thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Georgia Senate approves flat-fee tax for ride-share trips

The Georgia Senate push forward a bill Wednesday that would add a flat-fee tax for ride-sharing trips instead of sales tax .
Language added to House Bill 105 would require riders to pay 50 cents a ride-share trip or 25 cents a pool ride in place of an 8.9 percent sales tax .
The bill 's original language would exempt disaster relief aid from being subject to income tax .
Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan , R-Carrollton , asked his colleagues on the Senate floor Wednesday to not let the new language get in the way of the bill 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , [ farmers have ] gotten the support to get them back on their feet to kind of continue to promote the No.1 industry within the state of Georgia , ” he said .
“ And what you do n't want to do is punish them further by not passing this bill , or by complicating it to the point that it is not passable.
” The Senate voted 51-2 in favor of HB 105 , but the new version of the bill will have to be approved by the House .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fee is a response to House Bill 276 , which is slated to take effect April 1 .
The new law is aimed at collecting tax revenue from businesses that provide services or sell products remotely in the state .
Watson ’ s attempt to push forward the ride share flat fee is the second attempt by lawmakers to do so in the past month .
On Feb. 5 , House Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Tanner , R–Dawsonville , proposed adding the fee to another unrelated bill he sponsored last legislative session , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to finance transit expansions in rural Georgia .
No further action has been taken on the bill since then .
The new language in HB 105 would require the taxes collected on the rides to be used solely for transportation , capital improvement and infrastructure projects .
Georgia State University 's Fiscal Research Center estimated the ride share flat fee could generate $ 4.4 million to $ 13 million more in state revenue in 2021 , but local revenue could decrease by $ 16.3 million to $ 26 million as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The additional sales tax by way of HB 276 was projected to accumulate $ 78.4 million in state revenue and $ 64.5 million in local government revenue within the same timeframe .
Those estimates would decrease by the ride-share estimates should HB 105 become law .
However , Watson and the others argue that the ground transportation services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and improves the air quality of the state .

The Georgia Senate push forward a bill Wednesday that would add a flat-fee tax for ride-sharing trips instead of sales tax.
Language added to House Bill 105 would require riders to pay 50 cents a ride-share trip or 25 cents a pool ride in place of an 8.9 percent sales tax. The bill's original language would exempt disaster relief aid from being subject to income tax.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan, R-Carrollton, asked his colleagues on the Senate floor Wednesday to not let the new language get in the way of the bill's original purpose.
“After Hurricane Michael, [farmers have] gotten the support to get them back on their feet to kind of continue to promote the No.1 industry within the state of Georgia,” he said. “And what you don't want to do is punish them further by not passing this bill, or by complicating it to the point that it is not passable.”
The Senate voted 51-2 in favor of HB 105, but the new version of the bill will have to be approved by the House.
The move to add the ride share flat fee is a response to House Bill 276, which is slated to take effect April 1. The new law is aimed at collecting tax revenue from businesses that provide services or sell products remotely in the state.
Watson’s attempt to push forward the ride share flat fee is the second attempt by lawmakers to do so in the past month.
On Feb. 5, House Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Tanner, R–Dawsonville, proposed adding the fee to another unrelated bill he sponsored last legislative session, House Bill 511, which creates a plan to finance transit expansions in rural Georgia. No further action has been taken on the bill since then.
The new language in HB 105 would require the taxes collected on the rides to be used solely for transportation, capital improvement and infrastructure projects.
Georgia State University's Fiscal Research Center estimated the ride share flat fee could generate $4.4 million to $13 million more in state revenue in 2021, but local revenue could decrease by $16.3 million to $26 million as a result of losing sales tax on the rides.
The additional sales tax by way of HB 276 was projected to accumulate $78.4 million in state revenue and $64.5 million in local government revenue within the same timeframe. Those estimates would decrease by the ride-share estimates should HB 105 become law.
However, Watson and the others argue that the ground transportation services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and improves the air quality of the state.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Bill would allow barbers, others to practice without state license

A state lawmaker is defending his bill to allow barbers , cosmeticians , hair braiders and nail technicians to work without a state license .
Illinois requires people to obtain a number of hours of training and continued education to get a state license .
Cosmetologists are required to get 1,500 hours of education , the same for a barber license .
An esthetician license requires 750 hours .
The requirement is 350 hours for nail technicians , and 300 hours for hair braiding .
There are other regulations for salons and barbershops .
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn , R-East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was simple .
It would allow those practicing various jobs in the cosmetology arena to do so without a license , as long as it ’ s publicly posted they ’ re not licensed .
He said the idea came about after he got his hair styled by his go-to stylist .
“ And she ’ s not licensed to do a straight razor shave so I have to go back and get an appointment from someone else for a shave , ” Skillicorn said .
“ Yet she knows what she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained as a cosmetologist .
She ’ s licensed .
She ’ s gone to school , but because of the current licensing in Illinois she has to go back to school for many , many hours , repetitive schooling that she already has just to get that one certification for a straight razor shave.
” He said that was n't fair to his stylist , nor was it fair to consumers .
He said the measure was designed to eliminate barriers to entering the workforce .
“ Frankly , we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why would we want to exclude people from the trades ?
” Skillicorn said .
“ These are good-paying jobs .
These are good careers .
Why don ’ t we open the door for young people to get involved and work their way up the ladder ?
” Opponents of the bill include the American Beauty Show , an association for the cosmetology profession .
The group said the measure would negatively affect public safety and consumers .
“ If it ’ s less safe , that gives the people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a licensed person , so it really doesn ’ t to that , ” Skillicorn said .
“ It really just opens the door for entry-level jobs and apprenticeships.
” Others worry the measure would devalue the industry , but Skillicorn said it was about free markets and consumer choice .
“ People who do not trust the free market , they have an inherent distrust of freedom itself , ” he said .
Skillicorn is the only sponsor of House Bill 5558 , which remains in the House Rules Committee .

A state lawmaker is defending his bill to allow barbers, cosmeticians, hair braiders and nail technicians to work without a state license.
Illinois requires people to obtain a number of hours of training and continued education to get a state license. Cosmetologists are required to get 1,500 hours of education, the same for a barber license. An esthetician license requires 750 hours. The requirement is 350 hours for nail technicians, and 300 hours for hair braiding. There are other regulations for salons and barbershops.
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said his House Bill 5558 was simple. It would allow those practicing various jobs in the cosmetology arena to do so without a license, as long as it’s publicly posted they’re not licensed. He said the idea came about after he got his hair styled by his go-to stylist.
“And she’s not licensed to do a straight razor shave so I have to go back and get an appointment from someone else for a shave,” Skillicorn said. “Yet she knows what she’s doing. She’s already trained as a cosmetologist. She’s licensed. She’s gone to school, but because of the current licensing in Illinois she has to go back to school for many, many hours, repetitive schooling that she already has just to get that one certification for a straight razor shave.”
He said that wasn't fair to his stylist, nor was it fair to consumers. He said the measure was designed to eliminate barriers to entering the workforce.
“Frankly, we need to get more people in the trades, and why would we want to exclude people from the trades?” Skillicorn said. “These are good-paying jobs. These are good careers. Why don’t we open the door for young people to get involved and work their way up the ladder?”
Opponents of the bill include the American Beauty Show, an association for the cosmetology profession. The group said the measure would negatively affect public safety and consumers.
Skillicorn disagreed.
“If it’s less safe, that gives the people, the consumers more reasons to go to a licensed person, so it really doesn’t to that,” Skillicorn said. “It really just opens the door for entry-level jobs and apprenticeships.”
Others worry the measure would devalue the industry, but Skillicorn said it was about free markets and consumer choice.
“People who do not trust the free market, they have an inherent distrust of freedom itself,” he said.
Skillicorn is the only sponsor of House Bill 5558, which remains in the House Rules Committee.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--FISA court mistakenly says Fusion GPS was digging up dirt on Hillary Clinton, not Trump

