thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Trump is right: Suspend the payroll tax

Trump is right: Suspend the payroll tax

With the stock market reeling , supply chains disrupted , and consumers engaging in “ social distancing ” because of the coronavirus outbreak , the economy will slow significantly in the coming months .
Of course , stopping the spread of the virus is the key to turning the economic corner .
But no one knows for sure when that will happen .
In the meantime , Washington must support consumers and businesses , especially smaller businesses , by lowering one of the most oppressive of all federal taxes — the payroll tax .
President Trump has called for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the year to boost the economy , but Congress seems to be waffling .
A reduction to 0 % would immediately increase take-home pay for millions of workers , shrink the cost of labor for businesses , and provide insurance against a downturn .
The payroll tax is imposed on both employees and employers to fund Social Security , Medicare , and other social insurance programs .
Since 1955 , the basic payroll tax rate has nearly quadrupled from 4 % to 15.3 % .
Today , almost 70 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than they do in federal income taxes .
Altogether , the typical worker pays nearly twice as much in payroll taxes as in income taxes .
The payroll tax continues to impose a heavy economic burden on workers and small businesses .
The maximum Social Security payroll tax for a single-earner family is now a whopping $ 7,960 annually .
Moreover , payroll taxes are highly regressive , with the bottom fifth of households paying 6.9 % on average while the top 1 % pay 2.3 % , according to the Tax Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax from April 1 , 2020 , through the end of the year would immediately support after-tax incomes for workers and cash flow for businesses , providing a much-needed boost to the employees and owners of the small businesses and industries most acutely hurt by the virus .
Although a payroll tax cut wouldn ’ t solve the myriad issues caused by the coronavirus , the effects at the margin would encourage workers to seek more hours and induce businesses to hire more workers .
Many high-income workers have already paid their full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes by this time of year , so any cut would provide extra benefit to the middle and working classes .
And , unlike other suggestions to boost government spending , the money would not be delayed by bureaucratic planning ( like infrastructure projects ) or flow-through rent-seeking special interests ( industry-specific bailouts ) ; it would instead go directly to workers and businesses .
Trump ’ s proposal would amount to a huge $ 800 billion tax cut or 5 % of gross domestic product over nine months .
The evidence from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut in 2011 found that people spent 35 % of each dollar in tax relief .
Therefore , a 0 % payroll tax rate would boost the economy by $ 30 billion a month or 1.7 percentage points in gross domestic product over the nine-month time frame .
While a payroll tax cut would temporarily enlarge the budget deficit , it would be wise to weigh this against the more damaging costs of a deep recession .
Regarding potential concerns about the effect on the Social Security Trust Fund , such a temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect .
A payroll tax cut should not be a partisan issue .
Obama supported a temporary payroll tax reduction during his first term .
In 1990 , my then-boss Wisconsin Republican Sen. Robert Kasten Jr. teamed up with New York Democratic Sen. Daniel Moynihan on payroll-tax-cut legislation that garnered the support of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the AFL-CIO .
Tax cuts are the most efficient stimulus for the economy , and action needs to happen quickly .
Congress should take up Trump ’ s proposal immediately to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
Cesar Conda , former chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio and chief domestic policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney , is a founding partner of Navigators Global , LLC .

With the stock market reeling, supply chains disrupted, and consumers engaging in “social distancing” because of the coronavirus outbreak, the economy will slow significantly in the coming months.
Of course, stopping the spread of the virus is the key to turning the economic corner. But no one knows for sure when that will happen. In the meantime, Washington must support consumers and businesses, especially smaller businesses, by lowering one of the most oppressive of all federal taxes — the payroll tax.
President Trump has called for a 0% payroll tax from now until the end of the year to boost the economy, but Congress seems to be waffling. A reduction to 0% would immediately increase take-home pay for millions of workers, shrink the cost of labor for businesses, and provide insurance against a downturn.
The payroll tax is imposed on both employees and employers to fund Social Security, Medicare, and other social insurance programs. Since 1955, the basic payroll tax rate has nearly quadrupled from 4% to 15.3%. Today, almost 70% of taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in federal income taxes. Altogether, the typical worker pays nearly twice as much in payroll taxes as in income taxes.
The payroll tax continues to impose a heavy economic burden on workers and small businesses. The maximum Social Security payroll tax for a single-earner family is now a whopping $7,960 annually. Moreover, payroll taxes are highly regressive, with the bottom fifth of households paying 6.9% on average while the top 1% pay 2.3%, according to the Tax Policy Center.
Suspending the Social Security payroll tax from April 1, 2020, through the end of the year would immediately support after-tax incomes for workers and cash flow for businesses, providing a much-needed boost to the employees and owners of the small businesses and industries most acutely hurt by the virus.
Although a payroll tax cut wouldn’t solve the myriad issues caused by the coronavirus, the effects at the margin would encourage workers to seek more hours and induce businesses to hire more workers.
Many high-income workers have already paid their full year’s worth of Social Security taxes by this time of year, so any cut would provide extra benefit to the middle and working classes. And, unlike other suggestions to boost government spending, the money would not be delayed by bureaucratic planning (like infrastructure projects) or flow-through rent-seeking special interests (industry-specific bailouts); it would instead go directly to workers and businesses.
Trump’s proposal would amount to a huge $800 billion tax cut or 5% of gross domestic product over nine months. The evidence from President Barack Obama’s payroll tax cut in 2011 found that people spent 35% of each dollar in tax relief. Therefore, a 0% payroll tax rate would boost the economy by $30 billion a month or 1.7 percentage points in gross domestic product over the nine-month time frame.
While a payroll tax cut would temporarily enlarge the budget deficit, it would be wise to weigh this against the more damaging costs of a deep recession. Regarding potential concerns about the effect on the Social Security Trust Fund, such a temporary reduction is unlikely to have significant lasting effect.
A payroll tax cut should not be a partisan issue. Obama supported a temporary payroll tax reduction during his first term. In 1990, my then-boss Wisconsin Republican Sen. Robert Kasten Jr. teamed up with New York Democratic Sen. Daniel Moynihan on payroll-tax-cut legislation that garnered the support of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the AFL-CIO.
Tax cuts are the most efficient stimulus for the economy, and action needs to happen quickly. Congress should take up Trump’s proposal immediately to fight the economic effect of the coronavirus for hourly workers.
Cesar Conda, former chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio and chief domestic policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, is a founding partner of Navigators Global, LLC.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--To stop coronavirus, take quick action on paid sick days

In light of the rapidly spreading coronavirus , Democrats have introduced expanded that would require all employers to grant workers paid sick days .
Bill sponsors Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rosa DeLauro showed leadership by separating paid sick days from the broader liberal campaign for paid family leave , which presents a far higher cost to employers and is a much heavier lift for lawmakers .
Republicans , who have fought against mandating paid sick days , should not offer blind resistance .
At the very least , they should consider the proposal as it affects health and long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been advocating for for a long time — a benefit that most higher-paid people take for granted but many lower-paid people don ’ t receive from their employers .
If Congress had acted on this issue last year , the United States would be in a much better position to handle the pandemic .
Our health and long-term care system now provides a strong incentive for many low-paid people to go to work when they are sick .
This is now multiplying the pathways through the coronavirus spreads .
Further congressional inaction will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
And given what is known about the novel disease , it ’ s fair to say that it will likely , particularly among the frail and elderly people .
shows that the rate of flu infection is lower in places requiring paid sick days than in places that do not .
Richard Besser , president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation , has that public health officials can not work effectively if political leaders fail to improve health equity in the workforce .
He suggests several ad hoc ways to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up a fund to compensate hourly workers without paid leave for their loss of income when sick , providing legal aid for those who are fired for not coming to work when ill , funding outreach to non-English speakers , asking insurers to waive copays for testing and treatment , supplementing funding for community health centers that care for a large proportion of those without insurance , and ensuring free meals are available for children when schools are closed .
These ideas are a good start , but the spreading virus challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
If the Democrats ’ latest proposal is a bridge too far , Republicans might consider a compromise measure that includes paid sick days for providers and caregivers , higher Medicaid rates to support paid sick days , and emergency funds for employers that suffer from the requirement .
This would protect public health while mitigating financial distress for providers not yet offering paid leave who are operating on thin margins .
The number of U.S. workers with paid sick leave has risen over the past few years , driven in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of Columbia requiring employers to provide it .
Despite this progress , still can not earn a single paid sick day to recover from the flu , care for a sick child , or seek preventive care .
Among establishments providing vulnerable people with healthcare and social assistance , 15 % lack this benefit .
In a article published at the beginning of this Congress , I identified political obstacles to getting a paid sick leave requirement into law .
Liberals have packaged paid sick days , which would primarily affect low-wage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative push for much more expensive paid family leave .
Thus , a relatively low-cost benefit for many healthcare and other workers on the front lines is being held hostage to a much more expensive middle- and upper-middle-class objective .
Obstacles on the political right are obvious .
Leery of offending business interests , conservatives historically avoid legislation raising the cost of labor .
Paid sick days are no exception .
It would be civic-minded for lobbies representing nursing homes , home health providers , hospitals , and physicians to support legislation requiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But don ’ t hold your breath , not even in the midst of a pandemic .
To avoid offending the minority of their members that don ’ t offer paid sick days , they will likely skirt the issue while doing their best in other ways to fight the spread of the virus .
I hope that I ’ m proven wrong in this assumption .
The threat posed by the coronavirus presents a rare opportunity for members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to free themselves from the webs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this issue .
Karl Polzer is the founder of the

