Hi, all. Today's report features:
• The President on bipartisan meeting: The President urged party leaders not to raise middle class taxes or fail to protect national security with START ratification.
• White House press briefing: Robert Gibbs takes questions on tax cuts, Claims Settlement Act , New START.
• DADT report: The President has pledged to repeal DADT; the report confirms a majority of the military agrees.
• Clean energy economy and job creation: Projects, investments and future needs are discussed by the President, Energy Secretary Chu and Interior Secretary Salazar.
• Health care round-up: The Affordable Care Act’s constitutionality is upheld in court; protecting seniors’ access to their doctors; a report on Medicare Advantage.
• Civil rights: Claims Settlement Act will fund agreements in lawsuits brought by African-American farmers and Native Americans. The President said he will sign it into law.
• Recovery Act profile: A look at California Department of Transportation projects; maps for reference.
• THE PRESIDENT ON BIPARTISAN MEETING •
White House, Nov. 30, 2010:
President Obama on Bipartisan Meeting
The President speaks to the press after meeting with Congressional leaders from both parties at the White House, saying that he looks forward to working with them on continuing the economic recovery, cutting the Federal deficit and ratifying a new START treaty. November 30, 2010.
Office of the Press Secretary, Nov. 30, 2010:
Statement by the President after Meeting with Bipartisan Leadership
THE PRESIDENT:
Hello, everybody. By the way, for those of you who are curious, we're using this room because we've got about a hundred volunteers decorating the White House. So we're spending a little more time in the EEOB.
I just wrapped up a meeting with leaders from both parties. It was our first chance to get together face to face since the election to talk about how we can best work together to move the country forward.
It’s no secret that we have had differences that have led us to part ways on many issues in the past. But we are Americans first, and we share a responsibility for the stewardship of our nation. The American people did not vote for gridlock. They didn’t vote for unyielding partisanship. They’re demanding cooperation and they’re demanding progress. And they’ll hold all of us –- and I mean all of us –- accountable for it. And I was very encouraged by the fact that there was broad recognition of that fact in the room.
I just want to say I thought it was a productive meeting. I thought that people came to it with a spirit of trying to work together. And I think it’s a good start as we move forward.
I think everybody understands that the American people want us to focus on their jobs, not ours. They want us to come together around strategies to accelerate the recovery and get Americans back to work. They want us to confront the long-term deficits that cloud our future. They want us to focus on their safety and security, and not allow matters of urgent importance to become locked up in the politics of Washington.
So today we had the beginning of a new dialogue that I hope –- and I’m sure most Americans hope -– will help break through the noise and produce real gains. And, as we all agreed, that should begin today because there’s some things we need to get done in the weeks before Congress leaves town for the holidays.
First, we should work to make sure that taxes will not go up by thousands of dollars on hardworking middle-class Americans come January 1st, which would be disastrous for those families but also could be crippling for the economy. There was broad agreement that we need to work to get that resolved before the end of the year.
Now, there’s still differences about how to get there. Republican leaders want to permanently extend tax cuts not only to middle-class families but also to some of the wealthiest Americans at the same time. And here we disagree. I believe, and the other Democrats who were in the room believe that this would add an additional $700 billion to our debt in the next 10 years. And I continue to believe that it would be unwise and unfair, particularly at a time when we’re contemplating deep budget cuts that require broad sacrifice.
Having said that, we agreed that there must be some sensible common ground. So I appointed my Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, and my budget director, Jack Lew, to work with representatives of both parties to break through this logjam. I’ve asked the leaders to appoint members to help in this negotiation process. They agreed to do that. That process is beginning right away and we expect to get some answers back over the next couple of days about how we can accomplish our key goal, which is to make sure the economy continues to grow and we are putting people back to work. And we also want to make sure that we're giving the middle class the peace of mind of knowing that their taxes will not be raised come January 1st.
I also urged both parties to move quickly to preserve a number of other tax breaks for individuals and businesses that are helping our recovery right now and that are set to expire at the end of the year. This includes a tax credit for college tuition, a tax credit for 95 percent -- a tax break for 95 percent of working families that I initiated at the beginning of my presidency, as well as a tax cut worth thousands of dollars for businesses that hire unemployed workers.
We discussed a number of other issues as well, including the importance of ratifying the New START treaty so we can monitor Russia’s nuclear arsenal, reduce our nuclear weapons, and strengthen our relationship with Russia. I reminded the room that this treaty has been vetted for seven months now; it’s gone through 18 hearings; it has support from senators of both parties; it has broad bipartisan support from national security advisors and secretaries of defense and secretaries of state from previous administrations, both Democrat and Republican; and that it’s absolutely essential to our national security. We need to get it done.
