usatoday--2020-03-06--Officials: Loaded gun recovered inside troubled Manhattan detention center

WASHINGTON – A loaded firearm was recovered inside the troubled federal detention center in Manhattan Thursday , raising more questions about operations at the facility where accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide last summer .
Bureau of Prisons staffers located the firearm in one of the housing units inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center , the agency confirmed in a written statement , adding that searches were continuing until the entire facility had been inspected .
The agency did not elaborate on how the weapon was smuggled inside , though officials said the agency received `` critical information '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompting an inmate lockdown and a facility-wide search .
In addition to the gun , search teams also recovered prohibited cell phones , narcotics and an undisclosed number of homemade weapons .
`` All of these items pose a significant threat to the safety and security of the facility as well as the public , '' the agency said .
Last summer , the Manhattan facility was the focus of multiple investigations related to Epstein 's death that uncovered a cascade of security breakdowns .
Those findings , including criminal charges against two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Epstein 's unit , ultimately triggered a shakeup of the top leadership at the Bureau of Prisons , resulting in the appointment of a new director , Kathleen Hawk-Sawyer .
New prison leadership : AG Barr names new federal prison director in continuing leadership makeover after Jeffrey Epstein suicide Epstein linked to prince : Prince Andrew has provided 'zero ' assistance to US authorities in Jeffrey Epstein inquiry The leadership makeover continued last month , when Attorney General William Barr announced that Michael Carvajal , a career prison official , would succeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identifying a permanent director for the agency .
Epstein , 66 , was awaiting trial following indictment on charges of sex trafficking and sex-trafficking conspiracy .
Federal prosecutors alleged that he `` sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes '' in Manhattan and Palm Beach , Florida , and at other locations from 2002-2005 .
He was found unresponsive in his cell in August at the federal detention center in Manhattan and transported to nearby New York Presbyterian-Lower Manhattan Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Republican and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeper problems within the vast prison system which for years has struggled with persistent staffing shortages .

Officials: Loaded gun recovered inside troubled Manhattan detention center
WASHINGTON – A loaded firearm was recovered inside the troubled federal detention center in Manhattan Thursday, raising more questions about operations at the facility where accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide last summer.
Bureau of Prisons staffers located the firearm in one of the housing units inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the agency confirmed in a written statement, adding that searches were continuing until the entire facility had been inspected.
The agency did not elaborate on how the weapon was smuggled inside, though officials said the agency received "critical information" Feb. 27, about a firearm, prompting an inmate lockdown and a facility-wide search.
In addition to the gun, search teams also recovered prohibited cell phones, narcotics and an undisclosed number of homemade weapons.
"All of these items pose a significant threat to the safety and security of the facility as well as the public," the agency said.
Last summer, the Manhattan facility was the focus of multiple investigations related to Epstein's death that uncovered a cascade of security breakdowns. Those findings, including criminal charges against two prison officers accused of falsifying cell-check records on Epstein's unit, ultimately triggered a shakeup of the top leadership at the Bureau of Prisons, resulting in the appointment of a new director, Kathleen Hawk-Sawyer.
New prison leadership: AG Barr names new federal prison director in continuing leadership makeover after Jeffrey Epstein suicide
Epstein linked to prince: Prince Andrew has provided 'zero' assistance to US authorities in Jeffrey Epstein inquiry
The leadership makeover continued last month, when Attorney General William Barr announced that Michael Carvajal, a career prison official, would succeed Hawk-Sawyer who also had been tasked with identifying a permanent director for the agency.
Epstein, 66, was awaiting trial following indictment on charges of sex trafficking and sex-trafficking conspiracy. Federal prosecutors alleged that he "sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes" in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida, and at other locations from 2002-2005.
He was found unresponsive in his cell in August at the federal detention center in Manhattan and transported to nearby New York Presbyterian-Lower Manhattan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Republican and Democrat lawmakers have said the suicide underscored deeper problems within the vast prison system which for years has struggled with persistent staffing shortages.


usatoday--2020-03-06--Joe Biden may be the Democratic presidential nominee.  Here's who can stop him.

Joe Biden and the Democratic presidential nomination , who can stop him USA TODAY 's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page @ @ @ @ @ stop Joe Biden from becoming the Democratic nominee , and one may surprise you .

Joe Biden and the Democratic presidential nomination, who can stop him
USA TODAY's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page says only two people can stop Joe Biden from becoming the Democratic nominee, and one may surprise you.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--Primary elections: Who gets delegates when a candidate drops out?

What happens to a candidate 's delegates after they drop out As the Democratic candidate field shrinks , USA TODAY @ @ @ @ @ Page explains what happens to delegates when candidates drop out .

What happens to a candidate's delegates after they drop out
As the Democratic candidate field shrinks, USA TODAY's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page explains what happens to delegates when candidates drop out.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-06--Warren slams 'bullying' Sanders supporters as she exits race, says candidates are responsible for fo

As she exited the presidential race , Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, took a swipe at the `` bullying '' and `` online nastiness '' of supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , and said presidential candidates were responsible for the actions of their supporters who do `` dangerous , threatening things to other candidates . ''
`` It 's not just about me .
There 's a real problem with this online bullying and sort of online nastiness , '' Warren said in a Thursday evening interview with MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow when asked about Sanders supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referenced Sanders supporters calling Warren a `` snake '' and a `` traitor , '' and attempting to recruit a primary challenger against her .
Warren cited Sanders supporters ' attacks on `` women of color , immigrant women '' who led a union in Nevada , saying , `` They actually published the phone numbers and home addresses of two women ... and really put them in fear . ''
Sanders told Maddow Wednesday evening he was `` aghast and disgusted '' by his supporters ' actions , but told the MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rachel , if you do n't think that does n't come into our campaign , talk to Sen. Nina Turner , '' referring to his campaign co-chair .
Warren , though , thought Sanders ' explanation was not enough , saying , `` We are responsible for the people who claim to be our supporters and do really dangerous , threatening things to other candidates . ''
Where do Warren 's supporters go ?
: Elizabeth Warren 's exit does n't mean Bernie Sanders gets her progressive supporters , experts say 'We persist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will eventually become president Asked if the online rhetoric was a `` particular problem with Sanders supporters , '' Warren replied , `` it is . ''
Warren said she had talked about it with Sanders , but the discussion was `` short . ''
Sanders , in an interview with Maddow , described a discussion with Warren on Wednesday as `` cordial . ''
She explained she thought what `` underlies '' democracy `` is a fundamental human decency and respect for each other , '' and urged other candidates not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waged by President Donald Trump .
`` To the extent I have any power to control that , I do what I can and I call on others to do the same , and I think we have to have some accountability around that , '' Warren continued .
Warren said it was time to think `` creatively '' about how to handle the vitriolic rhetoric from supporters online .
After a disappointing finish on Super Tuesday , including a third-place result in her home state of Massachusetts , Warren suspended her presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference following her announcement , Warren told reporters she had been told before entering the race that two lanes existed – a progressive lane held by Sanders and a moderate lane held by former Vice President Joe Biden .
“ I thought that wasn ’ t right , but evidently I was wrong , '' she said .
Both Biden and Sanders have talked with Warren as she exited the race , but when Warren was asked about an endorsement in the race , or what she would tell her followers to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a deep breath and spend a little time on that '' before making a decision .
What is the electorate saying ?
: After 19 contests , here 's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us

