cnbc--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: New plan would test 30 million per week and cost up to $100 billion, but 'we've got to

Coronavirus: New plan would test 30 million per week and cost up to $100 billion, but 'we've got to do it'

An ambitious new plan to radically increase the number of coronavirus tests in the United States would see up to 30 million people screened each week and cost up to $ 100 billion to implement , a private foundation said Tuesday .
But that pricey effort for what one expert called `` the largest public health testing in history '' is necessary to stem the $ 300 billion to $ 400 billion in American economic losses each month as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , the Rockefeller Foundation said .
It said the sooner coronavirus tests become much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy can start getting back to normal .
`` We do have the capacity to do that , and we 've got the resources to do that , '' said Dr. Michael Pellini , managing partner of health venture firm Section 32 and board member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition , who contributed to the foundation 's new plan .
`` Yes , it 's ambitious , but at this point we 've got to do it , '' Pellini said .
`` We have to fix testing in this country to enable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The plan comes amid calls by numerous experts and by CEOs to boost coronavirus testing to make sure businesses and social events can reopen safely without sparking second and third waves of virus outbreaks .
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , in a note to shareholders last week , wrote : ″Regular testing on a global scale , across all industries , would both help keep people safe and help get the economy back up and running . ''
Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv Shah said : `` We envision an America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get one . ''
`` The Rockefeller Foundation believes that testing access is critical to scaling up our lives and economy , '' Shah said during a conference call with reporters Monday , when the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached more than 766,600 , and the number of related fatalities approached 41,000 .
He called the up-to- $ 100 billion cost of the effort `` a modest investment , '' given the amount of monthly economic losses to the nation , as well as the societal costs related to the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of suicides , alcoholism and domestic violence .
While the goal of the testing plan is to build a state-led national program , the foundation said funding for it likely can come from federal funds through agencies or grants .
The foundation itself is investing $ 15 million to help kick off the effort , which includes supporting cities that are among the first to adopt the plan 's recommendations .
The Rockefeller Foundation , which is a major philanthropic donor in areas including health and science , told CNBC last week that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration , national groups of governors and mayors and leading American corporations as it prepared the recommendations .
The foundation 's plan lays out a strategy for tripling , within the next eight weeks , the existing 1 million coronavirus test per week now being done by maximizing efficiencies in testing capacity .
After that , the foundation calls for multiplying those 3 million tests per week by at least 10 times to get to at least 30 million tests each week within the next six months .
Reaching that level will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory barriers to approval for new point-of-care and home-test kits , and ensuring payments for labs performing the tests .
The Rockefeller plan says that more testing must be done to accurately capture the level of Covid-19 infections in the U.S. `` In Taiwan , there have been 132 tests conducted for every confirmed case .
In Australia , the number is 62 .
In the United States , it is five , '' an executive summary of the plan notes .
`` The unfortunate conclusion from this comparison is that the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15- to 20-times higher than the reported number of confirmed cases , '' the summary says .
`` In short , the United States needs to increase the current level of 1 million tests per week by at least 10-fold and preferably 20-fold to adequately monitor the pandemic . ''
The plan notes that `` given the commercial uncertainties inherent in this 10-fold increase in production '' it is likely the federal government would need to activate the Defense Production Act to compel production of tests .
The plan calls for the creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to coordinate and underwrite the testing market with the use of leverage from public-private credit guarantees and other tools .
The second part of the plan envisions a paid Covid Community Healthcare Corps of 100,000 to 300,000 people to perform the high number of texts and conduct `` contact tracing , '' or reaching out to individuals who have been around infected people and testing them as well .
The third part is a common data and digital platform to support the first two objectives by sharing `` real-time analyses of resource allocations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records . ''
New York University professor Paul Romer , who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in economics , said the need for a huge increase in the number of coronavirus tests is driven not only by the need to stanch current economic losses but to prevent permanent damage to U.S. economic output when the country exits recession .
`` Our future capacity to produce '' is lower because of the economic cost of the pandemic `` and it deteriorates with each month of delay , '' said Romer , who contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romer said the solution to the testing problem lies in the current system , which needs to be reorganized and incentivized financially to produce enough tests .
`` We 're really not constrained on the supply side , but we are constrained by what we 're willing to pay , '' Romer said .
`` We just need to pay people and let them have to option to provide these tests . ''
Romer made the analogy of the government saying that there needed to be 300 million soft drinks made one day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the drinks for free , he suggested , but they would be made if the government agreed to pay for them .

Dr. Natalia Echeverri, (R) uses a swab to gather a sample from the nose of Sammy Carpenter, who said he is homeless, to test him for COVID-19 on April 17, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images
An ambitious new plan to radically increase the number of coronavirus tests in the United States would see up to 30 million people screened each week and cost up to $100 billion to implement, a private foundation said Tuesday. But the effort for what some said would be the largest public health testing in history is necessary to stem the $300 billion to $400 billion in American economic losses each month as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rockefeller Foundation contended. It said the sooner coronavirus tests become much more widely available, the quicker the U.S. economy can start getting back to normal. "We do have the capacity to do that, and we've got the resources to do that," said Dr. Michael Pellini, who helped devise the plan. Pellini is managing partner of health venture firm Section 32 and board member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition. "Yes, it's ambitious, but at this point we've got to do it," Pellini said. "We have to fix testing in this country to enable our workforce to be deployed once again." The plan comes amid calls by numerous experts and by CEOs to boost coronavirus testing to make sure businesses and social events can reopen safely without sparking second and third waves of virus outbreaks. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, in a note to shareholders last week, wrote: ″Regular testing on a global scale, across all industries, would both help keep people safe and help get the economy back up and running." Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv Shah said: "We envision an America where everyone who needs a test can get one."
Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Images
"The Rockefeller Foundation believes that testing access is critical to scaling up our lives and economy," Shah said during a conference call with reporters Monday, when the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached more than 766,600, and the number of related fatalities approached 41,000. He called the up-to-$100 billion cost of the effort "a modest investment," given the amount of monthly economic losses to the nation, as well as the societal costs related to the outbreak, which could end up increasing rates of suicides, alcoholism and domestic violence. While the goal of the testing plan is to build a state-led national program, the foundation said funding for it likely can come from federal funds through agencies or grants. The foundation itself is investing $15 million to help kick off the effort, which includes supporting cities that are among the first to adopt the plan's recommendations. The Rockefeller Foundation, which is a major philanthropic donor in areas including health and science, told CNBC last week that it had been in contact with the Trump administration, national groups of governors and mayors and leading American corporations as it prepared the recommendations. The foundation's plan lays out a strategy for tripling, within the next eight weeks, the existing 1 million coronavirus test per week now being done by maximizing efficiencies in testing capacity. After that, the foundation calls for multiplying those 3 million tests per week by at least 10 times to get to at least 30 million tests each week within the next six months.
watch now
Reaching that level will entail, among other things, removing regulatory barriers to approval for new point-of-care and home-test kits, and ensuring payments for labs performing the tests. The Rockefeller plan says that more testing must be done to accurately capture the level of Covid-19 infections in the U.S. "In Taiwan, there have been 132 tests conducted for every confirmed case. In Australia, the number is 62. In the United States, it is five," an executive summary of the plan notes. "The unfortunate conclusion from this comparison is that the country's actual number of infections may be 15- to 20-times higher than the reported number of confirmed cases," the summary says.


cnbc--2020-04-21--Trump signals he wants South Korea to pay more for US military presence there

President Donald Trump speaks during a daily briefing of the coronavirus task force at the White House April 20 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump signaled that he wants South Korea to pay more than what it 's already paying for U.S. military presence there .
Seoul and Washington are currently negotiating a new agreement specifying how both countries share the costs of some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea — as a deterrent to North Korea 's provocations in the region .
Those cost-sharing agreements , also referred to as the Korea Special Measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest one expired at the end of 2019 .
`` We are negotiating , for President Moon ( Jae-in ) , and for South Korea , to help us monetarily , '' Trump said in response to a reporter 's question during Monday 's press briefing by the coronavirus task force .
The Trump administration sees the U.S.-South Korea alliance , born out of the Korean War in the 1950s , as a cornerstone for maintaining stability and peace in the Korean peninsula as well as in the broader Indo-Pacific region .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contribute more to the cost-sharing defense pact .
In fact , the United States has told other allies around the world to step up their contributions to existing partnerships as well .

