thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-25--Pelosi Defends Jobless Aid In Stimulus, Tells GOP Not To ‘Resent Our Lowest-Paid'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) defended a proposed $ 600 weekly increase in unemployment payments to laid-off workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday , rejecting assertions by some Republican senators that people would rather collect government assistance than keep their jobs .
“ Please don ’ t resent our lowest-paid workers in America for getting $ 600 so that they can meet the needs of their families .
Spend the money , ” Pelosi said on PBS NewsHour .
“ It ’ s immediate .
Spend the money , inject demand into the economy , grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , give people a little more confidence and less stress as they deal with the important health issue , health challenge that this is.
” '' It is n't a problem .
They also say people are on unemployment insurance so they do n't have to go to work .
Well , that 's not true . ''
- Speaker Pelosi on senators who have an issue with an extra $ 600 weekly unemployment payment , which is part of the $ 2 trillion economic rescue bill pic.twitter.com/MkshzlAX1W — PBS NewsHour ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi ’ s comments come as the Senate negotiated a massive $ 2 trillion stimulus bill , which is meant to ameliorate the pandemic ’ s financial effects .
More than 66,000 Americans have been infected by the virus , and at least 900 had died by Wednesday evening .
The proposal is the largest of its kind in U.S. history and includes provisions to send cash payments to many households and about $ 500 billion to affected businesses , with about $ 100 billion set aside for the nation ’ s hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott ( S.C. ) , Rick Scott ( Fla. ) , Lindsey Graham ( S.C. ) and Ben Sasse ( Neb . )
, said they were concerned about the expansion of unemployment benefits included in the stimulus bill , which would extend an extra $ 600 a week in jobless benefits on top of funds usually provided by states to the unemployed .
“ If this is not a drafting error , then this is the worst idea I have seen in a long time , ” Graham told The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create a sustainable system.
” The lawmakers said they worried the payments could incentivize workers to collect the checks while out of work — which would last for four months — rather than take new jobs , suggesting that some employees would make more under the system than if they were actually employed .
Pelosi rejected that .
“ They also say the reason people want unemployment insurance is so they don ’ t have to go to work , ” Pelosi told PBS .
“ Well , that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment insurance unless you are fired or unless you are furloughed .
You can ’ t just quit and say , ‘ I ’ m going on unemployment.
’ ” Pelosi said Democrats were “ ready ” to pass the stimulus package after fierce negotiations with the White House , saying it could go into effect “ as soon as the Senate passes it.
” “ We wanted more money , ” Pelosi told PBS .
“ But this is not going to be the last bill .
”

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) defended a proposed $600 weekly increase in unemployment payments to laid-off workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, rejecting assertions by some Republican senators that people would rather collect government assistance than keep their jobs.
“Please don’t resent our lowest-paid workers in America for getting $600 so that they can meet the needs of their families. Spend the money,” Pelosi said on PBS NewsHour. “It’s immediate. Spend the money, inject demand into the economy, grow the economy and, at the same time, give people a little more confidence and less stress as they deal with the important health issue, health challenge that this is.”
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"It isn't a problem. They also say people are on unemployment insurance so they don't have to go to work. Well, that's not true."
- Speaker Pelosi on senators who have an issue with an extra $600 weekly unemployment payment, which is part of the $2 trillion economic rescue bill pic.twitter.com/MkshzlAX1W — PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) March 25, 2020
Pelosi’s comments come as the Senate negotiated a massive $2 trillion stimulus bill, which is meant to ameliorate the pandemic’s financial effects. More than 66,000 Americans have been infected by the virus, and at least 900 had died by Wednesday evening.
The proposal is the largest of its kind in U.S. history and includes provisions to send cash payments to many households and about $500 billion to affected businesses, with about $100 billion set aside for the nation’s hospitals.
But four Republican senators, Tim Scott (S.C.), Rick Scott (Fla.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.), said they were concerned about the expansion of unemployment benefits included in the stimulus bill, which would extend an extra $600 a week in jobless benefits on top of funds usually provided by states to the unemployed.
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“If this is not a drafting error, then this is the worst idea I have seen in a long time,” Graham told The New York Times on Wednesday. “We need to create a sustainable system.”
The lawmakers said they worried the payments could incentivize workers to collect the checks while out of work — which would last for four months — rather than take new jobs, suggesting that some employees would make more under the system than if they were actually employed. Pelosi rejected that.
“They also say the reason people want unemployment insurance is so they don’t have to go to work,” Pelosi told PBS. “Well, that’s not true. You don’t get unemployment insurance unless you are fired or unless you are furloughed. You can’t just quit and say, ‘I’m going on unemployment.’”
Pelosi said Democrats were “ready” to pass the stimulus package after fierce negotiations with the White House, saying it could go into effect “as soon as the Senate passes it.”
“We wanted more money,” Pelosi told PBS. “But this is not going to be the last bill.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-25--Senate Passes Coronavirus Stimulus Package With Unanimous Vote

The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced .
“ The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis , “ said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. “ Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick .
Our workers are without work .
Our businesses can not do business .
Our factories lie idle .
The gears of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that ’ s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat , said : “ We ’ ve anticipated three months .
Hopefully , we won ’ t need this for three months.
” The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded changes , saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of returning return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they ’ re laid off than if they ’ re working .
They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision .
Other objections floated in from New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic .
Cuomo , whose state has seen more deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ I ’ m telling you , these numbers don ’ t work.
” Six days of arduous talks produced the bill , creating tensions among Congress ’ top leaders , who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation .
But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities .
“ This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country and we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters afterward .
“ We ’ ve pivoted from impeachment to 100 to nothing on this rescue package ... this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.
” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus .
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months , rather than the three months first proposed .
Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment , plus a $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Uber drivers covered for the first time .
But Cuomo said the Senate package would send less than $ 4 billion to New York , far short of his estimate that the crisis will cost his state up to $ 15 billion over the next year .
More than 280 New Yorkers have died from the virus , a death toll more than double that of any other state .
Pelosi was a force behind $ 400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail and other steps that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics called political opportunism .
The package also contains $ 15.5 billion more for a surge in demand for food stamps as part of a massive $ 330 billion title for agency operations .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate late Wednesday passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.
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The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared somber and exhausted as he announced the vote — and he released senators from Washington until April 20, though he promised to recall them if needed.
“Pray for one another, for all of our families, and for our country,” said McConnell, R-Ky.
“The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis,“said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick. Our workers are without work. Our businesses cannot do business. Our factories lie idle. The gears of the American economy have ground to a halt.”
The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that’s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat, said: “We’ve anticipated three months. Hopefully, we won’t need this for three months.”
Underscoring the effort’s sheer magnitude, the bill finances a response with a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion-plus annual federal budget. The $2.2 trillion estimate is the White House’s best guess.
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Insistently optimistic, President Donald Trump said of the greatest public-health emergency in anyone’s lifetime, “I don’t think its going to end up being such a rough patch” and anticipated the economy soaring “like a rocket ship” when it’s over.
“The government has temporarily shut down the economy because of this disease, and the government must help those who are hurt by it,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states who economies are dominated by low-wage jobs demanded changes, saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of returning return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they’re laid off than if they’re working. They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision.
Other objections floated in from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic. Cuomo, whose state has seen more deaths from the pandemic than any other, said, “I’m telling you, these numbers don’t work.”
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Ardent liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were restless as well, but top Washington Democrats assured them that a additional coronavirus legislation will follow this spring and signaled that delaying the pending measure would be foolish.
The sprawling measure is the third coronavirus response bill produced by Congress and by far the largest. It builds on efforts focused on vaccines and emergency response, sick and family medical leave for workers, and food aid.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swung behind the bipartisan agreement, saying it “takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people.”
Senate passage delivered the legislation to the Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass it Friday. House members are scattered around the country. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the measure would pass by voice vote without lawmakers having to return to Washington.
The package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.
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It includes a controversial, heavily negotiated $500 billion program for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including airlines. Hospitals would get significant help as well.
Six days of arduous talks produced the bill, creating tensions among Congress’ top leaders, who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation. But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities.
“This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country and we’re going to win this battle,” McConnell told reporters afterward. “We’ve pivoted from impeachment to 100 to nothing on this rescue package ... this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has tested positive for it, while GOP Whip John Thune returned to South Dakota on Wednesday after feeling ill.
The bill would provide one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child.
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A huge cash infusion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients grew during the talks to an estimated $130 billion. Another $45 billion would fund additional relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for local response efforts and community services.
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months, rather than the three months first proposed. Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment, plus a $600 per week add-on, with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time.
Businesses controlled by members of Congress and top administration officials — including Trump and his immediate family members — would be ineligible for the bill’s business assistance.
Schumer boasted of negotiating wins for transit systems, hospitals and cash-hungry state governments that were cemented after Democrats blocked the measure in votes held Sunday and Monday.
But Cuomo said the Senate package would send less than $4 billion to New York, far short of his estimate that the crisis will cost his state up to $15 billion over the next year. More than 280 New Yorkers have died from the virus, a death toll more than double that of any other state.
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Still, Pelosi said the need for more money for New York is “no reason to stop the step we are taking.”
Pelosi was a force behind $400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail and other steps that Democrats billed as making voting safer but Republican critics called political opportunism. The package also contains $15.5 billion more for a surge in demand for food stamps as part of a massive $330 billion title for agency operations.
State and local authorities would receive up to $150 billion in grants to fight the virus, care for their residents and provide basic services.
Republicans won inclusion of an “employee retention” tax credit that’s estimated to provide $50 billion to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50% of workers’ paycheck up to $10,000. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax.
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A companion appropriations package ballooned as well, growing from a $46 billion White House proposal to $330 billion, which dwarfs earlier disasters — including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy combined.
Europe is enacting its own economic recovery packages, with huge amounts of credit guarantees, government spending and other support.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has agreed to commit over 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) in fiscal stimulus and support — roughly 30% of that nation’s entire annual output. France, Spain and Italy have launched similar programs.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
In the United States, more than 69,000 people have been sickened and more than 1,000 have died.
___
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Alan Fram, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-25--G-7 Meeting Flops After Mike Pompeo Demands COVID-19 Be Called The 'Wuhan Virus'

