Obama Care: Jan 29, 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Readout of the President's Meeting with Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

Readout of the President's Meeting with Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email Updates Contact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

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For Immediate Release January 14, 2013 Readout of the President's Meeting with Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

Today, President Obama met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, in the Oval Office. They affirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and discussed security and regional issues of mutual interest. The President congratulated Prince Mohammed bin Nayef on his appointment to Minister of Interior and asked him to convey his best wishes to King Abdullah bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud.

Blog posts on this issue January 14, 2013 3:30 PM ESTPresident Obama Holds the Final Press Conference of His First Term

Before taking questions from the assembled journalists, the President took a moment to reflect on the past four years, and look ahead to his agenda for the next term, which includes new jobs, new opportunity, and new security for the middle class

January 12, 2013 5:30 AM ESTWeekly Address: Ending the War in Afghanistan and Rebuilding America

President Obama talks about the bipartisan agreement that Congress reached this week which prevented a middle-class tax hike, congratulates the newly sworn-in members of Congress, and looks forward to working with the new Congress in the new year to continue to grow our economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way.

January 11, 2013 4:50 PM ESTPresident Obama Hosts President Karzai

We'll soon reach a milestone in Afghanistan -- when Afghan forces take full responsibility for their nation's security and the war draws to a close.

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First Lady and Wal-Mart team up for veterans initiative

A spokeswoman for Michelle Obama said Tuesday the First Lady would work with Walmart on an initiative to employ veterans, after the company announced a pledge to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran in his or her first 12 months off active duty.

"The First Lady’s team was very excited and pleased by Walmart’s new national commitment to employ America’s veterans and immediately expressed an interest in working with Walmart and the entire business community to build upon and expand this commitment," Obama's deputy communications director Semonti Stephens said in an email. "In the next several weeks the White House will convene Walmart and other major American employers to discuss Walmart’s plan and encourage other businesses to make similar significant veterans employment commitments to train and employ America’s returning heroes."

Walmart has estimated it could hire more than 100,00 veterans over the next five year in stores, clubs, distribution centers and its home office.

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Chaffetz: Obama trying 'to scare people' over debt limit

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) late Monday accused President Obama of trying to frighten Americans with ramped-up rhetoric about the costs of not raising the debt ceiling.

“The president does an exceptional job of scaring America,” Chaffetz said on Fox News Channel’s “On The Record With Greta van Susteren.” “He wants to use the military paychecks to try to scare people, ‘We’re going to hurt the elderly’ — you don’t have to do that.”

At a press conference on Monday, Obama warned that if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling, Social Security checks might not go out and troops overseas might not be paid. He also said investors would lose confidence in the economy and markets could crash.

“Investors around the world will ask if the United States of America is, in fact, a safe bet,” he said. “Markets could go haywire; interest rates could spike.”

Obama’s warnings come as the White House and Republicans prepare for a new fight over raising the nation’s borrowing limit.

The president is pushing for a clean debt-limit hike, while the GOP sees an opportunity to use the threat of default to force Obama to agree to spending cuts and entitlement reform.

The U.S. suffered its first-ever credit downgrade after the last debt-ceiling showdown in 2011. Treasury Secretary Geithner warned congressional leaders Monday that the U.S. could default as early as mid-February.

But Chaffetz downplayed the importance of raising the debt ceiling, saying the Treasury could prioritize payments for Social Security and the military, while withholding payments on items that wouldn’t spook the markets.

“There are lots of things to do; the president has lots of discretion to curb back that spending to make sure that Social Security payments are paid, interest is paid, we don’t default on our debts,” Chaffetz said. “The president was terribly irresponsible today, to say he’s not even going to talk about it because he’s above it, blame Congress — look, in part Congress helped create this problem, but now we’re going to solve this problem.”

Many Senate Democrats have called on Obama to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling, bypassing Congress.

Chaffetz said such a move would provoke a “constitutional crisis.”

“You can only do this as authorized by law, and law is only created by the United States Congress,” Chaffetz said. “He has no ground to stand on.”

On that count, Obama appears to agree; on Monday, he likewise dismissed the idea that the White House could do anything on its own.

“I understand the impulse to try to get around this in a simple way, but there’s one way to get around this,” he said. “And that is for Congress to authorize me to pay for those items of spending that they have already authorized.”

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Chelsea Clinton to headline Inaugural service event

Chelsea Clinton will headline the first event of President Obama’s Inaugural weekend, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced Tuesday.

Clinton will be the honorary chairwoman of the 2013 National Day of Service on Saturday, in a weekend full of events leading up to Obama’s second swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

“We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan said in a statement. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As honorary chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the president’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”

The summit will take place on the National Mall. The president and first family and Vice President Biden and his family will also be on hand.