President Donald Trump speaks during a daily briefing of the coronavirus task force at the White House April 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump signaled that he wants South Korea to pay more than what it's already paying for U.S. military presence there.
Seoul and Washington are currently negotiating a new agreement specifying how both countries share the costs of some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea — as a deterrent to North Korea's provocations in the region.
Those cost-sharing agreements, also referred to as the Korea Special Measures Agreement, have existed since 1991 and the latest one expired at the end of 2019.
"We are negotiating, for President Moon (Jae-in), and for South Korea, to help us monetarily," Trump said in response to a reporter's question during Monday's press briefing by the coronavirus task force.
The Trump administration sees the U.S.-South Korea alliance, born out of the Korean War in the 1950s, as a cornerstone for maintaining stability and peace in the Korean peninsula as well as in the broader Indo-Pacific region. However, Washington has said Seoul needs to contribute more to the cost-sharing defense pact. In fact, the United States has told other allies around the world to step up their contributions to existing partnerships as well.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Pentagon wants Mexico to open defense supplier factories that closed due to coronavirus

Ellen M. Lord , undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment , speaks during a news conference on the Defense Department 's COVID-19 acquisition policy updates at the Pentagon Briefing Room , Washington D.C. , April 20 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is encouraging Mexico to open some of its manufacturing facilities during the coronavirus pandemic in order to support a crucial supply chain for U.S. defense companies .
`` I think one of the key things we have found out are some international dependencies , '' Ellen Lord , Defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Mexico right now is somewhat problematic for us , '' she added .
Many of the U.S. defense firms , especially aircraft manufacturers , rely on Mexican suppliers that have closed due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Aerospace defense giants such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing , as well as Honeywell and Textron , rely on Mexican production .
Lord said she discussed the impacts on the defense industrial base with the U.S. ambassador to Mexico , Christopher Landau , last week .
She said she expects to get in touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen international suppliers .
`` These companies are especially important for our U.S. airframe production , '' she said .
Increased production of the items needed will ensure the U.S. government gets dedicated long-term industrial capacity , she added .
The pandemic is affecting the Pentagon in unprecedented ways , said Andrew Hunter , director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
`` For the part of defense industry that does work in the commercial aviation sector , they are in the same crisis that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here there is both a supply shock and a demand shock because the airlines ca n't afford to order or even take delivery of previously ordered airplanes , '' Hunter told CNBC .
`` Many firms in the supply chain for the less affected part of the defense industry are also suppliers for commercial aviation , so there is a risk of the commercial aviation 'contagion ' spilling over to a much broader swath of defense industry , '' he added .
Lord and other Pentagon officials have attempted to maintain production among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foreign supply chain during the pandemic .
Currently , the Department of Defense is seeing the greatest impacts among shipbuilding , space launch subsectors and aviation , Lord said , adding that she expects to see a three-month delay in workflow which may cost the Pentagon billions .
While the initial $ 1 billion relief for DPA Title III from the CARES Act has been helpful , Lord said , she expects the Pentagon to receive additional relief from another relief bill .

Ellen M. Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, speaks during a news conference on the Defense Department's COVID-19 acquisition policy updates at the Pentagon Briefing Room, Washington D.C., April 20, 2020.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is encouraging Mexico to open some of its manufacturing facilities during the coronavirus pandemic in order to support a crucial supply chain for U.S. defense companies.
"I think one of the key things we have found out are some international dependencies," Ellen Lord, Defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters at the Pentagon earlier this week. "Mexico right now is somewhat problematic for us," she added.
Many of the U.S. defense firms, especially aircraft manufacturers, rely on Mexican suppliers that have closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Aerospace defense giants such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing , as well as Honeywell and Textron , rely on Mexican production.
Lord said she discussed the impacts on the defense industrial base with the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, last week. She said she expects to get in touch with Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard to reopen international suppliers.
"These companies are especially important for our U.S. airframe production," she said. Increased production of the items needed will ensure the U.S. government gets dedicated long-term industrial capacity, she added.
The pandemic is affecting the Pentagon in unprecedented ways, said Andrew Hunter, director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"For the part of defense industry that does work in the commercial aviation sector, they are in the same crisis that you see across the commercial aviation sector. Here there is both a supply shock and a demand shock because the airlines can't afford to order or even take delivery of previously ordered airplanes," Hunter told CNBC.
"Many firms in the supply chain for the less affected part of the defense industry are also suppliers for commercial aviation, so there is a risk of the commercial aviation 'contagion' spilling over to a much broader swath of defense industry," he added.
Lord and other Pentagon officials have attempted to maintain production among supply chains and ultimately eliminate reliance on the foreign supply chain during the pandemic.
Currently, the Department of Defense is seeing the greatest impacts among shipbuilding, space launch subsectors and aviation, Lord said, adding that she expects to see a three-month delay in workflow which may cost the Pentagon billions.
While the initial $1 billion relief for DPA Title III from the CARES Act has been helpful, Lord said, she expects the Pentagon to receive additional relief from another relief bill.
— CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Iran launches first military satellite in latest show of force

WASHINGTON — Iran said Wednesday that it successfully launched the nation 's first military satellite , another move in the heightened tit-for-tat fight between Washington and Tehran over the regime 's missile programs .
The satellite , dubbed Noor , was sent into orbit using a long-range rocket , according to a statement by Iran 's Revolutionary Guard .
U.S. officials have long feared that Iran 's pursuit of developing satellite technology is a cover for ballistic missile activity .
Tehran , meanwhile , has denied those assertions and has said that Iran is not working toward a nuclear weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that they can never threaten the United States , '' U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten , vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , told reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon when asked about the satellite launch .
Hyten , who previously oversaw the nation 's nuclear weapons portfolio as commander of the U.S. Strategic Command , said he could not confirm if the Iranian satellite was successfully launched into orbit , noting that it takes time and tracking to determine the outcome .
He added that the launch was another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes a week after Iranian fast boats harassed U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf .
`` We 're trying to create a safe environment for maritime transit in that part of the world .
That 's what the force over there is to do , and the malign behavior of Iran that questions that causes significant risks to the safety and security of that region of the world and therefore the world as a whole , '' Hyten said of the incident .
President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American ships at sea .
A day later from the White House , Trump said that Iran appeared `` to be standing down '' and warned Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions .
`` As long as I am president of the United States , Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon , '' Trump said speaking from the grand foyer of the White House .
But he suggested that the U.S. is open to negotiations with Tehran .
`` We must all work together toward making a deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more peaceful place , '' he said on Jan. 8 .
He then urged other world powers to break away from the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran and work out a new deal .
Read more : Iran 's foreign minister blames Trump 's advisors for 'very dangerous moment ' in relations with the US The tit-for-tat strikes follow what the U.S. called an Iranian attack on the world 's largest crude-processing plant and oil field .
Last summer , the U.S. blamed Iran for the predawn strikes in Saudi Arabia that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its production operations .
The event triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a budding conflict in the Middle East .
Iran maintains that it was not behind the attacks .

A first military satellite named Noor is launched into orbit by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, in Semnan, Iran April 22, 2020. WANA | Sepah News via Reuters
WASHINGTON — Iran said Wednesday that it successfully launched the nation's first military satellite, another move in the heightened tit-for-tat fight between Washington and Tehran over the regime's missile programs. The satellite, dubbed Noor, was sent into orbit using a long-range rocket, according to a statement by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. U.S. officials have long feared that Iran's pursuit of developing satellite technology is a cover for ballistic missile activity. Tehran, meanwhile, has denied those assertions and has said that Iran is not working toward a nuclear weapons program. "We want to make sure that they can never threaten the United States," U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon when asked about the satellite launch.
watch now
Hyten, who previously oversaw the nation's nuclear weapons portfolio as commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, said he could not confirm if the Iranian satellite was successfully launched into orbit, noting that it takes time and tracking to determine the outcome. He added that the launch was another example of Iran's malign behavior and comes a week after Iranian fast boats harassed U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. "We're trying to create a safe environment for maritime transit in that part of the world. That's what the force over there is to do, and the malign behavior of Iran that questions that causes significant risks to the safety and security of that region of the world and therefore the world as a whole," Hyten said of the incident. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United States would destroy Iranian gunboats that harass American ships at sea.
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy vessels conducted unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. Military ships by crossing the ships' bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. US Navy photo
Iranian mourners gather during the final stage of funeral processions for slain top general Qasem Soleimani, in his hometown Kerman on January 7, 2020. Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Images
A day later from the White House, Trump said that Iran appeared "to be standing down" and warned Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. "As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," Trump said speaking from the grand foyer of the White House. But he suggested that the U.S. is open to negotiations with Tehran. "We must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place," he said on Jan. 8. He then urged other world powers to break away from the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran and work out a new deal. Read more: Iran's foreign minister blames Trump's advisors for 'very dangerous moment' in relations with the US The tit-for-tat strikes follow what the U.S. called an Iranian attack on the world's largest crude-processing plant and oil field. Last summer, the U.S. blamed Iran for the predawn strikes in Saudi Arabia that forced the kingdom to shut down half its production operations. The event triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a budding conflict in the Middle East. Iran maintains that it was not behind the attacks.
Employees work at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. Maxim Shemetov | Reuters


cnbc--2020-04-22--A group Bernie Sanders founded is pushing to win him enough delegates to influence the Democrats' pl

