shareblue--2020-05-12--McConnell calls Obama 'classless' for criticizing Trump's botched virus response

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attacked Barack Obama on Monday over his private criticism of Donald Trump 's botched response to the COVID-19 pandemic , calling the former president `` classless . ''
McConnell , who has himself frequently criticized Obama since the 2016 election , said at an online Trump reelection event that Obama `` should have kept his mouth shut . ''
`` You know , we know he does n't like much this administration is doing .
That 's understandable .
But I think it 's a little bit classless frankly to critique an administration that comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You had your shot .
You were there for eight years .
I think the tradition that the Bushes set up of not critiquing the president who comes after you is a good tradition . ''
George W. Bush has also criticized Trump .
McConnell was apparently responding to reports that Obama told former staffers in a private phone call on Friday that Trump 's response to the pandemic has been `` anemic and spotty . ''
`` It would have been bad even with the best of governments .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mindset — of 'what 's in it for me ' and 'to heck with everybody else ' — when that mindset is operationalized in our government , '' Obama apparently observed .
Obama 's view is shared by most Americans : A CNN poll released Tuesday found that just 42 % of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling the coronavirus outbreak , compared to 55 % who disapprove .
As the coronavirus was first detected in the United States in January , Trump repeatedly dismissed the threat , saying it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , he predicted it would `` miraculously '' go away by April .
Even into March , he suggested social distancing measures were unnecessary and that the country could reopen by Easter .
Despite promising on March 6 that `` anyone that wants a test can get a test , '' Trump administration failed on their promise to distribute millions of tests by mid-March .
Faced with widespread criticism for lack of available tests , Trump tried to shift the blame , first saying that testing was `` up to the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a local thing . ''
Trump also refused to provide sufficient ventilators to states as hospitals struggled to deal with a shortage of the devices .
`` The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping .
You know , we 're not a shipping clerk , '' he complained in March .
Experts have said the administration 's failures lead to the current crisis .
`` We 've been woefully behind this entire time .
And I think what most Americans need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down — our economy is shut down — is because we 've had inadequate testing , '' Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , told CNN on April 17 .
`` Our public health agencies were plagued by misfortune and made mistakes as the COVID-19 virus spread .
But those problems could have been overcome by effective leadership .
They were n't , '' wrote Stuart Shapiro , director of the public policy program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of overcoming them , the Trump administration , by pushing to reduce the capacity of government and pressuring agencies to minimize the impacts of the virus , made disastrous outcomes more likely . ''
McConnell 's comments came the same day as Trump went after two female reporters at a press briefing .
First , he told an Asian American journalist to `` ask China '' her `` nasty question '' about why he believes testing is a global competition .
Then , when another journalist paused to let her ask a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question and abruptly ended the press conference .
More than 1.3 million COVID-19 cases and about 80,000 deaths have been reported in the United States so far .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attacked Barack Obama on Monday over his private criticism of Donald Trump’s botched response to the COVID-19 pandemic, calling the former president “classless.”
McConnell, who has himself frequently criticized Obama since the 2016 election, said at an online Trump reelection event that Obama “should have kept his mouth shut.”
“You know, we know he doesn’t like much this administration is doing. That’s understandable. But I think it’s a little bit classless frankly to critique an administration that comes after you,” McConnell opined. “You had your shot. You were there for eight years. I think the tradition that the Bushes set up of not critiquing the president who comes after you is a good tradition.” George W. Bush has also criticized Trump.
McConnell was apparently responding to reports that Obama told former staffers in a private phone call on Friday that Trump’s response to the pandemic has been “anemic and spotty.”
“It would have been bad even with the best of governments. It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset — of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to heck with everybody else’ — when that mindset is operationalized in our government,” Obama apparently observed.
Obama’s view is shared by most Americans: A CNN poll released Tuesday found that just 42% of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling the coronavirus outbreak, compared to 55% who disapprove.
As the coronavirus was first detected in the United States in January, Trump repeatedly dismissed the threat, saying it was “totally under control.” Throughout February, he predicted it would “miraculously” go away by April. Even into March, he suggested social distancing measures were unnecessary and that the country could reopen by Easter.
Despite promising on March 6 that “anyone that wants a test can get a test,” Trump administration failed on their promise to distribute millions of tests by mid-March. Faced with widespread criticism for lack of available tests, Trump tried to shift the blame, first saying that testing was “up to the states” and then saying it is “a local thing.”
Trump also refused to provide sufficient ventilators to states as hospitals struggled to deal with a shortage of the devices.
“The federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we’re not a shipping clerk,” he complained in March.
Experts have said the administration’s failures lead to the current crisis.
“We’ve been woefully behind this entire time. And I think what most Americans need to know is the reason we are shut down — our economy is shut down — is because we’ve had inadequate testing,” Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told CNN on April 17.
“Our public health agencies were plagued by misfortune and made mistakes as the COVID-19 virus spread. But those problems could have been overcome by effective leadership. They weren’t,” wrote Stuart Shapiro, director of the public policy program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, in an April opinion piece. “And instead of overcoming them, the Trump administration, by pushing to reduce the capacity of government and pressuring agencies to minimize the impacts of the virus, made disastrous outcomes more likely.”
McConnell’s comments came the same day as Trump went after two female reporters at a press briefing. First, he told an Asian American journalist to “ask China” her “nasty question” about why he believes testing is a global competition. Then, when another journalist paused to let her ask a follow-up, Trump refused to hear the question and abruptly ended the press conference.
More than 1.3 million COVID-19 cases and about 80,000 deaths have been reported in the United States so far.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-12--Leaked White House memo shows Trump is lying about virus numbers 'coming down'

Leaked White House documents show a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases in several cities in middle America , directly contradicting Donald Trump 's comments Monday that the virus is under control .
According to a May 7 coronavirus task force memo obtained by NBC News , cities in Tennessee , Iowa , Texas , and Kentucky saw a spike in coronavirus cases in the seven-day period leading up to that date , with Central City , Kentucky , experiencing a 650 % increase in that same time frame .
Charlotte , North Carolina , and Kansas City , Missouri , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same seven-day period .
The memo also advised members of the task force to keep an eye on several cities in Nebraska , Ohio , Alabama , Minnesota , and Arizona because of a spike in confirmed cases .
Despite the data , Trump went on television on Monday and falsely declared that the `` numbers are really coming down very substantially . ''
`` The numbers are coming down very rapidly — all throughout the country , by the way , '' he said , referring to the total cases nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notably comes as a number of states begin to ease stay-at-home orders and other safety measures intended to slow the spread of the virus .
Trump himself has repeatedly pushed for the country to reopen , against expert advice , tweeting Monday that states like Pennsylvania `` want their freedom now , and they are fully aware of what that entails . ''
`` The Democrats are moving slowly , all over the USA , for political purposes .
They would wait until November 3rd if it were up to them .
Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , move quickly ! ''
he wrote .
Trump 's lie on Monday is the latest example of him contradicting direct evidence about the pandemic to downplay the threat .
On Feb. 24 , despite repeated warnings from the intelligence community about the severity of the crisis , Trump declared , `` The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA . ''
The next month , even as the virus continued to ravage through the country and the death toll surged , Trump promised that it would magically disappear .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm .
It will go away , '' he claimed on March 10 .
More than two months after Trump made that claim , the virus has persisted .
A May 6 analysis by the Associated Press showed that coronavirus infections were continuing to increase across the country .
As of Tuesday morning , at least 1,354,300 people had confirmed coronavirus cases , and approximately 80,684 people had died .
Many of the cities experiencing a sharp increase in cases are located in Republican-led states that have pushed to reopen the economy against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country 's top infectious disease expert , is expected to warn Congress at a hearing before the Senate Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions Committee that abandoning safety guidelines too quickly `` will not only result in needless suffering and death , but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Leaked White House documents show a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases in several cities in middle America, directly contradicting Donald Trump’s comments Monday that the virus is under control.
According to a May 7 coronavirus task force memo obtained by NBC News, cities in Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, and Kentucky saw a spike in coronavirus cases in the seven-day period leading up to that date, with Central City, Kentucky, experiencing a 650% increase in that same time frame.
Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kansas City, Missouri, both had increases of 200% over the same seven-day period.
The memo also advised members of the task force to keep an eye on several cities in Nebraska, Ohio, Alabama, Minnesota, and Arizona because of a spike in confirmed cases.
Despite the data, Trump went on television on Monday and falsely declared that the “numbers are really coming down very substantially.”
“The numbers are coming down very rapidly — all throughout the country, by the way,” he said, referring to the total cases nationwide.
The sudden uptick in coronavirus cases notably comes as a number of states begin to ease stay-at-home orders and other safety measures intended to slow the spread of the virus. Trump himself has repeatedly pushed for the country to reopen, against expert advice, tweeting Monday that states like Pennsylvania “want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails.”
