shareblue--2020-02-10--Not a single Republican defended Lt. Col. Vindman after Trump fired him

Republicans have been mostly silent since Donald Trump unceremoniously fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , a decorated Army officer and National Security Council staffer , and his twin brother on Friday afternoon .
Vindman was escorted from the White House Friday afternoon , a move largely seen as retaliation for Vindman 's congressional testimony during the House impeachment investigation .
Vindman testified in November 2019 that he was troubled by Trump asking the Ukrainian government to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and relayed his concerns to NSC lawyers .
Vindman received the Purple Heart after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while serving in Iraq in 2004 .
Until Friday , he served as one of the NSC 's top Ukraine experts .
Not a single Republican member of Congress has defended Vindman publicly since his dismissal .
Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , who voted to acquit Trump on articles of impeachment claiming Trump had learned his lesson , said Friday that she was opposed `` any kind of retribution '' against administration officials who provided evidence in the impeachment investigation , but did not defend Vindman by name .
Neither Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Kevin McCarthy responded immediately to requests for comment on the matter .
Sen. James Inhofe ( R-OK ) , chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee , and Rep. Mac Thornberry ( R-TX ) , ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee , also did not respond immediately to requests for comment .
At least three GOP members have defended Trump 's retaliatory actions .
Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) tweeted that Trump `` has a right to have people he trusts on his staff . ''
Rep. Thomas Massie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leaker , not a whistlblower , '' adding that Trump `` made the right decision to remove Vindman '' from the White House .
There is no evidence Vindman leaked any information .
On Monday morning , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) shared a video on Facebook attacking Vindman as having `` poor judgment . ''
Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) , a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee , repeatedly attacked the integrity of Vindman before the White House fired him , falsely accusing Vindman of badmouthing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After Vindman was escorted from the White House last week , Donald Trump Jr. , Trump 's eldest son , suggested on social media that Vindman was dismissed in retaliation for testifying .
The younger Trump thanked Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) , who led the impeachment investigations , for `` unearthing who all needed to be fired . ''
When Vindman , who fled the former Soviet Union with his family as a child over religious persecution , testified before Congress in November 2019 , he noted that `` in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns to the chain of command in an official and private channel would have severe personal and professional repercussions . ''
He thanked his father , reassuring him that he had made the right decision to immigrate to the united States .
`` Dad , my sitting here today , in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not worry , I will be fine for telling the truth . ''
Trump also fired Gordon Sondland , the U.S. ambassador to the European Union , on Friday .
Sondland , like Vindman , gave testimony to before Congress during the House impeachment investigation , stating absolutely that Trump had a quid pro quo arrangement with Ukraine , and that Trump had conditioned a coveted White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the leader 's willingness to open investigations into Trump 's political rivals .
`` I know that members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues in the form of a simple question : Was there a 'quid pro quo ' ? ''
Sondland said .
`` ... With regard to the requested White House call and the White House meeting , the answer is yes . ''
The New York Times reported last week that several Republican senators privately urged Trump not to fire Sondland , because he was a major Republican donor .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republicans have been mostly silent since Donald Trump unceremoniously fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Army officer and National Security Council staffer, and his twin brother on Friday afternoon.
Vindman was escorted from the White House Friday afternoon, a move largely seen as retaliation for Vindman’s congressional testimony during the House impeachment investigation. Vindman testified in November 2019 that he was troubled by Trump asking the Ukrainian government to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and relayed his concerns to NSC lawyers.
Vindman received the Purple Heart after he was injured by an improvised explosive device while serving in Iraq in 2004. Until Friday, he served as one of the NSC’s top Ukraine experts.
Not a single Republican member of Congress has defended Vindman publicly since his dismissal.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who voted to acquit Trump on articles of impeachment claiming Trump had learned his lesson, said Friday that she was opposed “any kind of retribution” against administration officials who provided evidence in the impeachment investigation, but did not defend Vindman by name.
Neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell nor House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy responded immediately to requests for comment on the matter.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, also did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
At least three GOP members have defended Trump’s retaliatory actions.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tweeted that Trump “has a right to have people he trusts on his staff.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) attacked Vindman as “a leaker, not a whistlblower,” adding that Trump “made the right decision to remove Vindman” from the White House.
There is no evidence Vindman leaked any information.
On Monday morning, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) shared a video on Facebook attacking Vindman as having “poor judgment.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, repeatedly attacked the integrity of Vindman before the White House fired him, falsely accusing Vindman of badmouthing the United States in front of Russian officials.
After Vindman was escorted from the White House last week, Donald Trump Jr., Trump’s eldest son, suggested on social media that Vindman was dismissed in retaliation for testifying. The younger Trump thanked Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who led the impeachment investigations, for “unearthing who all needed to be fired.”
When Vindman, who fled the former Soviet Union with his family as a child over religious persecution, testified before Congress in November 2019, he noted that “in Russia, my act of expressing my concerns to the chain of command in an official and private channel would have severe personal and professional repercussions.”
He thanked his father, reassuring him that he had made the right decision to immigrate to the united States.
“Dad, my sitting here today, in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family,” Vindman said. “Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.”
Trump also fired Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, on Friday.
Sondland, like Vindman, gave testimony to before Congress during the House impeachment investigation, stating absolutely that Trump had a quid pro quo arrangement with Ukraine, and that Trump had conditioned a coveted White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the leader’s willingness to open investigations into Trump’s political rivals.
“I know that members of this committee frequently frame these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a ‘quid pro quo’?” Sondland said. “… With regard to the requested White House call and the White House meeting, the answer is yes.”
The New York Times reported last week that several Republican senators privately urged Trump not to fire Sondland, because he was a major Republican donor.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--Conway: Ambassador's firing is OK since 'he wasn't there' for Trump's campaign

Kellyanne Conway on Monday defended Donald Trump 's decision to fire two key impeachment witnesses last week , suggesting that one of them , the former U.S. ambassador to the EU , had only donated $ 1 million to Trump 's inauguration and had not supported Trump before then .
`` It was nice of the president to give him that post in the first place , '' the White House counselor told Fox News , referring to former Ambassador Gordon Sondland , who testified against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry last year .
`` Here is somebody that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some others in the establishment Republican party were doing , '' Conway continued .
`` I had to cancel a fundraiser for Donald Trump in late the campaign .
[ Sondland ] was n't there .
He wrote a big check to the inauguration but was n't really there before the president improbably and surprisingly won [ for people like that ] . ''
Conway appeared to be referring to an incident in 2016 when the Trump campaign listed Sondland and the president of Sondland 's hotel company , Bashar Wali , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two said they never signed on to the event and would not be participating .
A spokesperson noted at the time that the two were upset about Trump 's attacks on Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan , whose son , Army Captain Humayun Khan , had been killed in Iraq in 2004 .
Khizr and Ghazala Khan had appeared together at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and criticized Trump 's calls for Muslims to be banned from the United States .
After Trump 's victory , Sondland was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a seven-figure contribution to Trump 's inaugural fund .
In May 2018 , Trump rewarded him with a nomination to be ambassador to the EU .
Sondland was a central figure in Trump 's impeachment , though the White House tried repeatedly to block him from testifying in the House inquiry .
Trump claimed last October that he would `` love to send Ambassador Sondland , a really good man and great American , to testify '' before Congress , but could n't support a `` totally compromised kangaroo court . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee in November .
During his public hearing , he stated unequivocally that Trump had engaged in a quid pro quo with Ukraine , dangling the prospect of a coveted White House visit in exchange for investigations into his political rivals .
After that testimony , Trump claimed he did n't know Sondland very well .
`` I have not spoken to him much , '' he said at the time .
`` This is not a man I know well .
He seems like a nice guy though .
But I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Trump removed Sondland and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council , from their posts , apparently in retaliation for their damning impeachment testimony .
Trump also removed Vindman 's twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , a senior lawyer on the National Security Council who did not testify in Trump 's impeachment .
Conway claimed on Monday that the dismissals were not firings , claiming instead that the men `` just got relocated . ''
Asked if there would be more removals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was a possibility .
`` We have people certainly in this administration that are probably holdovers and also people that do n't believe in President Trump 's agenda , '' she said .
`` There are many men and women out there who would love to have these jobs in this administration and would do a great job . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Kellyanne Conway on Monday defended Donald Trump’s decision to fire two key impeachment witnesses last week, suggesting that one of them, the former U.S. ambassador to the EU, had only donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and had not supported Trump before then.
“It was nice of the president to give him that post in the first place,” the White House counselor told Fox News, referring to former Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who testified against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry last year.
“Here is somebody that, I think, leaned into what some others in the establishment Republican party were doing,” Conway continued. “I had to cancel a fundraiser for Donald Trump in late the campaign. [Sondland] wasn’t there. He wrote a big check to the inauguration but wasn’t really there before the president improbably and surprisingly won [for people like that].”
Conway appeared to be referring to an incident in 2016 when the Trump campaign listed Sondland and the president of Sondland’s hotel company, Bashar Wali, as hosts for an August fundraising event. The two said they never signed on to the event and would not be participating.
A spokesperson noted at the time that the two were upset about Trump’s attacks on Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son, Army Captain Humayun Khan, had been killed in Iraq in 2004. Khizr and Ghazala Khan had appeared together at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and criticized Trump’s calls for Muslims to be banned from the United States.
After Trump’s victory, Sondland was one of just a few dozen donors who made a seven-figure contribution to Trump’s inaugural fund. In May 2018, Trump rewarded him with a nomination to be ambassador to the EU.
Sondland was a central figure in Trump’s impeachment, though the White House tried repeatedly to block him from testifying in the House inquiry. Trump claimed last October that he would “love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify” before Congress, but couldn’t support a “totally compromised kangaroo court.”
Sondland eventually testified before the House Intelligence Committee in November. During his public hearing, he stated unequivocally that Trump had engaged in a quid pro quo with Ukraine, dangling the prospect of a coveted White House visit in exchange for investigations into his political rivals.
After that testimony, Trump claimed he didn’t know Sondland very well.
“I have not spoken to him much,” he said at the time. “This is not a man I know well. He seems like a nice guy though. But I don’t know him well.”
Last Friday, Trump removed Sondland and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, from their posts, apparently in retaliation for their damning impeachment testimony.
Trump also removed Vindman’s twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, a senior lawyer on the National Security Council who did not testify in Trump’s impeachment.
Conway claimed on Monday that the dismissals were not firings, claiming instead that the men “just got relocated.”
Asked if there would be more removals in response to the impeachment, Conway said it was a possibility.
“We have people certainly in this administration that are probably holdovers and also people that don’t believe in President Trump’s agenda,” she said. “There are many men and women out there who would love to have these jobs in this administration and would do a great job.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--Trump praises himself for 'doing tremendous waste and tremendous fraud'

