The document summarizes key issues and events from President Obama's first 100 days in office. It discusses Obama's domestic agenda including economic stimulus legislation and health care reform. It also outlines Obama's diplomatic efforts including numerous meetings with foreign leaders. Polls showed Obama had a 65% approval rating at 100 days, higher than recent predecessors like Bush and Clinton.
4. “The new president is faced with a troubling paradox after the inaugural ball comes to a close – he is at the height of his popularity precisely when his administrative capacity is at its weakest.” - Kurt Campbell, Center for New American Security
11. Health Care "I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." – President Barack Obama, February 24, 2009
First 100 Days – common time to measure; FDR was benchmark – 15 pieces of legislationCritical too to get team in place and to realize that you might have to break campaign promises (realistically)
What he’s done: Executive Orders – Day 2 of his presidency – Orders the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison; Day 3 – Lifts ban on federal funding for international organizations that perform or provide abortions; March 9 – Obama reverses Bush’s ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research
Bailout:Then Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said any bailout must include plans to recover the money, and protect working families and big financial institutions and be crafted to prevent such a crisis from happening again.Acts of Congress – January 29 – first bill signed, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, making it easier for workers to sue for pay discrimination; February 17 – Obama signs $787 billion economic stimulus package of tax cuts and new spending, intending to jolt country out of worst recession in 50 years; February 26 – Obama unveils $3.6 trillion budget for 2010 (deficit for 2009 = $1.75 trillion); March 11 – Obama signs $410 billion spending bill to keep government running – “imperfect” – includes $ for special projects (campaign promise)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act targets investments towards key areas that will save or create good jobs immediately, while also laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth. The charts and numbers below give you an idea of where the money is going.* Tax Relief - includes $15 B for Infrastructure and Science, $61 B for Protecting the Vulnerable, $25 B for Education and Training and $22 B for Energy, so total funds are $126 B for Infrastructure and Science, $142 B for Protecting the Vulnerable, $78 B for Education and Training, and $65 B for Energy.State and Local Fiscal Relief - Prevents state and local cuts to health and education programs and state and local tax increases.
International conflicts – February 27 – Obama announces withdrawal of all American combat forces from Iraq by August 2010; April 4 - attends NATO summit in France to solicit more support for war in Afghanistan – gets commitment of 5,000 more military trainers and police from allies; April 5 – launches effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons “the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War”
Diplomacy: 2nd Day – went to the State Department to show support for diplomacy;