“The Democrats are moving slowly, all over the USA, for political purposes. They would wait until November 3rd if it were up to them. Don’t play politics. Be safe, move quickly!” he wrote.
Trump’s lie on Monday is the latest example of him contradicting direct evidence about the pandemic to downplay the threat.
On Feb. 24, despite repeated warnings from the intelligence community about the severity of the crisis, Trump declared, “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA.”
The next month, even as the virus continued to ravage through the country and the death toll surged, Trump promised that it would magically disappear.
“It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away,” he claimed on March 10.
More than two months after Trump made that claim, the virus has persisted.
A May 6 analysis by the Associated Press showed that coronavirus infections were continuing to increase across the country. As of Tuesday morning, at least 1,354,300 people had confirmed coronavirus cases, and approximately 80,684 people had died.
Many of the cities experiencing a sharp increase in cases are located in Republican-led states that have pushed to reopen the economy against the advice of health experts.
On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, is expected to warn Congress at a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that abandoning safety guidelines too quickly “will not only result in needless suffering and death, but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--Arkansas wants to use COVID-19 to stop people from accessing abortion

Even as parts of the country start to reopen and resume business activities , including medical services , access to abortion services is not necessarily returning in those states that cited the pandemic to ban it .
In March and April , eight states — Alabama , Arkansas , Iowa , Louisiana , Ohio , Tennessee , Texas , and West Virginia — issued executive orders severely restricting or banning abortion by calling it a `` non-essential '' or `` elective '' surgery .
In turn , this forced a series of court battles about whether the procedure should remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeals court upheld Arkansas ' attempt to ban most abortions under a virus-related executive order in late April , the state decided to allow some abortions to take place when some other medical procedures resumed .
There 's a significant catch , however : Patients seeking an abortion must have a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to the procedure .
The ACLU has since sued on behalf of the Little Rock Family Planning Services clinic , which is the only abortion provider in Arkansas .
The ACLU argued that for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the abortion , the state 's order `` entirely bars them from exercising their constitutional right to receive pre-viability abortion care in Arkansas . ''
A federal court refused to issue a temporary restraining order blocking Arkansas from imposing the testing requirement , saying that since the 48-hour negative test requirement applied to all elective surgeries and did n't single out abortion , the test requirement could stand .
The court 's decision rested on framing abortion as one of a number of `` elective '' surgeries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedure .
Delaying access to abortion can result in an abortion much later in pregnancy than a patient had planned for or no abortion at all .
Abortions later in pregnancy can be much more expensive , not simply because of the cost of the procedure , but because traveling far away may require lodging , childcare , and multiple days off of work .
The ACLU 's concern regarding whether people could easily obtain a COVID-19 test seems supported by the low testing rates in Arkansas .
The federal district court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion , noted that as of May 7 , only 58,713 people in the state had been tested for coronavirus .
In a state of roughly 3 million people , that means that less than 2 % have been tested .
The state expects to receive 90,000 tests from the Centers for Disease Control sometime in May with a goal of testing 60,000 people in the entire month .
At that pace , only 4 % of Arkansas ' population can hope to have been tested by the end of the month and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread enough that a person seeking an abortion could easily obtain one .
If obtaining COVID-19 tests in Arkansas remains difficult , abortion access will likely remain largely unavailable in Arkansas .
The state has been deemed very hostile to abortion by the Guttmacher Institute , an organization that studies reproductive health laws and policy , and the Legislature has already passed a law saying that if Roe v. Wade is overturned , abortion will automatically become illegal in the state .
There 's also mandatory counseling , a waiting period , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mandatory parental consent , and abortion is banned after 20 weeks save for very limited circumstances .
When residents of Arkansas ca n't obtain a COVID-19 test prior to needing an abortion , their only option would be to travel out of state , as the executive order that the court upheld makes no exception for people who will reach the state 's legal limit of 20 weeks while the order is in effect .
That would increase the average distance needed to travel to get an abortion from an average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Even as parts of the country start to reopen and resume business activities, including medical services, access to abortion services is not necessarily returning in those states that cited the pandemic to ban it.
In March and April, eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia — issued executive orders severely restricting or banning abortion by calling it a “non-essential” or “elective” surgery. In turn, this forced a series of court battles about whether the procedure should remain available during the pandemic.
After an appeals court upheld Arkansas’ attempt to ban most abortions under a virus-related executive order in late April, the state decided to allow some abortions to take place when some other medical procedures resumed. There’s a significant catch, however: Patients seeking an abortion must have a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to the procedure.
The ACLU has since sued on behalf of the Little Rock Family Planning Services clinic, which is the only abortion provider in Arkansas. The ACLU argued that for people who cannot obtain access to a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the abortion, the state’s order “entirely bars them from exercising their constitutional right to receive pre-viability abortion care in Arkansas.”
A federal court refused to issue a temporary restraining order blocking Arkansas from imposing the testing requirement, saying that since the 48-hour negative test requirement applied to all elective surgeries and didn’t single out abortion, the test requirement could stand.
The court’s decision rested on framing abortion as one of a number of “elective” surgeries. However, abortion is a time-sensitive procedure. Delaying access to abortion can result in an abortion much later in pregnancy than a patient had planned for or no abortion at all. Abortions later in pregnancy can be much more expensive, not simply because of the cost of the procedure, but because traveling far away may require lodging, childcare, and multiple days off of work.
The ACLU’s concern regarding whether people could easily obtain a COVID-19 test seems supported by the low testing rates in Arkansas. The federal district court, in its order denying the ACLU’s motion, noted that as of May 7, only 58,713 people in the state had been tested for coronavirus. In a state of roughly 3 million people, that means that less than 2% have been tested.
The state expects to receive 90,000 tests from the Centers for Disease Control sometime in May with a goal of testing 60,000 people in the entire month. At that pace, only 4% of Arkansas’ population can hope to have been tested by the end of the month and that such testing is in no way widespread enough that a person seeking an abortion could easily obtain one.
If obtaining COVID-19 tests in Arkansas remains difficult, abortion access will likely remain largely unavailable in Arkansas. The state has been deemed very hostile to abortion by the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that studies reproductive health laws and policy, and the Legislature has already passed a law saying that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion will automatically become illegal in the state.
There’s also mandatory counseling, a waiting period, a prohibition on telemedicine to administer medication abortions, mandatory parental consent, and abortion is banned after 20 weeks save for very limited circumstances.
When residents of Arkansas can’t obtain a COVID-19 test prior to needing an abortion, their only option would be to travel out of state, as the executive order that the court upheld makes no exception for people who will reach the state’s legal limit of 20 weeks while the order is in effect. That would increase the average distance needed to travel to get an abortion from an average of 48 miles to 128 miles.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--GOP candidate wants kids back in school just like in the 'pre vaccine era'

A Republican congressional candidate has suggested that children go back to school during the coronavirus pandemic based on the fact that children attended school before vaccines were invented .
`` Children have a greater ability to develop immunities to this virus based on the evidence we have so far , '' Claudia Tenney , a former member of Congress who is running for the seat she held in New York 's 22nd Congressional District , tweeted on Tuesday .
`` A cautious approach to returning to school is essential .
Children attended school in the pre vaccine era for over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignores data on mortality rates prior to the invention of vaccines and on the effectiveness of vaccines , as well as warnings from the nation 's top infectious disease expert .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes , with regard to the incidence of various infectious diseases before vaccines were available , that hundreds died from measles every year ; 15,000 Americans died of diphtheria in 1921 alone ; and in 1964-1965 , 2,000 babies died of rubella during an epidemic that infected 12.5 million people in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines prevented 21 million hospitalizations and more than 730,000 child deaths just between 1984 and 2014 .
Tenney 's comments on children 's immunity were at variance with a warning from Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
During a Tuesday Senate hearing , Fauci cautioned , `` I think we better be careful , if we are not cavalier , in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects '' of the new coronavirus .
He added that `` the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do much , much better than adults and the elderly and particularly those with underlying conditions .
But I am very careful , and hopefully humble in knowing that I do n't know everything about this disease . ''
Fauci mentioned the emergence of a mysterious illness in children that may be linked to the new coronavirus .
According to CBS News , 15 states are investigating the illness , which has killed three children in New York .
Tenney also ignores the impact of reopening schools on teachers .
Almost one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at high risk for severe cases of the coronavirus due to age , according to U.S. News and World Report .
`` Seems like Claudia Tenney should be prudent and listen to science and medical experts , instead of encouraging an unnecessary return to the days before modern medicine when children were at great risk , '' Christine Bennett , a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman , said in a Wednesday statement .
The Tenney campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

A Republican congressional candidate has suggested that children go back to school during the coronavirus pandemic based on the fact that children attended school before vaccines were invented.
“Children have a greater ability to develop immunities to this virus based on the evidence we have so far,” Claudia Tenney, a former member of Congress who is running for the seat she held in New York’s 22nd Congressional District, tweeted on Tuesday. “A cautious approach to returning to school is essential. Children attended school in the pre vaccine era for over a century.”