Meeting by video conference because of the outbreak , the ministers agreed on the need for joint efforts to halt the spread of the virus , known as COVID-19 .
But U.S. and European diplomats said the ministers were unable to agree on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s call for COVID-19 to be identified by name as the “ Wuhan virus.
” As a result , just a day after G-7 finance ministers and central bankers issued a joint communique referring to “ COVID-19 , ” the foreign ministers opted against releasing a group statement .
U.S , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers ’ statement to reject suggestions of G-7 disunity and said the foreign ministers had never intended to release their own communique .
European officials said Pompeo had insisted on identifying COVID-19 as the “ Wuhan virus ” even though the World Health Organization and others have cautioned against giving it a geographic name because of its global nature .
In recent weeks , Pompeo has stepped up his use of “ Wuhan virus , ” accusing China of putting the world at risk by not revealing more details about the outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wuhan .
President Donald Trump had until very recently frequently referred to COVID-19 as the “ China virus ” or the “ Chinese virus , ” but since the beginning of this week has steered away from those terms as critics have said they foster discriminatory sentiments and behavior against Asians and Asian Americans .
In a solo news conference after the meeting , Pompeo again referred to the “ Wuhan virus , ” saying it was “ the most pressing agenda item.
” He said all the foreign ministers had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency , as is necessary all around the world.
” He did not deny there had been disagreements over what to call the virus , but said all the ministers had acknowledged that China had not been forthcoming about its details early on and was now trying to shift the narrative about it .
“ Every one of the nations that was at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the disinformation campaign that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in to try and deflect from what has really taken place here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers were not nearly as emphatic in their own comments about the meeting , with at least one leaving open the suggestion that China is not the only country trying to use the outbreak to advance political points .
French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian said in a statement that he had “ underscored the need to combat any attempt to exploit the crisis for political purposes and expressed the view that the unity of all in order to effectively combat the pandemic must now take precedence over any other considerations.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by the German publication Der Spiegal .
German officials said they were more concerned about what would come from a virtual summit of the Group of 20 nations leaders that is supposed to be held on Thursday at the request of Saudi Arabia .
U.S. officials meanwhile downplayed the disagreement among the foreign ministers and pointed to the G-7 finance ministers ’ statement from Tuesday that did not mention either “ Wuhan ” or “ China ” in relation to the virus and instead referred to it repeatedly as COVID-19 .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 leading industrialized democracies sparred Wednesday over whether to call out China as the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
Meeting by video conference because of the outbreak, the ministers agreed on the need for joint efforts to halt the spread of the virus, known as COVID-19. But U.S. and European diplomats said the ministers were unable to agree on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s call for COVID-19 to be identified by name as the “Wuhan virus.”
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As a result, just a day after G-7 finance ministers and central bankers issued a joint communique referring to “COVID-19,” the foreign ministers opted against releasing a group statement. U.S, officials pointed to Tuesday’s finance ministers’ statement to reject suggestions of G-7 disunity and said the foreign ministers had never intended to release their own communique.
European officials said Pompeo had insisted on identifying COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus” even though the World Health Organization and others have cautioned against giving it a geographic name because of its global nature. In recent weeks, Pompeo has stepped up his use of “Wuhan virus,” accusing China of putting the world at risk by not revealing more details about the outbreak, which was first reported in the city of Wuhan.
President Donald Trump had until very recently frequently referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus” or the “Chinese virus,” but since the beginning of this week has steered away from those terms as critics have said they foster discriminatory sentiments and behavior against Asians and Asian Americans.
In a solo news conference after the meeting, Pompeo again referred to the “Wuhan virus,” saying it was “the most pressing agenda item.” He said all the foreign ministers had “committed to fighting (it) with transparency, as is necessary all around the world.” He did not deny there had been disagreements over what to call the virus, but said all the ministers had acknowledged that China had not been forthcoming about its details early on and was now trying to shift the narrative about it.
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“Every one of the nations that was at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the disinformation campaign that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in to try and deflect from what has really taken place here,” Pompeo said.
Other foreign ministers were not nearly as emphatic in their own comments about the meeting, with at least one leaving open the suggestion that China is not the only country trying to use the outbreak to advance political points.
French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian said in a statement that he had “underscored the need to combat any attempt to exploit the crisis for political purposes and expressed the view that the unity of all in order to effectively combat the pandemic must now take precedence over any other considerations.”
The disagreement over the virus terminology was first reported by the German publication Der Spiegal. German officials said they were more concerned about what would come from a virtual summit of the Group of 20 nations leaders that is supposed to be held on Thursday at the request of Saudi Arabia.
U.S. officials meanwhile downplayed the disagreement among the foreign ministers and pointed to the G-7 finance ministers’ statement from Tuesday that did not mention either “Wuhan” or “China” in relation to the virus and instead referred to it repeatedly as COVID-19.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-25--Abortion Providers Sue Texas Over Coronavirus Order