We also talked about the work of the bipartisan deficit reduction commission and the difficult choices that will be required in order to get our fiscal house in order. We discussed working together to keep the government running this year -– and running in a fiscally responsible way. And we discussed unemployment insurance, which expires today. I’ve asked that Congress act to extend this emergency relief without delay to folks who are facing tough times by no fault of their own.
Now, none of this is going to be easy. We have two parties for a reason. There are real philosophical differences -– deeply held principles to which each party holds. And although the atmosphere in today’s meeting was extremely civil, there’s no doubt that those differences are going to remain no matter how many meetings we have. And the truth is there’s always going to be a political incentive against working together, particularly in the current hyperpartisan climate. There are always those who argue that the best strategy is simply to try to defeat your opposition instead of working with them.
And, frankly, even the notion of bipartisanship itself has gotten caught up in this mentality. A lot of times coming out of these meetings, both sides claim they want to work together, but try to paint the opponent as unyielding and unwilling to cooperate. Both sides come to the table; they read their talking points; then they head out to the microphones -– trying to win the news cycle instead of solving problems, and it becomes just another move in an old Washington game.
But I think there was recognition today that that's a game that we can’t afford. Not in these times. And in a private meeting that I had without staff -- without betraying any confidences -- I was pleased to see several of my friends in the room say, let’s try not to duplicate that. Let’s not try to work the Washington spin cycle to suggest that somehow the other side is not being cooperative. I think that there was a sincere effort on the part of everybody involved to actually commit to work together to try to deal with these problems.
And they understand that these aren't times for us to be playing games. As I told the leaders at the beginning of the meeting, the next election is two years away, and there will be plenty of time for campaigning. But right now we’re facing some very serious challenges. We share an obligation to meet them. And that will require choosing the best of our ideas over the worst of our politics.
So that’s the spirit in which I invited both parties here today. I'm happy with how the meeting went. And I told all the leadership that I look forward to holding additional meetings, including at Camp David.
Harry Reid mentioned that he’s been in Congress for 28 years; he’s never been to Camp David. And so I told him, well, we're going to have to get them all up there sometime soon.
And I very much appreciate their presence today. I appreciate the tenor of the conversations. I think it will actually yield results before the end of the year, and I look forward to continuing this dialogue in the months ahead.
Thank you very much, everybody.
• WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING •
White House, Nov. 30, 2010:
11/30/10: White House Press Briefing
White House Press Briefings are conducted most weekdays from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing.
Office of the Press Secretary, Nov. 30, 2010:
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 11/30/2010
On Tax Cuts:
Q: Thanks, Robert. A few follow-up questions on the meeting with lawmakers. On taxes, the President outlined this accelerated negotiation process to come up with some sensible common ground, as he called it. Did he suggest at all that he would be open to a temporary extension of the tax cuts for the wealthy? Did he lay any markers down at all?
MR. GIBBS: No, the -- I think both sides started and discussed where each had been on -- that our priority was ensuring that, as you heard the President say in his statement, that we make permanent tax cuts for the middle class that are set to expire at the end of this year, and to reiterate our concern for borrowing $700 billion over the next 10 years in making tax cuts for those in excess of $250,000 permanent.
I think the Republicans restated their notion of making the wealthy tax cuts permanent.
So the President wanted to -- as, again, you heard him say -- get to the process of having some of those discussions by asking Secretary Geithner and OMB Director Jack Lew to sit down with four members or senators appointed by -- one each -- by Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, Speaker Pelosi and Representative Boehner. And I anticipate that those conversations could happen as early as later today -- or start as early as today....
MR. GIBBS: What I think was the foundation for this -- for, quite frankly, the whole meeting was we have to do -- we have to do things that ensure continued economic strengthening and job creation. We have to deal with our long-term -- with our short-term deficits and our long-term debt. And we have to ensure the safety and the security of the American people.
So Secretary Geithner and NEC Director Summers both said -- both gave very quick descriptions of sort of where we thought the economy was. And everybody, I think, as the President said, in the room agreed that this was an issue that we needed to get finished by the end of the year, before the tax cuts expired. And that’s the charge that he gave to Tim and to Jack. And I anticipate -- again, I anticipate they’ll meet relatively soon....
Q: But does the President favor extending all the tax cuts for two or three years?
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, the President’s most urgent desire is to see that taxes do not go up on the middle class. And we’re going to go from there....
