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After hearing the President reference her school, the 110-year-old J.V. Martin Junior High School in South Carolina, in his first White House news conference, 8th-grader Ty’Sheoma Bethea wrote a letter pleading with lawmakers to address the dire situation the President described.
Tonight Ty’Sheoma will attend the President's first address to a joint session of Congress as a guest in First Lady Michelle Obama's box in the House of Representatives.
Leonard Abess Jr., a banker in Miami who shared $60 million in profits with his employees, will also attend, along with Geneva Lawson -- one of the recipients of Abess's generosity.
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Bringing relief to the battered region of Darfur is a top priority for the administration, the President and Vice President assured the actor and activist George Clooney last night.In separate meetings with President Obama and Vice President Biden, Clooney told them what he saw on his recent trip to Eastern Chad."We saw an awful lot of fear," Clooney told Larry King last night of his visit to the region. "There was [also] a tremendous amount of hope."After six years of fighting, it’s estimated that 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.7 million displaced in the Darfur region of Sudan.
White House photo 2/23/09 by Sharon Farmer -
The first dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are going out in just two days -- Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 -- in the form of federal support for state medicaid payments.
But the impact is already being felt well beyond that. Just today, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak announced that he was prepared to swallow hard and make significant cuts to public works and public safety. Thanks to the ARRA, he won't have to:
"Now let’s turn to Police. If the Governor’s cuts were passed on directly to the Police Department, it would have led to the elimination of 57 sworn police officer positions and 19 non sworn employees. We will not have to do that because of two factors. First, working with Chief Dolan, we are proposing elimination of $1.5 million in non personnel costs, including overtime.
"Second the federal Recovery Act’s one time public safety grants arrived just in time. President Obama said he would help cities keep police officers on the job and he has delivered. Because of this funding I will be proposing no personnel cuts in the Police Department. Next time someone asks you what the Recovery Act will do, start by telling them it will keep 57 police officers working on the streets of Minneapolis."
And in Oregon, the funds dedicated to overhauling our energy grid are already spurring investment in green jobs:
"The Bonneville Power Administration will start building a 79-mile, $246 million electrical transmission line this spring along the Columbia River that the agency says will create 700 construction jobs.
"The regional power agency said it is going forward with the project, which has been on hold since 2002, because the stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama raises the BPA's borrowing authority by $3.25 billion. Its current borrowing authority is $4.4 billion.
" 'The recovery package allows expansion plans of this magnitude,' said Steve Wright, the BPA administrator."
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This is big -- the President today promised that by the end of his first term, he will cut in half the massive federal deficit we've inherited. And we'll do it in a new way: honestly and candidly."This will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult decisions and face challenges we've long neglected," President Obama said. "But I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay -- and that means taking responsibility right now, in this administration, for getting our spending under control."Before we turn this boat around, we've got to acknoweldge how deep underwater we are:"For too long, our budget process in Washington has been an exercise in deception -- a series of accounting tricks to hide the extent of our spending and the shortfalls in our revenue and hope that the American people won't notice.... budgeting zero dollars for the Iraq war -- zero -- for future years, even when we knew the war would continue; budgeting no money for natural disasters, as if we would ever go 12 months without a single flood, fire, hurricane or earthquake.""We do ourselves no favors by hiding the truth about what we spend," the President said. "In order to address our fiscal crisis, we're going to have to be candid about its scope."As the summit concluded, the President took questions and comments from the assembled members of Congress and the business and non-profit communities. He started with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who emphasized the need to cut excess from defense spending -- citing as an example reports that the two-year-old plan to overhaul the fleet of Marine One helicopters had gone significantly over-budget."We all know how large the defense budget is," Sen. McCain said. "We all know that the cost overruns -- your helicopter is now going to cost as much as Air Force One. I don't think that there's any more graphic demonstration of how good ideas have cost taxpayers an enormous amount of money...[W]e have to make some tough decisions -- you, Mr. President, have to make some tough decisions about not only what we procure, but how we procure it.""The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me. Of course, I've never had a helicopter before -- maybe I've been deprived and I didn't know it," the President joked, before continuing with a more serious response. "But I think it is an example of the procurement process gone amuck. And we're going to have to fix it....One of the promising things is I think Secretary Gates shares our concern and he recognizes that simply adding more and more does not necessarily mean better and better, or safer and more secure."
