shareblue--2020-05-21--Congress demands Pompeo explain firing of watchdog who was investigating him

The chairs of the House of Representatives ' committees on Oversight and Reform and on Foreign Affairs have sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seeking information on his role in the firing by Donald Trump of State Department inspector general Steve Linick last week .
In the letter , signed by Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney and Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel , as well as subcommittee chairs Gerald Connolly and Joaquin Castro , the committees tell Pompeo that they `` strongly oppose President Trump 's abrupt notice of removal—at your recommendation—of State Department Inspector General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he be reinstated immediately .
`` Mr. Linick 's removal is the latest in a series of politically motivated firings of Inspectors General by President Trump , '' they note .
`` Based on longstanding concerns with your actions — and new reports this week about potential abuses — this assault on the integrity and independence of Inspectors General appears to be an intentional campaign to undermine their ability to expose corruption and protect taxpayer dollars from waste , fraud , and abuse . ''
The House members accuse Pompeo of asking Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General 's office has been investigating your actions as Secretary , including allegations that you improperly directed appointees to perform personal tasks , as well as your role in the President 's decision to sell billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia last year under an emergency declaration . ''
Pompeo is accused of forcing State Department staff to perform personal errands for him , such as walking his dog .
Linick was the fourth inspector general to be fired by Trump since April 3 .
The committees tell Pompeo that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they call `` a series of lavish dinners that you have been hosting with prominent Republican officials , commentators , and public figures—all at taxpayer expense . ''
They note that holding such private , partisan dinners in the State Department 's Diplomatic Reception Rooms is a violation of the department 's regulations .
It is not currently known whether Linick was investigating the so-called Madison Dinners .
Pompeo has been scrutinized over the past year for acting as the president 's fixer , cleaning up for him , and dismissing those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , Pompeo defended Trump 's failure to rebuke Russian President Vladimir Putin over his country 's interference in the 2016 presidential election , saying Trump did n't have enough time to do so in a 90-minute phone call with Putin .
In November of last year , Pompeo pushed Russian propaganda in defending Trump against impeachment charges , saying that Ukraine should be investigated for the hacking of emails of the Democratic National Committee in 2016 .
American intelligence agencies unanimously agree that it was Russia that was behind the hacks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress with all documents related to Linick 's firing and the Madison Dinners by June 4 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The chairs of the House of Representatives’ committees on Oversight and Reform and on Foreign Affairs have sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seeking information on his role in the firing by Donald Trump of State Department inspector general Steve Linick last week.
In the letter, signed by Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney and Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel, as well as subcommittee chairs Gerald Connolly and Joaquin Castro, the committees tell Pompeo that they “strongly oppose President Trump’s abrupt notice of removal—at your recommendation—of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, and we urge that he be reinstated immediately.
“Mr. Linick’s removal is the latest in a series of politically motivated firings of Inspectors General by President Trump,” they note. “Based on longstanding concerns with your actions — and new reports this week about potential abuses — this assault on the integrity and independence of Inspectors General appears to be an intentional campaign to undermine their ability to expose corruption and protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.”
The House members accuse Pompeo of asking Trump to fire Linick “because the Inspector General’s office has been investigating your actions as Secretary, including allegations that you improperly directed appointees to perform personal tasks, as well as your role in the President’s decision to sell billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia last year under an emergency declaration.”
Pompeo is accused of forcing State Department staff to perform personal errands for him, such as walking his dog.
Linick was the fourth inspector general to be fired by Trump since April 3.
The committees tell Pompeo that they are seeking information as well on what they call “a series of lavish dinners that you have been hosting with prominent Republican officials, commentators, and public figures—all at taxpayer expense.” They note that holding such private, partisan dinners in the State Department’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms is a violation of the department’s regulations.
It is not currently known whether Linick was investigating the so-called Madison Dinners.
Pompeo has been scrutinized over the past year for acting as the president’s fixer, cleaning up for him, and dismissing those who get in his way.
In May 2019, Pompeo defended Trump’s failure to rebuke Russian President Vladimir Putin over his country’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying Trump didn’t have enough time to do so in a 90-minute phone call with Putin.
In November of last year, Pompeo pushed Russian propaganda in defending Trump against impeachment charges, saying that Ukraine should be investigated for the hacking of emails of the Democratic National Committee in 2016.
American intelligence agencies unanimously agree that it was Russia that was behind the hacks.
The House committees request that Pompeo provide Congress with all documents related to Linick’s firing and the Madison Dinners by June 4.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--Family of black gay man killed in Louisiana says police didn't tell them of his death

A black gay man was found dead in Louisiana last week and the victim 's family is demanding a thorough investigation into his killing after they claim they were forced to learn of his death from neighbors .
McKinsley LaKeith Lincoln , 29 , was found dead from a gunshot wound at the intersection of Louisiana and Day streets in Alexandria , Louisiana , last week .
His family filed a missing person report 24 hours after he first left his family home and hours later , on May 15 , police finally found him .
According to the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group helping the family bring attention to Lincoln 's murder , the family allegedly learned of his death when neighbors called the household after seeing news reports that the body police had discovered might be their son .
The family has had little `` proactive '' communication from the department since then , the National Black Justice Coalition claimed .
David Johns , the group 's executive director , said it was his understanding that the first communication between the police and the family was when they contacted the Lincoln 's sister to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone .
`` That was not a conversation about his death or any of the information you 'd expect to be relayed given the circumstance , '' Johns said .
On Wednesday , detectives also visited the home of his mother , Pamela Lincoln .
She was not there at the time .
`` McKinsley is an openly gay man and was the target of harassment and discrimination , '' she said in a statement later .
`` The police have a responsibility to ensure justice for the people of this parish .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their oath .
They have n't protected and served us . ''
As of this week , the family said they had not yet received a copy of Lincoln 's autopsy report .
They added that part of the victim 's body had allegedly been left where he was found by police .
According to Johns , Lincoln 's family claimed specifically that `` parts of his brain '' were allegedly `` left behind . ''
They added that community members were planning a `` candlelight vigil where they remain tomorrow . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voice recording they believe will be valuable to police , but that police have not yet pursued that avenue , to their knowledge .
`` The family wants a complete and thorough investigation and they 're hoping the police department will talk to everyone and anyone who is possibly connected , '' Johns said .
`` The voice recording is at least a piece of the puzzle ... they are really hoping the police department does its job in earnest . ''
Local officials and attorneys have taken steps to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a priority .
According to the National Black Justice Coalition , Alexandria Mayor Jeffrey W. Hall said that the police department had agreed to work hard to determine the circumstances surrounding Lincoln 's murder and determine whether it was a hate crime .
The coalition itself has contacted lawyers to ensure a full investigation is carried out .
Louisiana Rep. Edward C. James , who is also an attorney , said he had `` been assured that this murder will be given the police department and the local leadership ’ s full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandria Police Department responded to a request for comment this week , saying that a `` criminal investigation into the unfortunate death of Mr. Lincoln is being conducted . ''
`` All aspects of any criminality are being considered to include the possibility of hate crime involvement , '' the department stated .
`` So as to not jeopardize the integrity of the investigation , no information regarding any potential suspects or persons of interest will be released at this time . ''
Lincoln 's death comes weeks after the killing of Nina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pop was found in her Sikeston , Missouri , apartment on May 3 .
According to police , she had been stabbed multiple times .
Last week , police arrested and charged a man with second-degree murder in relation to her death .
They have not yet disclosed a motive .
There have been at least 11 killings of transgender or gender nonconforming people in 2020 , many of them people of color .
Last year , at least 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people were murdered .
`` I think the broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parish , much like other places in the country but especially in the south where black LGBTQ people live , they are not communities where members of our community are made to feel safe or affirmed , '' Johns said this week , referring to Lincoln 's death .
According to last year 's FBI Hate Crime Statistics Report , the number of hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ community in 2018 rose by nearly 6 % from 2017 .
In 2018 , there were 726 anti-gay male incidents , 142 anti-transgender incidents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incidents .
Hate crimes against gay men increased by nearly 7 % from the year prior , and hate crimes against transgender people increased 34 % .
Black people were still the most frequently targeted group for hate crimes in 2018 : Forty-six percent of hate crimes that were race , ethnicity , or ancestry-related targeted black people .
Johns said that although there is n't proper data collection for the murders of black LGBTQ people , he believed that they were rising .
`` We do n't have the data capabilities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what that really looks like for black queer people but we know anecdotally that the answer is , yes [ ... ] , '' he said .
Johns said there were still steps both government officials and individuals could take to help address violence against LGBTQ black people .
His organization , for instance , advocates for anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people at the federal level , including supporting the Equality Act , state anti-discrimination protections , cultural competency initiatives , and better data collection on LGBTQ people of color , specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the data capability to collect intersectional data that would disaggregate different types of experiences for black people but also account for intersections with sexual identity and gender orientation and expression as well as disability status , '' Johns said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A black gay man was found dead in Louisiana last week and the victim’s family is demanding a thorough investigation into his killing after they claim they were forced to learn of his death from neighbors.
McKinsley LaKeith Lincoln, 29, was found dead from a gunshot wound at the intersection of Louisiana and Day streets in Alexandria, Louisiana, last week. His family filed a missing person report 24 hours after he first left his family home and hours later, on May 15, police finally found him.
According to the National Black Justice Coalition, the civil rights group helping the family bring attention to Lincoln’s murder, the family allegedly learned of his death when neighbors called the household after seeing news reports that the body police had discovered might be their son.
The family has had little “proactive” communication from the department since then, the National Black Justice Coalition claimed.
David Johns, the group’s executive director, said it was his understanding that the first communication between the police and the family was when they contacted the Lincoln’s sister to ask her about information in his cell phone.
“That was not a conversation about his death or any of the information you’d expect to be relayed given the circumstance,” Johns said.
On Wednesday, detectives also visited the home of his mother, Pamela Lincoln. She was not there at the time.
“McKinsley is an openly gay man and was the target of harassment and discrimination,” she said in a statement later. “The police have a responsibility to ensure justice for the people of this parish. They have not done enough to fulfill their oath. They haven’t protected and served us.”
As of this week, the family said they had not yet received a copy of Lincoln’s autopsy report. They added that part of the victim’s body had allegedly been left where he was found by police.
According to Johns, Lincoln’s family claimed specifically that “parts of his brain” were allegedly “left behind.”
They added that community members were planning a “candlelight vigil where they remain tomorrow.”
Lincoln’s family said they also had a voice recording they believe will be valuable to police, but that police have not yet pursued that avenue, to their knowledge.
“The family wants a complete and thorough investigation and they’re hoping the police department will talk to everyone and anyone who is possibly connected,” Johns said. “The voice recording is at least a piece of the puzzle … they are really hoping the police department does its job in earnest.”
Local officials and attorneys have taken steps to make it clear to police that the investigation should be a priority.
According to the National Black Justice Coalition, Alexandria Mayor Jeffrey W. Hall said that the police department had agreed to work hard to determine the circumstances surrounding Lincoln’s murder and determine whether it was a hate crime.
The coalition itself has contacted lawyers to ensure a full investigation is carried out.
Louisiana Rep. Edward C. James, who is also an attorney, said he had “been assured that this murder will be given the police department and the local leadership’s full attention.”
A spokesperson from the Alexandria Police Department responded to a request for comment this week, saying that a “criminal investigation into the unfortunate death of Mr. Lincoln is being conducted.”
“All aspects of any criminality are being considered to include the possibility of hate crime involvement,” the department stated. “So as to not jeopardize the integrity of the investigation, no information regarding any potential suspects or persons of interest will be released at this time.”
Lincoln’s death comes weeks after the killing of Nina Pop, a black transgender woman. Pop was found in her Sikeston, Missouri, apartment on May 3. According to police, she had been stabbed multiple times.
Last week, police arrested and charged a man with second-degree murder in relation to her death. They have not yet disclosed a motive.
There have been at least 11 killings of transgender or gender nonconforming people in 2020, many of them people of color. Last year, at least 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people were murdered.