A group Bernie Sanders founded is pushing to win him enough delegates to influence the Democrats' platform

Former Vice President Joe Biden , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , left , speaks as Senator Bernie Sanders , an Independent from Vermont , right , listens during a virtual event seen on an Apple Inc. laptop computer in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , on Monday , April 13 , 2020 .
Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race for president and endorsed Joe Biden , but he has said he plans to remain on the ballot in order to pick up delegates and have a say at the Democratic National Convention .
Behind the scenes , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure the self-described democratic socialist gets as much influence as possible at the convention , which is slated for August .
Our Revolution , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization that was created in the wake of Sanders ' first run for president in 2016 , has been pushing its grassroots army to persuade voters to back the Vermont senator in states that have yet to hold their primaries .
The goal is to make sure Sanders wins enough delegates to push for key reforms in the Democratic platform .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of campaigns , told CNBC that Our Revolution has activated members in states such as Ohio , New York , Maryland , New Jersey and Pennsylvania .
The convention and the primaries have been postponed as the coronavirus forced states to implement social distancing guidelines and lockdowns .
Ohio votes April 28 , and most of the voting is being conducted through mail-in ballots .
`` Ohio is our focus now .
Talking about , especially in the moment , the need for Medicare for All , and if we want to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that direction , we need as many delegates as possible , '' Fabian said Wednesday .
The group has 20,000 active members in Ohio , and they have been phone banking and texting voters to convince them to back Sanders , even though he 's not technically running .
`` In the absence of an active Bernie campaign , we are pushing folks to vote for the delegates , '' he said , noting they need at least 25 % of the total delegates in order to have any of their issues considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
Our Revolution 's move comes as the Biden campaign has sought to make peace with other liberal and progressive organizations .
Many of these groups sent a letter to the former vice president , who is a moderate Democrat , with multiple requests , including not having Wall Street or K-Street leaders be advisors during his general election fight with President Donald Trump .
Our Revolution did not sign that letter , and it 's unclear whether it has heard from the Biden campaign , with Fabian declining to say whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are not at liberty to discuss contacts with the Biden campaign at this time , '' Fabian said .
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that some of the liberal advocacy groups that signed the letter have heard from the Biden campaign and are working to see their demands met .
Biden has tried to appease Sanders supporters in the wake of his endorsement .
In a recent Morning Consult poll , most of Sanders ' supporters said they would go on and back Biden , but 7 % of those surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sanders supporters have an unfavorable view of Biden versus just 15 % of Democrats .
Biden and Sanders are forming task forces to address issues including the economy , education , climate , criminal justice , immigration reform and health care .
Biden , who also received an endorsement from progressive former rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren , has rolled out a plan that would lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60 from 65 , while bolstering his student debt forgiveness plan .
A spokesman for Biden did not respond to a request @ @ @

Former Vice President Joe Biden, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, left, speaks as Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, right, listens during a virtual event seen on an Apple Inc. laptop computer in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Monday, April 13, 2020.
Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race for president and endorsed Joe Biden, but he has said he plans to remain on the ballot in order to pick up delegates and have a say at the Democratic National Convention.
Behind the scenes, a group Sanders founded is working to make sure the self-described democratic socialist gets as much influence as possible at the convention, which is slated for August.
Our Revolution, a 501(c)(4) organization that was created in the wake of Sanders' first run for president in 2016, has been pushing its grassroots army to persuade voters to back the Vermont senator in states that have yet to hold their primaries. The goal is to make sure Sanders wins enough delegates to push for key reforms in the Democratic platform.
Paco Fabian, the group's director of campaigns, told CNBC that Our Revolution has activated members in states such as Ohio, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The convention and the primaries have been postponed as the coronavirus forced states to implement social distancing guidelines and lockdowns. Ohio votes April 28, and most of the voting is being conducted through mail-in ballots.
"Ohio is our focus now. Talking about, especially in the moment, the need for Medicare for All, and if we want to have the ability to push the party in that direction, we need as many delegates as possible," Fabian said Wednesday. The group has 20,000 active members in Ohio, and they have been phone banking and texting voters to convince them to back Sanders, even though he's not technically running.
"In the absence of an active Bernie campaign, we are pushing folks to vote for the delegates," he said, noting they need at least 25% of the total delegates in order to have any of their issues considered and possibly added to the party's platform.
Our Revolution's move comes as the Biden campaign has sought to make peace with other liberal and progressive organizations. Many of these groups sent a letter to the former vice president, who is a moderate Democrat, with multiple requests, including not having Wall Street or K-Street leaders be advisors during his general election fight with President Donald Trump.
Our Revolution did not sign that letter, and it's unclear whether it has heard from the Biden campaign, with Fabian declining to say whether those discussions are taking place.
"We are not at liberty to discuss contacts with the Biden campaign at this time," Fabian said.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that some of the liberal advocacy groups that signed the letter have heard from the Biden campaign and are working to see their demands met.
Biden has tried to appease Sanders supporters in the wake of his endorsement. In a recent Morning Consult poll, most of Sanders' supporters said they would go on and back Biden, but 7% of those surveyed plan to back Trump. Forty percent of Sanders supporters have an unfavorable view of Biden versus just 15% of Democrats.
Biden and Sanders are forming task forces to address issues including the economy, education, climate, criminal justice, immigration reform and health care.
Biden, who also received an endorsement from progressive former rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren, has rolled out a plan that would lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60 from 65, while bolstering his student debt forgiveness plan.
A spokesman for Biden did not respond to a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Here are Congress' next steps in response to coronavirus pandemic

Photo taken on March 27 , 2020 shows fire engines with the U.S. Capitol building in the background in Washington D.C. , the United States .
U.S. As Congress moves to pass its latest $ 484 billion coronavirus relief bill this week , leaders have started to detail their goals for additional legislation as part of an unprecedented emergency response .
The measure approved by the Senate on Tuesday puts about another $ 370 billion into aid for small businesses damaged by the pandemic , along with $ 75 billion in relief for hospitals and $ 25 billion to expand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the package and send it to President Donald Trump 's desk by Thursday .
Even as the U.S. spends nearly $ 3 trillion to try to curb the outbreak 's economic destruction , congressional Democrats and the White House are spelling out priorities for further rescue measures .
Republicans on Capitol Hill , meanwhile , are becoming wary of adding to the mounting coronavirus bill — setting up another possible partisan clash over priorities and spending as the pandemic evolves .
`` There will be a big , broad , bold [ fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks this is the last train out of the station , that is not close to the case , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference Tuesday with his fellow Democratic leader House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the Senate passed the $ 484 billion legislation .
Schumer detailed a list of priorities that he said he and Pelosi share : vote-by-mail , funding for the U.S .
Postal Service , hazard pay for Americans who still have to go into their workplaces , and additional money for state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats blocked an initial plan to inject more money into small business loans earlier this month as they pushed for more funding for states and municipalities — which was not included in the Senate-passed bill .
In a pair of tweets Tuesday , Trump called to pass more money for state and local governments stretched to their limits .
He pushed for an infrastructure package , complete with money for roads , bridges , airports and rural broadband — which Democrats support .
The president also called for tax incentives for sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payroll tax cut .
`` After I sign this Bill , we will begin discussions on the next Legislative Initiative with fiscal relief ... to State/Local Governments for lost revenues from COVID 19 , much needed Infrastructure Investments for Bridges , Tunnels , Broadband , Tax Incentives for Restaurants , Entertainment , Sports , and Payroll Tax Cuts to increase Economic Growth , '' Trump wrote .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated those goals during a White House news conference on Tuesday — though it is unclear if Democrats would back the tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to add to historic emergency spending could trip up any ambitions Democrats and the White House have .
After the Senate passed the bill Tuesday by unanimous consent with only a few lawmakers present , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cast doubts about moving quickly on another relief package .
`` But my view is we 've gone so far on the national debt here that the next time we address this issue , the Senate should be back in session , '' the Kentucky Republican said .
`` Fully up and running with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will predict that we will not try to pass another rescue package by consent .
My view is we ought to bring everybody back , have full participation to begin to think about the implications to the country 's future for this level of national debt . ''
The full Senate is expected to return to Washington on May 4 .
Speaking to radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday morning , McConnell said he does not back using more federal money to buoy state governments .
He indicated he would support allowing states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they do n't have to do that .
That 's not something I 'm going to be in favor of , '' McConnell said .
GOP congressional leaders have also showed less enthusiasm about using public money for infrastructure projects than Democrats or Trump in recent years .
Neither Trump nor Republican lawmakers support vote-by-mail , a Democratic priority to make casting ballots safer during the pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting would hurt Republicans in elections .
It is unclear if changing the process would actually hurt GOP candidates , who have gotten elected for years in the handful of states that vote primarily by mail such as California .
The coronavirus has infected more than 825,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 45,000 Americans , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Efforts to stop Covid-19 's spread have wrecked the economy , as more than 22 million people filed claims for unemployment insurance over the latest four-week @ @

