shareblue--2020-07-31--Republicans keep attacking their opponents for following social distancing rules

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across America , Republican politicians are attacking their Democratic opponents for taking steps to prevent transmission of the coronavirus , notably for social distancing .
On Wednesday , Sen. Joni Ernst accused her Democratic opponent in her race for reelection in Iowa , real estate executive Theresa Greenfield , of `` hiding '' from voters .
`` We ca n't pin her down .
She 's hiding in her basement .
You know ? ''
Ernst charged during a campaign call with Sen. Lindsey Graham .
`` While I 'm out there talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities , when I 'm talking to them about supports needed in our rural health care system , when I 'm talking about supports necessary for child care so that moms and dads can get back to work , she 's been hiding in her basement taking selfies with her dog Ringo , '' Ernst complained , adding , `` The times are tough right now , and it takes a tough leader out there , leading from the front , not hiding in a basement . ''
Ernst is not alone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , Sen. Susan Collins launched an ad dishonestly attacking her Democratic opponent , Maine state House Speaker Sara Gideon , of dereliction of duty .
Her reasoning : The state legislature had adjourned a few weeks earlier than usual , in March , as the pandemic was beginning .
`` Sara Gideon shut down the Maine legislature for four months and counting , more than 120 days .
Gideon does nothing even as other state legislatures continued to operate , '' the ad claimed — ignoring that the legislative session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-April .
`` Susan Collins has never missed a vote .
Sara Gideon never even shows up . ''
Last month , Donald Trump 's campaign posted on its website a story under the heading `` Holed up in his basement bunker , Joe Biden hides behind dishonest TV ads . ''
It complained that `` Joe Biden 's handlers are keeping him hidden in his basement , as far away from reporters ' questions as possible . ''
Trump supporters like House Minority Whip Steve Scalise , White House counselor Kellyanne Conway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDaniel have also attacked Biden for campaigning from his basement .
And in late April , Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama claimed that by temporarily allowing proxy voting in the House of Representatives to curb the spread of the coronavirus , Democrats were scheming to get paid without working .
`` Dems give # SpeakerPelosi their proxy , who then casts their votes , '' he tweeted .
`` Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill . ''
Meanwhile , lawmakers in state legislatures and Congress who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possibly spreading the coronavirus .
This month , dozens of Mississippi state representatives who refused to wear masks tested positive for the coronavirus .
And on Wednesday , Rep. Louis Gohmert ( R-TX ) informed his staff in person that he had the virus .
At least eight other members of Congress have also tested positive .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across America, Republican politicians are attacking their Democratic opponents for taking steps to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, notably for social distancing.
On Wednesday, Sen. Joni Ernst accused her Democratic opponent in her race for reelection in Iowa, real estate executive Theresa Greenfield, of “hiding” from voters.
“We can’t pin her down. She’s hiding in her basement. You know?” Ernst charged during a campaign call with Sen. Lindsey Graham.
“While I’m out there talking to folks about these Paycheck Protection Program opportunities, when I’m talking to them about supports needed in our rural health care system, when I’m talking about supports necessary for child care so that moms and dads can get back to work, she’s been hiding in her basement taking selfies with her dog Ringo,” Ernst complained, adding, “The times are tough right now, and it takes a tough leader out there, leading from the front, not hiding in a basement.”
Ernst is not alone in blasting her opponent for social distancing.
Earlier this month, Sen. Susan Collins launched an ad dishonestly attacking her Democratic opponent, Maine state House Speaker Sara Gideon, of dereliction of duty. Her reasoning: The state legislature had adjourned a few weeks earlier than usual, in March, as the pandemic was beginning.
“Sara Gideon shut down the Maine legislature for four months and counting, more than 120 days. Gideon does nothing even as other state legislatures continued to operate,” the ad claimed — ignoring that the legislative session was required by statute to end in mid-April. “Susan Collins has never missed a vote. Sara Gideon never even shows up.”
Last month, Donald Trump’s campaign posted on its website a story under the heading “Holed up in his basement bunker, Joe Biden hides behind dishonest TV ads.” It complained that “Joe Biden’s handlers are keeping him hidden in his basement, as far away from reporters’ questions as possible.”
Trump supporters like House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel have also attacked Biden for campaigning from his basement.
And in late April, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama claimed that by temporarily allowing proxy voting in the House of Representatives to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Democrats were scheming to get paid without working. “Dems give #SpeakerPelosi their proxy, who then casts their votes,” he tweeted. “Dems GET PAID IN FULL without showing up for work at Capitol Hill.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers in state legislatures and Congress who are showing up to work are contracting and possibly spreading the coronavirus.
This month, dozens of Mississippi state representatives who refused to wear masks tested positive for the coronavirus. And on Wednesday, Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) informed his staff in person that he had the virus. At least eight other members of Congress have also tested positive.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-31--Jim Jordan to Fauci: 'Should the government limit the protesting?'

Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) pushed America 's top epidemiologist on Friday to call for government limits on protesting .
At a hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease expert , urged Americans to avoid crowding together without masks on , to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
Jordan , who has repeatedly suggested that mostly peaceful protesters demanding an end to systemic racism and police violence are a public menace , then unsuccessfully pressed Fauci to endorse government limits on protesting .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large in-person gatherings at churches .
Research has shown that the outdoor anti-racism protests — at which protesters have mostly worn masks — have not been a significant factor in the recent uptick in coronavirus cases .
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI : Crowding together , particularly when you 're not wearing a mask , contributes to the spread of the visit .
REP. JIM JORDAN ( R-OH ) : Should we limit the protesting ?
FAUCI : I 'm not sure what you mean should ... how do we say limit the protesting ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting ?
FAUCI : I do n't think that 's relevant to ... JORDAN : Well , you just said if it increases the spread of the virus—I 'm just asking should we limit it ?
FAUCI : Well , I 'm not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way .
JORDAN : Well , you make all kinds of recommendations .
You make comments on dating , on baseball , on everything you can imagine .
I 'm just asking — you just said protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking , should we try to limit the protesting ?
FAUCI : I think I will leave that to people who have more a position to do that .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) pushed America’s top epidemiologist on Friday to call for government limits on protesting.
At a hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, urged Americans to avoid crowding together without masks on, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Jordan, who has repeatedly suggested that mostly peaceful protesters demanding an end to systemic racism and police violence are a public menace, then unsuccessfully pressed Fauci to endorse government limits on protesting.
He also complained that some states have limited large in-person gatherings at churches.
Research has shown that the outdoor anti-racism protests — at which protesters have mostly worn masks — have not been a significant factor in the recent uptick in coronavirus cases.
From a hearing on July 31:
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI: Crowding together, particularly when you’re not wearing a mask, contributes to the spread of the visit. REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): Should we limit the protesting? FAUCI: I’m not sure what you mean should… how do we say limit the protesting? JORDAN: Should the government limit the protesting? FAUCI: I don’t think that’s relevant to… JORDAN: Well, you just said if it increases the spread of the virus—I’m just asking should we limit it? FAUCI: Well, I’m not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way. JORDAN: Well, you make all kinds of recommendations. You make comments on dating, on baseball, on everything you can imagine. I’m just asking — you just said protests increase the spread. I’m just asking, should we try to limit the protesting? FAUCI: I think I will leave that to people who have more a position to do that.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-01--Virus surge appears to level off — but health experts aren't celebrating

While deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. are mounting rapidly , public health experts are seeing a flicker of good news : The second surge of confirmed cases appears to be leveling off .
Scientists are n't celebrating by any means , warning that the trend is driven by four big , hard-hit places — Arizona , California , Florida , and Texas — and that cases are rising in close to 30 states in all , with the outbreak 's center of gravity seemingly shifting from the Sun Belt toward the Midwest .
Some experts wonder whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it clear when deaths start coming down .
COVID-19 deaths do not move in perfect lockstep with the infection curve , for the simple reason that it can take weeks to get sick and die from the virus .
The future ?
`` I think it 's very difficult to predict , '' said Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government 's foremost infectious-disease expert .
The virus has claimed over 150,000 lives in the U.S. , by far the highest death toll in the world , plus more than a half-million others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the average number of deaths per day in the U.S. has climbed more than 25 % , from 843 to 1,057 .
Florida on Thursday reported 253 more deaths , setting its third straight single-day record .
The number of confirmed infections nationwide has topped 4.4 million .
— The collateral damage from the virus mounted , with the U.S. economy shrinking at a dizzying 32.9 % annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge on records dating to 1947 .
And more than 1.4 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , further evidence that employers are still shedding jobs five months into the crisis .
— Amid the outbreak and the bad economic news , Donald Trump for the first time publicly floated the idea of delaying the Nov. 3 presidential election , warning without evidence that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud .
Changing Election Day would require an act of Congress , and the notion ran into immediate resistance from top Republicans and Democrats alike .
— Herman Cain , the former pizza-chain CEO who in 2012 unsuccessfully sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the Republican nomination for president , died of complications from the virus at 74 .
Based on a seven-day rolling average , daily cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. fell from 67,317 on July 22 to 65,266 on Wednesday , according to data kept by Johns Hopkins University .
That is a decline of about 3 % .
Researchers prefer to see two weeks of data pointing in the same direction to say whether a trend is genuine .
`` But I think it is real , yes , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biostatistician who has been tracking the coronavirus and has been a source of disease forecasts used by the government .
The Associated Press found the seven-day rolling average for new cases plateaued over two weeks in California and decreased in Arizona , Florida , and Texas .
The trends in Arizona , Texas , and Florida are `` starting to bend the curve a bit , '' said Jennifer Nuzzo , a Johns Hopkins public health researcher .
Those states , along with California , have been pouring large numbers of cases each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when those places make progress , the whole country looks better , she said .
Also , in another possible glimmer of hope , the percentage of tests that are coming back positive for the virus across the U.S. dropped from an average of 8.5 % to 7.8 % over the past week .
But with the outbreak heating up in the Midwest , Wisconsin Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers ordered the wearing of masks statewide because of a spike in cases , joining some 30 other states that have taken such measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evident in June , weeks after states began reopening following a deadly explosion of cases in and around New York City in the early spring .
Daily case counts rose to 70,000 or more earlier this month .
Deaths , too , began to climb sharply , after a lag of a few weeks .
Some researchers believe that the recent leveling-off is the result of more people embracing social distancing and other precautions .
`` I think a lot of it is people wearing masks because they 're scared , '' Longini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health , said the trend could also be due to natural dynamics of the virus that scientists to do not yet understand .
Without robust testing and other measures to keep the virus in check , a third peak is possible — or even likely — given that only an estimated 10 % of Americans have been infected so far , experts said .
And there 's no reason to believe the peak ca n't be larger than the first two .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it finds tinder — susceptible individuals — like any good fire , '' said Khan , a former top infectious-disease outbreak investigator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Fauci said he is `` somewhat comforted '' by the recent plateau .
But a stabilization of cases at around 60,000 is `` still at a very high level . ''
He said he is also worried about rising percentages of tests coming back positive in states like Ohio , Kentucky , Tennessee , and Indiana .
`` That 's a warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge , '' Fauci said .
`` They 've really got to jump all over that . ''

While deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. are mounting rapidly, public health experts are seeing a flicker of good news: The second surge of confirmed cases appears to be leveling off.
Scientists aren’t celebrating by any means, warning that the trend is driven by four big, hard-hit places — Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas — and that cases are rising in close to 30 states in all, with the outbreak’s center of gravity seemingly shifting from the Sun Belt toward the Midwest.
Some experts wonder whether the apparent caseload improvements will endure. Nor is it clear when deaths start coming down. COVID-19 deaths do not move in perfect lockstep with the infection curve, for the simple reason that it can take weeks to get sick and die from the virus.
The future? “I think it’s very difficult to predict,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s foremost infectious-disease expert.
The virus has claimed over 150,000 lives in the U.S., by far the highest death toll in the world, plus more than a half-million others around the globe.
Over the past week, the average number of deaths per day in the U.S. has climbed more than 25%, from 843 to 1,057. Florida on Thursday reported 253 more deaths, setting its third straight single-day record. The number of confirmed infections nationwide has topped 4.4 million.
In other developments:
— The collateral damage from the virus mounted, with the U.S. economy shrinking at a dizzying 32.9% annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge on records dating to 1947. And more than 1.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, further evidence that employers are still shedding jobs five months into the crisis.
— Amid the outbreak and the bad economic news, Donald Trump for the first time publicly floated the idea of delaying the Nov. 3 presidential election, warning without evidence that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud. Changing Election Day would require an act of Congress, and the notion ran into immediate resistance from top Republicans and Democrats alike.
— Herman Cain, the former pizza-chain CEO who in 2012 unsuccessfully sought to become the first Black candidate to win the Republican nomination for president, died of complications from the virus at 74.
Based on a seven-day rolling average, daily cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. fell from 67,317 on July 22 to 65,266 on Wednesday, according to data kept by Johns Hopkins University. That is a decline of about 3%.
Researchers prefer to see two weeks of data pointing in the same direction to say whether a trend is genuine. “But I think it is real, yes,” said Ira Longini, a University of Florida biostatistician who has been tracking the coronavirus and has been a source of disease forecasts used by the government.
The Associated Press found the seven-day rolling average for new cases plateaued over two weeks in California and decreased in Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
The trends in Arizona, Texas, and Florida are “starting to bend the curve a bit,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins public health researcher. Those states, along with California, have been pouring large numbers of cases each day into the national tally. So when those places make progress, the whole country looks better, she said.
Also, in another possible glimmer of hope, the percentage of tests that are coming back positive for the virus across the U.S. dropped from an average of 8.5% to 7.8% over the past week.
But with the outbreak heating up in the Midwest, Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers ordered the wearing of masks statewide because of a spike in cases, joining some 30 other states that have taken such measures.
The latest surge in cases became evident in June, weeks after states began reopening following a deadly explosion of cases in and around New York City in the early spring. Daily case counts rose to 70,000 or more earlier this month. Deaths, too, began to climb sharply, after a lag of a few weeks.
Some researchers believe that the recent leveling-off is the result of more people embracing social distancing and other precautions.
“I think a lot of it is people wearing masks because they’re scared,” Longini said.
But Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health, said the trend could also be due to natural dynamics of the virus that scientists to do not yet understand.
Without robust testing and other measures to keep the virus in check, a third peak is possible — or even likely — given that only an estimated 10% of Americans have been infected so far, experts said. And there’s no reason to believe the peak can’t be larger than the first two.
“This disease will continue to hopscotch around until it finds tinder — susceptible individuals — like any good fire,” said Khan, a former top infectious-disease outbreak investigator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fauci said he is “somewhat comforted” by the recent plateau. But a stabilization of cases at around 60,000 is “still at a very high level.” He said he is also worried about rising percentages of tests coming back positive in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.
“That’s a warning sign that you might be seeing a surge,” Fauci said. “They’ve really got to jump all over that.”


