thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--The Oil Execs On Trump’s 'Opening The Country' Council Are Major GOP Donors

Eight fossil fuel executives tapped for a White House task force advising President Donald Trump on how to reopen the U.S. economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic have donated millions to Trump and other Republican campaigns and political committees in recent years .
Earlier this month , the White House named nearly 200 corporate executives and business leaders to its so-called “ Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups ” ― which Trump has called the “ Opening the Country ” council ― in 17 separate areas ranging from agriculture and banking to sports and “ thought leaders.
” “ These bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity , ” Trump said in a statement accompanying the April 14 announcement .
“ The health and wealth of America is the primary goal , and these groups will produce a more independent , self-sufficient , and resilient Nation.
” The 12-member energy panel includes eight oil and gas executives who have collectively made more than $ 4.2 million in political contributions since Trump launched his presidential bid in June 2015 , according to an analysis from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of that total went to Republican candidates and political action committees .
The Trump Victory Committee , a joint fundraising entity of Trump and the Republican National Committee , took in $ 619,400 from the oil and gas representatives on the new council ― more than any other entity .
America First Action , a pro-Trump super PAC , received $ 500,000 , while the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee raked in $ 410,900 and $ 407,400 , respectively .
The energy group includes no one from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump turned to some familiar allies with deep pockets in an industry that he and his team have worked hard to lift up .
The task force includes fracking mogul Harold Hamm , the billionaire executive chairman of Continental Resources whom Trump reportedly considered nominating as energy secretary , and John Hess , the CEO of New York City-based oil and gas producer Hess Corporation who donated $ 1 million to Trump ’ s inauguration .
The other four members of the council ’ s energy panel are Tom Fanning , CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CEO of Alabama Power Company , one of four utilities operated by Southern Company ; Rich Nolan , CEO of the National Mining Association , a mining industry trade group ; and Ross Perot Jr. , chairman of Texas-based real estate development and investment companies The Perot Group and Hillwood .
“ President Trump ’ s policies built a booming economy , and we have been inundated with requests from prominent and successful individuals who share our enthusiasm to see this economy roar once more , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House is appreciative of all those from many different backgrounds , regions , and skillsets who have offered their services for this monumental task.
” Throughout his first term , the Trump administration has cozied up to the fossil fuel industry as it ’ s pursued “ energy dominance , ” an effort that ’ s included rolling back environmental regulations and opening huge swaths of the federal estate to new drilling .
And Trump has vowed to do what he can to help the industry weather the ongoing pandemic , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuels that has hammered domestic producers and last week sent oil prices into negative territory for the first time in history .
“ You ’ ve done a great job , and we ’ ll work this out and we ’ ll get our energy business back , ” Trump said during an April 3 meeting with oil executives at the White House .
“ I ’ m with you 1,000 percent.
” Amid layoffs , bankruptcies and a glut of crude that has rendered oil essentially worthless , Trump is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lifeline .
As part of a future industry bailout , the administration is considering government loans for U.S. drillers , purchasing stakes in U.S. companies and imposing tariffs on imported oil , according to Bloomberg News and other outlets .
Together , executives at seven of the eight companies have donated more than $ 400,000 to Republican committees since Jan. 20 , when the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the U.S. , Documented ’ s analysis found .
And since the start of the new year , they ’ ve spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Eight fossil fuel executives tapped for a White House task force advising President Donald Trump on how to reopen the U.S. economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic have donated millions to Trump and other Republican campaigns and political committees in recent years.
Earlier this month, the White House named nearly 200 corporate executives and business leaders to its so-called “Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups” ― which Trump has called the “Opening the Country” council ― in 17 separate areas ranging from agriculture and banking to sports and “thought leaders.”
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“These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity,” Trump said in a statement accompanying the April 14 announcement. “The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.”
The 12-member energy panel includes eight oil and gas executives who have collectively made more than $4.2 million in political contributions since Trump launched his presidential bid in June 2015, according to an analysis from the watchdog group Documented. The vast majority of that total went to Republican candidates and political action committees.
The Trump Victory Committee, a joint fundraising entity of Trump and the Republican National Committee, took in $619,400 from the oil and gas representatives on the new council ― more than any other entity. America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, received $500,000, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee raked in $410,900 and $407,400, respectively.
The remaining money ― approximately $29,000 of the more than $4.2 million ― went to a handful of Democratic candidates and committees.
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The energy group includes no one from the renewable energy world. Instead, Trump turned to some familiar allies with deep pockets in an industry that he and his team have worked hard to lift up. The task force includes fracking mogul Harold Hamm, the billionaire executive chairman of Continental Resources whom Trump reportedly considered nominating as energy secretary, and John Hess, the CEO of New York City-based oil and gas producer Hess Corporation who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.
Hamm has contributed more than $1.7 million to Republicans since June 2016, including a $500,000 contribution to America First Action in January 2018, Documented’s analysis found. Hess gave approximately $1.7 to Republicans, not including the inauguration contribution.
Continental Resources and Hess Corporation did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment Tuesday.
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting with oil industry CEOs at the White House on April 3. Pool via Getty Images
The other oil and gas representatives on the White House economic council made the following political contributions since June 2016: ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance ($264,580); Chevron Corporation CEO Mike Wirth ($171,307); ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods ($123,556); Valero chairman and CEO Joe Gorder ($98,300); Occidental Petroleum Corporation President and CEO Vicki Hollub ($81,652); and Kinder Morgan, Inc. CEO Steven Kean ($50,550).
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The other four members of the council’s energy panel are Tom Fanning, CEO of utility giant Southern Company; Mark Crosswhite, CEO of Alabama Power Company, one of four utilities operated by Southern Company; Rich Nolan, CEO of the National Mining Association, a mining industry trade group; and Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Texas-based real estate development and investment companies The Perot Group and Hillwood.
The son of the late billionaire business businessman and presidential candidate Ross Perot, Perot Jr. is also a major Republican donor.
“President Trump’s policies built a booming economy, and we have been inundated with requests from prominent and successful individuals who share our enthusiasm to see this economy roar once more,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said via email. “The White House is appreciative of all those from many different backgrounds, regions, and skillsets who have offered their services for this monumental task.”
Deere did not respond to HuffPost’s questions about how individuals were selected for the task force, the group’s operations or its accomplishments to date.
Throughout his first term, the Trump administration has cozied up to the fossil fuel industry as it’s pursued “energy dominance,” an effort that’s included rolling back environmental regulations and opening huge swaths of the federal estate to new drilling. And Trump has vowed to do what he can to help the industry weather the ongoing pandemic, which has caused a steep decline in demand for fossil fuels that has hammered domestic producers and last week sent oil prices into negative territory for the first time in history.
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“You’ve done a great job, and we’ll work this out and we’ll get our energy business back,” Trump said during an April 3 meeting with oil executives at the White House. “I’m with you 1,000 percent.”
Five industry executives present at that meeting ― Wirth, Hollub, Garland, Woods and Hamm ― now sit on the advisory council tasked with helping Trump’s economic recovery efforts.
Amid layoffs, bankruptcies and a glut of crude that has rendered oil essentially worthless, Trump is facing growing calls to throw fossil fuel companies a lifeline. As part of a future industry bailout, the administration is considering government loans for U.S. drillers, purchasing stakes in U.S. companies and imposing tariffs on imported oil, according to Bloomberg News and other outlets.
Yet even as the industry reels from the coronavirus and looks to the federal government to stay afloat, the oil and gas companies represented on Trump’s economic task force continue to spend big money on politicians and federal lobbying.
Together, executives at seven of the eight companies have donated more than $400,000 to Republican committees since Jan. 20, when the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the U.S., Documented’s analysis found. And since the start of the new year, they’ve spent more than $9 million on lobbying.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--The Coronavirus Stimulus Is A Raw Deal For Single Parents

