shareblue--2020-04-30--8 GOP candidates still bragging about Trump's job numbers as unemployment soars

More than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past six weeks , as the economy craters during the coronavirus pandemic .
But based on their campaign websites , Donald Trump and a number of his Republican allies are still running for election on pre-COVID-19 job numbers and Trump 's 2017 tax cuts bill .
As of April 14 , the website of Trump 's 2020 reelection campaign contained a section bragging about the `` lowest '' unemployment in years and said Trump had `` jump-started America 's economy into record growth '' and millions of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 million Americans had filed new unemployment insurance claims , wiping out the 6.1 million new jobs Trump claimed to have created .
The Trump campaign had not updated its `` Promises Kept '' microsite to reflect the current situation as of Thursday morning despite multiple inquiries about the figures .
Indeed , the most recent news update in the section was posted in late January , five days after Trump 's claim that he was not concerned about the coronavirus because `` we have it totally under control . ''
A review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdated information about employment numbers .
These are some of the House and Senate candidates still running on Trump 's vanished job growth and on tax cuts for the wealthy .
As majority leader , Sen. Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) has moved every piece of Trump 's economic legislation through the Senate .
This includes the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , which saved corporations and very wealthy Americans billions and raised taxes for over 10 million families .
As he runs for a seventh term in the Senate , McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
`` McConnell steered a tax package which helped create an estimated 1.5 million new jobs across the country , along with higher wages , bigger bonuses , and 'the hottest job market in half a century , ' '' his campaign site claims .
`` McConnell ’ s work on the successful Republican push to rewrite the tax code for the first time in more than 30 years continues to yield tremendous benefits for Kentucky families . ''
Since March 16 , Kentucky has processed more than 550,000 unemployment claims .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking a second term in November .
She voted for the tax bill , calling it a `` monumental moment for our country '' that would mean `` job creators of all sizes will be more competitive and can reinvest in their most important resource – their employees . ''
Her campaign site currently states , `` By ensuring markets remain open to exports for Iowa goods and promoting innovation that makes Iowa more competitive in today ’ s global marketplace , Iowa will continue its current upward economic and job growth trajectory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers filed new unemployment claims , and 170,990 more claimed continuing unemployment benefits .
Appointed to fill a vacant Senate seat in January , Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) is running in November 's election to hold on to the job .
She has made her strong support of Trump a key argument for her candidacy , even though he reportedly did not want her appointed .
`` Thanks to bold conservative leadership on the state and federal level , our unemployment rate in Georgia — and throughout the country — is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and American families are finally seeing growth in their 401ks , '' her website claims .
`` As a businesswoman and political outsider , Kelly is working in Washington to advance pro-growth policies that keep our state and country moving in the right direction .
She is proud to champion President Trump 's economic agenda to Keep America Great ! ''
About a million Georgia residents have filed for jobless benefits during the pandemic .
Rep. Roger Marshall ( R-KS ) is seeking his party 's nomination for an open Senate seat this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax bill , calling it a `` historic solution that will provide relief for hard-working Kansans , families , and businesses . ''
`` Our job as leaders is to make the complicated simple , not complicate the simple .
The less control the federal government has , the better off we will be , '' he says on his campaign site .
`` By getting Washington out of the way , lowering taxes , and decreasing regulation we are seeing the new age of American greatness again . ''
More than 160,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Doug Jones ( D-AL ) in the November election .
He is running as `` 100 % committed to supporting Donald Trump '' and with Trump 's endorsement .
`` After eight long years of a declining economy , we are now seeing record job growth across the board and the lowest unemployment rates for Veterans and African-Americans in history , '' his campaign site notes .
`` President Trump ’ s tax cuts and economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will join in the fight and support our President as we continue to grow our economy , '' it says .
More than 400,000 unemployment claims have been filed in Alabama during the pandemic .
Rep. John Carter ( R-TX ) is running for reelection this November .
He voted for Trump 's tax bill , saying it brought `` fiscally conservative Texas values to Washington , D.C. ! ''
`` I am proud to have supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act .
In just six months since it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been created , unemployment is at the lowest rate since 1969 and 90 % of Americans are seeing more money in their pockets , '' his campaign site claims .
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic , more than 1.5 million Texans have filed for unemployment benefits .
Rep. Steve Chabot ( R-OH ) is also running for reelection this November .
He voted for Trump 's tax bill , calling it `` real reform that simplifies the tax code , reduces taxes for the vast majority of Americans , boosts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million new jobs . ''
`` After years of stagnant economic growth , Congress and the Trump Administration have pursued a pro-growth economic agenda – cutting regulations , reducing taxes , and letting American families keep more of their hard-earned money .
As a result , our economy has come roaring back , '' his campaign site says .
It boasts , `` Unemployment is the lowest it ’ s been in nearly 20 years , and the GDP grew an impressive 4.1 percent during the second quarter of 2018 . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment claims in the past six weeks .
Rep. Fred Upton ( R-MI ) is another Republican running for reelection this November .
He backed Trump 's tax law , saying that `` it modernizes the business-side of the tax code to create more jobs , increase paychecks , and spur investment in the U.S. '' '' Fred championed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act that reformed our broken and outdated tax code , '' his campaign page notes .
`` The positive effects are being felt already , with more jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Michigan has seen more than 1.2 million new unemployment insurance filings in the past six weeks .
None of the campaigns listed responded to multiple inquiries about whether their positions have changed in light of the recent economic collapse .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

More than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past six weeks, as the economy craters during the coronavirus pandemic. But based on their campaign websites, Donald Trump and a number of his Republican allies are still running for election on pre-COVID-19 job numbers and Trump’s 2017 tax cuts bill.
As of April 14, the website of Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign contained a section bragging about the “lowest” unemployment in years and said Trump had “jump-started America’s economy into record growth” and millions of new jobs. At that point, about 17 million Americans had filed new unemployment insurance claims, wiping out the 6.1 million new jobs Trump claimed to have created.
The Trump campaign had not updated its “Promises Kept” microsite to reflect the current situation as of Thursday morning despite multiple inquiries about the figures. Indeed, the most recent news update in the section was posted in late January, five days after Trump’s claim that he was not concerned about the coronavirus because “we have it totally under control.”
A review of other Republican campaign websites revealed similar outdated information about employment numbers. These are some of the House and Senate candidates still running on Trump’s vanished job growth and on tax cuts for the wealthy.
Mitch McConnell
As majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has moved every piece of Trump’s economic legislation through the Senate. This includes the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which saved corporations and very wealthy Americans billions and raised taxes for over 10 million families.
As he runs for a seventh term in the Senate, McConnell has tied himself to Trump and that bill.
“McConnell steered a tax package which helped create an estimated 1.5 million new jobs across the country, along with higher wages, bigger bonuses, and ‘the hottest job market in half a century,'” his campaign site claims. “McConnell’s work on the successful Republican push to rewrite the tax code for the first time in more than 30 years continues to yield tremendous benefits for Kentucky families.”
Since March 16, Kentucky has processed more than 550,000 unemployment claims.
Joni Ernst
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is seeking a second term in November. She voted for the tax bill, calling it a “monumental moment for our country” that would mean “job creators of all sizes will be more competitive and can reinvest in their most important resource – their employees.”
Her campaign site currently states, “By ensuring markets remain open to exports for Iowa goods and promoting innovation that makes Iowa more competitive in today’s global marketplace, Iowa will continue its current upward economic and job growth trajectory.”
Last week, 28,827 Iowa workers filed new unemployment claims, and 170,990 more claimed continuing unemployment benefits.
Kelly Loeffler
Appointed to fill a vacant Senate seat in January, Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) is running in November’s election to hold on to the job. She has made her strong support of Trump a key argument for her candidacy, even though he reportedly did not want her appointed.
“Thanks to bold conservative leadership on the state and federal level, our unemployment rate in Georgia — and throughout the country — is at historic lows. Our economy is growing and American families are finally seeing growth in their 401ks,” her website claims. “As a businesswoman and political outsider, Kelly is working in Washington to advance pro-growth policies that keep our state and country moving in the right direction. She is proud to champion President Trump’s economic agenda to Keep America Great!”
About a million Georgia residents have filed for jobless benefits during the pandemic.
Roger Marshall
Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is seeking his party’s nomination for an open Senate seat this year. He voted for Trump’s tax bill, calling it a “historic solution that will provide relief for hard-working Kansans, families, and businesses.”
“Our job as leaders is to make the complicated simple, not complicate the simple. The less control the federal government has, the better off we will be,” he says on his campaign site. “By getting Washington out of the way, lowering taxes, and decreasing regulation we are seeing the new age of American greatness again.”
More than 160,000 Kansans have filed for unemployment in recent weeks.
Tommy Tuberville
Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) in the November election. He is running as “100% committed to supporting Donald Trump” and with Trump’s endorsement.
“After eight long years of a declining economy, we are now seeing record job growth across the board and the lowest unemployment rates for Veterans and African-Americans in history,” his campaign site notes.
“President Trump’s tax cuts and economic policies have driven this success — and I will join in the fight and support our President as we continue to grow our economy,” it says.
More than 400,000 unemployment claims have been filed in Alabama during the pandemic.
John Carter
Rep. John Carter (R-TX) is running for reelection this November. He voted for Trump’s tax bill, saying it brought “fiscally conservative Texas values to Washington, D.C.!”
“I am proud to have supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In just six months since it’s passage, over 1 million jobs have been created, unemployment is at the lowest rate since 1969 and 90% of Americans are seeing more money in their pockets,” his campaign site claims.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.5 million Texans have filed for unemployment benefits.
Steve Chabot
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) is also running for reelection this November. He voted for Trump’s tax bill, calling it “real reform that simplifies the tax code, reduces taxes for the vast majority of Americans, boosts the economy and could create as many as a million new jobs.”
“After years of stagnant economic growth, Congress and the Trump Administration have pursued a pro-growth economic agenda – cutting regulations, reducing taxes, and letting American families keep more of their hard-earned money. As a result, our economy has come roaring back,” his campaign site says.
It boasts, “Unemployment is the lowest it’s been in nearly 20 years, and the GDP grew an impressive 4.1 percent during the second quarter of 2018.”
More than 1 million Ohioans have filed unemployment claims in the past six weeks.
Fred Upton
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is another Republican running for reelection this November. He backed Trump’s tax law, saying that “it modernizes the business-side of the tax code to create more jobs, increase paychecks, and spur investment in the U.S.”
“Fred championed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act that reformed our broken and outdated tax code,” his campaign page notes. “The positive effects are being felt already, with more jobs, higher paychecks, and a stronger economy.”
Michigan has seen more than 1.2 million new unemployment insurance filings in the past six weeks.
None of the campaigns listed responded to multiple inquiries about whether their positions have changed in light of the recent economic collapse.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-30--Louisiana GOP wants to overturn emergency declaration — and lose federal funding

