Obama's Ethereal Experience Vs. Palin's Reality Of Accomplishment

by Edmund Jenks | September 3, 2008 at 03:01 pm

1255 views | 17 Recommendations | 7 comments

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Ethereal Experience Vs. Reality Of Accomplishment

This election cycle for President of the United States is really fun and is beginning to feel like a ride in a “Bumble Ball” (if riding in a Bumble Ball were possible).

Take the recent media reaction to Senator John McCain’s pick for Vice-President of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin – WOW.

All of the pundits on radio and television (especially cable news television) seem to be making arguments for or against the wisdom of any potential candidacy based upon past “Experience” while the real measure of anyone’s experience actually lies in the value of their “Accomplishment”.

Even Barack Obama doesn’t get it … when confronted with Sarah Palin’s years of experience in chief executive decision making office positions (on the city council as Mayor of a city and then as Governor of the State of Alaska) he sites as a comparison his function as the leader of the Barack Obama campaign for President of the United States.

This excerpted from CNN and the Anderson Cooper 360 show –

Anderson Cooper interviewed Barack Obama Monday
From CNN Political Producer Ed Hornick - September 1, 2008 - Posted: 07:10 PM ET

Barack Obama defended his experience in dealing with natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and took a swipe at newly minted GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

In an interview on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Monday night, Obama was asked about whether his experience in the U.S. Senate dealing with weather-related situations compares to Palin’s executive experience running the state of Alaska and as the small town mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

(YouTube type video of AC360 interview of Barack Obama by Anderson Cooper - Ctrl-Click photo to launch)

“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees. We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year – we have a budget of about three times that just for the month,” Obama responded.

Our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the past couple of years and certainly in terms of the legislation I’ve passed in the past couple of years, post-Katrina.”
Reference Here>>

What is truly striking about the response and position that Barack Obama stakes out in his response to Anderson Cooper’s query is the depth of the ignorance that he has about the value of accomplishment in decision making a city manager and/or Mayor has in the lives of the people who actually live in a city or town … let alone a State – ANY State.

Banner graphic from the city of Wasilla website

Let’s examine for a minute the online Budget for 2005 published by and for the city of Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla – for the Sarmatian god of the same name, see Wasilla (god)) – the city that Sarah Palin served for a period of two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996, then won two terms as mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002.

The city hall of Wasilla ... the one that pundit James Carville describes as looking like a "bait shop" in Louisiana. Image Credit: City of Wasilla website

It is not the amount of money that is managed, it is the 256 pages of description, on where the money comes from and how it is used to the betterment of the community this organization is formed to serve, that concerns itself with the issue of accomplishment.

So, where does the money come from and what community does the campaign for President of the United States does the Barack Obama for President organization serve?

Is there any infrastructure upon which people are able to fly an airplane, drive to the city for goods and services, get help in an accident, report a crime, prosecute a criminal, get married, get an education, and have the trash picked up long after decisions are made on how to use the municipalities collected tax money?

A political campaign organization asks for money to be donated so it can be spent on activities promoting the candidate, Barack Obama, himself.

The money is spent on cardboard signs, printed paper with gum/glue on the back so that the paper could be affixed to a car or telephone pole, video production services so that YouTube and Television ads can be made and promotional time can be bought to play them, leased jet airplanes so that the candidate and his staff can be flown anywhere/anytime foe events where the candidate can be heard and seen by people at a gathering … and more.

All of the investment of donated money and the effort it pays for is designed so that the candidate, Barack Obama, can put himself in a place where he can make decisions for the betterment of the community he wants to serve – a place he has never been before as a community organizer in Chicago, a senator in the state government of Illinois, and finally as the junior Senator for the state of Illinois in the United States Senate.

Sarah Palin has been in a place where her decisions resulted into accomplishment for the better part of 10 years in a city community environment and for the state community for two and a half years as she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004 while also serving as Ethics Supervisor of the commission, and as the governor of Alaska, becoming the first woman and youngest person to hold the office.

