npr--2020-04-28--More Essential Than Ever, Low-Wage Workers Demand More

More Essential Than Ever , Low-Wage Workers Demand More For grocery delivery worker Willy Solis , the last straw came when the app Shipt changed his pay — in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
It was n't the first time that Shipt , owned by Target , had tinkered with that formula .
Solis had complained about smaller paychecks and lack of pay transparency .
But now he and others like him were putting their health on the line to do their work .
Solis decided he had to take action .
From his home in Denton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and started organizing a nationwide walkout .
`` I have never done organizing in my life , '' says the soft-spoken Solis , whose brown eyes peer seriously over his face mask .
`` I see myself falling into this as a freak accident . ''
Part of that freak accident was the coronavirus pandemic , which in a matter of weeks has upended millions of lives as people hunker down at home .
In this lockdown , low-wage workers have been publicly declared `` essential '' — up there with doctors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovering the value of that essential work does n't seem to add up to much .
They run cash registers , prepare food in fast food joints , haul goods at supermarkets , process packages at warehouses and deliver necessities to people 's homes .
Some are falling sick and even dying even though their work was never supposed to be about life and death .
`` We are the same people that they did n't think we were worth $ 15 an hour , but now realize that we are worth way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murray , a long-time Walmart worker in Maryland .
`` I 've been there 19 years and I do n't even make $ 15 an hour .
...
I have to work more than a week in order to get one hour of sick time . ''
And so , Solis 's Shipt walkout in early April became one of many — a high-profile swell of protests by low-wage `` essential '' workers , from Shipt , Instacart and Uber to Amazon , Walmart , McDonald 's and Whole Foods .
Until now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on separate stages .
But the coronavirus is shining a single , wide spotlight on all this low-paying work .
And organizers are seizing this moment of leverage — the fleeting window when the world sees their so-called unskilled labor as hero work — to demand paid sick leave , better pay and benefits .
`` The pandemic has definitely elevated our voices , '' Solis says .
`` The most expensive hamburger you make in your life '' Workers had started with calling for basic protection against the virus : masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also united over workplace concerns that have gnawed at them since long before the pandemic .
Most of them have unreliable income , unpredictable schedules , limited health care and benefits .
`` It 's not like we 're demanding something new — for years we 've been demanding safety of working conditions , '' says Bartolomé Perez , who 's worked as a cook at McDonald 's for 30 years , speaking in Spanish .
He 's been on many strikes before , but he says this time it feels different , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` But the circumstances are different now , '' Perez says .
`` Because you know that every time you go out it could be your last — or it could be the most expensive hamburger you make in your life . ''
An army of local groups , community organizers and large labor unions are recognizing the power of this moment .
The Mobile Workers Alliance is working with the Service Employees International Union to organize Lyft and Uber drivers in Los Angeles .
SEIU , the United Food and Commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Respect have been mobilizing grocery and fast-food workers .
A new coalition called Athena has targeted Amazon with a staccato of strikes and press conferences featuring workers criticizing the company 's safety measures and policies .
Most of these organizers are building on a decade of activism that saw fast-food , retail and other low-wage workers striking and marching for higher pay .
The SEIU-backed Fight for $ 15 movement got the kind of attention that led many cities and states to raise their stagnant minimum wages .
Workers learned many lessons during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they had to think beyond just unionizing , because low-wage jobs are quick-churning and dispersed , often part-time and temporary .
They realized , `` we have to be smarter , '' Walmart veteran Murray says .
`` A union ai n't for us , that 's never going to work , but we did n't have to be inside a square box .
We could think outside of that box . ''
`` An extraordinary moment in the labor movement '' This time , the group of workers is broadening out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the so-called gig economy .
The nature of gig work has also made it hard to organize .
Delivery workers and drivers work alone , mostly from their cars , with no water coolers to gather around .
But lately , they have come together using the same technology that makes the companies they work for possible : smartphone apps .
They are airing their grievances on social media and in the press to win the sympathy of their customers — people who rely on their work .
 '' It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's almost impossible to underestimate what an extraordinary time it is , '' says Janice Fine , an associate professor of labor studies at Rutgers University .
`` COVID — it 's like an X-ray of all the ... existing relationships of power and inequality and problematic issues in the labor market .
[ In so many industries , ] we 've taken good full-time jobs and turned them into bad part-time jobs . ''
Many gig workers are frustrated with what they see as a disconnect between how the companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their jobs .
Because the app companies consider them independent contractors , not employees , they lack basic benefits like paid sick leave and health insurance .
Their pay is set by algorithms and it changes often , making it hard for workers to predict their income .
`` What do they call us ?
Hometown heroes or whatever .
But they do n't acknowledge us , '' says Sharon Goen , a former bar owner who delivers for Instacart and other apps in Las Vegas .
`` The only way they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us is if they pay us what we deserve . ''
The companies ' responses to the protests have been mixed .
Instacart , Amazon , Walmart and others frequently talk about distributing gloves and masks , offering bonuses and new options for time off .
Stores , warehouses and other facilities have stepped up cleanings .
The companies have also dismissed the protests as very small .
Amazon has even fired several activist workers , saying they broke unrelated rules .
Workers have won some support in Washington .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called Bill of Rights For Essential Workers — guaranteeing free health care and other benefits .
But it is unclear how much time protesters will have to press their cause , as the economy deteriorates , unemployment skyrockets and people become desperate for work .
`` What history shows us is that it 's in good economic times that workers are able to demand more — much harder to do that in bad [ times ] , '' says Fine , from Rutgers .
`` On the one hand , I 'm really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of this with ... a lot more exploitation , people just taking what they can get .
The flip side is , if you ai n't got nothing , you ai n't got nothing to lose . ''
Editor 's note : Target , Amazon , Walmart , McDonald 's , Uber and Lyft are among NPR 's financial supporters .

More Essential Than Ever, Low-Wage Workers Demand More
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Willy Solis Courtesy of Willy Solis
For grocery delivery worker Willy Solis, the last straw came when the app Shipt changed his pay — in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
It wasn't the first time that Shipt, owned by Target, had tinkered with that formula. Solis had complained about smaller paychecks and lack of pay transparency. But now he and others like him were putting their health on the line to do their work. Solis decided he had to take action. From his home in Denton, Texas, he logged on to Facebook and started organizing a nationwide walkout.
"I have never done organizing in my life," says the soft-spoken Solis, whose brown eyes peer seriously over his face mask. "I see myself falling into this as a freak accident."
Part of that freak accident was the coronavirus pandemic, which in a matter of weeks has upended millions of lives as people hunker down at home. In this lockdown, low-wage workers have been publicly declared "essential" — up there with doctors and nurses.
But workers like Solis are discovering the value of that essential work doesn't seem to add up to much. They run cash registers, prepare food in fast food joints, haul goods at supermarkets, process packages at warehouses and deliver necessities to people's homes. Some are falling sick and even dying even though their work was never supposed to be about life and death.
"We are the same people that they didn't think we were worth $15 an hour, but now realize that we are worth way more than that," says Cynthia Murray, a long-time Walmart worker in Maryland. "I've been there 19 years and I don't even make $15 an hour. ... I have to work more than a week in order to get one hour of sick time."
And so, Solis's Shipt walkout in early April became one of many — a high-profile swell of protests by low-wage "essential" workers, from Shipt, Instacart and Uber to Amazon, Walmart, McDonald's and Whole Foods.
Until now, their labor battles largely played out on separate stages. But the coronavirus is shining a single, wide spotlight on all this low-paying work. And organizers are seizing this moment of leverage — the fleeting window when the world sees their so-called unskilled labor as hero work — to demand paid sick leave, better pay and benefits.
"The pandemic has definitely elevated our voices," Solis says.
"The most expensive hamburger you make in your life"
Workers had started with calling for basic protection against the virus: masks, gloves and disinfectant. But they are also united over workplace concerns that have gnawed at them since long before the pandemic. Most of them have unreliable income, unpredictable schedules, limited health care and benefits.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of the Fight for $15 and a Union Courtesy of the Fight for $15 and a Union
"It's not like we're demanding something new — for years we've been demanding safety of working conditions," says Bartolomé Perez, who's worked as a cook at McDonald's for 30 years, speaking in Spanish.
He's been on many strikes before, but he says this time it feels different, with workers getting sick and even dying.
"But the circumstances are different now," Perez says. "Because you know that every time you go out it could be your last — or it could be the most expensive hamburger you make in your life."
An army of local groups, community organizers and large labor unions are recognizing the power of this moment. The Mobile Workers Alliance is working with the Service Employees International Union to organize Lyft and Uber drivers in Los Angeles.
SEIU, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and retail-focused United for Respect have been mobilizing grocery and fast-food workers. A new coalition called Athena has targeted Amazon with a staccato of strikes and press conferences featuring workers criticizing the company's safety measures and policies.
Most of these organizers are building on a decade of activism that saw fast-food, retail and other low-wage workers striking and marching for higher pay. The SEIU-backed Fight for $15 movement got the kind of attention that led many cities and states to raise their stagnant minimum wages.
Workers learned many lessons during that period. The biggest one was that they had to think beyond just unionizing, because low-wage jobs are quick-churning and dispersed, often part-time and temporary.
They realized, "we have to be smarter," Walmart veteran Murray says. "A union ain't for us, that's never going to work, but we didn't have to be inside a square box. We could think outside of that box."
"An extraordinary moment in the labor movement"
This time, the group of workers is broadening out to include millions of 21st-century app workers in the so-called gig economy. The nature of gig work has also made it hard to organize. Delivery workers and drivers work alone, mostly from their cars, with no water coolers to gather around.
But lately, they have come together using the same technology that makes the companies they work for possible: smartphone apps. They are airing their grievances on social media and in the press to win the sympathy of their customers — people who rely on their work.
"It's an extraordinary moment in the labor movement. It's almost impossible to underestimate what an extraordinary time it is," says Janice Fine, an associate professor of labor studies at Rutgers University.
"COVID — it's like an X-ray of all the ... existing relationships of power and inequality and problematic issues in the labor market. [In so many industries,] we've taken good full-time jobs and turned them into bad part-time jobs."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Vincent Allbritton Courtesy of Vincent Allbritton
Many gig workers are frustrated with what they see as a disconnect between how the companies talk about their work and the realities of their jobs. Because the app companies consider them independent contractors, not employees, they lack basic benefits like paid sick leave and health insurance. Their pay is set by algorithms and it changes often, making it hard for workers to predict their income.
"What do they call us? Hometown heroes or whatever. But they don't acknowledge us," says Sharon Goen, a former bar owner who delivers for Instacart and other apps in Las Vegas. "The only way they're going to make an impact with us is if they pay us what we deserve."
A narrow window of opportunity
The companies' responses to the protests have been mixed. Instacart, Amazon, Walmart and others frequently talk about distributing gloves and masks, offering bonuses and new options for time off. Stores, warehouses and other facilities have stepped up cleanings.
The companies have also dismissed the protests as very small. Amazon has even fired several activist workers, saying they broke unrelated rules.
Workers have won some support in Washington. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats have proposed a so-called Bill of Rights For Essential Workers — guaranteeing free health care and other benefits.
But it is unclear how much time protesters will have to press their cause, as the economy deteriorates, unemployment skyrockets and people become desperate for work.
"What history shows us is that it's in good economic times that workers are able to demand more — much harder to do that in bad [times]," says Fine, from Rutgers.
"On the one hand, I'm really worried that we're going to come out of this with ... a lot more exploitation, people just taking what they can get. The flip side is, if you ain't got nothing, you ain't got nothing to lose."
Editor's note: Target, Amazon, Walmart, McDonald's, Uber and Lyft are among NPR's financial supporters.
NPR's Jerome Socolovsky contributed to this report.