“There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” Clinton said in a statement. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nationwide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”

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Statement by the Press Secretary on the Debt Limit

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Debt Limit | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email Updates Contact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

A unique view of 2012

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To prevent a $2K tax hike on middle-class families

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About the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

The Administration We the People

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2012: A Year in Photos

A unique view of 2012

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 12, 2013 Statement by the Press Secretary on the Debt Limit

“There are only two options to deal with the debt limit: Congress can pay its bills or it can fail to act and put the nation into default. When Congressional Republicans played politics with this issue last time, putting us at the edge of default, it was a blow to our economic recovery, causing our nation’s credit rating to be downgraded. The President and the American people won’t tolerate Congressional Republicans holding the American economy hostage again simply so they can force disastrous cuts to Medicare and other programs the middle class depend on while protecting the wealthy. Congress needs to do its job.”

Blog posts on this issue January 14, 2013 3:30 PM ESTPresident Obama Holds the Final Press Conference of His First Term

January 12, 2013 5:30 AM ESTWeekly Address: Ending the War in Afghanistan and Rebuilding America

January 11, 2013 4:50 PM ESTPresident Obama Hosts President Karzai

We'll soon reach a milestone in Afghanistan -- when Afghan forces take full responsibility for their nation's security and the war draws to a close.

En español Accessibility Copyright Information Privacy Policy Contact USA.gov Developers Apply for a Job

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Supreme Court Reconsiders Allowing Judges To Increase Sentences Without Jury Approval

Among the major contributors to the U.S. incarceration epidemic are harsh schemes for sentencing, and some of the most disproportionate sentences come about as a result of statutorily mandated minimum sentences.

Just last week, a former medical marijuana distributor who declined to plead guilty was sentenced to a ten-year minimum prison sentence by a federal judge who said, “the court’s hands are tied.”

But for some defendants, being sentenced to the mandatory minimum prison term for the crime of which they are convicted is just the tip of the iceberg. Judges may also use their discretion to add additional time up to a maximum allowable sentence. A case before the U.S. Supreme Court today considers the scope of that discretion when judges decide unilaterally that the defendant committed acts other than that for which they were convicted.

Allen Alleyne was convicted for robbing a convenience store owner as he drove to make a bank deposit. The jury found Alleyne guilty of both having committed the robbery, and having used or carried a firearm. They acquitted him, however, of brandishing a firearm during the crime.

Nonetheless, in sentencing Alleyne, the judge independently found that Alleyne should have known his accomplice would brandish a firearm during the robbery – a finding that added two additional years to Alleyne’s sentence above the mandatory minimum of five years. Unlike a jury, which is tasked with finding guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the judge made this finding under the much lower standard of “preponderance of the evidence.”

It is easy to view Alleyne and his accomplice as serious criminals who may very well deserve to serve either a five or a seven-year sentence. But allowing a judge the discretion impinges on a criminal defendant’s constitutional right to a trial by jury. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that a judge cannot use this discretion to increase a defendant’s sentence above the maximum allowable sentence. And a similar rationale prompted a controversial but landscape-changing decision to limit the enforceability of federal sentencing guidelines.

Although the severity of statutory sentencing schemes has led to grossly unjust results, particularly in drug crimes, their purpose was and is to limit the variability and bias that can be introduced by any given judge in imposing a criminal sentence. Letting judges make factual determinations that are the purview of the jury undermines this goal – and allows for the sorts of even longer prison terms that have contributed to our ever-bloated prison population.

Somewhat surprisingly, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear this case on the argument that an earlier high court decision on just this issue was wrongly decided. With four new justices since the 2002 decision and Justice Stephen Breyer on the fence, the Supreme Court now has a second chance to get it right.

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Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate Regarding the War Powers Resolution

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE

January 13, 2013

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

On January 11, 2013, French forces conducted an operation in Somalia in which they attempted to rescue a French citizen being held hostage by al-Shabaab. United States forces provided limited technical support to the French forces in that operation, but took no direct part in the assault on the compound where it was believed the French citizen was being held hostage. United States combat aircraft briefly entered Somali airspace to support the rescue operation, if needed. These aircraft did not employ weapons during the operation. The U.S. forces that supported this operation left Somalia by approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 11, 2013.

I directed U.S. forces to support this rescue operation in furtherance of U.S. national security interests, and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA

###

We'll soon reach a milestone in Afghanistan -- when Afghan forces take full responsibility for their nation's security and the war draws to a close.

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Coca-Cola Takes on Obesity Controversy in New Ad Push

For Coca-Cola, the world's No. 1 beverage company, the ads reflect the mounting pressures on the broader industry.

Later this year, New York City is set to put into effect a first-in-the-nation cap on the size of soft drinks sold at restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas and other venues. The mayor of Cambridge, Mass., has already proposed a similar measure, saying she was inspired by New York's move.

Wen PepsiCo, the No. 2 soda maker, recently signed a wide-ranging endorsement deal with pop singer Beyonce, critics called for the singer to drop the contract or donate the funds to groups that fund health initiatives.

Diana Garza Ciarlante, a spokeswoman for Coca-Cola, said the new ads aren't a reaction to any negative public sentiment but that the company felt it needed to address "the issue of the times" and be part of the discussion on obesity.

"We have not done a good enough job in telling our story and being consistent in telling our story," she said, noting the company had to be careful in its messaging to remain consistent with its brand voice and avoid sounding "preachy."

A 30-second ad, which will run later this week during"American Idol" and before the Super Bowl, is much more reminiscent of catchy, upbeat advertising people have come to expect from Coca-Cola.