Photo taken on March 27, 2020 shows fire engines with the U.S. Capitol building in the background in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S.
As Congress moves to pass its latest $484 billion coronavirus relief bill this week, leaders have started to detail their goals for additional legislation as part of an unprecedented emergency response.
The measure approved by the Senate on Tuesday puts about another $370 billion into aid for small businesses damaged by the pandemic, along with $75 billion in relief for hospitals and $25 billion to expand testing. The House plans to pass the package and send it to President Donald Trump's desk by Thursday.
Even as the U.S. spends nearly $3 trillion to try to curb the outbreak's economic destruction, congressional Democrats and the White House are spelling out priorities for further rescue measures. Republicans on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, are becoming wary of adding to the mounting coronavirus bill — setting up another possible partisan clash over priorities and spending as the pandemic evolves.
"There will be a big, broad, bold [fourth relief bill]. For anyone who thinks this is the last train out of the station, that is not close to the case," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference Tuesday with his fellow Democratic leader House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the Senate passed the $484 billion legislation.
Schumer detailed a list of priorities that he said he and Pelosi share: vote-by-mail, funding for the U.S. Postal Service, hazard pay for Americans who still have to go into their workplaces, and additional money for state and local governments overburdened by their pandemic responses. Democrats blocked an initial plan to inject more money into small business loans earlier this month as they pushed for more funding for states and municipalities — which was not included in the Senate-passed bill.
In a pair of tweets Tuesday, Trump called to pass more money for state and local governments stretched to their limits. He pushed for an infrastructure package, complete with money for roads, bridges, airports and rural broadband — which Democrats support. The president also called for tax incentives for sports and entertainment businesses, along with a payroll tax cut.
"After I sign this Bill, we will begin discussions on the next Legislative Initiative with fiscal relief ... to State/Local Governments for lost revenues from COVID 19, much needed Infrastructure Investments for Bridges, Tunnels, Broadband, Tax Incentives for Restaurants, Entertainment, Sports, and Payroll Tax Cuts to increase Economic Growth," Trump wrote.
Donald Trump tweet
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated those goals during a White House news conference on Tuesday — though it is unclear if Democrats would back the tax changes.
But hesitation from Republican lawmakers to add to historic emergency spending could trip up any ambitions Democrats and the White House have. After the Senate passed the bill Tuesday by unanimous consent with only a few lawmakers present, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cast doubts about moving quickly on another relief package.
"But my view is we've gone so far on the national debt here that the next time we address this issue, the Senate should be back in session," the Kentucky Republican said. "Fully up and running with everybody involved in discussion. So I will predict that we will not try to pass another rescue package by consent. My view is we ought to bring everybody back, have full participation to begin to think about the implications to the country's future for this level of national debt."
The full Senate is expected to return to Washington on May 4.
Speaking to radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday morning, McConnell said he does not back using more federal money to buoy state governments. He indicated he would support allowing states to declare bankruptcy.
"My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of," McConnell said.
GOP congressional leaders have also showed less enthusiasm about using public money for infrastructure projects than Democrats or Trump in recent years.
Neither Trump nor Republican lawmakers support vote-by-mail, a Democratic priority to make casting ballots safer during the pandemic. The president has said publicly that expanding mail-in voting would hurt Republicans in elections. It is unclear if changing the process would actually hurt GOP candidates, who have gotten elected for years in the handful of states that vote primarily by mail such as California.
The coronavirus has infected more than 825,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 45,000 Americans, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Efforts to stop Covid-19's spread have wrecked the economy, as more than 22 million people filed claims for unemployment insurance over the latest four-week period.
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cnbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Martin Shkreli seeks early prison release to work on Covid-19 treatment, avoid infectio

Coronavirus: Martin Shkreli seeks early prison release to work on Covid-19 treatment, avoid infection

Notorious `` pharma bro '' Martin Shkreli in a court filing Wednesday asked to be released from prison for the remainder of his seven-year criminal sentence so that he can both work on developing a coronavirus treatment and avoid contracting a potentially fatal case of Covid-19 himself .
Shkreli , who has about 41 months remaining on that sentence for securities fraud , is requesting that a judge direct his release into home confinement with a person described as his fiance `` at her apartment '' in Manhattan , according to the new filing in Brooklyn federal court .
Shkreli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted two weeks ago that he wanted just a three-month-long furlough from prison to do his coronavirus work .
But Shkreli 's lawyers in their filing Wednesday urged a judge to give the fallen pharmaceuticals executive `` compassionate release '' for the rest of his sentence on an emergency basis .
The filing notes that the warden of Shkeli 's prison , the Allenwood , Penn.
, low-security federal facility , last week denied his petition to that warden for compassionate release under critieria established by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was considered at `` low '' risk of committing crimes when released , as determined by a so-called PATTERN assessment tool , when the criteria requires a `` minimum '' risk of reoffending .
But attorneys for Shkreli , who has exhausted appeals of his conviction , warned in their filing that he has a `` susceptibility to infection [ from the coronavirus ] due to allergies and asthma . ''
`` It is likely that he will soon be exposed to the virus and potentially become critically ill or die , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the 37-year-old was freed he could be directed `` to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in home confinement with electronic monitoring and with permission to work on his research from home , or , with permission of probation , to report to a specific local workplace to perform research on a coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) treatment . ''

Notorious "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli in a court filing Wednesday asked to be released from prison for the remainder of his seven-year criminal sentence so that he can both work on developing a coronavirus treatment and avoid contracting a potentially fatal case of Covid-19 himself.
Shkreli, who has about 41 months remaining on that sentence for securities fraud, is requesting that a judge direct his release into home confinement with a person described as his fiance "at her apartment" in Manhattan, according to the new filing in Brooklyn federal court.
Shkreli had said in a scientific paper online posted two weeks ago that he wanted just a three-month-long furlough from prison to do his coronavirus work.
But Shkreli's lawyers in their filing Wednesday urged a judge to give the fallen pharmaceuticals executive "compassionate release" for the rest of his sentence on an emergency basis.
The filing notes that the warden of Shkeli's prison, the Allenwood, Penn., low-security federal facility, last week denied his petition to that warden for compassionate release under critieria established by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The warden had cited the fact that Shkreli was considered at "low" risk of committing crimes when released, as determined by a so-called PATTERN assessment tool, when the criteria requires a "minimum" risk of reoffending.
But attorneys for Shkreli, who has exhausted appeals of his conviction, warned in their filing that he has a "susceptibility to infection [from the coronavirus] due to allergies and asthma."
"It is likely that he will soon be exposed to the virus and potentially become critically ill or die," their filing said.
Lawyers said that if the 37-year-old was freed he could be directed "to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in home confinement with electronic monitoring and with permission to work on his research from home, or, with permission of probation, to report to a specific local workplace to perform research on a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment."


cnbc--2020-04-22--Billionaire Mike Bloomberg will help New York develop coronavirus test and trace program, Gov. Cuomo

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg will help New York develop coronavirus test and trace program, Gov. Cuomo says

Mike Bloomberg , a billionaire philanthropist and former mayor of New York City , will help the state develop and implement an aggressive program to test for Covid-19 and trace people who have had contact with infected individuals , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday .
Health officials have said that radically increasing the current level of testing , along with tracing and isolating contacts of infected people , is necessary to prevent a resurgence of infection as states reopen businesses and social settings .
`` Michael Bloomberg will design the program , design the training , he 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany .
`` He has tremendous insight both governmentally and from a private sector business perspective in this . ''
Cuomo said the state continues to ramp up its capacity to test for Covid-19 , adding that tracing and isolating people who have come into contact with those who test positive will be key to containing the outbreak .
He also said the state is taking `` random surveys '' of people at `` grocery stores , street corners '' to recruit people to volunteer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether someone has been previously infected with Covid-19 .
He said this data-driven approach will help the state determine when it can reopen the economy .
Cuomo added that Johns Hopkins University and public health nonprofit Vital Strategies will also be partnering with New York to trace and isolate the virus .
`` This is a monumental undertaking .
We 're all going to do it , '' Cuomo said .
`` You do n't have months to do this , you have weeks to do this super-ambitious undertaking . ''

Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire philanthropist and former mayor of New York City, will help the state develop and implement an aggressive program to test for Covid-19 and trace people who have had contact with infected individuals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.
Health officials have said that radically increasing the current level of testing, along with tracing and isolating contacts of infected people, is necessary to prevent a resurgence of infection as states reopen businesses and social settings.
"Michael Bloomberg will design the program, design the training, he's going to make a financial contribution," Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany. "He has tremendous insight both governmentally and from a private sector business perspective in this."
Cuomo said the state continues to ramp up its capacity to test for Covid-19, adding that tracing and isolating people who have come into contact with those who test positive will be key to containing the outbreak. He also said the state is taking "random surveys" of people at "grocery stores, street corners" to recruit people to volunteer for an antibody test, which can detect whether someone has been previously infected with Covid-19.
He said this data-driven approach will help the state determine when it can reopen the economy.
Cuomo added that Johns Hopkins University and public health nonprofit Vital Strategies will also be partnering with New York to trace and isolate the virus.
"This is a monumental undertaking. We're all going to do it," Cuomo said. "You don't have months to do this, you have weeks to do this super-ambitious undertaking."


cnbc--2020-04-22--Fannie and Freddie will now buy loans in mortgage bailout program, in a bid to loosen lending

`` We are focused on keeping the mortgage market working for current and future homeowners during these challenging times , '' FHFA Director Mark Calabria said in a release .
`` Purchases of these previously ineligible loans will help provide liquidity to mortgage markets and allow originators to keep lending . ''
Fannie and Freddie had not been doing that , and as a result , lending had tightened up dramatically .
The Federal Housing Finance Agency , regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , announced that the two mortgage giants will now buy home loans that go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they close .
Mortgage lenders , both bank and non-bank , sell most of their loans to either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac , known as government-sponsored enterprises , or GSEs .
Or , if they are backed by the FHA , they are sold to Ginnie Mae .
It can take a few weeks after a loan closes for it to be sold .
When the government 's mortgage bailout started just over a month ago , some loans that had just closed , but were not purchased yet , went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with economic hardship due to Covid-19 to delay monthly payments for up to a year .
Those payments must be made at a later date .
The CARES Act , which was signed into law late last month , does not require that borrowers provide any documentation or proof of hardship .
More than 3 million loans are already in the forbearance program .
Because Fannie and Freddie would n't buy the loans that had just closed , credit tightened up dramatically , making it harder to get a new loan for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they made might go into forbearance before they were sold , leaving them on the hook , unable to sell them .
This announcement should loosen the market somewhat , although there are certain eligibility criteria and limits , according to FHFA : • The mortgage loan must have closed on or after Feb. 1 , 2020 , and on or before May 31 , 2020 .
• The loan must be a mortgage purchase transaction or a no-cash-out refinance .
• The loan can not be more than 30 days delinquent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessed an additional loan-level price adjustment — 5 % for first-time homebuyers and 7 % for non-first-time buyers .
There is disagreement , however , on what these higher costs could do to mortgage rates .
Some say they could cause mortgage rates to fall slightly , as the credit box opens up more .
Others say some lenders will pass those costs on to borrowers in the form of higher rates .
`` We welcome the change in policy that directs the GSEs to purchase most loans in forbearance , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bankers Association .
`` We [ are ] looking forward to working with FHFA and the GSEs to arrive at more appropriate pricing and broad coverage for all transaction types . ''

"We are focused on keeping the mortgage market working for current and future homeowners during these challenging times," FHFA Director Mark Calabria said in a release. "Purchases of these previously ineligible loans will help provide liquidity to mortgage markets and allow originators to keep lending."
Fannie and Freddie had not been doing that, and as a result, lending had tightened up dramatically.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced that the two mortgage giants will now buy home loans that go into the government's forbearance program just after they close.
Mortgage lenders, both bank and non-bank, sell most of their loans to either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, known as government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs. Or, if they are backed by the FHA, they are sold to Ginnie Mae. It can take a few weeks after a loan closes for it to be sold. When the government's mortgage bailout started just over a month ago, some loans that had just closed, but were not purchased yet, went into forbearance.
The forbearance program allows borrowers with economic hardship due to Covid-19 to delay monthly payments for up to a year. Those payments must be made at a later date. The CARES Act, which was signed into law late last month, does not require that borrowers provide any documentation or proof of hardship.
More than 3 million loans are already in the forbearance program. Because Fannie and Freddie wouldn't buy the loans that had just closed, credit tightened up dramatically, making it harder to get a new loan for all borrowers. Lenders were afraid any loans they made might go into forbearance before they were sold, leaving them on the hook, unable to sell them.
This announcement should loosen the market somewhat, although there are certain eligibility criteria and limits, according to FHFA:
The mortgage loan must have closed on or after Feb. 1, 2020, and on or before May 31, 2020.
The loan must be a mortgage purchase transaction or a no-cash-out refinance.
The loan cannot be more than 30 days delinquent.
In addition, eligible loans will be assessed an additional loan-level price adjustment — 5% for first-time homebuyers and 7% for non-first-time buyers.
There is disagreement, however, on what these higher costs could do to mortgage rates. Some say they could cause mortgage rates to fall slightly, as the credit box opens up more. Others say some lenders will pass those costs on to borrowers in the form of higher rates.
"We welcome the change in policy that directs the GSEs to purchase most loans in forbearance," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "We [are] looking forward to working with FHFA and the GSEs to arrive at more appropriate pricing and broad coverage for all transaction types."


cnbc--2020-04-22--Massive layoffs and pay cuts are likely coming to state and local governments as federal aid goes el

Massive layoffs and pay cuts are likely coming to state and local governments as federal aid goes elsewhere

WASHINGTON — State and local governments are warning of a wave of layoffs and pay cuts after getting left out of the federal coronavirus relief package expected to pass Congress this week .
In many places , those painful reductions are already taking shape : • Los Angeles plans to force city workers to spend 26 days on unpaid leave as revenues are forecast to drop as much as $ 600 million next fiscal year .
• Detroit has proposed laying off 200 workers and furloughing thousands more .
`` We are really struggling , '' Driehaus said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CARES Act , which President Donald Trump signed late last month , included $ 150 billion in direct help for state and local governments grappling with the impact of the deadly outbreak .
Democrats pushed to include another $ 150 billion in the next tranche of aid , but Republicans sought to keep the bill narrowly focused on support for small business .
By Tuesday night , Democrats yielded on their demand .
The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent — without additional help for state and local governments .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump is expected to sign it .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to revisit the issue in the coming round of negotiations over what could be an even bigger package of relief .
`` The people who are on the front lines , they should get extra money , and at the top of the list is a robust state and local plan , '' Schumer said .
`` We 're going to fight for that and many more things '' in the next aid bill .
It `` will soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand it . ''
But local jurisdictions may not be able to wait that long .
They 're facing higher expenditures on health care and other services to combat the disease at the same time that revenues are plunging as Americans stay home and businesses remain shuttered .
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , states could be $ 500 billion in the hole over the next two years .
`` The approaching state budget cuts … will cause the U.S. economy to contract further — making the economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people to lose their jobs , and magnifying the serious hardship we already see , '' said Robert Greenstein , the think tank 's president .
Roughly 20 million people work in the public sector at the state and local level , which is more than the number employed in the hard-hit retail industry .
The last time the public sector faced such steep budget cuts was during the Great Recession a decade ago .
State and local governments shed 627,000 jobs in the three years following the downturn , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried this time could be even worse , but plugging the hole could require a staggering infusion of cash , which the union representing public sector workers readily acknowledges .
The American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees is pushing for at least $ 700 billion in the next relief package .

