West Wing Week: 03/08/13 or “Jedi Mind-Meld”

This week, the President urged Congress to resolve harmful budget cuts and reduce the deficit in a way that helps grow the economy and strengthen the middle class, held his first Cabinet meeting of the second term, announced three key Cabinet nominations, and signed the Violence Against Women Act. 

Friday, March 1^st

• The President answered questions from White House reporters about his plans to move the country forward in light of the harmful automatic budget cuts — known as the sequester — that threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs, and cut vital services, that are taking place because Republicans in Congress refuse to close loopholes that only benefit the wealthy and the well-connected.

Monday, March 4^th

• The President announced his nominees to lead the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Management and Budget.
• The President convened the 17th meeting with his Cabinet- the first of his second term, to discuss how each agency would address the sequester and its impact on American families.

Tuesday, March 5^th

• The President spent some time with the staff of the Office of Management and Budget, reflecting on the importance of the work they're doing in light of the sequester.

Thursday, March 7^th

• The President and Vice President traveled to the Department of the Interior for the signing of the Violence Against Women Act, which continues to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to crimes against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking.