Barack Obama

After looking at three straight candidates whose public service only included a single post (and two of the three only serving a single term in that post), a candidate with a long public service record presented a new challenge. While Obama is only in his third year on the national scene, he has been in public office for ten years, which makes quite a few bills to look through. On top of his length of service, Obama sponsored more bills in two years than John Edwards did in six, which made his record that much harder to detail in full. In order to keep myself from going insane referencing bills, I decided to summarize his service before the current term in the US Senate, and if you want a detailed breakdown of his bills before then you can go ahead and look at the links.

That being said, it's time to look at what he's done.

What does Barack Obama think about helping the poor?

Political History

Barack Obama was a State Senator in Illinois from 1997 until 2004 and the U.S. Senator from Illinois from 2005 until now.

Illinois State Senate

• Voted to raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.50, helped pass a state Earned Income Tax Credit, then worked to make the tax credit permanent, sponsored a successful health care bill that implemented studies on how to make a universal state health care system, sponsored a measure to create an employment program for ex-criminals, and sponsored a bill that protected Illinois workers from federal rules that reduced overtime pay.¹
• Amended state welfare reform bill to include studies that would track families who were on welfare and determine what happened to them when they left welfare.²
• Also was the chief sponsor of bills that created job training programs^{3 4}, facilitated transportation aid for working welfare recipients^{5 6}, required city redevelopment plans to address fair employment and affordable housing impact⁷, expanded health care for families⁸, created community mental health councils across the state⁹, funded college education for low-income parents¹⁰, prevented utility companies from shutting off residents' heating during the winter¹¹, funded AIDS prevention in minority communities¹², and many others^{13 14 15 16}.

109^th Congress: 2005-2006

• Sponsored bills increasing funding and allocations for Pell Grants¹⁷, extending services for homeless veterans¹⁸, increasing the ease with which volunteer medical forces are mobilized in the event of a disaster¹⁹, creating evacuation plans for individuals with special needs in the event of a disaster²⁰, allowing advance payments of the Child Tax Credit for Hurricane Katrina victims²¹, protecting communities (especially disadvantaged ones) adversely affected by environmental health issues^{22 23}, setting forth foreign policy objectives and providing aid for the Democratic Republic of Congo²⁴, increasing the refundable tax credit for people affected by Hurricane Katrina²⁵, relaxing work requirements for two-person families and disabled parents under TANF²⁶, providing comprehensive services for the continued recovery of Hurricane Katrina victims²⁷, establishing a reporting system for quality of care in VA hospitals²⁸ and hospitals in general²⁹, providing housing assistance for low-income veterans³⁰, and improving health and mental health benefits for veterans³¹. Only the bill providing aid for Congo became law.
• Also sponsored amendments providing food and telephone services for veterans recuperating from injuries sustained in current wars³², contributing $13 million to the Special Court for Sierra Leone³³, increasing reintegration and job services for homeless veterans³⁴, guaranteeing wages in the temporary worker program³⁵, improving location services for missing persons in the event of a disaster³⁶, and ensuring the evacuation of persons with special needs in the event of a disaster³⁷. All of these amendments were agreed to in the Senate.
• Cosponsored bills giving trade preferences to underdeveloped nations³⁸, extending health care to low-income HIV patients³⁹, improving conditions for immigrant farm laborers⁴⁰, proposing sanctions against those committing crimes against humanity in Darfur⁴¹, increasing resources to advocate for human rights and democracy in foreign countries⁴², reducing pregnancy-related deaths and infant mortality⁴³, improving emergency medical services for children⁴⁴, promoting financial education under TANF^{45 46}, increasing the minimum wage^{47 48}, reducing hunger in the United States⁴⁹, helping improve banks in developing countries⁵⁰, requiring a report on progress towards the Millennium Goals⁵¹, providing debt cancellation for poor countries⁵², promoting peace and accountability in Sudan⁵³, improving heath care for minorities^{54 55}, establishing a commission to improve response to disasters⁵⁶, providing relief for the immediate needs of Katrina victims^{57 58 59 60}, increasing the number of families who would qualify for the Child Tax Credit⁶¹, protecting Medicare enrollees in the federal drug program⁶², providing for workers for the Katrina recovery⁶³, expanding preferential trade treatment for Haiti⁶⁴, prohibiting racial profiling⁶⁵, making coal mines safer^{66 67}, making all immigrants eligible for Medicaid⁶⁸, establishing a national health program⁶⁹, tying the minimum wage to Congressional pay⁷⁰, improve services for homeless veterans⁷¹, promoting fatherhood and supporting stability in low-income families⁷², adding incentives for the employment of individuals in impoverished areas⁷³, fully funding health insurance programs for children⁷⁴, and creating a new educational grant for low-income high school students⁷⁵. The bills reducing infant mortality, promoting peace in Sudan, and protecting miners became law.
• Also cosponsored resolutions assessing potential of a NATO no-fly zone in Darfur⁷⁶, imploring that Medicaid, Medicare, and federally-qualified health centers be continued and prioritized^{77 78 79}, pledging continued support for international hunger-relief efforts and expressing need for US leverage in securing more food aid⁸⁰, calling on the president to take immediate steps to protect civilians and stop violence in Darfur^{81 82}, and calling on the UN Security Council to condemn and sanction Burma for oppression of minorities ⁸³. The resolutions asking for action in Darfur and Burma were agreed upon in the Senate.
• Also cosponsored amendments increasing medical care for veterans⁸⁴, restoring funding for the community block grants⁸⁵, maintain US support of the Global Fund⁸⁶, protecting Medicaid funding from cuts in impoverished areas⁸⁷, providing additional assistance to Haiti⁸⁸, providing additional assistance in Sudan⁸⁹, supplementing funding for international food assistance⁹⁰, imposing sanctions on those committing crimes against humanity in Sudan⁹¹, funding the Africa Union Mission in Sudan^{9299 93}, providing funds for legal services for Katrina victims⁹⁴, supporting small businesses and homeowners hurt by Katrina^{95 96}, funding low-income energy assistance programs ^{97 98 99}, increasing funding for educational programs for Hispanic students¹⁰⁰, providing tax relief for low-income families^{101 102 103}, establishing a congressional committee to examine the response to Katrina^{104 105}, proving tax incentives to increase miner safety¹⁰⁶, increasing funding for health, education, and low-income programs¹⁰⁷, increasing funding for health care for veterans^{108 109}, funding a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur¹¹⁰, funding the provision of health care to noncitizens¹¹¹, and requiring the president to develop a comprehensive strategy towards Somalia¹¹². The amendments supporting the Global Fund, protecting Medicaid from cuts, providing assistance to Haiti, providing assistance to Sudan, supplementing international food assistance, imposing sanctions against human rights violators in Sudan, funding the Africa Union Mission, funding legal services for Katrina victims, supporting small businesses hurt by Katrina, funding educational programs for Hispanic students, increasing miner safety, increasing funding for low-income programs, increasing outpatient care for veterans, and funding a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur were agreed to in the Senate.
  