Then there ’ s Isabella Grandbois , 29 , a single mother in Yukon , Oklahoma , who took a job as an Instacart shopper on March 16 , just five days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic .
Right before the crisis hit , she ’ d given up a position in the cannabis industry because her employer expanded its hours well beyond those covered by her son ’ s after-school program .
To continue working , she would have needed to hire a babysitter , which would have left her with just $ 7 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
As a single mom of two myself , whose salary as contingent university faculty is rarely sufficient to pay the monthly bills , I often consider similarly agonizing questions .
When my semester contract ends a few weeks from now , I ’ ll have no guaranteed paycheck .
But former students will still ask me to write letters of recommendation and advise them on graduate school applications .
How can I attend to the needs of these young adults when I ’ m not sure how I am going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , Congress passed a stimulus package intended to help keep the national economy afloat .
But the CARES Act failed to consider the specific needs of a constituency that will take one of the biggest financial hits from the coronavirus pandemic : single parents .
Nor has Congress made any special provision for the many single parents who work on the front lines : in health care , at essential businesses , as domestic workers and more .
Economic stimulus payments , which are still being distributed , gave two-parent families with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least $ 1,200 more than any single-parent household with the same number of children .
And yet dual-parent homes are likely to have more savings , more income and two people to juggle child care and household responsibilities in the months we ’ re likely to all be practicing social distancing .
Single-parent households are , by definition , sustained by just one income .
They typically have fewer resources than two-parent households , not only because single parents tend to earn much lower incomes than their married peers , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solo moms and dads have to take on all the labor of parenting alone .
“ I know that everyone ’ s having a hard time adjusting to what we ’ re being asked to do to get through this .
Still , it ’ s a bit aggravating to see all these parents bragging about the means they ’ ve set up to deal with it , ” she said .
“ There ’ s two of them to help pick up the slack .
All I have is me.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally crafted to favor married couples over single parents .
Ever since President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 , assistance for struggling single parents has plummeted , even as the percentage of children living with one parent has steadily increased and entitlement payments for the elderly , the disabled and the unemployed have continued to rise .
Today , 15 million children under the age of 18 live with a solo mother , while 3 million live with a single father .
All told , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States is currently being raised in a household led by a single adult .
More than half of these families are headed by a parent who works full time , and , contrary to popular assumptions , most do not receive any form of public assistance .
Mireya Salas , who lives in Boulder , Colorado , is another single parent whose daily struggles have been compounded by the pandemic .
The 37-year-old domestic worker and mother of a 9-year-old usually takes home about $ 1,200 a month for housecleaning , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean someone ’ s house was nearly two months ago .
Her rent and other bills are past due , and she has no way to pay them .
Like many single parents who live near the poverty line , Salas shuns “ handouts.
” At the same time , she hasn ’ t been able to find the kind of job that single parents normally get : in the gig economy , retail or the service industry .
“ My mind is spinning and spinning with thoughts about how to make money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salas does not have a computer , so she can ’ t join the legion of parents frantically setting up home offices or updating their LinkedIn profiles .
She can ’ t apply for unemployment assistance and does not even know if she ’ s eligible to do so .
Nor can she access the vast resources available to parents online to raise emergency funds , to entertain their children , or to locate food banks and other sources of support .
Although a stimulus check will undoubtedly help Salas somewhat , Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain single adults face .
At the very least , Congress should provide equal assistance to single- and dual-parent households caring for the same number of children .
They could easily do this by increasing payments to individuals who filed as head of household on their most recent tax return .
( Though not all people who took advantage of this filing status are single moms or dads , all are supporting a qualifying young or needy relative on their own . )
The United States currently has the highest rate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Pew Research Center , 27 % of solo parents live below the poverty line .
The pandemic has made the solo parents I spoke to even more acutely aware of how close they are to losing everything they ’ ve worked so hard to provide .
As Salas told me : “ I ’ ve never been more worried about what the future is going to bring .
”

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This story was supported by the journalism nonprofit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
Even in the best of times, Samantha Coleman, a 36-year-old widowed single mother in Aurora, Colorado, had only pennies left at the end of the month after paying for her mortgage, her young son’s after-school care and her teenage daughter’s art lessons.
As a nurse educator at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, she is now performing a near-impossible juggling act: stressing over her precarious finances, fearing for her own health after spending days in a hospital full of high-risk patients and trying to figure out how to look after her children with schools closed.
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“I keep asking myself: If I were to get sick and not recover, who would take care of my children?” she said. “I don’t know the answer, and that scares me.”
Then there’s Isabella Grandbois, 29, a single mother in Yukon, Oklahoma, who took a job as an Instacart shopper on March 16, just five days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Right before the crisis hit, she’d given up a position in the cannabis industry because her employer expanded its hours well beyond those covered by her son’s after-school program. To continue working, she would have needed to hire a babysitter, which would have left her with just $7 in her pocket at the end of each month.
“I’m getting really freaked out about taking him to the store. But it’s my job. And if I don’t work, we don’t eat.” - Isabella Grandbois
“Besides being broke, I would have gotten home every night after my son was asleep,” she said. “I know some people have to do that to survive, but that’s not the kind of mom I want to be.”
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Searching for a new job and paying regular expenses has depleted Grandbois’ savings. With her 7-year-old’s school shuttered and no money for child care, she has been forced to bring him on many of the grocery store runs she makes daily for people who have the means to shelter at home.
“I’m getting really freaked out about taking him to the store. But it’s my job. And if I don’t work, we don’t eat,” she said. “When I can’t leave him with a neighbor, what other choice do I have?”
As a single mom of two myself, whose salary as contingent university faculty is rarely sufficient to pay the monthly bills, I often consider similarly agonizing questions. When my semester contract ends a few weeks from now, I’ll have no guaranteed paycheck. But former students will still ask me to write letters of recommendation and advise them on graduate school applications. How can I attend to the needs of these young adults when I’m not sure how I am going to feed my own kids?
On March 27, Congress passed a stimulus package intended to help keep the national economy afloat. But the CARES Act failed to consider the specific needs of a constituency that will take one of the biggest financial hits from the coronavirus pandemic: single parents. Nor has Congress made any special provision for the many single parents who work on the front lines: in health care, at essential businesses, as domestic workers and more.
Economic stimulus payments, which are still being distributed, gave two-parent families with annual incomes of up to $150,000 at least $1,200 more than any single-parent household with the same number of children. And yet dual-parent homes are likely to have more savings, more income and two people to juggle child care and household responsibilities in the months we’re likely to all be practicing social distancing.
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“I know that everyone’s having a hard time adjusting to what we’re being asked to do to get through this. Still, it’s a bit aggravating to see all these parents bragging about the means they’ve set up to deal with it.” - Samantha Coleman
Single-parent households are, by definition, sustained by just one income. They typically have fewer resources than two-parent households, not only because single parents tend to earn much lower incomes than their married peers, according to multiple studies, but also because most solo moms and dads have to take on all the labor of parenting alone.
Coleman, who’s new to being a single parent, has felt this most acutely when checking out her Facebook feed, which has recently been dominated by dual-parent families posting their plans for tag-team co-parenting.
“I know that everyone’s having a hard time adjusting to what we’re being asked to do to get through this. Still, it’s a bit aggravating to see all these parents bragging about the means they’ve set up to deal with it,” she said. “There’s two of them to help pick up the slack. All I have is me.”
The stimulus amounts to yet another government policy intentionally crafted to favor married couples over single parents. Ever since President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, assistance for struggling single parents has plummeted, even as the percentage of children living with one parent has steadily increased and entitlement payments for the elderly, the disabled and the unemployed have continued to rise.
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Today, 15 million children under the age of 18 live with a solo mother, while 3 million live with a single father. All told, nearly 1 in 4 children in the United States is currently being raised in a household led by a single adult. More than half of these families are headed by a parent who works full time, and, contrary to popular assumptions, most do not receive any form of public assistance.
The stimulus checks that are being sent to most Americans are higher for two-parent households. Eric Gay/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mireya Salas, who lives in Boulder, Colorado, is another single parent whose daily struggles have been compounded by the pandemic. The 37-year-old domestic worker and mother of a 9-year-old usually takes home about $1,200 a month for housecleaning, but the last time she was asked to clean someone’s house was nearly two months ago. Her rent and other bills are past due, and she has no way to pay them.
“I haven’t been sleeping at all lately,” she said. “I lie in bed worrying about how to get work, how to buy my son the things he needs, how to do something to get money.”
Like many single parents who live near the poverty line, Salas shuns “handouts.” At the same time, she hasn’t been able to find the kind of job that single parents normally get: in the gig economy, retail or the service industry. “My mind is spinning and spinning with thoughts about how to make money right now,” she said.
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Salas does not have a computer, so she can’t join the legion of parents frantically setting up home offices or updating their LinkedIn profiles. She can’t apply for unemployment assistance and does not even know if she’s eligible to do so. Nor can she access the vast resources available to parents online to raise emergency funds, to entertain their children, or to locate food banks and other sources of support.
Although a stimulus check will undoubtedly help Salas somewhat, Congress can do more to recognize the economic strain single adults face. At the very least, Congress should provide equal assistance to single- and dual-parent households caring for the same number of children. They could easily do this by increasing payments to individuals who filed as head of household on their most recent tax return. (Though not all people who took advantage of this filing status are single moms or dads, all are supporting a qualifying young or needy relative on their own.)
The United States currently has the highest rate in the developed world of single-parent families in poverty. According to the Pew Research Center, 27% of solo parents live below the poverty line. The pandemic has made the solo parents I spoke to even more acutely aware of how close they are to losing everything they’ve worked so hard to provide. As Salas told me: “I’ve never been more worried about what the future is going to bring.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--GOP Senator Calls On Elected Officials To 'Lead By Example' And Follow Coronavirus Guidelines