Barack Obama really does not know what he doesn’t know and to prove this fact here are a couple of facts about the state of Alaska that Barack Obama would not and could not compare his political campaign to.

Alaska is a fairly large state economically, for example; the state ranks as #6 in Gross Domestic Product Per Capita on the list of all 50 states (behind Delaware, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and ahead of California in #7 – Illinois by comparison ranks #17)

This excerpted from Wikipedia (pretty easy to find) –

Shortly after becoming governor, Palin canceled a contract for the construction of an 11-mile (18 km) gravel road outside Juneau to a mine. This reversed a decision made in the closing days of the Murkowski administration.[70] She also followed through on a campaign promise to sell the Westwind II jet purchased (on a state government credit account, against the wishes of the Legislature) by the Murkowski administration for $2.7 million in 2005. In August 2007, the jet was sold on eBay for $2.1 million.[71]

In June 2007, Palin signed into law a $6.6 billion operating budget—the largest in Alaska's history.[72] At the same time, she used her veto power to make the second-largest cuts of the construction budget in state history. The $237 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects, and reduced the construction budget to nearly $1.6 billion.[73]

In 2007, the Alaska Creamery Board recommended closing Matanuska Maid Dairy, an unprofitable state-owned business. Palin objected, citing concern for dairy farmers and a recent infusion of $600,000 in state money. Palin subsequently replaced the entire membership of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation.[74] The new board reversed the decision to close the dairy. Later in 2007, the unprofitable business was put up for sale. No offers met the minimum bid of $3.35 million,[75][76] and the dairy was closed. In August 2008, the Anchorage plant was purchased for $1.5 million, the new minimum bid. The purchaser plans to convert it into heated storage units.[77]
Reference Here>>

So again, let’s look at the off-the-cuff comment and comparison by Barack Obama while he was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN –

“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees. We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year – we have a budget of about three times that just for the month,” Obama responded.

As Governor of Alaska for the last year, Sarah Palin ran the going concern that operated on an approved budget of 6.6 billion dollars, was the commander-and-chief Alaska’s National Guard, is aware on a daily basis the politics of Russia and Canada where the State of Alaska shares a border with both countries and the state and municipal government employ a total of 8,500 people to carry out the people’s business.

It is an insult to begin to compare the ethereal nature of experience to the reality of accomplishment an executive position in government begets.

What is even more odd is that the junior Senator from Illinois, who is running for the top executive governmental position in the United States, takes the time to compare himself in background and experience with the competitive choice for the back-up position for the same top executive governmental position.

I guess Sarah Palin said it best in her speech at the RNC Convention in St. Paul, MN when described what the job of a small town mayor was like --- "Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.

And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."

The Democrats are scared folks; they are scared that Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden's “experience” does not stack up to Senator John McCain’s and Governor Sarah Palin’s accomplishments and with good reason.

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Rhonda J Mangus

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:01 on September 4th, 2008

Edmund Jenks, I like this story. It's good stuff.

BigT

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:08 on September 4th, 2008

Edmund Jenks, I like this story. It's good stuff.

So, basically what the Obamanation is saying is that he's ready to be president because he is running for president. Wow. This guy is a moron. They need to make sure he only talks when there's a fully functioning teleprompter in front of his face.

cclporter

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:46 on September 5th, 2008

Edmund Jenks, I like this story. It's good stuff.

They feel they are in big trouble if even a small amount of the Hillary voters switch sides. Just the facts Obama!

This is even more fun than that The Bumble Ball! Fumble Bumble is what Obama is continuing to do without the teleprompter!!

phoenixesrose

at 11:20 on September 5th, 2008

Legislative Experience: Senator Barack Obama

What exactly has Senator Obama accomplished in the IL State Senate and during his tenure thus far in the US Senate? Detractors try to tell you us he's only good for a speech.

