Salon.com > Obama administration

Reports: IRS targeting was broader than just Tea Partyers

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Update - 12:03 p.m.: In a press conference on Monday, President Obama called it "outrageous" the IRS did not operate on a "non-partisan, neutral" basis, adding that people are "properly concerned." If the allegations are true, he said, “I’ve got no patience with it. I will not tolerate it."

In a statement earlier Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the President "is concerned that the conduct of a small number of Internal Revenue Service employees may have fallen short" of the Administration's standard of conduct, and that if any rules were broken, Obama "expects that swift and appropriate steps will be taken to address any misconduct.”

From earlier:

An inspector general's audit of the IRS, set to be released this week, will reportedly show that the agency targeted a wider range of conservative groups than just those with "tea party" and "patriot" in the name, including groups that were generally critical of the government.

Judge slams Obama’s Plan B obstructionism, again

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:11:00 +0000

United States District Court Judge Edward Korman on Friday denied the Obama administration's request to delay a court order to make emergency contraception available over-the-counter, calling the appeal “frivolous,” "scientifically unjustified" and “taken for the purpose of delay." This isn't the first time Korman has had harsh words for the administration's politically motivated push to keep safe birth control off the shelves.

Choice excerpts from Korman's cutting ruling (emphasis mine):

On the administration letting politics get in the way of safe medical care:

On April 5, 2013, I issued an order directing the defendants — the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services — to grant the Citizen Petition filed by the plaintiffs and make levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives available over-the-counter and without point-of-sale or age restrictions. I did so because the Secretary’s action was politically motivated, scientifically unjustified, and contrary to agency precedent, and because it could not provide a basis to sustain the denial of the Citizen Petition.

Fixing Obama’s “fix it first” infrastructure plan

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:15:00 +0000

Seventy thousand bridges in America are structurally deficient. Fixing this and other critical problems with our national infrastructure is a policy no-brainer.

In this year’s State of the Union address, President Obama unveiled his “fix it first” plan, a $50 billion program for repairing the nation’s roads, highways, bridges and transit systems. Although this is a step in the right direction, the plan should also meet the concerns of the newly emerging transportation-justice movement, about which we have heard nothing from the president so far.

The Obama administration last directed major funds toward infrastructure as a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The government spent more than $31 billion, with a focus on “shovel-ready” projects.

Does Eric Holder know the law?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:00:00 +0000

In a chilling statement about executive power, Attorney General Eric Holder today declared that the president can authorize lethal force against Americans, and that Congress can not constitutionally limit such powers.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked Holder whether Congress could prohibit the targeted killing of Americans in America. “Do you believe Congress can pass a law prohibiting POTUS to use lethal force on U.S. soil?” he asked directly, explaining he meant the prohibition would apply only where a person did not present an imminent threat.

“I’m not sure that such a bill would be constitutional,” the attorney general responded. “It might run contrary to the Article II powers that the president has.” Article II is the section of the Constitution that lays out the president’s authority as commander in chief of the military.

The exchange suggests that the administration believes that Congress cannot limit the president’s authority in such an area, a view consistent with public Office of Legal Counsel opinions on the war.

Obama’s head speechwriter stepping down, may pursue screenwriting

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Ever since he's been in the White House, Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau seemed destined for Hollywood. He's dated "Parks and Recreation" actress Rashida Jones, was voted among the world's most beautiful by People magazine (and one of the most influential by Time) and, while still in his 20s, managed to inspire a "White House Gone Wild" headline when the media got hold of a shirtless pic of him playing a drinking game.

Now the 31-year-old, who has been Barack Obama's head speechwriter for seven years, is stepping down. The L.A. Times reports that after March 1, the young writer is likely to pursue a career in screenwriting, following the footsteps of former White House staffer, now "1600 Penn" writer, Jon Lovett. Obama adviser David Plouffe told the LA Times that Favreau would be well-equipped for a career in Hollywood. "He can write comedy, history, drama, suspense," Plouffe said. "He's got the whole range."

Favreau, however, plans to stay in Washington for the time being and has not commented on his departure. He will be replaced by Chicago native Cody Keenan, who the Times reports "is known for his handling of heartbreak and sadness."