shareblue--2020-05-21--New Jersey mayor: Treat us 'the way McConnell has treated the big corporations'

As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans refuse to provide coronavirus relief to Democratic-led cities and states grappling with the coronavirus , the mayor of the second-largest city in New Jersey is firing back .
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop , a Democrat whose city , second in population in the state only to Newark , has been hit hard by the pandemic , said cities seeking coronavirus aid are not asking for bailouts .
In an interview with the American Independent , Fulop said he and other city and state leaders simply want the same financial help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus that corporations have received .
Speaking of McConnell , Fulop said , `` Our goal at this point is no different than how he 's prioritized big corporations that they 've bailed out as of now , whether it 's Carnival or Boeing or United Airlines . ''
McConnell alleges that Democratic-led governments seeking aid have mismanaged their budgets in the past and should have to file for bankruptcy instead .
Under current law , states do not have the ability to file for bankruptcy .
McConnell told Fox News in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in solving their pension problems for them .
We 're not interested in rescuing them from bad decisions they 've made in the past , we 're not going to let them take advantage of this pandemic to solve a lot of problems that they created themselves themselves and bad decisions in the past . ''
Other Republican lawmakers agree .
They say they oppose giving coronavirus relief funding to Democratic-led states , even though those states pay more in federal tax dollars than they take from the system .
But Fulop says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moody 's this month rated Jersey City 's finances `` stable , '' even as other cities have had their credit ratings downgraded .
But due to the coronavirus , the city is facing a $ 70 million budget shortfall , $ 50 million of which stems from the loss of revenue from payroll taxes , hotel taxes , parking fees , and permit fees .
The other $ 20 million is from added city expenses , such as providing coronavirus testing to all Jersey City residents .
Fulop has already had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freezes and buyouts to make up for the losses .
And without any aid , Fulop said , more cuts may be on the horizon .
`` We 're going to have to make tough decisions that hurt working class people if we do n't receive support , '' Fulop said .
House Democrats last week passed the HEROES Act , which would provide $ 1 trillion in aid to state and local governments in both Democratic- and Republican-led states .
McConnell 's own home state of Kentucky would receive $ 7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing to take up any more coronavirus relief bills .
Donald Trump threatened to veto the HEROES Act ; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says he does n't see the `` need '' for more aid ; and McConnell said he feels no sense of `` urgency '' to pass more relief funding .
On Tuesday , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said not providing aid to states and cities that need it could make the economic recovery harder .
`` We have the evidence of the global financial crisis and the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ layoffs and lack of hiring did weigh on economic growth , '' Powell said during a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee .
A study released by the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute Tuesday said that failure to provide aid to cities and states would guarantee a `` prolonged depression . ''
`` If federal aid is passed that is sufficient to close the enormous revenue shortfalls the economic crisis will cause for state and local governments , it will create or save roughly 5–6 million jobs by the end of 2021 .
Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least that far away from a full economic recovery by then , '' the study found .
As for Fulop , he 's not asking for anything different than what businesses seeking aid to help make up for coronavirus losses requested , he said .
`` We want to be treated the same way that McConnell has treated the big corporations which he advocates for , '' said Fulop .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans refuse to provide coronavirus relief to Democratic-led cities and states grappling with the coronavirus, the mayor of the second-largest city in New Jersey is firing back.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat whose city, second in population in the state only to Newark, has been hit hard by the pandemic, said cities seeking coronavirus aid are not asking for bailouts.
In an interview with the American Independent, Fulop said he and other city and state leaders simply want the same financial help to deal with the hardships caused by the coronavirus that corporations have received.
Speaking of McConnell, Fulop said, “Our goal at this point is no different than how he’s prioritized big corporations that they’ve bailed out as of now, whether it’s Carnival or Boeing or United Airlines.”
McConnell alleges that Democratic-led governments seeking aid have mismanaged their budgets in the past and should have to file for bankruptcy instead.
Under current law, states do not have the ability to file for bankruptcy.
McConnell told Fox News in April: “We’re not interested in solving their pension problems for them. We’re not interested in rescuing them from bad decisions they’ve made in the past, we’re not going to let them take advantage of this pandemic to solve a lot of problems that they created themselves themselves and bad decisions in the past.”
Other Republican lawmakers agree. They say they oppose giving coronavirus relief funding to Democratic-led states, even though those states pay more in federal tax dollars than they take from the system.
But Fulop says Jersey City has not mismanaged its budget. Moody’s this month rated Jersey City’s finances “stable,” even as other cities have had their credit ratings downgraded.
But due to the coronavirus, the city is facing a $70 million budget shortfall, $50 million of which stems from the loss of revenue from payroll taxes, hotel taxes, parking fees, and permit fees. The other $20 million is from added city expenses, such as providing coronavirus testing to all Jersey City residents.
Fulop has already had to resort to measures such as hiring freezes and buyouts to make up for the losses. And without any aid, Fulop said, more cuts may be on the horizon.
“We’re going to have to make tough decisions that hurt working class people if we don’t receive support,” Fulop said.
House Democrats last week passed the HEROES Act, which would provide $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments in both Democratic- and Republican-led states. McConnell’s own home state of Kentucky would receive $7 billion in aid.
But Senate Republicans are refusing to take up any more coronavirus relief bills. Donald Trump threatened to veto the HEROES Act; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says he doesn’t see the “need” for more aid; and McConnell said he feels no sense of “urgency” to pass more relief funding.
On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said not providing aid to states and cities that need it could make the economic recovery harder.
“We have the evidence of the global financial crisis and the years afterward, where state and local government layoffs and lack of hiring did weigh on economic growth,” Powell said during a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee.
A study released by the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute Tuesday said that failure to provide aid to cities and states would guarantee a “prolonged depression.”
“If federal aid is passed that is sufficient to close the enormous revenue shortfalls the economic crisis will cause for state and local governments, it will create or save roughly 5–6 million jobs by the end of 2021. Without this aid, we will remain at least that far away from a full economic recovery by then,” the study found.
As for Fulop, he’s not asking for anything different than what businesses seeking aid to help make up for coronavirus losses requested, he said.
“We want to be treated the same way that McConnell has treated the big corporations which he advocates for,” said Fulop.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--White House just lied about why Trump didn't vote in person