shareblue--2020-08-01--Congress struggles to keep itself from getting sick

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are under increasing pressure from lawmakers to boost testing for the coronavirus in the Capitol , an idea they have so far rejected because of concerns about the availability of tests across the country .
Despite the unusual nature of work in the Capitol — lawmakers fly in and out weekly , from 50 states , and attend votes and hearings together — the two leaders have maintained that they will not institute a testing program for members , staff , or the hundreds of other people who work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was highlighted this week when a GOP lawmaker , Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert , found out he had contracted the virus .
He was tested only because he had been scheduled to travel with Donald Trump .
Fearing Gohmert 's frequent refusal to wear a mask could have caused other members and staff to become infected , Pelosi and Capitol officials quickly issued broad new mask requirements for the House .
But the speaker maintained there would be no comprehensive testing for now , citing a lack of supplies , the logistics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that others across the country do n't have the same access .
`` It 's the members of Congress and support staff and that 's very many people , '' Pelosi told CNN 's Anderson Cooper .
`` We ca n't say , well , as members , we should get tested but the other people should n't . ''
The dilemma for Congress is similar to the one facing workplaces and schools as they struggle to reopen .
Lawmakers and staff during the summer have been wearing masks , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds , and working from their homes when possible .
But it 's difficult if not impossible to fully protect against the coronavirus without a robust system of testing and tracing , and there 's a lack of infrastructure nationwide to make it happen .
Gohmert 's positive test prompted immediate concerns across the Capitol as he had voted , walked the hallways , and attended two hearings on Tuesday , often without a mask .
One of the hearings was with Attorney General Willam Barr , who immediately took a test that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department spokeswoman .
At least three of Gohmert 's colleagues said they would quarantine because they interacted with him .
But it did not move the speaker on testing .
Pelosi said they would need more equipment to test everyone in the Capitol and the results would take days to come back , making them `` almost useless . ''
They would also need personal protective equipment for those administering the tests that she said should go to health care providers and teachers .
Pelosi and McConnell cited those front-line workers when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year to send rapid tests for lawmakers to the Capitol .
The White House uses the rapid testing daily for anyone who will be in proximity to the president , which is how Gohmert found out he was infected .
The Texas Republican was given two tests before he was scheduled to fly on Air Force One with Trump to his home state , and both came back positive .
`` Our country 's testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most quickly , '' Pelosi and McConnell said jointly in a May statement , thanking Trump for his offer but turning him down .
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has pressured Pelosi to accept Trump 's offer , writing in a letter Thursday that `` the need for testing throughout Capitol Hill campus remains immediate . ''
McCarthy said the failure to test `` has created unnecessary risk and confusion for members , staff , press and all employees of the House . ''
McCarthy said at a news conference Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Trump 's testing offer was still on the table .
McConnell has also faced pressure from fellow Republicans to boost testing .
On Wednesday , Senate Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt of Missouri , and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina all said they think there should be more robust testing around the complex .
Blunt said he was pushing McConnell to reconsider .
He argued that they could prioritize testing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other areas , and test other members and staff on a less frequent basis .
`` I think particularly for members of Congress who are going back and forth , they represent sort of the perfect petri dish for how you spread a disease , '' Blunt said .
`` You send 535 people out to 535 different locations , on about 1,000 different airplanes , and bring them back and see what happens . ''
Still , there appears to be less urgency in the Senate , where there are fewer lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and most are regularly wearing masks .
One notable exception is McConnell 's Kentucky colleague , Republican Sen. Rand Paul , a doctor who says he does n't need to wear a mask because he previously tested positive for the virus .
There is no proven science saying that a person can not get the virus again .
McConnell told PBS NewsHour `` just about every one of my members is wearing a mask '' and he did n't see a need for new mask mandates in the Senate because `` we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , everybody 's doing it . ''
On testing , some senators said they understood McConnell and Pelosi 's concerns about special treatment .
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said he 'd be fine with increased testing as long as it did n't take away from the needs of the general population .
`` We should n't have access to testing that 's any cheaper or faster than anybody else , '' Rubio said .
`` Let 's expand access to rapid testing on Capitol Hill , but also throughout the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That needs to be the goal . ''

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are under increasing pressure from lawmakers to boost testing for the coronavirus in the Capitol, an idea they have so far rejected because of concerns about the availability of tests across the country.
Despite the unusual nature of work in the Capitol — lawmakers fly in and out weekly, from 50 states, and attend votes and hearings together — the two leaders have maintained that they will not institute a testing program for members, staff, or the hundreds of other people who work in the complex.
The lack of tracking was highlighted this week when a GOP lawmaker, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, found out he had contracted the virus. He was tested only because he had been scheduled to travel with Donald Trump.
Fearing Gohmert’s frequent refusal to wear a mask could have caused other members and staff to become infected, Pelosi and Capitol officials quickly issued broad new mask requirements for the House. But the speaker maintained there would be no comprehensive testing for now, citing a lack of supplies, the logistics of regularly testing hundreds of people, and the fact that others across the country don’t have the same access.
“It’s the members of Congress and support staff and that’s very many people,” Pelosi told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “We can’t say, well, as members, we should get tested but the other people shouldn’t.”
The dilemma for Congress is similar to the one facing workplaces and schools as they struggle to reopen. Lawmakers and staff during the summer have been wearing masks, keeping their distance, cleaning surfaces, limiting crowds, and working from their homes when possible. But it’s difficult if not impossible to fully protect against the coronavirus without a robust system of testing and tracing, and there’s a lack of infrastructure nationwide to make it happen.
Gohmert’s positive test prompted immediate concerns across the Capitol as he had voted, walked the hallways, and attended two hearings on Tuesday, often without a mask. One of the hearings was with Attorney General Willam Barr, who immediately took a test that came back negative, according to a Justice Department spokeswoman. At least three of Gohmert’s colleagues said they would quarantine because they interacted with him.
But it did not move the speaker on testing. Pelosi said they would need more equipment to test everyone in the Capitol and the results would take days to come back, making them “almost useless.” They would also need personal protective equipment for those administering the tests that she said should go to health care providers and teachers.
Pelosi and McConnell cited those front-line workers when they rejected Trump’s offer earlier this year to send rapid tests for lawmakers to the Capitol. The White House uses the rapid testing daily for anyone who will be in proximity to the president, which is how Gohmert found out he was infected. The Texas Republican was given two tests before he was scheduled to fly on Air Force One with Trump to his home state, and both came back positive.
“Our country’s testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly,” Pelosi and McConnell said jointly in a May statement, thanking Trump for his offer but turning him down.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has pressured Pelosi to accept Trump’s offer, writing in a letter Thursday that “the need for testing throughout Capitol Hill campus remains immediate.” McCarthy said the failure to test “has created unnecessary risk and confusion for members, staff, press and all employees of the House.”
McCarthy said at a news conference Thursday that he had spoken to the White House, and Trump’s testing offer was still on the table.
McConnell has also faced pressure from fellow Republicans to boost testing. On Wednesday, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt of Missouri, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina all said they think there should be more robust testing around the complex.
Blunt said he was pushing McConnell to reconsider. He argued that they could prioritize testing for senators who had traveled to Washington from other areas, and test other members and staff on a less frequent basis.
“I think particularly for members of Congress who are going back and forth, they represent sort of the perfect petri dish for how you spread a disease,” Blunt said. “You send 535 people out to 535 different locations, on about 1,000 different airplanes, and bring them back and see what happens.”
Still, there appears to be less urgency in the Senate, where there are fewer lawmakers, office space is more spread out, and most are regularly wearing masks. One notable exception is McConnell’s Kentucky colleague, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, a doctor who says he doesn’t need to wear a mask because he previously tested positive for the virus. There is no proven science saying that a person cannot get the virus again.
McConnell told PBS NewsHour “just about every one of my members is wearing a mask” and he didn’t see a need for new mask mandates in the Senate because “we’re getting compliance in the old-fashioned way, everybody’s doing it.”
On testing, some senators said they understood McConnell and Pelosi’s concerns about special treatment. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said he’d be fine with increased testing as long as it didn’t take away from the needs of the general population.
“We shouldn’t have access to testing that’s any cheaper or faster than anybody else,” Rubio said.
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland agreed.
“Let’s expand access to rapid testing on Capitol Hill, but also throughout the country,” Van Hollen said. “That needs to be the goal.”


shareblue--2020-08-02--Election officials game out worst-case scenarios ahead of November voting

The Department of Homeland Security 's cybersecurity agency this week hosted a three-day tabletop exercise aimed at helping local , state , and federal officials prepare for and respond to worst-case scenarios on Election Day .
The virtual exercise , which concluded Thursday , involved more than 2,000 participants who brainstormed ways to deal with problems and crises that could arise during a November election expected to bring unique challenges tied to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` One of the great things about them is they 're always designed to basically be your worst day ever .
The good thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think through a lot of issues , '' said Ben Hovland , a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
This is the third year DHS has held these exercises , though this one was held virtually because of coronavirus concerns .
It comes at a particularly fraught moment as the nation edges closer toward a contentious presidential contest when an expected surge in absentee balloting is likely to delay the reporting of results and test election officials in profound , even unexpected ways .
And it unfolds against the backdrop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several states this year .
Donald Trump has added to the uncertainty of the election by making unsubstantiated allegations that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud and even floating the idea Thursday that the election could be postponed — though that extraordinarily unlikely event would require an act of Congress .
One imagined scenario involved a supply chain disruption affecting the ability to obtain ink for printing paper ballots , according to an email from the office of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate .
`` Whether it 's ink , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're dependent on the timely delivery of materials to conduct the election , '' Pate said in the email .
In general , the scenarios were designed to be pragmatic , realistic ones , running the gamut from physical concerns ( protecting polling places and ballots ) , cybersecurity ones ( protecting against hacks of election infrastructure ) to disinformation campaigns that could affect public opinion .
The exercises , which include participants from governments but also private-sector election companies and national political committees , reflect the `` whole of nation '' effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masterson , a senior cybersecurity adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , which hosted the event .
`` This is not just the federal government trying to figure out our plan , '' Masterson said .
`` This is the federal government , the state governments , local governments , the private sector all working together to say , 'OK , what more can we be doing , how do we understand these risks , what else do we need to prepare ? ''
On the federal level , Masterson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement is pushing out information on threats to local election officials in a timely way .
`` What we keep hearing from the election officials is , we appreciate you sharing information with us , but can you make it so that it 's shareable broadly , '' including by declassifying it , Masterson said .
The exercise was also aimed at avoiding some of the problems already experienced in some of the elections and caucuses this year .
In Iowa , an app malfunction muddied the reporting of results in the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as five hours to cast ballots in June primary elections in Georgia , which experienced problems with new voting machines and reduced staffing levels at polling places because of coronavirus concerns .
One additional benefit of the exercise is the personal connections that officials can build before a crisis occurs , said David Stafford , the election county supervisor in Escambia County , Florida .
`` You build these relationships with people and get familiar with them outside the time of crisis , '' Stafford said .
`` When and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach out and work with these individuals , you already have some existing relationships . ''

The Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency this week hosted a three-day tabletop exercise aimed at helping local, state, and federal officials prepare for and respond to worst-case scenarios on Election Day.
The virtual exercise, which concluded Thursday, involved more than 2,000 participants who brainstormed ways to deal with problems and crises that could arise during a November election expected to bring unique challenges tied to the coronavirus pandemic.
“One of the great things about them is they’re always designed to basically be your worst day ever. The good thing about it is it really forces you to think through a lot of issues,” said Ben Hovland, a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
This is the third year DHS has held these exercises, though this one was held virtually because of coronavirus concerns. It comes at a particularly fraught moment as the nation edges closer toward a contentious presidential contest when an expected surge in absentee balloting is likely to delay the reporting of results and test election officials in profound, even unexpected ways. And it unfolds against the backdrop of problems that have tripped up elections in several states this year.
Donald Trump has added to the uncertainty of the election by making unsubstantiated allegations that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud and even floating the idea Thursday that the election could be postponed — though that extraordinarily unlikely event would require an act of Congress.
One imagined scenario involved a supply chain disruption affecting the ability to obtain ink for printing paper ballots, according to an email from the office of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate.
“Whether it’s ink, envelopes, paper, etc. we’re dependent on the timely delivery of materials to conduct the election,” Pate said in the email.
In general, the scenarios were designed to be pragmatic, realistic ones, running the gamut from physical concerns (protecting polling places and ballots), cybersecurity ones (protecting against hacks of election infrastructure) to disinformation campaigns that could affect public opinion.
The exercises, which include participants from governments but also private-sector election companies and national political committees, reflect the “whole of nation” effort to combat election threats, said Matt Masterson, a senior cybersecurity adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which hosted the event.
“This is not just the federal government trying to figure out our plan,” Masterson said. “This is the federal government, the state governments, local governments, the private sector all working together to say, ‘OK, what more can we be doing, how do we understand these risks, what else do we need to prepare?”
On the federal level, Masterson said, one of the continued areas for improvement is pushing out information on threats to local election officials in a timely way.
“What we keep hearing from the election officials is, we appreciate you sharing information with us, but can you make it so that it’s shareable broadly,” including by declassifying it, Masterson said.
The exercise was also aimed at avoiding some of the problems already experienced in some of the elections and caucuses this year.
In Iowa, an app malfunction muddied the reporting of results in the Democratic presidential caucuses in February. Voters waited as long as five hours to cast ballots in June primary elections in Georgia, which experienced problems with new voting machines and reduced staffing levels at polling places because of coronavirus concerns.
One additional benefit of the exercise is the personal connections that officials can build before a crisis occurs, said David Stafford, the election county supervisor in Escambia County, Florida.
“You build these relationships with people and get familiar with them outside the time of crisis,” Stafford said. “When and if the time comes that you do need to reach out and work with these individuals, you already have some existing relationships.”


shareblue--2020-08-02--Activists and philanthropists urge Congress to extend food aid for children

A high-profile coalition of educators , activists , and philanthropists — including the American Federation of Teachers , the NAACP , and the charity World Central Kitchen — is urging Congress to extend and expand emergency provisions that allow school districts nationwide to feed millions of children during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We are urging you to rapidly pass legislation to address the nation 's hunger crisis , '' the group writes in a letter .
`` This is a national humanitarian crisis that requires immediate action and innovation across several fronts . ''
The July 6 letter is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy .
It was given to The Associated Press on Thursday in an attempt to apply pressure on lawmakers for action on the HEROES Act .
Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , which represents 1.7 million school employees , told the AP she and the signatories are hoping for immediate help and a long-term , structural rethinking of food in America .
`` In a terrible pandemic with terrible unemployment , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not doing more ? ''
she asked .
`` It really is re-imagining our public assets , our public institutions , to be a real safety net for people . ''
Another signatory , chef José Andrés , founder of World Central Kitchen , which has distributed 35 million meals since the pandemic began , said : `` We need to go bold .
If we do n't go bold now , when ? ''
The pandemic has killed more than 150,000 people in the United States , according to figures compiled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and businesses and devastated the economy , costing tens of millions of people their jobs .
Donald Trump has pushed for schools to reopen — even threatening to withhold federal funds from districts that remain closed — despite health officials ' concerns about spreading the deadly virus .
During the pandemic , the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a series of waivers to make it easier for schools and community organizations to serve free meals through federal nutrition programs .
These waivers have allowed for a variety of innovative strategies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals by adults , lifting area eligibility rules to reach more families and distributing multiple days ' worth of meals at once .
The group is pushing the Republican-led Senate and Trump to adopt the HEROES Act , which extends unemployment benefits to some workers and expands the rules under which school districts can distribute food during emergencies .
The measure has already been passed by the Democratic-led House .
The coalition also is seeking a 15 % increase in food stamp assistance , also known as SNAP , and an extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school to get extra food benefits .
The letter was signed by a broad coalition of advocates and social groups , including the Hispanic Federation , the National Immigration Law Center , the Emerson Collective , Share Our Strength , and Hunger Free America .
The coalition 's letter points out that six in 10 students in California and Kentucky are eligible for federally subsidized meals , while in New York the number is just under half of all students .
Pelosi and McCarthy represent California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from New York .
Andrés told the AP he hopes $ 900 million can be set aside for school meals and waivers can be extended for poor families .
But he also argued that money needs to be invested long term in farmers to bring them into the equation .
`` I do n't think we want to see images of an America with long lines of cars waiting for their weekly box of vegetables and fruits .
This should n't be happening , '' he said .
`` Let 's try a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition said it believes that schools — with often the biggest kitchen in the neighborhood — should be transformed into community kitchens during moments of crisis .
`` There 's so much food insecurity in the country right now , why ca n't we more robustly use school kitchens in conjunction with restaurants and other places ? ''
Weingarten asked .
Andrés said school meals should n't be political .
`` There are hungry children in red and blue states , '' he said .
But he specifically called out McConnell for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own state .
`` I 'm expecting better from a leader like him , '' Andrés said .
In response , a representative for McConnell said Thursday the senator was proud to have helped shepherd $ 25 billion in food assistance into law earlier this year as part of the CARES Act .
The representative also pointed to comments McConnell made to PBS on Wednesday in which he said making sure children are well-fed is `` extremely important . ''

A high-profile coalition of educators, activists, and philanthropists — including the American Federation of Teachers, the NAACP, and the charity World Central Kitchen — is urging Congress to extend and expand emergency provisions that allow school districts nationwide to feed millions of children during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are urging you to rapidly pass legislation to address the nation’s hunger crisis,” the group writes in a letter. “This is a national humanitarian crisis that requires immediate action and innovation across several fronts.”
The July 6 letter is addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy. It was given to The Associated Press on Thursday in an attempt to apply pressure on lawmakers for action on the HEROES Act.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.7 million school employees, told the AP she and the signatories are hoping for immediate help and a long-term, structural rethinking of food in America.
“In a terrible pandemic with terrible unemployment, with terrible food insecurity, why are we not doing more?” she asked. “It really is re-imagining our public assets, our public institutions, to be a real safety net for people.”
Another signatory, chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, which has distributed 35 million meals since the pandemic began, said: “We need to go bold. If we don’t go bold now, when?”
The pandemic has killed more than 150,000 people in the United States, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It has closed schools and businesses and devastated the economy, costing tens of millions of people their jobs. Donald Trump has pushed for schools to reopen — even threatening to withhold federal funds from districts that remain closed — despite health officials’ concerns about spreading the deadly virus.
During the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a series of waivers to make it easier for schools and community organizations to serve free meals through federal nutrition programs. These waivers have allowed for a variety of innovative strategies, such as drive-through pick-up of children’s meals by adults, lifting area eligibility rules to reach more families and distributing multiple days’ worth of meals at once.
The group is pushing the Republican-led Senate and Trump to adopt the HEROES Act, which extends unemployment benefits to some workers and expands the rules under which school districts can distribute food during emergencies. The measure has already been passed by the Democratic-led House.
The coalition also is seeking a 15% increase in food stamp assistance, also known as SNAP, and an extension of the program that allows children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school to get extra food benefits.
The letter was signed by a broad coalition of advocates and social groups, including the Hispanic Federation, the National Immigration Law Center, the Emerson Collective, Share Our Strength, and Hunger Free America.
The coalition’s letter points out that six in 10 students in California and Kentucky are eligible for federally subsidized meals, while in New York the number is just under half of all students. Pelosi and McCarthy represent California, McConnell represents Kentucky and Schumer is from New York.
Andrés told the AP he hopes $900 million can be set aside for school meals and waivers can be extended for poor families. But he also argued that money needs to be invested long term in farmers to bring them into the equation.
“I don’t think we want to see images of an America with long lines of cars waiting for their weekly box of vegetables and fruits. This shouldn’t be happening,” he said. “Let’s try a 360-degree, three-dimensional approach.”
The coalition said it believes that schools — with often the biggest kitchen in the neighborhood — should be transformed into community kitchens during moments of crisis.
“There’s so much food insecurity in the country right now, why can’t we more robustly use school kitchens in conjunction with restaurants and other places?” Weingarten asked.
Andrés said school meals shouldn’t be political. “There are hungry children in red and blue states,” he said. But he specifically called out McConnell for not tackling food issues in the Senate or his own state. “I’m expecting better from a leader like him,” Andrés said.
In response, a representative for McConnell said Thursday the senator was proud to have helped shepherd $25 billion in food assistance into law earlier this year as part of the CARES Act. The representative also pointed to comments McConnell made to PBS on Wednesday in which he said making sure children are well-fed is “extremely important.”