In light of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, Democrats have introduced expanded legislation that would require all employers to grant workers paid sick days.
Bill sponsors Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rosa DeLauro showed leadership by separating paid sick days from the broader liberal campaign for paid family leave, which presents a far higher cost to employers and is a much heavier lift for lawmakers. Republicans, who have fought against mandating paid sick days, should not offer blind resistance. At the very least, they should consider the proposal as it affects health and long-term care workers.
Murray and others have been advocating for paid sick days for a long time — a benefit that most higher-paid people take for granted but many lower-paid people don’t receive from their employers. If Congress had acted on this issue last year, the United States would be in a much better position to handle the pandemic.
Our health and long-term care system now provides a strong incentive for many low-paid people to go to work when they are sick. This is now multiplying the pathways through the coronavirus spreads. Further congressional inaction will likely exacerbate an expected shortage of healthcare workers. And given what is known about the novel disease, it’s fair to say that it will likely raise the death toll , particularly among the frail and elderly people.
Research shows that the rate of flu infection is lower in places requiring paid sick days than in places that do not. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has pointed out that public health officials cannot work effectively if political leaders fail to improve health equity in the workforce. He suggests several ad hoc ways to help stem the current crisis. These include setting up a fund to compensate hourly workers without paid leave for their loss of income when sick, providing legal aid for those who are fired for not coming to work when ill, funding outreach to non-English speakers, asking insurers to waive copays for testing and treatment, supplementing funding for community health centers that care for a large proportion of those without insurance, and ensuring free meals are available for children when schools are closed.
These ideas are a good start, but the spreading virus challenges Congress and the White House to do more. If the Democrats’ latest proposal is a bridge too far, Republicans might consider a compromise measure that includes paid sick days for providers and caregivers, higher Medicaid rates to support paid sick days, and emergency funds for employers that suffer from the requirement. This would protect public health while mitigating financial distress for providers not yet offering paid leave who are operating on thin margins.
The number of U.S. workers with paid sick leave has risen over the past few years, driven in part by legislation enacted by 10 states and the District of Columbia requiring employers to provide it. Despite this progress, 34.2 million private sector workers still cannot earn a single paid sick day to recover from the flu, care for a sick child, or seek preventive care. Among establishments providing vulnerable people with healthcare and social assistance, 15% lack this benefit.
In a Health Affairs article published at the beginning of this Congress, I identified political obstacles to getting a paid sick leave requirement into law. Liberals have packaged paid sick days, which would primarily affect low-wage workers, as part of an ambitious legislative push for much more expensive paid family leave. Thus, a relatively low-cost benefit for many healthcare and other workers on the front lines is being held hostage to a much more expensive middle- and upper-middle-class objective.
Obstacles on the political right are obvious. Leery of offending business interests, conservatives historically avoid legislation raising the cost of labor. Paid sick days are no exception.
It would be civic-minded for lobbies representing nursing homes, home health providers, hospitals, and physicians to support legislation requiring paid sick days for lower-paid workers. But don’t hold your breath, not even in the midst of a pandemic. To avoid offending the minority of their members that don’t offer paid sick days, they will likely skirt the issue while doing their best in other ways to fight the spread of the virus. I hope that I’m proven wrong in this assumption.
The threat posed by the coronavirus presents a rare opportunity for members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to free themselves from the webs of past politics and move forward on this issue.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Buzz: Republicans (heart) McConnell, Trump campaign in four new states, MRC's 'Socialism' billboard

Impeachment appears to have paid off for Republicans .
Not only did President Trump ’ s approval ratings surge , but so did those of congressional Republicans and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Gallup said that the Kentucky senator ’ s approval rose to 33 % and is 62 % among Republicans , up from 47 % before impeachment .
• The “ Pence bump ” has taken root throughout the federal government .
The “ bump ” started when Vice President Mike Pence , tasked to handle the president ’ s response to the coronavirus , started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a handshake .
Department of Homeland Security officials immediately adopted it , as did Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
• The Trump-Pence campaign has begun to target four states it wants to add to those it nabbed in 2016 to win the Electoral College count over Hillary Clinton .
Top officials said that the four were New Hampshire , Minnesota , Nevada , and New Mexico .
“ We think we have a good chance to add to our electoral numbers , ” a campaign aide said .
“ Our polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aide added .
• As it has done for past national Republican conventions , the conservative Media Research Center is planning to rent billboards throughout Charlotte , North Carolina , to post its messages this August .
This year , the two messages will include its motto , “ Don ’ t Believe the Liberal Media , ” and “ The Media [ hearts ] Socialism.
” The group said , “ We want to rain on the leftist media ’ s parade .
”

Impeachment appears to have paid off for Republicans.
Not only did President Trump’s approval ratings surge, but so did those of congressional Republicans and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Gallup said that the Kentucky senator’s approval rose to 33% and is 62% among Republicans, up from 47% before impeachment.
The “Pence bump” has taken root throughout the federal government. The “bump” started when Vice President Mike Pence, tasked to handle the president’s response to the coronavirus, started to greet people with elbow bumps instead of a handshake. Department of Homeland Security officials immediately adopted it, as did Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Trump-Pence campaign has begun to target four states it wants to add to those it nabbed in 2016 to win the Electoral College count over Hillary Clinton. Top officials said that the four were New Hampshire, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Mexico. “We think we have a good chance to add to our electoral numbers,” a campaign aide said. “Our polls are looking pretty strong there,” the aide added.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Schumer to be GOP 2020 poster boy after anti-judge, pro-abortion rant

Get ready to see more of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ’ s threatening rant against Supreme Court Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the 2020 campaign trail .
Several conservative groups told Secrets that they are planning to use the images and angry words of Schumer in key battleground states , warning that if President Trump loses or the Democrats win the Senate , attacks on conservative judges will become the norm .
“ This was a uniquely ugly moment in American politics , ” said Carrie Severino , president of the Judicial Crisis Network .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics that are condoned by the Democrats , ” she said .
“ Everybody needs this wake-up call , ” added Mallory Quigley , vice president of the Susan B. Anthony List , an anti-abortion advocacy group .
She added , “ Is this unhinged person the one who voters want to lead the United States Senate ?
The Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC field team are working tirelessly to ensure voters in battleground states have all this information in hand before they go to the polls in November.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million 2020 election budget to promote anti-abortion candidates and will target key Trump states and Democratic Senate candidates with Schumer ’ s threat against the conservative judges .
“ We are going to do whatever media is effective tarring Senate Democrats candidates in our battleground states with Schumer ’ s words , ” Quigley said of the initial effort targeting races in North Carolina , Arizona , Florida , Montana , Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania .
Schumer opened the door to becoming the GOP poster boy when , standing in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 4 , “ I want to tell you , Gorsuch !
I want to tell you , Kavanaugh !
You have released the whirlwind , and you will pay the price !
You won ’ t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.
” While most Democrats have been mute in their reaction , key GOP senators and Republican groups are calling for a censure vote against Schumer .
Several conservative groups said that GOP voters are keyed into court and abortion issues more than before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tea Party Patriots , said , “ Our supporters are motivated by the Supreme Court more than anything else.
” She added that Schumer ’ s attack on the judges and his promises to block any future Trump pick to the high court has supercharged Tea Party voters .
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is also teeing Schumer up in its fight to keep control of the Senate .
It put out a hit list of 17 Democrats Schumer has endorsed in an effort to draw them into the fire .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of far-left , job-killing policies will haunt Senate candidates across the map , ” said Nathan Brand , press secretary for the NRSC .
Critics also hope to take advantage of Schumer ’ s unpopularity .
The latest Gallup survey said that he has the lowest approval rating of any congressional leader at 31 % .
His GOP approval rating is just 6 % .
The bottom line , said Severino : “ If Democrats do win control of the Senate , that would potentially make Schumer the majority leader .
Is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be majority leader , somebody with this type of poor judgment and bullying mafiosi tactics against the court ?
”