npr--2020-04-28--Former Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton Endorses Joe Biden

Hillary Clinton has officially thrown her support behind Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race against President Trump , who defeated Clinton in 2016 .
The 2016 Democratic nominee and former secretary of state announced the endorsement in an online town hall with Biden on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on women .
It 's the latest high-profile endorsement racked up by the former vice president , following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday .
`` Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but brought us together , showed the kind of compassion and caring that we need from our president , and which Joe Biden has been exemplifying throughout his entire life , '' Clinton said .
`` Think about what a difference it would make if we had a real president , not just one who played one on TV , '' she added , criticizing the Republican opponent who defeated her in 2016 .
Clinton has a unique experience with Trump , narrowly losing the 2016 race against the real estate developer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning the popular vote .
The loss marked a stunning cap to a decades-long political career that saw Clinton serve as the third female secretary of state and the first female presidential nominee of a major political party .
Her 2016 defeat also galvanized a constituency of progressive women supporters to launch the worldwide 2017 Women 's March protests .
However , for all her remaining goodwill among Democrats , Clinton remains a polarizing figure , with many blaming her numerous political missteps and moderate voting record for failing to inspire a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , Clinton 's endorsement could help consolidate Democrats around Biden , who faces many of the same criticisms weathered by Clinton in her White House pursuit .
Biden considered running against Clinton in 2016 , but decided against it in the wake of his son 's death from cancer .
Both served in President Barack Obama 's administration and the U.S. Senate .
And their respective Senate voting records have come under scrutiny for representing ideals of a bygone Democratic Party , which have been rejected by many younger progressives as centrist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Clinton 's endorsement , as well as recent endorsements by fellow Democratic Party heavyweights like former President Barack Obama and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , will energize voters from the various party factions to claim a victory for Democrats in the Nov. 3 election .
In introducing Clinton in the Tuesday town hall , Biden called his former Senate and White House colleague `` my friend , the former senator , former secretary of state , and the woman who should be president . ''
Also on Tuesday , a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a super PAC to energize progressive support for Biden .
Sanders and Clinton had a particularly rancorous primary battle in 2016 , the wounds of which never completely healed .
Sanders has swiftly and vocally come around to support Biden since dropping out as his main challenger in the primary , a sharp contrast to how the party remained fractured four years ago .
The Trump campaign quickly responded to Clinton 's endorsement with a statement on Tuesday afternoon .
`` There is no greater concentration of Democrat establishment than Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Brad Parscale said in a statement .
`` Both of them carry the baggage of decades in the Washington swamp and both of them schemed to keep the Democrat nomination from Bernie Sanders .
President Trump beat her once and now he 'll beat her chosen candidate . ''

Former Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton Endorses Joe Biden
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET
Hillary Clinton has officially thrown her support behind Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race against President Trump, who defeated Clinton in 2016.
The 2016 Democratic nominee and former secretary of state announced the endorsement in an online town hall with Biden on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on women. It's the latest high-profile endorsement racked up by the former vice president, following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday.
"Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science, put facts over fiction, but brought us together, showed the kind of compassion and caring that we need from our president, and which Joe Biden has been exemplifying throughout his entire life," Clinton said.
"Think about what a difference it would make if we had a real president, not just one who played one on TV," she added, criticizing the Republican opponent who defeated her in 2016.
Clinton has a unique experience with Trump, narrowly losing the 2016 race against the real estate developer and former reality TV star, despite winning the popular vote.
The loss marked a stunning cap to a decades-long political career that saw Clinton serve as the third female secretary of state and the first female presidential nominee of a major political party.
Her 2016 defeat also galvanized a constituency of progressive women supporters to launch the worldwide 2017 Women's March protests.
However, for all her remaining goodwill among Democrats, Clinton remains a polarizing figure, with many blaming her numerous political missteps and moderate voting record for failing to inspire a more robust turnout in the 2016 race.
Still, Clinton's endorsement could help consolidate Democrats around Biden, who faces many of the same criticisms weathered by Clinton in her White House pursuit. Biden considered running against Clinton in 2016, but decided against it in the wake of his son's death from cancer.
Both served in President Barack Obama's administration and the U.S. Senate. And their respective Senate voting records have come under scrutiny for representing ideals of a bygone Democratic Party, which have been rejected by many younger progressives as centrist and non-inclusive.
Biden's campaign hopes that Clinton's endorsement, as well as recent endorsements by fellow Democratic Party heavyweights like former President Barack Obama and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, will energize voters from the various party factions to claim a victory for Democrats in the Nov. 3 election.
In introducing Clinton in the Tuesday town hall, Biden called his former Senate and White House colleague "my friend, the former senator, former secretary of state, and the woman who should be president."
Also on Tuesday, a number of top Sanders supporters announced the formation of a super PAC to energize progressive support for Biden. Sanders and Clinton had a particularly rancorous primary battle in 2016, the wounds of which never completely healed.
Sanders has swiftly and vocally come around to support Biden since dropping out as his main challenger in the primary, a sharp contrast to how the party remained fractured four years ago.
The Trump campaign quickly responded to Clinton's endorsement with a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
"There is no greater concentration of Democrat establishment than Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton together," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. "Both of them carry the baggage of decades in the Washington swamp and both of them schemed to keep the Democrat nomination from Bernie Sanders. President Trump beat her once and now he'll beat her chosen candidate."


npr--2020-04-28--For Airbnb, 2020 Was Supposed To Be A Banner Year. Then The Pandemic Hit

