Politics. On Point.

Akin to filibustering, House Democrats today staged a sit-in on the House floor in an effort to get Congress to act on gun violence legislation.  The sit-in, initiated by Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), includes 40 other democratic representatives who have taken to Twitter with the hashtag # NoBillNoBreak . When asked for order on the floor, Rep. John Larsen (D-CT) bounded the House lectern saying, "We will NOT come to order. We want a vote." Democrats, acting in response to this month's Orlando nightclub massacre , demanded that Congress, at the very least, discuss measures to enact commonsense gun legislation, to include background checks.  Congress, as it has been reported, favors gun lobbyists and the NRA. Republicans shut down C-SPAN cameras covering the event, leaving Democrats to take matters into their own hands, in an unprecedented move, by  Periscoping  and live-tweeting the event. Rep. John Larsen on the house floor today.  h/t: Heral...

SOTU graphic credit: WhiteHouse.gov From the White House... Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2016 White House Announces Guests in First Lady’s Box – State of the Union Address WASHINGTON, DC – The following individuals will be seated in the box with the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, at the State of the Union Address  on Tuesday . For the President’s final State of the Union address, the individuals who will be seated in the guest box of First Lady Michelle Obama represent the progress we have made since the President first delivered this speech seven years ago – from the brink of a second Great Depression and two costly wars to an economy that is growing and renewed American leadership abroad. Their stories – of struggle and success – highlight where we have been and where America is going in the future, building on the best of what our country has to offer. The guests pe...

President Obama, today, gave remarks on the steps his administration is planning to take to make it harder for Americans to gain access to guns. In a tearful demonstration the president recalled several incidents of gun violence during his tenure and became emotional, yet again, while mentioning the Sandy Hook massacre. "Everytime I think about those kids it gets me mad", he said. The president's Executive Order, which will include mandatory background checks, will be 21st century proof, according to President Obama. "We're going to bring an outdated background check system in to the 21st century", he said. The president's Executive Order, which bypassed Congress, have people talking --   including Congress . The owner of a Colonial Heights, Virginia gun shop, Dance's Sporting Goods, said his business has been very good since the president's action.   His customers, who fear they will not be able to own guns and fear the Second Ame...

We've all heard the statistics: Chicago is one of the most deadly U.S. cities.  Eighty-two people were killed in a single July 4th weekend - two weekends ago. Again, 82 people murdered , including children and the elderly. We all watched when the president cried on national TV when just 20 kids at Sandy hook ES where shot and killed by a single individual, Adam Lanza.   The president even remarked at a memorial service. We watched when Obama remarked  on the killing in an Aurora movie theatre that saw James Holmes shoot, and kill, 12 people. The president has tried to increase restrictions on gun ownership, pushing for more background checks and psychiatric testing before Americans can purchase a gun, at the resistance of Congress. Fed up with the politics, and feeling ignored, Chicagoans took to the streets in protest last Friday. Reports indicate that American citizens staged a march and protest outside of the Chicago police department demandin...

In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre anniversary, and several other incidents of gun violence where suspected perpetrators may have had mental issues, the Obama administration is investing more funding  to ensure those with mental health issues can get the necessary help they may need.   Today, the White House and Vice President Biden announced that $100 million will soon be available to increase access to mental health services and improve mental health facilities.   “The fact that less than half of children and adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need is unacceptable.  The President and I have made it a priority to do everything we can to make it easier to access mental health services, and today’s announcements by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture build on that commitment,” said Vice President Biden.   Over the past several years, the Administration ha...

  Today, the Obama administration announced two new common-sense executive actions to keep the most dangerous firearms out of the wrong hands and ban almost all re-imports of military surplus firearms to private entities. These executive actions build on the 23 executive actions that the Vice President recommended as part of the comprehensive gun violence reduction plan and the President unveiled on January 16, 2013.   As Congress fails to act on common-sense proposals, like expanding criminal background checks and making gun trafficking a federal crime, the President and Vice President remain committed to using all the tools in their power to make progress toward reducing gun violence.  Tea Party member stands on busy overpass strapped with assault weapon.     Building on the 23 Executive Actions the President and Vice President Unveiled Last January ·          Last December, the President asked the Vice Presi...

  First Lady Michelle Obama talks with students from William R. Harper High School in Chicago, Ill., in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, June 5, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) LINK   In April, the First Lady addressed a joint luncheon in Chicago, IL hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Mrs. Obama urges Chicago’s business and civic leaders to invest in expanded opportunities for young people in neighborhoods throughout the city. Following the event, the First Lady met with a small group of students and counselors at William R. Harper High School to hear firsthand about their experiences. After extending an invitation to the students, the First Lady met with them at the White House.   At the time of her speech in April, Harper High School, a Chicago public school, was profoundly affected by gun violence including 29 current or former students who were shot in the past year; 8 of them died.   Video from the First Lady’s...

President Obama told the city of Boston, "You will run again".   Attending today's Interfaith service honoring the victims of this week's Boston marathon bombing that killed three people and injuring dozens of others, the president speaking at the Cathedral of Holy Cross said, "We will finish this race". The ceremony's theme is 'Healing Our City'.   [View the Healing Our City program here ]. The president also reaffirmed that those responsible will be brought to justice. "Bet on it", he said to the generous applause of those in attendance. Joining the president on the trip to Boston were First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator William “Mo” Cowan, Representative Michael Capuano, Representative Stephen Lynch, Representative Bill Keating, Representative John Tierney, Representative Richard Neal and Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late senator Ted Kennedy. No suspects have yet been found in the bombing that left m...