Get ready to see more of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s threatening rant against Supreme Court Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the 2020 campaign trail.
Several conservative groups told Secrets that they are planning to use the images and angry words of Schumer in key battleground states, warning that if President Trump loses or the Democrats win the Senate, attacks on conservative judges will become the norm.
“This was a uniquely ugly moment in American politics,” said Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network. “Voters should see the kind of extreme tactics that are condoned by the Democrats,” she said.
“Everybody needs this wake-up call,” added Mallory Quigley, vice president of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion advocacy group.
She added, “Is this unhinged person the one who voters want to lead the United States Senate? The Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC field team are working tirelessly to ensure voters in battleground states have all this information in hand before they go to the polls in November.”
Her group has a $52 million 2020 election budget to promote anti-abortion candidates and will target key Trump states and Democratic Senate candidates with Schumer’s threat against the conservative judges.
“We are going to do whatever media is effective tarring Senate Democrats candidates in our battleground states with Schumer’s words,” Quigley said of the initial effort targeting races in North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Schumer opened the door to becoming the GOP poster boy when, standing in front of the Supreme Court, he said on March 4, “I want to tell you, Gorsuch! I want to tell you, Kavanaugh! You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
While most Democrats have been mute in their reaction, key GOP senators and Republican groups are calling for a censure vote against Schumer.
Several conservative groups said that GOP voters are keyed into court and abortion issues more than before. Jenny Beth Martin, who heads the Tea Party Patriots, said, “Our supporters are motivated by the Supreme Court more than anything else.”
She added that Schumer’s attack on the judges and his promises to block any future Trump pick to the high court has supercharged Tea Party voters.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is also teeing Schumer up in its fight to keep control of the Senate. It put out a hit list of 17 Democrats Schumer has endorsed in an effort to draw them into the fire.
“Chuck Schumer and Washington Democrats’ embrace of far-left, job-killing policies will haunt Senate candidates across the map,” said Nathan Brand, press secretary for the NRSC.
Critics also hope to take advantage of Schumer’s unpopularity. The latest Gallup survey said that he has the lowest approval rating of any congressional leader at 31%. His GOP approval rating is just 6%.
The bottom line, said Severino: “If Democrats do win control of the Senate, that would potentially make Schumer the majority leader. Is this the person we could trust in America to be majority leader, somebody with this type of poor judgment and bullying mafiosi tactics against the court?”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Hillary Clinton vice presidential odds surge, now fifth in line

The odds that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the Democratic vice presidential nominee are surging .
A week after one @ @ @ @ @ a distant 25-1 shot , and 12th on a list that put her behind an @ @ @ @ @ betting site has the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee with a 16-1 shot and fifth in @ @ @ @ @ back into the public spotlight with a new Hulu feature .
She has also embraced @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recent string of victories over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , whom she has @ @ @ @ @ negative comments .
Still , US-Bookies.com data , based on betting markets offered by the @ @ @ @ @ and elsewhere , show that Sen. Kamala Harris , once a 2020 presidential candidate , @ @ @ @ @ , at 2-1 .

The odds that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the Democratic vice presidential nominee are surging.
A week after one betting aggregator said she was a distant 25-1 shot, and 12th on a list that put her behind an Ohio state senator, another betting site has the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee with a 16-1 shot and fifth in line.
Clinton has roared back into the public spotlight with a new Hulu feature.
She has also embraced former Vice President Joe Biden’s recent string of victories over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whom she has drubbed with a string of negative comments.
Still, US-Bookies.com data, based on betting markets offered by the United Kingdom, Europe, and elsewhere, show that Sen. Kamala Harris, once a 2020 presidential candidate, is still the top pick, at 2-1.
Odds to be Democratic vice presidential nominee:


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Will coronavirus bring the end of the Sanders campaign?

The Bernie Sanders campaign isn ’ t dead yet , but coronavirus disruptions are infecting it with life-threatening complications .
Much of the Vermont senator ’ s success has been credited with his large rallies and intimate meetings with voters .
The global pandemic reshaping the world economy and basic social interactions has forced Sanders ’ s campaign to operate through less-effective phones and screens .
“ In light of concerns about coronavirus and out of an abundance of caution for our staff , volunteers and supporters , the Sanders campaign has asked all staff to work from home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door-to-door canvasses , instead moving to digital formats and outreach wherever possible , ” said Sanders campaign communications manager Mike Casca on Thursday .
The announcement came after Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden each campaign rallies in Ohio hours before their scheduled start times on Tuesday following the state of emergency declared by the governor .
One of his directives was discouraging large gatherings .
`` Bernie is the better rally speaker , '' said Democratic strategist Steve Rabinowitz , a Biden supporter and former Clinton White House aide who designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is a disadvantage for him .
If he could keep doing these big rallies , they work better for him . ''
Those changes largely undermine one of Sanders ’ s principal electoral arguments : that only his campaign generates the necessary enthusiasm to drive voter turnout in November .
Studies also find that door-to-door canvassing , another key strength of Sanders ’ s campaign operation , is the and efficient way to turn out voters for a candidate .
Wall-to-wall news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic already makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his message out .
As the coronavirus complicates operations , the biggest problem is that the Sanders campaign has an underlying condition : He keeps losing primaries .
Sanders , who often has to explain why his controversial “ Medicare for all ” proposal that outlaws private insurance in favor of a single-payer system is superior to Biden ’ s , is already at a disadvantage of winning new voters over because of poor performance in recent primaries .
Biden has a lead of about 156 over Sanders and needs 1,110 more in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The next major primary states — Arizona , Florida , Illinois , Ohio , and Georgia — favor Biden , and Sanders has little chance of closing that gap .
A New York Times found that Sanders would have to perform 21 percentage points better to take a delegate lead over Biden and 12 percentage points better to keep Biden from earning a majority of pledged delegates , forcing a contested convention .
`` With all due respect to Sen. Sanders , his problem is he 's losing , not that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But some say Sanders still has a chance , no matter how small .
“ He has a very effective other means of communicating , and so do his leading surrogates and his supporters , ” said independent pollster John Zogby .
“ He has the capacity to use social media to a large degree.
” Rabinowitz noted that Sanders could keep supporters engaged by livestreaming small events .
`` If I was trying to help , I would say go fly to the coming primary states and visit with just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing you in an old-fashioned parlor meeting , '' Rabinowitz said , `` and stream the meeting . ''
The Vermont senator , though , is returning to the Senate next week rather than spending his days campaigning — unlike Biden , who replaced in-person campaign events with `` virtual '' town halls in Illinois and Florida .
Sanders is widely thought to be waging a campaign about the future of the Democratic Party rather than trying to win the nomination .
Any setbacks are unlikely to push him to the point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for the long haul .
The debate over the heart and soul of the party , ” Zogby said .
“ It makes sense for him to go to Milwaukee with as many delegates as he can.
” Zogby mentioned the 1980 Democratic presidential primary when Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts challenged President Jimmy Carter from the left .
While Kennedy did not defeat Carter , after early defeats , he got a surge in momentum and won some later states in the primary .
And national focus on health measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his own agenda .
“ He may get a boost on 'Medicare for all , ' ” Zogby said , referring to the Vermont senator ’ s single-payer healthcare plan that would eliminate private insurance .
Voters may believe that “ drastic times call for drastic measures.
” Some of his die-hard supporters are remaining positive , saying Sanders ’ s existing campaign infrastructure allows his staff to work remotely .
“ Cancelling upcoming campaign rallies doesn ’ t mean that communication with supporters , get out the vote efforts , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sanders has been very adept , in the past , at holding 'town hall ' meetings , via telephone conference calls , with large numbers of activists at the same time , ” said Steve Early , who co-founded the group “ Labor for Bernie.
” “ In 2016 , and before recent primaries , campaign volunteers and staff have maintained contact with thousands of likely voters via texting and phone calling .
”

The Bernie Sanders campaign isn’t dead yet, but coronavirus disruptions are infecting it with life-threatening complications.
Much of the Vermont senator’s success has been credited with his large rallies and intimate meetings with voters. The global pandemic reshaping the world economy and basic social interactions has forced Sanders’s campaign to operate through less-effective phones and screens.
“In light of concerns about coronavirus and out of an abundance of caution for our staff, volunteers and supporters, the Sanders campaign has asked all staff to work from home and will no longer hold large events or door-to-door canvasses, instead moving to digital formats and outreach wherever possible,” said Sanders campaign communications manager Mike Casca on Thursday.
The announcement came after Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden each canceled campaign rallies in Ohio hours before their scheduled start times on Tuesday following the state of emergency declared by the governor. One of his directives was discouraging large gatherings.
"Bernie is the better rally speaker," said Democratic strategist Steve Rabinowitz, a Biden supporter and former Clinton White House aide who designed and produced the president's public events. "It is a disadvantage for him. If he could keep doing these big rallies, they work better for him."
Those changes largely undermine one of Sanders’s principal electoral arguments: that only his campaign generates the necessary enthusiasm to drive voter turnout in November. Studies also find that door-to-door canvassing, another key strength of Sanders’s campaign operation, is the most effective and efficient way to turn out voters for a candidate.
Wall-to-wall news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic already makes it more difficult for a candidate to get his message out.
As the coronavirus complicates operations, the biggest problem is that the Sanders campaign has an underlying condition: He keeps losing primaries.
Sanders, who often has to explain why his controversial “Medicare for all” proposal that outlaws private insurance in favor of a single-payer system is superior to Biden’s, is already at a disadvantage of winning new voters over because of poor performance in recent primaries.
Biden has a lead of about 156 pledged delegates over Sanders and needs 1,110 more in order to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. The next major primary states — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia — favor Biden, and Sanders has little chance of closing that gap.
A New York Times analysis found that Sanders would have to perform 21 percentage points better to take a delegate lead over Biden and 12 percentage points better to keep Biden from earning a majority of pledged delegates, forcing a contested convention.
"With all due respect to Sen. Sanders, his problem is he's losing, not that he's losing to coronavirus," Rabinowitz said.
But some say Sanders still has a chance, no matter how small.
“He has a very effective other means of communicating, and so do his leading surrogates and his supporters,” said independent pollster John Zogby. “He has the capacity to use social media to a large degree.”
Rabinowitz noted that Sanders could keep supporters engaged by livestreaming small events.
"If I was trying to help, I would say go fly to the coming primary states and visit with just a handful of people who are comfortable seeing you in an old-fashioned parlor meeting," Rabinowitz said, "and stream the meeting."
The Vermont senator, though, is returning to the Senate next week rather than spending his days campaigning — unlike Biden, who replaced in-person campaign events with "virtual" town halls in Illinois and Florida.
Sanders is widely thought to be waging a campaign about the future of the Democratic Party rather than trying to win the nomination. Any setbacks are unlikely to push him to the point of dropping out.
“He's in it for the long haul. The debate over the heart and soul of the party,” Zogby said. “It makes sense for him to go to Milwaukee with as many delegates as he can.”
Zogby mentioned the 1980 Democratic presidential primary when Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts challenged President Jimmy Carter from the left. While Kennedy did not defeat Carter, after early defeats, he got a surge in momentum and won some later states in the primary.
And national focus on health measures gives Sanders an opportunity to rally support for his own agenda.
“He may get a boost on 'Medicare for all,'” Zogby said, referring to the Vermont senator’s single-payer healthcare plan that would eliminate private insurance. Voters may believe that “drastic times call for drastic measures.”
Some of his die-hard supporters are remaining positive, saying Sanders’s existing campaign infrastructure allows his staff to work remotely.
“Cancelling upcoming campaign rallies doesn’t mean that communication with supporters, get out the vote efforts, or Sanders campaign fund-raising will necessarily be hampered. Sanders has been very adept, in the past, at holding 'town hall' meetings, via telephone conference calls, with large numbers of activists at the same time,” said Steve Early, who co-founded the group “Labor for Bernie.” “In 2016, and before recent primaries, campaign volunteers and staff have maintained contact with thousands of likely voters via texting and phone calling.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Louisiana first state to postpone primary in response to coronavirus