Trump 's statement comes the same day he presented a budget that would raise the national debt to $ 23 @ @ @ @ @ 10 White House Business Session with governors from across the country : DONALD TRUMP : @ @ @ @ @ of things that are very good including waste and fraud — tremendous waste and tremendous @ @ @ @ @ 're doing that .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republicans are talking up the possibility of impeaching Biden. Is it what voters want to hear?
“It’s all about revenge politics to keep Trump’s base,” says one independent voter.
By Associated Press - August 09, 2023


shareblue--2020-02-10--AG Barr admits he's taking information from Giuliani on Ukraine

Attorney General William Barr said that the Department of Justice has set up an `` intake process '' for information from Ukraine regarding former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden — helping to prop up an investigation into a conspiracy theory that has already thoroughly been debunked .
Barr made the admission at a news conference on Monday , during which he also stated the `` intake process '' is open to receiving information from Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
Giuliani is under federal investigation for acting as an unregistered foreign agent in Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's effort to force Ukrainian leadership to announce an investigation into Biden , a potential political rival of Trump 's for the 2020 presidential race .
`` We had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in from Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department so that we could address its provenance , '' Barr said , adding that information could come from Giuliani as well .
Barr added that the DOJ has an `` obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' but said that the department has `` to be very careful with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine . ''
For Justice Department officials say Barr 's admission that he 's accepting information from Giuliani — even while Giuliani is under investigation by the very department Barr oversees — is not in line with how the department usually functions , according to CBS 's Paula Reid .
Reporters at the news conference , however , did n't get to ask Barr about how taking information from Giuliani is acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and refused to take any more questions .
Barr was asked about Giuliani after Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) told CBS News on Sunday that the Justice Department is indeed working with Giuliani .
`` The Department of Justice is receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy , '' Graham said on `` Face the Nation . ''
The department initially refused to comment on how information-sharing was working with Giuliani , until Monday 's news conference on an unrelated subject .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

Attorney General William Barr said that the Department of Justice has set up an “intake process” for information from Ukraine regarding former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden — helping to prop up an investigation into a conspiracy theory that has already thoroughly been debunked.
Barr made the admission at a news conference on Monday, during which he also stated the “intake process” is open to receiving information from Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Giuliani is under federal investigation for acting as an unregistered foreign agent in Ukraine, as he was a ringleader in Trump’s effort to force Ukrainian leadership to announce an investigation into Biden, a potential political rival of Trump’s for the 2020 presidential race.
“We had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in from Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department so that we could address its provenance,” Barr said, adding that information could come from Giuliani as well.
Barr added that the DOJ has an “obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant,” but said that the department has “to be very careful with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine.”
For Justice Department officials say Barr’s admission that he’s accepting information from Giuliani — even while Giuliani is under investigation by the very department Barr oversees — is not in line with how the department usually functions, according to CBS’s Paula Reid.
Reporters at the news conference, however, didn’t get to ask Barr about how taking information from Giuliani is acceptable because he abruptly left the news conference and refused to take any more questions.
Barr was asked about Giuliani after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told CBS News on Sunday that the Justice Department is indeed working with Giuliani.
“The Department of Justice is receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy,” Graham said on “Face the Nation.”
The department initially refused to comment on how information-sharing was working with Giuliani, until Monday’s news conference on an unrelated subject.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--Fact check: Trump spent the week lying about his acquittal, Nancy Pelosi, and Russia

Donald Trump says the world is witnessing a great American economic revival that he brought on by reversing course from the Obama years .
Yet the economy is not so different from the robust one he inherited and disparages at every turn .
During a week when his acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial emboldened him , Trump and his White House later glossed over inconvenient facts in asserting that the Russia investigation and impeachment inquiry had turned up nothing against him .
TRUMP , on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , ripping up his State of the Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terrible thing when she ripped up the speech .
First of all , it 's an official document .
You 're not allowed .
It 's illegal what she did .
She broke the law . ''
— remarks Friday .
THE FACTS : No laws were broken , legal experts say .
That 's because it was not an original government document , but Pelosi 's copy of the speech .
Steven Aftergood , a records expert at the private Federation of American Scientists , said : `` Legally , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contempt for the president 's speech , and her views are constitutionally protected . ''
He said her torn-up pieces of the speech might themselves be considered a new record of historical value .
Laurence Tribe , a constitutional law professor at Harvard University , said Pelosi did not violate 18 U.S. Code Section 2071 .
That 's the federal law defining the deliberate destruction of an official record that has been filed with a court or other government agency — a felony punishable by a prison term and by forfeiture of office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Minnesota , said : `` This is not an archival document .
...
This is one of many , many , many copies of President Trump 's speech and Nancy Pelosi is free to do with it whatever she will . ''
Kitrosser added that any disagreement with Trump 's speech is protected by the First Amendment `` and in Pelosi 's case , under the speech and debate clause of the Constitution . ''
TRUMP : `` We first went through Russia , Russia , Russia .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday to the nation .
THE FACTS : A two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller that produced guilty pleas , convictions or criminal charges against Russian intelligence officers , as well as Trump associates , is demonstrably not a hoax , as Trump frequently describes it .
All told , Mueller charged 34 people , including Trump 's former campaign chairman , Paul Manafort , his first national security adviser , Michael Flynn , and three Russian companies .
Twenty-five Russians were indicted on charges related to election interference , accused either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign or of orchestrating a social media campaign that spread disinformation on the internet .
Five Trump aides pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller .
A sixth , longtime confidant Roger Stone , was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering over his efforts to get inside information about hacked Democratic emails that Wikileaks was releasing in 2016 in an effort to harm the Clinton campaign .
Mueller 's report concluded that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was `` sweeping and systematic . ''
Ultimately , Mueller did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Trump campaign .
The special counsel did n't render judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice , citing in part Justice Department guidelines that a sitting president can not be indicted .
TRUMP : `` For the first time in 51 years , the cost of prescription drugs actually went down . ''
— State of the Union .
THE FACTS : Prices for prescription drugs have edged down , but that is driven by declines for generics .
Prices for brand-name medications are still going up , although more moderately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services reported last year that prices for pharmacy prescriptions went down by 1 % in 2018 , the first such price drop in 45 years .
The department said the last time retail prescription drug prices declined was in 1973 , when they went down by 0.2 % .
WHITE HOUSE : `` Today , the sham impeachment attempt concocted by Democrats ended in the full vindication and exoneration of President Donald J .
Trump . ''
— statement Wednesday by press secretary Stephanie Grisham .
THE FACTS : Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongdoing or fully exonerated .
Key Republican senators who voted for his swift acquittal indicated Trump did act improperly in the Ukraine matter , but that voters should decide whether to remove him from office .
The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump last week of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , after narrowly rejecting Democratic demands to summon witnesses .
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , who cast a pivotal vote against hearing from witnesses and extending the trial , said he believed Democrats had proved their case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters should issue the verdict of whether to remove Trump from office this close to a presidential election .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , described Trump 's actions as `` shameful and wrong , '' but said his fate should be left up to voters .
`` The voters will pronounce a verdict in nine months , and we must trust their judgment , '' she said .

