218 Reasons Why You Should Vote for Obama

[Townhallsavoy]

In case you needed a few other examples of what President Obama has accomplished I put together a list below:

Extended child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixes
Created an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processes
Required economic justification for tax changes
Implemented “Women Owned Business” contracting program
Changed standards for determining broadband access
Established a credit card bill of rights
Expanded loan programs for small businesses
Extended the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
Extended the 2007 Alternative MinimumTax patch
Closed the “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug plan
Expanded the Senior Corps volunteer program
Required insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
Gave tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiums
Required large employers to contribute to a national health plan
Required children to have health insurance coverage
Expanded eligibility for Medicaid
Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care
Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information
In non-competitive markets, forced insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care
Eliminated the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans
Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners
Increased funding to expand community based prevention programs
Reinstated executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.
Increased the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals
Expanded the Veterans Administration’s number of “centers of excellence” in specialty care
Appointed a special adviser to the president on violence against women
Fully funded the Violence Against Women Act
Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq
Began removing combat brigades from Iraq
Created a military families advisory board
Ended the abuse of supplemental budgets for war
Made U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror efforts
Opened “America Houses” in Islamic cities around the globe
Allocated Homeland Security funding according to risk
Created a real National Infrastructure Protection Plan
Increased funding for local emergency planning
Extended monitoring and verification provisions of the START I Treaty
Appointed a White House Coordinator for Nuclear Security
Initiated a grant and training program for law enforcement to deter cyber crime
Improved relations with Turkey, and its relations with Iraqi Kurds
Launched an international Add Value to Agriculture Initiative (AVTA)
Created a rapid response fund for emerging democracies
Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program
Established an Energy Partnership for the Americas
Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers
Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
Provided affordable, high-quality child care
Recruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
Reduced subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowers
Encouraged water-conservation efforts in the West
Increased funding for national parks and forests
Increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Encouraged farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient
Expanded Pell grants for low-income students
Pursued a wildfire management plan
Removed more brush, small trees and vegetation that fuel wildfires
Expanded access to places to hunt and fish
Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
Restored funding to the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Reformed mandatory minimum sentences
Created a White House Office on Urban Policy
Fully funded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Established program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leaders
Established ‘Promise Neighborhoods’ for areas of concentrated poverty
Worked toward deploying a global climate change research and monitoring system
Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps
Created a Social Investment Fund Network
Bolstered the military’s ability to speak differentlanguages
Appointed the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer
Provided grants to early-career researchers
Worked to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
Created a national declassification center
Appointed an American Indian policy adviser
Created new financial regulations
Increased funding for land-grant colleges
Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees
Signed a “universal” health care bill
Created new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud
Required 10 percent renewable energy by 2012
Released oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Raised fuel economy standards
Invested in all types of alternative energy
Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars
Asked people and businesses to conserve electricity
Required more energy-efficient appliances
Created a ‘Green Vet Initiative’ to promote environmental jobs for veterans
Created job training programs for clean technologies
Required states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumption
Supported high-speed rail
Supported airline service in small towns
Invested in public transportation
Equalized tax breaks for driving and public transit
Considered “smart growth” in transportation funding
Shared environmental technology with other countries
Doubled federal spending for research on clean fuels
Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes
Increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency
Raised the small business investment expensing limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009
Extended unemployment insurance benefits and
temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
Supported network neutrality on the Internet
Reversed restrictions on stem cell research
Killed Osama bin Laden
Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiency
Included environmental and labor standards in trade agreements
Created an international tax haven watch list
Made permanent the Research & Development tax credit
Required automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans
Required automatic enrollment in IRA plans
Created a consumer-friendly credit card rating system
Created a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridges
Required full disclosure of company pension investments to employees
Provided easy-to-understand comparisons of the Medicare prescription drug plans
