December 24, 2011 by David K. Sutton

15 Obama Achievements Amid Relentless Republican Obstructionism

This time of year there is no shortage of lists recapping news events. Instead of a 2011 recap of President Obama’s accomplishments, I think it is more important to remember the most significant accomplishments of the first three years of his administration.With the Republican presidential primary season about to start in earnest with the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary in the first two weeks of the new year, we should reflect on the many great accomplishments of the Obama administration amid relentless Republican obstructionism.

Below is a list of 15 significant accomplishments that is in no particular order and is not intended as a complete list.

Increased average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025
Established Credit Card Bill of Rights – preventing credit card companies from imposing arbitrary rate increases on customers
Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 – preventing insurance companies from denying insurance because of a pre-existing condition – allowing children to remain covered by their parents’ insurance until the age of 26 – Require health insurance plans to disclose how much of the premium actually goes to patient care
Signed financial reform law – establishing a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to look out for the interests of everyday Americans – requiring lenders to verify applicants’ credit history, income, and employment status – prohibiting banks from engaging in proprietary trading (trading the bank’s own money to turn a profit, often in conflict with their customers’ interests)
Adverted a second great depression and created more private sector jobs in 2010 than during entire Bush years
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act – promoted social responsibility through creation of serve.gov, a national database of volunteer opportunities
Signed New START Treaty – nuclear arms reduction pact with Russia
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – Instituted equal pay for women
Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) to allow gay and lesbian members of the military to serve openly
US auto industry rescue plan
Enacted largest reform of student aid in 40 years
Osama bin Laden
Removed restrictions and provided support for embryonic stem-cell research and new biomedical research
Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
End of the war in Iraq