shareblue--2020-08-03--GOP senator claims virus that's killed over 155,000 'not that much worse' than the flu

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) claimed in an interview with a far-right podcast on Monday that COVID-19 is `` not that much worse '' than the flu .
Over 155,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far , and there have been more than 4.6 million cases reported in the United States .
Even for those who survive COVID-19 , scientists have found it may cause lingering damage to the body , including heart damage , foggy thinking , loss of smell , fatigue , and achy joints as well as damage to the kidneys , lungs , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson 's inaccurate statement echoes Donald Trump 's claim in March that the virus was on par with , and possibly less deadly , than the flu .
Thousands have died since then .
From the August 3 edition of `` War Room : Pandemic , '' the podcast started by former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon : RAHEEM KASSAM , co-host : Do you agree with the general thesis that this is effectively the president running against the pandemic here ?
And this is the enemy that they 're setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not Joe Biden , it 's the coronavirus , the CCCP virus ?
SEN. RON JOHNSON ( R-WI ) : Well , they realize that the best way to defeat Joe Biden is to reduce the fear on COVID .
If people really looked at this disease , and it is worse than the flu , but its not that much worse , it should n't be leading to these generalized shutdowns .
If people realize it , we can really go about our lives in relative safety .
That really takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Joe Biden and the Democrats ' sails .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) claimed in an interview with a far-right podcast on Monday that COVID-19 is “not that much worse” than the flu.
Over 155,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far, and there have been more than 4.6 million cases reported in the United States.
Even for those who survive COVID-19, scientists have found it may cause lingering damage to the body, including heart damage, foggy thinking, loss of smell, fatigue, and achy joints as well as damage to the kidneys, lungs, and brain, according to Science Magazine.
Johnson’s inaccurate statement echoes Donald Trump’s claim in March that the virus was on par with, and possibly less deadly, than the flu. Thousands have died since then.
From the August 3 edition of “War Room: Pandemic,” the podcast started by former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon:
RAHEEM KASSAM, co-host: Do you agree with the general thesis that this is effectively the president running against the pandemic here? And this is the enemy that they’re setting up for him to face? It’s not Joe Biden, it’s the coronavirus, the CCCP virus? SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): Well, they realize that the best way to defeat Joe Biden is to reduce the fear on COVID. If people really looked at this disease, and it is worse than the flu, but its not that much worse, it shouldn’t be leading to these generalized shutdowns. If people realize it, we can really go about our lives in relative safety. That really takes an awful lot of the wind out of Joe Biden and the Democrats’ sails.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-03--Trump calls states with Democratic governors 'bad states'

Donald Trump on Monday described states with Democratic governors as `` very bad states . ''
During a meeting with tech workers at the White House , during which Trump signed an executive order on hiring `` American , '' Trump claimed that Democrats had run `` some very bad states '' and `` very bad cities , '' adding that he did n't want to reward any of them with relief funding for supposedly `` doing a bad job '' on their coronavirus response .
Cases have spiked in a number of states , including those run by Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 50 states in the United States have Democratic governors who represent millions of people .
There are states led by Democrats in all regions of the country , including on the East and West Coasts , the Midwest , and in the South .
DONALD TRUMP : Democrats have run some very bad states and some very , very bad cities .
And a lot of people do n't want to give them a trillion dollars to reward them for doing a bad job .
If you look at some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by naming those states , but you know what they are .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Monday described states with Democratic governors as “very bad states.”
During a meeting with tech workers at the White House, during which Trump signed an executive order on hiring “American,” Trump claimed that Democrats had run “some very bad states” and “very bad cities,” adding that he didn’t want to reward any of them with relief funding for supposedly “doing a bad job” on their coronavirus response.
Cases have spiked in a number of states, including those run by Republicans, in recent weeks.
Twenty-four of the 50 states in the United States have Democratic governors who represent millions of people. There are states led by Democrats in all regions of the country, including on the East and West Coasts, the Midwest, and in the South.
From an August 3 press availability:
DONALD TRUMP: Democrats have run some very bad states and some very, very bad cities. And a lot of people don’t want to give them a trillion dollars to reward them for doing a bad job. If you look at some of the states, I won’t insult anybody by naming those states, but you know what they are.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-03--Trump campaign sets 'money on fire' with ads in states he can't win

Donald Trump 's reelection campaign is continuing to spend money on ads in states he has almost no shot at winning in November , raising questions about the campaign 's strategy exactly three months out from Election Day .
The Trump campaign on Monday purchased $ 38,000 on ads just on Fox News in Washington , D.C. , that will run from Monday through Aug. 16 , according to Medium Buying , which tracks political ad buys .
That follows an earlier $ 38,000 buy in the same market for ads that ran from July 23 to July 28 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in such a reliably Democratic area is Donald Trump himself .
The campaign first started employing this tactic to mollify its candidate in late May , when it spent $ 400,000 to run ads on cable news networks in the Washington , D.C. , media market as Trump began to worry about his reelection chances .
It has spent at least $ 476,000 on such ads .
The fact that neither the District of Columbia nor Maryland or Virginia is likely to vote for Trump in November makes the ad buys an even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a critical stretch of the election — unless Trump is indeed their target audience .
Since the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution gave citizens of Washington , D.C. , the right to vote for electors to the Electoral College back in 1961 , they have voted Democratic in every presidential election .
Maryland has voted Democratic in every presidential contest since 1992 .
Virginia voted Democratic in the 2008 presidential election , and has grown increasingly bluer since , thanks to demographic changes and suburban voters fleeing the GOP .
The advertising in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign last week removed its ads from the air as part of a revamping of its strategy , as polls show Trump losing to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The Biden campaign has been outraising the Trump campaign in donations .
Trump campaign aides have tried to brighten Trump 's spirits by highlighting such events as Trump supporters holding boat parades along with the ad buys on networks Trump watches .
Democratic strategists seem bemused by their Republican counterparts ' actions .
`` One thing that survived the Trump campaign ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money on fire by advertising to Trump on Fox and Friends , '' tweeted Josh Schwerin , a strategist at the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is continuing to spend money on ads in states he has almost no shot at winning in November, raising questions about the campaign’s strategy exactly three months out from Election Day.
The Trump campaign on Monday purchased $38,000 on ads just on Fox News in Washington, D.C., that will run from Monday through Aug. 16, according to Medium Buying, which tracks political ad buys.
That follows an earlier $38,000 buy in the same market for ads that ran from July 23 to July 28.
The likely audience for Trump campaign ads in such a reliably Democratic area is Donald Trump himself.
The campaign first started employing this tactic to mollify its candidate in late May, when it spent $400,000 to run ads on cable news networks in the Washington, D.C., media market as Trump began to worry about his reelection chances.
It has spent at least $476,000 on such ads.
The fact that neither the District of Columbia nor Maryland or Virginia is likely to vote for Trump in November makes the ad buys an even more confounding use of campaign cash in a critical stretch of the election — unless Trump is indeed their target audience.
Since the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution gave citizens of Washington, D.C., the right to vote for electors to the Electoral College back in 1961, they have voted Democratic in every presidential election.
Maryland has voted Democratic in every presidential contest since 1992. Virginia voted Democratic in the 2008 presidential election, and has grown increasingly bluer since, thanks to demographic changes and suburban voters fleeing the GOP.
The advertising in the D.C. area comes after the Trump campaign last week removed its ads from the air as part of a revamping of its strategy, as polls show Trump losing to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The Biden campaign has been outraising the Trump campaign in donations.
Trump campaign aides have tried to brighten Trump’s spirits by highlighting such events as Trump supporters holding boat parades along with the ad buys on networks Trump watches.
Democratic strategists seem bemused by their Republican counterparts’ actions.
“One thing that survived the Trump campaign ad strategy reset is the need to light money on fire by advertising to Trump on Fox and Friends,” tweeted Josh Schwerin, a strategist at the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-03--House Oversight Committee wants Trump's new postal chief to explain mail delays

