thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--'It's never too early': Tom Cotton headed to New Hampshire to put a toe in 2024 waters

Sen. Tom Cotton is headed to New Hampshire , the nation 's first primary state , to cultivate support for a potential 2024 president bid , planning to campaign for a Republican Senate candidate and raise money for the party .
Cotton in May will headline a major fundraising dinner for the Hillsborough County Republican Committee that typically draws rising GOP stars and White House hopefuls .
On the same trip , the Arkansas Republican will deliver a keynote speech to the New Hampshire GOP convention .
This month , the Cotton campaign will air a television advertisement in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting GOP 2020 Senate contender Don Bolduc .
“ Future presidential candidates spending election year campaigning for the local ticket in New Hampshire is a time-honored tradition .
It 's never too early to make friends and lay the foundation , often years in the making , for a future campaign here , ” Jim Merrill , a New Hampshire Republican operative , told the Washington Examiner on Monday .
Cotton , 42 , is up for reelection to the Senate this year but does not have a Democratic opponent .
Freed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the senator plans to travel the country to boost Republican congressional candidates who , like him , are combat veterans .
Bolduc , an Army veteran , fought in Afghanistan .
Cotton also is focused on forging relationships that could be critical to a run for higher office and padding his war chest for a future campaign .
Cotton expects to finish the year with up to $ 7 million in the bank .
Cotton intervened in the 2018 election cycle twice to quash the political careers of Democrats who might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s Senate race .
Cotton ’ s political action committee , Republican Majority Fund , invested roughly $ 500,000 in the midterm elections to defeat Clarke Tucker , the Democrat who ran against Republican Rep. French Hill in Arkansas ’ s 2nd Congressional District .
The senator ’ s team identified Tucker as a potential 2020 challenger and responded with digital and direct mail advertising while also fielding a video tracker to follow Tucker on the trail .
Last year , after Mahoney announced plans to run against the senator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trove of opposition research .
But , rather than using it immediately , his team kept its powder dry until the filing deadline to run for Senate in Arkansas in 2020 closed and Mahoney was the only Democratic candidate .
At that point , Cotton deployed the opposition research against Mahoney , who immediately dropped out of the race .
Cotton ’ s first foray into national Republican politics after tending the home front was in Wisconsin , where he supported combat veteran Jason Church , who was running in a special election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Sen. Cotton is focused on electing conservative veterans , ” said Brian Colas , a top Cotton political adviser .
“ Sen .
Cotton will be campaigning for Gen. Bolduc , providing fundraising support , and running ads to mobilize independent New Hampshire voters .
”

Sen. Tom Cotton is headed to New Hampshire, the nation's first primary state, to cultivate support for a potential 2024 president bid, planning to campaign for a Republican Senate candidate and raise money for the party.
Cotton in May will headline a major fundraising dinner for the Hillsborough County Republican Committee that typically draws rising GOP stars and White House hopefuls. On the same trip, the Arkansas Republican will deliver a keynote speech to the New Hampshire GOP convention. This month, the Cotton campaign will air a television advertisement in New Hampshire, narrated by the senator, promoting GOP 2020 Senate contender Don Bolduc.
“Future presidential candidates spending election year campaigning for the local ticket in New Hampshire is a time-honored tradition. It's never too early to make friends and lay the foundation, often years in the making, for a future campaign here,” Jim Merrill, a New Hampshire Republican operative, told the Washington Examiner on Monday.
Cotton, 42, is up for reelection to the Senate this year but does not have a Democratic opponent.
Freed from the responsibility of running a reelection race, the senator plans to travel the country to boost Republican congressional candidates who, like him, are combat veterans. Bolduc, an Army veteran, fought in Afghanistan. Cotton also is focused on forging relationships that could be critical to a run for higher office and padding his war chest for a future campaign. Cotton expects to finish the year with up to $7 million in the bank.
Cotton intervened in the 2018 election cycle twice to quash the political careers of Democrats who might have proven formidable challengers against him in this year’s Senate race.
Cotton’s political action committee, Republican Majority Fund, invested roughly $500,000 in the midterm elections to defeat Clarke Tucker, the Democrat who ran against Republican Rep. French Hill in Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District. The senator’s team identified Tucker as a potential 2020 challenger and responded with digital and direct mail advertising while also fielding a video tracker to follow Tucker on the trail.
Democrat Josh Mahoney, a nonprofit executive, was Cotton’s next target.
Last year, after Mahoney announced plans to run against the senator, Cotton's leadership PAC quickly compiled a trove of opposition research. But, rather than using it immediately, his team kept its powder dry until the filing deadline to run for Senate in Arkansas in 2020 closed and Mahoney was the only Democratic candidate. At that point, Cotton deployed the opposition research against Mahoney, who immediately dropped out of the race.
Cotton’s first foray into national Republican politics after tending the home front was in Wisconsin, where he supported combat veteran Jason Church, who was running in a special election to fill the vacant 7th Congressional District.
"Sen. Cotton is focused on electing conservative veterans,” said Brian Colas, a top Cotton political adviser. “Sen. Cotton will be campaigning for Gen. Bolduc, providing fundraising support, and running ads to mobilize independent New Hampshire voters.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Biden set for strong Super Tuesday performance

LOS ANGELES — Joe Biden 's campaign was nearly declared dead before his resounding victory in South Carolina , but a new string of endorsements and positive polling numbers mean the former vice president could have his best showing on Tuesday , when 1,357 delegates are up for grabs .
The `` Never Bernie '' movement appeared to get serious on Sunday and Monday , with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg set to back Biden the night before Super Tuesday .
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , a Nevada Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president on Monday afternoon .
“ President Donald Trump has done unspeakable damage to our country , our institutions , and the rule of law , '' Reid said .
`` Democrats need a candidate who can assemble the largest , most diverse coalition possible to defeat Trump and lead our country following the trauma of Trump ’ s presidency .
That candidate is Joe Biden . ''
Recent polling shows Biden should also do well with delegates , meeting the polling threshold in large states such as California and Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas has Biden at 18 % support , with an Emerson poll released on Monday showing his support at 21 % .
In Texas , Biden 's post-South Carolina victory is giving him a major boost there as well .
An Emerson poll released Monday has him at 21 % support , a 7-point increase from a poll conducted before his first primary win .
Still , if polling holds , Bernie Sanders is set to win both states by double digits .
But the exit of Klobuchar and Buttigieg from the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry about missing the minimum delegate threshold in the two megarich states .
That would stave off a nightmare scenario for the Biden campaign , which once risked the Vermont senator winning nearly 1,000 delegates from those two states if no other candidate cleared the polling requirements .
Aside from a competitive second , Biden is also set to win a number of Super Tuesday states .
In Alabama , which has a voting demographic most similar to South Carolina , Biden is set to win big and , potentially , to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Virginia , a state where Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 primary by nearly 30 points , has him tying or leading Sanders as well .
Only one poll , released late in February , before Biden 's South Carolina win or his endorsement by former Virginia Gov .
Terry McAulliffe , by the left-leaning Data for Progress , has Sanders with a lead .
Virginia awards 99 delegates to its winner .
A total of 1,991 are needed to win the Democratic nomination .
Another delegate-rich state such as North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
With 110 delegates up for grabs , the third-most on Super Tuesday , Biden holds a lead over Sanders .
A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls has Biden leading Sanders by more than 2 points , but no surveys were conducted after his win in South Carolina .
One poll , conducted by the Republican research group Civitas , had Biden leading by 8 points .
Tennessee , Oklahoma , and Arkansas , which will reward roughly 150 delegates on Super Tuesday , are all favored for Biden as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't still have an uphill battle after Super Tuesday .
Sanders will likely extend his delegate lead over him by the time all votes are in , and more than 50 % of voters in many states such as Utah , Vermont , and Maine will likely back Sanders .
But the race will be far from over .
Instead , a strong Biden showing on Tuesday will only increase the likelihood of a contested convention and ensure the primary extends through the summer .
Barring any extraordinary developments , Sanders falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday will mean it will be likely statistically impossible for him to win a majority of delegates before the convention .

