shareblue--2020-05-20--Mitch McConnell is blocking aid local governments in his state desperately need

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is blocking a key coronavirus relief bill that would provide billions in aid to his home state of Kentucky , which has experienced massive revenue loss due to the pandemic .
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions ( HEROES ) Act would provide more than $ 7 billion to help Kentucky 's struggling state and local governments .
But McConnell has vowed to block the bill from even coming up for a vote .
The $ 3 trillion-plus legislation , which includes nearly a trillion in direct aid to state and local governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday on a mostly party-line vote .
McConnell has already ridiculed the emergency bill as `` not serious '' and declared it `` dead on arrival '' in the Senate .
`` This week , [ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ] published an 1,800-page seasonal catalog of left-wing oddities and called it a coronavirus relief bill , '' McConnell said in a May 14 press release .
`` This is a totally unserious effort .
Even the mainstream media says , quote , 'neither this bill nor anything resembling it will ever become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list . '
'' McConnell also vowed previously to oppose direct aid for the states , dismissing the idea as `` Blue State bailouts , '' and suggested broke states consider filing for bankruptcy , which they are not legally allowed to do .
But it is not just Democratic-controlled states that are hurting .
With more than 33 million Americans newly unemployed since the start of the pandemic , payroll tax revenue is down across the country .
And , according to Fitch Ratings data released last week , Kentucky now has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , above 36 % .
Analysis from the National League of Cities , published by Bloomberg last week , predicted that cities in Kentucky will face the second steepest revenue losses through 2022 of any state in the country due to the pandemic 's economic impact .
The Kentucky League of Cities warned in a May 7 news release that the state 's municipalities were `` facing an estimated collective budget shortfall of $ 85 million in Fiscal Year 2020 as a result of lost tax , utility , and other revenues due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 municipalities will cut public services , while nearly one-third will lay-off employees .
More than 20 percent of these cities will increase taxes , borrow debt , or increase fees before the end of the fiscal year , '' the group stated .
`` Nearly as many will furlough employees or take other actions , such as freezing hiring and/or delaying public works projects .
Seven percent will close facilities , such as public pools . ''
In an email , league executive director and CEO J.D .
Chaney said that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ components than the more important issue for cities , we hope the funding elements of the bill will continue to spur conversation in Washington on the need for direct federal aid to local governments . ''
Without congressional action , he predicted , cities `` of all sizes face the very real threat of reducing city payroll and vital services . ''
Anna Baumann , deputy director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy , agreed .
Kentucky has `` never seen revenue declines like what we 're dealing with , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts will harm education , health , infrastructure , parks , our court system , and so much more . ''
Adequate federal relief `` would keep us from furloughing and laying off teachers , social workers and firefighters , from cutting public health , infrastructure , environmental protection , higher education and other critical services , and from making this crisis even more painful , long and deep than it has to be , '' she added .
`` It will be the difference between having the basic building blocks of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is over , or struggling for a very long time to be able to educate our kids , invest in healthy families and strengthen our communities . ''
Not everyone 's outlook is as concerning , of course .
Mayors Bruce Wilkerson of Bowling Green and Tom Watson of Owensboro say their towns are in relatively good shape , despite the crisis .
Bowling Green is a `` financially stable municipal government '' and does not plan to `` borrow funds , nor count on any other government entity to make up our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email .
`` This is what we do and do well ; manage our finances .
The people of Bowling Green know that we will prioritize public safety , then public works . ''
He said any reductions would likely `` come from capital improvements , and maybe delaying replacement of some vacant positions . ''
With a diverse economy , lack of furloughed workers , and record of conservative spending , Owensboro is also `` in very good shape , '' Watson said in a phone interview .
`` Our county judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'We 've got money in the bank and we 're paying our bills . '
'' Still , Watson noted that many other Kentucky communities are not so fortunate .
`` We 're in really good shape comparatively speaking to what I 'm hearing from other cities .
Most were in bad shape before this thing hit , always just barely making their contribution to the pension [ fund ] and barely ] being able to hire public safety , police , and fire .
It would always seem like it would come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the next year . ''
One such struggling city is Louisville , though its congressman , House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth , says it is not to blame for the crisis .
`` Louisville did nothing wrong and had been experiencing an economic boom and that was great — that has all gone away , '' he told reporters earlier this month .
Ashley Sims is president of AFSCME Local 3425 representing hundreds of Louisville 's public library workers .
In a phone interview , she said that , last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and narrowly avoided massive library layoffs .
`` That was 2019 .
I thought that was the scariest situation we could be facing , '' she recalled .
`` A year later , I 'm sitting here going 'Oh my God .
Our city has such a deficit . '
Most of our taxes come from payroll .
No one 's getting paid because no one is at work .
They 're laid off or furloughed . ''
She continued , `` Looking at what Louisville is facing , I do n't think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do n't get this money , we might not have a library system next year , or one that looks anything like what it did last year . '
Our mayor is unfortunately looking at cutting services like EMT and fire .
I know when they 're cutting firefighters and EMTs , there is no library system . ''
Sims said McConnell ’ s lack of concern for her community has been a gut punch .
`` For him to stay we should just let the states go bankrupt — that McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own state , his own city , '' she said , `` it was quite shocking to hear what a lot of people felt was an abandonment of his own state for [ Donald ] Trump 's agenda . ''
McConnell 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this article .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is blocking a key coronavirus relief bill that would provide billions in aid to his home state of Kentucky, which has experienced massive revenue loss due to the pandemic.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act would provide more than $7 billion to help Kentucky’s struggling state and local governments. But McConnell has vowed to block the bill from even coming up for a vote.
The $3 trillion-plus legislation, which includes nearly a trillion in direct aid to state and local governments, passed the House of Representatives on Friday on a mostly party-line vote.
McConnell has already ridiculed the emergency bill as “not serious” and declared it “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
“This week, [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] published an 1,800-page seasonal catalog of left-wing oddities and called it a coronavirus relief bill,” McConnell said in a May 14 press release. “This is a totally unserious effort. Even the mainstream media says, quote, ‘neither this bill nor anything resembling it will ever become law. It’s a Democratic wish list.'”
McConnell also vowed previously to oppose direct aid for the states, dismissing the idea as “Blue State bailouts,” and suggested broke states consider filing for bankruptcy, which they are not legally allowed to do.
But it is not just Democratic-controlled states that are hurting. More than 33 million Americans have filed unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic, and tax revenue is down in states across the country. According to Fitch Ratings data released last week, Kentucky now has the highest unemployment rate in the country, above 36%.
Analysis from the National League of Cities, published by Bloomberg last week, predicted that cities in Kentucky will face the second steepest revenue losses through 2022 of any state in the country due to the pandemic’s economic impact.
The Kentucky League of Cities warned in a May 7 news release that the state’s municipalities were “facing an estimated collective budget shortfall of $85 million in Fiscal Year 2020 as a result of lost tax, utility, and other revenues due to COVID-19.”
“Four in 10 municipalities will cut public services, while nearly one-third will lay-off employees. More than 20 percent of these cities will increase taxes, borrow debt, or increase fees before the end of the fiscal year,” the group stated. “Nearly as many will furlough employees or take other actions, such as freezing hiring and/or delaying public works projects. Seven percent will close facilities, such as public pools.”
In an email, league executive director and CEO J.D. Chaney said that while the HEROES Act “contains many unrelated components than the more important issue for cities, we hope the funding elements of the bill will continue to spur conversation in Washington on the need for direct federal aid to local governments.”
Without congressional action, he predicted, cities “of all sizes face the very real threat of reducing city payroll and vital services.”
Anna Baumann, deputy director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, agreed.
Kentucky has “never seen revenue declines like what we’re dealing with,” she said. Without federal help, “cuts will harm education, health, infrastructure, parks, our court system, and so much more.”
Adequate federal relief “would keep us from furloughing and laying off teachers, social workers and firefighters, from cutting public health, infrastructure, environmental protection, higher education and other critical services, and from making this crisis even more painful, long and deep than it has to be,” she added.
“It will be the difference between having the basic building blocks of our economy to return to once this pandemic is over, or struggling for a very long time to be able to educate our kids, invest in healthy families and strengthen our communities.”
Not everyone’s outlook is as concerning, of course. Mayors Bruce Wilkerson of Bowling Green and Tom Watson of Owensboro say their towns are in relatively good shape, despite the crisis.
Bowling Green is a “financially stable municipal government” and does not plan to “borrow funds, nor count on any other government entity to make up our shortfall,” Wilkerson wrote in an email. “This is what we do and do well; manage our finances. The people of Bowling Green know that we will prioritize public safety, then public works.”
He said any reductions would likely “come from capital improvements, and maybe delaying replacement of some vacant positions.”