  

110^th Congress: 2007-present

The 110^th Congress only started a few months ago. So far, Barack Obama has:
• Sponsored bills improving medical and mental health services for veterans of current wars¹¹³ and overseeing and improving health care in VA hospitals^{114 115}. He has also sponsored bills involving services for legal immigrants and funding for AIDS research that are not yet available online.
• Also cosponsored bills increasing the minimum wage¹¹⁶, allowing more families to be eligible for the child tax credit¹¹⁷, improving agricultural jobs and benefits for immigrants¹¹⁸, extending and increasing Pell grants¹¹⁹, eliminating funding gaps in children's health insurance¹²⁰ and providing funding for local governments hurt by Katrina¹²¹. He has also cosponsored a bill improving education in the area hurt by Katrina that is not yet available online.

Statements About the Poor

"If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent. If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties.

It is that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family: 'E pluribus unum,' out of many, one."¹²²

"I believe that we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs for the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that we have a righteous wind at our backs, and that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us."¹²³

"[The US should] lead the global fight against the AIDS virus. The US must give its fair share to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to avoid both a humanitarian and economic crisis. President Bush's budget this year actually cuts the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund by 65 percent. As Senator, I will hold President Bush to his word and fully fund our commitment to the war on AIDS. We must also increase the availability of generic drugs to AIDS victims around the world."¹²⁴

"Work should keep Americans out of poverty. It should make it possible for you to live with dignity and respect, to have a comfortable place to live in a safe neighborhood, to see a doctor, to have a shot at education, to save a little money, to enjoy the opportunities of this great country. But that's out of reach for most people at $5.15 an hour. It is time that we do better by those in our workforce who make the least."¹²⁵

"as you all know, we can affirm the importance of poverty in the Bible; and we can raise up and pass out this Covenant for a New America. We can talk to the press, and we can discuss the religious call to address poverty and environmental stewardship all we want, but it won't have an impact unless we tackle head-on the mutual suspicion that sometimes exists between religious America and secular America."¹²⁶

