#BigBlockofCheeseDay: Jobs, the Gender Pay Gap, Family Leave, and More

If you love cheese and you love politics, today is your day on Twitter. OK, fine, the cheese part is just a fun historical reference, wrapped up in a hashtag; Big Block of Cheese Day, first coined on the show The West Wing, dates back to an open house held by President Andrew Jackson in 1837. The reception was Jackson’s last in office, and featured a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese and 10,000 guests from the general public. Today, of course, we don’t need fromage and an open door to speak to our government directly – we just need Twitter. For the third year in a row, advisors like Vice President Biden and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez took to Twitter to answer the public’s questions.

(Photo via The White House on Twitter)

The full lineup is here at the White House’s blog; questions and answers can be found on Twitter at #BigBlockOfCheeseDay. Fair warning, however: some people did not exactly understand the concept, so there’s a fair amount of general enthusiasm for dairy products, as well as burning questions about the direction of the nation.

Here are a few of the more relevant Q&A’s, unrelated to cheese and cheese products:

Job growth is fastest since 1990s, but steps like more infrastructure invest would add more #BigBlockOfCheeseDay https://t.co/6W3VXqGdXE

— Jason Furman (@CEAChair) January 13, 2016

.@ViolettaGolding, to start Congress can pass Paycheck Fairness Act & ensure parents have paid family & sick leave. #AskTheWH

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) January 13, 2016

For electricity, coal, natural gas and nuclear today, with #wind & #solar growing the fastest. #BigBlockOfCheeseDay https://t.co/VpPSoAFqdx

— Ernest Moniz (@ErnestMoniz) January 13, 2016

Talk to the women who work @EPA. They’re 40% of our scientists & engineers. #BigBlockOfCheeseDay https://t.co/3HUOwi43Cb

— Gina McCarthy (@GinaEPA) January 13, 2016

Helping ensure college affordability is a top priority. Important to know about options for income-based repayment. https://t.co/NNmrwQFD7f

— John King (@JohnKingatED) January 13, 2016

Check out our new REPAYE options we announced last year. https://t.co/aV5B2KiO7x #BigBlockOfCheeseDay

— John King (@JohnKingatED) January 13, 2016

Smart land use, mass transit commuter rail, walking, bikes and, of course, cleaner cars. All of the above. https://t.co/4hfXDcdmfK

— Anthony Foxx (@SecretaryFoxx) January 13, 2016

Americans shouldn’t have to win the geographic lottery for fair paycheck. Need to #RaiseTheWage #BigBlockOfCheeseDay https://t.co/WWHWdeSSyY

— Tom Perez (@LaborSec) January 13, 2016

Really important. Paid leave, flexible workplaces, affordable childcare, preschool for all. #BigBlockOfCheeseDay https://t.co/OOJDXCcqF2

— Jason Furman (@CEAChair) January 13, 2016

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