With a diverse economy, lack of furloughed workers, and record of conservative spending, Owensboro is also “in very good shape,” Watson said in a phone interview. “Our county judge [executive] likes to say: ‘We’ve got money in the bank and we’re paying our bills.'”
Still, Watson noted that many other Kentucky communities are not so fortunate. “We’re in really good shape comparatively speaking to what I’m hearing from other cities. Most were in bad shape before this thing hit, always just barely making their contribution to the pension [fund] and barely] being able to hire public safety, police, and fire. It would always seem like it would come around just enough to keep them going to the next year.”
One such struggling city is Louisville, though its congressman, House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth, says it is not to blame for the crisis.
“Louisville did nothing wrong and had been experiencing an economic boom and that was great — that has all gone away,” he told reporters earlier this month.
Ashley Sims is president of AFSCME Local 3425 representing hundreds of Louisville’s public library workers. In a phone interview, she said that, last year, the city faced a budget shortfall and narrowly avoided massive library layoffs.
“That was 2019. I thought that was the scariest situation we could be facing,” she recalled. “A year later, I’m sitting here going ‘Oh my God. Our city has such a deficit.’ Most of our taxes come from payroll. No one’s getting paid because no one is at work. They’re laid off or furloughed.”
She continued, “Looking at what Louisville is facing, I don’t think it’s really hyperbole to say ‘If we don’t get this money, we might not have a library system next year, or one that looks anything like what it did last year.’ Our mayor is unfortunately looking at cutting services like EMT and fire. I know when they’re cutting firefighters and EMTs, there is no library system.”
Sims said McConnell’s lack of concern for her community has been a gut punch.
“For him to stay we should just let the states go bankrupt — that McConnell could say something so terrible about his own state, his own city,” she said, “it was quite shocking to hear what a lot of people felt was an abandonment of his own state for [Donald] Trump’s agenda.”
McConnell’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Republicans in Congress keep pushing for unsafe working conditions

Rep. Debbie Lesko complained in an interview on Tuesday that a new temporary rule allowing some House members to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic was `` crazy '' because they might not actually do their jobs .
`` They can sit home and do n't even have to come in .
They 're supposedly supposed to be watching , but who knows what people are gon na be doing .
Maybe they 're gon na be doing their laundry or whatever , '' she told the far-right-wing outlet One America News .
`` And not doing the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to work , just like everyone else in the nation .
That 's why I voted no on this crazy proxy bill . ''
This was the latest in a long series of loud objections by Republicans to a rule change passed last week by the House of Representatives to allow members to hold committee hearings remotely and provide them with the option of designating a colleague to cast their votes for them on the floor during the pandemic .
The changes will let members opt to work from home and model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 .
In a joint statement last week , McCarthy and two senior GOP colleagues accused the Democratic majority of desertion .
`` Across our nation , Americans of all stripes are making sacrifices and doing their part to defeat this virus – and they expect Washington to do the same , '' they wrote .
`` Unfortunately , far from being 'captains of this ship ' as Speaker Pelosi recently proclaimed , the Democrats ' proposal calls for the House of Representatives to abandon ship – potentially for the remainder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ column on Monday , Biggs called the 45-day emergency rule the end of America 's representative democracy .
`` It 's been a pretty busy week for the Speaker as she has remade Congress by shattering the great institution of constitutional representation , Congress , while enslaving generations of future Americans , '' he wrote in the Daily Caller .
`` And as an autocrat now runs the United States House of Representatives we can bid a mournful farewell to our constitutional republic . ''
Brooks managed to frame working from home as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet late last month .
`` # Socialist # Democrat # Congressmen support # proxy voting by a 20 to 1 margin .
Dems give # SpeakerPelosi their proxy , who then casts their votes .
Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill , '' he said .
`` SAD !
COWARDLY ! ''
Last week , Jordan angrily denounced the impending rule change as `` dangerous , '' arguing that it was unconstitutional because the framers did n't mention social media when they established the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're heading and everybody knows it , but the majority is gon na go ahead and do it .
That is what ticks me off , '' he said at a hearing .
`` Proxy voting , Zoom , WebEx , Houseparty meetings and hearings , quasi-hearings , remote depositions .
Remote depositions ?
The example this sends , the precedent this sets is wrong , and I think even the majority knows it . ''
In an interview last month with the Hill , Mast said that the country was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proxy voting and that , given the way voting has been conducted so far , `` now is not the time to break that tradition . ''
He acknowledged that some of his colleagues have had COVID-19 and that some are at elevated risk if they do contract the coronavirus , but argued that everyone else could just stay safe by keeping clean .
`` But for the rest of us in the rest of America that have learned how to take better attention to our sanitizing the world around us , washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading germs , things like that , we can be here doing the work of the people that 's far more urgent than the way that we are approaching it right now . ''
Wilson argued in a Saturday press release that if members of Congress could be present to change the rules , that was proof that they did not need to work from home .
`` The vote to allow remote voting in Congress is simply irresponsible .
Although we are currently in a crisis , this pandemic is no excuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to vote on the House Floor today , surely Members can conduct official business in a safe manner that follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control going forward . ''
The GOP unanimously opposed the rule change , ignoring the expressed concerns of the attending physician of the Congress about the 435 members of House meeting in person in Washington , D.C. , which remains a coronavirus hot spot .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally triggered the rule allowing proxy voting this week , following a letter from the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The temporary change does not make proxy voting mandatory .
Members who do not choose to work from home can still vote in person .
The complaints about the change are part of a broader GOP push to force the country to return to work against the advice of public health experts and economists .
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Trump reelection campaign is looking for `` pro-Trump doctors '' to endorse ending stay-at-home measures and provide pushback against the view that Trump is ignoring expert advice in pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director , Tim Murtaugh , defended the move to counter medical expertise : `` Our job at the campaign is to reflect President Trump ’ s point of view .
We are his campaign .
There is no difference between us and him . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Debbie Lesko complained in an interview on Tuesday that a new temporary rule allowing some House members to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic was “crazy” because they might not actually do their jobs.
“They can sit home and don’t even have to come in. They’re supposedly supposed to be watching, but who knows what people are gonna be doing. Maybe they’re gonna be doing their laundry or whatever,” she told the far-right-wing outlet One America News. “And not doing the people’s business. I’m for getting back to work, just like everyone else in the nation. That’s why I voted no on this crazy proxy bill.”
This was the latest in a long series of loud objections by Republicans to a rule change passed last week by the House of Representatives to allow members to hold committee hearings remotely and provide them with the option of designating a colleague to cast their votes for them on the floor during the pandemic. The changes will let members opt to work from home and model social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Tom Cole, and Rep. Rodney Davis
In a joint statement last week, McCarthy and two senior GOP colleagues accused the Democratic majority of desertion. “Across our nation, Americans of all stripes are making sacrifices and doing their part to defeat this virus – and they expect Washington to do the same,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, far from being ‘captains of this ship’ as Speaker Pelosi recently proclaimed, the Democrats’ proposal calls for the House of Representatives to abandon ship – potentially for the remainder of the session.”
Rep. Andy Biggs
In an opinion column on Monday, Biggs called the 45-day emergency rule the end of America’s representative democracy. “It’s been a pretty busy week for the Speaker as she has remade Congress by shattering the great institution of constitutional representation, Congress, while enslaving generations of future Americans,” he wrote in the Daily Caller. “And as an autocrat now runs the United States House of Representatives we can bid a mournful farewell to our constitutional republic.”
Rep. Mo Brooks
Brooks managed to frame working from home as both laziness and socialism in the same tweet late last month. “#Socialist #Democrat #Congressmen support #proxy voting by a 20 to 1 margin. Dems give #SpeakerPelosi their proxy, who then casts their votes. Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill,” he said. “SAD! COWARDLY!”
Rep. Jim Jordan
Last week, Jordan angrily denounced the impending rule change as “dangerous,” arguing that it was unconstitutional because the framers didn’t mention social media when they established the rules. “This is a dangerous place we’re heading and everybody knows it, but the majority is gonna go ahead and do it. That is what ticks me off,” he said at a hearing. “Proxy voting, Zoom, WebEx, Houseparty meetings and hearings, quasi-hearings, remote depositions. Remote depositions? The example this sends, the precedent this sets is wrong, and I think even the majority knows it.”
Rep. Brian Mast
In an interview last month with the Hill, Mast said that the country was not “set up to operate” with proxy voting and that, given the way voting has been conducted so far, “now is not the time to break that tradition.” He acknowledged that some of his colleagues have had COVID-19 and that some are at elevated risk if they do contract the coronavirus, but argued that everyone else could just stay safe by keeping clean. “But for the rest of us in the rest of America that have learned how to take better attention to our sanitizing the world around us, washing our hands, having physical barriers between spreading germs, things like that, we can be here doing the work of the people that’s far more urgent than the way that we are approaching it right now.”