On Claims Settlement Act:
Q: Robert, on a historic story ... the House is getting ready to pass Cobell, Black Farmers and the water rights issue. What does the White House have to say about this, after 15 years it’s finally going to happen?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think based on hard work both on Capitol Hill and in the administration that we are about to or on the cusp of seeing a much deserved settlement for these two important cases. It is, as you mentioned, April, justice that is overdue and has been a priority, again, of the administration and those on Capitol Hill to see something done by the end of the year....
On New START Treaty:
Q: A couple other quick ones, please. Senator McConnell said that his caucus was united on doing the tax issues and the appropriations issues in lame duck first, and then if there’s time left getting to some of the other pressing matters. The President brought up START in his own description but didn’t seem to acknowledge any forward progress. Is the White House willing to take up that issue in January if need be?
MR. GIBBS: I think there was a robust discussion about how that could be done in a lame duck. I think you’ve heard senators even today discuss the likelihood of being able to get that done.
Look, the tax issue may take a little bit. But the Senate and the House will be here. And I think we believe that that’s an issue -- START is an issue that can get done this year.
Q: You still think it is?
MR. GIBBS: Yes, absolutely....
Q: To follow up on Laura’s question about timing, Senator McConnell said in his news conference that the Senate might be able to take up START if they could quickly clear the decks of tax cuts and stop-gap spending, or an extension of omnibus spending bill. So is part of the understanding in the room, behind the President’s comments about wanting answers quickly, is that you’d get a quick deal on tax cuts in order to leave time for a START debate in the Senate?
MR. GIBBS: I think the President understands the desire to have a discussion on START and believes that that can be accomplished. But I think the President was clear with the leaders that he has -- he’s faced with two roles: ensuring our economic strength in creating jobs and protecting the American people. He does not have the luxury of deciding only to do one of those things. And I don’t believe that the President thinks that the Senate can only do one of those things, either. And I think we can make progress....
MR. GIBBS: I think that Lisbon demonstrates that an issue that had been contentious can be cooperative. Again, I think it’s clear that the administration through its phased adaptive plan set forth a missile defense apparatus and program that we believe more greatly protects our security. And we pursued and got NATO to sign off on the pursuit of that.
I think writ large in our relationship with Russia we’ve made -- and the President mentioned this today -- we’ve made tremendous progress. We’re working together on issues that two years ago separated us. I think Iran sanctions is a good example. I think that only because of the strong and real partnership we have were we able to see the type of sanctions that are having a real bite and a real impact in Iran. And that relationship is important to this country and to this President....
• DADT REPORT •
Office of the Press Secretary, Nov. 30, 2010:
Statement by President Obama on DOD Report on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the "don’t ask, don’t tell" law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipline within our military ranks. That is why I directed the Department of Defense earlier this year to begin preparing for a transition to a new policy.
Today’s report confirms that a strong majority of our military men and women and their families—more than two thirds—are prepared to serve alongside Americans who are openly gay and lesbian. This report also confirms that, by every measure—from unit cohesion to recruitment and retention to family readiness—we can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and national security. And for the first time since this law was enacted 17 years ago today, both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have publicly endorsed ending this policy.
With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all. The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation. Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally. Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the best led, best trained, best equipped fighting force the world has ever known.
Department of Defense, Nov. 30, 2010:
Reports, endorsements, DOD questionnaire and other links here.
Secretary Robert M. Gates
"While a repeal would require some changes to regulations, the key to success, as with most things military, is training, education, and, above all, strong and principled leadership up and down the chain of command."
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
"This is without question a complex social and cultural issue. But at the end of the day, whatever the decision of our elected leaders may be, we in uniform have an obligation to follow orders. When those orders involve significant change, such as this would, we need to find ways to lead the way forward."
Department of Defense, Nov. 30, 2010:
DADT Latest
From Around the Services: Top Defense leaders talk about the release of the official DoD review on the possible repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy for gay and lesbian servicemembers.
• A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY AND JOB CREATION •
White House, Nov. 30, 2010:
Tuesday Talks: Building a Clean Energy Economy with Secretary Chu
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu answers your questions about how to accelerate innovation in green technology and build a clean energy economy.
Planet Forward TV, Nov. 29, 2010:
Secretary Chu at the National Press Club
Energy Secretary Steven Chu addresses the National Press Club on America's "Sputnik Moment" in clean energy.
Department of Energy, November 29, 2010:
Secretary Chu: China's Clean Energy Successes Represent a New Sputnik Moment for America
Washington, D.C. - In a speech at the National Press Club, U.S Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that the success of China and other countries in clean energy industries represents a new "Sputnik Moment" for the United States, and requires a similar mobilization of America's innovation machine so that we can compete in the global race for the jobs of the future. Secretary Chu outlined efforts underway at the Department to give America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers an edge through investments in clean energy innovation.