Tenney’s suggestion ignores data on mortality rates prior to the invention of vaccines and on the effectiveness of vaccines, as well as warnings from the nation’s top infectious disease expert.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, with regard to the incidence of various infectious diseases before vaccines were available, that hundreds died from measles every year; 15,000 Americans died of diphtheria in 1921 alone; and in 1964-1965, 2,000 babies died of rubella during an epidemic that infected 12.5 million people in the United States.
By contrast, the CDC says, vaccines prevented 21 million hospitalizations and more than 730,000 child deaths just between 1984 and 2014.
Tenney’s comments on children’s immunity were at variance with a warning from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
During a Tuesday Senate hearing, Fauci cautioned, “I think we better be careful, if we are not cavalier, in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects” of the new coronavirus. He added that “the numbers [show] that children in general do much, much better than adults and the elderly and particularly those with underlying conditions. But I am very careful, and hopefully humble in knowing that I don’t know everything about this disease.”
Fauci mentioned the emergence of a mysterious illness in children that may be linked to the new coronavirus. According to CBS News, 15 states are investigating the illness, which has killed three children in New York.
Tenney also ignores the impact of reopening schools on teachers. Almost one in three teachers in the United States is at high risk for severe cases of the coronavirus due to age, according to U.S. News and World Report.
“Seems like Claudia Tenney should be prudent and listen to science and medical experts, instead of encouraging an unnecessary return to the days before modern medicine when children were at great risk,” Christine Bennett, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman, said in a Wednesday statement.
The Tenney campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--GOP congressman claims he won't 'allow hate and bigotry' after defending it

Ohio GOP Rep. Steve Stivers vowed Wednesday he would never vote to give Rep. Steve King ( R-IA ) his committee assignments back , declaring that he would `` not allow hate & bigotry to influence the legislation passed by Congress . ''
Stivers was referring to King 's recent claims that House Republican leadership would hold a vote to reinstate his committee assignments , which were stripped after King made racist comments in January last year questioning why white supremacy was considered `` offensive . ''
`` I am a member of the Republican Steering Committee and former NRCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am a member of the Steering Committee , I will not allow that type of person or that type of ideology to influence the legislation passed by Congress , '' Stivers said in an Instagram post , that included a photo with `` STAND AGAINST RACISM '' written in all capital letters .
`` He will not be serving on any committee , '' he added .
`` Steve King does more to hurt Republican and conservative causes than help . ''
However when Stivers served as chair of the National Republican Congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arm which he referenced on Wednesday — the committee ran several racist and anti-Semitic ads , some of which Stivers himself defended at the time .
In October 2018 , days before the midterm elections , Stivers defended an NRCC attack ad against a Democratic candidate that featured philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros sitting behind a stack of money .
The ad ran in the days after a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh , which was carried out by an anti-Semite who had allegedly embraced GOP conspiracy theories about Soros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an independent arm of the NRCC made the ad , but defended its contents .
`` That ad is factual , '' Stivers said at the time .
`` And it also has nothing to do with calling for violence .
That ad is a factual ad . ''
Stivers also declined to condemn an overtly racist ad the NRCC ran against now-Rep. Antonio Delgado ( D-NY ) , which painted Delgado as a `` big-city rapper '' clad in a hoodie .
King claimed in an interview with a local radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , and that the two had `` reached an understanding '' on reinstating him to his prior committee assignments .
`` The only barrier in the way of putting back all my committees , perhaps incrementally as there are openings that can be created , is to get a formal meeting of the Steering Committee because they 're officially the ones who make that decision , '' he said at the time .
He claimed it `` was n't right to make him wait until after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy has not yet commented publicly on the matter .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Ohio GOP Rep. Steve Stivers vowed Wednesday he would never vote to give Rep. Steve King (R-IA) his committee assignments back, declaring that he would “not allow hate & bigotry to influence the legislation passed by Congress.”
Stivers was referring to King’s recent claims that House Republican leadership would hold a vote to reinstate his committee assignments, which were stripped after King made racist comments in January last year questioning why white supremacy was considered “offensive.”
“I am a member of the Republican Steering Committee and former NRCC Chairman, and as long as I am a member of the Steering Committee, I will not allow that type of person or that type of ideology to influence the legislation passed by Congress,” Stivers said in an Instagram post, that included a photo with “STAND AGAINST RACISM” written in all capital letters.
“He will not be serving on any committee,” he added. “Steve King does more to hurt Republican and conservative causes than help.”
However when Stivers served as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee — the House GOP’s campaign arm which he referenced on Wednesday — the committee ran several racist and anti-Semitic ads, some of which Stivers himself defended at the time.
In October 2018, days before the midterm elections, Stivers defended an NRCC attack ad against a Democratic candidate that featured philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros sitting behind a stack of money.
The ad ran in the days after a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, which was carried out by an anti-Semite who had allegedly embraced GOP conspiracy theories about Soros prior to the shooting.
Stivers said that an independent arm of the NRCC made the ad, but defended its contents.
“That ad is factual,” Stivers said at the time. “And it also has nothing to do with calling for violence. That ad is a factual ad.”
Stivers also declined to condemn an overtly racist ad the NRCC ran against now-Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY), which painted Delgado as a “big-city rapper” clad in a hoodie.
King claimed in an interview with a local radio station last month that he had spoken with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and that the two had “reached an understanding” on reinstating him to his prior committee assignments.
“The only barrier in the way of putting back all my committees, perhaps incrementally as there are openings that can be created, is to get a formal meeting of the Steering Committee because they’re officially the ones who make that decision,” he said at the time.
He claimed it “wasn’t right to make him wait until after the November election” to reinstate him.
McCarthy has not yet commented publicly on the matter.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--House GOP demands members risk their lives instead of working from home

Three House Republicans on Wednesday attacked a Democratic plan to let some House members work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic , suggesting that working from home would constitute what they termed abandoning ship .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ; Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois , the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration ; and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma , the ranking member of the Committee on Rules , released a joint statement opposing the proposal to temporarily allow proxy voting and remote hearings .
`` Across our nation , Americans of all stripes are making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus — and they expect Washington to do the same , '' the Republicans wrote .
`` Unfortunately , far from being 'captains of this ship ' as Speaker Pelosi recently proclaimed , the Democrats ' proposal calls for the House of Representatives to abandon ship — potentially for the remainder of the session . ''
McCarthy , Davis , and Cole rejected a rule change , proposed by Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern and unveiled by Democratic leaders on Wednesday , that would allow absent lawmakers to designate a colleague to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House floor during the `` public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus . ''
The plan also allows committees to meet remotely via online systems .
If the resolution on the change is approved , members of Congress will have the option to practice social distancing to help curb the virus 's spread while still doing their jobs .
Millions of Americans have been doing the same since the pandemic shut down much of the nation in March .
McCarthy , Davis , and Cole are not the first GOP lawmakers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress is an abdication of duty .
Last month , Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks accused his `` # Socialist # Democrat '' colleagues of proposing remote voting so they could `` GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill . ''
Republicans have demanded the House reopen for business immediately , even after House physician Brian Monahan expressed concern about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the District of Columbia .
`` The American people need to see Congress in action and not sitting on the sidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) tweeted in late April .
`` 'Where 's Waldo ' ?
No , it 's 'Where Are The Democrats ? '
'' Rep. Thomas Massie ( R-KY ) mocked the Democratic majority for listening to medical advice , posting on Facebook : `` In which Article of the Constitution does it mention that a 'House Physician shall direct members of Congress when they shall convene ' ? ''
At least six members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Late last month , the House held two roll-call votes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor to vote at a time .
Each vote was scheduled for 15 minutes but took more than an hour to complete .
The Republicans on Wednesday also claimed that the teleworking proposal `` facilitates only legislative theater while enabling the most significant power grab in the history of Congress , leaving our constituents ' voices shut out of the real lawmaking process '' and `` disregards rights of the minority at all levels , a failure of leadership that will have lasting consequences for our institution beyond the current pandemic . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by proxy , which does not interfere with any member 's ability to vote in person , or conducting hearings remotely `` disregards rights of the minority . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Three House Republicans on Wednesday attacked a Democratic plan to let some House members work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that working from home would constitute what they termed abandoning ship.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy; Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration; and Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the ranking member of the Committee on Rules, released a joint statement opposing the proposal to temporarily allow proxy voting and remote hearings.
“Across our nation, Americans of all stripes are making sacrifices and doing their part to defeat this virus — and they expect Washington to do the same,” the Republicans wrote. “Unfortunately, far from being ‘captains of this ship’ as Speaker Pelosi recently proclaimed, the Democrats’ proposal calls for the House of Representatives to abandon ship — potentially for the remainder of the session.”
