shareblue--2020-04-27--GOP senator: Chinese students coming to US shouldn't be allowed to do science

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) called on Sunday for limits to what Chinese students should be allowed to study at American schools .
The Arkansas Republican , who has pushed false conspiracy narratives about China throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , suggested on Fox News that the nation was training its enemies it by allowing Chinese students to study science and technology on its campuses .
Host Maria Bartiromo : But just what you just said , that is why you believe we should n't be giving visas to Chinese students who want to study advanced sciences ?
They want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Googles of the world to steal that research , is that right ?
Sen. Tom Cotton : Yes , Maria .
It 's a scandal to me that we have trained so many of the Chinese Communist Party 's brightest minds to go back to China , to compete for our jobs , to take our business , and ultimately to steal our property , and design weapons and other devices that can be used against the American people .
So , I think we need to take a very hard look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese nationals to come to the United States to study , especially at the post-graduate level in advanced scientific and technological fields .
You know , if Chinese students want to come here and study Shakespeare and the Federalist Papers , that 's what they need to learn from America .
They do n't need to learn quantum computing and artificial intelligence from America .
`` Actually , @ TomCottonAR , Chinese students are n't returning to China : 'For each year between 2005 and 2018 , only about 10 percent of Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave the country , ' '' she tweeted .
She cited a February report from the Washington Post .
Cotton is following the strategy being pushed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee , his caucus 's campaign arm .
In a 57-page memo distributed earlier this month , he and other Republican candidates were urged to `` attack China , '' say the `` Chinese Communist Party caused this pandemic , '' and frame the country as an `` adversary . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) called on Sunday for limits to what Chinese students should be allowed to study at American schools.
The Arkansas Republican, who has pushed false conspiracy narratives about China throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, suggested on Fox News that the nation was training its enemies it by allowing Chinese students to study science and technology on its campuses.
From his Fox News interview:
Host Maria Bartiromo: But just what you just said, that is why you believe we shouldn’t be giving visas to Chinese students who want to study advanced sciences? They want to get into the Gilead Sciences and the Googles of the world to steal that research, is that right? Sen. Tom Cotton: Yes, Maria. It’s a scandal to me that we have trained so many of the Chinese Communist Party’s brightest minds to go back to China, to compete for our jobs, to take our business, and ultimately to steal our property, and design weapons and other devices that can be used against the American people. So, I think we need to take a very hard look at the visas that we give the Chinese nationals to come to the United States to study, especially at the post-graduate level in advanced scientific and technological fields. You know, if Chinese students want to come here and study Shakespeare and the Federalist Papers, that’s what they need to learn from America. They don’t need to learn quantum computing and artificial intelligence from America.
Cornell University political scientist Jessica Chen Weiss noted Sunday night that Cotton’s implication is false.
“Actually, @TomCottonAR, Chinese students aren’t returning to China: ‘For each year between 2005 and 2018, only about 10 percent of Chinese PhD graduates in computer science report plans to leave the country,'” she tweeted. She cited a February report from the Washington Post.
Cotton is following the strategy being pushed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, his caucus’s campaign arm.
In a 57-page memo distributed earlier this month, he and other Republican candidates were urged to “attack China,” say the “Chinese Communist Party caused this pandemic,” and frame the country as an “adversary.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-27--White House refuses to say who's actually getting small business loans

More than 200 businesses trading on the stock market received at least $ 750 million in rescue financing from the government .
The New York Times reported that hundreds of businesses trading on the public markets received billions in loans from the government as part of COVID-19 relief , despite the program being targeted to small business .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked about the problem in an interview with Fox News on Monday .
From the April 27 edition of Fox News ' `` America 's Newsroom '' : ED HENRY , co-host : Kayleigh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Smith ] because she asked a good question about the Paycheck Protection Program .
It 's something a lot of our viewers have been paying attention .
We 've been getting letters for a couple of weeks now from some folks , and I understand there 's going to be good news and bad news .
People are going to deal with paperwork issues .
This happens all the time .
But you just made the assertion a moment ago that it 's helping a lot of small businesses .
Front page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm sure you saw about how a lot of large companies are getting this money whereas mom and pop shops are not .
One of the issues that could clear all this up is if you were transparent and released the list , disclosed which companies are actually getting money and which are not .
Will you finally do that — disclose which companies are getting this PPP money ?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY : Look , let me be very clear here , and I 'm glad that you asked this .
Point-three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 0.3 % , have been to the order of five million or more , meaning bigger companies .
The vast majority , as I noted , 1 million of the 1.6 million loans that went out , were companies with 10 or fewer employees .
That is what this program is designed to do , that is who it is helping , and the New York Times , leave it to them to be wrong , and not just to be wrong , but to be really wrong , because that headline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people across the country trying to get these loans .
And I would also note , a thank you to Whip Steve Scalise who put out a website as we waited for a week for Democrats to get their House in order and come to the table , he opened a website where business owners could come and express their frustration with the delays .
I read about a small business owner in Mobile , Alabama , who almost had to do layoffs all of last week as she waited for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together as a country , both parties come together , this is about one thing : the American people , not partisan politics .
HENRY : Wel , l it does n't sound like you 're going to release that list of who 's getting the money based on that answer .
You 're not happy with the New York Times -- MCENANY : We 're concerned with getting money to people right now .
I mean , look , we 're not concerned with cobbling a list together to please the @ @

The New York Times reported that hundreds of businesses trading on the public markets received billions in loans from the government as part of COVID-19 relief, despite the program being targeted to small business.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked about the problem in an interview with Fox News on Monday.
From the April 27 edition of Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom”:
ED HENRY, co-host: Kayleigh, I want to follow up on Sandra [Smith] because she asked a good question about the Paycheck Protection Program. It’s something a lot of our viewers have been paying attention.
We’ve been getting letters for a couple of weeks now from some folks, and I understand there’s going to be good news and bad news. People are going to deal with paperwork issues. This happens all the time. But you just made the assertion a moment ago that it’s helping a lot of small businesses.
Front page story in the New York Times, I’m sure you saw about how a lot of large companies are getting this money whereas mom and pop shops are not. One of the issues that could clear all this up is if you were transparent and released the list, disclosed which companies are actually getting money and which are not.
Will you finally do that — disclose which companies are getting this PPP money?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: Look, let me be very clear here, and I’m glad that you asked this. Point-three percent of loans that have gone out, 0.3%, have been to the order of five million or more, meaning bigger companies.
The vast majority, as I noted, 1 million of the 1.6 million loans that went out, were companies with 10 or fewer employees. That is what this program is designed to do, that is who it is helping, and the New York Times, leave it to them to be wrong, and not just to be wrong, but to be really wrong, because that headline is completely dishonest, doesn’t serve the American people across the country trying to get these loans.
And I would also note, a thank you to Whip Steve Scalise who put out a website as we waited for a week for Democrats to get their House in order and come to the table, he opened a website where business owners could come and express their frustration with the delays. I read about a small business owner in Mobile, Alabama, who almost had to do layoffs all of last week as she waited for funding.
So, we got to come together as a country, both parties come together, this is about one thing: the American people, not partisan politics.
HENRY: Wel,l it doesn’t sound like you’re going to release that list of who’s getting the money based on that answer. You’re not happy with the New York Times —
MCENANY: We’re concerned with getting money to people right now. I mean, look, we’re not concerned with cobbling a list together to please the media.


shareblue--2020-04-27--Trump falsely blames Democrats for slow unemployment payments

