usatoday--2020-04-21--'They should have done something': Broad failures fueled Wisconsin's absentee ballot crisis, investi

MILWAUKEE , Wis. – In Lodi and Pewaukee , voters were told the system for requesting absentee ballots crashed .
In Marshfield , Shorewood and Bristol , voters threw up their hands after spending hours in front of computers trying to request a ballot .
In Milwaukee and Green Bay , dozens of couples said one member of their household received a ballot while the other didn ’ t .
“ Nobody cared , ” said Brenda Lewis , a 61-year-old Delafield resident who said her local clerk could find no record of her or her husband ever requesting an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them had .
“ They should have done something , some sort of public service ( announcement ) , something , just something , ” Lewis said .
“ But nobody did.
” An investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , the PBS series FRONTLINE and Columbia Journalism Investigations into Wisconsin ’ s missing ballot crisis reveals a system leaking from all sides , buckling under the weight of a global pandemic and partisan bickering that kept the logistics of Election Day up in the air until less than a day before polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persisting into the fall and beyond , and more elections on the calendar ahead of the presidential ballot in November – which could produce triple the number of votes by mail – eyes will remain fixed on Wisconsin .
Election officials have largely blamed the U.S .
Postal Service for many of the missing absentee ballots that forced some citizens to don masks and stand in line on Election Day this month , increasing their risk of contracting the potentially fatal disease COVID-19 .
But the investigation by the Journal Sentinel , FRONTLINE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , election officials and political experts , as well as responses from more than 600 people to an online questionnaire , shows the problems went far beyond mailing issues .
People from nearly 100 Wisconsin cities and towns responded to the Journal Sentinel 's online request for readers to share their information if they did not receive their absentee ballots .
Many said they tried requesting their absentee ballots multiple times .
Some people received too many ballots .
Some received empty envelopes .
Some gave up trying to navigate the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ballots after Election Day .
Three people – two in Mequon and one in West Allis – said they were mailed duplicate ballots .
In Wauwatosa , one couple said they received envelopes with no ballots .
In Milwaukee , three would-be voters said they received a form letter from Mayor Tom Barrett thanking them for requesting an absentee ballot – but not the ballot itself .
Officials sent ballots to college students to dorms they had been forced to vacate .
For some Wisconsin residents wintering in New Mexico and Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nineteen Wisconsin citizens across eight cities – from New Auburn in the north to Bristol in the south – said they requested absentee ballots only to later be told the system had no record of their applications .
“ I was not happy , ” said Milwaukee resident Tom Arden , 71 .
He said he and his wife requested absentee ballots two weeks before Election Day but found out from a City Hall staffer that no record of their request existed .
“ It wasn ’ t her fault , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It ’ s damn serious .
That ’ s crazy that they dropped the ball as badly as they did.
” Wisconsin residents can request absentee ballots through letter , email or the state-run MyVote website .
For presidential primaries , state law requires clerks to mail ballots within one business day from the time a request is received , if the request is made within 47 days of Election Day .
Roughly 1.28 million absentee ballots had been sent , but as of Friday more than 150,000 absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the latest tallies from the Wisconsin Elections Commission .
Less than 12 % of votes cast in the 2016 spring election and presidential preference primary were absentee , according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission .
This year , an estimated 73 % of votes were cast absentee , although officials are still counting ballots .
In response to the Journal Sentinel , FRONTLINE and Columbia investigation , Neil Albrecht , head of the Milwaukee Election Commission , acknowledged that thousands of ballots had not reached their intended recipients in Milwaukee .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be administering an election , ” said Albrecht .
“ It was chaos , and chaos is never good for the administration of an election.
” Albrecht also pointed to inaccuracies with MyVote , the website run by the Wisconsin Elections Commission where voters can request and track the progress of their absentee ballots , including the date their ballot was mailed .
Albrecht said the date actually reflects the date the mailing label was generated – not the date a ballot was mailed .
It typically took employees another three to seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot , depending on how backlogged the office was , city election officials said .
Asked whether he thought the website was misleading , Albrecht said the issue was “ an improvement opportunity.
” Still , he said the majority of problems lay with the post office , and that issues such as empty envelopes or people being unable to find their registrations were rare .
According to Albrecht , dozens of staffers in Milwaukee worked seven days a week until 11 p.m. to process ballots .
At the state level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccuracies with MyVote 's ballot tracking feature and said the agency is looking at improving the feature `` based on the user feedback we have received . ''
However , Magney said the commission believes the majority of problems stem from the post office or mailing vendors used by local clerks .
He said programmers looked through MyVote 's code and logs but found no explanation for the large numbers of missing or late absentee ballots reported in late March .
“ The more change you have close to an election , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Magney said .
In Madison , City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said there was “ no way humanly possible '' to keep up with the volume of requests .
According to Witzel-Behl , staffers were working 110 hours a week but still had a week ’ s worth of backlogs by mid-March .
Their computer system became so bogged down by the volume of applications that it only began working quickly after 10 p.m. , she said .
“ You reach a point of working so many hours , your eyes glaze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error , ” she said .
In the town of Delafield , where Brenda Lewis and her husband faced problems , Clerk Dan Green said he was unsure why the system had no trace of the pair 's absentee ballot applications .
According to Green , the MyVote website crashed “ a few times , ” but he said citizens would not have been able to request ballots at all while the system was down .
The lead-up to Wisconsin ’ s chaotic April 7 election was consumed by political infighting , changing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ascension through the court system that ended up on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court .
The result was a surreal Election Day that took place as the state topped 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 100 deaths , with scores of voters across the state complaining that they had not received their absentee ballots .
Facing furious voters , Milwaukee election officials called on the Postal Service the next day to investigate widespread reports of missing absentee ballots .
U.S. Sens .
Tammy Baldwin , a Democrat , and Ron Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request in a letter two days later , asking the Postal Service to “ determine the cause of these failures , which appear to have disenfranchised many Wisconsin voters.
” Bob Sheehan , a spokesperson for the U.S .
Postal Service in Wisconsin , wrote in an email that the agency ’ s Office of the Inspector General is investigating but would not comment further .
In Wauwatosa , first-time absentee voter Jesse Weinberg said he and his wife received envelopes with no ballots inside .
In an email provided to the Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weinberg for the “ mishap ” and explained that employees had accidentally sent a tray of mail to the mailing room “ too soon , ” before stuffing the envelopes .
In Mequon , retiree Tom Richardson said he and his wife both received duplicate ballots .
According to Richardson , his local clerk said the office had accidentally mailed a “ batch of duplicates ” and advised the couple to discard one set of ballots and mail in the others .
Mequon City Clerk Caroline Fochs did not respond to calls and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email exchange with Richardson , a copy of which was provided to the Journal Sentinel and Columbia , Fochs assured the retiree that it is “ not possible for both ballots to end up being counted in the system.
” University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior Haley Peldo said her absentee ballot was delivered to her previous registered address , not to the address she requested on MyVote .
Luckily , Peldo said , she still knew the resident at her old home , who was able to bring the ballot to her .
Peldo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar stories .
`` I managed to get it , but it was very confusing , '' she said .
`` I do n't know how it would be the post office 's fault that they got an entirely different address . ''
Ryan Kapp , a college student in Minneapolis , said he waited for a week and a half before calling the clerk ’ s office in his hometown of Middleton to inquire why his absentee ballot had not arrived .
According to Kapp , the employee told him his ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street name , and that his was among several that were returned as undeliverable .
“ They didn ’ t concern themselves with it until I decided to call , ” Kapp said .
After taking down his address for a second time , the employee sent out a replacement ballot , Kapp said .
But it didn ’ t arrive until April 10 – three days after Election Day .
The Middleton City Clerk 's Office did not respond to a call or email seeking information on what happened .
The vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal Sentinel in the online questionnaire said they requested absentee ballots at least two weeks in advance of Election Day but did not receive them on time .
Paloma Chavez , four-months pregnant , said she applied for an absentee ballot on March 22 , but it never arrived .
On Election Day , the Milwaukee resident said she called and emailed both the Wisconsin Election Commission and the city office and was given conflicting information about her ability to receive an email ballot or qualify for curbside voting .
“ I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It feels like the one thing I have control over – my voice – is being taken away from me .
Mistakes got made , but not on my end here.
” Another common problem reported by voters : Forty-four people across nine cities said they did not receive their absentee ballot even though other members of their household did .
Many said they submitted their applications about the same time or even after their partners or roommates .
Milwaukee resident Lori Yanny , 65 , said she submitted her application for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband – on the same computer they share at home .
Her husband received his ballot a week and a half after requesting it , Yanny said .
Hers never arrived .
Nor did a replacement ballot she requested on March 31 .
Yanny said she made the “ difficult decision ” not to vote in person due to coronavirus concerns .
“ In the past 30 years , I have voted in almost every election – even the little ones , ” she said .
Albrecht , the Milwaukee election commission head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in chronological order .
As a result , he said , Yanny ’ s application was mailed on March 22 , the day after her husband ’ s .
He said a large number of ballots mailed on March 22 and March 23 appeared to have been lost in the mail – part of what the city has called on the postal service to investigate .
In Wisconsin ’ s decentralized election system , much of the responsibility falls on local clerks , whose staffs are often tiny and not equipped to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-level , the Wisconsin Election Commission maintains both the MyVote website , where voters can request and track their absentee ballot , and WisVote , where absentee applications and requests are stored .
Each absentee ballot application submitted through MyVote is converted into an email .
The state 's 1,850 municipal clerks are in charge of opening each email , verifying the voter 's identification , manually entering the application information into the statewide voter registration database and printing the mailing labels .
However , most municipal clerks do not have access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as a county clerk , to manually enter the applicant 's information in the database .
“ This system was designed for a world in which 5 % of voters voted by mail , not for a system in which 70 % of voters voted by mail , ” said Charles Stewart , a political science professor and election expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
“ So something has to give , and the thing that ends up giving is probably the accuracy of the request for the ballot.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , said officials have limited time to make improvements for Wisconsin 's upcoming elections , including a special Congressional race next month and the statewide primary in August .
Democratic state lawmakers are even calling for a mail-in vote for the November presidential election , although Republicans are unlikely to hear the bill .
“ There is not a lot of breathing room , ” Burden said .
Reporter Daphne Chen is with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ; Catharina Felke , Elizabeth Mulvey and Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with support from PBS Frontline .

