cnbc--2020-07-28--McConnell says he will not negotiate with Democrats on liability protections in coronavirus bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he will not pass a coronavirus relief bill in the Senate which does not include liability shields .
`` We 're not negotiating over liability protection , '' he told CNBC 's Kayla Tausche as Congress looks to craft a pandemic rescue agreement .
He noted , however , that the GOP is open to compromise on other issues .
Senate Republicans released their coronavirus aid proposal on Monday .
It includes a cut to the enhanced $ 600 per week federal unemployment benefit , another round of direct payments to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and more funding for Paycheck Protection Program small business loans .
Democrats have generally opposed the legal shield because it could take away a recourse for workers who return to an unsafe workplace as the pandemic spreads around the country .
McConnell contended `` there 's no chance of the country getting back to normal without it . ''
Asked about a CNBC/Change Research poll that found a majority of voters in six swing states oppose shielding corporations from lawsuits , McConnell said , `` this is not just liability protection for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone else . ''
He noted that it would also cover doctors , universities and K-12 schools , who could not get sued unless they were `` grossly negligent or caused intentional harm . ''
McConnell spoke shortly before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , planned to meet with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for the second straight day .
The group will try to hash out differences between Republicans and Democrats on how best to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus .
Congress faces pressure to quickly approve new relief , as states stopped paying out the extra federal unemployment benefit last week .
Roughly 30 million people are still receiving some form of unemployment insurance as U.S. coronavirus cases surge above 4.3 million .
A federal moratorium on evictions also expired last week .
In a joint statement Tuesday , Pelosi and Schumer said that `` catastrophe is looming , and until Senate Republicans get serious , they must answer to every hungry child , every family that can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their UI for their delays . ''
`` Democrats remain ready to work with Republicans on real solutions to bring immediate relief and save lives and livelihoods , '' they said .
The Democratic leaders also criticized the legal immunity provision , saying it shields `` employers who do not protect workers ' health and safety , while offering no [ Occupational Safety and Health Administration ] protections to ensure workers can trust in safe workplaces . ''
The GOP legislation would slash the jobless benefit to $ 200 per week from $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally get from states , through September .
The plan would then replace 70 % of a person 's previous wages .
Democrats have warned that reducing the extra benefit will leave millions struggling to cover costs and harm the economy by reducing household spending .
The possibility of Americans seeing their income plunge just as the eviction moratorium expires also raises more concerns about people losing a place to live .
McConnell called unemployment benefits `` extremely important '' during an economic crisis , but said individuals should not have a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs .
`` And remember , all of these folks are going to get another $ 1,200 direct payment , '' he said .

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he will not pass a coronavirus relief bill in the Senate which does not include liability shields. "We're not negotiating over liability protection," he told CNBC's Kayla Tausche as Congress looks to craft a pandemic rescue agreement. He noted, however, that the GOP is open to compromise on other issues. Senate Republicans released their coronavirus aid proposal on Monday. It includes a cut to the enhanced $600 per week federal unemployment benefit, another round of direct payments to Americans, liability protections for businesses and doctors, and more funding for Paycheck Protection Program small business loans. Democrats have generally opposed the legal shield because it could take away a recourse for workers who return to an unsafe workplace as the pandemic spreads around the country. McConnell contended "there's no chance of the country getting back to normal without it."
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to reporters. Tom Brenner | Reuters
Asked about a CNBC/Change Research poll that found a majority of voters in six swing states oppose shielding corporations from lawsuits, McConnell said, "this is not just liability protection for businesses, although they are included like everyone else." He noted that it would also cover doctors, universities and K-12 schools, who could not get sued unless they were "grossly negligent or caused intentional harm." McConnell spoke shortly before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., planned to meet with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for the second straight day. The group will try to hash out differences between Republicans and Democrats on how best to boost an economy and health-care system ravaged by the coronavirus. Congress faces pressure to quickly approve new relief, as states stopped paying out the extra federal unemployment benefit last week. Roughly 30 million people are still receiving some form of unemployment insurance as U.S. coronavirus cases surge above 4.3 million. A federal moratorium on evictions also expired last week. In a joint statement Tuesday, Pelosi and Schumer said that "catastrophe is looming, and until Senate Republicans get serious, they must answer to every hungry child, every family that cannot make rent, every worker being denied their UI for their delays." "Democrats remain ready to work with Republicans on real solutions to bring immediate relief and save lives and livelihoods," they said.
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The Democratic leaders also criticized the legal immunity provision, saying it shields "employers who do not protect workers' health and safety, while offering no [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] protections to ensure workers can trust in safe workplaces." The GOP legislation would slash the jobless benefit to $200 per week from $600, on top of what recipients normally get from states, through September. The plan would then replace 70% of a person's previous wages. Democrats have warned that reducing the extra benefit will leave millions struggling to cover costs and harm the economy by reducing household spending. The possibility of Americans seeing their income plunge just as the eviction moratorium expires also raises more concerns about people losing a place to live. McConnell called unemployment benefits "extremely important" during an economic crisis, but said individuals should not have a higher income at home than they did at their jobs. "And remember, all of these folks are going to get another $1,200 direct payment," he said.


cnbc--2020-07-28--Former Obama advisor Susan Rice emerges as a serious contender for Joe Biden's VP pick

Susan Rice might not be explicitly saying that she wants to be presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's running mate — but the former national security advisor has n't been shy about suggesting she 's more than ready , willing and qualified to fill that role if he wants her .
`` Bring that one on , that 's all I 'll say , '' Rice told radio show host Ricky Smiley last week when he commented on how happy he would be if she ended up debating Vice President Mike Pence .
And after noting the strengths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rice said that in terms of her own strengths , `` if I can put it that way , is that I have served in the executive branch in the White House .
At the top levels of the federal government for almost two decades . ''
`` I know how to make things work and how to get stuff done , '' she told Smiley .
Rice , who served in the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and then as national security advisor , indeed has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before holding the senior-level posts , Rice , a Stanford grad , had a four-year stint in the mid-1990s on the National Security Council during the administration of President Bill Clinton , and then spent Clinton 's second term as the assistant secretary of State for African Affairs .
Rice 's foreign policy chops — and her two-decade history of working and dealing with Biden when he was a U.S. senator and President Barack Obama 's vice president — in the past alone would have made her a legitimate contender for the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only person on the vice presidential short list who has spent hundreds of hours in person with Biden , who places a premium on trust and personal rapport on his list of running mate VP qualifications .
In recent weeks , the 55-year-old Rice has come to be considered among the front-runners for that position .
Biden has said he will select a woman to be the vice presidential candidate , and on Tuesday said that he plans to announce his choice in the first week of August .
Amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of George Floyd , Biden has shown an unprecedented willingness to consider several Black women — Rice among them — for the role .
Rice 's late father , Emmett Rice , in 1979 became the second Black person ever appointed to the Federal Reserve board .
`` I do n't know that there 's another African American woman in the country , or any woman other than maybe Hillary Clinton , who has the stripes that she has on foreign policy , '' House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden a list of potential VP picks that included Rice .
Rice was not available for an interview with CNBC .
But a person close to her said : `` She 's not campaigning for anything . ''
`` This has never been about her , '' the source said .
`` As she herself has said , she 's focused on helping elect Joe Biden in November because she believes it is essential to America 's future that we defeat Donald Trump . ''
One potential mark against Rice in a checklist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact she has never run for , much less held , elective office , unlike the other women being considered by Biden as a running mate .
While Rice had suggested in a 2018 Twitter post that she would challenge Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , she never followed through on that .
The last major-party vice presidential nominee who never previously held elective office was Sargent Shriver , who was Democratic nominee Sen. George McGovern 's running mate in 1972 .
Shriver was the first director of the Peace Corps .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Office of Economic Opportunity and then as President Richard Nixon 's ambassador to France .
But Shriver was an anomaly in several respects .
He happened to be a brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy and his two senator brothers , Robert and Edward Kennedy , at a time when the Kennedy name was close to sacrosanct in the Democratic Party .
Shriver also was tapped as the second running mate for McGovern after then-Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri dropped off the ticket following revelations that he had undergone electroshock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times in an interview this week , `` It is true I have never run for office on my own behalf , but I 've run for office on behalf of others . ''
`` If I were to decide to do it , there 's nothing about it that on its face would feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar , '' said Rice , who currently is a distinguished visiting research fellow at American University 's School of International Service .
Last fall , she published a New York Times best-selling memoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Things Worth Fighting For . ''
In addition to Rice 's lack of elective office experience , at least one item on her resume , serving as U.N. ambassador in 2012 when four U.S. compound staffers were killed in Benghazi , Libya , also might weigh against her with some voters .
The Benghazi attack , which killed U.S .
Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens , has been a hobby horse for Republican criticism of Rice , as well as of Hillary Clinton , who was Obama 's secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by GOP members of Congress of misleading the public by stating , in news interviews days after the attack , that it was `` a spontaneous reaction '' to demonstrations against the U.S. Embassy in Cairo , Egypt , which themselves were prompted by outrage against an anti-Muslim film .
It later emerged that the attack in Benghazi was coordinated by an Islamic militant group .
Rice had relied on a CIA assessment for her claim and had noted in news interviews that it was based on preliminary information .
Obama defended her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months later , she withdrew her name from consideration as Clinton 's successor as secretary of State , citing the need to avoid a `` very prolonged , very politicized , very distracting '' Senate confirmation process .
Another factor that could weigh against the Rhodes Scholar is her reputation for being blunt in dealings with others .
A number of news profiles of Rice have used the terms `` sharp elbows '' and `` brusque '' to describe her .
When asked about those characterizations , the source close to Rice said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having this conversation if she were a man . ''
`` I mean , nobody is disputing Ambassador Rice 's effectiveness or integrity , '' the source said .
`` The fact is , she has always been about getting results for the American people . ''

