President Barack Obama Weekly Address Video, Photos 2-14-09

President Barack Obama delivered his weekly address on February 14, 2009 via radio and YouTube. See the video and recent photos of Obama during the past week.

Both houses of Congress passed the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, and the President characterized it as as a “major milestone on our road to recovery.” He said the bill (officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), is designed “save or create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, ignite spending by business and consumers alike.”

He reiterated that this is just the beginning. Jobs created, he said, will address modernization of the health care system, upgrading classrooms labs and libraries in public schools. Other jobs are to improve the nation’s infrastructure by “building wind turbines and solar panels and the smart grid necessary to transport the clean energy they create; and laying broadband internet lines to connect rural homes, schools, and businesses to the information superhighway.”

In addressing skepticism, he again made mention of the previously announced Web site — Recovery.gov — which will enable the American public to see where and how the money is spent. “Ultimately, this is your money, and you deserve to know where it’s going and how it’s spent,” he said.

In closing, President Obama quoted the words of President John F. Kennedy: “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

The costliest item in the stimulus package is a $400 tax credit for individuals earning less than $75,000 a year and $800 for couples with income of less than $150,000.

Infrastructure construction makes up a big portion of the spending, including $29 billion for highways, $17.7 billion for mass transit and rail and $18.8 billion for clean water and flood control projects.

The plan provides $87 billion for Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor. It contains $39 billion for unemployed workers in families, including provisions extending jobless benefits for 20 additional weeks in most states and 33 additional weeks in states with high unemployment rates. It also increases weekly benefits by $25.

Obama plans to unveil more details on his proposals to deal with the housing crisis with a speech Feb. 18 in Arizona, which had the third-highest rate of foreclosures in January — one in 182 housing units — after Nevada and California.

Source: Obama Says Passage of Stimulus Only First Step in Recovery Plan and Obama Looks to Next Steps in Recovery Plan

Photos: President Barack Obama visits the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Illinois on February 12, 2009 (Photo credit: White House)

Here is the Weekly Address video. See also Weekly Address Transcript, February 14, 2009 via WhiteHouse.gov More Obama pictures below.

YouTube Link

Here is the February 14, 2009 Republican response delivered by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski: Video Link

Photos: Ford Theater reopening celebration February 11, 2009 in Washington, DC. The theater, which is where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, recently underwent a $25 million, 18-month renovation. (Photo credit: White House)