Rep. Joe Wilson
Wilson argued in a Saturday press release that if members of Congress could be present to change the rules, that was proof that they did not need to work from home. “The vote to allow remote voting in Congress is simply irresponsible. Although we are currently in a crisis, this pandemic is no excuse to forget our Constitution. If Congress was able to vote on the House Floor today, surely Members can conduct official business in a safe manner that follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control going forward.”
The GOP unanimously opposed the rule change, ignoring the expressed concerns of the attending physician of the Congress about the 435 members of House meeting in person in Washington, D.C., which remains a coronavirus hot spot.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally triggered the rule allowing proxy voting this week, following a letter from the House sergeant-at-arms certifying the ongoing public health emergency. The temporary change does not make proxy voting mandatory. Members who do not choose to work from home can still vote in person.
The complaints about the change are part of a broader GOP push to force the country to return to work against the advice of public health experts and economists.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Trump reelection campaign is looking for “pro-Trump doctors” to endorse ending stay-at-home measures and provide pushback against the view that Trump is ignoring expert advice in pushing to reopen. The campaign’s communications director, Tim Murtaugh, defended the move to counter medical expertise: “Our job at the campaign is to reflect President Trump’s point of view. We are his campaign. There is no difference between us and him.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Experts slam GOP bill letting states ignore federal health standards in emergencies

Four Senate Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday that would allow states the option to simply ignore federal testing standards during public health emergencies .
Experts say this could cause serious problems for tracking and containing future pandemics .
The `` Right to Test Act , '' authored by Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) and co-sponsored by Sens .
Mike Braun ( R-IN ) , Mike Lee ( R-UT ) , and Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) , would change federal law to note that `` during any public health emergency '' declared by the secretary of Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's public health department `` may clear or approve diagnostic tests or diagnostic devices '' for use in that state on their own , rather than following one set federal standard .
If enacted , the bill would also take away the Food and Drug Administration 's power to take enforcement actions against any state or facility making or using state-approved tests .
The proposal comes after the Trump administration 's botched handling of coronavirus testing has come under increasing scrutiny , even from Trump loyalists and advisers .
`` Our federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this crisis , '' Lee said in a press release announcing the legislation .
`` We need to empower the creativity of Americans to solve this crisis and allowing states to cut through regulatory delays will do just that . ''
But experts warn doing so could make things even worse .
Emily Gee , health economist at the Center for American Progress , said in a phone interview that the problem has been `` lack of federal leadership '' in virus testing standards , not an excess .
`` It does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
`` News reports in the last week show all sorts of examples of what happens when there are n't uniform standards for reporting across states .
It 's really hard to see best practices and make comparisons when they 're reporting different ways . ''
She noted that Virginia had come under criticism recently when it began including antibody testing numbers in its daily coronavirus test counts , making any apples-to-apples comparison with other states nearly impossible .
`` [ This is ] not good if we 're trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's safe to reopen or not , '' she said .
`` We do want national standards and a decent amount of oversight on what tests get used and how things get counted so we have a clear picture of what 's happening in terms of the disease 's spread and whether we have the virus under control . ''
Dr. Georges Benjamin , executive director of the American Public Health Association , said in a phone interview that the GOP bill was undoubtedly problematic .
`` The reason it 's a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity to do this , '' he said .
`` State laboratories and their laboratorians are very good .
But the problem is when you have something like this that 's a nationwide emergency , the more consistency you have , the better .
That 's the FDA 's job .
The FDA has the capacity to do that . ''
Benjamin echoed Gee 's concern about the importance of standardized data .
`` To the extent you have tests that are done across state lines , the problem is it creates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You need to be able to compare the test from one state to another to get a national picture .
I would argue against this approach . ''
He noted that the FDA already has the authority to allow individual states to do their own testing and that they did so in some cases during this pandemic .
But , he said , states lack the financial resources to create `` 50-plus FDAs across the country . ''
`` States have not been able to adequately support the basic public health functions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and air safe .
I 'm not sure how they 're gon na add this additional burden , '' Benjamin concluded .
The Trump administration has faced heavy scrutiny over the past few months for its botched handling of the coronavirus pandemic , specifically its failure to prepare adequately by strengthening national stockpiles and establishing a strong national response from the outset .
Trump was also criticized for ignoring early warnings about the virus and refusing to heed health experts ' advice on various safety measures , as well as for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which likely worsened the crisis dramatically .
`` Early on in this crisis , the [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] , which really had the most trusted brand around the world in this space , really let the country down with the testing , '' Trump 's own trade adviser , Peter Navarro , admitted to NBC News on Sunday .
`` Because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy , they had a bad test and that did set us back . ''
Navarro was referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which were later recalled due to a flaw that resulted in inconclusive results .
The error added further delay to the nationwide testing process , which experts say only allowed the virus to spread further .
Though Lee suggested in a statement this week that the newly introduced GOP bill might have remedied the current situation , claiming `` federal bureaucracy simply has not moved fast enough , '' experts are still doubtful .
Benjamin noted that the FDA already has the authority to allow individual states to do their own testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases during this pandemic .
But , he said , states lack the financial resources to create `` 50-plus FDAs across the country . ''
`` States have not been able to adequately support the basic public health functions : keeping water safe , food safe , and air safe .
I 'm not sure how they 're gon na add this additional burden , '' Benjamin concluded .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Four Senate Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday that would allow states the option to simply ignore federal testing standards during public health emergencies.
Experts say this could cause serious problems for tracking and containing future pandemics.
The “Right to Test Act,” authored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), would change federal law to note that “during any public health emergency” declared by the secretary of Health and Human Services or a governor, the state’s public health department “may clear or approve diagnostic tests or diagnostic devices” for use in that state on their own, rather than following one set federal standard.
If enacted, the bill would also take away the Food and Drug Administration’s power to take enforcement actions against any state or facility making or using state-approved tests.
The proposal comes after the Trump administration’s botched handling of coronavirus testing has come under increasing scrutiny, even from Trump loyalists and advisers.
“Our federal bureaucracy simply has not moved fast enough during this crisis,” Lee said in a press release announcing the legislation. “We need to empower the creativity of Americans to solve this crisis and allowing states to cut through regulatory delays will do just that.”
But experts warn doing so could make things even worse.
Emily Gee, health economist at the Center for American Progress, said in a phone interview that the problem has been “lack of federal leadership” in virus testing standards, not an excess.
“It doesn’t seem like a great idea,” she said. “News reports in the last week show all sorts of examples of what happens when there aren’t uniform standards for reporting across states. It’s really hard to see best practices and make comparisons when they’re reporting different ways.”
She noted that Virginia had come under criticism recently when it began including antibody testing numbers in its daily coronavirus test counts, making any apples-to-apples comparison with other states nearly impossible.
“[This is] not good if we’re trying to make objective decisions about whether it’s safe to reopen or not,” she said. “We do want national standards and a decent amount of oversight on what tests get used and how things get counted so we have a clear picture of what’s happening in terms of the disease’s spread and whether we have the virus under control.”
Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said in a phone interview that the GOP bill was undoubtedly problematic.
“The reason it’s a bad idea is that states don’t have the capacity to do this,” he said. “State laboratories and their laboratorians are very good. But the problem is when you have something like this that’s a nationwide emergency, the more consistency you have, the better. That’s the FDA’s job. The FDA has the capacity to do that.”
Benjamin echoed Gee’s concern about the importance of standardized data.
“To the extent you have tests that are done across state lines, the problem is it creates enormous confusion,” he explained. “You need to be able to compare the test from one state to another to get a national picture. I would argue against this approach.”
He noted that the FDA already has the authority to allow individual states to do their own testing and that they did so in some cases during this pandemic. But, he said, states lack the financial resources to create “50-plus FDAs across the country.”
“States have not been able to adequately support the basic public health functions: keeping water safe, food safe, and air safe. I’m not sure how they’re gonna add this additional burden,” Benjamin concluded.
The Trump administration has faced heavy scrutiny over the past few months for its botched handling of the coronavirus pandemic, specifically its failure to prepare adequately by strengthening national stockpiles and establishing a strong national response from the outset.
Trump was also criticized for ignoring early warnings about the virus and refusing to heed health experts’ advice on various safety measures, as well as for his administration’s failed approach to testing, which likely worsened the crisis dramatically.
“Early on in this crisis, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], which really had the most trusted brand around the world in this space, really let the country down with the testing,” Trump’s own trade adviser, Peter Navarro, admitted to NBC News on Sunday. “Because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy, they had a bad test and that did set us back.”
Navarro was referring to the CDC’s early test kits, which were later recalled due to a flaw that resulted in inconclusive results. The error added further delay to the nationwide testing process, which experts say only allowed the virus to spread further.