Susan Rice might not be explicitly saying that she wants to be presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate — but the former national security advisor hasn't been shy about suggesting she's more than ready, willing and qualified to fill that role if he wants her.
"Bring that one on, that's all I'll say," Rice told radio show host Ricky Smiley last week when he commented on how happy he would be if she ended up debating Vice President Mike Pence.
And after noting the strengths of other women being considered by Biden, Rice said that in terms of her own strengths, "if I can put it that way, is that I have served in the executive branch in the White House. At the top levels of the federal government for almost two decades."
"I know how to make things work and how to get stuff done," she told Smiley.
Rice, who served in the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and then as national security advisor, indeed has a long, impressive foreign policy resume.
Before holding the senior-level posts, Rice, a Stanford grad, had a four-year stint in the mid-1990s on the National Security Council during the administration of President Bill Clinton, and then spent Clinton's second term as the assistant secretary of State for African Affairs.
Rice's foreign policy chops — and her two-decade history of working and dealing with Biden when he was a U.S. senator and President Barack Obama's vice president — in the past alone would have made her a legitimate contender for the role as Biden's running mate.
Rice is the only person on the vice presidential short list who has spent hundreds of hours in person with Biden, who places a premium on trust and personal rapport on his list of running mate VP qualifications.
In recent weeks, the 55-year-old Rice has come to be considered among the front-runners for that position.
Biden has said he will select a woman to be the vice presidential candidate, and on Tuesday said that he plans to announce his choice in the first week of August.
Amid the dramatic public response to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, Biden has shown an unprecedented willingness to consider several Black women — Rice among them — for the role. Rice's late father, Emmett Rice, in 1979 became the second Black person ever appointed to the Federal Reserve board.
"I don't know that there's another African American woman in the country, or any woman other than maybe Hillary Clinton, who has the stripes that she has on foreign policy," House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., told The Atlantic, after giving Biden a list of potential VP picks that included Rice.
Rice was not available for an interview with CNBC.
But a person close to her said: "She's not campaigning for anything."
"This has never been about her," the source said. "As she herself has said, she's focused on helping elect Joe Biden in November because she believes it is essential to America's future that we defeat Donald Trump."
One potential mark against Rice in a checklist of qualifications for vice president is the fact she has never run for, much less held, elective office, unlike the other women being considered by Biden as a running mate.
While Rice had suggested in a 2018 Twitter post that she would challenge Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, she never followed through on that.
Tweet
The last major-party vice presidential nominee who never previously held elective office was Sargent Shriver, who was Democratic nominee Sen. George McGovern's running mate in 1972.
Shriver was the first director of the Peace Corps. He also served as President Lyndon Johnson's director of the Office of Economic Opportunity and then as President Richard Nixon's ambassador to France.
But Shriver was an anomaly in several respects.
He happened to be a brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy and his two senator brothers, Robert and Edward Kennedy, at a time when the Kennedy name was close to sacrosanct in the Democratic Party. Shriver also was tapped as the second running mate for McGovern after then-Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri dropped off the ticket following revelations that he had undergone electroshock treatment for depression.
Rice told The New York Times in an interview this week, "It is true I have never run for office on my own behalf, but I've run for office on behalf of others."
"If I were to decide to do it, there's nothing about it that on its face would feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar," said Rice, who currently is a distinguished visiting research fellow at American University's School of International Service.
Last fall, she published a New York Times best-selling memoir, "Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For."
In addition to Rice's lack of elective office experience, at least one item on her resume, serving as U.N. ambassador in 2012 when four U.S. compound staffers were killed in Benghazi, Libya, also might weigh against her with some voters.
The Benghazi attack, which killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, has been a hobby horse for Republican criticism of Rice, as well as of Hillary Clinton, who was Obama's secretary of State at the time.
Rice was accused by GOP members of Congress of misleading the public by stating, in news interviews days after the attack, that it was "a spontaneous reaction" to demonstrations against the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, which themselves were prompted by outrage against an anti-Muslim film.
It later emerged that the attack in Benghazi was coordinated by an Islamic militant group.
Rice had relied on a CIA assessment for her claim and had noted in news interviews that it was based on preliminary information.
Obama defended her from critics of her statement.
But months later, she withdrew her name from consideration as Clinton's successor as secretary of State, citing the need to avoid a "very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting" Senate confirmation process.
Another factor that could weigh against the Rhodes Scholar is her reputation for being blunt in dealings with others.
A number of news profiles of Rice have used the terms "sharp elbows" and "brusque" to describe her.
When asked about those characterizations, the source close to Rice said, "We would not even be having this conversation if she were a man."
"I mean, nobody is disputing Ambassador Rice's effectiveness or integrity," the source said. "The fact is, she has always been about getting results for the American people."


cnbc--2020-07-28--GOP and Democrats are far apart on coronavirus relief – here's what happens next

Senate Republicans ' release of a coronavirus relief package Monday only started the thorny process of Congress crafting a bill to try to blunt the economic damage from the pandemic .
Now , GOP leaders and White House officials have to bridge a gulf between their priorities and the goals of top Democrats during talks in the coming days .
While Congress will rush to strike a deal , leaders are not giving firm deadlines for when they aim to agree to and pass legislation .
Republicans will not try to approve their proposal in the Senate .
Both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on waiting to vote until the parties draft a plan that can get through both chambers and become law .
Negotiators started the process Monday evening , when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Leaving the discussions , Meadows described a `` very good meeting . ''
The four officials will meet again at 4 p.m .
ET Tuesday in Pelosi 's office , according to an aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion Monday , Democrats sounded less hopeful than Meadows did about where the bill stands .
`` Unfortunately , we 're pretty far apart right now , although I 'm optimistic we could have a good solution at the end , '' Schumer said Tuesday on `` CBS This Morning . ''
Asked if the sides could reach a deal before the end of next week , he said : `` I hope so , and that 's what we 're working for .
We 'll sit down .
We 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit down 24/7 . ''
Congress faces pressure to approve more aid , as any delays will hold back assistance to jobless Americans after states stopped paying out the $ 600 per week federal unemployment benefit this week .
A federal eviction moratorium expired , states are trying to process a flurry of Covid-19 tests during a nationwide surge and school districts are struggling to plan how to open safely in the fall .
After previous coronavirus aid packages passed with overwhelming support in the spring , the developing bill looks likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have expressed concerns about more federal spending to buoy the economy after Congress allocated more than $ 2.5 trillion to combat the pandemic earlier this year .
Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , told CNBC that `` Republicans are going to be divided on this one . ''
Many GOP lawmakers oppose the plan as written now , and will resist concessions the White House makes to earn Pelosi 's support .
`` I imagine it 's probably another week or two , '' Toomey said Tuesday about when Congress could reach an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Democrats and Republicans in the coming weeks will likely include jobless benefits , aid for state and local governments , liability protections for businesses , and rent , mortgage and food assistance .
The Republican package , released Monday as a series of smaller bills , would cut the enhanced unemployment benefit from $ 600 to $ 200 per week ( on top of what recipients get from states ) through September .
It would then set the assistance at 70 % of a worker 's previous wages , with a cap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have warned outdated state unemployment systems can not handle replacing a percentage of wages , which would delay critical assistance for the roughly 30 million people getting some form of unemployment insurance .
They have called to extend the $ 600 per week benefit into next year and potentially phase it out as state unemployment rates fall .
On top of the unemployment change , the GOP proposal would send another direct payment of up to $ 1,200 to individuals and $ 2,400 to couples .
It includes an additional $ 500 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican legislation includes liability protections for businesses , doctors and schools except for cases of `` gross negligence '' or `` willful misconduct . ''
Businesses with fewer than 300 employees who endured a revenue drop of more than 50 % could apply for another Paycheck Protection Program loan .
The plan would authorize $ 105 billion for schools , some of which would go only to districts that physically reopen .
It would also put $ 26 billion toward the development of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics , and send $ 16 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity .
After the meeting with administration officials Monday , Pelosi criticized Republicans for leaving out key aid measures Democrats included in the $ 3 trillion relief package they passed in May .
Those include more relief funds for cash-crunched state and local governments , money to assist renters and a moratorium on evictions , and a strengthened Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit to help families afford food .
`` We have some other priorities that we want to see in the bill , but they 're not even getting to the fundamentals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Pelosi said .
`` They 're not really ready to have a serious negotiation . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Democrats on Tuesday for what he called `` partisan tropes '' in opposition to the GOP plan .
`` Do the speaker of the House and the Democratic leader believe that struggling Americans deserve an outcome or do they want to stay on the sidelines and recite talking points ? ''
the Kentucky Republican asked .
The Democratic bill passed in May allocated nearly $ 1 trillion to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the possibility of cutting back essential services as they spend more and take in less money during the pandemic .
The GOP proposal would not authorize any new aid .
Instead , it would give states and municipalities more flexibility in how to spend relief funds approved earlier this year .
The House legislation would put $ 175 billion toward rent , mortgage and utility assistance .
It would also boost the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 % .
As lawmakers try to resolve a bevy of issues and pass coronavirus relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August recess , both Pelosi and Schumer stressed that they would not put a deadline on reaching a deal .
`` No , '' the House speaker told reporters Monday when asked if Democrats had a time frame for striking an agreement .
Schumer added : `` No , we 're going to keep talking .
That 's all . ''

