Could anyone here list any specific accomplishments Obama has made?

[pathansen]

I know he's an incredible inspirational speaker but am looking for more substance before I vote for him.
I just don't feel I know him very well.

[Kittycat]

1. Have you bothered to check Wikipedia, before coming to a very divided debate forum?

He has a long list, I suggest you do your own research.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. As the head of Project Vote in Chicago, he registered 150000 voters

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/

[Breeze54]

3. He introduced 113 bills in the Senate

1. S.CON.RES.5 : A concurrent resolution honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry and the first and only African-American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/31/2007) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 1/31/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2. S.CON.RES.25 : A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2007 Held at the desk.

3. S.CON.RES.44 : A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued honoring Rosa Louise McCauley Parks.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/12/2007) Cosponsors (22)
Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/19/2007 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security.

4. S.CON.RES.46 : A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/17/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 9/17/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

5. S.RES.133 : A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/28/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 3/28/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

6. S.RES.268 : A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as "National Summer Learning Day".
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

7. S.RES.383 : A resolution honoring and recognizing the achievements of Carl Stokes, the first African-American mayor of a major American city, in the 40th year since his election as Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 11/15/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

8. S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 11/1/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 11/1/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

9. S.114 : A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

10. S.115 : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

11. S.116 : A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

12. S.117 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

13. S.133 : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

14. S.433 : A bill to state United States policy for Iraq, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/30/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

15. S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/31/2007) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Senate Reports: 110-191
Latest Major Action: 10/4/2007 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 411.

16. S.674 : A bill to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 2/16/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

17. S.692 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 2/27/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

18. S.713 : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 2/28/2007) Cosponsors (34)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/28/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

19. S.737 : A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 in order to measure, compare, and improve the quality of voter access to polls and voter services in the administration of Federal elections in the States.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/1/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Rules and Administration
Latest Major Action: 3/1/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

20. S.767 : A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/6/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

21. S.768 : A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/6/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

22. S.795 : A bill to assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/7/2007) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

23. S.823 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/8/2007) Cosponsors (18)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 3/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

24. S.906 : A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/15/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

25. S.976 : A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/23/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

26. S.1067 : A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

27. S.1068 : A bill to promote healthy communities.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/29/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

28. S.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/10/2007) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/10/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

29. S.1151 : A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/18/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 4/18/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

30. S.1181 : A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/20/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/20/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

31. S.1222 : A bill to stop mortgage transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, abuse, and under-development, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/25/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

32. S.1271 : A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/2/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/2/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

33. S.1306 : A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned hazardous substances.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/3/2007) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 5/3/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

34. S.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/7/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 5/7/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

35. S.1389 : A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/14/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 5/14/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

36. S.1430 : A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/17/2007) Cosponsors (23)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/17/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

37. S.1513 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grant programs to enhance the access of low-income African-American students to higher education.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/24/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 5/24/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

38. S.1574 : A bill to establish Teaching Residency Programs for preparation and induction of teachers.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/7/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 6/7/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

39. S.1713 : A bill to provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Rosa Parks.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/27/2007) Cosponsors (27)
Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2007 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security.

40. S.1790 : A bill to make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/16/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

41. S.1811 : A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to assess and reduce the levels of lead found in child-occupied facilities in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/18/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 7/18/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

42. S.1817 : A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/19/2007) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

43. S.1818 : A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/19/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

44. S.1824 : A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under the Medicare program to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/19/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

45. S.1873 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish demonstration programs on regionalized systems for emergency care, to support emergency medicine research, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/25/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 7/25/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

46. S.1885 : A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/26/2007) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 7/26/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

47. S.1977 : A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 8/2/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

48. S.1989 : A bill to provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

49. S.2030 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/6/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Rules and Administration
Latest Major Action: 9/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

50. S.2044 : A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/12/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 9/12/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

51. S.2066 : A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/18/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

52. S.2111 : A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/27/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

53. S.2132 : A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children's products that contain lead, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/3/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 10/3/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

54. S.2147 : A bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/4/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 10/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

55. S.2202 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the renewable content of gasoline, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/18/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 10/18/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

56. S.2224 : A bill to require a licensee to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of radioactive substances.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/24/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 10/24/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

57. S.2227 : A bill to provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, to develop and implement effective middle school models for struggling students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/24/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 10/24/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

58. S.2330 : A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 11/8/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

59. S.2347 : A bill to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 11/13/2007) Cosponsors (30)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 11/13/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

