Obama signs executive order to create commission to address voting issues

Published March 28, 2013

Associated Press

• 

• • 

    Presidential pressure: Obama renews call for new gun control

  • 

    Power Play 3/28

  • 

    Obama expects immigration bill in coming months

WASHINGTON –  President Barack Obama has signed an executive order establishing a presidential commission to address voting issues.

Obama announced his plans to create the commission last month in his State of the Union address. The top lawyer for Obama's re-election campaign, Bob Bauer, will co-chair the commission with the top lawyer for Republican Mitt Romney's campaign, Ben Ginsburg.

The goal is to address issues including long lines at the polls, voter registration and voter access.

The order gives the commission six months after its first public meeting to submit a report to Obama about ways to improve the voting experience.

Related Stories

Virginia Gov. McDonnell signs bill mandating photo ID to vote

Arkansas Senate overrides veto of voter ID bill

View the original article here

Obama signs order to begin spending cuts

WASHINGTON –  President Barack Obama has signed an order authorizing the government to begin cutting $85 billion from federal accounts, officially enacting across-the-board reductions that he opposed but failed to avert.

Obama acted Friday, the deadline for the president and Congress to avoid the steep, one-year cuts.

Obama has insisted on replacing the cuts, known as a "sequester" in government budget language, with tax increases and cuts spread out over time. Republicans have rejected any plan that included tax revenue.

The government says the reductions will soon result in furlough notices to government employees and will trim government spending on defense contracts and in domestic government programs. Active military personnel and anti-poverty and low-income assistance programs are largely protected from the cuts.

View the original article here