The Associated Press: on Government Reform


Barack Obama: OpEd: Broke promise to pay for every dime of new spending

President Obama broke his promise to pay for 'every dime' of new government spending. Of course, that's not the only promise that he has broken. He said that health-care reform would be a transparent, bipartisan effort; instead, the health-care bill was written behind closed doors and passed without any Republican support. He promised to not raise taxes on the middle class, but he broke that pledge. This is not change we can believe in. This is change we still can't believe.
Source: Courage to Stand, by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, A.P. excerpts Jan 6, 2011

Donald Trump: Against funding post office due to mail-in ballots

Trump frankly acknowledged that he's starving the U.S. Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots. In an interview on Fox Business, Trump noted two funding provisions that Democrats are seeking in a relief package. Without the additional money, he said, the Postal Service won't have the resources to handle a flood of ballots from voters who are seeking to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic.

[In response], "Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the U.S. Postal Service is suspending operational changes, like removing mail processing equipment and collection boxes, until after the November election," the Wall Street Journal reports. From a statement: "To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded."

Source: A.P. and Wall Street Journal on 2020 Trump Administration Aug 13, 2020

Donald Trump: Against funding post office due to mail-in ballots

Trump frankly acknowledged that he's starving the Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots. Trump noted two funding provisions that Democrats are seeking in a relief package. Without the additional money, he said, the Postal Service won't have the resources to handle a flood of ballots from voters who are seeking to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic. (Aug. 13 AP & WSJ)

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the Postal Service is suspending operational changes, like removing mail processing equipment and collection boxes, until after the November election. The agency won't change retail hours at post offices across the country or close any mail-sorting facilities. Overtime hours will continue to be approved as needed to process mail.

From a statement: "To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded." (Aug. 18, PoliticalWire)

Source: A.P. and PoliticalWire.com on impeaching Trump Aug 13, 2020

Paul LePage: Investigate and report publicly on false campaign statements

Gov. Paul LePage hopes to turn the state's ethics panel into a truth squad that checks the veracity of claims made by politicians.

The plan directs the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to investigate campaign claims following a complaint by a candidate. The panel would have to make a public statement if the claim is deemed false.

Backers of the effort, which LePage's office says is the governor's "attempt to bring civility to the process," told lawmakers that having such a check in place will encourage candidates to make fewer false claims about their opponents.

"Should there be no restraint, no limit or no consequence for lying?" said one legislator. But the ACLU of Maine said the proposal violates the constitution, arguing that courts have found that even false statements deserve First Amendment protection.

LePage's office said it believes that the lack of penalties if a claim is deemed false would allow the proposal to stand up constitutionally.

Source: A.P. in The Republic on 2014 Maine gubernatorial race Mar 26, 2014

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press in other publications.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Government Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Government Reform:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Sep 29, 2024