Manufacturer's Association Says Manufacturing is in Peril

President Obama is scheduled to come to Pittsburgh on Friday to speak about the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. Economy. He will tour and speak from Carnegie Mellon University.

David Taylor, the Director of Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association says that while there are 570,000 manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth, more than the national average, manufacturing is in peril due to the cost of exporting energy, trade deficits with China and federal policies that don't allow manufacturing to grow.

"While President Obama is bound to say some really nice things about what manufacturing does for America he is out of control spending, he has destructive labor policies and he has destructive regulatory priorities really work against the manufacturing sector," he said.

President To Visit CMU Again

President Barack Obama will be back in Pittsburgh Friday June 24 to speak at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Obama visited CMU June 2 of last year and called for removing tax breaks for big oil companies and an end to a reliance on fossil fuels.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says next week's visit will be to highlight the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy......." as well as key steps that government, industry, and universities will take together to create new industries and new jobs. The President will discuss the need to focus on cross-cutting technologies that will enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing and speed ideas from the drawing board to the manufacturing floor.”

Councilwoman to Meet With President

Pittsburgh Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak joins a group of other young elected officials from across the country for meetings at the White House today (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) with administration officials followed by a reception with President Obama.
Rudiak says a small number of members of the People for the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network were invited to the White House to discuss important issues facing states and municipalities. She says they will be talking about the $600 million cut this year from the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) nationwide...

"We actually had to cut $2 million from our budget this year because of cuts from the federal government. So this actually means hundreds of less jobs for youths in our city."

Rudiak says she's also concerned that the federal COPS program, through which Pittsburgh receives a grant to keep police on the street, was trimmed by $296 million dollars when the federal government shutdown was threatened unless spending cuts were made. But Rudiak says it's not all about money, there are policy issues as well. She wants the administration including EPA officials to understand the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on Pennsylvania's environment.

Rudiak calls the president a steadfast ally to cities...."but it's important for the president to hear from young elected officials about programs meaningful to us. There are always things we need to make choices about and I think he needs to know what our highest priorities are.

White House Seeks Pittsburgh’s Entrepreneurial Input

When top Obama administration officials come to Pittsburgh Thursday to learn how they can help local entrepreneurs grow the nation’s economy, local economic development leaders hope to present a unified front.

Six business and entrepreneurship groups have been invited to present at the “Startup America” roundtable to be held at Chatham University. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development has built three general areas of focus it is calling the “Pittsburgh Principles.” Those principles are to “bring great ideas to market faster,” “improve access to capital”, ad “build the next generation.”

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse President and CEO John Manzetti says on the “improving access to capital” front he will suggest that the administration put more money into the Small Business Innovation Research Program. “To be able to provide non-dilutive capital for early stage companies and entrepreneurs trying to get their technology developed,” says Manzetti, “Then those companies can get the technology developed and they can come to organizations like the Life Sciences Greenhouse and others and get additional capital and get support to get their products to market.”

The group of six organizations is also planning to push for new rules that make patenting a new technology easier. Manzetti says models in Europe are often better than the system in the United States.

Audrey Russo runs the Pittsburgh Technology Council. She will be among those at the roundtable. She says if she gets a chance to speak she will try to focus the administration on the issue of building the region’s pool of entrepreneurs through changes in immigration laws. Specifically she says she will push or a “Startup” visa. A bill making its way through congress would allow foreign students to stay in the United States after graduation and earn a green card if they can round up at least $100,000 in capital investments and create at least five jobs in two years.

Russo says the visa would be a boon for Pittsburgh with all of its universities. Most international students have to leave the country to launch a business. That has prompted some to say we are creating our own international competition. Russo says the visa would not take away jobs from Americans and it would not negatively impact the tax base.

Pittsburgh is one of eight cities hosting a “Startup America” roundtable. The others are: Durham, NC, Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, Boulder, CO, and the Silicon Valley region of California. Regional boosters say Pittsburghers should be proud to have been included on the list. Audrey Russo takes a slightly different approach, “We have a very diverse economy, we have a strong epicenter of international corporations, and then we have what people say is the real, true, work ethic and grit. You add that all up and have the icing of technology and innovation, we better well should have been selected as one of the top eight cities in the US.”