Warren slams 'bullying' Sanders supporters as she exits race, says candidates are responsible for followers' actions
Show Caption Hide Caption Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be turnouts for Bernie, Susan Page explains. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
As she exited the presidential race, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., took a swipe at the "bullying" and "online nastiness" of supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and said presidential candidates were responsible for the actions of their supporters who do "dangerous, threatening things to other candidates."
"It's not just about me. There's a real problem with this online bullying and sort of online nastiness," Warren said in a Thursday evening interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow when asked about Sanders supporters' online attacks on Warren. Maddow referenced Sanders supporters calling Warren a "snake" and a "traitor," and attempting to recruit a primary challenger against her.
Warren cited Sanders supporters' attacks on "women of color, immigrant women" who led a union in Nevada, saying, "They actually published the phone numbers and home addresses of two women...and really put them in fear."
Sanders told Maddow Wednesday evening he was "aghast and disgusted" by his supporters' actions, but told the MSNBC host, "by the way, Rachel, if you don't think that doesn't come into our campaign, talk to Sen. Nina Turner," referring to his campaign co-chair.
Warren, though, thought Sanders' explanation was not enough, saying, "We are responsible for the people who claim to be our supporters and do really dangerous, threatening things to other candidates."
Where do Warren's supporters go?: Elizabeth Warren's exit doesn't mean Bernie Sanders gets her progressive supporters, experts say
How the DNC changed its rules since Sanders, Clinton in 2016 The primaries are here! How does one get elected in the first place and what is in store for the Democratic National Convention in 2020? We explain. Just the FAQs
'We persist': Elizabeth Warren says a woman will eventually become president
Asked if the online rhetoric was a "particular problem with Sanders supporters," Warren replied, "it is."
Warren said she had talked about it with Sanders, but the discussion was "short." Sanders, in an interview with Maddow, described a discussion with Warren on Wednesday as "cordial."
She explained she thought what "underlies" democracy "is a fundamental human decency and respect for each other," and urged other candidates not to follow the "politics of division" waged by President Donald Trump.
"To the extent I have any power to control that, I do what I can and I call on others to do the same, and I think we have to have some accountability around that," Warren continued.
Warren said it was time to think "creatively" about how to handle the vitriolic rhetoric from supporters online.
After a disappointing finish on Super Tuesday, including a third-place result in her home state of Massachusetts, Warren suspended her presidential campaign on Thursday,
In a press conference following her announcement, Warren told reporters she had been told before entering the race that two lanes existed – a progressive lane held by Sanders and a moderate lane held by former Vice President Joe Biden.
“I thought that wasn’t right, but evidently I was wrong," she said.
Both Biden and Sanders have talked with Warren as she exited the race, but when Warren was asked about an endorsement in the race, or what she would tell her followers to do, she said she wanted to "take a deep breath and spend a little time on that" before making a decision.
What is the electorate saying?: After 19 contests, here's what the Democratic primary electorate is telling us


usatoday--2020-03-06--Former Illinois GOP Congressman Aaron Schock who opposed gay marriage comes out as gay

Aaron Schock , the former Illinois Congressman who opposed gay marriage during his tenure , came out as gay Thursday on social media .
The ex-Congressman , who served in Congress for four terms – and was once a rising star in the GOP after being elected as the then-youngest Congressman at 27 – confirmed the legitimacy of his posts to the Peoria Journal Star , part of the USA TODAY Network .
Schock resigned from Congress in 2015 after lavish spending and was later charged with defrauding the government to fund personal air travel and office renovations , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upper class .
Many said the renovations appeared to be inspired by the TV show “ Downton Abbey . ''
The charges were dropped last year .
He explained that while he was running for Congress in 2008 , he “ took the same position ” on marriage equality held by John McCain , the party nominee , also alluding to the fact that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were opposed to gay marriage at the time .
“ That fact doesn ’ t make my then position any less wrong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry , ” he said .
Given the choice now , he wrote , he “ would support LGBTQ rights in every way.
” In his statement , which was posted concurrently on a personal website , he explained that his religious family has largely shunned him since finding out he was gay after images allegedly showing him at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were published last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coachella .
Pictures online made clear what I was en route to tell my mother in person , ” he wrote .
“ I wasn ’ t welcome at home for Easter.
” Since then , he said , he continues to receive emails from family members “ trying to sell ” him on the widely-condemned practice of conversion therapy .
The response to his post was swift and largely severe .
“ Aaron Schock 's statement fails to acknowledge the years of hurt that his votes against hate crimes protections , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t Tell and more caused LGBTQ Americans , ” wrote GLAAD in a tweet .
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney , D-NY , tweeted that Schock “ needs to own up to his misconduct in office & apologize to all who fought ( over his opposition ) to win him his new found rights , '' but said that he should be welcomed .
Schock , near the end of his letter , does express his gratitude to the activists who broke down barriers that he otherwise did not .
“ I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the extraordinary brave people who had the courage to fight for our rights when I did not , ” he said .
Contributing : Chris Kaergard , Peoria Journal Star ; The Associated Press .
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter : @ joshua_bote .

Former Illinois GOP Congressman Aaron Schock who opposed gay marriage comes out as gay
Show Caption Hide Caption What does it mean to identify as LGBT? Here is a guide to understanding LGBT terms. Sara Snyder, USA TODAY
Aaron Schock, the former Illinois Congressman who opposed gay marriage during his tenure, came out as gay Thursday on social media.
The ex-Congressman, who served in Congress for four terms – and was once a rising star in the GOP after being elected as the then-youngest Congressman at 27 – confirmed the legitimacy of his posts to the Peoria Journal Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Schock resigned from Congress in 2015 after lavish spending and was later charged with defrauding the government to fund personal air travel and office renovations, including imitating the 20th-century decor of the British upper class. Many said the renovations appeared to be inspired by the TV show “Downton Abbey."
The charges were dropped last year.
He explained that while he was running for Congress in 2008, he “took the same position” on marriage equality held by John McCain, the party nominee, also alluding to the fact that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were opposed to gay marriage at the time.
“That fact doesn’t make my then position any less wrong, but it’s sometimes easy to forget that it was leaders of both parties who for so long wrongly understood what it was to defend the right to marry,” he said.
Given the choice now, he wrote, he “would support LGBTQ rights in every way.”
In his statement, which was posted concurrently on a personal website, he explained that his religious family has largely shunned him since finding out he was gay after images allegedly showing him at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were published last year.
“News broke of my weekend at Coachella. Pictures online made clear what I was en route to tell my mother in person,” he wrote. “I wasn’t welcome at home for Easter.”
Since then, he said, he continues to receive emails from family members “trying to sell” him on the widely-condemned practice of conversion therapy.
The response to his post was swift and largely severe.
“Aaron Schock's statement fails to acknowledge the years of hurt that his votes against hate crimes protections, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and more caused LGBTQ Americans,” wrote GLAAD in a tweet.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-NY, tweeted that Schock “needs to own up to his misconduct in office & apologize to all who fought (over his opposition) to win him his new found rights," but said that he should be welcomed.
Schock, near the end of his letter, does express his gratitude to the activists who broke down barriers that he otherwise did not.
“I can live openly now as a gay man because of the extraordinary brave people who had the courage to fight for our rights when I did not,” he said.
Contributing: Chris Kaergard, Peoria Journal Star; The Associated Press. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.


usatoday--2020-03-07--Here's what's keeping Michigan unions from endorsing a presidential candidate