Louisiana 's state government is postponing its presidential primary as part of a response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The presidential primary , which was scheduled for April 4 , will now take place June 20 , Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said in a press conference on Friday .
There are 54 pledged delegates to the Democratic national convention allocated based on results in its Democratic presidential primary .
Its May 9 general election will take place on July 25 .
Louisiana is the first state to postpone a primary due to the coronavirus .
The move comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wrap up the Democratic nomination over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
A Biden spokeswoman , Kate Bedingfield , on Friday urged Democrats to vote on Tuesday , when primaries are held in Arizona , Florida , Illinois , and Ohio .
`` As election officials working with public health officials are demonstrating throughout the country , our elections can be conducted safely in consultation with public health officials .
If voters are feeling healthy , not exhibiting symptoms , and don ’ t believe they 've been exposed to COVID-19 , please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If voters are members of an at-risk population , exhibiting symptoms , or have been exposed to a diagnosed case of COVID-19 , we encourage them to explore absentee ballots and vote by mail options . ''

Louisiana's state government is postponing its presidential primary as part of a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The presidential primary, which was scheduled for April 4, will now take place June 20, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said in a press conference on Friday. There are 54 pledged delegates to the Democratic national convention allocated based on results in its Democratic presidential primary.
Its May 9 general election will take place on July 25.
Louisiana is the first state to postpone a primary due to the coronavirus.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
The move comes as former Vice President Joe Biden seeks to wrap up the Democratic nomination over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. A Biden spokeswoman, Kate Bedingfield, on Friday urged Democrats to vote on Tuesday, when primaries are held in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
"As election officials working with public health officials are demonstrating throughout the country, our elections can be conducted safely in consultation with public health officials. If voters are feeling healthy, not exhibiting symptoms, and don’t believe they've been exposed to COVID-19, please vote on Tuesday," Bedingfield said. "If voters are members of an at-risk population, exhibiting symptoms, or have been exposed to a diagnosed case of COVID-19, we encourage them to explore absentee ballots and vote by mail options."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Biden beats Trump in key Arizona battleground, but Bernie Sanders loses: Poll

Joe Biden would put Arizona in play against President Trump and forge a path for Democrats to counter the president 's advantage in the Midwest , according to a new nonpartisan poll that also revealed Bernie Sanders losing to Trump .
The survey of likely voters from Arizona polling firm OH Predictive Insights , conducted March 3-4 but only released Friday , showed Biden leading Trump 49 % to 43 % , with 8 % undecided .
By contrast , the president held an advantage in a hypothetical matchup with Bernie Sanders , leading 45 % to 38 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 votes in the Electoral College , which Trump won in 2016 , offer Democrats one option for replacing the 10 electoral votes they would miss out on if Trump repeats his 2016 victory in the heartland battleground of Wisconsin .
“ If Arizona Democrats want a shot at flipping Arizona ’ s 11 Electoral College votes in their favor for the first time since 1996 , former VP Joe Biden is the wise choice on March 17 , ” said Mike Noble , chief of research for OH Predictive Insights .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Sunday 's Biden-Sanders debate , originally set to occur in Phoenix , was moved to Washington , D.C. , because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Arizona has voted Republican for president in every election since 1996 , when the state supported Bill Clinton .
But the Arizonans sent Democrat Kyrsten Sinema to the Senate in 2018 as part of a midterm election backlash against Trump , an outcome fueled by suburban discontent with the GOP , especially among women .
Fueling Biden 's remarkably better numbers against the president than Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 63 % preferred Biden , with 27 % saying they would vote for Trump .
Sanders was beating Trump among Hispanic voters by just seven points — 34 % to 27 % .
The survey has a margin of error of 4 points .
It was fielded before the World Health Organization labeled the coronavirus crisis a global pandemic and prior to the extraordinary decline of the stock market in recent days .

Joe Biden would put Arizona in play against President Trump and forge a path for Democrats to counter the president's advantage in the Midwest, according to a new nonpartisan poll that also revealed Bernie Sanders losing to Trump.
The survey of likely voters from Arizona polling firm OH Predictive Insights, conducted March 3-4 but only released Friday, showed Biden leading Trump 49% to 43%, with 8% undecided. By contrast, the president held an advantage in a hypothetical matchup with Bernie Sanders, leading 45% to 38%, with 16% undecided. Arizona's 11 votes in the Electoral College, which Trump won in 2016, offer Democrats one option for replacing the 10 electoral votes they would miss out on if Trump repeats his 2016 victory in the heartland battleground of Wisconsin.
“If Arizona Democrats want a shot at flipping Arizona’s 11 Electoral College votes in their favor for the first time since 1996, former VP Joe Biden is the wise choice on March 17,” said Mike Noble, chief of research for OH Predictive Insights. The Democratic primary in Arizona is scheduled for Tuesday. Sunday's Biden-Sanders debate, originally set to occur in Phoenix, was moved to Washington, D.C., because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Arizona has voted Republican for president in every election since 1996, when the state supported Bill Clinton. But the Arizonans sent Democrat Kyrsten Sinema to the Senate in 2018 as part of a midterm election backlash against Trump, an outcome fueled by suburban discontent with the GOP, especially among women.
Fueling Biden's remarkably better numbers against the president than Sanders are Hispanic voters. In the poll, 63% preferred Biden, with 27% saying they would vote for Trump. Sanders was beating Trump among Hispanic voters by just seven points — 34% to 27%.
The survey has a margin of error of 4 points. It was fielded before the World Health Organization labeled the coronavirus crisis a global pandemic and prior to the extraordinary decline of the stock market in recent days.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Biden virtual campaigning limits exposure to coronavirus — and blunders

The coronavirus pandemic is providing a political boost to Joe Biden , enabling him to avoid campaign rallies and other public gatherings where he is prone to verbal miscues that could hamper his bid to oust President Trump .
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 , candidates in both parties have canceled public gatherings for the foreseeable future , replacing them with virtual events .
The unusual development allows Biden to avoid traditional campaign rallies and town hall meetings , where he has occasionally faced hecklers , made news for sparse attendance , gotten into angry arguments with attendees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden is often at his best in controlled settings , and that could pay dividends against Trump if the coronavirus crisis persists .
“ Biden ’ s style , his strengths , are better , are more effective in environments that aren ’ t rallies , ” veteran Democratic operative Joe Trippi said Thursday .
“ The fact that he ’ s not going to have to operate in that environment probably benefits him.
” Democratic strategists say virtual campaigning will help Biden , conceding he might have trouble matching the energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the president ’ s potent , asymmetrical attacks .
Recently , the hits have consisted of questioning Biden ’ s mental acuity .
Bruce Haynes , a former Republican strategist , said Biden would be more disciplined , even if only by default , projecting confidence in the 77-year-old ’ s ability to handle the pressures of the White House .
“ Given his penchant for gaffes and the need for all political figures to project stability in an uncertain time , this creates an advantage for his team , ” explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Sard Verbinnen & Co. in Washington .
Earlier this week , Biden , Trump , and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , who is still running in the Democratic presidential primary , canceled a series of campaign events .
CNN , host of Sunday ’ s Democratic debate , scrapped plans for a live studio audience and then decided to move the Biden-Sanders faceoff from Phoenix to its studios in Washington , D.C. , to avoid unnecessary travel .
Biden has scheduled “ virtual ” events in Chicago and Miami .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilmington , Delaware , where he lives , discussing his agenda for combating the coronavirus .
If nothing else , the reduction in public events is providing Biden with the space to beef up his undermanned organization and better compete with a Trump campaign that ramped up last year .
“ Going virtual gives his campaign a chance to recalibrate and focus his messaging , ” said Ed Espinoza , a Democratic operative in Austin , Texas .
“ For a candidate like Biden , that can be very helpful.
” There could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Biden .
The forced virtual campaign could compel Sanders to drop out of the Democratic primary sooner than he might prefer .
Sanders ’ s strength has been in the size of his crowds and the energy his supporters bring to the campaign .
In that way , the 78-year-old socialist is similar to Trump .
Without the ability to hold raucous campaign events , Sanders is ill-positioned to put Biden on the defensive and mount an improbable comeback .