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez Marva Sadler prepares the operating room at the Whole Woman 's Health clinic in Fort Worth , Texas , on Sept. 4 , 2019 .
The groups — represented by Planned Parenthood Federation of America , the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Lawyering Project — are asking the court to issue an immediate temporary restraining order to block the ban from taking effect .
On Monday , Abbott ’ s administration ordered abortion providers to postpone all abortions that are not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the patient , ostensibly to conserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooded with coronavirus patients .
The Texas attorney general warned that providers who violate the order could face a fine of up to $ 1,000 or 180 days of jail time .
The abortion providers said that they were forced to go to court after Abbott “ used the COVID-19 crisis to block access to essential , time-sensitive abortion procedures.
” Amy Hagstrom Miller , president of Whole Woman ’ s Health , which runs three clinics in Texas , said they had to cancel at least 150 appointments on Monday alone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is a time-sensitive service , most especially now in this public health crisis when many people are already financially insecure and futures are uncertain , ” she said .
“ We can not sit idly by while the state is forcing Texans to be pregnant against their will.
” Abortion access is already imperiled in Texas , where half of clinics have closed under state pressure since 2012 .
These days , many people seeking abortions must drive hundreds of miles for care .
We can not sit idly by while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnant against their will .
Across the country , states are asking health care facilities to cancel elective medical procedures to ensure that there are enough supplies to manage the surge of coronavirus cases sweeping the nation .
But most states have deemed abortion an essential service , not an elective one .
To date , only Texas , Ohio and Mississippi have publicly categorized abortion as a nonessential , elective procedure , although anti-abortion groups are urging state leaders to halt abortion entirely .
Daniel Grossman , an OB/GYN and director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health , tweeted Wednesday that cracking down on abortion won ’ t actually help conserve medical equipment .
“ It ’ s important to recognize that if a pregnant person continues their pregnancy , they end up using a lot more gloves , gowns , and masks than with abortion , ” he wrote .
“ Using a pandemic , and the need for personal protective equipment , to ban abortion is not a legitimate argument—as the data prove .
This is just another attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all , particularly during a global public health crisis.
” Medical experts , including at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology , have implored leaders to categorize abortion as an that can not be delayed without serious consequences .
“ It ’ s unconscionable that the Texas Attorney General is exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state , ” said Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , in a statement .
“ Texas is abusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are filing suit today to stop it.
” Alexis McGill-Johnson , the acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America , said that her priority was to make sure that every person can access essential health care while also conserving needed resources .

Marva Sadler prepares the operating room at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 4, 2019. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
A coalition of abortion rights groups filed a lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday, challenging his ban on abortions during the coronavirus crisis.
The groups — represented by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Lawyering Project — are asking the court to issue an immediate temporary restraining order to block the ban from taking effect.
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On Monday, Abbott’s administration ordered abortion providers to postpone all abortions that are not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the patient, ostensibly to conserve medical supplies as health care facilities are flooded with coronavirus patients. The Texas attorney general warned that providers who violate the order could face a fine of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.
The abortion providers said that they were forced to go to court after Abbott “used the COVID-19 crisis to block access to essential, time-sensitive abortion procedures.”
All abortion providers in the state have now stopped offering both surgical and medication abortions, according to a press call on Wednesday night.
Amy Hagstrom Miller, president of Whole Woman’s Health, which runs three clinics in Texas, said they had to cancel at least 150 appointments on Monday alone.
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“Abortion is essential health care, and it is a time-sensitive service, most especially now in this public health crisis when many people are already financially insecure and futures are uncertain,” she said. “We cannot sit idly by while the state is forcing Texans to be pregnant against their will.”
She noted that communities of color, young people and poorer people will disproportionally feel the impact of the new Texas policy.
Abortion access is already imperiled in Texas, where half of clinics have closed under state pressure since 2012. These days, many people seeking abortions must drive hundreds of miles for care.
“We cannot sit idly by while the state is forcing Texans to be pregnant against their will.” - Amy Hagstrom Miller, president of Whole Woman’s Health
Across the country, states are asking health care facilities to cancel elective medical procedures to ensure that there are enough supplies to manage the surge of coronavirus cases sweeping the nation. But most states have deemed abortion an essential service, not an elective one. To date, only Texas, Ohio and Mississippi have publicly categorized abortion as a nonessential, elective procedure, although anti-abortion groups are urging state leaders to halt abortion entirely.
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Daniel Grossman, an OB/GYN and director of the University of California, San Francisco’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, tweeted Wednesday that cracking down on abortion won’t actually help conserve medical equipment.
“It’s important to recognize that if a pregnant person continues their pregnancy, they end up using a lot more gloves, gowns, and masks than with abortion,” he wrote. “Using a pandemic, and the need for personal protective equipment, to ban abortion is not a legitimate argument—as the data prove. This is just another attempt to circumvent the law and make abortion inaccessible for all, particularly during a global public health crisis.”
Medical experts, including at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, have implored leaders to categorize abortion as an essential, time-sensitive procedure that cannot be delayed without serious consequences.
“It’s unconscionable that the Texas Attorney General is exploiting this pandemic to end abortion in the state,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “Texas is abusing the state’s emergency powers and we are filing suit today to stop it.”
Alexis McGill-Johnson, the acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that her priority was to make sure that every person can access essential health care while also conserving needed resources.
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“A global pandemic is not some kind of opening to attack abortion,” she said. “Gov. Abbott and anti-abortion activists nationwide are forcing a legal and political fight in the middle of a public health crisis.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-26--Animal Hospitals, Vets And Zoos Donate Use Of Ventilators To Treat Coronavirus Patients

Hospitals in areas hard-hit by the outbreak face dire shortages as the number of cases of COVID-19 quickly climb .
As resources are stretched thin , loans of the breathing machines could save hundreds of lives .
Although the ventilators were used to treat animals , several veterinary specialists and hospital officials told HuffPost it ’ s the same equipment used for humans .
“ What was most encouraging regarding the ventilators we received was they are the same ventilator that Tufts Medical Center uses on our human patients .
This was a clear benefit as it resulted in no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapists , ” said Leslie Lussier , director of respiratory care at the hospital .
She said that these machines were well maintained , checked for safety and thoroughly cleaned according to infection control standards , and are ready for use on patients with COVID-19 .
The Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University operates Tufts VETS and the Foster Hospital for Small Animals , and both facilities donated their total of four ventilators to the medical care facility .
Experts at the facility told HuffPost in a statement that for now they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide breathing support to animals for shorter times .
In the current U.S. epicenter of the outbreak , New York City , the number of confirmed cases topped 20,000 Wednesday and 280 people had died of COVID-19 .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said the state needed thousands more ventilators to be prepared for the “ apex ” of the caseload , which his team predicted to be in two to three weeks .
A spokesperson for the veterinary school told HuffPost they have donated more than 1,000 N95 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other supplies , and are prepping three ventilators and 19 anesthesia machines to send to the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca as needed .
These animal hospitals are among 190 plus organizations in more than 30 states that had pitched in by Wednesday .
Others that had offered their resources include the Phoenix Zoo , the San Diego Zoo , the Detroit Zoological Society and dozens of local and university clinics .
Dr. Beth Davidow , president-elect of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care , posted a callout last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workplaces might have ventilators they could share .
She established a centralized database for potential donors to list the resources they have available on a Google spreadsheet .
By Wednesday , nearly 250 ventilators had been listed .
At least seven facilities had already loaned the machines out , and more than 30 others had promised their ventilators to local hospitals if needed , Davidow said in an email .
An associate professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine , Dr. Daniel Fletcher , said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his colleagues to share the machines , which animals , too , require .
Though many clinics are moving to emergency-only services in a bid to preserve medical supplies , it does still mean that some animals may not get treatment they require to survive .
Fletcher said that it was a difficult decision to part with the equipment but a necessary one that will save lives .