Both Donald Trump and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany have given explanations for why Trump , who has loudly denounced voting by mail , voted absentee in the 2020 Florida primary .
Both claim it was because he was unable to vote in person .
However , evidence shows that McEnany and Trump were not telling the truth .
At a White House briefing on Wednesday , McEnany said Trump `` is , after all , the president which means he 's here in Washington .
He 's unable to cast his vote down in Florida , his state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump had made a similar claim when he was asked why he voted absentee in the Florida primary in March : `` Because I 'm allowed to .
Well , that ’ s called 'out of state . '
You know , why I voted ?
Because I happen to be in the White House and I wo n't be able to go to Florida to vote . ''
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on Wednesday that Trump was at his Florida golf club on March 7 and 8 , located `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early voting was offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. '' on both those days .
Photos and video reveal that Trump played golf on both of those days .
The Hill tweeted a video of Trump golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Saturday , March 7 .
And USA Today noted that Patrick Corbin , a player for the Washington Nationals baseball team , posted a photo on Instagram of Trump golfing with him and some of his teammates on Sunday , March 8 .
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment on why Trump was able to golf in Florida during the state 's early-voting period but not able to cast a vote in person .
By the end of 2019 , Trump had spent about a third of his presidency at Trump-branded properties and millions of taxpayer-funded dollars playing hundreds of rounds of golf , despite pledging on the campaign trail that `` because I 'm going to be working for you , I 'm not going to have time to go play golf . ''
Trump and many Republican officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increased voter fraud , and have used those claims to push back against Democratic efforts to make voting safer amid the coronavirus crisis .
At the same April 7 press conference at which Trump lied about being unable to vote in Florida , he also falsely claimed , `` You can look at the statistics — there 's a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting . ''
He said that absentee voting `` is a terrible thing , '' adding , `` I think if you vote , you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened to withhold federal funding from the election battleground states of Michigan and Nevada because state officials were moving to make absentee voting easier during the pandemic .
In Texas , Attorney General Ken Paxton recently claimed without evidence that broadening absentee voting `` damages the integrity of our elections and increases the risk of voter fraud . ''
There is no data to back up these claims .
In fact , `` states that use vote-by-mail have encountered essentially zero fraud : Oregon , the pioneer in this area , has sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2000 , and has documented only about a dozen cases of proven fraud , '' according to the New York Times .
The Brennan Center for Justice reported that `` it is still more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Both Donald Trump and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany have given explanations for why Trump, who has loudly denounced voting by mail, voted absentee in the 2020 Florida primary. Both claim it was because he was unable to vote in person.
However, evidence shows that McEnany and Trump were not telling the truth.
At a White House briefing on Wednesday, McEnany said Trump “is, after all, the president which means he’s here in Washington. He’s unable to cast his vote down in Florida, his state of residence.”
On April 7, Trump had made a similar claim when he was asked why he voted absentee in the Florida primary in March: “Because I’m allowed to. Well, that’s called ‘out of state.’ You know, why I voted? Because I happen to be in the White House and I won’t be able to go to Florida to vote.”
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on Wednesday that Trump was at his Florida golf club on March 7 and 8, located “across the street from a library where early voting was offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.” on both those days.
Photos and video reveal that Trump played golf on both of those days.
The Hill tweeted a video of Trump golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Saturday, March 7.
And USA Today noted that Patrick Corbin, a player for the Washington Nationals baseball team, posted a photo on Instagram of Trump golfing with him and some of his teammates on Sunday, March 8.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on why Trump was able to golf in Florida during the state’s early-voting period but not able to cast a vote in person.
By the end of 2019, Trump had spent about a third of his presidency at Trump-branded properties and millions of taxpayer-funded dollars playing hundreds of rounds of golf, despite pledging on the campaign trail that “because I’m going to be working for you, I’m not going to have time to go play golf.”
Trump and many Republican officials have falsely claimed that absentee voting leads to increased voter fraud, and have used those claims to push back against Democratic efforts to make voting safer amid the coronavirus crisis.
At the same April 7 press conference at which Trump lied about being unable to vote in Florida, he also falsely claimed, “You can look at the statistics — there’s a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting.” He said that absentee voting “is a terrible thing,” adding, “I think if you vote, you should go.”
On Wednesday, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from the election battleground states of Michigan and Nevada because state officials were moving to make absentee voting easier during the pandemic.
In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton recently claimed without evidence that broadening absentee voting “damages the integrity of our elections and increases the risk of voter fraud.”
There is no data to back up these claims.
In fact, “states that use vote-by-mail have encountered essentially zero fraud: Oregon, the pioneer in this area, has sent out more than 100 million mail-in ballots since 2000, and has documented only about a dozen cases of proven fraud,” according to the New York Times.
The Brennan Center for Justice reported that “it is still more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--Even most Republicans don't buy it when Trump says US is getting back to normal

Donald Trump has spent months downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic and promising that everything would soon be back to normal .
But a series of recent polls show that he has not convinced most Americans — or even his own Republican base .
On Wednesday , Trump tweeted that the nation was already `` Transitioning back to greatness . ''
`` I am considering rescheduling the G-7 , on the same or similar date , in Washington , D.C. , at the legendary Camp David , '' he announced .
`` The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - normalization ! ''
This follows weeks of evidence-free claims from Trump that the United States is `` going back to work , '' that millions of lost jobs `` will all be back , and they 'll be back very soon , '' that the `` real people want to get back to work ASAP , '' and that there will not be a major second wave of coronavirus infections after the nation reopens .
According to a new set of polls , the public is not buying it — not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released Wednesday found that 77 % of Americans and 57 % of Republicans are `` very concerned '' or `` concerned '' about a second wave of the pandemic .
It also found that 65 % of Americans believe it will be six months or more until their daily lives `` return to a sense of normal . ''
Among Republicans , 55 % held the view that it would take six months or more .
An AP-NORC poll , also released on Wednesday , found similar results .
Asked if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their area would mean more infections , 83 % said they were either very concerned or somewhat concerned .
Among Republicans , 70 % said they were either very concerned or somewhat concerned .
The poll also found that a majority of Americans , including Republicans , believe their local safety restrictions were `` about right , '' though a growing minority of Republicans , 34 % , believe they go too far — up from 22 % the month prior .
Trump has also repeatedly egged on angry mobs of protesters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But a poll earlier in May found that , by a 55 % to 31 % majority , Americans disapproved of these anti-social-distancing protests ; even among Republicans , 51 % disapproved and just 32 % approved .
That same survey found 71 % of Americans and 57 % of Republicans supported stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus .
Last week , Trump applauded the Wisconsin Supreme Court 's decision to completely overturn Gov .
Tony Evers ' `` Safer at Home '' emergency order , calling it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's ] Democrat [ sic ] Governor was forced by the courts to let the State Open .
The people want to get on with their lives .
The place is bustling ! ''
he tweeted last Thursday .
A Marquette University Law School poll released days earlier found that 69 % of the state 's voters — and a 49 % plurality of Republicans — backed Wisconsin 's restrictions on public gatherings and closures of schools and businesses .
As Trump pushes to end social distancing , the Centers for Disease Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation had 23,405 new daily coronavirus cases and 1,324 more deaths .
The United States has seen a total of more than 1,500,000 cases and 91,000 deaths since the outbreak of the coronavirus began .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump has spent months downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic and promising that everything would soon be back to normal. But a series of recent polls show that he has not convinced most Americans — or even his own Republican base.
On Wednesday, Trump tweeted that the nation was already “Transitioning back to greatness.”
“I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David,” he announced. “The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all – normalization!”
This follows weeks of evidence-free claims from Trump that the United States is “going back to work,” that millions of lost jobs “will all be back, and they’ll be back very soon,” that the “real people want to get back to work ASAP,” and that there will not be a major second wave of coronavirus infections after the nation reopens.
According to a new set of polls, the public is not buying it — not even most Republicans.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday found that 77% of Americans and 57% of Republicans are “very concerned” or “concerned” about a second wave of the pandemic. It also found that 65% of Americans believe it will be six months or more until their daily lives “return to a sense of normal.” Among Republicans, 55% held the view that it would take six months or more.
An AP-NORC poll, also released on Wednesday, found similar results. Asked if they are concerned that lifting social distancing rules in their area would mean more infections, 83% said they were either very concerned or somewhat concerned. Among Republicans, 70% said they were either very concerned or somewhat concerned. The poll also found that a majority of Americans, including Republicans, believe their local safety restrictions were “about right,” though a growing minority of Republicans, 34%, believe they go too far — up from 22% the month prior.
Trump has also repeatedly egged on angry mobs of protesters who are demanding that their states immediately reopen. But a poll earlier in May found that, by a 55% to 31% majority, Americans disapproved of these anti-social-distancing protests; even among Republicans, 51% disapproved and just 32% approved. That same survey found 71% of Americans and 57% of Republicans supported stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus.
Last week, Trump applauded the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to completely overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” emergency order, calling it a “win.”
“[Wisconsin’s] Democrat [sic] Governor was forced by the courts to let the State Open. The people want to get on with their lives. The place is bustling!” he tweeted last Thursday. A Marquette University Law School poll released days earlier found that 69% of the state’s voters — and a 49% plurality of Republicans — backed Wisconsin’s restrictions on public gatherings and closures of schools and businesses.
As Trump pushes to end social distancing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday that the nation had 23,405 new daily coronavirus cases and 1,324 more deaths. The United States has seen a total of more than 1,500,000 cases and 91,000 deaths since the outbreak of the coronavirus began.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-21--Democrats say Trump's EPA created a 'pandemic of pollution'

