President Obama is in a very good position

[ProSense]

Think about this line from Charles Pierce's assessment of the SOTU:

But he was firm on one thing. He is not going to be a lame duck as long as he can still walk. There were a lot of sentences that began with some variation of, “If Congress won’t act…”

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/state-of-the-union-address-012814

This is the key to the rest of Obama's Presidency. He doesn't have to appease his detractors. He can push, and they can choose to cooperate...or not. That's on them, and he made that perfectly clear last night.

The question for everyone in this chamber, running through every decision we make this year, is whether we are going to help or hinder this progress. For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the federal government. It's an important debate -- one that dates back to our very founding. But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy -- when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States -- then we are not doing right by the American people. (Cheers, applause.)

<...>

But what I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require congressional action, and I'm eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still, and neither will I. (Applause.) So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that's what I'm going to do. (Cheers, applause.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/full-text-of-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address/2014/01/28/e0c93358-887f-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_print.html

He's free to govern on his terms. To qoute Krugman: "The real theme of the SOTU was 'Whatever.'”

That's where executive authority comes in. A lot of people underestimate the power of executive action, and they underestimate President Obama, who is doing it his way all along.

A couple of years ago when the sequestration was signed into law, it was the end...a done deal that would never be reversed. Remember that fight he said he would have, and some responded with "pretty speech"?

Well, the President used the 2012 campaign and public opinion to expose and wear down Republican obstruction. Their last act of desperation, shutting down the Government, sealed it for Democrats.

In December and this month, the President signed two bills into law effectively reversing the sequestration and increasing funding in some areas.

It's not chess. It's how he operates, and it apparently works for him. He used his first term to put the pieces in place for his second term. Using executive action to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers is a huge deal, and it sets the stage for the next three years.

It's about executive action, and he is prepared to use it, relying on the authority given him by law.

<...>

These pundits are right about one thing: probably no legislation of significance will pass for the remainder of Obama’s presidency. But what Obama can do, and is doing already, is use the executive branch to achieve a great deal. On climate change, financial regulation, and several other areas, the president can still accomplish a lot.

Because here’s the truth: financial reform is all about implementing Dodd-Frank, which is going better than expected. Climate change is all about using the EPA, which is going better than expected. And the long-term prospects of both of these efforts have dramatically improved since Senate Democrats abolished the filibuster for judicial nominations, and got some Democrats on the DC Circuit Court, which oversees these areas.

<...>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/01/27/president-obama-is-not-a-lame-duck/

Detractors: Whatever.

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. K&R

[ProSense]

2. Kick! n/t

[sheshe2]

3. This!

"A lot of people underestimate the power of executive action, and they underestimate President Obama, who is doing it his way all along."

Ain't that the truth!
Thanks ProSense.

[ProSense]

8. Yup.

[Whisp]

4. The President always thinks ahead of

the foot stomping gimme now crowd and the hateful rw asshat crowd, sometimes interchangeable.

Bravo.

[Iliyah]

5. K & R

Whisp I like that quote because it is the truth especially here.

[SunSeeker]

7. LOL! They were certainly interchangeable re the outrage over honoring Remsburg. nt

[ProSense]

18. Seems to have gone

down hill form Republicans.

GOP preps debt-ceiling surrender
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-preps-debt-ceiling-surrender
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024411437

LOL!

[JI7]

22. yup, Huelskamp and many on DU sounded the same

[ninjanurse]

6. I Want to Believe

That this is his 11th dimensional chess game. I think he is the best president we have had in a long time, and it's up to us to make him better.

[ProSense]

9. Welcome to DU. Here's

a good commentary on the speech: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024410369

[Fearless]

13. But?

[Skidmore]

51. How do you plan to make Congress better?

That is where the laws are written and they've been largely absent for several years now.

[Cha]

10. It was compelling..

detractors be damned.

[Skraxx]

11. GOP has no idea what's coming, Obama's in the Fuck You Guys

Phase of his presidency.

[Whisp]

19. ++++

Yeh, I think we are going to be very pleasantly surprised with a lot of things the President will be doing to correct matters that perhaps weren't handleable in the middle of his terms when he was trying to get big things done that took a lot of time.

Long distance runner.

The finish line will be Awesome. I know it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

48. And I refer you to Post #10 ...

it points to the importance of 2014.