Invested in electronic health information systems
Phased in requirements for health information technology
Required that health plans utilize disease management programs
Required providers to report measures of health care costs and quality
Held hospitals and health plans accountable for disparities in care
Implemented and funded proven health intervention programs
Prevented drug companies from blocking generic drugs
Allowed Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug prices
Worked with schools to create more healthful environments for children
Improved recruitment of public health workers
Mandated insurance coverage of autism treatment
Fully funded the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives
Doubled federal funding for cancer research
Increased participation in cancer-related clinical trials
Fully funded the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Set a national goal to provide re-screening for all 2-year-olds for developmental disorders
Commissioned a study on students with disabilities and their transition to jobs or higher education
Set goals and timetables for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act
Created a best practices list for private businesses in accommodating workers with disabilities
Launched educational initiative for employers on tax benefits of hiring employees with disabilities
Reduced the threshhold for the Family and Medical Leave Act from companies with 50 employees to companies with 25 employees
Provided a $1.5 billion fund to help states launch programs for paid family and medical leave
Required employers to provide seven paid sick days per year
Streamlined the Social Security disability approval process
Expanded Veterans Centers in rural areas
Established standards of care for traumatic brain injury treatment
Made the Veterans Administration a national leader in health reform
Reduced the Veterans Benefits Administration claims backlog
Instituted electronic record-keeping for the Veterans Benefits Administration
Expanded housing vouchers program for homeless veterans
Launched a supportive services-housing program for veterans to prevent homelessness
Expanded the Family Medical Leave Act to include leave for domestic violence or sexual assault
Fully funded debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countries
Created a fund for international small and medium enterprises (SME)
Launched robust diplomatic effort with Iraq and its neighbors
Provided $30 billion over 10 years to Israel
Limited Guard and Reserve deployments to one year for every six years
Ended the “Stop-Loss” program of forcing troops to stay in service beyond their expected commitments
Fully and properly equipped troops
Created a Civilian Assistance Corps that would organize private sector professionals to help in times of need
Included humanitarian international missions in long-term budgeting
Reviewed weapons programs
Modernized ships and invested more in small vessels
Set standards for when the government should hire defense contractors
Restored the government’s ability to manage contracts by rebuilding our contract officer corps
Created a system of incentives and penalties for defense contracts
Establish a Global Education Fund
Strengthened the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping spread of weapons of mass destruction
Organized successful Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in 2010
Expanded federal bioforensics program for tracking biological weapons
Developed a comprehensive cyber security and response strategy
Mandated standards for securing personal data
Required companies to disclose personal information data breaches
Worked to persuade the European Union to end credit guarantees to Iran
Seek to negotiate a political agreement on Cyprus
Restructured and streamlined USAID
Increased the size of the foreign service
Urged China to stop manipulation of its currency value
Pressed China to end its support for regimes in Sudan, Burma, Iran and Zimbabwe
Created a public “Contracts and Influence” database
Required Cabinet officials to host Internet town hall meetings
Conducted regulatory agency business in public
Promoted more pre-school education
Expanded Early Head Start and Head Start
Reformed No Child Left Behind
Doubled funding for Federal Charter School Program and require more accountability
Addressed the dropout crisis by giving schools incentives for more dropout prevention
Created Teacher Residency Programs that will send teachers to high-need schools
Expanded teacher mentoring programs and provide incentives for more planning time
Promoted innovative ways to reward good teachers
Simplified the application process for financial aid
Increased the number of high school students taking college-level courses
Created incentives for tree planting and promote carbon sequestration
Improved water quality
Regulated pollution from major livestock operations
Strengthened federal environmental justice programs
Increased funding for organic and sustainable agriculture
Partnered with landowners to conserve private lands
Created a community college partnership program
Increased funding for progams that conserve lands and habitat for select species such as the Osceola turkey
Supported wetlands protection
Promoted economic development in Mexico
Supported repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Vigorously pursued hate crimes and civil rights abuses
Signed the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act into law
Supported regional innovation clusters
Helped low-income areas get phone and Internet service
Created a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score for mortgage comparisons
Increased the supply of affordable housing throughout metropolitan regions
Invested in transitional jobs and career pathway programs
Fully funded the COPS program
Improved emergency response plans
Capped interest rates on payday loans and improve disclosure
Expanded public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizations
Improved climate change data records
Supported improved weather prediction program
Offered prizes for advances in consumer technology
Encouraged contests and programs to interest students in science
Increased research opportunities for college students
Strengthened the levees in New Orleans
Directed revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to increased coastal hurricane protection
Shook loose federal money for rebuilding the Gulf Coast