Republican state lawmakers in Louisiana are trying to repeal Democratic Gov .
John Bel Edwards ' public health emergency declaration in an effort to end social distancing measures in their state , an extreme move that would also end federal funding to help the state deal with the economic fallout from the coronavirus , the Baton Rouge Advocate reported Wednesday .
The move is part of a growing trend among GOP lawmakers across the country who are trying to undo coronavirus-related public safety measures implemented by Democratic governors — before public health experts say it 's safe .
Those Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health experts recommend to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
The measures have decimated the economy , causing at least 30 million people to lose their jobs .
However , Louisiana 's GOP-controlled Legislature is going a step further by trying to repeal the public health emergency altogether , even though more than 28,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the state as well as more than 1,800 deaths , according to the Advocate .
Edwards ' lawyer Matthew Block said that repealing the public health emergency order would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price gouging for items such as hand sanitizer , disinfectant wipes , and face masks , according to an email obtained by the Advocate .
Block added that it 's possible that terminating the public health emergency would jeopardize funding granted to the state for coronavirus-related measures , as well as hinder Louisiana small businesses from receiving loans from the Small Business Association .
While the Advocate reported that it 's unlikely the GOP-run Legislature will revoke the order , the proposal itself is among the most extreme efforts made recently by Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , Republican legislators unsuccessfully tried to expand what constitutes an essential business in order to reopen more types of businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
And in Kansas , Republicans tried to override Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly 's ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people — which the GOP elected officials said discriminated against religious groups .
Kelly sued , and the state Supreme Court sided with her decision to ban mass gatherings .
Meanwhile , social distancing measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Polls also show that the consequences of ending the public health emergency declaration in the state would be unpopular .
For example , 85 % of adults in the United States say it 's a bad idea to reopen schools , according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released Wednesday .
And the vast majority — 81 % of Americans — believe that the country `` should continue to social distance for as long as is needed to curb the spread of coronavirus , even if it means continued damage to the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll released April 15 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican state lawmakers in Louisiana are trying to repeal Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ public health emergency declaration in an effort to end social distancing measures in their state, an extreme move that would also end federal funding to help the state deal with the economic fallout from the coronavirus, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported Wednesday.
The move is part of a growing trend among GOP lawmakers across the country who are trying to undo coronavirus-related public safety measures implemented by Democratic governors — before public health experts say it’s safe.
Those Republican lawmakers are frustrated with the stay-at-home orders public health experts recommend to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The measures have decimated the economy, causing at least 30 million people to lose their jobs.
However, Louisiana’s GOP-controlled Legislature is going a step further by trying to repeal the public health emergency altogether, even though more than 28,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the state as well as more than 1,800 deaths, according to the Advocate.
Edwards’ lawyer Matthew Block said that repealing the public health emergency order would end school closures and end bans on price gouging for items such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and face masks, according to an email obtained by the Advocate.
Block added that it’s possible that terminating the public health emergency would jeopardize funding granted to the state for coronavirus-related measures, as well as hinder Louisiana small businesses from receiving loans from the Small Business Association.
While the Advocate reported that it’s unlikely the GOP-run Legislature will revoke the order, the proposal itself is among the most extreme efforts made recently by Republican lawmakers across states.
In Pennsylvania, for example, Republican legislators unsuccessfully tried to expand what constitutes an essential business in order to reopen more types of businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
And in Kansas, Republicans tried to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people — which the GOP elected officials said discriminated against religious groups. Kelly sued, and the state Supreme Court sided with her decision to ban mass gatherings.
Meanwhile, social distancing measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus are broadly popular, according to multiple polls.
Polls also show that the consequences of ending the public health emergency declaration in the state would be unpopular. For example, 85% of adults in the United States say it’s a bad idea to reopen schools, according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released Wednesday.
And the vast majority — 81% of Americans — believe that the country “should continue to social distance for as long as is needed to curb the spread of coronavirus, even if it means continued damage to the economy,” according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released April 15.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-30--Fauci warns states that reopening too fast is 'tempting a rebound' of infections

The nation 's top infectious disease expert said Thursday that new cases of the coronavirus are a certainty as states begin to roll back restrictions .
States need to proceed carefully as they take steps to reopen businesses and allow greater freedom of movement , Dr. Anthony Fauci said .
`` We will get blips ... there 's no doubt , '' Fauci told NBC 's `` Today '' show .
`` When you pull back there will be cases , and what we need to do is make sure ( states ) have in place the capability of identifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Fauci urged states that do n't have that capability to go very slowly .
`` You ca n't just leap over things and get into a situation where you 're really tempting a rebound .
That 's the thing I get concerned about , '' he said .
His warnings came a day after Donald Trump said the federal government would not extend its social distancing guidelines past Thursday , and Trump 's son-in-law and adviser , Jared Kushner , predicted that by July the country would be `` really rocking again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as highly unlikely .
Trump planned to meet on Thursday with Gov .
Phil Murphy , D-N.J. , as Trump aims to focus on the reopening process that has started in many places .
Murphy told Fox News before leaving for Washington that he intended to discuss with Trump both testing capacity and federal money for New Jersey , among the states hardest hit by the pandemic .
`` We need help with the here and now , '' the governor said .
`` Educators , police , fire , EMS , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , helping people whether they 're lost their jobs , whether they 're sick , small businesses , et cetera .
That 's where we need a big dose of federal cash . ''
Trump is trying to shift to a different phase in the virus response as the rate of new hospitalizations and cases has slowed in many states , even as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War .
Trump said Wednesday he plans to resume out-of-state travel , starting with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House .
He also said he hopes to hold large campaign rallies in the coming months , even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by that time .
Trump laid out a vision of returning to pre-coronavirus times — `` with or without '' a vaccine — with packed restaurants and full stadiums .
That vision flies in the face of assessments from public health experts who say the United States will need to embrace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended social distancing and mask-wearing .
`` I do n't want people to get used to this , '' Trump told reporters .
`` I see the new normal being what it was three months ago . ''
White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight production of `` critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state . ''
That word came after Trump said he would not extend the White House 's `` 30 Days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their scheduled expiration Thursday .
Those guidelines were originally supposed to last 15 days but were extended an additional 30 days .
They encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants , group gatherings and discretionary travel .
They also advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves .
Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the guidance from the White House this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug , Remdesivir , which proved effective against the virus in a major new study .
Fauci said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31 % — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care .
`` It 's highly significant , '' said the usually cautious doctor .
`` What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus . ''
Meanwhile , Kushner , who has been helping lead response efforts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Friends '' that the administration had `` achieved all the different milestones that are needed .
So the federal government rose to the challenge , and this is a great success story . ''