Democrats on Wednesday blasted the Trump administration 's moves to roll back environmental regulations during the coronavirus crisis , with one senator saying a `` pandemic of pollution '' has been released .
The Environmental Protection Agency has weakened regulations dealing with fuel efficiency and mercury emissions and has waived enforcement on a range of public health and environmental mandates , saying industries could have trouble complying with them during the coronavirus pandemic .
The rollbacks are among dozens of actions by the EPA to ease requirements on industry to monitor , report , and reduce toxic pollutants , heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the EPA remains `` open for business '' and `` at work meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment . ''
Wheeler told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that the EPA has approved hundreds of virus-killing disinfectants in recent weeks — more than 400 now , compared with 60 on March 5 .
Wheeler cited a series of actions the agency has taken , including a revised rule that lifts protections for some of the millions of miles of streams , creeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The long-sought rule change to the Clean Water Act provides much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers , landowners , and businesses , Wheeler said .
Similarly , he defended new rules that relax fuel efficiency standards imposed by the Obama administration and roll back President Barack Obama 's signature environmental achievement , a plan to curb climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants .
The EPA issued 18 deregulatory actions last year and is developing 45 more now , saving businesses billions of dollars in regulatory costs , Wheeler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the cost of enforcing environmental laws , he added , but are aimed at `` modernizing decades-old regulations and bring them up to date . ''
A staff report released by Delaware Sen. Tom Carper , the committee 's senior Democrat , said the EPA under Republican Trump `` has continued its relentless march to weaken or repeal rules that were designed to remove greenhouse gas , soot , mercury and other pollution from our air . ''
It said that since March 1 , the EPA has proposed or finalized several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollution and could cause tens of thousands of premature deaths .
`` While the rest of the country works around the clock to combat and overcome this deadly respiratory pandemic , the Trump EPA has been spearheading a pandemic of pollution , '' Carper said .
The EPA 's actions have removed `` critical protections for public health under the guise of industry relief and economic growth , '' Carper added .
`` Under normal circumstances , these rollbacks would be cause for grave concern .
During the COVID-19 pandemic , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' An EPA spokeswoman disputed Democrats ' claims that the temporary enforcement waiver allows companies to openly exceed pollution limits .
The agency will not seek penalties for noncompliance with routine requirements on a case-by-case basis , if the EPA agrees it was caused by the pandemic .
Sen. Ed Markey ( D-MA ) accused Wheeler of acting to benefit industry at the expense of millions of Americans , especially the poor and vulnerable who are disproportionately harmed by increased air and water pollution .
`` You have turned EPA into Every Polluters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Shame on you .
Your decisions make this pandemic worse . ''
Wheeler shot back : `` Sir , your facts are not correct , '' adding that air quality in the United States is `` healthier today than it was three years ago '' when Trump took office .
The EPA cited preliminary data showing a decline in 2019 in emissions of nitrogen oxides , sulfur dioxide , carbon dioxide , and mercury from power plants in the lower 48 states .
But according to federal data , air quality had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration .
Anecdotal data from this year shows dramatic improvements in air quality worldwide because of lockdowns during the pandemic .
Sen. John Barrasso ( R-WY ) , the committee chairman , said the EPA under Wheeler and Trump `` has replaced punishing regulations that harmed the coal industry , farmers and ranchers , and many small businesses '' in Wyoming and elsewhere .
He said that Trump 's EPA has saved U.S. businesses more than $ 5 billion in regulatory costs .
Sen. Dan Sullivan ( R-AK ) asserted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by `` lawless public servants '' and that actions undertaken by then-Administrator Gina McCarthy `` really , really hurt my state . ''
McCarthy , now president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council , a leading environmental group , could not be reached immediately .
But a spokeswoman said Sullivan 's claim of lawlessness was aimed at the wrong administration .
The organization has filed 112 lawsuits against the Trump administration since 2017 and has won 90 % ( 65 of 72 ) of the cases resolved so far , said @ @ @ @

Democrats on Wednesday blasted the Trump administration’s moves to roll back environmental regulations during the coronavirus crisis, with one senator saying a “pandemic of pollution” has been released.
The Environmental Protection Agency has weakened regulations dealing with fuel efficiency and mercury emissions and has waived enforcement on a range of public health and environmental mandates, saying industries could have trouble complying with them during the coronavirus pandemic. The rollbacks are among dozens of actions by the EPA to ease requirements on industry to monitor, report, and reduce toxic pollutants, heavy metals, and climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.
Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the EPA remains “open for business” and “at work meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
Wheeler told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that the EPA has approved hundreds of virus-killing disinfectants in recent weeks — more than 400 now, compared with 60 on March 5.
Wheeler cited a series of actions the agency has taken, including a revised rule that lifts protections for some of the millions of miles of streams, creeks, and wetlands in the United States. The long-sought rule change to the Clean Water Act provides much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers, landowners, and businesses, Wheeler said.
Similarly, he defended new rules that relax fuel efficiency standards imposed by the Obama administration and roll back President Barack Obama’s signature environmental achievement, a plan to curb climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.
The EPA issued 18 deregulatory actions last year and is developing 45 more now, saving businesses billions of dollars in regulatory costs, Wheeler said. The actions do not come at the cost of enforcing environmental laws, he added, but are aimed at “modernizing decades-old regulations and bring them up to date.”
Democrats scoffed at that claim.
A staff report released by Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, the committee’s senior Democrat, said the EPA under Republican Trump “has continued its relentless march to weaken or repeal rules that were designed to remove greenhouse gas, soot, mercury and other pollution from our air.”
It said that since March 1, the EPA has proposed or finalized several rules that will result in increased air pollution and could cause tens of thousands of premature deaths.
“While the rest of the country works around the clock to combat and overcome this deadly respiratory pandemic, the Trump EPA has been spearheading a pandemic of pollution,” Carper said.
The EPA’s actions have removed “critical protections for public health under the guise of industry relief and economic growth,” Carper added. “Under normal circumstances, these rollbacks would be cause for grave concern. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they are profoundly irresponsible and cause for alarm.”
An EPA spokeswoman disputed Democrats’ claims that the temporary enforcement waiver allows companies to openly exceed pollution limits. The agency will not seek penalties for noncompliance with routine requirements on a case-by-case basis, if the EPA agrees it was caused by the pandemic.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) accused Wheeler of acting to benefit industry at the expense of millions of Americans, especially the poor and vulnerable who are disproportionately harmed by increased air and water pollution.
“You have turned EPA into Every Polluters’ Ally,” Markey said. “Shame on you. Your decisions make this pandemic worse.”
Wheeler shot back: “Sir, your facts are not correct,” adding that air quality in the United States is “healthier today than it was three years ago” when Trump took office.
The EPA cited preliminary data showing a decline in 2019 in emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and mercury from power plants in the lower 48 states.
But according to federal data, air quality had slipped during the first two years of the Trump administration. Anecdotal data from this year shows dramatic improvements in air quality worldwide because of lockdowns during the pandemic.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the committee chairman, said the EPA under Wheeler and Trump “has replaced punishing regulations that harmed the coal industry, farmers and ranchers, and many small businesses” in Wyoming and elsewhere. He said that Trump’s EPA has saved U.S. businesses more than $5 billion in regulatory costs.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) asserted that the Obama administration’s EPA was run by “lawless public servants” and that actions undertaken by then-Administrator Gina McCarthy “really, really hurt my state.”
McCarthy, now president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a leading environmental group, could not be reached immediately. But a spokeswoman said Sullivan’s claim of lawlessness was aimed at the wrong administration.
The organization has filed 112 lawsuits against the Trump administration since 2017 and has won 90% (65 of 72) of the cases resolved so far, said spokeswoman Jenny Powers.