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2012/02/24/what-do-americans-think-of-obamas-performance-as-a-president/?feed=rss_home&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

[RWS]

Shook loose federal money for rebuilding the Gulf Coast

The only reason I am picking this one out is because I just skimmed through the list and this was the last one, and I have lived about 15 minutes from the Gulf my entire life. This may be news to people that don't live down here, but all of my adult life, presidents have always pumped money into rebuilding projects after hurricanes, etc. I don't see where that is so much specific to only Obama.

[Tarheel]

The only reason I am picking this one out is because I just skimmed through the list and this was the last one, and I have lived about 15 minutes from the Gulf my entire life. This may be news to people that live down here, but all of my adult life, presidents have always pumped money into rebuilding projects after hurricanes, etc. I don't see where that is so much specific to only Obama.

It should read "Shook down the taxpayers..."

No offense.

But I will give The Pharaoh credit for personally killing OBL, for keeping gas prices low by opening up the Keystone pipeline, and for keeping unemployment below 8%.

[GH2001]

But I will give The Pharaoh credit for personally killing OBL, for keeping gas prices low by opening up the Keystone pipeline, and for keeping unemployment below 8%.

I chortled subtlely.

[AUJarhead]

It should read "Shook down the taxpayers..."

No offense.

But I will give The Pharaoh credit for personally killing OBL, for keeping gas prices low by opening up the Keystone pipeline, and for keeping unemployment below 8%.

I think he also stopped Global Warming, won the Heisman Trophy, and the 2011 World Series of Poker.

[RWS]

It should read "Shook down the taxpayers..."

No offense.

But I will give The Pharaoh credit for personally killing OBL, for keeping gas prices low by opening up the Keystone pipeline, and for keeping unemployment below 8%.

None taken.

But I can honestly say at least the money is put to good use by the municipalities. The federal government has been (surprisingly) pretty good about funding the right stuff in these rebuilding projects after hurricanes, and keeping tabs on how the money is spent. At least down here in south Alabama, anyway. I'm not talking FEMA money going to individuals for relief. I'm talking about the actual rebuilding shit.

Others may see it as a waste of money, but if you think about it, we catch something major down here I guess on average every 7 years. It was like a fucking atomic bomb went off down here after Ivan. If it weren't for the federal government funding rebuilding projects for infrastructure, etc, we would basically be starting from scratch every 7-10 years. I'm not all about the government giving handouts or anything, but unless you're going to declare the whole coast from the Florida penninsula to the TX/Mexico border up to 50-100 miles inland uninhabitable, I don't see how gulf coast cities could survive hurricanes without them.

[Tarheel]

None taken.

But I can honestly say at least the money is put to good use by the municipalities. The federal government has been (surprisingly) pretty good about funding the right stuff in these rebuilding projects after hurricanes, and keeping tabs on how the money is spent. At least down here in south Alabama, anyway. I'm not talking FEMA money going to individuals for relief. I'm talking about the actual rebuilding shitake.

Others may see it as a waste of money, but if you think about it, we catch something major down here I guess on average every 7 years. It was like a fudgeing atomic bomb went off down here after Ivan. If it weren't for the federal government funding rebuilding projects for infrastructure, etc, we would basically be starting from scratch every 7-10 years. I'm not all about the government giving handouts or anything, but unless you're going to declare the whole coast from the Florida penninsula to the TX/Mexico border up to 50-100 miles inland uninhabitable, I don't see how gulf coast cities could survive hurricanes without them.

Well, it's good to hear that FedGov may be doing something right down there.

My thought process in making that first comment was mainly about the larger scheme of things during The Pharaoh's reign of terror but I think that you know that.