McCarthy, Davis, and Cole rejected a rule change, proposed by Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern and unveiled by Democratic leaders on Wednesday, that would allow absent lawmakers to designate a colleague to cast votes on their behalf on the House floor during the “public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus.” The plan also allows committees to meet remotely via online systems.
If the resolution on the change is approved, members of Congress will have the option to practice social distancing to help curb the virus’s spread while still doing their jobs. Millions of Americans have been doing the same since the pandemic shut down much of the nation in March.
McCarthy, Davis, and Cole are not the first GOP lawmakers to suggest that a proxy plan for members of Congress is an abdication of duty. Last month, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks accused his “#Socialist #Democrat” colleagues of proposing remote voting so they could “GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill.”
Republicans have demanded the House reopen for business immediately, even after House physician Brian Monahan expressed concern about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the District of Columbia.
“The American people need to see Congress in action and not sitting on the sidelines,” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) tweeted in late April. “‘Where’s Waldo’? No, it’s ‘Where Are The Democrats?'”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) mocked the Democratic majority for listening to medical advice, posting on Facebook: “In which Article of the Constitution does it mention that a ‘House Physician shall direct members of Congress when they shall convene’?”
At least six members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Late last month, the House held two roll-call votes with only a few members allowed on the floor to vote at a time. Each vote was scheduled for 15 minutes but took more than an hour to complete.
The Republicans on Wednesday also claimed that the teleworking proposal “facilitates only legislative theater while enabling the most significant power grab in the history of Congress, leaving our constituents’ voices shut out of the real lawmaking process” and “disregards rights of the minority at all levels, a failure of leadership that will have lasting consequences for our institution beyond the current pandemic.”
It is not clear how permitting voting by proxy, which does not interfere with any member’s ability to vote in person, or conducting hearings remotely “disregards rights of the minority.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--6 times Trump praised deeply flawed coronavirus test

A report released Wednesday revealed that a COVID-19 test from Abbott Laboratories that Donald Trump has frequently touted has a high failure rate .
The Bloomberg report , which cites a new study out of New York University , states that the research , `` which has yet to be confirmed , found that Abbott ’ s ID NOW missed at least one-third of positive cases detected with a rival test and much as 48 % when using the currently recommended dry nasal swabs . ''
The Abbott test received emergency use authorization from the FDA on March 27 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the White House , Trump took the machine out of its box and displayed it for reporters while discussing its availability and the role it would play in advancing America 's testing capability .
Trump has repeatedly promoted and praised the test since then .
During a press briefing with the White House coronavirus task force on March 30 , Trump stated , `` We have something from Abbott Labs , which is right here , and that ’ s a five-minute test , highly accurate . ''
Later in the briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and described it as `` not nearly as disturbing to do as the other tests . ''
April 10 : 'Very quick ' and 'very easy' In a task force briefing on April 10 , Trump called the test `` very fast . ''
`` We have the Abbott test , which is very quick and very easy .
It goes very fast , '' he said .
He added that they also had a `` lesser test that we talked about where we can talk about a larger area , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was referring .
During another task force press briefing on April 17 , Trump said his administration had been `` promoting the development of new and innovative tests , '' specifically mentioning the `` 15-minute Abbott test . ''
`` As of yesterday , we have distributed nearly 660,000 Abbott IDs .
Now , that ’ s a — an incredible test , '' he said , later in the briefing .
`` ...
It 's fantastic .
It 's a hot — it 's the hot one . ''
He also thanked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' April 18 : ' A lot of people ' like it '' A lot of people like the Abbott test that we came up with , '' Trump said during another briefing on April 18 .
`` Abbott is a brand-new technology , brand-new test .
It ’ s great .
It ’ s five minutes , boom , you put it in . ''
He noted , `` And we ’ re making thousands of machines .
Abbott is making thousands and thousands of machines . ''
Trump also said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swap test and `` the new test that just came out , the Abbott , where they just touch your nose , basically .
And they put it in a machine , and literally , a few minutes later , they tell you if you ’ re fine . ''
`` I was lucky in both cases , because I ’ ve seen the damage that this does to people , '' he added .
`` But we have great tests . ''
In a task force press briefing on April 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people love the Abbott test .
So do I . ''
`` You know , the Abbott test is great because it 's , boom , it 's — they touch , they put it in , and in five minutes you have — the problem is that does n't do massive numbers like the big machine , '' he said .
`` [ The Abbott test is ] a brand-new test , '' Trump said on April 30 .
`` That did n't exist eight weeks ago , and now it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Everybody wants that test . ''
Later in the briefing , Trump once again called the test `` so great , '' claiming the prior administration had left them with `` empty cupboards . ''
`` We started off with bad , broken tests and obsolete tests , '' he claimed , declining to elaborate on the remark or specify to what he was referring .
Medical experts have said a robust medical testing system — with as many as 5 million tests or more being conducted each day — needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reopen safely for business .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , a member of the coronavirus task force , has repeatedly warned that a premature return without such a scheme could lead to renewed outbreaks and more deaths .
Additionally , testing systems would have to have a much lower failure rate than what has been reported for the Abbott system to meet the thresholds that experts have indicated .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A report released Wednesday revealed that a COVID-19 test from Abbott Laboratories that Donald Trump has frequently touted has a high failure rate.
The Bloomberg report, which cites a new study out of New York University, states that the research, “which has yet to be confirmed, found that Abbott’s ID NOW missed at least one-third of positive cases detected with a rival test and much as 48% when using the currently recommended dry nasal swabs.”
The Abbott test received emergency use authorization from the FDA on March 27, and in a March 30 press conference at the White House, Trump took the machine out of its box and displayed it for reporters while discussing its availability and the role it would play in advancing America’s testing capability.
Trump has repeatedly promoted and praised the test since then.
March 30: ‘Highly accurate’
During a press briefing with the White House coronavirus task force on March 30, Trump stated, “We have something from Abbott Labs, which is right here, and that’s a five-minute test, highly accurate.”
Later in the briefing, Trump called the test “incredible” and described it as “not nearly as disturbing to do as the other tests.”
April 10: ‘Very quick’ and ‘very easy’
In a task force briefing on April 10, Trump called the test “very fast.”
“We have the Abbott test, which is very quick and very easy. It goes very fast,” he said.
He added that they also had a “lesser test that we talked about where we can talk about a larger area,” but did not specify to what he was referring.
April 17: ‘New and innovative”
During another task force press briefing on April 17, Trump said his administration had been “promoting the development of new and innovative tests,” specifically mentioning the “15-minute Abbott test.”
“As of yesterday, we have distributed nearly 660,000 Abbott IDs. Now, that’s a — an incredible test,” he said, later in the briefing. “…It’s fantastic. It’s a hot — it’s the hot one.”
He also thanked Abbott Laboratories for being “incredible.”
April 18: ‘A lot of people’ like it
“A lot of people like the Abbott test that we came up with,” Trump said during another briefing on April 18. “Abbott is a brand-new technology, brand-new test. It’s great. It’s five minutes, boom, you put it in.”
He noted, “And we’re making thousands of machines. Abbott is making thousands and thousands of machines.”
Trump also said he’d been tested using both a nasal swap test and “the new test that just came out, the Abbott, where they just touch your nose, basically. And they put it in a machine, and literally, a few minutes later, they tell you if you’re fine.”
“I was lucky in both cases, because I’ve seen the damage that this does to people,” he added. “But we have great tests.”
April 20: I ‘love the Abbott test’
In a task force press briefing on April 20, Trump claimed, “A lot of people love the Abbott test. So do I.”
“You know, the Abbott test is great because it’s, boom, it’s — they touch, they put it in, and in five minutes you have — the problem is that doesn’t do massive numbers like the big machine,” he said.
April 30: ‘The rage’
“[The Abbott test is] a brand-new test,” Trump said on April 30. “That didn’t exist eight weeks ago, and now it’s like the rage.”
He added, “Everybody wants that test.”
Later in the briefing, Trump once again called the test “so great,” claiming the prior administration had left them with “empty cupboards.”
“We started off with bad, broken tests and obsolete tests,” he claimed, declining to elaborate on the remark or specify to what he was referring.
Medical experts have said a robust medical testing system — with as many as 5 million tests or more being conducted each day — needs to be in place before the country can reopen safely for business.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force, has repeatedly warned that a premature return without such a scheme could lead to renewed outbreaks and more deaths.
Additionally, testing systems would have to have a much lower failure rate than what has been reported for the Abbott system to meet the thresholds that experts have indicated.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--GOP senator blames Trump-appointed CDC officials for testing failures

Sen. Mike Braun ( R-IN ) blamed the Trump administration 's coronavirus testing failures on bureaucracy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during an appearance on Fox News Wednesday .
`` We lost about 40 days out of the gate when the CDC mostly wanted to do its own test , '' Braun complained on Fox News .
