President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors celebrating honorees Neil Diamond, Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, Yo-Yo Ma and Barbara Cook at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011. President Obama and the First Lady last night welcomed the 2011 Kennedy […]
This afternoon, President Obama went to the briefing room to urge Congress to pass tax cuts for the middle class before they go home for the holidays. Immediately following the briefing, the White House launched a countdown clock on WhiteHouse.gov and in the press briefing room, to let people know exactly how much time is […]
President Barack Obama delivers a statement to the Press in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Dec. 05, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Just after 2:00 PM ET, President Obama stopped by the White House press briefing room to talk about the fight to extend the payroll […]
If Congress doesn’t act, taxes on the middle class will go up in 26 days. That’s when President Obama’s payroll tax cut—signed into law last year—will end. Approximately 160 million workers will begin paying 6.2 percent of their wages in payroll taxes, rather than continuing to pay the current rate of 4.2 percent. As a […]
Vice President Joe Biden lights a candle with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Church of St. George at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey; December 3, 2011. This afternoon in Istanbul, Vice President Biden met with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate. Following their meeting, the […]
Just now, Republicans in the Senate rejected an extension of the payroll tax cut that is set to expire at the end of the month. In a statement, President Obama called that vote “unacceptable” — and urged Congress to stop playing politics: Tonight, Senate Republicans chose to raise taxes on nearly 160 million hardworking Americans because […]
Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands with a fish monger in the Samatya Square neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, December 4, 2011. Vice President Joe Biden had one last stop to make in Istanbul earlier today before departing for Athens – the last leg of his trip through the region. Samatya Square — a traditional neighborhood […]
Since 2003, when the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief began, the cost per year per patient for AIDS treatment has fallen from more than $1,100 to $335 in 2011. To mark World AIDS Day, President Obama spoke about the progress made in the fight against the disease worldwide. He also made a new […]
Vice President Joe Biden lights a candle with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Church of St. George at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey; December 3, 2011. This afternoon in Istanbul, Vice President Biden met with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate. Following their meeting, the […]
Earlier this week, I highlighted a new story from the Associated Press indicating that seniors who hit the prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole will save an average of $600 this year alone. Today, we got more good news for people with Medicare. Released today, a new report from the Government Accountability […]