For Airbnb , 2020 Was Supposed To Be A Banner Year .
Then The Pandemic Hit The CEO of Airbnb has made a lot of chocolate-chip cookies since the coronavirus pandemic began .
`` People call it stress-baking , '' Brian Chesky said .
`` If that 's the case , I 'm going to be a Michelin chef pretty soon , because I got enough stress to do a lot of baking . ''
That 's no surprise given that the lure of Airbnb — to have a unique experience by staying in a stranger 's home — has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its way through the world , paralyzing travel .
`` In this crisis , it felt like I was a captain of a ship and a torpedo hit the side of the ship , '' Chesky said in an interview with NPR by Zoom , from his San Francisco home .
This new reality has sent Airbnb 's executives into damage-control mode .
Chesky has partnered with former U.S .
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to develop training for Airbnb hosts on how to disinfect their homes .
Airbnb is also requiring rooms to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stays .
Prospective guests will be able to use the online platform to choose rooms that will be vacant for at least 72 hours , which is how long the coronavirus could live on plastic and stainless steel .
`` In this new world , I think cleanliness is paramount .
And so , this is now a paramount priority of Airbnb as well , '' said Chesky , whose cleaning push was followed by similar announcements by major hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott .
Many hosts who have seen their earnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanguine about an Airbnb bounce back .
Josep Navas Masip , 44 , took some time off his job as a college Spanish professor to pursue a master 's degree , leaning on his Airbnb rentals in South Philadelphia to pay the bills .
He even purchased a neighbor 's home in hopes of doubling his $ 2,000-per-month Airbnb income .
That was just before the pandemic struck .
`` In the middle of the renovation , the coronavirus crisis hit , '' he said .
`` I had to cancel my renovations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractor to stop working . ''
Navas Masip now wonders whether he should rent out the house he just bought , or even put it up for sale .
Airbnb has set aside $ 250 million to help hosts .
But the money covers about 15 % of their cancellation fees , which is a fraction of what they used to make .
Airbnb also offers $ 5,000 grants to high-volume hosts but , under the rules , a host needs to have used the platform for at least a year .
Navas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shy of that , so he does not qualify .
`` I have , now , two mortgages .
I do n't have any income , '' Navas Masip said .
`` And I do n't know when I 'm going to be able to start doing Airbnb again , '' he said .
`` So I 'm thinking about maybe taking a loan from a family member or start talking to a bank . ''
Airbnb set to go public in 2020 It was not supposed to be this way for Airbnb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that rather than stay in a hotel chain , they can better explore a place by crashing at the home of someone they do n't know .
The concept has connected 150 million guests with rooms .
Now , the idea faces is greatest threat ever : a public health crisis .
Chesky co-founded the company with his roommate Joe Gebbia in 2008 .
In the middle of the Great Recession , they discovered they could make money by renting out air mattresses in their apartment .
While the company has battled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many markets and contributed to the nation 's housing-affordability crisis , the criticism did not slow the company 's explosive growth .
The website now features 7 million short-term rental listings around the world .
Investors last valued Airbnb at $ 31 billion .
And this was the year they were going to cash in .
Airbnb had announced it would sell its shares to the public in 2020 .
Chesky said he 's determined to make that happen this year , telling NPR he is `` very confident '' the company will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IPO , despite the industry 's upheaval .
`` I 'm going to do everything in my power to work on this , '' he said .
While Airbnb will not reveal how deep of a hole it is in , travel analysts say the company 's woes likely track with the rest of the industry .
According to one outside tracker of Airbnb listings known as AirDNA , hosts saw $ 1.5 billion in bookings dissolve last month as the virus forced millions of Americans to stay indoors .
About 650,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms on Airbnb .
The coronavirus pandemic has exacted a devastating blow to every facet of the travel world .
Nearly 80 % of hotels rooms in America are empty .
A trade association for the hotel industry predicts 2020 will be the worst year on record for hospitality .
`` You ca n't hedge an 80 % drop decline in demand , '' said RBC Capital analyst Mark Mahaney .
`` It 's impossible . ''
The virus outbreak will cause a `` prolonged storm '' for travel , Chesky acknowledged .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ give way , eventually , to `` a new normal . ''
Airbnb data over the past few weeks indicate travelers are choosing to stay in rentals for longer periods of time than in the past .
Chesky said more than half of bookings during the pandemic have been for stays of at least a month .
Chesky also expects travelers to forgo cross-country vacations for trips closer to home .
`` I do n't think travel will not come back , but I think it will come back by car before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Airbnb hosts see cancellations into the fall Janice Honeycut , 57 , said she and her husband thought they 'd `` recession-proofed '' their retirement before the pandemic hit .
They have 100 acres of land nestled right along the Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee .
In addition to her Airbnb , she and her husband run an organic farm , a camp ground and a massage-therapy business .
Like more than half of Airbnb hosts , the money she made from her listings was a primary source of income .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them , we now realize , was dependent on hospitality , '' she said .
`` So , other than the farm , we really do n't have any choice but to wait [ the pandemic ] out . ''
Honeycutt has seen her Airbnb cancellations stretch into the summer and fall , usually prime time for travel to the region .
She is planning to rewrite her online listing to emphasize how squeaky clean her rooms are , in hopes that it will eventually bring back guests .
`` If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything , there is spray disinfectant and all kinds of stuff in the suite , so they can double-do it , if they want to .
It 's right there for them , '' she said .
While she says she is too invested in Airbnb to back out now , other hosts are not so sure .
Back on the Zoom call , Chesky displays a founder 's sense of boundless optimism and says hosts should not fret .
He said his company 's success is due to a basic insight about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places that have character and feel more intimate than stodgy corporate suites .
A pandemic , he says , will not alter that .
`` There is a fundamental human need to explore , and I think that travel will be , eventually , much larger after COVID than before , '' Chesky said .
`` But it may take years . ''

For Airbnb, 2020 Was Supposed To Be A Banner Year. Then The Pandemic Hit
Enlarge this image toggle caption Richard Drew/AP Richard Drew/AP
The CEO of Airbnb has made a lot of chocolate-chip cookies since the coronavirus pandemic began.
"People call it stress-baking," Brian Chesky said. "If that's the case, I'm going to be a Michelin chef pretty soon, because I got enough stress to do a lot of baking."
That's no surprise given that the lure of Airbnb — to have a unique experience by staying in a stranger's home — has lost considerable appeal as the pandemic courses its way through the world, paralyzing travel.
"In this crisis, it felt like I was a captain of a ship and a torpedo hit the side of the ship," Chesky said in an interview with NPR by Zoom, from his San Francisco home.
This new reality has sent Airbnb's executives into damage-control mode. Chesky has partnered with former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to develop training for Airbnb hosts on how to disinfect their homes. Airbnb is also requiring rooms that opt into the new cleaning protocols to remain empty for 24 hours between guest stays. Prospective guests will be able to use the online platform to choose rooms that will be vacant for at least 72 hours, which is how long the coronavirus could live on plastic and stainless steel.
"In this new world, I think cleanliness is paramount. And so, this is now a paramount priority of Airbnb as well," said Chesky, whose cleaning push was followed by similar announcements by major hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott.
"Traveling," Chesky said, "is an innate human need," he said. "Travel will come back."
Many hosts who have seen their earnings collapse in the pandemic are far less sanguine about an Airbnb bounce back.
Josep Navas Masip, 44, took some time off his job as a college Spanish professor to pursue a master's degree, leaning on his Airbnb rentals in South Philadelphia to pay the bills. He even purchased a neighbor's home with the goal of doubling his $2,000-per-month Airbnb income. That was just before the pandemic struck.
"In the middle of the renovation, the coronavirus crisis hit," he said. "I had to cancel my renovations, and I had to tell the contractor to stop working."
Navas Masip now wonders whether he should rent out the house he just bought, or even put it up for sale.
Airbnb has set aside $250 million to help hosts. But the money covers about 25% of their cancellation fees, which is a fraction of what they used to make.
Airbnb also offers $5,000 grants to high-volume hosts but, under the rules, a host needs to have used the platform for at least a year. Navas Masip's time on Airbnb is just shy of that, so he does not qualify.
"I have, now, two mortgages. I don't have any income," Navas Masip said. "And I don't know when I'm going to be able to start doing Airbnb again," he said. "So I'm thinking about maybe taking a loan from a family member or start talking to a bank."
Airbnb set to go public in 2020
It was not supposed to be this way for Airbnb.
Twelve years ago, Chesky convinced people that rather than stay in a hotel chain, they can better explore a place by crashing at the home of someone they don't know. The concept has connected 150 million guests with rooms. Now, the idea faces is greatest threat ever: a public health crisis.
Chesky co-founded the company with his roommate Joe Gebbia in 2008. In the middle of the Great Recession, they discovered they could make money by renting out air mattresses in their apartment.
While the company has battled accusations that it drove up rents in many markets and contributed to the nation's housing-affordability crisis, the criticism did not slow the company's explosive growth.
The website now features 7 million short-term rental listings around the world. Investors last valued Airbnb at $31 billion. And this was the year they were going to cash in. Airbnb had announced it would sell its shares to the public in 2020.
Chesky said he's determined to make that happen this year, telling NPR he is "very confident" the company will have its initial public offering, or IPO, despite the industry's upheaval.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to work on this," he said.
CEO: Pandemic presents 'prolonged storm' for travel
While Airbnb will not reveal how deep of a hole it is in, travel analysts say the company's woes likely parallel with the rest of the industry.
According to one outside tracker of Airbnb listings known as AirDNA, hosts saw $1.5 billion in bookings dissolve last month as the virus forced millions of Americans to stay indoors. About 650,000 people in the U.S. earn money by listing rooms on Airbnb.
The coronavirus pandemic has exacted a devastating blow to every facet of the travel world.
Nearly 80% of hotels rooms in America are empty. A trade association for the hotel industry predicts 2020 will be the worst year on record for hospitality.
"You can't hedge an 80% drop decline in demand," said RBC Capital analyst Mark Mahaney. "It's impossible."
The virus outbreak will cause a "prolonged storm" for travel, Chesky acknowledged. But he said it thought it would give way, eventually, to "a new normal."
Airbnb data over the past few weeks indicate travelers are choosing to stay in rentals for longer periods of time than in the past. Chesky said more than half of bookings during the pandemic have been for stays of at least a month.
Chesky also expects travelers to forgo cross-country vacations for trips closer to home.
"I don't think travel will not come back, but I think it will come back by car before it comes back by plane," he said.
Airbnb hosts see cancellations into the fall
Janice Honeycut, 57, said she and her husband thought they'd "recession-proofed" their retirement before the pandemic came along.
They have 100 acres of land nestled right along the Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee. In addition to her Airbnb, she and her husband run an organic farm, a camp ground and a massage-therapy business.
Like more than half of Airbnb hosts, the money she made from her listings was a primary source of income. No longer.
"Every single one of them, we now realize, was dependent on hospitality," she said. "So, other than the farm, we really don't have any choice but to wait [the pandemic] out."
Honeycutt has seen her Airbnb cancellations stretch into the summer and fall, usually prime time for travel to the region.
While she has read about host aid offered by Airbnb, none of the relief has reached Honeycutt.
"We haven't seen any of that," she said. "We have received absolutely nothing, and it's been pretty rough."
She is planning to rewrite her online listing to emphasize how squeaky clean her rooms are, in hopes that it will eventually bring back guests.
"If they're not sure if we've sanitized everything, there is spray disinfectant and all kinds of stuff in the suite, so they can double-do it, if they want to. It's right there for them," she said.
Back on the Zoom call, Chesky says struggling hosts should not fret, displaying perhaps a founder's sense of boundless optimism.
He said his company's success is due to a basic insight about human behavior: people will seek out places that have character and feel more intimate than stodgy corporate suites.
A pandemic, he says, will not alter that.
"There is a fundamental human need to explore, and I think that travel will be, eventually, much larger after COVID than before," Chesky said. "But it may take years."