WASHINGTON — A once-large field of Democrats running for president might have been an argument for organized labor to help members decide who to back among them but most major unions appear to be forgoing endorsements ahead of Michigan ’ s Tuesday primary .
It may be a risky move .
By not coalescing behind one candidate , it potentially increases the likelihood that the overall union vote will be split .
That could help Sen. Bernie Sanders , once the leader in national delegates who also won Michigan in 2016 , secure the nomination , though some are skeptical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to create a government health plan and end benefit plans bargained for by unions .
And there are lingering questions whether Sanders , an avowed democratic socialist , is the Democrats ' best chance of beating President Donald Trump , especially among working-class voters in Michigan and across the industrial Midwest , with union households trending more toward Trump and his populist , anti-trade deal message in the last election .
Four years ago , Trump got more support from union households nationally than Mitt Romney did in 2012 , eating into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , the states most responsible for Trump 's victory , Clinton saw support as much as 15 percentage points lower than it had been for President Barack Obama four years before .
'Can ’ t take any of them for granted ' : Meet the key swing-state voters who could decide if Trump 's reelected Trump 's support , meanwhile , was up everywhere .
Nationally , his support among union households hit 42 % , according to polls , compared with Romney 's 39 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the bloc even more this year , arguing that renegotiated trade deals are good for labor — with some leaders in agreement .
But many argue that other policies , such as installing conservative-minded judges who have ruled against unions collecting fees from nonmembers and passing tax cuts more favorable to corporations and wealthy people than working-class people provide a chance to bring union voters back into the Democratic fold .
While that might argue for an early intervention by organized labor this year , it has n't materialized .
Of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is the only one to have received substantial endorsements from labor , with the backing of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers , the Amalgamated Transit Union and some others .
Sanders , meanwhile , has won endorsements from more locally based unions , such as the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 , representing about 1,000 workers , including those in Michigan .
Meanwhile , Biden , Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who has since left the race , share a three-person endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Large organizations such as the UAW , the Service Employees International Union ( SEIU ) , the Teamsters and others have remained on the sidelines .
And while it 's not unusual for some , like the UAW and Teamsters to hold off until somewhat later in the primary season to endorse , in 2016 several big unions had already given Clinton their backing by this point in the race .
They included the SEIU , the American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees ( AFSCME ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education Association , the country 's biggest teacher 's union .
`` The key thing here is that labor is going to keep its powder dry until it needs to make a statement , '' said Ed Sarpolus , a veteran pollster with Target-Insyght in Lansing .
`` Labor 's going to say , 'Who can we work with ? '
`` In the early states , that lack of coordination among big labor organizations and their members has paid off for Sanders .
In New Hampshire , exit polls showed Sanders winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 23 % for Pete Buttigieg , who came in second and has since left the race .
In Nevada , a heavily unionized state where labor households made up nearly a quarter of those caucusing , polls showed Sanders winning 34 % to Biden 's 21 % .
Sanders did so even after the powerful Culinary Union in Nevada handed out leaflets criticizing his signature Medicare for All plan , suggesting the effort to create a national health care system could cost its 60,000 members their union fought-for benefits .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another candidate and Sanders won handily .
More : In the era of Trump , Michigan 's political map is changing .
Here 's how That could be a lesson for any union that wants to stay on the good side of its members , including those in Michigan .
Former UAW President Bob King , who has endorsed Sanders , said he believes it was a mistake to endorse Clinton in May 2016 — before she became the presumptive nominee — and that members realize that if a comprehensive health plan were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would mean their unions could spend more time bargaining on wages and retirement — not insurance benefits .
`` I don ’ t see members out actively working for someone other than Bernie , '' King said .
A UAW spokesman , Brian Rothenberg , also noted that while the union has made it a goal to negotiate for strong health care it also has `` a long history '' supporting a government provided plan for all Americans .
The risk , however , is that unions , by not trying to organize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic nominee — like Sanders — who some pundits believe may have a harder time beating Trump in the industrial Midwest .
That could be especially true in areas like Macomb County , which helped deliver the state for Trump in 2016 , while also risking votes in places like Oakland County , which has voted for Democratic nominees in recent elections but tends to be somewhat more fiscally conservative than some other areas .
Sanders has been praised by progressives and endorsed by some of Michigan 's leftist-leaning figures , including U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also been criticized by others who say he would have to raise taxes significantly to pay for plans such as free college tuition and guaranteed child care .
Still others have questioned statements like on `` 60 Minutes '' where he praised some of Fidel Castro 's policies in Cuba while denouncing others .
`` The really leftist policies frighten a lot of people , '' said Dee McBroom , a Detroit political consultant .
`` They really find them incredible . ''
Labor leaders wo n't openly discuss tactical plans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't endorse in a particular race .
But political consultants and others close to labor say it 's appearing likely most major unions will wait until a nominee is all but decided .
`` They know they need to elect a pro-worker president .
It may be that they have to do less work bringing their members around to a different candidate , '' said Ben Nuckels , who was media consultant to Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers in his 2018 victory .
Getting a few percentage points back from Trump among union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be all it takes to win .
McBroom said there is little question that institutional support among union leaders , especially in Michigan , rested with Biden , who has been a pro-labor force in the Democratic Party for decades .
But his awkward debate appearances and poor showing in the early states — as well as worries that early endorsements for Clinton did n't help in '16 — caused them to reconsider , especially as Sanders has ascended .
`` Two and a half years ago , there was an awful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around Biden , '' she said .
`` Where that is now , I do n't know . ''
It is possible that , headed into Michigan 's primary , more local chapters will endorse but for now , it appears that most major unions are prepared to wait .
Eli Rubin , president of Michigan for Single Payer Healthcare , an advocacy group supporting a single Medicare for All insurance program , said that while stories circulate claiming union leaders may be hostile toward plans like Sanders ' that would force labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one has actively lobbied against it in front of him .
`` It ’ s just that they say nothing about it , '' he said .
`` When you try to engage them , they 're standoffish . ''
Rubin said he understands that , as labor leaders , they have to `` play ball '' with people actively against a single-payer system .
The board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan , the largest insurer in the state , includes representatives of the AFL-CIO , Teamsters , UAW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
Rubin added , however , that , in his experience , rank-and-file members `` are all on board '' with Medicare for All , with the exception being , in some cases , retirees worried that their health care could change for the worse at a time of life they could do little about it .
Rubin said he spends some of his time trying to allay those fears .
`` You 'd be surprised how many union workers do not take the approach … that ' I 've got mine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` With the vast majority of union members ( it 's ) ' I have great benefits , I want everybody else to have them too . '
`` What polling has been done in Michigan gives some contradictory evidence about where union households may be headed in the primary .
In January , a survey done for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Michigan voters found that only 13 % of union households supported a single-payer Medicare for All plan , compared with 23 % who preferred reforming the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Medicare option .
More : How Democratic presidential candidates want to change your health care For that poll , 183 union households were contacted , meaning that the margin of error would be far greater than the plus or minus 4 percentage points for the entire poll and its sample of 600 voters overall .
But it is potentially indicative of where many union households stand , and nearly 50 % opposed the idea of giving up their health insurance , compared with 37 % who said they could support it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonathan Chapman , 32 , of New Boston , Mich. , is a former UAW member who has friends and family who are still part of labor organizations .
A self-described independent , he voted for Trump four years ago and plans to vote in the March 10 Democratic primary , though he does n't yet know for whom .
`` I could support a moderate , '' he said , but added that he plans to vote again for Trump in November unless `` someone has a total pivot of policy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't necessarily attaching itself to Sanders overall , as a poll by the University of Wisconsin-Madison 's Elections Research Center showed him leading the field in Michigan with 25 % of support , compared with 16 % for Biden and 13 % for Warren and Mike Bloomberg , who has since dropped out .
Organizers of the poll said while the sample of union households was too small to report , Sanders held the edge among them .
No one should think that organized labor — or many people involved in it — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare for All , either .
A look at the names on the board of advisers for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer , an advocacy group , shows names from union locals across the U.S. Mark Dudzic , the group 's national coordinator , said he has spoken at some 200 union halls over the last five years and `` workers really get this . ''
`` I think people don ’ t want to give up the money they put in for their benefits and we ’ re going to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into their wages and pensions ) , '' he said .
No matter which direction unions move in , however , expect it to be closely watched .
Trump is expected to make a strong play again for the rank-and-file in Michigan and the industrial Midwest .
Last year , Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com , a statistical analysis site , noted that according to the Cooperative Congressional Election Study , a massive survey done each year , the shifts in union voters from Barack Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016 in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's margins of victories in those states .
State Rep. Brian Elder , D-Bay City , has long worked with labor unions in an economically struggling area that has traditionally been Democratic but flipped to Trump in 2016 .
He has endorsed Biden , but he feels that if Sanders gets the nomination , Bay County will still back him , regardless of any reputation of political conservatism among working-class voters .
`` Blue-collar voters are not politically conservative .
They are culturally conservative and that means , if you ask them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environment or your ability to pay bills , they 'll say the ability to pay bills because we struggle to pay them . ''
`` But are they all going to be scared because they hear the word socialism ?
Not necessarily as long as ( it 's explained ) that what we 're really talking about is the New Deal , the Great Society and the war on poverty , '' he added .
`` My sort of voters supported those things for generations . ''
Contact Todd Spangler : tspangler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tsspangler .
Read more onMichigan politics and sign up for ourelections newsletter .
Editor 's note : An earlier version of this story misidentified American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 .