Fighting back the knee-jerk response of calling them outright liars, I decided to visit the Library of Congress website at http://thomas.loc.gov/ and search for all Bills and Amendments sponsored, co-sponsored or supported by Senator Obama. Take a look at Bills he has sponsored - Bills that have not yet been voted into law - and you will see some of what a President Obama has planned for education, veterans and military benefits, healthcare, the economy, the environment, foreign policy, energy, the reduction of poverty, and more. Note below, that as early as 2003 in the IL State Legislature, Obama supported preditory mortgage lending legislation aimed at averting home foreclosures. Judgment! Foresight! Bipartizanship!

In addition to Bills sponsored in the US Senate, I also discoverd that there are several pieces of legislation, voted into law, that was sponsored by Senator Obama. Note too, I have grouped the Bills found on the Library of Congress website by category for easier perusal. There are over 100 Bills and Amendments sponsored by Senator Obama this past year alone; since his arrival in the US Senate, 4 Bills he sponsored or co-sponsored have been signed into law. No "empty suit" here. Read on.

STATE LEGISLATURE, 1997–2004

Once elected, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws. He sponsored a law increasing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare. In 2001, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Obama supported Republican Governor Ryan's payday loan regulations and predatory mortgage lending regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures. Obama introduced this legislation to the IL Senate. In 2003, Obama sponsored and led unanimous, bipartisan passage of legislation to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained and legislation making Illinois the first state to mandate videotaping of homicide interrogations.

Obama was re-elected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, and again in 2002. In 2000, he lost a Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives to four-term incumbent Bobby Rush by a margin of two to one.

In January 2003, Obama became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee when Democrats, after a decade in the minority, regained a majority. During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, police representatives credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting death penalty reforms. Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the US Senate.

ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE: RECORD 2003-2005

Bills Barack Obama sponsored or co-sponsored over 200 bills and resolutions that were passed or adopted between 2003-2005 in the in IL State Legislature. Note: Bills introduced while Senator Obama was in the IL senate were voted on after he left. Note: over 800 bills introduced 1998-2004; unsure total number that have passed into state law.

Bills passed 2003-2005 (sponsored and co-sponsored) include the Equal Pay Act; Senior Citizens Prescription Drug Discount Act; Video Taped Interrogations Act; Hospital Report Card Act to provide quality care and quality staff; Chicago Education Reform Act; and more.
http://www.ilga.gov/...asp?MemberID=747&GA=93

Of the above Bills, Senator Obama was primary sponsor for more that 40 bills and resolutions passed and adopted between 2003-2005

http://www.ilga.gov/...berID=747&Primary=True

Public Act = Passed into law, signed by the Governor. Adoptions are so noted.

Related posts and articles on Senator Obama's accomplishments in the Illinois Senate see:

http://www.nytimes.com/...0730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

Note: NYT lists just a few of over 800 bills introduced by Senator Obama.

U.S. SENATE, 2005–PRESENT

Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs, and he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is a chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs. He served on the Environment and Public Works committee until January 2007. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he helped create legislation to control conventional weapons and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During the 110th Congress, he helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. After announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama emphasized withdrawing American troops from Iraq, energy independence, decreasing the influence of lobbyists, and promoting universal health care as top national priorities.

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW

Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Law (6/28/07)
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070628-oba...

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006
(Coburn-Obama Transparency Act of 2006 S. 2590)
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cf...

Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006
S.2125. The first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor. It is in America's best interest to fight for the poor and oppressed who are recruitment fodder for anti-American interests.http://www.govtrack.us/...bill.xpd?bill=s109-2125

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
(co-sponsored by Obama) Pub.L. 110-81, 121 Stat. 735, enacted 2007-09-14) is a law of the United States federal government that amended parts of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. It strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.

