Jarrett Lauds Obama’s First 100 Days

Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama spoke to African American media today about the accomplishments of the president in the first 100 days of his presidency.

Jarrett said that the expected passage of Obama’s $3.5 trillion budget before the end of the month is unprecedented given that it was done so quickly amidst severe economic challenges facing the country.

Jarrett commended Obama for immediately taking "bold action" to address the faltering economy by passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, what she calls the most sweeping stimulus bill ever enacted into law. The recovery bill is the president’s short term strategy to mobilize jobs and rebuild the economy over the next two years, and his long term strategy is to invest in energy, healthcare, and education, Jarrett said.

The administration expects that the [recovery plan] will create or save 3.5 million jobs, expand temporary assistance, and extend the tax cut for 95% of working Americans.

“It is designed to help the harsh impacts on our community through this economic storm and to look beyond the immediate crisis and make critical investments for the future,” Jarrett said.

Jarrett who runs the Office of the Public Liaison and heads the Office of Urban Affairs Policy talked about how Obama’s budget initiatives will significantly affect our nation’s cities where 80% of American’s live. She says that one of the biggest challenges to implementing the president’s agenda is getting the agencies to work together and understand that their programs need to complement one another.

“It is important that as these dollars flow that the decisions are being made on the ground and in the communities that are most directly affected,” Jarrett said. “We’re looking at efficiencies in the federal government. It will help our office of urban affairs that the president has recruited a team that understands the importance of working together.”

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