Donald Trump on Monday blamed Democrats for the difficulty many Americans have had applying for and receiving unemployment benefits in the wake of layoffs connected with the coronavirus pandemic , claiming he would have gotten the payments out faster if the states had not been involved in the process .
`` Blame the Democrats for any 'lateness ' in your Enhanced Unemployment Insurance .
I wanted the money to be paid directly , they insisted it be paid by states for distribution .
I told them this would happen , especially with many states which have old computers , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats `` insisted '' states distribute unemployment benefits betrays his lack of understanding of how unemployment insurance works .
The payment of unemployment benefits is coordinated by individual states , which have their own systems for calculating how much money a worker receives after being laid off .
The Department of Labor 's own website directs those seeking unemployment insurance to contact their states ' unemployment programs .
`` The basic unemployment insurance program is run by the states , although the U.S. Department of Labor oversees the system , '' the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` States provide most of the funding and pay for the actual benefits provided to workers ; the federal government pays only the administrative costs . ''
Additionally , people have encountered difficulties applying for unemployment benefits because state systems are overloaded by the sheer number of workers filing claims .
A total of about 26.5 million people have applied for unemployment insurance since states started implementing social distancing measures in response to the novel coronavirus .
Some states have had a hard time handling the influx of unemployment claims due to efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make applying for benefits more difficult .
In Florida , for example , GOP Sen. Rick Scott purposely made it harder for Floridians to apply for unemployment insurance when he served as governor from 2011 through 2019 , Politico reported , in order to reduce the unemployment taxes that employers in the state had to pay .
However , Republicans in Florida now admit that Scott 's system is hurting Floridians and could cause electoral problems for GOP candidates in the state in November .
`` It ’ s a shit sandwich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott , '' an adviser to current Florida Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis told Politico .
`` It wasn ’ t about saving money .
It was about making it harder for people to get benefits or keep benefits so that the unemployment numbers were low to give the governor something to brag about . ''
Meanwhile , while Trump claims Democrats wanted to hamper unemployment payouts to Americans , it was Senate Republicans who fought to make those payments less generous .
All but two GOP senators voted to lower the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help people who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Those voting against the payments claimed that they were too generous and would discourage Americans from working .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Monday blamed Democrats for the difficulty many Americans have had applying for and receiving unemployment benefits in the wake of layoffs connected with the coronavirus pandemic, claiming he would have gotten the payments out faster if the states had not been involved in the process.
“Blame the Democrats for any ‘lateness’ in your Enhanced Unemployment Insurance. I wanted the money to be paid directly, they insisted it be paid by states for distribution. I told them this would happen, especially with many states which have old computers,” Trump tweeted.
Trump’s claim that Democrats “insisted” states distribute unemployment benefits betrays his lack of understanding of how unemployment insurance works.
The payment of unemployment benefits is coordinated by individual states, which have their own systems for calculating how much money a worker receives after being laid off. The Department of Labor’s own website directs those seeking unemployment insurance to contact their states’ unemployment programs.
“The basic unemployment insurance program is run by the states, although the U.S. Department of Labor oversees the system,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains. “States provide most of the funding and pay for the actual benefits provided to workers; the federal government pays only the administrative costs.”
Additionally, people have encountered difficulties applying for unemployment benefits because state systems are overloaded by the sheer number of workers filing claims. A total of about 26.5 million people have applied for unemployment insurance since states started implementing social distancing measures in response to the novel coronavirus.
Some states have had a hard time handling the influx of unemployment claims due to efforts by GOP governors and state lawmakers to make applying for benefits more difficult.
In Florida, for example, GOP Sen. Rick Scott purposely made it harder for Floridians to apply for unemployment insurance when he served as governor from 2011 through 2019, Politico reported, in order to reduce the unemployment taxes that employers in the state had to pay.
However, Republicans in Florida now admit that Scott’s system is hurting Floridians and could cause electoral problems for GOP candidates in the state in November.
“It’s a shit sandwich, and it was designed that way by Scott,” an adviser to current Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis told Politico. “It wasn’t about saving money. It was about making it harder for people to get benefits or keep benefits so that the unemployment numbers were low to give the governor something to brag about.”
Meanwhile, while Trump claims Democrats wanted to hamper unemployment payouts to Americans, it was Senate Republicans who fought to make those payments less generous.
All but two GOP senators voted to lower the amount of money the federal government would provide to help people who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those voting against the payments claimed that they were too generous and would discourage Americans from working.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Immigrants with HIV are being packed into unsafe detention centers

Two asylum seekers living with HIV are being held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in eastern Texas that LGBTQ advocates say ca n't possibly abide by social distancing and other guidance during the pandemic .
The two men , whom LGBTQ groups are referring to by the pseudonyms Ramón and Ivan to protect their identities , have been detained since October of last year and were persecuted in Cuba due to their sexual orientation and political activism .
They are being kept at the IAH Secure Detention Facility in Livingston .
Immigration Equality , an LGBTQ immigrant rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and HIV-positive people in the immigration system ; Lambda Legal , an LGBTQ-focused public policy and litigation organization ; and co-counsel Vinson & Elkins , have urged ICE to release them .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people who are immunocompromised , including people with poorly controlled HIV or AIDS , are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 .
In a letter sent to the detention facility on Monday , the groups said that , despite a confirmed case of COVID-19 on the center 's website , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases at the facility .
Ramón and Ivan also said that nurses and medical staff were still not wearing necessary protective gear and that detainees were `` exposed to people exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 when moving about the facility . ''
The legal advocates said the men had not received signage or education on COVID-19 and safety measures they should take to prevent infection .
If they ran out of soap , they were expected to purchase it , they added .
`` It is impossible for people held in ICE detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and frequent hand-washing when they have limited access to soap and cleaning materials and are in frequent contact in small spaces with people who have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus , '' Lambda Legal staff attorney Puneet Cheema said in a statement .
Last week a federal judge ordered ICE to consider releasing detained people who are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19 , in response to a lawsuit against the agency filed by the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center , the Southern Poverty Law Center , Disability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the plaintiffs in that case , ICE officials had forced some detainees into lockdown , in close quarters with cellmates for all but a few hours a day .
Transferees were placed in housing units with people who had shown symptoms associated with COVID-19 , and detainees with cleaning assignments were forced to mop and sweep without gloves or protective protective equipment .
Staff at the detention facilities were also allegedly inconsistent about wearing face masks to prevent further spread of the virus .
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' because it had failed to develop a timely response to the pandemic and ordered the agency to `` identify and track '' detainees with high risk factors and consider releasing them .
`` [ ICE ] likely exhibited callous indifference to the safety and wellbeing of [ detainees at higher risk of complications ] , '' Bernal said .
`` The evidence suggests systemwide inaction that goes beyond a mere 'difference of medical opinion or negligence . '
'' The court also certified a class action lawsuit on behalf of the detainees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lambda Legal , Immigration Equality , and their co-counsel said this week that , because of Bernal 's order , ICE is required to make a timely determination on Ramón and Ivan 's custody .
`` Ramón and Ivan fled Cuba to seek safety in the United States and now they fear for their lives , '' Bridget Crawford , legal director at Immigration Equality , said in a statement .
`` ICE could release them today .
They are both parole eligible with qualifying sponsors .
But despite warnings from experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in detention , and the steps taken by jails , prisons , and judges in the criminal context to release those in custody , ICE and DHS continue to put these men in mortal danger . ''
Earlier this month , ICE released four other Immigration Equality clients , all of them gay men living with HIV .
Two had been detained at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana , one man stayed at Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana , and another man was kept at La Palma Correctional Center in Arizona .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the four held at Richwood , Winn , and La Palma , as well as Ramón and Ivan — be released from detention in a complaint sent on March 23 .
That complaint alleged that Ivan , who had contracted the flu , had only received Tylenol to treat his cough symptoms —insufficient treatment for someone living with HIV .
The complaint claimed he had been told nothing more could be done to treat him until his condition worsened .
Ramón said he had numerous interruptions in his HIV medication while in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had similar experiences to Ivan 's when he contracted the flu .
Aaron Morris , executive director at Immigration Equality , noted that conditions for people living with HIV in ICE facilities have been poor for years .
In 2018 , Roxsana Hernandez , a transgender woman from Honduras , died of an AIDS-related illness while in ICE custody .
The official autopsy noted that she had untreated HIV infection and that both ICE and Customs and Border Patrol knew about her HIV status but did not give her the antiretroviral drugs she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silly administrative things that ICE was doing that [ were ] really putting people in danger , '' Morris said .
`` HIV care in the system has been terrible for years and when the pandemic came to the United States , we really began to hear from terrified clients . ''
He added , `` ...
If you 're getting terrible health care , and if you 're HIV positive and immunosuppressed and there ’ s a pandemic coming , it 's a recipe for disaster . ''
Morris is now worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is often how ICE facilities respond to infections .
During a mumps outbreak at a detention center in rural Louisiana , for instance , attorneys were not allowed in the facility to see their clients .
`` With COVID , we 're going to deal with this — if you 're being optimistic — for 6 months , '' he said .
`` They ca n't lock down the facility for six months like that .
That sounds like torture to me . ''
Conditions at ICE facilities have been poor for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , those conditions can be particularly dangerous .
According to a 2018 analysis of government data from the Center for American Progress , LGBTQ immigrants who are detained at these centers are 97 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than cisgender and straight detainees .
These detainees account for 0.1 % of those detained in 2017 but are 12 % of people who reported sexual assault while in ICE detention .
The analysis also notes that in some cases , transgender women are placed with men or put in solitary confinement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are cut off from others , or may increase their risk of self-harm .