LOS ANGELES — Joe Biden's campaign was nearly declared dead before his resounding victory in South Carolina, but a new string of endorsements and positive polling numbers mean the former vice president could have his best showing on Tuesday, when 1,357 delegates are up for grabs.
The "Never Bernie" movement appeared to get serious on Sunday and Monday, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg set to back Biden the night before Super Tuesday. Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, also announced that he was backing the former vice president on Monday afternoon.
“President Donald Trump has done unspeakable damage to our country, our institutions, and the rule of law," Reid said. "Democrats need a candidate who can assemble the largest, most diverse coalition possible to defeat Trump and lead our country following the trauma of Trump’s presidency. That candidate is Joe Biden."
Recent polling shows Biden should also do well with delegates, meeting the polling threshold in large states such as California and Texas. A RealClearPolitics average of polls of Texas has Biden at 18% support, with an Emerson poll released on Monday showing his support at 21%.
In Texas, Biden's post-South Carolina victory is giving him a major boost there as well. An Emerson poll released Monday has him at 21% support, a 7-point increase from a poll conducted before his first primary win.
Still, if polling holds, Bernie Sanders is set to win both states by double digits. But the exit of Klobuchar and Buttigieg from the race means Biden likely no longer has to worry about missing the minimum delegate threshold in the two megarich states.
That would stave off a nightmare scenario for the Biden campaign, which once risked the Vermont senator winning nearly 1,000 delegates from those two states if no other candidate cleared the polling requirements.
Aside from a competitive second, Biden is also set to win a number of Super Tuesday states. In Alabama, which has a voting demographic most similar to South Carolina, Biden is set to win big and, potentially, to block Sanders from collecting any delegates.
Polls from Virginia, a state where Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 primary by nearly 30 points, has him tying or leading Sanders as well. Only one poll, released late in February, before Biden's South Carolina win or his endorsement by former Virginia Gov. Terry McAulliffe, by the left-leaning Data for Progress, has Sanders with a lead. Virginia awards 99 delegates to its winner. A total of 1,991 are needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Another delegate-rich state such as North Carolina is also primed to give Biden a win. With 110 delegates up for grabs, the third-most on Super Tuesday, Biden holds a lead over Sanders. A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls has Biden leading Sanders by more than 2 points, but no surveys were conducted after his win in South Carolina. One poll, conducted by the Republican research group Civitas, had Biden leading by 8 points.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, which will reward roughly 150 delegates on Super Tuesday, are all favored for Biden as well.
None of this is to say Biden doesn't still have an uphill battle after Super Tuesday. Sanders will likely extend his delegate lead over him by the time all votes are in, and more than 50% of voters in many states such as Utah, Vermont, and Maine will likely back Sanders.
But the race will be far from over. Instead, a strong Biden showing on Tuesday will only increase the likelihood of a contested convention and ensure the primary extends through the summer. Barring any extraordinary developments, Sanders falling short of winning a majority of delegates on Tuesday will mean it will be likely statistically impossible for him to win a majority of delegates before the convention.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Bloomberg says he has 'no expectations' heading into Super Tuesday and points to contested conventio

Bloomberg says he has 'no expectations' heading into Super Tuesday and points to contested convention as path to victory

Michael Bloomberg says he has “ no expectations ” going into the Democratic primary contest ’ s biggest day .
The former New York City mayor said on Tuesday that he has “ no intention of dropping out ” of the race after centrists Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar ended their presidential bids and endorsed Joe Biden in an effort to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning the nomination .
Bloomberg , who is on the ballot for the first time on Super Tuesday , has pumped more than $ 500 million of his own funds into his campaign and pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow Buttigieg and Klobuchar ’ s lead .
“ I have no intention of dropping out , ” he said .
“ We 're in it to win it .
I do n't understand why you would not ask other candidates that , ” adding that instead of him taking votes that would go to Biden , “ Joe 's taking votes away from me.
” Bloomberg also said that he thinks the only way to win is through a contested convention .
“ I do n't think I can win any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During remarks in Florida , he also knocked Sanders , a self-avowed socialist who has praised aspects of Cuba ’ s government under the late communist leader Fidel Castro .
Bloomberg said that “ we will not win Florida with a candidate who sings the praises of Fidel Castro.
” Sanders and Biden are neck-and-neck in nationwide polling .
A RealClearPolitics national average of polls shows that Sanders , once the front-runner , has seen a drop in recent days while Biden has gained .
Sanders has 26 % support , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the average .
Bloomberg trails the two with 16.2 % support .

Michael Bloomberg says he has “no expectations” going into the Democratic primary contest’s biggest day.
The former New York City mayor said on Tuesday that he has “no intention of dropping out” of the race after centrists Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar ended their presidential bids and endorsed Joe Biden in an effort to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning the nomination.
Bloomberg, who is on the ballot for the first time on Super Tuesday, has pumped more than $500 million of his own funds into his campaign and pushed back on those who say he should follow Buttigieg and Klobuchar’s lead.
“I have no intention of dropping out,” he said. “We're in it to win it. I don't understand why you would not ask other candidates that,” adding that instead of him taking votes that would go to Biden, “Joe's taking votes away from me.”
Bloomberg also said that he thinks the only way to win is through a contested convention.
“I don't think I can win any other way,” the former mayor said.
During remarks in Florida, he also knocked Sanders, a self-avowed socialist who has praised aspects of Cuba’s government under the late communist leader Fidel Castro. Bloomberg said that “we will not win Florida with a candidate who sings the praises of Fidel Castro.”
Sanders and Biden are neck-and-neck in nationwide polling. A RealClearPolitics national average of polls shows that Sanders, once the front-runner, has seen a drop in recent days while Biden has gained. Sanders has 26% support, and Biden has 24.6% support, according to the average. Bloomberg trails the two with 16.2% support.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--AOC communications director unexpectedly quits her reelection campaign

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's communications director Corbin Trent has left her reelection campaign and has joined Sen. Bernie Sanders 's @ @ @ @ @ unexpected departure was discovered by the New York Post on Thursday after a reporter had @ @ @ @ @ .
Trent refused to say why he departed the New York Democrat 's campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ communications director in her D.C. office but was reassigned to her reelection campaign in August @ @ @ @ @ co-founder of Justice Democrats , which helped his former boss to win her congressional seat @ @ @ @ @ elected to the House .
Trent said he is now with Sanders 's 2020 presidential @ @ @ @ @ work on communications and strategy .
Ocasio-Cortez endorsed the Vermont independent in October .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's communications director Corbin Trent has left her reelection campaign and has joined Sen. Bernie Sanders's presidential election campaign.
The unexpected departure was discovered by the New York Post on Thursday after a reporter had emailed him asking for comment. Trent refused to say why he departed the New York Democrat's campaign.
Trent was formerly Ocasio-Cortez's communications director in her D.C. office but was reassigned to her reelection campaign in August.
The 31-year-old was a co-founder of Justice Democrats, which helped his former boss to win her congressional seat and become the youngest woman elected to the House.
Trent said he is now with Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign, where he will work on communications and strategy. Ocasio-Cortez endorsed the Vermont independent in October.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--‘We need real reform’: Ted Cruz rejects 'rumors' about tying FISA reauthorization to coronavirus fun

‘We need real reform’: Ted Cruz rejects 'rumors' about tying FISA reauthorization to coronavirus funding

A Republican senator criticized a possible proposal tying Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization to multibillion-dollar emergency funding to combat the coronavirus .
Sen. Ted Cruz , a member of the judiciary and commerce panels , cast such `` rumors '' as an indicator that Congress is on its way to renewing key parts of the surveillance law without sufficient consideration for reform , highlighting a split between the GOP and Attorney General William Barr , who has asked for a clean reauthorization .
“ Hearing rumors that the swamp is trying to tie long-term FISA reauthorization to emergency funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Republican tweeted Monday night .
“ This should not happen .
FISA process was abused to spy on @ realDonaldTrump .
We need real reform , not political games.
” Republican allies of President Trump have demanded FISA reform after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December that criticized the DOJ and the FBI for at least 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” related to the FISA surveillance of Trump campaign associate Carter Page , a U.S. citizen who was never charged with wrongdoing , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s salacious and unverified dossier .
With FISA authorities , including roving wiretap powers , the business records provision , and the `` lone wolf '' amendment , set to sunset on March 15 if not reauthorized , lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are considering reforms to the law that determines the procedures for electronic and physical surveillance for counterintelligence or anti-terrorism investigations .
At a private meeting with Senate Republicans last Tuesday , Barr advocated for the extension of soon-to-expire surveillance law provisions and time to implement his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against American citizens .
Barr said his desire for a “ clean ” reauthorization was supported by the intelligence community , the National Security Council , and the FBI , although the White House Domestic Policy Council was reportedly not on board .
“ The attorney general just wanted to underscore the importance of these provisions that were enacted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said after the meeting .
“ They are still relevant to our efforts to go after terrorists today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham said Barr “ made a commitment to make sure that what happened in 2016 — that internally he 's going to clean up that mess.
” The South Carolina Republican added : “ You ’ ve got three provisions to deal with .
I think it ’ d be smart to keep them in place .
It would give us some time to work on FISA writ large.
” But in the days since , there has been pushback by some Republicans , and Trump and Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest GOP advocates for FISA reform , including Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul , on Tuesday , according to the Wall Street Journal .
Both Republicans have raised concerns about government `` spying '' on U.S. citizens .
There is talk on Capitol Hill about attaching FISA renewal to the estimated $ 7.5 billion coronavirus emergency supplemental bill , which is expected to pass the House .
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby suggested to Fox News on Monday that he was not against the idea .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it moves , '' the Alabama Republican said .
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy , the committee ’ s ranking member , said , “ Oh , God , no !
” to the idea .
Leahy said he wanted the coronavirus legislation to be “ clean ” and “ the people who want to do FISA could have finished it last year.
” Trump ’ s new nominee for director of national intelligence , Rep. John Ratcliffe , weighed in last week at the Conservative Political Action Conference , noting that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the Texas Republican defended the value of the surveillance law used to root out terrorists and spies .
Ratcliffe said it `` serves our country well and saves lives '' while arguing it needed fixes .
He said it was n't enough to defend the DOJ and FBI : `` You have to defend the values behind the institutions.
” Other Republicans in the House said FISA reform was imperative .
“ We are right in the middle of reauthorizing the FISA process , ” North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress or senator , including Republicans , if we reauthorize it without reforming it.
” Rep. Doug Collins , the ranking member of the judiciary panel , said he was `` not going to approve anything unless we get some FISA changes.
” The Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee struck a similar tone .
“ Nope , I don ’ t want to do it — not without major reforms , '' New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler told CNN when asked if he 'd support a short-term FISA reauthorization .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for FISA reform legislation last week after Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren offered five amendments that her Democratic colleagues considered to be `` poison pills '' that would hinder negotiations .
“ If we don ’ t take this opportunity to reform the FISA process , we are missing an opportunity , ” the California Democrat said , according to Politico .
Although the deadline is March 15 , because it is a Saturday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said FISA reauthorization needs to happen by March 12 , before Congress leaves town .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right balance between civil liberties and national security , ” the California Democrat said .
“ It 's really important that we pass the FISA bill .
”