President Could Speak at CAPA

Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) 6-12 is one of 6 finalists to have President Barack Obama as their commencement speaker. This is the second year for the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge and Kalamazoo Central High in Michigan was last year's winner.
The President set a goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 and invited public high schools to submit applications that demonstrate their commitment to preparing students for college and a career.
The other finalists are Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Washington; Wayne Early Middle College High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina; Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee; Science Park High School in Newark, New Jersey; and, High Tech High International in San Diego, California.
“I want to congratulate the six finalists for all they’ve done to prepare their students for college and careers, and I want to thank all of the schools that applied,” said President Obama. “I look forward to meeting the students and teachers of the winning school at their commencement.”

All six schools will now produce videos about their schools and they will be posted on the White House website and the public will vote for the final 3. The president will then pick the winner.

Sestak Questions Obama Over Libya

Former Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak is emerging as a critic of President Obama’s decision to attack Libya.

Former Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak is emerging as a critic of President Obama’s decision to attack Libya.
The former congressman and admiral has been making regular cable news appearances since the conflict began Saturday, and said he’s worried the Obama Administration hasn’t spelled out what coalition forces are trying to accomplish through the attacks. “Are the costs worth our interest? Do we understand the risk we’re assuming?” he asked during an interview. Sestak argued President Obama’s objectives seem cloudy, pointing out Obama has said Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi needs to leave office, but has clarified that regime change isn’t the goal of the NATO mission.

The Democrat also said Mr. Obama hasn’t justified the attacks to Americans, and should have come back from his South American trip to do-so. “You know what? After two wars, almost a decade in each, I think it would have been worth the cancellation of the trip,” he said. “At such a moment in time, [Obama] should have been laying it out on a consistent basis for the public. What is going to happen, what the end-games are, what’s the risk environment we’re entering.”

The president has made several public statements about the mission, but has yet to deliver a nationally televised speech. He was in Brazil when attacks began Saturday, and will remain in South America until Wednesday.

This is an issue Sestak and the man who beat him, Republican Senator Pat Toomey, agree on. Toomey recently told Philadelphia CBS affiliate KYW-TV he’s against sending American troops to Libya, saying, “There are very many unanswered questions about what would the purpose be, when would we leave, what would we measure as a success, what would we do if and when Americans start being killed . . . I think there are too many unanswered questions right now for us to commit forces to Libya.”

GOP Lawmaker Skeptical About Cost of Energy Program

President Obama used a trip to State College to announce a new energy efficiency plan he says could save the country’s businesses $40 billion a year, once it’s up and running.

The proposal would provide tax credits, loan guarantees and grants to companies overhauling their buildings, in order to save on heating and cooling costs. Early in the speech, Obama acknowledged energy efficiency “isn’t a sexy topic,” saying, “Everybody focuses on cars and gas prices. That’s understandable. But our homes and our businesses use 40 percent of the energy. They contribute to 40 percent of the carbon pollution that we produce, and is contributing to climate change.”

The global warming reference was notable, as Obama didn’t mention climate change once during his State of the Union address, despite running for office on a platform arguing carbon emissions were a serious threat to global stability.

As part of the new plan, Obama wants the federal government to award competitive grants to states and municipalities that toughen energy efficiency standards. “We’re also going to support state and local governments who come up with the best ideas to make energy-efficient buildings the norm. So you show us the best ideas to change your game on the ground, we’ll show you the money,” he said. The effort would be similar to the Department of Education’s “Race to the Top,” which awards money to states that implement aggressive education reforms.

The White House hasn’t put a price tag on the initiative, but the president says the government could pay for it by closing tax loopholes given to big oil companies. Republican Congressman Glenn Thompson, who represents State College, was a bit skeptical of that claim. “I guess I would challenge – I’ve been working on this issue for two years. I want to see where the subsidies are.” Thompson said Obama and other Democrats sometimes exaggerate big energy companies’ perks. “It gets people’s attention because it’s picking out a bad guy you can focus your attention on,” he said.

Thompson was the only member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation in the audience. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey were in Washington, and Governor Corbett didn’t attend the speech, either – though Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was there. In fact, Paterno got the biggest applause of the day when Obama mentioned him, and won a standing ovation from the crowd of students when he entered the gymnasium before the speech began.

