cnbc--2020-12-29--House passes bill for $2,000 stimulus checks – leaving it up to GOP-controlled Senate

The House voted Monday to increase the second round of federal direct payments to $ 2,000 as Democrats embrace President Donald Trump 's calls to put more money in Americans ' pockets .
The measure would boost the stimulus checks in the year-end coronavirus relief and government funding package to $ 2,000 from $ 600 .
The vote came a day after Trump signed the more than $ 2 trillion pandemic aid and full-year government spending bill into law .
The House passed the payments in a fast-track procedure with just enough support to meet the two-thirds threshold needed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 275-134 vote .
Democrats backed the bill by a 231-2 margin .
Forty-four GOP representatives supported the measure and 130 voted against it , after days of calls by the Republican Trump to increase the payments to $ 2,000 .
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , did not immediately respond to a request to comment on whether the chamber would vote on the House-passed bill .
In a Sunday statement cheering Trump 's decision to pass the year-end legislation , McConnell did not mention any plans to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said Monday that he would try to pass the legislation in the Senate on Tuesday .
`` Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief , which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it – there is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way , '' he said in a statement .
Last week , the president called the relief legislation passed by Congress a `` disgrace . ''
He waited days to sign the package after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he opposed the bill — which his Treasury secretary helped to negotiate and which included many of his White House 's budget priorities — because it included too little direct money to Americans and too much foreign aid .
When asked whether the $ 600 payments were still on course to go out starting this week as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin previously said , a senior Treasury official said the department expects to make the payments on the same timeline he discussed .
If Congress does approve the $ 2,000 checks , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued money .
In a statement explaining his decision to sign the legislation Sunday , Trump noted that the House and potentially the Senate could move to approve larger cash deposits .
However , most Republicans in the GOP-held Senate have opposed even a $ 1,200 check .
Trump 's gambit caps a chaotic eight months of efforts in Washington to send another round of coronavirus relief .
Americans waited months for more help after financial lifelines that aided them through the early months of the pandemic expired over the summer .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may cost millions of jobless Americans a week of unemployment benefits after two key relief programs briefly expired .

The House voted Monday to increase the second round of federal direct payments to $2,000 as Democrats embrace President Donald Trump's calls to put more money in Americans' pockets.
The measure would boost the stimulus checks in the year-end coronavirus relief and government funding package to $2,000 from $600. The vote came a day after Trump signed the more than $2 trillion pandemic aid and full-year government spending bill into law.
The House passed the payments in a fast-track procedure with just enough support to meet the two-thirds threshold needed. The chamber approved the measure in a 275-134 vote.
Democrats backed the bill by a 231-2 margin. Forty-four GOP representatives supported the measure and 130 voted against it, after days of calls by the Republican Trump to increase the payments to $2,000.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not immediately respond to a request to comment on whether the chamber would vote on the House-passed bill. In a Sunday statement cheering Trump's decision to pass the year-end legislation, McConnell did not mention any plans to vote on larger payments.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday that he would try to pass the legislation in the Senate on Tuesday.
"Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief, which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it – there is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way," he said in a statement.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Monday he would delay the Senate's plans to override Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act this week unless the chamber votes on the bigger checks.
"Let me be clear: If Senator McConnell doesn't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year's Eve. Let's do our job," he said in a statement.
Last week, the president called the relief and funding legislation passed by Congress a "disgrace." He waited days to sign the package after he received it from Congress. Trump claimed he opposed the bill — which his Treasury secretary helped to negotiate and which included many of his White House's budget priorities — because it included too little direct money to Americans and too much foreign aid.
When asked whether the $600 payments were still on course to go out starting this week as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin previously said, a senior Treasury official said the department expects to make the payments on the same timeline he discussed. If Congress does approve the $2,000 checks, the department will then add to the already issued money.
In a statement explaining his decision to sign the legislation Sunday, Trump noted that the House and potentially the Senate could move to approve larger cash deposits. However, most Republicans in the GOP-held Senate have opposed even a $1,200 check.
Trump's gambit caps a chaotic eight months of efforts in Washington to send another round of coronavirus relief. Americans waited months for more help after financial lifelines that aided them through the early months of the pandemic expired over the summer. Trump's delays in signing the year-end bill may cost millions of jobless Americans a week of unemployment benefits after two key relief programs briefly expired.
The president's signature prevented a government shutdown that would have started Tuesday. More delays also would have jeopardized a federal eviction moratorium, which the bill extends by a month through Jan. 31.
Democrats have called the relief bill a down payment and plan to push for more aid after President-elect Joe Biden takes office Jan. 20. As they had called for larger direct payments throughout aid talks, they jumped on the president's support for $2,000 deposits.
On Monday, Biden also told reporters he backs $2,000 payments.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has called on Trump to put more pressure on his party to back the checks.
"To reject this would be in denial of the economic challenges that people are facing and it would deny them, again, the relief they need," she said Monday ahead of the House vote.
At least one Senate Republican, Marco Rubio of Florida, said he would support the larger payments.
"I share many of my colleagues' concern about the long-term effects of additional spending, but we cannot ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief," he said in a statement Monday.
House Democrats already tried to pass $2,000 payments by unanimous consent during a pro forma session on Thursday. However, the vote failed because House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did not approve it.
Earlier this month, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., twice rejected attempts to unanimously pass $1,200 direct payments in the Senate. Sanders and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pushed for the checks as part of the relief package.
Schumer's move to put pressure on Senate Republicans comes as two GOP incumbents — Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler — compete in Jan. 5 runoffs in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate and shape Biden's agenda. Democrats have made pandemic relief a major issue in the races.
The $900 billion pandemic aid portion of the legislation includes the $600 payments along with a $300 per week federal unemployment insurance supplement into mid-March. It extends programs that allow freelance, gig and self-employed workers to receive benefits and increase the number of weeks people can receive insurance.


cnbc--2020-12-29--Biden accuses Trump's Pentagon and OMB of obstruction, demands cooperation with transition team

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers a speech after a conference video call focused on foreign policy at his transition headquarters in Wilmington , Delaware , December 28 , 2020 .
President-elect Joe Biden said Monday his transition team has run into `` roadblocks '' and `` obstruction '' from Trump administration leaders at key agencies , hindering the incoming administration 's efforts to prepare for the presidency .
But one of those agency chiefs , acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller , pushed back on Biden 's critique , marking the latest row between President Donald Trump 's Pentagon and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage , '' Biden said during remarks in Delaware following a briefing from his national security and foreign policy agency review teams .
`` Many of them have been hollowed out , in personnel , capacity , and in morale .
Policy processes have atrophied or have been sidelined , '' he said .
Biden , who is set to take office in less than a month , singled out the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some agencies , our team has received exemplary cooperation , '' Biden said .
`` From others , most notably the Department of Defense , we 've encountered obstruction from the political leadership of that department . ''
He later added : `` We 've encountered roadblocks from the political leadership in the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget .
Right now , we just are n't getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas . ''
`` It 's nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irresponsibility , '' Biden said .
In a statement later Monday , acting Defense chief Miller defended his agency 's coordination with Biden 's team .
`` The Department of Defense has conducted 164 interviews with over 400 officials , and provided over 5,000 pages of documents – far more than initially requested by Biden 's transition team , '' Miller 's statement said .
Included in that statement is a bulleted list of `` transition facts , '' which notes that all interviews with the transition team are , for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic .
The agency 's efforts `` already surpass those of recent administrations with over three weeks to go , '' Miller said , `` and we continue to schedule additional meetings for the remainder of the transition and answer any and all requests for information in our purview . ''
Defense Department officials , the statement added , `` have been working with the utmost professionalism to support transition activities in a compressed time schedule and they will continue to do so in a transparent and collegial manner that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The American people expect nothing less and that is what I remain committed to . ''
The Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to CNBC 's requests for comment .
Biden applauded his agency review teams for doing an `` outstanding job '' despite the pandemic and the delays in receiving federal funding from Trump 's General Services Administration .
Those obstacles came as the president has refused to concede to Biden and as his campaign legal team and others continue their efforts to overturn the election .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring `` that nothing is lost in the handoff between administrations . ''
`` We need full visibility into the budget planning underway at the Defense Department and other agencies in order to avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit . ''
While the president-elect 's remarks were among his most critical of the Trump administration from the Wilmington lectern , they were not the first instance of Biden 's struggles with Trump 's Defense Department .
The tensions between the Pentagon and Biden 's team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over a dispute about Miller 's decision to cancel meetings with the transition team for the rest of the year .
Miller said in a statement that there was a `` mutually agreed upon holiday pause , '' but a Biden spokesman shot back that no such agreement was made .
`` Let me be clear : There was no mutually agreed-upon holiday break , '' transition spokesman Yohannes Abraham had told reporters .
It was weeks after the election that Defense officials confirmed the transition process within the Pentagon had begun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by video conference , It was a good , productive meeting where we sort of laid down some of the ground rules , '' Tom Muir , director of the Washington Headquarters Services , said during a Nov. 24 Pentagon briefing .
`` They are looking forward to participating in discussions here in the Pentagon , '' added Muir , who facilitates the transition process .
Muir said at the time that the Biden team will have dedicated office space in the Pentagon and appropriate access to intelligence .