Here's what's keeping Michigan unions from endorsing a presidential candidate
Show Caption Hide Caption How the DNC changed its rules since Sanders, Clinton in 2016 The primaries are here! How does one get elected in the first place and what is in store for the Democratic National Convention in 2020? We explain. Just the FAQs
WASHINGTON — A once-large field of Democrats running for president might have been an argument for organized labor to help members decide who to back among them but most major unions appear to be forgoing endorsements ahead of Michigan’s Tuesday primary.
It may be a risky move.
By not coalescing behind one candidate, it potentially increases the likelihood that the overall union vote will be split. That could help Sen. Bernie Sanders, once the leader in national delegates who also won Michigan in 2016, secure the nomination, though some are skeptical of his independence and support of a plan to create a government health plan and end benefit plans bargained for by unions.
And there are lingering questions whether Sanders, an avowed democratic socialist, is the Democrats' best chance of beating President Donald Trump, especially among working-class voters in Michigan and across the industrial Midwest, with union households trending more toward Trump and his populist, anti-trade deal message in the last election.
Four years ago, Trump got more support from union households nationally than Mitt Romney did in 2012, eating into Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's base. In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the states most responsible for Trump's victory, Clinton saw support as much as 15 percentage points lower than it had been for President Barack Obama four years before.
'Can’t take any of them for granted': Meet the key swing-state voters who could decide if Trump's reelected
Loading...
Trump's support, meanwhile, was up everywhere. Nationally, his support among union households hit 42%, according to polls, compared with Romney's 39% in 2012.
Trump is going to go after the bloc even more this year, arguing that renegotiated trade deals are good for labor — with some leaders in agreement. But many argue that other policies, such as installing conservative-minded judges who have ruled against unions collecting fees from nonmembers and passing tax cuts more favorable to corporations and wealthy people than working-class people provide a chance to bring union voters back into the Democratic fold.
While that might argue for an early intervention by organized labor this year, it hasn't materialized.
Of all the candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden is the only one to have received substantial endorsements from labor, with the backing of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Amalgamated Transit Union and some others.
Sanders, meanwhile, has won endorsements from more locally based unions, such as the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704, representing about 1,000 workers, including those in Michigan. Meanwhile, Biden, Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has since left the race, share a three-person endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers, the second largest teachers union in the country.
Large organizations such as the UAW, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Teamsters and others have remained on the sidelines. And while it's not unusual for some, like the UAW and Teamsters to hold off until somewhat later in the primary season to endorse, in 2016 several big unions had already given Clinton their backing by this point in the race.
They included the SEIU, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Laborer's Union and the National Education Association, the country's biggest teacher's union.
"The key thing here is that labor is going to keep its powder dry until it needs to make a statement," said Ed Sarpolus, a veteran pollster with Target-Insyght in Lansing. "Labor's going to say, 'Who can we work with?' "
In the early states, that lack of coordination among big labor organizations and their members has paid off for Sanders. In New Hampshire, exit polls showed Sanders winning 30% of union households, compared with 23% for Pete Buttigieg, who came in second and has since left the race. In Nevada, a heavily unionized state where labor households made up nearly a quarter of those caucusing, polls showed Sanders winning 34% to Biden's 21%.
Sanders did so even after the powerful Culinary Union in Nevada handed out leaflets criticizing his signature Medicare for All plan, suggesting the effort to create a national health care system could cost its 60,000 members their union fought-for benefits. In the end, the union declined to endorse another candidate and Sanders won handily.
More: In the era of Trump, Michigan's political map is changing. Here's how
That could be a lesson for any union that wants to stay on the good side of its members, including those in Michigan.
Former UAW President Bob King, who has endorsed Sanders, said he believes it was a mistake to endorse Clinton in May 2016 — before she became the presumptive nominee — and that members realize that if a comprehensive health plan were created to cover all Americans, it would mean their unions could spend more time bargaining on wages and retirement — not insurance benefits.
"I don’t see members out actively working for someone other than Bernie," King said.
A UAW spokesman, Brian Rothenberg, also noted that while the union has made it a goal to negotiate for strong health care it also has "a long history" supporting a government provided plan for all Americans.
The risk, however, is that unions, by not trying to organize members, could wind up with a Democratic nominee — like Sanders — who some pundits believe may have a harder time beating Trump in the industrial Midwest.
That could be especially true in areas like Macomb County, which helped deliver the state for Trump in 2016, while also risking votes in places like Oakland County, which has voted for Democratic nominees in recent elections but tends to be somewhat more fiscally conservative than some other areas.
Sanders has been praised by progressives and endorsed by some of Michigan's leftist-leaning figures, including U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, but has also been criticized by others who say he would have to raise taxes significantly to pay for plans such as free college tuition and guaranteed child care. Still others have questioned statements like on "60 Minutes" where he praised some of Fidel Castro's policies in Cuba while denouncing others.
"The really leftist policies frighten a lot of people," said Dee McBroom, a Detroit political consultant. "They really find them incredible."
Labor leaders won't openly discuss tactical plans, such as whether they will or won't endorse in a particular race. But political consultants and others close to labor say it's appearing likely most major unions will wait until a nominee is all but decided.
"They know they need to elect a pro-worker president. It may be that they have to do less work bringing their members around to a different candidate," said Ben Nuckels, who was media consultant to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in his 2018 victory.
Getting a few percentage points back from Trump among union voters in November, he said, would be all it takes to win.
Biden had been a favorite
McBroom said there is little question that institutional support among union leaders, especially in Michigan, rested with Biden, who has been a pro-labor force in the Democratic Party for decades. But his awkward debate appearances and poor showing in the early states — as well as worries that early endorsements for Clinton didn't help in '16 — caused them to reconsider, especially as Sanders has ascended.
"Two and a half years ago, there was an awful lot of unanimity in the labor movement around Biden," she said. "Where that is now, I don't know."
It is possible that, headed into Michigan's primary, more local chapters will endorse but for now, it appears that most major unions are prepared to wait.
Eli Rubin, president of Michigan for Single Payer Healthcare, an advocacy group supporting a single Medicare for All insurance program, said that while stories circulate claiming union leaders may be hostile toward plans like Sanders' that would force labor to give up private insurance, no one has actively lobbied against it in front of him.
"It’s just that they say nothing about it," he said. "When you try to engage them, they're standoffish."
Rubin said he understands that, as labor leaders, they have to "play ball" with people actively against a single-payer system. The board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the largest insurer in the state, includes representatives of the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, UAW and the Michigan Education Association, among others.
Rubin added, however, that, in his experience, rank-and-file members "are all on board" with Medicare for All, with the exception being, in some cases, retirees worried that their health care could change for the worse at a time of life they could do little about it. Rubin said he spends some of his time trying to allay those fears.
"You'd be surprised how many union workers do not take the approach … that 'I've got mine, screw everybody else,' " he said. "With the vast majority of union members (it's) 'I have great benefits, I want everybody else to have them too.' "
Polls paint an unclear level of support
What polling has been done in Michigan gives some contradictory evidence about where union households may be headed in the primary.
In January, a survey done for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Michigan voters found that only 13% of union households supported a single-payer Medicare for All plan, compared with 23% who preferred reforming the Affordable Care Act and 43% who supported a Medicare option.
More: How Democratic presidential candidates want to change your health care
For that poll, 183 union households were contacted, meaning that the margin of error would be far greater than the plus or minus 4 percentage points for the entire poll and its sample of 600 voters overall. But it is potentially indicative of where many union households stand, and nearly 50% opposed the idea of giving up their health insurance, compared with 37% who said they could support it in order to get Medicare for All.
Jonathan Chapman, 32, of New Boston, Mich., is a former UAW member who has friends and family who are still part of labor organizations. A self-described independent, he voted for Trump four years ago and plans to vote in the March 10 Democratic primary, though he doesn't yet know for whom.
"I could support a moderate," he said, but added that he plans to vote again for Trump in November unless "someone has a total pivot of policy."
But that sort of skepticism isn't necessarily attaching itself to Sanders overall, as a poll by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Elections Research Center showed him leading the field in Michigan with 25% of support, compared with 16% for Biden and 13% for Warren and Mike Bloomberg, who has since dropped out. Organizers of the poll said while the sample of union households was too small to report, Sanders held the edge among them.
No one should think that organized labor — or many people involved in it — aren't part of the fight for Medicare for All, either. A look at the names on the board of advisers for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer, an advocacy group, shows names from union locals across the U.S.
Mark Dudzic, the group's national coordinator, said he has spoken at some 200 union halls over the last five years and "workers really get this."
"I think people don’t want to give up the money they put in for their benefits and we’re going to fight for that (to be put back into their wages and pensions)," he said.
No matter which direction unions move in, however, expect it to be closely watched. Trump is expected to make a strong play again for the rank-and-file in Michigan and the industrial Midwest.
Last year, Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com, a statistical analysis site, noted that according to the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, a massive survey done each year, the shifts in union voters from Barack Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016 in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were larger than Trump's margins of victories in those states.
State Rep. Brian Elder, D-Bay City, has long worked with labor unions in an economically struggling area that has traditionally been Democratic but flipped to Trump in 2016. He has endorsed Biden, but he feels that if Sanders gets the nomination, Bay County will still back him, regardless of any reputation of political conservatism among working-class voters.
"Blue-collar voters are not politically conservative. They are culturally conservative and that means, if you ask them what’s a bigger priority, the environment or your ability to pay bills, they'll say the ability to pay bills because we struggle to pay them."
"But are they all going to be scared because they hear the word socialism? Not necessarily as long as (it's explained) that what we're really talking about is the New Deal, the Great Society and the war on poverty," he added. "My sort of voters supported those things for generations."
Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified American Federation of Government Employees Local 704.