The House Oversight Committee has invited the new postmaster general to appear at a hearing next month to examine operational changes to the U.S .
Postal Service that are causing delays in mail deliveries across the country .
The plan imposed by Louis DeJoy , a Republican fundraiser who took over the top job at the Postal Service in June , eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and orders that mail be kept until the next day if postal distribution centers are running late .
Rep. Carolyn Maloney , a New York Democrat who chairs the Oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will focus on `` the need for on-time mail delivery during the ongoing pandemic and upcoming election , '' which is expected to include a major expansion of mail-in ballots .
Donald Trump opposes expanding voting by mail , arguing that it will trigger fraud , even though there 's no evidence that will happen .
Trump , Vice President Mike Pence , and other top administration officials frequently vote absentee themselves .
Trump also has called the Postal Service `` a joke '' and said that package shipping rates should be at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Amazon .
But shipping and packages are actually a top revenue generator for the Postal Service , and critics say Trump is merely looking to punish Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in retaliation for unflattering coverage in the Washington Post , which Bezos owns .
The oversight committee intended to have the hearing with DeJoy this week , Maloney said , but was told that DeJoy could not attend because of a meeting of the Postal Service 's Board of Governors .
DeJoy has confirmed his availability for the the Sept. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hearing comes as the Postal Service is reeling from mail delays and financial problems , even as record numbers of mail ballots are expected in the presidential elections because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Postal Service officials , bracing for steep losses from the nationwide shutdown caused by the virus , have warned they will run out of money by the end of September without help from Congress .
The service reported a $ 4.5 billion loss for the quarter ending in March , before the full effects of the shutdown sank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 22 billion over the next 18 months .
`` The Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position , stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model , '' DeJoy said in a statement last week .
`` We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations .
Because of this , the Postal Service has experienced over a decade of financial losses , with no end in sight , and we face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved by the Democratic-controlled House would set aside $ 25 billion to keep the mail flowing , but they remain stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate .
Congress has approved a $ 10 billion line of credit for the Postal Service , but it remains unused amid restrictions imposed by the Trump administration .
The Postal Service and Treasury Department announced an agreement in principle on loan terms last week , with a formal agreement expected in the next few weeks .
Even with the loan , the Postal Service `` remains on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on improving operational efficiency , '' DeJoy said .
Besides cutting overtime , the new plan halts late trips that are sometimes needed to ensure on-time delivery .
If postal distribution centers are running late , `` they will keep the mail for the next day , '' Postal Service leaders say in a document obtained by the Associated Press .
`` One aspect of these changes that may be difficult for employees is that — temporarily — we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers have demanded answers from DeJoy following complaints from constituents about mail service delays and other problems .
`` It is essential that the Postal Service not slow down mail or in any way compromise service for veterans , small businesses , rural communities , seniors and millions of Americans who rely on the mail – including significant numbers who will be relying on the Postal Service to exercise their right to vote , '' a group of Democratic senators wrote in a letter to DeJoy last week .
The senators , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters , the top Democrat on a panel that oversees the Postal Service , said any changes to Postal Service operations `` must be carefully considered to ensure they do not limit service for Americans who rely on the mail for essentials , especially during a pandemic . ''
In a separate letter , Sen. Joe Manchin ( D-WV ) asked DeJoy to clarify whether the Postal Service plans to close some post offices and reduce hours at others in his rural state .
Signs hung at some locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 or 24 , Manchin said , calling any such action a violation of both federal law and Postal Service rules that require 120 days ' notice before any closures .
`` In many areas where reliable broadband is not an option , the Postal Service is their only link to medicine , Social Security checks and family members , '' Manchin said in his letter .
`` Under new social distancing mandates , the Postal Service has become even more essential in keeping rural communities connected and economically viable . ''

The House Oversight Committee has invited the new postmaster general to appear at a hearing next month to examine operational changes to the U.S. Postal Service that are causing delays in mail deliveries across the country.
The plan imposed by Louis DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser who took over the top job at the Postal Service in June, eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and orders that mail be kept until the next day if postal distribution centers are running late.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat who chairs the Oversight panel, said the Sept. 17 hearing will focus on “the need for on-time mail delivery during the ongoing pandemic and upcoming election,” which is expected to include a major expansion of mail-in ballots.
Donald Trump opposes expanding voting by mail, arguing that it will trigger fraud, even though there’s no evidence that will happen. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and other top administration officials frequently vote absentee themselves.
Trump also has called the Postal Service “a joke” and said that package shipping rates should be at least four times higher for heavy users like Amazon. But shipping and packages are actually a top revenue generator for the Postal Service, and critics say Trump is merely looking to punish Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in retaliation for unflattering coverage in the Washington Post, which Bezos owns.
The oversight committee intended to have the hearing with DeJoy this week, Maloney said, but was told that DeJoy could not attend because of a meeting of the Postal Service’s Board of Governors. DeJoy has confirmed his availability for the the Sept. 17, hearing, she said.
The hearing comes as the Postal Service is reeling from mail delays and financial problems, even as record numbers of mail ballots are expected in the presidential elections because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Postal Service officials, bracing for steep losses from the nationwide shutdown caused by the virus, have warned they will run out of money by the end of September without help from Congress. The service reported a $4.5 billion loss for the quarter ending in March, before the full effects of the shutdown sank in, and expects losses totaling more than $22 billion over the next 18 months.
“The Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model,” DeJoy said in a statement last week. “We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations. Because of this, the Postal Service has experienced over a decade of financial losses, with no end in sight, and we face an impending liquidity crisis.”
Bills approved by the Democratic-controlled House would set aside $25 billion to keep the mail flowing, but they remain stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. Congress has approved a $10 billion line of credit for the Postal Service, but it remains unused amid restrictions imposed by the Trump administration.
The Postal Service and Treasury Department announced an agreement in principle on loan terms last week, with a formal agreement expected in the next few weeks. Even with the loan, the Postal Service “remains on an unsustainable path and we will continue to focus on improving operational efficiency,” DeJoy said.
Besides cutting overtime, the new plan halts late trips that are sometimes needed to ensure on-time delivery. If postal distribution centers are running late, “they will keep the mail for the next day,” Postal Service leaders say in a document obtained by the Associated Press. “One aspect of these changes that may be difficult for employees is that — temporarily — we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docks,” another document says.
Democratic lawmakers have demanded answers from DeJoy following complaints from constituents about mail service delays and other problems.
“It is essential that the Postal Service not slow down mail or in any way compromise service for veterans, small businesses, rural communities, seniors and millions of Americans who rely on the mail – including significant numbers who will be relying on the Postal Service to exercise their right to vote,” a group of Democratic senators wrote in a letter to DeJoy last week.
The senators, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on a panel that oversees the Postal Service, said any changes to Postal Service operations “must be carefully considered to ensure they do not limit service for Americans who rely on the mail for essentials, especially during a pandemic.”
In a separate letter, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) asked DeJoy to clarify whether the Postal Service plans to close some post offices and reduce hours at others in his rural state. Signs hung at some locations announced proposed closures as soon as Aug. 22 or 24, Manchin said, calling any such action a violation of both federal law and Postal Service rules that require 120 days’ notice before any closures.
“In many areas where reliable broadband is not an option, the Postal Service is their only link to medicine, Social Security checks and family members,” Manchin said in his letter. “Under new social distancing mandates, the Postal Service has become even more essential in keeping rural communities connected and economically viable.”


shareblue--2020-08-03--New York prosecutor investigating Trump Organization for 'possible criminal activity'