[DCBob]

21. And I tinnk he doesnt really give a shit if they try to impeach him or sue him or whatever..

He gave them a chance to be reasonable for 4 years... now there time is up.

[ProSense]

49. 2014 is off to a good start.

[Fearless]

12. I'll hold comment until the rest of us are in a good position as well.

[ProSense]

15. Wasn't that a comment? Still,

"I'll hold comment until the rest of us are in a good position as well."

...many people's lives are slowly improving everyday because of this President's policies. Soon a half a million people will see their wages go up. Then there is health care.

From 'I don't want any part of Obamacare' to 'It's a godsend'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024349685

Obamacare Will Help Reduce Income Inequality

by TomP

Obamacare is far from perfect. Many of us have long sought a single payer system, but that was not doable in 2010. Perhaps a public option was, and it is unfortunate that we did not achieve that. It is one of the reforms to Obamacare that progressives should fight for.

My post today is about some good news. A study from the Brookings Institution shows that Obamacare will help reduce income inequality. Of course, much more is needed, but it all adds up. This is a step forward. (Raising the minimum wage also is very important because it will cause a bump in wages at minimum wage and wages above it (and it likely will have to be done state-by-state).)

Here's the study on Obamacare and inequality:

THE ARCHITECTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) sought to expand health insurance coverage, slow the growth of health care spending, and improve the quality of care. Changing the distribution of incomes was not a stated objective. Nonetheless, the ACA may do more to change the income distribution than any other recently enacted law. It does so by requiring employers to offer affordable health insurance to their full-time employees, by providing refundable tax credits to help make private health insurance affordable, and by expanding eligibility for Medicaid. The law penalizes nonpoor adults who are offered affordable coverage and do not buy it. It reduces subsidies for some Medicare plans and imposes new taxes on the labor and investment incomes of high-income families. In each of these ways, the new health law will change the net incomes of Americans at all income levels.

Brookings Institution: POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ON INCOME INEQUALITY

You can read the entire study at that link. Here is a synopsis from TPM:

Obamacare is poised to mitigate soaring inequality by raising the incomes of the poorest Americans, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.

By 2016, when its core provisions will have fully taken effect, the law will lift the average incomes of the bottom one-fifth of earners by nearly 6 percent, and the incomes of the bottom one-tenth by more than 7 percent, the study found.

The "great majority" of beneficiaries of the law's subsidies and Medicaid expansion will be in the bottom half -- and the "overwhelmingly majority" in the bottom third -- of the income distribution.

Obamacare is worth defending.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/27/1272820/-Obamacare-Will-Help-Reduce-Income-Inequality

Krugman: Obama and the One Percent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024391415

The new heatlh care law raised the payroll tax for high income earners and taxed investment income.

Net Investment Income Tax

A new Net Investment Income Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax applies to individuals, estates and trusts that have certain investment income above certain threshold amounts. The IRS and the Treasury Department have issued proposed regulations on the Net Investment Income Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Net Investment Income Tax, see our questions and answers.

Additional Medicare Tax

A new Additional Medicare Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies to an individual’s wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation, and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual’s filing status. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for married taxpayers who file jointly, $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separately, and $200,000 for all other taxpayers. An employer is responsible for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax from wages or compensation it pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued proposed regulations on the Additional Medicare Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Additional Medicare Tax, see our questions and answers.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions

[Fearless]

17. When the average American

Doesn't have a credit card debt of over $15000

And

The gap between the wealthy and the poor scales back from historic levels

And

We become the party of environmental protection and not of supporting "clean" coal and fracking natural gas

And

When 7% percent unemployment is considered a national crisis and not everyday okay

And

When Wall Street exes see real prison time and not bonuses

AND

DEMOCRATS STOP PANDERING WITH REPUBLICAN ISSUES CALLING THEM THEIR OWN

Then and ONLY then will provide lip service to the MSM meme of the day.

[ProSense]

20. I'm fairly certain

"Then and ONLY then will provide lip service to the MSM meme of the day."

...the "rest of us" can measure progress for ourselves. For some, it's the next meal. For others, a better home or access to health care.

It doesn't need to come all at once to be deemed progress.

Still, I like your list.

[Fearless]

23. Progress is a very tricky word

A .0001% decrease in people needing food stamps is in fact progress.

The problem is it's just not enough.