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers a speech at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 28, 2020.
President-elect Joe Biden said Monday his transition team has run into "roadblocks" and "obstruction" from Trump administration leaders at key agencies, hindering the incoming administration's efforts to prepare for the presidency.
But one of those agency chiefs, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, pushed back on Biden's critique, marking the latest row between President Donald Trump's Pentagon and the president-elect.
"The truth is, many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage," Biden said during remarks in Delaware following a briefing from his national security and foreign policy agency review teams.
"Many of them have been hollowed out, in personnel, capacity, and in morale. Policy processes have atrophied or have been sidelined," he said.
Biden, who is set to take office in less than a month, singled out the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget in his speech.
"From some agencies, our team has received exemplary cooperation," Biden said. "From others, most notably the Department of Defense, we've encountered obstruction from the political leadership of that department."
He later added: "We've encountered roadblocks from the political leadership in the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget. Right now, we just aren't getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas."
"It's nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility," Biden said.
In a statement later Monday, acting Defense chief Miller defended his agency's coordination with Biden's team.
"The Department of Defense has conducted 164 interviews with over 400 officials, and provided over 5,000 pages of documents – far more than initially requested by Biden's transition team," Miller's statement said.
Included in that statement is a bulleted list of "transition facts," which notes that all interviews with the transition team are, for the first time, being conducted virtually in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The agency's efforts "already surpass those of recent administrations with over three weeks to go," Miller said, "and we continue to schedule additional meetings for the remainder of the transition and answer any and all requests for information in our purview."
Defense Department officials, the statement added, "have been working with the utmost professionalism to support transition activities in a compressed time schedule and they will continue to do so in a transparent and collegial manner that upholds the finest traditions of the Department. The American people expect nothing less and that is what I remain committed to."
The Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.
Biden applauded his agency review teams for doing an "outstanding job" despite the pandemic and the delays in receiving federal funding from Trump's General Services Administration. Those obstacles came as the president has refused to concede to Biden and as his campaign legal team and others continue their efforts to overturn the election.
A pressing concern, Biden said, is ensuring "that nothing is lost in the handoff between administrations."
"We need full visibility into the budget planning underway at the Defense Department and other agencies in order to avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit."
While the president-elect's remarks were among his most critical of the Trump administration from the Wilmington lectern, they were not the first instance of Biden's struggles with Trump's Defense Department.
The tensions between the Pentagon and Biden's team spilled into public view earlier this month, over a dispute about Miller's decision to cancel meetings with the transition team for the rest of the year.
Miller said in a statement that there was a "mutually agreed upon holiday pause," but a Biden spokesman shot back that no such agreement was made.
"Let me be clear: There was no mutually agreed-upon holiday break," transition spokesman Yohannes Abraham had told reporters.
It was weeks after the election that Defense officials confirmed the transition process within the Pentagon had begun.
"The first meeting today was by video conference, It was a good, productive meeting where we sort of laid down some of the ground rules," Tom Muir, director of the Washington Headquarters Services, said during a Nov. 24 Pentagon briefing.
"They are looking forward to participating in discussions here in the Pentagon," added Muir, who facilitates the transition process.
Muir said at the time that the Biden team will have dedicated office space in the Pentagon and appropriate access to intelligence.


cnbc--2020-12-28--Judge again denies bail to accused Jeffrey Epstein sex crimes accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls , in Manhattan Federal Court , in New York , July 14 , 2020 in this courtroom sketch .
A federal judge on Monday for the second time denied bail to Ghislaine Maxwell , the wealthy British socialite accused of grooming underage girls to be sexually abused by money manager Jeffrey Epstein .
Judge Alison Nathan found , as she did in the first bail rejection in July , that Maxwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her wealth , possession of citizenship in multiple countries and the severity of the charges that she faces .
The denial came three days after Maxwell celebrated her 59th birthday on Christmas Day in a federal jail in Brooklyn , New York .
In her most recent bail application , Maxwell had asked to be released on a $ 22.5 million personal recognizance bond , with millions of dollars more pledged as security for her appearances in court by seven relatives and friends .
Maxwell also proposed having armed guards ensure that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residence , and that she be monitored with an electronic device .
Prosecutors strongly opposed the request , and Nathan agreed with them in her order issued Monday in Manhattan federal court .
`` The Court ... finds that the Defendant 's proposed bail conditions would not reasonably assure her appearance at future proceedings , '' Nathan wrote in the ruling .
`` The Court concludes that none of the new information that the Defendant presented in support of her application has a material bearing on the Court 's determination that she poses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote a longer opinion detailing her reasons for denying Maxwell bail .
But the judge is withholding that document from the public court record for now to give Maxwell 's lawyers and prosecutors time to propose any redactions they believe are warranted to protect potentially confidential information .
Maxwell , who was arrested in New Hampshire on July 2 , has pleaded not guilty in the case .
In addition to charges related to allegedly recruiting and grooming several underage girls for her ex-boyfriend Epstein in the 1990s , Maxwell also is charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposition for a lawsuit filed by an Epstein accuser .
She is due to stand trial next year .

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court, in New York, July 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch.
A federal judge on Monday for the second time denied bail to Ghislaine Maxwell, the wealthy British socialite accused of grooming underage girls to be sexually abused by money manager Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Alison Nathan found, as she did in the first bail rejection in July, that Maxwell poses a serious flight risk, given her wealth, possession of citizenship in multiple countries and the severity of the charges that she faces.
The denial came three days after Maxwell celebrated her 59th birthday on Christmas Day in a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York.
In her most recent bail application, Maxwell had asked to be released on a $22.5 million personal recognizance bond, with millions of dollars more pledged as security for her appearances in court by seven relatives and friends.
Maxwell also proposed having armed guards ensure that she remained confined to a New York City residence, and that she be monitored with an electronic device.
Prosecutors strongly opposed the request, and Nathan agreed with them in her order issued Monday in Manhattan federal court.
"The Court ... finds that the Defendant's proposed bail conditions would not reasonably assure her appearance at future proceedings," Nathan wrote in the ruling.
"The Court concludes that none of the new information that the Defendant presented in support of her application has a material bearing on the Court's determination that she poses a flight risk."
Nathan also wrote a longer opinion detailing her reasons for denying Maxwell bail.
But the judge is withholding that document from the public court record for now to give Maxwell's lawyers and prosecutors time to propose any redactions they believe are warranted to protect potentially confidential information.
Maxwell, who was arrested in New Hampshire on July 2, has pleaded not guilty in the case.
In addition to charges related to allegedly recruiting and grooming several underage girls for her ex-boyfriend Epstein in the 1990s, Maxwell also is charged with perjury for allegedly lying during a deposition for a lawsuit filed by an Epstein accuser.
She is due to stand trial next year.


cnbc--2020-12-29--House overrides Trump veto of $740 billion defense bill, sends to GOP-led Senate

WASHINGTON — The House voted Monday to override President Donald Trump 's veto of an annual defense spending bill , placing the final steps of defying the Republican president in the hands of the GOP-led Senate .
The measure to override Trump 's veto of the defense bill passed 322 to 87 on Monday evening .
The Senate will vote next on whether to override the veto .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said his chamber would vote on overriding the veto Tuesday .
The bill , known as the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act , passed the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than three-fourths of the chamber .
A large majority of the GOP-controlled Senate also approved the bill , giving both chambers a higher share of yea votes than the two-thirds required to defeat a presidential veto .
The sweeping defense bill , that authorizes a topline of $ 740 billion in spending and outlines Pentagon policy , typically passes with strong bipartisan support and veto-proof majorities as it funds America 's national security portfolio .
It has been signed into law every year for nearly six consecutive decades .
The bill 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldier pay raises and keeps crucial defense modernization programs running .
Trump offered a variety of reasons for opposing this year 's 4,517-page NDAA , taking issue with the bill both for what it contains and what it lacks .
The president has demanded that the bill include language stripping social media companies of protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which guards them from being held liable for what users say on their platforms .
Trump , who has used Twitter prolifically throughout his presidency , has long accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto message to Congress , Trump wrote that the NDAA failed `` to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act . ''
He called on Congress to repeal the measure .
The president has previously said the measure posed a serious threat to U.S. national security as well as election integrity but did not give any further explanatory details .
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , wrote on Twitter last week that he would not vote to override the president 's veto .
Graham did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Graham , who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee , introduced legislation on Dec. 15 that would end , by Jan. 1 , 2023 , the protections of Section 230 .