A Republican senator criticized a possible proposal tying Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization to multibillion-dollar emergency funding to combat the coronavirus.
Sen. Ted Cruz, a member of the judiciary and commerce panels, cast such "rumors" as an indicator that Congress is on its way to renewing key parts of the surveillance law without sufficient consideration for reform, highlighting a split between the GOP and Attorney General William Barr, who has asked for a clean reauthorization.
“Hearing rumors that the swamp is trying to tie long-term FISA reauthorization to emergency funding to fight the #CoronaVirus,” the Texas Republican tweeted Monday night. “This should not happen. FISA process was abused to spy on @realDonaldTrump. We need real reform, not political games.”
Republican allies of President Trump have demanded FISA reform after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December that criticized the DOJ and the FBI for at least 17 “significant errors and omissions” related to the FISA surveillance of Trump campaign associate Carter Page, a U.S. citizen who was never charged with wrongdoing, and its heavy reliance on British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier.
With FISA authorities, including roving wiretap powers, the business records provision, and the "lone wolf" amendment, set to sunset on March 15 if not reauthorized, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are considering reforms to the law that determines the procedures for electronic and physical surveillance for counterintelligence or anti-terrorism investigations.
At a private meeting with Senate Republicans last Tuesday, Barr advocated for the extension of soon-to-expire surveillance law provisions and time to implement his own internal reforms aimed at stopping surveillance abuses against American citizens. Barr said his desire for a “clean” reauthorization was supported by the intelligence community, the National Security Council, and the FBI, although the White House Domestic Policy Council was reportedly not on board.
“The attorney general just wanted to underscore the importance of these provisions that were enacted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said after the meeting. “They are still relevant to our efforts to go after terrorists today, just like they were after 9/11.”
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham said Barr “made a commitment to make sure that what happened in 2016 — that internally he's going to clean up that mess.” The South Carolina Republican added: “You’ve got three provisions to deal with. I think it’d be smart to keep them in place. It would give us some time to work on FISA writ large.”
But in the days since, there has been pushback by some Republicans, and Trump and Barr are set to meet with some of the biggest GOP advocates for FISA reform, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, on Tuesday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Both Republicans have raised concerns about government "spying" on U.S. citizens.
There is talk on Capitol Hill about attaching FISA renewal to the estimated $7.5 billion coronavirus emergency supplemental bill, which is expected to pass the House.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby suggested to Fox News on Monday that he was not against the idea. “It’s not a poison pill if it moves," the Alabama Republican said.
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee’s ranking member, said, “Oh, God, no!” to the idea. Leahy said he wanted the coronavirus legislation to be “clean” and “the people who want to do FISA could have finished it last year.”
Trump’s new nominee for director of national intelligence, Rep. John Ratcliffe, weighed in last week at the Conservative Political Action Conference, noting that “there was illegal surveillance” of Trump. But the Texas Republican defended the value of the surveillance law used to root out terrorists and spies.
Ratcliffe said it "serves our country well and saves lives" while arguing it needed fixes. He said it wasn't enough to defend the DOJ and FBI: "You have to defend the values behind the institutions.”
Other Republicans in the House said FISA reform was imperative.
“We are right in the middle of reauthorizing the FISA process,” North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows said. “Shame on any member of Congress or senator, including Republicans, if we reauthorize it without reforming it.”
Rep. Doug Collins, the ranking member of the judiciary panel, said he was "not going to approve anything unless we get some FISA changes.”
The Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee struck a similar tone.
“Nope, I don’t want to do it — not without major reforms," New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler told CNN when asked if he'd support a short-term FISA reauthorization.
The House Judiciary Committee suspended a markup session for FISA reform legislation last week after Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren offered five amendments that her Democratic colleagues considered to be "poison pills" that would hinder negotiations.
“If we don’t take this opportunity to reform the FISA process, we are missing an opportunity,” the California Democrat said, according to Politico.
Although the deadline is March 15, because it is a Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said FISA reauthorization needs to happen by March 12, before Congress leaves town.
“The goal is to have the right balance between civil liberties and national security,” the California Democrat said. “It's really important that we pass the FISA bill.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Arizona proposal seeks to curb home equity theft

A proposal making its way through the Arizona legislature seeks to prevent the practice of home equity theft in the state .
Arizona is one of 13 states where homeowners can lose their equity if property taxes are late or underpaid , even by mistake .
State law allows counties to auction off tax liens to investors , who then collect the debts on properties , which can be foreclosed on if the debts aren ’ t paid .
The Pacific Legal Foundation ( PLF ) , a libertarian-leaning public interest law firm , argues that under the U.S. Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take more value than they are owed .
A report released last month by the foundation found that “ hundreds of Arizonans have lost their homes for debts as small as $ 16.46.
” The foundation , which says the practice inflicts “ moral and economic harm , ” found that equity theft in the state has accounted for a median amount of $ 64,000 taken from Arizona homeowners .
“ Homes examined in our study were foreclosed over taxes and fees that average just 1 percent of the property value .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen from the homeowners , ” the report said .
Arizona House Bill 2445 would n't allow property owners to lose a greater value than the debt owed on their property .
Under the bill , sponsored by Rep. Anthony Kern , R-Glendale , once a property is auctioned , former owners would be refunded money above the debt paid .
PLF supports the legislation , which last week passed the House Rules Committee .
“ HB 2445 would put an end to this egregious and unconstitutional practice in Arizona , ” PLF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This bill will ensure that Arizonans ' property rights are protected , while ensuring that Counties receive the tax revenue they need to function.
” He added that the legislation “ keeps the current tax lien process intact ; it ensures counties are promptly paid the property taxes they are due , tax lien investors collect the interest and penalties they are due , and homeowners ’ equity is protected from confiscation .
”

A proposal making its way through the Arizona legislature seeks to prevent the practice of home equity theft in the state.
Arizona is one of 13 states where homeowners can lose their equity if property taxes are late or underpaid, even by mistake. State law allows counties to auction off tax liens to investors, who then collect the debts on properties, which can be foreclosed on if the debts aren’t paid.
The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a libertarian-leaning public interest law firm, argues that under the U.S. Constitution, local governments aren’t allowed to take more value than they are owed.
A report released last month by the foundation found that “hundreds of Arizonans have lost their homes for debts as small as $16.46.”
The foundation, which says the practice inflicts “moral and economic harm,” found that equity theft in the state has accounted for a median amount of $64,000 taken from Arizona homeowners.
“Homes examined in our study were foreclosed over taxes and fees that average just 1 percent of the property value. The remaining 99 percent of equity was stolen from the homeowners,” the report said.
Arizona House Bill 2445 wouldn't allow property owners to lose a greater value than the debt owed on their property. Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, once a property is auctioned, former owners would be refunded money above the debt paid.
PLF supports the legislation, which last week passed the House Rules Committee.
“HB 2445 would put an end to this egregious and unconstitutional practice in Arizona,” PLF attorney Jim Manley told The Center Square. “This bill will ensure that Arizonans' property rights are protected, while ensuring that Counties receive the tax revenue they need to function.”
He added that the legislation “keeps the current tax lien process intact; it ensures counties are promptly paid the property taxes they are due, tax lien investors collect the interest and penalties they are due, and homeowners’ equity is protected from confiscation.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Senate bill would open Medicaid to all Georgia residents

Georgia lawmakers have proposed a bill that would allow residents to apply for Medicaid .
Senate Bill 339 instructs the Georgia Department of Community Health to create a new program that will allow any resident , regardless of income level or insurance status , to purchase a Medicaid plan at the same cost as the state .
The bill would provide another `` cost-effective '' option for Georgia residents , said the bill 's sponsor , Sen. Sally Harrell , D–Atlanta .
Georgia 's health-care system ranks 46th out of the 50 states and Washington , D.C. , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are people whose private plans are not working for them , ” Harrell said .
“ So , Senate Bill 339 gives them another option , beyond what they may be getting from their employer.
” Medicaid is partially funded by the state and federal government and is at no cost to its participants .
As of November , there were 1.8 million Georgians enrolled in Medicaid .
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the mean cost per enrollee in the Georgia Medicaid program is $ 4,398 .
The federal government covers 67 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administers the program that caters to low-income families , the disabled , pregnant women and the elderly , according to Georgia ’ s current guidelines .
The income eligibility threshold for an adult that doesn ’ t fall under the program ’ s population base is up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level or a little more than $ 12,000 annually .
Under the federal Affordable Care Act , residents also can apply for plans through an online marketplace that meets federal mandates for affordability and coverage .
Harrell said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents face with other plans .
“ Maybe their monthly premiums are over $ 1,000 a month , and they have a $ 10,000 deductible , ” she said .
“ So even though they 're paying out all this cash , they still have to spend $ 500 , when they go to the doctor and they do n't have that because they 're spending all their money on premiums.
” Gov .
Brian Kemp requested a partial Medicaid expansion from the Trump Administration in December that would raise the eligibility threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level .
More than 400,000 Georgians would be eligible for coverage under that scenario , which would cost taxpayers $ 323 million over the next five years , according to Kemp ’ s office .
Unlike the current Medicaid program , Kemp ’ s partial expansion would include a work requirement .
Critics of Kemp ’ s plan decry the work requirement and say that the plan leaves out 200,000 residents who would be covered under a full expansion that would raise the income requirements to 133 percent of the poverty level .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone who wants Medicaid to apply , but it also saves the state some of the financial responsibility that comes with administrating the program .
“ The consumers cover the whole cost , which should turn out to be slightly cheaper than private market plan , ” she said .
Harrell asked the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday to review the bill , which also calls for a study committee and an actuarial study of the proposal .