60. S.2392 : A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 11/16/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 11/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

61. S.2428 : A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 12/6/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 12/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

62. S.2433 : A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 12/7/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 12/7/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

63. S.2519 : A bill to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 12/19/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/19/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

64. S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/11/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 1/18/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 41 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

65. S.AMDT.55 to S.1 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/12/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 1/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted

66. S.AMDT.58 to S.1 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/12/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 1/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted

67. S.AMDT.188 to H.R.2 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/24/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 1/24/2007 Senate amendment submitted

68. S.AMDT.338 to S.4 To require consideration of high-risk qualifying criteria in allocating funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/5/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Motion to table amendment SA 338 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58 - 41. Record Vote Number: 62.

69. S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/21/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 524 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

70. S.AMDT.586 to S.CON.RES.21 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/22/2007) Cosponsors (6)
Latest Major Action: 3/22/2007 Senate amendment submitted

71. S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/22/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 599 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

72. S.AMDT.664 to H.R.1591 To appropriate an additional $58,000,000 for Defense Health Program for additional mental health and related personnel, an additional $10,000,000 for operation and maintenance for each of the military departments for improved physical disability evaluations of members of the Armed Forces, and an additional $15,000,000 for Defense Health Program for women's mental health services.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/27/2007) Cosponsors (12)
Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Proposed amendment SA 664 withdrawn in Senate.

73. S.AMDT.684 to H.R.1591 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/27/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Latest Major Action: 3/27/2007 Senate amendment submitted

74. S.AMDT.809 to H.R.1591 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/28/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 3/28/2007 Senate amendment submitted

75. S.AMDT.810 to H.R.1591 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 3/28/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 3/28/2007 Senate amendment submitted

76. S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/23/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 905 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

77. S.AMDT.907 to S.761 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/23/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2007 Senate amendment submitted

78. S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/24/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 923 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

79. S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 4/24/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 924 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

80. S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/3/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1041 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

81. S.AMDT.1045 to S.1082 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/7/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 5/7/2007 Senate amendment submitted

82. S.AMDT.1130 to H.R.1495 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/15/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 5/15/2007 Senate amendment submitted

83. S.AMDT.1185 to S.1348 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/23/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 5/23/2007 Senate amendment submitted

84. S.AMDT.1202 to S.1348 To provide a date on which the authority of the section relating to the increasing of American competitiveness through a merit-based evaluation system for immigrants shall be terminated.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/24/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 6/6/2007 Senate amendment not agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1202 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 55. Record Vote Number: 200.

85. S.AMDT.1243 to S.1348 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 5/24/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 5/24/2007 Senate amendment submitted

86. S.AMDT.1444 to S.1348 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/6/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 6/6/2007 Senate amendment submitted

87. S.AMDT.1558 to H.R.6 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/13/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/13/2007 Senate amendment submitted

88. S.AMDT.1579 to H.R.6 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/14/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/14/2007 Senate amendment submitted

89. S.AMDT.1735 to H.R.6 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/20/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/20/2007 Senate amendment submitted

90. S.AMDT.1840 to H.R.6 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 6/21/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/21/2007 Senate amendment submitted

91. S.AMDT.2084 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/11/2007 Senate amendment submitted

92. S.AMDT.2085 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/11/2007 Senate amendment submitted

93. S.AMDT.2086 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (12)
Latest Major Action: 7/11/2007 Senate amendment submitted

94. S.AMDT.2104 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 7/11/2007 Senate amendment submitted

95. S.AMDT.2106 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/11/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 7/11/2007 Senate amendment submitted

96. S.AMDT.2149 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/12/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted

97. S.AMDT.2464 to H.R.2638 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/25/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/25/2007 Senate amendment submitted

98. S.AMDT.2473 to H.R.2638 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/25/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 7/25/2007 Senate amendment submitted

99. S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/26/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 7/26/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2519 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

100. S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 7/31/2007) Cosponsors (8)
Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2588 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Items 101 through 113 of 113

101. S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/5/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2658 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

102. S.AMDT.2659 to H.R.2642 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/4/2007 Senate amendment submitted

103. S.AMDT.2690 to H.R.2764 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/6/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/6/2007 Senate amendment submitted

104. S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/6/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 9/6/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2692 as modified agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

105. S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/10/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/11/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2799 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

106. S.AMDT.3004 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/20/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 9/20/2007 Senate amendment submitted

107. S.AMDT.3026 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/24/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2007 Senate amendment submitted

108. S.AMDT.3068 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/26/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 9/26/2007 Senate amendment submitted

109. S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/26/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3073 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

110. S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 9/27/2007) Cosponsors (7)
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3078 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

111. S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/2/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 10/3/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3137 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

112. S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/4/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 10/15/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3234 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

113. S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 10/17/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3331 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

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http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery

[pathansen]

4. Thanks. Do you know if there has been anything for the environment?

That is the area I am most interested in.