WASHINGTON — The House voted Monday to override President Donald Trump's veto of an annual defense spending bill, placing the final steps of defying the Republican president in the hands of the GOP-led Senate.
The measure to override Trump's veto of the defense bill passed 322 to 87 on Monday evening. The Senate will vote next on whether to override the veto.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said his chamber would vote on overriding the veto Tuesday.
The bill, known as the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, passed the House on Dec. 8. with the support of more than three-fourths of the chamber. A large majority of the GOP-controlled Senate also approved the bill, giving both chambers a higher share of yea votes than the two-thirds required to defeat a presidential veto.
The sweeping defense bill, that authorizes a topline of $740 billion in spending and outlines Pentagon policy, typically passes with strong bipartisan support and veto-proof majorities as it funds America's national security portfolio. It has been signed into law every year for nearly six consecutive decades.
The bill's passage, at the minimum, secures soldier pay raises and keeps crucial defense modernization programs running.
Trump offered a variety of reasons for opposing this year's 4,517-page NDAA, taking issue with the bill both for what it contains and what it lacks.
The president has demanded that the bill include language stripping social media companies of protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which guards them from being held liable for what users say on their platforms. Trump, who has used Twitter prolifically throughout his presidency, has long accused media outlets of bias.
In his veto message to Congress, Trump wrote that the NDAA failed "to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act." He called on Congress to repeal the measure.
The president has previously said the measure posed a serious threat to U.S. national security as well as election integrity but did not give any further explanatory details.
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter last week that he would not vote to override the president's veto. Graham did not vote for the bill the first time.
Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation on Dec. 15 that would end, by Jan. 1, 2023, the protections of Section 230.


cnbc--2020-12-28--Congressman, other Republicans sue Vice President Pence in last-ditch effort to overturn Biden win

Rep. Louie Gohmert became the latest Republican to file a long-shot lawsuit attempting to reverse President-elect Joe Biden 's victory — this time by suing Vice President Mike Pence .
The last-ditch legal effort , filed Sunday , came from Gohmert , an eight-term congressman from Texas , along with 11 Arizona residents who had been nominated by that state 's Republican Party to serve as electors .
It comes over a week before Pence is scheduled to preside over a joint session of Congress where the Electoral College votes for Biden and President Donald Trump will be tallied up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks earlier .
Biden received 306 electoral votes — 36 more than he needed to win — while Trump received 232 .
The suit asks federal Judge Jeremy Kernodle , a Trump appointee in eastern Texas , to declare that Pence has the `` exclusive authority and sole discretion '' to decide which electoral votes from a given state should be counted .
While pro-Trump electors in some states Biden won have symbolically cast their own ballots , experts say those votes carry no legal weight .
The Republican complaint claims that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be declared unconstitutional as it clashes with the 12th Amendment .
That amendment contains `` the exclusive dispute resolution mechanisms , '' the lawsuit claims , including that `` Vice-President Pence determines which slate of electors ' votes count , or neither , for that state . ''
`` No , this wo n't work , '' tweeted election law expert Rick Hasen at the University of California , Irvine .
`` The suit will go nowhere , '' wrote Joshua Geltzer , executive director of Georgetown University 's Institute for Constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
The suit also asserts that `` public reports '' have `` highlighted wide-spread election fraud '' in battleground states , citing a document written by White House advisor Peter Navarro that includes numerous claims that have been rejected in other lawsuits or debunked by fact-checkers .
Trump has refused to concede to Biden .
He has falsely asserted he won the race while publicly pressuring Republican lawmakers to `` step up and fight for the Presidency . ''
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and debunked conspiracy theories alleging widespread voter and electoral fraud .
Some House Republicans have stated they will challenge the election results when Congress meets to count the electoral votes on Jan. 6 .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , has reportedly urged his caucus not to make similar objections .
Any objections to the electoral votes must be submitted in writing and signed by at least one House and one Senate member .
If an objection arises , the two chambers consider the objection separately .
The Trump campaign and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched dozens of attempts to challenge the election results in numerous swing states .
None of those legal efforts has succeeded in invalidating votes for Biden or flipping the results of any states ' presidential elections .
The U.S. Supreme Court earlier in December rejected a bid from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to sue four key swing states over changes they made to voting procedures .
Trump had called that lawsuit `` the big one . ''

Rep. Louie Gohmert became the latest Republican to file a long-shot lawsuit attempting to reverse President-elect Joe Biden's victory — this time by suing Vice President Mike Pence.
The last-ditch legal effort, filed Sunday, came from Gohmert, an eight-term congressman from Texas, along with 11 Arizona residents who had been nominated by that state's Republican Party to serve as electors.
It comes over a week before Pence is scheduled to preside over a joint session of Congress where the Electoral College votes for Biden and President Donald Trump will be tallied up.
Electors had already cast their votes two weeks earlier. Biden received 306 electoral votes — 36 more than he needed to win — while Trump received 232.
The suit asks federal Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee in eastern Texas, to declare that Pence has the "exclusive authority and sole discretion" to decide which electoral votes from a given state should be counted.
While pro-Trump electors in some states Biden won have symbolically cast their own ballots, experts say those votes carry no legal weight.
The Republican complaint claims that part of the 1887 Electoral Count Act should be declared unconstitutional as it clashes with the 12th Amendment.
That amendment contains "the exclusive dispute resolution mechanisms," the lawsuit claims, including that "Vice-President Pence determines which slate of electors' votes count, or neither, for that state."
Legal scholars quickly dismissed the Republicans' lawsuit as hopelessly far-fetched.
"No, this won't work," tweeted election law expert Rick Hasen at the University of California, Irvine.
"The suit will go nowhere," wrote Joshua Geltzer, executive director of Georgetown University's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.
"This is insane," tweeted Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis.
Spokespeople for Pence's office did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
The suit also asserts that "public reports" have "highlighted wide-spread election fraud" in battleground states, citing a document written by White House advisor Peter Navarro that includes numerous claims that have been rejected in other lawsuits or debunked by fact-checkers.
Trump has refused to concede to Biden. He has falsely asserted he won the race while publicly pressuring Republican lawmakers to "step up and fight for the Presidency." At the same time, Trump is spreading unfounded and debunked conspiracy theories alleging widespread voter and electoral fraud.
Some House Republicans have stated they will challenge the election results when Congress meets to count the electoral votes on Jan. 6. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has reportedly urged his caucus not to make similar objections.
Any objections to the electoral votes must be submitted in writing and signed by at least one House and one Senate member. If an objection arises, the two chambers consider the objection separately.
The Trump campaign and several of the president's allies have launched dozens of attempts to challenge the election results in numerous swing states. None of those legal efforts has succeeded in invalidating votes for Biden or flipping the results of any states' presidential elections.
The U.S. Supreme Court earlier in December rejected a bid from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to sue four key swing states over changes they made to voting procedures. Trump had called that lawsuit "the big one."


cnbc--2020-12-28--Amazon hires lobbyist brother of Biden White House counselor

The brother to one of President-elect Joe Biden 's closest advisors just picked up Amazon as a new client .
Jeff Ricchetti , the brother of Biden 's White House counselor Steve Ricchetti , recently secured a lobbying contract with Amazon , according to a new lobbying disclosure report .
The report shows Ricchetti registered to lobby for Amazon.com Services LLC.
, on Nov. 13 , just a week after Biden was projected to defeat President Donald Trump .
Amazon lists the limited liability business on its website as part of its group of companies .
Ethics attorneys have previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also once a lobbyist over a decade ago , may have to recuse himself from matters that could impact his brother 's clients .
A person familiar with the brothers ' relationship said they keep their professional lives entirely separate and that Jeff Ricchetti would never lobby Steve Ricchetti .
`` Jeff has never and will never lobby his brother on behalf of any of his clients , and Steve has had no role in his brother 's business since he sold his stake in the firm in 2012 , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff keep their professional activities distinctly separate . ''
This person declined to be named as the relationship is private .
Biden 's stance on Amazon has included calls for the company to start paying their taxes .
`` I do n't think any company , I do n't give a damn how big they are , the Lord almighty , should absolutely be in a position where they pay no tax and make billions and billions and billions of dollars , No .
1 , '' Biden said during a `` Squawk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosure report shows that Jeff Ricchetti will be lobbying Amazon on issues pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of the CARES Act .
Amazon appears to be on the verge of expanding their health care business known as Amazon Care .
The Amazon client is the latest for Ricchetti since Biden was the projected winner of the 2020 election .

