Why during his time in the Senate did Obama sponsor so few bills?
His absentee rate is really bad also:
Barack Obama missed 235 of 1200 votes (20%) since Jan 6, 2005. The graph to the left shows the number of missed votes over time.
SUMMARY: We compare the legislative accomplishments of the Democratic candidates.
The legislative accomplishments of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama reveal different interests and styles. Obama shows a consistent interest in making government more open and efficient, while Clinton has a focus on health care efforts she started as first lady, though in a more incremental way. Here’s a look at each senator’s noteworthy legislative accomplishments:
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, 2000-present
• Wrote a section of the 2001 “No Child Left Behind” education law (PL 107-110) that authorized funding for recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and principals, citing a projected shortage of 2.2-million teachers by 2011.
• Co-authored a 2003 law (PL 108-155) that compels drug companies to conduct pediatric safety tests when their products are prescribed for children. The measure strengthened an earlier law that awards manufacturers added patent protection, allowing them to market drugs exclusively for six additional months if they agree to test them for use on children as well as adults. The 2003 law bestowed the extra six-month extension even if the Food and Drug Administration orders the testing.
• Worked with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to add language to a fiscal 2005 defense authorization bill (PL 108-375) giving military reservists and members of the National Guard access to the military’s Tricare health system even when they are not deployed. Previously, reservists only got covered while on active duty and for a limited time afterward. The measure came at a time when about 40 percent of U.S. forces in Iraq were reservists. Was enacted as law as part of a broader defense authorization bill.
• Sponsored a 2005 bill to distribute flu vaccines more efficiently, which inspired similar provisions in a 2006 law (PL 109-417) promoting adequate vaccine production and stockpiles to improve the nation’s responses to public health emergencies.
• Wrote a 2006 law (PL 109-442) providing grants to state and local governments to pay for respite care services for family caregivers. (Respite care is designed to give principal caregivers of sick or disabled individuals temporary relief in their caregiving obligations.)
• Worked with Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-N.Y., to insert language in a fiscal 2007 defense authorization measure (PL 109-364) keeping the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open at a time when the Pentagon was closing bases. The move saved 800 upstate New York jobs.
Number of bills sponsored: 635
Number of bills co-sponsored: 2,441
Number of bills sponsored or co-sponsored that became law: 54
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, 2005-present
• Collaborated with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., in 2006 to pass a law (PL 109-282) creating a Google-like database of federal contracts and grants allowing users to type in key words that would bring up exactly how much money any particular recipient received.
• With then-Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Richard G. Lugar, R-Ind., won enactment of a 2006 law (PL 109-401) that allowed the United States to export nuclear fuel, technology and reactors to India for the first time in three decades. The law accepted India as a nuclear-armed power and was enacted despite concerns about India’s ties to Iran and past sanctions for transferring sensitive equipment to Iran.
• Chief sponsor of legislation signed into law in 2006 (PL 109-456) that authorized a 25 percent increase in U.S. assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been ravaged by civil wars since its independence from Belgium in 1960 and which received $33-million in fiscal 2006. The law called for a special envoy to help mediate an end to the conflict there and urged the Bush administration to strengthen the United Nations peacekeeping force now operating in parts of the nation.
• Co-sponsored legislation by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., signed into law in 2007 (PL 110-175) that speeds the release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act by revising requirements for federal agency disclosures of requested information.
• Played a significant role in the 2007 overhaul of congressional lobbying and ethics rules. Sided with Republicans who wanted stronger rules for the disclosure of earmarks in spending bills and tried to set an example by releasing a lengthy list of requests he asked to be included in annual appropriations bills. His support is believed to have persuaded some other Democrats (there were nine total) to adopt the amendment.
• With Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., proposed requiring senators to make full reimbursement for the market rate of corporate jet flights. Under old rules, senators reimbursed for the first-class commercial rate of the flight. In some cases, that meant paying $2,000 for a private jet flight that actually may have cost upwards of $20,000 per seat. The proposal was incorporated into a broader package of reforms.
Number of bills sponsored: 272
Number of bills co-sponsored: 834
Number of bills sponsored or co-sponsored that became law: 16
If comparing apples to apples is important this lines it out, I love how Hillary remains focused on healthcare, she is very consistent in that aspect!
NOTE: this is COMPARING only the 110th congress NOT her other four years this is APPLES TO APPLES!
Dani sadly hon, you are not seeing that many of those bills you keep listing are not bills he wrote! Only introduced or co billed, I compared only the 110th session because Hillary has been there twice as long as him, and if I added in those bills it would be in the 10,000! He is hardly a worker bee, he has a dismal rating, check the Library of Congress website and not cut and paste off of Obamaforpresident.com!
The fewer things he sponsored, the less of a chance that he would get grilled and out-debated by someone about them, given his pre-school public speaking skills.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
The fewer things he sponsored, the less of a chance that he would get grilled and out-debated by someone about them, given his pre-school public speaking skills.
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February 7th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Hillary was in the Senate an extra 4 years, and her numbers aren’t much higher. Consider that both have been around the nation campaigning for the past year, and it seems like Obama accomplished more relative to his time in office.
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February 7th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
He would have to think to sponsor bills, and that’s never going to happen.
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February 7th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Cuz he does not care for America,his other agenda is what is on his mind.