Donald Trump says the world is witnessing a great American economic revival that he brought on by reversing course from the Obama years. Yet the economy is not so different from the robust one he inherited and disparages at every turn.
During a week when his acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial emboldened him, Trump and his White House later glossed over inconvenient facts in asserting that the Russia investigation and impeachment inquiry had turned up nothing against him.
A sampling of recent rhetoric:
TRUMP ON PELOSI
TRUMP, on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ripping up his State of the Union remarks: “I thought it was a terrible thing when she ripped up the speech. First of all, it’s an official document. You’re not allowed. It’s illegal what she did. She broke the law.” — remarks Friday.
THE FACTS: No laws were broken, legal experts say. That’s because it was not an original government document, but Pelosi’s copy of the speech.
Steven Aftergood, a records expert at the private Federation of American Scientists, said: “Legally, this is a nonissue. Pelosi was expressing contempt for the president’s speech, and her views are constitutionally protected.” He said her torn-up pieces of the speech might themselves be considered a new record of historical value.
Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University, said Pelosi did not violate 18 U.S. Code Section 2071. That’s the federal law defining the deliberate destruction of an official record that has been filed with a court or other government agency — a felony punishable by a prison term and by forfeiture of office.
Heidi Kitrosser, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, said: “This is not an archival document. … This is one of many, many, many copies of President Trump’s speech and Nancy Pelosi is free to do with it whatever she will.”
Kitrosser added that any disagreement with Trump’s speech is protected by the First Amendment “and in Pelosi’s case, under the speech and debate clause of the Constitution.”
___
TRUMP: “We first went through Russia, Russia, Russia. It was all bulls—-.” — remarks Thursday to the nation.
THE FACTS: A two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller that produced guilty pleas, convictions or criminal charges against Russian intelligence officers, as well as Trump associates, is demonstrably not a hoax, as Trump frequently describes it.
All told, Mueller charged 34 people, including Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and three Russian companies. Twenty-five Russians were indicted on charges related to election interference, accused either of hacking Democratic email accounts during the campaign or of orchestrating a social media campaign that spread disinformation on the internet.
Five Trump aides pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller. A sixth, longtime confidant Roger Stone, was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering over his efforts to get inside information about hacked Democratic emails that Wikileaks was releasing in 2016 in an effort to harm the Clinton campaign.
Mueller’s report concluded that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was “sweeping and systematic.” Ultimately, Mueller did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign. The special counsel didn’t render judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice, citing in part Justice Department guidelines that a sitting president cannot be indicted.
___
DRUG PRICES
TRUMP: “For the first time in 51 years, the cost of prescription drugs actually went down.” — State of the Union.
THE FACTS: Prices for prescription drugs have edged down, but that is driven by declines for generics. Prices for brand-name medications are still going up, although more moderately.
Nonpartisan government experts at the Department of Health and Human Services reported last year that prices for pharmacy prescriptions went down by 1% in 2018, the first such price drop in 45 years.
The department said the last time retail prescription drug prices declined was in 1973, when they went down by 0.2%.
___
ACQUITTAL
WHITE HOUSE: “Today, the sham impeachment attempt concocted by Democrats ended in the full vindication and exoneration of President Donald J. Trump.” — statement Wednesday by press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
THE FACTS: Trump is not free of the taint of wrongdoing or fully exonerated. Key Republican senators who voted for his swift acquittal indicated Trump did act improperly in the Ukraine matter, but that voters should decide whether to remove him from office.
The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump last week of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, after narrowly rejecting Democratic demands to summon witnesses.
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who cast a pivotal vote against hearing from witnesses and extending the trial, said he believed Democrats had proved their case of wrongdoing. He said ultimately, however, voters should issue the verdict of whether to remove Trump from office this close to a presidential election. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, described Trump’s actions as “shameful and wrong,” but said his fate should be left up to voters.
“The voters will pronounce a verdict in nine months, and we must trust their judgment,” she said.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Trump Medal of Honor winner pushes homophobic attack on 2020 Democrat

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh made homophobic remarks this week about Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg , days after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump .
During a segment on his eponymous radio show Tuesday , Limbaugh criticized those who were unsure how to talk to their children about Trump and his extreme policies and statements .
He specifically cited Buttigieg , who he said had run an ad `` going on and on and on and on and on , about how parents in America are struggling to explain President Trump to their children . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad Limbaugh was referring .
Limbaugh then displayed a photo of Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , kissing his husband Chasten , on the show 's livestream for subscribers .
`` So [ Buttigieg ] says Trump causes problems for parents , what about that ?
If you 're not watching on the DittoCam , what it is , a picture of Mayor Pete kissing his husband — which he does frequently , '' said Limbaugh .
He then moved on to attack other Democratic candidates vying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first flagged by Media Matters for America on Tuesday afternoon .
Limbaugh has used his nationally syndicated radio show to promote attacks on LGBTQ people for decades .
Among other things : • Limbaugh said gay students who were harassed at school were `` trumpeting '' their sexuality and `` inviting dissent . ''
• He has also referred to gender reassignment surgery as `` add-a-dick-to-me . ''
• In 2009 , Limbaugh referred to then-Rep. Barney Frank ( D-MA ) , who is gay , as `` a banking queen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limbaugh asked in 2012 , `` We 're supposed to sit by while great traditions and institutions like marriage are ripped to shreds ? ''
Limbaugh has also frequently used his broadcasts to promote racism , misogyny , xenophobia , and to forward lies and smears of Democrats and progressives .
Despite this , Trump awarded Limbaugh with the Medal of Freedom during his State of the Union speech on Feb. 4 .
`` Rush Limbaugh , thank you for decades of tireless devotion to our country , '' Trump said as first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limbaugh 's neck .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh made homophobic remarks this week about Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, days after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump.
During a segment on his eponymous radio show Tuesday, Limbaugh criticized those who were unsure how to talk to their children about Trump and his extreme policies and statements. He specifically cited Buttigieg, who he said had run an ad “going on and on and on and on and on, about how parents in America are struggling to explain President Trump to their children.”
It was not immediately clear to which ad Limbaugh was referring.
Limbaugh then displayed a photo of Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, kissing his husband Chasten, on the show’s livestream for subscribers.
“So [Buttigieg] says Trump causes problems for parents, what about that? If you’re not watching on the DittoCam, what it is, a picture of Mayor Pete kissing his husband — which he does frequently,” said Limbaugh.
He then moved on to attack other Democratic candidates vying for the party’s nomination.
The clip was first flagged by Media Matters for America on Tuesday afternoon.
Limbaugh has used his nationally syndicated radio show to promote attacks on LGBTQ people for decades. Among other things:
Limbaugh said gay students who were harassed at school were “trumpeting” their sexuality and “inviting dissent.”
Limbaugh referred to a transgender person as needing “a chop-a-dick-offa’-me operation.”
He has also referred to gender reassignment surgery as “add-a-dick-to-me.”
In 2009, Limbaugh referred to then-Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who is gay, as “a banking queen.”
Referring to same-sex marriage, Limbaugh asked in 2012, “We’re supposed to sit by while great traditions and institutions like marriage are ripped to shreds?”
Limbaugh compared same-sex marriage to bestiality.
Limbaugh has falsely connected same-sex marriage and pedophilia.
Limbaugh has also frequently used his broadcasts to promote racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and to forward lies and smears of Democrats and progressives.
Despite this, Trump awarded Limbaugh with the Medal of Freedom during his State of the Union speech on Feb. 4.
“Rush Limbaugh, thank you for decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump said as first lady Melania Trump hung the medal around Limbaugh’s neck.
A previous version of this story misidentified the award as the Medal of Honor. Limbaugh received the Medal of Freedom.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Prosecutors quit Stone case after DOJ backtracks on sentencing