`` And that 's the bureaucracy the president 's run into , and that 's what we 've been dealing with . ''
The `` bureaucracy '' at the top of the CDC was appointed by and answers to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named current director of the CDC in March 2018 by Donald Trump 's secretary of health and human services , Alex Azar .
Azar praised Redfield 's `` peerless '' scientific and clinical experience , saying , `` Dr. Redfield has dedicated his entire life to promoting public health and providing compassionate care to his patients , and we are proud to welcome him as director of the world 's premier epidemiological agency . ''
Redfield 's nomination was controversial .
Critics noted his outsized salary in the position .
Sen. Patty Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` pattern of ethically and morally questionable behavior , '' including allegations of that he misrepresented the results of drug trials .
Braun 's comment referred to a decision by the CDC in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute testing kits that it had created rather than those provided by the World Health Organization and already in use in other countries .
The tests proved both insufficient in number and nonfunctional .
Trump blamed his administration 's early testing failures on Barack Obama , falsely blaming Obama for giving him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't have created a test for a virus that did n't exist yet when he was president .
The lack of early widespread testing and the ongoing shortage of testing have emerged as a complicating factor as the nation struggles to contain the pandemic .
Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , said last month : `` We 've been woefully behind this entire time .
And I think what most Americans need to know is the reason we are shut down — our economy is shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inadequate testing . ''
He called for at least 500,000 tests per day , a figure much higher than even the nation 's current pace of testing .
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told Politico last month that the nation would need up to 3.8 million tests each week if it wanted to properly assess the scale of the outbreak and reopen safely .
Trump has praised his own testing efforts , bragging on Twitter on Tuesday , `` Our Testing is the BEST in the World , by FAR !
Numbers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Country , which wants to open and get going again .
It is happening , safely ! ''
Braun tweeted last week that the `` U.S. leads the world in # COVID19 testing by a large margin . ''
As Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) noted on Tuesday , the rate of testing in the United States is increasing now because it was so low for the first several weeks of the crisis .
As a result , he noted , the nation 's confirmed death toll is now about 80,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , also by a large margin .
Trump 's claiming of credit for U.S. testing rates is contradicted by his earlier insistence that testing is the responsibility of states and is a `` local thing , '' not a federal responsibility .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) blamed the Trump administration’s coronavirus testing failures on bureaucracy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during an appearance on Fox News Wednesday.
“We lost about 40 days out of the gate when the CDC mostly wanted to do its own test,” Braun complained on Fox News. “And that’s the bureaucracy the president’s run into, and that’s what we’ve been dealing with.”
The “bureaucracy” at the top of the CDC was appointed by and answers to the Trump administration.
Dr. Robert Redfield was named current director of the CDC in March 2018 by Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services, Alex Azar. Azar praised Redfield’s “peerless” scientific and clinical experience, saying, “Dr. Redfield has dedicated his entire life to promoting public health and providing compassionate care to his patients, and we are proud to welcome him as director of the world’s premier epidemiological agency.”
Redfield’s predecessor, Brenda Fitzgerald, was also a Trump administration appointee.
Redfield’s nomination was controversial. Critics noted his outsized salary in the position. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) accused him of a “pattern of ethically and morally questionable behavior,” including allegations of that he misrepresented the results of drug trials.
Braun’s comment referred to a decision by the CDC in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute testing kits that it had created rather than those provided by the World Health Organization and already in use in other countries. The tests proved both insufficient in number and nonfunctional. Trump blamed his administration’s early testing failures on Barack Obama, falsely blaming Obama for giving him faulty coronavirus tests, even though Obama couldn’t have created a test for a virus that didn’t exist yet when he was president.
The lack of early widespread testing and the ongoing shortage of testing have emerged as a complicating factor as the nation struggles to contain the pandemic.
Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said last month: “We’ve been woefully behind this entire time. And I think what most Americans need to know is the reason we are shut down — our economy is shut down — is because we’ve had inadequate testing.” He called for at least 500,000 tests per day, a figure much higher than even the nation’s current pace of testing.
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told Politico last month that the nation would need up to 3.8 million tests each week if it wanted to properly assess the scale of the outbreak and reopen safely.
Trump has praised his own testing efforts, bragging on Twitter on Tuesday, “Our Testing is the BEST in the World, by FAR! Numbers are coming down in most parts of our Country, which wants to open and get going again. It is happening, safely!”
Braun tweeted last week that the “U.S. leads the world in #COVID19 testing by a large margin.”
As Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) noted on Tuesday, the rate of testing in the United States is increasing now because it was so low for the first several weeks of the crisis. As a result, he noted, the nation’s confirmed death toll is now about 80,000. This is the worst death toll in the world, also by a large margin.
Trump’s claiming of credit for U.S. testing rates is contradicted by his earlier insistence that testing is the responsibility of states and is a “local thing,” not a federal responsibility.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--Domestic workers face significant hurdles during COVID-19

Terry Villasenor lost her job as a caregiver in California recently amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
Her husband also lost his job as a maintenance worker at a building in downtown Los Angeles around the same time .
Villasenor , a Filipino human trafficking survivor and worker leader at LA 's Pilipino Workers Center — which aims to build labor leaders in the domestic worker industry and also provides immigration and anti-human trafficking services — has been tested twice for coronavirus , as has her husband .
Twice the results came back negative .
They 're both still looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to that of the other 2.5 million domestic workers in the United States , many of whom have been furloughed as a result of the pandemic , or , in many cases , forced to make the decision to continue working in dangerous conditions or face homelessness .
According to the National Domestic Workers Alliance , over 90 % of domestic workers — a category that includes caregivers , house cleaners , nannies , and home health aides — are women , and a vast majority are minorities and immigrants .
Domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet domestic workers are overwhelmingly low-wage and as many as 23.4 % of those workers live under the poverty line .
The pandemic has only worsened their situation .
The NDWA surveyed 28,770 domestic workers between March 27 and April 6 and found that 72 % of respondents reported having no employment due to COVID-19 .
That number is especially troubling given that most domestic workers — as many as 77 % of those surveyed — are the breadwinners in their families .
A vast majority , 84 % of those surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would be able to put food on the table and many others said they were unable to pay rent for April and faced eviction .
Despite working on the front lines of the pandemic , domestic workers in California , where Villasenor resides , are also excluded from most legal protections that other workers are typically afforded , according to a report by the UCLA Labor Center .
According to the center , The National Labor Protections Act , which recognizes the rights of employees to organize and join unions , excludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does the Occupational Health and Safety Act , which protects workers from health and safety hazards .
Domestic workers are also excluded from anti-discrimination laws such as the Disability Act , the Fair Housing and Employment Act , and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act .
Those regulations typically apply to workplaces with a certain number of employees , meaning they do n't usually apply to domestic workers employed in an informal , home setting .
Earlier this year , California State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo introduced the Health and Safety for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which would include domestic workers who had previously been excluded from most occupational safety protections .
However , the bill 's fate is unclear as the chamber wo n't reconvene until May 11 , leaving domestic workers vulnerable in the meantime .
Last month , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced a $ 75 million dollar Disaster Relief Fund intended to support immigrant workers in the state , as well as an additional $ 50 million in pledged philanthropic funding intended for undocumented families .
`` During this moment of national crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health on behalf of the rest of us , saving lives as health care workers ; caring for our loved ones ; and growing much of the food we depend on , '' Laurene Powell Jobs , founder of Emerson Collective , one of the groups pledging support for undocumented Californians , said at the time .
Thousands of other undocumented domestic workers , however , have not been so lucky .
Despite more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States thus far , PPE shortages are still a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With many states relaxing stay-at-home orders and opening back up for business , those returning to their jobs as caregivers , cleaners , and health aides are being forced to grapple with mounting dangers and a potential lack of adequate gear to protect themselves .
Gale Johnson is a Caribbean-born domestic worker in New York who serves as a community leader for the Carroll Gardens Association ’ s Hopewell Care program , which trains child care workers on organizing a cooperative to ensure their rights as employees , and a lead trainer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a workforce empowerment program seeking to elevate those rights .
Johnson , whose own grandfather and great aunt passed away recently from COVID-19 , is also a single mother and the main breadwinner for her family .
She said in a phone interview that the biggest struggle for domestic workers right now is undoubtedly a lack of PPE , which endangers employees ' families .
`` Some [ people ] may be working in situations where the client has n't told them that they are COVID-19 positive and instead are telling them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Most of these domestic workers live in spaces with generations of families , you don ’ t want to bring anything to your loved ones . ''
She noted that `` home health aides who are with an agency may receive PPE , '' but not all domestic workers did .
`` It takes a toll on their mental health because they either work or stay home without an income , '' Johnson said .
`` Domestic workers have to push aside their health to keep working and provide for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creator of We Rise Care , said in a phone interview that while domestic workers are considered `` essential workers '' under state stay-at-home orders , there is no guarantee that many will be provided adequate PPE , if at all , due to due to the fact that they often work in informalized , private settings such as the home .