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Veterinary hospitals and colleges and even zoos around the country are offering critically needed ventilators to hospitals struggling to treat coronavirus patients.
Hospitals in areas hard-hit by the outbreak face dire shortages as the number of cases of COVID-19 quickly climb. As resources are stretched thin, loans of the breathing machines could save hundreds of lives.
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Although the ventilators were used to treat animals, several veterinary specialists and hospital officials told HuffPost it’s the same equipment used for humans.
“What was most encouraging regarding the ventilators we received was they are the same ventilator that Tufts Medical Center uses on our human patients. This was a clear benefit as it resulted in no additional time required to train our respiratory therapists,” said Leslie Lussier, director of respiratory care at the hospital.
She said that these machines were well maintained, checked for safety and thoroughly cleaned according to infection control standards, and are ready for use on patients with COVID-19.
The Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University operates Tufts VETS and the Foster Hospital for Small Animals, and both facilities donated two ventilators to the medical care center. Experts at the facility told HuffPost in a statement that for now they could rely on anesthesia ventilators that could provide breathing support to animals for shorter times.
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In the current U.S. epicenter of the outbreak, New York City, the number of confirmed cases topped 20,000 Wednesday and 280 people had died of COVID-19. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the state needed thousands more ventilators to be prepared for the “apex” of the caseload, which his team predicted to be in two to three weeks.
New York’s Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has offered its ventilators to local health departments in anticipation of the state’s growing crisis.
A spokesperson for the veterinary school told HuffPost they have donated more than 1,000 N95 respirator masks, as well as swabs and other supplies, and are prepping three ventilators and 19 anesthesia machines to send to the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca as needed.
These animal hospitals are among 190 plus organizations in more than 30 states that had pitched in by Wednesday. Others that had offered their resources include the Phoenix Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, the Detroit Zoological Society and dozens of local and university clinics.
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Dr. Beth Davidow, president-elect of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, posted a callout last week to veterinarians around the country whose workplaces might have ventilators they could share.
She established a centralized database for potential donors to list the resources they have available on a Google spreadsheet. By Wednesday, nearly 250 ventilators had been listed. At least seven facilities had already loaned the machines out, and more than 30 others had promised their ventilators to local hospitals if needed, Davidow said in an email.
The spreadsheet was shared with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association so hospitals could identify potential donors.
An associate professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Daniel Fletcher, said he was “very moved” by the willingness of his colleagues to share the machines, which animals, too, require.
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Though many clinics are moving to emergency-only services in a bid to preserve medical supplies, it does still mean that some animals may not get treatment they require to survive. Fletcher said that it was a difficult decision to part with the equipment but a necessary one that will save lives.
“We’re making a much less difficult choice than the physicians in Italy who’ve had to make the decision between multiple people.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-03-25--Justice Department Supports Blocking Transgender Athletes From Women's Sports

HARTFORD , Conn. ( AP ) — The U.S. Justice Department is getting involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from competing as girls in interscholastic sports .
Attorney General William Barr signed what is known as a statement of interest Tuesday , arguing against the policy of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference , the board that oversees the state ’ s high school athletic competitions .
The conference allows athletes to compete as the gender with which they identify , arguing it is following a state law that requires high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity .
It also argues the policy is in accordance with Title IX , the federal law that allows girls equal educational opportunities , including in athletics .
“ Under CIAC ’ s interpretation of Title IX , however , schools may not account for the real physiological differences between men and women .
Instead , schools must have certain biological males — namely , those who publicly identify as female — compete against biological females , ” Barr and the other department officials write .
“ In so doing , CIAC deprives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are one of the marquee accomplishments of Title IX.
” The lawsuit was filed in February by runners Selina Soule , a senior at Glastonbury High School ; Chelsea Mitchell , a senior at Canton High School ; and Alanna Smith , a sophomore at Danbury High School , against the conference and several local boards of education .
They argue they have been deprived of wins , state titles and athletic opportunities by being forced to compete against transgender athletes .
“ Males will always have inherent physical advantages over comparably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the reason we have girls sports in the first place , ” their attorney , Christiana Holcomb said Wednesday .
“ And a male ’ s belief about his gender doesn ’ t eliminate those advantages.
” The American Civil Liberties Union , whose attorneys represent the two transgender athletes who run track in Connecticut , said it was deeply troubled that the U.S. government would weigh in to ” make clear that it does not believe girls who are trans enjoy protections under federal law.
” “ Our clients are two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enjoy their final track season of high school and who now have to contend with the federal government arguing against their right to equal educational opportunities , ” said Chase Strangio , deputy director for Trans Justice at the ACLU ’ s LGBT & HIV Project .
“ History will look back on these anti-trans attacks with deep regret and shame .
In the meantime we will continue to fight for the rights of all girls to participate in the sports they love.
” The spring track season is on hold because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have put off a decision on whether to cancel it .
Holcomb has said because the lawsuit also asks for changes to the state record book , the lawsuit will go forward even if it is not resolved before the seniors graduate .

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is getting involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from competing as girls in interscholastic sports.
Attorney General William Barr signed what is known as a statement of interest Tuesday, arguing against the policy of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the board that oversees the state’s high school athletic competitions.
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The conference allows athletes to compete as the gender with which they identify, arguing it is following a state law that requires high school students be treated according to their gender identity. It also argues the policy is in accordance with Title IX, the federal law that allows girls equal educational opportunities, including in athletics.
The Justice Department, in its filing, disagrees.
“Under CIAC’s interpretation of Title IX, however, schools may not account for the real physiological differences between men and women. Instead, schools must have certain biological males — namely, those who publicly identify as female — compete against biological females,” Barr and the other department officials write. “In so doing, CIAC deprives those women of the single-sex athletic competitions that are one of the marquee accomplishments of Title IX.”
The lawsuit was filed in February by runners Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury High School; Chelsea Mitchell, a senior at Canton High School; and Alanna Smith, a sophomore at Danbury High School, against the conference and several local boards of education.
They argue they have been deprived of wins, state titles and athletic opportunities by being forced to compete against transgender athletes.
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“Males will always have inherent physical advantages over comparably talented and trained girls — that’s the reason we have girls sports in the first place,” their attorney, Christiana Holcomb said Wednesday. “And a male’s belief about his gender doesn’t eliminate those advantages.”
Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday with the attorneys representing the the athletic conference and other defendants.
The American Civil Liberties Union, whose attorneys represent the two transgender athletes who run track in Connecticut, said it was deeply troubled that the U.S. government would weigh in to ”make clear that it does not believe girls who are trans enjoy protections under federal law.”
“Our clients are two high school seniors who are just trying to enjoy their final track season of high school and who now have to contend with the federal government arguing against their right to equal educational opportunities,” said Chase Strangio, deputy director for Trans Justice at the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project. “History will look back on these anti-trans attacks with deep regret and shame. In the meantime we will continue to fight for the rights of all girls to participate in the sports they love.”
The spring track season is on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but conference officials have put off a decision on whether to cancel it.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-16--As Paycheck Protection Program Runs Out Of Money, Many Firms Haven't Seen Any

More than 1.6 million small businesses applied for the program ’ s loans , which are issued by banks and backed by the federal government .
The Small Business Administration announced Thursday morning that it is “ currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding.
” More than 20 million Americans have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment in the last four weeks .
Under the payroll program , companies that already laid off workers can still qualify for the loans if they hire them back by the end of June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) have held firm in their demands that a portion of the new coronavirus funds be reserved for underbanked and minority communities .
They also want additional hundreds of billions in aid for struggling hospitals , states and localities .
Although the Senate is technically in recess , the chamber gaveled in for a brief pro forma session on Thursday afternoon .
In a brief speech on the floor , McConnell reported “ absolutely no progress ” in negotiations with Democrats over additional funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program applications is a testament to the suddenness and depth of the economic collapse from social distancing measures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus , which has killed nearly 31,000 people in the U.S .
The uncertainty among business owners about the status of their applications may reflect the program ’ s rapid and chaotic start .
“ I think we have to have some perspective here , ” Rubio told Bloomberg this week , noting that the initiative had started disbursing funds within 17 days of its inception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program with this reach that has moved that quickly.
” When Ross closed her preschools last month , she told her employees not to apply for unemployment insurance because there would soon be something better .
She had read news stories about the Paycheck Protection Program , which received more funding than the unemployment insurance and direct payment provisions of the CARES Act .
Ross filed her application with Bank of America last week and is unsure of its status .
Without the loan , she doesn ’ t know how much longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her 40 employees .
“ Had the Paycheck Protection Program not been a thought or an alternative , then of course I would have told all of them to apply for ” unemployment , Ross said .
“ Everybody was supposed to be taken care of in a different way that was appropriate for what they needed.
” In an emailed statement , a Bank of America spokesperson said the bank has received more than 350,000 applications and has “ a team of more than 3,000 people working full-time to process those applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents to verify the information provided by each applicant.
” The aim of the program is to prevent workers from signing up for unemployment , instead keeping them attached to their employers , which lawmakers said is a better social policy .
Even if a business is closed and its workers are at home , the program essentially will pay their salaries and save them from the alienation of joblessness .