Two asylum seekers living with HIV are being held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in eastern Texas that LGBTQ advocates say can’t possibly abide by social distancing and other guidance during the pandemic.
The two men, whom LGBTQ groups are referring to by the pseudonyms Ramón and Ivan to protect their identities, have been detained since October of last year and were persecuted in Cuba due to their sexual orientation and political activism. They are being kept at the IAH Secure Detention Facility in Livingston.
Immigration Equality, an LGBTQ immigrant rights organization that represents and advocates for LGBTQ and HIV-positive people in the immigration system; Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ-focused public policy and litigation organization; and co-counsel Vinson & Elkins, have urged ICE to release them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people who are immunocompromised, including people with poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
In a letter sent to the detention facility on Monday, the groups said that, despite a confirmed case of COVID-19 on the center’s website, the men had been told there were no cases at the facility.
Ramón and Ivan also said that nurses and medical staff were still not wearing necessary protective gear and that detainees were “exposed to people exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 when moving about the facility.”
The legal advocates said the men had not received signage or education on COVID-19 and safety measures they should take to prevent infection. If they ran out of soap, they were expected to purchase it, they added.
“It is impossible for people held in ICE detention to abide by public health guidance about social distancing and frequent hand-washing when they have limited access to soap and cleaning materials and are in frequent contact in small spaces with people who have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus,” Lambda Legal staff attorney Puneet Cheema said in a statement.
Last week a federal judge ordered ICE to consider releasing detained people who are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19, in response to a lawsuit against the agency filed by the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Disability Rights Advocates, and several other groups.
According to the plaintiffs in that case, ICE officials had forced some detainees into lockdown, in close quarters with cellmates for all but a few hours a day. Transferees were placed in housing units with people who had shown symptoms associated with COVID-19, and detainees with cleaning assignments were forced to mop and sweep without gloves or protective protective equipment.
Staff at the detention facilities were also allegedly inconsistent about wearing face masks to prevent further spread of the virus.
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal said that ICE had shown “medical indifference” because it had failed to develop a timely response to the pandemic and ordered the agency to “identify and track” detainees with high risk factors and consider releasing them.
“[ICE] likely exhibited callous indifference to the safety and wellbeing of [detainees at higher risk of complications],” Bernal said. “The evidence suggests systemwide inaction that goes beyond a mere ‘difference of medical opinion or negligence.'”
The court also certified a class action lawsuit on behalf of the detainees, which includes people living with HIV.
Lambda Legal, Immigration Equality, and their co-counsel said this week that, because of Bernal’s order, ICE is required to make a timely determination on Ramón and Ivan’s custody.
“Ramón and Ivan fled Cuba to seek safety in the United States and now they fear for their lives,” Bridget Crawford, legal director at Immigration Equality, said in a statement. “ICE could release them today. They are both parole eligible with qualifying sponsors. But despite warnings from experts on the dire consequences of COVID-19 for people in detention, and the steps taken by jails, prisons, and judges in the criminal context to release those in custody, ICE and DHS continue to put these men in mortal danger.”
Earlier this month, ICE released four other Immigration Equality clients, all of them gay men living with HIV. Two had been detained at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana, one man stayed at Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana, and another man was kept at La Palma Correctional Center in Arizona.
The group initially demanded all six men — the four held at Richwood, Winn, and La Palma, as well as Ramón and Ivan — be released from detention in a complaint sent on March 23.
That complaint alleged that Ivan, who had contracted the flu, had only received Tylenol to treat his cough symptoms —insufficient treatment for someone living with HIV. The complaint claimed he had been told nothing more could be done to treat him until his condition worsened.
Ramón said he had numerous interruptions in his HIV medication while in detention in La Palma Correctional Center and had similar experiences to Ivan’s when he contracted the flu.
Aaron Morris, executive director at Immigration Equality, noted that conditions for people living with HIV in ICE facilities have been poor for years.
In 2018, Roxsana Hernandez, a transgender woman from Honduras, died of an AIDS-related illness while in ICE custody. The official autopsy noted that she had untreated HIV infection and that both ICE and Customs and Border Patrol knew about her HIV status but did not give her the antiretroviral drugs she needed.
“There were just these silly administrative things that ICE was doing that [were] really putting people in danger,” Morris said. “HIV care in the system has been terrible for years and when the pandemic came to the United States, we really began to hear from terrified clients.”
He added, “…If you’re getting terrible health care, and if you’re HIV positive and immunosuppressed and there’s a pandemic coming, it’s a recipe for disaster.”
Morris is now worried about facilities being locked down, since that is often how ICE facilities respond to infections.
During a mumps outbreak at a detention center in rural Louisiana, for instance, attorneys were not allowed in the facility to see their clients.
“With COVID, we’re going to deal with this — if you’re being optimistic — for 6 months,” he said. “They can’t lock down the facility for six months like that. That sounds like torture to me.”
Conditions at ICE facilities have been poor for years, and for many LGBTQ people, those conditions can be particularly dangerous.
According to a 2018 analysis of government data from the Center for American Progress, LGBTQ immigrants who are detained at these centers are 97 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than cisgender and straight detainees. These detainees account for 0.1% of those detained in 2017 but are 12% of people who reported sexual assault while in ICE detention.
The analysis also notes that in some cases, transgender women are placed with men or put in solitary confinement, which may endanger their health because they are cut off from others, or may increase their risk of self-harm.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--McConnell: No more relief funds unless we stop workers from suing if they get sick

On Tuesday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he will not pass any further coronavirus relief unless workers are prevented from suing employers if they get sick on the job .
Speaking to Fox News ' Neil Cavuto , McConnell said such an anti-worker provision is a `` red line '' for the Senate and that no legislation will pass without it .
On Monday , McConnell described `` liability protections '' for employers as an `` urgent need '' that should be a part of any additional legislation .
Donald Trump has called for backed such provisions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take liability away from these companies , '' Trump said last week .
He claimed that stripping the right to sue from workers is necessary because `` we want the companies to open and to open strong . ''
From the April 28 edition of Fox News ' `` Your World with Neil Cavuto '' : NEIL CAVUTO , host : Already , your idea , maybe it was just something you threw out there , tort reform , could be part of more aid to the states .
Nancy Pelosi responded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform .
`` The House has no interest in diminishing protections for employees and customers . ''
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL : Well let me make it perfectly clear that the Senate is not interested in passing a bill that does not have liability protection .
So , that 's an integral part of our economy getting back to normal .
So , we 're going back to work .
The Senate 's coming back next Monday , we 're perfectly willing to discuss the way forward but the way you make a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Senate .
What I 'm saying is , we have a red line on liability .
It wo n't pass the Senate without it .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he will not pass any further coronavirus relief unless workers are prevented from suing employers if they get sick on the job.
Speaking to Fox News’ Neil Cavuto, McConnell said such an anti-worker provision is a “red line” for the Senate and that no legislation will pass without it. On Monday, McConnell described “liability protections” for employers as an “urgent need” that should be a part of any additional legislation.
Donald Trump has called for backed such provisions as well.
“We have tried to take liability away from these companies,” Trump said last week. He claimed that stripping the right to sue from workers is necessary because “we want the companies to open and to open strong.”
From the April 28 edition of Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto”:
NEIL CAVUTO, host: Already, your idea, maybe it was just something you threw out there, tort reform, could be part of more aid to the states. Nancy Pelosi responded that Democrats are not interested in COVID-19 tort reform. “The House has no interest in diminishing protections for employees and customers.” What do you say to that? SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL: Well let me make it perfectly clear that the Senate is not interested in passing a bill that does not have liability protection. So, that’s an integral part of our economy getting back to normal. So, we’re going back to work. The Senate’s coming back next Monday, we’re perfectly willing to discuss the way forward but the way you make a law is it has to pass the House and the Senate. What I’m saying is, we have a red line on liability. It won’t pass the Senate without it.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Workers laid off during pandemic now at mercy of predatory lenders