Sen. Thom Tillis called on elected officials to “ lead by example ” and follow coronavirus guidelines in remarks that were made public on Tuesday , the same day that Vice President Mike Pence faced backlash for refusing to wear a mask while visiting a hospital .
“ I ’ m trying to lead by example , do what I ’ m asking others to do .
And I think that ’ s what every , every elected official must do , ” Tillis said of guidelines meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to do is see an elected official who is responsible for imposing a stay-at-home order , or a wear-a-facial-mask order , out in public and not with a mask on.
” The interview was released the same day Pence decided against wearing a face mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic ’ s campus in Minnesota , flouting the organization ’ s mandatory masking policy amid the pandemic .
The vice president defended his choice later during Tuesday ’ s coronavirus briefing .
“ As vice president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus on a regular basis , and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus , ” Pence told White House pool reporters .
“ And since I don ’ t have the coronavirus , I thought it ’ d be a good opportunity for me to be here , to be able to speak to these researchers , these incredible health care personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you.
” A spokesperson for Tillis ’ office did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Pence in his remarks , and if he wanted to say anything now about the vice president ’ s Mayo Clinic visit .
Earlier this month , President Donald Trump announced guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommended people wear cloth face masks while carrying out essential activities in public places where social distancing may be difficult to maintain .
Trump said he did not plan to follow the guidance , saying : “ I just don ’ t see it.
” Tillis stressed in his interview Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially killed by COVID-19 is a nonpartisan issue , and that Democrats and Republicans alike must be doing all that they can to prevent further spread of the virus .
“ You never forget your ideology , but right now so much of what we ’ re dealing with is based on a crisis response where you kind of check your red jersey or your blue jersey at the door , and do what you have to do to solve the problem , ” he said .
On Wednesday , Trump said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing guidelines will be “ fading out ” when they expire Thursday , relying solely on states to take responsibility as they look toward when and how to safely reopen the economy .
The White House said its cautionary guidance issued 45 days ago has been incorporated into recommendations given to states on how they can start gradually easing restrictions .
Many mostly Democratic governors who have coronavirus hotspots in their states are hesitant to immediately reopen the economy , creating phased plans to open up businesses and public spaces while making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving downward .
But some GOP governors are already reopening their states on their own terms , which doesn ’ t always include social distancing requirements .
Tillis himself has evolved when it comes to taking public health precautions seriously .
In 2015 , the then-freshman senator said he believed that restaurant employees should not be required to wash their hands .

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Sen. Thom Tillis called on elected officials to “lead by example” and follow coronavirus guidelines in remarks that were made public on Tuesday, the same day that Vice President Mike Pence faced backlash for refusing to wear a mask while visiting a hospital.
The North Carolina Republican’s comments were part of an interview with Adam Morgan, co-founder of North Carolina-based talent-recruiting company SC, which has created a webinar series about leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“I’m trying to lead by example, do what I’m asking others to do. And I think that’s what every, every elected official must do,” Tillis said of guidelines meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. “The last thing I want to do is see an elected official who is responsible for imposing a stay-at-home order, or a wear-a-facial-mask order, out in public and not with a mask on.”
The interview was released the same day Pence decided against wearing a face mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s campus in Minnesota, flouting the organization’s mandatory masking policy amid the pandemic. The vice president defended his choice later during Tuesday’s coronavirus briefing.
“As vice president of the United States, I’m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” Pence told White House pool reporters. “And since I don’t have the coronavirus, I thought it’d be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you.”
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A spokesperson for Tillis’ office did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on whether the senator was referring to Pence in his remarks, and if he wanted to say anything now about the vice president’s Mayo Clinic visit.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommended people wear cloth face masks while carrying out essential activities in public places where social distancing may be difficult to maintain. Trump said he did not plan to follow the guidance, saying: “I just don’t see it.”
Tillis stressed in his interview Tuesday that protecting Americans from getting infected and potentially killed by COVID-19 is a nonpartisan issue, and that Democrats and Republicans alike must be doing all that they can to prevent further spread of the virus.
“You never forget your ideology, but right now so much of what we’re dealing with is based on a crisis response where you kind of check your red jersey or your blue jersey at the door, and do what you have to do to solve the problem,” he said.
On Wednesday, Trump said that the federal government’s coronavirus social distancing guidelines will be “fading out” when they expire Thursday, relying solely on states to take responsibility as they look toward when and how to safely reopen the economy.
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The White House said its cautionary guidance issued 45 days ago has been incorporated into recommendations given to states on how they can start gradually easing restrictions.
Many mostly Democratic governors who have coronavirus hotspots in their states are hesitant to immediately reopen the economy, creating phased plans to open up businesses and public spaces while making sure the rate of infections and deaths continue moving downward. But some GOP governors are already reopening their states on their own terms, which doesn’t always include social distancing requirements.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--U.S. Postal Service Funding Shortfall Could Derail Vote-By-Mail Efforts During Pandemic

If Congress allows the U.S .
Postal Service to fail ― as President Donald Trump seems willing to do ― the nation ’ s ability to hold free , fair elections would be at risk , as would millions of voters who would be forced to go to the polls during a pandemic if they wanted to exercise their rights .
In the 2016 election , 33 million Americans voted through the mail , using either absentee , military or mail-in ballots .
Every state anticipates a significant increase in mailed ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic , with anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near 100 % replacement of in-person voting .
All of the states rely on the Postal Service to deliver and return those ballots .
But the Postal Service projects that the drop in mail volume due to the pandemic could lead it to run out of funds in late summer or early fall .
The independent agency is asking Congress for $ 75 billion in relief funding to keep it afloat , but faces resistance from Trump .
State election officials ― Republicans and Democrats ― are joining in the call for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to them to vote in the 2020 elections , given new social distancing needs stemming from the COVID-19 crisis .
“ America needs Congress to do its part to ensure the very foundation on which we conduct our elections does not crumble , ” Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos ( D ) said .
Washington state is one of five states that conducts its elections almost entirely through the mail .
If the Postal Service is forced to halt or scale back delivery , it will affect the ability of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same is true of the other vote-by-mail states ― Colorado , Hawaii , Oregon and Utah .
“ The U.S.P.S .
is integral in our success as a country and ensuring everyone has access to our elections in arguably the most anticipated election in over 100 years , ” Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman ( R ) said .
Even if Washington state were able to use a private vendor like UPS or FedEx , many voters would be disenfranchised because they use postal boxes provided by the Postal Service as their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service survived but was forced to cut back service , it could wreak havoc on elections .
The most troubling area would concern voters who request a ballot a week or less before Election Day ( Nov. 3 this year ) .
Service interruptions could delay the delivery of that ballot , possibly causing the voter to not receive it in time .
That would leave some voters being forced to trade their safety to exercise their democratic right to vote by appearing in-person at a time when , as most health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still represent a threat .
The dangers have already been realized in Illinois and Wisconsin , where cases of coronavirus transmission and death have been tied to primaries those states held in March and April , respectively .
Trump , however , looms as the biggest obstacle ― which stems in part from his belief that the Postal Service provides Amazon with an unfair deal on package delivery ( the president blames Amazon-owner Jeff Bezos for the negative coverage he receives from the Bezos-owned Washington Post ) Last Friday , he termed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he has called on it to increase package rates four or five times in order to receive relief funding .
“ But they don ’ t want to raise it because they don ’ t want to insult Amazon , and they don ’ t want to insult other companies , perhaps , that they like , ” he said .

