Will meet Central American leaders
The White House announces Obama will meet next week with President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, President Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras, and President Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador to discuss the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border. Nearly 60,000 children, most unaccompanied, from Central America have crossed the U.S. border since the beginning of the year.
The four leaders and Vice President Biden will discuss how to reinforce our ongoing collaboration to stem the flow of undocumented migrants from Central America to Mexico and the United States. This will include discussion of how the United States and Central American governments are cooperating to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration between our countries in a spirit of shared responsibility, including with respect to the return of family units, which began this week for all three countries.
New Russia sanctions
Obama announces new sanctions against Russia aiming at banking, energy and defense entities. The new sanctions are mainly a response to the country allowing weapons to cross into Ukraine, as well as other related issues.
I have repeatedly made it clear that Russia must halt the flow of weapons and fighters across the border into Ukraine. I have made this clear directly to [Russian President] Putin.
GOP: No ‘blank check’
Opposing Obama’s request for $3.7 billion dollars to help fix the illegal immigration situation, GOP Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, tells Fox News Sunday:
Our view as House Republicans is that we’re not going to write a blank check.
Republicans are suggesting alternative ways to deal with the immediate issues that are much less expensive. McCaul says his caucus is looking at changing a 2008 law that allows children entering the United States from non-bordering countries to remain in this country. He believes the GOP-led House will pass an alternative border security bill before the end of the month.
We have to act soon. It’s a very tragic human crisis at the border, none like I’ve ever seen before.
Cuts in line at restaurant
After finishing his speech at Paramount theater, Obama visits Franklin Barbecue, a very popular restaurant in the area that usually has a line of customers waiting at the door daily before it opens. Obama cuts to the front of the line to place a takeout order for himself and the party traveling with him. To make up for cutting in the line, Obama buys food for a group of customers. One customer, Bruce Finstad, was in line with his daughter and took the President up on his offer and orders three pounds of beef, two pounds of ribs, a half-pound of sausage and turkey, as well another half-pound each of sausage and turkey for his wife and daughter. Obama responds:
Hold on now. How many folks are you guys feeding? Just kidding.
After first pulling out a wad of $20 bills, Obama pays the $300 tab with a credit card.
Emmy nomination
President Obama and HealthCare.gov receive an Emmy nomination. Obama’s satirical interview with Zach Galifianakis on the web series Between Two Ferns received a nomination in the category of Outstanding Short-Format-Live Action Entertainment. The clip has been viewed over 22 million times, and some credit the spoof interview with boosting the enrollment in the Affordable Care Act through the HealthCare.gov website.
Holds off deporting kids
Obama holds off on seeking legal changes needed to speed the deportation of immigrant children, as he asks Congress for billions in emergency funding for the problem at the US-Mexico border. An administration official tells Fox News they are still seeking the expanded legal authority to expedite the removal process of the immigrants.
We already sent a letter to the Congressional Leadership last week on our desire for expanded authorities and we are still seeking those authorities and have made clear we will work with Congress to get those authorities.
Tops worst president list
A survey released today by Quinnipiac University reveals that a national poll puts Obama as the worst president since World War ll. The survey also indicates that the country would be better off if Mitt Romney had won the 2012 presidential election. Thirty-three percent of people questioned in the poll say that Obama is the worst president since the Second World War, with 28% saying George W. Bush was the worst. Thirteen percent picked Richard Nixon, with 8% naming Jimmy Carter. Assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, Tim Malloy:
Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W. Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel.
Executive actions: ‘sue me’
President Obama dares Republicans to follow through on their threats to bring a lawsuit against his administration over his use of executive action.
Middle-class families can’t wait for Republicans in Congress to do stuff. So sue me. As long as they’re doing nothing, I’m not going to apologize for trying to do something.
Protects transgender federal employees
President Obama is preparing an executive order to ban workplace discrimination against federal employees based on their gender identity. This announcement comes two weeks after Obama signaled plans to sign an executive order barring discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of federal contractors. He has not announced when he will sign these orders.
Going it alone on immigration
President Obama says he will go ahead alone with changes to the immigration system. This announcement is a response to Speaker John Boehner telling him that the House will not vote on the overhaul this year. Obama says:
America cannot wait forever for them to act.
He also says he’s launching a new effort to:
Fix as much of our immigration system as I can, on my own, without Congress.
A senior White House official says Obama will first direct the Homeland Security and Justice departments to “move available and appropriate enforcement resources from our interior to the border.” Additionally, the president has directed a team to “identify additional actions and send recommendations to him by the end of the summer on steps he can take without Congress, but within his existing authorities, to fix as much of our broken immigration system as we can.”
‘Trampling on authority’
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says President Obama is “trampling upon” the constitutional authority granted to Congress. Rep. Bob Goodlatte tells Fox News Sunday that Obama has:
[A pattern of] not enforcing laws, or changing laws that have been passed, taking power from the Legislative Branch.
However, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier defends the president and argues that he has not crossed any constitutional or legal lines:
The president simply said I’m going to do what I can within the confines of the law to make this work. Absolutely, he’s implementing the law … he’s not rewriting it.
$2 billion request for illegals
The White House will ask Congress for $2 billion to help cut back the number of unaccompanied illegal minors entering the US from Central America. The emergency legislation will help to improve security, allow for more immigration judges and assist in expedited removal of those who enter the country illegally. More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended at the southwest border since October, 2013. The majority are from Central American countries like Honduras and Guatemala. Obama warns:
Do not send your children to the borders. If they do make it, they’ll get sent back. More importantly, they may not make it.
Presidential abuse of power suit
Citing alleged abuse of executive power, House Speaker John Boehner announces he will file a lawsuit against Obama. The suit needs formal approval by a group of House leaders. Once that step is complete, the suit is expected to be filed in a few weeks. The plaintiff will be the House of Representatives.
This is not about impeachment — it’s about him faithfully executing the laws of this country. My view is the president has not faithfully executed the laws. What we have seen clearly over the last five years is an effort to erode the power of the Legislative Branch.
Save honey bees plan
The President creates a task force comprised of various agencies to investigate the issue of the rapidly decreasing bee population. The Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Agriculture will lead the effort to determine why honey bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinators are rapidly decreasing in number and investigate ways to boost conservation of these species.
Pollinators contribute more than $24 billion to the United States economy, of which honey bees account for more than $15 billion through their vital role in keeping fruits, nuts, and vegetables in our diets.
Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter
The Medal of Honor is given to Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter by President Obama at The White House. Carpenter was injured by a grenade in Afghanistan in 2010 while he was protecting a fellow Marine during an enemy attack. Carpenter was severely wounded and lost his right eye. Obama has presented the Medal of Honor to 39 members of the armed service over the past six years.