Senators Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) were instrumental in adding a bundling provision to the final version of HLOGA, which President Bush signed into law in September 2007. All three are additional co-sponsors of the bill, although their names do not yet appear on the co-sponsor list at the Library of Congress. Their participation is a well-known fact that has been reported in the national news.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

Library of Congress - Select a Senator - Obama
http://thomas.loc.gov/

BILLS SPONSORED BY SENATOR BARACK OBAMA

by Category

FOREIGN POLICY

S.CON.RES.25 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-Sponsors: 7; introduced 3/29/2007)
Title: A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society.
Status: 6/26/2007 Held at the desk.

S.J.RES.23 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: none; introduced 11/1/2007)
A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S.433 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-Sponsors: 3; introduced 1/30/2007)
The Iraq War De-Escalation Act
A bill to state United States policy for Iraq, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S.1430 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 35; introduced 5/17/2007)
A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.1977 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 4; introduced 8/2/2007)
A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 9/6/2007)
To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
Status: 9/6/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2692 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

HEALTH / HEALTH RELATED / MEDICAL RESEARCH

S.CON.RES.46 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-Sponsors: none; introduced 9/17/2007)
Title: A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.RES.628 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-Sponsors: 1; introduced 7/25/2008)
A resolution expressing support for the designation of Disability Pride Day and recognizing that all people, including people living with disabilities, have the right, responsibility, and ability to be active, contributing members of society and fully engaged as citizens of the United States.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.823 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 18; introduced 3/8/2007)
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.976 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 3/23/2007)
A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1067 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 5; introduced 3/29/2007)
A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1068 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2;introduced 3/29/2007)
A bill to promote healthy communities.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1306 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 9; introduced 5/3/2007)
A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned hazardous substances.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.1811 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 7/18/2007)
A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to assess and reduce the levels of lead found in child-occupied facilities in the United States, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.1824 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 7/19/2007)
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under the Medicare program to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1873 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 7/25/2007)
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish demonstration programs on regionalized systems for emergency care, to support emergency medicine research, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2132 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsor: 6; introduced 10/3/2007)
A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children's products that contain lead, and for other purposes
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.2347 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 36; introduced 11/13/2007)
A bill to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.3142 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 5; (introduced 6/17/2008)
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance public health activities related to stillbirth and sudden unexpected infant death.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.3358 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; (introduced 7/29/2008)
A bill to provide for enhanced food-borne illness surveillance and food safety capacity.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 5/3/2007)
To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
Status: 5/8/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1041 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

JUDICIARY

S.453 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 20; introduced 1/31/2007)
A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.
10/4/2007 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 411.

S.737 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 1; introduced 3/1/2007)
A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 in order to measure, compare, and improve the quality of voter access to polls and voter services in the administration of Federal elections in the States.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

S.1989 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 8/3/2007)
A bill to provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.2519 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 1; introduced 12/19/2007)
A bill to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

S.3077 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 3; (introduced 6/3/2008)
A bill to strengthen transparency and accountability in Federal spending.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

S.AMDT.55 to S.1 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 1; (introduced 1/12/2007)
Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Status: 1/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted

S.AMDT.4114 to S.2663 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 3/5/2008)
To require the Comptroller General of the United States conduct a study and report on the effectiveness of authorities relating to the safety of imported consumer products.
Status: 3/6/2008 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 4114 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

MILITARY / SECURITY / VETERANS AFFAIRS

S.674 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 4; introduced 2/16/2007)
A bill to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.692 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsor: 1; introduced 2/27/2007)
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.713 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-Sponsors: 34; introduced 2/28/2007)
A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1084 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 11; introduced 4/10/2007)
A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.1817 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 12; introduced 7/19/2007)
A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1885 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 10; introduced 7/26/2007)
A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2330 : (Sponsor: Obama; sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 11/8/2007)
A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 8; introduced 7/31/2007)
To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
Status: 8/2/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2588 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 4; introduced 9/26/2007)
To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
Status: 9/27/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3073 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 7; introduced 9/27/2007)
Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
Status: 9/27/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3078 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.4330 to S.CON.RES.70 (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 3; introduced 3/13/2008)
To provide an additional $5 million to the military departments' respective Boards for Correction of Military Records to expedite review of cases in which service members with combat-related psychological injuries (such as PTSD) or closed head injuries (such as TBIs) were administered discharges for personality disorders or other discharges resulting in a loss of benefits or care and seek a correction of records or upgraded discharge.
Status: 3/13/2008 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 4330 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