White House photos 2/23/09 by Pete Souza -
Over at the State Department’s Dipnote blog, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher R. Hill wraps up Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip to Asia discussing a town hall at Ewha University in Seoul. He describes the scene last week: "Thousands of students showed up -- despite the fact that they're on winter break -- to ask the Secretary everything from what her priorities were as Secretary of State to how she's managed to balance the demands of career and family."The picture he posts is great:
Secretary Clinton gave an impassioned call to continue defending and advancing women’s rights around the world, condemning recent brutality in Afghanistan and elsewhere. During the Q&A session she had an interesting exchange about her role dealing with foreign leaders as a woman:QUESTION: You spoke a lot about being a woman and how women are a necessity to the world right now. How has -- especially being a mother. How has it been dealing with other world leaders who aren’t as accepting of the role of women for example, in different countries who don’t really respect women? How has that been trying to get them to cooperate with you as a female yourself?SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I don’t feel like I’ve had any problems either as a senator or in my short tenure as Secretary of State, because I hold an official position and I represent the -- in the first case, the United States Senate, or in this case, as the representative of the United States. So there is a funny kind of difference that sometimes goes on in some countries that are not particularly supportive of women in official positions. I think they just kind of ignore the fact that they’re dealing with someone who’s a woman. That seems to be almost a change that goes on in their mind.So I don’t have any problems with that, but I do believe that it’s important for someone in my position to raise the role of women on an ongoing basis, even in countries where women are not given full and equal rights. So I don’t think it’s enough that people deal with me; I want them to deal with their own women, I want them to think about giving all women the rights to be fully functioning, productive citizens. So that is part of the mission that I feel I carry as the Secretary of State of the United States, and that’s what I intend to promote as I travel around the world talking about a lot of these important matters that are really at the core of the kind of future we’re going to have for ourselves and our children. (Applause.) -
Last night, the President and First Lady hosted their first state dinner -- a reception for the nation's governors in the State Dining Room.
Before the dinner, First Lady Michelle Obama met with some students of the local L'Academie de Cuisine and introduced them to Cris Comerford, the White House Executive Chef, and Bill Yosses, the head pastry chef.
"When you grow something yourself and it's close and it's local, oftentimes it tastes really good," Mrs. Obama said. "And when you're dealing with kids, for example, you want to get them to try that carrot. Well, if it tastes like a real carrot and it's really sweet, they're going to think that it's a piece of candy. So my kids are more inclined to try different vegetables if they're fresh and local and delicious."
Fun fact: the President loves scallops.
Students from L'Academie de Cuisine, White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, First Lady Michelle Obama, and White House pastry chef Bill Yosses. White House photo 2/22/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian. -
We put together a short video with some highlights from the President's first foreign trip. On the one-day trip to Ottawa last week, he met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and laid the groundwork for new cooperation on the economy and climate change.
Take a look.
Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.White House photo by Pete Souza -
$15 billion of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be available in just two days, the President announced this morning, just a week after the act was signed into law."By the time most of you get home; money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health care coverage," he told a gathering of the nation's governors in the State Dining Room of the White House. "Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won't need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won't have to worry about the health of their babies."But as with all the money in the ARRA, it's "not a blank check," the President said. (Learn more about the grant-making process.) He hammered it home by announcing that he's tasked Vice President Biden to oversee the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and that he's named Earl Devaney to keep an eye on every dollar as head of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board.A former Secret Service agent, Devaney has worked since 1999 as the Inspector General of the Interior Department, where he exposed the Abramoff scandals and a deep culture of corruption among Bush officials and appointees."For nearly a decade as Inspector General at the Interior Department, Earl has doggedly pursued waste, fraud and mismanagement," the President said, "and Joe and I can't think of a more tenacious and efficient guardian of the hard-earned tax dollars the American people have entrusted us to wisely invest."He looks like an inspector," he added. "He's tough."The appointment of Devaney follows on a tough memo from OMB director Peter Orszag to the heads of federal departments and agencies, explaining the high standards that are expected of them in reporting use of ARRA funds.
