President Obama has committed to paying the 80 to 90 thousand black farmers discriminated against 1.25 billion dollars. So why is it taking so long to fund the project after the presidents commitment in the 2011 budget.
The funding of the Pigford II settlement has originally taken 15 years. White House sources as well as Democrats on the Hill believe this is a bad economic climate to fund large items. The Obama administration has three big ticket items before Congress to include monies for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. White House sources contend FEMA is running out of money. There is also the 1.4 billion dollar federal funding of the Cobell Lawsuit, involving hundreds of thousand of Native Americans and Indian land misuse issues. Then there is the 1.25 billion dollar Pigford II, black farmer settlement.
At the Wednesday White House Press Briefing Robert Gibbs said, “there’s legislative and there’s financing decisions that are being looked through.”
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height is being remembered as a Civil Rights pioneer and the peoples leader who ruled with an iron fist in a velvet glove. She has also been referred to as the Lena Horne of the Civil Rights movement because of her grace and her ability to move Presidents into action.
Those who knew Dr. Height and her accomplishments contend she was a tireless worker for issues of education, jobs and healthcare. Heights voice was especially strong for African American women and the black family.
Dr. Height’s reach was long and it stretched around the globe to include a Micro Lending program in Africa. She also taught social work in New Delhi, India for four months in 1952. She also, was the national head of several organizations. In1947 she became the 10th national President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was also President of the National Council of Negro Women.
Dr. Martha Joynt Kumar political scientist who studies the White House for Towson University, details some White House Height historic facts.
Dr. Height was sought after by then First Lady Elenore Roosevelt.
Dr. Dorothy Height was present in June 1963 when President Kennedy signed Equal Pay legislation into law.
Dr. Height was there 35 years later when President Clinton signed into law Equal Pay legislation in 1998.
Dr. Height was present January 29, 2009 for President Obama’s East Room signing of the Lilly Leadbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, legislation relating to fair pay.
President Jimmy Carter named her as a member of Holocaust Memorial Council.
Dr. Height was in the room when President George W. Bush signed into law the Voting Rights Reauthorization in July 27, 2006.
August 8, 1994 Dr. Height was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient with the award bestowed by President Bill Clinton.
July 28, 1983 President Ronald Reagan held a reception for the National Council of Negro Women highlighting the achievements of Dr. Height.
Her Last White House public appearance was in March, 2010 where she was a guest for a Women’s History month event. At that time First Lady Michelle Obama called Dr. Height “friend.” Dr. Height was the last female Civil Rights era Icon.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
Statement by the President on the Passing of Dr. Dorothy Height
Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans. Ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, and served as the only woman at the highest level of the Civil Rights Movement - witnessing every march and milestone along the way. And even in the final weeks of her life - a time when anyone else would have enjoyed their well-earned rest - Dr. Height continued her fight to make our nation a more open and inclusive place for people of every race, gender, background and faith. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Dr. Height - and all those whose lives she touched.
Three months after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, First Lady Michelle Obama shares her experience there from her recent surprise visit.
Since the January 12, 2010 devastation, the United States has given about a billion dollars to the country in reconstruction and rescue efforts. Before the earthquake, Haiti was deemed the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Now hundreds of thousands reside in Port-Au-Prince in tent cities.
Obama administration officials say the President will visit the country. It will not be soon as President Obama does not want his visit to hamper any needed work and relief that is underway. Meanwhile, the U.S. military operations in Haiti will end June 1, 2010 with some assistance still available after that date. June 1st is the official start of the hurricane season which could cause another humanitarian catastrophe.
Ten days has passed since Justice John Stevens announced he is retiring. The White House is still in the early stages of the selection process to replace the Supreme Court justice who turns 90 this year. The end of he process is expected to come in a number of weeks. Obama administration officials say they are currently in a process of “adding names” to be considered not in a process of “whittling those names down. “ In the meantime, there are two black women on the Supreme Court potentials list.
Ann Clair Williams has the endorsement of the National Bar Association.
Leah Ward Sears is backed by a contingent of black preachers.
Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary will not quantify the growing list that is reported to have at least ten possibles. Gibbs says, “I don’t want to put an upper limit on the number of people…highly qualified individuals that the president could consider over the course of this process.” Obama officials contend the goal is to give the President the greatest number of potential candidates.
President Obama wants to have the Stevens replacement seated before the next Supreme Court session begins later this year.
In a letter dated April 8, 2010, John Boyd, Head of the National Black Farmers Association requested a meeting with President Obama over the funding of a 1.25 billion dollar discrimination settlement. Boyd also said in that same letter, he has “been waiting for tangible signs that the funding of this settlement is a priority of this administration. I am sorry to report I have observed nothing to give me confidence that this is the case. That is why I am requesting a face to face meeting to discuss the black farmer settlement and what you can do to help get it funded.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also at the White House for a morning meeting. She was part of a Cabinet Room session on the economy with the president and others at the same time Boyd was meeting with White House staff and Justice Department officials. The Black farmers settlement was not on the agenda for the Pelosi meeting, but Speaker Pelosi did say, “we have been supporting the black farmers for a very long time. We think that obviously there should be an emergency designation or an allocation, an offset for it. But, they must be paid, and they will be paid.
The White House contends there is an effort to work with congress to find the best vihicle to get this done as quickly as possible.
15 years ago, the 90 thousand black farmers won a discrimination lawsuit with claims against the Agriculture Department’s Farm Loan Program. They are still waiting to be financially compensated by the federal government.
White House Officials confirm, at Blair House, President Obama talked with acting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan about Jonathan’s April 8, 2010 meeting with the father of the Christmas Day bombing suspect. 22 year old Nigerian, Farouk Adhulmuttalab, allegedly attempted to bomb an American aircraft in skies above Detroit, Michigan.