Though Lee suggested in a statement this week that the newly introduced GOP bill might have remedied the current situation, claiming “federal bureaucracy simply has not moved fast enough,” experts are still doubtful.
Benjamin noted that the FDA already has the authority to allow individual states to do their own testing and that they did so in some cases during this pandemic. But, he said, states lack the financial resources to create “50-plus FDAs across the country.”
“States have not been able to adequately support the basic public health functions: keeping water safe, food safe, and air safe. I’m not sure how they’re gonna add this additional burden,” Benjamin concluded.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Pompeo is the latest Cabinet official accused of misusing taxpayer funds

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the latest Trump administration official caught up in an ethics scandal , following a report from NBC News that he used taxpayer dollars to host lavish dinners at the State Department for guests who had nothing to do with the department 's mission .
Since taking the helm of the department in 2018 , Pompeo has invited 500 guests to the dinners , with the vast majority being wealthy business leaders , Republican political figures , and conservative media personalities , according to NBC 's report .
The news comes after Trump fired the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behest of Pompeo .
The department 's inspector general was investigating Pompeo 's use of government employees to run personal errands , and according to NBC 's report , may have been looking into the elaborate dinner parties Pompeo was holding .
Pompeo 's use of taxpayer dollars for what appears to be personal or political gain makes him the latest Trump administration official caught potentially misusing taxpayer dollars .
Multiple administration officials have resigned in disgrace over their improper use of taxpayer funds .
Others have been accused of improper use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here are the seven current and former Trump administration officials caught abusing taxpayer funds : Price was forced to resign from the Trump administration after he was caught spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jets to take him to official events .
In one instance , Price spent $ 17,760 in taxpayer funds on a charter flight from Washington , D.C. , to Nashville , even though a commercial option existed that cost as little as $ 200 , according to Politico , which broke the story of Price 's private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 after being caught up in multiple ethics scandals .
Pruitt made excuses to be reimbursed for personal travel and spent millions on security , including a personal security detail and a $ 43,000 `` secure phone booth '' in his office .
Pruitt also spent $ 150,000 on first-class airfare .
Shulkin left the administration after an inspector general report said he spent taxpayer funds on European travel for his wife .
The report found Shulkin spent half his time on the $ 122,000 taxpayer-funded trip sightseeing rather than on official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official who resigned in disgrace after he faced multiple ethics investigations into his conduct .
Zinke sought workarounds to be able to let his wife travel with him on the taxpayer dime , including trying to make her a volunteer for the Interior Department , Politico reported in 2018 .
Politico also reported that Zinke spent $ 25,000 in taxpayer funds on a security detail for him and his wife during a trip to Turkey in 2017 .
Carson infamously came under fire when he spent $ 31,000 in taxpayer funds on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Housing and Urban Development .
Trump 's current top trade adviser spent nearly $ 1 million in taxpayer funds on a lavish redesign of his office .
Included in that cost was a $ 3,500 antique desk , a plaque that cost $ 859 , and $ 830 to `` transport and install two paintings on loan from the Smithsonian , '' according to the New York Post .
Mnuchin spent taxpayer dollars on private jet travel , including a private jet for him and his wife to view the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars — also wanted to use a taxpayer-funded government plane that cost $ 25,000 an hour for his European honeymoon .
The request was denied .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the latest Trump administration official caught up in an ethics scandal, following a report from NBC News that he used taxpayer dollars to host lavish dinners at the State Department for guests who had nothing to do with the department’s mission.
Since taking the helm of the department in 2018, Pompeo has invited 500 guests to the dinners, with the vast majority being wealthy business leaders, Republican political figures, and conservative media personalities, according to NBC’s report.
The news comes after Trump fired the State Department’s internal watchdog at the behest of Pompeo. The department’s inspector general was investigating Pompeo’s use of government employees to run personal errands, and according to NBC’s report, may have been looking into the elaborate dinner parties Pompeo was holding.
Pompeo’s use of taxpayer dollars for what appears to be personal or political gain makes him the latest Trump administration official caught potentially misusing taxpayer dollars.
Multiple administration officials have resigned in disgrace over their improper use of taxpayer funds. Others have been accused of improper use of tax dollars but kept their jobs.
Here are the seven current and former Trump administration officials caught abusing taxpayer funds:
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price
Price was forced to resign from the Trump administration after he was caught spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jets to take him to official events.
In one instance, Price spent $17,760 in taxpayer funds on a charter flight from Washington, D.C., to Nashville, even though a commercial option existed that cost as little as $200, according to Politico, which broke the story of Price’s private jet travel.
Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt
Pruitt resigned in disgrace in 2018 after being caught up in multiple ethics scandals.
Pruitt made excuses to be reimbursed for personal travel and spent millions on security, including a personal security detail and a $43,000 “secure phone booth” in his office. Pruitt also spent $150,000 on first-class airfare.
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin
Shulkin left the administration after an inspector general report said he spent taxpayer funds on European travel for his wife.
The report found Shulkin spent half his time on the $122,000 taxpayer-funded trip sightseeing rather than on official business.
“This was time that should have been spent conducting official V.A. business and not providing personal travel concierge services to Secretary Shulkin and his wife,” the watchdog report said.
Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke
Zinke is yet another Cabinet official who resigned in disgrace after he faced multiple ethics investigations into his conduct.
Zinke sought workarounds to be able to let his wife travel with him on the taxpayer dime, including trying to make her a volunteer for the Interior Department, Politico reported in 2018.
Politico also reported that Zinke spent $25,000 in taxpayer funds on a security detail for him and his wife during a trip to Turkey in 2017.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson
Carson infamously came under fire when he spent $31,000 in taxpayer funds on a dining room set for his office at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
Trump’s current top trade adviser spent nearly $1 million in taxpayer funds on a lavish redesign of his office.
Included in that cost was a $3,500 antique desk, a plaque that cost $859, and $830 to “transport and install two paintings on loan from the Smithsonian,” according to the New York Post.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
Mnuchin spent taxpayer dollars on private jet travel, including a private jet for him and his wife to view the solar eclipse in 2017.
Mnuchin — who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars — also wanted to use a taxpayer-funded government plane that cost $25,000 an hour for his European honeymoon. The request was denied.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Trump fires watchdog who was investigating Mitch McConnell's wife

Congressional Democrats are protesting Donald Trump 's decision to remove the Transportation Department 's acting inspector general , the latest in a string of actions by Trump to fire or replace government watchdogs .
The Democratic chairs of three House panels on Tuesday demanded that Mitch Behm be reinstated immediately as acting inspector general .
The lawmakers also demanded that the Trump administration turn over information about current investigations that might have played a role in Behm 's removal , including a review of whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has given preferential treatment to Kentucky .
Her husband , Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican and a top Trump ally , is seeking reelection this year .
Behm 's removal `` is the latest in a series of politically motivated firings of inspectors general by President Trump , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` This assault on the integrity and independence of inspectors general appears to be an intentional campaign to undermine their ability to expose corruption and protect taxpayer dollars from waste , fraud and abuse . ''
The letter was signed by Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon , chairman of the House Transportation Committee ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York ; and Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly , who leads an Oversight subcommittee .
A spokesman for Chao said Behm was not fired and continues to serve as deputy inspector general .
Howard Elliott , administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration , is replacing Behm while continuing to lead the pipeline agency , reporting to Chao , which the three House Democrats said was a conflict of interest .
The DOT spokesman said officials expect Elliott to recuse himself from audits or investigations of the pipeline agency .
`` Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the role of acting inspector general , both in safety and in law enforcement , '' the spokesman said , noting that Elliott came out of retirement to lead the pipeline agency after serving as safety chief for CSX Transportation , a large freight rail company .
The removals of Behm and the State Department 's inspector general , Steve Linick , are part of a pattern of Trump taking aim at inspectors general .
In April , he fired Michael Atkinson , the inspector general for the intelligence community , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to Trump 's impeachment .
Then Trump removed Glenn Fine as acting inspector general at the Defense Department .
The move stripped him of his post as chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee , one of several watchdog groups overseeing the vast economic relief law passed by Congress in response to the coronavirus crisis .
Trump also has moved to replace an inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services who wrote a report that found hospitals faced severe shortages of coronavirus tests and supplies .
Trump questioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the HHS official , Christi Grimm , a career employee who has served as acting inspector general since January .
Trump has nominated a permanent replacement , an appointment that requires Senate confirmation .
Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) called Trump 's firings of Linick and other officials a `` threat to accountable democracy . ''
`` The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented ; doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose .
It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Saturday .
Romney is the only Senate Republican who voted to convict Trump of abuse of power in his impeachment trial earlier this year .
Trump responded to Romney 's tweet by calling him a `` LOSER '' on Twitter .
Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) has called for the White House to explain the dismissals of Linick and Atkinson , the intelligence community watchdog .
Grassley , a Trump ally , said Congress intended that inspectors general only be removed when there is clear evidence of unfitness , wrongdoing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
`` An expression of lost confidence , without further explanation , is not sufficient , '' he said .
The Democratic lawmakers asked for information regarding ongoing audits , inspections , investigations , evaluations , reviews , and other communications regarding Behm 's removal and Elliott 's qualifications to be inspector general .
Any attempt by Chao or her office to interfere with an inspector general 's investigation `` is illegal and will be thoroughly examined by our committees , '' they wrote .

Congressional Democrats are protesting Donald Trump’s decision to remove the Transportation Department’s acting inspector general, the latest in a string of actions by Trump to fire or replace government watchdogs.
The Democratic chairs of three House panels on Tuesday demanded that Mitch Behm be reinstated immediately as acting inspector general.
The lawmakers also demanded that the Trump administration turn over information about current investigations that might have played a role in Behm’s removal, including a review of whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has given preferential treatment to Kentucky. Her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and a top Trump ally, is seeking reelection this year.
Behm’s removal “is the latest in a series of politically motivated firings of inspectors general by President Trump,” the lawmakers wrote. “This assault on the integrity and independence of inspectors general appears to be an intentional campaign to undermine their ability to expose corruption and protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud and abuse.”
The letter was signed by Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation Committee; Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney of New York; and Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly, who leads an Oversight subcommittee.
A spokesman for Chao said Behm was not fired and continues to serve as deputy inspector general. Howard Elliott, administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is replacing Behm while continuing to lead the pipeline agency, reporting to Chao, which the three House Democrats said was a conflict of interest.
The DOT spokesman said officials expect Elliott to recuse himself from audits or investigations of the pipeline agency.
“Mr. Elliott will bring decades of valuable expertise to the role of acting inspector general, both in safety and in law enforcement,” the spokesman said, noting that Elliott came out of retirement to lead the pipeline agency after serving as safety chief for CSX Transportation, a large freight rail company.
The removals of Behm and the State Department’s inspector general, Steve Linick, are part of a pattern of Trump taking aim at inspectors general.
In April, he fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community, for his role in the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s impeachment.
Then Trump removed Glenn Fine as acting inspector general at the Defense Department. The move stripped him of his post as chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, one of several watchdog groups overseeing the vast economic relief law passed by Congress in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Trump also has moved to replace an inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services who wrote a report that found hospitals faced severe shortages of coronavirus tests and supplies. Trump questioned the veracity of the report and the independence of the HHS official, Christi Grimm, a career employee who has served as acting inspector general since January. Trump has nominated a permanent replacement, an appointment that requires Senate confirmation.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) called Trump’s firings of Linick and other officials a “threat to accountable democracy.”
“The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose. It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power,” Romney tweeted Saturday.
Romney is the only Senate Republican who voted to convict Trump of abuse of power in his impeachment trial earlier this year. Trump responded to Romney’s tweet by calling him a “LOSER” on Twitter.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has called for the White House to explain the dismissals of Linick and Atkinson, the intelligence community watchdog.
Grassley, a Trump ally, said Congress intended that inspectors general only be removed when there is clear evidence of unfitness, wrongdoing or failure to perform the duties of the office. “An expression of lost confidence, without further explanation, is not sufficient,” he said.
The Democratic lawmakers asked for information regarding ongoing audits, inspections, investigations, evaluations, reviews, and other communications regarding Behm’s removal and Elliott’s qualifications to be inspector general. Any attempt by Chao or her office to interfere with an inspector general’s investigation “is illegal and will be thoroughly examined by our committees,” they wrote.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Poll shows Obama would crush Trump in hypothetical matchup

Donald Trump has been hurling baseless accusations of criminal activity at former President Barack Obama , falsely accusing him of illegally surveilling Trump 's associates while he was still in the White House and demanding he be hauled in front of Congress to answer questions about his actions .
`` If I were a Senator or Congressman , the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA , by FAR , is former President Obama , '' Trump tweeted last week .
`` He knew EVERYTHING .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No more Mr. Nice Guy .
No more talk ! ''
Republicans are worried that Trump 's pushing of his `` Obamagate '' conspiracy theory , bringing Obama back to the forefront of the presidential election , is perilous for his reelection hopes , Politico reported .
And a new poll bears that out , showing that Obama would crush Trump in a hypothetical matchup .
According to the results of the survey published by Public Policy Polling , in a theoretical head-to-head race , Obama would beat Trump 54 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents saying they were n't sure .
Of course , Obama can not run again after serving two terms as president .
But the poll results show that elevating Obama may not be helpful in Trump 's efforts to defeat Obama 's vice president , Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee .
Polling currently shows Trump trailing Biden less than six months before Election Day .
Biden leads both in national polls and in polling conducted in key swing states that , if the polls are accurate , would hand Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were held today .
Trump and his surrogates have been throwing everything they can think of at Biden in an effort to find an attack that sticks .
The effort to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden and his son , Hunter , resulted in Trump 's impeachment .
Trump has also smeared Biden 's cognitive abilities , with his campaign launching a website on Monday that mocks Biden and accuses him of mental decline .
And in an escalation of the ugly attacks , Trump 's two adult sons have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has been hurling baseless accusations of criminal activity at former President Barack Obama, falsely accusing him of illegally surveilling Trump’s associates while he was still in the White House and demanding he be hauled in front of Congress to answer questions about his actions.
“If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama,” Trump tweeted last week. “He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!”
Republicans are worried that Trump’s pushing of his “Obamagate” conspiracy theory, bringing Obama back to the forefront of the presidential election, is perilous for his reelection hopes, Politico reported.
And a new poll bears that out, showing that Obama would crush Trump in a hypothetical matchup.
According to the results of the survey published by Public Policy Polling, in a theoretical head-to-head race, Obama would beat Trump 54% to 43%, with 3% of respondents saying they weren’t sure.
Of course, Obama cannot run again after serving two terms as president. But the poll results show that elevating Obama may not be helpful in Trump’s efforts to defeat Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Polling currently shows Trump trailing Biden less than six months before Election Day. Biden leads both in national polls and in polling conducted in key swing states that, if the polls are accurate, would hand Biden an Electoral College victory if the voting were held today.
Trump and his surrogates have been throwing everything they can think of at Biden in an effort to find an attack that sticks.
The effort to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter, resulted in Trump’s impeachment.
Trump has also smeared Biden’s cognitive abilities, with his campaign launching a website on Monday that mocks Biden and accuses him of mental decline.
And in an escalation of the ugly attacks, Trump’s two adult sons have baselessly insinuated that Biden is pedophile.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-20--Trump threatens to withhold funding from states that make voting safer

Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from two key battleground states in retaliation for their efforts to make voting safer and more convenient during the coronavirus crisis .
He also lied about the issue of voter fraud .
`` Breaking : Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election , '' Trump tweeted Wednesday morning .
`` This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State .
I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar threat to Nevada .
`` State of Nevada 'thinks ' that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots , creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S. , '' Trump wrote .
`` They ca n't !
If they do , ' I think ' I can hold up funds to the State .
Sorry , but you must not cheat in elections . ''
Trump lied about the actions of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , a Democrat , who announced that absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , not actual ballots .
He later issued a new , nearly identical tweet a little after 2 p.m .
ET , changing the reference to `` absentee ballots '' to `` absentee ballot applications '' but did not acknowledge the error .
Trump 's threat was criticized by prominent voting rights lawyer Marc Elias , who tweeted that several Republican secretaries of states are sending absentee voting applications to voters and that Trump `` ca n't hold up funding to prevent people from voting . ''
There is no evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to increased fraud .
`` As with all forms of voter fraud , documented instances of fraud related to [ voting by mail ] are rare , '' a Massachusetts Institute of Technology 's Election Data and Science Lab study found .
In fact , voter fraud remains extraordinarily rare in the United States .
Trump himself voted by mail as recently as March of this year .
Trump also voted by mail in New York in 2018 .
In addition to Trump , 11 people in his inner circle , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife and children , have voted by mail in recent elections .
Spreading misinformation about voting `` is dangerous to our democracy , '' Michigan state Rep. Mari Manoogian , a Democrat , wrote on Twitter .
Trump narrowly won Michigan in the 2016 election and narrowly lost in Nevada .
This article was updated to note that Trump issued a new tweet about Michigan on Wednesday afternoon .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from two key battleground states in retaliation for their efforts to make voting safer and more convenient during the coronavirus crisis. He also lied about the issue of voter fraud.
“Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!”
A few minutes later, he made a similar threat to Nevada.
“State of Nevada ‘thinks’ that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S.,” Trump wrote. “They can’t! If they do, ‘I think’ I can hold up funds to the State. Sorry, but you must not cheat in elections.”