By Daphne Chen, Catharina Felke, Elizabeth Mulvey and Stephen Stirling, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

'They should have done something': Broad failures fueled Wisconsin's absentee ballot crisis, investigation shows
Show Caption Hide Caption Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – In Lodi and Pewaukee, voters were told the system for requesting absentee ballots crashed.
In Marshfield, Shorewood and Bristol, voters threw up their hands after spending hours in front of computers trying to request a ballot.
In Milwaukee and Green Bay, dozens of couples said one member of their household received a ballot while the other didn’t.
“Nobody cared,” said Brenda Lewis, a 61-year-old Delafield resident who said her local clerk could find no record of her or her husband ever requesting an absentee ballot, even though both of them had.
“They should have done something, some sort of public service (announcement), something, just something,” Lewis said. “But nobody did.”
An investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the PBS series FRONTLINE and Columbia Journalism Investigations into Wisconsin’s missing ballot crisis reveals a system leaking from all sides, buckling under the weight of a global pandemic and partisan bickering that kept the logistics of Election Day up in the air until less than a day before polls opened.
Inadequate computer systems, overwhelmed clerks and misleading ballot information hampered Wisconsin’s historic – and historically troubling – spring election.
With the prospect of COVID-19 persisting into the fall and beyond, and more elections on the calendar ahead of the presidential ballot in November – which could produce triple the number of votes by mail – eyes will remain fixed on Wisconsin.
Election officials have largely blamed the U.S. Postal Service for many of the missing absentee ballots that forced some citizens to don masks and stand in line on Election Day this month, increasing their risk of contracting the potentially fatal disease COVID-19.
But the investigation by the Journal Sentinel, FRONTLINE and Columbia, based on interviews with voters, election officials and political experts, as well as responses from more than 600 people to an online questionnaire, shows the problems went far beyond mailing issues.
People from nearly 100 Wisconsin cities and towns responded to the Journal Sentinel's online request for readers to share their information if they did not receive their absentee ballots. Many said they tried requesting their absentee ballots multiple times.
Some people received too many ballots. Some received empty envelopes. Some gave up trying to navigate the state’s request system. Others got their ballots after Election Day.
Three people – two in Mequon and one in West Allis – said they were mailed duplicate ballots. In Wauwatosa, one couple said they received envelopes with no ballots.
In Milwaukee, three would-be voters said they received a form letter from Mayor Tom Barrett thanking them for requesting an absentee ballot – but not the ballot itself.
Officials sent ballots to college students to dorms they had been forced to vacate. For some Wisconsin residents wintering in New Mexico and Florida, ballots simply never showed up.
Nineteen Wisconsin citizens across eight cities – from New Auburn in the north to Bristol in the south – said they requested absentee ballots only to later be told the system had no record of their applications.
“I was not happy,” said Milwaukee resident Tom Arden, 71. He said he and his wife requested absentee ballots two weeks before Election Day but found out from a City Hall staffer that no record of their request existed.
“It wasn’t her fault, but that’s not funny,” Arden said. “It’s damn serious. That’s crazy that they dropped the ball as badly as they did.”
Wisconsin residents can request absentee ballots through letter, email or the state-run MyVote website. For presidential primaries, state law requires clerks to mail ballots within one business day from the time a request is received, if the request is made within 47 days of Election Day.
Roughly 1.28 million absentee ballots had been sent, but as of Friday more than 150,000 absentee ballots had not yet been returned, according to the latest tallies from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Less than 12% of votes cast in the 2016 spring election and presidential preference primary were absentee, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This year, an estimated 73% of votes were cast absentee, although officials are still counting ballots.
In response to the Journal Sentinel, FRONTLINE and Columbia investigation, Neil Albrecht, head of the Milwaukee Election Commission, acknowledged that thousands of ballots had not reached their intended recipients in Milwaukee.
“It was not an appropriate environment to be administering an election,” said Albrecht. “It was chaos, and chaos is never good for the administration of an election.”
Albrecht also pointed to inaccuracies with MyVote, the website run by the Wisconsin Elections Commission where voters can request and track the progress of their absentee ballots, including the date their ballot was mailed.
Albrecht said the date actually reflects the date the mailing label was generated – not the date a ballot was mailed.
It typically took employees another three to seven days to assemble, mail and deliver the ballot, depending on how backlogged the office was, city election officials said.
Asked whether he thought the website was misleading, Albrecht said the issue was “an improvement opportunity.”
Still, he said the majority of problems lay with the post office, and that issues such as empty envelopes or people being unable to find their registrations were rare. According to Albrecht, dozens of staffers in Milwaukee worked seven days a week until 11 p.m. to process ballots.
At the state level, Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesperson Reid Magney acknowledged inaccuracies with MyVote's ballot tracking feature and said the agency is looking at improving the feature "based on the user feedback we have received."
However, Magney said the commission believes the majority of problems stem from the post office or mailing vendors used by local clerks.
He said programmers looked through MyVote's code and logs but found no explanation for the large numbers of missing or late absentee ballots reported in late March.
“The more change you have close to an election, the more likely you are to have problems,” Magney said.
In Madison, City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said there was “no way humanly possible" to keep up with the volume of requests.
According to Witzel-Behl, staffers were working 110 hours a week but still had a week’s worth of backlogs by mid-March. Their computer system became so bogged down by the volume of applications that it only began working quickly after 10 p.m., she said.
“You reach a point of working so many hours, your eyes glaze over, and you risk making an error,” she said.
In the town of Delafield, where Brenda Lewis and her husband faced problems, Clerk Dan Green said he was unsure why the system had no trace of the pair's absentee ballot applications.
According to Green, the MyVote website crashed “a few times,” but he said citizens would not have been able to request ballots at all while the system was down.
Citizens, officials still searching for explanations
The lead-up to Wisconsin’s chaotic April 7 election was consumed by political infighting, changing deadlines, four lawsuits and a breakneck ascension through the court system that ended up on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The result was a surreal Election Day that took place as the state topped 2,500 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 100 deaths, with scores of voters across the state complaining that they had not received their absentee ballots.
Facing furious voters, Milwaukee election officials called on the Postal Service the next day to investigate widespread reports of missing absentee ballots. U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and Ron Johnson, a Republican, made a similar request in a letter two days later, asking the Postal Service to “determine the cause of these failures, which appear to have disenfranchised many Wisconsin voters.”
Bob Sheehan, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in Wisconsin, wrote in an email that the agency’s Office of the Inspector General is investigating but would not comment further.
In Wauwatosa, first-time absentee voter Jesse Weinberg said he and his wife received envelopes with no ballots inside.
In an email provided to the Journal Sentinel, their city clerk apologized to Weinberg for the “mishap” and explained that employees had accidentally sent a tray of mail to the mailing room “too soon,” before stuffing the envelopes.
In Mequon, retiree Tom Richardson said he and his wife both received duplicate ballots. According to Richardson, his local clerk said the office had accidentally mailed a “batch of duplicates” and advised the couple to discard one set of ballots and mail in the others.
Mequon City Clerk Caroline Fochs did not respond to calls and emails for comment.
But in an email exchange with Richardson, a copy of which was provided to the Journal Sentinel and Columbia, Fochs assured the retiree that it is “not possible for both ballots to end up being counted in the system.”
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior Haley Peldo said her absentee ballot was delivered to her previous registered address, not to the address she requested on MyVote. Luckily, Peldo said, she still knew the resident at her old home, who was able to bring the ballot to her.
Peldo said several of her college classmates reported similar stories.
"I managed to get it, but it was very confusing," she said. "I don't know how it would be the post office's fault that they got an entirely different address."
Ryan Kapp, a college student in Minneapolis, said he waited for a week and a half before calling the clerk’s office in his hometown of Middleton to inquire why his absentee ballot had not arrived.
According to Kapp, the employee told him his ballot had been accidentally mailed out without a street name, and that his was among several that were returned as undeliverable.
“They didn’t concern themselves with it until I decided to call,” Kapp said.
After taking down his address for a second time, the employee sent out a replacement ballot, Kapp said. But it didn’t arrive until April 10 – three days after Election Day.
The Middleton City Clerk's Office did not respond to a call or email seeking information on what happened.
The vast majority of people who wrote to the Journal Sentinel in the online questionnaire said they requested absentee ballots at least two weeks in advance of Election Day but did not receive them on time.
Paloma Chavez, four-months pregnant, said she applied for an absentee ballot on March 22, but it never arrived.
On Election Day, the Milwaukee resident said she called and emailed both the Wisconsin Election Commission and the city office and was given conflicting information about her ability to receive an email ballot or qualify for curbside voting.
“I was shell-shocked,” Chavez said. “It feels like the one thing I have control over – my voice – is being taken away from me. Mistakes got made, but not on my end here.”
Another common problem reported by voters: Forty-four people across nine cities said they did not receive their absentee ballot even though other members of their household did.
Many said they submitted their applications about the same time or even after their partners or roommates.
Milwaukee resident Lori Yanny, 65, said she submitted her application for an absentee ballot just two hours before her husband – on the same computer they share at home.
Her husband received his ballot a week and a half after requesting it, Yanny said. Hers never arrived. Nor did a replacement ballot she requested on March 31.
Yanny said she made the “difficult decision” not to vote in person due to coronavirus concerns.
“In the past 30 years, I have voted in almost every election – even the little ones,” she said.
Albrecht, the Milwaukee election commission head, said applications are not always processed in chronological order. As a result, he said, Yanny’s application was mailed on March 22, the day after her husband’s.
He said a large number of ballots mailed on March 22 and March 23 appeared to have been lost in the mail – part of what the city has called on the postal service to investigate.
A cumbersome system
In Wisconsin’s decentralized election system, much of the responsibility falls on local clerks, whose staffs are often tiny and not equipped to handle a surge in applications.
At the state-level, the Wisconsin Election Commission maintains both the MyVote website, where voters can request and track their absentee ballot, and WisVote, where absentee applications and requests are stored.
Each absentee ballot application submitted through MyVote is converted into an email. The state's 1,850 municipal clerks are in charge of opening each email, verifying the voter's identification, manually entering the application information into the statewide voter registration database and printing the mailing labels.
However, most municipal clerks do not have access to WisVote, and must ask another official, such as a county clerk, to manually enter the applicant's information in the database.
“This system was designed for a world in which 5% of voters voted by mail, not for a system in which 70% of voters voted by mail,” said Charles Stewart, a political science professor and election expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “So something has to give, and the thing that ends up giving is probably the accuracy of the request for the ballot.”
Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said officials have limited time to make improvements for Wisconsin's upcoming elections, including a special Congressional race next month and the statewide primary in August.
Democratic state lawmakers are even calling for a mail-in vote for the November presidential election, although Republicans are unlikely to hear the bill.
“There is not a lot of breathing room,” Burden said.
Reporter Daphne Chen is with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Catharina Felke, Elizabeth Mulvey and Stephen Stirling are from Columbia Journalism Investigations, with support from PBS Frontline.