"When it comes to innovation, Americans don't take a back seat to anyone - and we certainly won't start now," said Secretary Chu. "From wind power to nuclear reactors to high speed rail, China and other countries are moving aggressively to capture the lead. Given that challenge, and given the enormous economic opportunities in clean energy, it's time for America to do what we do best: innovate. As President Obama has said, we should not, cannot, and will not play for second place."
With 17 National Labs and world leading scientific and computing resources, the Department of Energy is on the front lines of America's effort to lead in clean energy innovation. Clean energy technologies developed and deployed in the United States will create American jobs that stay in America.
Secretary Chu detailed a number of promising research efforts now underway, including:
• Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Batteries -- 500 Miles on a Single Charge. With the help of Recovery Act funding, Arizona-based Fluidic Energy is working with Arizona State University to develop a new generation of "metal-air" batteries that can store many times more energy than standard lithium-ion batteries. Metal-air batteries contain high energy metals and literally breathe oxygen from the air ....
• Converting Sunlight Into Usable Fuel. Through a newly established Energy Innovation Hub led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers are working to create an integrated system modeled after photosynthesis that can convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into usable fuels such as gasoline....
.... Specifically, Secretary Chu highlighted several crucial technologies where the United States must innovate or risk falling far behind, such as:
- High Voltage Transmission. China has deployed the world's first Ultra High Voltage AC and DC lines - including one capable of delivering 6.4 gigawatts to Shanghai from a hydroelectric plant nearly 1300 miles away in southwestern China....
- High Speed Rail. In the span of six years, China has gone from importing this technology to exporting it, with the world's fastest train and the world's largest high speed rail network, which will become larger than the rest of the world combined by the end of the decade....
- Advanced Coal Technologies. China is rapidly deploying supercritical and ultra-supercritical coal combustion plants, which have fewer emissions and are more efficient than conventional coal plants ....
- Nuclear Power. China has more than 30 nuclear power plants under construction....
- Alternative Energy Vehicles. China has developed a draft plan to invest $17 billion ....
- Renewable Energy. China is installing wind power at a faster rate than any nation in the world....
- Supercomputing. Last month, the Tianhe-1A, developed by China's National University of Defense Technology, became the world's fastest supercomputer. While the United States - and the Department of Energy in particular - still has unrivalled expertise in the useful application of high performance computers to advance scientific research and develop technology, America must continue to improve the speed and capacity of our advanced supercomputers.
White House, Jan. 8, 2010:
New Investments in Jobs and Clean Energy
President Obama announces $2.3 billion in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits that are designed to foster job creation and growth in the clean energy sector.
Office of the Press Secretary, Jan. 8, 2010:
Remarks by the President on Jobs and Clean Energy Investments
THE PRESIDENT:
.... I want the United States of America to be what it has always been -- and that is a leader -- the leader when it comes to a clean energy future.
And that’s exactly what this clean energy manufacturing initiative will help us do. It will help close the clean energy gap that’s grown between America and other nations. Through this initiative, we’re awarding $2.3 billion in tax credits for American manufacturers of clean energy technologies -- companies that build wind turbines, and produce solar panels, and assemble cutting edge batteries. The initiative we’re outlining today will likely generate 17,000 jobs....
At the same time, this initiative will give a much-needed boost to our manufacturing sector by building new plants or upgrading old ones. And we’ll take an important step toward meeting the goal I’ve set of doubling the amount of renewable power we use in the next three years with wind turbines and solar panels built right here in the U.S. of A. Put simply, this initiative is good for middle-class families. It is good for our security. It’s good for our planet.
Over 180 projects in over 40 states will receive these tax credits. And one of them is TPI Composites, Inc., which is based in Newton, Iowa -- one of America’s leading wind turbine manufacturers. Because of these tax credits, TPI Composites will not only be able to expand an existing facility in Newton, they’ll not only be able to build a brand new facility in Nebraska, they’ll also be able to hire over 200 new workers. And it’s my hope that similar stories will be told in cities and towns across America because of this initiative.
In fact, this initiative has been so popular that we have far more qualified applicants than we’ve been able to fund....
The White House Blog, Jan. 8, 2010:
183 projects, 43 states, Tens of Thousands of High Quality Clean Energy Jobs
Posted by Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate
Today the President is awarding $2.3 billion in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits – another key component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that included historic investments designed to foster job creation and growth in the clean energy sector.
The investment tax credits, worth up to thirty percent of each planned project, will leverage private capital for a total investment of nearly $7.7 billion in high-tech manufacturing in the United States.
One hundred eighty three projects in 43 states will create tens of thousands of high quality clean energy jobs and the domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies including solar, wind and efficiency and energy management technologies....