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If Congress allows the U.S. Postal Service to fail ― as President Donald Trump seems willing to do ― the nation’s ability to hold free, fair elections would be at risk, as would millions of voters who would be forced to go to the polls during a pandemic if they wanted to exercise their rights.
In the 2016 election, 33 million Americans voted through the mail, using either absentee, military or mail-in ballots. Every state anticipates a significant increase in mailed ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic, with anywhere from a doubling of vote-by-mail to a near 100% replacement of in-person voting. All of the states rely on the Postal Service to deliver and return those ballots.
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But the Postal Service projects that the drop in mail volume due to the pandemic could lead it to run out of funds in late summer or early fall. The independent agency is asking Congress for $75 billion in relief funding to keep it afloat, but faces resistance from Trump.
State election officials ― Republicans and Democrats ― are joining in the call for the funding to ensure voters have every option available to them to vote in the 2020 elections, given new social distancing needs stemming from the COVID-19 crisis.
“America needs Congress to do its part to ensure the very foundation on which we conduct our elections does not crumble,” Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos (D) said.
Washington state is one of five states that conducts its elections almost entirely through the mail. If the Postal Service is forced to halt or scale back delivery, it will affect the ability of the state to conduct the election. The same is true of the other vote-by-mail states ― Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Utah.
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“The U.S.P.S. is integral in our success as a country and ensuring everyone has access to our elections in arguably the most anticipated election in over 100 years,” Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman (R) said.
A United States Postal worker makes a delivery with gloves and a mask in Warren, Michigan, earlier this month. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Even if Washington state were able to use a private vendor like UPS or FedEx, many voters would be disenfranchised because they use postal boxes provided by the Postal Service as their primary address.
“It would be disastrous,” Wyman said.
Another problem is that private delivery companies operate on a profit-motive and therefore aren’t required to deliver to every conceivable address like the Postal Service.
“There’s no private company that by mandate has to go to every address in the country,” said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union.
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Even if the Postal Service survived but was forced to cut back service, it could wreak havoc on elections. The most troubling area would concern voters who request a ballot a week or less before Election Day (Nov. 3 this year). Service interruptions could delay the delivery of that ballot, possibly causing the voter to not receive it in time.
That would leave some voters being forced to trade their safety to exercise their democratic right to vote by appearing in-person at a time when, as most health experts predict is likely, the pandemic will still represent a threat. The dangers have already been realized in Illinois and Wisconsin, where cases of coronavirus transmission and death have been tied to primaries those states held in March and April, respectively.
“Do we really want people to have to put their health and safety at risk in order to meet what is a constitutional right?” Condos asked.
Legislation to provide the $75 billion in relief funding enjoys bipartisan support in Congress. The request was made by the Postal Service Boards of Governors, a majority of whom are Republicans appointed by Trump.
Trump, however, looms as the biggest obstacle ― which stems in part from his belief that the Postal Service provides Amazon with an unfair deal on package delivery (the president blames Amazon-owner Jeff Bezos for the negative coverage he receives from the Bezos-owned Washington Post)
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Last Friday, he termed the Postal Service “a joke,” and he has called on it to increase package rates four or five times in order to receive relief funding. “But they don’t want to raise it because they don’t want to insult Amazon, and they don’t want to insult other companies, perhaps, that they like,” he said.
Trump has also falsely claimed that mail voting is “horrible” and “corrupt.” (He cast a ballot himself in the March Republican Party presidential primary in Florida by mail.)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Tribes Were Supposed To Get $8 Billion In COVID-19 Aid. They've Gotten $0.

Bill Clark via Getty Images Rep. Deb Haaland ( D-N.M. ) , one of two historic Native American women in Congress , is urging the Treasury Department to hurry up and get emergency COVID-19 relief to tribes .
Tribal governments were supposed to get $ 8 billion in direct emergency relief from the CARES Act , the $ 2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill that became law on March 27 .
Part of the reason is that the Treasury Department , which is charged with distributing that money , has been flailing in its dealings with tribes .
Another reason stems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corporations are entitled to the money .
A federal court on Monday agreed to stop funds from going to those corporations for now , which means Treasury has no reason to not funnel money immediately to the 574 federally recognized tribal governments struggling with the public health and economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic .
“ As you are aware , the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a disproportionate health care and economic impact on federally recognized tribes due a chronic lack of essential resources , ” reads the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Mexico , co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus ; Ruben Gallego of Arizona , chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the U.S. ; Raul Grijalva of Arizona , chair of the House Natural Resources Committee ; and Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico .
“ We respectfully request the Treasury Department immediately begin to disburse the $ 8 billion of Coronavirus Relief Funds to eligible federally recognized tribal governments ... in recognition of the negative impact that every day of delay has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Treasury Department was not returned on why it ’ s taken so long to get this money to tribes and when it expects to distribute it .
Tribal communities are among the most vulnerable to a rapid and devastating spread of the coronavirus .
They face some of the highest rates of health conditions like diabetes , heart disease and asthma , all of which leave them more susceptible to the virus .
They are often in remote parts of the country , where it ’ s tough to quickly disseminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes shared with elderly family members who are particularly at risk .
And the Indian Health Service , which provides health care to nearly 3 million Native Americans , is already notoriously and chronically underfunded .
Put those pieces together and add to the situation that tribal governments still haven ’ t gotten their fair share of federal relief , and it ’ s not hard to imagine how quickly this could become a disaster .
To date , the Indian Health Service has reported more than 3,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases among federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for one , has reported more coronavirus cases per capita than all but two states .
Udall , vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs , said Wednesday that he plans to request oversight hearings on the way the federal government has distributed resources ― or not ― to tribes .
He and other ranking Democrats on Senate committees wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) urging him to focus on taking action on the coronavirus when the Senate comes back in session on May 4 .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business related to the COVID-19 public health and economic emergencies , ” reads their Wednesday letter .
“ We respectfully urge you to have the Senate focus on COVID-19 related matters and oversight of all COVID-related legislation enacted by Congress .
”

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Tribal governments were supposed to get $8 billion in direct emergency relief from the CARES Act, the $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill that became law on March 27.
More than a month later, they haven’t gotten any of it.
Part of the reason is that the Treasury Department, which is charged with distributing that money, has been flailing in its dealings with tribes.
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Another reason stems from a lawsuit over whether Alaska Native Corporations are entitled to the money. A federal court on Monday agreed to stop funds from going to those corporations for now, which means Treasury has no reason to not funnel money immediately to the 574 federally recognized tribal governments struggling with the public health and economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), one of two historic Native American women in Congress, is urging the Treasury Department to hurry up and get emergency COVID-19 relief to tribes. Bill Clark via Getty Images
In a Wednesday letter, House Democrats pressed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to distribute the money now because lives are at stake.
“As you are aware, the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a disproportionate health care and economic impact on federally recognized tribes due a chronic lack of essential resources,” reads the letter signed by Democratic lawmakers including Deb Haaland of New Mexico, co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus; Ruben Gallego of Arizona, chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the U.S.; Raul Grijalva of Arizona, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee; and Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico.
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“We respectfully request the Treasury Department immediately begin to disburse the $8 billion of Coronavirus Relief Funds to eligible federally recognized tribal governments ... in recognition of the negative impact that every day of delay has on Tribes.”
Here’s a copy of their letter:
A request for comment from the Treasury Department was not returned on why it’s taken so long to get this money to tribes and when it expects to distribute it.
Tribal communities are among the most vulnerable to a rapid and devastating spread of the coronavirus. They face some of the highest rates of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and asthma, all of which leave them more susceptible to the virus. They are often in remote parts of the country, where it’s tough to quickly disseminate resources and where families live in small homes shared with elderly family members who are particularly at risk. And the Indian Health Service, which provides health care to nearly 3 million Native Americans, is already notoriously and chronically underfunded.
Put those pieces together and add to the situation that tribal governments still haven’t gotten their fair share of federal relief, and it’s not hard to imagine how quickly this could become a disaster.
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“It is a perfect storm,” Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) told HuffPost in a recent interview.
To date, the Indian Health Service has reported more than 3,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases among federally recognized national tribes. Navajo Nation, for one, has reported more coronavirus cases per capita than all but two states.
Udall, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said Wednesday that he plans to request oversight hearings on the way the federal government has distributed resources ― or not ― to tribes. He and other ranking Democrats on Senate committees wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging him to focus on taking action on the coronavirus when the Senate comes back in session on May 4.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Washington Post Editorial Board Calls On Joe Biden To Address Sexual Assault Allegation

“ Tara Reade deserves to be heard , and voters deserve to hear her .
They deserve to hear from Joe Biden , too , ” The Washington Post ’ s editorial board wrote on Wednesday .
Reade has accused Biden of assaulting her when she worked as his aide in 1993 .
She said then-Sen. Biden shoved her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers .
Several people ― including her brother , a friend and a former co-worker ― have said Reade told them about the incident back in the ’ 90s .
The accusation gained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week of an unnamed woman calling in to a broadcast of CNN ’ s “ Larry King Live ” in 1993 and asking King what she should do for her daughter who had a problem with a “ prominent senator.
” Reade has identified the caller as her mother , who died in 2016 .
“ My daughter has just left there , after working for a prominent senator , and could not get through with her problems at all , and the only thing she could have done was go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it out of respect for him , ” the woman said in the call .
This week , Lynda LaCasse , Reade ’ s former neighbor , came forward to Business Insider to say that Reade discussed the incident with her in the mid- ’ 90s as well .
Biden ’ s campaign has said the incident never happened , and some people in his senatorial office at the time dispute Reade ’ s claim that she reported it .
The Washington Post said the presidential candidate himself should address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have little to say besides what his campaign has already said — that he did not do this , and that this is not something he ever would do , ” the editorial board wrote .
“ Yet the way to signal he takes Ms. Reade ’ s case seriously , and the cases of women like her seriously , is to go before the media and the public ready to listen and to reply.
” Read the full editorial at The Washington Post .