There are several key problems here: fracking, RTTP, TPP, and so on as I've mentioned, and several more.

We have done nothing to bring Wall St exes to justice or change the system. We've actually WEAKENED the changes we originally made after the crash back to pre-crash levels.

We've done nothing to spur real math and science education in the United States. The RTTP corporatization of public education is hurting progress.

Democratic presidents supporting fracking and "clean" coal technology is hurting Americans. Look at the environmental damage in western Canada for example. Look at West Virginia.

We have gone from the party of the people to the party of the lesser of two evils.

Progress to me would be single payer health care, new harsh restrictions on derivative trading, raising the capital gains tax, restoring the inheritance tax for its intended purpose, programs that are actively lowering unemployment, a large decrease in the dependance on fossil fuels, particularly for home heating purposes, increased protections for US trade not the TPP, and election reform removing Citizen's United and requiring non-partisan redistricting. Just to name a few.

[ProSense]

24. True, and

"Progress is a very tricky word A .0001% decrease in people needing food stamps is in fact progress. "

...this is progress:

Medicaid Expansion Has Already Cut The Number Of Uninsured West Virginians By A Third
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024366112


This is also progress:

Salt Lake City joins Phoenix in ending veteran homelessness

By Sara Kugler

Salt Lake City, Utah, is the second city in the United States to end chronic homelessness amongst military veterans, Mayor Ralph Becker said on Sunday’s Melissa Harris-Perry. The first was Phoenix, Ariz., which declared an end to the issue on Dec. 18...Salt Lake City now has only eight veterans who remain homeless, but only because they have said those individuals say they do not want homes. Becker pledged the city would continue to work with them.

Calling it “inexcusable” and “unacceptable” for homelessness to be a persistent problem “in a society like ours,” the mayor praised the collaboration between all levels of government and the private sector in achieving the goal. “This is a decision that was made by the whole community, and we’ve been dedicated to it for many years,” Becker explained. “The resources, while never enough, have come forward from every part of the community.”

Becker also credited the Obama administration, saying their focus on homeless veterans has made it easier to access resources and support for the initiative. “The federal government is a critical partner in providing resources in many ways – some of it financial, some of it expertise, some of it sharing ideas that come from other areas,” he said.

The federal government unveiled a ten-year plan to prevent and end homelessnessm in 2010...More than 600,000 people experience homelessness on any given night. About 9% of them are veterans...Salt Lake City has focused first on homeless veterans, but is committed to working to reduce the greater homeless population in the city. The December 2013 United States Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Survey reported that the number homeless families in Salt Lake City decreased by 20% and homeless individuals by 10% last year.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/mayor-declares-end-vet-homelessness

Phoenix Becomes First City To End Chronic Homelessness Among Veterans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024217875

<...>

The plan puts us on a path to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children, families, and youth by 2020. The Plan presents strategies building upon the lesson that mainstream housing, health, education, and human service programs must be fully engaged and coordinated to prevent and end homelessness, including...

<...>

http://usich.gov/opening_doors/

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act
https://www.onecpd.info/homelessness-assistance/hearth-act/

[Fearless]

25. So can we get a federal law passed

Providing shelter to homeless vets?

If not, why not? And, regardless, why are we not working on it right now.

My suggestion: Bring it to vote on the floor of Congress and the Senate and then shine a big ole light on every single person who dares to vote against it and on every person who tries to stall, delay or alter it.

[ProSense]

27. ?

"So can we get a federal law passed

Providing shelter to homeless vets?

If not, why not? And, regardless, why are we not working on it right now.

My suggestion: Bring it to vote on the floor of Congress and then shine a big ole light on every single person who dares to vote against it."

What does what I posted have to do with Congress? That's administation policy.

That's what the OP is about: What the President can do despite Congress.

[Fearless]

28. Your links are talking about vet homelessness in Phoenix and Salt Lake City

What can we do to implement changes on the national level that rectify this situation now, and how do we make it happen?

It's all well and good to say that it would be nice if vets were not homeless and abandoned by the US government after their terms of service are up. But what can we do right now to fix the problem?

My suggestion above being my solution to that.

[ProSense]

30. From the

"Your links are talking about vet homelessness in Phoenix and Salt Lake City

What can we do to implement changes on the national level that rectify this situation now, and how do we make it happen? "

...the first piece:

Becker also credited the Obama administration, saying their focus on homeless veterans has made it easier to access resources and support for the initiative. “The federal government is a critical partner in providing resources in many ways – some of it financial, some of it expertise, some of it sharing ideas that come from other areas,” he said.