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Two important takeaways from the President's Weekly Address this morning.
#1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will start having an impact as soon as a few weeks from now, in the form of the quickest and broadest tax cut in history:
"Because of what we did, 95% of all working families will get a tax cut -- in keeping with a promise I made on the campaign. And I’m pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks -- meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans."#2, once the economy has recovered and we’ve laid the groundwork for a sustainable future, the President is committed to taking on the massive deficits we inherited:
"That work begins on Monday, when I will convene a fiscal summit of independent experts and unions, advocacy groups and members of Congress to discuss how we can cut the trillion-dollar deficit that we’ve inherited. On Tuesday, I will speak to the nation about our urgent national priorities, and on Thursday, I’ll release a budget that’s sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and that lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don’t, and restoring fiscal discipline."Watch the full address and read the text below.
Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.White House photo 2/20/09 by Pete Souza
SATURDAY, February 21, 2009
WEEKLY ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE NATIONTHE PRESIDENT: Earlier this week, I signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- the most sweeping economic recovery plan in history. Because of this plan, 3.5 million Americans will now go to work doing the work that America needs done.I'm grateful to Congress, governors and mayors across the country, and to all of you whose support made this critical step possible.Because of what we did together, there will now be shovels in the ground, cranes in the air, and workers rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, and repairing our faulty levees and dams.Because of what we did, companies -- large and small -- that produce renewable energy can now apply for loan guarantees and tax credits and find ways to grow, instead of laying people off; and families can lower their energy bills by weatherizing their homes.Because of what we did, our children can now graduate from 21st century schools and millions more can do what was unaffordable just last week -- and get their college degree.Because of what we did, lives will be saved and health care costs will be cut with new computerized medical records.Because of what we did, there will now be police on the beat, firefighters on the job, and teachers preparing lesson plans who thought they would not be able to continue pursuing their critical missions. And ensure that all of this is done with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability, I have assigned a team of managers to make sure that precious tax dollars are invested wisely and well.Because of what we did, 95 percent of all working families will get a tax cut -- in keeping with a promise I made on the campaign. And I'm pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks -- meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans.But as important as it was that I was able to sign this plan into law, it is only a first step on the road to economic recovery. And we can't fail to complete the journey. That will require stemming the spread of foreclosures and falling home values, and doing all we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes, which is exactly what the housing plan I announced last week will help us do.It will require stabilizing and repairing our banking system, and getting credit flowing again to families and businesses. It will require reforming the broken regulatory system that made this crisis possible, and recognizing that it's only by setting and enforcing 21st century rules of the road that we can build a thriving economy.And it will require doing all we can to get exploding deficits under control as our economy begins to recover. That work begins on Monday, when I will convene a fiscal summit of independent experts and unions, advocacy groups and members of Congress, to discuss how we can cut the trillion-dollar deficit that we've inherited. On Tuesday, I will speak to the nation about our urgent national priorities. And on Thursday, I'll release a budget that's sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't, and restoring fiscal discipline.No single piece of this broad economic recovery can, by itself, meet the demands that have been placed on us. We can't help people find work or pay their bills unless we unlock credit for families and businesses. We can't solve our housing crisis unless we help people find work so that they can make payments on their homes. We can't produce shared prosperity without firm rules of the road, and we can't generate sustained growth without getting our deficits under control. In short, we cannot successfully address any of our problems without addressing them all. And that is exactly what the strategy we are pursuing is designed to do.None of this will be easy. The road ahead will be long and full of hazards. But I am confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overcome this crisis. And if we do, our economy -- and our country -- will be better and stronger for it.Thank you. -
First Lady Michelle Obama continued her tour of her new neighborhood today with a visit to the Department of Transportation."The economic recovery plan is making the largest investment in our nation's infrastructure since the interstate highways were created in the 1950s. It's time," she said. "It will repair and rebuild highways, expand access to public transportation, which we all need; invest in high speed rail, which we all need; and improve our nation's airports."So that's why your management, the work that you're doing here in Transportation to manage the investments in the economic recovery plan, is so very important," she added later. "There is a lot of work to do."