The nation’s top infectious disease expert said Thursday that new cases of the coronavirus are a certainty as states begin to roll back restrictions. States need to proceed carefully as they take steps to reopen businesses and allow greater freedom of movement, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.
“We will get blips … there’s no doubt,” Fauci told NBC’s “Today” show. “When you pull back there will be cases, and what we need to do is make sure (states) have in place the capability of identifying, isolating and contact tracing individuals.”
Fauci urged states that don’t have that capability to go very slowly. “You can’t just leap over things and get into a situation where you’re really tempting a rebound. That’s the thing I get concerned about,” he said.
His warnings came a day after Donald Trump said the federal government would not extend its social distancing guidelines past Thursday, and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country would be “really rocking again,” despite health experts assessing that as highly unlikely.
Trump planned to meet on Thursday with Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., as Trump aims to focus on the reopening process that has started in many places.
Murphy told Fox News before leaving for Washington that he intended to discuss with Trump both testing capacity and federal money for New Jersey, among the states hardest hit by the pandemic.
“We need help with the here and now,” the governor said. “Educators, police, fire, EMS, the front-line stuff. We’re bleeding resources, helping people whether they’re lost their jobs, whether they’re sick, small businesses, et cetera. That’s where we need a big dose of federal cash.”
Trump is trying to shift to a different phase in the virus response as the rate of new hospitalizations and cases has slowed in many states, even as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed American lives lost in the Vietnam War.
Trump said Wednesday he plans to resume out-of-state travel, starting with a trip to Arizona next week, after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House. He also said he hopes to hold large campaign rallies in the coming months, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by that time.
Trump laid out a vision of returning to pre-coronavirus times — “with or without” a vaccine — with packed restaurants and full stadiums. That vision flies in the face of assessments from public health experts who say the United States will need to embrace a “new normal” that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.
“I don’t want people to get used to this,” Trump told reporters. “I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.”
White House spokesman Judd Deere tweeted that Trump would visit a Honeywell facility in Phoenix on Tuesday to highlight production of “critical medical equipment production and the addition of 500 manufacturing jobs in the state.”
That word came after Trump said he would not extend the White House’s “30 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines past their scheduled expiration Thursday.
Those guidelines were originally supposed to last 15 days but were extended an additional 30 days. They encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel. They also advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.
Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the guidance from the White House this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.
The White House also is pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.
Fauci said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.
“It’s highly significant,” said the usually cautious doctor. “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.”
Meanwhile, Kushner, who has been helping lead response efforts, said in an interview with “Fox and Friends” that the administration had “achieved all the different milestones that are needed. So the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story.”


shareblue--2020-04-30--Kentucky governor strikes down GOP's attacks on abortion during pandemic

In Kentucky , Republicans have been working hard to decrease the power of the state 's Democratic governor , Andy Beshear .
Notably , they recently tried to take away his power to regulate abortion providers and give it to the state 's anti-abortion attorney general , Daniel Cameron .
However , the GOP miscalculated the timing with this effort to restrict abortion by passing the bill too late in the 2020 legislative session to override any veto from Beshear , who quashed the bill when it reached his desk .
It 's a rare bit of good news for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedure is already very difficult to obtain .
Indeed , Kentucky already bans abortions past 20 weeks in almost all circumstances .
Kentucky is also one of several states where conservatives tried to use the pandemic to ban abortions and to incorrectly define abortion as `` elective '' despite it being a time-sensitive procedure .
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also recognized that `` induced abortion is an essential component of women 's health care . ''
Bans like those being pushed by Republican politicians during the pandemic often force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like , and with time restrictions like those already found in Kentucky , they could even push the procedure entirely out of reach for many in the state .
Had Kentucky succeeded in passing an abortion ban during the pandemic , people would have been forced to drive over 50 % farther in order to obtain an abortion , according to a recent study .
Longer trips can result in substantially increased costs to patients , as well , as they may need to pay for travel and lodging in a neighboring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counseling .
It 's also not as simple as merely traveling .
The Guttmacher Institute noted that the problems caused by the bans would be `` further compounded '' if the closest alternative state required in-person counseling , which can require multiple trips prior to obtaining an abortion , or if the nearby state has few abortion providers itself and ca n't take more patients .
The Kentucky GOP also tried to get `` born alive '' legislation passed in the recent bill as part of a campaign opposing later abortions .
Conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorts of bills passed at both the state and federal levels in spite of the fact these bills are superfluous , as existing laws would already protect children , and all humans , from being harmed by doctors .
Beshear noted this when he vetoed the bill , saying current law already protects babies in that circumstance , rendering the law unnecessary .
Wyoming Republican Gov .
Mark Gordon has also pushed back against unnecessary `` born-alive '' bills .
When vetoing Wyoming 's bill , Gordon said that , `` Laws already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifesaving care . ''
Advocates say `` born alive '' bills are n't really about protecting anyone .
Instead , they 're about , as Dr. Kristyn Brandi with Physicians for Reproductive Health , explained , vilifying providers and patients `` to push a false narrative about abortion later in pregnancy . ''
Beshear 's veto is a rare piece of good news for abortion rights at a time when conservatives in many states are using a public health crisis to try to launch attacks .
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

In Kentucky, Republicans have been working hard to decrease the power of the state’s Democratic governor, Andy Beshear.
Notably, they recently tried to take away his power to regulate abortion providers and give it to the state’s anti-abortion attorney general, Daniel Cameron.
However, the GOP miscalculated the timing with this effort to restrict abortion by passing the bill too late in the 2020 legislative session to override any veto from Beshear, who quashed the bill when it reached his desk.
It’s a rare bit of good news for abortion rights in a state where the procedure is already very difficult to obtain. Indeed, Kentucky already bans abortions past 20 weeks in almost all circumstances.
Kentucky is also one of several states where conservatives tried to use the pandemic to ban abortions and to incorrectly define abortion as “elective” despite it being a time-sensitive procedure. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also recognized that “induced abortion is an essential component of women’s health care.”
Bans like those being pushed by Republican politicians during the pandemic often force people to have abortions later than they would like, and with time restrictions like those already found in Kentucky, they could even push the procedure entirely out of reach for many in the state.
Had Kentucky succeeded in passing an abortion ban during the pandemic, people would have been forced to drive over 50% farther in order to obtain an abortion, according to a recent study. Longer trips can result in substantially increased costs to patients, as well, as they may need to pay for travel and lodging in a neighboring state because that state required mandatory in-person counseling.
It’s also not as simple as merely traveling. The Guttmacher Institute noted that the problems caused by the bans would be “further compounded” if the closest alternative state required in-person counseling, which can require multiple trips prior to obtaining an abortion, or if the nearby state has few abortion providers itself and can’t take more patients.
The Kentucky GOP also tried to get “born alive” legislation passed in the recent bill as part of a campaign opposing later abortions. Conservatives have been tightly focused on getting these sorts of bills passed at both the state and federal levels in spite of the fact these bills are superfluous, as existing laws would already protect children, and all humans, from being harmed by doctors.
Beshear noted this when he vetoed the bill, saying current law already protects babies in that circumstance, rendering the law unnecessary.
Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon has also pushed back against unnecessary “born-alive” bills. When vetoing Wyoming’s bill, Gordon said that, “Laws already in place protect children from being denied lifesaving care.”
Advocates say “born alive” bills aren’t really about protecting anyone. Instead, they’re about, as Dr. Kristyn Brandi with Physicians for Reproductive Health, explained, vilifying providers and patients “to push a false narrative about abortion later in pregnancy.”
Beshear’s veto is a rare piece of good news for abortion rights at a time when conservatives in many states are using a public health crisis to try to launch attacks.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-30--Former Maine governor who called nonwhite people 'the enemy' wants his job back