It features a montage of activities that add up to burning off the "140 happy calories" in a can of Coke: walking a dog, dancing, sharing a laugh with friends and doing a victory dance after bowling a strike.

Garza Ciarlante said the ad, a version of which ran in Brazil last month, is intended to address the widespread confusion about the number of calories in soda. She said the company's consumer research showed people thought there were as many as 900 calories in a can of soda.

Garza Ciarlante declined to give details on the actions Coca-Cola has planned for the year ahead. But among the options under consideration is putting the amount of activity needed to burn off the calories in a drink on cans and bottles.

Coca-Cola notes it has already made several moves to help customers make smarter choices, such as putting calorie counts on the front of its cans and bottles in the U.S. Last year, it also started posting calorie information on its vending machines ahead of a regulation that will require soda companies to do so by 2014.

Public concern over calories counts is apparent in Coca-Cola's business. In North America, all the growth in its soda business over the past 15 years has come from low- and no-calorie drinks, such as Coke Zero. Diet sodas now account for nearly a third of its sales in the U.S. and Canada. Other beverages, such as sports drinks and bottled water, are also fueling growth.

Even with the growing popularity of diet sodas, however,overall soda consumption in the U.S. has declined steadily since 1998,according to the industry tracker Beverage Digest.

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Utah Smoothie Shop Charges Liberals More, Donates Surcharge To Conservative Causes

A smoothie shop in Vernal, Utah is sparking outrage over an unorthodox pricing structure that charges liberals an extra dollar. The shop, tellingly named the I Love Drilling Juice and Smoothie Bar, is owned by George Burnett, a pro-oil and gas activist. He donates the extra money to conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation.

“I’m very open about it, very public about it, that I’m going to charge them a little bit more, and I have liberals come in and pay the extra dollar surcharge,” Burnett said, referring to his unique pricing structure. [...] “And actually all three liberals have been happy to pay it. We had a husband and wife come in — he was conservative and she was liberal — and he paid conservative for himself and liberal for her.”

Watch it:

The juice bar is just one element of Burnett’s activist gimmick. On his website, he sells “I Love Drilling” shirts and bumper stickers. Burnett claims he wants to start a conversation about “the fiscal differences between big government/small government and liberal ways.” The liberal tax is intended to “help make that point.”

One conservative customer went even farther, explaining, “For him to do this kind of puts a face out there on people who are, in my opinion, in the wrong. ‘In the wrong’ being liberals,” Peterson said. “To see them being charged a little bit more, it makes me happy.”

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Utah School Realizes Book About Lesbian Family Helps Prevent Bullying

Last June, Utah’s Davis County School District caved to the complaints of 25 parents and removed the book In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco from general circulation in the elementary school library. The book, which features a family with two moms, was not outright banished, but was held behind the librarian’s desk such that students could not access it without first obtaining permission from their parents. The ACLU filed suit in November, and now the school has come to its senses and returned the book to general circulation. In a letter explaining the decision, the district’s assistant superintendent, Pamela Park, explains that a committee actually had positive things to say about In Our Mothers’ House, including that it will help prevent bullying:

I have considered the written summary and recommendations of the District Reconsideration Committee. I agree with and support the Committee’s conclusions regarding the book as follows:
“Removing the book completely is not a good option.”“We all know many non-traditional families” with students attending our schools.“It could help those children in same sex families see their family in a book.”“[T]his book teaches acceptance and tolerance.”“The book could help prevent bullying of kids from same sex families.”“It could be used by a family to discuss the issues . . .”

Parents can still restrict their children from checking out certain books, but that policy would not prevent students from reading the book in the library.

Another wrinkle in this situation is that Utah’s sex education law prevents the use of instructional materials that include “the advocacy of homosexuality.” However, the ACLU argued and the school agreed that library books not incorporated into a curriculum are not covered by the law.

The parents who complained about Polacco’s book may now have to deal with questions about same-sex families. It’s quite likely, however, that they may have already faced such questions given the existence of same-sex families in the school their kids attend. Now, those kids have one extra resource for understanding the diversity that surrounds them.

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Flu Reaches Epidemic Proportions in US

Highlight transcript below to create clipTranscript: Print | Email Go Click text to jump within videoMon 14 Jan 13 | 10:38 AM ET CNBC's Bertha Coombs reports on the economic impact of the widespread outbreak of flu. Also, Dominic Ruocco, The Doctors' Office Walk-in Clinic co-owner, explains how hospitals and clinics are handling the rush of patients.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Readout of the President's Meeting with Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

First Lady and Wal-Mart team up for veterans initiative

Chaffetz: Obama trying 'to scare people' over debt limit

Chelsea Clinton to headline Inaugural service event

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Debt Limit

Supreme Court Reconsiders Allowing Judges To Increase Sentences Without Jury Approval

Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate Regarding the War Powers Resolution

Coca-Cola Takes on Obesity Controversy in New Ad Push

Utah Smoothie Shop Charges Liberals More, Donates Surcharge To Conservative Causes

Utah School Realizes Book About Lesbian Family Helps Prevent Bullying

Flu Reaches Epidemic Proportions in US

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