An ambulance sits outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, March 23, 2020, as the Senate continues negotiations on a relief package in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
Senate Republicans' release of a coronavirus relief package Monday only started the thorny process of Congress crafting a bill to try to blunt the economic damage from the pandemic. Now, GOP leaders and White House officials have to bridge a gulf between their priorities and the goals of top Democrats during talks in the coming days. While Congress will rush to strike a deal, leaders are not giving firm deadlines for when they aim to agree to and pass legislation. Republicans will not try to approve their proposal in the Senate. Both the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House appear intent on waiting to vote until the parties draft a plan that can get through both chambers and become law. Negotiators started the process Monday evening, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Leaving the discussions, Meadows described a "very good meeting." The four officials will meet again at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday in Pelosi's office, according to an aide familiar with the plan.
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After the discussion Monday, Democrats sounded less hopeful than Meadows did about where the bill stands. "Unfortunately, we're pretty far apart right now, although I'm optimistic we could have a good solution at the end," Schumer said Tuesday on "CBS This Morning." Asked if the sides could reach a deal before the end of next week, he said: "I hope so, and that's what we're working for. We'll sit down. We're going to sit down again today. We'll sit down 24/7." Congress faces pressure to approve more aid, as any delays will hold back assistance to jobless Americans after states stopped paying out the $600 per week federal unemployment benefit this week. A federal eviction moratorium expired, states are trying to process a flurry of Covid-19 tests during a nationwide surge and school districts are struggling to plan how to open safely in the fall. After previous coronavirus aid packages passed with overwhelming support in the spring, the developing bill looks likely to draw less support. Some GOP lawmakers have expressed concerns about more federal spending to buoy the economy after Congress allocated more than $2.5 trillion to combat the pandemic earlier this year. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., told CNBC that "Republicans are going to be divided on this one." Many GOP lawmakers oppose the plan as written now, and will resist concessions the White House makes to earn Pelosi's support. "I imagine it's probably another week or two," Toomey said Tuesday about when Congress could reach an agreement.
Points of contention
The core areas of dispute between Democrats and Republicans in the coming weeks will likely include jobless benefits, aid for state and local governments, liability protections for businesses, and rent, mortgage and food assistance. The Republican package, released Monday as a series of smaller bills, would cut the enhanced unemployment benefit from $600 to $200 per week (on top of what recipients get from states) through September. It would then set the assistance at 70% of a worker's previous wages, with a cap of $500 per week.
watch now
Democrats have warned outdated state unemployment systems cannot handle replacing a percentage of wages, which would delay critical assistance for the roughly 30 million people getting some form of unemployment insurance. They have called to extend the $600 per week benefit into next year and potentially phase it out as state unemployment rates fall. On top of the unemployment change, the GOP proposal would send another direct payment of up to $1,200 to individuals and $2,400 to couples. It includes an additional $500 for every dependent of any age. The Republican legislation includes liability protections for businesses, doctors and schools except for cases of "gross negligence" or "willful misconduct." Businesses with fewer than 300 employees who endured a revenue drop of more than 50% could apply for another Paycheck Protection Program loan. The plan would authorize $105 billion for schools, some of which would go only to districts that physically reopen. It would also put $26 billion toward the development of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics, and send $16 billion to states to help them boost testing capacity.
watch now
Democratic pushback
After the meeting with administration officials Monday, Pelosi criticized Republicans for leaving out key aid measures Democrats included in the $3 trillion relief package they passed in May. Those include more relief funds for cash-crunched state and local governments, money to assist renters and a moratorium on evictions, and a strengthened Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit to help families afford food. "We have some other priorities that we want to see in the bill, but they're not even getting to the fundamentals of food and rent and economic survival," Pelosi said. "They're not really ready to have a serious negotiation." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Democrats on Tuesday for what he called "partisan tropes" in opposition to the GOP plan. "Do the speaker of the House and the Democratic leader believe that struggling Americans deserve an outcome or do they want to stay on the sidelines and recite talking points?" the Kentucky Republican asked. The Democratic bill passed in May allocated nearly $1 trillion to state and local governments, which have warned about the possibility of cutting back essential services as they spend more and take in less money during the pandemic. The GOP proposal would not authorize any new aid. Instead, it would give states and municipalities more flexibility in how to spend relief funds approved earlier this year. The House legislation would put $175 billion toward rent, mortgage and utility assistance. It would also boost the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%. As lawmakers try to resolve a bevy of issues and pass coronavirus relief before they leave for a potentially abbreviated August recess, both Pelosi and Schumer stressed that they would not put a deadline on reaching a deal. "No," the House speaker told reporters Monday when asked if Democrats had a time frame for striking an agreement. Schumer added: "No, we're going to keep talking. That's all." Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-07-28--Joe Biden unveils racial economic equity plan that calls for investment in minority businesses, work

Joe Biden unveils racial economic equity plan that calls for investment in minority businesses, workers

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a roadmap of policy proposals Tuesday that are aimed at narrowing the generational wealth gap that persists between White Americans and their Black , Latino , Asian and Native American neighbors .
Biden 's racial economic equity plan is the fourth plank in the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee 's `` Build Back Better '' economic platform .
Biden announced the plan at a speech in Wilmington , Delaware .
There , Biden drew a sharp contrast between his view of the national reckoning underway on racial justice and the ongoing protests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his opponent , President Donald Trump .
`` Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire , '' said Biden .
`` It 's the last thing we need .
We need leadership that will calm the waters and lower the temperature .
That 's how to restore peace in the streets . ''
Biden 's economic equity plan is largely a repackaging of dozens of his existing proposals from across the campaign 's platforms , such as his plan to offer a one-time student debt reduction of $ 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 15 hourly minimum wage .
It also contains a separate section focused on criminal justice reform , which includes Biden 's plan to eliminate cash bail and to guarantee that formerly incarcerated people are provided temporary housing upon release from prison .
It will take all of these policies working together , he said , to begin to achieve economic equality for people of color .
`` How do we break the cycle ?
In good times , communities of color still lag .
In bad times , they get hit first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they take the longest to bounce back .
This is about justice ... it 's also about jobs , good-paying jobs .
And financial stability , building wealth for families of color and passing it down to their kids . ''
Here are some of the key proposals in Biden 's economic equity plank : • Create a new Small Business Opportunity Fund and seed it with $ 30 billion of Biden 's proposed $ 300 billion domestic innovation funding .
• Expand the New Markets Tax Credit to $ 5 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pass legislation to require the Federal Reserve to report data and trends on racial economic gaps and commit the Fed to a `` real-time '' payment system aimed at eliminating the time it takes for checks to clear .
The New Markets Tax Credit program awards tax credits to investors who provide capital for community development entities , which finance projects in qualified low-income communities .
Created by Congress in 2000 , the NMTC has supported more than 5,300 projects in the past two decades , but it is scheduled to expire at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous three planks in Biden 's economic platform , the racial equity plan does not initially include demands for more federal spending .
Instead , it is centered on the ways that funding Biden has already proposed in his first three planks is allocated .
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning , senior Biden campaign advisors said more details about the costs and the funding of these proposals are forthcoming , although they did not specify when to expect the numbers .
One thing the plan does not contain is any reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing movement on the left in recent years to quantify and compensate Black Americans for centuries of slave labor and for the subsequent Jim Crow laws that denied them access to the same opportunities to build wealth that White families were given .
Grouping all of these policy proposals together under the umbrella of racial economic equity is one way for Biden 's campaign to codify the former vice president 's commitment to addressing the deep-seated racial injustice that has sparked massive civil unrest across the country this summer .
Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this moment of crisis .
Understanding people 's struggles , and building a future worthy of their courage and their ambition to overcome . ''