npr--2020-04-28--Beijing Slams India's 'Unfair' Decision To Cancel Chinese Antibody Testing Kit Order

Chinese officials on Tuesday criticized India 's decision to cancel orders for more than half a million antibody testing kits .
India 's decision , announced Monday , came amid accuracy concerns surrounding the Chinese-made kits .
`` It is unfair and irresponsible for certain individuals to label Chinese products as 'faulty ' and look at issues with preemptive prejudice , '' Ji Rong , a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi , said in a statement .
This is the latest irritant between the world 's two most populous countries , in a relationship that 's come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the virus broke out in Wuhan , the Chinese government has sought to export testing kits and medical gear around the world , in what some U.S. officials have called a propaganda stunt .
Spain , the Netherlands and Turkey are among the countries that have also canceled orders amid concerns over the quality of the Chinese materials .
On Monday , the Indian Council of Medical Research , a government body , advised Indian states to stop using rapid antibody tests made by two Chinese companies and return them to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the tests , made by Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics , show `` wide variation in their sensitivity , despite early promise of good performance . ''
India 's ambassador to China , Vikram Misri , tweeted earlier this month that 650,000 Chinese kits had been sent to India .
India has one of the world 's lowest testing capabilities per capita , with about 700,000 samples tested so far , according to the ICMR , in a population of more than 1.3 billion .
The Health Ministry has counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 940 deaths .
Antibody tests , when accurate , show whether someone has been infected with the virus and help provide a sense of the pandemic 's scale .
It 's not yet clear whether having antibodies to COVID-19 signifies immunity to future infection .
Still , many policy makers see extensive antibody tests as key to reopening economies and easing social distancing rules .
India 's cancellation came after the Delhi High Court , in an order Friday , capped the cost of all coronavirus testing kits at 400 rupees ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained by New Delhi Television showed the Indian government agreed to buy the Chinese kits at prices marked up by 140 % .
In a statement , the Indian government said it had yet to actually pay for the kits .
India `` does not stand to lose a single rupee , '' it said .
On Tuesday , Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong defended the testing kits ' quality , saying they had been `` validated and approved '' by Indian health agencies and had been exported to other countries with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` sincerely supports India in its fight against COVID-19 . ''
But relations between the two countries , which share a disputed border of more than 2,000 miles , have faltered lately .
On April 17 , India 's trade ministry announced additional scrutiny of investments from companies in neighboring countries .
It did not name China , but was widely seen as a move to prevent Chinese state companies from buying Indian assets at bargain prices during the coronavirus crisis .
China has called these new rules `` discriminatory . ''

Beijing Slams India's 'Unfair' Decision To Cancel Chinese Antibody Testing Kit Order
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manish Swarup/AP Manish Swarup/AP
Chinese officials on Tuesday criticized India's decision to cancel orders for more than half a million antibody testing kits. India's decision, announced Monday, came amid accuracy concerns surrounding the Chinese-made kits.
"It is unfair and irresponsible for certain individuals to label Chinese products as 'faulty' and look at issues with preemptive prejudice," Ji Rong, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, said in a statement.
This is the latest irritant between the world's two most populous countries, in a relationship that's come under increasing strain over the coronavirus.
Since the virus broke out in Wuhan, the Chinese government has sought to export testing kits and medical gear around the world, in what some U.S. officials have called a propaganda stunt. Spain, the Netherlands and Turkey are among the countries that have also canceled orders amid concerns over the quality of the Chinese materials.
On Monday, the Indian Council of Medical Research, a government body, advised Indian states to stop using rapid antibody tests made by two Chinese companies and return them to the suppliers. The medical research council warned that the tests, made by Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics, show "wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance."
India's ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, tweeted earlier this month that 650,000 Chinese kits had been sent to India.
India has one of the world's lowest testing capabilities per capita, with about 700,000 samples tested so far, according to the ICMR, in a population of more than 1.3 billion. The Health Ministry has counted about 22,000 active COVID-19 cases and about 940 deaths.
Antibody tests, when accurate, show whether someone has been infected with the virus and help provide a sense of the pandemic's scale. It's not yet clear whether having antibodies to COVID-19 signifies immunity to future infection. Still, many policy makers see extensive antibody tests as key to reopening economies and easing social distancing rules.
India's cancellation came after the Delhi High Court, in an order Friday, capped the cost of all coronavirus testing kits at 400 rupees ($5.26) each. But purchase orders obtained by New Delhi Television showed the Indian government agreed to buy the Chinese kits at prices marked up by 140%.
In a statement, the Indian government said it had yet to actually pay for the kits. India "does not stand to lose a single rupee," it said.
On Tuesday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong defended the testing kits' quality, saying they had been "validated and approved" by Indian health agencies and had been exported to other countries with no complaints. The statement also said China "sincerely supports India in its fight against COVID-19."
But relations between the two countries, which share a disputed border of more than 2,000 miles, have faltered lately.
On April 17, India's trade ministry announced additional scrutiny of investments from companies in neighboring countries. It did not name China, but was widely seen as a move to prevent Chinese state companies from buying Indian assets at bargain prices during the coronavirus crisis. China has called these new rules "discriminatory."


npr--2020-04-28--NYC Emergency Room Physician Who Treated Coronavirus Patients Dies By Suicide

As the COVID-19 pandemic besieged New York City , Dr. Lorna Breen was on the front lines , striving to slow the onslaught of critically ill patients that have made the city the center of the outbreak in the U.S. Breen continued her work at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital as medical director of the emergency department even after she too contracted , then recovered from , the virus .
On Sunday , the woman many regard as a hero died of self-inflicted injuries , according to police .
Her family later spoke publicly about Breen 's death .
`` She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed her , '' Dr. Philip Breen , who is also a doctor , said about his daughter in an interview with The New York Times .
Although Breen had recovered from the coronavirus and returned to work after about a week and half , the 49-year-old was sent back home by hospital officials .
That 's when her father says the family intervened , taking her to Charlottesville , Va .
While Breen was with him , she described tragic scenes of devastation wrought by the disease , recalling how some patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ambulances , her father told the newspaper .
`` She was truly in the trenches of the front line , '' he said , adding that his daughter did not have a history of mental illness .
`` Make sure she 's praised as a hero , because she was .
She 's a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died , '' he said .
The Charlottesville Police Department , which initially responded to calls for medical assistance , said Breen was treated at UVA Hospital , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Frontline healthcare professionals and first responders are not immune to the mental or physical effects of the current pandemic , '' Police Chief RaShall Brackney said in a statement .
`` On a daily basis , these professionals operate under the most stressful of circumstances , and the Coronavirus has introduced additional stressors . ''
`` Personal Protective Equipment can reduce the likelihood of being infected , but what they can not protect heroes like Dr. Lorna Breen , or our first responders against is the emotional and mental devastation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
New York City has been ravaged by COVID-19 more than anywhere else in the U.S. As of Tuesday , more than 17,500 people have died there as a result of the contagious disease , and the city has confirmed more than 160,000 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Many of Breen 's friends and colleagues are now trying to process the well-liked doctor 's death .
Dr. Paris Lovett , an emergency physician , posted a picture on Facebook showing himself next to Breen , who 's beaming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great emergency physician , great person and great friend .
I will miss you so much , '' Lovett wrote .
Dr. Cerrah Mendelsohn-Elzam responded to Lovett 's post by writing , `` She was a role model and supporter of all us female residents .
Always lighting up the room with her bright smile . ''
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide , contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 ( En Español : 1-888-628-9454 ; Deaf and Hard of Hearing : 1-800-799-4889 ) or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 741741 .