Over half of the respondents in the National Domestic Worker Alliance survey , for instance , said they did not have health insurance and only 18 % reported that they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separately that , on top of everything else , domestic workers often come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals for long periods of time , particularly now during the pandemic , when sanitizing and disinfecting are crucial .
As she was speaking , she was scrubbing a pair of tennis shoes she had used at a coronavirus-riddled facility .
`` It 's upsetting because ... what about us ?
The caregivers , nannies , and domestic workers ?
We often hear about doctors and nurses but we are frontline workers too , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic workers face the choice of losing their jobs or staying at the care facilities or households where they 're employed indefinitely , as stay at home protocols continue .
This has raised concerns among the domestic worker community surrounding potential instances of trafficking , forced labor , and labor exploitation .
Aurora Andalajao is the director of the Anti-Trafficking Program at the Pilipino Workers Center .
She 's worried about the potential increase of caregivers becoming trafficking victims due to living full time at their workplace , where they may be susceptible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prone to trafficking as they work under the shadows , '' she said in a phone interview .
`` Traffickers may take advantage of the [ pandemic ] and threaten victims by saying 'We need to detain you because you 're safer here ' or 'If you take public transport you 'll be sick . '
'' She continued , `` It 's just like how domestic violence victims are trapped with their abusers being in the house .
There 's going to be double the threat during this [ pandemic ] for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the house . ''
Villasenor , who said she herself had been a victim of trafficking previously , noted separately that domestic workers , particularly undocumented domestic workers , may be `` threatened and told that if they leave the client 's household , they will either 'catch the virus or be caught by immigration . '
'' `` If they stay , '' she added , `` they are locked in the client 's home like a modern slave , working 24 hours a day , with no sleep and no regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a home Andalajao said she recently spoke to a domestic worker who went with her client 's family to their vacation home in the Hamptons .
At first , the woman felt safe being there .
Then , her employer got sick and demanded she continue working with no gloves .
The worker eventually left her job and is now unemployed .
`` Domestic workers think , 'If I defy my employer now , I ’ m going to be homeless so I 'm not going to my apartment , ' '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable to homelessness during this time in general , she added .
She recounted the story of a domestic worker in the United States on a T visa — a visa given to immigrants who have been victims of human traffickers in the United States and assist law enforcement in the investigation of such cases — who had just lost his job and was now homeless even though he had not come in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual .
Villasenor , who has also experienced homlessness , said she too had learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in his apartment by his roommates because they were scared he may have gotten COVID-19 from his workplace .
He has been sleeping in his car ever since .
While caregivers are having to make the difficult choices to stay in their workplaces or risk being let go , other domestic workers are facing a different challenge : being fired and refused entry into their workplaces at all .
`` Most of us have been temporarily fired or let go from our jobs as house cleaners , we 've been told not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... and it 's not just domestic workers , it 's gardeners and construction workers who are all undocumented and pay taxes .
It 's like our contributions do n't matter , '' said Evelin , a house cleaner in San Francisco and an activist with Mujeres Y Activas .
Deysi , a house cleaner in Sonoma County and an activist with the Women ’ s Action and Solidarity Alliance , agreed .
`` It 's sad here in California that we have lost our jobs and sources of income , and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't get support apart from the new stimulus bill , '' she said .
`` We feel that we are fundamental to this economy but we are excluded from the safety net that all workers need to survive this crisis . ''
Both women requested that only their first names be used due to their undocumented status .
In the meantime , domestic workers are mobilizing to try to take care of their community .
The Pilipino Workers Center is distributing care packages for domestic workers around Los Angeles and welcomes all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help from the worker 's center if needed .
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is also providing $ 400 in aid for domestic workers who are experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its Coronavirus Care Fund .
Domestic Workers within California also continue to fight for SB 1257 .
`` Now is the time for the immigrant community to push on your elected officials and stand up for ourselves .
We do n't have the luxury to just stay home and do nothing .
We 've shown that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve a lot together , '' said Evelin .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Terry Villasenor lost her job as a caregiver in California recently amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Her husband also lost his job as a maintenance worker at a building in downtown Los Angeles around the same time.
Villasenor, a Filipino human trafficking survivor and worker leader at LA’s Pilipino Workers Center — which aims to build labor leaders in the domestic worker industry and also provides immigration and anti-human trafficking services — has been tested twice for coronavirus, as has her husband.
Twice the results came back negative.
They’re both still looking for work.
Villasenor’s experience is similar to that of the other 2.5 million domestic workers in the United States, many of whom have been furloughed as a result of the pandemic, or, in many cases, forced to make the decision to continue working in dangerous conditions or face homelessness.
According to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, over 90% of domestic workers — a category that includes caregivers, house cleaners, nannies, and home health aides — are women, and a vast majority are minorities and immigrants. Domestic work is also a multibillion-dollar global industry, yet domestic workers are overwhelmingly low-wage and as many as 23.4% of those workers live under the poverty line.
The pandemic has only worsened their situation.
The NDWA surveyed 28,770 domestic workers between March 27 and April 6 and found that 72% of respondents reported having no employment due to COVID-19.
That number is especially troubling given that most domestic workers — as many as 77% of those surveyed — are the breadwinners in their families.
A vast majority, 84% of those surveyed, said that they were uncertain whether they would be able to put food on the table and many others said they were unable to pay rent for April and faced eviction.
Despite working on the front lines of the pandemic, domestic workers in California, where Villasenor resides, are also excluded from most legal protections that other workers are typically afforded, according to a report by the UCLA Labor Center.
According to the center, The National Labor Protections Act, which recognizes the rights of employees to organize and join unions, excludes domestic workers in the state, as does the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which protects workers from health and safety hazards. Domestic workers are also excluded from anti-discrimination laws such as the Disability Act, the Fair Housing and Employment Act, and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
Those regulations typically apply to workplaces with a certain number of employees, meaning they don’t usually apply to domestic workers employed in an informal, home setting.
Earlier this year, California State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo introduced the Health and Safety for All Workers Act (SB 1257), which would include domestic workers who had previously been excluded from most occupational safety protections.
However, the bill’s fate is unclear as the chamber won’t reconvene until May 11, leaving domestic workers vulnerable in the meantime.
Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $75 million dollar Disaster Relief Fund intended to support immigrant workers in the state, as well as an additional $50 million in pledged philanthropic funding intended for undocumented families.
“During this moment of national crisis, undocumented immigrants are risking their own health on behalf of the rest of us, saving lives as health care workers; caring for our loved ones; and growing much of the food we depend on,” Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of Emerson Collective, one of the groups pledging support for undocumented Californians, said at the time.
Thousands of other undocumented domestic workers, however, have not been so lucky.
Lack of PPE
Despite more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States thus far, PPE shortages are still a concern for domestic workers around the nation.
With many states relaxing stay-at-home orders and opening back up for business, those returning to their jobs as caregivers, cleaners, and health aides are being forced to grapple with mounting dangers and a potential lack of adequate gear to protect themselves.
Gale Johnson is a Caribbean-born domestic worker in New York who serves as a community leader for the Carroll Gardens Association’s Hopewell Care program, which trains child care workers on organizing a cooperative to ensure their rights as employees, and a lead trainer for the We Rise Care training program, a workforce empowerment program seeking to elevate those rights.
Johnson, whose own grandfather and great aunt passed away recently from COVID-19, is also a single mother and the main breadwinner for her family.
She said in a phone interview that the biggest struggle for domestic workers right now is undoubtedly a lack of PPE, which endangers employees’ families.
“Some [people] may be working in situations where the client hasn’t told them that they are COVID-19 positive and instead are telling them they have a cold,” she said. “Most of these domestic workers live in spaces with generations of families, you don’t want to bring anything to your loved ones.”
She noted that “home health aides who are with an agency may receive PPE,” but not all domestic workers did.
“It takes a toll on their mental health because they either work or stay home without an income,” Johnson said. “Domestic workers have to push aside their health to keep working and provide for their families.”
Ariana Shindle, creator of We Rise Care, said in a phone interview that while domestic workers are considered “essential workers” under state stay-at-home orders, there is no guarantee that many will be provided adequate PPE, if at all, due to due to the fact that they often work in informalized, private settings such as the home.
Over half of the respondents in the National Domestic Worker Alliance survey, for instance, said they did not have health insurance and only 18% reported that they had regular access to masks.
Villasenor noted separately that, on top of everything else, domestic workers often come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals for long periods of time, particularly now during the pandemic, when sanitizing and disinfecting are crucial.
As she was speaking, she was scrubbing a pair of tennis shoes she had used at a coronavirus-riddled facility.
“It’s upsetting because… what about us? The caregivers, nannies, and domestic workers? We often hear about doctors and nurses but we are frontline workers too,” she said.
Trafficking concerns
In many cases, domestic workers face the choice of losing their jobs or staying at the care facilities or households where they’re employed indefinitely, as stay at home protocols continue. This has raised concerns among the domestic worker community surrounding potential instances of trafficking, forced labor, and labor exploitation.