The brother to one of President-elect Joe Biden's closest advisors just picked up Amazon as a new client.
Jeff Ricchetti, the brother of Biden's White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, recently secured a lobbying contract with Amazon, according to a new lobbying disclosure report.
The report shows Ricchetti registered to lobby for Amazon.com Services LLC., on Nov. 13, just a week after Biden was projected to defeat President Donald Trump. Amazon lists the limited liability business on its website as part of its group of companies.
Ethics attorneys have previously told CNBC that Steve Ricchetti, who was also once a lobbyist over a decade ago, may have to recuse himself from matters that could impact his brother's clients.
A person familiar with the brothers' relationship said they keep their professional lives entirely separate and that Jeff Ricchetti would never lobby Steve Ricchetti.
"Jeff has never and will never lobby his brother on behalf of any of his clients, and Steve has had no role in his brother's business since he sold his stake in the firm in 2012," the source told CNBC. "Steve and Jeff keep their professional activities distinctly separate." This person declined to be named as the relationship is private.
Biden's stance on Amazon has included calls for the company to start paying their taxes.
"I don't think any company, I don't give a damn how big they are, the Lord almighty, should absolutely be in a position where they pay no tax and make billions and billions and billions of dollars, No. 1," Biden said during a "Squawk Box" interview in May.
The disclosure report shows that Jeff Ricchetti will be lobbying Amazon on issues pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of the CARES Act. Amazon appears to be on the verge of expanding their health care business known as Amazon Care.
The Amazon client is the latest for Ricchetti since Biden was the projected winner of the 2020 election.


cnbc--2020-12-29--McConnell blocks $2,000 stimulus checks, then ties them to unrelated Trump demands on tech and elect

McConnell blocks $2,000 stimulus checks, then ties them to unrelated Trump demands on tech and election

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer 's attempt to unanimously pass a bill to increase direct payments in the year-end coronavirus relief package to $ 2,000 .
The Kentucky Republican later Tuesday introduced a bill that would boost the size of the checks to $ 2,000 from $ 600 , repeal Section 230 legal liability protections for internet platforms and create a commission to study election issues .
The bill would meet all of President Donald Trump 's recent demands , which are unrelated , but would not get Democratic support and become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would both avoid the act of actually passing $ 2,000 payments but allow GOP senators running for reelection in Georgia 's Jan. 5 runoffs to express support for Trump 's priorities .
In a statement Tuesday , Schumer said if McConnell `` tries loading up '' the bill `` with unrelated , partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country , '' larger direct payments would not become law .
`` Any move like this by Sen. McConnell would be a blatant attempt to deprive Americans of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
McConnell faces pressure to act after the House — with nearly all Democrats and a few dozen Republicans on board — voted Monday to increase the cash deposits to $ 2,000 from $ 600 .
Senate Republicans wary of spending more on pandemic aid are looking for a way to both meet the demands of a president who called the year-end coronavirus relief and funding bill a disgrace and hold on to their majority during races overshadowed by the crisis .
McConnell brought the chamber back this week with one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the annual National Defense Authorization Act .
He has not yet committed to bringing the $ 2,000 payment bill up for a vote , and it is unclear now how one would take shape .
Still , Democrats tried to use the limited tools at their disposal to force a vote .
Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon , McConnell said he planned to set up a Wednesday vote on the veto override .
He outlined three priorities Trump said he wanted Congress to address when he signed the coronavirus relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : larger direct payments , Section 230 legal liability protections for internet platforms and unfounded concerns about widespread election fraud .
He said that `` this week , the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus . ''
Schumer then called for the Senate to vote on both the defense bill veto override and the $ 2,000 payments and `` let the chips fall where they may . ''
When he asked for unanimous consent to increase the size of the checks , McConnell objected .
Sen. Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on the larger payments after Wednesday 's vote on the National Defense Authorization Act .
McConnell again objected .
Then , Sanders followed through on his threat to delay consideration of the veto override by objecting to a Wednesday vote .
As the Senate needs unanimous support to move quickly on most issues , any one senator can grind activity to a halt if they choose .
The chamber now likely will not vote on overruling the president on the defense bill until the new year .
It could then move on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalated the pressure on Republicans to pass larger payments Tuesday afternoon .
However , he indicated he would like to tie the relief to Section 230 reform and his desperate efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden 's November victory .
The president 's lawyers have repeatedly failed to prove systemic voter fraud cost him the election .
`` Unless Republicans have a death wish , and it is also the right thing to do , they must approve the $ 2000 payments ASAP .
$ 600 IS NOT ENOUGH ! ''
Trump wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of Section 230 - Do n't let Big Tech steal our Country , and do n't let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election .
Get tough ! ''
If the full Senate considers stand-alone stimulus check legislation , all 48 Democrats and independents who caucus with them would likely vote for it .
It would then need support from 12 of the chamber 's 52 Republicans .
But a bill with the Section 230 and election provisions attached would lose many , if not all , Democrats .
The Treasury Department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going out as soon as this week .
If Congress approves the increase to $ 2,000 , it will then be added to the original sum .
As some GOP senators opposed the $ 900 billion in spending in the latest relief package , they may not support adding $ 463 billion — the Joint Committee on Taxation 's cost estimate for increasing the checks to $ 2,000 — to the price tag .
However , several Republicans such as Sens .
Marco Rubio of Florida , Josh Hawley of Missouri , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said they will back the $ 2,000 payments .
In a tweet responding to Loeffler and Perdue 's support for bigger checks , Hawley said : `` We have the votes .
Let 's vote today . ''
He , like Sanders , said he would block consideration of the defense bill until the Senate votes on the $ 2,000 payments .
If the GOP would decide against holding a vote on bigger checks , it would have to defy the man who controls the Republican Party : Trump .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he threatened to veto the aid bill last week .
He said he wanted larger direct payments along with less foreign aid funding in the $ 1.4 trillion government funding package passed in tandem with the relief proposal .
Trump relented and signed the legislation into law Sunday night , approving the pandemic aid and preventing a government shutdown .
Votes in the House on Monday show the GOP may have become more comfortable bucking Trump .
Only 44 Republicans supported the $ 2,000 check legislation , while 130 GOP representatives voted against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily overriding Trump 's veto of the defense bill .
Sanders ' move to keep the Senate in Washington through the week could also hamper Loeffler and Perdue , the Georgia Republicans campaigning in crucial Jan. 5 runoff elections .
If Democrats win both races — in which they have hammered the GOP senators for their response to the coronavirus — they will flip control of the Senate .
However , it is unclear if and when the two senators will return to Washington .
The Democrats running in those contests , Raphael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP senators ' coronavirus response inadequate and pushed them to support $ 2,000 payments .
In Fox News interviews Tuesday , Loeffler and Perdue suggested they would back the larger checks .
`` I 've stood by the president 100 % of the time .
I 'm proud to do that and I 've said absolutely , we need to get relief to Americans now .
And I will support that , '' Loeffler said when asked if she would vote for the bill .
Perdue told Fox he is `` delighted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for $ 2,000 deposits .
On Twitter later , both fully endorsed the $ 2,000 payments .
Both had previously resisted efforts to send higher direct payments as part of the stimulus package .
The effort to boost the size of direct payments comes amid widespread concern about whether the rescue package went far enough to help Americans struggling to pay for housing and food .
Congress failed for months to renew pandemic-era financial lifelines that expired over the summer as millions started to spiral into poverty .
Before he agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had pushed for about $ 500 billion in new spending .
Democrats , meanwhile , called for at least $ 2.2 trillion in aid .
The compromise package the parties eventually reached includes $ 600 direct payments , half of what Congress passed in March as part of the CARES Act .
It also adds a $ 300 federal unemployment insurance supplement , half of the enhanced payment Congress approved in March .
The $ 600 weekly supplement for jobless Americans expired in July after lawmakers failed to renew it .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program loans .
It also extends a federal eviction moratorium through Jan. 31 and creates a $ 25 billion rental assistance fund .
The bill puts more than $ 8 billion into Covid-19 vaccine distribution and more than $ 20 billion into providing it to Americans for free .
It also includes $ 82 billion in education funding and $ 45 billion for transportation .
It left out any aid for state and local governments struggling as the pandemic drags on .