White House photos 2/20/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian -
Today Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked during the White House press briefing about criticism of President Obama’s housing plan from some talking heads and Wall Street pundits, who have claimed baselessly that the plan is geared towards helping irresponsible home buyers at the expense of others."[T]he American people are struggling every day to meet their mortgage, stay in their job, pay their bills, to send their kids to school, and to hope that they don't get sick or that somebody they care for gets sick and sends them into bankruptcy," said Gibbs. "I think we said a few months ago the adage that if it was good for a derivatives trader that it was good for Main Street. I think the verdict is in on that."Gibbs reiterated the President’s explanation of how this plan will help responsible homeowners, who are struggling to make their payments in a tough economy and who have seen their home values plummet, through refinancing and standardized loan modifications. Then he ended any misconceptions:"Here's what this plan won't do: It won't help somebody trying to flip a house. It won't bail out an investor looking to make a quick buck. It won't help speculators that were betting on a risky market. And it is not going to help a lender who knowingly made a bad loan. And it is not going to help -- as the President said in Phoenix, it is not going to help somebody who has long ago known they were in a house they couldn't afford. That's why the President was very clear in saying this was not going to stop every person's home from being foreclosed."And just as HUD Secretary Donovan argued in this space this afternoon, Gibbs said Americans need to learn about the plan and see if they can take part: "every American with a mortgage payment should call their lender and see if they can refinance right now."We have done our best to help homeowners get that information, and Gibbs encouraged everybody who might be able to get help – along with anybody else who wants to learn more about it -- to read the plain-spoken documents posted prominently here over the past few days:
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On Wednesday the President announced the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan -- we asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to come and explain the planThe President has talked about the solution to this economic crisis as a stool with several legs, and his commitment to a comprehensive approach was clear when he moved from the first leg, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, immediately into the second and third legs, the Financial Stability Plan and the Mortgage Affordability Plan. This started as a mortgage crisis, and then a credit crisis, but it’s become a job crisis, so we have to take it on all at once.We estimate that the plan we’ve developed should help as many as nine million homeowners, and the effects could start kicking in heavily in March. But that also depends on homeowners knowing how to take advantage of the program – if you are struggling to keep up with your payments, or if you’re now "under water" and having trouble refinancing because you’ve seen your home value fall, take a look at the Q & A we put together on whether you qualify and how to get help.Lots of people who played by the rules will be benefiting from this plan, in a couple different ways. Through refinancing and loan modifications with clear guidelines, along with new opportunities for people going through bankruptcy to get back on their feet, millions of people can get to a place where paying their mortgage every month is realistic again. A third part of the plan is $200 billion as a backstop to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, who issue more than 2/3 of the mortgages in this country, and those will go only go to people with good credit.Now, as tragic as this has been, we believe that there are some who shouldn’t be helped in this plan. Some homeowners simply went well beyond their means, some bought additional property as a risky investment – these people will not be eligible for this plan.Lenders have to have skin in the game here too. We worked hard to find the right balance between incentives for all parties – the government, lenders, and borrowers -- to take part, while ensuring that everybody also pulls their weight. We also required any lender engaged in the broader Financial Stability plan to take part. As the President was about to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he said, "if we are willing to continue doing the critical work that must be done -- by each of us, by all of us -- then we will leave this struggling economy behind us, and come out on the other side, more prosperous as a people." That’s the principle we tried to build from in designing this plan.
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"We must ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated," President Obama said in a statement today, announcing the extension of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding and his decision to send two cabinet members to the region.Homeland Security Secretrary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan are heading to the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in early March to evaluate firsthand the progress that's been made and assess the region's needs."The residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast who are helping rebuild are heroes who believe in their communities and they are succeeding despite the fact that they have not always received the support they deserve from the Federal government," the President said. "This executive order is a first step of a sustained commitment by my Administration to rebuild now, stronger than ever."Some important facts:
- This August will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
- Mardi Gras is this Tuesday, Feb. 24.