Aurora Andalajao is the director of the Anti-Trafficking Program at the Pilipino Workers Center. She’s worried about the potential increase of caregivers becoming trafficking victims due to living full time at their workplace, where they may be susceptible to abuse.
“Domestic workers are prone to trafficking as they work under the shadows,” she said in a phone interview. “Traffickers may take advantage of the [pandemic] and threaten victims by saying ‘We need to detain you because you’re safer here’ or ‘If you take public transport you’ll be sick.'”
She continued, “It’s just like how domestic violence victims are trapped with their abusers being in the house. There’s going to be double the threat during this [pandemic] for trafficking, because people are bonded to the house.”
Villasenor, who said she herself had been a victim of trafficking previously, noted separately that domestic workers, particularly undocumented domestic workers, may be “threatened and told that if they leave the client’s household, they will either ‘catch the virus or be caught by immigration.'”
“If they stay,” she added, “they are locked in the client’s home like a modern slave, working 24 hours a day, with no sleep and no regulations.”
Out of a job — and a home
Andalajao said she recently spoke to a domestic worker who went with her client’s family to their vacation home in the Hamptons. At first, the woman felt safe being there. Then, her employer got sick and demanded she continue working with no gloves.
The worker eventually left her job and is now unemployed.
“Domestic workers think, ‘If I defy my employer now, I’m going to be homeless so I’m not going to my apartment,'” Andalajao said.
Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to homelessness during this time in general, she added.
She recounted the story of a domestic worker in the United States on a T visa — a visa given to immigrants who have been victims of human traffickers in the United States and assist law enforcement in the investigation of such cases — who had just lost his job and was now homeless even though he had not come in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
Villasenor, who has also experienced homlessness, said she too had learned of a domestic worker not being allowed back in his apartment by his roommates because they were scared he may have gotten COVID-19 from his workplace.
He has been sleeping in his car ever since.
While caregivers are having to make the difficult choices to stay in their workplaces or risk being let go, other domestic workers are facing a different challenge: being fired and refused entry into their workplaces at all.
“Most of us have been temporarily fired or let go from our jobs as house cleaners, we’ve been told not to come to work by our employers… and it’s not just domestic workers, it’s gardeners and construction workers who are all undocumented and pay taxes. It’s like our contributions don’t matter,” said Evelin, a house cleaner in San Francisco and an activist with Mujeres Y Activas.
Deysi, a house cleaner in Sonoma County and an activist with the Women’s Action and Solidarity Alliance, agreed.
“It’s sad here in California that we have lost our jobs and sources of income, and even though we pay taxes here, we don’t get support apart from the new stimulus bill,” she said. “We feel that we are fundamental to this economy but we are excluded from the safety net that all workers need to survive this crisis.”
Both women requested that only their first names be used due to their undocumented status.
In the meantime, domestic workers are mobilizing to try to take care of their community. The Pilipino Workers Center is distributing care packages for domestic workers around Los Angeles and welcomes all, regardless of ethnicity, to seek help from the worker’s center if needed.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is also providing $400 in aid for domestic workers who are experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its Coronavirus Care Fund.
Domestic Workers within California also continue to fight for SB 1257.
“Now is the time for the immigrant community to push on your elected officials and stand up for ourselves. We don’t have the luxury to just stay home and do nothing. We’ve shown that the immigrant community is strong and we can achieve a lot together,” said Evelin.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--South Carolina GOP tries to block safer voting — and fails

South Carolina Republicans appeared to admit defeat this week , passing legislation allowing any voter to request an absentee ballot for the upcoming June 9 primary without an excuse , the State reported .
South Carolina 's GOP-led legislature passed the emergency legislation just hours after a coalition of Democratic groups argued before the state Supreme Court to allow no-excuse absentee voting .
The law is only in effect until July 1 , meaning the expanded access to vote-by-mail would not be available for the November election .
The lawsuit , brought by the South Carolina Democratic Party and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee voting for both the June election as well as the November general election .
The lawsuit was opposed by the South Carolina Republican Party .
`` [ Democrats ] should be focusing their efforts on lobbying ... for a change in the law , not this court , '' it argued in an earlier court filing .
South Carolina voters `` will [ no longer ] be forced to choose between putting their and their families ' health at risk and casting their ballot this June , '' Rep. Cheri Bustos ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement on Wednesday celebrating the new legislation .
When asked if the lawsuit would continue in the meantime , given that the GOP-led legislation only covers the June election and not the one this fall , a DCCC spokesperson said in an email that they would `` continue to fight for voters ' rights in November . ''
Republican Gov .
Henry McMaster is expected to sign the legislation .
The development in South Carolina comes as Republicans across the nation are attempting to suppress votes by forcing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot .
In Wisconsin , state Republicans opposed an effort by Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers to move an April 7 election and allow more time for vote-by-mail , forcing thousands of state residents to vote in person during a pandemic .
Multiple people have since developed COVID-19 , including poll workers and some National Guard members , potentially as a result of that decision .
In Missouri , Republican Gov .
Mike Parson said that the coronavirus crisis was not a valid excuse to request an absentee ballot , calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political issue than it is anything . ''
`` This is a Democrat-Republican issue , and that 's where this is all headed is to a political answer , '' he said last month .
`` There will be time to talk about the elections in November and August , but now 's not the time for that . ''
And in Vermont , Republican Gov .
Phil Scott is blocking a plan by Democratic Secretary of State Jim Condos to send absentee ballots to every registered voter in the state .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of printing ballots for November and I would only offer that you ca n't print ballots until you have a primary , and they ’ re going to have to wait at least a couple weeks after the primary before you print anything , because of the independents and so forth as well , '' he said earlier this month .
He added that he `` did n't ask to be put in this position , '' referencing a law that allows the secretary of state to `` change election procedures during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the State noted .
Donald Trump , who case his own absentee ballot earlier this year , has vocally opposed efforts to expand absentee voting , claiming without evidence that vote-by-mail is `` fraudulent '' and `` dangerous . ''
Former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Trump 's likely challenger in November , called Trump 's opposition to safer , easier voting mechanisms `` un-American . ''
On Tuesday , Democrats in Congress , led by Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Reps. Jim Clyburn of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , introduced voting rights legislation at the federal level that would ensure no-excuse absentee voting for every citizen of every state .
`` We must make sure the pandemic does not impede full , unfettered access to the ballot box , '' Fudge said in a statement .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

South Carolina Republicans appeared to admit defeat this week, passing legislation allowing any voter to request an absentee ballot for the upcoming June 9 primary without an excuse, the State reported.
South Carolina’s GOP-led legislature passed the emergency legislation just hours after a coalition of Democratic groups argued before the state Supreme Court to allow no-excuse absentee voting. The law is only in effect until July 1, meaning the expanded access to vote-by-mail would not be available for the November election.
The lawsuit, brought by the South Carolina Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, sought no-excuse absentee voting for both the June election as well as the November general election.
The lawsuit was opposed by the South Carolina Republican Party.
“[Democrats] should be focusing their efforts on lobbying … for a change in the law, not this court,” it argued in an earlier court filing.
South Carolina voters “will [no longer] be forced to choose between putting their and their families’ health at risk and casting their ballot this June,” Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), chair of the DCCC, said in a statement on Wednesday celebrating the new legislation.
When asked if the lawsuit would continue in the meantime, given that the GOP-led legislation only covers the June election and not the one this fall, a DCCC spokesperson said in an email that they would “continue to fight for voters’ rights in November.”
Republican Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to sign the legislation.
The development in South Carolina comes as Republicans across the nation are attempting to suppress votes by forcing people to choose between protecting themselves and casting a ballot.
In Wisconsin, state Republicans opposed an effort by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to move an April 7 election and allow more time for vote-by-mail, forcing thousands of state residents to vote in person during a pandemic. Multiple people have since developed COVID-19, including poll workers and some National Guard members, potentially as a result of that decision.
In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson said that the coronavirus crisis was not a valid excuse to request an absentee ballot, calling the push for safe elections “more a political issue than it is anything.”
“This is a Democrat-Republican issue, and that’s where this is all headed is to a political answer,” he said last month. “There will be time to talk about the elections in November and August, but now’s not the time for that.”
And in Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is blocking a plan by Democratic Secretary of State Jim Condos to send absentee ballots to every registered voter in the state.
“We talked about my concerns, in terms of printing ballots for November and I would only offer that you can’t print ballots until you have a primary, and they’re going to have to wait at least a couple weeks after the primary before you print anything, because of the independents and so forth as well,” he said earlier this month.
He added that he “didn’t ask to be put in this position,” referencing a law that allows the secretary of state to “change election procedures during the pandemic” with his final permission, the State noted.
