So far in this discussion, no one has said a good thing about Obama.
Just his first term:
Legislative Prowess.
Despite the characterizations of some, Obamas success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnsons success rate in 1965 was only 93%.
CQ: Obama's Winning Streak On Hill Unprecedented : NPR
Fiscal Responsibility.
Within days after taking office, Obama signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse.
Executive Order -- Economy in Government Contracting | The White House
Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money.
Obama Names Chief Performance Officer : NPR
On his first full day, he froze White House salaries.
msnbc: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward.
He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.
http://www.cio.gov
He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system.
Gates announces major Pentagon priority shifts - CNN.com http://bit.ly/fz8GAd
Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
President orders debt panel, names chairmen - Feb. 18, 2010
Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression.
Obama pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the stimulus package, despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act.
http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk
In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%.
UPDATE 2-US stimulus added up to 2.1 mln jobs in Q4 2009-CBO | Reuters
Obama completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs.
http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS TARP Might Make Money - 24/7 Wall St.
He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan.
Making Home Affordable
Obama oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years.
It?s Official: More Private Sector Jobs Created In 2010 Than During Entire Bush Years | NEWS JUNKIE POST
He oversaw a bailout of General Motors that saved at least 1.4 million jobs, and put pressure on the company to change its practices, resulting in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world.
General Motors is world's sales leader - Los Angeles Times
Obama also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency.
The Obameter: Double funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiency | PolitiFact
He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown.
Obama Signs Housing and Fraud Bill, Praises Congress for ?Most Productive? Period - ABC News
Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.
Fact Sheet: Reforms to Protect American Credit Card Holders | The White House
He increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect.
Poll: Americans Strongly Back Increase in Infrastructure Spending - US News
Obama signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market.
President Obama Signs 'Helping Families Save Their Homes' Act | Zillow Blog
Through the Worker, Home Ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, Obama and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.
http://bit.ly/dZgXXw The Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Program (Military Edition)
He initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
Remarks by the President to small business owners community lenders and members of Congress | The White House
Obama created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.)
BusinessUSA | Discover. Connect. Grow.
He played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.
http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5
Obama took steps to improve minority access to capital.
The Obameter: Increase minority access to capital | PolitiFact
He created a $60 billion bank to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges.
The Obameter: Create a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridges | PolitiFact
He implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs.
Obama unveils plan to help U.S. auto industry_English_Xinhua Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest.
Obama saved the auto industry and the economy of the Midwest. Do voters care? | New Republic
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Obama saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost.
Archived: Recovery Act Recipients Report Funding Continues to Support over 300,000 Education Jobs
Obama dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby moving forward to cut ties between energy companies and the government.
http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu
He provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.
The Obameter: Increase funding for local emergency planning | PolitiFact
He used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan.
msnbc: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward.
Obama crafted an Executive order establishing the Presidents Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
Executive Order 13530 - Wikisource, the free online library
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection.
Obama ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money.
Pay Czar Cuts Salaries For 65 Bailout Executives
He pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression.
Senate passes massive Wall Street regulation bill - Salon.com American Rhetoric: Barack Obama - Speech on Signing the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Dodd-Frank also included the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
Obama made it so that banks could no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers interests.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
He supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Obama wholly endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes.
President Obama Statement on Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 « Financial Transparency Coalition Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 « Financial Transparency Coalition
He made a deal with Swiss banks that permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders.
Swiss, U.S. Reach Agreement in UBS Tax Evasion Dispute
He established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Obama oversaw and then signed the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.
http://thedc.com/gxkCtP
Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination.
Obama advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
Obama signs hate crimes bill into law - CNN.com
He pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory Dont Ask Dont Tell policy that forced soldiers to lie to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.
Obama signs repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' policy - CNN.com Dr. Frank Thomas Highlights King Celebration at Governors State
Obama appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
Vice President Joe Biden Announces Kareem Dale As Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy | The White House
Helped Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act.
H.R.586: Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
He extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Presidential Memorandum-Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Federal Employees | The White House
Obama has appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history.