Georgia lawmakers have proposed a bill that would allow residents to apply for Medicaid.
Senate Bill 339 instructs the Georgia Department of Community Health to create a new program that will allow any resident, regardless of income level or insurance status, to purchase a Medicaid plan at the same cost as the state.
The bill would provide another "cost-effective" option for Georgia residents, said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Sally Harrell, D–Atlanta. Georgia's health-care system ranks 46th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
“There are people whose private plans are not working for them,” Harrell said. “So, Senate Bill 339 gives them another option, beyond what they may be getting from their employer.”
Medicaid is partially funded by the state and federal government and is at no cost to its participants. As of November, there were 1.8 million Georgians enrolled in Medicaid.
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the mean cost per enrollee in the Georgia Medicaid program is $4,398. The federal government covers 67 percent of that cost. The state administers the program that caters to low-income families, the disabled, pregnant women and the elderly, according to Georgia’s current guidelines.
The income eligibility threshold for an adult that doesn’t fall under the program’s population base is up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level or a little more than $12,000 annually.
Under the federal Affordable Care Act, residents also can apply for plans through an online marketplace that meets federal mandates for affordability and coverage. Harrell said the bill will address some of the issues residents face with other plans.
“Maybe their monthly premiums are over $1,000 a month, and they have a $10,000 deductible,” she said. “So even though they're paying out all this cash, they still have to spend $500, when they go to the doctor and they don't have that because they're spending all their money on premiums.”
Gov. Brian Kemp requested a partial Medicaid expansion from the Trump Administration in December that would raise the eligibility threshold to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. More than 400,000 Georgians would be eligible for coverage under that scenario, which would cost taxpayers $323 million over the next five years, according to Kemp’s office.
Unlike the current Medicaid program, Kemp’s partial expansion would include a work requirement. Critics of Kemp’s plan decry the work requirement and say that the plan leaves out 200,000 residents who would be covered under a full expansion that would raise the income requirements to 133 percent of the poverty level.
Harrell said her bill not only allows anyone who wants Medicaid to apply, but it also saves the state some of the financial responsibility that comes with administrating the program.
“The consumers cover the whole cost, which should turn out to be slightly cheaper than private market plan,” she said.
Harrell asked the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday to review the bill, which also calls for a study committee and an actuarial study of the proposal.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Gun-owner lobby tracking 254 bills in Illinois

As lawmakers prepare to return to the capitol this week , Illinois ’ gun-owner lobby is tracking more than 250 bills at the statehouse , most of which the group said would weaken Second Amendment protections .
Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said gun owners should be paying attention to what is happening at the Illinois statehouse .
“ We ’ re tracking 254 bills right now , so some are pro-gun , some are anti-gun , ” Pearson said .
“ Most are anti-gun.
” He said one of the pro-gun measures to end the Firearm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s not expected to advance .
But one that ’ s up for final passage in the state Senate , Senate Bill 1966 , would require FOID applicants to submit fingerprints .
“ [ The bill says ] you have to have fingerprints , you have to pay for your own background checks , pay for your own fingerprints , ” Pearson said .
“ I say if a poll tax , $ 2 dollars is too much to register to vote , how much is $ 400 or $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pearson said he doesn ’ t expect Senate Bill 1966 to be voted on until after the March primary .
Another proposed measure , House Bill 5170 , requires a $ 1 million insurance policy to get a FOID card .
Pearson said there was no company in the world that has such a policy and the costs of such a policy are unknown .
“ And you don ’ t have to own a firearm , you just have to be a FOID cardholder , ” Pearson said .
“ So if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three or four FOID cards they would all have to get this policy .
It just becomes cost-prohibitive .
It ’ s just another attack on the Second Amendment.
” Another bill Pearson ’ s group is watching is House Bill 2254 , which would require every gun to be stored in a lockable container .
“ You could suffer a $ 1,000 to $ 10,000 fine if the police happen to come into your house and find a gun that ’ s not locked up , ” Pearson said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for self-defense impossible.
” He encouraged gun owners to attend the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day on April 1 in Springfield to be heard .

As lawmakers prepare to return to the capitol this week, Illinois’ gun-owner lobby is tracking more than 250 bills at the statehouse, most of which the group said would weaken Second Amendment protections.
Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said gun owners should be paying attention to what is happening at the Illinois statehouse.
“We’re tracking 254 bills right now, so some are pro-gun, some are anti-gun,” Pearson said. “Most are anti-gun.”
He said one of the pro-gun measures to end the Firearm Owners Identification card is filed every year. That’s not expected to advance. But one that’s up for final passage in the state Senate, Senate Bill 1966, would require FOID applicants to submit fingerprints.
“[The bill says] you have to have fingerprints, you have to pay for your own background checks, pay for your own fingerprints,” Pearson said. “I say if a poll tax, $2 dollars is too much to register to vote, how much is $400 or $500 for a FOID card?”
Pearson said he doesn’t expect Senate Bill 1966 to be voted on until after the March primary.
Another proposed measure, House Bill 5170, requires a $1 million insurance policy to get a FOID card. Pearson said there was no company in the world that has such a policy and the costs of such a policy are unknown.
“And you don’t have to own a firearm, you just have to be a FOID cardholder,” Pearson said. “So if you had a family with two or three or four FOID cards they would all have to get this policy. It just becomes cost-prohibitive. It’s just another attack on the Second Amendment.”
Another bill Pearson’s group is watching is House Bill 2254, which would require every gun to be stored in a lockable container.
“You could suffer a $1,000 to $10,000 fine if the police happen to come into your house and find a gun that’s not locked up,” Pearson said. “It makes having a firearm in your house for self-defense impossible.”
He encouraged gun owners to attend the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day on April 1 in Springfield to be heard.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Blagojevich criticizes Pritzker, Madigan, the Springfield 'swamp'

Newly-freed Rod Blagojevich is speaking out about his interactions with Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and long-time House Speaker Michael Madigan .
Former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich took to the Chicago radio airwaves Friday , telling long-time on-air personality Mancow on 890 WLS-AM that Madigan demanded 2.5 percent of his re-election fund or else he would usher through a tax hike .
“ I predicted that ... it was not only going to be a tax increase but a sixty percent tax increase , I knew exactly what they were trying to do and I was proven right on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if federal authorities applied the same standard to others in Springfield that they did to him “ they ’ d all be in jail.
” President Donald Trump commuted the remaining 6 years of Blagojevich 's 14-year sentence for multiple corruption convictions last month .
Blagojevich said a $ 7 million campaign donation just before election day from Pritzker paid his way into the speaker ’ s good graces .
“ $ 7 million from J.B. to Mike Madigan ’ s campaign coffers in order to get Madigan to support him for governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative agenda , ” he said .
“ Madigan is basically holding him up for that campaign money similar to what he tried to do with me .
He asked me for two-and-a-half percent of my campaign fund the year I was running for re-election and when I politely declined , I predicted rightfully that he was going to block our initiatives and try hard to push a tax increase for political purposes , less than to serve any kind of good purpose.
” Blagojevich , matching the notoriously high-energy WLS host , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long-time speaker wields such influence .
“ He ’ s the Wizard of Oz , ” he told Mancow .
“ He ’ s the kind of guy where if you move that curtain , he ain ’ t so tough , OK , but he ’ s a sneaky little guy ...
He controls all of the apparatus of government .
He ’ s got a bunch of lemmings , state [ representatives ] who talk a big game when they ’ re back home and as soon as they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that and they take their marching orders from him because what he does is he gives them committee assignments ... virtually every one of those state lawmakers was on a committee .
That ’ s not how it ’ s supposed to be.
” Blagojevich wouldn ’ t divulge anything else he knew about Pritzker or others , saying he would save that for an upcoming book he planned to write .
Pritzker 's office did n't respond to a request for comment .
Madigan 's spokesman said he did n't `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Newly-freed Rod Blagojevich is speaking out about his interactions with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and long-time House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich took to the Chicago radio airwaves Friday, telling long-time on-air personality Mancow on 890 WLS-AM that Madigan demanded 2.5 percent of his re-election fund or else he would usher through a tax hike.
“I predicted that...it was not only going to be a tax increase but a sixty percent tax increase, I knew exactly what they were trying to do and I was proven right on that,” he said, adding that if federal authorities applied the same standard to others in Springfield that they did to him “they’d all be in jail.”
President Donald Trump commuted the remaining 6 years of Blagojevich's 14-year sentence for multiple corruption convictions last month. Blagojevich said a $7 million campaign donation just before election day from Pritzker paid his way into the speaker’s good graces.
“$7 million from J.B. to Mike Madigan’s campaign coffers in order to get Madigan to support him for governor and, frankly, to pass his legislative agenda,” he said. “Madigan is basically holding him up for that campaign money similar to what he tried to do with me. He asked me for two-and-a-half percent of my campaign fund the year I was running for re-election and when I politely declined, I predicted rightfully that he was going to block our initiatives and try hard to push a tax increase for political purposes, less than to serve any kind of good purpose.”
Blagojevich, matching the notoriously high-energy WLS host, dove into his own interpretation of how the long-time speaker wields such influence.
“He’s the Wizard of Oz,” he told Mancow. “He’s the kind of guy where if you move that curtain, he ain’t so tough, OK, but he’s a sneaky little guy...He controls all of the apparatus of government. He’s got a bunch of lemmings, state [representatives] who talk a big game when they’re back home and as soon as they get down to Springfield they just forget about all that and they take their marching orders from him because what he does is he gives them committee assignments...virtually every one of those state lawmakers was on a committee. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
Blagojevich wouldn’t divulge anything else he knew about Pritzker or others, saying he would save that for an upcoming book he planned to write.
Pritzker's office didn't respond to a request for comment. Madigan's spokesman said he didn't "see anything tied to any facts."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Louisiana Gov.: No coronavirus cases yet, but a matter of 'when, not if'