“Tara Reade deserves to be heard, and voters deserve to hear her. They deserve to hear from Joe Biden, too,” The Washington Post’s editorial board wrote on Wednesday.
Reade has accused Biden of assaulting her when she worked as his aide in 1993. She said then-Sen. Biden shoved her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers.
Several people ― including her brother, a friend and a former co-worker ― have said Reade told them about the incident back in the ’90s. The accusation gained even more credibility when a recording surfaced last week of an unnamed woman calling in to a broadcast of CNN’s “Larry King Live” in 1993 and asking King what she should do for her daughter who had a problem with a “prominent senator.” Reade has identified the caller as her mother, who died in 2016.
“My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him,” the woman said in the call.
This week, Lynda LaCasse, Reade’s former neighbor, came forward to Business Insider to say that Reade discussed the incident with her in the mid-’90s as well.
Biden’s campaign has said the incident never happened, and some people in his senatorial office at the time dispute Reade’s claim that she reported it.
The Washington Post said the presidential candidate himself should address the accusation.
“Mr. Biden may have little to say besides what his campaign has already said — that he did not do this, and that this is not something he ever would do,” the editorial board wrote. “Yet the way to signal he takes Ms. Reade’s case seriously, and the cases of women like her seriously, is to go before the media and the public ready to listen and to reply.”
Read the full editorial at The Washington Post.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Democratic Senators Urge Congress To Prioritize Disabled People Amid Outbreak

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and a group of her fellow Senate Democrats wrote to congressional leadership on Wednesday morning to encourage the inclusion of people with disabilities in the next iteration of the coronavirus stimulus package .
Sens .
Bob Casey ( D-Pa. ) , Kirsten Gillibrand ( D-N.Y. ) , Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) , Maggie Hassan ( D-N.H. ) , and Tammy Duckworth ( D-Ill. ) joined Warren in drafting the letter , which calls for significant increases in funding programs to support people with disabilities through the coronavirus crisis .
The CARES Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 27 , allocated funding for people with disabilities , but many in the community said it did not go far enough .
In their letter , the senators propose a $ 50 billion increase in funding for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services ( HCBS ) programs , paid sick leave for people with disabilities and their caregivers , a boost in Medicaid funding , and emergency income relief .
They sent the letter to Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-Calif. ) .
The 61 million people living with disabilities in the United States are twice as likely to experience poverty as their non-disabled counterparts , and , similarly , people experiencing homelessness are also twice as likely to have a disability , thus making this population particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 ― but without the resources in place to get the care they need .
“ This unprecedented public health emergency has exposed the pre-existing scarcity of medical treatment , equipment , and other resources available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ It is essential that Congress use this upcoming package as an opportunity to mitigate these disparities.
” HCBS programs ― including in-home skilled nursing care , physical or occupational therapy , dietary management , special medical equipment , and so on ― are especially important , since nursing homes and other care facilities have become hotbeds for the spread of the virus .
Funding these programs is crucial to ensuring people with disabilities aren ’ t overlooked during the pandemic .
The senators have specified that the $ 50 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for direct support professionals , home health workers , and personal care attendants to recruit , retain and reward them for their critical work.
” ( In-home care providers are notoriously underpaid . )
The senators are also calling for expanded access to personal protective equipment for people with disabilities and their caregivers and health care providers , as well as access to medication and food , and the protection of civil rights for the disabled community ― including a requirement that the CDC make public any information about the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying from COVID-19 .

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and a group of her fellow Senate Democrats wrote to congressional leadership on Wednesday morning to encourage the inclusion of people with disabilities in the next iteration of the coronavirus stimulus package.
Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined Warren in drafting the letter, which calls for significant increases in funding programs to support people with disabilities through the coronavirus crisis. The CARES Act, which President Donald Trump signed on March 27, allocated funding for people with disabilities, but many in the community said it did not go far enough.
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In their letter, the senators propose a $50 billion increase in funding for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs, paid sick leave for people with disabilities and their caregivers, a boost in Medicaid funding, and emergency income relief. They sent the letter to Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The 61 million people living with disabilities in the United States are twice as likely to experience poverty as their non-disabled counterparts, and, similarly, people experiencing homelessness are also twice as likely to have a disability, thus making this population particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 ― but without the resources in place to get the care they need.
“This unprecedented public health emergency has exposed the pre-existing scarcity of medical treatment, equipment, and other resources available to the disability community,” the senators wrote. “It is essential that Congress use this upcoming package as an opportunity to mitigate these disparities.”
HCBS programs ― including in-home skilled nursing care, physical or occupational therapy, dietary management, special medical equipment, and so on ― are especially important, since nursing homes and other care facilities have become hotbeds for the spread of the virus.
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Funding these programs is crucial to ensuring people with disabilities aren’t overlooked during the pandemic. The senators have specified that the $50 billion boost should include “increases in pay for direct support professionals, home health workers, and personal care attendants to recruit, retain and reward them for their critical work.” (In-home care providers are notoriously underpaid.)
The senators are also calling for expanded access to personal protective equipment for people with disabilities and their caregivers and health care providers, as well as access to medication and food, and the protection of civil rights for the disabled community ― including a requirement that the CDC make public any information about the number of people with disabilities being tested, treated and dying from COVID-19.
Sens. Warren and Casey called on Congress earlier this month to protect elderly and disabled COVID-19 patients from health care discrimination.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Court Rules Kansas Can’t Require Voters To Show Proof Of Citizenship

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Salt Lake City upheld a federal judge ’ s injunction nearly two years ago that prohibited Kansas from enforcing the requirement , which took effect in 2013 .
The appeals court , in a ruling that consolidated two appeals , found the statute former Gov .
Sam Brownback signed into law violates the U.S. Constitution ’ s Equal Protection Clause and the National Voter Registration Act , commonly known as the “ motor-voter law.
” The law was championed by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach , who led President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kobach was a leading source for Trump ’ s unsubstantiated claim that millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally may have voted in the 2016 election .
Dale Ho , director of the American Civil Liberties Union ’ s Voting Rights Project , said that the ruling doesn ’ t immediately affect other states because Kansas ’ s law was unique in requiring people to show a physical document such as a birth certificate or passport when applying to register to vote .
However , Ho said the ruling is grounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state significantly burdens the right to vote , it has to justify it .
“ Kansas wasn ’ t able to muster evidence that the law in question here was necessary to prevent voter fraud , and I think that broader principle could have reverberations beyond the specific context of this case in a wide range of disputes over voting access between now and November , ” Ho said .
In reaching the decision , the appeals court noted the “ significant burden quantified by the 31,089 voters who had their registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They said the interests of the secretary of state do “ not justify the burden imposed on the right to vote.
” While the court agreed “ in the abstract ” that Kansas has a legitimate interest in counting only the votes of eligible voters , the court in an 84-page ruling said it did not see any evidence that such an interest made it necessary to burden voters ’ rights in this case .
The judges noted that the district court had found essentially no evidence that the integrity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened , that the registration of ineligible voters had caused voter rolls to be inaccurate , or that voter fraud had occurred .
“ Thus we are left with this incredibly slight evidence that Kansas ’ s interest in counting only the votes of eligible voters is under threat , ” according to the ruling .
“ Indeed , even as to those 39 noncitizens who appear on the Kansas voter rolls , the district court found that ‘ administrative anomalies ’ could account for the presence of many — or perhaps even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges also noted that the district court had found that even under the calculations of the state ’ s experts , the estimated number of suspended applications that belonged to noncitizens was “ statistically indistinguishable from zero.
” Schwab , a Republican who supported the law as a legislator , said in a written statement that his office is reviewing the decision and will confer with the attorney general on how to move forward .
Kobach said he ’ s not surprised by the “ clearly incorrect ” ruling by the appeals court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said the judges disregarded the plain meaning of the voter registration law ’ s text , making the decision the “ essence of judicial activism.
” He urged Schwab to appeal .
“ I think what it tells us is what we have thought for a long time , that we ought to be doing everything we can to encourage voting , ” Kelly said .
“ If we have a problem with voting in the state of Kansas and across the country , it is that not enough people exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any barriers to voting is a good thing .
”