- New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin was among 85 mayors gathered this morning at the White House
More at NOLA.com. -
"You're on the front lines," President Obama told a gathering of 85 mayors in the East Room of the White House this morning.
Mayors and governors have to keep balanced budgets, so they are familiar with the pain that comes with making cuts that broad and deep, he said.
And when that happens, people "turn to the mayor's office for help."
That's why the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides much needed assistance to states, cities, and towns that are in desperate need of it to keep from making major cuts in essential services, and to save jobs.But more than that, by investing in health care, education, and infrastructure, the ARRA will "make our metropolitan areas more livable and sustainable."
In return, the President said he expects an unprecedented level of vigilance in making sure the money from the act is spent efficiently and wisely.
"We can't tolerate business as usual -- not in Washington, not in our state capitals, not in our cities and towns."
White House photos 2/20/09 by Pete Souza -
The President has said often that no one better understands the need for an economic recovery package than the leaders of our nation's communities -- county leaders, mayors, and governors.With that in mind, the President and Vice President will be addressing more than 80 mayors from across the country in the White House this morning.The event starts at 10:30, and we'll be streaming it live, so check back soon.
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Building gardens at USDA facilities all over the world is "a very good thing," First Lady Michelle Obama said on a visit to the Department of Agriculture today, for the example it sets for communities around the world. And she had kind words for Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has been leading that effort.She even brought a gift to help the garden at Agriculture's headquarters get started -- a seedling from the Jackson magnolia tree on the South Portico of the White House, planted by President Jackson in honor of his wife, Rachel, who passed right before they moved into the White House."I hope that this seedling brings years of joy and beauty to the garden that will be planted here, in the same way it has brought beauty to the White House for 180 years," she said.White House photo 2/19/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian -
The United States is prepared to chart a new course on foreign policy, Vice President Joe Biden said today at the swearing in of new CIA Director Leon Panetta -- a man he said has "the experience, the independence and the judgment to lead this agency," and to help it depart dramatically from the legacy of the last eight years."[President Obama] issued an executive order to reverse the policies that -- in my view and the view of many in this agency -- caused America to fall short of its founding principles, and which gave al Qaeda a powerful recruiting tool," Vice President Biden said before administering the oath. "As a result of these orders, we will close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. We will have a single standard across the government for interrogation in armed conflict. And we'll ensure the Red Cross access to all those who are detained in armed conflict."He called on the new Director to "harness the energy and idealism and capacity of a whole new generation of intelligence professionals" -- and to those agency employees assembled at the event, he expressed gratitude and admiration.
White House photos 2/19/09 by Sharon Farmer -
President Obama is on his first foreign trip today -- to Ottawa, Canada's capital city. He'll meet with Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Leader of the Official Opposition Michael Ignatieff, as well as US Embassy employees and their families. White House New Media staffer Jason Djang is along for the ride and will be liveblogging from the road.9:12 a.m.: Just loaded press bus bound for Parliament. We landed ahead of AF1 and will get to Parliament ahead of POTUS, so no reports on him. Ottawa is white, and the snow’s still coming down. Police are on snowmobiles. About to head out.9:20 a.m.: Canal Rideau is frozen over, and there are people ice skating on it.9:25 a.m.: Alternating U.S. + Canadian flags line the street in front of Parliament. Parliament itself is beautiful. It's early yet, but a crowd is already forming outside to steal a glimpse of the President.10:33 a.m.: As per the pool report, AF1 has just touched down on the frozen runway. Taxing to position. Royal Canadian mounted police (RCMP) are marching to the foot of stairs.10:35 a.m.: (Ed. note: Looks like Canada's National Post is liveblogging, too. Check it out.)10:36 a.m.: POTUS is greeted by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, His Excellency Jean-Danielle Lafond, US Charge d’Affaires ad interim Terry Breese, and Canadian Ambassador to the US, Michael Wilson on the tarmac before a line of Royal Mounted Police in their traditional red uniforms. Sans horses.11:32 a.m.: After an extended