Remaining Accomplishments for President Obama in 2016

[Frodo]

With his term drawing to a close, what future accomplishments can President Obama enact (with Congress) in his final full year in office?

I'm thinking sentencing reform, and perhaps a renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

It is a safe bet by this stage that there is no way the Trans-Pacific Partnership will be ratified by Congress in its present form.  

[publicunofficial]

A focus on sentencing/prison reform would be nice. I suspect that's a cause that Obama will especially be vocal for post-presidency.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

He's still gunning for the closure of Guantanamo, and part of the reason he vetoed NDAA 2016 was because it restricted his ability to do so.


While no big overhaul of taxes is likely with divided government, some proposals of his from SOTU might get through: raising the child tax credit, the second earner credit, eliminating the current tax treatment of student loan forgiveness, and expanding the EITC.


Once the window for pubic review of the TPP closes in January or February (?), Congress might take it up and pass it, though most likely they will wait until after the November 2016 elections to pass it during lame duck and not have to worry about the elections.


He said he'll sign the America Gives More Act of 2015 if Congress resubmits it with budget offsets.


That's really all I can think of in terms of specific legislation. Mostly he'll be focusing on making sure that Hillary, not Trump, is his successor. Continuing to bomb ISIS will also be a priority, as will making sure the economy weathers an increasingly choppy outlook for 2016.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

What all Presidents due when their time is running out.......legacy building.

[Orser67]

I think it's much more likely that the TPP passes than that a new Voting Rights Act coverage formula passes. TPP passage is more unlikely than not, but it's still possible, especially if it looks likely that a protectionist will win the White House in 2016.

But the big ones are legal battles over global warming and immigration, as well as Obama's international efforts with regards to global warming. Also criminal justice reform, though that's more up to Congress.