WASHINGTON — State and local governments are warning of a wave of layoffs and pay cuts after getting left out of the federal coronavirus relief package expected to pass Congress this week.
In many places, those painful reductions are already taking shape:
Los Angeles plans to force city workers to spend 26 days on unpaid leave as revenues are forecast to drop as much as $600 million next fiscal year.
Detroit has proposed laying off 200 workers and furloughing thousands more.
In Ohio's Hamilton County, Commissioner Denise Driehaus is taking a 10% pay cut alongside county workers.
"We are really struggling," Driehaus said.
The $2.2 trillion emergency legislation known as the CARES Act, which President Donald Trump signed late last month, included $150 billion in direct help for state and local governments grappling with the impact of the deadly outbreak. Democrats pushed to include another $150 billion in the next tranche of aid, but Republicans sought to keep the bill narrowly focused on support for small business.
By Tuesday night, Democrats yielded on their demand. The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent — without additional help for state and local governments. The House is slated to vote Thursday, and Trump is expected to sign it.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to revisit the issue in the coming round of negotiations over what could be an even bigger package of relief.
"The people who are on the front lines, they should get extra money, and at the top of the list is a robust state and local plan," Schumer said. "We're going to fight for that and many more things" in the next aid bill. It "will soon be upon us because the nation will demand it."
But local jurisdictions may not be able to wait that long. They're facing higher expenditures on health care and other services to combat the disease at the same time that revenues are plunging as Americans stay home and businesses remain shuttered. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, states could be $500 billion in the hole over the next two years.
"The approaching state budget cuts … will cause the U.S. economy to contract further — making the economic downturn deeper and more protracted, causing many more people to lose their jobs, and magnifying the serious hardship we already see," said Robert Greenstein, the think tank's president.
Roughly 20 million people work in the public sector at the state and local level, which is more than the number employed in the hard-hit retail industry. The last time the public sector faced such steep budget cuts was during the Great Recession a decade ago. State and local governments shed 627,000 jobs in the three years following the downturn, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Experts are worried this time could be even worse, but plugging the hole could require a staggering infusion of cash, which the union representing public sector workers readily acknowledges. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is pushing for at least $700 billion in the next relief package.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Kudlow voices support for shielding companies from coronavirus-related lawsuits

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Wednesday that he was in favor of shielding companies from coronavirus-related lawsuits as the administration eyes a speedy reopening of the economy .
Kudlow , speaking on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box , '' said that businesses , and particularly small businesses , should not have to face what he called `` trial lawyers putting on false lawsuits . ''
`` You 've got to give the businesses some confidence here that if something happens , and it may not be their fault — the disease is an infectious disease — if something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of business , '' Kudlow said .
`` You ca n't throw big lawsuits at them .
And I think liability reforms and safeguards are going to be a very important part of it . ''
The comments from the director of the National Economic Council come as business groups are lobbying Congress for protection from liability if customers or employees are sickened when business activity resumes .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , a lobbying group that advocates for business , called exposure liability `` the largest area of concern for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter the organization posted online last week .
The Chamber proposed a `` safe harbor '' from negligence lawsuits for companies following the guidance of public health authorities .
On Monday , President Donald Trump addressed the topic at a White House press briefing , saying , `` We have tried to take liability away from these companies . ''
Trump said a `` legal opinion '' would be forthcoming .
`` We just do n't want that because we want the companies to open and to open strong , '' the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cited a Wall Street Journal opinion article written by Evan Greenberg , CEO of insurance giant Chubb , that was published Tuesday .
Greenberg warned in the article of a coming `` wave of litigation filed against managers and boards of every kind of organization . ''
`` Litigation may help the tort industry but it does n't serve the national interest .
It would add to uncertainty , crippling prospects for an orderly recovery , '' Greenberg wrote .
Kudlow said he was `` quite concerned about '' the prospect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforced if private legal action was curtailed , Kudlow pointed to the efforts of state and city regulators .
`` There will be constant monitoring , state by state .
I think the states do a good job , '' Kudlow said .
`` I have a lot of confidence in the states and the cities for that matter . ''
Some economists have expressed skepticism about reining in corporate liability for coronavirus risks .
Justin Wolfers , an economics and public policy professor at the University of Michigan , wrote in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such a proposal was `` bad economics and bad policy . ''
`` The whole point of making employers liable for risking the lives of their staff is to prevent them from exposing their staff to undue risk , '' Wolfers wrote .
`` Businesses are asking for the right to expose their workers to fatal risks with no consequences . ''

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Wednesday that he was in favor of shielding companies from coronavirus-related lawsuits as the administration eyes a speedy reopening of the economy.
Kudlow, speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box," said that businesses, and particularly small businesses, should not have to face what he called "trial lawyers putting on false lawsuits."
"You've got to give the businesses some confidence here that if something happens, and it may not be their fault — the disease is an infectious disease — if something happens, you can't take them out of business," Kudlow said. "You can't throw big lawsuits at them. And I think liability reforms and safeguards are going to be a very important part of it."
The comments from the director of the National Economic Council come as business groups are lobbying Congress for protection from liability if customers or employees are sickened when business activity resumes.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a lobbying group that advocates for business, called exposure liability "the largest area of concern for the overall business community" in a letter the organization posted online last week. The Chamber proposed a "safe harbor" from negligence lawsuits for companies following the guidance of public health authorities.
On Monday, President Donald Trump addressed the topic at a White House press briefing, saying, "We have tried to take liability away from these companies." Trump said a "legal opinion" would be forthcoming.
"We just don't want that because we want the companies to open and to open strong," the president said.
Kudlow, in his interview, cited a Wall Street Journal opinion article written by Evan Greenberg, CEO of insurance giant Chubb, that was published Tuesday.
Greenberg warned in the article of a coming "wave of litigation filed against managers and boards of every kind of organization."
"Litigation may help the tort industry but it doesn't serve the national interest. It would add to uncertainty, crippling prospects for an orderly recovery," Greenberg wrote.
Kudlow said he was "quite concerned about" the prospect. Asked about how safety standards would be enforced if private legal action was curtailed, Kudlow pointed to the efforts of state and city regulators.
"There will be constant monitoring, state by state. I think the states do a good job," Kudlow said. "I have a lot of confidence in the states and the cities for that matter."
Some economists have expressed skepticism about reining in corporate liability for coronavirus risks.
Justin Wolfers, an economics and public policy professor at the University of Michigan, wrote in a widely circulated post on Twitter last week that such a proposal was "bad economics and bad policy."
"The whole point of making employers liable for risking the lives of their staff is to prevent them from exposing their staff to undue risk," Wolfers wrote. "Businesses are asking for the right to expose their workers to fatal risks with no consequences."
Wolfers tweet
Disclosure: Larry Kudlow is a former CNBC contributor.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Trump says US will 'destroy' Iranian gunboats that harass American ships

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United States would destroy Iranian gunboats that harass American ships at sea .
The threat , which contributed to a recovery in oil prices , came days after the Pentagon claimed that ships from Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy took `` dangerous and provocative '' actions near U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf .
`` I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea , '' the president wrote in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. benchmark , rose more than than 30 % on Wednesday after slumping to historic lows this year as the coronavirus pandemic crushed demand .
Iran produced 3 % of the world 's oil last year .
Six U.S. military vessels were conducting training operations in international waters last week when 11 Iranian ships `` crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds , '' according to the April 15 U.S. Navy statement .
At one point , the Iranian ships came within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maui 's bow .
The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio , five short blasts from the ships ' horns and long-range acoustic noise devices to the Iranian ships .

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United States would destroy Iranian gunboats that harass American ships at sea.
The threat, which contributed to a recovery in oil prices, came days after the Pentagon claimed that ships from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy took "dangerous and provocative" actions near U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf.
"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," the president wrote in a post on Twitter.
West Texas Intermediate , the U.S. benchmark, rose more than than 30% on Wednesday after slumping to historic lows this year as the coronavirus pandemic crushed demand. Iran produced 3% of the world's oil last year.
Six U.S. military vessels were conducting training operations in international waters last week when 11 Iranian ships "crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds," according to the April 15 U.S. Navy statement.
At one point, the Iranian ships came within 10 yards of the Coast Guard cutter Maui's bow.
Trump tweet
The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noise devices to the Iranian ships.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Trump and Biden are deadlocked in six key 2020 election states, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a tight race in six states that will shape who wins the White House in November , according to a new CNBC/Change Research survey .
The Republican incumbent and apparent Democratic nominee are virtually tied in the battlegrounds of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , according to the States of Play poll of swing states released Wednesday .
Trump edges Biden by a 48 % to 47 % margin across those states , the poll found .
The poll , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states on April 17 and 18 , has a margin of error is plus or minus 1.3 percentage points .
The split in voter preferences in those states goes beyond their ballot choices .
On a range of issues facing the country , from handling the coronavirus pandemic to pulling the economy out of a recession and making health care more affordable , respondents in the six battlegrounds do not have a clear preference for who would do a better job between Trump and Republicans or Biden and Democrats .
• The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would do a better job handling the outbreak , while 49 % chose Trump and Republicans • Putting the middle class first : 52 % Biden to 48 % Trump • Relying on facts and science to make decisions : 52 % Biden to 48 % Trump With months to go until voters cast their ballots , the poll suggests a neck-and-neck contest for the White House .
Even as Trump faces widespread criticism over his preparedness for and response to the pandemic , voters think Biden is better equipped to combat it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Overall , 49 % of respondents from the pivotal states approve of the job the president is doing , while 51 % disapprove .
He gets similar marks when voters are asked specifically about his response to the coronavirus : 48 % approve and 52 % disapprove .
Covid-19 has dominated the 2020 campaign as it tears through the country .
The disease has infected more than 825,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 45,000 people , according to Johns Hopkins University data as of Wednesday .
Business shutdowns intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more than 22 million people filing unemployment claims over the latest four-week period .
Biden has had to cancel traditional events and transition to virtual campaigning and fundraising .
Trump has used his administration 's daily coronavirus updates to defend his track record and dominate the airwaves .
Views about the economy can shape how Americans vote in presidential election .
Optimism has crumbled during the coronavirus crisis .
Nationally , 68 % of respondents think the economy is either probably or definitely in a recession , versus 27 % who say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Views break down differently in the six battleground states ( though the share who think the economy is contracting is significantly larger than the the portion who thinks it is expanding ) .
Tune into CNBC on Wednesday for ongoing coverage of the poll 's findings .