As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues , millions of people are finding themselves in situations that make them susceptible to financial predators .
As many as 1 in 5 workers filed for unemployment in some states through the first half of April , the Wall Street Journal reported .
Millions of people said they would n't be able to make rent that month .
Problems with the disbursement of stimulus money by the IRS have left many people still waiting to receive payments .
Consumer advocates say that the situation is ripe for the kinds of financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis , which saw more than 3 million foreclosures and millions of lost jobs .
Chris Peterson , a former top regulator at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and professor of law currently running for governor of Utah , says that the infrastructure put in place in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis is not being used , leaving millions of vulnerable people at risk .
`` When people are afraid or desperate , they 're less effective at shopping carefully and weighing options , '' Peterson said .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first option that seems acceptable and jump on it . ''
Stress has been shown to worsen financial decision-making .
When they 're stressed , people are likely to be too conservative when faced with good options and too bold when faced with riskier ones .
Peterson noted that without a robust consumer protection agency monitoring the financial industry , highly stressed consumers dealing with job losses and debts are easy marks for those pushing predatory loans , debt traps , and outright scams .
`` The CFPB is not engaging in meaningful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The problems could be ... as simple as more fees associated with their checking account , and therefore losing out on some wealth .
But it can go all the way to home mortgage foreclosure and eviction .
[ In the aftermath of the 2008 crisis , ] we saw a nationwide spike in the number of homeless people , including homeless children . ''
As an example of the CFPB ’ s passivity and its potential consequences , Peterson pointed to the lack of clarity around the 60-day foreclosure suspension enacted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief package , known as the CARES Act .
In the short term , suspending foreclosures can help keep people in their homes .
But what the provision did n't do was create clarity over borrower obligations for anyone claiming hardship who went into forbearance and temporarily stopped making payments .
Peterson pointed out that borrowers had to scramble to find answers to whether their payments would be waived entirely or simply deferred .
Would the borrower be liable for the payments and extra fees later on , and for how much ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended or would the payments be increased ?
`` Not knowing the answers to those questions could be the difference in whether or not they lose their home , '' Peterson said .
In some cases , the lack of clarity has empowered financial institutions to write their own rules , as was the case when Treasury Department officials essentially deferred to the banks on the matter of whether stimulus payments could be withheld to cover debts or overdrafts , the American Prospect noted .
Of the $ 3,400 in relief paid by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family of four , for example , his bank kept all but $ 611 to cover fees resulting from a scam he 'd fallen prey to , the New York Times reported .
`` They 're very happy to cause a lot of harm where it 's hard to exactly pinpoint blame , '' said Ian Madrigal , an activist and consumer advocate .
Advocates fear that unscrupulous banks and lenders will take advantage of people experiencing a temporary loss of income and lure them into financial hardship that lasts years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , repayment of the average payday loan can take more than a third of a borrower 's paycheck .
If they ca n't make that payment , they often end up taking out another short-term loan , locking them in a cycle of debt .
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is n't simply ignoring such predatory lending , it 's making the problem worse through a process of rule-making aimed at rolling back requirements that payday lenders ensure borrowers can actually repay the loans they take out .
`` Unlike Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lenders have zero concern about shareholders or their reputation , '' said consumer advocate Madrigal .
`` People are distracted , not just consumers but also the people who are trying to do the regulating , and who likely have more pressing things to deal with right now . ''
Payday lenders will be looking at a flush few years if the CFPB remains idle , he suggested .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, millions of people are finding themselves in situations that make them susceptible to financial predators.
As many as 1 in 5 workers filed for unemployment in some states through the first half of April, the Wall Street Journal reported. Millions of people said they wouldn’t be able to make rent that month.
Problems with the disbursement of stimulus money by the IRS have left many people still waiting to receive payments.
Consumer advocates say that the situation is ripe for the kinds of financial abuses and difficulties encountered during the 2008 financial crisis, which saw more than 3 million foreclosures and millions of lost jobs.
Chris Peterson, a former top regulator at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and professor of law currently running for governor of Utah, says that the infrastructure put in place in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis is not being used, leaving millions of vulnerable people at risk.
“When people are afraid or desperate, they’re less effective at shopping carefully and weighing options,” Peterson said. “There is a temptation to just find the first option that seems acceptable and jump on it.”
Stress has been shown to worsen financial decision-making. When they’re stressed, people are likely to be too conservative when faced with good options and too bold when faced with riskier ones.
Peterson noted that without a robust consumer protection agency monitoring the financial industry, highly stressed consumers dealing with job losses and debts are easy marks for those pushing predatory loans, debt traps, and outright scams.
“The CFPB is not engaging in meaningful oversight,” he said. “The problems could be … as simple as more fees associated with their checking account, and therefore losing out on some wealth. But it can go all the way to home mortgage foreclosure and eviction. [In the aftermath of the 2008 crisis,] we saw a nationwide spike in the number of homeless people, including homeless children.”
As an example of the CFPB’s passivity and its potential consequences, Peterson pointed to the lack of clarity around the 60-day foreclosure suspension enacted in March as part of Congress’ coronavirus relief package, known as the CARES Act.
In the short term, suspending foreclosures can help keep people in their homes. But what the provision didn’t do was create clarity over borrower obligations for anyone claiming hardship who went into forbearance and temporarily stopped making payments.
Peterson pointed out that borrowers had to scramble to find answers to whether their payments would be waived entirely or simply deferred. Would the borrower be liable for the payments and extra fees later on, and for how much? Would the term of the loan be extended or would the payments be increased?
“Not knowing the answers to those questions could be the difference in whether or not they lose their home,” Peterson said.
In some cases, the lack of clarity has empowered financial institutions to write their own rules, as was the case when Treasury Department officials essentially deferred to the banks on the matter of whether stimulus payments could be withheld to cover debts or overdrafts, the American Prospect noted.
Of the $3,400 in relief paid by the government to one out-of-work landscaper and his family of four, for example, his bank kept all but $611 to cover fees resulting from a scam he’d fallen prey to, the New York Times reported.
“They’re very happy to cause a lot of harm where it’s hard to exactly pinpoint blame,” said Ian Madrigal, an activist and consumer advocate.
Advocates fear that unscrupulous banks and lenders will take advantage of people experiencing a temporary loss of income and lure them into financial hardship that lasts years.
With interest rates in excess of 100%, repayment of the average payday loan can take more than a third of a borrower’s paycheck. If they can’t make that payment, they often end up taking out another short-term loan, locking them in a cycle of debt.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau isn’t simply ignoring such predatory lending, it’s making the problem worse through a process of rule-making aimed at rolling back requirements that payday lenders ensure borrowers can actually repay the loans they take out.
“Unlike Wall Street banks and mainstream financial institutions, payday lenders have zero concern about shareholders or their reputation,” said consumer advocate Madrigal. “People are distracted, not just consumers but also the people who are trying to do the regulating, and who likely have more pressing things to deal with right now.”
Payday lenders will be looking at a flush few years if the CFPB remains idle, he suggested.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--GOP Senate candidate: Trump meant 'to give hope' by telling us to inject bleach

Senate hopeful Corky Messner said last week that Donald Trump 's suggestions about injecting disinfectants to cure COVID-19 were merely `` aspirational '' talk .
Messner , a New Hampshire Republican seeking his party 's nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in November , made the comment on a local radio station .
After praising Trump for `` doing a great job during this crisis , '' he said : `` I think that , you know , as we know , President Trump sometimes talks in aspirational ways that , you know , that — to give hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who he is .
And it ’ s , and I think that all of us can — as consumers of that information , and we can get educated and understand what exactly he ’ s talking about . ''
Trump told reporters last Thursday : `` I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in a minute .
One minute .
And is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning ?
Because you see it gets in the lungs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lungs .
So it would be interesting to check that . ''
The makers of Lysol and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission quickly warned the public not to inject the deadly chemicals .
The latter tweeted on April 24 : `` Cleaning products are poisonous , America !
Make sure you keep those cleaning products in their original bottles and locked up out of sight and out of reach of kids ! ''
After the White House initially downplayed Trump 's comments on disinfectants , Trump on Friday claimed they had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country reported spikes in calls and cases of people exposed to toxic cleaners .
Josh Marcus-Blank , a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Democratic Party , slammed Messner 's comments .
`` If he wo n't disagree with Trump when he is spreading blatant disinformation that could kill people , it 's clear he would never split with him to defend New Hampshire , '' he said .
Messner has previously touted Trump 's unpopular and troubled response to the COVID-19 pandemic in political ads .
Last month , he ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for criticism of Trump and saying that Trump 's `` bold , early actions ( like the travel ban ) have helped limit the effects of Coronavirus on American soil . ''
`` We need to be supportive of him at this critical time , unlike the Democrats who continually criticize the President no matter what he does , '' the ad said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate hopeful Corky Messner said last week that Donald Trump’s suggestions about injecting disinfectants to cure COVID-19 were merely “aspirational” talk.
Messner, a New Hampshire Republican seeking his party’s nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in November, made the comment on a local radio station.
After praising Trump for “doing a great job during this crisis,” he said: “I think that, you know, as we know, President Trump sometimes talks in aspirational ways that, you know, that — to give hope, perhaps, and that’s who he is. And it’s, and I think that all of us can — as consumers of that information, and we can get educated and understand what exactly he’s talking about.”
Trump told reporters last Thursday: “I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.”
The makers of Lysol and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission quickly warned the public not to inject the deadly chemicals. The latter tweeted on April 24: “Cleaning products are poisonous, America! Make sure you keep those cleaning products in their original bottles and locked up out of sight and out of reach of kids!”
After the White House initially downplayed Trump’s comments on disinfectants, Trump on Friday claimed they had been “sarcastic.”
Poison control centers around the country reported spikes in calls and cases of people exposed to toxic cleaners.
Josh Marcus-Blank, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, slammed Messner’s comments. “If he won’t disagree with Trump when he is spreading blatant disinformation that could kill people, it’s clear he would never split with him to defend New Hampshire,” he said.
Messner has previously touted Trump’s unpopular and troubled response to the COVID-19 pandemic in political ads.
Last month, he ran a series of Facebook ads attacking Democrats for criticism of Trump and saying that Trump’s “bold, early actions (like the travel ban) have helped limit the effects of Coronavirus on American soil.”
“We need to be supportive of him at this critical time, unlike the Democrats who continually criticize the President no matter what he does,” the ad said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Democrats slam Betsy DeVos for blocking DACA recipients from getting aid