The United States once led the way on these technologies. And because of steps like the one we’re taking today, the U.S. can lead again: we’re beginning to produce more of the batteries we use to power our hybrid cards and trucks at home; once-shuttered factories are beginning to spring back to life manufacturing materials that make our buildings and homes more efficient; and in 2008 we generated more total wind power than any other nation on Earth.
This is only the beginning and the global competition is fierce.
Programs like the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits reveal the immense power of American innovation and ingenuity to create good jobs, and the vibrant workforce that has carried our nation to great heights before. This particular program in the Recovery Act was oversubscribed by a ratio of more than 3 to 1, reflecting a deep pipeline of high quality clean energy manufacturing opportunities in America....
White House, Aug. 17, 2010:
Investing in Clean Energy Manufacturing
President Obama talks about the importance of supporting and investing in clean energy manufacturing technologies as he visits the ZBB Energy Corporation's manufacturing facilities in Menomonee Falls, WI on August 16, 2010.
Office of the Press Secretary, Aug. 16, 2010:
Remarks by the President on Clean Energy Manufacturing
THE PRESIDENT:
.... We’ve been fighting on all fronts -– inch by inch, foot by foot, mile by mile -– to get this country moving forward again, and going after every single job we can create right here in the United States of America.
So we’re investing in 21st century infrastructure -- roads and bridges, faster Internet access, high-speed railroads -- projects that will lead to hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs, but will also lay the groundwork so that our kids and our grandkids can keep prospering.
We’ve cut taxes for small businesses that hire unemployed workers. In fact, I’ve signed seven other small business tax cuts so that entrepreneurs can help expand and buy new equipment and add more employees. We’ve taken emergency steps to prevent layoffs of hundreds of thousands of teachers and firefighters and police officers, and other critical public servants in our communities....
And at the same time what we've been trying to do -- and that's why I'm here at ZBB -- is to jumpstart a homegrown, clean energy industry –- building on the good work of your governor and others in this state. That’s why I’m here today. Because of the steps we’ve taken to strengthen the economy, ZBB received a loan that’s helping to fund an expansion of your operations. Already, it’s allowed ZBB to retain nearly a dozen workers. And over time, the company expects to hire about 80 new workers. This is leading to new business for your suppliers, including MGS Plastics and other manufacturer here in Wisconsin.
And ZBB is also planning to take advantage of a special tax credit to build another factory in southeastern Wisconsin, so we can create even more jobs and more opportunity. And Eric is confident that you can expand because you’re seeing rising demand for advanced batteries. And all this is part of steps we’ve taken in clean energy -– steps that have led to jobs manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels, building hybrid and electric vehicles, modernizing our electric grid so that we have more sources of renewable energy but we can also use it more effectively.
We expect our commitment to clean energy to lead to more than 800,000 jobs by 2012. And that’s not just creating work in the short term, that’s going to help lay the foundation for lasting economic growth. I just want everybody to understand --just a few years ago, American businesses could only make 2 percent of the world’s advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles -- 2 percent. In just a few years, we’ll have up to 40 percent of the world’s capacity....
Office of the Press Secretary, Aug. 16, 2010:
Background on the President's Event in Wisconsin
.... ZBB Energy Corporation is a Wisconsin manufacturer that is expanding production of advanced zinc bromide flow batteries and intelligent power control platforms for renewable energy storage with the help of a $1.3 million Recovery Act State Energy Program loan. The company is using the Recovery Act loan to help fund a $4.5 million factory renovation that they anticipate will triple their capacity to manufacture flow batteries and power systems. The company has already been able to retain nearly a dozen workers as a result of the project and has begun initial hiring of new manufacturing technicians as well. Over time, the company estimates they will hire about 80 new workers as a result of the project.
Intelligent battery storage systems like ZBB’s are critical components of building a smart energy grid and expanding commercialization of electric vehicles because it allows users to cut costs by shifting energy use to off-peak hours and bank intermittent sources of energy like the sun and wind for future use.
ZBB established operations in Wisconsin in 1994 and today exports its renewable power and storage systems around the globe to clients ranging from utility companies and renewable energy generation facilities to corporations and military installations. The $1.3 million loan they received is part of the $55.5 million in Recovery Act State Energy Program funding the state of Wisconsin is using to transform its industrial sector through targeted investments in clean energy manufacturing. Wisconsin’s Recovery Act SEP funding – which Governor Jim Doyle decided to direct entirely to support clean energy manufacturing – will according to recipients create 775 jobs over the life of their projects, while saving nearly 5,000 jobs....