meeting with Governor General Michaëlle Jean, the President is en route to Parliament.11:43 a.m.: 10 alternating U.S. and Canadian flags and six MPs (Members of Parliament) await the President in the Parliament rotunda. Loud cheers can be heard out front as the motorcade pulls in.11:47 a.m.: POTUS enters and meets MPs and signs the Parliament guest books (big books). Lots of smiles. Departs with Prime Minister Stephen Harper for private meeting.2:27 p.m.: The President and Prime Minister are wrapping up a closed-door working lunch. They should be coming out to talk a bit pretty soon.2:42 p.m.: The President and PM are about to begin a joint press conference in the Parliament Reading Room. Murals of Canadian enterprise and industry adorn the high walls. Each event today boasts an exponential increase in the number of flags.2:52 p.m.: PM remarks on the new chapter on U.S.-Canadian relations. Priorities:1. Close cooperation on addressing the economic crisis
2. New clean energy dialogue
3. Shared international priorities2:54 p.m.: President's turn. Emphasizes the two nations' commitment to work for peace, prosperity, and human rights, as well as addressing climate change.3:06 p.m.: Q&A now. POTUS, on climate change: "This is not just a U.S. issue or a Canadian issue, it's a worldwide issue that we're going to have to confront...we can save consumers money, we can save businesses money...as two relatively wealthy countries, it's important for us to show leadership in this area...right now there are no silver bullets to solve this problem, which is why sharing research, sharing ideas, is so important."3:11 p.m.: On NAFTA and global trade, POTUS: "As one of the largest economies in the world, it's important for us to be showing leadership."PM: "The trade challenges we face in North America are common trade challenges, they're not problems between our countries."3:27 p.m.: PM: "Threats to the United States are threats to Canada."3:31 p.m.: POTUS closes on a lighter note: "Want to thank the Canadians who came over the border to campaign for me."3:38 p.m.: That'll do it. President exits down the gothic Hall of Honor, wrapping up a productive day. Cheering crowds send him off.6:39 p.m.: Photos by White House photographer Pete Souza.{SLIDESHOW|87}
(View larger images)9:13 a.m.: (Ed. note: Looks like we weren't the only ones with this cool idea. The Vancouver Sun, The Globe and Mail, and the CBC were liveblogging, too -- each has a replay available this morning.) -
"Did you know that African American slaves helped to build this house?" First Lady Michelle Obama asked a group 6th and 7th graders on a visit to the White House Wednesday, an event celebrating African American History Month. She asked them a few more trivia questions, too, before ceding the floor to Sweet Honey in the Rock, an African American female a cappella group.As she has before when meeting with young people, the First Lady emphasized the potential that every individual has to succeed and the importance of looking to good role models. She highlighted the example of the White House's Director of the Executive Residence and Chief Usher, Rear Admiral Stephen W. Rochon, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2007."Each and every day the Admiral and his staff, who run this beautiful house, demonstrate the highest level of professionalism," the First Lady said. "It's amazing to watch them. They do their jobs with pride and grace. And that's one thing I hope that you all pick up, is the level of pride and grace that you put into anything you do. They work very hard to make the White House a warm family home and a great presidential residence commanding pride and respect throughout this country and around the world."
White House photos 2/18/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian -
Just looking at Recovery.gov, it might not be immediately clear what an enormous undertaking it will be to ensure that the transparency and accountability that the President expects will be upheld. It's going to require an unprecedented level of vigilance, a fundamental shift in the way the federal government spends your tax dollars, from the Oval Office down to every department and agency awarding funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.That's why Peter Orszag, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has sent a memo to the heads of those departments and agencies, explaining what's expected of them and offering advice for how to meet those high standards.According to the memo, agencies will be expected to provide data which demonstrates that:
- Funds are awarded and distributed in a prompt, fair, and reasonable manner;
- The recipients and uses of all funds are transparent to the public, and the public benefits of these funds are reported clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner;
- Funds are used for authorized purposes and instances of fraud, waste, error, and abuse are mitigated;
- Projects funded under this Act avoid unnecessary delays and cost overruns; and
- Program goals are achieved, including specific program outcomes and improved results on broader economic indicators.
Watch all the musical acts