The Justice Department 's extraordinary decision to undermine an earlier sentencing recommendation for longtime Donald Trump ally Roger Stone this week has prompted several of the federal prosecutors on the case to withdraw in protest .
According to NBC News , lead prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky withdrew from the case Tuesday afternoon .
The outlet reported that Zelinsky , who served on former special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation team , would retain his job with the U.S. Attorney in Maryland , but would be departing the Washington , D.C. , U.S. Attorney 's office .
A second prosecutor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case and his job as an assistant U.S. attorney '' according to NBC News .
A third prosecutor , Adam Jed , also filed a notice of withdrawal on Tuesday afternoon .
Not long after , a fourth prosecutor , Michael Marando , gave notice of his withdrawal as well .
Around the same time , the Justice Department issued a new sentencing recommendation in Stone 's case , stating that `` the defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient , but not greater than necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ultimately , the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case , '' it concluded .
The Justice Department 's decision to shorten Stone 's sentencing recommendations was announced earlier on Tuesday , following a tweet from Trump in which he complained about a `` miscarriage of justice , '' though officials claimed they had made their decision before Trump commented on the matter .
Initially , prosecutors had recommended Stone , who was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine years in prison .
Stone 's actions , which were unearthed during Mueller 's nearly two-year-long probe , `` were not a one-off mistake in judgment , '' they wrote in a sentencing memo filed Monday evening .
`` Nor were his false statements made in the heat of the moment .
They were nowhere close to that . ''
`` Stone ’ s conduct over the past two years shows the low regard in which he holds the House Intelligence Committee ’ s investigation and this very criminal case , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump tweeted that the decision to seek such a long prison sentence was `` unfair . ''
`` This is a horrible and very unfair situation , '' he wrote at 1:48 a.m. EST .
`` The real crimes were on the other side , as nothing happens to them .
Can not allow this miscarriage of justice ! ''
Hours later , the Justice Department announced it had made the astonishing decision to shorten that recommended sentence .
An unnamed official told Fox News Trump 's comments had not influenced that decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his tweet .
`` The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the stone case last night , '' the official said .
`` The sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department . ''
Stone was convicted last November on seven counts of lying to Congress , witness tampering , and obstruction of justice .
As the Associated Press noted Tuesday , it is `` extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitted to the court . ''
Typically , attorneys are given `` wide latitude '' on their sentencing recommendations .
`` Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge , who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation , '' the outlet added , noting that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson , who is overseeing Stone 's case , has `` repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior , which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image and apologized but was still barred from speaking publicly about the case .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Justice Department’s extraordinary decision to undermine an earlier sentencing recommendation for longtime Donald Trump ally Roger Stone this week has prompted several of the federal prosecutors on the case to withdraw in protest.
According to NBC News, lead prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky withdrew from the case Tuesday afternoon. The outlet reported that Zelinsky, who served on former special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation team, would retain his job with the U.S. Attorney in Maryland, but would be departing the Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney’s office.
A second prosecutor, Jonathan Kravis, resigned “both from the case and his job as an assistant U.S. attorney” according to NBC News.
A third prosecutor, Adam Jed, also filed a notice of withdrawal on Tuesday afternoon. Not long after, a fourth prosecutor, Michael Marando, gave notice of his withdrawal as well.
Around the same time, the Justice Department issued a new sentencing recommendation in Stone’s case, stating that “the defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is ‘sufficient, but not greater than necessary’ […].”
“Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,” it concluded.
The Justice Department’s decision to shorten Stone’s sentencing recommendations was announced earlier on Tuesday, following a tweet from Trump in which he complained about a “miscarriage of justice,” though officials claimed they had made their decision before Trump commented on the matter.
Initially, prosecutors had recommended Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction of justice in November, serve seven to nine years in prison.
Stone’s actions, which were unearthed during Mueller’s nearly two-year-long probe, “were not a one-off mistake in judgment,” they wrote in a sentencing memo filed Monday evening. “Nor were his false statements made in the heat of the moment. They were nowhere close to that.”
“Stone’s conduct over the past two years shows the low regard in which he holds the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation and this very criminal case,” they added.
Early Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted that the decision to seek such a long prison sentence was “unfair.”
“This is a horrible and very unfair situation,” he wrote at 1:48 a.m. EST. “The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!”
Hours later, the Justice Department announced it had made the astonishing decision to shorten that recommended sentence.
An unnamed official told Fox News Trump’s comments had not influenced that decision, which they claimed was made prior to his tweet.
“The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the stone case last night,” the official said. “The sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department.”
Stone was convicted last November on seven counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.
As the Associated Press noted Tuesday, it is “extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court.” Typically, attorneys are given “wide latitude” on their sentencing recommendations.
“Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation,” the outlet added, noting that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is overseeing Stone’s case, has “repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun.”
Stone eventually deleted that image and apologized but was still barred from speaking publicly about the case.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Trump insults Democrats 100 times more than he promotes programs that help Americans

An analysis of Donald Trump 's Twitter account shows he has used the platform at least 100 times more often to talk about Democrats than he has about Medicare , Medicaid , or Social Security since taking office in 2017 .
Trump 's prolific Twitter use is a hallmark of his tenure in the White House , and he has tweeted ( or retweeted ) the word `` Democrats '' 1,317 times since his inauguration in January 2017 , according to data from the Trump Twitter Archive .
By contrast , he has tweeted ( or retweeted ) the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 13 times , excluding an endorsement of Rep .
Troy Balderson ( R-OH ) , whom he backed during the 2018 special election .
Trump has tweeted 15,222 times since Inauguration Day , meaning his tweets containing `` Democrats '' make up 8.6 % of his total archive since then .
Tweets about the social safety net programs make up approximately 0.08 % of that total .
Trump has tweeted specifically about Medicare eight times , Medicaid twice , and Social Security four times .
To put those numbers in perspective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , who has only been a member of Congress since January 2019 , a total of 16 times .
He has tweeted about Speaker Nancy Pelosi more than 340 times .
Trump 's most recent statement on the safety net programs was Saturday , when he falsely claimed , `` We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal 2021 Budget . ''
In fact , the Washington Post has since reported that Trump 's budget would cut Medicare spending by $ 480 billion over 10 years .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked Democrats 12 times .
He also accused Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) of stabbing him in the back and joining Democrats to overturn the 2016 election after Romney voted in the impeachment trial to remove Trump from office .
Romney was the only Republican to join all Senate Democrats in voting against Trump on the first article of impeachment , for abuse of power .
He voted to acquit Trump of the second article , obstruction of Congress .
A November analysis by the New York Times showed Trump used Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` favorite '' president 16 times .
The same analysis showed Trump promoted his namesake businesses 95 times , more than seven times as often as he promoted Medicare , Medicaid , or Social Security .
When reached for comment on Tuesday , White House spokesperson Judd Deere said , `` Instead of obsessing over how many times the President has tweeted , the media could cover his unprecedented accomplishments , including a building a safer , stronger , and more secure America . ''
Trump has attacked the media as `` enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter since he was inaugurated .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

An analysis of Donald Trump’s Twitter account shows he has used the platform at least 100 times more often to talk about Democrats than he has about Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security since taking office in 2017.
Trump’s prolific Twitter use is a hallmark of his tenure in the White House, and he has tweeted (or retweeted) the word “Democrats” 1,317 times since his inauguration in January 2017, according to data from the Trump Twitter Archive.
By contrast, he has tweeted (or retweeted) the words Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security just 13 times, excluding an endorsement of Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), whom he backed during the 2018 special election.
Trump has tweeted 15,222 times since Inauguration Day, meaning his tweets containing “Democrats” make up 8.6% of his total archive since then. Tweets about the social safety net programs make up approximately 0.08% of that total.
Trump has tweeted specifically about Medicare eight times, Medicaid twice, and Social Security four times. To put those numbers in perspective, Trump attacked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who has only been a member of Congress since January 2019, a total of 16 times. He has tweeted about Speaker Nancy Pelosi more than 340 times.
Trump’s most recent statement on the safety net programs was Saturday, when he falsely claimed, “We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal 2021 Budget.” In fact, the Washington Post has since reported that Trump’s budget would cut Medicare spending by $480 billion over 10 years.
Since that Feb. 8 tweet, Trump has attacked Democrats 12 times. He also accused Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) of stabbing him in the back and joining Democrats to overturn the 2016 election after Romney voted in the impeachment trial to remove Trump from office.
Romney was the only Republican to join all Senate Democrats in voting against Trump on the first article of impeachment, for abuse of power. He voted to acquit Trump of the second article, obstruction of Congress.
A November analysis by the New York Times showed Trump used Twitter to refer to himself as everyone’s “favorite” president 16 times. The same analysis showed Trump promoted his namesake businesses 95 times, more than seven times as often as he promoted Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
When reached for comment on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Judd Deere said, “Instead of obsessing over how many times the President has tweeted, the media could cover his unprecedented accomplishments, including a building a safer, stronger, and more secure America.”
Trump has attacked the media as “enemy of the people” 37 times on Twitter since he was inaugurated.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Quarantine finally ends for 200 US coronavirus evacuees