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A new federal initiative to prevent layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic is so popular with small businesses that in less than two weeks it has run out of the $350 billion Congress initially allocated.
But that doesn’t mean all that money is now in the hands of employers. Owners of several small businesses that applied have told HuffPost they’re still waiting for the funds.
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Sydney Ross, owner of two preschools in Palm Beach, Florida, said she applied for the special loan last week and is unsure of her status.
“We’re just still waiting and there’s no money and we haven’t heard anything, and that’s it,” Ross said.
As part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security Act, Congress boosted unemployment insurance, sent cash payments directly to household bank accounts, and created new bailout programs for businesses big and small.
The Paycheck Protection Program offers loans covering two months of payroll, plus some rent and utility costs, for any firm with fewer than 500 employees. If a borrower avoids layoffs during that time, the loan is forgiven ― meaning the program essentially offers to pay a company’s wages.
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More than 1.6 million small businesses applied for the program’s loans, which are issued by banks and backed by the federal government. The Small Business Administration announced Thursday morning that it is “currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding.”
Congressional leaders have struggled to reach a deal to replenish the fund, opting instead for a high-stakes game of chicken that bodes poorly for prospects of broader coronavirus legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) warned Democrats this week that their continued opposition to a clean funding increase of $250 billion for the program would result in “pink slips and shuttered businesses” across the country.
More than 20 million Americans have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment in the last four weeks. Under the payroll program, companies that already laid off workers can still qualify for the loans if they hire them back by the end of June.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have held firm in their demands that a portion of the new coronavirus funds be reserved for underbanked and minority communities. They also want additional hundreds of billions in aid for struggling hospitals, states and localities.
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“As has been clear since last week, Republicans’ bill which fails to address these critical issues cannot get unanimous consent in the House,” Pelosi said in a statement on Wednesday.
Democratic staff met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday and agreed to resume discussions on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide.
Although the Senate is technically in recess, the chamber gaveled in for a brief pro forma session on Thursday afternoon. In a brief speech on the floor, McConnell reported “absolutely no progress” in negotiations with Democrats over additional funding to the program.
The surge of Paycheck Protection Program applications is a testament to the suddenness and depth of the economic collapse from social distancing measures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 31,000 people in the U.S. The uncertainty among business owners about the status of their applications may reflect the program’s rapid and chaotic start.
In a survey of businesses in the Washington suburbs she represents, Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va) said Wednesday that roughly 100 firms had applied for payroll protection loans, and of those, only three had actually received money.
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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a key architect of the program, said companies should receive their loans within 10 days of approval.
“I think we have to have some perspective here,” Rubio told Bloomberg this week, noting that the initiative had started disbursing funds within 17 days of its inception. “I know of no other program with this reach that has moved that quickly.”
When Ross closed her preschools last month, she told her employees not to apply for unemployment insurance because there would soon be something better. She had read news stories about the Paycheck Protection Program, which received more funding than the unemployment insurance and direct payment provisions of the CARES Act.
Ross filed her application with Bank of America last week and is unsure of its status. Without the loan, she doesn’t know how much longer she’ll be able to pay her 40 employees.
“Had the Paycheck Protection Program not been a thought or an alternative, then of course I would have told all of them to apply for” unemployment, Ross said. “Everybody was supposed to be taken care of in a different way that was appropriate for what they needed.”
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In an emailed statement, a Bank of America spokesperson said the bank has received more than 350,000 applications and has “a team of more than 3,000 people working full-time to process those applications as quickly as possible, including reviewing documents to verify the information provided by each applicant.”
The aim of the program is to prevent workers from signing up for unemployment, instead keeping them attached to their employers, which lawmakers said is a better social policy. Even if a business is closed and its workers are at home, the program essentially will pay their salaries and save them from the alienation of joblessness.
Some firms got their money almost immediately.
Tanya Weinreis, owner of a chain of drive-thru coffee shops in Montana, said she received funds from Yellowstone Bank, a small lender with eight locations, the day she applied ― on the first day of the program.
“We were just quick about it,” Weinreis told HuffPost. But the bank may have been speedy, Weinreis said, because it has served her company for years and “they already had my taxes and things like that.”
Even if it works as designed, the program has critics. The Treasury Department has encouraged banks to restrict applications to banks’ existing customers, and the program’s first-come, first-served nature advantages firms with better access to lawyers and financial managers (like hedge funds, for example).
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-16--Trump Gives Governors 3-Phase Plan To Reopen Economy

The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus , while holding the line in harder-hit locations .
They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned , with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak .
And they largely reinforce the plans already under development by governors , who have the primary responsibility for public health in their states .
“ We ’ re days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases , of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound , ” he said .
“ All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should , and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies , ” Justice told reporters .
At earliest , the guidelines suggest , some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on restrictions has led to a resurgence in virus cases .
In other parts of the country , or if virus cases pick up , it could be substantially longer .
In briefing the governors on the plan , Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states .
Just days before , he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had the absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen .
Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area enters the final phase — and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people .
Governors , for their part , have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to safely revive normal activity .
Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies .
Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast .
Trump also held conference calls Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force on reviving the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month .
But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health by moving too quickly .
The federal government envisions a gradual recovery from the virus , in which disruptive mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available — a milestone unlikely to be reached until sometime next year .
Trump on Thursday claimed the U.S. has “ built the most advanced and robust testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people close to him warned more would be necessary .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
“We’re starting our life again,” Trump said during his daily press briefing. “We’re starting rejuvenation of our economy again.”
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He added, “This is a gradual process.”
The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations. They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak. And they largely reinforce the plans already under development by governors, who have the primary responsibility for public health in their states.
“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told the governors Thursday afternoon in a conference call, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing alongside of you.”
Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools.
In phase one, for instance, the plan recommends strict social distancing for all people in public. Gatherings larger than 10 people are to be avoided and nonessential travel is discouraged.
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In phase two, people are encouraged to maximize social distancing where possible and limit gatherings to no more than 50 people unless precautionary measures are taken. Travel could resume.
Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans, with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the guidelines before their public release.
Governors of both parties made clear they will move at their own pace.
Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said the guidelines “seem to make sense.”
“We’re days, maybe weeks away from the starting line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases, of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound,” he said.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Trump ally, cautiously floated the idea of reopening parts of the state, but said testing capacity and contact tracing would need to be considerably ramped up before restrictions could be safely lifted.
“All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should, and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies,” Justice told reporters.
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At earliest, the guidelines suggest, some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether easing up on restrictions has led to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases pick up, it could be substantially longer.
In briefing the governors on the plan, Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states. Just days before, he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had the absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen.
“We have a very large number of states that want to get going and they’re in very good shape,” Trump said. “That’s good with us, frankly.”
The guidelines also include general recommendations to businesses as they plan for potential reopenings, suggesting temperature-taking, rapid COVID-19 testing and widespread disinfection efforts in workplaces.
Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.
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Governors, for their part, have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to safely revive normal activity. Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies. Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast.
Two in three Americans expressed concerns that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus would be eased too quickly, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.
Trump also held conference calls Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force on reviving the economy. The economic costs were clear in new federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month. But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health by moving too quickly.
“My highest priority on this task force will be to ensure the federal government’s efforts to reopen our economy are bipartisan, data-driven, and based on the expertise of public health professionals,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.
The federal government envisions a gradual recovery from the virus, in which disruptive mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available — a milestone unlikely to be reached until sometime next year.
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“It’s not going to immediately be a situation where we have stadiums full of people,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Thursday. “We’re Americans. We will adapt,” he added.
Trump on Thursday claimed the U.S. has “built the most advanced and robust testing anywhere in the world.” But even people close to him warned more would be necessary.
“We are struggling with testing at a large scale,” South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told ABC’s “The View.” “You really can’t go back to work until we have more tests.”
But some of Trump’s conservative allies, like economist Stephen Moore, have encouraged him to act swiftly, warning of “a mini Great Depression if we keep the economy shut down.”
“That is a catastrophic outcome for our country. Period,” Moore said he advised the president. “We can’t have 30 million people in this country unemployed or you’re going to have social chaos.”
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A big testing ground for Trump’s road map could be Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has stuck close to federal guidance throughout the crisis, will lay out his reopening plan Friday. Abbott has said the process will be gradual, but he is facing pressure from conservative lawmakers to get Texas back to work.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-16--Man Arrested In Alleged White Supremacist Plot To Burn Down Jewish Nursing Home