The federal government unveiled a ten-year plan to prevent and end homelessnessm in 2010...More than 600,000 people experience homelessness on any given night. About 9% of them are veterans...Salt Lake City has focused first on homeless veterans, but is committed to working to reduce the greater homeless population in the city. The December 2013 United States Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Survey reported that the number homeless families in Salt Lake City decreased by 20% and homeless individuals by 10% last year.

See the rest of the information in the other comment.

[Fearless]

31. Again six of these and a half dozen of another

There are still homeless vets. We are not doing enough. And we need to do more now.

[ProSense]

32. That's fine, but you asked a question and I answered it. n/t

[Fearless]

33. The answer is that we're not doing enough.

[ProSense]

34. We are never doing enough, but that doesn't mean ignoring or dimissing what's being done. n/t

[Fearless]

36. What's being done isn't enough.

Sometimes we do a lot more.

The creation of Social Security and Medicare for instance, decreased poverty in the US by more than half.

It's that level of change that we need right now.

Otherwise, we're just not trying hard enough.

We must try harder.

So long as millions of people can't put food in their mouths, or have a warm place to sleep, we must try harder.

[ProSense]

38. I realize

"The creation of Social Security and Medicare for instance, decreased poverty in the US by more than half.

It's that level of change that we need right now."

...that we need to do more, but if you can accept that Social Security and Medicare "decreased poverty," why do you ignore that expanding Medicaid will have a similar impact?

Medicaid Expansion Has Already Cut The Number Of Uninsured West Virginians By A Third
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024366112

From 'I don't want any part of Obamacare' to 'It's a godsend'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024349685

Obamacare Will Help Reduce Income Inequality

by TomP

Obamacare is far from perfect. Many of us have long sought a single payer system, but that was not doable in 2010. Perhaps a public option was, and it is unfortunate that we did not achieve that. It is one of the reforms to Obamacare that progressives should fight for.

My post today is about some good news. A study from the Brookings Institution shows that Obamacare will help reduce income inequality. Of course, much more is needed, but it all adds up. This is a step forward. (Raising the minimum wage also is very important because it will cause a bump in wages at minimum wage and wages above it (and it likely will have to be done state-by-state).)

Here's the study on Obamacare and inequality:

THE ARCHITECTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) sought to expand health insurance coverage, slow the growth of health care spending, and improve the quality of care. Changing the distribution of incomes was not a stated objective. Nonetheless, the ACA may do more to change the income distribution than any other recently enacted law. It does so by requiring employers to offer affordable health insurance to their full-time employees, by providing refundable tax credits to help make private health insurance affordable, and by expanding eligibility for Medicaid. The law penalizes nonpoor adults who are offered affordable coverage and do not buy it. It reduces subsidies for some Medicare plans and imposes new taxes on the labor and investment incomes of high-income families. In each of these ways, the new health law will change the net incomes of Americans at all income levels.

Brookings Institution: POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ON INCOME INEQUALITY

You can read the entire study at that link. Here is a synopsis from TPM:

Obamacare is poised to mitigate soaring inequality by raising the incomes of the poorest Americans, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.

By 2016, when its core provisions will have fully taken effect, the law will lift the average incomes of the bottom one-fifth of earners by nearly 6 percent, and the incomes of the bottom one-tenth by more than 7 percent, the study found.

The "great majority" of beneficiaries of the law's subsidies and Medicaid expansion will be in the bottom half -- and the "overwhelmingly majority" in the bottom third -- of the income distribution.

Obamacare is worth defending.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/27/1272820/-Obamacare-Will-Help-Reduce-Income-Inequality

Krugman: Obama and the One Percent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024391415

The new heatlh care law raised the payroll tax for high income earners and taxed investment income.

Net Investment Income Tax

A new Net Investment Income Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax applies to individuals, estates and trusts that have certain investment income above certain threshold amounts. The IRS and the Treasury Department have issued proposed regulations on the Net Investment Income Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Net Investment Income Tax, see our questions and answers.