Former Maine Gov .
Paul LePage said Wednesday that he will move back to the state and run for his old job .
LePage , who no longer lives in Maine , had previously promised that he was finished with politics .
The Republican , who served two terms as governor , said he would run against his successor , Democratic Gov .
Janet Mills , in 2022 .
`` Believe me , I will challenge her , '' he told right-wing radio host Howie Carr .
`` Yes , I am going to challenge Janet Mills in 2022 because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was when I took over in 2010 and I do believe I have the skill set to fix it , '' LePage said .
LePage bolted the state after leaving office in January 2019 .
`` I 'm going to retire and go to Florida .
I 'm done with politics .
I 've done my eight years .
It 's time for somebody else , '' he said at the time .
As of this January , he was registered to vote in Flagler County , Florida .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a resident of Maine , not to leave anymore , '' he told Carr .
LePage 's tenure in office was marked by a series of threats , racist comments , and refusals to do his job .
• He told NAACP leaders in 2011 to `` kiss my butt '' after they questioned his decision not to attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day events .
• He was reported to have said in 2013 that Barack Obama `` hates white people . ''
• He said in 2016 that `` guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shifty '' come to Maine from other states to sell heroin and `` half the time they impregnate a young , white girl before they leave . ''
• He said that he was compiling a binder of drug arrests and that `` 90-plus per cent of those pictures in my book , and it 's a three-ringed binder , are black and Hispanic people . ''
• He left a voicemail for a state lawmaker who criticized his racist remarks , calling him a `` son of a bitch , socialist cocksucker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to fight the lawmaker in a duel and that he would aim for his head .
• He embraced racial profiling , calling black and Hispanic people the `` enemy '' in Maine 's drug war .
`` When you go to war , if you know the enemy and the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue , then you shoot at red , '' he told reporters .
• He refused to expand Medicaid in Maine , even after voters approved a ballot measure requiring expansion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I will go to jail before I put the state in red ink , '' he said in 2018 , suggesting the program would be too costly .
`` And if the court tells me I have to do it , then we 're going to be going to jail . ''
Mills used her first executive order the day after she was sworn in as governor to implement the expansion .
In February 2016 , LePage said on Carr 's show , `` I was Donald Trump before Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should support him since we 're one of the same cloth . ''
While LePage now says his `` skill set '' would fix Maine 's problems , in August 2016 he considered resigning from office following criticism of his profane voicemail .
`` I think some things I 've been asked to do are beyond my ability , '' he said at the time .
LePage may face an uphill battle to regain the governorship .
He narrowly won in 2010 and 2014 and never garnered a popular majority .
A poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 found registered Maine voters currently give Mills a 60 % approval rating , vastly preferring her pandemic response to Trump 's .
Her disapproval rating was just 26 % .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that he will move back to the state and run for his old job. LePage, who no longer lives in Maine, had previously promised that he was finished with politics.
The Republican, who served two terms as governor, said he would run against his successor, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, in 2022. “Believe me, I will challenge her,” he told right-wing radio host Howie Carr.
“Yes, I am going to challenge Janet Mills in 2022 because the state will be worse off than it was when I took over in 2010 and I do believe I have the skill set to fix it,” LePage said.
LePage bolted the state after leaving office in January 2019. “I’m going to retire and go to Florida. I’m done with politics. I’ve done my eight years. It’s time for somebody else,” he said at the time. As of this January, he was registered to vote in Flagler County, Florida.
“I’m flying home next Saturday and I will become a resident of Maine, not to leave anymore,” he told Carr.
LePage’s tenure in office was marked by a series of threats, racist comments, and refusals to do his job.
He told NAACP leaders in 2011 to “kiss my butt” after they questioned his decision not to attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.
He was reported to have said in 2013 that Barack Obama “hates white people.”
He said in 2016 that “guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty” come to Maine from other states to sell heroin and “half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave.”
He said that he was compiling a binder of drug arrests and that “90-plus per cent of those pictures in my book, and it’s a three-ringed binder, are black and Hispanic people.”
He left a voicemail for a state lawmaker who criticized his racist remarks, calling him a “son of a bitch, socialist cocksucker.” He later said that he would like to fight the lawmaker in a duel and that he would aim for his head.
He embraced racial profiling, calling black and Hispanic people the “enemy” in Maine’s drug war. “When you go to war, if you know the enemy and the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, then you shoot at red,” he told reporters.
He refused to expand Medicaid in Maine, even after voters approved a ballot measure requiring expansion and a court ordered him to implement it. “I will go to jail before I put the state in red ink,” he said in 2018, suggesting the program would be too costly. “And if the court tells me I have to do it, then we’re going to be going to jail.” Mills used her first executive order the day after she was sworn in as governor to implement the expansion.
In February 2016, LePage said on Carr’s show, “I was Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular, so I think I should support him since we’re one of the same cloth.”
While LePage now says his “skill set” would fix Maine’s problems, in August 2016 he considered resigning from office following criticism of his profane voicemail. “I think some things I’ve been asked to do are beyond my ability,” he said at the time.
LePage may face an uphill battle to regain the governorship. He narrowly won in 2010 and 2014 and never garnered a popular majority.
A poll conducted in March and released on April 13 found registered Maine voters currently give Mills a 60% approval rating, vastly preferring her pandemic response to Trump’s. Her disapproval rating was just 26%.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-30--Trump is making it easier for payday lenders to prey on Americans hit by job losses

The Trump administration will officially roll back an Obama-era regulation on predatory lenders next week — a move that will make it easier for lenders to prey on vulnerable , cash-strapped Americans facing the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic .
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the justification for the rollback — which `` will no longer require lenders to assess whether customers can afford their fees before offering a loan '' — was based on fudged data by a Donald Trump political appointee at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who manipulated data on payday lenders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The manipulated data was detailed in a memo last year by a `` career economist '' who departed the agency last summer .
The memo specifically described `` several maneuvers by his agency 's political overseers that he considered legally risky and scientifically indefensible , including pressuring staff economists to water down their findings on payday loans and use statistical gimmicks to downplay the harm consumers would suffer if the payday restrictions were repealed . ''
The Times obtained the memo from a current CFPB employee .
Payday lenders typically charge exorbitantly high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans .
Those who seek out payday loans are often low-income Americans who do not have access to credit , and many times end up quickly incurring more fees and interest than the actual loan they took out — delving those borrowers even deeper into debt , according to a March 2014 review of payday lending practices by the CFPB .
Experts say that the COVID-19 pandemic is already ripe for payday lenders seeking to exploit the most vulnerable Americans , millions of whom are struggling to put food on the table amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are afraid or desperate , they 're less effective at shopping carefully and weighing options , '' Chris Peterson , a former top regulator at the CFPB , said in a recent interview .
`` There is a temptation to just find the first option that seems acceptable and jump on it . ''
During his tenure , former President Barack Obama tried to protect Americans from these predatory lenders , issuing a rule that required the lenders to ensure borrowers could pay back loans before approving them .
But the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rule since 2017 — an attempt initially led by former acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney , who later went on to be Trump 's chief of staff .
The Trump administration finally announced that it would be removing the Obama-era regulation on lenders on Feb. 6 — the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic .
That announcement gave 90 days for public comment before the rollback would go into effect .
Those 90 days expire next week .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration will officially roll back an Obama-era regulation on predatory lenders next week — a move that will make it easier for lenders to prey on vulnerable, cash-strapped Americans facing the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the justification for the rollback — which “will no longer require lenders to assess whether customers can afford their fees before offering a loan” — was based on fudged data by a Donald Trump political appointee at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who manipulated data on payday lenders to make their practices look less predatory.
The manipulated data was detailed in a memo last year by a “career economist” who departed the agency last summer. The memo specifically described “several maneuvers by his agency’s political overseers that he considered legally risky and scientifically indefensible, including pressuring staff economists to water down their findings on payday loans and use statistical gimmicks to downplay the harm consumers would suffer if the payday restrictions were repealed.”
The Times obtained the memo from a current CFPB employee.
Payday lenders typically charge exorbitantly high interest rates and high fees on short-term loans. Those who seek out payday loans are often low-income Americans who do not have access to credit, and many times end up quickly incurring more fees and interest than the actual loan they took out — delving those borrowers even deeper into debt, according to a March 2014 review of payday lending practices by the CFPB.
Experts say that the COVID-19 pandemic is already ripe for payday lenders seeking to exploit the most vulnerable Americans, millions of whom are struggling to put food on the table amid job losses and furloughs.
“When people are afraid or desperate, they’re less effective at shopping carefully and weighing options,” Chris Peterson, a former top regulator at the CFPB, said in a recent interview. “There is a temptation to just find the first option that seems acceptable and jump on it.”
During his tenure, former President Barack Obama tried to protect Americans from these predatory lenders, issuing a rule that required the lenders to ensure borrowers could pay back loans before approving them.
But the Trump administration has been trying to roll back that rule since 2017 — an attempt initially led by former acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney, who later went on to be Trump’s chief of staff.
Mulvaney left the White House in March.
The Trump administration finally announced that it would be removing the Obama-era regulation on lenders on Feb. 6 — the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That announcement gave 90 days for public comment before the rollback would go into effect. Those 90 days expire next week.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--News you might have missed: Michelle Obama documentary is out next week