Donald Trump, who case his own absentee ballot earlier this year, has vocally opposed efforts to expand absentee voting, claiming without evidence that vote-by-mail is “fraudulent” and “dangerous.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Trump’s likely challenger in November, called Trump’s opposition to safer, easier voting mechanisms “un-American.”
On Tuesday, Democrats in Congress, led by Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Reps. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Marcia Fudge of Ohio, introduced voting rights legislation at the federal level that would ensure no-excuse absentee voting for every citizen of every state.
“We must make sure the pandemic does not impede full, unfettered access to the ballot box,” Fudge said in a statement.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--GOP senator: 'I smell the stench of politics' in states trying to stay safe

Sen. Tim Scott ( R-SC ) told Fox News on Wednesday that he `` smells the stench of politics '' in the decision-making of Democratic governors who have resisted reopening their states before coronavirus guidelines say it 's safe to do so .
Echoing other Republicans who have advanced baseless conspiracy theories , Scott said the governors were acting in order to influence `` election results '' and not out of concern for public health and safety .
Scott also argued that the public should look at the pandemic , which has killed over 82,300 Americans , through a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly warned about reopening states before the data shows conditions are safe enough .
In testimony before the Senate on Tuesday , at which Scott was in attendance as a member of the Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions , Dr. Anthony Fauci said reopening states too early could lead to `` spikes that might turn into outbreaks . ''
From the May 13 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : BRIAN KILMEADE , co-host : The problem is , I 'm led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going on with red and blue states , the blue governors are reluctant to open up their states , and the reds seem more than willing to do it , and I 'm wondering if you see politics in this ?
SEN. TIM SCOTT ( R-SC ) : I smell the stench of politics , partisan politics driving behavior for election results , not focusing on supersound science , as Dr. Scott Atlas said .
Supersound science is where we should focus our attention that leads us to the conclusion that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , the chances are , you 're going to be okay .
If you 're under the age of 60 , the chances are really high you 're going to be okay , and in South Carolina , if you 're under the age of 20 , we 've had not a single death .
So we have a lot to celebrate and we need to look at the information and the facts through a prism of optimism , and not simply through the prism of the worst-case scenario every single time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) told Fox News on Wednesday that he “smells the stench of politics” in the decision-making of Democratic governors who have resisted reopening their states before coronavirus guidelines say it’s safe to do so.
Echoing other Republicans who have advanced baseless conspiracy theories, Scott said the governors were acting in order to influence “election results” and not out of concern for public health and safety.
Scott also argued that the public should look at the pandemic, which has killed over 82,300 Americans, through a “prism of optimism.”
Experts have repeatedly warned about reopening states before the data shows conditions are safe enough. In testimony before the Senate on Tuesday, at which Scott was in attendance as a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dr. Anthony Fauci said reopening states too early could lead to “spikes that might turn into outbreaks.”
From the May 13 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
BRIAN KILMEADE, co-host: The problem is, I’m led to believe, just by looking at what’s going on with red and blue states, the blue governors are reluctant to open up their states, and the reds seem more than willing to do it, and I’m wondering if you see politics in this? SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): I smell the stench of politics, partisan politics driving behavior for election results, not focusing on supersound science, as Dr. Scott Atlas said. Supersound science is where we should focus our attention that leads us to the conclusion that, if you don’t have two underlying conditions, the chances are, you’re going to be okay. If you’re under the age of 60, the chances are really high you’re going to be okay, and in South Carolina, if you’re under the age of 20, we’ve had not a single death. So we have a lot to celebrate and we need to look at the information and the facts through a prism of optimism, and not simply through the prism of the worst-case scenario every single time we start talking about the pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-13--Trump still trying to get rid of health care when Americans need it most

Donald Trump is trying to undermine the Affordable Care Act still , even as millions of Americans find themselves being kicked off their employer-based insurance .
A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis , released on Wednesday , estimated that more than 20 million of the 31 million-plus Americans who recently filed for unemployment over the first several weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible to get subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act , commonly known as Obamacare .
This includes roughly 12.7 million who could get insurance through Medicaid and 8.4 million who could obtain it through the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recessions , most of those who lose their job-based coverage will be eligible for health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act , though some may find coverage unaffordable even with subsidies , '' Larry Levitt , the foundation 's executive vice president for health policy , said in a press release .
`` As unemployment benefits expire , however , about two million more people in states that did not expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA will move into the Medicaid coverage gap and have no affordable option . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims between March 1 and May 2 .
Between the when coronavirus crisis began in March and last Thursday , at least 33 million Americans have lost their jobs and sought benefits .
Still , Donald Trump said last week that his administration will continue to try to get the Affordable Care Act eliminated entirely , via the courts .
Some in his administration , including Attorney General William Barr , have reportedly urged him to rethink his support for an ongoing legal challenge , but Trump has refused .
The Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall .
`` [ W ] hat we are doing is we want to terminate health care for under Obamacare because it 's bad , '' Trump said on May 6 , `` and we 're replacing it with a great health care at far less money and it includes preexisting conditions . ''
He has been pushing to eliminate the law for years , frequently promising to replace it with an unspecified `` terrific '' alternative .
As a candidate , he pledged to provide health care coverage for every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place `` immediately after we go in '' to the White House .
He has never actually offered a plan to do that .
Instead , he backed congressional Republicans ' proposal to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a system that would leave an estimated 23 million more people uninsured by 2026 .
That bill passed the GOP-controlled House in 2017 but failed by one vote in the Senate .
Unable to repeal the law legislatively , he backed a legal challenge by Republican attorneys general and worked to undermine it through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These included decimation of the individual mandate that required people to be insured or pay a penalty , cuts to the navigator program that helped people get insurance , slashing of the advertising budget to encourage people to get covered , and pushing for cheap `` junk '' plans that offer minimal coverage .
In September , Kaiser Health News reported that about 2 million more Americans lacked health insurance in 2018 than the year before — the first increase in a decade .
`` In a period of continued economic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be going backwards on health coverage , '' Judy Solomon , a senior fellow for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , told the publication at the time .
`` This backsliding almost certainly reflects , at least in part , Trump administration policies to weaken public health coverage . ''
Despite Trump 's repeated attacks on the law , Obamacare is popular .
According to a March Gallup poll , 52 % of Americans support the law .
The KFF Health tracking poll has consistently shown majority or plurality support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump is trying to undermine the Affordable Care Act still, even as millions of Americans find themselves being kicked off their employer-based insurance.
A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, released on Wednesday, estimated that more than 20 million
of the 31 million-plus Americans who recently filed for unemployment over the first several weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible to get subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. This includes roughly 12.7 million who could get insurance through Medicaid and 8.4 million who could obtain it through the law’s exchanges.
“Unlike in past recessions, most of those who lose their job-based coverage will be eligible for health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, though some may find coverage unaffordable even with subsidies,” Larry Levitt, the foundation’s executive vice president for health policy, said in a press release. “As unemployment benefits expire, however, about two million more people in states that did not expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA will move into the Medicaid coverage gap and have no affordable option.”
The analysis looked at those who filed unemployment claims between March 1 and May 2. Between the when coronavirus crisis began in March and last Thursday, at least 33 million Americans have lost their jobs and sought benefits.
Still, Donald Trump said last week that his administration will continue to try to get the Affordable Care Act eliminated entirely, via the courts. Some in his administration, including Attorney General William Barr, have reportedly urged him to rethink his support for an ongoing legal challenge, but Trump has refused. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case sometime this fall.
“[W]hat we are doing is we want to terminate health care for under Obamacare because it’s bad,” Trump said on May 6, “and we’re replacing it with a great health care at far less money and it includes preexisting conditions.”
He has been pushing to eliminate the law for years, frequently promising to replace it with an unspecified “terrific” alternative.
As a candidate, he pledged to provide health care coverage for every single American and to put his plan into place “immediately after we go in” to the White House.
He has never actually offered a plan to do that. Instead, he backed congressional Republicans’ proposal to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a system that would leave an estimated 23 million more people uninsured by 2026. That bill passed the GOP-controlled House in 2017 but failed by one vote in the Senate.
Unable to repeal the law legislatively, he backed a legal challenge by Republican attorneys general and worked to undermine it through a series of changes and executive actions.
These included decimation of the individual mandate that required people to be insured or pay a penalty, cuts to the navigator program that helped people get insurance, slashing of the advertising budget to encourage people to get covered, and pushing for cheap “junk” plans that offer minimal coverage.
In September, Kaiser Health News reported that about 2 million more Americans lacked health insurance in 2018 than the year before — the first increase in a decade.
“In a period of continued economic and job growth, we shouldn’t be going backwards on health coverage,” Judy Solomon, a senior fellow for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told the publication at the time. “This backsliding almost certainly reflects, at least in part, Trump administration policies to weaken public health coverage.”
Despite Trump’s repeated attacks on the law, Obamacare is popular. According to a March Gallup poll, 52% of Americans support the law. The KFF Health tracking poll has consistently shown majority or plurality support for it for the past two years.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.