"After all, the problems of poverty and racism, the uninsured and the unemployed, are not simply technical problems in search of the perfect ten point plan. They are rooted in both societal indifference and individual callousness - in the imperfections of man.
Solving these problems will require changes in government policy, but it will also require changes in hearts and a change in minds. I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manufacturers' lobby - but I also believe that when a gang-banger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels somebody disrespected him, we've got a moral problem. There's a hole in that young man's heart - a hole that the government alone cannot fix."¹²⁷

"Earlier this week, President Bush spoke of a ‘social justice' agenda for the Americas. He was right to underscore the importance of addressing the basic needs of millions of our neighbors languishing in poverty. The primary responsibility for doing so, of course, lies with the governments and societies throughout the hemisphere. Yet helping to lift people out of widespread poverty is in our interests, just as it is in accord with our values. When instability spreads to our south, our security and economic interests are at risk. When our neighbors suffer, all of the Americas suffer."¹²⁸

"We have too many children in poverty in this country and everybody should be ashamed, but don't tell me it doesn't have a little to do with the fact that we got too many daddies not acting like daddies. Don’t think that fatherhood ends at conception. I know something about that because my father wasn't around when I was young and I struggled."¹²⁹

"My faith also tells me that - as Pastor Rick has said - it is not a sin to be sick. My Bible tells me that when God sent his only Son to Earth, it was to heal the sick and comfort the weary; to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; to befriend the outcast and redeem those who strayed from righteousness. Living His example is the hardest kind of faith - but it is surely the most rewarding. It is a way of life that can not only light our way as people of faith, but guide us to a new and better politics as Americans."¹³⁰

Private Life

• Has a net worth over $2 million, the majority of which was made in '05/'06 due to proceeds from his books. Donated $77,000 to charity in 2005, mostly to literacy funds, AIDS action funds, and his church.¹³¹ Is writing a children's book with his wife and has pledged the profits to charity.
• From 1985 to 1988, organized and directed a non-profit community development program that raised up local leaders in a low-income community and encouraged job training, college prep, school reform, and hazardous waste cleanup.
• From 1993 until the present, worked as a lawyer specializing in civil rights and the representation of nonprofits in urban redevelopment, including housing developments, community health clinics, social service agencies, and schools.
• While visiting Kenya, publicly took an HIV test to help dispel fears about the danger of such tests.
• Chaired the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, the Woods Fund of Chicago, and the Joyce Foundation, directed the Developing Communities Project, and has been involved with ACORN, the Centers for New Horizons, Leadership for Quality Education, and the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Has also spoken on behalf of "Wake Up Wal-Mart", "Families USA", and the "Global Summit on AIDS and the Church".^{132 133}

It was more difficult to provide balance in this entry, mostly because it was difficult to find people criticizing Obama's commitment to the poor or show evidence that he is lacking in his commitment in one way or another. So if you find anything that I have overlooked, please post it. And even if you don't, share what you think about his record. Does Barack Obama hear the cry of the poor?


