Obama names Treasury official to spur manufacturing
September 7, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama plans to announce on Monday that he has named a top Treasury Department official, Ron Bloom, to lead an effort aimed at revitalizing America’s hard-hit manufacturing industry.
The U.S. manufacturing industry has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs in recent years to overseas competition as some U.S. businesses have relocated abroad to take advantage of cheaper labor. Bringing an invigorated manufacturing base back to America was a campaign pledge of Obama last year.
In healthcare debate, both sides cite Kennedy
August 31, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The day after U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy’s burial, leading Democratic and Republican senators on Sunday seized on his reputation for compromise to call for cooperation in the healthcare debate but showed little give in their own positions.
The Democratic-led Congress returns in September to work on a U.S. healthcare overhaul plan criticized by Republicans as too costly and as promoting government-run healthcare.
Obama admin to transfer six Guantanamo prisoners
August 20, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration plans to transfer six prisoners abroad from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, part of the effort to close the controversial facility by early 2010.
The detainees include those previously ordered released by U.S. courts or whose release has been approved through the Obama administration’s review process, a Justice Department official said, declining to give further details.
NASA heads to moon as panel weighs its future
June 18, 2009
President Barack Obama faces growing concerns among voters over government spending, the auto industry bailout and other economic policies, according to two opinion polls released on Wednesday.
Landmark tobacco regulation bill goes to Obama
June 14, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A landmark bill giving the U.S. government broad regulatory power for the first time over cigarettes and other tobacco products won final approval in Congress on Friday, and President Barack Obama said he would quickly sign it into law.
Clinton attends El Salvador leftist inauguration
June 2, 2009
Two decades after Marxist rebels battled U.S.-armed governments in El Salvador, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday celebrated the presidential inauguration of a leftist leader of the rebels’ party and called it a testament to democracy.
Clinton joined officials from about 75 countries at the inauguration of Mauricio Funes, leader of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN, a party of former Marxist guerrillas that has softened its traditional anti-American stance under Funes.
Sotomayor’s Record Could Give Environmentalists Hope, Business Leaders Pause
June 2, 2009
Environmentalists could have a friend in Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
With lawmakers and interest groups poring over the Supreme Court nominee’s decisions, some are drawing attention to her scant, but potentially revealing, environmental record.
Obama signs big spending bill despite earmarks
March 12, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a $410 billion bill to fund most government operations through September 30, but warned the U.S. Congress must stop jamming spending bills with lawmakers’ pet projects.
Obama seeks new momentum in pivotal week
February 23, 2009
Obama seeks new momentum in pivotal week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just a month into his presidency, Barack Obama has had to deal with everything from Cabinet missteps that have strained his “no-drama Obama” image to an economic crisis that seems to worsen by the day.
Obama heads to Florida to rally stimulus support
February 10, 2009
Obama heads to Florida to rally stimulus support
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fresh from his first White House news conference, U.S. President Barack Obama hits the road on Tuesday to rally support for a huge economic stimulus plan among Americans hit by the deepening recession.