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Obama on Landmark Housing Settlement with Banks

February 9, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC No Comments

Obama announces Housing Settlement with banks

Click photo to watch President Obama comment on Housing Settlement with banks

The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses.

The agreement provides substantial financial relief to homeowners and establishes significant new homeowner protections for the future.

The unprecedented joint agreement is the largest federal-state civil settlement ever obtained and is the result of extensive investigations by federal agencies.

The joint federal-state group entered into the agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers: Bank of America Corporation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Company, Citigroup Inc. and Ally Financial Inc. (formerly GMAC).

About the agreement President Obama said “We have reached a landmark settlement with the nation’s largest banks that will speed relief to the hardest-hit homeowners, end some of the most abusive practices of the mortgage industry, and begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake.”

Transcript of President Obama’s remarks on mortgage settlement … Continue Reading

States Get Exemptions To “No Child Left Behind” Law

February 9, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Education No Comments
President Obama announces exemptions from "No Child Left Behind" law

Click photo to watch President Obama announce exemptions from "No Child Left Behind" law

President Obama announces ten states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.

The ten states approved for flexibility are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Transcript of President Obama’s remarks about No Child Left Behind exemptions for 10 states … Continue Reading

Marshmallow Launch at the White House Science Fair

February 9, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC No Comments

Obama helps with marshmallow launch at White House Science Fair

Click photo to watch the marshmallow launch at White House Science Fair

The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey’s science project – an air cannon.

Obama’s Fair Fix For Responsible Homeowners

February 4, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Economy/Jobs No Comments

President Obama delivers his weekly address

Click photo to watch President Obama's weekly address

The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.

He is sending Congress his plan to give responsible homeowners the chance to save thousands of dollars on their mortgages by refinancing at historically low rates without adding a cent to the deficit.

Although the Administration’s actions have helped responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages and stay in their homes, President Obama says Congress must act now to do more to continue assisting homeowners and the economy.

In his weekly address President Obama asks all Americans to tell their elected officials to pass this plan to keep more families in their homes and more neighborhoods thriving and whole.

Transcript of President Obama’s weekly address … Continue Reading

Netflix Facebook App Would Be Legal In US

January 31, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Media, Net Neutrality No Comments

Netflix General Counsel David Hyman testifies to a US Senate committee

Click on photo to watch Netflix General Counsel David Hyman testify

Netflix’s top lawyer tries to convince a US Senate committee that laws need to be changed so it can offer a video sharing app on Facebook. Netflix General Counsel David Hyman told the Senate judiciary subcommittee on privacy that the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) had “ambiguities” preventing it from offering a Facebook video sharing act.

“We have been offering our members outside the United States the opportunity to share and discover movies with their friends on the Facebook platform.” Hyman says there are more than a half-million Netflix subscribers outside of the United States that use their Facebook app.

Committee chair Senator Al Franken (DFL- Minnesota) asked University of Minnesota Law Professor William McGeveran if current US law prevents Netflix from having a Facebook app in the U.S. McGeveran said no.

“The statute requires (consumer) consent every time….that can be done simply by saying here’s a button to press when you play the movie, because presumably you have to press a button to play the movie, and right next to it here’s a button to both play and share. You can post, you just have to be asked every time you see a movie. Online that seems relatively easy to effectuate.”

Simpler for corporations not better for consumers says Senator Leahy … Continue Reading

Who Should Know Which Videos You Watch?

January 31, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, US Senate Live No Comments


U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, holds a hearing entitled “The Video Privacy Protection Act: Protecting Viewer Privacy in the 21st Century.” The hearing will examine how the Video Privacy Protection Act, passed into law in 1988, protects people’s fundamental right to control personal information about the movies and videos they watch. The hearing will also consider whether the law needs to be updated to continue to protect viewer privacy and will examine a bill that recently passed the House of Representatives that would make it easier for video companies to disclose viewer information to third parties.

The following witnesses testify before the committee: Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.), Ranking Member, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet; David Hyman, General Counsel, Netflix, Inc.; William McGeveran, Professor, University of Minnesota Law School; Marc Rotenberg, Executive Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center; and Christopher Wolf, Director, Privacy and Information Management Group, Hogan Lovells LLP.

Obama Blasts Utah Senator For Causing Gridlock

January 28, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC No Comments


President Obama never uttered Utah Senator Mike Lee’s name in his weekly address, but what he was saying was directly aimed at him. On Thursday, Senator Lee announced he was going to obstruct every single American President Obama appointed to a judgeship or public service position – unless the President fire the consumer watchdog he put in place to protect the American people from financial schemes or malpractice.