Obama has appointed most U.S. gay officials - Washington Times
He issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other.
Presidential Memorandum - Hospital Visitation | The White House
He established a White House Council on Women and Girls
http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM
He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.
President Obama Signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - YouTube
Obama wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families.
http://bit.ly/e1puTk
He expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
2010 Budget and Performance Summary - Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
Under Obamas watch, National Labor Relations Board has issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011.
Board issues Final Rule to require posting of NLRA rights | NLRB
Fighting Poverty.
Obama provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps).
Food Stamps News - The New York Times
He signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs.
New White House Office to Redefine Urban Policy
Improved Foreign Relations and American Status Abroad.
Obama visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office.
Chain e-mail claims Obama has visited more countries in first six months of presidency than predecessors | PolitiFact
As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.
http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g
He did much to restore Americas reputation around the world as a global leader that does the right thing in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the planet.
Highlights from 2009 Pulse of Europe Survey | Pew Global Attitudes Project 2010 Pew Global Attitudes Press Conference Video | Pew Global Attitudes Project
He re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues.
Afghanistan and NATO | The White House
Closed a number of secret detention facilities.
http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l
Obama improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys.
http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe
He pushed for military to emphasize development of foreign language skills.
The Obameter: Bolster the military's ability to speak different languages | PolitiFact
Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.
Obama offers Abbas $400m in extra aid for Gaza in flotilla aftermath Israel News | Haaretz
He refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program.
Obama: No green light for Israel to attack Iran - CNN.com
He worked to make donations to Haiti tax-deductible in 2009.
Haiti Donations Are Tax Deductible: Obama Signs Bill For 2009 Taxes
He established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Statement On Bilateral Meeting With President Hu Of China | The White House
Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia.
http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U
He established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them.
Obama Eases Limits On Cuba Travel, Remittances : NPR http://nyti.ms/emQBde
He ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and a smattering of Democrats) who prevented him from following through.
Barack Obama abandons Guantánamo closure plan after Congress veto | World news | The Guardian
Obama ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called enhanced interrogation. He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual.
Obama signs order to close Guantanamo Bay facility - CNN.com
He ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.
BBC NEWS | Special Reports | CIA shuts down its secret prisons
He released the Bush torture memos.
Barack Obama releases Bush administration torture memos | World news | theguardian.com
On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
Executive Order 13491 -- Ensuring Lawful Interrogations | The White House http://nyti.ms/hzWWys
In response to the emerging Arab Spring, he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them.
The Obameter: Create a rapid response fund for emerging democracies | PolitiFact
Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program.
President Obama Signs Iran Sanctions Act | The White House
Ended the Iraq War.
Barack Obama marks end of Iraq war with tribute to troops - Telegraph
He authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates.
SEAL Team 6 Rescues Hostages in Secret Mission - YouTube
Better Approach to Defense.
Obama created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat.
Remarks By President Barack Obama In Prague As Delivered | The White House
He authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010.
Pentagon unveils $533.7 billion budget - News - Stripes
He restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush.
Obama wins passage of nuclear nonproliferation resolution at U.N. - Los Angeles Times
He signed and pushed to ratification a new SALT Treaty.
New SALT Treaty Ratified, 71-26 | Politics Report
Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will last until at least 2021.
President Obama Announces the New START Treaty | The White House
Through the Defense Authorization Act, he reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq.
The Obameter: No permanent bases in Iraq | PolitiFact
He developed the first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
Obama Announces Strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan
He returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops.
Obama to withdraw troops from Afghanistan - seattlepi.com
Fulfilled campaign promise and ended our involvement in Iraq, and will complete full troop withdrawal before Christmas 2011.
Obama Announces Full Troop Withdrawal From Iraq By Year's End - Forbes
He took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world.
Yahoo!
He negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India.
Presidential Memorandum - United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act | The White House
He took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple a despotic government and determine their own fate.