Louisiana does not have any confirmed coronavirus infections yet , Gov .
John Bel Edwards said Monday , though that is expected to change .
“ We do believe it ’ s a matter of when , not if , ” he said , which he said is `` cause for concern '' but not `` cause for panic . ''
Louisiana ’ s Unified Command Group met Monday to discuss the state ’ s response to the novel coronavirus , officially known as COVID-19 .
Edwards has launched a COVID-19 task force including state and federal officials that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of operations plans to take coronavirus into account .
Louisiana officials have been in “ near daily ” contact with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Edwards said .
He said he and other governors had a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence and other federal officials Monday .
“ The threat to the general population across the country and here in Louisiana remains low , although the risk of exposure is higher now than it was just a few days ago , ” Edwards said .
The Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test for the virus following referrals by a health care provider , Edwards said .
An initial positive test will be referred to the CDC for confirmation , he said , adding that testing capacity has not been a concern .
Edwards said a “ couple dozen ” Louisiana residents who might have been exposed were asked to stay home until the risk of spreading the virus has passed , but no one has tested positive or been quarantined , he said .
He said the administration plans to inform the public when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
In the meantime , he asked people not to believe rumors and to do all of the things they would do to prevent the spread of the flu , such as washing hands thoroughly , covering your mouth with the crook of your elbow if you cough , and not going to work if you ’ re sick .
Updates will be posted at ldh.la.gov/coronavirus “ There is absolutely no need to panic , ” Edwards said .
“ That ’ s exactly the wrong thing to do .
”

Louisiana does not have any confirmed coronavirus infections yet, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Monday, though that is expected to change.
“We do believe it’s a matter of when, not if,” he said, which he said is "cause for concern" but not "cause for panic."
Louisiana’s Unified Command Group met Monday to discuss the state’s response to the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. Edwards has launched a COVID-19 task force including state and federal officials that is recommending all state agencies review their continuity of operations plans to take coronavirus into account.
Louisiana officials have been in “near daily” contact with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Edwards said. He said he and other governors had a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence and other federal officials Monday.
“The threat to the general population across the country and here in Louisiana remains low, although the risk of exposure is higher now than it was just a few days ago,” Edwards said.
The Louisiana Office of Public Health is able to test for the virus following referrals by a health care provider, Edwards said. An initial positive test will be referred to the CDC for confirmation, he said, adding that testing capacity has not been a concern.
Edwards said a “couple dozen” Louisiana residents who might have been exposed were asked to stay home until the risk of spreading the virus has passed, but no one has tested positive or been quarantined, he said.
He said the administration plans to inform the public when a confirmed case has been discovered in the state. In the meantime, he asked people not to believe rumors and to do all of the things they would do to prevent the spread of the flu, such as washing hands thoroughly, covering your mouth with the crook of your elbow if you cough, and not going to work if you’re sick. Updates will be posted at ldh.la.gov/coronavirus
“There is absolutely no need to panic,” Edwards said. “That’s exactly the wrong thing to do.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Wisconsin Governor signs two laws to crack down on repeat drunk drivers

The penalties for continuing to drive drunk in Wisconsin are getting tougher .
Gov .
Tony Evers has signed two new laws to crack down on repeat drunk drivers .
The first new law , based on Senate Bill 6 , requires an 18-month prison sentence for anyone convicted of their fifth or sixth Operating While Intoxicated ( OWI ) charge .
“ Too many Wisconsinites have experienced the consequences of drunk driving firsthand and it continues to be a concerning issue across our state , ” Evers said .
“ It ’ s an important issue and we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we can keep our communities safe.
” The old required sentence was six months in prison .
Evers also signed Assembly Bill 222 into law .
That requires the state of Wisconsin to suspend someone 's driver 's license after their fourth OWI .
The governor says the new law will allow the state 's `` four strikes and you 're out '' law to fully take effect .
Wisconsin lawmakers have seen a mixed bag of success when it comes to anti-drunk driving laws this year .
Rep. Jim Ott , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for repeat drunk drivers this spring .
He sponsored Senate Bill 6 .
He also is pushing for a new law to allow prosecutors more time to look for other OWIs for first- and second-time offenders .
That legislation is still waiting for a vote in the state senate .
Ott said in February that the point of the new , tougher approach to repeat drunk drivers is not to lock more people up , but rather to get people to stay sober when behind the wheel .

The penalties for continuing to drive drunk in Wisconsin are getting tougher.
Gov. Tony Evers has signed two new laws to crack down on repeat drunk drivers.
The first new law, based on Senate Bill 6, requires an 18-month prison sentence for anyone convicted of their fifth or sixth Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charge.
“Too many Wisconsinites have experienced the consequences of drunk driving firsthand and it continues to be a concerning issue across our state,” Evers said. “It’s an important issue and we have work to do to combat drunk driving so we can keep our communities safe.”
The old required sentence was six months in prison.
Evers also signed Assembly Bill 222 into law. That requires the state of Wisconsin to suspend someone's driver's license after their fourth OWI. The governor says the new law will allow the state's "four strikes and you're out" law to fully take effect.
Wisconsin lawmakers have seen a mixed bag of success when it comes to anti-drunk driving laws this year.
Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon, pushed hard for tougher sentences for repeat drunk drivers this spring. He sponsored Senate Bill 6. He also is pushing for a new law to allow prosecutors more time to look for other OWIs for first- and second-time offenders. That legislation is still waiting for a vote in the state senate.
Ott said in February that the point of the new, tougher approach to repeat drunk drivers is not to lock more people up, but rather to get people to stay sober when behind the wheel.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Afghan mistakes can’t be undone, but we can learn from them

Two quotes from senior officials involved with the war in Afghanistan sum up the enormous breach of trust committed against those who fight our nation ’ s wars by the leaders who send them into harm ’ s way .
The Washington Post ’ s recent exposé on the “ Afghanistan Papers ” has shone a revealing light on what the public has increasingly feared : Our military involvement in Afghanistan and beyond is not good for the country , needlessly wasting tax dollars and robbing us of precious American lives .
Just as trust is fundamental to our democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principle for maintaining an all-volunteer military .
Trust that our civilian and military leadership is acting in the best interest of our great country is fundamental to what makes our military the strongest and best anywhere .
U.S. citizens serve because they believe they are justly defending our cherished freedoms and national interests .
Simon Sinek , the author of Leaders Eat Last , offers a profound example that inspired the title of his book .
Across our military , commissioned and noncommissioned officers follow an unspoken rule by insisting subordinate troops eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests of others before themselves .
The act allows trust to grow within the ranks .
But throughout the Afghanistan Papers , we see leaders eating first .
We see the betrayal of the unspoken agreement that compels brave men and women to risk their lives for a just cause and for one another .
The Afghanistan Papers depict widespread ethical fading at the highest levels of our government and military .
Even in the beginning , multiple senior commanders admitted the complete absence of an overarching strategy .
Gen. Dan McNeill described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan .
“ I tried to get someone to define for me what 'winning ' meant , even before I went over , and nobody could.
” One U.S. Army Special Forces officer exquisitely summarized the underwhelming direction from his seniors : “ Go and do good things.
” I served in Afghanistan , and it ’ s distressing to realize that as we risked our lives for the mission , the collective failure to create lasting results was deliberately hidden .
Whether it was the number of troops trained , violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metrics were “ manipulated ” and altogether failed to paint an accurate picture of what was happening .
How can we be confident in our leaders when they show such disregard for American life ?
An unease with the unending conflict in Afghanistan has grown steadily within the veteran community , and the lack of progress described in the Afghanistan Papers is no revelation to many of us who served .
The next time you speak with an Afghanistan veteran , ask what they think about our efforts in the country .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington narrative .
A recent Pew poll shows that nearly 6 out of 10 veterans believe the war in Afghanistan isn ’ t worth fighting .
Coming from those with firsthand knowledge of the situation , this should alarm all U.S. citizens .
We can not undo two decades of war .
We can not unspend trillions of tax dollars .
We can not undo the years of family separation during deployments .
And most soberingly , we can never again benefit from the potential of those who served us who lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can and should do .
We can and should demand Congress exercise its constitutional responsibilities over matters of war and peace , insisting our elected leaders debate and authorize action before sending U.S. men and women to war .
We can and should always remind the president of his stated commitment to end endless wars and bring our troops home .
And America can and should rethink its broader approach to the world by adopting a new foreign policy that utilizes our military might as a last option .
For reasons we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with running the war in Afghanistan collectively demonstrated a failure of moral courage and leadership .
They chose the easy wrong over the difficult right , set our bravest young men and women up for failure , and betrayed our trust in their ability to do the right thing .
Our mistakes can ’ t be undone , but we can learn from them .
By holding our leaders accountable and taking action to rein in our foreign policy , we can begin rebuilding the foundation of trust our military and society need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Concerned Veterans for America and a U.S. Army National Guard Green Beret .