watch now
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's attempt to unanimously pass a bill to increase direct payments in the year-end coronavirus relief package to $2,000. The Kentucky Republican later Tuesday introduced a bill that would boost the size of the checks to $2,000 from $600, repeal Section 230 legal liability protections for internet platforms and create a commission to study election issues. The bill would meet all of President Donald Trump's recent demands, which are unrelated, but would not get Democratic support and become law. Through the bill, Republicans would both avoid the act of actually passing $2,000 payments but allow GOP senators running for reelection in Georgia's Jan. 5 runoffs to express support for Trump's priorities. In a statement Tuesday, Schumer said if McConnell "tries loading up" the bill "with unrelated, partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country," larger direct payments would not become law. "Any move like this by Sen. McConnell would be a blatant attempt to deprive Americans of a $2,000 survival check," he said. McConnell faces pressure to act after the House — with nearly all Democrats and a few dozen Republicans on board — voted Monday to increase the cash deposits to $2,000 from $600. Senate Republicans wary of spending more on pandemic aid are looking for a way to both meet the demands of a president who called the year-end coronavirus relief and funding bill a disgrace and hold on to their majority during races overshadowed by the crisis. McConnell brought the chamber back this week with one major goal: overriding Trump's veto of the annual National Defense Authorization Act. He has not yet committed to bringing the $2,000 payment bill up for a vote, and it is unclear now how one would take shape.
watch now
Still, Democrats tried to use the limited tools at their disposal to force a vote. Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, McConnell said he planned to set up a Wednesday vote on the veto override. He outlined three priorities Trump said he wanted Congress to address when he signed the coronavirus relief and government spending bill into law Sunday: larger direct payments, Section 230 legal liability protections for internet platforms and unfounded concerns about widespread election fraud. He said that "this week, the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus." Schumer then called for the Senate to vote on both the defense bill veto override and the $2,000 payments and "let the chips fall where they may." When he asked for unanimous consent to increase the size of the checks, McConnell objected. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., then requested a vote on the larger payments after Wednesday's vote on the National Defense Authorization Act. McConnell again objected. Then, Sanders followed through on his threat to delay consideration of the veto override by objecting to a Wednesday vote. As the Senate needs unanimous support to move quickly on most issues, any one senator can grind activity to a halt if they choose. The chamber now likely will not vote on overruling the president on the defense bill until the new year. It could then move on to the stimulus checks legislation. Trump escalated the pressure on Republicans to pass larger payments Tuesday afternoon. However, he indicated he would like to tie the relief to Section 230 reform and his desperate efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's November victory. The president's lawyers have repeatedly failed to prove systemic voter fraud cost him the election. "Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!" Trump wrote on Twitter. "Also, get rid of Section 230 - Don't let Big Tech steal our Country, and don't let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!" If the full Senate considers stand-alone stimulus check legislation, all 48 Democrats and independents who caucus with them would likely vote for it. It would then need support from 12 of the chamber's 52 Republicans. But a bill with the Section 230 and election provisions attached would lose many, if not all, Democrats. The Treasury Department has said the $600 payments will start going out as soon as this week. If Congress approves the increase to $2,000, it will then be added to the original sum. As some GOP senators opposed the $900 billion in spending in the latest relief package, they may not support adding $463 billion — the Joint Committee on Taxation's cost estimate for increasing the checks to $2,000 — to the price tag. However, several Republicans such as Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia have said they will back the $2,000 payments.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) talks with reporters following the weekly Republican Senate conference meeting in the Mansfield Room at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, December 1, 2020. Tom Williams | Reuters


cnbc--2020-12-30--Biden slams Trump's vaccine effort, reiterates plan to administer 100 million doses in 100 days

US President-Elect Joe Biden talks to reporters after delivering remarks , before the holiday , at The Queen in Wilmington , Delaware on December 22 , 2020 .
President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday criticized the Trump administration 's effort to distribute and administer Covid vaccine shots , saying that the administration has failed to meet its own goals .
`` The Trump administration 's plan to distribute vaccines is falling behind , far behind , '' he said at a news briefing .
`` As I long feared and warned , the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said his administration will `` move heaven and earth '' to accelerate the distribution and administration of the Covid vaccines once he takes office on Jan. 20 .
He reiterated his administration 's pledge to have administered 100 million doses of vaccine by his 100th day in office .
To meet that goal , Biden said , it `` would take ramping up five to six times the current pace to 1 million shots a day . ''
He said his team will act more aggressively to increase administration of the shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , it will take months to vaccinate the majority of the population .
`` This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we 've ever faced as a nation , '' he added .
`` We 're going to get it done .
It 's going to take a vast new effort .
It 's not yet underway . ''
Biden said his administration will also invoke the Defense Production Act , a wartime law that enables the president to compel companies to prioritize manufacturing for national security , to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production .
He said he will also use the authority to expand production of personal protective equipment like masks .
He added that his administration will `` set up vaccination sites and send mobile units to hard to reach communities . ''
While more than 11.4 million vaccine doses had been distributed to states as of Monday , just over 2.1 million doses had been administered , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The agency notes that its data might lag the actual number of doses administered as states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` A large difference between the number of doses distributed and the number of doses administered is expected at this point in the COVID vaccination program due to several factors , including delays in reporting of administered doses , management of available vaccine stocks by jurisdictions , and pending launch of vaccination through the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program , '' the agency said on its vaccine tracking site .
Representatives for the CDC did not return CNBC 's request for further comment on the disparity between doses administered and doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , acknowledged Tuesday on CNN that the vaccine rollout has been slower than anticipated .
`` We certainly are not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December , '' he said in an interview with Jim Sciutto .
`` I believe that as we get into January , we are going to see an increase in the momentum , which , Jim , I hope allows us to catch up to the projected pace . ''
Michael Pratt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reiterated that the number of doses administered reported by the CDC is likely an undercount due to data reporting delays .
`` Operation Warp Speed remains on track to have approximately 40 million doses of vaccine and allocate 20 million doses for first vaccinations by the end of December 2020 , with distribution of the 20 million first doses spanning into the first week of January as states place orders for them , '' he said in a statement .
Dr. Atul Gawande , a member of Biden 's Covid-19 advisory team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morning '' that the incoming administration does not `` have all of the information that 's required to understand where the bottlenecks are . ''
He also noted that he 's concerned the Trump administration is being overly optimistic when it comes to the vaccination timeline .
Trump 's HHS secretary , Alex Azar , has said that the general public should be able to get vaccinated by March .
`` I 'm worried about over-promising on when things are going to be able to be back to normal , '' said Gawande @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Hospital in Boston and a Harvard University professor .
He vowed that the Biden administration will be more transparent about where the problems are , whether it 's in manufacturing , distribution or administration of the shots .

US President-Elect Joe Biden talks to reporters after delivering remarks, before the holiday, at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware on December 22, 2020.
President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday criticized the Trump administration's effort to distribute and administer Covid vaccine shots, saying that the administration has failed to meet its own goals.
"The Trump administration's plan to distribute vaccines is falling behind, far behind," he said at a news briefing. "As I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should."
He said his administration will "move heaven and earth" to accelerate the distribution and administration of the Covid vaccines once he takes office on Jan. 20. He reiterated his administration's pledge to have administered 100 million doses of vaccine by his 100th day in office.
To meet that goal, Biden said, it "would take ramping up five to six times the current pace to 1 million shots a day." He said his team will act more aggressively to increase administration of the shots, but even at 1 million per day, it will take months to vaccinate the majority of the population.
"This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we've ever faced as a nation," he added. "We're going to get it done. It's going to take a vast new effort. It's not yet underway."
Biden said his administration will also invoke the Defense Production Act, a wartime law that enables the president to compel companies to prioritize manufacturing for national security, to ensure manufacturers have enough materials needed for vaccine production. He said he will also use the authority to expand production of personal protective equipment like masks.
He added that his administration will "set up vaccination sites and send mobile units to hard to reach communities."
While more than 11.4 million vaccine doses had been distributed to states as of Monday, just over 2.1 million doses had been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency notes that its data might lag the actual number of doses administered as states and jurisdictions report up the data.
"A large difference between the number of doses distributed and the number of doses administered is expected at this point in the COVID vaccination program due to several factors, including delays in reporting of administered doses, management of available vaccine stocks by jurisdictions, and pending launch of vaccination through the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program," the agency said on its vaccine tracking site.
Representatives for the CDC did not return CNBC's request for further comment on the disparity between doses administered and doses distributed.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledged Tuesday on CNN that the vaccine rollout has been slower than anticipated.
"We certainly are not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December," he said in an interview with Jim Sciutto. "I believe that as we get into January, we are going to see an increase in the momentum, which, Jim, I hope allows us to catch up to the projected pace."
Michael Pratt, a spokesman for Operation Warp Speed, reiterated that the number of doses administered reported by the CDC is likely an undercount due to data reporting delays.
"Operation Warp Speed remains on track to have approximately 40 million doses of vaccine and allocate 20 million doses for first vaccinations by the end of December 2020, with distribution of the 20 million first doses spanning into the first week of January as states place orders for them," he said in a statement.
Dr. Atul Gawande, a member of Biden's Covid-19 advisory team, said Tuesday on "CBS This Morning" that the incoming administration does not "have all of the information that's required to understand where the bottlenecks are."
He also noted that he's concerned the Trump administration is being overly optimistic when it comes to the vaccination timeline. Trump's HHS secretary, Alex Azar, has said that the general public should be able to get vaccinated by March.
"I'm worried about over-promising on when things are going to be able to be back to normal," said Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and a Harvard University professor.
He vowed that the Biden administration will be more transparent about where the problems are, whether it's in manufacturing, distribution or administration of the shots.