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a roadmap of policy proposals Tuesday that are aimed at narrowing the generational wealth gap that persists between White Americans and their Black, Latino, Asian and Native American neighbors.
Biden's racial economic equity plan is the fourth plank in the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's "Build Back Better" economic platform. Biden announced the plan at a speech in Wilmington, Delaware.
There, Biden drew a sharp contrast between his view of the national reckoning underway on racial justice and the ongoing protests in major cities, and the views of his opponent, President Donald Trump.
"Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire," said Biden. "It's the last thing we need. We need leadership that will calm the waters and lower the temperature. That's how to restore peace in the streets."
Biden's economic equity plan is largely a repackaging of dozens of his existing proposals from across the campaign's platforms, such as his plan to offer a one-time student debt reduction of $10,000 per student and his call for a $15 hourly minimum wage.
It also contains a separate section focused on criminal justice reform, which includes Biden's plan to eliminate cash bail and to guarantee that formerly incarcerated people are provided temporary housing upon release from prison.
It will take all of these policies working together, he said, to begin to achieve economic equality for people of color.
"How do we break the cycle? In good times, communities of color still lag. In bad times, they get hit first and the hardest. And in recovery, they take the longest to bounce back. This is about justice ... it's also about jobs, good-paying jobs. And financial stability, building wealth for families of color and passing it down to their kids."
Here are some of the key proposals in Biden's economic equity plank:
Create a new Small Business Opportunity Fund and seed it with $30 billion of Biden's proposed $300 billion domestic innovation funding.
Expand the New Markets Tax Credit to $5 billion yearly and make it permanent.
Pass legislation to require the Federal Reserve to report data and trends on racial economic gaps and commit the Fed to a "real-time" payment system aimed at eliminating the time it takes for checks to clear.
The New Markets Tax Credit program awards tax credits to investors who provide capital for community development entities, which finance projects in qualified low-income communities. Created by Congress in 2000, the NMTC has supported more than 5,300 projects in the past two decades, but it is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.
Unlike the previous three planks in Biden's economic platform, the racial equity plan does not initially include demands for more federal spending. Instead, it is centered on the ways that funding Biden has already proposed in his first three planks is allocated.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, senior Biden campaign advisors said more details about the costs and the funding of these proposals are forthcoming, although they did not specify when to expect the numbers.
One thing the plan does not contain is any reference to the word "reparations," despite a growing movement on the left in recent years to quantify and compensate Black Americans for centuries of slave labor and for the subsequent Jim Crow laws that denied them access to the same opportunities to build wealth that White families were given.
Grouping all of these policy proposals together under the umbrella of racial economic equity is one way for Biden's campaign to codify the former vice president's commitment to addressing the deep-seated racial injustice that has sparked massive civil unrest across the country this summer.
Biden said his plan is "about rising to this moment of crisis. Understanding people's struggles, and building a future worthy of their courage and their ambition to overcome."
Read the entire plan below.


cnbc--2020-07-28--Attorney General Barr rails against 'bogus' Russia probe, 'violent rioters' in heated House testimon

Attorney General Barr rails against 'bogus' Russia probe, 'violent rioters' in heated House testimony