PoplarAv, Nov. 24, 2010:
Secretary Salazar announces new Atlantic wind energy initiative at Fort McHenry
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, joined by Delaware Sens. Chris Coons and Thomas Carper, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland, and Jim Lenard of the Outdoor Wind Energy Consortium announce a new initiative to speed wind development along the Atlantic Coast.
Department of the Interior, Nov. 23, 2010:
Salazar Launches ‘Smart from the Start’ Initiative to Speed Offshore Wind Energy Development off the Atlantic Coast
BALTIMORE, MD -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today launched a ‘Smart from the Start’ wind energy initiative for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf to facilitate siting, leasing and construction of new projects, spurring the rapid and responsible development of this abundant renewable resource.
"The Cape Wind lease is an historic milestone in America’s renewable energy future, but to fully harness the economic and energy benefits of our nation’s vast Atlantic wind potential we need to implement a smart permitting process that is efficient, thorough, and unburdened by needless red tape," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
"Our ‘Smart from the Start’ Initiative for Atlantic wind will allow us to identify priority Wind Energy Areas for potential development, improve our coordination with local, state, and federal partners, and accelerate the leasing process," Salazar noted. "If we are wise with our planning, we can help build a robust and environmentally responsible offshore renewable energy program that creates jobs here at home." The accelerated leasing process is being simplified through a regulatory change, enabling leases to be issued in 2011 and 2012.
"This coordinated initiative will help to capture the great potential that offshore wind power offers our country and our economy," said Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes. "Smart planning and early environmental reviews will pay great dividends in spurring responsible renewable wind energy development."
"This accelerated and focused approach to developing the nation’s Atlantic wind resources will encourage investment while ensuring projects are built in the right way and in the right places," said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich....
• HEALTH CARE ROUND-UP •
White House Blog, Nov. 30, 2010:
Another Health Care Court Victory
Posted by Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President for Special Projects
Since the enactment of health reform legislation in March, several state Attorneys General and others opposed to the law have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Legal challenges like this are nothing new. Challenges to the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act all failed.
Now, challenges to the health care law are failing in court. In October, a federal judge in Michigan found that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Today, a federal judge in Virginia dismissed a lawsuit brought by Liberty University that challenged the constitutionality of the health reform law. The judge upheld the law and said that the requirement that individuals maintain health insurance is constitutional, writing:
"I hold that there is a rational basis for Congress to conclude that individuals’ decisions about how and when to pay for health care are activities that in the aggregate substantially affect the interstate health care market...Nearly everyone will require health care services at some point in their lifetimes, and it is not always possible to predict when one will be afflicted by illness or injury and require care...Far from ‘inactivity,’ by choosing to forgo insurance, Plaintiffs are making an economic decision to try to pay for health care services later, out of pocket, rather than now, through the purchase of insurance. As Congress found, the total incidence of these economic decisions has a substantial impact on the national market for health care by collectively shifting billions of dollars on to other market participants and driving up the prices of insurance policies."
The judge’s ruling today only underscores the importance of the law’s individual responsibility provision. In order to make health care affordable and available for all, the Act regulates how to pay for medical services – services that account for more than 17.5% of the national economy. This law came into being precisely because of the interconnectedness of our health care costs. People who make an economic decision to forego health insurance do not opt out of the health care market, but instead shift their costs to others when they become ill or are involved in an accident and cannot pay.
We do not leave people to die at the emergency room door – whether they have insurance or not. Those costs – $43 billion in 2008 alone – are borne by doctors, hospitals, insured individuals, taxpayers and small businesses. According to a recent study, this cost-shift added on average $1,100 to family premiums in 2009 and roughly $410 to an individual premium.
In the weeks ahead, there will be additional court cases examining this matter and the health reform law. We can’t predict the outcome of each case, but we are confident that we will ultimately prevail in court and continue to deliver the benefits of reform to the American people.
Office of the Press Secretary, Nov. 29, 2010:
Statement by the Press Secretary on Medicare Payments to Doctors
"President Obama is pleased Congress has passed legislation that will prevent payment cuts to doctors from taking effect next month. The President urges Congress to now pass a one-year extension to ensure seniors maintain access to the doctor they know and trust over the coming year. Passing this one-year extension is important, but it is no substitute for a long-term fix. The President has long called for a sustainable solution, and we look forward to working with Congress to further address this matter."
White House Blog, Nov. 29, 2010:
The Washington Post on Medicare Advantage
Posted by Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President for Special Projects
Before and after the Affordable Care Act became law, many opponents of reform predicted that Medicare Advantage plans - a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide benefits to seniors – would be severely damaged by health reform.
