April 17th, 2012
07:22 PM ET
NASCAR rolls into the White HouseNASCAR driver Tony Stewart speaks with President Obama in front of his car on the South Lawn of the White House. Obama was joined by NASCAR drivers to honor Tony Stewart's Sprint Cup Series Championship. Obama transcript following the jump 
April 17th, 2012
01:02 PM ET
Shuttle Discovery says goodbye to the White House The space shuttle Discovery made three passes by the White House and the National Mall on its farewell flight to the Smithsonian's Air and Space Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Members of the White House Press Corps gathered on the north side of the White House to see the shuttle over the West Wing. No word yet on whether President Obama caught a glimpse of the shuttle. NASA's shuttle program ended under the Obama administration after funding was cut by $1.5 billion dollars. Obama has said the closing of the program "propels us into the next era of our never-ending adventure to push the very frontiers of exploration and discovery in space." 
April 17th, 2012
10:37 AM ET
President Obama to unveil proposal to rein in manipulation of oil markets WASHINGTON (CNN) – Under pressure to bring down the high price of gas, today President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder will outline a proposal to increase federal supervision of the oil markets in an effort to clip the wings of speculators who are profiting off the volatility of the oil market. The Presidents $52 million plan would let regulators force energy traders to put more of their own money into trades and also boost the penalties on manipulators who are found to be speculating unlawfully, according to a senior administration source who would not comment on the record in advance of the president's remarks. The President will call on Congress to: – Boost spending on technology to improve better oversight and surveillance of energy markets. – Increase by six times the money spent on surveillance and enforcement staff of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to better deter oil market manipulation. – Increase from $1 million to $10 million civil and criminal penalties against firms that engage in market manipulation. – In an effort designed to limit energy market disruptions, give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority to increase the amount of money that a trader must put up to back a trading position. The Obama administration plans to increase access to the commission's data so the White House Council of Economic Advisers can examine and analyze trading information, which the administration can do on its own. This effort is likely to be seen as a political move designed to draw contrasts with the Republican party and especially presumptive nominee Mitt Romney on energy issues. House Republicans are unlikely to pass a measure that seeks to impose more limits on Wall Street at a time when they are seeking to limit regulations on the finance industry. At the same time Republican leaders are calling on the White House to open up more domestic land for oil and gas exploration. The White House is pinpointing Wall Street for the high price of gas which could afford the President an opening to criticize Romney and his ties to the world of high finance. 
April 17th, 2012
08:15 AM ET
POTUS's schedule for Tuesday, April 17, 2012While things were quiet around the White House grounds yesterday, today we might hear the roar of NASCAR engines pulling into the complex. This afternoon, President Obama welcomes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart to the White House South Lawn. We'll have to see if his number 14 car comes along with him. This is the third time he's won the Sprint Cup Series. But the White House has also added a morning statement in the Rose Garden about gas prices and more oversight in the oil markets. The politics of oil prices is still a major issue on the president's plate. He and Attorney General Eric Holder will outline the administration's newest proposal on how to combat those who are profiting from the volatile markets. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney will hold a briefing at 12:30p. For the full White House schedule, click below. FULL POST |
  |
||
|
|
||