Additional Medicare Tax

A new Additional Medicare Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies to an individual’s wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation, and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual’s filing status. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for married taxpayers who file jointly, $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separately, and $200,000 for all other taxpayers. An employer is responsible for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax from wages or compensation it pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued proposed regulations on the Additional Medicare Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Additional Medicare Tax, see our questions and answers.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions

[Skraxx]

52. I provide services daily to house, feed and care for homeless and disabled vets

With funding provided by Obama's programs.

What are you doing?

[Fearless]

53. For years I have tutored inner city students as part of an after school gov't funded program

Last edited Mon Feb 3, 2014, 03:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Regardless, your argument is a non-sequitur.

Not enough is being done. There is not enough money or focus given to the impoverished of our nation (or a hundred other issues). This administration, while better than some, is not doing enough.

[Skraxx]

55. It's directly to the point, until everyone is housed, fed and cared for, no one, including you, is

doing enough. But lot's of dead enders like to create idiotic, vague, unattainable expectations of people who ARE doing ALOT more than they are, so they can continue to snipe and satisfy some inner insecurity. "You're not doing ENOUGH!!!" is ALWAYS the case for the whining curs in the peanut gallery with nothing better to do.

[Fearless]

56. We aren't doing enough.

That's all that matters to starving children. They don't care about bully politics or rhetoric. Just food.

the administration needs to do more. In the wealthiest nation in the world no one should hunger. No one should die of preventable illness. No one should be cold.

The government has the money to solve these problems and chooses not to.

[Skraxx]

57. YOU need to do more, if people are cold and starving, why arent' YOU doing more? Huh? Why not?

You should be working tirelessly instead posting on the internet if these things are so important to you. Every second you type is a second you can be out there feeding the hungry. Get to work!

[Fearless]

58. I don't have the means to cure homlessness today. The government DOES.

Do you not get it?

[Skraxx]

60. Why??? You're not doing enough!!!! That's why! Do MORE!!

We placed 36 people into shelters around the city yesterday, what did you do?

[Fearless]

61. Shelters? The US government could right now provide homes for every homless person

In the nation.

Right now.

With a few votes and a signature.

Right now.

If they wanted to.

They have trillions of dollars being spent on the wrong thing. I have very little money being spent on the right things.

[Skraxx]

65. So what are YOU doing about it??? Stop whining on the internet and get

To work!

[Fearless]

66. I don't think you understand the purpose of DU.

Life isn't an "either/or". We can talk about helping people and actually help people at the same time. Funny how that works.

[Skraxx]

67. DU is irrelevant, you are obviously not doing enough!

There are still hungry and homeless out there! Why aren't you doing anything about it!?

[Fearless]

68. Play games with someone else please. This is really absurd.

[treestar]

14. There is still 2014 though

Too early to give up anything new happening during the entire rest of his Presidency.

[ProSense]

16. Well,

"Too early to give up anything new happening during the entire rest of his Presidency."

...if what you're implying happens, who will clean up all the exploded heads?

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. John Stewart says Obama has reached the "fuck it" part of his Presidency!

I have to agree...and if we can turn out the Midterms....it will be Katie Bar the Door!

[ProSense]

44. And things just aren't

"John Stewart says Obama has reached the "fuck it" part of his Presidency!"

...aren't working out the way the RW wanted it to.

STUDY: Average Obamacare Plans Are Cheaper Than Employer-Sponsored Ones
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024415004

Executive order on federal contracting means real action on economic mobility
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024415803

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. but but but...we are supposed to "hate" him for doing nothing!!!

ROFLMFAO!!!

[ProSense]

46. He's the lazy political hack/Muslim socialist dictator.

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. You forgot "Kamandant Chef"

[rhett o rick]

29. I am guessing that from what you say, I should feel better than I do.

However, I work at a foodbank and see first hand what poverty does. And it's going to get worse soon. There is a lot of rhetoric in what the President said and what you say. But I see the president working hard on the TPP, which appears to me aimed at making things much worse for the lower classes.

I will feel better when I dont have to see children living in cars and tents.

I will feel better when I dont have to give sandwiches to our wounded vets sitting in the rain on the street.

I am sick of rhetoric.

[ProSense]

35. Seriously

"However, I work at a foodbank...But I see the president working hard on the TPP"

...what?

[rhett o rick]

37. People are living in cars and tents. Do you not have any empathy? The president is working

diligently to ram the TPP thru. That will cause more children to live in cars and tents. The Republicans dont care but I would hope you would.