Also this week , a rural school district in Illinois will soon have high-speed internet , Californians can get married via the internet , and CNN 's Anderson Cooper has an emotional special announcement .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
Netflix to release Michelle Obama documentary on May 6 Michelle Obama announced on Monday that Netflix will release a documentary about people she met after the release of her memoir , `` Becoming . ''
`` During this difficult time , I hope you 'll find some inspiration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted about the documentary .
Obama 's memoir sold 10 million copies in the first five months after it was released , becoming a global bestseller , and Obama sold out arenas during her book tour .
The documentary , directed by Nadia Hallgren , premieres on May 6 .
On Wednesday , Michigan 's Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state will establish a $ 130 million Child Care Relief Fund `` to make child care more affordable '' during and after the coronavirus crisis , according to a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Child care providers have been critical partners in helping our state respond to COVID-19 , and we are extremely grateful for their service , '' Whitmer said .
`` Every child care provider and early educator is important in giving parents some peace of mind while they are delivering essential services to our state at this challenging time . ''
The fund , $ 100 million of which comes through the CARES Act passed by Congress in March , and $ 30 million of which is contributed by the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] icensed child care centers , family group homes , tribal child care providers , provisional disaster relief child care centers , and subsidized license [ d ] exempt providers '' on condition that they `` commit to reducing their weekly rates for families by at least 10 percent , and provide care for children of essential workers regardless of where their parents or caregivers work . ''
Ohio one step closer to having its first openly gay county sheriff On Tuesday , Charmaine McGuffey won a primary to be the Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She defeated her former boss , incumbent Jim Neil , a man she is suing after she alleged that he fired her because of her sexual orientation .
In 2015 , McGuffey was named local and regional Law Enforcement Officer of the Year , and the next year the Ohio state House of Representatives named her Public Citizen of the Year .
Neil said McGuffey was fired for creating a hostile work environment , but McGuffey denied the allegation , saying she was standing up to a toxic male culture , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sit down and be quiet , '' McGuffey told LGBTQ Nation .
`` The fact I was a woman was an issue with some of the men in the upper echelon .
The fact I was gay was an issue [ too ] . ''
The county Democratic Party backed McGuffey against the incumbent , who appeared at a rally for Donald Trump in 2016 , later apologizing for doing so .
If she wins in November , McGuffey would be the first openly gay sheriff in the state .
She is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police lieutenant from Cincinnati .
Confederacy loses again as Marine Corps bans display of Confederate battle flag The Marine Corps announced on April 20 that it has banned public display of the Confederate battle flag on its installations , the New York Times reported .
While he did not rule on the meaning of the flag as a symbol , often seen at Donald Trump 's rallies , Gen. David H. Berger , the Marine Corps commandant , wrote in a letter announcing the policy that the flag has the `` power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have that division inside our Corps . ''
It is not clear whether the ban on displaying the flag applies to Marines when they are off-duty , the Times reported .
A local internet provider will help connect families to their school district in rural southeast Illinois , and an anonymous donor will provide a dozen hot spots to aid the effort , ProPublica reported on Tuesday .
Since schools have been shut down , teachers in the Trico school district have mailed manilla envelopes full of learning materials to 800 homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or both .
A Chicago-area school district will donate 250 used laptops to Trico after the school year ends and its own computers are replaced .
Trico superintendent Larry Lovel expressed his gratitude for an earlier ProPublica article that brought attention to the lack of internet access in the area and the generosity that followed .
`` I ca n't say it enough , '' he told ProPublica .
`` One article matters . ''
California now allows marriage via videoconference Following a growing trend across the country , California Democratic Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday allowing residents of the state to get married via videoconference .
The order allows two adults who are both present in California to obtain a license and get married via videoconference so long as both people are able to appear during the conference and can present proper identification ( for the license ) and have one witness present ( for the ceremony ) .
Newsom 's announcement comes after New York 's Gov .
Andrew Cuomo issued a similar executive order .
The California order will be in effect for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father ' : CNN 's Anderson Cooper introduces his son to the world On Thursday night , CNN 's Anderson Cooper ended his broadcast with a special announcement .
`` It 's been a difficult time in all of our lives , '' Cooper said .
`` It is , I think , especially important in these times of trouble to try to hold on to moments of joy and moments of happiness .
Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones , we 're also blessed with new life and new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I became a father .
I 've never actually said that before out loud , and it still kind of astonishes me , '' the longtime anchor announced .
He showed a photo of his son , Wyatt Morgan Cooper .
An emotional Cooper described his son as `` sweet and soft and healthy , '' adding , `` I am beyond happy . ''
Cooper also noted , `` As a gay kid , I never thought it would be possible to have a child , and I am so grateful for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Also this week, a rural school district in Illinois will soon have high-speed internet, Californians can get married via the internet, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper has an emotional special announcement.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
Michelle Obama announced on Monday that Netflix will release a documentary about people she met after the release of her memoir, “Becoming.”
“During this difficult time, I hope you’ll find some inspiration and joy in this film,” Obama tweeted about the documentary.
Obama’s memoir sold 10 million copies in the first five months after it was released, becoming a global bestseller, and Obama sold out arenas during her book tour.
The documentary, directed by Nadia Hallgren, premieres on May 6.
On Wednesday, Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state will establish a $130 million Child Care Relief Fund “to make child care more affordable” during and after the coronavirus crisis, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
“Child care providers have been critical partners in helping our state respond to COVID-19, and we are extremely grateful for their service,” Whitmer said. “Every child care provider and early educator is important in giving parents some peace of mind while they are delivering essential services to our state at this challenging time.”
The fund, $100 million of which comes through the CARES Act passed by Congress in March, and $30 million of which is contributed by the state, will provide grants to “[l]icensed child care centers, family group homes, tribal child care providers, provisional disaster relief child care centers, and subsidized license[d] exempt providers” on condition that they “commit to reducing their weekly rates for families by at least 10 percent, and provide care for children of essential workers regardless of where their parents or caregivers work.“
On Tuesday, Charmaine McGuffey won a primary to be the Democratic nominee for sheriff in Hamilton County, Ohio. She defeated her former boss, incumbent Jim Neil, a man she is suing after she alleged that he fired her because of her sexual orientation.
In 2015, McGuffey was named local and regional Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and the next year the Ohio state House of Representatives named her Public Citizen of the Year.
Neil said McGuffey was fired for creating a hostile work environment, but McGuffey denied the allegation, saying she was standing up to a toxic male culture, the Advocate reported. “I was told to sit down and be quiet,” McGuffey told LGBTQ Nation. “The fact I was a woman was an issue with some of the men in the upper echelon. The fact I was gay was an issue [too].”
The county Democratic Party backed McGuffey against the incumbent, who appeared at a rally for Donald Trump in 2016, later apologizing for doing so.
If she wins in November, McGuffey would be the first openly gay sheriff in the state. She is running against Republican Bruce Hoffbauer, a police lieutenant from Cincinnati.
The Marine Corps announced on April 20 that it has banned public display of the Confederate battle flag on its installations, the New York Times reported.
While he did not rule on the meaning of the flag as a symbol, often seen at Donald Trump’s rallies, Gen. David H. Berger, the Marine Corps commandant, wrote in a letter announcing the policy that the flag has the “power to inflame feelings of division. I cannot have that division inside our Corps.”
It is not clear whether the ban on displaying the flag applies to Marines when they are off-duty, the Times reported.
A local internet provider will help connect families to their school district in rural southeast Illinois, and an anonymous donor will provide a dozen hot spots to aid the effort, ProPublica reported on Tuesday.
Since schools have been shut down, teachers in the Trico school district have mailed manilla envelopes full of learning materials to 800 homes that lack internet access, computers, or both. A Chicago-area school district will donate 250 used laptops to Trico after the school year ends and its own computers are replaced.
Trico superintendent Larry Lovel expressed his gratitude for an earlier ProPublica article that brought attention to the lack of internet access in the area and the generosity that followed.
“I can’t say it enough,” he told ProPublica. “One article matters.”
Following a growing trend across the country, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday allowing residents of the state to get married via videoconference.
The order allows two adults who are both present in California to obtain a license and get married via videoconference so long as both people are able to appear during the conference and can present proper identification (for the license) and have one witness present (for the ceremony).
Newsom’s announcement comes after New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a similar executive order.
The California order will be in effect for the next 60 days.
On Thursday night, CNN’s Anderson Cooper ended his broadcast with a special announcement.
“It’s been a difficult time in all of our lives,” Cooper said. “It is, I think, especially important in these times of trouble to try to hold on to moments of joy and moments of happiness. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, we’re also blessed with new life and new love.”
“On Monday, I became a father. I’ve never actually said that before out loud, and it still kind of astonishes me,” the longtime anchor announced. He showed a photo of his son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper.
CNN's @AndersonCooper is a dad. "On Monday I became a father. I've never said that out loud and it astonishes me," he said Thursday at the end of the #CNNTownHall. Wyatt Morgan Cooper was born on Monday, weighing just over 7 pounds. https://t.co/JAlmnm23lZ pic.twitter.com/TuleKwvYpO — CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2020
An emotional Cooper described his son as “sweet and soft and healthy,” adding, “I am beyond happy.”
Cooper also noted, “As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I am so grateful for all those who paved the way.”