usatoday--2020-04-21--'More important things than living': GOP Texas Lt. Gov. pushes for reopening state

WASHINGTON – GOP Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick doubled down on earlier controversial comments he made about reopening his state , saying late Monday that there are `` more important things than living.
” Speaking during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News , Patrick , 70 , said he was “ vindicated ” after receiving backlash for his March comments where he stated “ lots of grandparents ” would rather gamble their lives with the coronavirus than see an unstable economy for future generations .
“ I ’ m sorry to say that I was right on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are now finally beginning to open up Texas and other states because it ’ s been long overdue , ” he told Carlson on Monday night .
“ What I said when I was with you that night is there are more important things than living .
And that ’ s saving this country for my children and my grandchildren and saving this country for all of us , ” Patrick continued .
“ I don ’ t want to die , nobody wants to die , but man we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in the game and get this country back up and running.
” Patrick told Carlson that “ every life is valuable , ” but he believes `` our country should not have been locked down , '' and he questioned the science that led states around the country to shut their states down to flatten the curve from coronavirus .
“ They told us , Tucker , to follow the science .
Well , what science ?
” Patrick said .
“ At the end of January , Dr. [ Anthony ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for , said this wasn ’ t a big issue .
Three weeks later we were going to lose two million people , and another few weeks later it was 100,000 to 200,000 .
Now it ’ s under 60,000.
” More : Fauci takes heat from protesters of stay-at-home orders , says ignoring guidelines will 'backfire' US reopening : What states are relaxing social distancing restrictions and moving away from lockdowns ?
President Donald Trump announced guidelines last week for states to start opening their economies , and cited a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gradual and phased opening . ''
These included Texas , Vermont and Ohio .
He is pushing to relax the U.S. lockdown by May 1 , a plan that hinges partly on more coronavirus testing .
Patrick claimed that it was wrong for Texas to shut down at all because it has been a small percentage of the large population that has passed away .
Texas has a population of almost 29 million people , according to 2019 population estimates .
At the time of Patrick 's Monday night television hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which led to 495 fatalities .
By Tuesday afternoon , 20,196 cases had been reported in the state , with 517 Texans perishing , according to the state 's health department .
More : AG Barr raises prospect of more DOJ intervention if state lockdown orders go 'too far' Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced executive orders April 17 that will ease some of the restrictions on retail stores and parks , but he said all schools , public and private , will remain closed for the rest of the school year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unemployment benefits over the past month , erasing a decade of job gains as the nation grapples with the unprecedented shutdown of the U.S. economy to contain the coronavirus .
Thousands of citizens from multiple states have taken to the streets following their state 's closures , and the economic hardship that has followed , demanding their states open up .
More : Anti-quarantine rally in Pennsylvania draws about 2,000 people in latest protest against coronavirus restrictions Fauci , longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday that , `` If you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike , you ’ re gon na set yourself back .
So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening , it ’ s going to backfire.
” Almost 1,500 Americans died Monday , raising the toll to more than 43,000 among 800,000-plus confirmed cases , according to Johns Hopkins University data .

'More important things than living': GOP Texas Lt. Gov. pushes for reopening state
Show Caption Hide Caption States rights on reopening businesses over President Trump, explained The 10th Amendment protects state powers and puts a hamper on presidential powers. Here's how the fight for control is playing out today. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – GOP Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick doubled down on earlier controversial comments he made about reopening his state, saying late Monday that there are "more important things than living.”
Speaking during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, Patrick, 70, said he was “vindicated” after receiving backlash for his March comments where he stated “lots of grandparents” would rather gamble their lives with the coronavirus than see an unstable economy for future generations.
Coronavirus live updates: Senate reaches $484B stimulus deal; Cuomo, Trump to meet; oil, stock prices plunge
“I’m sorry to say that I was right on this and I’m thankful that now we are now finally beginning to open up Texas and other states because it’s been long overdue,” he told Carlson on Monday night.
“What I said when I was with you that night is there are more important things than living. And that’s saving this country for my children and my grandchildren and saving this country for all of us,” Patrick continued. “I don’t want to die, nobody wants to die, but man we’ve got to take some risks and get back in the game and get this country back up and running.”
TX Lt Gov Dan Patrick: "There are more important things than living ... I dont want to die, nobody wants to die but man we've got to take some risks" pic.twitter.com/dRTF8Moav4 — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 21, 2020
Patrick told Carlson that “every life is valuable,” but he believes "our country should not have been locked down," and he questioned the science that led states around the country to shut their states down to flatten the curve from coronavirus.
“They told us, Tucker, to follow the science. Well, what science?” Patrick said. “At the end of January, Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, who I have great respect for, said this wasn’t a big issue. Three weeks later we were going to lose two million people, and another few weeks later it was 100,000 to 200,000. Now it’s under 60,000.”
More: Fauci takes heat from protesters of stay-at-home orders, says ignoring guidelines will 'backfire'
US reopening: What states are relaxing social distancing restrictions and moving away from lockdowns?
President Donald Trump announced guidelines last week for states to start opening their economies, and cited a handful of states taking steps toward a "safe, gradual and phased opening." These included Texas, Vermont and Ohio. He is pushing to relax the U.S. lockdown by May 1, a plan that hinges partly on more coronavirus testing.
Patrick claimed that it was wrong for Texas to shut down at all because it has been a small percentage of the large population that has passed away.
Texas has a population of almost 29 million people, according to 2019 population estimates. At the time of Patrick's Monday night television hit, the coronavirus had infected 19,458 Texans, which led to 495 fatalities.
By Tuesday afternoon, 20,196 cases had been reported in the state, with 517 Texans perishing, according to the state's health department.
More: White House, congressional leaders reach deal to replenish halted coronavirus small business loan program
More: AG Barr raises prospect of more DOJ intervention if state lockdown orders go 'too far'
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced executive orders April 17 that will ease some of the restrictions on retail stores and parks, but he said all schools, public and private, will remain closed for the rest of the school year.
A record 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits over the past month, erasing a decade of job gains as the nation grapples with the unprecedented shutdown of the U.S. economy to contain the coronavirus.
Thousands of citizens from multiple states have taken to the streets following their state's closures, and the economic hardship that has followed, demanding their states open up.
More: Anti-quarantine rally in Pennsylvania draws about 2,000 people in latest protest against coronavirus restrictions
Fauci, longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned against rushing into reopening states, saying Monday that, "If you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike, you’re gonna set yourself back. So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening, it’s going to backfire.”
Almost 1,500 Americans died Monday, raising the toll to more than 43,000 among 800,000-plus confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Contributing: Joel Shannon, Lorenzo Reyes, Jessica Menton


usatoday--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: Gov. Gavin Newsom announces new California volunteer initiative and website