A ruling by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on Wednesday mistakenly said Fusion GPS , the opposition research firm which hired British ex-spy Christopher Steele in 2016 , was looking for dirt on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rather than on then-candidate Donald Trump .
The court fixed the glaring error only after the Washington Examiner brought it to its attention .
Judge James Boasberg , the court ’ s presiding judge , cited the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications against former Trump campaign associate Carter Page in a Wednesday opinion and , in the midst of pointing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and factual errors in the electronic surveillance filings uncovered by the Justice Department ’ s watchdog , he made a mistake himself .
“ Although from the outset the applications acknowledged the likely political bias of the person who had hired Steele … information that confirmed the political origins of the Steele reporting was not , ” Boasberg stated .
He then incorrectly quoted a footnote from the first FISA application , writing : “ The FBI speculates that the [ person who hired Steele ] was likely looking for information that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ] campaign.
” In reality , the FISA application stated , “ the FBI speculates that the identified U.S. person was likely looking for information that could be used to discredit Candidate # 1 ’ s campaign.
” “ Thank you for pointing this out , ” David Sellers , a public affairs officer for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts , told the Washington Examiner when the factual inconsistency was relayed to the court .
“ It is an error that will be corrected.
” Boasberg acknowledged the error in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s website Thursday afternoon .
“ On March 4 , 2020 , this Court issued an Opinion and Order in the above-captioned docket .
It has come to the Court 's attention that the Opinion and Order contained an error on page 6 .
The Court is therefore issuing a Corrected Opinion and Order herewith , ” the judge said .
After the Washington Examiner reached out , the judicial order was updated to correctly state Fusion GPS was looking to damage “ [ Trump ’ s ] campaign ” rather than “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December that criticized the Justice Department and the FBI for at least 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” related to the FISA surveillance of Page , who was suspected of being an agent for Russia but was never charged with wrongdoing , and for its heavy reliance on Steele ’ s salacious and unverified dossier .
Steele put his research together in 2016 at the behest of Fusion GPS , which was funded by Clinton 's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steele ’ s Democratic benefactors , including the fact that a presidential campaign was ultimately paying him , were not revealed to the FISA court until well after the Page surveillance had ended .
Boasberg said Wednesday there was “ little doubt that the government breached its duty of candor to the Court with respect to those applications ” and the “ frequency and seriousness of these errors … have called into question the reliability of the information proffered in other FBI applications.
” Marc Elias , who heads Perkins Coie ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel for California Sen. Kamala Harris ’ s failed presidential bid and held the same position in Clinton 's campaign .
Clinton ’ s former presidential campaign manager Robby Mook said in 2017 that he authorized Elias to hire an outside firm to dig up dirt on Trump ’ s connections with Russia in 2016 .
“ I asked our lawyer , and I gave him a budget allocation to investigate this , particularly the international aspect , ” he said .
Mook said Elias was receiving information from Fusion GPS about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Elias then periodically briefed the Clinton campaign about the findings .
“ We were getting briefings that were put together by the law firm with information , ” Mook said .
“ I ’ m proud that we were able to assemble some of the research that has brought this to light.
” The FBI told Steele in October 2016 it was looking into Page as well as Trump campaign associate George Papadopoulos , future Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn , and Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort .
Steele passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Fusion .
Perkins Coie was paid more than $ 12 million between 2016 and 2017 for its work representing Clinton and the DNC .
According to its co-founder Glenn Simpson , Fusion GPS was , in turn , paid $ 50,000 per month from Perkins Coie , and Fusion paid Steele roughly $ 168,000 for his work .
Perkins Coie said in an October 2017 letter that it had hired Fusion GPS , claiming the opposition research firm “ approached Perkins Coie ” in March 2016 with the knowledge that Perkins Coie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Perkins Coie then “ engaged ” Fusion in April of that year “ to perform a variety of research services during the 2016 election cycle.
” Elias himself personally “ retained Fusion GPS … to conduct the research ” and did so “ on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC , ” according to a report from the Washington Post .
Brian Fallon , the former national press secretary for the Clinton campaign , defended Elias .
“ Marc is known as one of the most skilled professionals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party 's top election lawyer , '' Fallon said in 2017 .
“ I am damn glad he pursued this on behalf of our campaign and only regret more of this material was not verified in time for the voters to learn it before the election .
”

A ruling by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on Wednesday mistakenly said Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm which hired British ex-spy Christopher Steele in 2016, was looking for dirt on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rather than on then-candidate Donald Trump.
The court fixed the glaring error only after the Washington Examiner brought it to its attention.
Judge James Boasberg, the court’s presiding judge, cited the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications against former Trump campaign associate Carter Page in a Wednesday opinion and, in the midst of pointing out the multitude of flaws, omissions, and factual errors in the electronic surveillance filings uncovered by the Justice Department’s watchdog, he made a mistake himself.
“Although from the outset the applications acknowledged the likely political bias of the person who had hired Steele … information that confirmed the political origins of the Steele reporting was not,” Boasberg stated.
He then incorrectly quoted a footnote from the first FISA application, writing: “The FBI speculates that the [person who hired Steele] was likely looking for information that could be used to discredit [Clinton’s] campaign.”
In reality, the FISA application stated, “the FBI speculates that the identified U.S. person was likely looking for information that could be used to discredit Candidate #1’s campaign.”
“Candidate #1” was Trump, not Clinton.
“Thank you for pointing this out,” David Sellers, a public affairs officer for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, told the Washington Examiner when the factual inconsistency was relayed to the court. “It is an error that will be corrected.”
Boasberg acknowledged the error in a filing on the FISA court’s website Thursday afternoon.
“On March 4, 2020, this Court issued an Opinion and Order in the above-captioned docket. It has come to the Court's attention that the Opinion and Order contained an error on page 6. The Court is therefore issuing a Corrected Opinion and Order herewith,” the judge said.
After the Washington Examiner reached out, the judicial order was updated to correctly state Fusion GPS was looking to damage “[Trump’s] campaign” rather than “[Clinton’s] campaign.”
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December that criticized the Justice Department and the FBI for at least 17 “significant errors and omissions” related to the FISA surveillance of Page, who was suspected of being an agent for Russia but was never charged with wrongdoing, and for its heavy reliance on Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier.
Steele put his research together in 2016 at the behest of Fusion GPS, which was funded by Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm.
Steele’s Democratic benefactors, including the fact that a presidential campaign was ultimately paying him, were not revealed to the FISA court until well after the Page surveillance had ended.
Boasberg said Wednesday there was “little doubt that the government breached its duty of candor to the Court with respect to those applications” and the “frequency and seriousness of these errors … have called into question the reliability of the information proffered in other FBI applications.”
Marc Elias, who heads Perkins Coie’s political law group, was the general counsel for California Sen. Kamala Harris’s failed presidential bid and held the same position in Clinton's campaign.
Clinton’s former presidential campaign manager Robby Mook said in 2017 that he authorized Elias to hire an outside firm to dig up dirt on Trump’s connections with Russia in 2016. “I asked our lawyer, and I gave him a budget allocation to investigate this, particularly the international aspect,” he said.
Mook said Elias was receiving information from Fusion GPS about the research into Trump and Russia in 2016 and that Elias then periodically briefed the Clinton campaign about the findings.
“We were getting briefings that were put together by the law firm with information,” Mook said. “I’m proud that we were able to assemble some of the research that has brought this to light.”
The FBI told Steele in October 2016 it was looking into Page as well as Trump campaign associate George Papadopoulos, future Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Steele passed along at least some of this information to Fusion.
Perkins Coie was paid more than $12 million between 2016 and 2017 for its work representing Clinton and the DNC. According to its co-founder Glenn Simpson, Fusion GPS was, in turn, paid $50,000 per month from Perkins Coie, and Fusion paid Steele roughly $168,000 for his work.
Perkins Coie said in an October 2017 letter that it had hired Fusion GPS, claiming the opposition research firm “approached Perkins Coie” in March 2016 with the knowledge that Perkins Coie was representing Clinton and the DNC, and that Perkins Coie then “engaged” Fusion in April of that year “to perform a variety of research services during the 2016 election cycle.”
Elias himself personally “retained Fusion GPS … to conduct the research” and did so “on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC,” according to a report from the Washington Post.
Brian Fallon, the former national press secretary for the Clinton campaign, defended Elias.
“Marc is known as one of the most skilled professionals in Democratic politics, in addition to being the party's top election lawyer," Fallon said in 2017. “I am damn glad he pursued this on behalf of our campaign and only regret more of this material was not verified in time for the voters to learn it before the election.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Israeli opposition parties may unite to deny Netanyahu power

After an unprecedented three elections this past year and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s political bloc failing to secure a majority of seats , rival parties may form a fragile alliance to oust him from power .
The results of Monday ’ s election showed Netanyahu ’ s right-wing bloc falling three seats short of a majority , despite him earlier trumpeting partial results as a “ huge victory.
” Netanyahu ’ s Likud Party won a plurality with 36 , with allied parties winning 22 additional seats .
Benny Gantz ’ s Blue and White Party won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven , and the Joint List , a coalition of Arab parties , won a record 15 seats .
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman ’ s party Yisrael Beiteinu , which split from Netanyahu , received seven seats .
Both Netanyahu , who has been indicted on corruption charges , and Gantz have failed to form majority governments for almost a year , and both have failed to move forward with a Netanyahu-Gantz coalition government .
After not doing so in the previous two elections , Lieberman now says he plans to recommend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Axios .
The Joint List , which is fiercely opposed to Lieberman ’ s party , has signaled that it could get behind a Gantz government , but only if Gantz makes “ a change truly in the direction of peace and equality.
” The possibility of even a temporary alliance of the parties under Gantz could have major implications for Netanyahu because Lieberman supports a bill that wouldn ’ t allow people who are indicted from forming a government .
Any sort of alliance between White and Blue , Joint List @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenuous , but if the country has a fourth election , it might deny Netanyahu the ability to be prime minister .