shareblue--2020-05-01--Pets bring joy to members of Congress enduring lockdown

Libby , a rescue dog adopted over the 2019 holidays , `` ca n't quite figure out what she did right , '' Rep. Chrissy Houlahan ( D-PA ) said in an April interview .
Houlahan is one of several members of Congress who shared photos of their pets and stories about what it has been like working with their furry companions during the coronavirus crisis .
Whether in emails or phone interviews , every member emphasized the importance of physical distancing during this crisis in order to slow the spread of the virus .
`` Callie is our 100-pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-NJ ) wrote in a late April email .
`` I think she 's a little confused as to why we are home all the time , but it has n't prevented her from napping constantly in the middle of the kids ' work-from-home setup or ferociously barking at our postman exactly when I take my phone off mute to speak on an important call . ''
In her home state of New Jersey , Sherrill noted coronavirus cases are finally starting to come down .
`` Social distancing remains critical , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to keep those numbers coming down so we can safely begin to reopen , and every person we keep from getting infected brings us that much closer . ''
`` My family and community have been taking the stay-at-home order seriously to keep ourselves , our neighbors , and our loved ones safe , '' Rep. Suzan DelBene ( D-WA ) , who represents the district where the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the country was reported , wrote in an email .
While she is at home , DelBene has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reily .
Reily `` loves to lay around with us , join conferences calls unexpectedly , and help us stretch our legs , '' she wrote .
`` In these difficult times , it 's nice to have our favorite ray of sunshine in the house . ''
Libby is `` pretty happy about relatively frequent walks and treats from various people , '' Houlahan said .
`` I think she 'd be happy if we never went back to work . ''
Houlahan , her husband , and her daughter are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houlahan said Libby is a rescue from a Pennsylvania puppy mill .
She opted for a smaller dog that can travel with her to and from her work in Washington , D.C .
While they are at home , Libby occasionally joins Houlahan during work , recently joining a video call with middle school kids .
Houlahan used the opportunity to talk about the need for additional regulations around puppy mills .
`` As one who believes in science and listens to professionals , physical distancing is the only effective measure that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will flatten the curve and preserve the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans , '' Rep. Dean Phillips ( D-MN ) said during an April phone interview .
Phillips and his wife make the time to take a 30-minute walk every day with Henry , their three-year-old Norwich terrier .
`` The irony is that we 're seeing more neighbors and members of our community during these strange days than we ever did in the past , '' Phillips said , noting that Henry gets far more attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintains a six-foot distance when he sees his neighbors .
`` There are not many bright spots during difficult days like these , but I ca n't help but think that dogs and cats and pets are great beneficiaries of physical isolation , '' he added .
Nala is keeping Rep. Sharice Davids ( D-KS ) company during the pandemic .
Nala is a foster dog , and Davids said in an email that she encourages others to foster or adopt pets from shelters .
It seems as if many Americans have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing a surge in offers to foster pets ... while [ people ] are at home , '' the New Jersey-based Liberty Humane Society said in March .
Some animal shelters are even empty because all the pets have been adopted .
Rep. John Yarmuth ( D-KY ) said his cat , Leo , interrupting a Facebook town hall with the mayor of Louisville .
Several other members of Congress noted that their pets often invited themselves to video calls , bringing levity to an otherwise stressful time .
Rep. Kathleen Rice ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pearl and Abbie , on regular walks while making sure to stay a safe distance away from others .
`` Taking a walk outdoors can be great for your mental and physical health — just stay six feet apart , '' Rice wrote on Twitter while sharing photos of herself and her furry friends .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Libby, a rescue dog adopted over the 2019 holidays, “can’t quite figure out what she did right,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) said in an April interview.
Houlahan is one of several members of Congress who shared photos of their pets and stories about what it has been like working with their furry companions during the coronavirus crisis.
Whether in emails or phone interviews, every member emphasized the importance of physical distancing during this crisis in order to slow the spread of the virus.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Callie
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Mikie Sherrill” align=”left” width=”300″] [/media-credit]
“Callie is our 100-pound ridgeback,” Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) wrote in a late April email. “I think she’s a little confused as to why we are home all the time, but it hasn’t prevented her from napping constantly in the middle of the kids’ work-from-home setup or ferociously barking at our postman exactly when I take my phone off mute to speak on an important call.”
In her home state of New Jersey, Sherrill noted coronavirus cases are finally starting to come down.
“Social distancing remains critical,” she said. “We are desperately trying to keep those numbers coming down so we can safely begin to reopen, and every person we keep from getting infected brings us that much closer.”
Rep. Suzan DelBene and Reily
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Suzan De” align=”left” width=”300″] [/media-credit]
“My family and community have been taking the stay-at-home order seriously to keep ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones safe,” Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), who represents the district where the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the country was reported, wrote in an email.
While she is at home, DelBene has been kept company by her faithful pal Reily.
Reily “loves to lay around with us, join conferences calls unexpectedly, and help us stretch our legs,” she wrote. “In these difficult times, it’s nice to have our favorite ray of sunshine in the house.”
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Libby
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Chrissy Houlahan” align=”left” width=”178″] [/media-credit]
Libby is “pretty happy about relatively frequent walks and treats from various people,” Houlahan said. “I think she’d be happy if we never went back to work.” Houlahan, her husband, and her daughter are all working from home during the crisis.
Houlahan said Libby is a rescue from a Pennsylvania puppy mill. She opted for a smaller dog that can travel with her to and from her work in Washington, D.C.
While they are at home, Libby occasionally joins Houlahan during work, recently joining a video call with middle school kids. Houlahan used the opportunity to talk about the need for additional regulations around puppy mills.
Rep. Dean Phillips and Henry
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Dean Phillips” align=”left” width=”238″] [/media-credit]
“As one who believes in science and listens to professionals, physical distancing is the only effective measure that we have available to us in the toolbox that will flatten the curve and preserve the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) said during an April phone interview.
Phillips and his wife make the time to take a 30-minute walk every day with Henry, their three-year-old Norwich terrier.
“The irony is that we’re seeing more neighbors and members of our community during these strange days than we ever did in the past,” Phillips said, noting that Henry gets far more attention from constituents.
He emphasized that he maintains a six-foot distance when he sees his neighbors.
“There are not many bright spots during difficult days like these, but I can’t help but think that dogs and cats and pets are great beneficiaries of physical isolation,” he added.
Rep. Sharice Davids and Nala
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Sharice Davids” align=”left” width=”225″] [/media-credit]
Nala is keeping Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) company during the pandemic. Nala is a foster dog, and Davids said in an email that she encourages others to foster or adopt pets from shelters.
It seems as if many Americans have taken Davids’ advice.
“We are seeing a surge in offers to foster pets … while [people] are at home,” the New Jersey-based Liberty Humane Society said in March. Some animal shelters are even empty because all the pets have been adopted.
Rep. John Yarmuth and Leo
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) said his cat, Leo, interrupting a Facebook town hall with the mayor of Louisville.
Several other members of Congress noted that their pets often invited themselves to video calls, bringing levity to an otherwise stressful time.
Rep. Kathleen Rice, Pearl, and Abbie
[media-credit name=”Office of Rep. Kathleen Rice” align=”left” width=”225″] [/media-credit]
Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) says she takes her dogs, Pearl and Abbie, on regular walks while making sure to stay a safe distance away from others.
“Taking a walk outdoors can be great for your mental and physical health — just stay six feet apart,” Rice wrote on Twitter while sharing photos of herself and her furry friends.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--Betsy DeVos taking wages from people with student loans after saying she wouldn't

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is garnishing wages of Americans who defaulted on their federal student loans , a lawsuit filed on Thursday alleges — a move that , if true , is a violation of federal law .
Elizabeth Barber , a home health aide from upstate New York , claimed in the lawsuit that the federal government seized $ 70.20 from her April 24 paycheck to go toward the more than $ 900 in student loan debt she defaulted on in 2019 .
She pointed to DeVos ' announcement back on March 24 that the Department of Education would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on federal student loans amid the COVID-19 pandemic , which has caused at least 30 million Americans to lose their jobs so far .
According to an FAQ on studentaid.gov , borrowers whose wages are seized between March 13 and Sept. 30 will supposedly be refunded .
The CARES Act — the $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief bill Congress passed in March — also paused the practice of garnishing wages on those loans until Sept. 30 , 2020 .
Barber , for her part , earns just $ 12.89 an hour .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in need , the Department — in violation of the CARES Act — continues to garnish approximately 12 % of her paychecks , '' the lawsuit stated .
Barber brought the lawsuit on behalf of 285,000 other borrowers who she alleged similarly `` had their wages garnished between March 13 and March 26 , 2020 . ''
`` On information and belief , many of these borrowers continue to have their wages garnished in violation of the CARES Act , '' the suit claimed .
The lawsuit seeks refunds for amounts that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of borrowers , as well as an order prohibiting the federal government from continuing to seize wages .
This is not the first time DeVos has been sued for violating laws meant to protect student borrowers .
In October , a federal judge held DeVos in contempt of court and fined the department $ 100,000 , after she continued to collect loans from students who were defrauded by a for-profit college chain , despite a court ordering her to stop .
Mark Brown , head of the department 's Federal Student Aid office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collections `` were not done with ill intent , '' but acknowledged that `` students and parents were affected and we take full responsibility for that . ''