With the coronavirus crisis continuing , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced a new volunteer initiative Tuesday and a website that aims to connect residents looking to give back with opportunities in their communities and across the state .
The new website , https : //californiavolunteers.ca.gov , offers visitors options , including working at food banks , donating blood , delivering meals or joining the California Health Corps .
Newsom said anyone interested in helping out will be matched based on their expressed interests , with local needs , and that officials are hoping to organize a `` volunteer corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way we have in the past . ''
`` Rather than you initiating your interest , we want to make sure we engage with you , '' he said , adding that organizers would continue two-way conversations with potential volunteers and connect weekly through email .
`` From our zoomers to our boomers , '' he said , `` we want you to volunteer . ''
Newsom said that the spirit of community care that has extended across California during this crisis has been the spirit that has enabled the state to flatten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the growth rate of cases has begun to slow , positive cases and the daily death toll is still rising .
According to the California Department of Public Health 's count on Tuesday , California has 33,261 positive cases and 1,268 deaths .
As of Tuesday morning , there were increases in all the markers the governor says he is watching to determine when he might start lifting the most stringent social distancing orders .
There was a 7.4 % increase in cases in the past 24 hours , 60 new deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospitalizations and 3.3 % in Intensive Care Unit patients .
In an attempt to speak directly to protestors who have begun demanding the state reopen , Newsom emphasized that cases , deaths and hospitalizations are spread throughout the state , including in rural areas .
On Monday , hundreds of red , white and blue-clad demonstrators gathered in Sacramento , calling for an end to the statewide stay-at-home order that 's been in place since March 19 .
Newsom challenged claims that he was n't communicating with lawmakers enough Newsom also responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Assembly budget committee hearing Monday that he had failed to include them in key coronavirus-related decisions and failed to provide enough detail on state spending for recovery and response .
`` The emergency powers that were granted were with an understanding that this would be for a certain amount of discreet time , ” the Budget Committee chair , Assemblyman Phil Ting , D-San Francisco , said Monday .
“ It was n't the sense that there was a blank check or we would just be notified after expenditures were already committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety and the need for questions to be answered , he said he 'd been in regular contact with lawmakers through both one-on-one conversations , caucus videoconferences , and making members of his administration available .
`` It certainly could improve , '' he said of his communication , but added that he and his team were `` doing everything in our power to meet the needs and desires of the legislature . ''
More : California legislators demand more answers about spending on COVID-19 response Newsom also said he is working closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let off a little of this pressure we are all feeling , '' but emphasized that across all of California 's 58 counties , `` we have to continue to be vigilant . ''
At Wednesday 's briefing , and each Wednesday over the next several weeks , Newsom will begin giving updates on how California is progressing on the six key indicators that he outlined will determine the timeline for the transition back to normalcy , and the governor will `` start laying out more prescriptive guidelines . ''
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom said , adding that the spirit that defined that progress was rooted in community .
Connecting the momentum back to the new initiative , he emphasized that the state is seeking to `` build that army of volunteers and capacity , '' that will help California weather the crisis .
`` We truly are all in this together , '' he said .
Gabrielle Canon is a California reporter for the USA Today Network .
You can reach her at gcanon @ gannett.com or on Twitter @ GabrielleCanon .

Coronavirus: Gov. Gavin Newsom announces new California volunteer initiative and website
Show Caption Hide Caption Gov. Newsom details plan to reopen California California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a detailed plan for lifting virus restrictions. AP
With the coronavirus crisis continuing, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new volunteer initiative Tuesday and a website that aims to connect residents looking to give back with opportunities in their communities and across the state.
The new website, https://californiavolunteers.ca.gov, offers visitors options, including working at food banks, donating blood, delivering meals or joining the California Health Corps. Newsom said anyone interested in helping out will be matched based on their expressed interests, with local needs, and that officials are hoping to organize a "volunteer corps that is much more deliberative than the way we have in the past."
"Rather than you initiating your interest, we want to make sure we engage with you," he said, adding that organizers would continue two-way conversations with potential volunteers and connect weekly through email. "From our zoomers to our boomers," he said, "we want you to volunteer."
Newsom said that the spirit of community care that has extended across California during this crisis has been the spirit that has enabled the state to flatten its curve of coronavirus case growth. While the growth rate of cases has begun to slow, positive cases and the daily death toll is still rising.
According to the California Department of Public Health's count on Tuesday, California has 33,261 positive cases and 1,268 deaths.
As of Tuesday morning, there were increases in all the markers the governor says he is watching to determine when he might start lifting the most stringent social distancing orders. There was a 7.4% increase in cases in the past 24 hours, 60 new deaths, and a bump of 3.3% in hospitalizations and 3.3% in Intensive Care Unit patients.
In an attempt to speak directly to protestors who have begun demanding the state reopen, Newsom emphasized that cases, deaths and hospitalizations are spread throughout the state, including in rural areas. On Monday, hundreds of red, white and blue-clad demonstrators gathered in Sacramento, calling for an end to the statewide stay-at-home order that's been in place since March 19.
Newsom challenged claims that he wasn't communicating with lawmakers enough
Newsom also responded to concerns raised by legislators at a State Assembly budget committee hearing Monday that he had failed to include them in key coronavirus-related decisions and failed to provide enough detail on state spending for recovery and response.
"The emergency powers that were granted were with an understanding that this would be for a certain amount of discreet time,” the Budget Committee chair, Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said Monday. “It wasn't the sense that there was a blank check or we would just be notified after expenditures were already committed to.”
Acknowledging that he understood their anxiety and the need for questions to be answered, he said he'd been in regular contact with lawmakers through both one-on-one conversations, caucus videoconferences, and making members of his administration available.
"It certainly could improve," he said of his communication, but added that he and his team were "doing everything in our power to meet the needs and desires of the legislature."
More: California legislators demand more answers about spending on COVID-19 response
Newsom also said he is working closely with counties and local leaders to "let off a little of this pressure we are all feeling," but emphasized that across all of California's 58 counties, "we have to continue to be vigilant."
At Wednesday's briefing, and each Wednesday over the next several weeks, Newsom will begin giving updates on how California is progressing on the six key indicators that he outlined will determine the timeline for the transition back to normalcy, and the governor will "start laying out more prescriptive guidelines."
"We are making progress in the state," Newsom said, adding that the spirit that defined that progress was rooted in community. Connecting the momentum back to the new initiative, he emphasized that the state is seeking to "build that army of volunteers and capacity," that will help California weather the crisis.
"We truly are all in this together," he said.
Gabrielle Canon is a California reporter for the USA Today Network. You can reach her at gcanon@gannett.com or on Twitter @GabrielleCanon.


usatoday--2020-04-21--Republican Gov. Hogan says he has 'no idea why' Trump 'went off the rails' and attacked him

ANNAPOLIS , Md .
– Gov .
Larry Hogan said Tuesday he `` had no idea why '' President Donald Trump sharply criticized him during a White House news conference the previous day .
Hogan told MSNBC that he and other governors had `` a great conversation '' with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence during a conference call and `` then somehow it went off the rails yesterday in that press conference .
But I have no idea why . ''
During Monday 's White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing , Trump said each governor had been given a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could help increase their capacity to test their residents for the virus .
`` The governor from Maryland didn ’ t really understand the list , '' Trump said .
`` He didn ’ t understand too much about what was going on .
So now I think he ’ ll be able to do that .
It ’ s pretty simple , but they have tremendous capacity and we hope to be able to help him out . ''
Hogan said that during the call he `` simply pointed out '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Maryland where federally owned , including the National Institute of Health .
He said he had been `` trying for more than a month to get access to use labs like NIH , with no success '' until Pence and Trump committed to opening them up during the conference call .
A Republican who is serving as chairman of the National Governors Association , Hogan has implored the federal government to help states increase their capacity to test for the virus for weeks as his fellow governors have insisted they lack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests .
But Trump has long insisted testing is readily available since declaring on March 6 that `` anybody who wants a test can get a test . ''
He has also repeatedly stated it is up to the governors to implement the tests .
`` We ’ re moving very rapidly , at a number nobody thought possible .
And we ’ ll be doubling our number of daily tests if the governors bring their states fully online through the capability that they have , '' Trump said at Monday 's briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had purchased 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea .
After a question about why Hogan had to order tests from overseas if there were enough in the U.S. , Pence said he did n't know when Hogan placed the order but he `` would n't begrudge him or his health officials for ordering tests . ''
He then referred to a map showing featuring the labs available to help process coronavirus tests in Maryland .
Pence said had assured Hogan the administration would `` open up all of those facilities . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said .
`` If the Governor of Maryland could have called Mike Pence , he could have saved a lot of money . ''
`` I don ’ t think he needed to go to South Korea .
I think he needed to get a little knowledge , would have been helpful '' Trump added .
Responding to Trump 's comment , Hogan told MSNBC Trump `` basically said we 'did n't have to go to Korea because look at all these things we have in our state . '
'' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're good labs that do n't have any tests . ''
Hogan , who last year considered challenging Trump in the Republican primary , added that he was `` very appreciative of '' the administration 's decision to allow Maryland the use of the federal labs in the state .
`` We now have the tests , they have the labs and that should be a great solution , '' he said .
`` We should be able to now start to get to work together . ''
Hogan said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way '' to the tests , `` we certainly would have taken it . ''