^[1]"A look at Obama's record in the Illinois Senate", Chicago Tribune, January 17, 2007.
^[2]"What the Data Actually Show About Welfare Reform", The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 21, 2002.
^[3]CHICAGO COLLEGES-JOB PROGRAM
^[4]DHS-TANF-JOB SKILLS TRAINING
^[5]PUB AID-JOB TRANSPORTATION
^[6]TRANSPORTATION TO WORK ACT
^[7]MUNI CD-TIF-AFFORDABLE HOUSING
^[8]CHILDRENS HLTH INS ADULT
^[9]MENTL HLTH-LOCL PLANNNG COUNCL
^[10]H ED FOR REAL OPPORTUNITIES
^[11]UTILITY NO WINTER TERMINATION
^[12]PUBLIC HLTH-AIDS-MINORITIES
^[13]Bills sponsored by Barack Obama, 90th General Assembly.
^[14]Bills sponsored by Barack Obama, 91st General Assembly.
^[15]Bills sponsored by Barack Obama, 92nd General Assembly.
^[16]Bills Sponsored by Barack Obama, 93rd General Assembly.
^[17]Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act
^[18]SAVE Reauthorization Act of 2005
^[19]Hurricane Katrina Emergency Health Workforce Act of 2005
^[20]To ensure the evacuation of individuals with special needs in times of emergency.
^[21]Hurricane Katrina Fast-Track Refunds for Working Families Act of 2005
^[22]Healthy Communities Act of 2005
^[23]Healthy Places Act of 2006
^[24]Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006
^[25]Hurricane Katrina Working Family Tax Relief Act of 2006
^[26]Equality for Two-Parent Families Act of 2006
^[27]Hurricane Katrina Recovery Act of 2006
^[28]VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2006
^[29]Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2006
^[30]Homes for Heroes Act of 2006
^[31]Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006
^[32]Senate Amendment 390
^[33]Senate Amendment 1264
^[34]Senate Amendment 3144
^[35]Senate Amendment 3971
^[36]Senate Amendment 4573
^[37]Senate Amendment 4972
^[38]TRADE act of 2005
^[39]Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2005
^[40]Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2005
^[41]Darfur Accountability Act of 2005
^[42]ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2005
^[43]PREEMIE Act
^[44]Wakefield Act
^[45]TANF Financial Education Promotion Act of 2005
^[46]TANF Economic and Financial Education Promotion Act of 2006
^[47]Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2005
^[48]Tax Relief and Minimum Wage Act of 2006
^[49]Hunger-Free Communities Act of 2006
^[50]Development Bank Reform and Authorization Act of 2005
^[51]International Cooperation to Meet the Millennium Development Goals Act of 2005
^[52]Multilateral Debt Relief Act of 2005
^[53]Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005
^[54]Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act
^[55]Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act
^[56]To establish a congressional commission to examine...
^[57]Katrina Emergency Relief Act of 2005
^[58]Hurricane Katrina Bankruptcy Relief and Community Protection Act of 2005
^[59]Oversight of Vital Emergency Recovery Spending Enhancement and Enforcement Act of 2005
^[60]Gulf Coast Infrastructure Redevelopment and Recovery Act of 2005
^[61]Working Family Child Assistance Act
^[62]The Medicare Informed Choice Act of 2005
^[63]Rebuild With Respect Act
^[64]Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act
^[65]ERPA
^[66]Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 2006
^[67]MINER Act
^[68]To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to repeal the amendments...
^[69]Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act of 2006
^[70]Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2006
^[71]Comprehensive Homeless Veterans Assistance and Prevention Act of 2006
^[72]Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2006
^[73]To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to alleviate poverty by encouraging the employment...
^[74]Education Opportunity Act
^[76]Calling on NATO to assess...
^[77]Sense of Congress with respect to MediCaid
^[78]Sense of Congress with respect to MediCare
^[79]Sense of Congress with respect to federally-qualified health centers
^[80]Whereas although there is enough food to feed all of the people in the world
^[81]Calling on the President to take immediate steps to help improve the security situation in Darfur...
^[82]Calling on the President to take immediate steps to help stop the violence in Darfur.
^[83]Sense of Senate regarding military junta in Burma...
^[84]Senate Amendment 149
^[85]Senate Amendment 156
^[86]Senate Amendment 169
^[87]Senate Amendment 204
^[88]Senate Amendment 342
^[89]Senate Amendment 368
^[90]Senate Amendment 380
^[91]Senate Amendment 517
^[92]Senate Amendment 1290
^[93]Senate Amendment 4912
^[94]Senate Amendment 1659
^[95]Senate Amendment 1695
^[96]Senate Amendment 1717
^[97]Senate Amendment 2033
^[98]Senate Amendment 2077
^[99]Senate Amendment 2194
^[100]Senate Amendment 2262
^[101]Senate Amendment 2616
^[102]Senate Amendment 2652
^[103]Senate Amendment 2665
^[104]Senate Amendment 1660
^[105]Senate Amendment 2716
^[106]Senate Amendment 2728
^[107]Senate Amendment 3048
^[108]Senate Amendment 3007
^[109]Senate Amendment 3642
^[110]Senate Amendment 3777
^[111]Senate Amendment 4072
^[112]Senate Amendment 4526
^[113]Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007
^[114]VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007
^[115]Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007
^[116]Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007
^[117]Working Family Child Assistance Act
^[118]AgJOBS Act of 2007
^[119]Student Debt Relief Act of 2007
^[120]Keep Children Covered Act of 2007
^[121]Local Government Disaster Relief Act of 2007
^[122]Keynote Address, 2004 Democratic National Convention.
^[123]Keynote Address, 2004 Democratic National Convention.
^[124]"Renewal of American Leadership", July 12, 2004 Press Release.
^[125]"Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007", Speech to Senate, Jan. 30, 2007.
^[126]Keynote Address, "Call to Renewal" conference, June 28, 2006.
^[127]Keynote Address, "Call to Renewal" conference, June 28, 2006.
^[128]"LATIN AMERICA", Speech to Senate, Mar. 8, 2007.
^[129]Selma Voting Rights March Commemoration Speech, March 4, 2007.
^[130]World AIDS Day Speech2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, December 1, 2006.
^[131]"For Obamas, it was a very good year", The Chicago Tribune, Sept. 26, 2006.
^[132]"What Makes Obama Run?", Chicago Reader, Dec. 8, 1995.
^[133]Project Vote Smart Biography.