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is garnishing wages of Americans who defaulted on their federal student loans, a lawsuit filed on Thursday alleges — a move that, if true, is a violation of federal law.
Elizabeth Barber, a home health aide from upstate New York, claimed in the lawsuit that the federal government seized $70.20 from her April 24 paycheck to go toward the more than $900 in student loan debt she defaulted on in 2019.
She pointed to DeVos’ announcement back on March 24 that the Department of Education would stop seizing wages from borrowers who defaulted on federal student loans amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused at least 30 million Americans to lose their jobs so far.
According to an FAQ on studentaid.gov, borrowers whose wages are seized between March 13 and Sept. 30 will supposedly be refunded.
The CARES Act — the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill Congress passed in March — also paused the practice of garnishing wages on those loans until Sept. 30, 2020.
Barber, for her part, earns just $12.89 an hour.
“As Ms. Barber continues to assist clients in need, the Department — in violation of the CARES Act — continues to garnish approximately 12% of her paychecks,” the lawsuit stated.
Barber brought the lawsuit on behalf of 285,000 other borrowers who she alleged similarly “had their wages garnished between March 13 and March 26, 2020.”
“On information and belief, many of these borrowers continue to have their wages garnished in violation of the CARES Act,” the suit claimed.
The lawsuit seeks refunds for amounts that have allegedly been garnished from hundreds of thousands of borrowers, as well as an order prohibiting the federal government from continuing to seize wages.
This is not the first time DeVos has been sued for violating laws meant to protect student borrowers.
In October, a federal judge held DeVos in contempt of court and fined the department $100,000, after she continued to collect loans from students who were defrauded by a for-profit college chain, despite a court ordering her to stop.
Mark Brown, head of the department’s Federal Student Aid office, claimed at the time that the collections “were not done with ill intent,” but acknowledged that “students and parents were affected and we take full responsibility for that.”


shareblue--2020-05-01--GOP senator: People will ignore virus safety rules so we should just get rid of them

Sen. John Kennedy ( R-LA ) said Thursday that statewide stay-at-home orders should be lifted because his constituents will simply ignore them anyway .
On Fox News , he made the argument that state and federal social distancing guidelines aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic have been a `` Nightmare on Elm Street '' and that they should be ended .
`` We ca n't sustain this , '' he said .
`` Number one , the economy will collapse .
And number two , at least the people in my state are just gon na stop complying . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` respect '' Gov .
John Bel Edwards ' extension of stay-at-home orders until May 15 , he thinks the governor `` has n't been able to completely convince the people of Louisiana '' that it was necessary to do so .
`` Many of my people are opening up .
Many Louisianians and many Americans — many of us ca n't earn a living behind a laptop .
Many of us do n't live in the Hamptons and eat quinoa summer salads , '' he said .
Edwards issued an order on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to stay at home except when doing essential things such as getting food , obtaining medical care , or working in vital fields .
When he extended the order last week , he noted that `` in several regions across the state , new cases and hospitalizations continue to increase or to plateau . ''
The governor plans to reevaluate the situation on May 15 , but some Louisiana Republican lawmakers are threatening to take away his emergency authority entirely to lift the order .
Edwards ' office said that such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal reimbursement of state emergency spending .
Polling in Louisiana in the last month showed that most registered voters strongly support their governor 's handling of the crisis .
Less than 10 % of the voters polled said they believed the response of the state and the federal government to be `` overreacting , '' and 68 % approve of Edwards ' handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Nationwide polling has shown widespread support for stay-at-home orders .
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted April 16 through 20 found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they support measures that include requiring Americans to stay in their homes and limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer — numbers that have largely held steady over the past few weeks . ''
A KFF Health Tracking Poll released April 23 found a similar result : that 80 % of Americans believe `` strict shelter-in-place measures are worth it in order to protect people and limit the spread of coronavirus . ''
Even Republicans agreed , by a 61 % to 38 % margin .
That poll also found that 81 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines for at least another month to help reduce the pandemic 's spread .
Kennedy has been pushing for weeks to end social distancing rules , suggesting that the economy is more important than public health .
But experts say reopening too quickly could hurt both public health and the economy .
The nation 's top epidemiologist , Dr. Anthony Fauci , warned last month that `` unless we get the virus under control , the real recovery economically is not going to happen . ''
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported so far in Louisiana .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said Thursday that statewide stay-at-home orders should be lifted because his constituents will simply ignore them anyway.
On Fox News, he made the argument that state and federal social distancing guidelines aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic have been a “Nightmare on Elm Street” and that they should be ended.
“We can’t sustain this,” he said. “Number one, the economy will collapse. And number two, at least the people in my state are just gonna stop complying.”
Kennedy claimed that, although he does “respect” Gov. John Bel Edwards’ extension of stay-at-home orders until May 15, he thinks the governor “hasn’t been able to completely convince the people of Louisiana” that it was necessary to do so. “Many of my people are opening up. Many Louisianians and many Americans — many of us can’t earn a living behind a laptop. Many of us don’t live in the Hamptons and eat quinoa summer salads,” he said.
Edwards issued an order on March 22 requiring most people in the state to stay at home except when doing essential things such as getting food, obtaining medical care, or working in vital fields. When he extended the order last week, he noted that “in several regions across the state, new cases and hospitalizations continue to increase or to plateau.”
The governor plans to reevaluate the situation on May 15, but some Louisiana Republican lawmakers are threatening to take away his emergency authority entirely to lift the order. Edwards’ office said that such a move could cost the state millions in federal reimbursement of state emergency spending.
Polling in Louisiana in the last month showed that most registered voters strongly support their governor’s handling of the crisis. Less than 10% of the voters polled said they believed the response of the state and the federal government to be “overreacting,” and 68% approve of Edwards’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nationwide polling has shown widespread support for stay-at-home orders. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted April 16 through 20 found that roughly “8 in 10 Americans say they support measures that include requiring Americans to stay in their homes and limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer — numbers that have largely held steady over the past few weeks.”
A KFF Health Tracking Poll released April 23 found a similar result: that 80% of Americans believe “strict shelter-in-place measures are worth it in order to protect people and limit the spread of coronavirus.” Even Republicans agreed, by a 61% to 38% margin.
That poll also found that 81% of Americans believe they could follow strict social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines for at least another month to help reduce the pandemic’s spread.
Kennedy has been pushing for weeks to end social distancing rules, suggesting that the economy is more important than public health.
But experts say reopening too quickly could hurt both public health and the economy.
The nation’s top epidemiologist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned last month that “unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery economically is not going to happen.”
More than 28,000 coronavirus cases and 1,800 deaths have been reported so far in Louisiana.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--First openly gay governor slams FDA's 'discriminatory' ban on blood donations

Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis , the country 's first openly gay governor , said on Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration 's policy on blood donations was `` discriminatory '' toward gay and bisexual men .
`` There 's really no health justification for this discriminatory policy , '' Polis said during a virtual town hall on the pandemic 's effects on the LGBTQ community .
`` Gay Americans and bi Americans , like so many others , want to help out fellow Americans .
And if we can do it by donating blood , if we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have COVID-19 antibodies , it 's really shortsighted of any kind of policy to stand in the way of [ that ] . ''
Attorneys general from 20 states sent a letter to Health and Human Services officials just last month urging them to ease the policy and citing what the American Red Cross has described as a `` severe blood shortage '' caused by social distancing safety measures intended to prevent further spread of the coronavirus .
`` In really good times we may have five days of inventory available for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a day or day-and-a-half in some cases , '' one official told NPR .
The FDA recently updated its policy on donations for men who have sex with other men , which previously required them to abstain from sex for a year if they wanted to give blood .
On April 2 , that timeline was reduced to three months .
The agency also changed the one year waiting period for female donors who have had sex with those men to three months of celibacy .
Guidelines for transgender people are even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination against them .
The FDA first imposed the donation policy during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s .
Men who 'd had sex with another man after 1977 were considered ineligible to donate blood .
It was n't until 2014 that the FDA changed the policy to allow gay and bi men to donate if they had been celibate for one year .
The Human Rights Campaign has said that it opposes the current policy because it rejects people based off of membership in a group instead of on risky behavior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has had protected oral sex with another man once in the 3 months currently barred from donating blood .
Yet a woman who has had unprotected sex with multiple partners over the same time frame with no knowledge of their personal histories remains in the donor pool , '' the Human Rights Campaign has said .
During Thursday 's virtual town hall , Susan Talamantes Eggman , a Democratic state assemblywoman from California , said the changing timeline showed that the policy was outdated .
She said the pandemic had also demonstrated why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` With the nationwide blood shortage we 're facing , it becomes more and more ridiculous to people , and I think it also helped the public become more aware of it , '' she said .
`` The LGBTQ community has been aware for a long time about these restrictions but I do n't know that larger public has been , so I think the more conversations we have about this the more people will say , 'Well that 's not right . '
'' In 2016 , when Polis was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reps. Mike Quigley , Debbie Wasserman Schultz , Barbara Lee , Diana DeGette , and Alcee Hastings to urge the FDA to change its stance on donations .
A few days after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando , which left 49 people dead , the representatives wrote a letter to the FDA commissioner asking him to end the policy .
`` Given the target , nature and timing of this particular attack , the LGBT community is especially eager to contribute to the response effort , '' they wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12-month deferral policy , which suggests that the sexual relationships of [ men who have sex with men ] and transgender women inherently pose a risk of HIV transmission , furthers a stigma that we have persistently fought to eliminate . ''
In April , more than 500 health professionals signed an open letter that similarly advised the FDA to get rid of the policy entirely .
`` Banning men from blood donation for at least a year since their most recent sexual encounter with a man is unscientific and based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wrote .
`` Fortunately , we can reliably test for HIV using antigen-based assays and maintain the safety of the U.S. blood supply . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the country’s first openly gay governor, said on Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration’s policy on blood donations was “discriminatory” toward gay and bisexual men.
“There’s really no health justification for this discriminatory policy,” Polis said during a virtual town hall on the pandemic’s effects on the LGBTQ community. “Gay Americans and bi Americans, like so many others, want to help out fellow Americans. And if we can do it by donating blood, if we can do that by donating plasma if we have COVID-19 antibodies, it’s really shortsighted of any kind of policy to stand in the way of [that].”
Attorneys general from 20 states sent a letter to Health and Human Services officials just last month urging them to ease the policy and citing what the American Red Cross has described as a “severe blood shortage” caused by social distancing safety measures intended to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
“In really good times we may have five days of inventory available for our hospital clients and now we’re running at a day or day-and-a-half in some cases,” one official told NPR.
The FDA recently updated its policy on donations for men who have sex with other men, which previously required them to abstain from sex for a year if they wanted to give blood. On April 2, that timeline was reduced to three months.
The agency also changed the one year waiting period for female donors who have had sex with those men to three months of celibacy.
Guidelines for transgender people are even more confusing and have often led to discrimination against them.
The FDA first imposed the donation policy during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Men who’d had sex with another man after 1977 were considered ineligible to donate blood.
It wasn’t until 2014 that the FDA changed the policy to allow gay and bi men to donate if they had been celibate for one year.
The Human Rights Campaign has said that it opposes the current policy because it rejects people based off of membership in a group instead of on risky behavior.
“For example, a man who has had protected oral sex with another man once in the 3 months currently barred from donating blood. Yet a woman who has had unprotected sex with multiple partners over the same time frame with no knowledge of their personal histories remains in the donor pool,” the Human Rights Campaign has said.
During Thursday’s virtual town hall, Susan Talamantes Eggman, a Democratic state assemblywoman from California, said the changing timeline showed that the policy was outdated. She said the pandemic had also demonstrated why it needed to be eliminated immediately.
“With the nationwide blood shortage we’re facing, it becomes more and more ridiculous to people, and I think it also helped the public become more aware of it,” she said.
“The LGBTQ community has been aware for a long time about these restrictions but I don’t know that larger public has been, so I think the more conversations we have about this the more people will say, ‘Well that’s not right.'”
In 2016, when Polis was a member of Congress, he worked with Reps. Mike Quigley, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Barbara Lee, Diana DeGette, and Alcee Hastings to urge the FDA to change its stance on donations.
A few days after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 people dead, the representatives wrote a letter to the FDA commissioner asking him to end the policy.
“Given the target, nature and timing of this particular attack, the LGBT community is especially eager to contribute to the response effort,” they wrote. “… We are concerned that the 12-month deferral policy, which suggests that the sexual relationships of [men who have sex with men] and transgender women inherently pose a risk of HIV transmission, furthers a stigma that we have persistently fought to eliminate.”
In April, more than 500 health professionals signed an open letter that similarly advised the FDA to get rid of the policy entirely.
“Banning men from blood donation for at least a year since their most recent sexual encounter with a man is unscientific and based on outdated antibody-based HIV testing algorithms,” they wrote. “Fortunately, we can reliably test for HIV using antigen-based assays and maintain the safety of the U.S. blood supply.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-01--GOP senator's new ad doesn't mention she paid woman praising her $380,000

Not only does a new campaign ad for Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) feature Kristen Douglas , McSally 's former staffer , lying about McSally 's position on protecting people with preexisting conditions — the ad also fails to disclose that Douglas formerly worked for McSally and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years , according to a recent report from the Arizona Republic .
`` Martha McSally will fight tirelessly to make sure that people with preexisting conditions are insured , '' Douglas , a cancer survivor , falsely claimed in the ad .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to preexisting conditions , and making sure everybody has access to health care . ''
However , McSally has voted numerous times in Congress to take away health care protections from people with preexisting conditions .
Douglas says in the as that her `` path collided '' with McSally after battling cancer .
The ad did not disclose that Douglas was McSally 's campaign manager on her 2014 House race , McSally 's deputy chief of staff from 2015 to 2017 , and that she worked as a consultant for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In total , Douglas was paid $ 381,000 by McSally for her various roles , the Republic reported , none of which was disclosed in the ad .
In addition to this ad , McSally has a long history of lying about her health care voting record .
In an April 2 teletown hall with constituents , McSally falsely claimed , `` I fully support people with preexisting conditions , ensuring that they can not be denied health insurance . ''
She made a similar claim during a November 2019 teletown hall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure everybody that has a preexisting condition can get access to health insurance and they are not denied by insurance companies . ''
Yet when she has had the chance to vote in Congress , McSally has consistently opted to take away health care protections for people with preexisting conditions .
As a House member in 2017 , McSally joined her Republican colleagues to vote for a GOP-backed bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip away protections for people with preexisting conditions .
She rallied her colleagues to vote for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fucking thing done . ''
After being appointed to the Senate , McSally backed an effort by the Trump administration to allow more people to buy so-called `` junk '' insurance policies .
The AARP opposed the expansion because the plans `` can ignore many of the ACA rules , [ and ] their expanded availability could hurt Americans between 50 and 64 years old who need comprehensive coverage , including those with preexisting conditions . ''
McSally 's misleading ad was released less than a month after election experts at Sabato @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arizona Senate race from `` toss-up '' to `` leans Democratic . ''
The group made the change because polling shows Democratic candidate Mark Kelly leading in many recent polls `` and not just by a little : four surveys in March showed Kelly up anywhere from five to 12 points , a better margin than Biden enjoys in the state . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Not only does a new campaign ad for Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) feature Kristen Douglas, McSally’s former staffer, lying about McSally’s position on protecting people with preexisting conditions — the ad also fails to disclose that Douglas formerly worked for McSally and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, according to a recent report from the Arizona Republic.
“Martha McSally will fight tirelessly to make sure that people with preexisting conditions are insured,” Douglas, a cancer survivor, falsely claimed in the ad. “She’s fighting for what’s right when it comes to preexisting conditions, and making sure everybody has access to health care.”
However, McSally has voted numerous times in Congress to take away health care protections from people with preexisting conditions.
Douglas says in the as that her “path collided” with McSally after battling cancer. The ad did not disclose that Douglas was McSally’s campaign manager on her 2014 House race, McSally’s deputy chief of staff from 2015 to 2017, and that she worked as a consultant for McSally’s failed 2018 Senate campaign.
In total, Douglas was paid $381,000 by McSally for her various roles, the Republic reported, none of which was disclosed in the ad.
In addition to this ad, McSally has a long history of lying about her health care voting record.
In an April 2 teletown hall with constituents, McSally falsely claimed, “I fully support people with preexisting conditions, ensuring that they cannot be denied health insurance.”
She made a similar claim during a November 2019 teletown hall, telling constituents, “I support making sure everybody that has a preexisting condition can get access to health insurance and they are not denied by insurance companies.”
Yet when she has had the chance to vote in Congress, McSally has consistently opted to take away health care protections for people with preexisting conditions.
As a House member in 2017, McSally joined her Republican colleagues to vote for a GOP-backed bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip away protections for people with preexisting conditions. She rallied her colleagues to vote for the bill, telling them to get “this fucking thing done.”
After being appointed to the Senate, McSally backed an effort by the Trump administration to allow more people to buy so-called “junk” insurance policies. The AARP opposed the expansion because the plans “can ignore many of the ACA rules, [and] their expanded availability could hurt Americans between 50 and 64 years old who need comprehensive coverage, including those with preexisting conditions.”
McSally’s misleading ad was released less than a month after election experts at Sabato’s Crystal Ball changed their rating of the Arizona Senate race from “toss-up” to “leans Democratic.”
The group made the change because polling shows Democratic candidate Mark Kelly leading in many recent polls “and not just by a little: four surveys in March showed Kelly up anywhere from five to 12 points, a better margin than Biden enjoys in the state.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.