NYC Emergency Room Physician Who Treated Coronavirus Patients Dies By Suicide
As the COVID-19 pandemic besieged New York City, Dr. Lorna Breen was on the front lines, striving to slow the onslaught of critically ill patients that have made the city the center of the outbreak in the U.S.
Breen continued her work at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital as medical director of the emergency department even after she too contracted, then recovered from, the virus.
On Sunday, the woman many regard as a hero died of self-inflicted injuries, according to police. Her family later spoke publicly about Breen's death.
"She tried to do her job and it killed her," Dr. Philip Breen, who is also a doctor, said about his daughter in an interview with The New York Times.
Although Breen had recovered from the coronavirus and returned to work after about a week and half, the 49-year-old was sent back home by hospital officials. That's when her father says the family intervened, taking her to Charlottesville, Va.
While Breen was with him, she described tragic scenes of devastation wrought by the disease, recalling how some patients died before they could be carried out of ambulances, her father told the newspaper.
"She was truly in the trenches of the front line," he said, adding that his daughter did not have a history of mental illness.
"Make sure she's praised as a hero, because she was. She's a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died," he said.
The Charlottesville Police Department, which initially responded to calls for medical assistance, said Breen was treated at UVA Hospital, "where she later succumbed to self-inflicted injuries."
"Frontline healthcare professionals and first responders are not immune to the mental or physical effects of the current pandemic," Police Chief RaShall Brackney said in a statement. "On a daily basis, these professionals operate under the most stressful of circumstances, and the Coronavirus has introduced additional stressors."
"Personal Protective Equipment can reduce the likelihood of being infected, but what they cannot protect heroes like Dr. Lorna Breen, or our first responders against is the emotional and mental devastation caused by this disease," Brackney added.
New York City has been ravaged by COVID-19 more than anywhere else in the U.S. As of Tuesday, more than 17,500 people have died there as a result of the contagious disease, and the city has confirmed more than 160,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Many of Breen's friends and colleagues are now trying to process the well-liked doctor's death.
Dr. Paris Lovett, an emergency physician, posted a picture on Facebook showing himself next to Breen, who's beaming in the photo.
"Lorna Breen – a great emergency physician, great person and great friend. I will miss you so much," Lovett wrote.
Dr. Cerrah Mendelsohn-Elzam responded to Lovett's post by writing, "She was a role model and supporter of all us female residents. Always lighting up the room with her bright smile."
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.


npr--2020-04-28--House Cancels Plans To Return To Washington On May 4, While Senate Preps For Session

House Cancels Plans To Return To Washington On May 4 , While Senate Preps For Session House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is cancelling plans to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol next week , based on advice from the attending physician in Congress .
A bipartisan task force will continue to negotiate ways to hold virtual committee hearings and markups as Congress struggles with legislating in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
Republicans , including President Trump , are increasing pressure on Democratic leaders to reopen the House as lawmakers debate elements of the next coronavirus relief package .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week but we hope to come back very soon to consider the CARES 2 legislation , '' Hoyer , D-Md.
, said during a teleconference with reporters .
`` The House physician 's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , has taken a different approach and still plans to bring the Senate back into session on Monday .
It has confirmation votes planned , but it 's unclear whether the Senate will act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , told reporters on a separate call that the House is following the guidance from the attending physician and noted that there are far more House members and staff than there are in the Senate .
Pelosi said it is possible the House could return in smaller numbers and conduct meetings remotely .
Pelosi noted that the House successfully held a voice vote with limited attendance in March and conducted a recorded vote last week in coordination with the House sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol physician .
`` It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are prepared for us to do that again . ''
One issue complicating the return is the continued rise in coronavirus cases in and around Washington , D.C. Two suburban counties have been identified as active hotspots , making the district a particularly risky place for members and staff to congregate .
Further , calling Congress back into session is a complicated task that also involves bringing thousands of people , including cafeteria workers , staff and security , to the Capitol complex .
McConnell has promised that Senate business will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but his office has not released the details of that plan .
A spokesman for McConnell declined to comment on any guidance provided to their office from the attending physician regarding the reopening of the Senate .
`` We will modify routines in ways that are smart and safe , but we will honor our constitutional duty to the American people and conduct critical business in person , '' McConnell said in a statement .
`` If it is essential for doctors , nurses , healthcare workers , truck drivers , grocery-store workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep carefully manning their own duty stations , then it is essential for Senators to carefully man ours and support them . ''
A group of House Republicans led by Rep. Brian Mast , R-Fla. , protested the House being out of session earlier this month ahead of the vote on additional funding for coronavirus relief loans for small businesses .
He and other Republicans have demanded that the House reconvene .
Trump mocked Hoyer 's decision to keep members home , during an event at the White House Tuesday .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come , '' he said , suggesting `` they 're enjoying their vacation '' and adding `` I think they should be here . ''
Democrats argue they are following public health guidelines .
They say members are still working from their home districts and should not travel through airports and train stations and convene in the enclosed space of the Capitol without pressing legislative business .
Senate Democrats echoed Hoyer 's concerns Tuesday .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , and other Democrats sent a letter to McConnell asking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are conducting legislative business .
The Senate Democrats are calling for the Senate to use the time in session to focus on oversight of the relief bills that have already passed , including public hearings with Trump administration officials .
`` There is currently no scheduled legislative or committee business related to the COVID-19 public health and economic emergencies , '' the letter said .
`` We respectfully urge you to have the Senate focus on COVID-19 related matters and oversight of all COVID-related legislation enacted by Congress . ''

House Cancels Plans To Return To Washington On May 4, While Senate Preps For Session
Enlarge this image toggle caption House Television via AP House Television via AP
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is cancelling plans to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol next week, based on advice from the attending physician in Congress.
A bipartisan task force will continue to negotiate ways to hold virtual committee hearings and markups as Congress struggles with legislating in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans, including President Trump, are increasing pressure on Democratic leaders to reopen the House as lawmakers debate elements of the next coronavirus relief package.
"We will not come back next week but we hope to come back very soon to consider the CARES 2 legislation," Hoyer, D-Md., said during a teleconference with reporters. "The House physician's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has taken a different approach and still plans to bring the Senate back into session on Monday. It has confirmation votes planned, but it's unclear whether the Senate will act on any coronavirus-related legislation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters on a separate call that the House is following the guidance from the attending physician and noted that there are far more House members and staff than there are in the Senate. Pelosi said it is possible the House could return in smaller numbers and conduct meetings remotely.
Pelosi noted that the House successfully held a voice vote with limited attendance in March and conducted a recorded vote last week in coordination with the House sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol physician.
"It was fine," Pelosi said. "They are prepared for us to do that again."
One issue complicating the return is the continued rise in coronavirus cases in and around Washington, D.C. Two suburban counties have been identified as active hotspots, making the district a particularly risky place for members and staff to congregate. Further, calling Congress back into session is a complicated task that also involves bringing thousands of people, including cafeteria workers, staff and security, to the Capitol complex.
McConnell has promised that Senate business will be conducted in accordance with new safety guidelines but his office has not released the details of that plan. A spokesman for McConnell declined to comment on any guidance provided to their office from the attending physician regarding the reopening of the Senate.
"We will modify routines in ways that are smart and safe, but we will honor our constitutional duty to the American people and conduct critical business in person," McConnell said in a statement. "If it is essential for doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, truck drivers, grocery-store workers, and many other brave Americans to keep carefully manning their own duty stations, then it is essential for Senators to carefully man ours and support them."
A group of House Republicans led by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., protested the House being out of session earlier this month ahead of the vote on additional funding for coronavirus relief loans for small businesses. He and other Republicans have demanded that the House reconvene.
Trump mocked Hoyer's decision to keep members home, during an event at the White House Tuesday.
"The Democrats, they don't want to come," he said, suggesting "they're enjoying their vacation" and adding "I think they should be here."
Democrats argue they are following public health guidelines. They say members are still working from their home districts and should not travel through airports and train stations and convene in the enclosed space of the Capitol without pressing legislative business.
Senate Democrats echoed Hoyer's concerns Tuesday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats sent a letter to McConnell asking that they remain out of session unless they are conducting legislative business.
The Senate Democrats are calling for the Senate to use the time in session to focus on oversight of the relief bills that have already passed, including public hearings with Trump administration officials.
"There is currently no scheduled legislative or committee business related to the COVID-19 public health and economic emergencies," the letter said. "We respectfully urge you to have the Senate focus on COVID-19 related matters and oversight of all COVID-related legislation enacted by Congress."


npr--2020-04-28--New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Voting By Mail Amid Pandemic

Americans are extremely concerned that the coronavirus pandemic will disrupt voting in November 's presidential election , according to a new poll from Pew Research Center .
They also overwhelmingly support allowing everyone to vote by mail , even as partisan divides over mail voting expansions have taken hold at the national level over the past few months .
Almost three out of four Americans favor universal access to mail voting , according to the poll .
While Democrats overwhelmingly back greater absentee balloting , about half of Republicans also do — in contrast to many of the party 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that expanding mail voting could mean electoral defeat for Republicans and increase the incidence of fraud .
Academic studies have debunked both accusations : Mail voting introduces the possibility for slightly more fraud , but it is still a minuscule amount according to voting experts , especially when appropriate modern safeguards are put into place .
And a new study from Stanford University found no statistically significant partisan effect of increasing access to mail balloting .
In fact , some experts , like Stanford 's Nate Persily , have noted that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans could end up being the beneficiaries of expanded mail voting .
`` If you think that the most vulnerable populations to the coronavirus are older people — they tend to vote Republican disproportionately .
And they might be the ones who might be most likely to vote by mail , '' Persily told NPR last month .
`` So it 's not clear who wins as a result of moving to these types of measures . ''
Overall , there is bipartisan concern about the impact the pandemic could have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is at least somewhat likely that voting will be `` significantly disrupted '' by the outbreak .
Another potential casualty of the virus could be some voters ' confidence in the legitimacy of the election .
Earlier this month during Wisconsin 's primary , the state 's Democratic governor sought to delay the election or shift it to all absentee ballots but was blocked the state 's Republican legislature and conservative state Supreme Court .
The poll 's results were collected in the week after that controversy , and the results find less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year 's election will be fairly conducted .