shareblue--2020-05-22--News you might have missed: Governors swoop in to help struggling Midwest farmers

This week , North Carolina celebrates emergency medical workers , Michigan workers gain more protections as they go back to work , and a few lucky penguins take a field trip to an art museum .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
Govs .
Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin , both Democrats , took action this week to help farmers in their respective states .
In Minnesota , Walz signed a bill on Monday to stop foreclosures against farmers struggling during the coronavirus crisis until Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the same day , Evers announced a $ 50 million program to send direct support to farmers in his state .
Eligible farmers who apply could receive funds as early as June .
Even before the pandemic , Midwest farmers were struggling with foreclosures due in large part to Donald Trump 's trade war with China .
Farmers `` serve as the backbone of many of Wisconsin 's local rural economies , and these direct payments will help revitalize local economies and jump-start Wisconsin ’ s food supply chain , '' Evers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must follow strict worker safety guidelines as the state reopens , according to an executive order signed Monday by Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
`` The vast majority of Michigan businesses are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 , but we must do more to ensure Michiganders are safe at work , '' Whitmer said .
The order will create a director of COVID-19 workplace safety within the state 's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to ensure that businesses comply .
`` We 're grateful to Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and hold down the spread of this awful virus , '' Rob Bieber , president of the Michigan AFL-CIO , said .
Every Michigan voter will be mailed an absentee ballot application , Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Tuesday , for both the August primary and the November general elections .
`` Voting by mail is easy , convenient , safe , and secure , '' Benson , a Democrat , said about her decision , adding , `` We have ensured that no Michigander has to choose between their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' On Tuesday , a federal judge in Texas ruled that any voter in the state can request an absentee ballot on the grounds of fear of the coronavirus , a decision described as `` a path for a massive expansion of absentee voting '' by the Texas Tribune .
Before the ruling , Texas limited who could request an absentee ballot , and fear of catching the coronavirus was not considered sufficient reason for obtaining one .
`` Americans now seek Life without fear of pandemic , Liberty to choose their leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pursuit of Happiness without undue restrictions , '' U.S. District Judge Fred Biery wrote in his opinion .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , a Republican , announced he would appeal the ruling .
Democrats in Massachusetts hold a wide 36-to-4 majority in the state Senate after they gained two seats in a special election on Tuesday .
`` By flipping two seats red to blue , Susan Moran and John Velis have grown the Democratic majority in the state Senate , giving Democrats the numbers they need to continue their great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee , said in an email .
Moran won a seat representing Plymouth , and Velis won in the Hampden region , taking over a seat that Republicans had held for more than 25 years .
On Thursday , Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam signed legislation to decriminalize marijuana .
Anyone caught with an ounce or less of marijuana will now face pay a maximum fine of $ 25 .
Previously , people could be sentenced to a month in jail and fined up to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his administration , and the legislature for taking this step , '' said Jenn Michelle Pedini , development director of the pro-legalization group NORML .
Pedini added that the group would like to see marijuana legalized and regulated .
The new law takes effect on July 1 .
`` This year , Emergency Medical Services Week falls in the middle of an unprecedented time , '' Cooper said in a statement .
`` As we battle COVID-19 , your work is even more critical to our state .
Thank you for keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our everyday lives . ''
Cooper also released a video thanking the 40,000 emergency medical workers in North Carolina .
Humboldt penguins from the Kansas City Zoo recently visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art , and the adorable video has been viewed more than a million times since it was released .
`` During this shutdown period , our animals really miss having visitors come out and see them , '' Randy Wisthoff , director of the zoo , says in the video .
`` The penguins absolutely loved it . ''

This week, North Carolina celebrates emergency medical workers, Michigan workers gain more protections as they go back to work, and a few lucky penguins take a field trip to an art museum.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin, both Democrats, took action this week to help farmers in their respective states.
In Minnesota, Walz signed a bill on Monday to stop foreclosures against farmers struggling during the coronavirus crisis until Dec. 1, the Associated Press reported.
On the same day, Evers announced a $50 million program to send direct support to farmers in his state. Eligible farmers who apply could receive funds as early as June.
Even before the pandemic, Midwest farmers were struggling with foreclosures due in large part to Donald Trump’s trade war with China.
Farmers “serve as the backbone of many of Wisconsin’s local rural economies, and these direct payments will help revitalize local economies and jump-start Wisconsin’s food supply chain,” Evers said in a statement.
Michigan businesses must follow strict worker safety guidelines as the state reopens, according to an executive order signed Monday by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“The vast majority of Michigan businesses are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19, but we must do more to ensure Michiganders are safe at work,” Whitmer said.
The order will create a director of COVID-19 workplace safety within the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to ensure that businesses comply.
“We’re grateful to Gov. Whitmer for taking action today to save lives and hold down the spread of this awful virus,” Rob Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, said.
Every Michigan voter will be mailed an absentee ballot application, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Tuesday, for both the August primary and the November general elections.
“Voting by mail is easy, convenient, safe, and secure,” Benson, a Democrat, said about her decision, adding, “We have ensured that no Michigander has to choose between their health and their right to vote.”
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that any voter in the state can request an absentee ballot on the grounds of fear of the coronavirus, a decision described as “a path for a massive expansion of absentee voting” by the Texas Tribune. Before the ruling, Texas limited who could request an absentee ballot, and fear of catching the coronavirus was not considered sufficient reason for obtaining one.
“Americans now seek Life without fear of pandemic, Liberty to choose their leaders in an environment free of disease and the pursuit of Happiness without undue restrictions,” U.S. District Judge Fred Biery wrote in his opinion.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, announced he would appeal the ruling.
Democrats in Massachusetts hold a wide 36-to-4 majority in the state Senate after they gained two seats in a special election on Tuesday.
“By flipping two seats red to blue, Susan Moran and John Velis have grown the Democratic majority in the state Senate, giving Democrats the numbers they need to continue their great work in Massachusetts,” Jessica Post, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in an email.
Moran won a seat representing Plymouth, and Velis won in the Hampden region, taking over a seat that Republicans had held for more than 25 years.
On Thursday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation to decriminalize marijuana. Anyone caught with an ounce or less of marijuana will now face pay a maximum fine of $25. Previously, people could be sentenced to a month in jail and fined up to $500.
“We applaud Governor Northam, his administration, and the legislature for taking this step,” said Jenn Michelle Pedini, development director of the pro-legalization group NORML. Pedini added that the group would like to see marijuana legalized and regulated.
The new law takes effect on July 1.
On Tuesday, North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper proclaimed May 17-23 Emergency Medical Services Week.
“This year, Emergency Medical Services Week falls in the middle of an unprecedented time,” Cooper said in a statement. “As we battle COVID-19, your work is even more critical to our state. Thank you for keeping North Carolina safe through this pandemic and in our everyday lives.”
Cooper also released a video thanking the 40,000 emergency medical workers in North Carolina.
Humboldt penguins from the Kansas City Zoo recently visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the adorable video has been viewed more than a million times since it was released.
“During this shutdown period, our animals really miss having visitors come out and see them,” Randy Wisthoff, director of the zoo, says in the video. “The penguins absolutely loved it.”


shareblue--2020-05-22--LGBTQ people of color are facing a housing crisis because of the pandemic

People of color in the LGBTQ community are more likely to ask for delays in rent payments , have their work hours reduced , or say they are unemployed than their white counterparts , according to a report released Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign .
Experts say the coronavirus pandemic could put even more LGBTQ people of color at risk of homelessness than already were before it started .
The report , based on polling conducted between April 16 and May 6 says , for example , that 14 % of LGBTQ people of color have asked for delays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic compared to 8 % of LGBTQ white people who have done so and 7 % of the general population .
The coronavirus has been responsible for 38 % of LGBTQ people of color seeing a reduction in their work hours , while 29 % of LGBTQ white people and 24 % of the general population have experienced the same .
And while 13 % of the general population is unemployed during the pandemic , 22 % of LGBTQ people of color report that they are without work .
Sharita Gruberg , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communications Project at the Center for American Progress , said there were already `` glaring '' disparities between LGBTQ people and cisgender straight people in rates of housing insecurity before the pandemic .
The disparities are even greater for LGBTQ people of color .
Data collected by the Center for American Progress in 2017 has shown that LGBTQ people are twice as likely to rely on federal housing assistance than non-LGBTQ people .
LGBTQ people of color were three times more likely to rely on this assistance than white LGBTQ people .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roll back the Department of Housing and Urban Development 's Equal Access Rule protecting `` equal access for individuals in accordance with their gender identity in programs and shelter funded under programs administered by HUD ’ s Office of Community Planning and Development , '' and enabling discrimination on the pretext of protecting `` religious liberty '' — will exacerbate the problem , Gruberg said .
`` They 've assaulted the key supports people need to live , such as SNAP benefits , and they 're attacking fair housing rules , '' Gruberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really important safeguards that LGBT people of color were disproportionately in need of have been undermined and rolled back .
We also see the administration is removing clear prohibitions on discrimination , including grant programs . ''
Although HUD 's rule allowing shelters to refuse to safely house transgender people has n't been finalized , Gruberg said that does n't mean the administration is n't already dismantling access to safe shelters .
Gruberg said that the center 's research has found that only a third of shelters are willing to safely house transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shelters post a notice that trans women have rights , and without these notices , you do n't have an assurance that the place that you 're going to is safe .
... You have the Equal Access Rule on the books , but we have n't had indication HUD is providing technical assistance to shelters or informing people of their rights or investigating complaints or violations , '' Gruberg said .
The Human Rights Campaign report builds on earlier research that focuses on the economic status of LGBTQ people in general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has hit the entire LGBTQ community hard , with 30 % of LGBTQ people having their work hours reduced compared to 22 % of the general population earlier in April , and a larger share of LGBTQ people cutting back on spending than were straight and cisgender people .
LGBTQ people are already more likely to live in poverty , due , a recent study noted , to `` a range of contributors to elevated rates of poverty among [ them ] , including lower educational attainment , unemployment , poor health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Campaign 's analysis of 2018 General Social Survey data found the five industries where LGBTQ adults were more likely to work — restaurants and food services , hospitals , K-12 education , higher education , and retail — have all been greatly affected by the pandemic .