EDUCATION

S.114: (Sponsor: Obama; Co-Sponsors: none; introduced 1/4/2007)
A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.116 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 3; introduced 1/4/2007)
A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1513 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: none; (introduced 5/24/2007)
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grant programs to enhance the access of low-income African-American students to higher education.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1574 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: none; introduced 6/7/2007)
A bill to establish Teaching Residency Programs for preparation and induction of teachers.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2066 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 9/18/2007)
A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

S.2111 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 3; introduced 9/27/2007)
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2227 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 5; introduced 10/24/2007)
A bill to provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, to develop and implement effective middle school models for struggling students, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2392 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; (introduced 11/16/2007)
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.3047 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 5; (introduced 5/21/2008)
A bill to provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 3/21/2007)
To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
Status: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 524 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.905 to S.761 (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: none; introduced 4/23/2007)
To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
Status: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 905 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.923 to S.761 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 4/24/2007)
To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
Status: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 923 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.924 to S.761 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 1; introduced 4/24/2007)
To establish summer term education programs.
Status: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 924 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

ECONOMY

S.115 : (Sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: none; Senate Finance;introduced 1/4/2007)
A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.133 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 3; introduced 1/4/2007)
A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.767 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 6; introduced 3/6/2007)
A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.768 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 6; introduced 3/6/2007)
A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1151 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: none; introduced 4/18/2007)
A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1181 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 7; introduced 4/20/2007)
A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.1222 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 1; introduced 4/25/2007)
A bill to stop mortgage transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, abuse, and under-development, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.2044 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 6; introduced 9/12/2007)
A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

IMMIGRATION

S.795 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 5; introduced 3/7/2007)
A bill to assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of the United States, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.1033 co-sponsor Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act
Incorporates legalization, guest worker programs, and border enforcement.
The bill was never voted on in the Senate.

Pub.L. 109-367 (Obama supported)
Secure Fence Act of 2006. Allows for over 700 miles of double-reinforced fence to be built across cities and deserts alike between California and Texas in areas that have been prone to illegal drug trafficking and illegal immigration. It authorizes the installation of more lighting, vehicle barriers, and border checkpoints, while putting in place more advanced equipment like sensors, cameras, satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles in an attempt to watch and control illegal immigration into the United States.

ENVIRONMENT

S.906 : (Sponsor: Obama: co-sponsors: 4; introduced 3/15/2007)
A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes.
Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S.1324 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 5/7/2007)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.1389 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 3; introduced 5/14/2007)
A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1818 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 5; introduced 7/19/2007)
A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.2202 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 2; introduced 10/18/2007)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the renewable content of gasoline, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.2224 : (sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 1; introduced 10/24/2007)
A bill to require a licensee to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of radioactive substances.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 4; introduced 3/22/2007)
To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
Status: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 599 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

POVERTY

S.1790 : (sponsor: Obama; Co-sponsors: 2; introduced 7/16/2007)
A bill to make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2433 : (Sponsor: Obama; co-sponsors: 30; (introduced 12/7/2007)
A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
4/24/2008 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 718.

cclporter

at 14:40 on September 5th, 2008

I wish I had that kind of time to spend on such a detailed list of (Obama; Co-sponsors) proposed Bills.

The thing about Co-Sponsoring something is, that is jumping on the coat tails not writing legislation!