Trump lied about the actions of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, who announced that absentee ballot applications would be sent to all voters, not actual ballots.
He later issued a new, nearly identical tweet a little after 2 p.m. ET, changing the reference to “absentee ballots” to “absentee ballot applications” but did not acknowledge the error.
Trump’s threat was criticized by prominent voting rights lawyer Marc Elias, who tweeted that several Republican secretaries of states are sending absentee voting applications to voters and that Trump “can’t hold up funding to prevent people from voting.”
There is no evidence that absentee voting, or vote-by-mail, is connected to increased fraud.
“As with all forms of voter fraud, documented instances of fraud related to [voting by mail] are rare,” a Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab study found.
In fact, voter fraud remains extraordinarily rare in the United States.
Trump himself voted by mail as recently as March of this year. Trump also voted by mail in New York in 2018.
In addition to Trump, 11 people in his inner circle, including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump’s wife and children, have voted by mail in recent elections.
Spreading misinformation about voting “is dangerous to our democracy,” Michigan state Rep. Mari Manoogian, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter.
Trump narrowly won Michigan in the 2016 election and narrowly lost in Nevada.
This article was updated to note that Trump issued a new tweet about Michigan on Wednesday afternoon.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--GOP Senate candidate: 'Let's simply take national media and shut it down'

Don Bolduc , a retired Army brigadier general running for Senate in New Hampshire , suggested on Tuesday that the national media should be shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reduce public anxiety .
`` I have a recommendation , '' he told a Sullivan County GOP meeting .
To `` buy down the fear , '' he proposed , `` let 's simply take national media and shut it down and see what happens .
I guarantee you that better information gets out at the local level , people are better informed , there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's less fear being spread . ''
The comments come at a time when already struggling local news outlets around the country have seen massive furloughs and shutdowns due to the coronavirus .
The Columbia Journalism Review wrote in late March that `` America 's local newspapers '' were confronting `` an apocalypse . ''
Bolduc is running in a June 12 primary for the Republican nomination to take on incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen ( D ) .
This is not the first questionable comment Bolduc has made during the campaign .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` judgmental '' wife in a car trunk to see if she is really his best friend .
`` You take your wife , you take your dog , put them in the trunk of a car , '' Bolduc suggested at a GOP meeting .
`` You close the trunk .
Walk away , have a cup of coffee , come back in an hour , open up the trunk .
And who 's going to be happy to see you ?
Not the wife ! ''
( He made it clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised attendees against doing so . )
In January , he said the Civil War was caused by `` gridlock '' and finger-pointing .
`` The Civil War was started because the parties , because they could n't come together , '' he told voters at a campaign stop .
`` There were reasons for fighting it .
But they could n't get together to figure it out so we just had a war .
Gridlock , blaming , pointing the finger .
Not working together , not being a partnered team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ language to describe the coronavirus , while suggesting that he was not at all racist .
`` I 'm not a racist person at all .
I served 33 years in the military , an institution that was the first to desegregate of any in our society in 1948 , '' he explained to a local radio station .
`` So I really do n't want to hear any noise that gets thrown at me about being a racist because I call this the China coronavirus or the president does , or anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know .
And I 'm not racist about it . ''
Public health experts have warned that language like this reinforces a dangerous stigma against people of Asian descent .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Don Bolduc, a retired Army brigadier general running for Senate in New Hampshire, suggested on Tuesday that the national media should be shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reduce public anxiety.
“I have a recommendation,” he told a Sullivan County GOP meeting. To “buy down the fear,” he proposed, “let’s simply take national media and shut it down and see what happens. I guarantee you that better information gets out at the local level, people are better informed, there’s less hyperbole, [and] there’s less fear being spread.”
The comments come at a time when already struggling local news outlets around the country have seen massive furloughs and shutdowns due to the coronavirus. The Columbia Journalism Review wrote in late March that “America’s local newspapers” were confronting “an apocalypse.”
Bolduc is running in a Sept. 8 primary for the Republican nomination to take on incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D).
This is not the first questionable comment Bolduc has made during the campaign.
In November, he joked about locking his “judgmental” wife in a car trunk to see if she is really his best friend. “You take your wife, you take your dog, put them in the trunk of a car,” Bolduc suggested at a GOP meeting. “You close the trunk. Walk away, have a cup of coffee, come back in an hour, open up the trunk. And who’s going to be happy to see you? Not the wife!” (He made it clear he had not actually done this and advised attendees against doing so.)
In January, he said the Civil War was caused by “gridlock” and finger-pointing.
“The Civil War was started because the parties, because they couldn’t come together,” he told voters at a campaign stop. “There were reasons for fighting it. But they couldn’t get together to figure it out so we just had a war. Gridlock, blaming, pointing the finger. Not working together, not being a partnered team.”
In March, he used racist language to describe the coronavirus, while suggesting that he was not at all racist.
“I’m not a racist person at all. I served 33 years in the military, an institution that was the first to desegregate of any in our society in 1948,” he explained to a local radio station. “So I really don’t want to hear any noise that gets thrown at me about being a racist because I call this the China coronavirus or the president does, or anybody else does, because it is, you know. And I’m not racist about it.”
Public health experts have warned that language like this reinforces a dangerous stigma against people of Asian descent.
This article was updated to correct the date for the Senate primary in New Hampshire.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--15 times Trump proved Susan Collins wrong since she said he learned his lesson

As she announced that she would vote to acquit Donald Trump on all impeachment charges in February , Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) said she believed he had learned a `` pretty big lesson '' from the case and would `` be much more cautious in the future . ''
Since that time , Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that she was wrong .
1 .
Trump said he learned nothing Days after Collins ' prediction , Trump was directly asked by a reporter on Feb. 12 , `` What lessons did you learn from impeachment ? ''
`` That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied .
`` They 're vicious .
That they should n't have brought impeachment . ''
Asked that day what specific lesson Trump had learned , Collins refused to name any .
On Feb. 7 , Trump ousted the National Security Council 's top Ukraine expert , Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , from his White House position , reassigning the Purple Heart recipient to the Pentagon .
Vindman had testified that he did not think it was `` proper '' that Trump demanded a foreign government investigate his political rivals .
Though Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in favor of any kind of retribution against anyone who came forward with evidence , '' neither she nor any GOP colleagues defended Vindman publicly .
The same day Vindman was removed , Trump also fired his ambassador to the European Union , Gordon Sondland .
Sondland , like Vindman , had been a key impeachment witness , contradicting Trump 's repeated claims that there had been no `` quid pro quo '' in his demands of an investigation into the Bidens in exchange for the security aid to Ukraine already approved by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vindman was ousted , his twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , was also removed from his job on the National Security Council and reassigned to the Army .
While he was not an impeachment witness , his demotion appeared to be another act of retaliation against his brother .
5 .
The administration backtracked on its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone On Feb. 11 , after Trump tweeted that a recommended sentence for his longtime friend and former campaign adviser Roger Stone was a `` miscarriage of justice , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced Stone 's recommended sentence .
Stone had been convicted in November of witness tampering and obstruction of justice that was discovered during the Russia investigation .
Collins said she did not think Trump should have `` gotten involved '' in the matter of Stone 's sentencing .
6 .
The administration dropped charges against Russian firms indicted in Robert Mueller 's probe On March 16 , the Justice Department moved to drop charges against two Russian shell corporations indicted in Robert Mueller 's investigation into meddling in the 2016 election .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defraud the United States , DOJ prosecutors determined it was `` no longer in the best interests of justice or the country 's national security to continue this prosecution . ''
7 .
Trump fired the inspector general for the intelligence community On April 3 , Trump fired Michael Atkinson , the inspector general for the intelligence community .
Atkinson said he had followed federal law last year when he forwarded an anonymous whistleblower complaint to Congress about Trump 's pressuring of Ukraine to investigate his political rivals .
Trump said Atkinson was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a terrible job , '' complaining that Atkinson had not `` requested to see me '' before transmitting the complaint .
Collins released a statement that said , `` While I recognize that the President has the authority to appoint and remove Inspectors General , I believe Inspector General Atkinson served the Intelligence Community and the American people well , and his removal was not warranted . ''
8 .
Trump fired the acting inspector general for the Pentagon On April 7 , Trump fired Glenn Fine , the acting inspector general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been leading the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee , created to oversee the administration 's implementation of the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
Trump said he did not trust him to be unbiased because he had worked for the Obama administration .
9 .
Trump might have illegally added his name to stimulus checks On April 14 , the Washington Post reported that the Treasury Department had ordered Trump 's name be added to stimulus checks being sent to Americans in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some officials said could delay their delivery .
