Of 5 CBC Issues Brought to Obama, Obama Agrees to Zero So Far

Five Issues. Three meetings. Zero Public Support.
Meeting 1 of 2011: Five members of the CBC met with President Obama on March 30, 2011.

Meeting 2 of 2011: On May 4, 2011, the CBC met with White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley at their weekly meeting.

Meeting 3 of 2011: On May 12, 2011, the CBC met as a group with President Obama.

At all three of the meetings, the CBC brought up the same five issues. Have there been any results?

There is no evidence the White House will affirmatively support any of the following five… For sure, there has been plenty of talk. There has been plenty of “our staff will get back to you” or “my staff will look into that” comments at every meeting. What would appear to be missing is any vocal public support from the White House for any of the five.

As for the five issues the CBC keeps bringing up, here they are again…

• 1. 10-20-30. Budget strategies to end systemic “pockets” of long term poverty (also known as “10-20-30″). This idea is being pushed and advocated by Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.
  2. Redistricting and Section 5 of the Voting right Act – This is an issue of concern for several CBC members. The CBC asked for a redistricting task force to be set up as states redraw the maps of state and federal election districts.
  3. The 99ers and unemployment extensions (H.R. 589) - This issue is being pushed and championed within the CBC and to House GOP leadership by Reps. Barbara Lee and Bobby Scott.
  4. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – This program is being pushed by several CBC members who have poor and low income constituents. It’s also on the chopping block in the House
  5. NIH funding, health care disparities – Health care task force head Del. Donna Christensen, who is also a doctor, has been pushing the CBC and Democratic leadership on recognizing and funding programs to combat health care disparities between blacks, whites and Latinos.