Space can be saved by sticking with the hard facts! One Law and three Acts that have been out there back when Obama was buying real estate in Chicago! The last one (2007) was on an amendment from a pre-existing 1995 Act! What was Obama doing back in 1995?

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW

Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Law (6/28/07)
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070628-oba...

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006
(Coburn-Obama Transparency Act of 2006 S. 2590)
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cf...

Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006
S.2125. The first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor. It is in America's best interest to fight for the poor and oppressed who are recruitment fodder for anti-American interests.http://www.govtrack.us/...bill.xpd?bill=s109-2125

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
(co-sponsored by Obama) Pub.L. 110-81, 121 Stat. 735, enacted 2007-09-14) is a law of the United States federal government that amended parts of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. It strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.

Senators Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) were instrumental in adding a bundling provision to the final version of HLOGA, which President Bush signed into law in September 2007. All three are additional co-sponsors of the bill, although their names do not yet appear on the co-sponsor list at the Library of Congress. Their participation is a well-known fact that has been reported in the national news.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

You might think after taking all Obama has done to get these proposed Bills on the books he could take five minutes to write a check to his little half brother, lick a envelope and drop it in the WorldWide box. One dollar a month is less than his proposed legislation S.2433!

" Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day".

How much would one U.S. dollar a day improve his own flesh and blood's life? 30 fold!

Dr Dapper

at 08:15 on September 15th, 2008

If the author ever lived in Alaska he might have a different opinion about Sarah Palin's accomplishments. He might be a little more concerned about that age problem the republican's have.

Don Bradford (not verified)

at 18:43 on September 30th, 2008

He has ten years experience in public office, more than the two other leading Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton (six-plus years as Senator from New York) and John Edwards (six years as Senator from North Carolina). Barack's first eight years spent in the Illinois senate before his two years (and counting) of service in the U.S. Senate, should not be forgotten. Far away from the Washington spotlight, he introduced, voted on and passed bills, debated with his colleagues—something that was missing in Washington, where everything is settled in the backroom—and arduously worked to satisfy his constituents. Most important of all, he learned that how to work across the aisle, and get stuff done. "When you come in, especially as a freshman, and work on something like ethics reform, it's not necessarily a way to endear yourself to some of the veteran members of the Illinois General Assembly," said state Sen. Kirk W. Dillard, a Republican who became a friend. "And working on issues like racial profiling was contentious, but Barack had a way both intellectually and in demeanor that defused skeptics." Washington Post
Illinois State Senate

"In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases." Link
"
United States Senate

He has continued this inclusive and productive style of work in the U.S. Senate: "In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars are spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.

Foreign Policy
Obama's foreign policy experience includes graduating from Columbia University with a degree in political science with an emphasis on international relations. In the U.S. Senate Obama is unique among Senators in that he serves on three of the four Senate Committees dealing with foreign policy issues including the Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs committees and is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Relations which is responsible fore U.S. relations with European countries, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (i.e., NATO). When comparing Obama's foreign policy experience with other candidates for President you have Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Hillary Clinton who is a member of the Armed Services Committee and John McCain who is the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee yet there is no Senator except for Barack Obama who serves on three of the four committees that deal with foreign policy.

Foreign Relations Committee

Obama service on the Foreign Relations committee has placed him in an unique position in that he is the Chair of the Subcommittee on European Relations and serves on the Subcommittees on African Affairs; East Asia and Pacific Affairs; and International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. This cross-section of subcommittees places Obama in a unique position of having knowledge about Asian, African and European issues. The only other member of the Foreign Relations committee who is running for President is Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the full Foreign Relations Committee yet unlike Obama he does not serve on any of the other foreign policy committees and his experience is limited to foreign policy issues covered by the Foreign Relations Committee.