[Breeze54]

6. I sped-read the titles and YES... He is defending the envirinment at least 10 times...

Go read what I posted and follow the link.

ALTHOUGH.... Almost ALL Obama's bills were tabled. :(

In other words... NO ACTION!!

His heart was in the right place (as soon as he decided to run for the presidency)

But who knows? :shrug: Isn't that the all time question about him right now?

No one knows.... for shure.

[JVS]

5. He did good work in Illinois before going to the US Senate

[pathansen]

11. Does anyone know of any accomplishments he has made in U.S. Senate?

[JVS]

15. The poster above me answered that.

[FrenchieCat]

7. He fights to good fight, and speaks clearly about the type of judges

he will appoint.....and has fought against some that he didn't want to see happen:


OBAMA wants to appoint judges empathetic to those being Poor, Old, Gay, Women, Disabled
and minorities.

Speaking at the Planned Parenthood conference in DC this afternoon, Barack Obama leveled harsh words at conservative Supreme Court justices, and he offered his own intention to appoint justices with "empathy." Obama hinted that the court's recent decision in Gonzales v. Carhart -- which upheld a ban on partial-birth abortion -- was part of "a concerted effort to steadily roll back" access to abortions. And he ridiculed Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote that case's majority opinion. "Justice Kennedy knows many things," he declared, "but my understanding is that he does not know how to be a doctor."

Obama also won a laugh at the expense of Chief Justice John Roberts, saying that judgments of Roberts' character during his confirmation hearings were largely superficial. "He loves his wife. He's good to his dog," he joked, adding that judicial philosophy should be weighted more seriously than such evaluations. "We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that's the criteria by which I'm going to be selecting my judges."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/17/274143.aspx

--------------------------

Obama opposes Southwick judicial nomination.
WASHINGTON--The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday votes on a very controversial judicial nominee, Leslie Southwick, a former Mississippi state court appeals judge. According to the Alliance for Justice, Southwick is " hostile to worker, consumer and civil rights.''
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/06/obama_to_oppose_southwick_nomi.html

Obama is not scary, just disappointing. Regarding a matter more serious than vegetables -- a judicial confirmation -- he looks like just another liberal on a leash.
<>
Obama, touching all the Democratic nominating electorate's erogenous zones, concocts a tortured statistic about Southwick's "disappointing record on cases involving consumers, employees, racial minorities, women and gays and lesbians. After reviewing his 7,000 opinions, Judge Southwick could not find one case in which he sided with a civil rights plaintiff in a non-unanimous verdict." Surely the pertinent question is whether Southwick sided with the law.

To some of Southwick's opponents, his merits are irrelevant. They simply say that it is unacceptable that only one of the 17 seats on the 5th Circuit is filled with an African American, although 37 percent of Mississippians are black. This "diversity" argument suggests that courts should be considered representative institutions, like legislatures, and that the theory of categorical representation is valid: People of a particular race, ethnicity or gender can only be understood and properly represented by people of the same category.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070813/ai_n19476124

-----------------------


WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama of Illinois met Friday with the head of the U.S. Marshals Service to voice frustration over what they call a lack of progress in establishing new safety measures to protect federal judges.
<>
The Illinois senators expressed their concerns Friday to John Clark, the acting director of the U.S. Marshals Service. Clark, who recently had a meeting in Chicago with Lefkow and more than 20 other judges about security issues, vowed to resolve the matter.

Obama said he and Durbin told Clark to give them "an immediate written update" for how and when the security systems would be installed.

Don Hines, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, said officials would meet with the security company next week. "We expect the installations to begin in the near future," he said.
http://obama.senate.gov/news/051217-senators_press/

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. these are what "he wants" to do...what are his accomplishments?

[FrenchieCat]

8. He fought the Death penalty in Illoinis and got some groundbreaking concessions on the issues....

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (AP) -- Barack Obama can honestly claim to have made a difference on a matter of life and death.

While an Illinois state senator, Obama was key in getting the state's notorious death penalty laws changed, including a requirement that in most cases police interrogations involving capital crimes must be recorded.

