Director of Domestic Policy Melody Barnes to Leave Obama Administration

Melody Barnes, who has worked with President Obama on domestic policy since the 2008 campaign, will resign from her post at the White House at the end of the year.

The White House has told several news outlets that Barnes wants to spend more time with her family and work in the private sector. Colleagues expressed surprise at her departure.

Politico reports that Barnes’s contributions include,

Historic investments in education reform, including $100 billion in Recovery Act dollars; the Race to the Top Challenge … Dramatic efforts to reduce higher education costs, by ending subsidies for private student lenders and giving $40 billion in savings back to students, raising the maximum Pell award to $5,550 …

Implementing the Affordable Care Act that will provide health coverage to 34 million uninsured Americans, and make health care more affordable for everyone. … Advocating comprehensive immigration reform, and reforming enforcement to focus on securing the border, holding employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers accountable.

Barnes said, in a statement, that she looked forward to being away from the 24/7 schedule the position of Director of Domestic Policy required of her and that she will support the President in his bid for reelection.

Melody Barnes leaving White House [Politico]

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66458_Page2.html#ixzz1bLQyHIKC