Republican governor of Maryland says he has 'no idea why' Trump blasted him at briefing
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: Md. gov. 'needed to get a little knowledge' President Donald Trump criticized Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan after the Republican announced Monday that he had secured 500,000 tests from South Korea after more than 20 days of negotiations. (April 20) AP
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday he "had no idea why" President Donald Trump sharply criticized him during a White House news conference the previous day.
Hogan told MSNBC that he and other governors had "a great conversation" with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence during a conference call and "then somehow it went off the rails yesterday in that press conference. But I have no idea why."
During Monday's White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing, Trump said each governor had been given a list of labs in their states that could help increase their capacity to test their residents for the virus.
"The governor from Maryland didn’t really understand the list," Trump said. "He didn’t understand too much about what was going on. So now I think he’ll be able to do that. It’s pretty simple, but they have tremendous capacity, and we hope to be able to help him out."
Hogan said that during the call he "simply pointed out" that most of the labs on the list in Maryland were federally owned, including the National Institute of Health. He said he had been "trying for more than a month to get access to use labs like NIH, with no success" until Pence and Trump committed to opening them up during the conference call.
'He didn't understand': Trump slams Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, outspoken critic on testing
States rights on reopening businesses over President Trump, explained The 10th Amendment protects state powers and puts a hamper on presidential powers. Here's how the fight for control is playing out today. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A Republican who is serving as chairman of the National Governors Association, Hogan has implored the federal government to help states increase their capacity to test for the virus for weeks as his fellow governors have insisted they lack the kits or equipment needed to conduct the tests.
But Trump has long insisted testing is readily available since declaring on March 6 that "anybody who wants a test can get a test." He has also repeatedly stated it is up to the governors to implement the tests.
"We’re moving very rapidly, at a number nobody thought possible. And we’ll be doubling our number of daily tests if the governors bring their states fully online through the capability that they have," Trump said at Monday's briefing.
Earlier Monday, Hogan announced Maryland had purchased 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea. After a question about why Hogan had to order tests from overseas if there were enough in the U.S., Pence said he didn't know when Hogan placed the order but he "wouldn't begrudge him or his health officials for ordering tests." He then referred to a map showing the labs available to help process coronavirus tests in Maryland. Pence said had assured Hogan the administration would "open up all of those facilities."
"Take a look at that map," Trump said. "If the Governor of Maryland could have called Mike Pence, he could have saved a lot of money."
"I don’t think he needed to go to South Korea. I think he needed to get a little knowledge, would have been helpful," Trump added.
Responding to Trump's comment, Hogan told MSNBC Trump "basically said we 'didn't have to go to Korea because look at all these things we have in our state.'"
"Well, they aren't tests. They're good labs that don't have any tests."
Hogan, who last year considered challenging Trump in the Republican primary, added that he was "very appreciative of" the administration's decision to allow Maryland the use of the federal labs in the state.
"We now have the tests, they have the labs and that should be a great solution," he said. "We should be able to now start to get to work together."
Hogan said that if there had been "an easier way" to get the tests, "we certainly would have taken it."


usatoday--2020-04-21--Amid coronavirus concerns, two-thirds of voters support mail-in ballots for November, poll finds

More than two-thirds of registered voters want to see election laws changed to allow them to cast their ballots by mail in November because of concerns about the coronavirus outbreak , according to an NBC News/Wall Stree Journal poll .
A majority ( 58 % ) support changing state laws around the country to allow mail-in-voting , the poll found , and 39 % opposed the idea .
But when those who said they were against it were asked if they would support changing the laws to allow people to mail in their ballots just for this year because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose to 67 % and opposed dropped to 29 % .
The poll revealed a strong shift in support for mail-in-voting from 1996 , when a Pew poll found the country was about split on the issue with 48 % in support of changing the laws to allow it and 47 % opposed .
In response to the infection , many states have rescheduled their primary elections for later in the year .
But health experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to infect people into the fall .
That has prompted calls for a national shift to vote-by-mail to avoid a scene like that one in Wisconsin earlier this month where primary voters wearing masks and gloves were forced to line up outside voting locations .
The $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act that was signed into law late last month included $ 400 million to help states prepare for the 2020 election amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Outbreak and Election 2020 : Amid vote-by-mail push , civil rights groups say in-person voting still needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country are facing unexpected and rapidly increasing costs to mail ballots , move polling sites , and ensure the safety of voters , staff , and election workers , '' said Ben Hovland , chairman of the Election Assistance Commission , in a statement .
`` I am thankful that Congress recognized the need to help support state and local election officials by offsetting some of the increased costs of administering elections during this challenging time . ''
But Democrats , who had sought $ 4 billion in election assistance , have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states prepare .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , has said she would like to see at least $ 2 billion in additional election assistance in a fourth economic stimulus package .
`` Why should we be saying to people , 'Stand in line for hours , ' when we don ’ t even want you leaving the house ? ''
Pelosi asked .
Republican lawmakers have resisted the idea of a shift to vote-by-mail citing concerns about fraud and a belief that it would benefit Democrats electorally .
House Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push , characterizing it as an attempt to use the pandemic for political advantage .
`` You want to hold a bill up because you want to change election law in November , that somehow you think that gives you benefit ?
That ’ s disgusting , '' he said .
Trump derided Democrats ' push to include more election assistance in the CARES ACT during a March 30 interview with `` Fox & Friends . ''
`` They had a level of voting that , if you ever agreed to it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected in this country again , '' Trump said .
Without offering evidence , President Donald Trump said at an April 7 news conference that vote-by-mail is `` a very dangerous thing for this country '' because people `` cheat . ''
When a reporter pointed out that Trump voted by mail in Florida 's primary , Trump replied , `` because I 'm allowed to . ''
The president , who has long made unsupported claims of voters fraud , claimed the process for absentee ballots was different that than the mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told FactCheck.org that out-of-state and in-state ballots are treated the same .
Experts said fraud is more prevalent in vote-by-mail than in-person voting , though the number of incidents is low .
Richard Hasen , a professor at the University of California at Irvine School of Law and author of `` Election Meltdown : Dirty Tricks , Distrust , and the Threat to American Democracy '' , wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that ballots `` cast outside the watchful eye of election officials can be stolen , altered , sold or destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail , including the heavily Republican state of Utah .
`` Election design requires tradeoffs .
Many states offer absentee balloting because they realize that the tremendous convenience to voters outweighs the small risk of fraud , '' Hasen said .
`` Now , of course , the COVID-19 pandemic has radically elevated the risk of gathering at polling stations , making mail-in balloting a crucial alternative . ''
A major hurdle for a shift to vote-by-mail for the November election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election law .
Given the way the debate is shaping up along partisan lines , Republican-led states appear unlikely to embrace the shift despite the pandemic .
Last week , Republican state senators in Lousiana , which is one of the states that has been hit hardest by the pandemic with more than 1,300 deaths , blocked an emergency measure to expand mail-in balloting for the presidential primary , currently scheduled for July .
Five states conduct their elections my mail : Colorado , Hawaii , Oregon , Washington and Utah .
California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to opt for it and 17 states allow it for local or special elections , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures .
Thirty-four states allow voters to cast absentee ballots without requiring a reason for doing so , while 16 states require an excuse .

