1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
16. New federal funding for science and research labs
17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction
21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
22. US Auto industry rescue plan
23. Housing rescue plan
24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
26. US financial and banking rescue plan
27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
Now I believe in activism and people advocating for themselves and their rights. But one thing I learned being a state rep is that there is issues advocacy and there is the responsibility to govern, to make policy. We need both, but in my opinion, it is best left to different people to do these things.
That was one of my objections to HCR6, the nullification resolution brought to the floor of the State House last session. With all the practical problems faced by New Hampshire, is pushing an ideological bill forward the best use of time and resources?
The frustration about DOMA and DADT is real, and these things must be addressed. But over the summer I was in NYC visiting one of my closest friends who happens to be gay and is also an activist. When I asked him how he felt about marriage equality he said, "Yeah, that's nice and everything. But I'm more concerned with finding a job and getting health care." He's worked in publishing all his life and that industry is changing rapidly while displacing many workers. It left my friend in his 50s with no health insurance. That's his priority.
So I'll end this diary with what I said at the beginning: Close your eyes and imagine. President McCain. Vice-President Palin.