The coronavirus pandemic is providing a political boost to Joe Biden, enabling him to avoid campaign rallies and other public gatherings where he is prone to verbal miscues that could hamper his bid to oust President Trump.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, candidates in both parties have canceled public gatherings for the foreseeable future, replacing them with virtual events. The unusual development allows Biden to avoid traditional campaign rallies and town hall meetings, where he has occasionally faced hecklers, made news for sparse attendance, gotten into angry arguments with attendees, or obscured his message with headline-grabbing slip-ups. Biden is often at his best in controlled settings, and that could pay dividends against Trump if the coronavirus crisis persists.
“Biden’s style, his strengths, are better, are more effective in environments that aren’t rallies,” veteran Democratic operative Joe Trippi said Thursday. “The fact that he’s not going to have to operate in that environment probably benefits him.”
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Democratic strategists say virtual campaigning will help Biden, conceding he might have trouble matching the energy of Trump’s campaign and defending against the president’s potent, asymmetrical attacks. Recently, the hits have consisted of questioning Biden’s mental acuity.
Bruce Haynes, a former Republican strategist, said Biden would be more disciplined, even if only by default, projecting confidence in the 77-year-old’s ability to handle the pressures of the White House. “Given his penchant for gaffes and the need for all political figures to project stability in an uncertain time, this creates an advantage for his team,” explained Haynes, global chairman of public affairs at Sard Verbinnen & Co. in Washington.
Earlier this week, Biden, Trump, and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is still running in the Democratic presidential primary, canceled a series of campaign events. CNN, host of Sunday’s Democratic debate, scrapped plans for a live studio audience and then decided to move the Biden-Sanders faceoff from Phoenix to its studios in Washington, D.C., to avoid unnecessary travel.
Biden has scheduled “virtual” events in Chicago and Miami. On Thursday, he delivered scripted remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, where he lives, discussing his agenda for combating the coronavirus.
If nothing else, the reduction in public events is providing Biden with the space to beef up his undermanned organization and better compete with a Trump campaign that ramped up last year.
“Going virtual gives his campaign a chance to recalibrate and focus his messaging,” said Ed Espinoza, a Democratic operative in Austin, Texas. “For a candidate like Biden, that can be very helpful.”
There could be an additional, short-term side benefit for Biden. The forced virtual campaign could compel Sanders to drop out of the Democratic primary sooner than he might prefer.
Sanders’s strength has been in the size of his crowds and the energy his supporters bring to the campaign. In that way, the 78-year-old socialist is similar to Trump. Without the ability to hold raucous campaign events, Sanders is ill-positioned to put Biden on the defensive and mount an improbable comeback.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--'The most Catholic administration we've had': Boosters look to capitalize on Trump social issues rec

'The most Catholic administration we've had': Boosters look to capitalize on Trump social issues record

President Trump 's campaign is increasing its efforts to court Catholic voters with a new campaign coalition , Catholics for Trump , by focusing on the president 's support for such issues as religious freedom and opposition to abortion .
The coalition , which was set to launch in Milwaukee next week , seeks to rally Catholics behind the Trump administration 's vision of `` the common good , '' as it relates to Catholic teaching on social issues that right-leaning Catholics have long championed .
The launch event has been because of fears of a coronavirus outbreak , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has not yet been rescheduled .
Pandemics notwithstanding , many Catholic leaders say they are excited to throw their support behind Trump in 2020 .
That mood is much different than in 2016 , when many Catholics supported Trump , `` despite a big question mark in their minds , '' said Frank Pavone , national director of Priests for Life who served on Trump ’ s Catholic Advisory Group in 2016 .
Pavone became a controversial figure directly before the 2016 election , when he delivered a sermon about abortion while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aborted baby on an altar .
`` They were n't quite sure what they were going to get , '' Pavone said .
`` What they were more sure about is what they would not be getting by rejecting Hillary .
Now , however , the question mark has changed into an exclamation point . ''
For Pavone , who is expected to help lead Catholics for Trump , that exclamation point is Trump 's expressive support for the anti-abortion movement , manifested most recently in his speech at the 2020 March for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the anti-abortion rally .
Other exclamation points include Trump ’ s Supreme Court appointments and his Cabinet member picks , which include a number of practicing Catholics , White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Attorney General William Barr among them .
Appointments such as Barr , as well as the possibility of a conservative majority on the Supreme Court , are part of what should drive Catholics to Trump , Pavone said , adding that these are the ways Trump has proven that he is friendly to “ the Catholic vision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CatholicVote.org , an organization supporting Trump , but officially unaffiliated with the campaign coalition , extended that endorsement .
`` This is the most Catholic administration we 've had in American history , both at a policy level and at a personnel level , '' he told the Washington Examiner , citing Trump ’ s support for the “ sanctity of life , the family as the foundational social unit , and the necessity of religious liberty.
” Barr , in particular , has pleased Catholics supporting Trump .
Under him , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom `` zealously , '' officials told reporters during a Monday press briefing .
Since Barr assumed his post in February 2019 , the Justice Department has filed statements of interest in many cases involving Catholic and otherwise religious institutions over religious liberty issues .
In September 2019 , the department rose to the of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis , which had fired a married gay employee at a Catholic high school .
Amid the outcry , the archdiocese had stated that , per Catholic teaching on marriage , its schools can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a same-sex marriage and identifies as a Catholic .
When the teacher sued , the Justice Department spoke in favor of the archdiocese , saying that the Catholic Church has the right to decide how it enforces its doctrines because of the First Amendment .
Barr has also stirred controversy in his speeches , against the `` militant '' and `` growing ascendancy of secularism and the doctrine of moral relativism '' last year at the University of Notre Dame .
Barr delivered a similar in February at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast at the end of March , where he will receive for his `` long history of dedicated public service and his commitment to the defense of the vulnerable and religious liberty . ''
The Trump administration has only earned such plaudits from Catholic leaders after several years .
Early in the 2016 campaign , Trump had faced serious opposition from many Catholic leaders , especially after he called Pope Francis `` disgraceful '' for questioning his stance on border security .
CatholicVote.org was and opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lack of “ clear guiding principles , and a history of unpredictability.
” The group was one of the many that called upon Trump to after the Access Hollywood tapes leaks in October showed Trump making lewd comments about women .
`` If Donald Trump is unwilling to step aside , the Republican National Committee must act soon out of basic decency and self-preservation , '' the organization wrote at the time .
But once elected , Trump ’ s presidency proved encouraging , and CatholicVote.org warmed to him .
Even before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already was organizing , along with the nonprofit Knights of Columbus , to register and inform voters about their choices in November .
Polling data from RealClearResearch shows that practicing Catholics Trump much more than nonpracticing or lapsed Catholics .
These people , many of whom live in the heavily Catholic and electorally pivotal states of Wisconsin and Michigan , could be key to reelecting Trump , Burch said .
`` We believe this represents an enormous opportunity , particularly in an election that ’ s anticipating historic turnout , where both campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new votes , '' Burch said .
`` And we think a largesse of those votes , especially in the Upper Midwest , are in our churches every Sunday . ''
Explicit support for Trump among practicing Catholics has not been universal , however .
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee on Wednesday distanced itself from the campaign initiative before the launch was postponed .
`` The mission of the Church is religious , not political , '' Archbishop Jerome Listecki wrote in an `` For reasons that are both theological and legal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life does not extend to endorsing candidates for election to public office nor calling for their defeat . ''
Other bishops have offered more pointed criticisms of the president .
After a mass shooting in August 2019 , Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso , Texas , called upon Trump to `` examine himself and the kind of rhetoric that contributes to the hatred of a whole group of people , '' as many people blamed the president 's rhetoric for inciting violence .
Trump 's rhetoric on immigration has also not encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Catholics .
In 2018 , many bishops in largely Hispanic dioceses criticized Trump 's family separation policy at a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting .
But even with these obstacles , the Trump campaign ’ s outreach efforts to Catholics in 2020 is much more organized than its push in 2016 , which , in the beginning , was nonexistent .
That changed , however , when Deal Hudson , the director of Catholic Outreach for George W. Bush ’ s 2000 and 2004 campaigns , the Trump campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of tweets and meetings with Catholic leaders .
Once Trump secured the nomination , the campaign a Catholic Advisory Committee , including Pavone , former Sen. Rick Santorum , and Matt Schlapp , chairman of the American Conservative Union .
The group promised to steer Trump on religious liberty , abortion , and Supreme Court issues .
In 2020 , the campaign plans to continue increasing that outreach to Catholics , according to former Rep. Tim Huelskamp , a senior adviser at CatholicVote.org , who is expected to be involved with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of secondary importance to the Trump campaign in 2016 , behind evangelicals , '' Huelskamp said in January .
`` That has n't changed , but there is at least an effort to reach this community now . ''