Amid coronavirus concerns, two-thirds of voters support mail-in ballots for November, poll finds
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
More than two-thirds of registered voters want to see election laws changed to allow them to cast their ballots by mail in November because of concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, according to an NBC News/Wall Stree Journal poll.
A majority (58%) support changing state laws around the country to allow mail-in-voting, the poll found, and 39% opposed the idea. But when those who said they were against it were asked if they would support changing the laws to allow people to mail in their ballots just for this year because of coronavirus concerns, the number in favor rose to 67% and opposed dropped to 29%.
The poll revealed a strong shift in support for mail-in-voting from 1996, when a Pew poll found the country was about split on the issue with 48% in support of changing the laws to allow it and 47% opposed.
In response to the infection, many states have rescheduled their primary elections for later in the year. But health experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, have said that the coronavirus could continue to infect people into the fall. That has prompted calls for a national shift to vote-by-mail to avoid a scene like that one in Wisconsin earlier this month where primary voters wearing masks and gloves were forced to line up outside voting locations.
The $2.2 trillion CARES Act that was signed into law late last month included $400 million to help states prepare for the 2020 election amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Outbreak and Election 2020: Amid vote-by-mail push, civil rights groups say in-person voting still needed
"State and local jurisdictions across the country are facing unexpected and rapidly increasing costs to mail ballots, move polling sites, and ensure the safety of voters, staff, and election workers," said Ben Hovland, chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, in a statement. "I am thankful that Congress recognized the need to help support state and local election officials by offsetting some of the increased costs of administering elections during this challenging time."
But Democrats, who had sought $4 billion in election assistance, have said more needs to be done to help the states prepare. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she would like to see at least $2 billion in additional election assistance in a fourth economic stimulus package.
"Why should we be saying to people, 'Stand in line for hours,' when we don’t even want you leaving the house?" Pelosi asked.
Republican lawmakers have resisted the idea of a shift to vote-by-mail citing concerns about fraud and a belief that it would benefit Democrats electorally.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy objected to Pelosi' push, characterizing it as an attempt to use the pandemic for political advantage.
"You want to hold a bill up because you want to change election law in November, that somehow you think that gives you benefit? That’s disgusting," he said.
Trump derided Democrats' push to include more election assistance in the CARES ACT during a March 30 interview with "Fox & Friends."
"They had a level of voting that, if you ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again," Trump said.
Mail in ballots substantially increases the risk of crime and VOTER FRAUD! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2020
Without offering evidence, President Donald Trump said at an April 7 news conference that vote-by-mail is "a very dangerous thing for this country" because people "cheat."
When a reporter pointed out that Trump voted by mail in Florida's primary, Trump replied, "because I'm allowed to." The president, who has long made unsupported claims of voters fraud, claimed the process for absentee ballots was different that than the mail-in ballots being proposed.
But election experts told FactCheck.org that out-of-state and in-state ballots are treated the same.
Experts said fraud is more prevalent in vote-by-mail than in-person voting, though the number of incidents is low.
Richard Hasen, a professor at the University of California at Irvine School of Law and author of "Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy", wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that ballots "cast outside the watchful eye of election officials can be stolen, altered, sold or destroyed." But he added that "problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah.
"Election design requires tradeoffs. Many states offer absentee balloting because they realize that the tremendous convenience to voters outweighs the small risk of fraud," Hasen said. "Now, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically elevated the risk of gathering at polling stations, making mail-in balloting a crucial alternative."
A major hurdle for a shift to vote-by-mail for the November election is that each state writes its own election law. Given the way the debate is shaping up along partisan lines, Republican-led states appear unlikely to embrace the shift despite the pandemic.
Last week, Republican state senators in Lousiana, which is one of the states that has been hit hardest by the pandemic with more than 1,300 deaths, blocked an emergency measure to expand mail-in balloting for the presidential primary, currently scheduled for July.
Five states conduct their elections my mail: Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah. California, Nebraska and North Dakota allow counties to opt for it and 17 states allow it for local or special elections, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-four states allow voters to cast absentee ballots without requiring a reason for doing so, while 16 states require an excuse.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-04-21--Bigger checks? Relief for states? What could be in the next coronavirus bill

WASHINGTON – The White House and congressional leaders are nearing a deal to pump an additional $ 300 billion into a new program to keep small businesses from shuttering and their employees from facing unemployment as the coronavirus pandemic derails the economy .
Even before that deal is completed , talk has turned to a larger economic recovery package that could send more cash payments flowing into the pocketbooks of Americans struggling financially because of the coronavirus crisis .
Americans ages 16 and older would be eligible for cash payments of $ 2,000 per month for at least six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece together the details of the next economic recovery package .
Financial relief for state and local communities could be part of that package , along with assistance to rural hospitals , hazardous pay for health care workers and infrastructure spending .
Many of the proposals won ’ t make it into the final package , which could be weeks away .
Congressional leaders and the White House agree on the need for another economic recovery bill after the $ 2.2 trillion package President Donald Trump signed into law last month .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost of the next coronavirus package could easily surpass $ 1 trillion .
Here ’ s a look at some of the proposals that lawmakers are mulling over as they piece together the next economic recovery package : The checks are arriving : Treasury says first coronavirus checks have gone out , and many will get payments by April 15 Millions of Americans have received checks of up to $ 1,200 authorized under the coronavirus recovery package Trump signed into law in March .
The IRS is still delivering those checks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one check may not be enough to help Americans get back on their feet , so they are looking for ways to continue the direct payments during the pandemic .
One proposal , by Reps. Ro Khanna , D-Calif. , and Tim Ryan , D-Ohio , calls for every American age 16 and older making less than $ 130,000 annually to receive at least $ 2,000 per month for at least six months .
Married couples earning less than $ 260,000 would receive at least $ 4,000 per month .
The payments would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A one-time $ 1,200 check isn ’ t going to cut it , ” Khanna said .
“ Americans need sustained cash infusions for the duration of this crisis in order to come out on the other side alive , healthy and ready to get back to work.
” College students and adults with disabilities who are claimed as a dependent by someone else were not eligible for a check under the recovery bill .
They would be eligible under the latest proposal .
Another proposal by Sen. Josh Hawley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cover 80 % of wages for workers at any U.S. business , up to the national median wage , until the coronavirus crisis is over .
Businesses would be eligible for a bonus if they rehire workers laid off over the past month .
Under yet another proposal , all employers whose monthly revenue has dropped at least 20 % would be eligible for federal grants to cover a portion of payroll and benefits for at least six months .
The senators behind the “ paycheck security ” proposal are Mark Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Doug Jones , D-Ala. ; and Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn .
Questions : My check was sent to an account I do n't recognize .
Where 's my check ?
Your coronavirus money questions answered States and local governments hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic have pleaded for federal assistance to help them provide essential services .
A bill filed by Sens .
Bob Menendez , D-N.J. , and Bill Cassidy , R-La.
, from two of the hardest-hit states would set up a $ 500 billion fund to help states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis while maintaining essential services .
The money would be divided into three tranches and distributed based upon population , the number of coronavirus cases and revenue losses .
Small-business relief : Congressional leaders near deal on coronavirus bill to replenish small-business program Rural hospitals would be eligible for financial relief during the coronavirus crisis under a proposal by Sens .
Tina Smith , D-Minn. , and John Barrasso , R-Wyo .
Their proposal would give rural hospitals access to the Paycheck Protection Program , which was created under the coronavirus rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The program provides forgivable loans to employers who maintain their payroll during the coronavirus pandemic .
Another surge ?
: When will a second wave of the coronavirus hit , and what will it look like ?
Health care workers battling the coronavirus might get “ hazard pay ” in the next package .
Trump has embraced the idea , suggesting the money could come in the form of bonuses .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , and other Democrats unveiled a plan to increase pay for essential workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in sanitation and at grocery stores .
The fund would increase pay up to $ 25,000 , or $ 13 an hour , from the start of the crisis to the end of the year .
Senate Democrats are pushing to ramp up coronavirus testing , which has been a source of contention between the Trump administration and governors .
Trump claimed last month that America 's coronavirus testing was better `` than any country in the world ” and more recently argued that governors have enough testing to move toward reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat Ralph Northam of Virginia and Republican Larry Hogan of Maryland , said the lack of testing has been a serious problem throughout the pandemic .
Senate Democrats call on Congress to approve $ 30 billion to rapidly expand coronavirus testing in the USA .
Some of the money would be used for the production of more test kits and supplies and the development of new tests .
“ Public health experts have made clear we will need to do hundreds of millions of tests if we want to reduce social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to school and back to some semblance of normal , ” said Washington Sen. Patty Murray , the top Democrat on the Senate health committee .
“ For that to happen , we need testing to be fast , free and everywhere.
” Tax questions : Here ’ s how your coronavirus stimulus check affects your taxes Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly cited the need to repair the nation ’ s aging infrastructure as an area where they could find common ground since Pelosi and Democrats reclaimed the majority in the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called last month for a $ 2 trillion bill to fix the nation 's roads , bridges and tunnels and suggested it should be included in the next coronavirus package .
Pelosi argued for making infrastructure the centerpiece of the next relief bill but switched course .
It 's unclear whether infrastructure funding will be included in the final package .
Some Republican senators suggested they are lukewarm on that idea .

