Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Selfies still allowed as Obama poses with Biden
President Obama may not be posing for selfies with any more sports stars, but snapping photos with his second-in-command is a different story. Published April 17, 2014
Obama unveils new $600 billion jobs initiative
President Obama on Wednesday launched a new $600 million job-training initiative, but Republicans wasted little time in arguing they have a better approach to preparing American's future workers. Published April 16, 2014
Biden to lead $600 million work force training effort
President Obama on Wednesday tasked Vice President Joseph R. Biden with leading a new $600 million White House job training program. The duo will officially announce the initiative during a speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Published April 16, 2014
Separation of church and Obama: Religious ties may run deep, but president’s attendance has not
From working with churches in Chicago to enlisting religious leaders to help push immigration reform, President Obama's ties to religious communities run deep, but analysts say he's opened himself up to continued criticism by failing to find his own church after five years in Washington. Published April 15, 2014
Obamas paid $98K in taxes in 2013, White House says
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama paid $98,169 in federal taxes on an income of $481,098 in 2013, the White House said Friday. Published April 11, 2014
Obama calls principal of Pa. high school devastated by stabbings
The White House said Mr. Obama phoned principal Ron Suvak "to express his deepest sympathies for the senseless act that took place on campus yesterday," and also expressed gratitude for the "heroic actions by students, faculty and staff." Published April 10, 2014
Democrats press Obama for Keystone pipeline decision
Nearly a dozen Democratic senators on Thursday pleaded with President Obama to make a decision on the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline by the end of next month. Published April 10, 2014
At Fort Hood memorial, Obama calls for renewed focus on mental health, gun control
President Obama said Wednesday the lives lost at Fort Hood last week must serve as a call to action on mental illness for both the military and the nation as a whole. Published April 9, 2014
Obama to headline Rev. Al Sharpton’s conference
The president will address the National Action Network convention in New York City, and the White House said Wednesday that recent news about Mr. Sharpton's role in providing the federal government with key information about top organized crime families hasn't caused them to rethink Mr. Obama's involvement. Published April 9, 2014
Obama’s tricky balancing act — fundraising and governing
The past week has seen President Obama attempt to pull off a tough balancing act — being the nation's comforter in chief and also his party's most productive cash cow. Published April 8, 2014
On equal pay for women, Obama challenges GOP to ‘join us in this, the 21st century’
President Obama's unilateral move Tuesday to try to close the pay gap between the sexes will force federal contractors to tell the government what their employees earn. Published April 8, 2014
Obama touts $107M high school career connection program
President Obama on Monday opened up taxpayers' checkbook for education and continued a hallmark of his presidency — working around Congress to dole out billions of dollars in grants to individual states and districts, as long as they enact the kinds of changes the administration wants to see. Published April 7, 2014
Obama: Maryland ‘did the right thing’ by raising minimum wage
President Obama on Monday praised the Maryland legislature for voting to raise the state's minimum wage to $10.10 and said the example should be followed nationwide. Published April 7, 2014
Obama to give $7 million grant to Bladensburg High School
President Obama announced Monday a $7 million grant to Bladensburg High School, part of a larger effort by the administration to help U.S. students catch up with the rest of the world in college and career training. Published April 7, 2014
House Republicans to push gas exports
House Republicans will move forward this week with legislation to expedite exports of American natural gas, which supporters argue will help Europe and Ukraine break their dependence on Russian fuel and cut Moscow's influence in the region. Published April 6, 2014
White House vs. Samsung: Obama adviser says they’ve had ‘conversations’ with firm over Ortiz photo
The White House has had "conversations" with Samsung after the company's new social media insider, Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, snapped a selfie with President Obama last week. Published April 6, 2014
Obama, first lady to attend Fort Hood memorial service
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will attend a memorial service Wednesday for the victims of the recent shooting at Fort Hood. Published April 6, 2014
Fort Hood rampage puts focus on mental health problems for military veterans
As more details come to light surrounding Spc. Ivan Lopez's state of mind before he fired on fellow service members at Fort Hood last week, the clearer it becomes, lawmakers and military leaders say, that the mental health of returning veterans no longer can be relegated to the back burner. Published April 6, 2014
Sen. McCaskill: ‘Moment of truth’ for General Motors
With public fury growing over General Motors' handling of faulty ignition switches in some of its vehicles, Sen. Claire McCaskill said Sunday the auto giant now faces a "real moment of truth" and must make restitution to the families of those killed by the defects. Published April 6, 2014
Former CIA chief: Freeing convicted Israeli spy Pollard would be ‘act of desperation’
With Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on the brink, the Obama administration reportedly is considering the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard as a way to keep the two sides at the table, but the former head of the CIA said Sunday such a move would be disastrous. Published April 6, 2014