Obama leads rousing UN welcome for Libyan NTC - Africa - Al Jazeera English
Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Respect
He made sure that families of fallen soldiers could be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB, by providing funding for it. He also ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers.
http://nyti.ms/glqN66 BBC NEWS | Americas | US war dead media blackout lifted
He funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans services.
Veterans | The White House
He provided the troops with better body armor.
Obama wants another $83 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan - CNN.com
Created the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care.
"The Care They Were Promised and the Benefits That They Have Earned" | The White House
He put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harms way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one).
http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q
He supported and signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans.
Remarks by the President at signing of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act | The White House
He ushered through the largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs for improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.
News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
He created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs.
The Obameter: Create a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veterans | PolitiFact
He oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals.
Annual Budget Submission - Office of Budget
Education.
He has repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process.
The Obameter: Expand Pell grants for low-income students | PolitiFact Obama?s Budget: Supporting Students, Not Banks http://bit.ly/eEzTNq
Completely reformed the student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate.
http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
Education | The White House This includes a major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide
Obama announces new U.S. broadband connection funding - CNN.com , as well as an expansion in school construction.
Obama: Education Money Must Come With Reform - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Education Jobs and Reform
Signed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0
http://bit.ly/hPhG7J
He oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low-income students to go to college.
The Obameter: Expand Pell grants for low-income students | PolitiFact
He passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: IDEA Recovery Funds for Services to Children and Youths with Disabilities
Greater Transparency and Better Government.
He signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch.
The Obameter: Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employees | PolitiFact
He signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years. He also put strict limits on lobbyists access to the White House.
http://nyti.ms/gOrznV
He held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public.
AFP: Obama holds first White House 'online town hall'
The Obama White House became the first to stream every White House event, live.
The White House
He established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.
United We Serve
He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history.
Visitor Access Records | The White House
He crafted an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. This will provide the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
Executive Order 13489 -- Presidential Records | The White House
He improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent in the processing of FOIA requests.
Freedom of Information Act | The White House
National Safety and Security.
Hes restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully.
http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z
Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast.
http://nyti.ms/efBO7B
Has repeatedly beefed up border security
The Obameter: Secure the borders | PolitiFact
Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
The Obameter: We will kill bin Laden | PolitiFact
Science, Technology and Health Care.
He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 3-9-09 | The White House
Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects.
Green Innovation Getting More Support from Fast Patent Approval Process | CleanTechnica
He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research.
Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cell research | World news | theguardian.com New Rules Expand Federal Funding of Stem-Cell Research - TIME
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs.
http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7
He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
- Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
He expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.
The Obameter: Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers | PolitiFact
His EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as guinea pigs in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics.
EPA Reverses Controversial 'Human Guinea Pig' Rule - Wired Science
Conducted a cyberspace policy review.
Statement by the Press Secretary on Conclusion of the Cyberspace Review | The White House
Provided financial support for private sector space programs.
NASA Announces Plan to Invest in Commercial Crew Concepts - Commercial Spaceflight Federation
He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use.
The Obameter: Enhance earth mapping | PolitiFact
He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products.
msnbc: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward. As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as light.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs.
The Obameter: Expand funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners | PolitiFact
He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs.
The Obameter: Increase funding to expand community based prevention programs | PolitiFact
He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
http://bit.ly/e5b1iq Seniors Already Seeing Lower Prescription Drug Costs | The White House
He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price.
Article > US govt will negotiate Medicare drug prices, says Obama
Two weeks after taking office, he signed the Childrens Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million.
http://bit.ly/fDEzGv
He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months.
Yahoo!
Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established
http://www.healthcare.gov/
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents policy until they turned 26.
http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance.
http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level.
http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care.
http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Provisions in Obamas Affordable Health Care Act have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Last years increase was 4%. Compare that to the average 12% annual inflation rate during the previous 40 years.
http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh
Strengthening the Middle Class and Families
Obama worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families.
The Obameter: Provide affordable, high-quality child care | PolitiFact
He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor.
http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of Americas working families.
A credit for workers cuts taxes for middle class | PolitiFact
Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest theyve been since 1950.
Under Obama Taxes Reach Lowest Level Since Truman - US News
He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years.
