EXECUTIVE WATCH

Wednesday, October 14

• President Obama signed an executive order reestablishing the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The panel was established by President Clinton, but President Bush did not renew its mandate when it expired.
• The White House is asking Congress to approve $250 payments to senior citizens receiving Social Security. Social security recipients normally receive cost-of-living increases, but the Social Security Administration will announce on Thursday that there will be no increases this year due to the low rate of inflation.

Thursday, October 15

• The President signed a bill to provide financial aid to the government of Pakistan. The bill provides $1.5 billion per year for the next five years to be spent on social programs. No conditions are attached to the funds. Congress passed the bill unanimously.
• On a visit to New Orleans, President Obama promised not to repeat the mistakes made by the Bush Administration after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005.

Friday, October 16

• Solicitor General Elena Kagan sent a letter to the Supreme Court detailing recent legislative actions that affect the pending case of Department of Defense v. ACLU. At issue in the case is whether the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) mandates the release of photographs showing the abuse of prisoners held by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Solicitor General’s letter informs the Court that Congress may soon pass a law exempting the photographs from FOIA disclosure, and suggests that the Court delay consideration of the case to allow the legislative process to reach its conclusion.
• President Obama chose George Mulligan to be the new head of the White House Military Office. Mr. Mulligan is a career employee in the Department of Defense. He replaces Louis Caldera, who resigned in May after an Air Force One photo opportunity approved by the Military Office caused panic in New York City.

Saturday, October 17

• The President used his weekly address to denounce efforts by the insurance industry to derail health reform. He stressed that reform was necessary in order to prevent health care costs from continuing to rise, and questioned the motives behind the insurance industry’s recent attacks on health care reform proposals. The President also indicated support for the review of the insurance industry’s antitrust exemption. Congress is currently reviewing the exemption, which was passed in 1945 to allow the states to regulate the insurance industry.

Sunday, October 18

• White House advisers said that President Obama is not demanding that health reform include a public option. Although he believes it is the best option, the President does not consider the public option to be the “defining piece of health care.”

Monday, October 19

• The White House announced a new policy designed to address the conflict in Sudan. The policy would offer the Sudanese government incentives for resolving the crisis in Darfur, combined with threats of greater sanctions if the situation does not improve.

Tuesday, October 20

• The Supreme Court has decided to hear a case that will determine whether federal judges have the power to order the release or transfer of individuals detained in the War on Terror. Scotusblog has an analysis of the case, which will determine whether the judiciary has the power to order the release of those detainees who successfully challenge their detention using the habeas corpus process allowed by the Court’s decision in Boumediene v. Bush.
• The President met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the White House. In a statement after the meeting, President Obama reiterated his commitment to removing combat troops from Iraq by August 2009, and all U.S. forces from the country by 2011.
• President Obama issued a statement praising Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s decision to take part in runoff elections. The runoff became necessary after UN monitors disqualified nearly one-quarter of the votes due to fraud.

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