A Massachusetts man attempted to burn down a Jewish nursing home earlier this month that had been discussed as a target on white supremacist platforms online , federal authorities say .
John Michael Rathbun , 36 , was arrested Wednesday on two counts of attempted arson .
He is accused of placing a gasoline-filled canister outside Ruth ’ s House , a Jewish-sponsored assisted living facility in Longmeadow , Massachusetts , and trying to ignite it .
It did not ignite , and no one at the facility was hurt .
The incident took place on April 3 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they discovered a burnt Christian religious pamphlet in the nozzle of the canister .
Blood on the canister matched Rathbun ’ s DNA , according to federal investigators .
“ As alleged , John Rathbun placed a homemade incendiary device near the entrance of a Jewish assisted living facility , located within a short distance of three Jewish temples , a Jewish private school , and a Jewish Community Center , ” Joseph R. Bonavolonta , special agent in charge of the FBI ’ s Boston division , said in a statement Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real threat posed by racially motivated violent extremists.
” According to a federal affidavit , FBI agents started investigating a white supremacist group in March that used two unidentified social media platforms to promote and plot mass killings in the U.S. targeting religious and racial minorities .
The group often listed targets for such attacks , including mosques and synagogues , the affidavit states .
One member of the group suggested targeting “ that jew nursing home in longmeadow massachusetts.
” Authorities believe the same member created an “ event ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” scheduled for April 3 .
It named the location as “ Jew Nursery Home ” and contained the message “ FUCK JEWS , ” according to the affidavit .
The event was “ accepted ” by six other users .
When agents confronted Rathbun , the affidavit says , he “ categorically denied any involvement ” or interest in white supremacist groups .
He said he only used the internet to watch pornography and access a dating website .
Rathbun , who had cuts on his hand , also initially denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the agents “ informed him that his DNA matched the blood ” found on the gas canister , his demeanor changed and a short time later he “ stated that he did not know what he was going to do and that he wanted to cry , ” according to the affidavit .
Rathbun will make his initial court appearance this week via videoconference , according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney ’ s office , as courtrooms in the state and across the country are closed to slow the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years in prison .
News of Rathbun ’ s alleged attempt to burn down the facility comes as nursing homes are struggling to cope with outbreaks of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , which is particularly fatal for the elderly .
Ruth ’ s House was already in lockdown on April 3 when Rathbun allegedly tried to burn it down , according to a note on the company ’ s website .
Although no one there has contracted coronavirus , almost 100 residents at an affiliated nursing home nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twenty-one of them have died .

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A Massachusetts man attempted to burn down a Jewish nursing home earlier this month that had been discussed as a target on white supremacist platforms online, federal authorities say.
John Michael Rathbun, 36, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of attempted arson. He is accused of placing a gasoline-filled canister outside Ruth’s House, a Jewish-sponsored assisted living facility in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and trying to ignite it. It did not ignite, and no one at the facility was hurt.
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The incident took place on April 3, according to a criminal complaint. Police said they discovered a burnt Christian religious pamphlet in the nozzle of the canister. Blood on the canister matched Rathbun’s DNA, according to federal investigators.
“As alleged, John Rathbun placed a homemade incendiary device near the entrance of a Jewish assisted living facility, located within a short distance of three Jewish temples, a Jewish private school, and a Jewish Community Center,” Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston division, said in a statement Wednesday. “This case highlights the very real threat posed by racially motivated violent extremists.”
According to a federal affidavit, FBI agents started investigating a white supremacist group in March that used two unidentified social media platforms to promote and plot mass killings in the U.S. targeting religious and racial minorities.
The group often listed targets for such attacks, including mosques and synagogues, the affidavit states. One member of the group suggested targeting “that jew nursing home in longmeadow massachusetts.”
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Authorities believe the same member created an “event” in the group calendar titled “jew killing day,” scheduled for April 3. It named the location as “Jew Nursery Home” and contained the message “FUCK JEWS,” according to the affidavit. The event was “accepted” by six other users.
When agents confronted Rathbun, the affidavit says, he “categorically denied any involvement” or interest in white supremacist groups. He said he only used the internet to watch pornography and access a dating website.
Rathbun, who had cuts on his hand, also initially denied involvement in the arson attempt. But when the agents “informed him that his DNA matched the blood” found on the gas canister, his demeanor changed and a short time later he “stated that he did not know what he was going to do and that he wanted to cry,” according to the affidavit.
Rathbun will make his initial court appearance this week via videoconference, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office, as courtrooms in the state and across the country are closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
News of Rathbun’s alleged attempt to burn down the facility comes as nursing homes are struggling to cope with outbreaks of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, which is particularly fatal for the elderly.
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Ruth’s House was already in lockdown on April 3 when Rathbun allegedly tried to burn it down, according to a note on the company’s website. Although no one there has contracted coronavirus, almost 100 residents at an affiliated nursing home nearby have tested positive for the virus. Twenty-one of them have died.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-16--Democrat Raphael Warnock Leads Crowded Georgia Senate Race With Big Fundraising Haul

“ I think it ’ s because people respect our message , ” Warnock told HuffPost in an interview .
“ I ’ ve been focused on this whole issue of health care for years .
I ’ ve been fighting for accessible and affordable health care , which I see as a human right .
And the COVID-19 challenge really brings into sharp focus the issues that I ’ ve been advocating for for years.
” Warnock is the senior pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church , the famous Atlanta church where the Rev .
Martin Luther King , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only Democrat in the race , but he has the support of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , former United Nations Amb .
Andrew Young ( who was a close King confidante ) and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) appointed Loeffler to the Senate seat after Republican Johnny Isakson resigned last year , but she will have to fight to keep the position in the November special election .
All candidates , regardless of party , will be on the ballot together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the vote , the top two vote-getters will be on the ballot for a runoff in January 2021 .
Loeffler has been wrapped up in a scandal for dumping millions in stock in the days and weeks after attending a private briefing on the coronavirus for senators .
Members of Congress are barred from trading on non-public information that they get during their official duties .
“ I think it ’ s the very kind of thing that turns people off from politics in the first place , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this unbroken trafficking between political backroom and corporate board rooms .
And too often in our politics , you can ’ t tell one from the other .
The folks who are in the political backrooms are the people in the corporate board rooms .
When you are situated in both places , the onus is on you to work hard and very hard to prove to us that there really is a difference.
” Loeffler , a former Wall Street executive , is the richest member of Congress and her husband is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exchange .
While she said she did nothing wrong with the trades , she announced she and her husband would liquidate their individual stock shares to move on from the “ distraction.
” Georgians will be voting for both its U.S. senators in November .
So far , however , the races haven ’ t attracted the top-tier national attention that the Senate races in places like Maine , Colorado , North Carolina and Arizona have received , indicating that many Democratic strategists still see Georgia as a reach .
No party-affiliated committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state yet .
Warnock jumped into the race in January with a campaign video charting his path from public housing in Savannah to his position at the church .
A graduate of Morehouse College , Warnock became senior pastor at Ebenezer in 2005 , when he was 35 .
In 2013 , he delivered the closing prayer at President Barack Obama ’ s Inaugural Prayer Service , and in 2016 , he gave the sermon at the Annual White House Prayer breakfast .
Warnock , like every other candidate , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic still raging .
But he ’ s also had to change how he reaches out to his congregation .
For the past five weeks , the church services at Ebenezer have been conducted virtually .
And two weeks ago , he had his first COVID-19 funeral ― a beloved football coach and father of twin 16-year-old daughters whom Warnock watched grow up as members of his congregation .
“ They had to say farewell to their father as a result of this virus .
And if that isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this virus requires us to do the opposite of what we would normally be doing at a time in the wake of death , ” he said .
“ When we would be embracing one another , we have to engage in social distancing from one another .
And so I conducted the entire funeral on a Zoom platform because we are clear that we didn ’ t want the funeral to produce additional funerals.
” “ We ’ ve seen stimulus packages before , ” he said , “ and sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at the top ― and well-connected corporations and corporate interests ― and not nearly enough for people who are just sheltering in right now , dealing with everyday bread-and-butter conversations : Will I have a job next week ?
If I don ’ t , will the unemployment check come soon enough ?
”