cnbc--2020-12-29--Trump is trying to link stimulus checks, defense spending to a contentious tech protection – what to

Trump is trying to link stimulus checks, defense spending to a contentious tech protection – what to know

President Donald Trump is pressuring his Republican allies over a law that has protected social media companies for decades .
In his final weeks in office , Trump has launched a full-bore attack on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , the 1996 law that shields tech companies from being held liable for what users post on their platforms .
Trump wants Section 230 gone .
He has tied the issue to the passage of a crucial annual defense spending bill and , more recently , to the prospect of approving an increase in coronavirus relief checks to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have a death wish , and it is also the right thing to do , they must approve the $ 2000 payments ASAP .
$ 600 IS NOT ENOUGH ! ''
Trump tweeted Tuesday .
`` Also , get rid of Section 230 - Do n't let Big Tech steal our Country , and do n't let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election .
Get tough ! ''
he wrote .
Politicians on both sides of the aisle — including President-elect Joe Biden — have voiced complaints about Section 230 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provision .
But there 's little appetite on Capitol Hill for repealing it outright , much less for slipping such a repeal into the $ 740 billion defense bill or the latest pandemic relief legislation .
However , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , appears to have taken heed of Trump 's demands .
On Tuesday afternoon , McConnell introduced a bill that would directly couple an increase in stimulus checks with a repeal of Section 230 .
That bill would also form a bipartisan commission to study the `` integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Trump has falsely insisted he won over Biden .
McConnell 's bill is highly unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass in the Senate .
But its failure could be a win for Republican lawmakers , many of whom had opposed a boost in stimulus checks and were caught off-guard by Trump 's late-stage demand .
Here 's what to know about Section 230 and where it stands : Section 230 was written by former Rep. Chris Cox , R-Calif. , and Sen. Ron Wyden , D-Ore. , following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service Prodigy .
That company had been sued for defamation after an anonymous user on its platform accused an investment firm of fraud .
The court ruled that because Prodigy moderated some of the posts on the platform , it should be treated like a publisher .
Cox and Wyden , disagreeing with that decision , introduced Section 230 as a way of protecting tech companies from becoming legally liable for their users ' content if they opted to moderate it .
The law allows for companies to engage in `` good Samaritan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated like a publisher or speaker under the law .
How it 's going More than two decades later , the prospect of repealing Section 230 would likely be a dealbreaker for many lawmakers .
Throughout countless discussions about reforming the liability shield , members have largely agreed that some of its protections are important for the continued function of an open and relatively safe internet .
For example , the law not only protects tech platforms from being held accountable for their users ' posts , but it also allows them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the term is open for the platforms ' interpretations , that portion of the law allows companies such as Facebook , Twitter and Google 's YouTube to swiftly remove messages of terrorism , violence or self-harm without fearing that a lapse of judgment will land them in legal trouble .
And while conservatives aim for fewer restrictions to be imposed on their posts , repealing Section 230 could result in even more limitations .
Without its liability protection , platforms could be incentivized to screen more content before it can be uploaded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Biden voiced distaste for Section 230 , telling the New York Times editorial board in January that the protection `` immediately should be revoked '' for tech platforms including Facebook .
But that remedy seems to fall beyond many Democrats ' wishes , which often include imposing more responsibility for platforms to moderate posts as allowed by Section 230 .
The National Defense Authorization Act , which typically passes with overwhelming bipartisan support and veto-proof majorities , is a sweeping defense bill that authorizes a topline of $ 740 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 's legislation includes a 3 % pay raise for U.S. troops , a plan to rename military installations bearing names of Confederate leaders , and a slew of other provisions .
In mid-December , the NDAA passed the House and the GOP-led Senate with veto-proof majorities in both chambers .
Trump nevertheless vetoed the bill last week , in large part because it lacked language repealing Section 230 .
The move forced many GOP lawmakers into the uncomfortable position of possibly overriding a veto from a Republican president who commands strong support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday voted to override Trump 's veto , and McConnell is poised to push forward with a similar vote in his chamber .
Trump , who refuses to concede his loss to Biden in an election where down-ballot Republicans outperformed expectations , is still heaping pressure on his political allies to fulfill his demand to gut Section 230 .
`` Weak and tired Republican 'leadership ' will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass , '' Trump tweeted Tuesday morning .
`` Say goodbye to VITAL Section 230 termination , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDAA .
`` A disgraceful act of cowardice and total submission by weak people to Big Tech .
Negotiate a better Bill , or get better leaders , NOW !
Senate should not approve NDAA until fixed !
!
! ''
The president had signed the coronavirus relief and government spending bill into law Sunday .
That bill includes $ 600 direct payments for Americans — but days before signing it , Trump called for those payments to be bumped up to $ 2,000 .
McConnell on the Senate floor Tuesday outlined three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he signed that Covid bill : larger direct payments , questions about Section 230 and unfounded concerns about widespread election fraud .
`` This week , the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus , '' McConnell said .
McConnell followed through on those remarks later in the day , by adding a bill to the Senate calendar that would combine a direct-payment boost , a repeal of Section 230 and the establishment of an election commission .
The GOP leader had blocked a bid from Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unanimously pass an increase in stimulus checks to $ 2,000 .
Schumer promptly slammed McConnell 's bill as a `` cynical gambit '' to give cover to Republicans while depriving struggling Americans of much-needed funds .
`` Senator McConnell knows how to make $ 2,000 survival checks reality and he knows how to kill them , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` If Sen. McConnell tries loading up the bipartisan House-passed CASH Act with unrelated , partisan provisions that will do absolutely nothing to help struggling families across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and can not become law – any move like this by Sen. McConnell would a blatant attempt to deprive Americans of a $ 2,000 survival check .
`` Will Senate Republicans go along with Sen. McConnell 's cynical gambit or will they push him to give a vote on the standalone House-passed CASH Act ? ''
Schumer 's statement said .
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had already pushed back on Trump 's 11th-hour demand to include the repeal of Section 230 in the NDAA , saying it was irrelevant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 230 has nothing to do with the military , '' Sen. Jim Inhofe , R-Okla. , the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee , told reporters earlier this month .
`` We ought to do away with 230 , but you ca n't do it in this bill .
That 's not a part of the bill , '' Inhofe added .
`` You 're mad at Twitter .
We all know it .
You 're willing to veto the defense bill over something that has everything to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with defense , '' Rep. Adam Smith , a Democrat from Washington and chair of the House Armed Services Committee , said on the heels of Trump 's veto threat .
Meanwhile , some GOP senators , such as Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , and Sen. Mike Braun , R-Ind.
, said they would be supportive of Trump vetoing the NDAA in order to repeal or reform Section 230 .
Last week , Graham , wrote on Twitter that he would not vote to override the president 's veto .
Graham did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Additionally , Graham who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee , introduced legislation earlier this month that would end , by Jan. 1 , 2023 , the protections of Section 230 unless Congress takes action sooner .
The bill seeks to incentivize lawmakers to take action on much-discussed reforms , which have so far failed to reach a consensus .
Graham has introduced other bills that would modify , though not fully revoke , the protections of Section 230 .