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February 7th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Introduced
Dec 19, 2007 S. 2519: Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007
Scheduled for Debate
Apr 24, 2008 S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007
Introduced
Dec 6, 2007 S. 2428: National STEM Scholarship Database Act
Introduced
Nov 16, 2007 S. 2392: National STEM Scholarship Database Act
Introduced
Nov 13, 2007 S. 2347: Prevention Through Affordable Access Act
Introduced
Nov 8, 2007 S. 2330: Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act
Introduced
Oct 24, 2007 S. 2227: Success in the Middle Act of 2007
Introduced
Oct 24, 2007 S. 2224: Nuclear Release Notice Act of 2007
Introduced
Oct 18, 2007 S. 2202: Renewable Fuel Standard Extension Act of 2007
Introduced
Oct 4, 2007 S. 2147: Security Contractor Accountability Act of 2007
Introduced
Oct 3, 2007 S. 2132: A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children’s products that contain lead, and for other purposes.
Introduced
Sep 27, 2007 S. 2111: Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act
Introduced
Sep 18, 2007 S. 2066: Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007
Introduced
Sep 12, 2007 S. 2044: Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007
Introduced
Sep 6, 2007 S. 2030: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists.
Introduced
Aug 3, 2007 S. 1989: Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007
Introduced
Aug 2, 2007 S. 1977: Nuclear Weapons Threat Reduction Act of 2007
Introduced
Jul 26, 2007 S. 1885: Military Family Job Protection Act
Introduced
Jul 25, 2007 S. 1873: Improving Emergency Medical Care and Response Act of 2007
Introduced
Jul 19, 2007 S. 1824: Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007
Introduced
Jul 19, 2007 S. 1818: Missing Mercury in Manufacturing Monitoring and Mitigation Act
Introduced
Jul 19, 2007 S. 1817: A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes.
Introduced
Jul 18, 2007 S. 1811: Lead Poisoning Reduction Act of 2007
Introduced
Jul 16, 2007 S. 1790: Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2007
Introduced
Jun 27, 2007 S. 1713: A bill to provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Rosa Parks.
Introduced
Jun 7, 2007 S. 1574: Teaching Residency Act
Introduced
May 24, 2007 S. 1513: Predominantly Black Institution Act of 2007
Introduced
May 17, 2007 S. 1430: Iran Sanctions Enabling Act
Introduced
May 14, 2007 S. 1389: Climate Change Education Act
Introduced
May 7, 2007 S. 1324: National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2007
Introduced
May 3, 2007 S. 1306: Lead Free Toys Act of 2007
Introduced
May 2, 2007 S. 1271: Homecoming Enhancement Research and Oversight (HERO) Act
Introduced
Apr 25, 2007 S. 1222: STOP FRAUD Act
Introduced
Apr 20, 2007 S. 1181: Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act
Introduced
Apr 18, 2007 S. 1151: Health Care for Hybrids Act
Introduced
Apr 10, 2007 S. 1084: Homes for Heroes Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 29, 2007 S. 1068: Healthy Communities Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 29, 2007 S. 1067: Healthy Places Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 23, 2007 S. 976: Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 15, 2007 S. 906: Mercury Market Minimization Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 8, 2007 S. 823: Microbicide Development Act
Introduced
Mar 7, 2007 S. 795: Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007
Introduced
Mar 6, 2007 S. 768: Fuel Economy Reform Act
Introduced
Mar 6, 2007 S. 767: Fuel Economy Reform Act
Introduced
Mar 1, 2007 S. 737: Voter Advocate and Democracy Index Act of 2007
Introduced
Feb 28, 2007 S. 713: Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007
Introduced
Feb 27, 2007 S. 692: VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007
Introduced
Feb 16, 2007 S. 674: Transparency and Accountability in Military and Security Contracting Act of 2007
Scheduled for Debate
Oct 4, 2007 S. 453: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007
Introduced
Jan 30, 2007 S. 433: Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
Introduced
Jan 4, 2007 S. 133: American Fuels Act of 2007
Introduced
Jan 4, 2007 S. 117: Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007
Introduced
Jan 4, 2007 S. 116: STEP UP ACT OF 2007
Introduced
Jan 4, 2007 S. 115: Oil SENSE Act
Introduced
Jan 4, 2007 S. 114: Innovation Districts for School Improvement Act
Introduced
Sep 17, 2007 S.Con.Res. 46: A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Introduced
Sep 12, 2007 S.Con.Res. 44: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued honoring Rosa Louise McCauley Parks.
Passed Senate
Jun 26, 2007 S.Con.Res. 25: A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society.
Introduced
Jan 31, 2007 S.Con.Res. 5: A concurrent resolution honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry and the first and only African-American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
Introduced
Nov 1, 2007 S.J.Res. 23: A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
Introduced
Nov 15, 2007 S.Res. 383: A resolution honoring and recognizing the achievements of Carl Stokes, the first African-American mayor of a major American city, in the 40th year since his election as Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.
Passed Senate
Jul 13, 2007 S.Res. 268: A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as "National Summer Learning Day".
Passed Senate
Mar 28, 2007 S.Res. 133: A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
As long as you hold a military ID card you had access to Tricare. For reservists who are not mobilized it is called Tricare Standard, which means you pay a co-pay which is usually half; for active duty it is called Tricare Prime, which means you are fully covered.
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
He has no agenda and doesn’t even know what he stands for so how in hell are we supposed to know this?
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
It doesn’t "line things out" because it’s comparing a 7 year record to a 3 year record. In addition the web site that you copied this from give a total number of bills for Obama, sponsored or co sponsored, at around 1100 yet only provides details for 6. What were the other approximately 1094 bills and why were they left out? If you prorate what he did in 3 years and estimate, based on that, what he would have done in 7 you see that he and Hillary are not that far apart.
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