“For the most part, it’s not that this senator thinks these nominees are unqualified. In fact, all of the judicial nominees being blocked have bipartisan support. And almost 90 percent have unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee, President Obama said in his weekly address.

“This isn’t about me. We weren’t sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other. We were sent here to serve the American people. And they deserve better than gridlock and games. One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.

“The truth is, neither party has been blameless in tactics like these. But it’s time for both parties to put an end to them. I’m asking Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stop this kind of behavior by passing a rule that allows all judicial and public service nominations a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days.”

Transcript of President Obama’s weekly address … Continue Reading

Replay-Obama’s Blueprint For Keeping College Affordable

January 27, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Michigan Comments Off

President Obama Speaks at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Click photo to watch President Obama speak at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Speaking at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, President Obama unveiled his plan for keeping college affordable. He proposed a “race to the top” program that rewards colleges that keep tuition down by giving their students more loans and grants. He also proposed creating a college financing report card so students and parents would “know before they owe”

Video highlights, as well as the entire speech on video with transcript … Continue Reading

Obama’s State Of The Union Tour Hits Five States

January 27, 2012 by Michael McIntee Arizona, Colorado, DC, Economy/Jobs, Iowa, Nevada Comments Off

President Obama on his State of the union tour

Click photo to watch story about President Obama's State Of The Union Tour

President Obama is on a five state tour promoting the economic proposals he made in his State of The Union address. He started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Conveyer Engineering and then into Arizona to an Intel plant. Thursday he want to Las Vegas and Denver. Today he is in Ann Arbor Michigan to speak about college affordability.

Obama Praises Gabby Giffords In Arizona

January 26, 2012 by Michael McIntee Arizona, DC Comments Off

Click on photo to hear President Obama's speech in Arizona

Quote from President Obama: “Let me say how happy I was to see one particular Arizonan last night — Gabby Giffords. (Applause.) I was able to give her a big hug and just tell her we could not be happy — more happy to see her. I mean, she just looked gorgeous last night. And she’s been an inspiration. Her husband, Mark, has been just a great friend and a great public servant and a hero to so many of us. And Michelle and I are going to be thinking of her as she continues her recovery here in Arizona. And she loves this state and she loves all of you. So it was wonderful to see her. ”

Representative Giffords recently resigned from congress to focus on her recovery from an assassination attempt last year.

Transcript of President Obama’s speech at the Intel Ocotillo Campus, Chandler, AZ … Continue Reading

DC Latest

DC

Obama announces Housing Settlement with banks

Obama on Landmark Housing Settlement with Banks

The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses.

President Obama announces exemptions from "No Child Left Behind" law

States Get Exemptions To “No Child Left Behind” Law

President Obama announces ten states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.

Obama helps with marshmallow launch at White House Science Fair

Marshmallow Launch at the White House Science Fair

The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey’s science project – an air cannon.

President Obama delivers his weekly address

Obama’s Fair Fix For Responsible Homeowners

The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.

Netflix General Counsel David Hyman testifies to a US Senate committee

Netflix Facebook App Would Be Legal In US

Netflix’s top lawyer tries to convince a US Senate committee that laws need to be changed so it can offer a video sharing app on Facebook. A University of Minnesota Law Professor says that’s not so.

Senator Al Franken

Who Should Know Which Videos You Watch?

A bill recently passed in the US House could make it easier for video companies to disclose viewer information. Who should know what you’re watching? Senator Al Franken leads a hearing.

President Obama blasts Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

Obama Blasts Utah Senator For Causing Gridlock

“One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.”— President Obama about Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

President Obama Speaks at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Replay-Obama’s Blueprint For Keeping College Affordable

President Obama unveils his proposal to keep college costs lower and provide students with enough financial aid so they can attend. He speaks at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

President Obama on his State of the union tour

Obama’s State Of The Union Tour Hits Five States

President Obama is on a five state tour promoting the economic proposals he made in his State of The Union address. He started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Conveyer Engineering and then into Arizona to an Intel plant. Thursday he want to Las Vegas and Denver.

Click on photo to hear President Obama's speech in Arizona

Obama Praises Gabby Giffords In Arizona

Representative Giffords recently resigned from congress to focus on her recovery from an assassination attempt last year.

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