Attorney General William Barr testified before Congress on Tuesday that `` violent rioters and anarchists '' have `` hijacked '' the protests over George Floyd 's death `` to wreak senseless havoc and destruction on innocent victims . ''
In prepared remarks , Barr also offered a full-throated defense of his much-criticized conduct in the federal probe of Russian election interference , slamming the `` bogus 'Russiagate ' scandal '' and asserting President Donald Trump has not acted inappropriately .
Barr delivered an abridged version of that statement before the House Judiciary Committee , where he faced a hostile audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Your tenure is marked by a persistent war against the department 's professional core in an apparent effort to secure favors for the president , '' Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , said in his own opening remarks .
`` In your time at the department , you have aided and abetted the worst failings of this president . ''
The hearing comes more than a month after Nadler threatened to subpoena Barr to testify after the firing of Geoffrey Berman as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berman was `` stepping down . ''
Berman 's office at the time was reportedly engaged in an investigation into Trump 's attorney , Rudy Giuliani .
Berman initially refused to leave , saying he would only do so when his replacement was confirmed by the Senate .
Barr then told Berman in a letter that Trump had fired him .
Barr 's spokeswoman announced on June 24 that the attorney general had accepted an invitation for a `` general oversight hearing . ''
The hearing marks Barr 's first-ever appearance before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration and his first session before Congress in more than a year .
The hearing was originally set for 10 a.m .
ET , but was delayed until around 11 a.m. following a `` minor accident , '' a spokesman for the committee told CNBC .
Nadler added at the hearing that he was involved in a `` minor car accident . ''
Rep. Jim Jordan , the committee 's top Republican , launched into his opening statement by decrying the Russia probe as a coordinated effort by Democrats to undermine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word , that 's why they 're after you , '' Jordan said to Barr .
The ranking Republican then showed a lengthy video comprising dozens of clips of violence and property destruction apparently carried out during the recent spate of riots .
Trump 's reelection 'comes up ' in Cabinet discussions , Barr says Nadler in his opening line of questions grilled Barr on whether he had discussed Trump 's reelection efforts with the president or his surrogates .
`` I 'm not going to get into my discussions with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give a yes or no response , Barr said he had not discussed the reelection campaign with regard to Operation Legend , a law enforcement program recently initiated to provide aid to local authorities .
`` I did n't ask that , '' Nadler said , to which Barr replied : `` I 'm a member of the Cabinet , and there 's an election going on .
Obviously the topic comes up . ''
`` So the answer 's yes ? ''
Nadler asked .
`` Well , the topic comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Barr said .
`` It should n't be a surprise that the topic of the election comes up . ''
The hearing intensified as Rep. Steve Cohen , D-Tenn. , grilled Barr over his handling of the June 1 incident in which protesters were forcibly cleared from Lafayette Square following a Trump Rose Garden address .
Once the square across from the White House was cleared , Trump , along with other members of the administration – including Barr , Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the nation 's highest-ranking military officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley – participated in a photo-op in front of historic St. John 's Church .
Cohen slammed Barr for orchestrating the clearance of the peaceful protesters , calling it `` an affront to the Constitution and the American people . ''
`` You said get it done , you said get it done , '' Cohen shouted at Barr , who was cut off before he could address the claim .
Cohen went on to address the escalating violence in Portland , Oregon , saying that Barr 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Just like your Bureau of Prisons guards , were poorly trained and allowed the most notorious inmate in our nation 's last several years , Jeffrey Epstein , to conveniently commit suicide . ''
Barr denied that he was doing what Trump wanted when the Justice Department reduced its recommended sentence for Roger Stone , a longtime ally of Trump 's who had been convicted on charges of lying to Congress , obstruction and witness tampering .
`` Do you think it is fair for a 67-year-old man to be sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Barr asked in a fiery exchange with Rep. Hank Johnson , D-Ga .
Prosecutors had recommended in February that a federal judge deliver that sentence for Stone , saying it mirrored federal guidelines .
But Trump blasted the move , calling it `` a horrible and very unfair situation . ''
A day after that sentencing memo was made public , the DOJ sent the judge a revised recommendation , saying Stone deserved `` far less '' time in prison than what the four prosecutors on the case had proposed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
The original recommended sentence `` was within the guidelines , '' Barr said Tuesday , `` but it was not within Justice Department policy in my view . ''
Barr told Johnson at the hearing he had not discussed his sentencing recommendation with `` anyone at the White House or anyone outside the department . ''
Stone was ultimately sentenced to a 40-month prison term .
But Trump in July commuted Stone 's sentence just four days before the GOP operative was set to be incarcerated .
Barr 's opening statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not directly address Berman 's ouster .
Rather , Barr accused Democrats on the panel of using the hearing to further their attempts `` to discredit me by conjuring up a narrative that I am simply the President 's factotum who disposes of criminal cases according to his instructions . ''
He said Trump `` has not attempted to interfere '' in criminal matters under the attorney general 's purview .
`` From my experience , the President has played a role properly and traditionally played by Presidents , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large part on Floyd , a Black man whose death while unarmed at the hands of a White police officer in Minneapolis sparked a massive wave of protests across the U.S. Floyd 's killing `` understandably jarred the whole country and forced us to reflect on longstanding issues in our nation , '' Barr 's statement said .
`` Given our history it is understandable that , among black Americans , there is at least some ambivalence , and often distrust , toward the police . ''
But events like Floyd 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barr said .
He warned that the `` demonization '' of police , and the `` grossly irresponsible proposals '' to defund them , are `` gravely injurious to our inner city communities . ''
Barr defended the deployment of federal law enforcement officers to cities like Portland , Oregon , where clashes between police and demonstrators have become increasingly violent .
`` What unfolds nightly around the courthouse can not reasonably be called a protest ; it is , by any objective measure , an assault on the Government of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To state what should be obvious , peaceful protesters do not throw explosives into federal courthouses , tear down plywood with crowbars , or launch fecal matter at federal officers .
Such acts are in fact federal crimes under statutes enacted by this Congress . ''
Barr 's statement urged all members of the House Judiciary Committee to `` condemn violence against federal officers and destruction of federal property . ''
`` To tacitly condone destruction and anarchy is to abandon the basic rule-of-law principles that should unite us even in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Attorney General William Barr testified before Congress on Tuesday that "violent rioters and anarchists" have "hijacked" the protests over George Floyd's death "to wreak senseless havoc and destruction on innocent victims." In prepared remarks, Barr also offered a full-throated defense of his much-criticized conduct in the federal probe of Russian election interference, slamming the "bogus 'Russiagate' scandal" and asserting President Donald Trump has not acted inappropriately. Barr delivered an abridged version of that statement before the House Judiciary Committee, where he faced a hostile audience in the panel's Democratic majority. "Your tenure is marked by a persistent war against the department's professional core in an apparent effort to secure favors for the president," Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said in his own opening remarks. "In your time at the department, you have aided and abetted the worst failings of this president." The hearing comes more than a month after Nadler threatened to subpoena Barr to testify after the firing of Geoffrey Berman as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. In June, Barr announced that Berman was "stepping down." Berman's office at the time was reportedly engaged in an investigation into Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani. Berman initially refused to leave, saying he would only do so when his replacement was confirmed by the Senate. Barr then told Berman in a letter that Trump had fired him. Barr's spokeswoman announced on June 24 that the attorney general had accepted an invitation for a "general oversight hearing." The hearing marks Barr's first-ever appearance before the House Judiciary panel during his tenure in the Trump administration and his first session before Congress in more than a year.
watch now
The hearing was originally set for 10 a.m. ET, but was delayed until around 11 a.m. following a "minor accident," a spokesman for the committee told CNBC. Nadler added at the hearing that he was involved in a "minor car accident." Rep. Jim Jordan, the committee's top Republican, launched into his opening statement by decrying the Russia probe as a coordinated effort by Democrats to undermine Trump. "Spying. That one word, that's why they're after you," Jordan said to Barr. The ranking Republican then showed a lengthy video comprising dozens of clips of violence and property destruction apparently carried out during the recent spate of riots.
Trump's reelection 'comes up' in Cabinet discussions, Barr says
Nadler in his opening line of questions grilled Barr on whether he had discussed Trump's reelection efforts with the president or his surrogates. "I'm not going to get into my discussions with the president," Barr initially said. Pressed to give a yes or no response, Barr said he had not discussed the reelection campaign with regard to Operation Legend, a law enforcement program recently initiated to provide aid to local authorities. "I didn't ask that," Nadler said, to which Barr replied: "I'm a member of the Cabinet, and there's an election going on. Obviously the topic comes up." "So the answer's yes?" Nadler asked. "Well, the topic comes up in Cabinet meetings and other things," Barr said. "It shouldn't be a surprise that the topic of the election comes up."
Rep. Steve Cohen grills Barr over DOJ's role in Lafayette Square clearing
watch now
The hearing intensified as Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., grilled Barr over his handling of the June 1 incident in which protesters were forcibly cleared from Lafayette Square following a Trump Rose Garden address. Once the square across from the White House was cleared, Trump, along with other members of the administration – including Barr, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the nation's highest-ranking military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley – participated in a photo-op in front of historic St. John's Church. Cohen slammed Barr for orchestrating the clearance of the peaceful protesters, calling it "an affront to the Constitution and the American people." "You said get it done, you said get it done," Cohen shouted at Barr, who was cut off before he could address the claim. Cohen went on to address the escalating violence in Portland, Oregon, saying that Barr's "secret police were poorly trained." "Just like your Bureau of Prisons guards, were poorly trained and allowed the most notorious inmate in our nation's last several years, Jeffrey Epstein, to conveniently commit suicide."
Barr defends DOJ reducing Roger Stone's sentencing recommendation
Barr denied that he was doing what Trump wanted when the Justice Department reduced its recommended sentence for Roger Stone, a longtime ally of Trump's who had been convicted on charges of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. "Do you think it is fair for a 67-year-old man to be sent to prison for seven to nine years?" Barr asked in a fiery exchange with Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. Prosecutors had recommended in February that a federal judge deliver that sentence for Stone, saying it mirrored federal guidelines. But Trump blasted the move, calling it "a horrible and very unfair situation." A day after that sentencing memo was made public, the DOJ sent the judge a revised recommendation, saying Stone deserved "far less" time in prison than what the four prosecutors on the case had proposed. Those prosecutors then dramatically quit Stone's case. The original recommended sentence "was within the guidelines," Barr said Tuesday, "but it was not within Justice Department policy in my view." Barr told Johnson at the hearing he had not discussed his sentencing recommendation with "anyone at the White House or anyone outside the department." Stone was ultimately sentenced to a 40-month prison term. But Trump in July commuted Stone's sentence just four days before the GOP operative was set to be incarcerated.
Barr's prepared remarks


cnbc--2020-07-28--Trump campaign accused of masking $170 million in spending

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One in Washington , D.C. , on Monday , July 28 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign violated the law by masking millions in spending , a nonprofit democracy group alleged in a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday .
The Campaign Legal Center said in the 81-page filing that the president 's reelection campaign and campaign committee hid $ 170 million in spending to major vendors as well as family members and associates by diverting the money through firms headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as campaign manager earlier this month , as well as other senior campaign officials .
The nonprofit alleged that the campaign effectively laundered money in order to hide payments to contractors and advisors , including the maker of a campaign app , as well as Lara Trump , the president 's daughter-in-law , and Kimberly Guilfoyle , a former Fox News host who is dating the president 's son Donald Trump Jr. '' This scheme flies in the face of transparency requirements mandated by federal law , and it leaves voters and donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's funds are actually going , '' said Trevor Potter , a former Republican FEC chair and the president of the Campaign Legal Center .
The complaint is unlikely to lead to any penalties .
The FEC has just three confirmed commissioners , and it requires the vote of four in order to take action .
Caroline Hunter , a Republican commissioner , resigned last month .
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement that `` the campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations . ''
The complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Make America Great Again Committee have shielded their spending primarily through a clearinghouse firm called American Made Media Holding Corporation , whose directors include campaign operations director Sean Dollman and campaign counsel Alex Cannon .
Further spending was obscured through payments to Parscale 's consulting firm Parscale Strategy , it claims .
Federal election law requires the disclosure of payments greater than $ 200 , including to subcontractors if they are not sufficiently independent of the campaign .
In the complaint , the Campaign Legal Center says the Trump campaign unlawfully evaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 28, 2020.
President Donald Trump's reelection campaign violated the law by masking millions in spending, a nonprofit democracy group alleged in a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.
The Campaign Legal Center said in the 81-page filing that the president's reelection campaign and campaign committee hid $170 million in spending to major vendors as well as family members and associates by diverting the money through firms headed by Brad Parscale, who was replaced as campaign manager earlier this month, as well as other senior campaign officials.
The nonprofit alleged that the campaign effectively laundered money in order to hide payments to contractors and advisors, including the maker of a campaign app, as well as Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who is dating the president's son Donald Trump Jr.
"This scheme flies in the face of transparency requirements mandated by federal law, and it leaves voters and donors in the dark about where the campaign's funds are actually going," said Trevor Potter, a former Republican FEC chair and the president of the Campaign Legal Center.
The complaint is unlikely to lead to any penalties. The FEC has just three confirmed commissioners, and it requires the vote of four in order to take action. Caroline Hunter, a Republican commissioner, resigned last month.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement that "the campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations."
The complaint alleges that the Trump campaign and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee have shielded their spending primarily through a clearinghouse firm called American Made Media Holding Corporation, whose directors include campaign operations director Sean Dollman and campaign counsel Alex Cannon.
Further spending was obscured through payments to Parscale's consulting firm Parscale Strategy, it claims.
Federal election law requires the disclosure of payments greater than $200, including to subcontractors if they are not sufficiently independent of the campaign. In the complaint, the Campaign Legal Center says the Trump campaign unlawfully evaded that requirement by "laundering the funds."