Today, the Washington Post looks at the reality and finds that the dire predictions were unfounded and Medicare Advantage is going strong. Under the headline "Medicare Advantage provision going smoothly" the Post reports:
"One of the most significant savings envisioned in the new health care law - limiting payments to the private health plans that cover 11 million older Americans under Medicare - is, so far, bringing little of the turbulence that the insurance industry and many Republicans predicted."
Before the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Advantage insurance companies were paid more than $1,000 per person on average than seniors in traditional Medicare. All seniors on Medicare – even the 77 percent not enrolled in Medicare Advantage – helped subsidize the additional payments to insurance companies. The Affordable Care Act protects guaranteed Medicare benefits for seniors in Medicare Advantage plans and levels the playing field by ending overpayments to big insurance companies. As the Post reports:
"Whether the payment changes are warranted was a contentious subplot in the protracted debate over the legislation. Democrats argued successfully that the private plans were being overpaid and could withstand the changes. Republicans warned that such plans would raise prices, lower benefits or cause defections from the program, stranding the elderly people who rely on them.
"Early clues to the actual effects have now materialized, as elderly Americans may sign up for a health plan for 2011 during an enrollment period through the end of the year, and the warnings of swift, serious damage to the program are not borne out. Fewer health plans are available for the coming year, but the decrease is largely for reasons unrelated to the new law. Premiums have not jumped substantially, and benefits have not tended to erode."
Click here to read the complete story and if you’re on Medicare, be sure to visit www.Medicare.gov for more information about your health insurance choices.
• CIVIL RIGHTS •
Department of Agriculture Blog, Nov. 30, 2010:
Turning the Page on Discrimination at USDA
Posted by Secretary Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
Cross-posted from the USDA blog.
Since my first day as Secretary of Agriculture in January 2009, President Obama and I have made resolving USDA’s troubled civil rights record one of our top priorities. Today we have taken an important step forward in this work as the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the Claims Settlement Act of 2010 to finally allow USDA to turn the page on past discrimination against black farmers. The inequities many faced are well-documented and affirmed in the courts; however, the question of compensation has lingered.
The Claims Settlement Act will allow those that have been waiting to get the relief they deserve and have long been promised. USDA has worked with Congress to include strong protections against waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure that only deserving applicants are reimbursed under this settlement.
On Monday, I joined a conference call (audio) with representatives from the Department of the Interior and Justice to applaud the Senate’s choice to approve the fully paid-for $1.15 billion settlement and to urge the House to finalize this long-awaited resolution. I applaud the House for acting so quickly, as we can focus our attention on resolving other cases and claims.
I’m proud of the many critical steps we’ve taken in the past months to right the wrongs of the past, but more work remains to be done. I have put into action an all-encompassing program to correct our past errors, learn from those mistakes, and outline definitive action to ensure there will be no missteps in the future. The process has been long and often difficult, but we can’t wait any longer to close this sad chapter in USDA’s history.
White House Blog, Nov. 30, 2010:
Fulfilling Our Promise in Indian Country
Posted by Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior
Two years ago, President Barack Obama vowed that this administration would work with Native Americans to empower tribal governments, fulfill our trust responsibilities to tribal members and help tribal leaders build safer, stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities.
Today we took a giant step toward fulfilling that promise with Congressional approval of five major settlements for Indian country that are nothing short of historic.
First, Congress has authorized the Cobell settlement, an agreement that will resolve the 14-year, highly contentious class action lawsuit regarding the U.S. government's trust management and accounting of individual American Indian trust accounts. The settlement honorably and responsibly addresses long-standing injustices and demonstrates President Obama's commitment to reconciliation and empowerment for Indian nations.
The settlement also establishes a $1.9 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests to address the continued proliferation of thousands of new trust accounts caused by the division of land interests through succeeding generations and for other trust related activities. The land consolidation program will provide individual Indians with an opportunity to consolidate and transfer divided ownership interests to their tribal governments, where they will remain in trust for the benefit of tribal communities. Individual Indians will receive cash payments for these transfers and, as an additional incentive, transfers will trigger government payments into a $60 million Indian scholarship fund.
Second, Congress approved four Indian water rights settlements - totaling more than $1 billion - that will deliver clean drinking water to tribes in New Mexico, Arizona and Montana. For these communities, the permanent water supply will offer economic security and end decades of water allocation controversy and contention among neighboring communities.
Administration support for four water rights settlements in a single Congress is unprecedented. The settlements reflect the willingness of the parties, including state, tribal and other stakeholders, as well as this administration's commitment, to work together constructively rather than stay locked in an endless cycle of litigation.