Democrats in the Senate and the House of Representatives have criticized Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for prohibiting colleges and universities from providing immigrant students with financial assistance authorized in a recent federal coronavirus aid package .
The decision by DeVos `` unnecessarily harms students in need , '' the senators , led by Michael Bennet of Colorado , wrote in a letter sent on Monday , adding that preventing aid for undocumented youth participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program `` contradicts clear Congressional intent and the plain language of the CARES Act . ''
Nothing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to DACA recipients , or `` Dreamers , '' even if other sections of the law prohibit noneducation-related aid to undocumented immigrants , the senators wrote .
Instead , they say , the Education Department fabricated restrictions for colleges and universities .
The 26 senators told DeVos : `` We expect you to comply with the intent of the CARES Act and reverse this unauthorized decision immediately . ''
House Democrats , led by Eric Swalwell of California , also called on DeVos to help all students in need regardless of where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we should not be dividing students based on immigration status or unduly limiting aid , '' the group of 72 House members wrote .
`` A pandemic is not the time to pass the buck but to take responsibility for what has happened and work expeditiously to correct problems , '' the group added , criticizing the overall slow pace of distribution of aid to colleges and universities .
On April 21 , the Education Department released guidelines prohibiting colleges and universities from providing any of the $ 6 billion in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , the department said that funding can only go to students who qualify for other federal student aid programs , meaning Dreamers are ineligible .
Congress authorized the aid to help students deal with financial difficulties stemming from the coronavirus crisis .
The letter from the Democratic House members said , `` Students across the nation are in financial distress as they struggle to cover expenses related to campus disruptions due to COVID-19 , including food , housing , course materials , technology , health care , and childcare costs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would go a long way to addressing these needs . ''
Sanaa Abrar , advocacy director of United We Dream Network , similarly criticized the DeVos decision as `` callous policy guidance '' that refuses to `` help students cover expenses like child care , housing , and food in the middle of an unprecedented global health crisis . ''
`` Every single relief package being discussed in Congress must include both the health care and financial assistance immigrant communities need , especially as the Trump administration continues to attack and scapegoat our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Democrats in the Senate and the House of Representatives have criticized Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for prohibiting colleges and universities from providing immigrant students with financial assistance authorized in a recent federal coronavirus aid package.
The decision by DeVos “unnecessarily harms students in need,” the senators, led by Michael Bennet of Colorado, wrote in a letter sent on Monday, adding that preventing aid for undocumented youth participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program “contradicts clear Congressional intent and the plain language of the CARES Act.”
Nothing in the law prohibits universities from distributing the aid to DACA recipients, or “Dreamers,” even if other sections of the law prohibit noneducation-related aid to undocumented immigrants, the senators wrote. Instead, they say, the Education Department fabricated restrictions for colleges and universities.
The 26 senators told DeVos: “We expect you to comply with the intent of the CARES Act and reverse this unauthorized decision immediately.”
House Democrats, led by Eric Swalwell of California, also called on DeVos to help all students in need regardless of where they were born.
During this crisis, “we should not be dividing students based on immigration status or unduly limiting aid,” the group of 72 House members wrote. “A pandemic is not the time to pass the buck but to take responsibility for what has happened and work expeditiously to correct problems,” the group added, criticizing the overall slow pace of distribution of aid to colleges and universities.
On April 21, the Education Department released guidelines prohibiting colleges and universities from providing any of the $6 billion in federal aid meant for students to DACA recipients. Instead, the department said that funding can only go to students who qualify for other federal student aid programs, meaning Dreamers are ineligible.
Congress authorized the aid to help students deal with financial difficulties stemming from the coronavirus crisis.
The letter from the Democratic House members said, “Students across the nation are in financial distress as they struggle to cover expenses related to campus disruptions due to COVID-19, including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare costs. The funding your department has not provided would go a long way to addressing these needs.”
Sanaa Abrar, advocacy director of United We Dream Network, similarly criticized the DeVos decision as “callous policy guidance” that refuses to “help students cover expenses like child care, housing, and food in the middle of an unprecedented global health crisis.”
“Every single relief package being discussed in Congress must include both the health care and financial assistance immigrant communities need, especially as the Trump administration continues to attack and scapegoat our communities amidst a pandemic,” Abrar added.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Hillary endorses Biden: He'd be 'a real president' not 'somebody who plays one on TV'

' I 've seen firsthand what presidents can and should do , and I , like so many Americans , really wish that we had that kind of leadership now . '
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON : So , I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president .
Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science , put facts over fiction , but brought us together , showed the kind of compassion and caring that we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been exemplifying throughout his entire life .
Think of what it would mean if we had a real president , not just somebody who plays one on TV , but somebody who gets up every morning worried about the people that he 's responsible for leading during this crisis .
Well , I know what a difference it would make because I 've been there , I 've seen firsthand what presidents can and should do , and I , like so many Americans , really wish that we had that kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden has been preparing for this moment for his entire life .
I 've been privileged to work with him over the last 25-plus years as first lady , then for eight years in the Senate , where I watched him build coalitions and work to bring people together to solve problems , then during the Obama administration when I was privileged to be secretary of state .
I 've been in the situation room with Joe as we debated — and you know , where we did n't say what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said what we believed — and we had a president then with President Obama , who encouraged that .
Think of it .
Who wanted to hear from each and every one of us .
I 've been in the , you know , lobby of the Senate , I 've been in the cloakroom and I 've watched Joe bring people together .
So for me , this is a moment that we need a leader , a president like Joe Biden .

From an April 28 virtual town hall:
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: So, I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president. Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science, put facts over fiction, but brought us together, showed the kind of compassion and caring that we need from our president and which Joe Biden has been exemplifying throughout his entire life.
Think of what it would mean if we had a real president, not just somebody who plays one on TV, but somebody who gets up every morning worried about the people that he’s responsible for leading during this crisis.
Well, I know what a difference it would make because I’ve been there, I’ve seen firsthand what presidents can and should do, and I, like so many Americans, really wish that we had that kind of leadership now.
You know, Joe Biden has been preparing for this moment for his entire life. I’ve been privileged to work with him over the last 25-plus years as first lady, then for eight years in the Senate, where I watched him build coalitions and work to bring people together to solve problems, then during the Obama administration when I was privileged to be secretary of state.
I’ve been in the situation room with Joe as we debated — and you know, where we didn’t say what we thought people wanted to hear, we said what we believed — and we had a president then with President Obama, who encouraged that. Think of it. Who wanted to hear from each and every one of us.
I’ve been in the, you know, lobby of the Senate, I’ve been in the cloakroom and I’ve watched Joe bring people together. So for me, this is a moment that we need a leader, a president like Joe Biden.


shareblue--2020-04-28--GOP lawmaker: Women don't need equal rights if they have guns

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase ( R ) told a gun rights group on Friday that the Second Amendment is all women need to protect equality .
`` The Second Amendment has always been there , '' she told the Virginia Citizens Defense League in an online live stream .
`` It 's our Equal Rights Amendment for women .
So what else do you need ? ''
Chase , who announced her candidacy for Virginia 's 2021 gubernatorial election in February , has equated guns with women 's rights before .
After opposing the ratification of the Equal Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right-wing radio show , `` I call my revolver my little Equal Rights Amendment because it is empowering to women . ''
Last March , Virginia Capitol Police filed an incident report after Chase allegedly cursed out a female officer for not letting her park in a restricted area .
Chase accused the officer of violating her `` equality of women 's rights . ''
Last September , she ran a Facebook ad saying she was `` not afraid to shoot down '' gun control supporters .
She later called the language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital media company for `` screwing up our original approved ad . ''
Despite Chase 's opposition , Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in January .
The courts have not yet ruled whether the amendment can move forward from there .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) told a gun rights group on Friday that the Second Amendment is all women need to protect equality.
“The Second Amendment has always been there,” she told the Virginia Citizens Defense League in an online live stream. “It’s our Equal Rights Amendment for women. So what else do you need?”
Chase, who announced her candidacy for Virginia’s 2021 gubernatorial election in February, has equated guns with women’s rights before.
After opposing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in January 2019, she told a right-wing radio show, “I call my revolver my little Equal Rights Amendment because it is empowering to women.”
Last March, Virginia Capitol Police filed an incident report after Chase allegedly cursed out a female officer for not letting her park in a restricted area. Chase accused the officer of violating her “equality of women’s rights.”
Last September, she ran a Facebook ad saying she was “not afraid to shoot down” gun control supporters. She later called the language an “oversight” and blamed her digital media company for “screwing up our original approved ad.”
Despite Chase’s opposition, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in January. The courts have not yet ruled whether the amendment can move forward from there.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Gaetz: New York should 'collect bail money' instead of getting virus aid