usatoday--2020-03-07--Man who threw water on U.S. Rep Steve King sentenced to 2 years probation

DES MOINES , Iowa – A Colorado man who pleaded guilty to throwing water on U.S. Rep. Steve King has been sentenced to two years of probation .
Blake Gibbins , a 27-year-old from Lafayette , Colorado , was sentenced Thursday in federal court after pleading guilty in September to one count of assaulting a member of Congress , a misdemeanor .
In March of 2019 , the Webster County attorney charged Gibbins with simple assault and disorderly conduct after he threw a cup of water on U.S. Rep. Steve King , R-Kiron , while the lawmaker was eating lunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant in Fort Dodge .
His initial charges were suspended in April and later replaced by the federal charge from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa .
In his plea deal , Gibbins and the defense recommended one year of probation as punishment .
The Jefferson , Iowa , native could have been incarcerated for up to one year for the crime , court records show .
Leonard Strand , Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa , instead decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of probation , in addition to an agreed-upon 200 hours of community service .
Gibbins ' attorney , Paul Statler , said Strand , who seemed to be weighing incarceration over probation , gave the case `` considerable contemplation . ''
Had Gibbins had any prior criminal history , Strand likely would have decided on a stricter sentence , said Statler , who believed the sentence was fair .
The judge also weighed the fact that Gibbins had been home , helping his mother with family funeral preparations , at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was impulsive , unplanned and did not result in any physical injury to the victim , '' prosecutors wrote in the government 's Feb. 27 sentencing memorandum .
`` The offense occurred roughly one week after the defendant ’ s ( adopted father ) passed away , while the defendant was still under the emotional influence of the event . ''
Gibbins is a full-time master 's student with hopes of becoming a child welfare and adoptee rights advocate , according to the plea agreement .
He also has a part-time job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King was targeted by Gibbins because of his role as a congressman .
Gibbins did not know King was going to be at the restaurant , police say .
`` Something the sentencing judge stressed was that this was a very serious offense and it was a difficult decision for the judge because he wants to be sure to provide adequate deterrents , '' Statler told the Des Moines Register on Thursday .
`` The sentencing judge does not want to send the message that it is OK to assault a congressman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for King did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Statler said his client did n't wish to comment immediately following his sentencing .
A GoFundMe campaign established to help cover Gibbins ' legal fees was launched in March of 2019 .
Since then , it 's raised more than $ 5,600 from more than 270 donors .
`` Social media has sort of portrayed him as a social justice warrior when , in fact , he 's a very reserved young man , '' Statler remarked Thursday about Gibbins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him than just this event . ''

Man who threw water on U.S. Rep Steve King sentenced to 2 years probation
Show Caption Hide Caption A history of Steve King's controversial moments Through the years, Steve King, a Republican congressman from western Iowa, has made several widely criticized remarks during his years in office. This is a brief history of some of those moments. Kelsey Kremer/ The Register
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Colorado man who pleaded guilty to throwing water on U.S. Rep. Steve King has been sentenced to two years of probation.
Blake Gibbins, a 27-year-old from Lafayette, Colorado, was sentenced Thursday in federal court after pleading guilty in September to one count of assaulting a member of Congress, a misdemeanor.
In March of 2019, the Webster County attorney charged Gibbins with simple assault and disorderly conduct after he threw a cup of water on U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, while the lawmaker was eating lunch at the Mineral City Mill and Grill restaurant in Fort Dodge.
His initial charges were suspended in April and later replaced by the federal charge from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
In his plea deal, Gibbins and the defense recommended one year of probation as punishment. The Jefferson, Iowa, native could have been incarcerated for up to one year for the crime, court records show.
Leonard Strand, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, instead decided Thursday to sentence Gibbins to two years of probation, in addition to an agreed-upon 200 hours of community service.
Gibbins' attorney, Paul Statler, said Strand, who seemed to be weighing incarceration over probation, gave the case "considerable contemplation."
Had Gibbins had any prior criminal history, Strand likely would have decided on a stricter sentence, said Statler, who believed the sentence was fair. The judge also weighed the fact that Gibbins had been home, helping his mother with family funeral preparations, at the time of the assault.
"(The offense) was impulsive, unplanned and did not result in any physical injury to the victim," prosecutors wrote in the government's Feb. 27 sentencing memorandum. "The offense occurred roughly one week after the defendant’s (adopted father) passed away, while the defendant was still under the emotional influence of the event."
Gibbins is a full-time master's student with hopes of becoming a child welfare and adoptee rights advocate, according to the plea agreement. He also has a part-time job.
Fort Dodge police said they believed King was targeted by Gibbins because of his role as a congressman. Gibbins did not know King was going to be at the restaurant, police say.
"Something the sentencing judge stressed was that this was a very serious offense and it was a difficult decision for the judge because he wants to be sure to provide adequate deterrents," Statler told the Des Moines Register on Thursday. "The sentencing judge does not want to send the message that it is OK to assault a congressman, and we respect that."
A spokesman for King did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Statler said his client didn't wish to comment immediately following his sentencing.
A GoFundMe campaign established to help cover Gibbins' legal fees was launched in March of 2019. Since then, it's raised more than $5,600 from more than 270 donors.
"Social media has sort of portrayed him as a social justice warrior when, in fact, he's a very reserved young man," Statler remarked Thursday about Gibbins. "There's a lot more to him than just this event."
Follow Anna Spoerre on Twitter: @annaspoerre


usatoday--2020-03-08--Elizabeth Warren is out of the race, but advocates hope her disability plan is the new standard

