Community

Obama Returns to White House for 1st Time Since 2017, Celebrates Obamacare Anniversary

About 21 million people are covered by the ACA, according to a recent analysis by the Urban Institute. Measures in the bill include protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions and an expansion of Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers people with lower incomes and disabilities. Though the ACA was unpopular in its early days, data from the Kaiser Permanente Foundation show that 55% of Americans support the law today.

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2022

Oakland Post

Vice President Kamala Harris introduced former President Barack Obama at a White House press conference.

By Brandon Patterson

Former President Obama returned to the White House this week for the first time since leaving office in 2017 to celebrate the 12^th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act with President Joe Biden.

The ACA, passed in 2010 during Obama’s first term when Biden was vice president, is widely considered the crowning achievement of Obama’s administration, bringing affordable health insurance options to millions of Americans.

Obama, who maintains the close friendship with Biden developed previously in the White House, began his remarks by jokingly referring to “Vice President Biden” before giving Biden a hug. “That was all set up. My president, Joe Biden.” Obama was introduced by Vice President Kamala Harris. He received a standing ovation upon entry to into the press room.

“It’s fitting the first time you return to the White House is to celebrate a law that is transforming millions of lives because of you,” Biden said. “And I say because of you, you had a lot of help — staff, and I helped a little bit — but because of you. A law that shows hope leads to change, and you did that. Let’s be honest, the Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things, but ‘Obamacare’ is the most fitting.”

Republicans have repeatedly tried to repeal the ACA since it became law. The law survived challenges in the Supreme Court in both 2012 and 2015, though carveouts were made, including allowing states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion, which many Republican-led states have done.

Then in 2017, under former President Donald Trump, when Republicans also controlled both chambers of the Congress, Republicans came close to repealing it. But the attempt failed when three Republicans broke from the partly line, including the late Senator John McCain.

In the years since the Obama administration, Medicare for All, which would institute a national single-payer health care system where the government would serve as insurer for all residents, has become popular among progressives in the wake of the presidential campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders and national organizing from progressive groups.

Recent political polling from Pew Research, Morning Consult and other polling firms have shown that most Americans support the proposal today. A March 2021 poll from Morning Consult found that 55% of Americans support Medicare for All.

Sources for this report were CNN, Morning Consult, Yahoo News.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.