After an unprecedented three elections this past year and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc failing to secure a majority of seats, rival parties may form a fragile alliance to oust him from power.
The results of Monday’s election showed Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc falling three seats short of a majority, despite him earlier trumpeting partial results as a “huge victory.” Netanyahu’s Likud Party won a plurality with 36, with allied parties winning 22 additional seats.
Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party won 33, the liberal Labor Party won seven, and the Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties, won a record 15 seats. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s party Yisrael Beiteinu, which split from Netanyahu, received seven seats.
Both Netanyahu, who has been indicted on corruption charges, and Gantz have failed to form majority governments for almost a year, and both have failed to move forward with a Netanyahu-Gantz coalition government. After not doing so in the previous two elections, Lieberman now says he plans to recommend Gantz form the next government, according to Axios.
The Joint List, which is fiercely opposed to Lieberman’s party, has signaled that it could get behind a Gantz government, but only if Gantz makes “a change truly in the direction of peace and equality.”
The possibility of even a temporary alliance of the parties under Gantz could have major implications for Netanyahu because Lieberman supports a bill that wouldn’t allow people who are indicted from forming a government.
Any sort of alliance between White and Blue, Joint List, and Yisrael Beiteinu would be incredibly tenuous, but if the country has a fourth election, it might deny Netanyahu the ability to be prime minister.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Ohio convenes advisory group to consult on coronavirus

Gov .
Mike DeWine has convened a group of health advisors as part of the state ’ s coronavirus response .
The group , which includes representatives from the Ohio Hospital Association , will advise the governor as the state prepares for the coronavirus , also known as COVID-19 .
There are no confirmed cases in Ohio , but one person remains under investigation , and seven people have tested negative , officials said .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , there are 80 cases in 13 states , and nine people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Washington .
“ As we learn more about COVID-19 and its spread in the United States , I am grateful for the expertise of these medical professionals who will help advise the state on strategies to deal with the disease and the best medical practices and procedures , ” DeWine said in a news release .
There are more than 90,000 coronavirus cases worldwide , according to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
In a news release , the Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Ohio stands prepared , and we have taken a very aggressive approach to make sure we are ready if a case does happen in Ohio , ” ODH Director Amy Acton said in a news release .
Officials have advised first responders across the state “ to screen patients with flu-like symptoms for possible exposure to coronavirus , ” state Rep. Scott Oelslager , R-North Canton , said in a legislative update .
“ Instructions from the state ’ s medical director recommends EMTs and paramedics wear protective equipment and clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in the state House have used coronavirus to push for legislation creating a state-run paid family-leave-program .
House Bill 91 , sponsored by state Reps. Janine Boyd , D-Cleveland Heights , and Kristin Boggs , D-Columbus , would create the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and require employers to deduct premiums from employee wages .
“ While the CDC and many Ohio businesses are telling workers to stay home if they get sick , the reality is that for too many Ohioans , this means time off without pay – hurting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work before it ’ s safe , which could make a coronavirus outbreak even worse , ” Boyd said in a news release .
Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on FOX Business last week , U.S. Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , praised the state ’ s response and urged against using coronavirus to score political points .
“ In the case of Ohio , our hospitals are doing what they should be doing , working together already , ” Portman said .
“ But they are looking to [ the ] federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among other things , also just getting moving on the antiviral vaccine as quickly as possible is a federal role .
“ So we ought to add all that up and make sure there is a basis for it but come up with the right number , and ensure that we are continuing to do everything to try to stop this , ” Portman added .
“ I do think the administration has done a good job and again I think playing politics with it is ( the ) worst thing we could @ @ @

Gov. Mike DeWine has convened a group of health advisors as part of the state’s coronavirus response.
The group, which includes representatives from the Ohio Hospital Association, will advise the governor as the state prepares for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
There are no confirmed cases in Ohio, but one person remains under investigation, and seven people have tested negative, officials said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 80 cases in 13 states, and nine people have died from coronavirus, all in the state of Washington.
“As we learn more about COVID-19 and its spread in the United States, I am grateful for the expertise of these medical professionals who will help advise the state on strategies to deal with the disease and the best medical practices and procedures,” DeWine said in a news release.
There are more than 90,000 coronavirus cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In a news release, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said, “Ohioans in general remain at low risk.”
“Ohio stands prepared, and we have taken a very aggressive approach to make sure we are ready if a case does happen in Ohio,” ODH Director Amy Acton said in a news release.
Officials have advised first responders across the state “to screen patients with flu-like symptoms for possible exposure to coronavirus,” state Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, said in a legislative update. “Instructions from the state’s medical director recommends EMTs and paramedics wear protective equipment and clean their vehicles with bleach.”
Meanwhile, Democrats in the state House have used coronavirus to push for legislation creating a state-run paid family-leave-program. House Bill 91, sponsored by state Reps. Janine Boyd, D-Cleveland Heights, and Kristin Boggs, D-Columbus, would create the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and require employers to deduct premiums from employee wages.
“While the CDC and many Ohio businesses are telling workers to stay home if they get sick, the reality is that for too many Ohioans, this means time off without pay – hurting family budgets and forcing people back into work before it’s safe, which could make a coronavirus outbreak even worse,” Boyd said in a news release.
Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on FOX Business last week, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, praised the state’s response and urged against using coronavirus to score political points.
“In the case of Ohio, our hospitals are doing what they should be doing, working together already,” Portman said. “But they are looking to [the] federal government for some help, best practices among other things, also just getting moving on the antiviral vaccine as quickly as possible is a federal role.
“So we ought to add all that up and make sure there is a basis for it but come up with the right number, and ensure that we are continuing to do everything to try to stop this,” Portman added. “I do think the administration has done a good job and again I think playing politics with it is (the) worst thing we could do.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--New law allows online sale of Virginia lottery tickets

Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam has signed a bill into law that permits the online sale of state lottery tickets @ @ @ @ @ suggests could generate $ 12 million in annual state revenue .
A person will be @ @ @ @ @ through a computer , a smartphone or other electronic devices when the Virginia Lottery gets @ @ @ @ @ up and running .
The $ 12 million estimate , however , assumes the new @ @ @ @ @ in traditional lottery locations .
The new sales and method of purchase also may cause @ @ @ @ @ more employees , which could lead to additional costs .
The legislation , Senate Bill @ @ @ @ @ Lottery to enter into a contract with a gaming system provider , which will supply @ @ @ @ @ iLottery app .
The bill will go into effect July 1 .
It was sponsored @ @ @ @ @ R-James City , the Senate minority leader .

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed a bill into law that permits the online sale of state lottery tickets, which the fiscal estimate suggests could generate $12 million in annual state revenue.
A person will be permitted to purchase the tickets through a computer, a smartphone or other electronic devices when the Virginia Lottery gets the new method of sales up and running.
The $12 million estimate, however, assumes the new sales will not affect sales in traditional lottery locations. The new sales and method of purchase also may cause the Virginia Lottery to hire more employees, which could lead to additional costs.
The legislation, Senate Bill 922, requires the Virginia Lottery to enter into a contract with a gaming system provider, which will supply the new products through an iLottery app.
The bill will go into effect July 1. It was sponsored by Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, the Senate minority leader.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--New York announces expansive 'self-quarantine' to try to limit spread of coronavirus