cnbc--2020-07-28--Senate HEALS Act allows businesses to write off up to 100% of the cost of meals

The Senate HEALS Act would allow business owners to take a temporary 100 % tax deduction on business meals .
The GOP 's $ 1 trillion proposal , which was released on Monday , calls for a range of relief measures to help buoy Americans during the coronavirus pandemic .
Aside from offering another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks and a reduced stream of unemployment benefits , the legislation aims to encourage business people to visit restaurants more often .
A provision in the HEALS Act would permit businesses to fully write off the value of meals until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance : Why unemployment is a broken system How to build an emergency fund GOP propose second round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks That 's up from a 50 % deduction that 's currently allowed for meals and snacks at work , as well as client meals if business is being conducted .
`` We know that more than 5.5 million restaurant workers lost their jobs as the pandemic hit , '' said Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , in a statement .
He sponsored the measure , known as the Supporting America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of these jobs have been recovered , it is clear more help is needed , '' Scott said .
Indeed , coronavirus has battered restaurants .
Many establishments shuttered their doors at least temporarily amid stay-at-home orders in the spring .

The Senate HEALS Act would allow business owners to take a temporary 100% tax deduction on business meals.
The GOP's $1 trillion proposal, which was released on Monday, calls for a range of relief measures to help buoy Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Aside from offering another round of $1,200 stimulus checks and a reduced stream of unemployment benefits, the legislation aims to encourage business people to visit restaurants more often.
A provision in the HEALS Act would permit businesses to fully write off the value of meals until the end of 2020.
More from Personal Finance:
Why unemployment is a broken system
How to build an emergency fund
GOP propose second round of $1,200 stimulus checks
That's up from a 50% deduction that's currently allowed for meals and snacks at work, as well as client meals if business is being conducted.
"We know that more than 5.5 million restaurant workers lost their jobs as the pandemic hit," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in a statement. He sponsored the measure, known as the Supporting America's Restaurant Workers Act.
"While some of these jobs have been recovered, it is clear more help is needed," Scott said.
Indeed, coronavirus has battered restaurants. Many establishments shuttered their doors at least temporarily amid stay-at-home orders in the spring.


cnbc--2020-07-28--Trump asks: 'Why don't I have a high approval' on the coronavirus when Fauci does?

President Donald Trump wants to know why his approval ratings on the coronavirus response are n't as high as the administration 's top infectious disease expert , Dr. Anthony Fauci .
`` He 's got a very good approval rating , '' Trump said of Fauci on Tuesday during a White House press briefing on the pandemic .
`` And I like that , it 's good , because remember , he 's working for this administration . ''
`` And he 's got this high approval rating , '' Trump said , `` So why do n't I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the administration , with respect to the virus ? ''
The president had been asked about Twitter posts he retweeted on Monday evening accusing Fauci , a member of the White House coronavirus task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , of misleading Americans .
`` I do n't even know what his stance is on it , '' Trump said when asked how Fauci was allegedly misleading Americans about hyroxychloroquine , the malaria drug that is unproven to be an effective treatment for Covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Trump has long been an advocate for hydroxychloroquine , and had even taken it himself as a prophylactic measure .
Fauci , however , has been more dismissive of the drug 's effectiveness against the coronavirus .
Fauci said on ABC 's `` Good Morning America '' on Tuesday that clinical trials have overwhelmingly shown hydroxychloroquine `` is not effective '' in treating Covid-19 .
`` I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances , '' Fauci added .
Despite being a part of the Trump administration , Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from within the White House .
Trump 's trade advisor Peter Navarro penned an op-ed blasting Fauci for being `` wrong about everything I have interacted with him on . ''
And a White House official even circulated a list of Fauci 's alleged missteps that resembled an opposition research-type document used in political campaigns .
Still , Fauci continues to enjoy high approval ratings from public polls on his efforts against the pandemic .
Nearly two -thirds of the country has faith in Fauci , according to a Quinnipiac poll released earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters approve of Trump 's handling of the virus , that poll showed .
`` We could have gotten other people , we could have gotten somebody else , it did n't have to be Dr. Fauci , '' Trump said at the presser on Tuesday evening .
`` He 's working with our administration , and for the most part , we 've done pretty much what he and others , Dr. [ Deborah ] Birx and others , who are terrific , recommended . ''
`` It sort of is curious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with us , very closely , Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx , also highly thought of , and yet they 're highly thought of but nobody likes me , '' Trump said .
`` It can only be my personality .
That 's all , '' he added .
More than 4.3 million people in the U.S. have contracted Covid-19 and at least 148,298 have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .

President Donald Trump wants to know why his approval ratings on the coronavirus response aren't as high as the administration's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
"He's got a very good approval rating," Trump said of Fauci on Tuesday during a White House press briefing on the pandemic. "And I like that, it's good, because remember, he's working for this administration."
"And he's got this high approval rating," Trump said, "So why don't I have a high approval rating with respect -- and the administration, with respect to the virus?"
The president had been asked about Twitter posts he retweeted on Monday evening accusing Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of misleading Americans.
"I don't even know what his stance is on it," Trump said when asked how Fauci was allegedly misleading Americans about hyroxychloroquine, the malaria drug that is unproven to be an effective treatment for Covid-19.
The posts have since been removed. But Trump has long been an advocate for hydroxychloroquine, and had even taken it himself as a prophylactic measure.
Fauci, however, has been more dismissive of the drug's effectiveness against the coronavirus.
Fauci said on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that clinical trials have overwhelmingly shown hydroxychloroquine "is not effective" in treating Covid-19.
"I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances," Fauci added.
Despite being a part of the Trump administration, Fauci has recently been the target of criticism from within the White House. Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro penned an op-ed blasting Fauci for being "wrong about everything I have interacted with him on." And a White House official even circulated a list of Fauci's alleged missteps that resembled an opposition research-type document used in political campaigns.
Still, Fauci continues to enjoy high approval ratings from public polls on his efforts against the pandemic. Nearly two -thirds of the country has faith in Fauci, according to a Quinnipiac poll released earlier this month.
Just over one-third of voters approve of Trump's handling of the virus, that poll showed.
"We could have gotten other people, we could have gotten somebody else, it didn't have to be Dr. Fauci," Trump said at the presser on Tuesday evening. "He's working with our administration, and for the most part, we've done pretty much what he and others, Dr. [Deborah] Birx and others, who are terrific, recommended."
"It sort of is curious. A man works for us, with us, very closely, Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx, also highly thought of, and yet they're highly thought of but nobody likes me," Trump said.
"It can only be my personality. That's all," he added.
More than 4.3 million people in the U.S. have contracted Covid-19 and at least 148,298 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.


cnbc--2020-07-29--Republicans and Democrats are far from a coronavirus relief deal as financial lifelines expire