The changes enacted in 2003 reformed a system that had sent 13 people to death row, only to have them released because they were later determine to be innocent or had been convicted using improper methods.

"Without Barack's energy, imagination and commitment I do not believe the very substantial and meaningful reforms that became law in Illinois would have taken place," said author Scott Turow, a member of the state commission that recommended many of the changes.

Obama often cites his role in Illinois' death penalty debate as evidence that he can resolve thorny issues through compromise.

"We brought police officers and civil rights advocates together to reform a death penalty system that had sent 13 innocent men to death row," he declare in a recent presidential debate.

Enactment of the 2003 law was a huge political achievement in a state that had been deeply divided over problems with capital punishment.

Obama was at the center of the emotional debate.

Legislators and lobbyists who worked with him describe a lawmaker who was personally involved, refused to abandon some needed changes but also demanded compromises from both law enforcement and death penalty critics.

A proposal to require that police record interrogations of murder suspects was opposed by police, prosecutors and the Democratic governor and considered so touchy it was separated from other legislation. It also was the issue that garnered Obama's special interest.

"I thought the prosecutors and law enforcement would kill it," said Peter Baroni, who was then a Republican aide to the Illinois Senate's judiciary committee. "He (Obama) was the one who kept people at the table."

In the end, police organizations supported the recording mandate, and the measure passed the Senate unanimously.

Illinois' death penalty was an emotional issue in 2003. The courts had released 13 people from death row because evidence had turned up proving their innocence or that their convictions had been tainted.

The previous governor, Republican George Ryan, had halted all executions and commuted the sentences of everyone awaiting execution, giving most of them life in prison.

The families of many murder victims felt betrayed. Police and prosecutors felt their every move was being criticized. Death penalty foes were jubilant but also divided over whether to push for an outright ban.

Lawmakers were looking for way to solve the problems in the law, but also worried being labeled "soft on crime."

For Obama, a student of constitutional law, it was an issue he relished to tackle -- and also one of keen importance to the black voters he would need if he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004.

The idea that people might be executed for crimes they did not commit also enraged him. "At minimum, we should agree that innocent people should not be put to death by the state. At minimum," Obama declared icily during one floor debate.

Obama saw the issue of police interrogations as key.

Among the men released from death row "a consistent pattern was the faulty confession," argued Obama. "It struck me that this was the hardest piece of the puzzle but the one that would ultimately make the most difference and have the most long-lasting effect."

Participants in the negotiations describe Obama as standing firm on some issues, but willing to compromise on others.

They cite his refusal to narrow the law so that only a suspect's confession had to be recorded, insisting that the entire interrogation be put on tape, so a suspect cannot be threatened or beaten off camera.

"That was a first point at which he could have taken the easy route. He said no, we're not doing it that way," recalled Kathryn Saltmarsh, who represented the Illinois Appellate Defender's office in the negotiations.

On other things he was willing to compromise.

He went along with allowing departments to make audio recordings if they couldn't afford video equipment and training, and for a judge to allow an unrecorded statement in some cases -- but then prosecutors would have to prove it had been obtained without coercion.

These exceptions were critical to winning the support of law enforcement, said Laimutis "Limey" Nargelenas, who represented the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in the discussions.

Obama "could have rammed (the legislation) through, but he was willing to work with us," recalls Nargelenas.

"He is just really a good legislator," says State Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who oversaw the broad package of reforms including raising standards for death sentences and making it easier for judges to overturn unfair sentences.

"I don't know if that will get you many votes for president, but he was an excellent negotiator."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/12/obama.death.penalty.ap/

[cali]

9. He wrote, sponsored and got passed the first legislation in the nation

that mandated that police video tape interrogations of felony suspects. That's a big deal. And he did it against strong opposition.

He passed meaningful transparency and ethics legislation in the U.S. Senate.

There's a lot more. We have two accomplished candidates.

[Perry Logan]

10. Thanks for the information. Works much better than bullshit accusations against Hillary.

[Radical Activist]

12. Amazing how quickly this gets many responses compared

to my thread asking what Hillary's greatest accomplishment is. No one has named one yet.

[psychopomp]

13. He has headed up a movement

to bring transparency to American federal politics...and he got your attention!

GObama! :bounce:

[sandnsea]

14. usaspending.gov, Lugar-Obama nonproliferation

Several Katrina bills, Iraq bills on Blackwater corporate corruption, ethics reform, Step Up summer school, mentor programs for women and minorities in the sciences, new funding for traditional black colleges... off the top of my head.