Three well-known lawyers wrote to the Justice Department urging an investigation into whether the `` gratuitous placement of Mr. Trump 's signature on the memo line '' of the checks was a `` political activity '' in violation of the Hatch Act .
They suggested Trump might have illegally directed a federal employee `` to enable his piggybacking on CARES checks to further his re-election campaign . ''
10 .
The administration demoted a public health whistleblower for doing his job On April 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed the federal agency overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine , said he had been removed from his position .
His crime : He pushed for a full examination of the safety and efficacy of an anti-malarial drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a `` miracle '' cure for COVID-19 .
Several studies have shown the medication is not an effective treatment for the virus and might actually cause harm .
Trump later smeared Bright as a `` fake '' whistleblower and tweeted , `` This whole Whistleblower racket needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing great injustice & harm , '' tagging Collins in his tweet .
Collins responded by saying her earlier critical comments about Trump firings of inspectors general had nothing to do with Bright 's removal .
11 .
Trump removed the acting inspector general for Health and Human Services On May 2 , Trump removed the acting inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services , Christi Grimm .
Her office had released a report documenting a `` severe shortage of testing supplies '' for the coronavirus at American hospitals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump had claimed testing was `` perfect '' and available to anyone who wanted it . ''
Trump had attacked Grimm , insisting that because she had served under the Obama administration , her report could not be trusted and was `` '' Another Fake Dossier ! ''
Grimm did serve under the Obama administration , and before that , under the George W. Bush administration .
12 .
The Justice Department dropped its prosecution of Michael Flynn even after he pleaded guilty On May 7 , the Justice Department announced it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first national security adviser , Michael Flynn .
Flynn , another figure charged in Mueller 's Russia investigation , had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI .
`` What happened to General Michael Flynn , a war hero , should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again ! ''
Trump had tweeted days earlier , claiming that Flynn had somehow been set up by investigators .
Trump said in 2017 that he had fired Flynn for lying to the FBI and to Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Linick , inspector general for the State Department , saying he 'd done so at the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Linick had reportedly been investigating Pompeo 's use of government staffers for personal errands .
Trump dismissed those allegations on Monday , saying they were not `` important . ''
Collins tweeted over the weekend that Trump had `` not provided the kind of justification for the removal '' of Linick that is required by federal law .
Also on May 15 , Trump demoted acting Transportation Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly investigating whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao had given improper special treatment to Kentucky .
Chao 's husband is Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell .
On Wednesday , Trump threatened to block federal aid to Michigan and Nevada after the states took actions to make it easier for citizens to vote by mail during the pandemic .
He accused the swing states of sending `` illegal '' vote-by-mail ballots to citizens .
Trump has repeatedly opposed making it easy for people to vote from home because it `` does n't work out well for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to an inquiry for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As she announced that she would vote to acquit Donald Trump on all impeachment charges in February, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she believed he had learned a “pretty big lesson” from the case and would “be much more cautious in the future.”
Since that time, Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that she was wrong.
Here are 15 examples:
1. Trump said he learned nothing
Days after Collins’ prediction, Trump was directly asked by a reporter on Feb. 12, “What lessons did you learn from impeachment?”
“That the Democrats are crooked,” he replied. “They’re vicious. That they shouldn’t have brought impeachment.”
Asked that day what specific lesson Trump had learned, Collins refused to name any.
2. Trump retaliated against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman
On Feb. 7, Trump ousted the National Security Council’s top Ukraine expert, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, from his White House position, reassigning the Purple Heart recipient to the Pentagon. Vindman had testified that he did not think it was “proper” that Trump demanded a foreign government investigate his political rivals.
Though Collins had earlier said she was “not in favor of any kind of retribution against anyone who came forward with evidence,” neither she nor any GOP colleagues defended Vindman publicly.
3. Trump retaliated against Ambassador Gordon Sondland
The same day Vindman was removed, Trump also fired his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland. Sondland, like Vindman, had been a key impeachment witness, contradicting Trump’s repeated claims that there had been no “quid pro quo” in his demands of an investigation into the Bidens in exchange for the security aid to Ukraine already approved by Congress.
4. Trump demoted Vindman’s twin brother
On the same day Alexander Vindman was ousted, his twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also removed from his job on the National Security Council and reassigned to the Army. While he was not an impeachment witness, his demotion appeared to be another act of retaliation against his brother.
5. The administration backtracked on its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone
On Feb. 11, after Trump tweeted that a recommended sentence for his longtime friend and former campaign adviser Roger Stone was a “miscarriage of justice,” the Justice Department overruled its career prosecutors and reduced Stone’s recommended sentence.
Stone had been convicted in November of witness tampering and obstruction of justice that was discovered during the Russia investigation.
Collins said she did not think Trump should have “gotten involved” in the matter of Stone’s sentencing.
6. The administration dropped charges against Russian firms indicted in Robert Mueller’s probe
On March 16, the Justice Department moved to drop charges against two Russian shell corporations indicted in Robert Mueller’s investigation into meddling in the 2016 election. Though they had been accused of conspiring to defraud the United States, DOJ prosecutors determined it was “no longer in the best interests of justice or the country’s national security to continue this prosecution.”
7. Trump fired the inspector general for the intelligence community
On April 3, Trump fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community. Atkinson said he had followed federal law last year when he forwarded an anonymous whistleblower complaint to Congress about Trump’s pressuring of Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Trump said Atkinson was a “disgrace” who had done “a terrible job,” complaining that Atkinson had not “requested to see me” before transmitting the complaint.
Collins released a statement that said, “While I recognize that the President has the authority to appoint and remove Inspectors General, I believe Inspector General Atkinson served the Intelligence Community and the American people well, and his removal was not warranted.”
8. Trump fired the acting inspector general for the Pentagon
On April 7, Trump fired Glenn Fine, the acting inspector general for the Department of Defense. Fine had been leading the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, created to oversee the administration’s implementation of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Trump said he did not trust him to be unbiased because he had worked for the Obama administration.
9. Trump might have illegally added his name to stimulus checks
On April 14, the Washington Post reported that the Treasury Department had ordered Trump’s name be added to stimulus checks being sent to Americans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move that some officials said could delay their delivery.
Three well-known lawyers wrote to the Justice Department urging an investigation into whether the “gratuitous placement of Mr. Trump’s signature on the memo line” of the checks was a “political activity” in violation of the Hatch Act. They suggested Trump might have illegally directed a federal employee “to enable his piggybacking on CARES checks to further his re-election campaign.”
10. The administration demoted a public health whistleblower for doing his job
On April 22, Dr. Rick Bright, who had headed the federal agency overseeing the development of a coronavirus vaccine, said he had been removed from his position. His crime: He pushed for a full examination of the safety and efficacy of an anti-malarial drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a “miracle” cure for COVID-19. Several studies have shown the medication is not an effective treatment for the virus and might actually cause harm.
Trump later smeared Bright as a “fake” whistleblower and tweeted, “This whole Whistleblower racket needs to be looked at very closely, it is causing great injustice & harm,” tagging Collins in his tweet. Collins responded by saying her earlier critical comments about Trump firings of inspectors general had nothing to do with Bright’s removal.
11. Trump removed the acting inspector general for Health and Human Services
On May 2, Trump removed the acting inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services, Christi Grimm. Her office had released a report documenting a “severe shortage of testing supplies” for the coronavirus at American hospitals, contradicting Trump’s boasts about testing. Trump had claimed testing was “perfect” and available to anyone who wanted it.” Trump had attacked Grimm, insisting that because she had served under the Obama administration, her report could not be trusted and was “”Another Fake Dossier!” Grimm did serve under the Obama administration, and before that, under the George W. Bush administration.
12. The Justice Department dropped its prosecution of Michael Flynn even after he pleaded guilty
On May 7, the Justice Department announced it would drop its criminal case against Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Flynn, another figure charged in Mueller’s Russia investigation, had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
“What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!” Trump had tweeted days earlier, claiming that Flynn had somehow been set up by investigators. Trump said in 2017 that he had fired Flynn for lying to the FBI and to Vice President Mike Pence.
13. Trump fired the State Department’s inspector general
On May 15, Trump fired Steve Linick, inspector general for the State Department, saying he’d done so at the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Linick had reportedly been investigating Pompeo’s use of government staffers for personal errands. Trump dismissed those allegations on Monday, saying they were not “important.”
Collins tweeted over the weekend that Trump had “not provided the kind of justification for the removal” of Linick that is required by federal law.
14. Trump removed the Transportation Department’s acting inspector general
Also on May 15, Trump demoted acting Transportation Department inspector general Mitch Behm. Behm was reportedly investigating whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao had given improper special treatment to Kentucky. Chao’s husband is Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell.