Bigger checks? Relief for states? What could be in the next coronavirus bill
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus stimulus checks are missing, delivery may be delayed The IRS says they have delivered the stimulus checks to many that qualify, however, banks beg to differ. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The White House and congressional leaders are nearing a deal to pump an additional $300 billion into a new program to keep small businesses from shuttering and their employees from facing unemployment as the coronavirus pandemic derails the economy.
Even before that deal is completed, talk has turned to a larger economic recovery package that could send more cash payments flowing into the pocketbooks of Americans struggling financially because of the coronavirus crisis.
Americans ages 16 and older would be eligible for cash payments of $2,000 per month for at least six months under one proposal under consideration as lawmakers piece together the details of the next economic recovery package. Financial relief for state and local communities could be part of that package, along with assistance to rural hospitals, hazardous pay for health care workers and infrastructure spending.
Many of the proposals won’t make it into the final package, which could be weeks away. Congressional leaders and the White House agree on the need for another economic recovery bill after the $2.2 trillion package President Donald Trump signed into law last month. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the cost of the next coronavirus package could easily surpass $1 trillion.
Here’s a look at some of the proposals that lawmakers are mulling over as they piece together the next economic recovery package:
The checks are arriving: Treasury says first coronavirus checks have gone out, and many will get payments by April 15
Cash payments , paycheck protections
Millions of Americans have received checks of up to $1,200 authorized under the coronavirus recovery package Trump signed into law in March. The IRS is still delivering those checks to millions of others.
Lawmakers fear that one check may not be enough to help Americans get back on their feet, so they are looking for ways to continue the direct payments during the pandemic.
One proposal, by Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, calls for every American age 16 and older making less than $130,000 annually to receive at least $2,000 per month for at least six months. Married couples earning less than $260,000 would receive at least $4,000 per month. The payments would continue until employment returns to pre-coronavirus levels.
“A one-time $1,200 check isn’t going to cut it,” Khanna said. “Americans need sustained cash infusions for the duration of this crisis in order to come out on the other side alive, healthy and ready to get back to work.”
College students and adults with disabilities who are claimed as a dependent by someone else were not eligible for a check under the recovery bill. They would be eligible under the latest proposal.
Another proposal by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., calls for the federal government to cover 80% of wages for workers at any U.S. business, up to the national median wage, until the coronavirus crisis is over. Businesses would be eligible for a bonus if they rehire workers laid off over the past month.
Under yet another proposal, all employers whose monthly revenue has dropped at least 20% would be eligible for federal grants to cover a portion of payroll and benefits for at least six months. The senators behind the “paycheck security” proposal are Mark Warner, D-Va.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
Questions: My check was sent to an account I don't recognize. Where's my check? Your coronavirus money questions answered
Tips on how to deal with money stress and ways to seek help Marriage and family therapist Adriana Alejandre shares tips to handle anxiety over money and how to look for help during quarantine. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Financial relief for states
States and local governments hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic have pleaded for federal assistance to help them provide essential services.
A bill filed by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., from two of the hardest-hit states would set up a $500 billion fund to help states and local governments respond to the health and economic crisis while maintaining essential services.
The money would be divided into three tranches and distributed based upon population, the number of coronavirus cases and revenue losses.
Small-business relief: Congressional leaders near deal on coronavirus bill to replenish small-business program
Rural hospitals
Rural hospitals would be eligible for financial relief during the coronavirus crisis under a proposal by Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo. Their proposal would give rural hospitals access to the Paycheck Protection Program, which was created under the coronavirus rescue package and is targeted toward small businesses.
The program provides forgivable loans to employers who maintain their payroll during the coronavirus pandemic.
Another surge?: When will a second wave of the coronavirus hit, and what will it look like?
Hazard pay
Health care workers battling the coronavirus might get “hazard pay” in the next package.
Trump has embraced the idea, suggesting the money could come in the form of bonuses.
Senate Democrats push for similar bonuses.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats unveiled a plan to increase pay for essential workers, including those in the health care field, in sanitation and at grocery stores. The fund would increase pay up to $25,000, or $13 an hour, from the start of the crisis to the end of the year.
Coronavirus testing
Senate Democrats are pushing to ramp up coronavirus testing, which has been a source of contention between the Trump administration and governors.
Trump claimed last month that America's coronavirus testing was better "than any country in the world” and more recently argued that governors have enough testing to move toward reopening their states. Some governors, including Democrat Ralph Northam of Virginia and Republican Larry Hogan of Maryland, said the lack of testing has been a serious problem throughout the pandemic.
Senate Democrats call on Congress to approve $30 billion to rapidly expand coronavirus testing in the USA. Some of the money would be used for the production of more test kits and supplies and the development of new tests.
“Public health experts have made clear we will need to do hundreds of millions of tests if we want to reduce social distancing and safely get people back to work, back to school and back to some semblance of normal,” said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate health committee. “For that to happen, we need testing to be fast, free and everywhere.”
Tax questions: Here’s how your coronavirus stimulus check affects your taxes
Infrastructure spending
Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly cited the need to repair the nation’s aging infrastructure as an area where they could find common ground since Pelosi and Democrats reclaimed the majority in the House more than a year ago.
Trump called last month for a $2 trillion bill to fix the nation's roads, bridges and tunnels and suggested it should be included in the next coronavirus package. Pelosi argued for making infrastructure the centerpiece of the next relief bill but switched course. It's unclear whether infrastructure funding will be included in the final package. Some Republican senators suggested they are lukewarm on that idea.
Contributing: Christal Hayes


usatoday--2020-04-22--Fact Check: Trump claims coronavirus tests are widely available. They are not

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says there are plenty of coronavirus tests available , even as many governors raise alarms , saying they continue to run short even as states begin to lift their stay-at-home orders .
`` This is probably the number one problem in America , and has been from the beginning of this crisis , the lack of testing , '' Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association , said on CNN Sunday .
Trump fired back Monday , insisting that there was “ tremendous capacity ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said governors like Hogan just needed “ to get a little knowledge ” about the testing situation .
In fact , the country ’ s largest private labs say they have plenty of capacity to test samples sent from medical offices and hospitals .
But governors in a wide array of states say healthcare providers can ’ t conduct the tests because of a lack of supplies such as swabs and a chemical known as a “ reagent ” crucial to the process .
Public health experts and private and public labs contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem was a shortage of supplies at the testing sites where mucus samples are taken .
Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon , a Republican , said states have been competing with each other to try to get more testing supplies , a process he described as “ a slog.
” Concerns over testing have escalated as the Trump administration has issued guidelines meant to help states ease the temporary social distancing restrictions put in place to slow spread of the coronavirus and reopen their economies .
The guidelines call for a three-phase approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected , and , in time , treatment solutions .
“ It ’ s a perilous set of circumstances trying to figure out how to make this work , ” Gordon said last week , “ and until we ’ ve got the testing up to speed – which has got to be part of the federal government stepping in and helping – we ’ re just not going to be there.
” At a recent briefing , Trump discussed the swab issue , holding one up alongside a Q-Tip he pulled from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reagents as “ so easy to get , ” arguing that it was far harder to ramp up production of ventilators .
But in a tacit acknowledgement of the urgency of producing more swabs , he announced that he would be activating wartime powers under the Defense Production Act to compel companies to ramp up manufacturing of them .
“ We also are going to be using , and we ’ re preparing to use , the Defense Production Act to increase swab production in one U.S. facility by over 20 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Like other aspects of testing , the shortages are not consistent across the country .
Thomas Denny , chief operating officer of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and a former consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said his lab has no problems getting the supplies .
Ashish Jha , the director of the Harvard Global Health Initiative , blames the federal government for failing to address that unevenness .
`` Everybody has different sets of problems , and the solution is greater coordination , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too many swabs , but not enough reagents , and the other state does n't have enough swabs but plenty of reagents , you can imagine swapping . ''
Instead , Jha said , states got into `` bidding wars ” for materials , like those that erupted around ventilators and protective equipment .
`` What 's happening is some states that are missing swabs , they 're trying to call swab manufacturers , ” he said .
“ And then those manufacturers are getting calls from 20 different states.
” Hospitals go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stumbling rollout of testing significantly slowed the nation 's response .
Flawed tests were shipped in February to state and county public health labs nationwide .
The nation ’ s vast network of hospital and private commercial labs did not get the Food and Drug Administration ’ s regulatory green light until the end of February .
Dr. Dan Hanfling , who advised the National Healthcare Preparedness Program in the Obama and Trump administrations , noted there were `` technical challenges '' to developing accurate tests so quickly for a new virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that testing was rolled out without an `` ironclad guarantee that these tests are reliable '' – a formula for setting expectations too high .
`` People expect a certain level of testing , and we 're just not technologically there yet , '' he said .
By the end of March into April , testing accelerated , with the majority processed by six large commercial lab companies : ARUP , BioReference Laboratories , LabCorp , Mayo Clinic , Quest Diagnostics and Sonic Healthcare .
Soon , those labs faced growing backlogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 160,000 test orders waiting to be processed , according to documents obtained by CNN .
Wendy Bost , senior director of corporate communications at Quest , acknowledged that initially “ the demand outstripped capacity.
” In frustration , hospitals and state public health labs started going it alone , developing their own tests and processes .
Coronavirus tests : Labs are testing 100,000 people each day for the coronavirus .
That 's still not enough .
Robert Hart , executive vice president and chief medical officer of Ochsner Health in Louisiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place conducting testing .
They were getting the results back within a few days .
Then the state was overrun .
“ The next move was to send them to the Mayo Clinic , ” Hart said .
“ Mayo quickly became overrun.
” Tests waiting to be completed were shuffled around to the University of Washington and then to Quest , which hit the backlog .
“ We literally were waiting 12 , 14 , 16 days for test results , ” Hart said .
Hart said Oschner started doing testing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within a day .
Today , the private labs say things have changed .
They have room to spare and are turning results around quickly .
“ Our current capacity is greater than the volume we are currently receiving , and we have no backlog , ” said Mike Geller , spokesperson for LabCorp .
“ Based on current testing volumes , we are now able to deliver test results on average between one to two days from the date of specimen pick up.
” Louise Serio , a spokesperson for the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s members , which include Quest and LabCorp , have been reaching out to hospitals and other health care providers to communicate the excess capacity .
She says their member labs have enough testing supplies to meet demand right now , but if they are hit with double or triple the demand for testing , Serio says that could be an issue for them as well .
“ What we ’ re focused on for expanding our capacity , ” Serio said , “ is making sure we have all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies.
” The dispute between Trump and the states over testing came to a head this week when Hogan , the Maryland governor , announced he had secured 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea .
Later that day , Trump held up a list at his daily briefing of what he said were 5,000 labs nationwide that are prepared to accept the tests .
Asked by USA TODAY Tuesday for a copy of the list , the White House declined to provide it .
Hogan tweeted that he was `` grateful '' to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Check : Coronavirus not man-made or engineered but its origin remains unclear Both Democratic and Republican governors have been urging the Trump administration to do more to help increase the availability of testing supplies .
“ We have a worldwide shortage of some of the materials that go into this .
We really need help , ” Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , a Republican , told “ Meet the Press ” on Sunday .
“ I could probably double – maybe even triple – testing in Ohio virtually overnight if the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly different formula together for the extraction reagent kit.
” Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , also said her state could handle two or three times the amount of testing , but lacks the swabs and reagents needed to process the tests .
“ We could , if we had all the supplies we needed , do 11,300 tests a day working with our current capacity , ” she said Monday .
“ The reality is that we ’ re about half of that.
“ In a phone call between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Whitmer said the plea for the federal administration to use the Defense Production Act to compel production of the supplies was loud and clear .
“ We talked quite a bit about the lack of the critical supplies for testing , ” she said , adding that testing needs to be much broader for states to feel confident in lifting their stay-at-home orders .
“ We ’ re all needing swabs .
We ’ re all needing reagents , ” Whitmer said .