President Trump's campaign is increasing its efforts to court Catholic voters with a new campaign coalition, Catholics for Trump, by focusing on the president's support for such issues as religious freedom and opposition to abortion.
The coalition, which was set to launch in Milwaukee next week, seeks to rally Catholics behind the Trump administration's vision of "the common good," as it relates to Catholic teaching on social issues that right-leaning Catholics have long championed. The launch event has been postponed because of fears of a coronavirus outbreak, and a campaign spokesperson told the Washington Examiner it has not yet been rescheduled.
Pandemics notwithstanding, many Catholic leaders say they are excited to throw their support behind Trump in 2020. That mood is much different than in 2016, when many Catholics supported Trump, "despite a big question mark in their minds," said Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life who served on Trump’s Catholic Advisory Group in 2016. Pavone became a controversial figure directly before the 2016 election, when he delivered a sermon about abortion while after placing what he claimed was an aborted baby on an altar.
"They weren't quite sure what they were going to get," Pavone said. "What they were more sure about is what they would not be getting by rejecting Hillary. Now, however, the question mark has changed into an exclamation point."
For Pavone, who is expected to help lead Catholics for Trump, that exclamation point is Trump's expressive support for the anti-abortion movement, manifested most recently in his speech at the 2020 March for Life — the first such presidential in-person appearance at the anti-abortion rally. Other exclamation points include Trump’s Supreme Court appointments and his Cabinet member picks, which include a number of practicing Catholics, White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Attorney General William Barr among them.
Appointments such as Barr, as well as the possibility of a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, are part of what should drive Catholics to Trump, Pavone said, adding that these are the ways Trump has proven that he is friendly to “the Catholic vision of things.”
Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote.org, an organization supporting Trump, but officially unaffiliated with the campaign coalition, extended that endorsement.
"This is the most Catholic administration we've had in American history, both at a policy level and at a personnel level," he told the Washington Examiner, citing Trump’s support for the “sanctity of life, the family as the foundational social unit, and the necessity of religious liberty.”
Barr, in particular, has pleased Catholics supporting Trump. Under him, the Department of Justice seeks to defend religious freedom "zealously," officials told reporters during a Monday press briefing. Since Barr assumed his post in February 2019, the Justice Department has filed statements of interest in many cases involving Catholic and otherwise religious institutions over religious liberty issues.
In September 2019, the department rose to the defense of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, which had fired a married gay employee at a Catholic high school. Amid the outcry, the archdiocese had stated that, per Catholic teaching on marriage, its schools cannot employ a person who is openly in a same-sex marriage and identifies as a Catholic. When the teacher sued, the Justice Department spoke in favor of the archdiocese, saying that the Catholic Church has the right to decide how it enforces its doctrines because of the First Amendment.
Barr has also stirred controversy in his speeches, speaking out against the "militant" and "growing ascendancy of secularism and the doctrine of moral relativism" last year at the University of Notre Dame. Barr delivered a similar speech in February at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Tennessee. He is also set to speak at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast at the end of March, where he will receive an award for his "long history of dedicated public service and his commitment to the defense of the vulnerable and religious liberty."
The Trump administration has only earned such plaudits from Catholic leaders after several years. Early in the 2016 campaign, Trump had faced serious opposition from many Catholic leaders, especially after he called Pope Francis "disgraceful" for questioning his stance on border security. CatholicVote.org was skeptical and opposed him during the primaries, pointing to his lack of “clear guiding principles, and a history of unpredictability.” The group was one of the many that called upon Trump to step down after the Access Hollywood tapes leaks in October showed Trump making lewd comments about women.
"If Donald Trump is unwilling to step aside, the Republican National Committee must act soon out of basic decency and self-preservation," the organization wrote at the time.
But once elected, Trump’s presidency proved encouraging, and CatholicVote.org warmed to him. Even before Catholics for Trump was announced, CatholicVote.org already was organizing, along with the nonprofit Knights of Columbus, to register and inform voters about their choices in November.
Polling data from RealClearResearch shows that practicing Catholics support Trump much more than nonpracticing or lapsed Catholics. These people, many of whom live in the heavily Catholic and electorally pivotal states of Wisconsin and Michigan, could be key to reelecting Trump, Burch said.
"We believe this represents an enormous opportunity, particularly in an election that’s anticipating historic turnout, where both campaigns are going to be looking for sources of new votes," Burch said. "And we think a largesse of those votes, especially in the Upper Midwest, are in our churches every Sunday."
Explicit support for Trump among practicing Catholics has not been universal, however. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee on Wednesday distanced itself from the campaign initiative before the launch was postponed.
"The mission of the Church is religious, not political," Archbishop Jerome Listecki wrote in an open letter. "For reasons that are both theological and legal, the Church’s involvement in public life does not extend to endorsing candidates for election to public office nor calling for their defeat."
Other bishops have offered more pointed criticisms of the president. After a mass shooting in August 2019, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, called upon Trump to "examine himself and the kind of rhetoric that contributes to the hatred of a whole group of people," as many people blamed the president's rhetoric for inciting violence. Trump's rhetoric on immigration has also not encouraged support from Hispanics, many of whom are Catholics. In 2018, many bishops in largely Hispanic dioceses criticized Trump's family separation policy at a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting.
But even with these obstacles, the Trump campaign’s outreach efforts to Catholics in 2020 is much more organized than its push in 2016, which, in the beginning, was nonexistent. That changed, however, when Deal Hudson, the director of Catholic Outreach for George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, convinced the Trump campaign to begin courting Catholic voters in 2016 through a series of tweets and meetings with Catholic leaders.
Once Trump secured the nomination, the campaign organized a Catholic Advisory Committee, including Pavone, former Sen. Rick Santorum, and Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union. The group promised to steer Trump on religious liberty, abortion, and Supreme Court issues.
In 2020, the campaign plans to continue increasing that outreach to Catholics, according to former Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a senior adviser at CatholicVote.org, who is expected to be involved with Catholics for Trump.
"Catholics were of secondary importance to the Trump campaign in 2016, behind evangelicals," Huelskamp said in January. "That hasn't changed, but there is at least an effort to reach this community now."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-14--Trump disrupts coronavirus website plans with Google announcement

Google was caught off guard and issued a clarification after President Trump claimed 1,700 engineers were working on a website to help manage the coronavirus pandemic .
During a Friday news conference at the White House Rose Garden , Trump thanked Google and said that the technology company is “ helping to develop a website … To determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location.
” Google Communications released a statement on Twitter attributed to Verily , which is also owned by Alphabet , that said Verily was in the “ early stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Bay Area .
The statement said the company hopes to expand beyond there in the future but did not provide any specific date .
“ We are developing a tool to help triage individuals for Covid-19 testing .
Verily is in the early stages of development , and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area , with the hope of expanding more broadly over time , ” the statement read .
“ We appreciate the support of government officials and industry partners and thank the Google engineers who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Carolyn Wang , who runs communications for Verily , told the Verge that the “ triage website ” was originally designed to be only visited by healthcare workers and not the public .
But , after Trump 's remarks , Wang said those plans have changed to allow the public to visit the website .
Wang said the tool would only direct visitors to “ pilot sites ” for testing in California , noting she hopes to expand it out of the state “ over time.
” During the news conference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration ’ s 2013 rollout of healthcare.gov , which experienced a number of technical difficulties and delays when it was made public .
Trump said the new site was going to be “ very quickly done , unlike websites of the past.
” Trump declared a national emergency at the news conference as confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 spread across the country .
There have been at least 2,110 cases in 48 states , and at least 48 people have died .

Google was caught off guard and issued a clarification after President Trump claimed 1,700 engineers were working on a website to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.
During a Friday news conference at the White House Rose Garden, Trump thanked Google and said that the technology company is “helping to develop a website … To determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location.”
Google Communications released a statement on Twitter attributed to Verily, which is also owned by Alphabet, that said Verily was in the “early stages” of a website designed for California’s Bay Area. The statement said the company hopes to expand beyond there in the future but did not provide any specific date.
“We are developing a tool to help triage individuals for Covid-19 testing. Verily is in the early stages of development, and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time,” the statement read. “We appreciate the support of government officials and industry partners and thank the Google engineers who have volunteered to be part of this effort.”
“We appreciate the support of government officials and industry partners and thank the Google engineers who have volunteered to be part of this effort." — Google Communications (@Google_Comms) March 13, 2020
Carolyn Wang, who runs communications for Verily, told the Verge that the “triage website” was originally designed to be only visited by healthcare workers and not the public. But, after Trump's remarks, Wang said those plans have changed to allow the public to visit the website. Wang said the tool would only direct visitors to “pilot sites” for testing in California, noting she hopes to expand it out of the state “over time.”
During the news conference, Trump also took a jab at the Obama administration’s 2013 rollout of healthcare.gov, which experienced a number of technical difficulties and delays when it was made public. Trump said the new site was going to be “very quickly done, unlike websites of the past.”
Trump declared a national emergency at the news conference as confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 spread across the country. There have been at least 2,110 cases in 48 states, and at least 48 people have died.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-13--Hillary Clinton asks appeals court to overturn order for deposition about email server and Benghazi

