HELPING HAITI
The White House issued the following information on how to support relief efforts in Haiti, or get information on loved ones in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Message from the White House:
HOW TO SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS
We are all deeply affected by the devastation in Haiti. Our common humanity demands that we act, as does America’s leadership and deep ties with Haiti. At the request of President Obama, former Presidents Bush and Clinton are coordinating private assistance and urging Americans to help at www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.
• Another way to donate is through texting “Haiti” to 90999. This results in a $10 donation. (The donation will be added to your cell phone bill).
• Or, text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).
• Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information (www.cidi.org).
HOW TO GET INFORMATION ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN HAITI
• The State Department has set up a web page that will serve as a clearinghouse for information on Haiti: state.gov/haitiquake, including a new tool, the “Person Finder,” to allow people to find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti.
• The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti:
1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). You can also send an email to the State Department. Please be aware that communications within Haiti are very difficult at this time.
• The State Department has also partnered with the tech community to launch a free SMS relief information service to help people in Haiti. The text message program allows people with service from Digetel and Voila to text their location and needs to a free short code: “4636.” Whitehouse.gov — The White House website continues to serve as a focal point for information for about the relief effort, including accounting for family and friends in Haiti and contributing to the relief effort.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Massachusetts Sends a Message
After losing his tenuous grip on a filibuster-proof Senate, the President joined his fellow Democrats in debating the next steps for health care reform and other items on his ambitious agenda. The election of underdog candidate, Republican Scott Brown, in heavily Democratic Massachusetts, was deemed a blow to the President and his party. Pundits offered a variety of factors in the stunning loss of Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley for the Senate seat once held by Ted Kennedy. Some said her campaign was weak, and despite a last minute push from Obama, she could not overcome an electorate that did not support her. Others suggested that by denying Democrats the 60 votes they need to pass bills without Republican support, the voters were expressing their dislike of the President’s health care bill. As a result of the election, Democrats went back to the drawing board and Republicans are looking to repeat Brown’s Republican victory in 2010’s mid-term elections.
Want To know What’s Going On at the White House:
“There’s an App for That!”
Citing a 100% increase in mobile phone usage this past year, Administration officials launched the official White House iphone App - - available for free download from the iTunes Store. The App includes live video streams of White House events, press briefings, photos, and live chats with Administration officials.
Tax Delinquent Contractors Can’t Get New Federal Contracts The Administration issued a restriction against new federal contracts for government contractors who fail to pay their taxes. The President explained the necessity of legislation to combat this practice saying:
“Studies by the Government Accountability Office have identified tens of thousands of such dead-beat companies that are being awarded government contracts. One company owner who owed over $1 million in taxes was paid over $1 million as a defense contractor—and instead of using that money to pay his back taxes, he chose to buy a boat, some cars, and a home abroad with his earnings. The total amount owed in unpaid taxes by companies like that is estimated at more than $5 billion.”
Thursday, January 21, 2010
“The Volcker Rule” for Financial Indus try Reform
President Obama proposed what he called “the Volcker Rule,” named after financial reform advocate Paul Volcker. The President says he is determined to prevent the country from again facing the financial upheaval that caused economic turmoil in the nation. Furthermore, he insists banks will be required to pay back federal bailout funds. After meetings with Volcker, Obama stated, “What we’ve seen so far, in recent weeks, is an army of industry lobbyists from Wall Street descending on Capitol Hill to try and block basic and common-sense rules of the road that would protect our economy and the American people.
So if these folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have. And my resolve is only strengthened when I see a return to old practices at some of the very firms fighting reform; and when I see soaring profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms claiming that they can’t lend more to small business, they can’t keep credit card rates low, they can’t pay a fee to refund taxpayers for the bailout without passing on the cost to shareholders or customers – that’s the claims they’re making. It’s exactly this kind of irresponsibility that makes clear reform is necessary.”
Friday, January 22, 2010
The President Visits Lorain County, Ohio – Can Riverside Be Far Behind?
President Obama continued his “White House to Main Street” tour in Lorain County, Ohio where he conducted a town hall in the city of Elyria. The President stated that he will continue his push for health care reform, saying, “I didn’t take up this issue to boost my poll numbers or score political points – believe me, if I were, I would have picked something a lot easier than this. No, I’m trying to solve the problems that folks here in Elyria and across this country face every day. And I am not going to walk away just because it’s hard. We’re going to keep on working to get this done with Democrats, Republicans – anyone who is willing to step up. Because I am not going to watch more people get crushed by costs, or denied the care they need by insurance company bureaucrats, or partisan politics, or special interest power in Washington.”
Monday, January 25, 2010
Obama Prepares for State-of-the-Union Address
The President prepares for his State-of-the-Union Address where he will offer initiatives to aid middle-class families.
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