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Out of the 21 candidates running for U.S. Senate in Georgia’s special election race, it was the Rev. Raphael Warnock who came out on top in the money race for the first quarter.
Warnock, a Democrat and first-time candidate, outraised both Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins, the top two Republicans in the race.
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“I think it’s because people respect our message,” Warnock told HuffPost in an interview. “I’ve been focused on this whole issue of health care for years. I’ve been fighting for accessible and affordable health care, which I see as a human right. And the COVID-19 challenge really brings into sharp focus the issues that I’ve been advocating for for years.”
Warnock is the senior pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the famous Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached. He’s not the only Democrat in the race, but he has the support of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, former United Nations Amb. Andrew Young (who was a close King confidante) and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Rev. Raphael Warnock is running for U.S. Senate in Georgia. David Goldman/Associated Press
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) appointed Loeffler to the Senate seat after Republican Johnny Isakson resigned last year, but she will have to fight to keep the position in the November special election. All candidates, regardless of party, will be on the ballot together. If no one receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will be on the ballot for a runoff in January 2021.
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Loeffler has been wrapped up in a scandal for dumping millions in stock in the days and weeks after attending a private briefing on the coronavirus for senators. Members of Congress are barred from trading on non-public information that they get during their official duties.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) has been in hot water over her stock trades after receiving a private briefing about the coronavirus. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Warnock called Loeffler’s actions “deeply disappointing.”
“I think it’s the very kind of thing that turns people off from politics in the first place,” he said. “Where we’re seeing this unbroken trafficking between political backroom and corporate board rooms. And too often in our politics, you can’t tell one from the other. The folks who are in the political backrooms are the people in the corporate board rooms. When you are situated in both places, the onus is on you to work hard and very hard to prove to us that there really is a difference.”
Loeffler, a former Wall Street executive, is the richest member of Congress and her husband is the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. While she said she did nothing wrong with the trades, she announced she and her husband would liquidate their individual stock shares to move on from the “distraction.”
Collins is Loeffler’s main competition for GOP support. He’s a staunch Trump defender. Although Trump has so far stayed neutral, he reportedly lobbied Kemp to choose Collins for the appointment that ultimately went to Loeffler.
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Other Democrats in the race include Matt Lieberman, the son of former Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), and former U.S. attorney Ed Tarver.
Georgians will be voting for both its U.S. senators in November. So far, however, the races haven’t attracted the top-tier national attention that the Senate races in places like Maine, Colorado, North Carolina and Arizona have received, indicating that many Democratic strategists still see Georgia as a reach. No party-affiliated committee or super PAC has placed ad reservations in the state yet.
But Loeffler’s stumbles and Warnock’s fundraising strength may give the special election an extra boost.
Warnock jumped into the race in January with a campaign video charting his path from public housing in Savannah to his position at the church. A graduate of Morehouse College, Warnock became senior pastor at Ebenezer in 2005, when he was 35. In 2013, he delivered the closing prayer at President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Prayer Service, and in 2016, he gave the sermon at the Annual White House Prayer breakfast.
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Warnock, like every other candidate, has had to change how he campaigns with the coronavirus pandemic still raging. But he’s also had to change how he reaches out to his congregation.
For the past five weeks, the church services at Ebenezer have been conducted virtually. And two weeks ago, he had his first COVID-19 funeral ― a beloved football coach and father of twin 16-year-old daughters whom Warnock watched grow up as members of his congregation.
“They had to say farewell to their father as a result of this virus. And if that isn’t bad enough, on top of it, this virus requires us to do the opposite of what we would normally be doing at a time in the wake of death,” he said. “When we would be embracing one another, we have to engage in social distancing from one another. And so I conducted the entire funeral on a Zoom platform because we are clear that we didn’t want the funeral to produce additional funerals.”
Warnock said that for him, it’s important that any stimulus relief package keeps “struggling families and working people” at the center.
“We’ve seen stimulus packages before,” he said, “and sometimes they have done more than enough for people at the top ― and well-connected corporations and corporate interests ― and not nearly enough for people who are just sheltering in right now, dealing with everyday bread-and-butter conversations: Will I have a job next week? If I don’t, will the unemployment check come soon enough?”
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“Every now and then, the other side lets us know why they’re engaged in rabid voter suppression.” - Rev. Raphael Warnock
Warnock also said he supports making voting by mail easier and more accessible for the November elections.
Georgia, which is controlled by Republicans at the state level, recently made it easier for voters to cast a ballot through the mail for the May primary (which has since been pushed back to June).
But David Ralston, the Republican speaker of the state House, said he was opposed to that decision because absentee ballots would make it easier for people to vote ― and presumably increase turnout ― which would hurt Republicans.
“The president said it best ― this will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia,” said Ralston.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-04-16--Los Angeles Prosecutors Discussed Loopholes In Coronavirus Zero-Bail Policy

LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey has praised her county ’ s efforts to reduce the jail population and applauded the statewide rule , which allow for certain exceptions , including for people accused of DUIs and serious or violent felonies .
But emails obtained by HuffPost show that her office has internally discussed ways to continue seeking old bail amounts in other scenarios as well , a move that could put more people in unnecessary danger of being exposed to the virus in jail .
Jails are among the most dangerous places to be during the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distance , wash their hands frequently , and disinfect surfaces .
Jail staffers and inmates leave and enter the facility frequently .
Reducing the number of people in custody is the only way to mitigate the spread of the virus through jails , public health experts have warned .
In LA County jails , at least 11 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and nearly 700 are quarantined .
A member of the jail ’ s nursing staff who tested positive for the virus died earlier this month .
But there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement cited and released an individual , and later brought the case to the DA ’ s office to seek an arrest warrant , “ we should use the old bail schedule that lists a dollar amount , otherwise no one would get arrested on that warrant , ” Satriano wrote .
“ Keep in mind , ” she added , “ the court may still lower bail to zero.
” ( Read the email here . )
In other words , if law enforcement decided an individual who was cited and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked prosecutors to seek an arrest warrant , the DA ’ s office would request the bail amount that would have applied before the emergency COVID-19 rule .
An individual accused of an offense that is supposed to carry zero bail during the pandemic could end up facing bail they can ’ t afford and be stuck in jail waiting for the judge to lower the bail to zero .
If the judge complied with the zero-bail rule , the defendant would get released — but only after facing an unnecessarily high risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The judiciary already accounted for traditional bail considerations like flight risk and public safety when ordering new $ 0 emergency bail .
Prosecutors from around the state had the opportunity to comment and provide input before this order came out , ” Nikhil Ramnaney , the president of the union that represents LA County public defenders , said in an interview after reviewing copies of the emails .
He continued : “ Because they disagree with the breadth of this order , LA prosecutors have adopted a position that would lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and force them to be placed in custody for up to seven days on offenses that have $ 0 bail .
This conduct endangers public safety by increasing risk of infection to the community at large.
” The DA ’ s office disputes that the guidance from the April 2 email is meaningful .
The scenario described in the email “ was a hypothetical exercise in which a prosecutor sought direction if , in the unlikely situation , this particular scenario should occur in the future , ” Ricardo Santiago , a spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wrote in an email .
“ We do not expect any law enforcement agency to cite and release an offender , and then present the same case for criminal filing before the offender is scheduled to return to court to face criminal charges.
” LA County Public Defender Ricardo García saw the email earlier this month and brought it to Lacey ’ s attention , he told HuffPost .
Lacey assured García that the guidance in the email did not represent her position , he said .
García added that he appreciates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals who can be released rather than having to litigate each case individually in court .
But on Monday , another member of the DA ’ s team provided guidance that appeared to undermine the zero-bail rule .
Deputy District Attorney Belle Chen instructed prosecutors in an email to start identifying which of the more than 2,000 people incarcerated on nonserious , nonviolent charges qualified for zero bail under the new rule .
“ Probably many of the cases involving drugs , theft , etc .
will be more straightforward in deciding $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ BUT if you believe for the sake of public safety and [ defendant ’ s ] reappearance that $ 0 bail is NOT appropriate , we can still argue for a bail review hearing , ” Chen continued .
The April 13 email , according to Santiago , was an effort to make sure that violent criminals who do not qualify for zero bail under the new rule are not accidentally released because they are also facing nonviolent charges .
“ Upon review , prosecutors have identified multiple-murder defendants awaiting trial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with at least one charge that is violent or serious under the law and exempt from zero bail , whose names appeared on the list of non-serious/non-violent offenders , ” Santiago wrote .
The Judicial Council rule “ states that ‘ bail for all misdemeanors and felony offenses must be set at $ 0 ’ with the exception of ‘ only ’ 13 listed exceptions , ” Esposito wrote in the memo ( bold in the original ) .
“ It is the Office ’ s position that courts do not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0 for offenses that are not found in the 13 listed exceptions .
”

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In an effort to thin out jails where inmates have a high risk of contracting the coronavirus, Los Angeles County courts reduced bail for most misdemeanors and low-level felonies to $0. A few weeks later, California’s Judicial Council enacted a similar statewide rule.
LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey has praised her county’s efforts to reduce the jail population and applauded the statewide rule, which allow for certain exceptions, including for people accused of DUIs and serious or violent felonies. But emails obtained by HuffPost show that her office has internally discussed ways to continue seeking old bail amounts in other scenarios as well, a move that could put more people in unnecessary danger of being exposed to the virus in jail.
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Jails are among the most dangerous places to be during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is impossible for most prisoners to social distance, wash their hands frequently, and disinfect surfaces. Jail staffers and inmates leave and enter the facility frequently. Reducing the number of people in custody is the only way to mitigate the spread of the virus through jails, public health experts have warned. In LA County jails, at least 11 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and nearly 700 are quarantined. A member of the jail’s nursing staff who tested positive for the virus died earlier this month.
Although Lacey has publicly supported the emergency zero-bail rule, some members of her team have provided guidance that runs counter to the purpose of the policy.
On April 2 — after the LA Superior Court implemented its zero-bail rule but before the statewide move — Gina Satriano, a director in the district attorney’s office, wrote an email to several prosecutors explaining how deputy DAs should respond if law enforcement seeks to hold someone on a zero-bail offense.
The court believes officers are supposed to “cite and release” — effectively the same as giving a ticket to — anyone accused of such an offense and that “disregarding the zero bail is unlawful,” Satriano wrote.
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But there was a loophole, she suggested. If law enforcement cited and released an individual, and later brought the case to the DA’s office to seek an arrest warrant, “we should use the old bail schedule that lists a dollar amount, otherwise no one would get arrested on that warrant,” Satriano wrote. “Keep in mind,” she added, “the court may still lower bail to zero.” (Read the email here.)
In other words, if law enforcement decided an individual who was cited and released should actually be jailed pretrial and asked prosecutors to seek an arrest warrant, the DA’s office would request the bail amount that would have applied before the emergency COVID-19 rule. An individual accused of an offense that is supposed to carry zero bail during the pandemic could end up facing bail they can’t afford and be stuck in jail waiting for the judge to lower the bail to zero. If the judge complied with the zero-bail rule, the defendant would get released — but only after facing an unnecessarily high risk of contracting the coronavirus in custody.
“The judiciary already accounted for traditional bail considerations like flight risk and public safety when ordering new $0 emergency bail. Prosecutors from around the state had the opportunity to comment and provide input before this order came out,” Nikhil Ramnaney, the president of the union that represents LA County public defenders, said in an interview after reviewing copies of the emails. He continued:
“Because they disagree with the breadth of this order, LA prosecutors have adopted a position that would lead to people being arrested while sheltering in place and force them to be placed in custody for up to seven days on offenses that have $0 bail. This conduct endangers public safety by increasing risk of infection to the community at large.”
The DA’s office disputes that the guidance from the April 2 email is meaningful. The scenario described in the email “was a hypothetical exercise in which a prosecutor sought direction if, in the unlikely situation, this particular scenario should occur in the future,” Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, wrote in an email. “We do not expect any law enforcement agency to cite and release an offender, and then present the same case for criminal filing before the offender is scheduled to return to court to face criminal charges.”
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LA County Public Defender Ricardo García saw the email earlier this month and brought it to Lacey’s attention, he told HuffPost. Lacey assured García that the guidance in the email did not represent her position, he said. García added that he appreciates Lacey’s office cooperating in identifying individuals who can be released rather than having to litigate each case individually in court.
But on Monday, another member of the DA’s team provided guidance that appeared to undermine the zero-bail rule. Deputy District Attorney Belle Chen instructed prosecutors in an email to start identifying which of the more than 2,000 people incarcerated on nonserious, nonviolent charges qualified for zero bail under the new rule.
“Probably many of the cases involving drugs, theft, etc. will be more straightforward in deciding $0 bail,” Chen wrote. “BUT if you believe for the sake of public safety and [defendant’s] reappearance that $0 bail is NOT appropriate, we can still argue for a bail review hearing,” Chen continued.
Chen referenced an April 9 memo from retired Placer County Judge. J. Richard Couzens, who argued that courts can depart from the zero-bail rule to protect public safety. Although the Couzens memo is not legally binding, some prosecutors have referred to it to argue that implementation of the zero-bail rule is discretionary.
“I don’t know what authority they’re relying upon to circumvent the explicit goal of the law,” said Ramnaney of the public defenders union.
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The April 13 email, according to Santiago, was an effort to make sure that violent criminals who do not qualify for zero bail under the new rule are not accidentally released because they are also facing nonviolent charges.
“Upon review, prosecutors have identified multiple-murder defendants awaiting trial and people facing more than one criminal case, with at least one charge that is violent or serious under the law and exempt from zero bail, whose names appeared on the list of non-serious/non-violent offenders,” Santiago wrote.
In that situation, the individual would not be eligible for zero bail because of the murder charge. Prosecutors would not need to argue for a bail review hearing.
“Whenever the LA DA’s office has attempted to institute a policy change or progressive legislation, Jackie Lacey has been ineffective in ensuring that it’s carried out consistently,” Ramnaney said. “She has allowed punitive cultures to fester in certain places.”
LA County has already released thousands of people from jail in response to the coronavirus crisis, a move supported by one of the county’s top law enforcement officials. Leaving the jail “fully populated” would have made it easier for COVID-19 “to sweep through the jail system and jeopardize everyone’s safety,” LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told Fox News.
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UPDATE: 3:12 p.m. ET ― On Monday morning, after HuffPost contacted the district attorney’s office to request comment, Chief Deputy District Attorney Joseph Esposito sent a memo with the subject line: “EMERGENCY BAIL SCHEDULE — ZERO BAIL IS NOT DISCRETIONARY.”