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BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday that Kansas can’t require voters to show proof of citizenship when they register, dealing a blow to efforts by Republicans in several states who have pursued restrictive voting laws as a way of combating voter fraud.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Salt Lake City upheld a federal judge’s injunction nearly two years ago that prohibited Kansas from enforcing the requirement, which took effect in 2013. The appeals court, in a ruling that consolidated two appeals, found the statute former Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as the “motor-voter law.”
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Many experts say voter fraud is extremely rare, and critics contend the Republican-led efforts are actually meant to suppress turnout from groups who tend to back Democrats, including racial minorities and college students.
The law was championed by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who led President Donald Trump’s now-defunct voter fraud commission. Kobach was a leading source for Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally may have voted in the 2016 election.
Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project, said that the ruling doesn’t immediately affect other states because Kansas’s law was unique in requiring people to show a physical document such as a birth certificate or passport when applying to register to vote. However, Ho said the ruling is grounded in a broader constitutional principle that when a state significantly burdens the right to vote, it has to justify it.
“Kansas wasn’t able to muster evidence that the law in question here was necessary to prevent voter fraud, and I think that broader principle could have reverberations beyond the specific context of this case in a wide range of disputes over voting access between now and November,” Ho said.
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The decision is binding in states covered by the 10th Circuit, which also covers Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, plus those portions of the Yellowstone National Park extending into Montana and Idaho.
In reaching the decision, the appeals court noted the “significant burden quantified by the 31,089 voters who had their registration applications cancelled or suspended” in Kansas. They said the interests of the secretary of state do “not justify the burden imposed on the right to vote.”
Kansas argued in court filings that it has a compelling interest in preventing voter fraud. It contended its proof-of-citizenship requirement is not a significant burden and protects the integrity of elections and the accuracy of voter rolls.
Critics countered that the documentary proof-of-citizenship law was “a disastrous experiment” that damaged the state’s voter rolls, disenfranchised tens of thousands and eroded confidence in the state’s elections.
While the court agreed “in the abstract” that Kansas has a legitimate interest in counting only the votes of eligible voters, the court in an 84-page ruling said it did not see any evidence that such an interest made it necessary to burden voters’ rights in this case.
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The judges noted that the district court had found essentially no evidence that the integrity of the state’s electoral process had been threatened, that the registration of ineligible voters had caused voter rolls to be inaccurate, or that voter fraud had occurred.
It found that at most 67 noncitizens registered or attempted to register in Kansas in the last 19 years.
“Thus we are left with this incredibly slight evidence that Kansas’s interest in counting only the votes of eligible voters is under threat,” according to the ruling. “Indeed, even as to those 39 noncitizens who appear on the Kansas voter rolls, the district court found that ‘administrative anomalies’ could account for the presence of many — or perhaps even most — of them there.”
The judges also noted that the district court had found that even under the calculations of the state’s experts, the estimated number of suspended applications that belonged to noncitizens was “statistically indistinguishable from zero.”
“This law disenfranchised tens of thousands of Kansans, denying them the most fundamental right in our democracy,” Ho said.
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He called for current Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab to drop any appeals and “turn the page on Kris Kobach’s sorry legacy of voter suppression.”
Schwab, a Republican who supported the law as a legislator, said in a written statement that his office is reviewing the decision and will confer with the attorney general on how to move forward.
Kobach said he’s not surprised by the “clearly incorrect” ruling by the appeals court judges, based on their judicial philosophy. He said the judges disregarded the plain meaning of the voter registration law’s text, making the decision the “essence of judicial activism.” He urged Schwab to appeal.
“The Kansas law is crucial for protecting the integrity of our voter rolls and this decision — this deeply flawed decision — should not be allowed to stand,” Kobach said.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said the state should drop its appeal, but that decision is not up to her.
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“I think what it tells us is what we have thought for a long time, that we ought to be doing everything we can to encourage voting,” Kelly said. “If we have a problem with voting in the state of Kansas and across the country, it is that not enough people exercise their right. So I think eliminating any barriers to voting is a good thing.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Senate Democrats Press For $50 Billion Child Care Bailout In Next Stimulus

Day care centers and in-home child care providers who educate and care for very young children while their parents are at work are absolutely crucial to millions of working families .
But the whole industry is in danger of going under as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic deepens .
Without a bailout , half of the nation ’ s providers might fail , according to one recent analysis .
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) sent Wednesday morning , the senators ask that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next stimulus package that Congress passes to deal with the rolling economic and public health crisis sparked by COVID-19 .
The other senators who signed the letter include Cory Booker ( D-N.J. ) , Kirsten Gillibrand ( D-N.Y. ) , Doug Jones ( D-Ala. ) , and Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) .
“ We have only two options as a country : we can either do what is needed to stabilize the childcare system , or we can watch childcare providers collapse , one by one in our communities , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no system to return to and hamstringing our economic recovery , ” the senators wrote .
The child care system , chronically neglected by policymakers , was already on shaky footing going into this crisis .
Centers operate on razor-thin margins , and child care providers are among some of the lowest-paid workers in the country .
In many areas of the U.S. , there was already a shortage of licensed providers .
Now , in the wake of coronavirus closures , many child care workers have already been furloughed or laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to reopen if they don ’ t get more help to float expenses .
Those that are still open to take in the children of essential workers are struggling with lower revenues and increased costs to operate safely during the health crisis .
Smith and Warren first sent a similar letter to Senate leadership ahead of the passage of the CARES ACT , the $ 2 trillion stimulus passed in late March .
That legislation included $ 3.5 billion for child care providers ― far less than what experts believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the money to fund the child care centers that are open now to serve the children of essential workers .
These operations are struggling because fewer kids are coming for care , and because it costs more to implement the proper safety precautions necessary to handle coronavirus concerns ― think masks , temperature checks , longer operating hours and more intensive cleaning procedures .
The child care centers that are closed also need money to cover business expenses and keep workers on payroll .
While some providers were able to get relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was part of the CARES Act , many were shut out .
The senators are calling for the next stimulus to include provisions to make those small business loans more accessible to providers .
They point out that it will be difficult to come back from the economic collapse caused by the pandemic if parents can ’ t send their children to child care .
“ When the economy can safely start to come back , millions of parents will not be able to return to work or reopen their own small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable , and reliable care for their children , ” they write .
The child care system is particularly crucial for working mothers , and its collapse would have tremendous financial consequences for parents who can ’ t get back to work if their kids ’ day care is out of business .
The next stimulus package would be the fourth Congress passes to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus .
Republicans and Democrats are already fighting over who will get bailed out next time , with Democrats pressing for protections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , the White House is looking for more tax cuts .
And McConnell is looking to protect employers from COVID-related lawsuits .
Democrats and progressives are also pushing for hazard pay for essential workers and other protections for those still working during this public health crisis .
Most of their policy demands face long odds in the Republican-led Senate , but Democrats will have some leverage in the House to get their priorities passed .