President Obama offered mild support for the Super Bowl-bound Steelers at the beginning of the speech, pointing out he had visited a town near Green Bay last week. “So, in the spirit of fairness, I’ve come to Pennsylvania, not too far from the center of Steeler Nation, to wish Steelers fans good luck in the Super Bowl, too.” When the Steelers were last in the Super Bowl, Obama actively backed them. During Pennsylvania’s 2008 primary, he frequently said the Steelers had always been his second-favorite team. And, of course, Obama appointed owner Dan Rooney Ambassador to Ireland. So some obersevers were confused by the tepid “good luck in the Super Bowl” language, especially in light of the fact Obama’s favorite team, the Bears, are the Packers’ top rival.

The State College visit was Obama’s tenth trip to Pennsylvania, since taking office.

President Pushes Loans, Grants & Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

President Barack Obama used a visit to Penn State University to announce a new energy efficiency plan.
The tax incentives and grants aimed at improving energy efficiency by 20 percent over the next ten years build on the “Win the Future” theme President Obama focused on during his State of the Union.
Addressing the crowd of about a thousand students, Mr. Obama said the United States will face stiff competition from the rest of the world over the coming decades.

"I know every young person here feels that pressure. You understand that it’s not going to be a cakewalk – this competition for the future."

Mr. Obama acknowledged energy efficiency “isn’t a sexy topic.”

"Everybody focuses on cars and gas prices. That’s understandable. But our homes and our businesses use 40 percent of the energy. They contribute to 40 percent of the carbon pollution that we produce, and is contributing to climate change."

The president wants the Department of Energy to guarantee loans for small businesses taking out money to improve their buildings’ efficiency.
Mr. Obama says that, combined with tax credits and grant programs he wants to offer, could help the country’s businesses save 40 billion dollars a year on energy costs.
He wants to pay for the plan by eliminating tax breaks for big oil companies.

President to Visit Penn State

Thursday’s visit to State College will be President Obama’s tenth trip to Pennsylvania, since he took office.
The president has been to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown and Montgomery County.
The only state Mr. Obama has visited more is Ohio, with twelve trips.
Another swing state, Florida, comes in third, with eight visits.
Political scientist Christopher Borick of Muhlenberg College says he’s not surprised those states top Mr. Obama’s travel list, given their importance on the electoral map.

"It’s simply the nature of when the president’s out on the trail and there’s a reelection coming up in two years. Every single visit has to be considered through the lens of that race."

President Bush made more than 30 visits to Pennsylvania during his first term, including 2004 campaign appearances. He lost the commonwealth by two points that year, compared to a four-point loss to Al Gore in 2000.
At State College, Mr. Obama will tour labs focused on energy efficiency, and then deliver a speech on innovation and improving the economy.

PA Congressmen React to State of Union

President Barack Obama urged better cooperation between Democrats and Republicans in dealing with the country's economic troubles and soaring debt.
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Mr. Obama talked about spending in core areas like infrastructure while also working to rein in the debt.
The president called for a 5 year freeze on spending at current levels while some Republicans want to roll back to 2008 levels and then freeze spending.
The President called for speeding up the economic recovery through greater
infrastructure spending. He called for a six-year plan to repair or improve bridges, roads and mass transit.
He says the plan should be paid for, not increase the deficit, and not include Congressional pet projects. He vowed to veto any bill that included earmarks.
The president said he knows there is opposition to health care overhaul legislation which House Republicans voted to repeal, but he said he's not willing to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny coverage.

In responding to the State of the Union address, Pittsburgh area Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA-18) said Americans are eager for a job growth agenda but are also eager for less government spending.
" Tonight, we heard that America's competitiveness is suffering from a case of sluggishness and the need to get back on track. But I am cautious of a solution that sounds like more government spending out of Washington. American families need jobs, but jobs and prosperity will not come from more government growth and deficit spending."
Congressman Jason Altmire (D-PA-04) said it's critical to work together to cut government spending and reduce the deficit.
" I support the president’s proposal to freeze non-security discretionary spending for the next five years. In the coming weeks, I look forward to seeing additional bipartisan proposals to further cut spending and get our fiscal house back in order. "
Altmire said he hoped the spirit of civility and bipartisanship that was visibly evident throughout the House chamber last night, with some Democrats and Republicans sitting with each other, "will remain with us as we move forward."