Republicans and Democrats appeared far from striking a coronavirus relief deal Wednesday as millions of Americans wait to see whether Congress will renew financial lifelines during an ongoing economic and health crisis .
As negotiators cite little progress in talks and congressional leaders snipe at one another on Capitol Hill , the Trump administration again raised the prospect of a short-term plan to address only enhanced unemployment insurance and a federal eviction moratorium while the sides hash out a broader bill .
Democrats have repeatedly rejected a temporary fix .
`` We 're nowhere close to a deal , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday after a meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , according to reporters at the Capitol .
Earlier , Mnuchin said President Donald Trump would support approving short-term legislation to allow more time for talks if the parties fail to strike an agreement before Friday .
The enhanced $ 600 per week federal unemployment benefit technically expires that day .
`` We 're not accepting that , '' Pelosi told reporters after the meeting , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Comments from congressional leaders and White House officials portrayed a messy , politically charged process that appears unlikely to lead to a quick breakthrough to combat an economic and health-care calamity .
As roughly 30 million people still receive some form of unemployment insurance , states have stopped paying out the extra jobless benefit .
A federal eviction moratorium also expired last week .
As Covid-19 spreads throughout the country , the U.S. has now reported more than 4.3 million cases and more than 150,000 deaths related to the disease , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senate Republicans released a roughly $ 1 trillion pandemic aid bill this week , a counter to the $ 3 trillion package House Democrats passed in May .
But the proposal has not earned the support of many GOP lawmakers , let alone Democrats .
As his administration works with Pelosi and Schumer to craft a plan that could pass both the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House , Trump downplayed the importance of resolving issues other than the jobless benefit and eviction moratorium .
`` We 're going to work on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get evicted .
We 'll work on the payments for the people .
And the rest of it , we 're so far apart , we do n't care .
We really do n't care , '' the president told reporters before he left for Texas on Wednesday .
He claimed that `` the Democrats are n't taking care of the people .
The payments are n't enough . ''

Republicans and Democrats appeared far from striking a coronavirus relief deal Wednesday as millions of Americans wait to see whether Congress will renew financial lifelines during an ongoing economic and health crisis.
As negotiators cite little progress in talks and congressional leaders snipe at one another on Capitol Hill, the Trump administration again raised the prospect of a short-term plan to address only enhanced unemployment insurance and a federal eviction moratorium while the sides hash out a broader bill. Democrats have repeatedly rejected a temporary fix.
"We're nowhere close to a deal," White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday after a meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., according to reporters at the Capitol.
Earlier, Mnuchin said President Donald Trump would support approving short-term legislation to allow more time for talks if the parties fail to strike an agreement before Friday. The enhanced $600 per week federal unemployment benefit technically expires that day.
"We're not accepting that," Pelosi told reporters after the meeting, saying she wants a "comprehensive" bill.
Comments from congressional leaders and White House officials portrayed a messy, politically charged process that appears unlikely to lead to a quick breakthrough to combat an economic and health-care calamity. As roughly 30 million people still receive some form of unemployment insurance, states have stopped paying out the extra jobless benefit. A federal eviction moratorium also expired last week.
As Covid-19 spreads throughout the country, the U.S. has now reported more than 4.3 million cases and more than 150,000 deaths related to the disease, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Senate Republicans released a roughly $1 trillion pandemic aid bill this week, a counter to the $3 trillion package House Democrats passed in May. But the proposal has not earned the support of many GOP lawmakers, let alone Democrats.
As his administration works with Pelosi and Schumer to craft a plan that could pass both the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House, Trump downplayed the importance of resolving issues other than the jobless benefit and eviction moratorium.
"We're going to work on the evictions, so that people don't get evicted. We'll work on the payments for the people. And the rest of it, we're so far apart, we don't care. We really don't care," the president told reporters before he left for Texas on Wednesday.
He claimed that "the Democrats aren't taking care of the people. The payments aren't enough."


cnbc--2020-07-29--Accused Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell claims possible 'perjury trap' in bid to keep c

Accused Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell claims possible 'perjury trap' in bid to keep court records sealed

Ghislaine Maxwell , longtime associate of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein , speaks at a news conference on oceans and sustainable development at the United Nations in New York , U.S. June 25 , 2013 in this screengrab taken from United Nations TV file footage .
A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell , who is charged with enabling Jeffrey Epstein 's sexual abuse of underage girls , in a new court filing Wednesday said that the British socialite may have been the victim of a `` perjury trap '' by lawyers for an Epstein accuser when she was questioned in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ty Gee also claims that her 2016 depositions in that civil case were improperly shared with federal prosecutors in violation of a judge 's protective order , and that prosecutors then used the deposition to charge Maxwell with perjury , in addition to sex crimes , this month .
Gee also asked Manhattan federal judge Loretta Preska to reconsider her recent decision unsealing a slew of records in the civil case , or to be granted several days to appeal the unsealing order to an appeals court .
Preska has said the files @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal by Maxwell 's lawyer .
The case involves a since-settled defamation lawsuit between Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre and Maxwell .
Maxwell 's lawyer is asking Preska to investigate how prosecutors obtained the relevant files from the civil case in violation of the judge 's protective order , and to issue sanctions .
`` Ms. Maxwell 's two deposition transcripts were designated 'Confidential ' and subject to the protection of the Protective Order , '' Gee wrote .
`` Both transcripts ended up in the hands of the government , which used them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , charging her with , among other things , perjury in her deposition testimony . ''
`` This is a serious violation of the Protective Order , and merits the commencement of contempt proceedings , '' Gee wrote .
Maxwell 's lawyer also said that the deposition transcripts obtained by prosecutors and the perjury counts against here `` place in a new light [ Giuffre 's ] earlier litigation conduct — suggesting the planned use of Ms. Maxwell 's deposition as a perjury trap . ''
Gee said that throughout much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began in 2015 , Giuffre , through her lawyers , had represented to the judge and Maxwell 's lawyer that Giuffre `` was privy to and participating in an ongoing criminal investigation in which Ms. Maxwell was a 'person of interest . '
'' Maxwell , 58 , was arrested and charged in early July with conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse children as young as 14 , and for lying under oath in the Giuffre civil case by denying , among other things , that Epstein had `` a scheme to recruit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail in her criminal case , in which she has pleaded not guilty .

Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, speaks at a news conference on oceans and sustainable development at the United Nations in New York, June 25, 2013 in this screengrab taken from United Nations TV file footage.
A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is charged with enabling Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls, in a new court filing Wednesday said that the British socialite may have been the victim of a "perjury trap" by lawyers for an Epstein accuser when she was questioned in a related civil case.
Maxwell's lawyer Ty Gee also claims that her 2016 depositions in that civil case were improperly shared with federal prosecutors in violation of a judge's protective order, and that prosecutors then used the deposition to charge Maxwell with perjury, in addition to sex crimes, this month.
Gee also asked Manhattan federal judge Loretta Preska to reconsider her recent decision unsealing a slew of records in the civil case, or to be granted several days to appeal the unsealing order to an appeals court.
Preska has said the files will be publicly released Thursday absent an appeal by Maxwell's lawyer.
The case involves a since-settled defamation lawsuit between Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre and Maxwell.
Maxwell's lawyer is asking Preska to investigate how prosecutors obtained the relevant files from the civil case in violation of the judge's protective order, and to issue sanctions.
"Ms. Maxwell's two deposition transcripts were designated 'Confidential' and subject to the protection of the Protective Order," Gee wrote.
"Both transcripts ended up in the hands of the government, which used them to bring an indictment against Ms. Maxwell, charging her with, among other things, perjury in her deposition testimony."
"This is a serious violation of the Protective Order, and merits the commencement of contempt proceedings," Gee wrote.
Maxwell's lawyer also said that the deposition transcripts obtained by prosecutors and the perjury counts against here "place in a new light [Giuffre's] earlier litigation conduct — suggesting the planned use of Ms. Maxwell's deposition as a perjury trap."
Gee said that throughout much of the first year of the lawsuit, which began in 2015, Giuffre, through her lawyers, had represented to the judge and Maxwell's lawyer that Giuffre "was privy to and participating in an ongoing criminal investigation in which Ms. Maxwell was a 'person of interest.'"
Maxwell, 58, was arrested and charged in early July with conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse children as young as 14, and for lying under oath in the Giuffre civil case by denying, among other things, that Epstein had "a scheme to recruit underage girls for sexual massages."
She is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail in her criminal case, in which she has pleaded not guilty.


cnbc--2020-07-29--Some Biden allies wage a shadow campaign to stop Kamala Harris from becoming vice president

