United States Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geitner, told the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee that Congress should give the government new powers, similar to those of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, to regulate non-banking financial institutions.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa Jackson, put on hold hundreds of mountaintop coal-mining permits until streams and wetlands impact studies can be completed. Barack Obama held his second Presidential News Conference. transcript video
Day64/March 25th/Wednesday: The President went to Capital Hill to meet with Senate Democrats on his proposed budget.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Mexico for talks about the best means for both countries to work together to defeat the violent drug cartels that have brought Mexico to the precipice of a civil war that threatened to spill over into the United States.
Day65/March 26th/Thursday: The President held a “Online Townhall”, the first ever to stream live from the White House, in which he answered questions gleaned from those posted by ordinary United States citizens on the special White House site “Open for Questions”. One of the questions the President addressed was the most popular question, whether marihuana should be legalized and taxed. He thought not:
“I don’t know what this says about the online audience, but…this was a fairly popular question—we wanted to make sure that it was answered—the answer is no. I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.” transcript video
The President announced Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health, Dr. Howard Koh, as his choice to be Assistant Secretary for Health in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Mexico for a second day.
Day66/March 27th/Friday: The President announced 4,000 more troops of the 82nd Airborne will be sent to expand training the Afghan security forces, in addition to the 17,000 combat troops previously approved, and bringing total United States forces to 65,000. The civilian force in Afghanistan will increase by 900, also. transcript video
The President met in the White House with 15 bank CEOs who have been given TARP money. According to an April 3, 2009 article in Politico, written by Eamon Javers, after the 15 repeated their claims that high salaries are needed in order to sucessfully compete for talent in an international marketplace, the President “wasn’t in the mood to hear them out”, stopped the conversation and warned the executives:“My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.”
Eric Holder was sworn in at George Washington University as the 82nd United States Attorney General. Among the President’s remarks:“There are few more important jobs in our nation's government than that of Attorney General. As President, I swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution. And as Eric himself has said, it is the Attorney General who serves as "the guardian of that revered document" that is the basis of our laws and the driving force of our democracy.” Transcript
Day67/March 28th/Saturday: In his Weekly Address, the President assured the residents of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota threatened by rising flood waters: “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assisting in the emergency construction of levees. The Coast Guard is aiding in search and rescue efforts while the Department of Defense is helping to move people and supplies. Members of the National Guard have been activated and are on the scene as well. Hospitals and nursing homes in the area are being evacuated and residents in poor health or with special needs are being transported to higher ground. Teams from the Department of Health and Human Services are aiding in this work. And the Red Cross is in place to provide shelter and supplies for folks in need.” Transcript & Video
The President announced his choices to fill three vacant positions at the United States Treasury.
(1) Helen Elizabeth Garrett, Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy
(2) Michael Barr, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions
(3) George W. Madison, General Counsel
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