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) argued on Monday that states like New York and California , which are led by Democrats , should not receive federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Gaetz 's comments echo other Republicans , including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who have railed against so-called `` blue state bailouts . ''
Gaetz asserted that instead of receiving federal money , the states should `` collect bail money '' from criminals and stop `` giving free health insurance to illegal aliens . ''
The U.S. economy has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans have lost their jobs .
From the April 27 edition of Fox News ' `` Hannity '' : REP. MATT GAETZ : Americans deserve to know who 's fighting for what .
Democrats are fighting for illegal aliens , for upgrades to the Kennedy Center , and for bailouts for blue states .
I mean , I do n't understand why New York ca n't collect bail money from their own criminals but they expect to be able to collect for non-coronavirus expenses from the people of Florida .
Maybe out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about not giving free health insurance to illegal aliens before asking the rest of the country to cover California 's budget deficits that they had well before coronavirus .
Meanwhile , Republicans , we 're actually trying to leverage the strength of this economy for our people , for our workers , for our businesses , and I think that 's ultimately what we 'll do about that .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) argued on Monday that states like New York and California, which are led by Democrats, should not receive federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaetz’s comments echo other Republicans, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who have railed against so-called “blue state bailouts.”
Gaetz asserted that instead of receiving federal money, the states should “collect bail money” from criminals and stop “giving free health insurance to illegal aliens.”
The U.S. economy has been battered by the outbreak, and millions of Americans have lost their jobs.
From the April 27 edition of Fox News’ “Hannity”:
REP. MATT GAETZ: Americans deserve to know who’s fighting for what. Democrats are fighting for illegal aliens, for upgrades to the Kennedy Center, and for bailouts for blue states. I mean, I don’t understand why New York can’t collect bail money from their own criminals but they expect to be able to collect for non-coronavirus expenses from the people of Florida. Maybe out there in California, Gavin Newsom would think about not giving free health insurance to illegal aliens before asking the rest of the country to cover California’s budget deficits that they had well before coronavirus. Meanwhile, Republicans, we’re actually trying to leverage the strength of this economy for our people, for our workers, for our businesses, and I think that’s ultimately what we’ll do about that.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--Racist Rep. Steve King claims his party's done punishing him for being racist

Iowa Rep. Steve King ( R ) , an avowed white nationalist , claimed in a radio interview this week that he and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had reached an agreement to reinstate him to his former congressional committee assignments .
King was removed from the Judiciary and Agriculture Committees last year after he questioned when white supremacy had `` become offensive '' during a New York Times interview .
`` Kevin McCarthy and I have reached an understanding , '' King told local radio station KSCJ on Monday .
`` The only barrier in the way of putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 added that it `` was n't right to make him wait until after the November election '' to reinstate him to his former assignments , KSCJ noted .
McCarthy 's office did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the matter .
In January 2019 , King gave an interview to the Times in which he asked , `` White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — how did that language become offensive ? ''
`` Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization ? ''
he added .
According to the Times , King also claimed he was `` not a racist '' and supported `` immigrants who enter the country legally and fully assimilate because what matters more than race is 'the culture of America ' based on values brought to the United States by whites from Europe . ''
He issued a statement a day later calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he supported `` western civilization ’ s values . ''
King was removed from all his committee assignments days later .
In 2013 , he attacked undocumented youth from Mexico , claiming they had `` calves the size of cantaloupes because they 've been hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert . ''
In 2018 , he claimed that a European anti-immigrant group with ties to Nazis shared the same agenda as the Republican Party .
Although Republicans were quick to eject King from his assignments following his interview with the Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ xenophobic and openly racist remarks for years .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) named King as the co-chair of his 2016 presidential campaign , and in 2018 , Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) gave King a glowing endorsement .
`` Iowa needs Steve King in Congress , '' Grassley said at the time .
`` I also need Steve King in Congress . ''
Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) , who is up for reelection in 2020 , stood alongside King in the final days of the 2018 campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayoral candidate with neo-Nazi ties .
As the Times itself later noted , Republican leaders only removed King from his seat last year in an apparent attempt `` to appear tough on racism . ''
McCarthy himself acknowledged King 's history of racist remarks before saying he would not remove King from the House GOP conference altogether , in order to allow the congressman to `` attend ... party meetings . ''
He said it was up to the people of Iowa to decide whether King should remain in office .
Even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Times , others defended him .
Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina objected to King losing his committee seats , and King , in return , praised Norman as `` a noble man who understands an injustice '' when he sees it .
In June 2019 , several conservative Republicans , including Norman and Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Paul Gosar of Arizona , attempted to reinstate King to his committees .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Iowa Rep. Steve King (R), an avowed white nationalist, claimed in a radio interview this week that he and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had reached an agreement to reinstate him to his former congressional committee assignments.
King was removed from the Judiciary and Agriculture Committees last year after he questioned when white supremacy had “become offensive” during a New York Times interview.
“Kevin McCarthy and I have reached an understanding,” King told local radio station KSCJ on Monday. “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 added that it “wasn’t right to make him wait until after the November election” to reinstate him to his former assignments, KSCJ noted.
McCarthy’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the matter.
In January 2019, King gave an interview to the Times in which he asked, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”
“Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?” he added.
According to the Times, King also claimed he was “not a racist” and supported “immigrants who enter the country legally and fully assimilate because what matters more than race is ‘the culture of America’ based on values brought to the United States by whites from Europe.”
He issued a statement a day later calling himself a “nationalist” and saying he supported “western civilization’s values.”
King was removed from all his committee assignments days later.
King has a long history of making racist remarks.
In 2013, he attacked undocumented youth from Mexico, claiming they had “calves the size of cantaloupes because they’ve been hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”
In 2018, he claimed that a European anti-immigrant group with ties to Nazis shared the same agenda as the Republican Party.
Although Republicans were quick to eject King from his assignments following his interview with the Times, the party has largely ignored his xenophobic and openly racist remarks for years.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) named King as the co-chair of his 2016 presidential campaign, and in 2018, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave King a glowing endorsement.
“Iowa needs Steve King in Congress,” Grassley said at the time. “I also need Steve King in Congress.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who is up for reelection in 2020, stood alongside King in the final days of the 2018 campaign, just weeks after King endorsed a Toronto mayoral candidate with neo-Nazi ties.
As the Times itself later noted, Republican leaders only removed King from his seat last year in an apparent attempt “to appear tough on racism.” McCarthy himself acknowledged King’s history of racist remarks before saying he would not remove King from the House GOP conference altogether, in order to allow the congressman to “attend…party meetings.”
He said it was up to the people of Iowa to decide whether King should remain in office.
Even after some Republicans condemned King for his remarks to the Times, others defended him. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina objected to King losing his committee seats, and King, in return, praised Norman as “a noble man who understands an injustice” when he sees it.
In June 2019, several conservative Republicans, including Norman and Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Paul Gosar of Arizona, attempted to reinstate King to his committees.
The effort failed.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-28--GOP congressman claims House Democrats just using virus to avoid working