Michael Collins, Nicholas Wu, Cara Kelly and David Heath, USA TODAY

Fact Check: Trump claims coronavirus tests are widely available. They are not
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus drive-thru testing demonstrated by Virginia test site Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA demonstrates how its drive-thru collection process for COVID-19 testing works. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said there are plenty of coronavirus tests available, but many governors said they're running short even as states begin to lift their stay-at-home orders.
"This is probably the number one problem in America, and has been from the beginning of this crisis, the lack of testing," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, said on CNN Sunday.
Trump insisted Monday that there was “tremendous capacity” for coronavirus testing at U.S. labs. He said governors such as Hogan needed “to get a little knowledge” about the testing situation.
The country’s largest private labs said they have plenty of capacity to test samples sent from medical offices and hospitals, but governors in a wide array of states said health care providers can’t conduct the tests because of a lack of supplies such as swabs and a chemical known as a “reagent” crucial to the process.
Public health experts and private and public labs contacted by USA TODAY agreed that a major problem was a shortage of supplies at the testing sites where mucus samples are taken.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, said states compete with each other to get more testing supplies, a process he described as “a slog.”
Concerns over testing escalated as the Trump administration issued guidelines meant to help states ease the temporary social distancing restrictions put in place to slow spread of the coronavirus and reopen their economies.
The guidelines call for a three-phase approach: testing, tracing contacts of those infected and, in time, treatment solutions.
“It’s a perilous set of circumstances trying to figure out how to make this work,” Gordon said last week, “and until we’ve got the testing up to speed – which has got to be part of the federal government stepping in and helping – we’re just not going to be there.”
Drive-through site tests kids for COVID-19 A COVID-19 testing site in Washington DC is giving priority to families wanting to test their kids who are showing symptoms of the coronavirus. (April 16) AP
Swab shortages
At a briefing, Trump discussed the swab issue, holding one up alongside a Q-Tip he pulled from his jacket pocket. Trump said swabs and reagents are “so easy to get,” arguing it was far harder to ramp up production of ventilators.
In a tacit acknowledgment of the urgency of producing more swabs, he announced that he would activate wartime powers under the Defense Production Act “to increase swab production in one U.S. facility by over 20 million additional swabs per month.”
Like other aspects of testing, the shortages are not consistent across the country. Thomas Denny, chief operating officer of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and a former consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said his lab has no problems getting the supplies.
Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Initiative, blames the federal government for failing to address that unevenness.
"Everybody has different sets of problems, and the solution is greater coordination," he said. "So if one state has too many swabs but not enough reagents, and the other state doesn't have enough swabs but plenty of reagents, you can imagine swapping."
Instead, Jha said, states got into "bidding wars” for materials, like those that erupted around ventilators and protective equipment.
"What's happening is some states that are missing swabs, they're trying to call swab manufacturers,” he said. “And then those manufacturers are getting calls from 20 different states.”
Hospitals go it alone
From the beginning, America's stumbling rollout of testing significantly slowed the nation's response.
Flawed tests were shipped in February to state and county public health labs nationwide. The nation’s vast network of hospital and private commercial labs did not get the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory green light until the end of February.
Dr. Dan Hanfling, who advised the Hospital Preparedness Program in the Obama and Trump administrations, noted there were "technical challenges" to developing accurate tests so quickly for a new virus.
One challenge, Hanfling said, is that testing was rolled out without an "ironclad guarantee that these tests are reliable" – a formula for setting expectations too high.
"People expect a certain level of testing, and we're just not technologically there yet," he said.
By the end of March into April, testing accelerated. The majority of tests were processed by six large commercial lab companies: ARUP, BioReference Laboratories, LabCorp, the Mayo Clinic, Quest Diagnostics and Sonic Healthcare.
Soon, those labs faced growing backlogs. On March 25, Quest Diagnostics had 160,000 test orders waiting to be processed, according to documents obtained by CNN.
Wendy Bost, senior director of corporate communication at Quest, acknowledged that initially, “the demand outstripped capacity.”
In frustration, hospitals and state public health labs started going it alone, developing their own tests and processes.
Is the U.S. prepared for a coronavirus pandemic? A previous version of this video incorrectly stated how many people the 1918 Spanish influenza killed. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Coronavirus tests: Labs test 100,000 people each day for the coronavirus. That's still not enough.
Robert Hart, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Ochsner Health in Louisiana, said his state lab was the only place conducting testing, and it got results back within a few days.
Then the state was overrun.
“The next move was to send them to the Mayo Clinic,” Hart said. “Mayo quickly became overrun.”
Tests waiting to be completed were shuffled around to the University of Washington, then to Quest, which hit the backlog.
“We literally were waiting 12, 14, 16 days for test results,” Hart said.
Hart said Ochsner started doing testing in its own laboratory and has results within a day.
The private labs said things have changed. They have room to spare and turn results around quickly.
“Our current capacity is greater than the volume we are currently receiving, and we have no backlog,” said Mike Geller, spokesperson for LabCorp. “Based on current testing volumes, we are now able to deliver test results on average between one to two days from the date of specimen pick up.”
Louise Serio, a spokesperson for the American Clinical Laboratory Association, said the group’s members, which include Quest and LabCorp, reached out to hospitals and other health care providers to communicate the excess capacity.
She said member labs have enough testing supplies to meet demand, but if they are hit with double or triple the demand for testing, that would be an issue for them as well.
“What we’re focused on for expanding our capacity,” Serio said, “is making sure we have all of the supplies necessary and predictable access to those supplies.”
Shipment from South Korea
The dispute between Trump and the states over testing came to a head this week when the president criticized Hogan, the Maryland governor, for announcing that he had secured 500,000 coronavirus tests from South Korea.
“I don’t think he needed to go to South Korea," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing. "I think he needed to get a little knowledge. Would have been helpful.”
Trump then held up a list of what he said were 5,000 labs nationwide that are prepared to accept coronavirus tests.
Hogan tweeted that he was "grateful" to Trump for the list of labs and – in a jab at the president – added: "Accessing these federal labs will be critical for utilizing the 500,000 tests we have acquired from South Korea."
When asked by USA TODAY for a copy of the list of labs Trump had referenced at his briefing, the White House declined to provide it.
Fact Check: Coronavirus not man-made or engineered, but its origin remains unclear
Both Democratic and Republican governors urged the Trump administration to do more to help increase the availability of testing supplies.
“We have a worldwide shortage of some of the materials that go into this. We really need help,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, told “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “I could probably double – maybe even triple – testing in Ohio virtually overnight if the FDA would prioritize companies that are putting a slightly different formula together for the extraction reagent kit.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said her state could handle two or three times the amount of testing but lacks the swabs and reagents needed to process the tests.
“We could, if we had all the supplies we needed, do 11,300 tests a day working with our current capacity,” she said Monday. “The reality is that we’re about half of that.“
In a phone call between Vice President Mike Pence and governors Monday, Whitmer said the plea for the federal administration to use the Defense Production Act to compel production of the supplies was loud and clear.
“We talked quite a bit about the lack of the critical supplies for testing,” she said, adding that testing needs to be much broader for states to feel confident in lifting their stay-at-home orders.
“We’re all needing swabs. We’re all needing reagents,” Whitmer said.
Contributing: John Fritze, Kathleen Gray, Todd Spangler, Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY; The Associated Press