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Senate Democrats led by Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are pushing for a $50 billion bailout to keep an essential industry afloat: the child care system.
Day care centers and in-home child care providers who educate and care for very young children while their parents are at work are absolutely crucial to millions of working families. But the whole industry is in danger of going under as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic deepens. Without a bailout, half of the nation’s providers might fail, according to one recent analysis.
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In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent Wednesday morning, the senators ask that the $50 billion be a part of the next stimulus package that Congress passes to deal with the rolling economic and public health crisis sparked by COVID-19. The other senators who signed the letter include Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“We have only two options as a country: we can either do what is needed to stabilize the childcare system, or we can watch childcare providers collapse, one by one in our communities, leaving children, families, and childcare workers with no system to return to and hamstringing our economic recovery,” the senators wrote.
This letter is one of several sent by Warren, who is also pressing for essential worker protections in the next stimulus.
The child care system, chronically neglected by policymakers, was already on shaky footing going into this crisis. Centers operate on razor-thin margins, and child care providers are among some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. In many areas of the U.S., there was already a shortage of licensed providers.
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Now, in the wake of coronavirus closures, many child care workers have already been furloughed or laid off. Some centers say they may not be able to reopen if they don’t get more help to float expenses. Those that are still open to take in the children of essential workers are struggling with lower revenues and increased costs to operate safely during the health crisis.
“We’re worried about parents going back into the workforce and their child care isn’t there. Are they going to get laid off?” - Nina Perez, early childhood national campaign director at MomsRising
Smith and Warren first sent a similar letter to Senate leadership ahead of the passage of the CARES ACT, the $2 trillion stimulus passed in late March. That legislation included $3.5 billion for child care providers ― far less than what experts believe is needed.
According to a report released last week from the Center for Law and Social Policy, it would cost $9.6 billion a month to sustain providers through the pandemic.
Smith and Warren published a Medium post about their plan for a $50 billion child care bailout on April 15.
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The senators want to use the money to fund the child care centers that are open now to serve the children of essential workers. These operations are struggling because fewer kids are coming for care, and because it costs more to implement the proper safety precautions necessary to handle coronavirus concerns ― think masks, temperature checks, longer operating hours and more intensive cleaning procedures.
They also call for paid leave and hazard pay for teachers who are risking their own health to work during the crisis.
The child care centers that are closed also need money to cover business expenses and keep workers on payroll. While some providers were able to get relief from the small business loan program that was part of the CARES Act, many were shut out.
The senators are calling for the next stimulus to include provisions to make those small business loans more accessible to providers. They point out that it will be difficult to come back from the economic collapse caused by the pandemic if parents can’t send their children to child care.
“When the economy can safely start to come back, millions of parents will not be able to return to work or reopen their own small businesses if they cannot find safe, affordable, and reliable care for their children,” they write.
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The child care system is particularly crucial for working mothers, and its collapse would have tremendous financial consequences for parents who can’t get back to work if their kids’ day care is out of business.
This could lead to further discrimination against working parents, and even a widening of the gender pay gap.
“We’re worried about parents going back into the workforce and their child care isn’t there,” Nina Perez, the early childhood national campaign director at the advocacy group MomsRising, told HuffPost. “Are they going to get laid off?”
The next stimulus package would be the fourth Congress passes to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus. Republicans and Democrats are already fighting over who will get bailed out next time, with Democrats pressing for protections for workers and aid to cash-strapped states. Meanwhile, the White House is looking for more tax cuts. And McConnell is looking to protect employers from COVID-related lawsuits.
Democrats and progressives are also pushing for hazard pay for essential workers and other protections for those still working during this public health crisis. Most of their policy demands face long odds in the Republican-led Senate, but Democrats will have some leverage in the House to get their priorities passed.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-29--Trump Erupts At Campaign Team As His Poll Numbers Slide

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump erupted at his top political advisers last week when they presented him with worrisome polling data that showed his support eroding in a series of battleground states as his response to the coronavirus comes under criticism .
As the virus takes its deadly toll and much of the nation 's economy remains shuttered , new surveys by the Republican National Committee and Trump 's campaign pointed to a harrowing picture for the president as he faces reelection .
While Trump saw some of the best approval ratings of his presidency during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted the growing political cost of the crisis and the unforced errors by Trump in his freewheeling press briefings .
“ I am not f—-ing losing to Joe Biden , ” he repeated in a series of heated conference calls with his top campaign officials , according to five people with knowledge of the conversations .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions .
The message to the president was sobering : Trump was trailing the former Democratic vice president in many key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and would have lost the Electoral College if the election had been held earlier this month .
On the line from the White House , Trump snapped at the state of his polling during a series of calls with campaign manager Brad Parscale , who called in from Florida ; RNC chair Ronna McDaniel , on the line from her home in Michigan ; senior adviser Jared Kushner ; and other aides .
Echoing a number of White House aides and outside advisers , the political team urged Trump to curtail his daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sessions were costing him in the polls , particularly among seniors .
Trump initially pushed back , pointing to high television ratings .
But , at least temporarily , he agreed to scale back the briefings after drawing sharp criticism for raising the idea that Americans might get virus protection by injecting disinfectants .
Even as Trump preaches optimism , the president has expressed frustration and even powerlessness as the dire economic statistics pile up .
It 's been a whiplash-inducing moment for the president , who just two months ago planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economy that was experiencing unprecedented employment levels .
Now , as the records mount in the opposite direction , Trump is feeling the pressure .
“ I think you ’ ll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal , and the hope is that by July the country ’ s really rocking again , '' Kushner told “ Fox & Friends ” on Wednesday morning .
But other aides , business leaders and economists predict a far longer road toward recovery .
Trump has long distrusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years that his gut was right about the 2016 race , when he insisted that he was ahead in the Midwest and Florida .
At the same time , Parscale and other Trump aides are talking up the sophistication of their data and voter outreach capabilities this time .
The president and some aides have had simmering frustrations with Parscale for a while , believing the campaign manager — a close Kushner ally — has enriched himself from his association with Trump and sought personal publicity .
Trump had previously been angered when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This latest episode flared before the campaign manager was featured in a New York Times Magazine profile this week .
Trump announced Wednesday that he will visit Arizona next week — his first trip outside Washington in a month — as he looks to declare that much of the nation is ready to begin reopening after the virus .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump erupted at his top political advisers last week when they presented him with worrisome polling data that showed his support eroding in a series of battleground states as his response to the coronavirus comes under criticism.
As the virus takes its deadly toll and much of the nation's economy remains shuttered, new surveys by the Republican National Committee and Trump's campaign pointed to a harrowing picture for the president as he faces reelection.
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While Trump saw some of the best approval ratings of his presidency during the early weeks of the crisis, aides highlighted the growing political cost of the crisis and the unforced errors by Trump in his freewheeling press briefings.
Trump reacted with defiance, incredulous that he could be losing to someone he viewed as a weak candidate.
“I am not f—-ing losing to Joe Biden,” he repeated in a series of heated conference calls with his top campaign officials, according to five people with knowledge of the conversations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions.
The message to the president was sobering: Trump was trailing the former Democratic vice president in many key battleground states, he was told, and would have lost the Electoral College if the election had been held earlier this month.
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On the line from the White House, Trump snapped at the state of his polling during a series of calls with campaign manager Brad Parscale, who called in from Florida; RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, on the line from her home in Michigan; senior adviser Jared Kushner; and other aides.
Echoing a number of White House aides and outside advisers, the political team urged Trump to curtail his daily coronavirus briefings, arguing that the combative sessions were costing him in the polls, particularly among seniors. Trump initially pushed back, pointing to high television ratings. But, at least temporarily, he agreed to scale back the briefings after drawing sharp criticism for raising the idea that Americans might get virus protection by injecting disinfectants.
Trump aides encouraged the president to stay out of medical issues and direct his focus toward more familiar and politically important ground: the economy.
Even as Trump preaches optimism, the president has expressed frustration and even powerlessness as the dire economic statistics pile up. It's been a whiplash-inducing moment for the president, who just two months ago planned to run for reelection on the strength of an economy that was experiencing unprecedented employment levels. Now, as the records mount in the opposite direction, Trump is feeling the pressure.
“We built the greatest economy in the world,” Trump has said publicly. “I’ll do it a second time.”
Trump's political team warned that the president's path to reelection depends on how quickly he can bring about a recovery.
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“I think you’ll see by June a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the country’s really rocking again," Kushner told “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday morning. But other aides, business leaders and economists predict a far longer road toward recovery.
Representatives for the RNC and the Trump campaign did not comment on the polling or last week's phone calls.
According to people familiar with the incident, Trump vented much of his frustration at Parscale, who served as the bearer of bad news.
Trump has long distrusted negative poll numbers — telling aides for years that his gut was right about the 2016 race, when he insisted that he was ahead in the Midwest and Florida. At the same time, Parscale and other Trump aides are talking up the sophistication of their data and voter outreach capabilities this time.
The president and some aides have had simmering frustrations with Parscale for a while, believing the campaign manager — a close Kushner ally — has enriched himself from his association with Trump and sought personal publicity. Trump had previously been angered when Parscale was the subject of magazine profiles. This latest episode flared before the campaign manager was featured in a New York Times Magazine profile this week.
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Aides have grown particularly worried about Michigan — which some advisers have all but written off -- as well as Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.
Trump announced Wednesday that he will visit Arizona next week — his first trip outside Washington in a month — as he looks to declare that much of the nation is ready to begin reopening after the virus.
The president has mocked Biden, his presumptive general election rival, for being "stuck in his basement" in his Delaware home during the pandemic.
Trump said Wednesday that he hopes to soon visit Ohio, a battleground state that Trump carried handily in 2016 but that aides see as growing slightly competitive in recent weeks.
Aides acknowledged that the president's signature rallies would not be returning anytime soon. Some have privately offered doubts that he would be able to hold any in his familiar format of jam-packed arenas before Election Day, Nov. 3.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-30--'How Dare They!' Andrew Cuomo Schools Sens. McConnell, Rick Scott With Basic Math

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ripped into Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Sen. Rick Scott ( R-Fla. ) on Wednesday for saying they don ’ t want to send any additional federal aid to his state .
Both have described money to help New York in its battle with the coronavirus pandemic as “ bailouts.
” And he used some basic math to answer the question , noting that New York gives far more in federal tax dollars than it receives .
“ Every year we put in $ 29 billion more than we take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Florida and Kentucky , it ’ s the other way around .
Kentucky , he said , gets $ 37 billion more per year in federal dollars than its taxpayers send to Washington .
“ Sen .
Mitch McConnell , you are bailing out New York ?
” he sarcastically asked .
“ When every year you take out more from the kitty , the federal pot , $ 37 billion more than you put in ?
Who is bailing out whom ?
” And he had a similar question for Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , Florida , “ lives within its means ” and shouldn ’ t have to “ bail out ” states such as New York .
Except his state does not “ live within its means , ” as Cuomo was quick to point out .
“ Sen .
Scott , you ’ re going to bail us out ?
You take out $ 30 billion more every year than you pay in , ” he said , adding : “ How dare they !
How dare they when those are the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play the American people and assume they ’ re stupid ?
” McConnell last week suggested that states hit hardest by the pandemic should declare bankruptcy rather than expect any additional federal aid .
Cuomo noted that allowing states to go bankrupt would require a federal law ― and dared McConnell to try to pass such legislation .