Former President Donald Trump Carlos Barria | Reuters
President Donald Trump is pressuring his Republican allies over a law that has protected social media companies for decades. In his final weeks in office, Trump has launched a full-bore attack on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 law that shields tech companies from being held liable for what users post on their platforms. Trump wants Section 230 gone. He has tied the issue to the passage of a crucial annual defense spending bill and, more recently, to the prospect of approving an increase in coronavirus relief checks to $2,000 from $600. "Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!" Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Also, get rid of Section 230 - Don't let Big Tech steal our Country, and don't let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!" he wrote. Politicians on both sides of the aisle — including President-elect Joe Biden — have voiced complaints about Section 230, and some have taken steps toward reforming the provision. But there's little appetite on Capitol Hill for repealing it outright, much less for slipping such a repeal into the $740 billion defense bill or the latest pandemic relief legislation. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., appears to have taken heed of Trump's demands. On Tuesday afternoon, McConnell introduced a bill that would directly couple an increase in stimulus checks with a repeal of Section 230. That bill would also form a bipartisan commission to study the "integrity and administration" of the 2020 election, which Trump has falsely insisted he won over Biden. McConnell's bill is highly unlikely to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass in the Senate. But its failure could be a win for Republican lawmakers, many of whom had opposed a boost in stimulus checks and were caught off-guard by Trump's late-stage demand. Here's what to know about Section 230 and where it stands:
How it started
Section 230 was written by former Rep. Chris Cox, R-Calif., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., following a 1995 court ruling against the online service Prodigy. That company had been sued for defamation after an anonymous user on its platform accused an investment firm of fraud. The court ruled that because Prodigy moderated some of the posts on the platform, it should be treated like a publisher. Cox and Wyden, disagreeing with that decision, introduced Section 230 as a way of protecting tech companies from becoming legally liable for their users' content if they opted to moderate it. The law allows for companies to engage in "good Samaritan" moderation of some material without being treated like a publisher or speaker under the law.
How it's going
More than two decades later, the prospect of repealing Section 230 would likely be a dealbreaker for many lawmakers. Throughout countless discussions about reforming the liability shield, members have largely agreed that some of its protections are important for the continued function of an open and relatively safe internet. For example, the law not only protects tech platforms from being held accountable for their users' posts, but it also allows them to remove "objectionable" messages. While the term is open for the platforms' interpretations, that portion of the law allows companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google's YouTube to swiftly remove messages of terrorism, violence or self-harm without fearing that a lapse of judgment will land them in legal trouble. And while conservatives aim for fewer restrictions to be imposed on their posts, repealing Section 230 could result in even more limitations. Without its liability protection, platforms could be incentivized to screen more content before it can be uploaded. Some Democrats have also soured on the law. Biden voiced distaste for Section 230, telling the New York Times editorial board in January that the protection "immediately should be revoked" for tech platforms including Facebook. But that remedy seems to fall beyond many Democrats' wishes, which often include imposing more responsibility for platforms to moderate posts as allowed by Section 230.
'You're mad at Twitter'
Jaap Arriens | NurPhoto | Getty Images
The National Defense Authorization Act, which typically passes with overwhelming bipartisan support and veto-proof majorities, is a sweeping defense bill that authorizes a topline of $740 billion in spending and outlines Pentagon policy. This year's legislation includes a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops, a plan to rename military installations bearing names of Confederate leaders, and a slew of other provisions. In mid-December, the NDAA passed the House and the GOP-led Senate with veto-proof majorities in both chambers. Trump nevertheless vetoed the bill last week, in large part because it lacked language repealing Section 230. The move forced many GOP lawmakers into the uncomfortable position of possibly overriding a veto from a Republican president who commands strong support within his party. The Democrat-majority House on Monday voted to override Trump's veto, and McConnell is poised to push forward with a similar vote in his chamber. Trump, who refuses to concede his loss to Biden in an election where down-ballot Republicans outperformed expectations, is still heaping pressure on his political allies to fulfill his demand to gut Section 230. "Weak and tired Republican 'leadership' will allow the bad Defense Bill to pass," Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. "Say goodbye to VITAL Section 230 termination," he wrote before listing other grievances with the NDAA. "A disgraceful act of cowardice and total submission by weak people to Big Tech. Negotiate a better Bill, or get better leaders, NOW! Senate should not approve NDAA until fixed!!!" The president had signed the coronavirus relief and government spending bill into law Sunday. That bill includes $600 direct payments for Americans — but days before signing it, Trump called for those payments to be bumped up to $2,000.
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cnbc--2020-12-29--GOP pollster says Trump's demand for $2,000 stimulus checks is a nightmare for Republicans in Georgi

GOP pollster says Trump's demand for $2,000 stimulus checks is a nightmare for Republicans in Georgia

President Donald Trump has opened up a can of worms in Georgia politics in his quest to more than triple the dollar amount in direct checks that lawmakers agreed to send to Americans , Republican pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz told CNBC on Tuesday .
After threatening to let an omnibus spending package that included the $ 900 billion Covid relief measure languish in Congress over his displeasure with $ 600 stimulus checks , Trump signed the bill Sunday .
However , he has united with Democrats in a rare occasion in calling for $ 2,000 in payouts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very smart decision by agreeing to sign [ the ] legislation , '' Luntz said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` He made a very bad decision by opening up the $ 2,000 personal checks because it 's going to cause one hell of a nightmare for those two Republican senators to vote against Donald Trump or vote against conservatives in their state . ''
With most Republicans and conservatives not in favor of the proposal to boost the payouts , it has caused a storm within the party as Georgia voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next week .
The question forces Republicans to consider whether to add more to the national debt or deny Americans a financial boost in the face of ongoing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic .
Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , who is completing retired Sen. Johnny Isakson 's term , are fighting to fend off two Democratic challengers for their seats in Jan. 5 runoffs .
The Senate races , which will decide the majority in the chamber , have drawn lots of attention .
The GOP holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Democrats win both Georgia contests , it will create a 50-vote tie , with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker after she takes office Jan. 20 .
Trump 's push to increase the stimulus checks has complicated the contests in the usually reliably red state , and the complication could be seen in Loeffler 's comments on the matter on Fox News on Tuesday morning .
After the Democratic-controlled House voted with support from 44 Republicans to increase direct payments to $ 2,000 , the measure is expected to face an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's support .
When asked whether she would support the bill to increase the payouts , Loeffler spoke broadly of her support for the president but did not explicitly say whether she was in favor of raising the direct payment .
`` The president has fought for our country from Day 1 .
He continues to fight for every single American , '' she said .
`` I 've stood by the president 100 % of the time .
I 'm proud to do that , and I 've said , absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and I will support that . ''
In a tweet later , she fully endorsed the $ 2,000 payment .
Perdue gave a more committal response to Fox to illustrate where he stands on the matter , saying he supports Trump 's request to increase spending .
`` Look , this should have been done four months ago , '' he said .
`` I 'm delighted to support the president in his $ 2,000 , it 's really a $ 1,400 increment on what we 've already done , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is absolutely appropriate , so I fully support what the president is doing right now . ''
This marks a reversal for Perdue , who opposed sending stimulus checks earlier this year before coming out in favor of the $ 600 payout as part of the latest spending package .
While Trump has said that the Senate `` will start the process '' on a vote to increase the dollar amount on checks , it 's not clear whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who has been a target of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his November election loss , will schedule a vote .
In a statement Sunday , the Kentucky Republican praised Trump 's decision to sign the $ 900 billion relief package but stopped short of mentioning the president 's request .
With the runoff in Georgia a week away , Luntz said the GOP is making a `` smart decision '' to continue strategizing in the state .
Trump , who has spent the holiday season golfing in Florida , is scheduled to visit Dalton , Georgia , on Monday , the eve of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loeffler and Perdue a boost .
President-elect Joe Biden and Harris have visited the state to support candidates Raphael Warnock , who is challenging Loeffler , and Jon Ossoff , who is up against Perdue .
None of the candidates received the necessary 50 % threshold to win the seats in the November general election , forcing a runoff in each race .
`` Donald Trump is needed in Georgia to ensure that those two [ seats ] stay Republican , '' said Luntz .
Dalton is about 90 miles north of Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of holding on to those seats , he added .
`` To get a high turnout there can counterbalance what 's happening in Atlanta and the suburbs of Atlanta , '' Luntz said of the area that helped flip the state for Biden .
`` I 've got to give them credit for making the right geographic choice , but the fact [ is ] that the president has only gone down [ to campaign in Georgia ] twice . ''
Luntz said that 3 % of Trump voters in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runoffs , citing their distrust for the political system in the aftermath of the 2020 election .
Trump has refused to concede the race to Biden , weeks after the Electoral College cast ballots to confirm the results of the presidential race .
`` Frankly , he 's playing golf in Florida .
He ought to get on his helicopter , get on Air Force One , fly over to Georgia even unannounced , because the president still has impact , '' Luntz said .
`` He still can turn out voters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they 're going to need him . ''