New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Voting By Mail Amid Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Moore/Getty Images John Moore/Getty Images
Americans are extremely concerned that the coronavirus pandemic will disrupt voting in November's presidential election, according to a new poll from Pew Research Center.
They also overwhelmingly support allowing everyone to vote by mail, even as partisan divides over mail voting expansions have taken hold at the national level over the past few months.
Almost three out of four Americans favor universal access to mail voting, according to the poll. While Democrats overwhelmingly back greater absentee balloting, about half of Republicans also do — in contrast to many of the party's national leaders.
President Trump's recently claimed that expanding mail voting could mean electoral defeat for Republicans and increase the incidence of fraud.
Academic studies have debunked both accusations: Mail voting introduces the possibility for slightly more fraud, but it is still a minuscule amount according to voting experts, especially when appropriate modern safeguards are put into place.
And a new study from Stanford University found no statistically significant partisan effect of increasing access to mail balloting. In fact, some experts, like Stanford's Nate Persily, have noted that in a pandemic situation like the current coronavirus, Republicans could end up being the beneficiaries of expanded mail voting.
"If you think that the most vulnerable populations to the coronavirus are older people — they tend to vote Republican disproportionately. And they might be the ones who might be most likely to vote by mail," Persily told NPR last month. "So it's not clear who wins as a result of moving to these types of measures."
Overall, there is bipartisan concern about the impact the pandemic could have in November. Two-thirds of Americans say it is at least somewhat likely that voting will be "significantly disrupted" by the outbreak.
Another potential casualty of the virus could be some voters' confidence in the legitimacy of the election.
Earlier this month during Wisconsin's primary, the state's Democratic governor sought to delay the election or shift it to all absentee ballots but was blocked the state's Republican legislature and conservative state Supreme Court.
The poll's results were collected in the week after that controversy, and the results find less than 40% of liberal Democrats believe this year's election will be fairly conducted.


npr--2020-04-29--'Tip Of The Iceberg': Economy Likely Shrank, But Worst To Come

'Tip Of The Iceberg ' : Economy Likely Shrank , But Worst To Come The coronavirus pandemic is likely to trigger the sharpest recession in the United States since the Great Depression .
An early signal of that will come Wednesday morning , when the Commerce Department delivers a preliminary appraisal of economic activity during the first three months of the year .
For the first 2 1/2 of those months , the economy was chugging along at a steady , if not spectacular pace .
But the plug was suddenly pulled in mid-March — when bars , restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of Americans were ordered to stay home in an effort to slow the spread of the deadly disease .
More than 26 million people suddenly out of work have filed unemployment claims in recent weeks .
`` Prior to the coronavirus shock , the economy was doing relatively well , '' said Gregory Daco , chief U.S. economist for Oxford Economics .
`` The shock that we experienced in the second half of March actually has led to a sudden stop in spending on a lot of services and even spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though that shock affected only the last few weeks of the quarter , it was more than enough to erase the gains of the previous 2 1/2 months .
Daco estimates the nation 's gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic activity — shrank an an annual rate of more than 5 % during the quarter .
That would be the first quarterly contraction since 2014 .
Unfortunately , he said , that 's `` only the tip of the iceberg . ''
The bulk of the pandemic 's economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter — April through June .
By the end of June , Daco estimates the economy will be 12 % smaller than it was at the beginning of the year .
`` To put that into perspective , that [ drop ] would be three times as large as what we experienced in the global financial crisis , '' Daco said .
It would be comparable to what the economy experienced at the end of World War II , when factories abruptly stopped churning out tanks and warplanes but had not yet shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expect to see a sharp reversal in economic growth .
`` Whenever you have the entire country changing behavior at one time in a way that reduces spending , it 's certainly enough to wipe out any of the gains that we saw earlier in the year , '' said Ben Herzon , an economist at IHS Markit .
He noted that since the coronavirus took hold , air travel and restaurant reservations have all but completely evaporated .
`` For now , we 're expecting the economy to more or less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin to recover in the fourth quarter , '' Herzon said .
But he acknowledged there 's considerable uncertainty in that outlook .
`` That all depends on how quickly new infections can be driven down and how quickly consumers and businesses will feel confident enough to begin spending , '' he said .
Daco also expects the economic recovery may be slow and uneven .
`` We do n't expect this rebounding activity to be akin to turning on a light switch but instead more like a dimmer , where gradually , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second half of 2020 and into 2021 , '' he said .
`` We really expect the acceleration in terms of rebounding activity to really take place more in the fall and into the winter , rather than in the summer . ''
Any recovery could be further hampered by widespread business failures or an acceleration of the pandemic that requires a second round of lockdown orders .
Both Congress and the Federal Reserve have tried to keep businesses afloat with a flurry of emergency lending programs .
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , at the conclusion of the central bank 's two-day meeting .
`` I think that Chair Powell is going to highlight the fact that there is tremendous uncertainty , '' Daco said .
Much will depend on whether people `` respect the lockdown and abide by the rules , which would permit a greater control of ... the health crisis and perhaps a stronger rebound from this coronavirus shock . ''

'Tip Of The Iceberg': Economy Shrinks At 4.8% Pace, But Worst Is Yet To Come
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP Nam Y. Huh/AP
Updated at 5:12 p.m. ET
The coronavirus pandemic is likely to trigger the sharpest recession in the United States since the Great Depression. An early signal of that came Wednesday, when the Commerce Department said the economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first three months of the year — the first quarterly contraction since 2014 and the largest since the Great Recession.
For the first 2 1/2 of those months, the economy was chugging along at a steady, if not spectacular pace. But the plug was suddenly pulled in mid-March — when bars, restaurants and retail shops were abruptly closed and tens of millions of Americans were ordered to stay home in an effort to slow the spread of the deadly disease.
"The coronavirus outbreak is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world," the Federal Reserve said in a statement. "The virus and the measures taken to protect public health are inducing sharp declines in economic activity and a surge in job losses."
The first-quarter drop in GDP was the biggest since an 8.4% dive in the fourth quarter of 2008. It marked a reversal from the 2.1% growth rate at the end of 2019.
Consumer spending — which accounts for about 70% of GDP — plummeted at a 7.6% rate in the first quarter — the most since 1980.
More than 26 million people suddenly out of work have filed unemployment claims in recent weeks.
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Half of all Americans say they or someone in their household has either lost hours or a job because of the coronavirus, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.
"Prior to the coronavirus shock, the economy was doing relatively well," said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist for Oxford Economics. "The shock that we experienced in the second half of March actually has led to a sudden stop in spending on a lot of services and even spending on some goods."
Analysts say even though that shock affected only the last few weeks of the quarter, it was more than enough to erase the gains of the previous 2 1/2 months.
Daco said the first-quarter decline is "only the tip of the iceberg."
The bulk of the pandemic's economic impact will be felt in the current quarter — April through June. By the end of June, Daco estimates the economy will be 12% smaller than it was at the beginning of the year.
"To put that into perspective, that [drop] would be three times as large as what we experienced in the global financial crisis," Daco said. It would be comparable to what the economy experienced at the end of World War II, when factories abruptly stopped churning out tanks and warplanes but had not yet shifted to making civilian goods.
Other forecasters also expect to see a sharp reversal in economic growth.
"Whenever you have the entire country changing behavior at one time in a way that reduces spending, it's certainly enough to wipe out any of the gains that we saw earlier in the year," said Ben Herzon, an economist at IHS Markit.
He noted that since the coronavirus took hold, air travel and restaurant reservations have all but completely evaporated.
"For now, we're expecting the economy to more or less stabilize in the third quarter and then begin to recover in the fourth quarter," Herzon said. But he acknowledged there's considerable uncertainty in that outlook.
"That all depends on how quickly new infections can be driven down and how quickly consumers and businesses will feel confident enough to begin spending," he said.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell echoed that caution, warning that consumer spending won't snap back immediately, even as parts of the economy reopen.
"It will start to pick up as people start to return to their normal patterns of spending, but the chances are it will not go right back to where we were," he said.
Powell pledged that he and his colleagues would act "forcefully, proactively and aggressively" to cushion the financial fallout.
The central bank has cut interest rates to near zero and promised to leave them there for an extended period. The Fed has also unveiled a series of emergency lending measures to keep households and businesses afloat during the pandemic.
"It is worth remembering that the measures we are taking to contain the virus represent an investment in our individual and collective health," Powell said. "As a society, we should do everything we can to provide relief for those who are suffering for the public good."


