News-Letter

Perhaps the most prominent current issue is the U.S. economic slump. As president, Obama worked hard with Congress to create legislation to help out every American make it through the tough times. The jewel of the first 100 days is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, colloquially known as the economic stimulus package, signed into effect Feb. 17. This is a major step in setting the economy right; it provides tax relief for families, support for small businesses, bailouts for failing corporations as well as financial backing for new initiatives in education, green energy and the housing market, amongst others. Despite controversy and a few compromises that were made in order to get the legislation through the houses of Congress, the stimulus package came as a first priority for the new administration at a time when it was desperately needed. It is just the start of a long recovery period, but it gives hope that this recession will not last forever and that the Obama administration is making large efforts to ensure a complete recovery.

Another major milestone was the Commander-in-Chief's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and focus more on the increasing threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Iraq war has been going on for over five years, and though the Bush administration had always said that troops would be withdrawn, a firm agenda was never carried out. President Obama made it one of his priorities to do so, and within just a few weeks of being inaugurated, on Feb. 27 he announced that the majority of troops in Iraq would be removed by the summer of 2010. Finally, with the influence of the Taliban spreading from Afghanistan into neighboring Pakistan, Obama announced on March 27 that the U.S. would send more troops to fight the terrorists there. This was a daring move, highly controversial for the Democratic party, but one that was backed with support from the right from military officials and politicians in the U.S. and in Afghanistan. With these two major announcements, Obama made it clear that his Administration over the next few years will overcome traditional party views for the greater good.

President Obama's term is only in its toddler stage, but the administration has already successfully implemented many major changes. In the span of just three months, he has targeted many major issues, and Democrats and Republicans alike can appreciate the effort that is being put in by the new head of state. There is little doubt that President Obama's term will be one marked with epic changes in United States policy.

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