Hillary Clinton asked an appeals court on Friday to overturn a judge 's order for her to appear for a sworn deposition about her use of a private email server and the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack .
The case stems from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the conservative watchdog Judicial Watch against the former secretary of state .
Earlier this month , U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled , “ The Court agrees with Judicial Watch — it is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton.
” The judicial opinion also ordered former Clinton chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton 's legal team responded with an 83-page petition for a writ of mandamus filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit , calling the district ruling outrageous and asking the appeals court to order the lower court to correct the ruling .
The legal team for Clinton said reversing the order “ is warranted because Judicial Watch ’ s impending depositions of Secretary Clinton and Ms. Mills are inappropriate , unnecessary , and a clear abuse of discretion.
” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said , “ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Clinton machine to delay truth and accountability for her email conduct and how it impacted the people ’ s ‘ right to know ’ under FOIA.
” Clinton ’ s lead attorney David Kendall said , “ The district court ’ s order inappropriately discounts this Court ’ s prior finding that there are no remaining recoverable emails , the extraordinary discovery that Judicial Watch has already obtained , and the vast public record on Secretary Clinton ’ s emails.
” He claimed , “ Judicial Watch could not possibly show the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-depose ) former high-ranking officials regarding their reasons for taking official actions , and the court abused its discretion in finding otherwise.
” The Clinton team laid out three main arguments for why the lower court ’ s order should be reversed .
First , they referenced a prior D.C. appeals court ruling in a Judicial Watch v. Pompeo case in 2018 that they said should render this FOIA case “ moot.
” Next , they claimed the district court ’ s order “ violates the well-established principle that high-ranking government officials should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances.
” And they claimed the lower court “ lacked jurisdiction to order additional discovery because the FOIA requests were submitted only after Secretary Clinton left office.
” The district court ruling earlier this month was the latest twist in a nearly six-year-long case related to Clinton ’ s reasons for setting up her unauthorized private email server and whether she was attempting to avoid Freedom of Information Act requests .
Lamberth listed some remaining questions for Clinton : “ How did she arrive at her belief that her private server emails would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for email retention ?
... Did she realize State was giving ‘ no records ’ responses to her FOIA requests for emails ?
... And why did she think that using a private server to conduct State Department business was permissible under the law in the first place ?
” The FBI investigated Clinton 's use of the server , hosted in the basement of her home in Chappaqua , New York , while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2014 .
Although former FBI Director James Comey found that Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classified emails , no criminal charges were recommended against anyone following the bureau ’ s `` Midyear Exam '' investigation .
“ Judicial Watch argued that Secretary Clinton ’ s existing testimony has only scratched the surface of the inquiry into her motives for setting up and using a private server , ” Lamberth said .
The judge said Clinton ’ s written answers to questions in this case and related ones “ were either incomplete , unhelpful , or cursory at bes , ” and that “ her responses left many more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review related to its email practices found 91 “ valid violations ” attributable to 38 individuals and another 497 violations that could n't be tied to any specific person .
The review found “ some instances ” of classified information being “ inappropriately introduced into an unclassified system.
” But investigators uncovered “ no persuasive evidence of systematic , deliberate mishandling of classified information.
” Nearly a dozen witnesses have been deposed as part of Judicial Watch ’ s FOIA lawsuits stemming back to 2014 .
One main controversy is why 33,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preservation order .
The FBI was only able to recover about 5,000 of the scrubbed emails .
Clinton claimed she `` never received nor sent any material that was marked classified , '' but Comey announced in July 2016 that 110 emails did contain classified information .
Judicial Watch also wants to question Clinton and Mills about the talking points for former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice 's appearances on television shows following the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi .
Members of Ansar al Sharia launched a coordinated assault on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens , foreign service officer Sean Smith , and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty .
Clinton , Rice , and others incorrectly blamed the attack on a YouTube video .

Hillary Clinton asked an appeals court on Friday to overturn a judge's order for her to appear for a sworn deposition about her use of a private email server and the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack.
The case stems from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the conservative watchdog Judicial Watch against the former secretary of state. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled, “The Court agrees with Judicial Watch — it is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton.” The judicial opinion also ordered former Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills to be deposed.
Clinton's legal team responded with an 83-page petition for a writ of mandamus filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, calling the district ruling outrageous and asking the appeals court to order the lower court to correct the ruling.
The legal team for Clinton said reversing the order “is warranted because Judicial Watch’s impending depositions of Secretary Clinton and Ms. Mills are inappropriate, unnecessary, and a clear abuse of discretion.”
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said, “This desperate act is yet another attempt by the Clinton machine to delay truth and accountability for her email conduct and how it impacted the people’s ‘right to know’ under FOIA.”
Clinton’s lead attorney David Kendall said, “The district court’s order inappropriately discounts this Court’s prior finding that there are no remaining recoverable emails, the extraordinary discovery that Judicial Watch has already obtained, and the vast public record on Secretary Clinton’s emails.” He claimed, “Judicial Watch could not possibly show the extraordinary circumstances required to depose (or re-depose) former high-ranking officials regarding their reasons for taking official actions, and the court abused its discretion in finding otherwise.”
The Clinton team laid out three main arguments for why the lower court’s order should be reversed. First, they referenced a prior D.C. appeals court ruling in a Judicial Watch v. Pompeo case in 2018 that they said should render this FOIA case “moot.” Next, they claimed the district court’s order “violates the well-established principle that high-ranking government officials should not be subjected to depositions absent extraordinary circumstances.” And they claimed the lower court “lacked jurisdiction to order additional discovery because the FOIA requests were submitted only after Secretary Clinton left office.”
The district court ruling earlier this month was the latest twist in a nearly six-year-long case related to Clinton’s reasons for setting up her unauthorized private email server and whether she was attempting to avoid Freedom of Information Act requests.
Lamberth listed some remaining questions for Clinton: “How did she arrive at her belief that her private server emails would be preserved by normal State Department processes for email retention? ... Did she realize State was giving ‘no records’ responses to her FOIA requests for emails? ... And why did she think that using a private server to conduct State Department business was permissible under the law in the first place?”
The FBI investigated Clinton's use of the server, hosted in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, New York, while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2014. Although former FBI Director James Comey found that Clinton was “extremely careless” in handling classified emails, no criminal charges were recommended against anyone following the bureau’s "Midyear Exam" investigation.
“Judicial Watch argued that Secretary Clinton’s existing testimony has only scratched the surface of the inquiry into her motives for setting up and using a private server,” Lamberth said.
The judge said Clinton’s written answers to questions in this case and related ones “were either incomplete, unhelpful, or cursory at bes,” and that “her responses left many more questions than answers.”
A State Department review related to its email practices found 91 “valid violations” attributable to 38 individuals and another 497 violations that couldn't be tied to any specific person. The review found “some instances” of classified information being “inappropriately introduced into an unclassified system.” But investigators uncovered “no persuasive evidence of systematic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.”
Nearly a dozen witnesses have been deposed as part of Judicial Watch’s FOIA lawsuits stemming back to 2014. One main controversy is why 33,000 of her emails were deleted despite a congressional preservation order. The FBI was only able to recover about 5,000 of the scrubbed emails.
Clinton claimed she "never received nor sent any material that was marked classified," but Comey announced in July 2016 that 110 emails did contain classified information.
Judicial Watch also wants to question Clinton and Mills about the talking points for former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice's appearances on television shows following the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Members of Ansar al Sharia launched a coordinated assault on Sept. 11, 2012, killing U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, foreign service officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Clinton, Rice, and others incorrectly blamed the attack on a YouTube video.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-14--AOC spreads disinformation to push socialism amid coronavirus panic

Never let a good crisis go to waste , right ?
That ’ s apparently the philosophy of socialist upstart Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
The New York Democrat is one of many who ’ ve sadly decided to politicize the coronavirus crisis to push their political agenda .
But even worse , the congresswoman is spreading disinformation to do it .
After news broke that the Federal Reserve has decided to extend $ 1.5 trillion in emergency financing to banks in response to the economic fallout from the coronavirus , Ocasio-Cortez that “ the amount that the Fed just injected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US.
” “ There is absolutely NO excuse for not pausing student debt collections , planning for mortgage & rent relief , etc , ” she continued .
“ We need to care for working people as much as we care for the stock market.
” This is ignorance to the point of disinformation , frankly .
What Ocasio-Cortez is suggesting is that the Federal Reserve is somehow spending $ 1.5 trillion in government funds and that similar levels of spending could be used to cancel all student debt in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and completely distorts the action the central bank is taking .
Brookings Institution fellow and New York Times writer Justin Wolfers ( an economist whose credentials don ’ t exactly scream right-wing hack ) called this type of comparison “ horseshit , ” that “ the Fed ’ s short term loans cost us nothing when they ’ re all repaid the next day.
” The Competitive Enterprise Institute ’ s Richard Morrison that “ the Fed is lending to banks and strategically purchasing assets , not handing over bailout payments to anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan payment is inapt.
” Remember , Ocasio-Cortez holds a degree in economics from Boston University .
She really ought to know better .
( Or she should ask for a refund . )
She is , of course , free to advocate for student loan bailouts and the rest of the “ Green New Deal ” socialist agenda .
But shame on the congresswoman for spreading disinformation to do it .