The Obama administration is making progress along a wide front in fulfilling the president's pledge to our First Americans, investing hundreds of millions of recovery dollars in new schools and roads, strengthening tribal law enforcement, improving Indian education and speeding land into trust to expand tribal resource bases.
But there is no doubt that much work remains. That is why President Obama announced that he is hosting a second White House Tribal Nations Conference December 16 to build upon our commitment to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship with Indian country.
Native Americans must be full partners in our nation's economy, thrive in safe communities, and have equal access to quality education and health care.
Step by step - as with the passage of Cobell and the four historic water rights settlements - we are getting there.
• RECOVERY ACT PROFILE: CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS •
DOT.ca:
Caltrans Economic Recovery
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a job and economic stimulus bill intended to help states and the nation restart their economies and stimulate employment during the worst economic downturn in over 70 years. In drafting this bill, President Obama and Congress recognized that investment in transportation infrastructure is one of the best ways to create and sustain jobs, stimulate economic development, and leave a legacy to support the financial well-being of the generations to come. The intent and language of the bill responds to the urgency of our national situation by tasking state departments of transportation and other transportation stakeholders to quickly move forward with mobility projects that bring real value to the local, state, and national economy.
Nationally, the bill provides more than $48 billion for transportation. Formula programs in the Recovery Act apportion to California approximately $2.57 billion for highways, local streets and roads, freight and passenger rail, and port infrastructure projects, and $1.07 billion for transit projects. In addition, California is eligible to apply for funding under other discretionary programs that set aside:
$8 billion for high speed and intercity rail,
$1.5 billion for significant surface transportation projects,
$1.3 billion for aviation, and
$2.2 billion for AMTRAK, new starts, transit, ferries and other programs.
Ensuring that California gets the maximum benefit from the ARRA will remain the primary focus of the Department until all funding opportunities under the bill expire. The Department is taking action to help expedite this program and facilitate use of the funds. This website is the Department's focal point for information on using the benefits of Recovery Act to create jobs and jumpstart the national economy through increasing mobility in California.
From Caltrans District 4, Sept. 27, 2010:
Caltrans District 4 - Creating Jobs and Relieving Traffic Congestion
The Caldecott Fourth Bore project and other stimulus projects throughout the state are putting Californians back to work while rebuilding our vital infrastructure.
In this video, workers talk about what it means to them to land a job on California's largest Recovery Act project, the 420 million Caldecott Fourth Bore project. Camera & Edited By Dennis Parecadan.
MercuryNews.com, Nov. 28, 2010:
Stimulus help for state roads, rail lines almost complete
By Gary Richards
Less than two years after the federal government rolled out a stimulus plan to spend $48 billion to rescue America's aging transportation system and keep construction crews working, the results are visible all over California.
The state has received $2.6 billion in stimulus funds for road and transit needs and completed or awarded contracts for 90 percent of 931 projects. That's the second fastest performance nationwide, behind Texas, according to the Department of Transportation....
A report released last month by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the Obama administration had met its goal of getting 70 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package spent within 18 months. Transportation is just a small chunk of that package, but perhaps the most visible.
Among the transportation projects either completed or under way in the Bay Area:
Caltrans completed the repaving of Interstate 80 through Fairfield earlier this month, and of I-880 at Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland earlier this year. New concrete was laid down on Interstate 280 west of I-880 in the South Bay a year ago.
More than 100 miles of local streets and expressways have been repaved -- from San Antonio Road in Palo Alto to Osgood Road in Fremont to West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz to Tully Road in San Jose.
A taller, more protective guardrail now lines 20 miles of Highway 101 in Monterey County. Metering lights are being installed in San Jose and Daly City along I-280. East Campbell Avenue in Campbell is being upgraded.
Transit agencies have also benefited, with San Francisco's Muni system receiving $90 million and the Valley Transportation Authority $73 million, of which $53.4 million was spent to buy 90 hybrid buses.
So many projects have been finished that roadside signs saying they were paid for by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have mostly been taken down.
The Congressional Budget Office said stimulus spending added as many as 3.3 million jobs to the economy during the second quarter of this year, and may have prevented the nation from falling back into recession.
California estimates that each billion dollars spent yields about 18,000 jobs....
Recovery.gov:
Recipient Reported Awards Map
California Recovery Act projects, updated Nov. 23, 2010.
Recovery.gov:
Launch the Lights-on Map.
Designed and created by Edward Tufte, gradually lights up to show the distribution of Recovery awards from February 17, 2009 to September 30, 2010. Each light represents an award.
Edward Tufte is a member of the Recovery Board's Advisory Panel and is Professor Emeritus of political science, statistics, and computer science at Yale University.
Recovery Board, Feb. 10, 2010:
How to Use the Maps