There ’ s a saying often used by disability rights advocates to stress the importance of having disabled people at the table making decisions that will affect their lives : “ Nothing about us without us.
” That idea is what set one candidate apart in the 2020 presidential race , some of those advocates said .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination this week after disappointing performances in several primaries and a crushing loss in her home state of Massachusetts .
But the way she crafted her disability plan will be a model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who helped her build it .
“ Her plan was a blueprint , ” said Vilissa Thompson , a social worker and founder of disability advocacy blog Ramp Your Voice and who consulted on Warren 's disability team .
Matthew Cortland tweeted his amazement last month when Warren described in a CNN town hall how every policy issue affects disabled people .
And he was not alone .
“ I ’ m in tears , ” came one reply .
“ I ’ ve never heard a candidate talk about , care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with disabilities.
” Cortland , a lawyer and policy analyst who helped consult on the campaign ’ s disability plan , said Warren operated her campaign much the same way she talked about it on stage : in collaboration with the people who had the most stake in her positions .
“ It hit me… I ’ m a woman with plans , ” Warren said at the town hall .
“ I need a disability plan overall .
And I thought , I ’ m not gon na write this myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to the community , to the disability communities , and say , ‘ What parts do we need to be able to build that equality ?
’ ” Warren and her campaign came up with her over 7,000-word plan , “ Protecting the Rights and Equality of People with Disabilities , '' with the input of a working group made up of disabled advocates and community members .
She 's not the only candidate to consult disabled people , but the people in her disability group said she did it differently .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestions , they were building the plan themselves through the facilitation of Warren ’ s campaign staff , according to Rebecca Cokley , the director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the progressive think tank Center for American Progress .
They had access to a shared document where they would type notes and make edits , collaborating to create the document that now lives on Warren 's site .
`` My aim was solely to get the policy right .
In order to get it right it was important to identify our knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Molly Doris-Pierce , Warren 's national disability outreach director .
She and campaign policy analyst Alexandra Wilcox facilitated the community engagement .
Cokley consulted on several 2020 campaigns ’ disability plans , including for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro .
But she personally endorsed Warren and joined her campaign .
“ One of the things that makes Sen. Warren 's plan stand out is actually it goes beyond just the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sen .
Warren specifically talked about disability and her plan repeatedly .
None of the other candidates have really addressed their own plan in debates , in town halls , on social media.
” Thompson also said she was particularly impressed with Warren 's dedication to listening to the voices of disabled people of color in crafting parts of the plan .
Cokley has been working on Democratic campaigns going back to John Kerry 's bid in 2004 , and this election cycle is unique in its approach to disability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` it almost felt sort of very Dickensian '' when asking to be included , `` like , 'Please , sir , can I have some more ? '
... With the Warren campaign , they were looking at us as experts . ''
`` We were partners – not an afterthought , not props – partners , '' Cortland added .
Cokley said most of the 2020 campaigns she consulted with had similar foundations to address disability rights : • Implement full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with disabilities .
• Put an end to the sub-minimum wage that allows employers to pay some disabled workers at below the minimum wage .
• Change rules that keep many Social Security recipients below the federal poverty level .
`` Building on that is where you really started to see the personality differences and the philosophical differences , '' Cokley said .
Warren 's plan included detailed ways to address some of the problems she outlined : criminal justice , voting rights , transportation and housing , to name a few .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules , for example , that make some disabled people unable to afford marrying due to a reduction in benefits .
'We persist ' : Elizabeth Warren says a woman will eventually become president Sanders ' disability plan also received the stamp of approval from many in disability communities .
It touched on many of the same issues and , in some ways , it went further than Warren 's , pledging the use of executive action to implement some of his proposals .
When Warren announced she was suspending her campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thompson said .
`` No matter how qualified a woman is , no matter how confident a woman is , it still may not be good enough , '' she said .
`` And particularly for Elizabeth Warren to be a white woman to endure this .
What does it mean for women of color like myself , and particularly , black disabled women ? ''
'The community will not allow itself to be ignored' Thompson said she 's not entirely satisfied with the remaining two frontrunners in the race .
She voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the end of the campaign , but has n't decided if she 'll throw her support behind either former Vice President Joe Biden or Sanders .
`` With her departure from the race , there is a noticeable and stark difference between the two frontrunners remaining , '' said Lydia Brown , an associate for disability rights and algorithmic fairness at Georgetown Law ’ s Institute for Tech Law and Policy .
Brown said Sanders , like Warren , has a comprehensive disability plan , but Biden 's lack of attention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The former vice president 's campaign has not put out a comprehensive plan yet , though one may still be forthcoming .
The campaign did n't immediately respond to an inquiry about a disability plan .
The disability section of Biden 's website only briefly summarizes how his other plans would impact disabled Americans .
That 's a problem for Thompson .
`` At this stage of the game , we see what can happen when candidates do center disabled people and our issues and allow that to be not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
More : Warren slams 'bullying ' Sanders supporters as she exits race , says candidates are responsible for followers ' actions In her parting words to her staff , Warren highlighted her plan as a potential game-changer when it comes to crafting disability platforms .
`` We have shown that we can build plans in collaboration with the people who are most affected .
You know just one example : Our disability plan is a model for our country , and , even more importantly , the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help us get it right will be a more important model , '' Warren said in a phone call to her staff when she announced she was leaving the race .
The advocates who worked on Warren 's policy said they hope it will serve as a model for political discussion on disability , both in the remainder of the 2020 race and in future campaigns and policy decisions .
`` Our campaign was unique in our approach in that we were unafraid to seek guidance from those who our policies would impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disability outreach director .
`` I can only hope this serves as a model for future campaigns ; listen first , then ask questions , and then build in coalition . ''
Warren assured Cokley and other advocates before her campaign ended that the plan `` does n't stop with the campaign .
The plan is a living document . ''
According to Cokley , Warren committed to explore implementing priorities from the plan through congressional channels .
Going forward , Thompson said , `` I have incredible faith that the community will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Elizabeth Warren is out of the race, but advocates hope her disability plan is the new standard
Show Caption Hide Caption Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not go directly to Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren is out, but her voters may not be turnouts for Bernie, Susan Page explains. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
There’s a saying often used by disability rights advocates to stress the importance of having disabled people at the table making decisions that will affect their lives: “Nothing about us without us.”
That idea is what set one candidate apart in the 2020 presidential race, some of those advocates said.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination last week after disappointing performances in several primaries and a crushing loss in her home state of Massachusetts. But the way she crafted her disability plan will be a model for the future, according to the people who helped her build it.
“Her plan was a blueprint,” said Vilissa Thompson, a social worker and founder of disability advocacy blog Ramp Your Voice and who consulted on Warren's disability team.
Partners, not props
Matthew Cortland tweeted his amazement last month when Warren described in a CNN town hall how every policy issue affects disabled people. And he was not alone.
“I’m in tears,” came one reply. “I’ve never heard a candidate talk about, care about, listen to and work with people with disabilities.”
Cortland, a lawyer and policy analyst who helped consult on the campaign’s disability plan, said Warren operated her campaign much the same way she talked about it on stage: in collaboration with the people who had the most stake in her positions.
“It hit me … I’m a woman with plans,” Warren said at the town hall. “I need a disability plan overall. And I thought, I’m not gonna write this myself. I’m gonna reach out to the community, to the disability communities, and say, ‘What parts do we need to be able to build that equality?’”
From tonight's @cnn town hall with @ewarren, this is most of her answer in response to a question on including those of us who are disabled (apologies for the audio) https://t.co/M9frmCwsA4 pic.twitter.com/FrfgSJ3GnZ — Matthew Cortland, Esq 🗽 (@mattbc) February 6, 2020
Warren and her campaign came up with her over 7,000-word plan, “Protecting the Rights and Equality of People with Disabilities," with the input of a working group made up of disabled advocates and community members. She's not the only candidate to consult disabled people, but the people in her disability group said she did it differently.
Those individuals weren’t just offering suggestions, they were building the plan themselves through the facilitation of Warren’s campaign staff, according to Rebecca Cokley, the director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the progressive think tank Center for American Progress. They had access to a shared document where they would type notes and make edits, collaborating to create the document that now lives on Warren's site.
"My aim was solely to get the policy right. In order to get it right, it was important to identify our knowledge gaps and ask for help," said Molly Doris-Pierce, Warren's national disability outreach director. She and campaign policy analyst Alexandra Wilcox facilitated the community engagement.
Cokley consulted on several 2020 campaigns’ disability plans, including for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Obama Cabinet member Julián Castro. But she personally endorsed Warren and joined her campaign.
“One of the things that makes Sen. Warren's plan stand out is actually it goes beyond just the words on the paper,” Cokley said. “Sen. Warren specifically talked about disability and her plan repeatedly. None of the other candidates have really addressed their own plan in debates, in town halls, on social media.”
Thompson also said she was particularly impressed with Warren's dedication to listening to the voices of disabled people of color in crafting parts of the plan.
Cokley has been working on Democratic campaigns going back to John Kerry's bid in 2004, and this election cycle is unique in its approach to disability. In the past, Cokley said, "it almost felt sort of very Dickensian" when asking to be included, "like, 'Please, sir, can I have some more?' ... With the Warren campaign, they were looking at us as experts."
"We were partners – not an afterthought, not props – partners," Cortland added.
How the DNC changed its rules since Sanders, Clinton in 2016 The primaries are here! How does one get elected in the first place and what is in store for the Democratic National Convention in 2020? We explain. Just the FAQs
The 7,000-word proposal
Cokley said most of the 2020 campaigns she consulted with had similar foundations to address disability rights:
Address long-term services and support within health care plans.
Implement full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, meant to provide free public education to students with disabilities.
Put an end to the sub-minimum wage that allows employers to pay some disabled workers at below the minimum wage.
Change rules that keep many Social Security recipients below the federal poverty level.
"Building on that is where you really started to see the personality differences and the philosophical differences," Cokley said.
Warren's plan included detailed ways to address some of the problems she outlined: criminal justice, voting rights, transportation and housing, to name a few. She wanted to get rid of the rules, for example, that make some disabled people unable to afford marrying because of a reduction in benefits.
'We persist': Elizabeth Warren says a woman will eventually become president
Sanders' disability plan also received the stamp of approval from many in disability communities. It touched on many of the same issues and, in some ways, it went further than Warren's, pledging the use of executive action to implement some of his proposals.
When Warren announced she was suspending her campaign, disabled supporters were "disappointed," Thompson said.
"No matter how qualified a woman is, no matter how confident a woman is, it still may not be good enough," she said. "And particularly for Elizabeth Warren to be a white woman to endure this. What does it mean for women of color like myself, and particularly, black disabled women?"
Give me a day to mourn Warren’s disability plan. — Crutches&Spice ♿ : Rude For A Disabled Person (@Imani_Barbarin) March 6, 2020
So many campaigns, including Harris, and Buttigieg's, released comprehensive disability plans. But Warren's (along with Castro's and Sanders's) was one of the only ones that received damn near-universal praise from activists I knew. https://t.co/c09xirn5So — Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) March 6, 2020
'The community will not allow itself to be ignored'
Thompson said she's not entirely satisfied with the remaining two frontrunners in the race. She voted for Warren in the South Carolina primary before the end of the campaign, but she hasn't decided if she'll throw her support behind either former Vice President Joe Biden or Sanders.
"With her departure from the race, there is a noticeable and stark difference between the two frontrunners remaining," said Lydia Brown, an associate for disability rights and algorithmic fairness at Georgetown Law’s Institute for Tech Law and Policy.
Brown said Sanders, like Warren, has a comprehensive disability plan, but Biden's lack of attention to disability is "concerning," Brown said. The former vice president's campaign has not put out a comprehensive plan yet, though one may still be forthcoming. The campaign didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about a disability plan.
The disability section of Biden's website only briefly summarizes how his other plans would impact disabled Americans. That's a problem for Thompson.
"At this stage of the game, we see what can happen when candidates do center disabled people and our issues and allow that to be not only the blueprint but the standard going forward," she said.
More: Warren slams 'bullying' Sanders supporters as she exits race, says candidates are responsible for followers' actions
In her parting words to her staff, Warren highlighted her plan as a potential game-changer when it comes to crafting disability platforms.
"We have shown that we can build plans in collaboration with the people who are most affected. You know just one example: Our disability plan is a model for our country, and, even more importantly, the way we relied on the disability communities to help us get it right will be a more important model," Warren said in a phone call to her staff when she announced she was leaving the race.
Let’s not undersell the power of Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy.
She set the pace for policy on everything from disability justice to racial justice to a wealth tax.
She is a giant of our movement. I can't wait for our progressive movement to build together. #ThankYouElizabeth — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 5, 2020
The advocates who worked on Warren's policy said they hope it will serve as a model for political discussion on disability, both in the remainder of the 2020 race and in future campaigns and policy decisions.
"Our campaign was unique in our approach in that we were unafraid to seek guidance from those who our policies would impact," said Doris-Pierce, Warren's disability outreach director. "I can only hope this serves as a model for future campaigns; listen first, then ask questions, and then build in coalition."
Warren assured Cokley and other advocates before her campaign ended that the plan "doesn't stop with the campaign. The plan is a living document." According to Cokley, Warren committed to explore implementing priorities from the plan through congressional channels.
Going forward, Thompson said, "I have incredible faith that the community will not allow itself to be ignored."


