Democrats: Obama gets an A, Republicans an F

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today marks President Obama’s 100th day in office and Democrats congratulated Obama but also took the chance to grade Republicans.

“Someone asked me what mark would I give the president in his first 100 days, I definitely give the president an A,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) also praised the president saying, “President Obama’s leadership has been like that of a world class chef. He is able to keep all these different, complicated, intricate issues cooking at once, giving steady attention to each without letting any of them boil over and so far the American people have
liked what he is serving up.”

During the conference both Democrats and Republicans were voting on the budget blueprint and Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that with the president’s support and signature, good things will come.

“We’re creating and saving millions of jobs for those who face a losing paycheck in the time when they need one the most. With his help we guaranteed equal pay for millions of American workers and guaranteed healthcare for millions of American children. With his leadership we’re cutting taxes for hard working families, we’re investing in affordable healthcare, clean energy and education, and we’re punishing the predators who take advantage of those desperate just to hold on to their homes,” said Reid.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) called the Obama administration’s first 100 days a “model of forceful, coordinated action” and said that Obama has worked with Congress to meet challenges “together.”

“We have not yet seen as positive of a response as all of us would like but all of us including the president, will continue to be reaching across that aisle.... The Republican party by contrast unfortunately has continued to live down to its reputation as the party of no,” said Hoyer.

Reid also expressed his disappointment in the Republicans saying that it would have been good for the country if they had chosen to work with the Democrats and said that Democrats will continue to “extend an open hand across the aisle.”

“We still reserve Republicans a seat at the table. We want together, Democrats and Republicans, to put the jobless back to work, and make sure that those who need care the most can afford to stay healthy. We want to work not as partisans but as partners to preserve the American dream, but what will endure will define this Congress and this presidency is how we will choose to write the next story, the next part of the story of our recovery, of our prosperity and our security,” said Reid.

Schumer said that President Obama has given confidence back to America and that his 100th day doesn’t mark the end to his momentum.

“The president is smart, active, moderate and caring, just what the country needs.... He’s placed this country on the right track and we all look forward to working with him and our colleagues to continue to move the country forward,” concluded Schumer.

The Budget: A "Transformative Package"

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

This afternoon, on the eve of President Obama’s 100th day in office, progressive leaders addressed the budget and how it will improve health care, clean energy and education.

The campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now!, a coalition of 116 national and over 700 state and local progressive, labor and advocacy organizations working together to pass the President’s budget held a press conference this afternoon and said they are confident that Congress will do what is best for the American people, and that is to pass it.

Alan Charney, the Program Director for US Action said that the budget is “transformative.”

“This blueprint totally reverses the failed economic policies of the past and sets us on a road to long term recovery,” said Charney

Tom McMahon, the Acting Executive Director of Americans United for Change criticized the Conservatives and blamed them for leading our nation into one of the most deepest recession in decades.

“Their best and in fact, only prescription for this ailing economy is more and more tax breaks for big corporations that have outsourced American jobs and more tax breaks for multi-millionaires that never manage to trickle down to anyone else and more short change investments in things that will actually grow the economy, like health care and education,” said McMahon.

The coalition members said that a clean energy legislation, health care reform and education are the most pressing issues that they hope the budget will improve.

“Congress now has the choice to stand up for our students and vote for a budget that works or they can continue to play into the pockets of the student lenders,” said Carmen Berkley, the President of the United States Student Association (USSA) and the United States Student Association Foundation (USSAF).

Berkley said that student lenders are ruining credit and dreams of students who are wanting to go to college.

Berkley also said that by eliminating programs that don’t work, like the family federal education loan program, it will put $94 billion more into the Pell grant program for students.

“We know that Congress will make an investment in students this week that works for students and their families,” said Berkley.

Pelosi says budget upholds American principles

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

In the midst of Congressional infighting over the $3.5 trillion budget proposed by Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling it responsible.

Republicans say the budget proposed by Democrats will put the U.S. in ruinous debt with unnecessary spending, and will create no assurance of a return for such a substantial investment.  

“The difference of opinion on these budgets is indeed a difference of principle,” said Pelosi this morning at a press conference.

Pelosi said the proposal provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans, which, she said, will bring more fairness to the tax code.

“It’s about the principle of opportunity,” said Pelosi. When asked what investments for education the budget will bring, Pelosi answered: “It’s about opportunity in education, about fairness in our healthcare, about fairness in the tax code, it’s about security.”

Pelosi said that under her watch, Congress has done more for education than any in one time in U.S. history. 

Pelosi called the Republican budget proposal a “hollow shell of a budget” and that the increase in tax cuts to the wealthy makes an assault on social security benefits, medicare, and medicaid. 

When asked about the how the legislative agenda will continue after the break, Pelosi said Congress have to first “reconcile” the budget. 

Get your bags packed for Cuba

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

“We ought not punish the American people. We ought to have the freedom to travel to Cuba and that is what the Freedom to Travel Act provides,” said Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)

Today in a press conference Senators Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Dorgan introduced The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, S. 428, which would end the current ban on travel by Americans to Cuba. The U.S. government allows Americans to travel almost anywhere in the world except for Cuba, the only exceptions are in time of war between the U.S. and Cuba or imminent danger to the public health or physical safety of U.S. travelers.

“Every time that we have brought up one of these bills there’s a downside to it. The downside to it is that Castro has always done something that really violated human rights and raised the ire of the American people who said ‘how can you possibly eliminate any of the restrictions on Cuba?’ Well that’s exactly why they do those things. They don’t want us to reduce any of those restrictions. They don’t want the inter- operation or inter-communication with American citizens.... That’s what we’re doing with this bill, we’re trying something just a little different and I think it will make a huge impact. It will change Cuba and it will change other of our policies,” said Senator Enzi.

Myron Brilliant, the Senior Vice President of International Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that this act would help elevate our relationships in Latin America and change perceptions of foreign policy around the world. “We have been a long standing opponent of the embargo with Cuba. We see the end of the travel ban as an important first step but ultimately what we want to see is also an end of the trade embargo.... You can continue to count on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to oppose unilateral economic sanctions, they do not wok,” he stated.

Senator Dorgan said that this issue is a failed policy that has failed for 50 years and he is confident that this Act will pass through Congress. “We hope for greater human rights in Cuba. We have no interest in the Castro government except to find a way to replace it at some point in the future so that the Cuban people have the freedoms they deserve,” concluded Dorgan.

“Cuba has consistently stood out as the one country in the western hemisphere that represses nearly all forms of political dissent..... The dismal state of human rights in Cuba has not improved since the hand over of power from Fidel to Raul Castro.... We urge the U.S. government to use this bill’s introduction to begin a broader re-evaluation and reform of its polices toward Cuba,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Executive Director of the Americas Divison of Human Rights Watch.