Joe Biden and Donald Trump Getty Images
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a tight race in six states that will shape who wins the White House in November, according to a new CNBC/Change Research survey. The Republican incumbent and apparent Democratic nominee are virtually tied in the battlegrounds of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to the States of Play poll of swing states released Wednesday. Trump edges Biden by a 48% to 47% margin across those states, the poll found. The poll, which surveyed 5,787 likely voters in the six states on April 17 and 18, has a margin of error is plus or minus 1.3 percentage points.
The split in voter preferences in those states goes beyond their ballot choices. On a range of issues facing the country, from handling the coronavirus pandemic to pulling the economy out of a recession and making health care more affordable, respondents in the six battlegrounds do not have a clear preference for who would do a better job between Trump and Republicans or Biden and Democrats.
The coronavirus: 51% said Biden and Democrats would do a better job handling the outbreak, while 49% chose Trump and Republicans
Preventing another pandemic: 51% Biden to 49% Trump
Recovering from a recession: 50% Biden to 50% Trump
The economy: 52% Trump to 48% Biden
Creating jobs: 51% Trump to 49% Biden
Helping your pocketbook: 51% Trump to 49% Biden
Putting the middle class first: 52% Biden to 48% Trump
Making health care more affordable: 52% Biden to 48% Trump
Relying on facts and science to make decisions: 52% Biden to 48% Trump
The stock market: 57% Trump to 43% Biden With months to go until voters cast their ballots, the poll suggests a neck-and-neck contest for the White House. Even as Trump faces widespread criticism over his preparedness for and response to the pandemic, voters think Biden is better equipped to combat it by only the narrowest of margins. Overall, 49% of respondents from the pivotal states approve of the job the president is doing, while 51% disapprove. He gets similar marks when voters are asked specifically about his response to the coronavirus: 48% approve and 52% disapprove. Covid-19 has dominated the 2020 campaign as it tears through the country. The disease has infected more than 825,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 45,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University data as of Wednesday. Business shutdowns intended to stop the disease's spread have led to more than 22 million people filing unemployment claims over the latest four-week period.
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Biden has had to cancel traditional events and transition to virtual campaigning and fundraising. Trump has used his administration's daily coronavirus updates to defend his track record and dominate the airwaves. Views about the economy can shape how Americans vote in presidential election. Optimism has crumbled during the coronavirus crisis. Nationally, 68% of respondents think the economy is either probably or definitely in a recession, versus 27% who say it probably or definitely is not. Views break down differently in the six battleground states (though the share who think the economy is contracting is significantly larger than the the portion who thinks it is expanding). Arizona: 75% to 23%
Florida: 72% to 24%
Michigan: 69% to 25%
North Carolina: 65% to 29%
Pennsylvania: 71% to 23%
Wisconsin: 68% to 25% Tune into CNBC on Wednesday for ongoing coverage of the poll's findings. — Graphics by CNBC's John Schoen Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Mike Bloomberg invested over $20 million in Hawkfish weeks after he dropped out of the 2020 primary

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg addresses his staff and the media after announcing that he will be ending his campaign on March 04 , 2020 in New York City .
Billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg has invested over $ 20 million in his own digital tech company weeks after he dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary .
The $ 20 million investiture went to Hawkfish on March 31 through Bloomberg 's campaign , according to a new Federal Election Commission filing .
That disbursement was for `` digital consulting '' but the Bloomberg campaign had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process of moving on from a disappointing run for president .
Another $ 1.5 million was spent on Hawkfish on that same day for `` digital advertising . ''
Bloomberg officially dropped out of the race on March 4 after entirely funding the campaign .
The massive sum is on top of the $ 45 million the campaign spent on Hawkfish 's services throughout the firm 's work for its founder Bloomberg , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
The eight-figure spend by Bloomberg in March shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could be of help to any campaign that signs up for its services .
Bloomberg , a billionaire with a net worth of $ 54 billion , seems to have disappeared from the scene after transferring $ 18 million to the Democratic National Committee and walking away from having his own outside entity help the apparent party nominee in Joe Biden .
He ended up laying off his staff who were placed in key battleground states in the wake of his withdrawal in March .
A person close to Bloomberg in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named in order to speak freely , recently told CNBC that the former New York mayor is still disappointed in the way his campaign panned out after spending just over $ 1 billion of his own money , and he 's not yet ready to get back into the public eye of taking on President Donald Trump .
Party donors have been privately hoping that Bloomberg gets more involved sooner rather than later as Trump , along with the Republican National Committee , has an extensive war chest that they 've been building @ @ @

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg addresses his staff and the media after announcing that he will be ending his campaign on March 04, 2020 in New York City.
Billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg has invested over $20 million in his own digital tech company weeks after he dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary.
The $20 million investiture went to Hawkfish on March 31 through Bloomberg's campaign, according to a new Federal Election Commission filing. That disbursement was for "digital consulting" but the Bloomberg campaign had already ended by then and his team was in the process of moving on from a disappointing run for president. Another $1.5 million was spent on Hawkfish on that same day for "digital advertising." Bloomberg officially dropped out of the race on March 4 after entirely funding the campaign.
The massive sum is on top of the $45 million the campaign spent on Hawkfish's services throughout the firm's work for its founder Bloomberg, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The eight-figure spend by Bloomberg in March shows that Hawkfish has a ton of financial reserves that could be of help to any campaign that signs up for its services.
Bloomberg, a billionaire with a net worth of $54 billion, seems to have disappeared from the scene after transferring $18 million to the Democratic National Committee and walking away from having his own outside entity help the apparent party nominee in Joe Biden. He ended up laying off his staff who were placed in key battleground states in the wake of his withdrawal in March.
A person close to Bloomberg in the business community, who declined to be named in order to speak freely, recently told CNBC that the former New York mayor is still disappointed in the way his campaign panned out after spending just over $1 billion of his own money, and he's not yet ready to get back into the public eye of taking on President Donald Trump. Party donors have been privately hoping that Bloomberg gets more involved sooner rather than later as Trump, along with the Republican National Committee, has an extensive war chest that they've been building for years.
A spokesman for Bloomberg declined to comment.


cnbc--2020-04-22--Nearly entire crew of coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier tested, 9 treated for symptoms

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on April 10 , 2020 .
At least 416 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier , or 8.6 percent of the ships crew of 4,800 , have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , with the numbers increasing daily .
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy said Tuesday that nearly all crewmembers assigned to the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier have been tested for the disease .
`` As of today , 94 % of USS Theodore Roosevelt crewmembers were tested for Covid-19 , with 710 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the service wrote in a release .
Of the total cases , nine are currently being treated at the U.S .
Naval Hospital Guam , 42 sailors have recovered and one sailor died .
A significant number of the Roosevelt crew tested positive but displayed no symptoms .
Read more : US Navy sailor from coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier dies in Guam The growing outbreak threatening the crew aboard the Roosevelt was foreshadowed in a leaked letter penned last month by the ship 's captain .
Capt .
Brett Crozier urged senior military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic steps to safeguard the sailors aboard the Roosevelt .
`` We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die .
If we do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors , '' Crozier wrote in the letter dated March 30 .
`` The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating . ''