15. Trump threatened states’ funding over letting people vote
On Wednesday, Trump threatened to block federal aid to Michigan and Nevada after the states took actions to make it easier for citizens to vote by mail during the pandemic. He accused the swing states of sending “illegal” vote-by-mail ballots to citizens. Trump has repeatedly opposed making it easy for people to vote from home because it “doesn’t work out well for Republicans.”
Collins’ office did not respond to an inquiry for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--Trump ignores state law by refusing to wear mask during Michigan trip

On Thursday , Donald Trump once again refused to wear a face mask in public , this time while touring a Ford plant in Michigan that was repurposed to build ventilators .
Before the trip , Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Trump that wearing a face mask at the plant was required by state law .
An executive order signed by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer `` requires that any individual able to medically tolerate a facial covering wear one when in any enclosed public space , '' Nessel wrote in a letter to Trump on Wednesday .
Wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this State , '' Nessl added .
Nessel said that her office would not prevent Trump from visiting the plant but asked that he `` respect the great efforts of the men and women at Ford — and across the state — by wearing a facial covering . ''
She added that anyone `` who has potentially been recently exposed , including the President of the United States , has not only a legal responsibility , but also a social and moral responsibility , to take reasonable precautions to prevent further spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warning and the state law , touring the plant without a mask , despite the fact that at least two White House aides tested positive for coronavirus less than two weeks ago .
In remarks , Trump claimed to wear a mask in the back of the factory .
`` I had one on before , '' a mask-less Trump claimed to reporters , pointing to the back area of the factory .
`` But I did n't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goggles and a mask .
Ford initially instructed the White House that face masks `` are required to be worn by everyone , in all facilities , at all times , '' according to a document obtained by CNN .
The company later backed down and released a statement on Tuesday saying , `` The White House has its own safety and testing policies in place and will make its own determination '' about face masks .
Michigan has been one of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic .
As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases , and at least 5,060 people had died .
Trump has steadfastly refused to wear a mask in public despite state policies and recommendations by health experts .
In early May , Trump refused to wear a mask at a Honeywell facility in Arizona that produced face masks .
After that event , Trump also claimed to have worn a mask before coming in front of the cameras .
Vice President Mike Pence was strongly criticized for refusing to wear a mask when he visited the Mayo Clinic in late April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to these researchers , these incredible health care personnel , and look them in the eye and say thank you . ''
Face masks do not cover the eyes .
Health care experts , including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , recommend wearing a face mask to slow the spread of the virus .
One recent study showed that wearing masks can reduce the spread of the new coronavirus by as much as 75 % .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Thursday, Donald Trump once again refused to wear a face mask in public, this time while touring a Ford plant in Michigan that was repurposed to build ventilators.
Before the trip, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Trump that wearing a face mask at the plant was required by state law.
An executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “requires that any individual able to medically tolerate a facial covering wear one when in any enclosed public space,” Nessel wrote in a letter to Trump on Wednesday. Wearing a mask is “currently the law of this State,” Nessl added.
Nessel said that her office would not prevent Trump from visiting the plant but asked that he “respect the great efforts of the men and women at Ford — and across the state — by wearing a facial covering.”
She added that anyone “who has potentially been recently exposed, including the President of the United States, has not only a legal responsibility, but also a social and moral responsibility, to take reasonable precautions to prevent further spread of the virus.”
Yet Trump ignored the warning and the state law, touring the plant without a mask, despite the fact that at least two White House aides tested positive for coronavirus less than two weeks ago.
In remarks, Trump claimed to wear a mask in the back of the factory.
“I had one on before,” a mask-less Trump claimed to reporters, pointing to the back area of the factory. “But I didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it,” he said. Trump claimed that he wore both goggles and a mask.
Ford initially instructed the White House that face masks “are required to be worn by everyone, in all facilities, at all times,” according to a document obtained by CNN. The company later backed down and released a statement on Tuesday saying, “The White House has its own safety and testing policies in place and will make its own determination” about face masks.
Michigan has been one of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday, the state had nearly 53,000 confirmed cases, and at least 5,060 people had died.
Trump has steadfastly refused to wear a mask in public despite state policies and recommendations by health experts.
In early May, Trump refused to wear a mask at a Honeywell facility in Arizona that produced face masks. After that event, Trump also claimed to have worn a mask before coming in front of the cameras.
Vice President Mike Pence was strongly criticized for refusing to wear a mask when he visited the Mayo Clinic in late April, claiming he wanted to “speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you.”
Face masks do not cover the eyes.
Health care experts, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend wearing a face mask to slow the spread of the virus.
One recent study showed that wearing masks can reduce the spread of the new coronavirus by as much as 75%.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--Trump campaign hires GOP strategist Trump called 'the worst in political history'

Karl Rove , the former adviser to George W. Bush and one of the so-called architects of the Iraq War , is joining Donald Trump 's reelection campaign as an adviser , Business Insider reported on Thursday .
The move is noteworthy : Trump has long feuded with Rove , blaming the Bush adviser for Barack Obama 's election and calling Rove an `` embarrassment '' and `` useless . ''
Trump 's attacks on Rove began in 2011 , when Obama was running for reelection .
`` Karl Rove — lost GOP both Houses of Congress and the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted in August of 2018 .
In December 2012 , after Obama won reelection , Trump retweeted a Breitbart News story that featured him saying Republicans needed to `` dump '' Rove .
The attacks on Rove continued , with Trump bashing ads a super PAC affiliated with Rove ran against actress Ashley Judd , who at the time was mulling a run for the Senate against Mitch McConnell .
`` Karl Rove is a total loser .
Money given to him might as well be thrown down the drain , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rove ’ s ads are the worst in political history ! ''
he tweeted a few weeks later .
In a tweet six months after that , Trump said , `` It 's Tuesday .
How many terrible predictions and advice will Karl 1.6 % Rove make today ? ''
Trump 's attacks on the adviser escalated in 2015 when he was running for president .
Rove , a longtime friend and ally of the Bush family , did not support Trump 's candidacy .
`` Why does @ oreillyfactor and @ FoxNews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent $ 430 million and lost ALL races .
A dope who said Romney won election , '' Trump tweeted in September 2015. Business Insider reported that Rove has been in communication with Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale since the GOP 's drubbing in the 2018 midterm elections .
The outlet 's Tom LoBianco noted that Rove will be helping the Trump campaign focus on swing states and GOP voter outreach .
LoBianco said Rove 's job has been kept under wraps because of Trump 's poor relationship with the Bush family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ month when Bush made a statement about putting partisanship aside during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Business Insider says the relationship between Trump and Rove is about `` political convenience '' : `` While many establishment members of the GOP dislike Trump 's demeanor and affinity for scandals , Rove and others view the president in the same light as they did in 2016 as a far better alternative to a Democrat in the White House . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Karl Rove, the former adviser to George W. Bush and one of the so-called architects of the Iraq War, is joining Donald Trump’s reelection campaign as an adviser, Business Insider reported on Thursday.
The move is noteworthy: Trump has long feuded with Rove, blaming the Bush adviser for Barack Obama’s election and calling Rove an “embarrassment” and “useless.”
Trump’s attacks on Rove began in 2011, when Obama was running for reelection.
“Karl Rove — lost GOP both Houses of Congress and the White House —gave us Obama,” Trump tweeted in August of 2018.
In December 2012, after Obama won reelection, Trump retweeted a Breitbart News story that featured him saying Republicans needed to “dump” Rove.
The attacks on Rove continued, with Trump bashing ads a super PAC affiliated with Rove ran against actress Ashley Judd, who at the time was mulling a run for the Senate against Mitch McConnell.
“Karl Rove is a total loser. Money given to him might as well be thrown down the drain,” Trump tweeted in February 2013.
“Karl Rove’s ads are the worst in political history!” he tweeted a few weeks later.
In a tweet six months after that, Trump said, “It’s Tuesday. How many terrible predictions and advice will Karl 1.6% Rove make today?”
Trump’s attacks on the adviser escalated in 2015 when he was running for president. Rove, a longtime friend and ally of the Bush family, did not support Trump’s candidacy.
“Why does @oreillyfactor and @FoxNews always have Karl Rove on. He spent $430 million and lost ALL races. A dope who said Romney won election,” Trump tweeted in September 2015.
Business Insider reported that Rove has been in communication with Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale since the GOP’s drubbing in the 2018 midterm elections.
The outlet’s Tom LoBianco noted that Rove will be helping the Trump campaign focus on swing states and GOP voter outreach. LoBianco said Rove’s job has been kept under wraps because of Trump’s poor relationship with the Bush family.
That feud bubbled up again earlier this month when Bush made a statement about putting partisanship aside during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Business Insider says the relationship between Trump and Rove is about “political convenience”: “While many establishment members of the GOP dislike Trump’s demeanor and affinity for scandals, Rove and others view the president in the same light as they did in 2016 as a far better alternative to a Democrat in the White House.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.