npr--2020-04-29--For Pence, Coronavirus Task Force Is A High-Profile Assignment With Political Risk

For Pence , Coronavirus Task Force Is A High-Profile Assignment With Political Risk When President Trump tapped Vice President Mike Pence to lead the coronavirus task force in late February , it was a moment of growing pressure .
Stocks were tanking , and Trump needed to show he was elevating the federal response to the pandemic .
A former Trump White House aide says Pence was the obvious choice , one of the few people left in the administration that Trump trusts , and someone with the stature to coordinate across agencies .
It was the first truly high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
And it represents both an opportunity and a risk for the former Indiana governor .
`` It makes sense to have somebody like Pence involved , but it does present risks for any vice president with this kind of problem , '' said Joel Goldstein , a vice presidential scholar .
`` And it has particular risks when , you know , your president operates the way Trump does . ''
A big across-government coordination is the very kind of task vice presidents have been asked to take on in past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's a global pandemic , and nearly 60,000 Americans are already dead .
If Pence were to run for president in 2024 , this time will loom large .
It 's also a chance for him to show he can manage in a crisis .
Pence , who 's low-key and methodical , leads the near-daily task force meetings , has supply chain meetings , and does phone calls with governors and other constituent groups .
For a time , Pence was the public face of the administration 's response .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for the vice president to give an update on what had been discussed in the task force meetings , and he often stepped back and let the medical experts on the team take the questions .
But before long , Trump started attending the briefings too — and dominating them .
A tally from the data analytics site factba.se finds that since Pence was put in charge of the task force , he 's had a little over eight hours of talk time at the briefings , while Trump has spoken for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's very much the Trump show , '' Goldstein said .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
While Trump takes questions , boasts , and often goes on tangents , Pence stands aside , keeping his composure .
He sticks to the script , ticking through progress updates , reminding the public to take social distancing seriously , thanking them for their sacrifices , and always pausing to mark the loss of life to COVID-19 .
The briefings have displayed the role Pence has long played : of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , at times , even attributing quotations and ideas to Trump that the president has n't expressed publicly .
Take the day Trump said he had `` total '' authority to tell states when to reopen .
Pence was careful not to openly contradict Trump , saying he supported `` the president 's leadership , '' and then in his trademark even tone added , `` We 're going to give [ the states ] guidance and , as the president 's indicated , we 'll continue to respect the leadership and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America . ''
An earlier , notable example of Pence doing this was during the uproar over the white supremacist march in Charlottesville , Va. , in 2017 .
Trump 's initial reaction was to condemn `` hatred , bigotry and violence on many sides . ''
Pence made his own statement , polishing up the president 's criticized remarks .
`` President Trump clearly and unambiguously condemned the bigotry , violence and hatred which took place on the streets of Charlottesville , '' Pence said .
As Trump recently said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is .
In his role as head of the coronavirus task force , Pence has maintained working relationships with governors — even the ones sometimes fighting with Trump .
`` I say , 'Mike , do n't call the governor of Washington .
You 're wasting your time with him .
Do n't call the woman in Michigan , ' `` Trump recounted at a recent briefing .
Both are Democratic governors in states hit hard by the coronavirus .
`` He 's a different type of person .
He 'll call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Pence did call .
Along the individual check-ins , the former Indiana governor has had more than a dozen conference calls with state leaders since late February .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , a Republican , says it 's a credit to Pence that the calls are candid , open and nonpolitical .
`` If you did n't have a scorecard , you would n't have known who was a Republican , who was a Democrat , '' DeWine said .
`` The vice president was engaged . ''
DeWine said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortages , which persist .
But DeWine said Pence was able to clear bureaucratic jams at critical moments .
One came right after the state shut down schools .
DeWine says Ohio still wanted to provide food to children who were dependent on school lunches .
`` We had to get a waiver .
And the vice president jumped in , we got a waiver within less than 24 hours , '' DeWine said .
`` So they have been there when I 've got a specific request . ''
Trump has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snake . ''
But the Democrat Inslee said he as a `` really good working relationship '' with Pence , unaffected by any running commentary from the president .
`` He has responded to my questions in a timely fashion .
He 's called me .
We 've had quite a number of conversations , '' Inslee said .
`` And I think that he 's been very helpful to the process .
Now , he 's not been able to solve all of our concerns , obviously . ''
The state still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trace and contain the virus .
Like many states , Washington has pressed for federal help to break loose supply chain problems and shortages of testing supplies .
The White House insists that is n't the federal role and states should take the lead on testing , with the federal government only being there as a backup of last resort .
In early March , Pence talked up the availability of tests for the coronavirus in a way that made it seem like testing shortages would be a thing of the past .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed , '' Pence said at a March 9 White House briefing .
`` Before the end of this week , another 4 million tests will be distributed . ''
The United States only just recently hit the threshold of 5 million tests completed .
When pressed on it , Pence said everyone earlier misunderstood `` the difference between having a test versus the ability to actually process the test . ''
In fact , at the time , the administration faced a lot of pushback about whether the numbers of tests they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who would be tested .
Pence out in the country Pence has won praise from Trump himself .
`` Mike Pence , I do n't even think he sleeps anymore , '' Trump said at a recent briefing .
But Pence 's role may be receding as the White House tries to turn the focus to economic recovery rather than the public health crisis .
On Tuesday , Pence traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to highlight its coronavirus research and work to increase testing capacity .
While everyone else there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinic policy , Pence did not , saying he wanted to look people in the eyes and thank them .
Meanwhile back in Washington , Trump held a press conference with small-business owners who have gotten loans to offset losses caused by the coronavirus .
He also took questions from reporters .
This sort of split screen will likely repeat itself as Pence is expected to travel more in the weeks ahead and will be spending less time in the briefing room .
Vice presidents rarely make more news than presidents , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @

For Pence, Coronavirus Task Force Is A High-Profile Assignment With Political Risk
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
When President Trump tapped Vice President Mike Pence to lead the coronavirus task force in late February, it was a moment of growing pressure. Stocks were tanking, and Trump needed to show he was elevating the federal response to the pandemic.
A former Trump White House aide says Pence was the obvious choice, one of the few people left in the administration that Trump trusts, and someone with the stature to coordinate across agencies.
It was the first truly high-profile ongoing assignment Pence had taken on for Trump. And it represents both an opportunity and a risk for the former Indiana governor.
"It makes sense to have somebody like Pence involved, but it does present risks for any vice president with this kind of problem," said Joel Goldstein, a vice presidential scholar. "And it has particular risks when, you know, your president operates the way Trump does."
A big across-government coordination is the very kind of task vice presidents have been asked to take on in past administrations. This one has higher stakes. It's a global pandemic, and nearly 60,000 Americans are already dead.
If Pence were to run for president in 2024, this time will loom large. It's also a chance for him to show he can manage in a crisis. Pence, who's low-key and methodical, leads the near-daily task force meetings, has supply chain meetings, and does phone calls with governors and other constituent groups.
"The Trump show"
For a time, Pence was the public face of the administration's response. The press briefings started out as a way for the vice president to give an update on what had been discussed in the task force meetings, and he often stepped back and let the medical experts on the team take the questions.
But before long, Trump started attending the briefings too — and dominating them.
A tally from the data analytics site factba.se finds that since Pence was put in charge of the task force, he's had a little over eight hours of talk time at the briefings, while Trump has spoken for more than 30 hours.
"It's very much the Trump show," Goldstein said.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
While Trump takes questions, boasts, and often goes on tangents, Pence stands aside, keeping his composure. He sticks to the script, ticking through progress updates, reminding the public to take social distancing seriously, thanking them for their sacrifices, and always pausing to mark the loss of life to COVID-19.
The briefings have displayed the role Pence has long played: of Trump translator, sanding off the rough edges and, at times, even attributing quotations and ideas to Trump that the president hasn't expressed publicly.
Take the day Trump said he had "total" authority to tell states when to reopen. Pence was careful not to openly contradict Trump, saying he supported "the president's leadership," and then in his trademark even tone added, "We're going to give [the states] guidance and, as the president's indicated, we'll continue to respect the leadership and partnership that we forge with every governor in America."
An earlier, notable example of Pence doing this was during the uproar over the white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. Trump's initial reaction was to condemn "hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides."
Pence made his own statement, polishing up the president's criticized remarks.
"President Trump clearly and unambiguously condemned the bigotry, violence and hatred which took place on the streets of Charlottesville," Pence said.
As Trump recently said, his vice president is less controversial than he is.
Relationships with governors
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
In his role as head of the coronavirus task force, Pence has maintained working relationships with governors — even the ones sometimes fighting with Trump.
"I say, 'Mike, don't call the governor of Washington. You're wasting your time with him. Don't call the woman in Michigan,' " Trump recounted at a recent briefing.
Both are Democratic governors in states hit hard by the coronavirus.
"He's a different type of person. He'll call quietly anyway," Trump said.
And Pence did call. Along the individual check-ins, the former Indiana governor has had more than a dozen conference calls with state leaders since late February.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, says it's a credit to Pence that the calls are candid, open and nonpolitical.
"If you didn't have a scorecard, you wouldn't have known who was a Republican, who was a Democrat," DeWine said. "The vice president was engaged."
DeWine said Pence couldn't single-handedly fix nationwide supply shortages, which persist. But DeWine said Pence was able to clear bureaucratic jams at critical moments.
One came right after the state shut down schools. DeWine says Ohio still wanted to provide food to children who were dependent on school lunches.
"We had to get a waiver. And the vice president jumped in, we got a waiver within less than 24 hours," DeWine said. "So they have been there when I've got a specific request."
Trump has called Washington Gov. Jay Inslee a "snake." But the Democrat Inslee said he as a "really good working relationship" with Pence, unaffected by any running commentary from the president.
"He has responded to my questions in a timely fashion. He's called me. We've had quite a number of conversations," Inslee said. "And I think that he's been very helpful to the process. Now, he's not been able to solve all of our concerns, obviously."
The state still doesn't have enough tests to properly trace and contain the virus. Like many states, Washington has pressed for federal help to break loose supply chain problems and shortages of testing supplies. The White House insists that isn't the federal role and states should take the lead on testing, with the federal government only being there as a backup of last resort.
In early March, Pence talked up the availability of tests for the coronavirus in a way that made it seem like testing shortages would be a thing of the past.
"Over a million tests have been distributed," Pence said at a March 9 White House briefing. "Before the end of this week, another 4 million tests will be distributed."
The United States only just recently hit the threshold of 5 million tests completed. When pressed on it, Pence said everyone earlier misunderstood "the difference between having a test versus the ability to actually process the test."
In fact, at the time, the administration faced a lot of pushback about whether the numbers of tests they were promoting truly represented the number of people who would be tested.
Pence out in the country
Pence has won praise from Trump himself.
"Mike Pence, I don't even think he sleeps anymore," Trump said at a recent briefing.
But Pence's role may be receding as the White House tries to turn the focus to economic recovery rather than the public health crisis. On Tuesday, Pence traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to highlight its coronavirus research and work to increase testing capacity. While everyone else there wore a mask as required by Mayo Clinic policy, Pence did not, saying he wanted to look people in the eyes and thank them.
Meanwhile back in Washington, Trump held a press conference with small-business owners who have gotten loans to offset losses caused by the coronavirus. He also took questions from reporters.
This sort of split screen will likely repeat itself as Pence is expected to travel more in the weeks ahead and will be spending less time in the briefing room. Vice presidents rarely make more news than presidents, especially if that president is Donald Trump.


npr--2020-04-29--Loopholes In Small Business Relief Program Allowed Thriving Companies To Cash In

Loopholes In Small Business Relief Program Allowed Thriving Companies To Cash In Small and struggling .
Those were the companies meant to be helped by the Paycheck Protection Program , which offers loans to small businesses clobbered by the shutdown of the economy .
The program has helped many such companies .
But the law 's fine print did n't close all loopholes .
Large companies , we now know , got loans .
And , now it appears that companies did n't have to be struggling to win a loan , either .
When officials with Chembio Diagnostics heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection Program , they jumped at the chance to get a share of the public money .
And they got it : nearly $ 3 million .
The Long Island-based company , which also has offices in Berlin and Brazil , develops and manufactures infectious disease tests .
Their work includes tests for HIV , Ebola and Zika .
Earlier this month , company officials announced that they got emergency approval from the FDA to use a rapid COVID-19 test .
That created a huge business opportunity for them .
Their stock price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 a share last year to about $ 11 this week .
The paycheck protection loan was the liquidity they needed to help grow .
`` For us to be able to increase our manufacturing capabilities , we thought that having this supplemental dollar amount or loan would be very helpful ... in helping us , '' says Gail Page , a Chembio board member and former interim CEO .
`` When you get these pandemics , then there 's all of a sudden this big rush and you need to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the program was n't designed to help companies grow .
It was meant to rescue small companies , nonprofits and self-employed people struggling to make payroll or pay benefits and utilities .
Companies or organizations that otherwise would have to lay people off .
And , because the loan money will run out — all $ 660 billion of it once the two rounds of the PPP program are done — every dollar that goes to a company that is thriving in the current crisis does n't go to one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped .
`` The goal here is n't to expand the size of the companies , '' says Marc Goldwein , senior policy director for the DC-based Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget .
`` The goal here is to kind of keep them alive while we get through this crisis . ''
Goldwein says it 's not acceptable it is for companies to participate in the program when they 're actually benefiting from coronavirus : `` Companies have to self-certify that they need this money because they are experiencing adverse affects .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her company , which has gotten government grants over the years to work on testing , to take the paycheck protection money .
`` When you have a crisis like this , a lot of your customer base that you depended upon for your revenue , it kind of slips over here to the side , '' she says .
`` In order for us to stay viable , we felt like we needed to participate . ''
One problem with the first round of disbursements was that the law was murky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expressed concern in a written statement last week that companies not harmed by the pandemic found loopholes and got millions of dollars in loans .
Much of those loans will be forgiven by the government -- if they 're used properly .
`` Congress must clarify that PPP loans will only be available to businesses that show a substantial reduction in revenue due to the coronavirus , '' Scott said .
Officials on Monday began issuing a second round of disbursements totaling $ 311 billion .
Goldwein says the question is whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this next round of funds , it looks like the SBA will be doing some more oversight , '' he says .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has told companies that received loans but may not have qualified that they have a grace period to return it .
About $ 2 billion has been declined or returned so far , according to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza .
That money will now be made available in this second round of loans , she said .
When asked whether Chembio will return their nearly $ 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will monitor the situation . ''

Loopholes In Small Business Relief Program Allow Thriving Companies To Cash In
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Small and struggling. Those were the companies meant to be helped by the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers loans to small businesses clobbered by the shutdown of the economy.
The program has helped many such companies. But the law's fine print didn't close all loopholes. Large companies, we now know, got loans. And, now it appears that companies didn't have to be struggling to win a loan, either.
When officials with Chembio Diagnostics heard about the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, they jumped at the chance to get a share of the public money.
And they got it: nearly $3 million.
The Long Island, N.Y.-based company, which also has offices in Berlin and Brazil, develops and manufactures infectious disease tests. Its work includes tests for HIV, Ebola and Zika. Earlier this month, company officials announced that they got emergency approval from the FDA to use a rapid COVID-19 test. That created a huge business opportunity for them. Their stock price went from an average of about $5 a share last year to about $11 this week. The paycheck protection loan was the liquidity the company needed to help grow.
"For us to be able to increase our manufacturing capabilities, we thought that having this supplemental dollar amount or loan would be very helpful ... in helping us," says Gail Page, a Chembio board member and former interim CEO. "When you get these pandemics, then there's all of a sudden this big rush and you need to be able to supply."
The problem is that the program wasn't designed to help companies grow. It was meant to rescue small companies, nonprofits and self-employed people struggling to make payroll or pay benefits and utilities. Companies or organizations that otherwise would have to lay people off. And because the loan money will run out — all $660 billion of it once the two rounds of the PPP program are done — every dollar that goes to a company that is thriving in the current crisis doesn't go to one of the small, struggling companies meant to be helped.
"The goal here isn't to expand the size of the companies," says Marc Goldwein, senior policy director for the D.C.-based Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "The goal here is to kind of keep them alive while we get through this crisis."
Goldwein says it's not acceptable for companies to participate in the program when they're actually benefiting from coronavirus: "Companies have to self-certify that they need this money because they are experiencing adverse affects."
Page says it was totally proper for her company, which has gotten government grants over the years to work on testing, to take the paycheck protection money.
"When you have a crisis like this, a lot of your customer base that you depended upon for your revenue, it kind of slips over here to the side," she says. "In order for us to stay viable, we felt like we needed to participate."
One problem with the first round of disbursements was that the law was murky. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., expressed concern in a written statement last week that companies not harmed by the pandemic found loopholes and got millions of dollars in loans. Much of those loans will be forgiven by the government if they're used properly.
"Congress must clarify that PPP loans will only be available to businesses that show a substantial reduction in revenue due to the coronavirus," Scott said.
Officials on Monday began issuing a second round of disbursements totaling $311 billion. Goldwein says the question is whether mistakes will be repeated.
"In this next round of funds, it looks like the SBA will be doing some more oversight," he says.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has told companies that received loans but may not have qualified that they have a grace period to return it. About $2 billion has been declined or returned so far, according to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. That money will now be made available in this second round of loans, she said.
When asked whether Chembio will return the nearly $3 million loan, Page says the company "will monitor the situation."