[ProSense]

39. People

"People are living in cars and tents. Do you not have any empathy? The president is working diligently to ram the TPP thru."

...are not "living is cars and tents" because the TPP is being negotiated.

What the President has done is put into place polices that are going to help the homeless.

Medicaid for the Homeless
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024090692

Salt Lake City joins Phoenix in ending veteran homelessness

By Sara Kugler

Salt Lake City, Utah, is the second city in the United States to end chronic homelessness amongst military veterans, Mayor Ralph Becker said on Sunday’s Melissa Harris-Perry. The first was Phoenix, Ariz., which declared an end to the issue on Dec. 18...Salt Lake City now has only eight veterans who remain homeless, but only because they have said those individuals say they do not want homes. Becker pledged the city would continue to work with them.

Calling it “inexcusable” and “unacceptable” for homelessness to be a persistent problem “in a society like ours,” the mayor praised the collaboration between all levels of government and the private sector in achieving the goal. “This is a decision that was made by the whole community, and we’ve been dedicated to it for many years,” Becker explained. “The resources, while never enough, have come forward from every part of the community.”

Becker also credited the Obama administration, saying their focus on homeless veterans has made it easier to access resources and support for the initiative. “The federal government is a critical partner in providing resources in many ways – some of it financial, some of it expertise, some of it sharing ideas that come from other areas,” he said.

The federal government unveiled a ten-year plan to prevent and end homelessnessm in 2010...More than 600,000 people experience homelessness on any given night. About 9% of them are veterans...Salt Lake City has focused first on homeless veterans, but is committed to working to reduce the greater homeless population in the city. The December 2013 United States Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Survey reported that the number homeless families in Salt Lake City decreased by 20% and homeless individuals by 10% last year.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/mayor-declares-end-vet-homelessness

Phoenix Becomes First City To End Chronic Homelessness Among Veterans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024217875

<...>

The plan puts us on a path to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children, families, and youth by 2020. The Plan presents strategies building upon the lesson that mainstream housing, health, education, and human service programs must be fully engaged and coordinated to prevent and end homelessness, including...

<...>

http://usich.gov/opening_doors/

Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act
https://www.onecpd.info/homelessness-assistance/hearth-act/

[rhett o rick]

40. "People are not "living is cars and tents" because the TPP is being negotiated." Of course not

how absurd. But things have been getting worse over the last few years as the Pres concentrates on the TCP and the TPP.

People are living in cars and tents because we have lost jobs thanks to NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO. Now Pres Obama and Penny Pritzker want to ram thru the most sweeping of all "free" trade agreements, the TPP.

Who are pushing the TPP's passage? Not unions, not environmentalists, but corporations. Do you think jobs will "trickle down" from the TPP? It appears that you side with the corporations over unions, with corporations over sovereign nations. Looks to me like another step towards The New World Order.

[ProSense]

41. If it's "absurd," then why are you mentioning the TPP? n/t

[rhett o rick]

42. Why dont you tell us if you support the TCP and the TPP? That's the question. nm

[ProSense]

43. What does that have to do with the OP?

I mean, you went around homelessness to get to your real point, the TPP, which has nothing to do with the current homeless situation or the OP.

I haven't seen the TPP. I've seen a lot of speculation (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024365795#post24), and if it's as horrible as the speculation, then it should be killed.

If it's not as horrible (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024414284#post4) as the speculation, would you support it?

[Art_from_Ark]

59. It's horrible

I've heard it debated by the Japanese Diet/Parliament on Japanese TV. This is one reason why it's horrible:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4424473

[Cha]

62. They should start their own threads on TPP

instead of hijacking someone else's and treating it as their own personal whining station.

T

[Cha]

63. Oh I see that was done..

'bout time.

[Skip Intro]

64. Some people feel great when they have sunshine blown up their asses. n/t

Last edited Thu Feb 6, 2014, 11:35 PM - Edit history (1)

[ProSense]

69. Do you think they feel better than the people who are just asses?

Serious question?

[Skip Intro]

71. No idea, what do you think? n/t

[Egalitarian Thug]

54. Sure, he's rich and never has to run for anything ever again.

Oh wait, is this the "we'll fix it later" part?

[ProSense]

70. Members of Congress are "rich," and if they want to remain there, they have to run again.

Like I said, the President is in a great position. LOL!