Nearly 200 evacuees prepared Tuesday to end their two-week quarantine at a Southern California military base where they have been living since flying out of China during a deadly viral outbreak .
None of those who flew into March Air Reserve Base have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , health authorities said , although one evacuee at another base had been found to have the highly infectious virus and was in hospital isolation .
The group , which includes children , arrived from China Jan. 29 , taking chartered flights from Wuhan .
The locked-down city of 11 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has claimed more than 1,000 lives overseas .
In the United States , there have been only 13 confirmed cases , including seven in California , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials .
But fear of the disease has led to `` unacceptable '' treatment of others who work at the March airbase , Dr. Cameron Kaiser , public health officer for Riverside County , said in an open letter to the community on Monday .
The evacuees , which include U.S. State Department workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base personnel and were n't permitted to leave a fenced quarantine area , Kaiser said .
`` People on and off the base are not at increased risk for exposure , '' Kaiser said .
`` There have been comments made that have been hurtful — both in person and on social media — that are often based on incorrect or incomplete information , '' Kaiser said .
`` A few base workers have even been accosted in uniform .
This is not acceptable , and needs to stop . ''
Hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flown to military bases in California , Texas , and Nebraska , where many are still quarantined .
With one exception , none have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , health authorities said .
The exception was an evacuee who flew into Marine Air Station Miramar in San Diego last week .
The adult and three other evacuees had been in hospital isolation after showing symptoms of the virus but on Sunday , federal health officials said they had tested negative and they were sent back to the base , where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a 14-day quarantine .
On Monday morning , however , CDC officials informed county health officials that `` further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive '' for novel coronavirus and that person was returned to hospital isolation , UC San Diego Health said in a statement .
Another evacuee from Miramar also was hospitalized for evaluation Monday afternoon , UC San Diego Health said in a statement .
`` Both patients are doing well and have minimal symptoms , '' the statement said .
Five evacuees taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco and Sacramento , were hospitalized after showing symptoms of the virus but none of those possible cases has been confirmed , authorities said .
No symptoms were reported among evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio or a Nebraska National Guard training base in Omaha .

Nearly 200 evacuees prepared Tuesday to end their two-week quarantine at a Southern California military base where they have been living since flying out of China during a deadly viral outbreak.
None of those who flew into March Air Reserve Base have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, health authorities said, although one evacuee at another base had been found to have the highly infectious virus and was in hospital isolation.
The group, which includes children, arrived from China Jan. 29, taking chartered flights from Wuhan. The locked-down city of 11 million is the epicenter of the virus that has claimed more than 1,000 lives overseas.
In the United States, there have been only 13 confirmed cases, including seven in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials.
But fear of the disease has led to “unacceptable” treatment of others who work at the March airbase, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, public health officer for Riverside County, said in an open letter to the community on Monday.
The evacuees, which include U.S. State Department workers or their families, were isolated from base personnel and weren’t permitted to leave a fenced quarantine area, Kaiser said.
“People on and off the base are not at increased risk for exposure,” Kaiser said.
“There have been comments made that have been hurtful — both in person and on social media — that are often based on incorrect or incomplete information,” Kaiser said. “A few base workers have even been accosted in uniform. This is not acceptable, and needs to stop.”
Hundreds of evacuees in the past two weeks were flown to military bases in California, Texas, and Nebraska, where many are still quarantined. With one exception, none have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, health authorities said.
The exception was an evacuee who flew into Marine Air Station Miramar in San Diego last week.
The adult and three other evacuees had been in hospital isolation after showing symptoms of the virus but on Sunday, federal health officials said they had tested negative and they were sent back to the base, where they joined more than 200 people who are under a 14-day quarantine.
On Monday morning, however, CDC officials informed county health officials that “further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive” for novel coronavirus and that person was returned to hospital isolation, UC San Diego Health said in a statement.
Another evacuee from Miramar also was hospitalized for evaluation Monday afternoon, UC San Diego Health said in a statement.
“Both patients are doing well and have minimal symptoms,” the statement said.
Five evacuees taken to Travis Air Force Base, located between San Francisco and Sacramento, were hospitalized after showing symptoms of the virus but none of those possible cases has been confirmed, authorities said.
No symptoms were reported among evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio or a Nebraska National Guard training base in Omaha.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Republicans back prescription drug bill they falsely claim is 'bipartisan'

Numerous Republican House members have touted their support for H.R .
19 , the Lower Costs , More Cures Act , as an alternative to the prescription drug pricing bill the House of Representatives passed in December .
While they have claimed H.R .
19 is bipartisan , however , not a single Democrat in Congress publicly supports the GOP bill .
According to an official congressional database , H.R .
19 has 146 cosponsors .
No Democrats are listed among them .
The House 's sole Independent member , Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan , is also absent from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release , Rep. Tim Walberg ( R-MN ) attacked Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pushing `` needlessly partisan legislation '' on prescription drugs .
He boasted of his decision to back H. R. 19 , which he claimed had `` strong bipartisan support . ''
The bill Walberg attacked , H.R .
3 , the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act , passed the House of Representatives in December with bipartisan support .
When asked about the discrepancy via email , a spokesperson for Walberg defended his description of the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` filled with bipartisan solutions . ''
The spokesperson said it was `` an odd argument '' to claim the legislation was anything other than bipartisan .
The spokesperson pointed to the December vote on H.R .
3 — the Lower Drug Costs Now Act — stating H.R .
19 had been offered as an amendment in the nature of a substitute on the House floor .
That amendment had garnered a handful of votes , eight total , from Democrats .
However , none of those Democrats , or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as standalone legislation .
When asked why Walberg had called H.R .
3 `` partisan , '' even though it passed the House with support from Republicans and Democrats , the spokesperson said Walberg stood by his comment .
Walberg is not alone in claiming the partisan bill has phantom bipartisan support : • Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN ) falsely claimed in December , `` The Lower Costs , More Cures Act has support from both sides of the aisle . ''
• Rep. Fred Keller ( R-PA ) described H.R .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a press release on Dec. 9 .
• Rep. Darin LaHood 's ( R-IL ) office stated Lahood is `` a cosponsor of the bipartisan alternative , H.R .
19 — The Lower Costs , More Cures Act '' in a release on Dec. 12 .
Green 's , Keller 's , and LaHood 's offices did not respond to a request for comment .
Rep. Tom Emmer ( R-MN ) expressed support for H.R .
19 , although he was not an official cosponsor .
Emmer falsely claimed it was `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support innovation . ''
While the Republican-only bill contains some provisions that could impact the cost of prescription drugs , Health Affairs noted in December that the bill falls short of the House-passed bill when it comes to keeping the cost of prescriptions drugs low for consumers .
`` H.R .
19 does not do enough to lower costs because it does n't include provisions to allow Medicare to negotiate prices , '' House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in an email Tuesday .
Anne Shoup , communications director for Protect Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called the Republican prescription drug bill `` a joke of a bill meant to provide political cover for Republicans . ''
H.R .
19 , Shoup said in an email , `` is designed to make it appear as though Republicans are taking actions on the high cost of prescription drugs without including anything in their bill that would anger '' those in the pharma industry who might otherwise support them .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Numerous Republican House members have touted their support for H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, as an alternative to the prescription drug pricing bill the House of Representatives passed in December.
While they have claimed H.R. 19 is bipartisan, however, not a single Democrat in Congress publicly supports the GOP bill.
According to an official congressional database, H.R. 19 has 146 cosponsors. No Democrats are listed among them. The House’s sole Independent member, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, is also absent from the list.
In a Dec. 12 press release, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MN) attacked Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pushing “needlessly partisan legislation” on prescription drugs. He boasted of his decision to back H. R. 19, which he claimed had “strong bipartisan support.”
The bill Walberg attacked, H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, passed the House of Representatives in December with bipartisan support.
When asked about the discrepancy via email, a spokesperson for Walberg defended his description of the GOP bill as “bipartisan” because it is “filled with bipartisan solutions.” The spokesperson said it was “an odd argument” to claim the legislation was anything other than bipartisan.
The spokesperson pointed to the December vote on H.R. 3 — the Lower Drug Costs Now Act — stating H.R. 19 had been offered as an amendment in the nature of a substitute on the House floor. That amendment had garnered a handful of votes, eight total, from Democrats. However, none of those Democrats, or any other Democrats, subsequently cosponsored H.R. 19 as standalone legislation.
When asked why Walberg had called H.R. 3 “partisan,” even though it passed the House with support from Republicans and Democrats, the spokesperson said Walberg stood by his comment.
Walberg is not alone in claiming the partisan bill has phantom bipartisan support:
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) falsely claimed in December, “The Lower Costs, More Cures Act has support from both sides of the aisle.”
Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) described H.R. 19 as “bipartisan legislation” in a press release on Dec. 9.
Rep. Darin LaHood’s (R-IL) office stated Lahood is “a cosponsor of the bipartisan alternative, H.R. 19 — The Lower Costs, More Cures Act” in a release on Dec. 12.
Green’s, Keller’s, and LaHood’s offices did not respond to a request for comment.
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) expressed support for H.R. 19, although he was not an official cosponsor. Emmer falsely claimed it was “a bipartisan bill that would ensure affordable medications and support innovation.”
While the Republican-only bill contains some provisions that could impact the cost of prescription drugs, Health Affairs noted in December that the bill falls short of the House-passed bill when it comes to keeping the cost of prescriptions drugs low for consumers.
“H.R. 19 does not do enough to lower costs because it doesn’t include provisions to allow Medicare to negotiate prices,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in an email Tuesday.
Anne Shoup, communications director for Protect Our Care, a progressive health care organization, called the Republican prescription drug bill “a joke of a bill meant to provide political cover for Republicans.”
H.R. 19, Shoup said in an email, “is designed to make it appear as though Republicans are taking actions on the high cost of prescription drugs without including anything in their bill that would anger” those in the pharma industry who might otherwise support them.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Republicans think tampons need to be taxed to limit women from buying too many