usatoday--2020-03-08--A look at the coronavirus in six states slated to hold Democratic elections on Tuesday

Voters in six states will weigh in Tuesday on the race for the Democratic presidential nomination , but concerns are mounting about how the spreading COVID-19 coronavirus disease could impact those elections .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , COVID-19 can be spread when people are in `` close contact , '' which it defines as within six feet of each other , or through contact with the droplets produced when a sick person coughs or sneezes .
The CDC says it 's also possible to get the illness from a surface that has a virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads . ''
So , voters may be apprehensive about a process that involves entering a confined , possibly crowded , space where they will use voting equipment that has been touched by many strangers .
More : ' I ’ m not concerned at all ' : Trump says he 's not worried as coronavirus arrives in DC area On Super Tuesday , officials in Calfornia and Texas reported that some election workers did not show up for duty on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus concerns .
Fortunately , only two of the six states scheduled to vote this week have confirmed coronavirus cases .
But Washington , which is one of them , has more than 100 cases and has suffered at least 16 deaths from the illness , according to a database from Johns Hopkins University 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering .
Four of the six states , including Washington , offer some form of early voting .
There currently more than 400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. and there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idaho 's Department of Health and Welfare says the state has no coronavirus cases and that `` the individual risk in Idaho is low at this time . ''
Michigan , which has the most delegates ( 125 ) up for grabs on Tuesday , also has no COVID-19 cases .
According to the state 's Department of Health and Human Services , 26 tests have come back negative , 10 test results are still pending and 97 people are `` under active monitoring '' for the disease .
Officials are telling people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's voting locations to repeatedly use disinfectant wipes on voting booths and equipment , as well as pencils , pens doorknobs , tables , light switches and other surfaces , Reuters reported .
The `` Election Day Hygiene '' guidance also tells the elections workers to ask voters to spread out in line if they are worried about the virus .
There are currently no confirmed coronavirus cases in Mississippi .
There is one coronavirus case in Missouri after officials in St. Louis County announced a `` presumptive positive '' test result on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman in her twenties who recently traveled to Italy , one of the countries hardest hit by the outbreak .
The state health department has tested 26 people for the virus , including the woman , as of Saturday night .
Three others are still in progress .
There have been no reported cases in North Dakota , which holds Democratic primary caucuses on Tuesday .
According to the state 's department of health , as of March 6 , there were four people being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms .
Voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't have to head into a voting booth if they do n't want to .
Washington allows its residents to vote by mail as long as the ballot is postmarked on or before Tuesday .
Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is advising voters to even be cautious with their mail-in ballots , using the slogan , `` Whether healthy or sick , please do n't lick . ''
Wyman said officials are n't certain how long the virus might live on an envelope that was sealed with the saliva of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advice as a `` safeguard '' to `` help our folks processing ballot envelopes . ''
She said they are also advising to people processing the ballots to wear gloves .
On Sunday , Gov .
Jay Inslee said on CBS News ' `` Face the Nation '' that he is considering `` mandatory measures '' aimed at `` reducing the number of social activities that going on . ''
But he did not indicate any new measures were planned ahead of Tuesday 's election .