Two quotes from senior officials involved with the war in Afghanistan sum up the enormous breach of trust committed against those who fight our nation’s wars by the leaders who send them into harm’s way.
'The American people have constantly been lied to.'
'We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan — we didn’t know what we were doing.'
The Washington Post’s recent exposé on the “Afghanistan Papers” has shone a revealing light on what the public has increasingly feared: Our military involvement in Afghanistan and beyond is not good for the country, needlessly wasting tax dollars and robbing us of precious American lives.
Just as trust is fundamental to our democratic republic, it is also a foundational principle for maintaining an all-volunteer military. Trust that our civilian and military leadership is acting in the best interest of our great country is fundamental to what makes our military the strongest and best anywhere. U.S. citizens serve because they believe they are justly defending our cherished freedoms and national interests.
Simon Sinek, the author of Leaders Eat Last, offers a profound example that inspired the title of his book. Across our military, commissioned and noncommissioned officers follow an unspoken rule by insisting subordinate troops eat first, literally and symbolically putting the interests of others before themselves. The act allows trust to grow within the ranks.
But throughout the Afghanistan Papers, we see leaders eating first. We see the betrayal of the unspoken agreement that compels brave men and women to risk their lives for a just cause and for one another.
The Afghanistan Papers depict widespread ethical fading at the highest levels of our government and military.
Even in the beginning, multiple senior commanders admitted the complete absence of an overarching strategy. Gen. Dan McNeill described his frustration upon assuming command of forces in Afghanistan. “I tried to get someone to define for me what 'winning' meant, even before I went over, and nobody could.” One U.S. Army Special Forces officer exquisitely summarized the underwhelming direction from his seniors: “Go and do good things.”
I served in Afghanistan, and it’s distressing to realize that as we risked our lives for the mission, the collective failure to create lasting results was deliberately hidden. Whether it was the number of troops trained, violence levels, or territorial control, the metrics were “manipulated” and altogether failed to paint an accurate picture of what was happening.
How can we be confident in our leaders when they show such disregard for American life?
An unease with the unending conflict in Afghanistan has grown steadily within the veteran community, and the lack of progress described in the Afghanistan Papers is no revelation to many of us who served. The next time you speak with an Afghanistan veteran, ask what they think about our efforts in the country. You may be surprised how it differs from the Washington narrative.
A recent Pew poll shows that nearly 6 out of 10 veterans believe the war in Afghanistan isn’t worth fighting. Coming from those with firsthand knowledge of the situation, this should alarm all U.S. citizens.
We cannot undo two decades of war. We cannot unspend trillions of tax dollars. We cannot undo the years of family separation during deployments. And most soberingly, we can never again benefit from the potential of those who served us who lost their lives. But there is much we can and should do.
We can and should demand Congress exercise its constitutional responsibilities over matters of war and peace, insisting our elected leaders debate and authorize action before sending U.S. men and women to war. We can and should always remind the president of his stated commitment to end endless wars and bring our troops home. And America can and should rethink its broader approach to the world by adopting a new foreign policy that utilizes our military might as a last option.
For reasons we may never fully understand, those charged with running the war in Afghanistan collectively demonstrated a failure of moral courage and leadership. They chose the easy wrong over the difficult right, set our bravest young men and women up for failure, and betrayed our trust in their ability to do the right thing.
Our mistakes can’t be undone, but we can learn from them. By holding our leaders accountable and taking action to rein in our foreign policy, we can begin rebuilding the foundation of trust our military and society need.
Nate Anderson is executive director of Concerned Veterans for America and a U.S. Army National Guard Green Beret.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Pence: New guidance will ensure anyone can be tested for coronavirus

Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday that health authorities are issuing new guidance to ensure that anyone can be tested for the novel coronavirus that has killed nine people in the United States .
Pence , who briefed reporters in the White House briefing room for the second day running , flanked by health officials on his coronavirus task force , said some laboratories were only testing in more serious cases of illness .
The misunderstanding illustrates the public information challenges faced by the Trump administration as it faces a looming health crisis , with plunging markets and panicked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're issuing new guidance , effective immediately , from the [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] that will make it clear that any clinician on health authority can administer the test , '' he said .
Pence was speaking on the day that three more deaths were announced and financial markets continued to dip amid fears that the world was only at the start of a major health emergency .
Pence repeated pleas that members of the public refrain from buying face masks , which were needed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not have to buy masks , '' he said .
His task force is due to meet chief executives from the airline industry on Wednesday to discuss the sharing of information that might help track infected patients .
Pence said enough kits to test one million people will be shipped imminently , with manufacturers promising to step up production so that one million people could be tested each week .
So far , all coronavirus deaths have occurred in Washington state , which has recorded 27 cases in two counties .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , and more than 92,000 people have been infected worldwide .
The growing numbers have sparked a surge in efforts to mitigate the impact to health and to the economy .
A $ 7.5 billion bill to fund the government 's emergency response is working its way through Congress and may be ready for Trump to sign by the end of the week .
The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday it was cutting interest rates by half a percentage point .
`` We have seen a broader spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the economy , and we chose to act , '' Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said .

Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday that health authorities are issuing new guidance to ensure that anyone can be tested for the novel coronavirus that has killed nine people in the United States.
Pence, who briefed reporters in the White House briefing room for the second day running, flanked by health officials on his coronavirus task force, said some laboratories were only testing in more serious cases of illness.
The misunderstanding illustrates the public information challenges faced by the Trump administration as it faces a looming health crisis, with plunging markets and panicked buying as consumers stock up on essentials.
"We're issuing new guidance, effective immediately, from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] that will make it clear that any clinician on health authority can administer the test," he said.
Pence was speaking on the day that three more deaths were announced and financial markets continued to dip amid fears that the world was only at the start of a major health emergency.
Pence repeated pleas that members of the public refrain from buying face masks, which were needed by healthcare workers.
"The American people do not have to buy masks," he said.
His task force is due to meet chief executives from the airline industry on Wednesday to discuss the sharing of information that might help track infected patients.
Pence said enough kits to test one million people will be shipped imminently, with manufacturers promising to step up production so that one million people could be tested each week.
So far, all coronavirus deaths have occurred in Washington state, which has recorded 27 cases in two counties.
At least 108 cases have been diagnosed in the U.S., and more than 92,000 people have been infected worldwide.
The growing numbers have sparked a surge in efforts to mitigate the impact to health and to the economy.
A $7.5 billion bill to fund the government's emergency response is working its way through Congress and may be ready for Trump to sign by the end of the week.
The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday it was cutting interest rates by half a percentage point.
"We have seen a broader spread of the virus. So, we saw a risk to the economy, and we chose to act," Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--US to ban travel from more countries with coronavirus epidemics

The Trump administration will soon add more countries to its no-admission list at airports due to concerns of surging coronavirus cases in those places , according to the country 's top transportation security official .
`` There will be additional countries , '' said Transportation Security Administrator Administrator David Pekoske in a Senate hearing Tuesday .
`` I think those announcements will be relatively soon . ''
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia asked Pekoske when `` two '' countries would be added .
Pekoske did not respond to the suggestions of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States will target .
Chinese and Iranian citizens are blocked from entering the U.S. at any land , sea , or air port of entry due to widespread coronavirus cases .
China has reported the most cases at more than 80,000 .
Iran is up to 2,300 , according to figures released Tuesday .
South Korea and Italy are not on the no-fly list , but the countries have seen huge spikes in cases over the past week .
South Korea reported more than 5,000 confirmed coronavirus cases , and Italy surpassed 2,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers .
Mexico has five cases , all travelers arriving from Italy in late February , according to data released by the Mexican Ministry of Health .
TSA requires airline employees at 280 non-U.S. airports that are considered last-point departure airports for people flying to America to ask passengers about their health and look at passports to ensure they have not been to one of the listed countries within the past 14 days .
U.S. citizens are allowed to return from China and Iran , but they are directed to one of 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention officials will do a medical screening upon their arrival in customs .
Pekoske said he did not know how many non-U.S. citizens had been turned away after trying to travel to the U.S. since the bans against China and Iran went into effect .
The agency is looking at how to staff security checkpoints should a portion of its workforce be exposed to passengers with the virus and be forced to quarantine or becomes ill. Pekoske said the agency is advising officers on how to protect themselves .
`` I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Pekoske , adding an employee phone app is also being used to get internal information from headquarters to officers in the field .
`` We will have contingency plans in place should we have a lot of ... people call in sick .
But at the same time , I think we 'll see lower passenger volumes . ''
The U.S. Travel Association 's Leading Travel Index predicted Tuesday that international inbound travel will fall 6 % over the next three months .
More than 100 coronavirus cases have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Six people have died from the virus , all Washington state residents .
A total of 70 countries have confirmed coronavirus cases .

