I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.
Barack ObamaUnder my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocketโฆ Because Iโm capping greenhouse gasses, coal power plants, natural gasโฆyou name itโฆwhatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retro-fit their operations. That will cost moneyโฆthey will pass that money on to the consumers.
Barack ObamaWe have not confronted forcefully enough the intolerance, sectarianism, and hopelessness that feeds violent extremism in too many parts of the globe.
Barack ObamaThe federal government and our democracy is not a speedboat. It's an oceanliner, as I discovered when I came into office. It took a lot of really hard work for us to make significant policy changes, even in our first two years, when we had larger majorities than Mr. Trump will enjoy when he comes into office.
Barack ObamaInstead of giving in to cynicism and division, let's move forward with the confidence and optimism and unity that define us as a people.
Barack Obama