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state is putting together a protocol for people who may have come into contact with the COVID-19 illness after a Westchester family and a neighbor tested positive for the contagious coronavirus that ’ s spreading globally .
“ You are trying to find as many people as you can who might have come in contact to try to limit the exposure and contain the exposure , ” the governor said .
“ It is an imperfect science especially in a situation like this one where you have a person who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state is calling for people who have had contact with the infected to “ self-quarantine ” themselves through Friday .
Essentially , that means people who have had or may have had contact with infected individuals should stay home and keep personal contact to a minimum .
If anyone develops symptoms related to the virus , Cuomo said they should then contact a medical professional .
Those recommended for self-quarantine include students at a Jewish high school , where a member of the family attends school , and members of a nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Friday and those who had contact with members of the infected family should follow the protocol .
Lohud.com reported about a thousand people who attend the synagogue are under quarantine .
Cuomo said late Wednesday afternoon that the number of New Yorkers with the virus had risen to 11 .
Yeshiva University , where another child from the family goes to school , will also be closed through Friday .
Cuomo said there ’ s some additional investigation ongoing about the college and a decision about what happens with the school will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the neighbor who took the father for treatment are also being tested to see if they ’ ve been infected .
So , too , are the father ’ s colleagues at a Manhattan law firm and eight staffers at Lawrence Hospital in Westchester who came into contact with him .
“ We feel comfortable that that is an intelligent plan going forward , ” Cuomo said .
“ It tries to minimize the imposition on people while protecting public health.
” The state has received some good news regarding coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Suffolk County all came back as negative .
So , too , did the test of a spouse of a health care worker who came back from Iran .
The health care worker has remained at home and is recovering from mild symptoms , Cuomo said .
Regarding the infected family , only the father is hospitalized because of “ an underlying respiratory illness.
” For perspective , 15,000 New Yorkers are currently hospitalized because of the flu .
Cuomo said coronavirus spreads similarly to the flu virus .
Of those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will “ self-resolve , ” meaning they won ’ t develop symptoms requiring medical treatment .
The remaining 20 percent may develop issues requiring them to stay homebound or potentially be treated in a hospital .
Those at the greatest risk include the elderly , those who have weakened immune systems and those who are battling other illnesses .
On Tuesday , Cuomo signed emergency legislation that authorized $ 40 million in funding for the state to combat the virus .
The money will go to hiring workers , getting equipment and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cuomo also said he will revise his planned paid sick leave budget proposal to protect people from being fired because they were required to remain in isolation or quarantine due to the coronavirus .
`` As the situation with the novel coronavirus continues to evolve , I want the people of New York State to know that their government is doing everything possible to confront and contain it , '' the governor said.What everyone else can do , the governor said , is remain calm .
`` We 're dealing with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have a bigger problem , which is a fear pandemic .
And the anxiety here is outpacing the reality of the situation . ''
The governor also said students from SUNY and CUNY schools who have studied in travel-abroad programs in China , Italy , Japan , Iran and South Korea are being recalled as those are the counties currently under a federal government watch list .
Those students will be flown back via a chartered plane to Stewart Airport in New Windsor .
They will remain in quarantine at a @ @ @ @ @

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state is putting together a protocol for people who may have come into contact with the COVID-19 illness after a Westchester family and a neighbor tested positive for the contagious coronavirus that’s spreading globally.
“You are trying to find as many people as you can who might have come in contact to try to limit the exposure and contain the exposure,” the governor said. “It is an imperfect science especially in a situation like this one where you have a person who may have contacted so many people.”
The state is calling for people who have had contact with the infected to “self-quarantine” themselves through Friday. Essentially, that means people who have had or may have had contact with infected individuals should stay home and keep personal contact to a minimum.
If anyone develops symptoms related to the virus, Cuomo said they should then contact a medical professional.
Those recommended for self-quarantine include students at a Jewish high school, where a member of the family attends school, and members of a nearby synagogue. Those places will be closed through Friday and those who had contact with members of the infected family should follow the protocol.
Lohud.com reported about a thousand people who attend the synagogue are under quarantine. Cuomo said late Wednesday afternoon that the number of New Yorkers with the virus had risen to 11.
Yeshiva University, where another child from the family goes to school, will also be closed through Friday. Cuomo said there’s some additional investigation ongoing about the college and a decision about what happens with the school will be made on Friday.
The children of the neighbor who took the father for treatment are also being tested to see if they’ve been infected. So, too, are the father’s colleagues at a Manhattan law firm and eight staffers at Lawrence Hospital in Westchester who came into contact with him.
“We feel comfortable that that is an intelligent plan going forward,” Cuomo said. “It tries to minimize the imposition on people while protecting public health.”
The state has received some good news regarding coronavirus. Tests from people in Buffalo, Oneida and Suffolk County all came back as negative. So, too, did the test of a spouse of a health care worker who came back from Iran.
The health care worker has remained at home and is recovering from mild symptoms, Cuomo said. Regarding the infected family, only the father is hospitalized because of “an underlying respiratory illness.”
For perspective, 15,000 New Yorkers are currently hospitalized because of the flu.
Cuomo said coronavirus spreads similarly to the flu virus. Of those who come in contact, about 80 percent will “self-resolve,” meaning they won’t develop symptoms requiring medical treatment. The remaining 20 percent may develop issues requiring them to stay homebound or potentially be treated in a hospital.
Those at the greatest risk include the elderly, those who have weakened immune systems and those who are battling other illnesses.
On Tuesday, Cuomo signed emergency legislation that authorized $40 million in funding for the state to combat the virus. The money will go to hiring workers, getting equipment and other resources needed to respond to the threat. Cuomo also said he will revise his planned paid sick leave budget proposal to protect people from being fired because they were required to remain in isolation or quarantine due to the coronavirus. "As the situation with the novel coronavirus continues to evolve, I want the people of New York State to know that their government is doing everything possible to confront and contain it," the governor said.What everyone else can do, the governor said, is remain calm.
"We're dealing with a coronavirus epidemic,” he said. “We have a bigger problem, which is a fear pandemic. And the anxiety here is outpacing the reality of the situation."
The governor also said students from SUNY and CUNY schools who have studied in travel-abroad programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran and South Korea are being recalled as those are the counties currently under a federal government watch list.
Those students will be flown back via a chartered plane to Stewart Airport in New Windsor. They will remain in quarantine at a dormitory for two weeks.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Bill Clinton: Monica Lewinsky affair helped 'manage my anxieties' at work

Bill Clinton said his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky was a way for him to take his `` mind off '' stress at work .
`` Things I did to manage my anxieties for years .
I 'm a different , totally different person than I was , a lot of that stuff 20 years ago , '' he said about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky in a segment of the upcoming Hulu documentary titled , Hillary , which was viewed by the Daily Mail .
The former president , who is now 73 , did not describe his `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being in a boxing match .
`` You feel like you 're staggering around , you 've been in a 15 round prize fight that was extended to 30 rounds , '' he said .
`` And here 's something that will take your mind off it for a while , that 's what happens . ''
Clinton said his sexual encounters with Lewinsky , who was a 22-year-old White House intern , were the result of finding `` the most stupid thing I could do and do it . ''
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an explanation .
I feel awful , '' he added .
The Republican-led House impeached Clinton in 1998 on charges of lying under oath and obstruction of justice based on his attempt to conceal his affair with Lewinsky .
He was acquitted by the Senate .

Bill Clinton said his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky was a way for him to take his "mind off" stress at work.
"Things I did to manage my anxieties for years. I'm a different, totally different person than I was, a lot of that stuff 20 years ago," he said about his sexual relationship with Lewinsky in a segment of the upcoming Hulu documentary titled, Hillary, which was viewed by the Daily Mail.
The former president, who is now 73, did not describe his "anxieties," but compared them to being in a boxing match.
"You feel like you're staggering around, you've been in a 15 round prize fight that was extended to 30 rounds," he said. "And here's something that will take your mind off it for a while, that's what happens."
Clinton said his sexual encounters with Lewinsky, who was a 22-year-old White House intern, were the result of finding "the most stupid thing I could do and do it."
"It's not a defense, it's an explanation. I feel awful," he added.
The Republican-led House impeached Clinton in 1998 on charges of lying under oath and obstruction of justice based on his attempt to conceal his affair with Lewinsky. He was acquitted by the Senate.
Hillary, a documentary that focuses on Hillary Clinton's life, premieres Friday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Federal work requirements to affect almost 4 percent of Louisiana SNAP recipients; 14 parishes get w

Federal work requirements to affect almost 4 percent of Louisiana SNAP recipients; 14 parishes get waiver

A new federal rule requiring able-bodied food assistance recipients to find work or face limited benefits will affect less than 4 percent of Louisiana ’ s recipients , a state agency says .
Starting April 1 , the federal government says Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Louisiana who are classified as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents ( ABAWD ) can receive benefits for only three months in a 36-month period unless they meet the federal work requirements or qualify for an exemption .
Recipients in that category are age 18 to 49 , do not have a child living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to work .
Almost 49,000 of Louisiana 's 810,000 SNAP recipients , or about 6 percent , met the ABAWD definition in October , according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services .
But this week , the federal government granted a waiver for 14 Louisiana parishes with high unemployment rates : Assumption , Catahoula , Concordia , East Carroll , Franklin , Madison , Morehouse , Richland , St. Landry , St. Mary , Tensas , Vernon , West Carroll and Winn .
With the waiver , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DCFS estimates the number of recipients affected by the federal rule change will be about 31,000 , or about 3.8 percent of all recipients .
Because of the federal rule change , Gov .
John Bel Edwards rescinded a 2016 executive order that required Louisiana SNAP recipients classified as ABAWDs to register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and work to find a job .
SNAP recipients who meet the mandatory work criteria still are required to register with LWC for these services .
But since the new federal rules have different requirements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement of state and federal regulations , DCFS says .
The federal government , which pays for SNAP benefits , estimates the rules change will save $ 5.5 billion over five years .