People of color in the LGBTQ community are more likely to ask for delays in rent payments, have their work hours reduced, or say they are unemployed than their white counterparts, according to a report released Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign.
Experts say the coronavirus pandemic could put even more LGBTQ people of color at risk of homelessness than already were before it started.
The report, based on polling conducted between April 16 and May 6 says, for example, that 14% of LGBTQ people of color have asked for delays in paying their rent because of the pandemic compared to 8% of LGBTQ white people who have done so and 7% of the general population. The coronavirus has been responsible for 38% of LGBTQ people of color seeing a reduction in their work hours, while 29% of LGBTQ white people and 24% of the general population have experienced the same.
And while 13% of the general population is unemployed during the pandemic, 22% of LGBTQ people of color report that they are without work.
Sharita Gruberg, director of policy for the LGBTQ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, said there were already “glaring” disparities between LGBTQ people and cisgender straight people in rates of housing insecurity before the pandemic. The disparities are even greater for LGBTQ people of color.
Data collected by the Center for American Progress in 2017 has shown that LGBTQ people are twice as likely to rely on federal housing assistance than non-LGBTQ people. LGBTQ people of color were three times more likely to rely on this assistance than white LGBTQ people. Trump administration actions — such as proposing to roll back the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Equal Access Rule protecting “equal access for individuals in accordance with their gender identity in programs and shelter funded under programs administered by HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development,” and enabling discrimination on the pretext of protecting “religious liberty” — will exacerbate the problem, Gruberg said.
“They’ve assaulted the key supports people need to live, such as SNAP benefits, and they’re attacking fair housing rules,” Gruberg said. “A lot of these really important safeguards that LGBT people of color were disproportionately in need of have been undermined and rolled back. We also see the administration is removing clear prohibitions on discrimination, including grant programs.”
Although HUD’s rule allowing shelters to refuse to safely house transgender people hasn’t been finalized, Gruberg said that doesn’t mean the administration isn’t already dismantling access to safe shelters. Gruberg said that the center’s research has found that only a third of shelters are willing to safely house transgender women.
“They scrapped a requirement that shelters post a notice that trans women have rights, and without these notices, you don’t have an assurance that the place that you’re going to is safe. … You have the Equal Access Rule on the books, but we haven’t had indication HUD is providing technical assistance to shelters or informing people of their rights or investigating complaints or violations,” Gruberg said.
The Human Rights Campaign report builds on earlier research that focuses on the economic status of LGBTQ people in general. That earlier data showed that the pandemic has hit the entire LGBTQ community hard, with 30% of LGBTQ people having their work hours reduced compared to 22% of the general population earlier in April, and a larger share of LGBTQ people cutting back on spending than were straight and cisgender people. LGBTQ people are already more likely to live in poverty, due, a recent study noted, to “a range of contributors to elevated rates of poverty among [them], including lower educational attainment, unemployment, poor health, and disability.”
The Human Rights Campaign’s analysis of 2018 General Social Survey data found the five industries where LGBTQ adults were more likely to work — restaurants and food services, hospitals, K-12 education, higher education, and retail — have all been greatly affected by the pandemic.


shareblue--2020-05-22--Conservative states fight to undermine Planned Parenthood yet again

Attorneys general from 19 states , led by Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill , are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow states to block health care providers who offer abortion from being Medicaid providers .
This move represents the latest attack to undermine and defund abortion providers , even when they are providing much-needed health care .
It has long been a goal of anti-abortion activists to cut health care providers that perform abortions off from any public funding .
The Hyde Amendment already prohibits the use of federal Medicaid funding for abortions , even in instances when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additionally , last year , the Trump administration imposed the so-called `` domestic gag rule , '' which prohibits clinics that perform abortions from receiving any Title X funds .
Title X is a government program that was signed into law under President Richard Nixon , which provides federal money for family planning services , including birth control and sexual health screenings , for people with low incomes .
That gag rule forced Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program entirely , even though Planned Parenthood was serving over 40 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program .
A 2017 study by the Guttmacher Institute , which studies reproductive health policy , found that the removal of Planned Parenthood from Title X funding would require other health care providers to absorb nearly two million contraceptive clients .
Though Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers have seen their funding for services severely curtailed , they still can receive Medicaid reimbursement , rather than Title X funding , for non-abortion services , such as cancer screenings , contraception , and STI testing .
Were Indiana 's position to succeed , individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Medicaid provider .
If that happens , Planned Parenthood could no longer provide vital medical services to people with low incomes , who may not have other places to receive that health care .
A significant portion of Planned Parenthood 's patients rely on Medicaid for their medical care .
In Ohio , where Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine cut Medicaid funding earlier this month — in the middle of a pandemic — approximately 40 % of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid .
Attacks on federal funding for health care are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking abortion providers .
The GOP kicked off the year launching a campaign vilifying people seeking later abortions with so-called `` born-alive '' bills , legislation Republicans say is necessary to require doctors to provide medical care to infants alleged born during abortion procedures .
However , as Wyoming 's anti-abortion Republican governor , Mark Gordon , noted when vetoing one such bill , `` Laws already in place protect children from being denied lifesaving care . ''
The bills do , however , have the effect of stigmatizing people who need abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons by implying they might be immoral and unlawful .
Besides trying to pass some of the most restrictive abortion bans on record in the past year , Republicans are also using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to cut off access to abortion care during a difficult and confusing time .
Over 50 % of Planned Parenthood locations are in rural or medically underserved areas .
Conservative legislators have already taken away Medicaid funds for abortions and Title X funding for family planning .
If they succeed in taking away Medicaid funds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could leave many people with literally nowhere to turn .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Attorneys general from 19 states, led by Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow states to block health care providers who offer abortion from being Medicaid providers. This move represents the latest attack to undermine and defund abortion providers, even when they are providing much-needed health care.
It has long been a goal of anti-abortion activists to cut health care providers that perform abortions off from any public funding. The Hyde Amendment already prohibits the use of federal Medicaid funding for abortions, even in instances when a doctor recommends the patient do so.
Additionally, last year, the Trump administration imposed the so-called “domestic gag rule,” which prohibits clinics that perform abortions from receiving any Title X funds. Title X is a government program that was signed into law under President Richard Nixon, which provides federal money for family planning services, including birth control and sexual health screenings, for people with low incomes.
That gag rule forced Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program entirely, even though Planned Parenthood was serving over 40% of the 3.8 million people served under the program. A 2017 study by the Guttmacher Institute, which studies reproductive health policy, found that the removal of Planned Parenthood from Title X funding would require other health care providers to absorb nearly two million contraceptive clients.
Though Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers have seen their funding for services severely curtailed, they still can receive Medicaid reimbursement, rather than Title X funding, for non-abortion services, such as cancer screenings, contraception, and STI testing.
Were Indiana’s position to succeed, individual states could block Planned Parenthood from being a Medicaid provider. If that happens, Planned Parenthood could no longer provide vital medical services to people with low incomes, who may not have other places to receive that health care.
A significant portion of Planned Parenthood’s patients rely on Medicaid for their medical care. In Ohio, where Republican Gov. Mike DeWine cut Medicaid funding earlier this month — in the middle of a pandemic — approximately 40% of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid.
Attacks on federal funding for health care are just one part of a recent campaign attacking abortion providers. The GOP kicked off the year launching a campaign vilifying people seeking later abortions with so-called “born-alive” bills, legislation Republicans say is necessary to require doctors to provide medical care to infants alleged born during abortion procedures.
However, as Wyoming’s anti-abortion Republican governor, Mark Gordon, noted when vetoing one such bill, “Laws already in place protect children from being denied lifesaving care.” The bills do, however, have the effect of stigmatizing people who need abortions later in pregnancy for a variety of reasons by implying they might be immoral and unlawful.
Besides trying to pass some of the most restrictive abortion bans on record in the past year, Republicans are also using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to cut off access to abortion care during a difficult and confusing time.
Over 50% of Planned Parenthood locations are in rural or medically underserved areas. Conservative legislators have already taken away Medicaid funds for abortions and Title X funding for family planning. If they succeed in taking away Medicaid funds for non-abortion services such as breast exams, it could leave many people with literally nowhere to turn.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-22--Trump orders governors to open churches after insisting he wouldn't tell them what to do