The Trump administration will soon add more countries to its no-admission list at airports due to concerns of surging coronavirus cases in those places, according to the country's top transportation security official.
"There will be additional countries," said Transportation Security Administrator Administrator David Pekoske in a Senate hearing Tuesday. "I think those announcements will be relatively soon."
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia asked Pekoske when "two" countries would be added. Pekoske did not respond to the suggestions of a number or share which countries the United States will target.
Chinese and Iranian citizens are blocked from entering the U.S. at any land, sea, or air port of entry due to widespread coronavirus cases. China has reported the most cases at more than 80,000. Iran is up to 2,300, according to figures released Tuesday.
South Korea and Italy are not on the no-fly list, but the countries have seen huge spikes in cases over the past week. South Korea reported more than 5,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and Italy surpassed 2,500 cases on Tuesday, according to new numbers. Mexico has five cases, all travelers arriving from Italy in late February, according to data released by the Mexican Ministry of Health.
TSA requires airline employees at 280 non-U.S. airports that are considered last-point departure airports for people flying to America to ask passengers about their health and look at passports to ensure they have not been to one of the listed countries within the past 14 days. U.S. citizens are allowed to return from China and Iran, but they are directed to one of 11 U.S. airports where Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials will do a medical screening upon their arrival in customs. Pekoske said he did not know how many non-U.S. citizens had been turned away after trying to travel to the U.S. since the bans against China and Iran went into effect.
The agency is looking at how to staff security checkpoints should a portion of its workforce be exposed to passengers with the virus and be forced to quarantine or becomes ill. Pekoske said the agency is advising officers on how to protect themselves.
"I do feel we have the resources and capability," said Pekoske, adding an employee phone app is also being used to get internal information from headquarters to officers in the field. "We will have contingency plans in place should we have a lot of ... people call in sick. But at the same time, I think we'll see lower passenger volumes."
The U.S. Travel Association's Leading Travel Index predicted Tuesday that international inbound travel will fall 6% over the next three months.
More than 100 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the U.S. across 15 states. Six people have died from the virus, all Washington state residents. A total of 70 countries have confirmed coronavirus cases.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--In first contact by a US president, Trump speaks with a top Taliban official by phone

President Trump said he spoke with a leader of the Taliban on Tuesday and that they had a `` very @ @ @ @ @ conversation marked the first time an American president has spoken to a member of the @ @ @ @ @ bin Laden and other al Qaeda figures who were behind the 9/11 attack .
His @ @ @ @ @ United States and the Afghan insurgent group signed a troop withdrawal agreement .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
`` We 've agreed there 's @ @ @ @ @ n't want violence . ''
Earlier , a Taliban spokesman said Trump had spoken by @ @ @ @ @ chief negotiator .
`` The President of the United States Trump @ realDonaldTrump held a @ @ @ @ @ Deputy of the Islamic Emirate , the respected Mullah Baradar Akhund .
Details later , @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
On Saturday , Trump said he planned to meet Taliban leaders in the @ @ @ @ @

President Trump said he spoke with a leader of the Taliban on Tuesday and that they had a "very good talk."
Their conversation marked the first time an American president has spoken to a member of the militant group that harbored Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda figures who were behind the 9/11 attack.
His comments come days after the United States and the Afghan insurgent group signed a troop withdrawal agreement.
"We had a good conversation," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We've agreed there's no violence. We don't want violence."
Earlier, a Taliban spokesman said Trump had spoken by phone to the group's chief negotiator.
"The President of the United States Trump @realDonaldTrump held a phone conversation with the Political Deputy of the Islamic Emirate, the respected Mullah Baradar Akhund. Details later," said Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter.
On Saturday, Trump said he planned to meet Taliban leaders in the "near future."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Trump gives $100K salary donation to HHS for coronavirus fight

President Trump again delivered on his promise to donate his entire presidential salary by cutting a $ 100,000 check to the Department of Health and Human Services .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham announced on Tuesday that Trump donated his paycheck to help the federal government in its effort to combat coronavirus .
“ President Trump made a commitment to donate his salary while in office .
Honoring that promise and to further protect the American people , he is donating his 2019 Q4 salary to HHS to support the efforts being undertaken to confront , contain , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the outbreak began in Wuhan , China , in December , the COVID-19 virus has infected 92,000 individuals worldwide and killed more than 3,100 .
Seven Americans have died of the illness .
Congress has been working on a supplemental funding package to address the possible spread of the coronavirus .
Trump has divvied up his salary to various government agencies since taking office .
Previous donations include a payment to the for its fight against opioid addiction , a check to the for the southern border wall , and a donation @ @ @

President Trump again delivered on his promise to donate his entire presidential salary by cutting a $100,000 check to the Department of Health and Human Services.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham announced on Tuesday that Trump donated his paycheck to help the federal government in its effort to combat coronavirus.
“President Trump made a commitment to donate his salary while in office. Honoring that promise and to further protect the American people, he is donating his 2019 Q4 salary to HHS to support the efforts being undertaken to confront, contain, and combat coronavirus," Grisham said.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
President @realDonaldTrump made a commitment to donate his salary while in office. Honoring that promise and to further protect the American people, he is donating his 2019 Q4 salary to @HHSGov to support the efforts being undertaken to confront, contain, and combat #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/R6KUQmBRl1 — Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) March 3, 2020
Since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December, the COVID-19 virus has infected more than 92,000 individuals worldwide and killed more than 3,100. Seven Americans have died of the illness. Congress has been working on a supplemental funding package to address the possible spread of the coronavirus.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--White House review postpones Bolton’s book release until May

Everyone itching to get their hands on John Bolton ’ s memoir will have to wait until May .
The lengthy White House review process of the former national security adviser 's book has bumped the publication date of The Room Where It Happened to May .
The book was set for release later this month on March 17 , but the White House must first comb through the memoir to ensure that no confidential details are published .
Bolton has already accused the White House of “ censorship ” because of sections the executive branch wants to be cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a “ traitor ” and reportedly said he wanted to block the book altogether , while the White House noted that it contains information that has been deemed top-secret .
Portions of the manuscript have already leaked to the press , including information about Trump ’ s phone call with Ukrainian leaders that became the foundation for the House impeachment process .
Bolton wrote that Trump said Ukraine ’ s military aid was being put on hold until the country announced an investigation into Joe Biden and his son and Hunter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his book to drop just before the Senate voted to acquit him on both articles of impeachment in hopes of swaying some Republican votes .
The former national security adviser denied that he coordinated the leaks and blamed the White House ’ s National Security Council 's “ corrupted ” review process .
Bolton ’ s book has already earned a place on Amazon ’ s 100 bestsellers list , which likely means a significant number of preorders were placed .
He departed the White House in September after more than a @ @ @ @ @ @

Everyone itching to get their hands on John Bolton’s memoir will have to wait until May.
The lengthy White House review process of the former national security adviser's book has bumped the publication date of The Room Where It Happened to May. The book was set for release later this month on March 17, but the White House must first comb through the memoir to ensure that no confidential details are published.
Bolton has already accused the White House of “censorship” because of sections the executive branch wants to be cut. President Trump has argued that Bolton was a “traitor” and reportedly said he wanted to block the book altogether, while the White House noted that it contains information that has been deemed top-secret.
Portions of the manuscript have already leaked to the press, including information about Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian leaders that became the foundation for the House impeachment process. Bolton wrote that Trump said Ukraine’s military aid was being put on hold until the country announced an investigation into Joe Biden and his son and Hunter.
Trump accused Bolton of coordinating the leaks from his book to drop just before the Senate voted to acquit him on both articles of impeachment in hopes of swaying some Republican votes. The former national security adviser denied that he coordinated the leaks and blamed the White House’s National Security Council's “corrupted” review process.
Bolton’s book has already earned a place on Amazon’s 100 bestsellers list, which likely means a significant number of preorders were placed. He departed the White House in September after more than a year as national security adviser.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Lawmakers haggle over limiting 'huge profits' from vaccine in coronavirus spending bill

House and Senate lawmakers are struggling to agree on the terms of an approximately $ 8 billion federal spending bill responding to the coronavirus outbreak , including the development of a critical vaccine and test kits .
House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat , and Sen. Patrick Leahy , a Vermont Democrat and leading appropriator , said the two parties disagree on adding language to the bill that would prevent pharmaceutical companies from setting high prices and making “ a huge profit ” from coronavirus testing or vaccines .
Leahy and Schumer said millions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping pharmaceutical companies rapidly develop a vaccine for the virus and that it had to be available to everyone .
“ We are not going to then say to the companies , after we taxpayers have paid for all of this , 'Now go out and make a huge profit , ' ” Leahy said , recounting discussions among the appropriators .
“ That ’ s not going to happen.
” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , a Maryland Democrat , told reporters Tuesday the House could vote as early as Wednesday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an accord has not been reached .
Schumer blamed the holdup on the disagreement about vaccine pricing and profits .
“ That is one of the disputes holding up the bill right now , ” Schumer said .
“ Our Republican friends don ’ t want to see the kind of limitations Sen. Leahy and I want.
” Vice President Mike Pence separately briefed Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats Tuesday afternoon about the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus response .
Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tag of between $ 7 billion and $ 8 billion .
“ It depends on the restrictions or limitations on it , ” Short said .
“ On how you use the funds.
” A top House Democratic aide said lawmakers hope an agreement on a coronavirus funding measure will be reached by Tuesday night , which would allow the House to vote on the bill as early as tomorrow , followed by the Senate on Thursday .
“ We want to make sure that prices for drugs the government pays to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government takes steps to make vaccines and treatments available to all Americans regardless of their ability to pay , ” the aide said .
Schumer said the two sides “ are making good progress on the legislation.
” During the briefing Tuesday , Pence and Trump administration officials updated lawmakers on the effort to ramp up the distribution of coronavirus test kits by the end of the week .
Sen. Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican who was at the meeting with Pence , said lawmakers were informed that 2,500 kits , each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed around the country by the end of the week .