A new federal rule requiring able-bodied food assistance recipients to find work or face limited benefits will affect less than 4 percent of Louisiana’s recipients, a state agency says.
Starting April 1, the federal government says Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Louisiana who are classified as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) can receive benefits for only three months in a 36-month period unless they meet the federal work requirements or qualify for an exemption. Recipients in that category are age 18 to 49, do not have a child living with them, and are considered physically able to work.
Almost 49,000 of Louisiana's 810,000 SNAP recipients, or about 6 percent, met the ABAWD definition in October, according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. But this week, the federal government granted a waiver for 14 Louisiana parishes with high unemployment rates: Assumption, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse, Richland, St. Landry, St. Mary, Tensas, Vernon, West Carroll and Winn.
With the waiver, and with additional recipients qualifying for federal exemptions, DCFS estimates the number of recipients affected by the federal rule change will be about 31,000, or about 3.8 percent of all recipients.
Because of the federal rule change, Gov. John Bel Edwards rescinded a 2016 executive order that required Louisiana SNAP recipients classified as ABAWDs to register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and work to find a job.
SNAP recipients who meet the mandatory work criteria still are required to register with LWC for these services. But since the new federal rules have different requirements, Edwards wanted to avoid confusion in the enforcement of state and federal regulations, DCFS says.
The federal government, which pays for SNAP benefits, estimates the rules change will save $5.5 billion over five years.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Yang criticizes Schumer for ignoring 'separation of powers' with Supreme Court comments

Andrew Yang said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was doing more harm than good when he said conservative Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would `` pay the price '' for their votes on abortion regulations .
`` I ’ m a champion of women ’ s reproductive rights as fundamental human rights , but I don ’ t think it ’ s productive for a senator to publicly rebuke Supreme Court justices before a ruling , '' the former Democratic presidential contender said Thursday on ABC 's The View .
`` I mean , we have constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the fact is if this had happened in reverse , then I ’ m sure Chuck and many other Democrats would be very , very upset about it . ''
Yang , who is considering a run for New York City mayor , said it was also `` terrible '' when President Trump criticized liberal Supreme Court justices and said it was `` not great '' when Democrats do it too .
Schumer attended a pro-abortion rally on Wednesday , where he whipped up the crowd by targeting Gorsuch and Kavanaugh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorsuch , I want to tell you , Kavanaugh : You have released the whirlwind , and you will pay the price , '' the Senate minority leader said .
`` You wo n't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions . ''
The comments brought on swift backlash from his colleagues and a rare public rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts .
Schumer took to the Senate floor on Thursday to apologize .
`` I should n't have used the words I did , '' he acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` gross distortion '' of his words by characterizing them as a threat .

Andrew Yang said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was doing more harm than good when he said conservative Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would "pay the price" for their votes on abortion regulations.
"I’m a champion of women’s reproductive rights as fundamental human rights, but I don’t think it’s productive for a senator to publicly rebuke Supreme Court justices before a ruling," the former Democratic presidential contender said Thursday on ABC's The View. "I mean, we have constitutional separation of powers for a reason, and the fact is if this had happened in reverse, then I’m sure Chuck and many other Democrats would be very, very upset about it."
Yang, who is considering a run for New York City mayor, said it was also "terrible" when President Trump criticized liberal Supreme Court justices and said it was "not great" when Democrats do it too.
Schumer attended a pro-abortion rally on Wednesday, where he whipped up the crowd by targeting Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
"I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price," the Senate minority leader said. "You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."
The comments brought on swift backlash from his colleagues and a rare public rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. Schumer took to the Senate floor on Thursday to apologize. "I shouldn't have used the words I did," he acknowledged while also accusing the GOP of a "gross distortion" of his words by characterizing them as a threat.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Pence: US does not have enough coronavirus tests to meet anticipated demand

The United States lacks sufficient coronavirus tests to meet growing demand , said Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to a manufacturer of surgical masks , as he promised to bring the full might of the federal government to bear on the problem .
`` We do n't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate the demand going forward , '' he said at a 3M plant just outside Minneapolis .
Pence , who heads President Trump 's coronavirus taskforce , said progress had been made on manufacturing more test kits .
“ For those who we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are showing symptoms , we ’ ve been able to provide the testing , ” he added .
“ But as more Americans take an interest in this or have concerns about this , we want to make sure they have access to a coronavirus test as well , and we ’ ve made real progress on that in the last several days.
” Pence had been scheduled to hold campaign events in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Thursday but abandoned the plan to focus on the coronavirus .
He is due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day to meet Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee .
They will address a joint news conference amid local criticism of the Trump administration ’ s response to the virus .
The state is home to 10 of the country 's 11 fatalities from the coronavirus .
On Thursday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 149 confirmed and presumed cases across the country .
At the same time , Congress is close to passing an $ 8.3 billion bill designed to help control the spread of the virus and develop medicines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to follow after its passage through the House on Wednesday with a vote of 415-2 .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said , `` It 's a serious agreement to meet a serious challenge , and today we will send it to President Trump 's desk . ''

The United States lacks sufficient coronavirus tests to meet growing demand, said Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to a manufacturer of surgical masks, as he promised to bring the full might of the federal government to bear on the problem.
"We don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate the demand going forward," he said at a 3M plant just outside Minneapolis.
Pence, who heads President Trump's coronavirus taskforce, said progress had been made on manufacturing more test kits.
“For those who we believe have been exposed, for those who are showing symptoms, we’ve been able to provide the testing,” he added. “But as more Americans take an interest in this or have concerns about this, we want to make sure they have access to a coronavirus test as well, and we’ve made real progress on that in the last several days.”
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Pence had been scheduled to hold campaign events in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Thursday but abandoned the plan to focus on the coronavirus.
He is due to arrive in Washington state later in the day to meet Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. They will address a joint news conference amid local criticism of the Trump administration’s response to the virus.
The state is home to 10 of the country's 11 fatalities from the coronavirus.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 149 confirmed and presumed cases across the country.
At the same time, Congress is close to passing an $8.3 billion bill designed to help control the spread of the virus and develop medicines and vaccines.
A Senate vote is due to follow after its passage through the House on Wednesday with a vote of 415-2.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "It's a serious agreement to meet a serious challenge, and today we will send it to President Trump's desk."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Romney: GOP investigation into Hunter Biden and Burisma 'appears political'

Sen. Mitt Romney said his party ’ s investigation into 2020 Democratic front-runner Joe Biden ’ s son and a Ukrainian gas company “ appears political.
” “ There 's no question but that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political , and I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations , ” the Utah Republican told reporters Thursday .
Earlier this week , Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson said he intended to seek a subpoena against a former consultant for a U.S. firm with connections to Burisma Holdings .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company while his father was vice president .
Johnson , who insisted he 's `` not focused on the Bidens , '' alleged the company “ sought to leverage Hunter Biden ’ s role as a board member of Burisma to gain access to , and potentially influence matters at , the State Department.
” Many Republicans have questioned why Biden was hired by the company when he had no previous experience in the energy sector .
Joe Biden 's presidential campaign , meanwhile , brushed off news of the investigation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an enormous favor by explicitly admitting that he is abusing congressional authority in a manner that would make the founding fathers spin in their graves , ” a spokesman said .
Romney ’ s concerns about the investigation could stall Johnson ’ s efforts to subpoena .
The junior senator , a member of the committee , has not said yet whether he would support the subpoena .