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are raising objections to a proposal that would add feminine hygiene products to the list of items that can be purchased during the state 's annual sales-tax holiday , the Associated Press reported .
According to the AP , the GOP lawmakers worried that women would abuse the law and purchase too many feminine hygiene products during the pause on state sales tax on some items — including computers and clothing .
The pause lasts only one weekend , starting on the last Friday of July , the AP reported .
`` I would think since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's really no limit on the number of items anybody can purchase , '' Republican state Sen. Joey Hensley said during a debate on the proposal on Tuesday , according to the AP .
`` I do n't know how you would limit the number of items someone could purchase . ''
Eliminating the so-called `` tampon tax '' has been a growing movement in states across the country .
Advocates argue that feminine hygiene products are a basic necessity that should be added to a list of necessities that are n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medicine .
According to Period Equity , a group fighting to eliminate the tampon tax , feminine hygiene products are taxed in 31 states , including Tennessee .
Hensely 's office has not yet returned a request for comment on why he views it as bad that women may buy more tampons during the weekend-long tax holiday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are raising objections to a proposal that would add feminine hygiene products to the list of items that can be purchased during the state’s annual sales-tax holiday, the Associated Press reported.
According to the AP, the GOP lawmakers worried that women would abuse the law and purchase too many feminine hygiene products during the pause on state sales tax on some items — including computers and clothing. The pause lasts only one weekend, starting on the last Friday of July, the AP reported.
“I would think since it’s a sales tax holiday, there’s really no limit on the number of items anybody can purchase,” Republican state Sen. Joey Hensley said during a debate on the proposal on Tuesday, according to the AP. “I don’t know how you would limit the number of items someone could purchase.”
Eliminating the so-called “tampon tax” has been a growing movement in states across the country.
Advocates argue that feminine hygiene products are a basic necessity that should be added to a list of necessities that aren’t subject to taxes, such as groceries and medicine.
According to Period Equity, a group fighting to eliminate the tampon tax, feminine hygiene products are taxed in 31 states, including Tennessee.
Allison Wilson, a legislative assistant for Hensley, said the concern was over how much adding feminine hygiene products to the list of tax-free items would cost the state.
“Every bill has to receive funding to be implemented and it is up to the sponsor to find those funds,” Wilson said in an email. “His questions were directed toward that cost and the plans to fund this legislation. He was concerned that the possibility of people purchasing large quantities had not been factored in when determining the cost of the legislation.”
The average woman can expect to spend over $1,000 on menstrual products over the course of a lifetime. According to a report from Obstetrics & Gynecology, more than 1 in 5 women report they can’t afford to buy the products every month.
Updated with a response from Tennessee state Sen. Joey Hensley’s office and additional details about menstrual product costs.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--GOP leader: Trump's retaliation against witness was 'appropriate'

McCarthy ( R-CA ) was asked at a press conference whether Trump had learned any lesson from the impeachment and whether it was appropriate that he removed former Ambassador Gordon Sondland and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council , from their posts on Friday .
McCarthy first tried to ignore the question , responding with a diatribe against House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff , who he said put the country through a `` nightmare . ''
Pressed to answer the question of why it was `` appropriate for the president to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy argued that because Vindman remains on the federal payroll , he was not really removed from his position .
`` Is it appropriate for the news to say he was fired when he was not , he was reassigned ? ''
McCarthy shot back .
`` I think that is appropriate . ''
Vindman was escorted from the White House on Friday , months before his post was supposed to expire , with reports saying he would be reassigned to a new post at a later date .
An Army spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army War College or a different service college .
His detail to the National Security Council was supposed to last two years and end in July .
Sondland was removed from his post as U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union .
McCarthy did not address his firing .
Both provided damning testimony to the House of Representatives about Trump 's Ukraine pressure campaign .
In addition to effectively demoting Vindman and firing Sondland , Trump also removed Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman — a senior lawyer for the National Security Council and Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yevgeny Vindman was not an impeachment witness but will reportedly be moved to a position with the Army General Counsel 's Office .
While the administration has not expressly characterized the removals as retaliation , Donald Trump Jr. tweeted thanking Schiff for helping his father with `` unearthing who all needed to be fired . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy defended Donald Trump’s retaliation against impeachment witnesses.
McCarthy (R-CA) was asked at a press conference whether Trump had learned any lesson from the impeachment and whether it was appropriate that he removed former Ambassador Gordon Sondland and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, from their posts on Friday.
McCarthy first tried to ignore the question, responding with a diatribe against House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, who he said put the country through a “nightmare.”
Pressed to answer the question of why it was “appropriate for the president to take the action that he did,” McCarthy argued that because Vindman remains on the federal payroll, he was not really removed from his position.
“Is it appropriate for the news to say he was fired when he was not, he was reassigned?” McCarthy shot back. “I think that is appropriate.”
Vindman was escorted from the White House on Friday, months before his post was supposed to expire, with reports saying he would be reassigned to a new post at a later date. An Army spokesperson said Monday the new post could be the Army War College or a different service college. His detail to the National Security Council was supposed to last two years and end in July.
Sondland was removed from his post as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. McCarthy did not address his firing.
Both provided damning testimony to the House of Representatives about Trump’s Ukraine pressure campaign.
In addition to effectively demoting Vindman and firing Sondland, Trump also removed Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman — a senior lawyer for the National Security Council and Alexander’s twin brother — from his post. Yevgeny Vindman was not an impeachment witness but will reportedly be moved to a position with the Army General Counsel’s Office.
While the administration has not expressly characterized the removals as retaliation, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted thanking Schiff for helping his father with “unearthing who all needed to be fired.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-11--Bloomberg blames nonwhite communities for 'all the crime' in 2015 audio