Obama has also traveled extensively in his capacity as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and has visited Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan in Asia; Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Palestinian Territories in the Middle East; and Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa in Africa. Obama has also co-sponsored the "Lugar-Obama Act" with Republican Senator Richard Lugar who was Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the time. This act was a bi-partisan effort to increase U.S. security in terms of the elimination of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. This legislation came out of Obama's trip with Senator Richard Lugar to Russia, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Obama has also sponsored legislation such as the "Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act" which was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006. Obama has co-sponsored immigration related bills related to his service on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee including the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. His extensive foreign policy experience exceeds that of every other Presidential candidate including his trips abroad in the performance of his official duties as a member of committees dealing with foreign relation issues.

While some have criticized Obama's foreign travel claiming that he is the most traveled freshman Senator in doing so they often fail to mention that as a result of his extensive trips abroad is legislation such as the Lugar-Obama Act instead preferring to make the political connection between his travels abroad to his run for President yet others will recognize the experience he has gained as a result of his foreign trips and recognize that as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he is expected to travel extensively and that his travels often were with the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Among the three top freshman who have received attention along with Obama in terms of foreign travel you have Barack Obama who serves on three committees dealing with foreign policy, Republican Richard Burr who serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence and Republican Tom Coburn who serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and it must be noted that such travel was part of an official delegation and was approved and paid for by the Senate.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars."Link

Ethics
"Obama has made ethics reform a central part of his political career. Two years into his first term in the U.S. Senate, he has had limited opportunities to leave a mark at the federal level, especially as a member of the minority party. But he has worked with Republicans on new good-government laws. He co-sponsored one, signed in September, that will create a federal spending database so Web users can track all grants, loans and awards greater than $25,000. He also pushed to limit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's authority to award open-ended, no-bid contracts in the wake of major disasters — a reaction to post-Katrina abuses. More to the point, last year Senate Democrats tapped Obama as the chief negotiator for their caucus in talks over post-Abramoff ethics reforms, though those negotiations faltered. Ethics reform was one of Obama's signature issues in Springfield, as well. Beyond the Gift Ban Act, he helped push Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 2003 ethics reforms. The gift ban law, the first broad ethics reform in Illinois since the Watergate era, prohibited politicians from using campaign funds for personal use, barred fundraising on state property, established ethics commissions, curtailed fundraisers in Springfield during legislative sessions and mandated online reporting of campaign finances. The 2003 ethics package created independent inspectors general with subpoena powers to look into abuses by legislators, statewide officeholders and their employees. It further clamped down on the types of gifts lawmakers can receive and prohibited lobbyists and their spouses from sitting on state boards and commissions. Obama also touted publicly financed judicial campaigns, an idea that was approved by the Illinois Senate but languished in the House."Link

Read more about Obama's work in the U.S. Senate on Obsidian Wings

Life Experience
This experience in public office is just a taste of what makes Obama ready for the presidency. He has had a goulash of a life. He was born to white a woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya in Hawaii, then moved to Indonesia for five years with his step-father from ages six to ten.
After returning to Hawaii for middle and high school, he went Occidental College, a liberal arts school in L.A. After a couple years at Occidental, he transferred to Columbia University, where he majored in political science with a specialization in International Relations.
After graduating, he went to work as a community organizer in Chicago. Following three years of helping some of Chicago's poorest residents recover from a steel mill closing through job training programs, he went to Harvard Law. There, he became the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review. Instead of seeking a high paying job upon graduating from Harvard, he returned to Chicago and went back to the neighborhood communities by organizing and helping to register 150,000 voters. He then began working at a civil rights firm and went on to teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He did all of this before his career in politics began.
His ability to understand and earn respect from political opponents while being a genuine progressive; his success in the classroom and on the street; and his unparalleled background have helped him become the intelligent, fair, and courageous leader he is today. Before the war in Iraq in 2002, he exclaimed: "Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power.... The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors...and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president." Link

For a short overview of his years in the Illinois State Legislature check out his wikipedia page or our building collection of transcripts from the Illinois State Senate.