Donald Trump demanded that state governors allow churches and other houses of worship to reopen immediately on Friday , contradicting his earlier promise that he would let them make their own determinations about how to safely reopen their states .
`` Today , I am identifying houses of worship — churches , synagogues , and mosques — as essential places that provide essential services , '' he announced at a press briefing .
`` Some governors have deemed the liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential , but have left out churches and other houses of worship .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this injustice and calling houses of worship essential . ''
Trump said he was calling on all governors `` to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now . ''
`` If there 's any question , they 're gon na have to call me but they 're not gon na be successful in that call , '' he promised , adding that if they do not , he would `` override '' their decisions .
Constitutional scholars have pointed out in recent weeks that Trump lacks the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never issued .
Trump repeatedly refused to issue a national stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic , saying that he believed it was important for governors to make their own decisions about how to govern their states .
At a press briefing on April 6 , for example , he said there was a `` constitutional problem '' with such an order , given the principles of federalism .
`` Legally I can , '' he claimed , `` but morally , I believe in our Constitution , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four days later , when he was asked specifically about Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis refusing to close Florida , he said , `` I like to allow governors to make decisions without overruling them , because from a constitutional standpoint , that 's the way it should be done . ''
Without federal action , governors in most states acted on their own , issuing stay-at-home orders and limiting public gatherings .
Despite public health warnings , Trump unsuccessfully pushed in late March for the nation to reopen by April 12 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Easter .
On April 17 , Trump announced that he was going to defer to governors on plans to reopen .
`` You 're going to call your own shots , '' Trump told them in a conference call , according to an audio recording obtained by the Associated Press .
`` We 're going to be standing alongside of you . ''
Trump 's latest announcement comes just days after churches in Georgia and Texas reopened — and quickly closed again due to new coronavirus infections in parishioners and clergy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 22,860 new daily cases of coronavirus cases on Thursday and nearly 1,400 new deaths .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump demanded that state governors allow churches and other houses of worship to reopen immediately on Friday, contradicting his earlier promise that he would let them make their own determinations about how to safely reopen their states.
“Today, I am identifying houses of worship — churches, synagogues, and mosques — as essential places that provide essential services,” he announced at a press briefing. “Some governors have deemed the liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential, but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It’s not right. So I’m correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential.”
Trump said he was calling on all governors “to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now.”
“If there’s any question, they’re gonna have to call me but they’re not gonna be successful in that call,” he promised, adding that if they do not, he would “override” their decisions.
Constitutional scholars have pointed out in recent weeks that Trump lacks the power to lift state public safety orders that he never issued.
Trump repeatedly refused to issue a national stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that he believed it was important for governors to make their own decisions about how to govern their states.
At a press briefing on April 6, for example, he said there was a “constitutional problem” with such an order, given the principles of federalism.
“Legally I can,” he claimed, “but morally, I believe in our Constitution, much more so than most people.”
Four days later, when he was asked specifically about Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis refusing to close Florida, he said, “I like to allow governors to make decisions without overruling them, because from a constitutional standpoint, that’s the way it should be done.”
Without federal action, governors in most states acted on their own, issuing stay-at-home orders and limiting public gatherings.
Despite public health warnings, Trump unsuccessfully pushed in late March for the nation to reopen by April 12, so churches could be “packed” for Easter.
On April 17, Trump announced that he was going to defer to governors on plans to reopen.
“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told them in a conference call, according to an audio recording obtained by the Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing alongside of you.”
Trump’s latest announcement comes just days after churches in Georgia and Texas reopened — and quickly closed again due to new coronavirus infections in parishioners and clergy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 22,860 new daily cases of coronavirus cases on Thursday and nearly 1,400 new deaths.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-22--McConnell falsely claims new bills passed by the House are 'unconstitutional'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell claimed on Thursday that any legislation passed by the House of Representatives under its new temporary work-from-home system could be unconstitutional .
The House adopted a 45-day emergency rule earlier this month allowing members to designate a colleague to cast their votes on the floor during the pandemic .
In remarks from the Senate floor on Thursday , the majority leader expressed frustration with the safety measure .
`` The Constitution requires a physical quorum to do business .
Normally both chambers may presume one .
But any House member has a right to demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained .
He continued , `` The Democrats ' new rule says one person may mark himself and 10 others present , even if they are nowhere in sight .
A flat-out lie . ''
McConnell claimed there would be `` enormous constitutional questions around anything the House does if they fail to demonstrate a real quorum but plow ahead anyhow . ''
The temporary rule change was adopted after the congressional attending physician expressed concerns about the 435-member body meeting in a coronavirus hot spot .
As Politico noted on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ing ] that he might not take up legislation passed under this procedure . ''
The majority leader 's office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the matter .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Politico this week that McConnell was wrong .
`` Remote voting by proxy is fully consistent with the Constitution and more than a century of legal precedent , including Supreme Court cases , that make clear the House can determine its own rules , '' the California Democrat said .
`` Leader McConnell 's comments are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long been used by Senate committees .
Simply and sadly , he is trying to find every excuse not to meet the needs of the American people . ''
Even if McConnell does block new House bills from coming up for Senate votes , it would not be much of a change from his previous inaction .
The Kentucky lawmaker has stalled all progressive legislation passed since the Democrats regained their majority last January , and has boasted of being the `` Grim Reaper '' of the Democratic agenda .
In February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was holding up 395 pieces of House-passed legislation from 2019 .
He said that he planned to kill every single one of them .
`` It is true .
They 've been on full left-wing parade over there , trotting out all of their left-wing solutions that are going to be issues in the fall campaign , '' McConnell said .
`` We 're not gon na pass those . ''
As of Friday , the House had passed 717 bills and resolutions in the 116th Congress .
Just 123 of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Much of the legislation McConnell is blocking passed the House with some GOP support .
These include bills ensuring the right to vote , banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans , protecting Dreamers , guaranteeing fair pay , making gun background checks universal , and raising the minimum wage .
It also includes the HEROES Act , which would provide about $ 1 trillion in emergency aid to states and localities struggling with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell claimed on Thursday that any legislation passed by the House of Representatives under its new temporary work-from-home system could be unconstitutional.
The House adopted a 45-day emergency rule earlier this month allowing members to designate a colleague to cast their votes on the floor during the pandemic.
In remarks from the Senate floor on Thursday, the majority leader expressed frustration with the safety measure.
“The Constitution requires a physical quorum to do business. Normally both chambers may presume one. But any House member has a right to demand an in-person attendance check,” he explained.
He continued, “The Democrats’ new rule says one person may mark himself and 10 others present, even if they are nowhere in sight. A flat-out lie.”
McConnell claimed there would be “enormous constitutional questions around anything the House does if they fail to demonstrate a real quorum but plow ahead anyhow.”
The temporary rule change was adopted after the congressional attending physician expressed concerns about the 435-member body meeting in a coronavirus hot spot.
As Politico noted on Thursday, McConnell seemed to be “hint[ing] that he might not take up legislation passed under this procedure.”
The majority leader’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the matter.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Politico this week that McConnell was wrong. “Remote voting by proxy is fully consistent with the Constitution and more than a century of legal precedent, including Supreme Court cases, that make clear the House can determine its own rules,” the California Democrat said.
“Leader McConnell’s comments are deliberately misleading, as proxy voting has long been used by Senate committees. Simply and sadly, he is trying to find every excuse not to meet the needs of the American people.”
Even if McConnell does block new House bills from coming up for Senate votes, it would not be much of a change from his previous inaction. The Kentucky lawmaker has stalled all progressive legislation passed since the Democrats regained their majority last January, and has boasted of being the “Grim Reaper” of the Democratic agenda.
In February, Fox News asked McConnell about claims that he was holding up 395 pieces of House-passed legislation from 2019. He said that he planned to kill every single one of them.
“It is true. They’ve been on full left-wing parade over there, trotting out all of their left-wing solutions that are going to be issues in the fall campaign,” McConnell said. “We’re not gonna pass those.”
As of Friday, the House had passed 717 bills and resolutions in the 116th Congress. Just 123 of those have been approved by the Senate.
Much of the legislation McConnell is blocking passed the House with some GOP support. These include bills ensuring the right to vote, banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, protecting Dreamers, guaranteeing fair pay, making gun background checks universal, and raising the minimum wage.
It also includes the HEROES Act, which would provide about $1 trillion in emergency aid to states and localities struggling with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-22--GOP lawmakers block health care for 130,000 people in Kansas