It is reported that President Jonathan held a closed door, hour long meeting at the Nigerian Presidential Villa with Urmaru Muttalab.
In Washington, D.C. the Obama- Jonathan discussion occurred during one of the Sunday prelude meetings to the Nuclear Weapons Summit where forty world leaders are slated to attend the nuclear arms reduction discussions.
The Jonathan-Muttalab meeting is of great importance to both countries. It is an issue of “mutual importance” according to the Obama administration. The United States is looking for more clues into the Christmas day attempted bombing.
The Nigerian Government wants to be taken off of a terror watch list after the Christmas Day incident. Following the attempted bombing, the United States federal government immediately placed Nigeria on a 14 nation terror watch list and ordered a thorough screening of Nigerians traveling to the Unites States, a development highly criticized by the Nigeriangovernment.
This week the United States announced it will implement new airline security measures that would replace mandatory screening of air passengers from the 14 listed countries.
John Boyd, head of the National Black Farmers Association is sending a letter to the white house formally asking president Obama for a meeting on the black farmer settlement monies.
Boyd says he has seen no signs so far that resolving the settlement issue is a priority of the administration. White house officials contend they will meet with the black farmers but the president is already behind the effort and does not need to meet with them. President Obama placed 1.25 billion dollars into his 2011 budget for congress to approve. White house Sources contend the hope was the funding would have been approved in the health care reconciliation bill but something happened procedurally. Now there is a 60 day deadline extension for congress to find a way to fund the settlement.
The farmers are anxious to finalize this process after waiting 15 years for the monies. John Boyd contends, “farmers were expecting the settlement payments before the end of planting season. More black farmers will die waiting for justice.”
Below the letter to President Obama.
April 8, 2010
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I write to you out of a great sense of concern about the settlement between the black farmers and
the United States Department of Agriculture. As you know after suffering years of
discrimination and injustice, black farmers reached a settlement with the Department of Justice.
The settlement called for Congress to fund the settlement by appropriating $1.15 billion by
March 31,2010.
This deadline has passed. The settlement agreement by its own terms is in jeopardy of being
voided unless Congress appropriates the $1.15 billion immediately. That is where Presidential
leadership comes in, particularly since this is a cause you championed when in the Senate.
I have been waiting for tangible signs that the funding of this settlement is a priority of this
Administration. I am sorry to report I have observed nothing to give me confidence that this is
the case. That is why I am requesting a face to face meeting to discuss the black farmer
settlement and what you can do to help get it funded.
I stood with you on the campaign trail in the battle ground states of North Carolina and Virginia.
I stood with you in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia. I stood with you in twelve states, Mr. President. I
respectfully request that we meet to discuss this issue in detail. The farmers have waited long
enough – each day delayed is another farmer passed on.
Mr. President, I stood for you – for the sake of the black farmers I respectfully request that you
sit with me.
Sincerely,
NATIONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION
From the Office of the President
Dr. John W. Boyd, Jr.
Some of the nations most recognized names in the Black Church met with President Obama before his Easter Prayer breakfast. The group consisted of 20 leaders of different denominations. The list included Reverend Kirby John Caldwell, and Bishop Vashti McKenzie.
The White House contends many of the attendees have known the president for years and some were even in communication with Obama last week for prayer.
During this 30 minute Blue Room session Tuesday, some of the ministers spoke to the President one on one. Others raised questions. Some inquires were directed to the President about the summer unemployment situation, with adults vying for jobs teens would hunt for.
Another question came from King-era Civil Rights activist C.T. Vivian. He asked the President how could the Black Church help with the Mid-Term elections?
There was also a call, for President Obama to consider picking a black person for his next Supreme Court Justice opening. The President told the group he will try to consider all areas and different groups for a diverse and balanced Supreme Court. He also told the group it is is hard to find Supreme Court qualifications in someone in their 40’s and 50’s. 90 year old Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says he “will surely” retire while President Barack Obama is still in office, giving the president the opportunity to maintain the high court’s ideological balance. Stevens is the leader of the courts liberals.
The Tuesaday session ended with President Obama soliciting the black clergy for prayer. A.M.E Bishop, John R. Bryant obliged.
The White House stresses this meeting is one of a series of religious leader gatherings the President has conducted. In recent weeks Obama hosted Jewish leaders at the White House.
Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele says he and President Obama are held to a higher standard because they are black. Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary responds saying, it is not about the “race card” for Steele but his “credit card”. The credit card references the RNC’s higher than usual fundraising entertainment tab. This controversy places the former Maryland Lieutenant Governor in the center of controversy about his future in GOP leadership. Steele contends he will not resign.
A Democratic source close to the situation contends Steele can’t resign or be fired as it would look bad for the RNC. The GOP has been under fire for some of its membership participating in racist activities over politics. The source believes any move on Steele would be viewed as another race related political action.
In related news, the second-ranking GOP senator is distancing himself from the national party chairman after the recent news that the party spent nearly $2,000 at a sex-themed nightclub in California.
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl says he didn’t elect Michael Steele as Republican National Committee chairman so he can’t say whether he thinks Steele should step down. But Kyl tells “Fox News Sunday” that “this kind of thing has got to stop or they won’t get any contributions.”
The RNC has fired a staffer who helped organize the Jan. 31 visit to Voyeur Hollywood West. The RNC has said it would recoup the money from a donor who paid the tab.
Party officials have said Steele knew nothing of the nightclub visit by a group of young Republicans.
President Obama and the rest of the First Family took part in the Easter Egg Roll with the President helping some kids try to roll the eggs down the South Lawn. Some thirty thousand people are expected for the events. President Obama also, played some hoops with kids 5 to 12 years old on the basketball court.