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ripped into Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Wednesday for saying they don’t want to send any additional federal aid to his state.
Both have described money to help New York in its battle with the coronavirus pandemic as “bailouts.”
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But Cuomo asked both senators, “Who is bailing out whom?”
And he used some basic math to answer the question, noting that New York gives far more in federal tax dollars than it receives.
“Every year we put in $29 billion more than we take out,” he noted.
But for Florida and Kentucky, it’s the other way around.
Kentucky, he said, gets $37 billion more per year in federal dollars than its taxpayers send to Washington.
“Sen. Mitch McConnell, you are bailing out New York?” he sarcastically asked. “When every year you take out more from the kitty, the federal pot, $37 billion more than you put in? Who is bailing out whom?”
And he had a similar question for Scott, who this week boasted that his state, Florida, “lives within its means” and shouldn’t have to “bail out” states such as New York.
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Except his state does not “live within its means,” as Cuomo was quick to point out.
“Sen. Scott, you’re going to bail us out? You take out $30 billion more every year than you pay in,” he said, adding:
“How dare they! How dare they when those are the facts. How long are you going to play the American people and assume they’re stupid?”
“The facts damn everything they’re saying,” Cuomo said.
McConnell last week suggested that states hit hardest by the pandemic should declare bankruptcy rather than expect any additional federal aid.
The suggestion was quickly panned ― including by members of the Republican Party.
Cuomo noted that allowing states to go bankrupt would require a federal law ― and dared McConnell to try to pass such legislation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-30--Top Lindsey Graham Donor Switches Sides, Now Backs Democratic Rival

Richard Wilkerson , former head of Michelin ’ s North America unit , based in Greenville , South Carolina , has endorsed Democrat Jaime Harrison .
Wilkerson told the Charleston Post and Courier that he got to know Harrison when he worked as a lobbyist for the company on issues such as setting new tire standards for better fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions .
The newspaper said Wilkerson has contributed more than $ 10,000 to Graham since 2011 and served on the South Carolina finance committee of his brief attempt at running for president in 2015 .
Wilkerson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrison will be a “ tireless advocate ” for improving the economy , healthcare and job training .
“ Jaime is the perfect candidate to bring together South Carolinians from all walks of life , ” he said .
“ I am proud to endorse Jaime today , and I know first hand he is the change South Carolina needs.
” The website noted that , despite his longtime support for Graham , Wilkerson has donated to Democrats and Republicans alike over the years .
Even @ LindseyGrahamSC ’ s strongest supporters know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s time for change .
Dick Wilkerson brought jobs and opportunity to SC during his time at Michelin .
Grateful for his support .
Together , we ’ re going to # SendLindseyHome !
https : //t.co/KT7LPtUTLi — Jaime Harrison ( @ harrisonjaime ) April 28 , 2020 Graham has won by double-digit margins in each of his three previous Senate races on the solid red state .
There is little polling in his 2020 race so far ; a partisan poll in March showed Harrison trailing him by just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College poll in February had Graham up by 17 points , according to FiveThirtyEight .
But though Graham leads in limited polls , Harrison is outraising him this year so far , bringing in $ 7.36 million over the first three months versus $ 5.6 million for Graham .

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A top donor to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is switching sides.
Richard Wilkerson, former head of Michelin’s North America unit, based in Greenville, South Carolina, has endorsed Democrat Jaime Harrison.
Wilkerson told the Charleston Post and Courier that he got to know Harrison when he worked as a lobbyist for the company on issues such as setting new tire standards for better fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
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The newspaper said Wilkerson has contributed more than $10,000 to Graham since 2011 and served on the South Carolina finance committee of his brief attempt at running for president in 2015.
Wilkerson told The Hill in a statement that Harrison will be a “tireless advocate” for improving the economy, healthcare and job training.
“Jaime is the perfect candidate to bring together South Carolinians from all walks of life,” he said. “I am proud to endorse Jaime today, and I know first hand he is the change South Carolina needs.”
The website noted that, despite his longtime support for Graham, Wilkerson has donated to Democrats and Republicans alike over the years.
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Harrison celebrated the endorsement on Twitter:
Even @LindseyGrahamSC’s strongest supporters know he’s forgotten about them and that it’s time for change.
Dick Wilkerson brought jobs and opportunity to SC during his time at Michelin. Grateful for his support. Together, we’re going to #SendLindseyHome!https://t.co/KT7LPtUTLi — Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) April 28, 2020
Graham has won by double-digit margins in each of his three previous Senate races on the solid red state. There is little polling in his 2020 race so far; a partisan poll in March showed Harrison trailing him by just 4 percentage points, but a Marist College poll in February had Graham up by 17 points, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Cook Political Report rates the seat a “Solid R.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-30--Jim Carrey Predicts Donald Trump's 'Next Medical Breakthrough' With New Political Cartoon

President Donald Trump ’ s penchant for hyping unproven ― and sometimes downright dangerous ― treatments for the coronavirus gave actor Jim Carrey the inspiration for his latest critical cartoon .
Trump last week pondered injecting people with disinfectant during a daily White House task force briefing .
He later walked back the comments , claiming he was just being sarcastic .
That didn ’ t stop Carrey from unleashing this taunting artwork on Wednesday , which he claimed was “ Trump ’ s next medical breakthrough.
” Upwards of 61,000 people in the U.S. have now died from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Trump administration coming under increasing fire for its sloppy response to the crisis .
The U.S. has more confirmed cases ( as of Thursday morning , more than 1 million ) than any other country in the world .
Carrey often uses his pictures to take aim at the president .
At the start of the year , he claimed his days of artistically mocking Trump were over .
The coronavirus pandemic inspired him to get painting once again , however .
In March , he roasted Trump for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save his economic record ” with this “ Jaws ” -inspired image : Trump is willing to risk countless lives to save his economic record .
He has fully become the mayor from Jaws .
pic.twitter.com/ZggJClEaXG — Jim Carrey ( @ JimCarrey ) March 27 , 2020 He also unleashed this NSFW coronavirus-themed depiction of the president : As cases of COVID-19 double every three days in NYC , the President reassures Wall Street that he can handle the important tissues .
pic.twitter.com/DZcULploo1 — Jim Carrey ( @ JimCarrey ) March 24 , @

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President Donald Trump’s penchant for hyping unproven ― and sometimes downright dangerous ― treatments for the coronavirus gave actor Jim Carrey the inspiration for his latest critical cartoon.
Last week, Trump pondered injecting people with disinfectant during a White House coronavirus task force briefing. He later walked back the comments, claiming he was just being sarcastic.
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That didn’t stop Carrey from unleashing this taunting piece of artwork on Wednesday, which he called “Trump’s next medical breakthrough.”
Trump’s next medical breakthrough: “Want COVID out? SHOUT IT OUT!” pic.twitter.com/GQPpl5qpmS — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 29, 2020
Upward of 61,000 people in the United States have now died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and the country has more confirmed cases — as of Thursday morning, more than 1 million — than any other in the world. The Trump administration has come under increasing fire for its sloppy response to the public health crisis.
Carrey often uses his art to take aim at the president. At the start of the year, he insisted his days of artistically mocking Trump were over, but the pandemic inspired him to get painting once again.
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In March, he roasted Trump for being “willing to risk countless lives to save his economic record” with this “Jaws”-inspired image:
Trump is willing to risk countless lives to save his economic record. He has fully become the mayor from Jaws. pic.twitter.com/ZggJClEaXG — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 27, 2020
He also unleashed this NSFW coronavirus-themed depiction of the president:
As cases of COVID-19 double every three days in NYC, the President reassures Wall Street that he can handle the important tissues. pic.twitter.com/DZcULploo1 — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 24, 2020