Rep. Murphy Hopes to Hear Bipartisan Talk in Obama's Address

President Obama will address the nation tonight at 9:00 from the chamber of the House of Representatives. In his State of the Union Address, Obama will likely look back on his first two years in office, citing accomplishments and shortcomings, and look forward to the next two years of his term.

Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy hopes that the President will speak of moving more towards the center to cooperate with a congress that has become much more conservative following the mid-term elections in November. Murphy has been critical of the nation’s continued spending and the growing national deficit. He fears that the growing national deficit hurts our foreign negotiating powers.

“If we are going to be working for the good of our country, good of our jobs, we’ve got to be standing up for fair trade and be able to enforce that and not find ourselves in a situation where we have to turn back with our tail between our legs because another nation says you can’t enforce this because we have your money,” Murphy says.

He admits however, that the mission to reduce federal spending is not just on the President, but rather cooperation between all members of congress and the President.

“It’s up to congress to put forth a budget and work with the president on that, one that is going to not continue to increase spending,” Murphy says. “You know the President at one point said he wanted to reduce spending, in fact he campaigned saying he wanted to reduce spending, but it has increased drastically, by the trillions."

Murphy hopes the President speaks on allowing the private sector to create jobs, rather than government regulation, along with agreeing to a review of the health care bill that Murphy thinks was pushed through too quickly.

For NPR’s complete coverage of the State of the Union Address, tune into WDUQ tonight at 9:00.

Rep. Murphy Interested In Maintaining Bipartisan Talks

Pittsburgh area Congressman Tim Murphy, recently elected for his fifth two-year term hopes that bipartisan compromise will continue in future negotiations between the Republican House and the Democrat Senate and White House.

The health care bill is an issue that remains for the House Republicans who took majority control after the mid-term elections Nov. 2. Murphy believes the bill which he says was forced through Congress still has serious flaws that may need to be reviewed.

“I do not see it as a bill that fundamentally reforms health care and reduces costs but one that massively expands the cost and requires everybody to pay for it,” Murphy says. “I don’t like the idea of having a mandate. To require people to buy something but give them no choices in purchasing is not good.”

He doesn't believe citizens, if they are required to have insurance, should be restricted to the options within their state.
Murphy predicts the GOP-controlled House will vote to repeal the health care bill, but it will surely fail in the Senate and be rejected by the President. Murphy says the idea is to get it on the record to show that the American public is not satisfied with the current law as it was put together. He does expect more bipartisan efforts in Congress and with the President to ensure that health care for seniors becomes an issue that can be made better.

“It’s something that Democrats and Republicans can come together on and look and say, ‘How do we improve this system that otherwise is just bleeding money and not taking better care of patients?’” Murphy says.

To Murphy, bipartisan efforts in Congress and with the President are the only solution to these issues.

“I believe if we listen to what the American people are saying, ‘Roll up your sleeves, work together and get the job done,’ then my hope is the President will continue to work with us,” Murphy says.

Manchester Bidwell's Strickland Named to Presidential Panel

President Barack Obama has signed an executive order creating the White House Council for Community solutions to provide advice to the president on the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work together more effectively to solve specific community needs. Pittsburgh's Bill Strickland (photo), President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, is 1 of 25 corporate, nonprofit and foundation leaders appointed by the President to the council.
The twenty-five appointees range from Jon Bon Jovi to the president of eBay.

President Obama said, “These impressive men and women have dedicated their lives and careers to civic engagement and social innovation. I commend them for their outstanding contributions to their communities, and I am confident that they will serve the American people well in their new roles on the White House Council for Community Solutions. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

The White House Council for Community Solutions has been tasked with three key functions: enlisting leaders in the non-profit, private, and philanthropic sectors to make progress on key policy goals; providing strategic input and recommendations to help the federal government promote greater innovation and cross-sector collaboration; and honoring and highlighting those making a significant impact in their own communities.

Strickland called his appointment and honor because the Council’s mission dovetails with what Manchester Bidwell does everyday.
" For over 40 years, MBC and its subsidiaries have been providing solutions to Pittsburgh’s endemic societal issues through our powerful mixture of youth arts education, adult career training and supportive and beautiful environments. With this appointment, we’ll have a greater opportunity to spread our proven formula for success and, hopefully, affix Pittsburgh on this country’s road map to more fully-functional communities."