On Thursday , Kansas Republicans blocked a final effort by Democratic lawmakers to expand Medicaid during the 2020 state legislative session , the Wichita Eagle reported .
The failure to pass the expansion leaves 130,000 residents who would have been eligible for it without access to the health care program .
Democratic state Sen. Dinah Sykes attempted to force a vote on the Medicaid expansion , but Republicans used a procedural tactic to stop it .
Both chambers of Kansas ' legislature have adjourned until early in 2021 .
Throughout the session , Republican lawmakers tied the expansion of Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass one without the other .
The `` Value Them Both '' amendment was designed , in the words of the Kansas House resolution , `` to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section thereto stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion , and reserving to the people the ability to regulate abortion through the elected members of the legislature of the state of Kansas . ''
State Sen. Gene Suellentrop , a Republican from Wichita , defended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation , complaining , `` In the last number of weeks , our constituents have not been able to go to church and our abortion clinics remain open . ''
He added , `` It rings pretty hollow ( to be ) expressing concern about your constituents when you support that kind of activity . ''
The Republican vote to deny health insurance to low-income residents came despite the fact that more than 260,000 Kansas residents , almost 10 % of the state 's population , have filed for unemployment benefits in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this year , Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning touted a deal with Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly to expand Medicaid , saying the compromise was a `` really good , complete plan for Kansas . ''
But Denning was unable to hold up his side of the deal , failing to move the legislation through the state Senate .
`` Not even a global public health emergency can convince extremist Republicans to put their partisan agenda aside and finally give their constituents access to affordable health care , '' Jessica Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , said in a statement .
As of Friday morning , Kansas has nearly 9,000 confirmed coronavirus cases , and at least 199 people in the state have died as a result of the virus .
On Wednesday , the Brookings Institution reported that states with more Republican-leaning counties , including Kansas , have experienced high rates of coronavirus infection in the past month , defined by having at least 100 cases per 100,000 people .
According to an analysis by USA Today , Kansas has averaged 179 new cases every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the lowest rates of coronavirus testing in the nation .
Kansas is one of 15 traditionally Republican states that has refused to expand Medicaid since 2010 , when President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act , which allows states to expand the program .
Decisions by Republican lawmakers not to accept the expansion has denied affordable health care to more than 2 million people nationwide , according to a January analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Thursday, Kansas Republicans blocked a final effort by Democratic lawmakers to expand Medicaid during the 2020 state legislative session, the Wichita Eagle reported.
The failure to pass the expansion leaves 130,000 residents who would have been eligible for it without access to the health care program.
Democratic state Sen. Dinah Sykes attempted to force a vote on the Medicaid expansion, but Republicans used a procedural tactic to stop it. Both chambers of Kansas’ legislature have adjourned until early in 2021.
Throughout the session, Republican lawmakers tied the expansion of Medicaid to an anti-abortion constitutional amendment, refusing to pass one without the other. The “Value Them Both” amendment was designed, in the words of the Kansas House resolution, “to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section thereto stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion, and reserving to the people the ability to regulate abortion through the elected members of the legislature of the state of Kansas.”
State Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Republican from Wichita, defended the decision to link health care to anti-abortion legislation, complaining, “In the last number of weeks, our constituents have not been able to go to church and our abortion clinics remain open.” He added, “It rings pretty hollow (to be) expressing concern about your constituents when you support that kind of activity.”
The Republican vote to deny health insurance to low-income residents came despite the fact that more than 260,000 Kansas residents, almost 10% of the state’s population, have filed for unemployment benefits in the past two months.
At the beginning of this year, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning touted a deal with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to expand Medicaid, saying the compromise was a “really good, complete plan for Kansas.” But Denning was unable to hold up his side of the deal, failing to move the legislation through the state Senate.
“Not even a global public health emergency can convince extremist Republicans to put their partisan agenda aside and finally give their constituents access to affordable health care,” Jessica Post, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
As of Friday morning, Kansas has nearly 9,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and at least 199 people in the state have died as a result of the virus.
On Wednesday, the Brookings Institution reported that states with more Republican-leaning counties, including Kansas, have experienced high rates of coronavirus infection in the past month, defined by having at least 100 cases per 100,000 people.
According to an analysis by USA Today, Kansas has averaged 179 new cases every day for the past week, and has among the lowest rates of coronavirus testing in the nation.
Kansas is one of 15 traditionally Republican states that has refused to expand Medicaid since 2010, when President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act, which allows states to expand the program. Decisions by Republican lawmakers not to accept the expansion has denied affordable health care to more than 2 million people nationwide, according to a January analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-05-22--McConnell: Democrats are investigating Trump so we get to investigate Obama

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that because the House of Representatives is still doing oversight into Donald Trump and his administration , it should be able to conduct investigations into the Obama administration and the Bidens .
`` The House of Representatives is arguing before the Supreme Court that they are still looking for yet another impeachment .
They are arguing that before the Supreme Court this week , '' McConnell ( R-KY ) told Fox News , referencing a legal filing in which the House sought access to grand jury testimony from the Robert Mueller investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution of General Michael Flynn , the origins of the Russia probe , and former Vice President Joe Biden 's son Hunter Biden 's business dealings `` a legitimate oversight responsibility for the Senate . ''
`` If the house can spend time on a baseless impeachment effort then we should at least have oversight over what happened to initiate this whole process a couple of years ago , '' McConnell argued .
McConnell was responding to criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the Senate Homeland Security Committee 's party-line vote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden while his father is the presumed Democratic candidate for president .
Pelosi ( D-CA ) called the move `` a clear act of retaliation and political retribution intended to help the President keep his job , '' in a Wednesday press release .
Senate Republicans have been complaining for months that impeachment of Trump was a waste of time and that House oversight of the Trump administration was `` pure harassment . ''
In a floor speech on Wednesday , McConnell charged that Democrats were `` fishing '' for dirt on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment . ''
When they voted to acquit Trump in the Senate trial in February , Republicans vowed to back to work and focus on public policy .
`` With the impeachment trial behind us , the Senate can now get back to the business of the American people , '' McConnell declared .
But instead , Senate Republicans are channeling their energy into a series of investigations into Obama-era controversies .
These include probes of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 's emails , the Bidens ' Ukraine ties , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Russia ties .
The Obama administration left office in January 2017 .
In March , Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) admitted that the probe into the Bidens `` appears political '' and `` would better be handled by `` the FBI or some other agency that 's not as political as , perhaps , a committee of our body . ''
Still , he joined with his GOP colleagues on Wednesday in voting to issue the subpoena .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that because the House of Representatives is still doing oversight into Donald Trump and his administration, it should be able to conduct investigations into the Obama administration and the Bidens.
“The House of Representatives is arguing before the Supreme Court that they are still looking for yet another impeachment. They are arguing that before the Supreme Court this week,” McConnell (R-KY) told Fox News, referencing a legal filing in which the House sought access to grand jury testimony from the Robert Mueller investigation.
McConnell called Senate investigations into the prosecution of General Michael Flynn, the origins of the Russia probe, and former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden’s business dealings “a legitimate oversight responsibility for the Senate.”
“If the house can spend time on a baseless impeachment effort then we should at least have oversight over what happened to initiate this whole process a couple of years ago,” McConnell argued.
McConnell was responding to criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s party-line vote to issue a subpoena in its investigation of Hunter Biden while his father is the presumed Democratic candidate for president. Pelosi (D-CA) called the move “a clear act of retaliation and political retribution intended to help the President keep his job,” in a Wednesday press release.
Senate Republicans have been complaining for months that impeachment of Trump was a waste of time and that House oversight of the Trump administration was “pure harassment.” In a floor speech on Wednesday, McConnell charged that Democrats were “fishing” for dirt on Trump with “perpetual investigation and perpetual impeachment.”
When they voted to acquit Trump in the Senate trial in February, Republicans vowed to back to work and focus on public policy.
“With the impeachment trial behind us, the Senate can now get back to the business of the American people,” McConnell declared.
But instead, Senate Republicans are channeling their energy into a series of investigations into Obama-era controversies. These include probes of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails, the Bidens’ Ukraine ties, and the beginnings of investigations into the Trump campaign’s Russia ties. The Obama administration left office in January 2017.
In March, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) admitted that the probe into the Bidens “appears political” and “would better be handled by “the FBI or some other agency that’s not as political as, perhaps, a committee of our body.” Still, he joined with his GOP colleagues on Wednesday in voting to issue the subpoena.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.