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on April 10, 2020. At least 416 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier, or 8.6 percent of the ships crew of 4,800, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with the numbers increasing daily.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy said Tuesday that nearly all crewmembers assigned to the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier have been tested for the disease.
"As of today, 94% of USS Theodore Roosevelt crewmembers were tested for Covid-19, with 710 total positive and 3,872 negative results," the service wrote in a release. Of the total cases, nine are currently being treated at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, 42 sailors have recovered and one sailor died. A significant number of the Roosevelt crew tested positive but displayed no symptoms.
Read more: US Navy sailor from coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier dies in Guam
The growing outbreak threatening the crew aboard the Roosevelt was foreshadowed in a leaked letter penned last month by the ship's captain.
Capt. Brett Crozier urged senior military leaders in a four-page letter to take dramatic steps to safeguard the sailors aboard the Roosevelt.
"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors," Crozier wrote in the letter dated March 30. "The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating."


cnbc--2020-04-23--New York Gov. Cuomo rips Senate leader Mitch McConnell's 'really dumb' suggestion to let states decl

New York Gov. Cuomo rips Senate leader Mitch McConnell's 'really dumb' suggestion to let states declare bankruptcy

`` The states that seem to have the problem happen to be Democrat , '' Trump added .
Later Thursday , President Donald Trump said that it was `` interesting that the states that are in trouble do happen to be blue . ''
Cuomo said that it was `` vicious '' for McConnell to describe proposals to federally fund the states devastated by the virus as a `` blue-state bailout . ''
`` I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route , '' McConnell said .
`` It saves some cities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to be available . ''
On Wednesday , McConnell , of Kentucky , told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he supports allowing states to declare bankruptcy rather than getting federal money to cover budget shortfalls as tax revenue dives .
`` You will see a collapse of this national economy '' if states such as New York and California declare bankruptcy , Cuomo said .
`` So just do n't . ''
`` This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time , '' Cuomo , a Democrat , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo tore into Sen. Mitch McConnell on Thursday over the Senate Republican leader 's support for letting states declare bankruptcy as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic .
McConnell said of state leaders : `` My guess is , their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they do n't have to do that .
That 's not something I 'm going to be in favor of . ''
Cuomo , whose state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anywhere else in the U.S. , strongly disagreed .
`` The entire nation is dependent on what the governors do to reopen , '' Cuomo said at the press conference .
`` But then you 're not going to fund the state government ?
You think I 'm going to do it alone ?
How do you think this is going to work ? ''
`` You want to see that market fall through the cellar ?
Let New York declare bankruptcy , '' Cuomo added .
Cuomo has previously criticized Congress and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough funding to help his state offset the massive costs inflicted by the coronavirus .
Before the massive $ 2 trillion economic relief package was signed into law by President Donald Trump in late March , Cuomo said it would be `` terrible '' for the Empire State .
The latest coronavirus relief bill , which is expected to pass the Democratic-led House later Thursday , does not provide funding for state and local governments .
Congress is expected to work on at least one additional relief package in the future .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local funding is in this current bill , '' Cuomo said at the press conference , `` because I do n't believe they want to fund state and local governments .
And not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short sighted . ''
`` They want to fund small business , fund the airlines , I understand that , but state and local government funds police , and fire , and teachers and schools , '' Cuomo said .
`` How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
he said .
`` When you do n't fund the state then the state ca n't fund those services . ''
The governor paraphrased McConnell 's argument as : `` Do n't help New York state because it is a Democratic state . ''
`` How ugly a thought , '' Cuomo said .
`` I mean , just think of what he 's saying : People died , 15,000 people died in New York , but they were predominantly Democrats , so why should we help them ? ''
Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Politico on Thursday that the bailout language , which came from McConnell 's office , was `` complete nonsense . ''
`` These are well-run states .
There are just as many Republicans as Democrats that strongly support this , '' Hogan said .
Cuomo told reporters that he has not contacted McConnell about the issue of state funding and that he does n't intend to .
A spokesman for McConnell did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment about the governor 's remarks .
Hogan and Cuomo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Governors Association , wrote to congressional leaders Tuesday requesting an additional $ 500 billion state stabilization fund .
They said lost revenue during the crisis would force states to make `` drastic cuts '' to programs and harm the economic recovery from the pandemic .
`` While the three supplemental spending laws passed in March have provided relief to the states , none contained direct funding to offset drastic state revenue shortfalls .
Unlike the federal government , states can not borrow to fund continuing operations , '' the governors wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his Republican caucus .
Sen. Bill Cassidy , a Republican who represents Louisiana , home of hard-hit New Orleans , plans to introduce a proposal with Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to provide half a trillion dollars in relief to state and local governments when Congress returns next month .
`` We worked hard to make sure state and local governments can maintain essential services necessary for employees and employers to survive .
We must protect Americans ' financial future , '' Cassidy said in a statement announcing the plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson for Sen. Rick Scott , R-Fla. , said Thursday that he agrees with McConnell .
Earlier this month , he wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying that federal aid money `` should not be used to backfill lost revenue or plug holes in poorly designed state budgets . ''

"The states that seem to have the problem happen to be Democrat," Trump added.
Later Thursday, President Donald Trump said that it was "interesting that the states that are in trouble do happen to be blue."
Cuomo said that it was "vicious" for McConnell to describe proposals to federally fund the states devastated by the virus as a "blue-state bailout."
"I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route," McConnell said. "It saves some cities, and there's no good reason for it not to be available."
On Wednesday, McConnell, of Kentucky, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he supports allowing states to declare bankruptcy rather than getting federal money to cover budget shortfalls as tax revenue dives.
"You will see a collapse of this national economy" if states such as New York and California declare bankruptcy, Cuomo said. "So just don't."
"This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time," Cuomo, a Democrat, said during a press conference in Albany.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into Sen. Mitch McConnell on Thursday over the Senate Republican leader's support for letting states declare bankruptcy as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic .
McConnell said of state leaders: "My guess is, their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of."
Cuomo, whose state has been hit harder by Covid-19 than anywhere else in the U.S., strongly disagreed.
"The entire nation is dependent on what the governors do to reopen," Cuomo said at the press conference. "But then you're not going to fund the state government? You think I'm going to do it alone? How do you think this is going to work?"
"You want to see that market fall through the cellar? Let New York declare bankruptcy," Cuomo added.
Cuomo has previously criticized Congress and the federal government for not providing nearly enough funding to help his state offset the massive costs inflicted by the coronavirus. Before the massive $2 trillion economic relief package was signed into law by President Donald Trump in late March, Cuomo said it would be "terrible" for the Empire State.
The latest coronavirus relief bill, which is expected to pass the Democratic-led House later Thursday, does not provide funding for state and local governments. Congress is expected to work on at least one additional relief package in the future.
"I would've insisted that state and local funding is in this current bill," Cuomo said at the press conference, "because I don't believe they want to fund state and local governments. And not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short sighted."
"They want to fund small business, fund the airlines, I understand that, but state and local government funds police, and fire, and teachers and schools," Cuomo said.
"How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis?" he said. "When you don't fund the state then the state can't fund those services."
The governor paraphrased McConnell's argument as: "Don't help New York state because it is a Democratic state."
"How ugly a thought," Cuomo said. "I mean, just think of what he's saying: People died, 15,000 people died in New York, but they were predominantly Democrats, so why should we help them?"
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, told Politico on Thursday that the bailout language, which came from McConnell's office, was "complete nonsense."
"These are well-run states. There are just as many Republicans as Democrats that strongly support this," Hogan said.
Cuomo told reporters that he has not contacted McConnell about the issue of state funding and that he doesn't intend to. A spokesman for McConnell did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment about the governor's remarks.
Hogan and Cuomo, the chair and vice chair of the National Governors Association, wrote to congressional leaders Tuesday requesting an additional $500 billion state stabilization fund. They said lost revenue during the crisis would force states to make "drastic cuts" to programs and harm the economic recovery from the pandemic.
"While the three supplemental spending laws passed in March have provided relief to the states, none contained direct funding to offset drastic state revenue shortfalls. Unlike the federal government, states cannot borrow to fund continuing operations," the governors wrote.
McConnell's comments have divided some members of his Republican caucus.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who represents Louisiana, home of hard-hit New Orleans, plans to introduce a proposal with Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to provide half a trillion dollars in relief to state and local governments when Congress returns next month.
"We worked hard to make sure state and local governments can maintain essential services necessary for employees and employers to survive. We must protect Americans' financial future," Cassidy said in a statement announcing the plan Sunday.
At the same time, a spokesperson for Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Thursday that he agrees with McConnell. Earlier this month, he wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying that federal aid money "should not be used to backfill lost revenue or plug holes in poorly designed state budgets."