Other appointees to the Council include:
Patty Stonesifer, Chair of the Board,the Smithsonian Institution; chair of the Council
· Byron Auguste, Senior partner at McKinsey & Company in Washington DC
· Diana Aviv, President and CEO of the Independent Sector
· Paula Boggs, Executive Vice President, General Counsel of Starbucks Coffee Company
· Jon Bon Jovi, Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation
· John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises
· Jim Canales, President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation
· Scott Cowen, President of Tulane University
· John Donahoe, President and CEO of eBay Inc.
· Michael Fleming, Executive Director of the David Bohnett Foundation
· David Friedman, Lead Director and Chair of Edison Properties/HNB Private Trust
· Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International
· Michele Jolin, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
· Michael Kempner, Founder (1986), President, and CEO of MWW Group
· Steven Lerner, Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Hill Group
· Maurice Lim Miller, Founder, CEO and President of the Family Independence Initiative (FII)
· Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and Chair of the Emerson Collective
· Norman Rice, CEO of The Seattle Foundation
· Kristin Richmond, Co-founder and CEO of Revolution Foods
· Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation
· Nancy H. Rubin, Co-chair of Amnesty International's 50th Anniversary Year
· Paul Schmitz, National CEO of Public Allies
· Jill Schumann, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America (LSA)
· Bobbi Silten, Chief Foundation Officer of Gap Inc.
· Bill Strickland, President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation

Casey, Specter to Vote For Obama Compromise Bill

Both Pennsylvania U.S. Senators are supporting President Obama’s tax cuts for unemployment compensation legislative deal. Democrats Bob Casey and Arlen Specter both supported the compromise measure on a procedural test vote yesterday, and say they’ll be “yeas” when the bill comes up for a final vote as soon as today.
Casey says there are aspects of the measure he doesn’t want to vote for, but argues the overall package is needed.

"As much as I can point to the estate tax provision, which I don’t like, I was open to the idea of a a two-year extension of the upper income tax brackets, as long as the middle class, middle income folks got a longer break. That probably won’t happen. So that part is hard for me to swallow."
Casey says he’s looking past aspects of the bill he doesn’t like, in order to pass what he calls critical aspects of the measure.

"You got to figure out ways to compromise. Because the key thing here – the overriding objective here is the economy and jobs. And I think this – getting this resolved and having a compromise will help on a lot of fronts."

Casey says he also supports earned income tax credits and a child tax credit in the bill, along with the extended emergency unemployment compensation.
The state’s Department of Labor and Industry is urging people whose benefits have expired to continue filing claims, so they can speed up payments if and when the bill becomes law and extended compensation goes back into effect.

Obama Campaigns for Sestak, Onorato

President Obama is warning Pennsylvania Democrats their party could lose Tuesday, if voters don’t amp up their energy over the coming days.
Speaking for less than ten minutes to a crowd of about 16-hundred people in Philadelphia Saturday, Mr. Obama urged Democrats to knock on doors and make phone calls between now and Election Day.

"The key right now is not just to show up here. It’s not just to listen to speeches. It’s to go out there and do the hard work that’s going to be required to bring this home over the last few days."

But interviews with attendees, Joatta Glover, Jamie Papas and George Scott, revealed a wide gap, when it comes to support for the president, compared to enthusiasm for Tuesday’s Senate, gubernatorial and Congressional elections.

"I want Joe – what’s his name? Joe Sec…sec…Sestak? Sestak. Yeah I want him to win.
I’m going to sound bad – I didn’t register. I went to the day it was due – my mom yelled at me – but I just didn’t get do.
Governor – what’s his name? Dan Onorato? I can’t pronounce it."

Top Democrats say big turnout in Philadelphia and its suburbs is key, if the party wants to win.

Clinton Stumps for Sestak

Former President Bill Clinton defended President Obama and the Democratic Congress, during a campaign appearance for U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak in Scranton.
Clinton only made a handful of references to Sestak during his half hour speech.
The former president spent the bulk of his time defending the federal stimulus bill, health care overhaul, and other Democratic policies that have come under fire from conservatives this election cycle.
Clinton told the crowd of several hundred that President Obama and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate are doing a good job, but just haven’t had enough time to completely turn the economy around.