Rep. Mo Brooks ( R-AL ) claimed on Tuesday that House Democrats proposing to maintain social distancing by allowing proxy voting by Congress members during the COVID-19 pandemic were simply trying to get paid without working .
Noting a Politico story about a proposed temporary rule change to allow the voting by proxy , Brooks tweeted , `` # Socialist # Democrat # Congressmen support # proxy voting by a 20 to 1 margin .
Dems give # SpeakerPelosi their proxy , who then casts their votes .
Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` SAD !
COWARDLY ! ''
and urged , `` AMERICA - FIGHT BACK !
! ''
The Alabama Republican has complained multiple times about stay-at-home efforts aimed at curbing the coronavirus 's spread .
In early March , he criticized efforts to require social distancing , tweeting , `` # Coronavirus/ # COVID19 is serious .
Killing # economy out of # panic & # fear is DUMB & DANGEROUS ! ''
He added , `` A strong economy=more money=better food , shelter , clothing , national security , HEALTH CARE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & POVERTY KILLS MORE THAN COVID19 !
USA LEADERS : BE WISER ! ''
Last Monday , Brooks demanded an immediate end to Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey 's stay-at-home order , writing : `` We can live under government dictate , where a burgeoning nanny state regulates , ‘ for our own good , because we are not smart enough to know better ’ , the minutiae of our lives '' or have a government that `` defers to citizens the liberty and freedom of making their own decisions on how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the income needed to support family life . ''
Other GOP lawmakers have also been pushing recently to reopen Congress , despite the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout the Washington , D.C. , area .
Last week , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanded a `` clean , safe , and effective plan for reopening Congress , '' calling its operations `` the definition of 'essential work . '
'' Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee tweeted that `` Congress needs to get back to work '' because China 's government `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , Rep. Thomas Massie ( R-KY ) called his colleagues `` cowards '' who `` do n't want to show up for work . ''
While Brooks framed proxy voting by members of Congress as a matter of laziness , representatives have not been immune to the coronavirus .
Earlier this month , Rep. Neal Dunn ( R-FL ) became the sixth member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus .
A seventh , Rep. Nydia Velázquez ( D-NY ) , was presumed to have had COVID-19 symptoms last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House colleagues during the passage and signing of a stimulus bill .
Last week , the House held two roll-call votes with only a few members allowed on the floor at a time , at the urging of the House doctor .
Each vote , scheduled for 15 minutes , took more than an hour to finish .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) claimed on Tuesday that House Democrats proposing to maintain social distancing by allowing proxy voting by Congress members during the COVID-19 pandemic were simply trying to get paid without working.
Noting a Politico story about a proposed temporary rule change to allow the voting by proxy, Brooks tweeted, “#Socialist #Democrat #Congressmen support #proxy voting by a 20 to 1 margin. Dems give #SpeakerPelosi their proxy, who then casts their votes. Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill.”
He added that this was “SAD! COWARDLY!” and urged, “AMERICA – FIGHT BACK!!”
The Alabama Republican has complained multiple times about stay-at-home efforts aimed at curbing the coronavirus’s spread.
In early March, he criticized efforts to require social distancing, tweeting, “#Coronavirus/#COVID19 is serious. Killing #economy out of #panic & #fear is DUMB & DANGEROUS!” He added, “A strong economy=more money=better food, shelter, clothing, national security, HEALTH CARE & LONGER LIVES! A DESTROYED ECONOMY & POVERTY KILLS MORE THAN COVID19! USA LEADERS: BE WISER!”
Last Monday, Brooks demanded an immediate end to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order, writing: “We can live under government dictate, where a burgeoning nanny state regulates, ‘for our own good, because we are not smart enough to know better’, the minutiae of our lives” or have a government that “defers to citizens the liberty and freedom of making their own decisions on how to best balance the conflict between COVID-19 safety and the income needed to support family life.”
Other GOP lawmakers have also been pushing recently to reopen Congress, despite the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout the Washington, D.C., area.
Last week, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanded a “clean, safe, and effective plan for reopening Congress,” calling its operations “the definition of ‘essential work.'” Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee tweeted that “Congress needs to get back to work” because China’s government “is not taking a break.” Earlier this month, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) called his colleagues “cowards” who “don’t want to show up for work.”
While Brooks framed proxy voting by members of Congress as a matter of laziness, representatives have not been immune to the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) became the sixth member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus. A seventh, Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), was presumed to have had COVID-19 symptoms last month, days after close contact with House colleagues during the passage and signing of a stimulus bill.
Last week, the House held two roll-call votes with only a few members allowed on the floor at a time, at the urging of the House doctor. Each vote, scheduled for 15 minutes, took more than an hour to finish.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-29--Caregivers are struggling to get the help they need during the pandemic