Mike Bloomberg is under fire for resurfaced comments in which he says the way to bring down murder rates is to `` put a lot of cops '' in minority neighborhoods because that 's where `` all the crime is . ''
The billionaire and former New York mayor made the comments at a 2015 appearance at the Aspen Institute , as part of an overall defense of his support for the controversial `` stop and frisk '' policing tactic that has been found to disproportionately affect minorities .
Bloomberg launched his Democratic presidential bid late last year with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday , after the comments resurfaced , he reiterated his apology and said his 2015 remarks `` do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity . ''
But the audio of his Aspen speech highlights his embrace of the policy just a few years ago , and suggests he was aware of the disproportionate impact of stop-and-frisk on minorities .
Bloomberg says that `` 95 % '' of murders and murder victims are young male minorities and that `` you can just take the description , Xerox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the cops . ''
To combat crime , he says , `` put a lot of cops where the crime is , which means in minority neighborhoods . ''
In the audio , he acknowledges focusing police forces in minority neighborhoods means minorities are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession , but dismisses that as a necessary consequence of the crime in those neighborhoods .
And to `` get the guns out of the kids hands , '' Bloomberg says , police must `` throw 'em against the wall and frisk 'em .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I do n't want that , I do n't wan na get caught . '
So they do n't bring the gun , '' he says .
According to a report in the Aspen Times that year , Bloomberg blocked the release of video of the Aspen Institute appearance , but the Aspen Times reporter uploaded what appears to be the full audio online , and it drew renewed attention Monday after podcaster Benjamin Dixon circulated it on twitter .
In his Tuesday statement , Bloomberg notes that he `` inherited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous administration , and noted that by the time he left office he significantly reduced its use .
He said , `` I should have done it faster and sooner . ''
But stop and frisk expanded dramatically on Bloomberg 's watch , reaching a peak in 2011 when over 685,000 people were stopped , according to ACLU data .
While its use declined significantly after that , Bloomberg stood by the program even in the face of widespread criticism and legal challenges .
The former New York mayor has distanced himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign as part of a broader strategy aimed at appealing to minority voters , which are a key voting bloc for Democrats .
He 's also acknowledged his own white privilege and released policies focused on issues central to some African American communities , like black homeownership and maternal mortality rates .
Joe Biden has long held an overwhelming advantage with African Americans , pointing to their support as his firewall that would provide him with a much-needed primary win in South Carolina at the end of the month .
But Biden lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as his candidacy has become imperiled , recent polling suggests he has lost some African American support .
None of his Democratic rivals has yet to truly capitalize , though both Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders have made some inroads .
Both have received a number of prominent African American endorsements and have been holding campaign events specifically aimed at the black community .
On Tuesday Bloomberg faced sharp criticism from opponents .
Businessman Tom Steyer called the comments `` extremely disturbing '' and said that Bloomberg needs to provide an explanation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frisk .
`` Mike Bloomberg 's remarks in the video are extremely disturbing .
The racist stereotypes he uses have no place today , and anyone running for the presidential nomination should disavow them , '' Steyer added .
Symone Sanders , a top adviser to Biden 's campaign , called the comments `` sad and despicable , '' and said he `` will have to answer for these comments . ''
Donald Trump , who himself has supported stop-and-frisk policies , sent out a tweet with a clip of the audio declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump later deleted the tweet but his campaign seized upon its argument .
`` These are clearly racist comments and are unacceptable .
It also shows that his apology for 'stop and frisk ' was fake and was only designed to win him votes , '' said Trump campaign communications director , Tim Murtagh .
`` In a Democrat primary , this kind of talk is poison .
Now everyone can see what a fraud Mike Bloomberg is . ''
But Trump himself has long defended the tactic .
In an October 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chiefs , Trump touted its use in New York under former mayor Rudy Giuliani , now his personal attorney , and urged Chicago to adopt it .
And in 2013 , he defended both the tactic and Bloomberg 's police commissioner , tweeting `` Stop and frisk works .
Instead of criticizing @ NY_POLICE Chief Ray Kelly , New Yorkers should be thanking him for keeping NY safe . ''
Bloomberg focused the bulk of his statement about the audio on Trump , arguing the president 's attack `` reflects his fear over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Make no mistake Mr. President : I am not afraid of you and I will not let you bully me or anyone else in America , '' Bloomberg said .
And indeed , the attacks on Bloomberg follow two tracks for the Trump campaign : they reveal a growing concern about the billionaire 's candidacy and an unlikely push to attract black voters .
The president and his campaign team have been warily watching Bloomberg 's spending spree since the former mayor 's late entry into the presidential race .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously told staffers he would not worry about Bloomberg until he cracked double digits , which the former mayor has now exceeded in some recent national polls .
Parscale told aides recently that the campaign would soon be doing more Bloomberg-centric polling , according to a campaign aide not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations .
But Trump himself has been fixated on the Democratic race even amid his impeachment trial .
Ignoring counsel from some aides , including senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner , to ignore Bloomberg and thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that remains unsettled , Trump has delivered frequent broadsides against the far-richer billionaire .
Annoyed by Bloomberg 's wealth , favorable press , and easy entree into the upper realm of New York 's elite that long ago rejected him , Trump has repeatedly attacked the former mayor , including recent digs about his height and golf game .
The Trump campaign also believes that uncertainty in the Democratic field could lead to a chance to chip away at the other party 's advantage with black voters .
The campaign has made its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities since 2016 and highlighting the president 's advocacy for criminal justice reform , including in a highly watched Super Bowl ad .
Though Trump polls unfavorably with African Americans , the push has two goals : to win over more black voters and to discourage African Americans from turning out for Democrats on Election Day by convincing them there is little difference between the two parties ' agendas .
Black voters turned out overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but at a lesser rate than for Barack Obama , contributing to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground states .

Mike Bloomberg is under fire for resurfaced comments in which he says the way to bring down murder rates is to “put a lot of cops” in minority neighborhoods because that’s where “all the crime is.”
The billionaire and former New York mayor made the comments at a 2015 appearance at the Aspen Institute, as part of an overall defense of his support for the controversial “stop and frisk” policing tactic that has been found to disproportionately affect minorities.
Bloomberg launched his Democratic presidential bid late last year with an apology for his support for the policy. On Tuesday, after the comments resurfaced, he reiterated his apology and said his 2015 remarks “do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity.”
But the audio of his Aspen speech highlights his embrace of the policy just a few years ago, and suggests he was aware of the disproportionate impact of stop-and-frisk on minorities. Bloomberg says that “95%” of murders and murder victims are young male minorities and that “you can just take the description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops.” To combat crime, he says, “put a lot of cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods.”
In the audio, he acknowledges focusing police forces in minority neighborhoods means minorities are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession, but dismisses that as a necessary consequence of the crime in those neighborhoods. And to “get the guns out of the kids hands,” Bloomberg says, police must “throw ’em against the wall and frisk ’em.”
“And they say, ‘oh, I don’t want that, I don’t wanna get caught.’ So they don’t bring the gun,” he says.
According to a report in the Aspen Times that year, Bloomberg blocked the release of video of the Aspen Institute appearance, but the Aspen Times reporter uploaded what appears to be the full audio online, and it drew renewed attention Monday after podcaster Benjamin Dixon circulated it on twitter.
In his Tuesday statement, Bloomberg notes that he “inherited the practice of stop and frisk” from the previous administration, and noted that by the time he left office he significantly reduced its use. He said, “I should have done it faster and sooner.”
But stop and frisk expanded dramatically on Bloomberg’s watch, reaching a peak in 2011 when over 685,000 people were stopped, according to ACLU data. While its use declined significantly after that, Bloomberg stood by the program even in the face of widespread criticism and legal challenges.
The former New York mayor has distanced himself from the policy since launching his presidential campaign as part of a broader strategy aimed at appealing to minority voters, which are a key voting bloc for Democrats. He’s also acknowledged his own white privilege and released policies focused on issues central to some African American communities, like black homeownership and maternal mortality rates.
Joe Biden has long held an overwhelming advantage with African Americans, pointing to their support as his firewall that would provide him with a much-needed primary win in South Carolina at the end of the month. But Biden lost in Iowa and trails in New Hampshire and as his candidacy has become imperiled, recent polling suggests he has lost some African American support.
None of his Democratic rivals has yet to truly capitalize, though both Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders have made some inroads. Both have received a number of prominent African American endorsements and have been holding campaign events specifically aimed at the black community.
On Tuesday Bloomberg faced sharp criticism from opponents. Businessman Tom Steyer called the comments “extremely disturbing” and said that Bloomberg needs to provide an explanation to those who were affected by stop and frisk.
“Mike Bloomberg’s remarks in the video are extremely disturbing. The racist stereotypes he uses have no place today, and anyone running for the presidential nomination should disavow them,” Steyer added.
Symone Sanders, a top adviser to Biden’s campaign, called the comments “sad and despicable,” and said he “will have to answer for these comments.” Donald Trump, who himself has supported stop-and-frisk policies, sent out a tweet with a clip of the audio declaring “Bloomberg’s a racist.”
Trump later deleted the tweet but his campaign seized upon its argument.
“These are clearly racist comments and are unacceptable. It also shows that his apology for ‘stop and frisk’ was fake and was only designed to win him votes,” said Trump campaign communications director, Tim Murtagh. “In a Democrat primary, this kind of talk is poison. Now everyone can see what a fraud Mike Bloomberg is.”
But Trump himself has long defended the tactic.
In an October 2018 speech to the International Association of Police Chiefs, Trump touted its use in New York under former mayor Rudy Giuliani, now his personal attorney, and urged Chicago to adopt it.
And in 2013, he defended both the tactic and Bloomberg’s police commissioner, tweeting “Stop and frisk works. Instead of criticizing @NY_POLICE Chief Ray Kelly, New Yorkers should be thanking him for keeping NY safe.”
Bloomberg focused the bulk of his statement about the audio on Trump, arguing the president’s attack “reflects his fear over the growing strength of my campaign.”
“Make no mistake Mr. President: I am not afraid of you and I will not let you bully me or anyone else in America,” Bloomberg said.
And indeed, the attacks on Bloomberg follow two tracks for the Trump campaign: they reveal a growing concern about the billionaire’s candidacy and an unlikely push to attract black voters.
The president and his campaign team have been warily watching Bloomberg’s spending spree since the former mayor’s late entry into the presidential race.
Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, had previously told staffers he would not worry about Bloomberg until he cracked double digits, which the former mayor has now exceeded in some recent national polls. Parscale told aides recently that the campaign would soon be doing more Bloomberg-centric polling, according to a campaign aide not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations.
But Trump himself has been fixated on the Democratic race even amid his impeachment trial.
Ignoring counsel from some aides, including senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, to ignore Bloomberg and thus avoid elevating him in a Democratic field that remains unsettled, Trump has delivered frequent broadsides against the far-richer billionaire.
Annoyed by Bloomberg’s wealth, favorable press, and easy entree into the upper realm of New York’s elite that long ago rejected him, Trump has repeatedly attacked the former mayor, including recent digs about his height and golf game.
The Trump campaign also believes that uncertainty in the Democratic field could lead to a chance to chip away at the other party’s advantage with black voters.
The campaign has made its own pitch, touting economic growth for minorities since 2016 and highlighting the president’s advocacy for criminal justice reform, including in a highly watched Super Bowl ad. Though Trump polls unfavorably with African Americans, the push has two goals: to win over more black voters and to discourage African Americans from turning out for Democrats on Election Day by convincing them there is little difference between the two parties’ agendas.
Black voters turned out overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but at a lesser rate than for Barack Obama, contributing to Trump’s slim margin of victory in several battleground states.