House and Senate lawmakers are struggling to agree on the terms of an approximately $8 billion federal spending bill responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including the development of a critical vaccine and test kits.
House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and leading appropriator, said the two parties disagree on adding language to the bill that would prevent pharmaceutical companies from setting high prices and making “a huge profit” from coronavirus testing or vaccines.
Leahy and Schumer said millions of dollars in taxpayer funding would be poured into helping pharmaceutical companies rapidly develop a vaccine for the virus and that it had to be available to everyone.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
“We are not going to then say to the companies, after we taxpayers have paid for all of this, 'Now go out and make a huge profit,'” Leahy said, recounting discussions among the appropriators. “That’s not going to happen.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters Tuesday the House could vote as early as Wednesday on a bipartisan agreement. But so far, an accord has not been reached.
Schumer blamed the holdup on the disagreement about vaccine pricing and profits.
“That is one of the disputes holding up the bill right now,” Schumer said. “Our Republican friends don’t want to see the kind of limitations Sen. Leahy and I want.”
Vice President Mike Pence separately briefed Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats Tuesday afternoon about the Trump administration’s coronavirus response.
Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, said the Trump administration is not disputing the price tag of between $7 billion and $8 billion.
“It depends on the restrictions or limitations on it,” Short said. “On how you use the funds.”
A top House Democratic aide said lawmakers hope an agreement on a coronavirus funding measure will be reached by Tuesday night, which would allow the House to vote on the bill as early as tomorrow, followed by the Senate on Thursday.
“We want to make sure that prices for drugs the government pays to develop are fair and reasonable and that the government takes steps to make vaccines and treatments available to all Americans regardless of their ability to pay,” the aide said.
Schumer said the two sides “are making good progress on the legislation.”
During the briefing Tuesday, Pence and Trump administration officials updated lawmakers on the effort to ramp up the distribution of coronavirus test kits by the end of the week.
Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who was at the meeting with Pence, said lawmakers were informed that 2,500 kits, each with 500 coronavirus tests, would be distributed around the country by the end of the week.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Lindsey Graham has started interviewing witnesses in FISA abuse investigation

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham has started deposing witnesses in his committee ’ s investigation into abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act during the 2016 election .
The South Carolina Republican told reporters on Tuesday that he had begun conducting closed-door depositions but did not elaborate on the state of the investigation , according to the Hill .
Graham requested closed-door interviews with 17 Department of Justice and FBI officials last month .
In a Feb. 12 interview with CBS News , Graham said that depositions would begin sometime in late February or early March and said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has led the push to investigate current and former DOJ and FBI officials for abuses uncovered by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz in a December report .
Horowitz ’ s inquiry about the Justice Department ’ s 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign discovered at least 17 `` significant errors and omissions '' in FISA applications submitted by DOJ and FBI officials .
The Justice Department opened an investigation into then-Trump campaign adviser Carter Page over suspected ties to Russian agents and an alleged plot to coordinate with Russia to influence the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators working on the case misled Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges to get approval for at least two of the four FISA applications submitted to continue the investigation into Page .

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham has started deposing witnesses in his committee’s investigation into abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act during the 2016 election.
The South Carolina Republican told reporters on Tuesday that he had begun conducting closed-door depositions but did not elaborate on the state of the investigation, according to the Hill. Graham requested closed-door interviews with 17 Department of Justice and FBI officials last month.
In a Feb. 12 interview with CBS News, Graham said that depositions would begin sometime in late February or early March and said that the proceedings could last for weeks.
Graham has led the push to investigate current and former DOJ and FBI officials for abuses uncovered by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz in a December report. Horowitz’s inquiry about the Justice Department’s 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign discovered at least 17 "significant errors and omissions" in FISA applications submitted by DOJ and FBI officials.
The Justice Department opened an investigation into then-Trump campaign adviser Carter Page over suspected ties to Russian agents and an alleged plot to coordinate with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Horowitz found that the FBI investigators working on the case misled Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges to get approval for at least two of the four FISA applications submitted to continue the investigation into Page.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Congress poised to approve up to $8B for coronavirus response this week

Congress will vote as soon as Wednesday on approximately $ 8 billion in federal funding to address the coronavirus outbreak , party leaders said .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat , said he expects a bipartisan funding deal will be unveiled Tuesday .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , a Maryland Democrat , said House lawmakers would vote “ as early as tomorrow , ” on the measure and would then send it to the Senate , which is expected to quickly clear the bill for President Trump 's signature .
Schumer said the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ 8 billion '' for the effort to combat the spread of the virus , which has already claimed a half-dozen lives in the United States and has infected tens of thousands worldwide .
The measure would far exceed the initial $ 2.5 billion requested by the Trump administration , which would have utilized unspent funds from other accounts .
It would likely fall a little short of the $ 8.5 billion Senate Democrats proposed last week .
Trump said last week he would sign any coronavirus funding agreement reached by Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include money to reimburse local governments for their efforts to contain the virus and will ensure that a coronavirus vaccine , which is n't likely to be available for more than a year , is available to everyone .
Schumer criticized the Trump administration 's response to the virus as “ slow and loose with the facts ” and accused Trump of blaming “ everyone but himself ” for the spread of the virus .
Republicans have accused Democrats of using the coronavirus as a political weapon against Trump , who they said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fortunately , in America , we ’ ve been preparing ahead of time , '' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , a California Republican , said Tuesday .
`` We don ’ t have the cases like China and others . ''
McCarthy said Democrats are slowing down the coronavirus spending bill by trying to insert major policy legislation into the fast-moving measure .
McCarthy said `` a number '' of Democrats want the funding bill to include a major prescription drug overhaul measure that passed the House without any GOP support last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration .
`` This agreement should have been taken care of last week , '' McCarthy said of the coronavirus funding bill .
House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey , a New York Democrat , said a funding deal is close .
`` We are working on it , '' Lowey said Tuesday .
“ We want to make sure we have this bill on the floor and passed before we go home '' this week , she said .
Vice President Mike Pence will separately brief Senate Democrats and Republicans about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their weekly policy luncheons Tuesday .

Congress will vote as soon as Wednesday on approximately $8 billion in federal funding to address the coronavirus outbreak, party leaders said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he expects a bipartisan funding deal will be unveiled Tuesday.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said House lawmakers would vote “as early as tomorrow,” on the measure and would then send it to the Senate, which is expected to quickly clear the bill for President Trump's signature.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Schumer said the bill would include "between $7 billion and $8 billion" for the effort to combat the spread of the virus, which has already claimed a half-dozen lives in the United States and has infected tens of thousands worldwide.
The measure would far exceed the initial $2.5 billion requested by the Trump administration, which would have utilized unspent funds from other accounts. It would likely fall a little short of the $8.5 billion Senate Democrats proposed last week.
Trump said last week he would sign any coronavirus funding agreement reached by Congress.
Lawmakers said Tuesday the measure will include money to reimburse local governments for their efforts to contain the virus and will ensure that a coronavirus vaccine, which isn't likely to be available for more than a year, is available to everyone.
Schumer criticized the Trump administration's response to the virus as “slow and loose with the facts” and accused Trump of blaming “everyone but himself” for the spread of the virus.
Republicans have accused Democrats of using the coronavirus as a political weapon against Trump, who they said acted quickly stop the spread.
"Fortunately, in America, we’ve been preparing ahead of time," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, said Tuesday. "We don’t have the cases like China and others."
McCarthy said Democrats are slowing down the coronavirus spending bill by trying to insert major policy legislation into the fast-moving measure.
McCarthy said "a number" of Democrats want the funding bill to include a major prescription drug overhaul measure that passed the House without any GOP support last year and stands little chance of Senate consideration.
"This agreement should have been taken care of last week," McCarthy said of the coronavirus funding bill.
House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, said a funding deal is close.
"We are working on it," Lowey said Tuesday. “We want to make sure we have this bill on the floor and passed before we go home" this week, she said.
Vice President Mike Pence will separately brief Senate Democrats and Republicans about the federal efforts to battle the coronavirus at their weekly policy luncheons Tuesday.