With election near, Obama uses power

Measure to limit colleges recruiting GIS called a ploy, but Bush did it, too.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, flashing his executive power in an election year, on Saturday promoted measures to safeguard veterans and members of the military against unscrupulous college recruiters.

In his weekly Internet and radio address, Obama reiterated a series of measures he announced the day before at Georgia’s Fort Stewart to protect current and former servicemen and women as they seek educational opportunities under the GI Bill.

The White House action, which does not need congressional approval, aims mainly at for-profit colleges that market heavily to military families because of the easy availability of federal money under the GI Bill. Some postsecondary schools try to attract current and former military service members using deceptive military-themed websites, administration officials said.

American aid officials also said Saturday they will restore $147 million to fund development programs for Palestinians after Obama, overriding Congress, ended a six-month funding freeze that shut down the local “Sesame Street” TV program and other projects.

In October, Rep. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, R-fla, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, froze the funding to penalize the Palestinians for their United Nations membership bid in September.

The administration’s move is unusual because, while it can brush aside holds on funding if Congress has already approved the spending, it usually defers to members of key congressional committees. There was no immediate comment from RosLehtinen.

It was the latest of several such moves by Obama to unilaterally make appointments and fund programs blocked by Republican lawmakers. Though Obama while campaigning for office criticized President George W. Bush for making similar use of executive power, he has increasingly turned to the tactic as he highlights his contention that Republicans in Congress have failed to cooperate in solving the nation’s problems.

Republicans have rejected the charge, and in the weekly Republican address Saturday, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Obama has failed to lead the country and put it on a path toward a smaller debt.

“The president is hunkered down in campaign mode and seems intent on dividing Americans for political gain instead of offering credible solutions to our most pressing fiscal and economic challenges,” Ryan said.

DAVID GOLDMAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS Soldiers salute President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at Fort Stewart Friday. He clamped down on college recruiting, but critics say it’s a political tactic.