Obama actually)>>

Prove it. This is yet another example of your persistently false characterizations of the President.


The following accomplishments by President Obama in the past 15 months were not "GOP ideas" either:

~ Passing the "largest" economic stimulus bill in American history.
~ Ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay military detention facility and abolishing "enhanced interrogation techniques"; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
~ "Returning science to its rightful place" by lifting the Bush restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
~ Signing laws to expand children's health insurance (financed by a 61-cent per pack increase in the federal cigarette tax the adviser did not tout).
~ Signing a law meant to improve the ability of women who allege pay discrimination to sue their employer.
~ Diminishing the role of lobbyists in the White House
~ "Forge a meaningful statement from the United Nations" criticizing North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile.
~ Lifting travel and remittance restrictions for Cuban Americans who seek to travel more frequently to the island and send more US currency to their immediate family.
~ Appointed the first Latina to the US Supreme Court
~ Engaging world leaders in Europe, Turkey, Latin American and the Caribbean with "strength and humility."
~ Passed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 in February - has played a key role in turnaround of economy over the last 3 quarters
~ $90 billion invested in clean energy economy of the future - jobs, lower dependence on foreign oil, enhance national security, clean environment
~ $10.5 billion investment in modernization of national electric grid
~ $18 billion for upgrades & modernization of public transport systems, including new high speed rail
~ $23 billion investment incentives to small businesses
~ Over $1billion in job training grants for jobs in new clean energy sectors
~ Tax credits to stimulate development of clean energy manufacturing - wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries, etc
~ Distributed education grants to US states, to keep teachers in schools
~ $1 billion investment in advancing use of cutting edge Health IT - By 2014, HIT will be made available to 100,000 hospitals & physicians & thousands of people trained for careers in HIT & health care, from nurses and pharmacy techs to IT technicians and trainers.
~ $650 million for Communities Putting Prevention to Work, public health program to address obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking.
~ Subsidized extended COBRA benefits for unemployed
~ Passed the largest middle-class tax cut in history - $288 billion
~ Dept of Transportation claims 52,000 jobs were saved
~ Guided GM & Chrysler through bankruptcy
~ Passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
~ Passed the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009
~ Passed the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights Act of 2009
~ Passed Ryan White CARE Act of 2009 - repealed HIV entry ban
~ Approved California's adoption of car emission standards for cleaner air & climate control - had been blocked by President Bush for 6 years
~ Launched the White House Food Safety Working Group - initiative to modernize the US food safety systems & better protect Americans w
~ Lived up to campaign promise & helped file the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009, which
~ Repeal tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas & replace with incentives to create jobs in USA
~ Crack down on US citizens & companies using offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes -22,000 parties identified & $210 billion in back taxes and penalties to be collected over next 10 years
~ Collected $780 million fine from UBS for offshore banking violation
~ Cracked down on high level of financial losses from across-the-board fraud & abuse of Medicare (estimated $600 billion lost over last decade from inattention to Medicare fraud)
~ January 2010 National Summit on Health Care Fraud
~ New inter-agency Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) introduced
~ 5 new Strike Force Teams added in 5 new cities - 13 more to be added in 2011 (Strike Force teams have collected $250 million in restitutions, fines & penalties since 2008)
~ Expanded Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program - $13.1 billion has been returned to Medicare
~ 7 new Obama initiatives, starting in 2010/2011 will generate a further $15 billion in savings for Medicare over next 10 years
~ Successful completion of largest pharmaceutical fraud case awards Medicare $2.5 billion from Pfizer
~ January 2010 launch of nation's first Health Security Strategy - comprehensive strategy to protect Americans' health during a national emergency
~ Sharply Limits Mountaintop Mining
~ New CAFE rules
~ Signed START treaty with Russia
~ Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
~ Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
~ Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
~ Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
~ 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
~ The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
~ Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
~ Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
~ Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
~ Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
~ Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
~ Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
~ Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
~ New federal funding for science and research labs
~ States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
~ Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
~ New funds for school construction
~ The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
~ US Auto industry rescue plan
~ Housing rescue plan
~ 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
~ The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
~ Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
~ The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
~ Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
~ Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
~ Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
~ Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
~ Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones.
~ Expanding vaccination programs
~ Closed offshore tax safe havens
~ Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
~ 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
~ Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
~ Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
~ Lower drug costs for seniors
~ 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
~ Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
~ Improved housing for military personnel
~ Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
~ Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
~ Increasing student loans
~ Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
~ 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
~ Established a new cyber security office
~ 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.
~ Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
~ Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
~ Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
~ Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
~ Improving benefits for veterans
~ Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
~ Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
~ The FDA is now regulating tobacco
~ Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
~ Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
~ Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
~ Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
~ Making more loans available to small businesses
~ Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
~ Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
~ Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
~ New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
~ Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
~ Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
~ Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
~ Held first Seder in White House
~ Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform