Biden to tackle working families agenda

We saw glimpses of President-elect Barack Obama's interest in issues surrounding working families and work life concerns, and now just 30 days prior to the inauguration – more details.

Sunday, the Obama transition team announced the new "White House Task Force on Working Families"through a press release which defined this new entity as a major initiative toward, "raising the living standards of the middle-class, working families in America." President-elect Obama has tapped Vice President-elect Joe Biden to chair the task force. 

The announcement coincided with Joe Biden's appearance on ABC's "This Week" for his first sit-down interview since election day. Biden told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the welfare of the middle class would be the yardstick of economic success for the administration.  "We'll look at everything from college affordability to after-school programs, the things that affect people's daily lives. I will be the guy honchoing that policy," said Biden.

Among Obama's task force goals are expanding education, restoring labor standards, protecting middle-class incomes, protecting retirement security and improving work and family balance. The Obama team said it would champion these goals in a number of ways including proposing executive orders, and developing legislative and public policy initiatives. The task force will issue annual reports that would be available on-line to the public.