Never let a good crisis go to waste, right?
That’s apparently the philosophy of socialist upstart Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Democrat is one of many who’ve sadly decided to politicize the coronavirus crisis to push their political agenda. But even worse, the congresswoman is spreading disinformation to do it.
After news broke that the Federal Reserve has decided to extend $1.5 trillion in emergency financing to banks in response to the economic fallout from the coronavirus, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that “the amount that the Fed just injected almost covers all student loan debt in the US.”
“There is absolutely NO excuse for not pausing student debt collections, planning for mortgage & rent relief, etc,” she continued. “We need to care for working people as much as we care for the stock market.”
FYI, the amount that the Fed just injected almost covers all student loan debt in the US.
There is absolutely NO excuse for not pausing student debt collections, planning for mortgage &rent relief, etc.
We need to care for working people as much as we care for the stock market. https://t.co/IT6qZA2gtt — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 12, 2020
This is ignorance to the point of disinformation, frankly.
What Ocasio-Cortez is suggesting is that the Federal Reserve is somehow spending $1.5 trillion in government funds and that similar levels of spending could be used to cancel all student debt in the United States. But this is false, and completely distorts the action the central bank is taking.
Brookings Institution fellow and New York Times writer Justin Wolfers (an economist whose credentials don’t exactly scream right-wing hack) called this type of comparison “horseshit,” pointing out that “the Fed’s short term loans cost us nothing when they’re all repaid the next day.”
Writing for National Review, Daniel Teneiro explained :
The Fed is not cutting a check to financial institutions.
It is engaging in short-term transactions with banks to ensure financial stability. If the Fed bought your house today and sold it back to you tomorrow, it wouldn’t be doing you a huge favor. The Fed’s intervention in the repo market, while a boon to the U.S. financial system, is far from a handout.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Richard Morrison told Fox News that “the Fed is lending to banks and strategically purchasing assets, not handing over bailout payments to anyone. AOC’s comparison to student loan payment is inapt.”
Remember, Ocasio-Cortez holds a degree in economics from Boston University. She really ought to know better. (Or she should ask for a refund.)
She is, of course, free to advocate for student loan bailouts and the rest of the “Green New Deal” socialist agenda. But shame on the congresswoman for spreading disinformation to do it.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-14--Congress under pressure to rush money out the door to households to prevent deep coronavirus recessi

Congress under pressure to rush money out the door to households to prevent deep coronavirus recession

Congress is under pressure to pass a major tax cut to address not just the immediate dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic but also the hit to medium-term commerce that would result if fear becomes self-reinforcing and leads to a pullback in spending and investment plans .
President Trump is calling on Congress to enact a payroll tax holiday , which would amount to a roughly $ 807 billion tax cut , according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model — far bigger , in annual terms , than his 2017 tax cut .
`` Only that will make a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A tax cut that size would be a fiscal stimulus on the scale of President Barack Obama 's 2009 stimulus bill , which was enacted in response to the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression .
The point would not be to undo the damage caused by sick people unable to show up for work .
That is what economists refer to as a `` supply-side '' shock , one that the government can not address through fiscal policy .
Indeed , it is likely better in the long run for commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the further spread of the virus .
Instead , the purpose would be to prevent the additional slowdown that could come if the public , out of fear , unnecessarily cuts back on plans to spend , which could in turn lead businesses to curtail investment , creating a self-sustaining loop of falling demand .
`` Fear , uncertainty , and job loss could stifle demand , '' explained former George W. Bush economic adviser Donald Marron .
`` That ’ s why we see proposals to distribute cash , cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , members of Congress of both parties have not been receptive to the idea .
Yet , many prominent economists and officeholders are saying that , while the payroll tax cut may be sufficiently large enough for the scale of the problem , something is needed that would go out the door even faster to households and reach more people directly affected by the pandemic .
Former Clinton Treasury Secretary and top Obama adviser Larry Summers said Friday that the government should be `` getting money into people 's pockets , credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage of this moment to make necessary investments in infrastructure , and perhaps , most critically , making sure that people are getting paid for their sick leave.
” House Democrats and the administration negotiated Friday on an emergency package that would include paid leave for workers kept at home by illness or quarantines .
But Summers , a Harvard economist , said , “ We 're going to need much more in terms of direct injections into the economy . ''
Greg Mankiw , another Harvard economist and former adviser to Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to households .
`` Considering the difficulty of identifying the truly needy and the problems inherent in trying to do so , sending every American a $ 1000 check asap would be a good start , '' Mankiw wrote on his blog Friday .
`` A payroll tax cut makes little sense in this circumstance , because it does nothing for those who ca n't work . ''
`` There are times to worry about the growing government debt .
This is not one of them , '' he wrote .
Bush sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 in the form of tax rebates of up to $ 600 per individual plus $ 300 per child .
The stimulus amounted to more than $ 150 billion that year , not adjusted for inflation .
Pelosi has said that Democrats will pursue another economic response bill once they 've passed the one currently in consideration .
Separately , Democratic legislators introduced legislation Friday to send a check of between $ 1,000 and $ 6,000 to every person who earned less than $ 65,000 last year , with 200 million checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill 's passage .
“ We must soften the blow for workers as large gatherings and events are canceled and hours are cut , '' said Rep. Ro Khanna of California , who authored the bill along with fellow congressman and former presidential candidate Tim Ryan of Ohio .
`` A payroll tax cut is not sufficient . ''
Another option to get money in the hands of the public quickly would be to accelerate tax refunds .
Paul Kupiec , a finance expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute , wrote Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household that files a tax return a refund of $ 5,000 , roughly equal to the average refund for the 2019 and 2020 tax years combined , and recoup the expenditures by withholding refunds , or surcharging taxpayers who do not get refunds , starting in 2022 , when the economy has already recovered from the coronavirus recession . ''

Congress is under pressure to pass a major tax cut to address not just the immediate dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic but also the hit to medium-term commerce that would result if fear becomes self-reinforcing and leads to a pullback in spending and investment plans.
President Trump is calling on Congress to enact a payroll tax holiday, which would amount to a roughly $807 billion tax cut, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model — far bigger, in annual terms, than his 2017 tax cut. "Only that will make a big difference!" he tweeted Friday.
A tax cut that size would be a fiscal stimulus on the scale of President Barack Obama's 2009 stimulus bill, which was enacted in response to the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression.
The point would not be to undo the damage caused by sick people unable to show up for work. That is what economists refer to as a "supply-side" shock, one that the government cannot address through fiscal policy. Indeed, it is likely better in the long run for commerce to slow down in the short term to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Instead, the purpose would be to prevent the additional slowdown that could come if the public, out of fear, unnecessarily cuts back on plans to spend, which could in turn lead businesses to curtail investment, creating a self-sustaining loop of falling demand. "Fear, uncertainty, and job loss could stifle demand," explained former George W. Bush economic adviser Donald Marron. "That’s why we see proposals to distribute cash, cut payroll taxes, etc."
So far, members of Congress of both parties have not been receptive to the idea. Yet, many prominent economists and officeholders are saying that, while the payroll tax cut may be sufficiently large enough for the scale of the problem, something is needed that would go out the door even faster to households and reach more people directly affected by the pandemic.
Former Clinton Treasury Secretary and top Obama adviser Larry Summers said Friday that the government should be "getting money into people's pockets, credit into the hands of businesses, taking advantage of this moment to make necessary investments in infrastructure, and perhaps, most critically, making sure that people are getting paid for their sick leave.”
House Democrats and the administration negotiated Friday on an emergency package that would include paid leave for workers kept at home by illness or quarantines. But Summers, a Harvard economist, said, “We're going to need much more in terms of direct injections into the economy."
Greg Mankiw, another Harvard economist and former adviser to Bush, advocated sending hundreds of billions directly to households.
"Considering the difficulty of identifying the truly needy and the problems inherent in trying to do so, sending every American a $1000 check asap would be a good start," Mankiw wrote on his blog Friday. "A payroll tax cut makes little sense in this circumstance, because it does nothing for those who can't work."
"There are times to worry about the growing government debt. This is not one of them," he wrote.
Bush sent checks to households when the economy deteriorated in 2008 in the form of tax rebates of up to $600 per individual plus $300 per child. The stimulus amounted to more than $150 billion that year, not adjusted for inflation.
Pelosi has said that Democrats will pursue another economic response bill once they've passed the one currently in consideration.
Separately, Democratic legislators introduced legislation Friday to send a check of between $1,000 and $6,000 to every person who earned less than $65,000 last year, with 200 million checks going out within three weeks of the bill's passage.
“We must soften the blow for workers as large gatherings and events are canceled and hours are cut," said Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who authored the bill along with fellow congressman and former presidential candidate Tim Ryan of Ohio. "A payroll tax cut is not sufficient."
Another option to get money in the hands of the public quickly would be to accelerate tax refunds. Paul Kupiec, a finance expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, wrote Friday that the government should "send each household that files a tax return a refund of $5,000, roughly equal to the average refund for the 2019 and 2020 tax years combined, and recoup the expenditures by withholding refunds, or surcharging taxpayers who do not get refunds, starting in 2022, when the economy has already recovered from the coronavirus recession."