shareblue--2020-02-11--China remains mostly closed down as virus deaths pass 1,000

China remained mostly closed for business Tuesday , as the daily death toll from a new virus topped 100 for the first time , pushing the total above 1,000 .
Despite the official end of the extended Lunar New Year holiday , many remained at home on Tuesday with around 60 million people under virtual quarantine .
Authorities in Hong Kong evacuated people from an apartment block where four were found to be infected , raising fears the virus may be spreading through plumbing , similar to what happened in 2003 's deadly SARS outbreak .
With the death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end in sight , heads are beginning to roll .
While no central government-level officials have lost their jobs , state media reported Tuesday that the top health officials in Hubei province , home to the epicenter of Wuhan , have been relieved of their duties .
No specific reasons were given , although the province 's initial response was deemed slow and ineffective .
Speculation that higher-level officials could be sacked has simmered , but doing so could spark political infighting and be a tacit admission that the Communist Party dropped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest political challenge for the party and its leader , Xi , who despite accruing more political power than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong , has struggled to handle crises on multiple fronts .
Those include a sharply slowing domestic economy , the trade war with the United States , and push-back on China 's increasingly aggressive foreign policies .
The number of newly confirmed cases fell to 2,478 from 3,062 the day before , bringing the total to 42,638 on the Chinese mainland .
The crossing of more grim thresholds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 60 million people and other disease-control measures are working .
The restart of business poses a risk of further spreading the virus , but the country has little recourse , said Cong Liang , secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission , China 's main economic planning body .
`` Without the reopening of businesses , in the short term , it will affect the supply of medical material and ... in the long run , it will affect the supply of all kinds of production and life materials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front line unsustainable .
The target of defeating the epidemic will not be reached , '' Cong said at a news conference .
With rigid travel restrictions , any return to normalcy on a national level still appears weeks or months away .
In Hong Kong , authorities evacuated some residents of an apartment block after two cases among those living there raised suspicion that the virus may be spreading through the building 's plumbing .
It was reminiscent of the SARS outbreak that killed hundreds in the semi-autonomous Chinese city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that outbreak were in one apartment complex where the virus spread through sewage pipes .
Health officials called it a precautionary measure after a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with the virus Tuesday was found living 10 floors below a man who was earlier confirmed with the virus .
The woman 's son and daughter-in-law who live with her were among seven new cases reported Thursday , raising the city 's total tally to 49 .
The 34 households evacuated live vertically above or below the woman and share the same sewage system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit may have helped spread the virus and officials are checking if any other units have made such alternations while they disinfect the building .
Among a growing number of travel restrictions , the United States said that , as of Monday , it had suspended regular visa services at the embassy in Beijing and consulates general in Chengdu , Guangzhou , Shanghai , and Shenyang .
The Consulate General in Wuhan has already been closed and its staff evacuated .
A presidential proclamation issued Feb. 2 banned entry to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in China fewer than 14 days prior to their arrival .
Exceptions were made for foreign diplomats , flight crew , and family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents .
Meanwhile , nearly 200 evacuees prepared Tuesday to end their two-week quarantine at a Southern California military base where they have been living since flying out of China .
None of those who flew into March Air Reserve Base have tested positive for the disease , health authorities said , although one evacuee at another base was found to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation .
The group , which includes children , arrived from China on Jan. 29 , taking chartered flights from Wuhan .
There have been 13 confirmed cases in the United States , including seven in California , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials .
More than 460 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China , including two deaths in Hong Kong and the Philippines .
Of those , 135 are from a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama , near Tokyo .
In a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community health center Monday in Beijing and expressed confidence in the `` war against the disease . ''
Xi wore a surgical mask and had his temperature taken before expressing his thanks to health workers on behalf of the ruling Communist Party and government .
`` We will most definitely win this people 's war , '' he said during his Monday visit , videos of which were repeated every hour Tuesday on state television 's news channel .
Much of Xi 's message was focused on calling for citizens to follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potentially massive economic impact of the outbreak .
His appearance came amid questioning of the government 's handling of the crisis , particularly the failure of local officials in the worst-hit city of Wuhan to clarify the extent of the outbreak .
Public anger has been inflamed over the death of a young doctor sickened by the virus who had been threatened along with seven others by police for warning of the potential for a major outbreak as early as December .

China remained mostly closed for business Tuesday, as the daily death toll from a new virus topped 100 for the first time, pushing the total above 1,000.
Despite the official end of the extended Lunar New Year holiday, many remained at home on Tuesday with around 60 million people under virtual quarantine.
Authorities in Hong Kong evacuated people from an apartment block where four were found to be infected, raising fears the virus may be spreading through plumbing, similar to what happened in 2003’s deadly SARS outbreak.
The latest developments:
Provincial health officials sacked
With the death toll reaching 1,016 in mainland China and no end in sight, heads are beginning to roll.
While no central government-level officials have lost their jobs, state media reported Tuesday that the top health officials in Hubei province, home to the epicenter of Wuhan, have been relieved of their duties.
No specific reasons were given, although the province’s initial response was deemed slow and ineffective. Speculation that higher-level officials could be sacked has simmered, but doing so could spark political infighting and be a tacit admission that the Communist Party dropped the ball.
The virus outbreak has become the latest political challenge for the party and its leader, Xi, who despite accruing more political power than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, has struggled to handle crises on multiple fronts. Those include a sharply slowing domestic economy, the trade war with the United States, and push-back on China’s increasingly aggressive foreign policies.
The number of newly confirmed cases fell to 2,478 from 3,062 the day before, bringing the total to 42,638 on the Chinese mainland.
Risks of restarting business
The crossing of more grim thresholds has dimmed optimism that the near-quarantine of some 60 million people and other disease-control measures are working.
The restart of business poses a risk of further spreading the virus, but the country has little recourse, said Cong Liang, secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s main economic planning body.
“Without the reopening of businesses, in the short term, it will affect the supply of medical material and … in the long run, it will affect the supply of all kinds of production and life materials and will make the control and prevention efforts on the front line unsustainable. The target of defeating the epidemic will not be reached,” Cong said at a news conference.
With rigid travel restrictions, any return to normalcy on a national level still appears weeks or months away.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, authorities evacuated some residents of an apartment block after two cases among those living there raised suspicion that the virus may be spreading through the building’s plumbing.
It was reminiscent of the SARS outbreak that killed hundreds in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The biggest number of connected cases in that outbreak were in one apartment complex where the virus spread through sewage pipes.
Health officials called it a precautionary measure after a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with the virus Tuesday was found living 10 floors below a man who was earlier confirmed with the virus. The woman’s son and daughter-in-law who live with her were among seven new cases reported Thursday, raising the city’s total tally to 49.
The 34 households evacuated live vertically above or below the woman and share the same sewage system. A modified toilet drainage pipe in her unit may have helped spread the virus and officials are checking if any other units have made such alternations while they disinfect the building.
US suspends visa services, evacuees set to leave quarantine
Among a growing number of travel restrictions, the United States said that, as of Monday, it had suspended regular visa services at the embassy in Beijing and consulates general in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang. The Consulate General in Wuhan has already been closed and its staff evacuated.
A presidential proclamation issued Feb. 2 banned entry to the United States to foreigners or non-permanent residents who had been in China fewer than 14 days prior to their arrival. Exceptions were made for foreign diplomats, flight crew, and family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 evacuees prepared Tuesday to end their two-week quarantine at a Southern California military base where they have been living since flying out of China.
None of those who flew into March Air Reserve Base have tested positive for the disease, health authorities said, although one evacuee at another base was found to have the highly infectious virus and was in hospital isolation.
The group, which includes children, arrived from China on Jan. 29, taking chartered flights from Wuhan.
There have been 13 confirmed cases in the United States, including seven in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials.
More than 460 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China, including two deaths in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Of those, 135 are from a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Xi seeks to boost morale
In a bid to boost morale, Xi visited a community health center Monday in Beijing and expressed confidence in the “war against the disease.”
Xi wore a surgical mask and had his temperature taken before expressing his thanks to health workers on behalf of the ruling Communist Party and government. “We will most definitely win this people’s war,” he said during his Monday visit, videos of which were repeated every hour Tuesday on state television’s news channel.
Much of Xi’s message was focused on calling for citizens to follow the party’s dictates and aimed at minimizing the potentially massive economic impact of the outbreak.
His appearance came amid questioning of the government’s handling of the crisis, particularly the failure of local officials in the worst-hit city of Wuhan to clarify the extent of the outbreak. Public anger has been inflamed over the death of a young doctor sickened by the virus who had been threatened along with seven others by police for warning of the potential for a major outbreak as early as December.