Alternative Minimum Tax Reform Now Part of the Senate Stimulus
He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and hes extended unemployment benefits several times.
Obama Signs Unemployment Benefits Extension http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ President extends unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks - Nov. 5, 2009 Obama compromises with GOP to extend tax cuts, unemployment benefits
Environment and Energy.
He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards.
http://nyti.ms/e8e94x
He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade.
Obama announces new fuel standards - Mike Allen and Eamon Javers - POLITICO.com
He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies.
The Obameter: Establish an Energy Partnership for the Americas | PolitiFact
His EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history.
Obama Administration Reverses Largest Appalachian Mountaintop Removal Permit in US History | CleanTechnica
He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances.
Appliance Efficiency Standards | The White House
He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021.
Lawmakers turn to public on Obama clean energy plan | Reuters (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers.
The Obameter: Establish program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leaders | PolitiFact
Obama bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions.
http://bit.ly/froaP5
His EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant.
EPA Wields Timely Stick: Ruling CO2 a Public Danger Before Copenhagen Climate Decision | CleanTechnica
He doubled federal spending on clean energy research.
The Obameter: Double federal spending for research on clean fuels | PolitiFact
He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars.
The Obameter: Enact tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars | PolitiFact
He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.
http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq
Obama reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush-era stance that climate change was a hoax.
Chemical & Engineering News | Serving the chemical, life sciences and laboratory worlds YouTube http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv
He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
Obama Shifts U.S. Policy to Back Global Mercury Control Treaty
He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption.
The Obameter: Require states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumption | PolitiFact
Following Bushs eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic.
Obama Calls For Limits on Antarctic Tourism | Notes From Sea Level
Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars.
Hybrid Car Tax Credits: Incentives Fade into Memory - HybridCars.com
Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles.
What's Hot: Car News, Photos, Videos & Road Tests | Edmunds.com GSA Drives Innovative, Job-Creating Sustainable Industries GSA Unveils Recovery Act Fuel-Efficient Cars
Obama oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Bill Summary & Status - 111th Congress (2009 - 2010) - S.3473 - All Congressional Actions - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
He also actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills.
White House Proposes Bill to Lift Caps on Offshore Oil Spill Liability - NYTimes.com
He initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a
Through Obamas EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.
EPA bars Texas' authority to issue refinery operating permits - Beaumont Enterprise
He strengthened the Endangered Species Act.
http://bit.ly/hscjsH
His EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year.
NRDC: Press Release - New EPA Boiler Standards Will Save 6,500 Lives Per Year
Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans.
FDA takes steps to limit use of antibiotics in livestock | Grist
Obama increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10%
National Parks Conservation Association Applauds Increase in Funding for National ParksInterior Bill Helps Address Park Needs | National Parks Conservation Association
He announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards.
President Obama Announces First Ever Fuel Economy Standards for Commercial Vehicles | The White House
He announced the development of a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025
President Obama Announces New Fuel Economy Standards | The White House
Other Stuff.
Obama has expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA.
The Obameter: Include environmental and labor standards in trade agreements | PolitiFact
He oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations.
http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO Most Smithsonian funding intact under budget deal | Maryland Daily Record
Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
http://bit.ly/dFb8qF
Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the courts history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices.
Sotomayor Confirmed To Supreme Court Elena Kagan appointed to the supreme court after US senate vote | Law | The Guardian
He appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president.
http://bit.ly/dX6vNB
He eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and he rescinded the global gag rule.
US teen pregnancy and syphilis rates rose sharply during George Bush's presidency, Centres for Disease Control finds | Society | theguardian.com Obama Rescinds ?Global Gag Rule,? Commits to Funding UNFPA
Obama loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference.
New Medical Marijuana Policy: Obama Administration Will Not Seek Arrests For People Following State Laws
His FDA banned the use of antibiotics in livestock production.
Daily Kos: Obama's FDA Quietly banning antibiotics in livestock production
Obama ushered through and signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program.
Obama signs national service legislation - CNN.com