How coronavirus could affect the six states slated to hold Democratic elections Tuesday
Show Caption Hide Caption Your ultimate guide to proper hand-washing When people ask how to protect themselves against the spread of COVID-19, one of the first suggestions from doctors is washing your hands. Here are the do's and don'ts. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Voters in six states will weigh in Tuesday on the race for the Democratic presidential nomination amid mounting concerns about how the spreading COVID-19 coronavirus disease could affect those elections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 can be spread when people are in "close contact," which it defines as within 6 feet of each other, or through contact with the droplets produced when a sick person coughs or sneezes. The CDC says it's possible to get the illness from a surface that has a virus on it, though "this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads."
Voters may be apprehensive about a process that involves entering a confined, possibly crowded, space where they will use voting equipment that has been touched by many strangers.
'I’m not concerned at all': Trump says he's not worried as coronavirus arrives in DC area
On Super Tuesday, officials in California and Texas reported that some election workers did not show up for duty on the day of the election, citing coronavirus concerns.
Fortunately, only two of the six states scheduled to vote this week have confirmed coronavirus cases. But Washington, which is one of them, has more than 100 cases and has suffered at least 19 deaths from the illness, according to a database from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering. Four of the six states, including Washington, offer some form of early voting.
There are more than 550 confirmed coronavirus cases in the USA and there have been 22 deaths related to the outbreak.
Idaho
Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare says, as of Monday, the state has no coronavirus cases and that "the individual risk in Idaho is low at this time."
Idaho Deputy Secretary of State Chad Houck told USA TODAY on Monday that the state's governor held a press conference last week, "encouraging Idaho citizens to follow the CDC's best practices in terms of just making sure that they’re washing their hands, taking the precautionary measures the CDC recommends."
“So while we anticipate potential impact more towards our May primary, the March presidential primary happening tomorrow, we don’t anticipate a significant impact, and we haven’t taken any extraordinary measures outside of just reminding people to utilize those best practices.”
Houck added: “All of the elections are run on a 44-county independent basis. So certainly different clerks may choose to, for example, have extra hand sanitizers, things like that at their precinct level within their county, and that’s completely at their discretion.”
Michigan
Michigan, which has the most delegates (125) up for grabs on Tuesday, also has no COVID-19 cases. According to the state's Department of Health and Human Services, as of Sunday, 36 tests have come back negative, 11 test results were still pending and 88 people were "under active monitoring" for the disease.
Officials are telling people who will be working in the state's voting locations to repeatedly use disinfectant wipes on voting booths and equipment, as well as pencils, pens doorknobs, tables, light switches and other surfaces, Reuters reported. The "Election Day Hygiene" guidance also tells the elections workers to ask voters to spread out in line if they are worried about the virus.
“All of our precincts have hand sanitizers, and we have sanitizing wipes so that when time allows in between activity, poll workers are instructed to wipe down the booths, wipe down the tables," Detroit City Clerk Janice M. Winfrey told USA TODAY. "And of course hand sanitizer will be available on the tables for the use of voters.”
Mississippi
There are currently no confirmed coronavirus cases in Mississippi, according to the state's Department of Health on Monday afternoon.
In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said, "We’re encouraging voters to make sure they wash their hands as often as possible and continue to practice good hygiene. With no confirmed cases in our state, we obviously still want to remain cautious. We encourage all Mississippians to go vote."
Missouri
There is one coronavirus case in Missouri after officials in St. Louis County announced a "presumptive positive" test result on Saturday. Officials said the patient is a woman in her 20s who recently traveled to Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the outbreak.
The state health department had tested 26 people for the virus, including the woman, as of Saturday night. Three others were still in progress.
Contacted by USA TODAY on Monday, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said his office has reached out to local election officials to update them with information as his team receives it and to provide basic recommendations for basic precautions during voting Tuesday.
"Our recommendation to the public at large is to get out and vote," Ashcroft said. "It will be safe. We're used to having elections during flu season."
North Dakota
There have been no reported cases in North Dakota, which holds caucuses on Tuesday.
According to the state's department of health, as of Friday, there were four people being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.
"We are following guidance from the North Dakota Department of Health, and we encourage everyone else to do so as well," said Alex Rohr, Communications Director for North Dakota Democrats. "The current risk of exposure in North Dakota is low" according to the state department of health "and at this time we do not expect it to depress turnout."
Washington
Voters in the state with the most coronavirus cases won't have to head into a voting booth if they don't want to. Washington allows its residents to vote by mail as long as the ballot is postmarked on or before Tuesday.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman is advising voters to even be cautious with their mail-in ballots, using the slogan, "Whether healthy or sick, please don't lick."
Wyman said officials aren't certain how long the virus might live on an envelope that was sealed with the saliva of an infected person, so they were issuing the advice as a "safeguard" to "help our folks processing ballot envelopes." She said they are also advising to people processing the ballots to wear gloves.
On Sunday, Gov. Jay Inslee said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that he is considering "mandatory measures" aimed at "reducing the number of social activities that going on." But he did not indicate any new measures were planned ahead of Tuesday's election.
Contacted by USA TODAY on Monday, Wyman emphasized the precautions the state is already taking in processing the mail-in ballots and the plans it has in place should a ballot processing location or a postal office shut down.
"All of the people that are opening envelopes and processing ballots are wearing gloves to try to, you know, not get in contact with potentially the virus," she said. "They wash their hands frequently. They try to keep a distance from their coworkers. And that seems to be working OK."
The top state election official also emphasized that Washington already has "continuity of operations plans" it can activate "if a courthouse has to shut down for a day or a couple of days or a postal office shuts down."
"I think for our voters it's fairly seamless," Wyman also said. "And right now, as far as I know, all of our counties are operating at full speed and full capacity.”
Contributing: Matthew Brown; Gabriella Khalaj; Austin Huguelet, Springfield (Mississippi) News-Leader


usatoday--2020-03-08--Rev. Jesse Jackson endorses Bernie Sanders for president

Rev .
Jesse Jackson is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in 2020 .
The Sanders campaign released a statement from Jackson on Sunday detailing why he believes Sanders is the best candidate for the presidency .
Jackson is expected to speak alongside Sanders at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids , Michigan , this afternoon .
The endorsement comes a little over a week after Jackson 's home state of North Carolina voted in support of the former Vice President Joe Biden .
Jackson , who 's run for president himself in the past , said in his statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to him or asked for support .
By contrast , Jackson said the Sanders campaign reached out and responded to the issues he raised and concerns he expressed .
Among those issues , Jackson said Sanders is committed to addressed voting rights issues , including supporting a soon-to-be proposed constitutional amendment to help prevent voter suppression .
Jackson also cited Sanders ' promise to support a wealth tax and target funding toward historically black colleges and universities .
`` Senator Sanders supports a single payer health care plan that I advocated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All plan that will provide every American with universal and comprehensive health care , '' Jackson said in his statement , `` with extra funds targeting rural and minority hospitals and community health centers . ''
Also on Sunday , onetime candidate Sen. Kamala Harris announced her endorsement for Joe Biden .
In a statement released Sunday morning , Harris said there is a need to unify the party around one `` candidate who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people and who can ultimately defeat Donald Trump . ''

Rev. Jesse Jackson endorses Bernie Sanders for president
Rev. Jesse Jackson is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in 2020.
The Sanders campaign released a statement from Jackson on Sunday detailing why he believes Sanders is the best candidate for the presidency.
Jackson is expected to speak alongside Sanders at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this afternoon. The endorsement comes a little over a week after Jackson's home state of North Carolina voted in support of the former Vice President Joe Biden.
Jackson, who's run for president himself in the past, said in his statement that Biden's campaign has not reached out to him or asked for support. By contrast, Jackson said the Sanders campaign reached out and responded to the issues he raised and concerns he expressed.
Among those issues, Jackson said Sanders is committed to addressed voting rights issues, including supporting a soon-to-be proposed constitutional amendment to help prevent voter suppression.
Jackson also cited Sanders' promise to support a wealth tax and target funding toward historically black colleges and universities.
"Senator Sanders supports a single payer health care plan that I advocated in 1984 and 1988 with his Medicare for All plan that will provide every American with universal and comprehensive health care," Jackson said in his statement, "with extra funds targeting rural and minority hospitals and community health centers."
Also on Sunday, onetime candidate Sen. Kamala Harris announced her endorsement for Joe Biden.
In a statement released Sunday morning, Harris said there is a need to unify the party around one "candidate who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people and who can ultimately defeat Donald Trump."
Email Elizabeth at elafleur@greenvillenews.com