Today in Washington (April 29, 2009)

Obama administration marks 100 days
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday marked his 100th day in office, enjoying the best presidential approval rating at this point in 20 years.
The president, who inherited a troubled economy, two wars and a range of other domestic and international challenges, received a 69 percent approval rating, by a poll conducted on 21-24 April by ABC News and the Washington Post.
However, the nations first black president, who ran his campaign on a slogan of change, faces a partisan divide, as only 36 percent of Republicans polled approved of his activities.
On Monday, White House spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, gave the president a B-plus grade, telling reporters: I think theres always room for improvement.
US senators unveil Iran sanctions bill
A bipartisan coalition of 25 US Senators on Tuesday introduced legislation giving President Barack Obama unprecedented authority to impose sanctions against foreign firms that export gasoline to Iran.
In a statement, Republican Senator Jon Kyl said: This bill gives the president the express authority to target the [Iranian] regimes Achilles heel.
Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, one of the bills co-sponsors, said: By empowering the president in this way, we make it more likely engagement with the Iranians will succeed, and they will peacefully abandon their nuclear ambitions.
While Iran is the worlds fourth-largest oil producer, a lack of refinery capacity forces the county to import about 40 percent of its gasoline.
First lady among those to unveil statue of abolitionist
First lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Tuesday, helped to unveil a bust of abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the US Capitol the first black woman to be so honored at the building.
Truth, a former slave, was an early crusader for womens right to vote and for an end to slavery.
At a ceremony at the Capitol Visitor Center, Mrs. Obama said: I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the first lady of the United States of America.
The statue will remain on permanent display in the centers main hall, called Emancipation Hall in part because slaves helped build the Capitol.

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