Sen. Mitt Romney said his party’s investigation into 2020 Democratic front-runner Joe Biden’s son and a Ukrainian gas company “appears political.”
“There's no question but that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political, and I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations,” the Utah Republican told reporters Thursday.
Earlier this week, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson said he intended to seek a subpoena against a former consultant for a U.S. firm with connections to Burisma Holdings. Biden was on the board of the energy company while his father was vice president.
Johnson, who insisted he's "not focused on the Bidens," alleged the company “sought to leverage Hunter Biden’s role as a board member of Burisma to gain access to, and potentially influence matters at, the State Department.”
Many Republicans have questioned why Biden was hired by the company when he had no previous experience in the energy sector. Joe Biden's presidential campaign, meanwhile, brushed off news of the investigation.
“Sen. Johnson just accidentally did us an enormous favor by explicitly admitting that he is abusing congressional authority in a manner that would make the founding fathers spin in their graves,” a spokesman said.
Romney’s concerns about the investigation could stall Johnson’s efforts to subpoena. The junior senator, a member of the committee, has not said yet whether he would support the subpoena.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Schock admission: 'I am gay'

Schock admission: 'I am gay'

Former Republican Rep. Aaron Schock revealed he is gay in a statement shared on social media .
“ I am gay .
For those who know me and for many who know only of me , this will come as no surprise , ” the former Illinois congressman began a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday .
“ The fact that I am gay is just one of those things in life in need of explicit affirmation , to remove any doubt and to finally validate who I am as a person.
” Schock served in Congress from 2009 until his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finance violations .
During that time , he voted against the repeal of `` don ’ t ask , don ’ t tell '' and voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage .
He also received a zero rating from the Human Rights Campaign .
The former lawmaker addressed his voting record in the Thursday post .
“ In 2008 , as a Republican running in a conservative district , I took the same position on gay marriage held by my party ’ s nominee , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were also against same-sex marriage .
“ That fact doesn ’ t make my then position any less wrong , but it ’ s sometimes easy to forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry , ” he added .
In 2017 , Schock was indicted on 24 federal charges , including mail and wire fraud , but they were dropped by federal prosecutors last year .
Schock explained in his post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and religious family , where at one point he attended a church that believed watching TV to be a sin .
He said that after pictures emerged of him kissing a man at California 's famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival , his mother told him he “ wasn ’ t welcome at home for Easter.
” “ My family had always been my closest friends and biggest supporters , through thick and thin .
And I say , not to arouse sympathy , but hopefully , rather , understanding , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added he has hope that his family will eventually come around and said his mother recently told him that “ if there is anyone special in my life , she wants to meet them.
” “ This journey has taught me a valuable lesson : that , whether you are gay or straight , it ’ s never too late to be authentic and true to yourself , ” he said .

Former Republican Rep. Aaron Schock revealed he is gay in a statement shared on social media.
“I am gay. For those who know me and for many who know only of me, this will come as no surprise,” the former Illinois congressman began a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday. “The fact that I am gay is just one of those things in life in need of explicit affirmation, to remove any doubt and to finally validate who I am as a person.”
Schock served in Congress from 2009 until his resignation in 2015 amid reports of campaign finance violations. During that time, he voted against the repeal of "don’t ask, don’t tell" and voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He also received a zero rating from the Human Rights Campaign.
The former lawmaker addressed his voting record in the Thursday post.
“In 2008, as a Republican running in a conservative district, I took the same position on gay marriage held by my party’s nominee,” he said, noting that at that time, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were also against same-sex marriage.
“That fact doesn’t make my then position any less wrong, but it’s sometimes easy to forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry,” he added.
In 2017, Schock was indicted on 24 federal charges, including mail and wire fraud, but they were dropped by federal prosecutors last year.
Schock explained in his post that he grew up in a conservative and religious family, where at one point he attended a church that believed watching TV to be a sin. He said that after pictures emerged of him kissing a man at California's famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, his mother told him he “wasn’t welcome at home for Easter.”
“My family had always been my closest friends and biggest supporters, through thick and thin. And I say, not to arouse sympathy, but hopefully, rather, understanding, I felt fairly alone,” he said.
He added he has hope that his family will eventually come around and said his mother recently told him that “if there is anyone special in my life, she wants to meet them.”
“This journey has taught me a valuable lesson: that, whether you are gay or straight, it’s never too late to be authentic and true to yourself,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Pelosi: A woman can win White House despite 'a certain element of misogyny'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , the highest-ranking elected woman in the United States , cited “ a certain element of misogyny ” that may get in the way of a woman winning a presidential election , but said “ America is ready ” for a female president who can “ connect well with the American people.
” Pelosi , a California Democrat , told reporters she believes Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden have beaten a slew of female candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination because voters were familiar with them .
Biden was a high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight years , and Sanders generated a big following when he ran for president in 2016 .
Earlier Thursday , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced she is ending her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination , following in the footsteps of Sens .
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kamala Harris of California , and Marianne Williamson , who have all dropped out of the race .
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , a Hawaii Democrat , is the sole woman left in the race , but polling and a low delegate count indicate she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pelosi said a woman can win the White House by having authority on national security and the economy , “ and not just we are going to take on the soft issues.
” Pelosi became the first female House speaker in 2007 and held the job for four years .
She won the gavel back again in 2019 .
Pelosi said she does not believe any of the women were rejected because of their gender , but she advised women not to ask for votes based on their gender .
Pelosi avoided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democratic leadership , which she called “ the marble ceiling.
” “ The worst thing I ever could have said to anybody is , we should be for Nancy because we should have a woman , ” Pelosi said .
“ Loser proposition .
Winning proposition is , we should be for Nancy because she would be the best one to do the job .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking elected woman in the United States, cited “a certain element of misogyny” that may get in the way of a woman winning a presidential election, but said “America is ready” for a female president who can “connect well with the American people.”
Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters she believes Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden have beaten a slew of female candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination because voters were familiar with them.
Biden was a high-profile vice president for President Barack Obama for eight years, and Sanders generated a big following when he ran for president in 2016.
“People knew them best,” Pelosi said.
Earlier Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced she is ending her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, following in the footsteps of Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kamala Harris of California, and Marianne Williamson, who have all dropped out of the race.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii Democrat, is the sole woman left in the race, but polling and a low delegate count indicate she has no chance at winning the nomination.
Pelosi said a woman can win the White House by having authority on national security and the economy, “and not just we are going to take on the soft issues.”
Pelosi became the first female House speaker in 2007 and held the job for four years. She won the gavel back again in 2019.
Pelosi said she does not believe any of the women were rejected because of their gender, but she advised women not to ask for votes based on their gender.
Pelosi avoided that strategy in her rise through the House Democratic leadership, which she called “the marble ceiling.”
“The worst thing I ever could have said to anybody is, we should be for Nancy because we should have a woman,” Pelosi said.
“Loser proposition. Winning proposition is, we should be for Nancy because she would be the best one to do the job.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Schumer backs down on Supreme Court threat: 'I shouldn't have used the words I did'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed down from an apparent threat against Supreme Court justices but said his words were aimed at Republicans and `` public opinion '' related to the high court 's decisions on reproductive rights .
“ Of course , I didn ’ t intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court , ” Schumer said during a Senate floor speech on Thursday .
“ I shouldn ’ t have used the words I did , but in no way was I making a threat .
I would never do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat accused the GOP of a `` gross distortion '' of his words by characterizing them as a threat .
`` I 'm from Brooklyn , '' he said .
`` We speak in strong language . ''
Schumer has faced criticism for his Wednesday remarks at a rally on the Supreme Court steps put on by a reproductive rights organization .
He said at the rally : `` I want to tell you , Gorsuch .
I want to tell you , Kavanaugh , you have released the whirlwind , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions . ''
His comments sparked a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts and a stream of criticism from pundits and GOP lawmakers who called his words a threat .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Schumer on the Senate floor earlier Thursday and called his comments part of a continued effort by Democrats to `` bully '' the independent judiciary .
Schumer , in his floor speech that followed McConnell ’ s , said he was responding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because Senate Republicans have confirmed nominees they believe will strip away women ’ s rights and fundamentally change this country , ” he said .
“ They try to accomplish through the courts what they would never accomplish in the court of public opinion .
...
So yes , I am angry .
The women of America are angry .
And yes , we will continue to fight for a woman ’ s right to choose . ''

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed down from an apparent threat against Supreme Court justices but said his words were aimed at Republicans and "public opinion" related to the high court's decisions on reproductive rights.
“Of course, I didn’t intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court,” Schumer said during a Senate floor speech on Thursday. “I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I would never do such a thing.”
The New York Democrat accused the GOP of a "gross distortion" of his words by characterizing them as a threat.
"I'm from Brooklyn," he said. "We speak in strong language."
Schumer has faced criticism for his Wednesday remarks at a rally on the Supreme Court steps put on by a reproductive rights organization. He said at the rally: "I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."
His comments sparked a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts and a stream of criticism from pundits and GOP lawmakers who called his words a threat.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Schumer on the Senate floor earlier Thursday and called his comments part of a continued effort by Democrats to "bully" the independent judiciary.
Schumer, in his floor speech that followed McConnell’s, said he was responding to efforts to limit reproductive rights.
“Because Senate Republicans have confirmed nominees they believe will strip away women’s rights and fundamentally change this country,” he said. “They try to accomplish through the courts what they would never accomplish in the court of public opinion. ... So yes, I am angry. The women of America are angry. And yes, we will continue to fight for a woman’s right to choose."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--McConnell admonishes Schumer over 'threat' to Supreme Court justices