Lucia Dey , a caregiver and the owner of BeServed Concierge , a home-health agency in Northern Virginia , has seen her client list shrink since the coronavirus hit the United States hard in March .
`` Things have changed , '' she said .
`` We have been asked to stop coming to many of our clients ' homes .
We are down from five clients to just one . ''
Experiences like Dey 's are becoming common when it comes to home health care , an industry that was already plagued by low wages , a lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that outnumbers potential family caregivers — problems that are all poised to get worse with the virus .
The direct care workforce is enormous and growing .
It has gone from 2.9 million workers in 2008 to 4.5 million today , and is expected to add another 1.3 million direct care jobs between now and 2028 — more new jobs than in any other occupation in the United States .
Despite this , direct care workers continue to struggle with being undervalued and unrecognized .
Kezia Scales , director of policy research at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve long-term services and supports for elders and people with disabilities , says the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing the marginalization of direct care workers to light , and it 's also exacerbating the inequities its workforce faces in contrast with its more visible colleagues — doctors and registered nurses in acute-care settings .
`` Direct care workers are working just as hard to try to prevent transmission of the virus and to then care for people when they get the virus .
They are just as in need of PPE , emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child care , '' Scales said .
`` We really want to keep these workers at the forefront of the discussion .
They provide services that are essential for millions of older adults and people across the country . ''
The solutions can be hard to see during a pandemic .
Many direct care workers need to stay home to protect the health of their families , or because , as in Dey 's case , the patients they care for might contract the coronavirus from direct care workers , who are likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dey , who has asthma and says her prescription is delayed at the local CVS , is n't able to visit clients herself right now because she 's too high-risk .
She still has staff who are willing to work , but that could change as more direct care workers or their patients contract the virus .
Scales says hazard pay for direct care workers — from both Medicaid and private agencies — is necessary in this current moment of crisis , and that it will be equally important to translate that hazard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long run .
`` This is essential work , and it should be compensated in such a way that direct workers can do their jobs and be economically self-sufficient , '' she said .
The median hourly rate for all direct care workers , meaning workers in both home and institutional settings , is $ 12.27 per hour , and median annual earnings , due to low wages and high rates of part-time employment , are just $ 20,200 .
Wages have not kept pace with the increasing demand for workers over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workforce doubled , wages increased by only three cents .
Among direct care workers , home care workers earn the least , at $ 11.52 per hour and $ 16,200 per year .
Altogether , 15 % of direct care workers live in poverty .
Compounding the barriers to equitable pay , recognition , and training in the industry is the fact that this workforce is predominantly comprised of women , people of color , and immigrants — groups that already face discrimination .
And as more and more data is collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 in the United States , the direct care workforce appears increasingly vulnerable .
LeadingAge is a national membership association of 6,000 nonprofit health care providers .
Their members work across all areas of long-term service and support for the elderly and disabled , including assisted-living facilities , home-based health aide agencies , adult day care centers , and affordable senior housing services .
Robyn Stone , the group 's co-director and senior vice president of research , says COVID-19 has turned her members `` upside down . ''
`` Staff are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a staffing shortage , '' Stone said .
`` We are advocating for hiring with quick but efficient training to keep services going .
Our front-line providers are certified nurse 's aides and home-health aides , and they are low-income workers with stressful life situations .
They are already struggling with child care and transportation and just those basic needs . ''
Stone worked with Christian Weller and Marc Cohen , fellow gerontology and public policy researchers at the University of Massachusetts Boston , on a study pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks for home health aides .
They say it 's too early to know how many aides are still working in people 's homes , but they have the sense that most of them will likely continue doing their jobs for one of two reasons , or a combination of both : people depend on them , and they have few other sources of income and little savings .
According to their research , the ones who are working will be going to their jobs not knowing whether the older adult or family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
In many cases , they will care for people who have been released home from hospitals after treatment , yet they may lack essential protective equipment , even things as basic as hand sanitizer and gloves .
Scales hesitates to speculate about whether or not people will stop taking direct care jobs because they are afraid of COVID-19 , but she said she knew of at least one patient of direct care workers who said they were afraid workers would leave the industry and not come back after the crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , there could be a surge in demand for hospital beds and respirators , and more people could die as a result .
John Schall , CEO of Caregiver Action Network , an organization that represents unpaid family caregivers , says he interacts with the paid caregiver sector and the economics of the industry has been problematic for quite some time .
COVID-19 is bringing to light a major flaw in the system .
`` This is not an unexpected problem .
Caregivers are making very low wages .
You can see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not worth the risk for them and their families .
On the other side of it , patients do n't want to take the risk of caregivers coming into the house right now , '' he said .
Schall says that unpaid caregiving within families is difficult even in the best of times because most family caregivers have other jobs and other family members , and they have to add full-time patient management on top of their other responsibilities : `` Add coronavirus on top of all that and it gets awfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional cost of family caregiving , it 's also expensive .
Schall estimates the out-of-pocket cost is $ 10,000 per year for a family caregiver to purchase things such as grab bars for showers , adult undergarments , medications , stairlifts , and a whole host of supplies .
Schall says CAN is supporting a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Katie Porter ( D-CA ) and Sen. Corey Gardner ( R-CO ) that will enable family caregivers to use funds from health savings accounts for expenses related to in-home caregiving .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into the fourth coronavirus assistance bill , '' Schall said .
Moira Quinn , a certified nurse practitioner at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester , Massachusetts , was an unpaid family caregiver to her mother for more than a dozen years .
From a medical and a personal perspective , she said , home caregiving in the time of COVID-19 poses an array of problems and risks .
`` My mother needed help with everything , and I had to work full-time , plus raise two kids while caregiving .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into the house , and there is an enormous risk that those health care people have been exposed , '' Quinn said .
Quinn also said she would be particularly concerned about caring for her mother at home now because she herself is a health care worker with high exposure risk .
On a more personal note , she said , she feels deeply for caregivers during the COVID-19 crisis , because even in better times the job can be excruciatingly lonely .
`` It 's already so isolating to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , it has to be so much worse , '' Quinn said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Lucia Dey, a caregiver and the owner of BeServed Concierge, a home-health agency in Northern Virginia, has seen her client list shrink since the coronavirus hit the United States hard in March.
“Things have changed,” she said. “We have been asked to stop coming to many of our clients’ homes. We are down from five clients to just one.”
Experiences like Dey’s are becoming common when it comes to home health care, an industry that was already plagued by low wages, a lack of training, and a growing senior population that outnumbers potential family caregivers — problems that are all poised to get worse with the virus.
The direct care workforce is enormous and growing. It has gone from 2.9 million workers in 2008 to 4.5 million today, and is expected to add another 1.3 million direct care jobs between now and 2028 — more new jobs than in any other occupation in the United States.
Despite this, direct care workers continue to struggle with being undervalued and unrecognized.
Kezia Scales, director of policy research at PHI, a Bronx-based nonprofit that works to improve long-term services and supports for elders and people with disabilities, says the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing the marginalization of direct care workers to light, and it’s also exacerbating the inequities its workforce faces in contrast with its more visible colleagues — doctors and registered nurses in acute-care settings.
“Direct care workers are working just as hard to try to prevent transmission of the virus and to then care for people when they get the virus. They are just as in need of PPE, emergency paid leave policies, and access to child care,” Scales said. “We really want to keep these workers at the forefront of the discussion. They provide services that are essential for millions of older adults and people across the country.”
The solutions can be hard to see during a pandemic. Many direct care workers need to stay home to protect the health of their families, or because, as in Dey’s case, the patients they care for might contract the coronavirus from direct care workers, who are likely seeing other patients and community members.
Dey, who has asthma and says her prescription is delayed at the local CVS, isn’t able to visit clients herself right now because she’s too high-risk. She still has staff who are willing to work, but that could change as more direct care workers or their patients contract the virus.
Scales says hazard pay for direct care workers — from both Medicaid and private agencies — is necessary in this current moment of crisis, and that it will be equally important to translate that hazard pay into a livable wage in the long run.
“This is essential work, and it should be compensated in such a way that direct workers can do their jobs and be economically self-sufficient,” she said.
The median hourly rate for all direct care workers, meaning workers in both home and institutional settings, is $12.27 per hour, and median annual earnings, due to low wages and high rates of part-time employment, are just $20,200.
Wages have not kept pace with the increasing demand for workers over the past decade; even as the direct care workforce doubled, wages increased by only three cents. Among direct care workers, home care workers earn the least, at $11.52 per hour and $16,200 per year. Altogether, 15% of direct care workers live in poverty.
Compounding the barriers to equitable pay, recognition, and training in the industry is the fact that this workforce is predominantly comprised of women, people of color, and immigrants — groups that already face discrimination.
And as more and more data is collected about people of color being disproportionately hard-hit by COVID-19 in the United States, the direct care workforce appears increasingly vulnerable.
LeadingAge is a national membership association of 6,000 nonprofit health care providers. Their members work across all areas of long-term service and support for the elderly and disabled, including assisted-living facilities, home-based health aide agencies, adult day care centers, and affordable senior housing services.
Robyn Stone, the group’s co-director and senior vice president of research, says COVID-19 has turned her members “upside down.”
“Staff are becoming sick, and we were already in a staffing shortage,” Stone said. “We are advocating for hiring with quick but efficient training to keep services going. Our front-line providers are certified nurse’s aides and home-health aides, and they are low-income workers with stressful life situations. They are already struggling with child care and transportation and just those basic needs.”
Stone worked with Christian Weller and Marc Cohen, fellow gerontology and public policy researchers at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on a study pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the substantial health risks for home health aides.
They say it’s too early to know how many aides are still working in people’s homes, but they have the sense that most of them will likely continue doing their jobs for one of two reasons, or a combination of both: people depend on them, and they have few other sources of income and little savings.
According to their research, the ones who are working will be going to their jobs not knowing whether the older adult or family member living in the home has the virus. In many cases, they will care for people who have been released home from hospitals after treatment, yet they may lack essential protective equipment, even things as basic as hand sanitizer and gloves.
Scales hesitates to speculate about whether or not people will stop taking direct care jobs because they are afraid of COVID-19, but she said she knew of at least one patient of direct care workers who said they were afraid workers would leave the industry and not come back after the crisis.
Without home care workers, the researchers say, there could be a surge in demand for hospital beds and respirators, and more people could die as a result.
John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network, an organization that represents unpaid family caregivers, says he interacts with the paid caregiver sector and the economics of the industry has been problematic for quite some time. COVID-19 is bringing to light a major flaw in the system.
“This is not an unexpected problem. Caregivers are making very low wages. You can see why they might think exposure to COVID-19 is not worth the risk for them and their families. On the other side of it, patients don’t want to take the risk of caregivers coming into the house right now,” he said.
Schall says that unpaid caregiving within families is difficult even in the best of times because most family caregivers have other jobs and other family members, and they have to add full-time patient management on top of their other responsibilities: “Add coronavirus on top of all that and it gets awfully challenging.”
In addition to the emotional cost of family caregiving, it’s also expensive. Schall estimates the out-of-pocket cost is $10,000 per year for a family caregiver to purchase things such as grab bars for showers, adult undergarments, medications, stairlifts, and a whole host of supplies.
Schall says CAN is supporting a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sen. Corey Gardner (R-CO) that will enable family caregivers to use funds from health savings accounts for expenses related to in-home caregiving.
“We want them to include this idea to go into the fourth coronavirus assistance bill,” Schall said.
Moira Quinn, a certified nurse practitioner at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Massachusetts, was an unpaid family caregiver to her mother for more than a dozen years.
From a medical and a personal perspective, she said, home caregiving in the time of COVID-19 poses an array of problems and risks.
“My mother needed help with everything, and I had to work full-time, plus raise two kids while caregiving. I had to rely on other people to come into the house, and there is an enormous risk that those health care people have been exposed,” Quinn said.
Quinn also said she would be particularly concerned about caring for her mother at home now because she herself is a health care worker with high exposure risk.
On a more personal note, she said, she feels deeply for caregivers during the COVID-19 crisis, because even in better times the job can be excruciatingly lonely.
“It’s already so isolating to be a caregiver, and now, with this virus, it has to be so much worse,” Quinn said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-04-29--McConnell: Lawsuits against 'brave businesspeople' are 'the second pandemic'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will not allow any coronavirus relief legislation to make it through the Senate unless workers are prevented from suing employers if they get sick on the job .
McConnell previously described such provisions as a `` red line '' he is unwilling to cross .
On Wednesday , the majority leader spoke with Fox News ' Brian Kilmeade and compared workers ' ability to sue employers to a `` second pandemic '' that could overwhelm `` brave businesspeople '' trying to reopen their companies .
From the April 29 edition of Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' : BRIAN KILMEADE , host : So , saying you do n't want to pay for people who have fattened their budgets in these states , so , what 's your reaction to that ?
MITCH MCCONNELL : Well look , there 's no question that all governors regardless of party would like to have more money and I 'm open to discussing that , but what [ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is ] ignoring is the second pandemic which is going to be lawsuits against doctors , nurses , hospitals — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are opening up their — all I 'm saying is , the recovery 's not just about money , Brian , it 's also about safety and being willing to reengage .
We can say that the country 's opening up , but if our people do n't come and businesses are afraid to open because of the lawyers that are lurking on the curbside outside their doors — MCCONNELL : — we wo n't have the kind of reopening that we want .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will not allow any coronavirus relief legislation to make it through the Senate unless workers are prevented from suing employers if they get sick on the job.
McConnell previously described such provisions as a “red line” he is unwilling to cross.
On Wednesday, the majority leader spoke with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade and compared workers’ ability to sue employers to a “second pandemic” that could overwhelm “brave businesspeople” trying to reopen their companies.
From the April 29 edition of Fox News Radio’s “Brian Kilmeade Show”:
BRIAN KILMEADE, host: So, saying you don’t want to pay for people who have fattened their budgets in these states, so, what’s your reaction to that? MITCH MCCONNELL: Well look, there’s no question that all governors regardless of party would like to have more money and I’m open to discussing that, but what [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is] ignoring is the second pandemic which is going to be lawsuits against doctors, nurses, hospitals — KILMEADE: Yup. MCCONNELL: — and brave businesspeople who are opening up their — all I’m saying is, the recovery’s not just about money, Brian, it’s also about safety and being willing to reengage. We can say that the country’s opening up, but if our people don’t come and businesses are afraid to open because of the lawyers that are lurking on the curbside outside their doors — KILMEADE: Yup. MCCONNELL: — we won’t have the kind of reopening that we want.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.