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said in a court filing on Monday that he 's investigating the Trump Organization for possible bank and insurance fraud , revealing a much broader investigation into Donald Trump 's finances than was previously known .
Vance is fighting to obtain eight years ' worth of Trump 's financial records .
Initially , it seemed that the New York County district attorney was just looking into hush money payments Trump made to a porn actress and a Playboy model during the 2016 campaign — payments that constituted campaign finance violations .
One of Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to prison for his involvement in the payments .
However , the district attorney 's probe appears to go deeper than that , with Vance arguing that he needs Trump 's personal and business financial records because he is also looking into bank and insurance fraud allegations that Cohen made against Trump during a February 2019 congressional hearing .
`` As this reporting makes clear , at the time the Mazars Subpoena was issued , there were public allegations of possible criminal activity at Plaintiff ’ s New York County-based Trump Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vance wrote in the filing .
`` These reports describe transactions involving individual and corporate actors based in New York County , but whose conduct at times extended beyond New York ’ s borders .
This possible criminal activity occurred within the applicable statutes of limitations , particularly if the transactions involved a continuing pattern of conduct . ''
Trump , for his part , has been fighting Vance 's attempt to subpoena his financial records in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court .
The Supreme Court rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity from state criminal investigations .
In a ruling last month , the court said Trump could make another argument for why he should not have to hand over the records , but a blanket immunity claim would not suffice .
In a lower court hearing after the ruling , Trump 's lawyers argued that the subpoena was invalid because it was `` wildly overbroad . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Vance 's subpoena was `` frivolous and politically motivated . ''
But in Monday 's filing , Vance argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow Trump to withhold the records , saying Trump 's lawyer `` merely regurgitates allegations and arguments this Court has rejected before . ''
The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said in a court filing on Monday that he’s investigating the Trump Organization for possible bank and insurance fraud, revealing a much broader investigation into Donald Trump’s finances than was previously known.
Vance is fighting to obtain eight years’ worth of Trump’s financial records.
Initially, it seemed that the New York County district attorney was just looking into hush money payments Trump made to a porn actress and a Playboy model during the 2016 campaign — payments that constituted campaign finance violations. One of Trump’s personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to prison for his involvement in the payments.
However, the district attorney’s probe appears to go deeper than that, with Vance arguing that he needs Trump’s personal and business financial records because he is also looking into bank and insurance fraud allegations that Cohen made against Trump during a February 2019 congressional hearing.
“As this reporting makes clear, at the time the Mazars Subpoena was issued, there were public allegations of possible criminal activity at Plaintiff’s New York County-based Trump Organization dating back over a decade,” Vance wrote in the filing. “These reports describe transactions involving individual and corporate actors based in New York County, but whose conduct at times extended beyond New York’s borders. This possible criminal activity occurred within the applicable statutes of limitations, particularly if the transactions involved a continuing pattern of conduct.”
Trump, for his part, has been fighting Vance’s attempt to subpoena his financial records in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s assertion that he has blanket immunity from state criminal investigations. In a ruling last month, the court said Trump could make another argument for why he should not have to hand over the records, but a blanket immunity claim would not suffice.
In a lower court hearing after the ruling, Trump’s lawyers argued that the subpoena was invalid because it was “wildly overbroad.” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Vance’s subpoena was “frivolous and politically motivated.”
But in Monday’s filing, Vance argued that those claims are not enough to allow Trump to withhold the records, saying Trump’s lawyer “merely regurgitates allegations and arguments this Court has rejected before.”
The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-03--Schools already hit with virus outbreaks after Trump demands reopening

The academic year has barely begun , yet several schools have already faced setbacks because of coronavirus outbreaks .
On Monday , Donald Trump reiterated his demand to `` Open the Schools ! ''
But Indiana , the first state in the nation to begin its school year , has already seen a number of coronavirus-related incidents .
Elwood Junior-Senior High School closed its doors on Monday just days after reopening after at least one staffer at the school tested positive for coronavirus and other staffers were forced to quarantine , the Indianapolis Star reported .
The superintendent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to parents over the weekend stating that the school 's reopening plan was working even as he admitted that the district had `` more positive cases from staff members than we anticipated . ''
The school will hold virtual classes all week and plans to physically reopen next Monday .
On Thursday , the first day of class at Indiana 's Greenfield Central Junior High School , health officials notified the school that a student who had attended classes that day tested positive for coronavirus , the New York Times reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ High School have tested positive since classes began on Wednesday , the Louisville Courier Journal reported on Saturday .
The school was physically closed on Monday as students participated in virtual classes , and the school was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday .
However , nearly 50 students will be quarantined when the school reopens .
In Georgia , 260 school employees in the state 's largest school district were forced to quarantine because they either tested positive for coronavirus or were in close contact with someone who did , CNN reported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , located in the Atlanta suburbs , is scheduled to reopen for online classes on Aug. 12 .
The Gwinnett County news follows a report of a coronavirus outbreak at a Georgia summer camp in June where 260 people tested positive for coronavirus , including almost half of the children between the ages of 6 and 17 .
Shaker High School in Colonie , New York , was closed on Monday after a staffer with the school 's Extended School Year program tested positive .
Two elementary schools in Campbell County , Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the last week of summer school when two teachers tested positive for coronavirus , WSLS , a local NBC affiliate , reported on Thursday .
Trump 's demand that schools reopen contradicted Dr. Deborah Birx , the leader of the White House coronavirus task force , who told CNN on Sunday that , `` In the areas where we have this widespread case increase , we need to stop the cases , and then we can talk about safely reopening [ schools ] . ''
She added that in areas with high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control . ''
In late July , Florida teachers sued the state to block an order forcing schools to reopen for in-person instruction in August .
The state ordered that all schools need to reopen for all students and threatened to withhold funding from schools that did not comply .
Teachers argued that the order does not comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Nationally , the American Federation of Teachers — a union representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution on Tuesday supporting any chapter that decides to strike based on unsafe conditions .
More than 4.6 million people have tested positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began , and at least 155,366 people have died .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The academic year has barely begun, yet several schools have already faced setbacks because of coronavirus outbreaks.
On Monday, Donald Trump reiterated his demand to “Open the Schools!” But Indiana, the first state in the nation to begin its school year, has already seen a number of coronavirus-related incidents.
Elwood Junior-Senior High School closed its doors on Monday just days after reopening after at least one staffer at the school tested positive for coronavirus and other staffers were forced to quarantine, the Indianapolis Star reported.
The superintendent of the school, Joe Brown, sent a letter to parents over the weekend stating that the school’s reopening plan was working even as he admitted that the district had “more positive cases from staff members than we anticipated.” The school will hold virtual classes all week and plans to physically reopen next Monday.
On Thursday, the first day of class at Indiana’s Greenfield Central Junior High School, health officials notified the school that a student who had attended classes that day tested positive for coronavirus, the New York Times reported.
Four students at Indiana’s Lanesville Junior-Senior High School have tested positive since classes began on Wednesday, the Louisville Courier Journal reported on Saturday. The school was physically closed on Monday as students participated in virtual classes, and the school was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday. However, nearly 50 students will be quarantined when the school reopens.
In Georgia, 260 school employees in the state’s largest school district were forced to quarantine because they either tested positive for coronavirus or were in close contact with someone who did, CNN reported on Monday. The Gwinnett County School District, located in the Atlanta suburbs, is scheduled to reopen for online classes on Aug. 12.
The Gwinnett County news follows a report of a coronavirus outbreak at a Georgia summer camp in June where 260 people tested positive for coronavirus, including almost half of the children between the ages of 6 and 17.
Shaker High School in Colonie, New York, was closed on Monday after a staffer with the school’s Extended School Year program tested positive.
Two elementary schools in Campbell County, Virginia, were forced to shut their doors during the last week of summer school when two teachers tested positive for coronavirus, WSLS, a local NBC affiliate, reported on Thursday.
Trump’s demand that schools reopen contradicted Dr. Deborah Birx, the leader of the White House coronavirus task force, who told CNN on Sunday that, “In the areas where we have this widespread case increase, we need to stop the cases, and then we can talk about safely reopening [schools].”
She added that in areas with high caseloads, “we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control.”
In late July, Florida teachers sued the state to block an order forcing schools to reopen for in-person instruction in August. The state ordered that all schools need to reopen for all students and threatened to withhold funding from schools that did not comply. Teachers argued that the order does not comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nationally, the American Federation of Teachers — a union representing 1.7 million school employees — issued a resolution on Tuesday supporting any chapter that decides to strike based on unsafe conditions.
More than 4.6 million people have tested positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began, and at least 155,366 people have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-03--Trump has done nothing on gun violence since El Paso mass shooting 1 year ago