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led a cascade of criticism of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for appearing to threaten two Supreme Court justices over their rulings on abortion-related cases .
“ The minority leader of the United States Senate threatened two associate justices of the U.S. Supreme Court .
Period , ” McConnell , a Kentucky Republican , said in a Senate floor speech Thursday .
McConnell said Schumer 's comments were part of `` shameless efforts to bully our independent judiciairy , '' by the Democrats , adding , `` Yesterday those efforts took a dangerous and disturbing turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was not threatening Justices Neil Gorsuch or Brett Kavanaugh when he appeared on the steps of the high court to participate in a rally on reproductive rights .
He said at the rally : `` I want to tell you , Gorsuch .
I want to tell you , Kavanaugh , you have released the whirlwind , and you will pay the price .
You won ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions . ''
The New York Democrat ’ s warning prompted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who issued a statement declaring the threats “ inappropriate ” and “ dangerous , ” particularly because they came from a high-level government official .
Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican , plans to introduce a measure calling on the Senate to censure Schumer .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , an Iowa Republican who led the confirmation of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh while he was chair of the Judiciary Committee , called on Schumer to apologize for his statements on the Senate floor .
Schumer said his threat was directed at the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political consequences , and not at the justices if they uphold a Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to be preapproved to check patients into a nearby hospital .
`` There is nothing to call this except a threat , '' he said .
`` And there is absolutely no question to whom it was directed . ''
President Trump , who appointed both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh , tweeted that Schumer ’ s comments at the rally are “ a direct & dangerous threat to the U.S. Supreme Court by Schumer .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would be arrested , or impeached .
Serious action MUST be taken NOW !
“

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led a cascade of criticism of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for appearing to threaten two Supreme Court justices over their rulings on abortion-related cases.
“The minority leader of the United States Senate threatened two associate justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Period,” McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said in a Senate floor speech Thursday.
McConnell said Schumer's comments were part of "shameless efforts to bully our independent judiciairy," by the Democrats, adding, "Yesterday those efforts took a dangerous and disturbing turn."
Schumer, on Wednesday, said he was not threatening Justices Neil Gorsuch or Brett Kavanaugh when he appeared on the steps of the high court to participate in a rally on reproductive rights. He said at the rally: "I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."
The New York Democrat’s warning prompted a rare response from Chief Justice John Roberts, who issued a statement declaring the threats “inappropriate” and “dangerous,” particularly because they came from a high-level government official.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, plans to introduce a measure calling on the Senate to censure Schumer. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who led the confirmation of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh while he was chair of the Judiciary Committee, called on Schumer to apologize for his statements on the Senate floor.
Schumer said his threat was directed at the Senate GOP, which he said would suffer political consequences, and not at the justices if they uphold a Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to be preapproved to check patients into a nearby hospital.
McConnell, however, disputed Schumer's explanation.
"There is nothing to call this except a threat," he said. "And there is absolutely no question to whom it was directed."
President Trump, who appointed both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, tweeted that Schumer’s comments at the rally are “a direct & dangerous threat to the U.S. Supreme Court by Schumer. If a Republican did this, he or she would be arrested, or impeached. Serious action MUST be taken NOW!“


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Ron Johnson works to verify document about apology by Burisma-tied firm to fired top Ukraine prosecu

Ron Johnson works to verify document about apology by Burisma-tied firm to fired top Ukraine prosecutor for 'misinformation campaign'

Sen. Ron Johnson is working to verify a document that describes an apology for a `` misinformation campaign '' against fired Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin .
The answer may come from Blue Star Strategies , a Washington-based consulting firm that represented the interests of Burisma Holdings in the United States , which has become the target of Johnson 's investigation into the Ukrainian gas company and its connection to Joe and Hunter Biden .
Johnson , who is the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee , told Fox News 's Martha MacCallum on Wednesday that one question his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fired .
`` I can ’ t get that from the U.S. government .
I know it was a big explanation that everybody wanted him fired , but there is a document , we have to verify it , but there is a document supposedly contemporaneous that said that the contact by Blue Star to the prosecutor general ’ s office was all about apologizing for the misinformation campaign conducted against Shokin , '' the Wisconsin Republican said .
`` Kind of raises some eyebrows , some questions that need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was dismissed in March 2016 after about a year in office by then-President Petro Poroshenko , claims he was ousted because he wanted to investigate the lucrative role Hunter Biden , the son of former Vice President Joe Biden , had on Burisma 's board from 2014 to 2019 .
Republicans have gave Hunter a high-paying position on the company board despite him having little experience in the energy sector and a well-documented problem with drug use .
President Trump , his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , and other allies claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president to pressure Ukraine to fire Shokin to protect his son from an investigation into Burisma .
The matter got wrapped up into the impeachment saga after Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens and other Democrats in a July 25 phone call in which he also appeared to praise Shokin and call his removal `` unfair , '' according to a transcript released by the White House .
Democrats cried foul over what they interpreted to be a `` quid pro quo . ''
At issue was whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations by withholding military aid and dangling the possibility of a White House meeting between the Trump and Zelensky .
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , but he was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate earlier this month .
Zelensky himself has repeatedly stated that he felt no pressure from Trump to open an investigation into the Bidens .
The elder Biden , who was leading the Obama administration ’ s diplomatic efforts in Ukraine , threatened to withhold $ 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not fire its top prosecutor , who was criticized by the West for not doing enough to crack down on corruption .
The European Union , the International Monetary Fund , and other allies had the same objective , and Biden was repeating U.S. policy that had been set out by Washington ’ s ambassador to Kyiv in the preceding months and was briefed by White House staff just ahead of the trip .
Biden says there is no `` credibility '' to the claims of corruption , but his critics have seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president made in January 2018 , where he boasted to members of a panel hosted by the Council of Foreign Relations that he ordered the Ukrainian government to fire Shokin or the White House would renege on a commitment to provide aid .
“ I looked at them and said : ‘ I ’ m leaving in six hours .
If the prosecutor is not fired , you ’ re not getting the money.
’ Well , son of a bitch .
He got fired , '' Biden said .
Ukrainian investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president over allegations that he pressured officials into firing a top prosecutor in 2016 .
The investigation was opened by the State Bureau of Investigations on a court order following a January appeal for action by Shokin .
Johnson revealed publicly on Monday that he intends to schedule a committee meeting to vote on a subpoena for Andrii Telizhenko , a former Ukrainian diplomatic aide who worked for Blue Star Strategies , after the firm did not sufficiently respond to his request for documents .
Blue Star mentioned Hunter Biden in communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to improve its image in Washington , according to a Wall Street Journal report .
The senator told reporters on Tuesday he hopes to release an interim report in the next couple of months .
He argued that the investigation is not `` focused '' on the Bidens , but suggested voters deserve to have a fuller accounting of the former vice president 's actions as he competes to snag the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination in July .
Democrats criticized Johnson for escalating the investigation into the Bidens just as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steam .
“ I am concerned to see that in the Senate there seems to be a renewed interest in furthering these bogus Russian narratives through the use of their investigative powers .
I just think it ’ s so deeply destructive to be effectively working in concert with Russian propaganda artists , '' House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said .
Biden ’ s team thanked the Republican senator for doing the campaign “ an enormous favor.
” “ Senator Johnson just accidentally did us an enormous favor by explicitly admitting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner that would make the founding fathers spin in their graves , ” Biden ’ s campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said .