Some of Joe Biden 's allies are waging a campaign behind the scenes to stop Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , from becoming his vice president .
This disgruntled group of at least a dozen Biden backers , including a few of his top donors , initiated the move against Harris close to a month ago , just weeks before a decision is expected , according to people with direct knowledge of the matter .
Many who spoke to CNBC declined to be named as these efforts have been made in private .
In some cases , her foes have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's VP search committee , led by former Sen. Chris Dodd , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester , D-Del.
, and Cynthia Hogan , who previously served as counsel to the presumptive Democratic nominee when he was vice president under President Barack Obama .
Although none of these actions signify that Biden will drop Harris from the list , the movement gives a glimpse into the effort being waged to derail her candidacy .
Some remain bitter about her attacks on Biden during primary debates last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loyalty to the former vice president .
Others argue that she 's too ambitious and that she will be solely focused on becoming president herself .
Many of these Biden associates have been pushing alternatives to Harris , such as Rep. Val Demings , D-Fla. , Rep. Karen Bass , D-Calif. , former U.S. ambassador Susan Rice , and Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. A group of donors tried similar tactics earlier this year against Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, who has openly said she would accept the offer to be Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Harris did not respond to requests for comment .
Biden said at a press conference on Tuesday that he will be making his final decision next week .
At the time of his remarks , he was holding a set of notes that appeared to vouch for Harris .
The document was captured in a photograph taken by the Associated Press .
His apparent decision to stand with Harris came after Politico detailed some of the concerns Biden 's supporters have expressed about her becoming VP , including Dodd himself , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aback when she appeared to have no remorse about attacking Biden 's previous stance on integrated busing at last year 's debate .
John Morgan , a Florida businessman and bundler , admitted to CNBC that he 's privately voiced his concern about Harris to those trying to guide Biden about his eventual selection .
`` She would be running for president the day of the inauguration , '' Morgan said on Wednesday .
`` For me loyalty and friendship should mean something .
But as Bill Clinton once told me , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ambition , '' he added , while noting he 's in favor of Demings .
`` I think a good number of people closest to Joe are pushing against Kamala , including me , '' a Chicago-based businessman backing Biden told CNBC .
`` I do n't like her , and I do n't like the way she campaigned .
She seems not loyal at all and very opportunistic . ''
A California-based political operative who was previously raising money for Harris ' presidential campaign explained the move to upend her VP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies in her home state .
`` Lots of people here are relishing the chance to take potshots , '' this person said .
But , despite the efforts , Harris still appears to be in the top tier of candidates for the job .
Predict It , a prediction betting site that tracks political events , shows Harris ahead of all the other VP choices .
In Biden 's notes appearing to defend her , he described Harris as `` talented , '' `` great help to the campaign '' and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Harris also has been a key voice when it comes to fighting the coronavirus pandemic .
In a recent op-ed published in USA Today , Harris criticized President Donald Trump and Republicans for their response to Covid-19 .
`` People across the country are begging the president and his Republican boosters in Congress to approach these crises with the seriousness they deserve , recognize their missteps and work on behalf of the people who sent them to Washington , '' she said .
`` If they ca n't , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let real leaders lead . ''
Trump himself on Wednesday told reporters he believed Harris would be a `` fine choice '' to be Biden 's running mate .

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) attends the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to examine Customs and Border Protection, focusing on evolving challenges facing the agency, in Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, in Washington, June 25, 2020. Tom Williams | Pool via Reuters
Some of Joe Biden's allies are waging a campaign behind the scenes to stop Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., from becoming his vice president. This disgruntled group of at least a dozen Biden backers, including a few of his top donors, initiated the move against Harris close to a month ago, just weeks before a decision is expected, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Many who spoke to CNBC declined to be named as these efforts have been made in private. In some cases, her foes have taken their concerns directly to members of Biden's VP search committee, led by former Sen. Chris Dodd, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Cynthia Hogan, who previously served as counsel to the presumptive Democratic nominee when he was vice president under President Barack Obama. Although none of these actions signify that Biden will drop Harris from the list, the movement gives a glimpse into the effort being waged to derail her candidacy. Some remain bitter about her attacks on Biden during primary debates last year, saying they bring into question her loyalty to the former vice president. Others argue that she's too ambitious and that she will be solely focused on becoming president herself. Many of these Biden associates have been pushing alternatives to Harris, such as Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., former U.S. ambassador Susan Rice, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.
watch now
A group of donors tried similar tactics earlier this year against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has openly said she would accept the offer to be Biden's vice president. Representatives for Biden and Harris did not respond to requests for comment. Biden said at a press conference on Tuesday that he will be making his final decision next week. At the time of his remarks, he was holding a set of notes that appeared to vouch for Harris. The document was captured in a photograph taken by the Associated Press. His apparent decision to stand with Harris came after Politico detailed some of the concerns Biden's supporters have expressed about her becoming VP, including Dodd himself, who reportedly told a donor he was taken aback when she appeared to have no remorse about attacking Biden's previous stance on integrated busing at last year's debate. John Morgan, a Florida businessman and bundler, admitted to CNBC that he's privately voiced his concern about Harris to those trying to guide Biden about his eventual selection. "She would be running for president the day of the inauguration," Morgan said on Wednesday. "For me loyalty and friendship should mean something. But as Bill Clinton once told me, the No. 1 cause of Alzheimer's is ambition," he added, while noting he's in favor of Demings. "I think a good number of people closest to Joe are pushing against Kamala, including me," a Chicago-based businessman backing Biden told CNBC. "I don't like her, and I don't like the way she campaigned. She seems not loyal at all and very opportunistic."
watch now
A California-based political operative who was previously raising money for Harris' presidential campaign explained the move to upend her VP chances are even being made by Biden allies in her home state. "Lots of people here are relishing the chance to take potshots," this person said.
But, despite the efforts, Harris still appears to be in the top tier of candidates for the job. Predict It, a prediction betting site that tracks political events, shows Harris ahead of all the other VP choices. In Biden's notes appearing to defend her, he described Harris as "talented," "great help to the campaign" and that he has "great respect for her." Harris also has been a key voice when it comes to fighting the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent op-ed published in USA Today, Harris criticized President Donald Trump and Republicans for their response to Covid-19. "People across the country are begging the president and his Republican boosters in Congress to approach these crises with the seriousness they deserve, recognize their missteps and work on behalf of the people who sent them to Washington," she said. "If they can't, it's time for them to move aside and let real leaders lead." Trump himself on Wednesday told reporters he believed Harris would be a "fine choice" to be Biden's running mate.


cnbc--2020-07-29--Trump tells suburban voters they will 'no longer be bothered' by low-income housing

US President Donald Trump speaks as he departs the White House in Washington , DC , on July 29 , 2020 en route to Texas .
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday made one of his most overt appeals so far in the campaign to White , suburban voters , saying in a tweet that they will no longer be `` bothered '' by low income housing in their suburbs .
The tweets come as polls show Trump 's reelection effort is faltering in the suburbs , fueled by his administration 's failed response to the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement , which polls show most suburban voters support .
Trump 's tweet refers to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule , an Obama administration update to the 1968 civil rights legislation , the Fair Housing Act .
The rule required local governments receiving federal funds for housing and development to account for biased practices and craft a plan to fix them .
Earlier this month , the Trump administration announced that it was replacing the fair housing rule with its own rule , one it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said the Obama-era rule `` proved to be complicated , costly and ineffective . ''
`` We found it to be unworkable and ultimately a waste of time for localities to comply with , too often resulting in funds being steered away from communities that need them most , '' Carson said in a press release at the time .
Yet studies have shown for decades that concentrating low-income families into small geographic areas — one consequence of the urban housing projects built in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exacerbate the difficulties that poor residents face .

US President Donald Trump speaks as he departs the White House in Washington, DC, on July 29, 2020 en route to Texas.
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday made one of his most overt appeals so far in the campaign to White, suburban voters, saying in a tweet that they will no longer be "bothered" by low income housing in their suburbs.
TRUMP TWEET
TRUMP TWEET 2
The tweets come as polls show Trump's reelection effort is faltering in the suburbs, fueled by his administration's failed response to the coronavirus pandemic, the ensuing recession, and Trump's aggressive opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, which polls show most suburban voters support.
Trump's tweet refers to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, an Obama administration update to the 1968 civil rights legislation, the Fair Housing Act. The rule required local governments receiving federal funds for housing and development to account for biased practices and craft a plan to fix them.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that it was replacing the fair housing rule with its own rule, one it dubbed "Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice."
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said the Obama-era rule "proved to be complicated, costly and ineffective."
"We found it to be unworkable and ultimately a waste of time for localities to comply with, too often resulting in funds being steered away from communities that need them most," Carson said in a press release at the time.
Yet studies have shown for decades that concentrating low-income families into small geographic areas — one consequence of the urban housing projects built in the 1960s and 1970s — only serves to exacerbate the difficulties that poor residents face.