A year after a mass shooting in El Paso , Texas , Donald Trump has abandoned the promises he made in its aftermath to address gun violence .
On Aug. 3 , 2019 , a right-wing extremist shot and killed 23 and injured 22 others at an El Paso Walmart , allegedly motivated by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican hatred .
A day later , a mass shooting in Dayton , Ohio , left nine more dead .
Two days later , Trump vowed action .
`` In the two decades since Columbine , our nation has watched with rising horror and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another — over and over again , decade after decade , '' he said in a White House address .
`` We must seek real , bipartisan solutions , '' Trump said .
`` We have to do that in a bipartisan manner .
That will truly make America safer and better for all . ''
In the same speech , Trump backed federal action to address gun violence , expressly endorsing `` red flag laws , also known as extreme risk protection orders '' to temporarily remove weapons from those deemed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we are able to pass great legislation after all of these years , we will ensure that those who were attacked will not have died in vain , '' he concluded .
That same day , Trump tweeted , `` We can not let those killed in El Paso , Texas , and Dayton , Ohio , die in vain .
Likewise for those so seriously wounded .
We can never forget them , and those many who came before them . ''
He demanded : `` Republicans and Democrats must come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Over the next few days , Trump also repeatedly called for new laws to close background check loopholes .
`` Serious discussions are taking place between House and Senate leadership on meaningful Background Checks .
I have also been speaking to the NRA , and others , so that their very strong views can be fully represented and respected , '' he tweeted on Aug. 9 .
`` Guns should not be placed in the hands of mentally ill or deranged people .
I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the good and safety of our Country .
Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone ! ''
But the National Rifle Association was not on board and reportedly told Trump to `` stop the games . ''
Trump quickly backed down , soon dropping the subject entirely .
The pro-gun group endorsed Trump 's reelection last month .
Since that time , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to allow a vote on the bipartisan universal background check legislation that passed the House of Representatives last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paso , the Senate has not passed other major gun safety legislation either — even as coronavirus quarantines put many abuse victims in lockdown with their abusers and domestic abuse advocates urged immediate action .
Igor Volsky , co-founder and executive director of Guns Down America , observed in an interview on Monday that , since the El Paso shootings , there have been at least 175 more instances of gun violence in or around Walmart stores in the United States , according to the Gun Violence Archive .
These have resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration and Senate refusing to act , Volsky said it is up to businesses to step up and act to stop gun violence in their communities .
`` Over the last several years , major corporations have recognized that they have a responsibility to keep their customers and employees safe from gun violence .
In the absence of political leadership , major American companies , which experience the consequences of our nation 's lax gun laws on a daily basis , must lead our nation in helping build safer communities with fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Feinblatt , president of Everytown for Gun Safety , noted that in the year since the El Paso and Dayton shootings , `` nearly 40,000 people have been killed by gun violence in America — and twice that many have been wounded — but Senate Republicans have still failed to act .
This November , we will hold Trump and his allies accountable for their utter failure to keep us safe . ''
Shela Blanchard , a Moms Demand Action volunteer whose niece Monica was killed in the Dayton shooting , slammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Sometimes I do n't understand why they ca n't feel the pain we feel — because if they did , just for 60 seconds , there would n't be any gun safety bills dying on their desks while people continue to die in the streets .
But if they wo n't act , then I can promise one thing : We wo n't stop fighting until we find leaders who will , '' she wrote in an email .
Christian Heyne , vice president of policy at the Brady Campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Senate `` have still failed at every turn to pass any legislation to meaningfully address gun violence in this country '' in the past year .
`` Regardless of two bipartisan bills the House of Representatives sent to the Senate in February 2019 and repeated national calls for meaningful action , the nation is less safe today because of the willful inaction from the White House and the Senate Majority Leader , '' he wrote in an email .
`` Nothing has resulted from Sen. McConnell 's call for the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look for policies to prevent gun violence after the horrific events last August 3rd , showing yet again that his words are as hollow as thoughts and prayers are effective in stopping violence .
We need these laws to help disarm hate and prevent tragedies like those in El Paso . ''
In a presidential proclamation on Saturday , Trump pledged to continue to ensure that gun rights are `` never infringed upon . ''
`` Since my first day in office , I have made clear that my Administration will always protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to oppose those individuals and policies that attempt to tread on this essential and cherished liberty , '' he wrote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A year after a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, Donald Trump has abandoned the promises he made in its aftermath to address gun violence.
On Aug. 3, 2019, a right-wing extremist shot and killed 23 and injured 22 others at an El Paso Walmart, allegedly motivated by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican hatred. A day later, a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, left nine more dead. Two days later, Trump vowed action.
“In the two decades since Columbine, our nation has watched with rising horror and dread as one mass shooting has followed another — over and over again, decade after decade,” he said in a White House address.
“We must seek real, bipartisan solutions,” Trump said. “We have to do that in a bipartisan manner. That will truly make America safer and better for all.”
In the same speech, Trump backed federal action to address gun violence, expressly endorsing “red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily remove weapons from those deemed a threat to themselves or others. “If we are able to pass great legislation after all of these years, we will ensure that those who were attacked will not have died in vain,” he concluded.
That same day, Trump tweeted, “We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them.” He demanded: “Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks.”
Over the next few days, Trump also repeatedly called for new laws to close background check loopholes. “Serious discussions are taking place between House and Senate leadership on meaningful Background Checks. I have also been speaking to the NRA, and others, so that their very strong views can be fully represented and respected,” he tweeted on Aug. 9. “Guns should not be placed in the hands of mentally ill or deranged people. I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is, but we all must work together for the good and safety of our Country. Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone!”
But the National Rifle Association was not on board and reportedly told Trump to “stop the games.” Trump quickly backed down, soon dropping the subject entirely. The pro-gun group endorsed Trump’s reelection last month.
Since that time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to allow a vote on the bipartisan universal background check legislation that passed the House of Representatives last year. And in the year since El Paso, the Senate has not passed other major gun safety legislation either — even as coronavirus quarantines put many abuse victims in lockdown with their abusers and domestic abuse advocates urged immediate action.
Igor Volsky, co-founder and executive director of Guns Down America, observed in an interview on Monday that, since the El Paso shootings, there have been at least 175 more instances of gun violence in or around Walmart stores in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. These have resulted in 47 deaths and 75 injuries.
With the administration and Senate refusing to act, Volsky said it is up to businesses to step up and act to stop gun violence in their communities.
“Over the last several years, major corporations have recognized that they have a responsibility to keep their customers and employees safe from gun violence. In the absence of political leadership, major American companies, which experience the consequences of our nation’s lax gun laws on a daily basis, must lead our nation in helping build safer communities with fewer guns.”
In an email, John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, noted that in the year since the El Paso and Dayton shootings, “nearly 40,000 people have been killed by gun violence in America — and twice that many have been wounded — but Senate Republicans have still failed to act. This November, we will hold Trump and his allies accountable for their utter failure to keep us safe.”
Shela Blanchard, a Moms Demand Action volunteer whose niece Monica was killed in the Dayton shooting, slammed the Senate for its failure to legislate.
“Sometimes I don’t understand why they can’t feel the pain we feel — because if they did, just for 60 seconds, there wouldn’t be any gun safety bills dying on their desks while people continue to die in the streets. But if they won’t act, then I can promise one thing: We won’t stop fighting until we find leaders who will,” she wrote in an email.
Christian Heyne, vice president of policy at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, lamented that Trump and the Senate “have still failed at every turn to pass any legislation to meaningfully address gun violence in this country” in the past year.
“Regardless of two bipartisan bills the House of Representatives sent to the Senate in February 2019 and repeated national calls for meaningful action, the nation is less safe today because of the willful inaction from the White House and the Senate Majority Leader,” he wrote in an email. “Nothing has resulted from Sen. McConnell’s call for the Senate to engage in ‘bipartisan discussions’ to look for policies to prevent gun violence after the horrific events last August 3rd, showing yet again that his words are as hollow as thoughts and prayers are effective in stopping violence. We need these laws to help disarm hate and prevent tragedies like those in El Paso.”
In a presidential proclamation on Saturday, Trump pledged to continue to ensure that gun rights are “never infringed upon.”
“Since my first day in office, I have made clear that my Administration will always protect and defend the Second Amendment. We will continue to oppose those individuals and policies that attempt to tread on this essential and cherished liberty,” he wrote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.