Sen. Ron Johnson is working to verify a document that describes an apology for a "misinformation campaign" against fired Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin.
The answer may come from Blue Star Strategies, a Washington-based consulting firm that represented the interests of Burisma Holdings in the United States, which has become the target of Johnson's investigation into the Ukrainian gas company and its connection to Joe and Hunter Biden.
Johnson, who is the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, told Fox News's Martha MacCallum on Wednesday that one question his panel hopes to answer is why Shokin was fired.
"I can’t get that from the U.S. government. I know it was a big explanation that everybody wanted him fired, but there is a document, we have to verify it, but there is a document supposedly contemporaneous that said that the contact by Blue Star to the prosecutor general’s office was all about apologizing for the misinformation campaign conducted against Shokin," the Wisconsin Republican said.
"Kind of raises some eyebrows, some questions that need to be answered," he added.
Shokin, who was dismissed in March 2016 after about a year in office by then-President Petro Poroshenko, claims he was ousted because he wanted to investigate the lucrative role Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, had on Burisma's board from 2014 to 2019.
Republicans have questioned why Burisma gave Hunter a high-paying position on the company board despite him having little experience in the energy sector and a well-documented problem with drug use. President Trump, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and other allies claim Joe Biden improperly used his position as vice president to pressure Ukraine to fire Shokin to protect his son from an investigation into Burisma.
The matter got wrapped up into the impeachment saga after Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens and other Democrats in a July 25 phone call in which he also appeared to praise Shokin and call his removal "unfair," according to a transcript released by the White House. Democrats cried foul over what they interpreted to be a "quid pro quo."
At issue was whether the president improperly pressured Ukraine to announce investigations by withholding military aid and dangling the possibility of a White House meeting between the Trump and Zelensky. Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but he was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate earlier this month. Zelensky himself has repeatedly stated that he felt no pressure from Trump to open an investigation into the Bidens.
The elder Biden, who was leading the Obama administration’s diplomatic efforts in Ukraine, threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees if Ukraine did not fire its top prosecutor, who was criticized by the West for not doing enough to crack down on corruption. The European Union, the International Monetary Fund, and other allies had the same objective, and Biden was repeating U.S. policy that had been set out by Washington’s ambassador to Kyiv in the preceding months and was briefed by White House staff just ahead of the trip.
Biden says there is no "credibility" to the claims of corruption, but his critics have seized on video of a statement the former vice president made in January 2018, where he boasted to members of a panel hosted by the Council of Foreign Relations that he ordered the Ukrainian government to fire Shokin or the White House would renege on a commitment to provide aid. “I looked at them and said: ‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money.’ Well, son of a bitch. He got fired," Biden said.
Ukrainian investigators recently began an inquiry into the former vice president over allegations that he pressured officials into firing a top prosecutor in 2016. The investigation was opened by the State Bureau of Investigations on a court order following a January appeal for action by Shokin.
Johnson revealed publicly on Monday that he intends to schedule a committee meeting to vote on a subpoena for Andrii Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian diplomatic aide who worked for Blue Star Strategies, after the firm did not sufficiently respond to his request for documents. Blue Star mentioned Hunter Biden in communications with the State Department in an apparent effort to improve its image in Washington, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The senator told reporters on Tuesday he hopes to release an interim report in the next couple of months. He argued that the investigation is not "focused" on the Bidens, but suggested voters deserve to have a fuller accounting of the former vice president's actions as he competes to snag the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in July.
Democrats criticized Johnson for escalating the investigation into the Bidens just as the vice president's campaign began to gain steam. “I am concerned to see that in the Senate there seems to be a renewed interest in furthering these bogus Russian narratives through the use of their investigative powers. I just think it’s so deeply destructive to be effectively working in concert with Russian propaganda artists," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said.
Biden’s team thanked the Republican senator for doing the campaign “an enormous favor.”
“Senator Johnson just accidentally did us an enormous favor by explicitly admitting that he is abusing congressional authority in a manner that would make the founding fathers spin in their graves,” Biden’s campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-05--Chuck Schumer digs in with absurd, gaslighting defense after Chief Justice John Roberts issues rare

Chuck Schumer digs in with absurd, gaslighting defense after Chief Justice John Roberts issues rare public rebuke

It takes a lot for the chief justice of the United States to issue a public rebuke to an elected official .
On Wednesday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , who is digging in against the rebuke , provided that lot .
“ This morning , ” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement made available to media , “ Sen .
Schumer spoke at a rally in front of the Supreme Court while a case was being argued inside.
” Roberts ’ s statement then refers to a threat Schumer issued that day against conservative Justices Neil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom have signaled a willingness to uphold a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to acquire hospital admitting privileges .
The Democratic New York senator told a crowd of pro-abortion demonstrators Wednesday , “ They ’ re taking away fundamental rights .
I want to tell you , Gorsuch , I want to tell you , Kavanaugh , you have released the whirlwind !
” Schumer added , “ And you will pay the price !
You won ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two members of the court by name , ” the chief justice 's statement reads .
“ Justices know that criticism comes with the territory , but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate , they are dangerous .
All members of the court will continue to do their job , without fear or favor , from whatever quarter.
” It is unusual to see a chief justice issue a statement of this sort , especially one that is so unambiguously critical of one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then again , there is nothing usual about what Schumer said Wednesday morning .
Threatening Supreme Court justices is apparently still frowned upon in the nation ’ s capital .
Amazingly , Schumer ’ s office is not backing down .
In fact , it is digging in , claiming the senator did not say what everyone clearly heard him say .
“ It ’ s a reference to the political price Republicans will pay for putting them on the court and a warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision , ” Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman said Wednesday .
Ah , yes .
That part where the Senate minority leader addressed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh by name — that was actually a reference to the Republican Party .
If you think this is ridiculous , it gets worse .
“ For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing ’ s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said , while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices [ Sonia ] Sotomayor & [ Ruth Bader ] Ginsburg last week , shows Justice Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Goodman added .
This would be a great `` gotcha '' if the two examples were in any way comparable .
President Trump tweeted in late February that Ginsburg and Sotomayor `` should recuse themselves '' from adjudicating on matters related either to him or his administration .
The president explained later in a press conference that Ginsburg should probably recuse herself because she said “ some things that were obviously very inappropriate ” during the 2016 presidential election .
She went `` wild during the campaign , ” Trump added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her comments calling him a “ faker ” with a big “ ego.
” As for Sotomayor , who alleged in a recent dissent that the federal government has developed a nasty habit of running to the Supreme Court whenever it loses in the lower courts , Trump said that “ her statement was so inappropriate when you ’ re a justice of the Supreme Court.
” “ And it 's almost what she 's trying to do is take the people that do feel a different way and get them to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote , ” he told reporters .
“ I just thought it was so inappropriate .
Such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice.
” That about sums up Trump 's remarks on Sotomayor and Ginsburg .
This is the thing that Schumer and his allies in the press want you to think is comparable to the senator saying specifically of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh that they “ have released the whirlwind , ” that they “ will pay the price , ” and that they “ won ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisiana law .
The difference between what Trump said and what Schumer said is the difference between criticism and a threat .
Schumer threatened Gorsuch and Kavanaugh .
Trump criticized Sotomayor and Ginsburg .
It is not that Schumer ’ s people and their supporters in the press can not see the difference .
It is that this is the best defense that they have for a member of their team , and by God , they are going to stick to it .

It takes a lot for the chief justice of the United States to issue a public rebuke to an elected official.
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is digging in against the rebuke, provided that lot.
“This morning,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement made available to media, “Sen. Schumer spoke at a rally in front of the Supreme Court while a case was being argued inside.”
Roberts’s statement then refers to a threat Schumer issued that day against conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, both of whom have signaled a willingness to uphold a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to acquire hospital admitting privileges.
The Democratic New York senator told a crowd of pro-abortion demonstrators Wednesday, “They’re taking away fundamental rights. I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind!”
Schumer added, “And you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
“I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh,
You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price."@SenSchumer speaks to pro-abortion rights protesters outside of the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/STwZZSboHb — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 4, 2020
Roberts was not amused.
“Sen. Schumer referred to two members of the court by name,” the chief justice's statement reads. “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.”
It is unusual to see a chief justice issue a statement of this sort, especially one that is so unambiguously critical of one of the most powerful members of Congress. Then again, there is nothing usual about what Schumer said Wednesday morning. Threatening Supreme Court justices is apparently still frowned upon in the nation’s capital.
Amazingly, Schumer’s office is not backing down. In fact, it is digging in, claiming the senator did not say what everyone clearly heard him say.
“It’s a reference to the political price Republicans will pay for putting them on the court and a warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision,” Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman said Wednesday.
Ah, yes. That part where the Senate minority leader addressed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh by name — that was actually a reference to the Republican Party.
If you think this is ridiculous, it gets worse.
“For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said, while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices [Sonia] Sotomayor & [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes,” Goodman added.
This would be a great "gotcha" if the two examples were in any way comparable.
President Trump tweeted in late February that Ginsburg and Sotomayor "should recuse themselves" from adjudicating on matters related either to him or his administration.
The president explained later in a press conference that Ginsburg should probably recuse herself because she said “some things that were obviously very inappropriate” during the 2016 presidential election. She went "wild during the campaign,” Trump added, noting the justice later walked back her comments calling him a “faker” with a big “ego.”
As for Sotomayor, who alleged in a recent dissent that the federal government has developed a nasty habit of running to the Supreme Court whenever it loses in the lower courts, Trump said that “her statement was so inappropriate when you’re a justice of the Supreme Court.”
“And it's almost what she's trying to do is take the people that do feel a different way and get them to vote the way that she would like them to vote,” he told reporters. “I just thought it was so inappropriate. Such a terrible statement for a Supreme Court justice.”
That about sums up Trump's remarks on Sotomayor and Ginsburg. This is the thing that Schumer and his allies in the press want you to think is comparable to the senator saying specifically of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh that they “have released the whirlwind,” that they “will pay the price,” and that they “won’t know what hit” them if they uphold the Louisiana law.
The difference between what Trump said and what Schumer said is the difference between criticism and a threat. Schumer threatened Gorsuch and Kavanaugh. Trump criticized Sotomayor and Ginsburg. It is not that Schumer’s people and their supporters in the press cannot see the difference.
It is that this is the best defense that they have for a member of their team, and by God, they are going to stick to it.