After threatening to let an omnibus spending package that included the $900 billion Covid relief measure languish in Congress over his displeasure with $600 stimulus checks, Trump signed the bill Sunday. However, he has united with Democrats in a rare occasion in calling for $2,000 in payouts to citizens.
President Donald Trump has opened up a can of worms in Georgia politics in his quest to more than triple the dollar amount in direct checks that lawmakers agreed to send to Americans, Republican pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz told CNBC on Tuesday.
"The president made a very smart decision by agreeing to sign [the] legislation," Luntz said on "Squawk Box." "He made a very bad decision by opening up the $2,000 personal checks because it's going to cause one hell of a nightmare for those two Republican senators to vote against Donald Trump or vote against conservatives in their state."
With most Republicans and conservatives not in favor of the proposal to boost the payouts, it has caused a storm within the party as Georgia voters cast ballots on critical Senate runoffs over the next week.
The question forces Republicans to consider whether to add more to the national debt or deny Americans a financial boost in the face of ongoing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who is completing retired Sen. Johnny Isakson's term, are fighting to fend off two Democratic challengers for their seats in Jan. 5 runoffs. The Senate races, which will decide the majority in the chamber, have drawn lots of attention. The GOP holds a 52-48 edge in the Senate. If Democrats win both Georgia contests, it will create a 50-vote tie, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker after she takes office Jan. 20.
Trump's push to increase the stimulus checks has complicated the contests in the usually reliably red state, and the complication could be seen in Loeffler's comments on the matter on Fox News on Tuesday morning. After the Democratic-controlled House voted with support from 44 Republicans to increase direct payments to $2,000, the measure is expected to face an uphill battle in the Senate, despite Trump's support.
When asked whether she would support the bill to increase the payouts, Loeffler spoke broadly of her support for the president but did not explicitly say whether she was in favor of raising the direct payment.
"The president has fought for our country from Day 1. He continues to fight for every single American," she said. "I've stood by the president 100% of the time. I'm proud to do that, and I've said, absolutely we need to get relief to Americans now and I will support that."
In a tweet later, she fully endorsed the $2,000 payment.
Perdue gave a more committal response to Fox to illustrate where he stands on the matter, saying he supports Trump's request to increase spending.
"Look, this should have been done four months ago," he said. "I'm delighted to support the president in his $2,000, it's really a $1,400 increment on what we've already done, and I think with the vaccine coming I think this is absolutely appropriate, so I fully support what the president is doing right now."
This marks a reversal for Perdue, who opposed sending stimulus checks earlier this year before coming out in favor of the $600 payout as part of the latest spending package.
While Trump has said that the Senate "will start the process" on a vote to increase the dollar amount on checks, it's not clear whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been a target of the president's anger in the wake of his November election loss, will schedule a vote.
In a statement Sunday, the Kentucky Republican praised Trump's decision to sign the $900 billion relief package but stopped short of mentioning the president's request.
With the runoff in Georgia a week away, Luntz said the GOP is making a "smart decision" to continue strategizing in the state. Trump, who has spent the holiday season golfing in Florida, is scheduled to visit Dalton, Georgia, on Monday, the eve of the election, in hopes of giving Loeffler and Perdue a boost.
President-elect Joe Biden and Harris have visited the state to support candidates Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Loeffler, and Jon Ossoff, who is up against Perdue. None of the candidates received the necessary 50% threshold to win the seats in the November general election, forcing a runoff in each race.
"Donald Trump is needed in Georgia to ensure that those two [seats] stay Republican," said Luntz.
Dalton is about 90 miles north of Atlanta and will be key to Republican's chances of holding on to those seats, he added.
"To get a high turnout there can counterbalance what's happening in Atlanta and the suburbs of Atlanta," Luntz said of the area that helped flip the state for Biden. "I've got to give them credit for making the right geographic choice, but the fact [is] that the president has only gone down [to campaign in Georgia] twice."
Luntz said that 3% of Trump voters in the state do not want to participate in the runoffs, citing their distrust for the political system in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Trump has refused to concede the race to Biden, weeks after the Electoral College cast ballots to confirm the results of the presidential race.
"Frankly, he's playing golf in Florida. He ought to get on his helicopter, get on Air Force One, fly over to Georgia even unannounced, because the president still has impact," Luntz said. "He still can turn out voters that would not vote for anybody else, and they're going to need him."


cnbc--2020-12-29--Op-ed: Increase the pandemic stimulus payments

To his critics , President Trump has an annoying habit of being right at times .
A case in point is the long-awaited pandemic relief bill .
We were all grateful when he signed it on Sunday .
It had been delayed for months by political gamesmanship and jockeying .
Yet , his criticism of the relatively small cash payments included in this bill — $ 600 per adult and per dependent child for individuals making up to $ 75,000 a year — was spot on .
Most middle- and low-income Americans have , in one way or another , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their suffering has deepened over the past months as Congress dithered .
Most will continue to suffer from the economic distress caused by Covid-19 , which will endure for much of 2021 .
Those $ 600 payments — only half the amount that Congress approved in the CARES Act last March — will soon be exhausted .
The Senate should approve House legislation to increase them to $ 2,000 .
If not , the Biden administration should make this its first order of business next year .
The idea of unconditional cash assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With this pandemic , it is finally getting its due .
Experiments dating back to the Nixon administration show that giving no-strings cash to low-income families reduces poverty rates , benefits family 's health and improves children 's ' test scores .
More from Invest in You : 14 million wo n't miss week of unemployment pay , despite Covid bill delay Trump signs off on $ 600 stimulus checks How to make ends meet before Covid help arrives Historically , such payments have been resisted with repugnant arguments that such `` giveaways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol or that they will provide disincentives for work .
In fact , available research shows they are used to cover basic living expenses and have little impact on recipients ' employment .
This has been true of how American households spent the first round of payments authorized last March .
According to a study by the American Research Institute , the majority of those funds were spent on living expenses .
For households with combined incomes of less than $ 75,000 , nearly 80 % reported spending most of it on things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About 54 % of wealthier families — those making over $ 150,000 — also used most of the money to cover basic household needs .
Some families reported putting most of it in savings : 9 % of lower income households versus about 30 % of wealthier families .
Critics of the payments argue that money used for savings instead of consumption does not provide economic stimulus .
This is valid if the goal is solely to boost the economy .
But given the pervasive economic devastation caused by Covid-19 , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle- and low-income families prior to the pandemic , we should also be concerned about shoring up their precarious financial condition .
A recent CNBC survey suggests that 61 % of Americans will have exhausted their emergency savings by the end of this year .

To his critics, President Trump has an annoying habit of being right at times. A case in point is the long-awaited pandemic relief bill.
We were all grateful when he signed it on Sunday. It had been delayed for months by political gamesmanship and jockeying. Yet, his criticism of the relatively small cash payments included in this bill — $600 per adult and per dependent child for individuals making up to $75,000 a year — was spot on.
Most middle- and low-income Americans have, in one way or another, suffered financially from this pandemic, and their suffering has deepened over the past months as Congress dithered. Most will continue to suffer from the economic distress caused by Covid-19, which will endure for much of 2021.
Those $600 payments — only half the amount that Congress approved in the CARES Act last March — will soon be exhausted. The Senate should approve House legislation to increase them to $2,000. If not, the Biden administration should make this its first order of business next year.
The idea of unconditional cash assistance has been around for some time. With this pandemic, it is finally getting its due. Experiments dating back to the Nixon administration show that giving no-strings cash to low-income families reduces poverty rates, benefits family's health and improves children's' test scores.
More from Invest in You:
14 million won't miss week of unemployment pay, despite Covid bill delay
Trump signs off on $600 stimulus checks
How to make ends meet before Covid help arrives
Historically, such payments have been resisted with repugnant arguments that such "giveaways" will be squandered on cigarettes and alcohol or that they will provide disincentives for work. In fact, available research shows they are used to cover basic living expenses and have little impact on recipients' employment.
This has been true of how American households spent the first round of payments authorized last March. According to a study by the American Research Institute, the majority of those funds were spent on living expenses.
For households with combined incomes of less than $75,000, nearly 80% reported spending most of it on things like food, utilities and rent. About 54% of wealthier families — those making over $150,000 — also used most of the money to cover basic household needs. Some families reported putting most of it in savings: 9% of lower income households versus about 30% of wealthier families.
Critics of the payments argue that money used for savings instead of consumption does not provide economic stimulus. This is valid if the goal is solely to boost the economy.
But given the pervasive economic devastation caused by Covid-19, and the overall declining financial condition of America's middle- and low-income families prior to the pandemic, we should also be concerned about shoring up their precarious financial condition. A recent CNBC survey suggests that 61% of Americans will have exhausted their emergency savings by the end of this year.