We wanted to tell you about a new feature on Change.gov which lets you bring your ideas directly to the President.

It’s called the Citizen’s Briefing Book, and it’s an online forum where you can share your ideas, and rate or offer comments on the ideas of others.

The best-rated ones will rise to the top, and after the Inauguration, we’ll print them out and gather them into a binder like the ones the President receives every day from experts and advisors. If you participate, your idea could be included in the Citizen’s Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama.

Visit the Citizen’s Briefing Book now and share your ideas:

Throughout this Transition, a truly inspiring number of citizens have gotten involved. We hope that you remain involved through the Inauguration and beyond.

Thank you,

Valerie

Valerie Jarrett
Co-Chair
Obama-Biden Transition Project

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Last Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama gave a major speech outlining his plan for getting us out of this economic slump we’re in, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. It’s a far-reaching and aggressive plan, and we think it’s what the economy needs to get going again.

But it’s going to take a lot of work to get the plan approved, and your involvement is essential. That’s why we asked some of the leading members of the Transition’s policy teams to sit down and talk a bit about it — why it’s necessary, how it will work, and how we’ll make sure it’s as efficient and effective as it is bold.

We compiled their responses into a short video, touching on each of the major elements of the plan. Watch the video now at http://change.gov/plan:

Watch the video

Some parts of the plan might already be familiar to you. The plans for rebuilding infrastructure, expanding renewable energy capacity, and overhauling health care and education all build upon promises that President-elect Obama made during the campaign.

We’re committed to keeping those promises — and now, given the challenges we face, they’re more important than ever.

We’re counting on your help and your support.

Thanks,

John

John D. Podesta
Co-Chair
Obama-Biden Transition Project

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We recently launched a new feature on Change.gov called Open for Questions. Thousands of you responded, asking 10,000 questions and voting nearly a million times on questions from others.

Now that we’ve answered some of the most popular ones from the last round, we are open for questions again. Ask whatever you like, and vote up or down on the other questions to let us know which ones you most want the Transition to answer.

Get started now at http://change.gov/openforquestions.

We’re looking forward to learning about what you want to know.

Thanks,

John

John D. Podesta
Co-Chair
Obama-Biden Transition Project

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In a week when unemployment numbers soared to near-record highs, President-elect Barack Obama’s weekly address focused on crafting solutions that will help hard-working American families and struggling homeowners during this economic crisis.

To put our country and our economy back on track, it will take every part of the Obama-Biden Administration working together to bring about the change Americans need.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is crucial to that effort. That’s why President-elect Obama has selected Shaun Donovan, a widely respected Housing Commissioner from New York City, to lead this vital agency.

The Housing and Urban Development Secretary must bring a bold, innovative, and efficient approach to the position. Mr. Donovan will reinvigorate HUD with the fresh thinking necessary to protect thousands of American homes threatened by the current financial crisis.

Thank you,

John

John D. Podesta
Co-chair
The Obama-Biden Transition Project

[tag]obama transition update,hud,housing and urban development[/tag]

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Everyday, we meet with organizations that present ideas for the Transition and the incoming Obama-Biden Administration. In past transitions, meetings like this have been held behind closed doors.

Not anymore. Today, every Obama Biden Transition staff member received a memo outlining the “Seat at the Table” Transparency Policy. I’ve included a copy of it below.

The policy is pretty simple: the people and groups we’re meeting with, the subjects of the meetings, and any documents shared in the meetings will now be made available on Change.gov. Most importantly, the American public can weigh in with comments or their own materials.

This is our latest step toward a more transparent and accessible Transition. We look forward to benefitting from the many more voices that will now be a part of the decision-making process.

Thank you,

John

John D. Podesta
Co-chair
The Obama-Biden Transition Project

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