"And you know that old rule, the first thing you’ve got to do when you’re in a hole is quit digging? Well, we quit digging. And now we’re building our way out of it. If you vote for these people who are running against guys like Joe Sestak, they’ll go up there and take the oath of office. They’ll have one hand on the bible and they got a shovel in the other hand. They want to start digging again."

At several points during the speech, Clinton argued he was a better steward of the economy than either President Bush, or President Reagan.
Clinton said he didn’t know much about Joe Sestak when the Admiral joined his National Security Council in 1994.
"But I knew enough to know that he was invaluable while he was there. Because I came in – I had been a governor. I knew what I was supposed to do on the economy. I had a lot to learn on national security. And thanks to Joe Sestak I learned a lot in a short time, and we did a pretty good job."

Sestak was forced to skip the rally because of a House vote on a federal medical funding measure that will plug a 600 million dollar gap in Pennsylvania’s state budget.

Toomey & Sestak Disagree Over Cap and Trade

Many environmental advocates are urging President Obama to renew his push for a cap-and-trade energy bill during tonight’s Oval Office address, which will be broadcast by 90.5 WDUQ at 8 o'clock.
But Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey says that type of legislation would cripple Pennsylvania’s economy.
Speaking at a Dauphin County coffeehouse, Toomey warned a bill taxing energy consumption would cause utility rates to skyrocket, and would force small businesses to close up shop.

"The Democratic administration that we have today, their Public Utilities Commission has indicated from a study that they believe that if this cap-and-trade legislation were fully implemented, the bill that Joe Sestak voted for and said didn’t go far enough – it would cost Pennsylvania 66-thousand jobs over the next ten years."

A PUC spokeswoman says Toomey is referring to a letter three commissioners sent to Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation last year, in which they urged lawmakers to vote against the measure.
The bill passed the House last June, but has stalled in the Senate. Toomey’s opponent, Congressman Joe Sestak, voted for the measure.
He says he’s confident the energy overhaul would create more Pennsylvania jobs over time.

"Job Offer" Controversy Lingers

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says he had multiple conversations with the White House about keeping Congressman Joe Sestak out of the Democratic Senate primary but that he didn’t know the administration offered Sestak an unpaid position.
Rendell says he talked “three or four times” with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel about how to persuade Sestak to back out of challenging Arlen Specter.
Rendell says he knows Democrats would have retained Sestak’s Congressional seat if he ran for re-election, but says he’s now worried Republicans could take it over this fall.

"So I was very interested in that. And Chief of Staff Emmanuel and I discussed that. No question about it. And that’s why I know the White House didn’t offer him a full-time job. Because the White House’s main emphasis was getting him to stay in the Congress and run for reelection as a congressman. So I’m certain there was no full-time job offer."

Rendell, President Obama and Senator Robert Casey supported Senator Arlen Specter's bid for a 6th term in office.

Rendell calls the continued focus on the White House offer “much ado about nothing,” and says Republicans calling for a special investigation into the matter are just playing politics and wasting time.
President Obama says the administration did “nothing improper” in using former President Bill Clinton to offer Sestak an advisory position.

President: Roll Back Oil Company Tax Breaks

President Barack Obama says the country's dependence on fossil fuels jeopardizes national security, the economy and the environment....and must be ended. The president traveled to Pittsburgh this afternoon and spoke at Carnegie Mellon University... "An America that runs solely on fossil, fuels should not be the vision that we have for our children and grandchildren.
As the broken oil well in the Gulf Of Mexico continues to spew oil unchecked, Mr. Obama called for rolling back billions of dollars in oil company tax breaks and using the money on clean energy technologies. The president pledged to find the votes in Congress to pass a sweeping energy bill that is stuck in the Senate.
Full text of President Obama's remarks.
Listen to the President remarks here.

President at CMU

President Barack Obama will deliver his latest assessment on the nation's economic recovery when he speaks in Pittsburgh this afternoon. The White House says the president will speak to the invitation-only crowd at Carnegie Mellon University about the five pillars for a new economic foundation: new rules for Wall Street; investments in education, renewable energy and health care; and reductions in federal spending.
In his prepared remarks the president is expected to say the country cannot go back to an economy that was too dependent on bubbles and debt and financial speculation..."We must build a new stronger foundation for growth and prosperity and that's exactly what we've been doing for the last 16 months."